Written Answers of 23 October 2001

DEFENCE

  Merlin Helicopters
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Merlin helicopters will be delivered to the Royal Navy in each of the next three years; [9696]

  (2) how many pilots have been trained to fly the Merlin helicopter; [9694]

  (3) when Merlin helicopters will be deployed on an operational basis with the Royal Navy; [9697]

  (4) what the Royal Navy's inventory of Merlin helicopters is; and how many are operational. [9695]

  DARA key targets for FY 2001–02

  Title

  Details

  Target

  KT 1—Quality

  The Quality of Service of the DARA

  To have no more attributable Customer Concerns (recorded on F760/761) than the baseline set on the average performance of FY 99–00 and FY 00–01 as a percentage of quantity.

  KT 2—Financial

  A measure of the Return on Capital Employed (RoCE)

  To achieve a 6 per cent. Return on Capital Employed (RoCE)

  KT 3—Efficiency 1

  A measure of the reduction in Unit Production Price

  To achieve at least an annual 2 per cent. reduction (with a target of at least a 15 per cent. reduction over five years) in unit production prices of a basket of products deemed to be representative of DARA business, baselined from the commencement of Trading Fund (1 April 2001)

  KT 4—Efficiency 2

  Increase in Order Intake (Non-Allocated Work)

  To achieve a 100 per cent. increase in Order Intake (for the first three years of trading) from a FY 00–01 baseline

  KT 5—Efficiency 3

  Increase in Commercial Revenue

  To achieve a 15 per cent. increase in Commercial Revenue (from non-UK Armed Forces), from a FY 00–01 baseline

  Serco
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts being administered by Serco on behalf of his Department. [8575]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The following contracts are being administered by Serco Ltd. on behalf of this Department.

  SATC2/031

  ICSS/1042

  DE32/7113

  CB/STC5/5010

  AARC1B/00034

  CDCRBG/1253

  NRTA1B/0135

  DLO/MTSC/0006

  MCP12B/366

  STC8/009

  N/ISFS/10121

  CHOTS/12671

  110W
  Mr. Ingram
  On current plans, the first squadron of Royal Navy Merlin helicopters will be fully operational and ready for deployment in May 2002 with further squadrons progressively achieving this status up to 2005.

  A total of 44 Merlin HM Mark 1 helicopters has been ordered for the Royal Navy. Of the 34 aircraft already delivered, 14 are in the operational fleet. The remaining 10 aircraft are due to be delivered by the end of financial year 2002–03.

  To date 31 Royal Naval pilots and eight RAF pilots have been trained to fly the Merlin helicopter, with a further five Royal Naval and two RAF pilots currently undergoing training.

  Defence Aviation Repair Agency
  Mr. Bryant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Aviation Repair Agency for 2001–02. [10122]

  Mr. Ingram
  Key targets have been set for the chief executive of DARA for financial year 2001–02. The targets reflect the agency's move to trading fund status and are as follows:

  MCP12A/102

  SMC41B/1917

  SMC42B7421

  SCSS1A/2029

  SCSS1A/2016

  CP21B/1236

  MCP21B/0312

  DEO32/7077

  LC1/0031

  NUW31A/0015

  WS32/7052

  WS31/6066

  CB/STC2/189

  WS32/7050

  WS32/7047

  CB/STC1/1003

  LC1/0020

  NWE22A/0114

  ABRO1B2/1790

  111W

  CPI1B/2006

  STC1/1000

  A/13B/7014

  WS31/6027

  NMT2B/2003

  SL41A/0053

  WS32/7002

  NUW83A/1820

  SL(WS)1/1009

  SL20/SC/0583

  SLS21A/211

  WS12/106

  NUW83A/1688

  SLS21A/90

  SLS32B/1911

  ML32B/1462

  PTC/CB/00517

  CSIS/00033

  CSIS/00032

  DE031/6078

  STRS/00012

  MWABC/20052

  UWS2C/O035

  CASSC/0004

  NWC1/004

  SMC42D/5025

  NLS23B/0034

  SCSS1D/010

  LC5/235

  CB/STC2/385

  LC8/380

  LC5/044/2

  WS22/5881

  DEO33/8035

  DEO32/7076

  DEO32/7073

  CB/STC2/284

  CDCRBG/1209

  NLS25A/0003

  LC1/0025

  WS33/8025

  CSE2B/6037

  LC1/0016/2

  CB/STC/3041

  CDCRBG/1169

  WS31/6054

  ABRO1A1/1901

  NUW81B/1623

  WS31/6040

  WS31/6037

  MT(N)3A/0067

  CP11A/1024

  WS32/7006

  ESW1B/2012

  SLS21A/254

  SM21A/5022

  SLWS2/2011

  WS12/109

  SL41C/100

  WS12/101

  112W

  CB/SL22B/2006

  SL24B/1

  ICS2A/113427

  DE32/7114

  TORPC/1001

  CBC/1A/0006

  ICS2A/112381

  AOSIPT/588

  TORPC/01004

  CBCS/SC222

  CP(PI)0001

  NIMES/5004

  NWE22B/0153

  ABRO1B1/2321

  DEO33/8045

  NCSM2B/1550

  STC5/5001

  ABRO1C2/2231

  SCSS2B/1112

  SCSS1A/1142

  DEO32/7074

  DEO32/7075

  NUW31A/0014

  NSM61A/0019

  SMC42A/5283

  NUW81B/1615

  LC4/0320

  WS32/7043

  CB/STC3/3048

  LC7A/00010

  NNR/512

  SES2B/67

  CPUA/1077

  CB/STC3/3005

  WS33/8002

  PROC1C/44345

  WS32/7029

  WS32/7007

  CISE21A/2066

  SL41A/0027

  SL41C/119

  CISP2A/07

  SLS21A/252

  NUW83A/1746

  SL22A/2237

  WS12/103

  CB/SL21D/0028

  8194530/01M.

  Further details on this list in its entirety could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Biological Detection Devices
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will open for public inspection at the Public Record Office the files located at DEFE 55/97 and DEFE 55/100 regarding tests of biological detection devices and joint US/UK biological detection experiments in 1977. [6579]
  113W
  Dr. Moonie
  No. The reports include details of US biological detection equipment and I am therefore withholding the information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Biological Warfare
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many simulated exercises have been carried out in respect of biological and chemical weapon attacks on the UK in each of the last five years. [8622]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence is responsible for providing military aid to the civil authorities support to the Home Office in the event of a biological or chemical weapons terrorist attack upon the UK. On average, seven crisis response exercises are carried out by the MOD each year. In addition, a large number of low level training exercises are conducted each year at unit and sub-unit level.

  The Home Office also supports a counter-terrorist exercise programme for police forces, other Government Departments and agencies. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will write to my hon. Friend with further details of that programme and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to amend the armed forces pension scheme to allow benefits to be paid to partners of service men and women killed on active service; and if he will make a statement. [8204]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The Ministry of Defence does not currently have any plans to amend the armed forces pension scheme (AFPS) to allow benefits to be paid to partners of service men and women killed on active service. However, following the recently completed consultation period on the review of the AFPS, representations on a range of issues, including this one, will be taken forward for further consideration.

  Departmental Contracts
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those sites operated by(a) his Department and (b) contractors responsible to his Department, which are (i) required to comply with and (ii) exempt from compliance with the Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations 2001. [8761]

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

  Civilian Contractors (Insurance)
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department has made to provide insurance for civilian contractors deployed on operations; and if he will make a statement. [9393]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence (MOD) expects contractors to provide insurance appropriate to the conduct of their business. However, there are a limited number of risks that industry is unable to insure itself against, or where the cost of obtaining such insurance is 114W
  prohibitive. In such cases the MOD would consider indemnifying industry for these specific and very limited circumstances. Hitherto, consideration of an indemnity for contractors and their personnel on deployed operations has been on a case-by-case basis, but the MOD is considering, with representatives of industry, standard arrangements for these activities.

  Anti-anthrax Drugs
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the supply chain, from MOD stockpile to NHS hospitals, of anti-anthrax drugs. [9541]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The Ministry of Defence and the Department of Health have discussed the issue of availability of such treatments and arrangements are in place to allow joint access.

  RAF Menwith Hill
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the memorandum of understanding between the UK and US Governments in respect of RAF Menwith Hill was signed; and what expiry date was set for this memorandum. [8772]

  Mr. Ingram
  The presence of the United States visiting forces in the UK is governed by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951 and additional confidential arrangements. There is no specific memorandum of understanding governing the presence of the USVF at RAF Menwith Hill.

  Operation Enduring Freedom
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost to date of Operation Enduring Freedom; and how much of the total cost has been met from pre-set departmental budgets. [8769]

  Mr. Hoon
  I will write to the hon. Member. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Porton Down
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the states with which reciprocal arrangements exist for the exchange of material and information relating to them held at Porton Down. [8771]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence maintains formal arrangements with a number of different countries relating to the exchange of material and information resulting from research at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down. The relevant countries are the United States of America, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. These arrangements are of the enabling type and do not commit the UK to specific exchanges. Actual exchanges are entered into only on a case-by-case basis and when it is in the UK's interest to do so. Additionally working groups which may exchange information meet under the auspices of NATO.

  These arrangements prevent the unnecessary duplication of research programmes and maximise the potential of advances in protection against the use of chemical and biological agents.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  CITB Levy
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason the CITB levy is imposed on tool hire companies and rental companies who are not engaged wholly or mainly in the construction industry; and if she will make a statement. [8468]

  John Healey
  The CITB can impose the levy only on employers who are engaged wholly or mainly in construction activities as defined in its governing legislation. This states that construction industry activities include"the installation, testing, inspection, maintenance or repair of contractor's plant, or the letting out on hire of such plant or scaffolding".

  Contractors' plant is further defined to mean
  "machinery, plant or equipment of a kind used or intended for use in operations on the site of any building work or civil engineering work".

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason the CITB levy is not imposed on builders merchants. [8469]

  John Healey
  The CITB is able to impose a levy only on employers who are engaged wholly or mainly in construction activities as defined in its governing legislation. Builders merchants are wholly or mainly retailers and retailing is not a construction activity.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Government will review the Industrial Training Act 1982 in respect of the CITB; and if she will make a statement. [8470]

  John Healey
  The Industrial Training Act 1982 does not relate specifically to the CITB. It gives the Secretary of State power to set up industrial training boards, which is given effect by the making of an industrial training order. The order includes a definition of the industry for which the board is to exercise its functions.

  The order that set up the CITB is the Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964, most recently amended by the Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment) Order 1992. I have no plans at the present time to review that order but am, of course, always prepared to consider proposals from any sector of the industry.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will assess the case for the tool hire sector's liability to pay the CITB levy; and if she will make a statement. [8471]

  John Healey
  The Secretary of State does not have the power to assess the case for any sector's liability to pay the CITB levy. Only the CITB has the power to assess liability to pay the levy and this is in respect of an individual construction establishment, not a sector. There is a right of appeal against an assessment to an employment tribunal. A construction establishment is one that is engaged wholly or mainly in the construction industry as defined in the Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment) Order 1992—the order which identifies the activities covered by the CITB.
  116W
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason there is no distinction between plant hire and tool hire in respect of the CITB levy. [8472]

  John Healey
  The Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment) Order 1992 sets out the activities of the construction industry, ie the industry in respect of which the CITB is required to exercise its functions. One of those activities is the hiring out of contractors' plant, which is also further defined in the order as"machinery, plant or equipment of a kind used or intended for use in operations on the site of any building work or civil engineering work, but does not include lorries, ready-mixed concrete vehicles or other mechanically propelled vehicles mainly used for the carriage of goods on roads".
  It is this definition that determines whether or not a company falls within the scope of the CITB.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason there is no opt-out clause for the CITB levy scheme; and if she will make a statement. [8473]

  John Healey
  The Industrial Training Act 1982—the legislation that governs the functions and operations of industrial training boards (ITBs)—gives an ITB the power to make provision for exempting from the levy employers who make adequate arrangements for training their work force. However it does not require it to do so. The CITB, with the support of the construction industry, has decided not to have a scheme based on exemption. Instead it has opted for a levy/grant system as being the most effective way to ensure that adequate training is carried out. The board does not believe a levy exemption scheme is appropriate for an industry where employers have a mobile work force and fluctuating work loads, making it difficult for them to plan and meet their training needs individually.

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children are eligible for free school meals in schools where less than 25 per cent. of the pupils achieve five or more grades A* to C at GCSE. [8842]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The percentage of children known to be eligible for free school meals in mainstream, maintained schools where fewer than 25 per cent. of the pupils achieved five or more grades A* to C at GCSE/GNVQ in January 2001 was 37 per cent.

  Student Support
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on details of the remit of the Government's review of student support. [8886]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced on 3 October 2001 that she is leading a review of student funding. The reforms will build on the new arrangements for student support introduced by the Government in 1998. It will be conducted in the context of our new goal to get 50 per cent. of people under 30 into Higher Education (HE) by 2010, our ambition to expand access to HE from under-represented groups, and our

  117W
  continuing concern to deliver excellence in the HE system. We are therefore reviewing the balance between state funding and the contributions made by students and their families. A wide range of options is being considered and no decision is likely to be announced on the proposals until next year.

  Ministerial Visit (Brazil)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is(a) the itinerary for and (b) the cost of the visit of the Schools Minister to Brazil of 6 and 7 December. [9887]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  There is no cost and no itinerary as the Schools Minister has no plans to visit Brazil.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Scottish Executive
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library minutes and details of the date and venue of meetings held with Scottish Executive(a) Ministers and (b) officials to discuss Scottish Executive participation in UK delegations to Council of Ministers meetings; how many times Scottish Executive Ministers have sought to lead UK delegations to EU Council of Ministers meetings; how often Scottish Ministers have led UK delegations to Council of Ministers meetings when other UK Ministers have been part of the delegation; if he will make it his policy for Scottish Executive Ministers to be lead UK Ministers at Council of Ministers meetings where the matters are largely the responsibility of Scottish Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [6952]

  Peter Hain
  The devolved Administrations have an important interest in European policy matters in relation to devolved matters, and their Ministers and officials have an important role to play in relevant Council meetings. Decisions on attendance are taken by the lead UK Minister on a case-by-case basis.

  As yet there have been no occasions when Scottish Executive Ministers have led UK delegations when UK Ministers have been part of the delegation, but this could well be the case if appropriate in the future.

  Women's Rights (Palestine)
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Palestinian Administration about human rights abuses relating to women. [8070]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We regularly raise human rights issues with the Palestinian Authority and have an active dialogue with Palestinian NGOs about human rights matters.

  We funded women's rights projects worth £31,300 in financial year 2000–01.

  The UK's main development programme also supports women in development projects such as providing women's training programmes and creating work opportunities and a gender law and development masters programme at the Bir Zeit University in Gaza.

  Iraqi Oil
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have indicated(a) support for (b) opposition to the UK proposal to alter the interval between the price fixing of Iraqi oil from 30 days to 10 days; and if he will make a statement. [9122]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Russia alone of the P5 has so far been unable to support the principle of the UK's initiative to seek fair market value for Iraqi oil exports (in line with the UN's commitment to do so), by reviewing the price set for Iraqi oil against the oil's market value every 15, instead of 30, days.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his proposal to the United Nations to alter the interval between the price fixing of Iraqi oil from 30 days to 10 days would have(a) positive or (b) negative economic and social consequences in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [9123]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK's initiative, to review the price of Iraqi oil more frequently (every 15 instead of 30 days) in order better to match its actual market value, is maximising the revenue available to the "oil for food" humanitarian programme which benefits the Iraqi people. It also limits the opportunity for the Iraqi regime to obtain funds illegally for itself. We have proposed that the UN Sanctions Committee formally adopts this procedure to meet its commitment to obtain fair market value for Iraqi oil exports.

  Fundamentalist Paramilitary Groups
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts he is making to establish the number of UK citizens involved with fundamentalist paramilitary groups in(a) Afghanistan, (b) Kashmir, (c) Pakistan, (d) Chechnya, (e) Lebanon and (f) Palestinian Authority territories; and if he will make a statement. [8656]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I can assure my hon. Friend that HMG are determined that this country should not be used as a base for supporting terrorism overseas, in any way. The Terrorism Act 2000 (which entered into force in February 2001) is designed to help the UK police and courts take effective action against those who seek to plan, carry out or support terrorism from or in the UK.

  Natural Disasters
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Department is responsible for making applications for aid from the budget of the EU for natural disasters in the UK. [8765]

  Peter Hain
  Decisions to seek financing from the European Union are taken by Departments on an individual basis.

  Colonel Gaddafi
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Prime Minister
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  of St. Kitts and Nevis sought advice from the British Government on his Government's proposed trip to Libya to meet Colonel Gaddafi. [9101]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No.

  Entry Clearance
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for each quarter that an appeal has been available against a refusal of a visa or entry clearance to visit the United Kingdom, how many applications were made for a visa or entry clearance to visit the United Kingdom; of these how many were refused; of these refusals, how many were appealed; and of these appeals, how many succeeded, broken down in each category by(a) the country from which the application was made, (b) the gender of the applicant and (c) the age of the applicant (0–10, 11–20, 21–30 and 31 and above). [8730]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We record details of appeals received only in respect of family visit applications. Details are given in the table of the number of appeals received between October 2000, when the right of appeal was reintroduced for family visit visa refusals, and September 2001 for the largest 114 posts.

  Applications received, refused and family visit applications received

  October to December 2000

  January to March 2001

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Abidjan

  763

  53

  0

  561

  93

  0

  Abu Dhabi

  2,973

  52

  0

  3,112

  48

  1

  Abuja

  4,474

  561

  2

  3,734

  622

  0

  Accra

  12,314

  1,899

  10

  8,978

  3,303

  58

  Addis Ababa

  771

  117

  0

  1,149

  193

  1

  Algiers

  —

  —

  —

  850

  —

  —

  Almaty

  1,213

  69

  0

  939

  51

  0

  Amman

  1,940

  37

  0

  2,225

  55

  0

  Amsterdam

  2,268

  25

  0

  1,708

  46

  2

  Ankara

  969

  14

  0

  —

  14

  0

  Bahrain

  1,319

  15

  2

  2,013

  5

  0

  Baku

  691

  37

  0

  535

  21

  0

  Bandar Seri Begawan

  197

  1

  0

  —

  —

  0

  Bangkok

  5,900

  548

  0

  8,766

  521

  9

  Banjul

  1,244

  140

  0

  1,177

  159

  0

  Beirut

  1,760

  13

  0

  1,512

  19

  1

  Belgrade

  2,727

  47

  0

  2,418

  40

  1

  Bogota

  3,890

  486

  0

  3,360

  384

  3

  Bombay

  11,353

  895

  9

  15,925

  882

  39

  Bratislava

  4,376

  129

  0

  2,870

  162

  0

  Brussels

  960

  12

  1

  903

  11

  0

  Bucharest

  5,415

  350

  1

  5,059

  414

  4

  Budapest

  330

  26

  0

  300

  22

  0

  Cairo

  5,940

  205

  1

  5,216

  251

  3

  Calcutta

  1,242

  30

  0

  1,713

  21

  1

  Canberra

  6,114

  9

  0

  11,943

  14

  0

  Casablanca

  1,490

  89

  1

  1,405

  52

  1

  Chicago

  1,148

  3

  0

  2,414

  2

  0

  Colombo

  4,679

  905

  1

  4,909

  1,293

  13

  Copenhagen

  751

  14

  0

  600

  22

  0

  Dakar

  —

  —

  —

  382

  47

  1

  Damascus

  1,370

  160

  0

  1,561

  129

  6

  Dar Es Salaam

  1,805

  350

  2

  1,866

  388

  2

  Dhaka

  5,415

  1,215

  12

  5,221

  1,749

  39

  Doha

  1,069

  42

  0

  1,413

  50

  1

  Dubai

  4,174

  257

  2

  5,657

  127

  4

  Dublin

  1,413

  9

  0

  1,361

  9

  1

  Dusseldorf

  6,157

  39

  0

  5,405

  39

  0

  Ekaterinburg

  476

  42

  0

  521

  30

  0

  120W
  The number of applications received and refused between October 2000 and September 2001 are as follows. The figures are based on monthly statistical reports received from the 114 largest posts. The remaining posts submit information on an annual basis, which is not broken down into months. To answer this question for all 165 posts we would have to ask those additional posts to extract the information requested. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.

  We do not record the outcome of appeals, but the Lord Chancellor's Department has provided the following information:

  Received

  Appeal allowed

  October to December 2000

  139

  22

  January to March 2001

  540

  156

  April to June 2001

  1,142

  422

  July to September 2001

  1,655

  890

  We do not record the gender or the age of the applicant. To ask posts to provide this information for statistical purposes now would require them to carry out a manual search of their records. This too could be done only at disproportionate cost.
  121W

  Applications received, refused and family visit applications received

  October to December 2000

  January to March 2001

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Geneva

  2,197

  83

  1

  1,551

  32

  0

  Georgetown

  358

  38

  1

  339

  26

  1

  Guangzhou

  2,506

  555

  4

  2,423

  1,312

  8

  Hanoi

  469

  51

  0

  375

  36

  0

  Harare

  484

  81

  0

  762

  121

  0

  Havana

  426

  40

  0

  416

  39

  0

  Hong Kong

  1,027

  58

  0

  1,179

  56

  1

  Islamabad

  14,085

  3,046

  35

  16,090

  5,203

  169

  Istanbul

  15,974

  524

  6

  769

  744

  13

  Jakarta

  5,354

  73

  1

  2,121

  69

  2

  Jeddah

  2,409

  70

  0

  3,143

  88

  0

  Jerusalem

  386

  5

  0

  323

  9

  0

  Kampala

  3,015

  770

  3

  2,865

  508

  5

  Karachi

  7,251

  1,001

  13

  7,122

  1,725

  36

  Kathmandu

  1,099

  295

  0

  1,802

  526

  2

  Khartoum

  672

  172

  2

  674

  133

  2

  Kiev

  5,491

  747

  0

  5,756

  1,151

  4

  Kingston

  744

  115

  1

  748

  66

  0

  Kuala Lumpur

  638

  71

  0

  543

  74

  2

  Kuwait

  3,730

  162

  2

  4,693

  112

  1

  Lagos

  13,620

  2,545

  60

  14,054

  1,938

  101

  Lahore1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lima

  844

  26

  1

  805

  18

  1

  Los Angeles

  4,998

  13

  0

  4,436

  15

  0

  Luanda

  402

  36

  0

  389

  17

  0

  Lusaka

  1,359

  102

  0

  1,043

  102

  4

  Madras

  5,770

  269

  3

  8,716

  335

  5

  Madrid

  1,404

  7

  0

  13,171

  7

  0

  Manila

  5,937

  203

  0

  7,671

  439

  28

  Mexico City

  —

  —

  —

  127

  1

  0

  Minsk

  1,164

  43

  0

  1,137

  46

  0

  Moscow

  14,467

  488

  0

  14,484

  452

  2

  Muscat

  1,374

  20

  1

  1,468

  33

  0

  Nairobi

  3,904

  386

  2

  4,016

  522

  8

  New Delhi

  11,464

  1,971

  23

  13,811

  1,298

  62

  New York

  7,822

  31

  0

  7,296

  43

  1

  Nicosia

  1,131

  30

  0

  937

  32

  1

  Oslo

  756

  5

  0

  658

  1

  0

  Ottawa

  3,899

  18

  0

  3,854

  26

  0

  Paris

  5,478

  16

  0

  4,801

  13

  0

  Peking

  9,098

  1,102

  1

  8,314

  —

  4

  Port Louis

  1,811

  112

  4

  1,730

  94

  2

  Port of Spain

  397

  32

  0

  409

  30

  0

  Prague

  659

  3

  0

  517

  2

  0

  Pretoria

  4,826

  532

  0

  6,801

  430

  1

  Quito

  446

  20

  0

  569

  28

  0

  Riga

  374

  34

  0

  435

  19

  0

  Riyadh

  3,481

  100

  1

  4,048

  65

  4

  Rome

  1,832

  35

  0

  1,418

  19

  0

  Sana'a

  717

  113

  0

  815

  117

  0

  Santo Domingo

  179

  11

  —

  178

  10

  0

  Sarajevo

  703

  10

  0

  611

  3

  0

  Shanghai

  2,634

  136

  0

  2,551

  73

  5

  Singapore

  1,185

  16

  0

  1,171

  20

  0

  Skopje2

  —

  —

  —

  649

  124

  —

  Sofia

  4,884

  311

  2

  5,083

  281

  1

  St. Petersburg

  2,684

  87

  0

  2,249

  143

  0

  Sto Domingo

  —

  —

  0

  —

  —

  2

  Stockholm

  1,143

  19

  0

  901

  12

  0

  Taipei

  5,766

  —

  0

  6,315

  230

  0

  Tashkent

  514

  36

  0

  394

  57

  0

  Tbilisi

  489

  143

  0

  555

  33

  0

  Tehran

  4,079

  199

  1

  5,181

  183

  8

  Tel Aviv

  300

  39

  0

  2,758

  109

  —

  Tirana

  443

  62

  0

  340

  53

  1

  Tokyo

  989

  37

  0

  1,586

  387

  0

  Tripoli

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Tunis

  1,617

  289

  3

  1,664

  227

  9

  122W 123W

  Applications received, refused and family visit applications received

  October to December 2000

  January to March 2001

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Valletta

  269

  8

  0

  1,033

  —

  —

  Vienna

  716

  10

  0

  667

  9

  0

  Warsaw

  355

  17

  0

  314

  25

  0

  Washington

  3,253

  0

  0

  2,538

  3

  0

  Wellington

  42

  18

  0

  4,043

  7

  0

  Yaounde

  408

  109

  0

  436

  56

  1

  Zagreb

  3,263

  111

  0

  2,525

  118

  4

  324,754

  26,812

  215

  345,047

  31,533

  703

  1 Opened September 2001

  2 January 2001

  Applications received, refused and family visit applications received

  April to June 2001

  August to September 2001

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Abidjan

  953

  60

  0

  907

  121

  0

  Abu Dhabi

  7,484

  212

  5

  7,961

  278

  10

  Abuja

  5,973

  571

  20

  8,498

  1,035

  18

  Accra

  18,690

  4,607

  103

  18,555

  5,194

  70

  Addis Ababa

  1,197

  177

  3

  1,748

  291

  5

  Algiers

  942

  —

  —

  1,333

  —

  —

  Almaty

  1,333

  47

  0

  1,119

  76

  0

  Amman

  2,748

  29

  0

  3,847

  76

  1

  Amsterdam

  2,323

  14

  2

  2,507

  41

  3

  Ankara

  —

  19

  0

  1,173

  12

  0

  Bahrain

  3,715

  15

  1

  5,353

  30

  0

  Baku

  764

  30

  0

  851

  7

  0

  Bandar Seri Begawan

  —

  —

  0

  —

  —

  0

  Bangkok

  8,855

  487

  23

  7,698

  648

  16

  Banjul

  1,937

  199

  5

  2,626

  328

  5

  Beirut

  2,148

  11

  0

  2,420

  22

  0

  Belgrade

  3,596

  45

  2

  3,348

  43

  1

  Bogota

  6,744

  373

  1

  4,819

  453

  2

  Bombay

  30,135

  1,599

  136

  20,500

  1,600

  126

  Bratislava

  6,397

  116

  0

  6,049

  151

  0

  Brussels

  986

  7

  0

  1,043

  12

  0

  Bucharest

  7,887

  370

  3

  8,702

  440

  0

  Budapest

  415

  15

  0

  422

  21

  0

  Cairo

  9,537

  225

  0

  10,389

  366

  2

  Calcutta

  4,311

  43

  1

  2,753

  57

  4

  Canberra

  9,912

  13

  0

  7,885

  8

  0

  Casablanca

  1,824

  38

  0

  2,403

  75

  2

  Chicago

  3,583

  6

  0

  2,302

  7

  0

  Colombo

  6,342

  795

  28

  7,152

  1,385

  40

  Copenhagen

  960

  18

  0

  687

  33

  2

  Dakar

  129

  11

  0

  —

  —

  0

  Damascus

  1,979

  179

  0

  1,413

  227

  0

  Dar Es Salaam

  2,628

  277

  12

  2,041

  264

  13

  Dhaka

  7,523

  949

  69

  9,134

  1,398

  91

  Doha

  3,809

  72

  0

  4,764

  104

  3

  Dubai

  11,739

  72

  6

  10,034

  104

  12

  Dublin

  1,682

  35

  1

  1,580

  46

  0

  Dusseldorf

  6,676

  33

  0

  5,690

  45

  0

  Ekaterinburg

  1,257

  21

  0

  923

  27

  0

  Geneva

  2,427

  26

  0

  2,479

  35

  1

  Georgetown

  699

  40

  4

  620

  54

  3

  Guangzhou

  5,336

  1,234

  12

  6,143

  396

  11

  Hanoi

  619

  48

  0

  246

  22

  0

  Harare

  564

  73

  0

  —

  —

  0

  Havana

  573

  31

  0

  481

  36

  0

  Hong Kong

  1,961

  50

  2

  1,561

  45

  2

  Islamabad

  30,872

  5,910

  538

  20,033

  4,153

  449

  Istanbul

  1,131

  519

  11

  13,430

  701

  23

  Jakarta

  5,382

  73

  3

  2,590

  80

  0

  Jeddah

  8,324

  77

  0

  5,866

  71

  5

  Jerusalem

  643

  9

  0

  712

  14

  0

  124W 125W

  Applications received, refused and family visit applications received

  April to June 2001

  August to September 2001

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Applications received

  Applications refused

  FVA received

  Kampala

  3,859

  318

  3

  3,485

  349

  5

  Karachi

  16,964

  2,933

  29

  13,411

  2,554

  85

  Kathmandu

  1,561

  413

  0

  2,036

  818

  20

  Khartoum

  1,745

  134

  11

  1,230

  136

  5

  Kiev

  8,493

  916

  3

  6,226

  1,070

  4

  Kingston

  1,194

  109

  1

  1,264

  122

  3

  Kuala Lumpur

  716

  95

  1

  844

  111

  1

  Kuwait

  10,612

  135

  1

  14,345

  196

  2

  Lagos

  23,197

  2,261

  144

  26,056

  2,635

  174

  Lahore1

  —

  —

  —

  1,345

  271

  2

  Lima

  1,087

  26

  0

  1,137

  24

  0

  Los Angeles

  6,767

  5

  0

  5,364

  5

  0

  Luanda

  499

  14

  0

  813

  30

  0

  Lusaka

  1,433

  65

  6

  1,218

  78

  1

  Madras

  12,272

  312

  7

  8,150

  336

  6

  Madrid

  13,207

  3

  0

  1,418

  2

  0

  Manila

  7,830

  426

  60

  5,841

  344

  46

  Mexico City

  178

  0

  1

  181

  0

  0

  Minsk

  2,968

  41

  0

  3,045

  80

  0

  Moscow

  22,941

  593

  5

  16,894

  619

  8

  Muscat

  4,258

  41

  3

  3,209

  40

  5

  Nairobi

  6,582

  469

  7

  6,872

  731

  17

  New Delhi

  28,328

  1,672

  167

  21,719

  1,525

  156

  New York

  10,263

  31

  0

  8,403

  20

  0

  Nicosia

  1,285

  34

  1

  2,053

  38

  7

  Oslo

  1,063

  1

  1

  898

  2

  0

  Ottawa

  5,582

  33

  0

  5,192

  24

  1

  Paris

  6,946

  8

  0

  7,689

  11

  1

  Peking

  12,568

  —

  2

  19,175

  2,237

  0

  Port Louis

  3,823

  100

  7

  3,050

  200

  9

  Port of Spain

  541

  40

  0

  662

  39

  0

  Prague

  670

  3

  0

  755

  3

  0

  Pretoria

  5,756

  386

  0

  4,526

  406

  0

  Quito

  821

  20

  0

  865

  19

  1

  Riga

  553

  41

  0

  303

  18

  1

  Riyadh

  10,796

  114

  7

  9,836

  129

  7

  Rome

  2,097

  36

  0

  3,661

  24

  1

  Sana'a

  1,322

  104

  11

  1,448

  70

  5

  Santo Domingo

  547

  6

  0

  532

  22

  0

  Sarajevo

  780

  6

  0

  684

  5

  0

  Shanghai

  4,889

  61

  0

  6,660

  702

  0

  Singapore

  1,695

  11

  0

  1,331

  19

  0

  Skopje2

  1,205

  94

  —

  839

  139

  —

  Sofia

  6,823

  555

  0

  5,726

  899

  0

  St. Petersburg

  3,663

  129

  0

  3,010

  134

  0

  Sto Domingo

  —

  —

  0

  —

  —

  14

  Stockholm

  1,333

  8

  0

  1,119

  13

  0

  Taipei

  12,297

  429

  0

  12,282

  0

  0

  Tashkent

  599

  49

  0

  885

  72

  0

  Tbilisi

  530

  30

  0

  790

  33

  0

  Tehran

  6,583

  69

  9

  7,198

  167

  20

  Tel Aviv

  4,766

  175

  —

  6,552

  394

  —

  Tirana

  704

  40

  0

  853

  103

  0

  Tokyo

  1,435

  242

  1

  1,299

  81

  0

  Tripoli

  —

  —

  7

  —

  —

  0

  Tunis

  1,875

  196

  15

  3,042

  166

  21

  Valletta

  1,560

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Vienna

  745

  11

  0

  813

  7

  0

  Warsaw

  448

  19

  0

  545

  24

  0

  Washington

  3,271

  0

  1

  3,030

  0

  0

  Wellington

  4,240

  10

  0

  2,026

  7

  0

  Yaounde

  710

  70

  3

  476

  44

  4

  Zagreb

  3,945

  19

  1

  4,346

  32

  0

  553,064

  34,041

  1,506

  513,447

  38,921

  1,552

  1 Opened September 2001

  2 January 2001

  126W 127W
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for each year from 1990 to 2000, how many applications were made for a visa or entry clearance to visit the United Kingdom of these, how many were repeat applications; how many applications for a visa or entry clearance to visit the United Kingdom were refused; and of these, how many were repeat applications, broken down in each category by(a) the country from which the application was made, (b) the gender of the applicant and (c) the age of the applicant (0–10, 11–20, 21–30 and 31 and above). [8729]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We do not maintain records on the number of visa applications received for the years 1990 to 1992. Most records of applications at overseas Posts for those years will have been destroyed.

  We have the following information for 1993 to 1996:

  Year/region

  Received

  Refused

  1993

  Equatorial Africa

  90,123

  18,749

  Southern Africa

  6,703

  266

  Near East and North Africa

  73,320

  4,198

  Middle East

  110,230

  4,156

  Far East

  75,820

  1,205

  South Asia

  188,453

  25,224

  SE Asia

  98,434

  2,821

  Australia/South Pacific

  19,349

  43

  Western Europe

  92,748

  3,074

  Central Europe and FSU

  103,960

  4,569

  Southern Europe

  66,193

  3,212

  Northern Europe

  63,634

  183

  West Indies and Atlantic

  6,081

  1,057

  Latin America

  4,870

  88

  1994

  Equatorial Africa

  97,184

  19,998

  Southern Africa

  9,662

  472

  Near East and North Africa

  76,814

  3,261

  Middle East

  116,940

  3,876

  Far East

  78,798

  684

  South Asia

  210,117

  30,504

  SE Asia

  120,092

  2,622

  Australia/South Pacific

  28,563

  53

  Western Europe

  98,524

  2,953

  MVD, London

  318

  0

  Applications received/refused

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Abidjan

  2,053

  300

  2,343

  352

  2,176

  201

  2,865

  235

  Abu Dhabi

  16,532

  319

  1—

  1—

  17,663

  434

  18,850

  333

  Abuja

  7,930

  1,359

  11,487

  1,452

  16,782

  1,777

  21,602

  2,776

  Accra

  19,145

  4,840

  22,901

  5,078

  28,308

  5,355

  34,144

  7,783

  Addis Ababa

  5,808

  866

  4,357

  362

  4,066

  551

  3,547

  519

  Algiers

  2,657

  0

  3,499

  0

  3,370

  0

  0

  0

  Almaty

  4,589

  133

  5,334

  84

  4,996

  114

  5,486

  220

  Amman

  9,716

  190

  9,076

  227

  8,642

  228

  10,114

  151

  Amsterdam

  7,095

  234

  7,470

  256

  8,198

  270

  8,905

  172

  Ankara

  4,770

  49

  4,530

  67

  4,695

  90

  5,304

  52

  Antananarivo

  324

  6

  298

  8

  359

  25

  354

  31

  Ascension Island

  52

  1

  55

  0

  59

  0

  80

  0

  Ashgabat

  296

  0

  335

  0

  710

  12

  1,049

  6

  Athens

  1,157

  13

  991

  29

  1,167

  112

  1,273

  154

  Bahrain

  13,338

  88

  1—

  1—

  11,026

  73

  12,410

  98

  Baku

  2,358

  1

  3,217

  16

  2,755

  113

  2,702

  171

  Bandar Seri Begawan

  1,097

  5

  912

  4

  1,185

  18

  1,238

  5

  Bangkok

  42,592

  1,406

  21,906

  1,503

  29,278

  1,950

  32,253

  2,100

  128W

  Year/region

  Received

  Refused

  Central Europe and FSU

  15,752

  4,919

  Southern Europe

  54,654

  3,338

  Northern Europe

  72,301

  213

  West Indies and Atlantic

  7,431

  1,300

  Latin America

  5,223

  75

  1995

  Equatorial Africa

  89,889

  19,573

  Southern Africa

  16,308

  507

  Near East and North Africa

  78,127

  4,509

  Middle East

  122,794

  4,969

  Far East

  82,591

  1,222

  South Asia

  222,954

  35,576

  SE Asia

  130,246

  2,362

  Australia/South Pacific

  35,699

  77

  Western Europe

  96,516

  2,480

  MVD, London

  192

  0

  Central Europe and FSU

  187,991

  7,033

  Southern Europe

  63,610

  3,986

  Northern Europe

  72,434

  301

  West Indies and Atlantic

  6,855

  836

  Latin America

  6,314

  145

  1996

  Equatorial Africa

  126,738

  199,941

  Southern Africa

  19,403

  844

  Near East and North Africa

  80,598

  5,187

  Middle East

  199,080

  4,751

  Far East

  88,542

  1,458

  South Asia

  231,499

  36,430

  SE Asia

  138,067

  3,046

  Australia/South Pacific

  3,895

  43

  Western Europe

  96,496

  2,613

  MVD, London

  723

  0

  Central Europe and FSU

  213,984

  9,470

  Southern Europe

  81,091

  3,484

  Northern Europe

  80,783

  241

  West Indies and Atlantic

  7,845

  721

  Latin America

  8,815

  200

  The numbers of applications received and refused between 1997 and 2000 are as follows.

  We do not record for statistical purposes whether an application is a repeat application, the gender of the applicant or their age. To ask Posts to provide this information now would require them to carry out a manual search of their records, which could be done only at disproportionate cost.
  129W

  Applications received/refused

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Banjul

  3,115

  654

  3,137

  508

  3,933

  915

  4,579

  809

  Beirut

  8,027

  381

  7,507

  271

  7,500

  230

  8,090

  130

  Belgrade

  13,641

  437

  14,772

  285

  2,683

  55

  11,185

  207

  Belmopan

  22

  0

  24

  0

  17

  0

  31

  0

  Berne

  88

  0

  57

  0

  40

  0

  49

  0

  Bogota

  14,734

  441

  20,683

  1,089

  17,129

  1,303

  19,766

  1,759

  Bombay

  56,488

  4,813

  63,909

  5,006

  72,203

  5,895

  73,317

  6,684

  Bonn

  428

  0

  584

  0

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Brasilia

  90

  0

  97

  0

  95

  0

  164

  0

  Bratislava

  401

  36

  6,082

  69

  22,838

  773

  21,070

  496

  Bridgetown

  701

  78

  821

  71

  922

  105

  987

  109

  Brussels

  6,026

  120

  4,443

  118

  4,442

  94

  4,574

  81

  Bucharest

  18,830

  834

  23,206

  1,180

  22,056

  1,416

  22,270

  1,565

  Budapest

  1,352

  45

  1,610

  74

  4,869

  174

  1,587

  103

  Buenos Aires

  614

  4

  574

  3

  635

  10

  652

  6

  Cairo

  28,869

  949

  29,616

  904

  30,602

  728

  30,940

  612

  Calcutta

  9,264

  118

  11,629

  89

  9,636

  173

  10,087

  141

  Canberra

  28,585

  41

  32,317

  31

  34,095

  36

  34,423

  56

  Caracas

  573

  3

  445

  12

  584

  10

  708

  13

  Casablanca

  7,368

  862

  7,084

  665

  7,212

  453

  7,763

  426

  Chicago

  8,981

  18

  10,484

  17

  11,084

  24

  11,311

  9

  Colombo

  12,288

  608

  14,594

  622

  18,449

  1,281

  21,288

  2,480

  Copenhagen

  2,197

  89

  2,240

  47

  2,654

  39

  3,229

  52

  Dakar

  1,410

  229

  1,243

  189

  1,430

  183

  1,581

  160

  Damascus

  5,857

  233

  5,976

  297

  5,404

  411

  7,389

  536

  Dar Es Salaam

  6,962

  238

  9,008

  856

  9,607

  1,489

  9,253

  1,472

  Dhaka

  18,132

  5,829

  17,187

  4,562

  19,752

  4,656

  22,418

  5,342

  Doha

  14,972

  101

  1—

  1—

  10,407

  303

  9,973

  278

  Dubai

  26,364

  897

  1—

  1—

  27,677

  953

  28,408

  1,130

  Dublin

  3,496

  7

  3,313

  21

  3,613

  37

  5,039

  71

  Dusseldorf

  24,965

  668

  19,813

  483

  21,854

  309

  25,279

  182

  Ekaterinburg

  423

  12

  2,941

  65

  2,083

  46

  2,803

  97

  Freetown

  624

  145

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  2,815

  420

  Gaborone

  671

  17

  790

  28

  820

  34

  946

  44

  Geneva

  8,936

  129

  8,266

  121

  8,075

  148

  9,384

  188

  Georgetown

  1,589

  208

  1,582

  190

  1,521

  205

  1,881

  163

  Gibraltar

  568

  0

  625

  0

  344

  10

  242

  0

  Guangzhou

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  4,234

  206

  13,453

  1,373

  Guatemala City

  47

  0

  72

  1

  89

  3

  93

  6

  Hamilton

  54

  0

  289

  0

  280

  3

  239

  0

  Hanoi

  1,272

  99

  2,205

  164

  1,761

  315

  2,233

  244

  Harare

  1,530

  166

  1,955

  254

  1,900

  222

  2,960

  444

  Havana

  1,821

  106

  2,107

  96

  2,221

  163

  1,968

  108

  Helsinki

  956

  20

  1,046

  7

  948

  31

  1,367

  42

  Hong Kong

  13,365

  332

  11,846

  380

  6,390

  399

  5,833

  290

  Honiara

  38

  0

  11

  0

  23

  0

  22

  1

  Houston

  4,856

  24

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Islamabad

  33,011

  5,974

  49,087

  7,369

  50,816

  11,299

  64,346

  11,047

  Istanbul

  60,286

  2,625

  63,338

  2,817

  58,870

  2,240

  63,334

  2,274

  Jakarta

  31,980

  164

  8,855

  271

  18,539

  356

  19,340

  357

  Jedda

  25,304

  711

  1—

  1—

  25,803

  1,234

  21,844

  540

  Jerusalem

  2,234

  43

  2,378

  88

  2,021

  138

  2,189

  43

  Kampala

  9,309

  836

  11,203

  1,007

  11,612

  1,224

  13,139

  2,176

  Karachi

  26,678

  1,832

  28,063

  3,124

  30,286

  3,915

  32,450

  4,942

  Kathmandu

  3,096

  296

  3,825

  676

  4,148

  759

  5,597

  1,263

  Khartoum

  3,401

  533

  1—

  1—

  1,494

  315

  4,224

  616

  Kiev

  22,469

  2,626

  23,727

  2,580

  22,693

  2,843

  26,145

  3,121

  Kigali

  1—

  1—

  105

  0

  110

  0

  106

  0

  Kingston

  3,217

  232

  3,537

  230

  3,475

  389

  3,618

  408

  Kinshasa

  686

  82

  689

  44

  1,385

  143

  1,104

  255

  Kuala Lumpur

  3,893

  157

  2,655

  317

  2,956

  289

  2,645

  303

  Kuwait

  40,517

  352

  1—

  1—

  36,199

  397

  33,469

  661

  La Paz

  46

  2

  67

  1

  49

  2

  56

  0

  Lagos

  42,648

  8,856

  44,129

  8,621

  55,319

  8,267

  62,123

  9,363

  Lahore

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Lilongwe

  337

  32

  374

  33

  456

  39

  437

  28

  Lima

  3,387

  91

  3,884

  161

  3,642

  190

  3,678

  159

  Lisbon

  1,107

  15

  1,352

  27

  1,213

  19

  1,352

  27

  Los Angeles

  17,442

  32

  24,517

  93

  24,417

  186

  25,023

  98

  Luanda

  1,497

  38

  1,609

  30

  1,744

  44

  1,857

  138

  Lusaka

  4,082

  251

  4,488

  208

  4,746

  225

  5,289

  334

  130W 131W

  Applications received/refused

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Luxembourg

  477

  3

  397

  0

  400

  0

  340

  1

  Madras

  18,970

  651

  23,868

  917

  27,003

  954

  32,531

  1,316

  Madrid

  2,871

  137

  2,816

  184

  2,655

  132

  3,906

  84

  Managua

  17

  0

  15

  0

  16

  0

  21

  0

  Manila

  21,104

  1,125

  17,868

  1,584

  19,868

  1,274

  25,868

  1,161

  Maputo

  652

  28

  792

  23

  717

  22

  933

  27

  Maseru

  104

  2

  160

  6

  234

  33

  195

  42

  Mbabane

  1—

  1—

  152

  8

  123

  1

  160

  5

  Mexico City

  1,107

  4

  1,228

  5

  1,339

  7

  1,636

  5

  Minsk

  7,552

  90

  7,131

  168

  7,137

  120

  8,081

  201

  Montevideo

  128

  0

  139

  0

  88

  0

  95

  0

  Moscow

  91,496

  2,624

  77,323

  2,105

  56,736

  1,248

  65,544

  1,421

  Muscat

  8,534

  76

  1—

  1—

  10,587

  124

  10,004

  131

  MVD, London

  856

  0

  483

  0

  579

  0

  1—

  1—

  Nairobi

  18,060

  1,041

  17,194

  1,578

  18,796

  2,082

  18,949

  1,545

  Nassau

  229

  0

  244

  3

  338

  3

  327

  1

  New Delhi

  54,137

  7,200

  60,283

  8,249

  66,822

  11,165

  70,790

  12,481

  New York

  28,303

  170

  32,786

  268

  34,545

  169

  35,012

  166

  Nicosia

  2,911

  233

  8,340

  422

  8,006

  461

  7,397

  325

  Nuku'alofa

  14

  0

  20

  0

  28

  0

  1

  0

  Oslo

  3,360

  62

  2,745

  34

  2,739

  39

  3,265

  22

  Ottawa

  15,586

  159

  18,482

  111

  18,744

  66

  18,848

  61

  Panama City

  4

  0

  162

  6

  161

  3

  167

  3

  Paris

  22,833

  303

  21,301

  176

  19,561

  151

  22,189

  84

  Peking

  33,743

  2,850

  33,809

  2,602

  35,254

  2,733

  42,804

  4,105

  Port Louis

  8,614

  460

  9,537

  489

  9,463

  516

  10,105

  633

  Port Moresby

  626

  4

  609

  5

  676

  6

  567

  3

  Port of Spain

  1,394

  45

  1,535

  41

  1,793

  68

  1,937

  124

  Port Stanley

  79

  0

  66

  1

  49

  0

  1—

  1—

  Prague

  1,201

  55

  1,642

  67

  2,127

  90

  2,181

  79

  Pretoria

  12,700

  556

  19,328

  657

  22,437

  1,162

  19,950

  1,718

  Quito

  1,689

  167

  3,028

  201

  2,020

  229

  2,029

  188

  Rabat

  0

  0

  526

  0

  541

  0

  510

  0

  Rangoon

  847

  39

  1,095

  39

  1,028

  77

  1,259

  111

  Reykjavik

  85

  0

  88

  2

  136

  2

  198

  0

  Riga

  2,393

  78

  2,513

  174

  2,173

  156

  1,943

  147

  Rio de Janeiro

  616

  22

  735

  21

  720

  36

  806

  62

  Ryidah

  30,269

  545

  1—

  1—

  31,108

  800

  29,065

  569

  Rome

  5,576

  368

  6,059

  460

  5,422

  252

  7,408

  171

  San Jose

  53

  0

  77

  0

  72

  0

  111

  0

  San Salvador

  8

  1

  16

  0

  15

  0

  23

  0

  Sana'a

  4,005

  401

  1—

  1—

  4,093

  252

  5,117

  681

  Santiago

  480

  3

  543

  9

  507

  6

  343

  0

  Santo Domingo

  434

  41

  1,151

  84

  1,408

  59

  1,316

  48

  Sarajevo

  766

  68

  2,036

  139

  3,370

  163

  3,014

  73

  Seoul

  1,536

  16

  839

  15

  974

  27

  1,166

  72

  Shanghai

  1—

  1—

  5,683

  1—

  8,353

  788

  12,833

  885

  Singapore

  3,696

  35

  4,096

  31

  4,339

  19

  5,384

  39

  Skopje

  257

  0

  417

  0

  720

  1

  1,020

  0

  Sofia

  14,867

  636

  17,241

  944

  21,182

  1,371

  22,291

  1,303

  St. Petersburg

  16,610

  393

  14,382

  637

  11,347

  655

  11,981

  573

  Stockholm

  5,890

  66

  5,865

  100

  4,582

  87

  4,598

  78

  Suva

  764

  14

  763

  20

  822

  14

  1,340

  20

  Taipei

  50,133

  0

  41,089

  0

  43,042

  0

  44,959

  0

  Tallinn

  471

  9

  534

  59

  827

  80

  655

  168

  Tangier

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Tashkent

  3,115

  109

  2,915

  208

  2,581

  118

  1,946

  173

  Tbilisi

  1,479

  36

  1,905

  22

  2,290

  59

  2,793

  399

  Tegucigalpa

  18

  0

  23

  0

  25

  0

  39

  2

  Tehran

  21,013

  821

  1—

  1—

  22,613

  557

  26,750

  790

  Tel Aviv

  1,601

  154

  1,696

  255

  1,431

  184

  1,585

  123

  The Hague

  207

  0

  118

  0

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Tirana

  1—

  1—

  206

  33

  1,703

  206

  2,071

  297

  Tokyo

  5,590

  160

  5,443

  219

  5,044

  306

  5,131

  271

  Tripoli

  618

  0

  860

  3

  1,507

  12

  8,344

  256

  Tunis

  7,374

  1,713

  7,507

  1,260

  7,310

  1,097

  7,809

  1,160

  Ulaan Baatar

  590

  11

  818

  79

  911

  130

  1,084

  184

  Valletta

  7,726

  18

  7,419

  22

  6,876

  29

  4,964

  17

  Victoria

  198

  1

  192

  3

  268

  0

  282

  3

  Vienna

  2,583

  21

  2,625

  18

  2,618

  15

  3,007

  34

  Vila

  15

  0

  6

  0

  9

  1

  10

  2

  132W 133W

  Applications received/refused

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Received

  Refused

  Vilnius

  229

  16

  366

  38

  325

  46

  526

  65

  Warsaw

  1,341

  142

  1,409

  116

  1,568

  115

  1,509

  213

  Washington

  10,561

  8

  12,083

  4

  11,531

  17

  12,635

  7

  Wellington

  12,419

  20

  13,050

  24

  13,743

  43

  12,807

  72

  Windhoek

  198

  6

  363

  7

  483

  15

  496

  50

  Yaounde

  1,776

  171

  2,084

  243

  2,054

  225

  2,177

  350

  Yerevan

  667

  34

  1,022

  43

  969

  28

  1,036

  101

  Zagreb

  841

  84

  342

  25

  2,435

  34

  13,490

  352

  1 Posts where figures are not available

  Biological Weapons Convention
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with other Governments on the ratification of the verification protocol amendment to the Biological Weapons Convention 1972. [8621]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  None on the ratification of the protocol. The last meeting of the Ad Hoc Group of the States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) which had been negotiating a Protocol took place from 24 July to 17 August 2001. The meeting concluded without agreement on a Protocol text or a future negotiating process. We continue to support the strengthening of the BTWC and have regular discussions with like-minded partners about further options to achieve this objective.

  Botswana
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the Government of Botswana concerning their policy of resettling the nomadic San people in villages. [9065]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Foreign Secretary called on President Mogae of Botswana when he and his Foreign Minister visited London in June. The issue of resettlement of the San people was discussed during the meeting. The British High Commissioner discussed the San when he presented his credentials to President Mogae in September.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is being done to hold President Mugabe to the Abuja Accord. [9434]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Together with our EU partners, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Commonwealth and other concerned members of the international community, we continue to urge the Government of Zimbabwe to abide by the commitments it made in Abuja. My noble Friend Baroness Amos plans to visit Zimbabwe on 25–26 October with Abuja partners, to assess progress on the ground.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Zimbabwe. [8303]
  134W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are very concerned by the continuing breakdown of law and order in Zimbabwe. We are working with our Commonwealth, African, EU and other international partners to urge the Zimbabwean Government to restore the rule of law, respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and implement economic reform. We continue to urge the Zimbabwean Government to abide by the commitments it made in Abuja. My noble Friend Baroness Amos plans to visit Zimbabwe on 25–26 October to assess the situation on the ground, as part of the Abuja process, and in the company of other Commonwealth representatives.

  Middle East
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the release of Israeli soldiers by the Lebanese Hizbollah. [8315]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  This Government condemn hostage taking under any circumstances. The Government are doing what they can to help in these cases, and continue to raise them with the relevant countries in the region pressing particularly for access to the hostages for the ICRC. We strongly support all efforts to secure the release of all hostages, particularly efforts led by the United Nations Secretary General.

  Burma
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent report compiled by Earthrights International regarding the activities of Premier Oil in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [8712]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The report to which the hon. Member refers, published in May 2000, criticised Premier Oil's presence in Burma on the ground that it helped prop up a military regime under which human rights abuses, including forced labour, are widespread. We share that view and have asked Premier to leave Burma as soon as, and to the fullest extent that, it legally can.

  Pakistan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Pakistani counterparts concerning the sentencing to death of Dr. Yunis Shaikh for blasphemy on 18 August. [8307]
  135W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  The then FCO Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Scotland, raised this with the Pakistani Minister of Law, Ms Shahida Jamil, in April. In May, the local EU Troika raised the application of the blasphemy laws with Ms Jamil. Officials in our High Commission in Islamabad most recently discussed Mr. Shaikh's case with representatives of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in August. We will continue to follow this issue closely.

  Tibet
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) the most recent talks between the EU and Chinese regarding Tibet and (b) the situation of Chadrel Rinpoche, Gedun Choekyi, Ngawang Sangdrol, Ngawang Choephel and the anniversary monks. [8310]

  Mr. MacShane
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The EU raised our concerns about Tibet at the EU-China summit on 5 September. The EU-China Human Rights Dialogue on 25–26 October will provide another opportunity to discuss these concerns in detail.

  (b) We regularly raise our concerns about political prisoners in Tibet. Chadrel Rinpoche, Gedun Choekyi Nyima, Ngawang Sangdrol and Ngawang Cheophel were among the individual cases raised at the last round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 12–14 February. The Chinese gave the following information:

  Chadrel Rinpoche was in good health and allowed to study (i.e. watch TV and read newspapers). He was not held in solitary confinement, sharing his room with one other inmate. He was not required to carry out hard labour. We were told Chadrel was due for release on 9 January 2002.
  Ngawang Sangdrol was in good health, studies in her spare time and engages in weaving as a hobby. Her release date was 2013, her sentence having been extended three times for engaging in protests.
  Ngawang Choephel was in good health physically and mentally.
  In response to our call for independent access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Chinese said that his parents wished to preserve his privacy. We continue t press the Chinese for reassurance that Gedhun Choekyi is alive and well, and for independent access to him.

  We have no news of the two monks (Phuntsok Legmon and Namdrol) who were sentenced in July 1999 for protesting on 10 March 1999 in Lhasa.

  Dublin and Monaghan Bombings
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has responded to requests for information from the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974 by the delivery of relevant documents; and if he will make a statement. [7950]

  Peter Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 22 October 2001,Official Report, column 16W.

  Sri Lanka
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many arms export licences for arms sales to Sri Lanka have been rejected in each of the past five years. [8732]
  136W
  Nigel Griffiths
  I have been asked to reply.

  Details of all export licensing decisions taken between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 2000 were set out in the Government's 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House.

  The next Annual Report covering the period to December 2001 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the calendar year.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list how many arms export licences have been granted in each of the past five years for arms sales to Sri Lanka; if he will list the arms exported by each deal; if he will list who has received the arms in Sri Lanka; and what their end-use is. [8736]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I have been asked to reply.

  Details of all export licensing decisions taken between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 2000 were set out in the Government's 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House.

  From 1 January 2001 to 8 October 2001, 19 Standard Individual Export Licences and four Open Individual Export Licences were issued covering items on the Military List destined for Sri Lanka.

  In addition, goods on the Military List may have been exported to Sri Lanka under certain Open General Export Licences; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.

  Under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, Exemption 13—Third Party's Commercial confidences, I cannot provide the information requested on end use as it has been provided to the Government in confidence. In addition, publication of this information could reveal details of the recipient country's defence strategy, as well as being commercially damaging to the exporter.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Ministerial Visits
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many overseas visits and to which destinations have been undertaken by the Minister for Science over the last three years; and how they were funded. [8175]

  Ms Hewitt
  Over the last three years, the Minister for Science has undertaken 43 overseas visits to the following destinations: Belgium, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and USA. This includes a number of formal and informal EU Research Council meetings.

  The travel costs have been met from within the departmental budget.

  Summer Recess
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by her Department during the summer recess. [9225]

  Ms Hewitt
  158 press notices and 17 consultation documents were issued by the Department during the summer recess period. 57 of the releases issued during this period were standard statistical information notes, merger clearances and other company law announcements. Copies of all the documents are available on the DTI website. Press notices are also available from the Central Office of Information.

  End of Life Vehicles Directive
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the implementation of the End of Vehicle Life Directive on MG Rover. [9693]

  Ms Hewitt
  The DTI Consultation Paper includes a partial regulatory impact assessment that addresses the costs and benefits of the Directive. My Department has had a number of meetings with MG Rover, and with other car manufacturers, about the impact of the Directive. A full assessment of the effect on individual companies cannot be made until the precise method of implementation has been decided.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the administrative budget is of each of the English regional development agencies in the current financial year. [8633]

  Alan Johnson
  The RDAs' administration budgets this year are as follows:

  £ million

  Administration

  One North East

  10.653

  North West Development Agency

  14.044

  Yorkshire Forward

  9.989

  East Midlands Development Agency

  7.488

  Advantage West Midlands

  8.793

  East of England Development Agency

  5.836

  South East Development Agency

  7.143

  South West Development Agency

  9.099

  London Development Agency

  9.470

  Total

  82.515

  Textile Industry (Climate Change Levy)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the textile industry regarding the climate change levy; and if she will make a statement. [9206]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Ministers and officials maintain contact with textile industry representatives, where issues of concern to the textile industry are discussed. Prior to the levy's implementation in April this year, the British Apparel and Textile Confederation (BATC) negotiated an Energy
  138W
  Efficiency Agreement with the Government for an 80 per cent. discount from the levy for eligible textile companies.

  Hearing Aid Council
  Mr. John Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will review the Code of Practice of the Hearing Aid Council relating to protection of persons who purchase a hearing aid in circumstances in which they were misled by the seller. [8679]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Code of Practice is the responsibility of the Hearing Aid Council, who keep it under review.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate total staff costs for his Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if she will make a statement. [6835]

  Ms Hewitt
  The pay bill costs for the DTI, excluding the Patent Office and Companies House Trading Funds, but including the Department's gross and net controlled agencies, in 1999–2000 were £222 million. A more detailed breakdown is given in the Department's Expenditure Plans Report 2001–02 to 2003–04, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House (Cm 5112). The figure is not broken down geographically, and it would incur disproportionate cost to do so, but the Department's current staff, excluding those at the agencies and in Government offices, are distributed as follows:

  Based

  Number of staff

  Percentage

  England

  4,457

  94.7

  Scotland

  167

  3.5

  Wales

  81

  1.7

  Northern Ireland

  0

  0

  I have asked the agency and Trading Fund chief executives to reply directly in respect of the expenditure and staff for which they are responsible.

  Letter from Chris de Grouchy to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 23 October 2001:
  Parliamentary Question—Staff Costs for DTI
  I am replying on behalf of our Chief Executive David Hendon who is currently away from the office.
  The total paybill costs, including Superannuation, for the Radiocommunications Agency for 2000–01 were £17.9m. The national and regional breakdown was as follows:

  £ million

  England

  17.2

  Scotland

  0.3

  Wales

  0.2

  Northern Ireland

  0.2

  139W
  Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 23 October 2001:
  I am responding on behalf of the Patent Office, an Executive Agency of the DTI, to the Parliamentary question tabled on 23 July 2001 in which you asked the Secretary of State if she would estimate total staff costs for her Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK.
  The paybill costs for the Patent Office in 2000–2001 were £24.5 million. A more detailed breakdown is given in our Annual Report 2000–01, a copy of which is available in the library of the House. The figure is not broken down geographically but the staff are distributed as follows:

  895 (98.7%) are based in Wales; and

  12 (1.3%) in England; and

  0 (0%) in Scotland; and

  0 (0%) in Northern Ireland.

  Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 23 October 2001:
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to your question about the total staff costs for The Insolvency Service.
  The pay bill costs for The Service in 1999–2000 were £36,683,000 and, in 2000–2001 £36,177,000. The figures are included in The Service's annual report and accounts, published in July 2001. The figures are not broken down geographically, and it would incur disproportionate cost to do so, but The Service's current staff are distributed as follows:

  1,539 (96.8%) are based in England;

  9 (0.6%) in Scotland;

  41 (2.6%) in Wales; and

  0 (0%) in Northern Ireland.

  Letter from John Holden to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 23 October 2001:
  I have been asked to reply to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in respect of Companies House Executive Agency.
  The total pay bill including pension contributions and employer's National Insurance cost for the financial year ended 31 March 2001 was £17.4 million.
  These figures are not readily broken down by Region, but 94% of the workforce is based in Wales, 4% in Scotland and 2% in England. The total employed headcount on a full time equivalent basis was 954 on average for the same period.

  Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 23 October 2001:
  I refer to your attached Parliamentary Question of 23 July, 2001.
  The contribution of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS) to the total staff costs in question is as follows:
  Total costs for 2000–2001 for Great Britain were £22,289,000.00. A more detailed breakdown of numbers of staff and costs is given in the Annual Report and Accounts of the Employment Tribunals Service 2000–2001. The report is available at the ETS website, www.ets.gov.uk. The figure is not broken down geographically, and it would incur disproportionate cost to do so, but the Agency's current staff, as at the end of September 2001, are distributed as follows:

  607.9 (90.03%) are based in England

  51.8 (7.67%) are based in Scotland; and

  15.5 (2.30%) are based in Cardiff, Wales.

  Letter from Iain MacGregor to Mr. Michael Weir, dated 23 October 2001:
  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of NWML to your question regarding the staff costs for DTI and its Agencies.
  140W
  The figures for NWML are as follows:

  1999/2000= £1 65 M

  2000/2001= £1.74 M

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the number of staff employed by her Department by region and nation of the UK; and if she will make a statement. [6834]

  Ms Hewitt
  The total staff in post figures for the DTI, including agencies (Companies House, Employment Tribunal Service, Insolvency Service, National Weights and Measures Laboratory, Patent Office and Radiocommunications Agency) is 10,099.

  This figure is broken down by nation as follows:

  Staff in post

  Percentage

  England

  7,620

  75.45

  Northern Ireland

  6

  0.06

  Scotland

  294

  2.91

  Wales

  2,182

  21.58

  This figure is further broken down by nation and region (county) as follows:

  Number

  England

  Avon

  102

  Bedfordshire

  18

  Berkshire

  49

  Cambridgeshire

  23

  Cheshire

  25

  Cleveland

  95

  Cornwall

  1

  Devon

  76

  Dorset

  15

  East Sussex

  32

  Essex

  25

  Gloucestershire

  26

  Greater London

  5,282

  Greater Manchester

  146

  Hampshire

  78

  Hertfordshire

  134

  Humberside

  32

  Kent

  59

  Lancashire

  33

  Leicestershire

  36

  Merseyside

  68

  Middlesex

  60

  Norfolk

  26

  Northamptonshire

  24

  Nottinghamshire

  87

  Oxfordshire

  28

  Shropshire

  28

  South Yorkshire

  161

  Staffordshire

  17

  Suffolk

  76

  Surrey

  174

  Tyne and Wear

  79

  Unknown

  46

  West Midlands

  348

  West Yorkshire

  111

  Northern Ireland

  Down

  5

  Londonderry

  1

  141W

  Number

  Scotland

  Central

  12

  Grampian

  85

  Lothian

  83

  Strathclyde

  109

  Tayside

  5

  Wales

  Gwent

  919

  South Glamorgan

  1,244

  West Glamorgan

  16

  Correspondence
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the average response time for providing a substantive answer to(a) hon. Member's correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) House of Commons and (ii) House of Lords; [7049]

  (2) if she will place in the Library for each year since 1995 the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the Public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by her Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if she will make a statement. [7050]

  Ms Hewitt
  I received almost 13,000 items of post in the last year. My Department aims to respond to all letters received within 10 working days.

  General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and on overall performance is published by the Cabinet Office. Figures for 2000 were published on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324–28W and on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.

  My Department aims to answer all ordinary written parliamentary questions within five working days, and named day written parliamentary questions on the day named.

  I have answered 378 written parliamentary questions this session, providing substantive answers for 76 per cent. of them on time.

  Business Recovery Fund
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many applications for grants were made under the business recovery fund; and how many have been allocated, for each Regional Development Agency in the last three years; [7800]

  (2) how much money has been made available to provide grants under the business recovery fund; and what the total value of grants made has been allocated so far under the business recovery fund, for each Regional Development Agency. [7801]

  Alun Michael
  I have been asked to reply.
  142W
  The business recovery fund has been in existence only since May this year as part of our response to the impact of foot and mouth disease on the rural economy. Discretion was given to each Regional Development Agency to use available funds flexibly and quickly to meet the specific needs of their own region. As a consequence information on numbers of applications is not available on any consistent basis. Information on the value of grants is given in the table.

  RDA allocations—direct grants to business1

  All cash figures in £ million

  Allocation

  Approved for payment

  Number of applications approved

  Applications awaiting approval

  NWDA

  6.6

  6.0

  1,906

  90

  SWDA

  9.2

  8.4

  775

  0

  Yfwd

  2.0

  2.0

  585

  0

  AWM

  4.0

  3.3

  335

  150

  ONE

  2.3

  1.8

  570

  100

  EEDA

  0.5

  1.6

  23

  110

  SEEDA

  1.0

  0.6

  93

  88

  EMDA

  1.4

  1.3

  95

  385

  Total

  26.9

  20.54

  4,382

  923

  1 17 October 2001

PRIME MINISTER

  Strategic Communications Unit
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what the cost was of running the Strategic Communications Unit in the financial year 2000–01. [8767]

  The Prime Minister
  The total cost of running the Strategic Communications Unit for the financial year 2000–01 was £957,302. This includes the cost of developing and running the No. 10 website which now receives over four million hits a week.

  Special Envoys
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the overseas missions undertaken on his behalf since 7 June by(a) Lord Levy and (b) the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), listing in each case (i) persons and places visited, (ii) the reason for the visits and (iii) the cost to public funds. [8774]

  The Prime Minister
  Since 7 June, Lord Levy has travelled as my personal envoy to Israel and the Palestinian Authority from 10 to 13 July, and to Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Jordan from 30 September to 10 October. During his visits he met a range of senior figures including the Israeli Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Defence Minister, the President of the Palestinian Authority, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, King Abdullah and the Jordanian Foreign Minister. The purpose of these visits was to carry messages on my behalf to other leaders. Lord Levy received no remuneration and travels at his own expense. The FCO and diplomatic missions overseas provide him with practical support, the cost of which is not separately itemised.
  143W
  I have appointed my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) as Chairman of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group. He has not undertaken any missions on my behalf.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister in respect of visits abroad undertaken on his behalf by(a) Lord Levy and (b) right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), and if it is his policy to inform the Foreign Office of such visits in advance. [8773]

  The Prime Minister
  When Lord Levy travels as my personal envoy, the FCO is informed and he is supported by FCO staff in London and at overseas diplomatic missions.

  In respect of my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have him today.

  Regional Government
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the allocation of ministerial responsibilities for aspects of regional Government. [7528]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 9 July,Official Report, column 408W.

HEALTH

  Alcohol Strategy
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish his alcohol strategy. [7386]

  Ms Blears
  The broad timetable for the strategy is set out in the NHS Plan, which was published in July 2000. The plan said that the Department would be implementing the strategy by 2004. The Department expects to publish a consultation paper in due course.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide a screening service for asylum seekers arriving in Kent; and what finance is being made available. [6066]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 15 October 2001]: In Kent, as in the rest of the country, health authorities are responsible for providing health services, including screening, to asylum seekers. There are also national guidelines on what screening health authorities should offer their populations for tuberculosis (TB), and interim guidance on screening refugees and asylum seekers for TB has recently been circulated. In addition, the Department has commissioned the Refugee Council to provide best practice guidance on the health and social care needs (including screening needs) of asylum seekers dispersed through the National Asylum Support Service.

  More generally, there is provision in immigration legislation for immigration officers to refer any prospective entrant to the United Kingdom to a medical inspector at the port of entry for a medical examination. The Department is considering with the Home Office and
  144W
  the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, whether the current arrangements for controlling cases of imported infection need to be strengthened, and if so how.

  Care Home Standards
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance the Government will provide on assessing the physical and mental fitness of(a) a registered provider, (b) a registered manager and (c) care home workers, as required in the Care Homes Regulations 2001; who will carry out the assessments; who will pay for these assessments; and if he will make a statement. [7993]

  Jacqui Smith
  The requirements for a report on the physical and mental health of registered persons and employees of care homes are set out in both the draft Care Homes Regulations and the National Care Standards Commission Registration Regulations. This is standard practice as required by many registration and inspection units throughout England currently.

  Reports for registered persons should be requested from a general medical practitioner. Where a general practitioner intends to charge for such a report it will be the responsibility of the person applying for the report to pay any fee. People working or seeking employment in a care home may seek a report from a GP but if the GP is unable or unwilling to provide a report they may sign a statement as to their physical and mental health.

  Chiropodists and Podiatrists
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the training places for professions allied to medicine relate to chiropodists and podiatrists in each of the years from 2001 to 2004. [7707]

  Mr. Hutton
  Between 1999 and 2001 around 340 chiropody/podiatry training places each year were commissioned.

  As part of the NHS Plan target to provide 4,450 more therapist and other key health professional training places each year by 2004 we would expect to see an increase in the number of chiropody/podiatry training places.

  Targets for the number of chiropody/podiatry training places for the remainder of the NHS Plan period will be set later in the year.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which targets in the National Service Framework for Mental Health(a) have been met and (b) are yet to be met. [8177]

  Jacqui Smith
  The National Framework for Mental Health (NSF) is a 10 year programme to put in place new standards of care. The NSF sets out national standards for mental health, what they aim to achieve, how they should be developed and delivered and how to measure performance in every part of the country. The NHS Plan builds on the NSF by providing extra investment to fast-forward the NSF.

  So far the following targets have been achieved:

  Secure beds
  Almost 500 extra secure beds were in place by April 2001
  145W
  24-hour staffed beds
  320 extra 24-hour staffed beds were in place by April 2001

  Assertive Outreach Services
  170 new teams were established by April 2001.

  Over the forthcoming years the following targets will be achieved:

  Suicide and undetermined injury
  Reduce mortality rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20 per cent. by 2010—on target

  Primary Care
  1,000 new graduate primary care mental health workers employed to help general practitioners to benefit 300,000 people by 2004—on target

  Community mental health staff
  5,000 more community mental health staff to benefit 500,000 patients (66 per cent. by 2003. 100 per cent. by 2004)—on target

  Early Intervention Teams
  Establish 50 early intervention teams (45 per cent. by 2003,100 per cent. by 2004)—on target

  Early and intensive support
  7,500 young people who experience a first episode of psychosis receiving early and intense support by 2004—on target

  Crisis Resolution
  Establish 335 crisis resolution teams (23 per cent. by 2003, 100 per cent. by 2004)—on target
  All people in contact with specialist mental health services able to access crisis resolution services at any time by 2004—on target
  No out of area admissions which are not clinically indicated by 2004—on target

  Assertive Outreach Services
  Further 50 teams by 2003—on target
  All who need assertive outreach services to receive them by 2003 (estimated 20,000)

  Women's Services
  Women only day centres in every health authority by 2004—on target

  Prison In-reach
  5.000 prisoners receiving more comprehensive mental health services in prison by 2004—on target
  All prisoners with severe mental illness in receipt of treatment by 2004—on target
  No prisoner with serious mental illness to leave prison without a care plan and a care co-ordinator by 2004—on target

  Carers
  700 more staff enabling support for 165,000 carers by 2004—on target

  Reform of mental health legislation
  White Paper finalised—on target
  Reform of Mental Health Act 1983—on target

  Personality Disorder
  140 additional new secure places for people with severe personality disorder by 2004—on target
  75 additional specialist rehabilitation hostel places for people with severe personality disorder by 2004—on target

  High secure hospitals
  Up to 400 patients to move from high secure hospitals to more appropriate accommodation by 2004—on target.
  146W
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress in implementation of the National Service Framework for Mental Health; and if he will make a statement. [9506]

  Jacqui Smith
  From data collected on the delivery of the National Service Framework and NHS Plan targets we are able to build a picture of progress. This is achieved specifically through mapping of services, a process of self assessment by local implementation teams, financial mapping, analysis of the service and financial framework process and analysis of common information returns on mental health. Assessment of progress and financial mapping will be an annual occurrence.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the extra money for child and adolescent mental health services announced in February 1999 has so far been spent; and where and when. [9527]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Our strategy for development of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), initiated in 1999–2000, is ongoing with the aim of improving the overall quality and accessibility of local services for children and young people with mental health problems. In the three years ending 31 March 2002 we will have invested some £85 million across the national health service and local authorities, with each authority receiving funding. Health authorities will have been allocated £50 million and local authorities £35 million. The funding to local authorities includes £16 million for the 24 CAMHS innovation projects. These projects are piloting innovative approaches in the provision of mental health services for children and young people.

  An additional £10 million was scheduled in 2001–02 for health authorities. However in the Spending Review last year it was decided to place as much funding as possible, including the £10 million, into main health authority allocations. This was in response to concerns from the NHS and will provide the benefit to health authorities of being able to manage the totality of resources available to them. This will allow them to determine for themselves how to implement national priorities, of which CAMHS is one.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many secure mental health beds there were(a) in April 1997, (b) in April 2001 and (c) at the latest available date. [9525]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: In April 1997 there were 2,294 secure mental health beds. In April 2001, which is the latest available date, there were 3,584 secure mental health beds.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress in meeting the Public Service Agreement Target of reducing nationally the emergency psychiatric readmission rate; if he will make a statement. [9521]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The following assessment of progress on the number of emergency psychiatric readmissions of patients aged 16–64 within 90 days of discharge from the care of a psychiatric specialist as a percentage of such discharges is set out in the table.

  147W

  1998–99 Total

  1999–2000 Total

  2000–01 Total

  Number of re-admissions within 90 days

  15,461

  14,875

  14,068

  Total number of discharges

  113,585

  114,616

  110,312

  Re-admission rate (percentage)

  13.6

  13.0

  12.8

  The table shows progress is being made and that the national milestone as stated in the Mental Health National Service Framework to reduce the rate of psychiatric emergency readmission's by April 2002, from 14.3 per cent. to 12.3 per cent. is on target to be achieved.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress in meeting his mental health target to reduce the 1997 death rate from suicide and undetermined injury; and if he will make a statement. [9526]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The White Paper "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" (OHN) sets out a challenging target to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth by the year 2010. OHN targets measure suicide rates using three-year pooled rates. The most recent data available are for 1998–2000 and indicate a small rise over the 1995–97 baseline. However, it is too early to assess progress in meeting the target as the most recent three-year pooled data still overlap the start of OHN, which was published in 1999.

  We are currently developing, under the direction of the National Director for Mental Health, Professor Louis Appleby, a coherent, national suicide prevention strategy to ensure that we are doing all we can to prevent suicide in pursuit of the "Our Healthier Nation" target.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis received early and intensive support in 2000–01; and if he will make a statement on progress against his target for 2004. [9523]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Information about the proportion of young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis who received early and intensive support in 2000–01 is not available centrally. The NHS Plan set a target that, by 2004, all young people who experience a first episode of psychosis will receive the early and intensive support they need. Fifty early intervention teams will be established by 2004 to provide this support and it is expected that 7,500 young people will benefit each year. During the current financial year the onus has been on local reviews of services and the establishment of robust plans to meet NHS Plan targets. Implementation of the target for early intervention teams will follow in 2002–03 and 2003–04. Progress on the development of plans is being monitored this autumn through a comprehensive review process.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women-only mental health day centres have been established under the NHS Plan. [9522]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: We have a target to put in place a women-only mental health day centre in every health authority by 2004. A considerable amount of development work is under way
  148W
  to support the delivery of high quality mental health services for women including the production of a national women's mental health strategy. We have as yet no details with regard to services in place although we are measuring progress toward targets with our service and financial mapping.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many early intervention mental health teams have been established. [9524]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The NHS Plan has set a target for 50 early intervention teams to be established by 2004 in order to provide treatment and active support in the community to young people who develop psychosis, such as schizophrenia. Child and adolescent mental health services will be participating with adult services in developing the new teams. This will help to reduce the problems that can occur at the interface between the services.

  During the current financial year the onus has been on local reviews of services and the establishment of robust plans to meet NHS Plan targets. Implementation of the target for early intervention teams will follow in 2002–03 and 2003–04. Progress on the development of plans is being monitored this autumn through a comprehensive review process.

  Social Services (Client Information)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require social service authorities to request transfer of information from other authorities when clients move from area to area. [8510]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department is currently consulting on guidance that includes the requirement that councils should liaise over the care of service users who move from one area to another to ensure continuity of care.

  Access to personal assessment information would need to be agreed with the service user, and would take account of common law confidentiality requirements and the provisions of the Data Protection Act. However, information on an individual may be shared by statutory agencies without the individual's consent where there is a sufficient public interest justification to do so, for example where failing to do so would put people at significant risk.

  Community Care Assessments
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require social services authorities to meet targets for the completion of community care assessments. [8509]

  Jacqui Smith
  In current and forthcoming guidance on assessment, the Department emphasises that people should be told how long the assessment of their needs will take. The guidance also emphasises that assessment should be timely and kept in proportion to individuals' needs.

  There are no plans to set national targets on the completion of community care assessments for social services authorities.

  Waiting Lists (Leicestershire)
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on waiting lists for operations in each specialty in Leicestershire. [8522]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows the waiting lists for elective admission by specialty in the Leicestershire health authority area as at 30 June 2001—the latest published figures that are available:

  Specialty

  Ordinary admissions

  Day cases

  General surgery

  1,745

  1,267

  Urology

  263

  678

  Trauma and Orthopaedics

  1,738

  869

  Ear, nose and Throat

  1,746

  262

  Ophthalmology

  402

  1,886

  Oral surgery

  121

  404

  Neurosurgery

  24

  1

  Plastic surgery

  522

  450

  Cardiothoracic surgery

  360

  —

  Paediatric surgery

  66

  173

  Accident and emergency

  —

  16

  Anaesthetics

  221

  256

  Pain management

  1

  177

  General medicine

  20

  253

  Gastroenterology

  —

  39

  Cardiology

  239

  360

  Dermatology

  —

  9

  Thoracic medicine

  —

  12

  Nephrology

  1

  8

  Neurology

  20

  —

  Paediatrics

  —

  31

  Gynaecology

  569

  440

  Mental Illness

  19

  —

  Total1

  8,077

  7,591

  1 All specialties

  Source:

  Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England

  Pain Control Clinics
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that pain control clinics are in place in every primary care trust area; and if he will make a statement. [9116]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are committed to providing equity of access to health care and to reducing variations in the availability of National Health Service services. Patients with pain should have access to services which provide management programmes of proven effectiveness. Chronic pain services exist in 220 acute hospitals, 88 per cent. of acute hospitals in the United Kingdom. However, decisions about pain control clinics in primary care trust areas are to be made locally, based on the needs of the local population. In reviewing local provision account should be taken of the needs of both adults and children, and include patients with acute pain resulting from sudden illness or accident, as well as post-operative pain and chronic pain. A systematic review of pain relieving treatments was undertaken in 1997 through the health technology assessment programme and providers may also find this of use in planning local services.

  The Clinical Standards Advisory Group report, published in April 2000, shows many NHS trusts have developed excellent services, but we recognise that in some places more needs to he done to drive up standards.
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  We expect the NHS to take full account of this report when reviewing local provision to meet the needs of communities.

  MRI Scans
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to reduce waiting times for MRI scans(a) in Gloucestershire and (b) nationally. [8570]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: Investment through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and the NHS Plan will provide 86 magnetic resonance imaging scanners for the National Health Service by 2004. These scanners will support the accurate diagnosis and staging of cancer patients by increasing the number of scans that can be undertaken. The Gloucester Royal Infirmary has been awarded a MRI scanner under the NOF initiative. It is likely to reduce waiting times for MRI scans in Gloucestershire.

  The length of time which a patient might have to wait for a MRI scan is dependent on their clinical condition with priority given to emergency cases.

  Nursing and Midwifery Council
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with rank and file health visitors on the proposals not to include health visitors in the title for the new Nursing and Midwifery Council. [8572]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The Government are aware of the views of health visitors from their 1,200 responses to consultation on the Government's proposals. I am due to meet my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) with a delegation of health visitors shortly to discuss these.

  National Institute for Mental Health
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the budget in 2001–02 for the National Institute for Mental Health in England; and how much has been spent. [9514]

  Jacqui Smith
  The budget for the National Institute for Mental Health in 2001–02 is £400,000. None of this money has yet been spent.

  Expenditure Statistics
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure per head on health was in(a) Tamworth, (b) Telford, (c) Kidderminster and (d) Redditch in each year from April 1996 to April 2001. [8868]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information is not available in the format requested. Data on expenditure on health per weighted head of population are available for health authority areas, not individual towns. The relevant health authorities are South Staffordshire health authority (Tamworth), Shropshire health authority (Telford) and Worcestershire health authority (Kidderminster and Redditch) and information for these health authorities is given in the table.

  Expenditure on health per weighted head of population for each relevant health authority, from 1996–97 to 2000–01, is shown in the table.

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  Expenditure on health per weighted head of population for each relevant health authority from 1996–97 to 2000–01

  £

  South Staffordshire

  Shropshire

  Worcestershire

  1996–97

  593.40

  582.08

  602.45

  1997–98

  580.71

  575.19

  641.55

  1998–99

  606.59

  610.33

  678.65

  1999–2000

  687.05

  716.70

  718.87

  2000–01

  735.88

  740.93

  801.38

  Note:

  Expenditure is taken from health authority annual accounts or summarisation forms which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in each year. The expenditure is the total spent on the purchase of healthcare by the health authority. The majority of general dental services for all five years and an element of drugs expenditure for 1997–98 and 1998–99 is not included in the health authority accounts and is separately accounted for.

  Source:

  Health authority audited accounts 1996–97 to 1998–99

  Health authority audited summarisation forms 1999–2000 and 2000–01

  Weighted population estimates for 1996–97 to 2000–01

  Mr. Barrie Such
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made in the case of Mr. Barrie Such, pursuant to the undertaking given in the Adjournment debate on 7 December 2000,Official Report, column 246, that the NHS executive regional office would monitor the implementation of the care plan and funding arrangements. [8990]

  Jacqui Smith
  I can confirm that, following the Adjournment debate in the House on 7 December 2000, agreement was reached between Worcestershire health authority and social services on the provision and funding of a 24 hour package of care for Mr. Such following his eventual discharge from hospital.

  Discussions have been taking place on viable options for providing Mr. Such and his family with a home in an appropriate setting. A decision has been reached and plans are currently being drawn up in consultation with Mrs. Such for a new property to be built. When those plans are agreed, the time scale for completion is estimated to be about four to five months

  I have requested that the health authority, social services and the district council in Worcestershire continue to work together to ensure a timely and satisfactory outcome for Mr. and Mrs. Such.

  Solihull Hospital
  Mr. John Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future status of the accident and emergency facilities at Solihull Hospital. [8682]
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  Mr. Hutton
  A service review group comprising representatives from the Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull national health service trust (teaching), primary care trust, health authority, community health council, patient carers and patient representatives is currently undertaking an options appraisal for the future of the accident and emergency department at Solihull Hospital. The group will report to Solihull health authority on its recommendations, with a view to the health authority then launching a public consultation on its preferred option. The review was originally due to report back by the end September, but this has now been extended until early in the New Year.

  Primary Care Trusts
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review processes by which public consultation is undertaken on primary care trusts, and the reorganisation of health authorities. [9129]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: It is not proposed at this stage to review the processes of consultation.

  Legislation requires public consultation to be undertaken on the establishment of primary care trusts and new health authorities. The aim is that all consultation is open, transparent and inclusive, capturing the views of local stakeholders. While the regulations specify those who must be consulted, it allows for health authorities to consult a wider range of local bodies and individuals on the formation of primary care trusts.

  With regard to the proposed new health authorities, consultation on their boundaries commenced in September and will be completed at the end of November.

  Assertive Outreach Scheme
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health crisis resolution teams and assertive outreach teams have been established; and how many people are receiving assertive outreach services. [9515]

  Jacqui Smith
  The latest information held centrally indicates that there were 35 crisis resolution teams in place as at October 2000. The NHS plan has set a target of having 335 crisis resolution teams established by 2004. Progress towards meeting this target is being monitored this autumn through a comprehensive review process.

  Returns received indicate that there were over 170 assertive outreach teams in place as at June 2001, and that around 9,000 people were receiving assertive outreach services. The NHS plan sets a target for a further 50 assertive outreach teams by 2004 so that everybody who requires assertive outreach, some 20,000 people, will be receiving these services.

  GPs
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there are in post in Leicestershire in the current financial year. [9085]
  153W
  Mr. Hutton
  The number of general medical practitioners in Leicestershire health authority as at 30 September 2000 is set out in the table. September 2000 data are the latest information available: September 2001 data will be available at the end of January 2002.

  General medical practitioners in Leicestershire health authority as at 30 September 2000

  Headcount

  All practitioners1

  547

  Unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)2

  500

  1 All practitioners include UPEs, restricted principals, assistants, PMS others, GP registrars, salaried doctors (paragraph 52 SFA) and GP retainers.

  2 UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Weighted Capitation (Leicestershire)
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the extra resources required to bring Leicestershire up to a 100 per cent. of its weighted capitation in(a) cash and (b) percentage terms. [9086]

  Mr. Hutton
  Leicestershire health authority's distance from weighted capitation target for 2001–02 is £15 million in cash terms or 2.44 per cent. below target. For 2001–02 Leicestershire health authority received an allocation of £616 million, which is an increase of £49 million in cash terms or 8.57 per cent. The weighted capitation formula is used to set targets that inform allocations but the formula does not determine allocations.

  Sexual Health
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will recommend the use in England of -Pathways to Sexual Health", published by the Lothian Health Board; [8686]

  (2) if he will recommend the use of "Let's Talk About Sex" by publicly funded organisations in England; [8687]

  (3) if he will recommend the use of "Taking Sex Seriously—Practical Sex Education Activities For Young People" by organisations in England which are funded by his Department. [8688]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: It is for local agencies and organisations to determine which resources or materials most effectively and appropriately support their work. If they are to be used within a school setting, then this should be in accordance with guidance on Sex and Relationship Education produced by the Department for Education and Skills. The guidance

  2001

  May

  June

  July

  August

  Number waiting over 18 months for inpatient treatment

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Number waiting less than 18 months for inpatient treatment

  8,868

  8,850

  8,898

  8,917

  Number waiting less than 15 months for inpatient treatment

  8,676

  8,674

  8,723

  8,733

  Number waiting less than 12 months for inpatient treatment

  8,159

  8,150

  8,184

  8,202

  Source:

  KH07 quarterly return/monthly waiting list returns
  154W
  stresses the need for schools to ensure that their pupils are protected from any teaching or materials which are inappropriate, while having regard to the age and cultural background of the pupils concerned.

  Mobile Telecommunications
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial provision has been made for the mobile telecommunications health research programme. [9024]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: The Stewart report on mobile phones and health made a recommendation that a substantial research programme should be set up under the aegis of a demonstrably independent panel and financed by the mobile phone companies and the public sector. This programme has now been set up under the direction of an independent programme management committee. The total sum available for this programme is £7.36 million, the costs being shared 50:50 between Government and the mobile phone industry.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research projects will be undertaken by the mobile telecommunications health research programme. [9025]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: The Stewart report on mobile phones and health made a recommendation that a substantial research programme should be set up under the aegis of a demonstrably independent panel and financed by the mobile phone companies and the public sector. This programme has been set up under the direction of an independent scientific management committee. The committee is currently assessing a range of research proposals including those that investigate dosimetry, physiology and epidemiology. The first group projects is expected to start in the next few weeks. When they are approved, the individual projects will be announced on the Department's web site at www.doh.gov.uk/mobilephones.

  Hospital Waiting Times (Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area were waiting for inpatient treatment for(a) more than 18 months, (b) up to 18 months, (c) up to 15 months and (d) up to 12 months, in each month from 31 May until the latest available monthly figures. [8697]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The information requested is given in the table.

  The number of patients waiting more than 18 months, up to 18 months, up to 15 months, and up to 12 months for in-patient treatment at Mid-Essex Hospital Services national health service trust on 31 May 2001 until the latest available monthly figures are:

  Age-related Audits
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish for each NHS trust the results of the age-related audits required by the National Service Framework for Older People; and if she will list those trusts that have(a) submitted their audits to the regional office on time, (b) yet to submit and (c) were late to submit their accounts. [8699]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The date set by the National Service Framework for Older People for completion of the local age-related audit is October 2001. Information at regional and national level will be available later this year. Individual national health service trusts are expected to publish details of the policy reviews undertaken locally in their annual reports covering the current year.

  Delayed Discharges
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 15 October 2001,Official Report, column 1036W, on delayed discharges, for what reason his Department ceased to collect figures on the basis of age. [9145]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: We are continuing to collect figures on delayed discharges for over 75s as a sub-group of delays for all adult patients. The breakdown on reasons for delay are now collected for all ages to give a more comprehensive picture of the reasons for delayed discharges.

  National Service Frameworks
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that voluntary organisations are funded to play a full part in the preparation of National Service Frameworks; [8708]

  (2) if his Department ensures that consultees who are party to drawing up an National Service Framework are also consultees in respect of any related NICE guidance; [8706]

  (3) how his Department ensures that work on National Service Frameworks and NICE guidance which overlap is co-ordinated. [8705]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Each National Service Framework is developed with the assistance of an external reference group (ERG) which brings together health professionals, service users and carers, health service managers, partner agencies, and other advocates. ERGs adopt an inclusive process to engage the full range of views. The ERGs advice is informed by the evidence base, including National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance where available, and ERGs' advice have been sought on the development of NICE guidelines. The members of the ERG are reimbursed for travelling and expenses incurred while helping in the development of the National Service Framework. The Department supports the ERGs and manages and co-ordinates the overall process including co-ordination between NICE and NSFs.

  Non-residential Services (Charging Guidance)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish guidance relating to charging for 156W
  non-residential services; when the closing date for consultation on the draft guidance was; and when local authorities are expected to implement the guidance. [8701]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: We published draft guidance on fairer charging policies for non-residential social services on 3 January, and consultation ran until 30 March. We plan to issue final guidance later this year. This will include a time scale for implementation.

  Older People
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will write to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam concerning the National Service Framework for Older People according to the undertaking given by the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), of 4 July 2001,Official Report, column 90WH. [8698]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 17 October 2001.

  Nursing Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the bonds set out in the guidance for free nursing care will be uprated annually. [8700]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Appendix 6 of the guide attached to HSC2001/17: LAC(2001)26 makes it clear that the amounts of the bands of nursing care will be reviewed after 12 months with a view to any changes becoming operative with effect from April 2003.

  Neurology Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to establish the baseline(a) prevalence levels of neurological conditions and (b) position of services for people with neurological conditions; and if he will make a statement on the work to date on the National Service Framework on Neurological Conditions. [8707]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The Department has numerous information systems that help it to understand the picture of diseases including, for example, the Health Survey for England. This is complemented by academic research which provides more detailed prevalence information of people with neurological conditions. We have also asked voluntary organisations to submit any information they might have.

  One of the key tasks of the scoping process for the National Service Framework for Neurological and other Long-term conditions will be to establish the position of services particularly concentrating on areas where the need for service improvement is identified. We have established an analytical group to begin to assess the evidence and are also working closely with users, carers, professionals and voluntary organisations.

  Community Care Services Grant
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) to what extent social services departments in receipt of the community care services grant are able to commit expenditure in subsequent years; [8917]
  157W
  (2) if payment of the community care services grant will be conditional on local authorities participating in care trusts. [8916]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Consultation on the conditions of the grant will end on 24 October. No decisions have been made about allocations of the grant in 2002–03, but Ministers have made the commitment that no council will receive less in 2002–03 than it does in 2001–02.

  Dementia Care Services
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce plans to speed up the diagnosis of dementia sufferers needing personal care. [9033]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People was published on 27 March this year. It sets, for the first time, new national standards of care for all older people, across all care settings. It focuses on those conditions that mainly affect older people, including dementia.

  Standard 7 of the NSF relates to mental health and will ensure that those older people who have mental health problems have access to integrated mental health services, provided by the National Health Service and councils, to ensure effective diagnosis, treatment and support, for them and for their carers.

  In particular it emphasises how an early and accurate diagnosis of dementia enables older people and those caring for them to understand what is happening to them and to access appropriate help, including treatment and personal care. This will require effective integrated specialist mental health services. The NHS Plan provides for an additional 85 old age psychiatrists to ensure a prompt and responsive diagnostic service across the country.

  In addition, we are streamlining the assessment process to ensure better and more consistent assessments. The single assessment process for older people will be implemented by local health bodies and councils from April 2002.

  The Department intends to issue detailed guidance on the single assessment process in November. It will ask professionals to work together to ensure assessments are centred on the views and circumstances of older people, and that they are accurate, timely, and proportionate to needs. It will ask professionals to share assessment information, subject to proper observance of confidentiality, rather than duplicate each other's assessments as often happens now.

  The single assessment should therefore ensure that following a diagnosis of dementia individuals receive the prompt provision of care to meet their needs.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specialist dementia care services in Coventry have been developed recently. [9032]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Coventry Healthcare national health service trust in conjunction with Coventry health authority and local primary care groups have agreed to make £180,000 available for instigation of a community-based service specifically for early onset dementia. The team will
  158W
  consist of medical, psychological and nursing staff and will offer advice and support to sufferers, their carers, and agencies and professionals in Coventry.

  The health authority has also confirmed its agreement to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommendations regarding anti-dementia drugs from 1 April 2001. An additional drug budget of £250,000 has been made available for 2001–02 with access to drugs controlled by the consultant psychiatric team. Agreements are also in place with regard to future funding up to 2005–06. Additionally, in August 2001 a further £180,000 was agreed to fund a health team to support and monitor treatments of patients using anti-dementia drugs.

  The trust has initiated discussions with the Alzheimer's Disease Society, health and social services colleagues in Coventry and Warwickshire to further explore the potential for developing a hospital and community-residential element to the early onset dementia service.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent measures have been introduced to support the elderly suffering with dementia. [9030]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: It is important that older people with dementia have access to a full range of services that will meet their needs in whatever setting is most appropriate.

  The National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People was published on 27 March this year. It sets, for the first time, new national standards of care for all older people, across all care settings. The NSF looks at conditions that mainly affect older people, including dementia.

  Standard 7 of the NSF relates to mental health and will ensure that those older people who have mental health problems have access to integrated mental health services, provided by the National Health Service and councils, to ensure effective diagnosis, treatment and support, for them and for their carers.

  The Care Standards Act 2000 will have a big impact on raising the quality of care for people with dementia in residential and nursing homes. From April 2002 all care homes will have to have a statement of purpose and be able to demonstrate that they can meet it. Homes catering for people with dementia will have to show that they have suitably trained staff, know, understand and apply the relevant specialist and clinical guidance, provide stimulation and leisure activities that are suited to the needs of people with dementia.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraisal of anti-dementia drugs published in January 2001 will ensure that effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease are available on an equitable basis across the country.

  Elderly People (Charitable Support)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance he has provided to charitable providers of housing, care and support for the elderly in the last year. [9031]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: For 2000–01 and 2001–02, grants totalling £3,733,000 were paid under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 to 54 organisations for projects

  159W
  concerned with housing, care, or support for older people. In some cases, the projects concern disabled people in general and are not limited to older people.

  Summer Recess
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by his Department during the summer recess. [9231]

  Ms Blears
  During the summer recess period, 20 July to 14 October 2001, 129 press releases and 25 consultation documents were issued by the Department.

  Consultants' Secretaries
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of secretarial cover to hospital consultants during periods of absence by permanent secretarial staff. [9698]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is the responsibility of each individual national health service trust to make all necessary arrangements for secretarial and administrative support. This includes the provision of secretarial cover to hospital consultants.

  Care Standards (Young Adults)
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations have been made concerning the national care standards for younger adults. [9497]

  Jacqui Smith
  During the consultation period for the draft standards for Younger Adults and Adult placements the Department received 500 responses, which made 4,776 comments on specific issues within the standards.

  Residential Homes
  Hugh Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make financial provision for owners of residential care homes to assist them in complying with the requirements of the Residential Care Act 2000. [8216]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The Department has no evidence to suggest that large numbers of care homes will be unable to meet the national standards. Many providers already meet or exceed the proposed standards and will have no reason to be concerned about them. None of the standards will be introduced until at least April 2002 and some of the more challenging standards will not be implemented until some time after that. Providers will be given realistic timescales in which to meet any new standards.

  The detail of contracting arrangements between local authorities and independent sector providers of care is a matter for local decision. The Department does not set or recommend rates at which local authorities contract with nursing and residential homes. We think it is important that local authorities are able to tailor contracts as
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  necessary to specific local circumstances. In doing this we expect local authorities to take into account a range of provider costs such as implementing national standards.

  We are providing significant additional resources for social services. We have increased social services funding by 17.8 per cent. in real terms since 1996–97 and will be providing an extra 3.7 per cent. in real terms next year. This means that local authorities have the resources they need to purchase services at realistic prices.

  However, I do accept that some residential and nursing home owners are experiencing financial difficulties. That is why we established a strategic group to give greater direction to the commissioning of care for adults, in particular older people. The group has looked at the state of local commissioning arrangements and the impact they are having on both service users and providers. The members of the group include representatives of central and local government, the national health service, independent (private and voluntary) providers of health and social care, as well as housing. The group published an agreement, "Building Capacity and Partnership in Care", on 9 October, which we shall expect local social services and health authorities to adopt. It will lead to improvements in the planning and commissioning of services in ways that bring confidence and stability to the whole system. We also announced a Government commitment of £300 million over two years to tackle delayed discharge.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals have sold their homes since 1 May 1997 to fund their(a) residential home care and (b) residential nursing home care. [8923]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many residential nursing homes have closed since 1 May 1997; and how many beds have been lost; [8920]

  (2) how many residential home beds (a) in the private sector and (b) owned by local authorities have been closed since 1 May 1997. [8921]

  Jacqui Smith
  Table 1 shows the number of residential care homes, the number of nursing homes and the number of beds within these homes in England on 31 March in each of the last four years. Table 2 shows the changes in the number of homes and places based on the information in table 1. These figures take account of new homes, those that closed and those that made changes to their registration status or extended their existing facilities. It is not possible to determine the precise number of homes that have closed, or the number of beds lost as a result of such closures, from this information.

  Information collected by health and social care consultants Laing and Buisson on the number of care homes, beds and closures in the independent sector in recent years is available in the company's publication, Market Survey 2001, published in July.
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  Table 1: Residential and nursing homes, places and registered beds, 1997 to 2000 as at 31 March

  England

  Rounded numbers

  19971

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Residential care homes2

  24,500

  24,900

  24,800

  24,800

  Residential care places in residential care homes.

  338,100

  347,900

  345,100

  345,600

  Of which:

  Places in independent sector homes3

  272,300

  283,900

  286,000

  290,100

  Places in LA staffed homes3

  65,800

  64,000

  59,000

  55,500

  Nursing homes4

  5,900

  6,200

  6,100

  5,900

  Registered nursing beds in nursing homes

  196,300

  205,600

  202,200

  193,300

  1 This refers to data collected during the period 1 October 1997 to 31 March 1998 for nursing homes and registered beds. In subsequent years, data collection arrangements were changed and relate to figures pertaining to 31 March each year.

  2 Includes dual registered homes which are also included in the total number of nursing homes. The residential care homes and nursing homes should not be added together.

  3 Consists of voluntary, private, small homes and dual registered homes.

  4 General and mental nursing homes, hospitals and clinics

  Source:

  Department of Health annual returns

  Table 2: Year-on-year change in the number of residential and nursing homes, places and registered beds, 1997 to 2000, as at 31 March

  England

  Rounded differences

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Residential care homes1

  +400

  -100

  Less than 50

  Residential care places in residential care homes.

  +9,800

  -2,800

  +500

  Of which:

  Places in independent sector homes2

  +11,600

  +2,100

  +4,000

  Places in LA staffed homes

  -1,800

  -4,900

  -3,500

  Nursing homes3

  +300

  -100

  -200

  Registered nursing beds in nursing homes

  +9,300

  -3,400

  -8,800

  1 Includes dual registered homes which are also included in the total number of nursing homes. The residential care homes and nursing homes should not be added together.

  2 Consists of Voluntary, private, small homes and dual registered homes.

  3 General and mental nursing homes, hospitals and clinics

  Source:

  Department of Health annual returns

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals in each year since 1 May 1997 to the latest available date were living in(a) residential care homes and (b) residential nursing care homes; and in each category how many were (i) self-funding the fees, (ii) partially funding the fees and (iii) being funded wholly by the state. [8924]

  Number1 of places/registered beds in residential and nursing homes with local authority supported residents in these homes, 1997 to 2000, England (as at 31 March)

  19972

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Number of places in residential care homes3

  338,100

  347,900

  345,100

  345,600

  Number of LA supported residents in residential care homes4

  170,300

  176,500

  181,200

  186,800

  Number of registered beds in nursing homes5

  196,300

  205,600

  202,200

  193,300

  Number of LA supported residents in nursing homes

  66,100

  72,900

  73,500

  74,400

  1 Rounded numbers

  2 Refers to the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997 for number of registered beds in nursing homes

  3 Residential places in local authority staffed, voluntary, private, small and dual registered homes

  4 Local authority supported residents in local authority staffed and independent residential care homes. A local authority supported resident is a resident whose fees are paid in part or in full by the local authority.

  5 General and mental nursing homes including private hospitals and clinics

  Source:

  Department of Health returns

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of stay of a resident in an(a) residential care home and (b) residential nursing care home is in the last 12 months. [8925]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is not collected centrally.
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  Jacqui Smith
  The information available centrally is in the table. The number of people who are resident in residential care homes and paying for their own care is not collected centrally. A survey conducted in June 2001 estimated that around 42,700 residents in general and mental nursing homes were paying wholly for their own care.

  Genetics and Insurance
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government will publish their response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee fifth report of Session 2000–01 on Genetics and Insurance. [10120]
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  Jacqui Smith
  The Government's response to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee fifth report on Genetics and Insurance is published today as Cm 5286 and copies have been placed in the Library.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Waste Incineration
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to reduce the proportion of waste disposed of by incineration over the next five years. [5194]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 19 July 2001]: Our priority is to meet the requirement of the landfill directive to divert biodegradable municipal waste away from landfill by maximising recycling and composting and minimising the need for incineration and landfill. In order to achieve this the Government have set tough statutory targets under best value for local authorities to double the amount of household waste recycled by 2003–04 and treble it by 2005–06, and will set further targets for later years.

  Foot and Mouth
  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the last case was of foot and mouth disease in the Longtown area; and when restrictions on farms in that area will be lifted. [5346]

  Mr. Morley
  The last confirmed case in the Longtown area of foot and mouth was 4 June. Infected Area restrictions were removed from the Longtown area with effect from midnight on 8 October.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the Government's latest assessment is of the necessity to use vaccination in efforts to eradicate foot and mouth disease. [7845]

  Mr. Morley
  The current advice of the Chief Scientific Adviser and Chief Veterinary Officer is that the use of vaccination is not the most appropriate measure to eradicate the disease in present circumstances. The number of new cases continues to decline, and as at 18 October there have been no cases since 30 September. The use of vaccination could be reassessed if the disease trend changed significantly.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many businesses have(a) applied for and (b) received rates relief in relation to the economic impact of foot and mouth disease. [7873]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 15 October 2001]: Full information on the level of take up of hardship rate relief will not be available until local authorities submit their claims next year. However, the latest survey carried out by the Local Government Association shows that, as of 8 October, nearly 6,500 businesses have applied for hardship rate relief with nearly 3,000 of these applications being granted and just over 350 being rejected (data from the 127 local authorities that supplied all sets of information).
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  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the removal of toxic ash from the Hernscott Hill foot and mouth incineration site in Northumberland has been completed; and what arrangements for monitoring of the site and consultation with local residents have been made. [7446]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 15 October 2001]: All visible ash has been removed from Hernscott Hill, Widdrington. Monitoring arrangements are in hand in co-operation with Castle Morpeth borough council and the private landowner to ensure that should there be any residues these are detected and removed. Regular meetings are held between DEFRA, local authorities and residents to hear residents' concerns and to appraise them in broad terms of activity on the site. The site will be returned to its original state, following agreement between DEFRA and the private landowner.

  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost to public funds of the foot and mouth disease outbreak is so far. [7730]

  Mr. Morley
  Expenditure on the foot and mouth disease outbreak by my Department currently stands at some £1.531 billion. Costings are being collected from other Government Departments, and we hope to be in a position to be able to provide such information soon.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will take steps to reduce the time taken to lift the D notice restrictions; [6667]

  (2) if she will take steps to ensure that restrictions in protection zones in which all blood tests have proved negative are lifted immediately following inspections. [6666]

  Mr. Morley
  Our primary objective is to eradicate the disease. However, every effort is made to lift the three kilometre zones (the protection zones) as soon as possible after the fieldwork has been completed and negative blood tests have been confirmed.

  Where there are a number of infected premises in an area and protection zones overlap then it may be necessary to carry out all the testing required within a particular cluster of protection zones before any Form D restrictions can be lifted.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations have been made to the Governments of other countries which have suffered a foot and mouth outbreak in the last five years. [7761]

  Mr. Morley
  UK officials regularly discuss such matters with veterinary experts of other countries at the European Union Standing Veterinary Committee, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Office International Des Epizootics.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risks concerning the control of foot and mouth disease involved in permitting a resumption of hunting with hounds. [9197]
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  Alun Michael
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: Hunting with dogs is currently prohibited throughout England and Wales as a precaution against the spread of foot and mouth disease. Hunting with dogs takes a variety of forms, all of which pose different levels of foot and mouth disease risk and which therefore require different risk management measures. A veterinary risk assessment on the possible resumption of hunting in foot and mouth disease free counties has been prepared and is currently being considered by Ministers.

  Departmental Responsibilities
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's responsibilities are in relation to land use, planning and management. [7878]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 15 October 2001]: My Department has wide-ranging responsibilities to ensure that land is managed and developed sustainably. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has overall responsibility for policies on planning. DTLR consults DEFRA on environmental and rural aspects of the planning system, including on how these should be reflected in national planning policy guidance.

  DEFRA advises on key planning and related issues that involve farming and wider rural economy and environmental interests. DEFRA works with Regional Planning Bodies and other stakeholders on Regional Planning Guidance and local development plan policies. Consultation with DEFRA is governed by the terms of national planning guidance and a statutory right to consultation.

  Sheep Strategy
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government plan to publish their sheep strategy. [6663]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have no plans to publish a separate strategy for the sheep sector at this stage. The independent Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, announced on 9 August by the Prime Minister, will be advising how we create a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food chain.

  Supermarkets
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with supermarkets about their relationship with suppliers; and if she will make a statement. [6611]

  Mr. Morley
  There are regular discussions with the supermarkets on all aspects of the food chain. The issue of relations with suppliers was considered in detail. The issue was considered in detail by the Competition Commission in their report on the supply of groceries from multiple stores. One of the recommendations of that report was that a code of practice should be introduced to put relations between supermarkets and their suppliers on a clearer and more predictable basis. A draft code has been drawn up by the Office of Fair Trading in 166W
  consultation with supermarkets and representatives of suppliers. This is currently being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Incinerators
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls the Government have implemented on emissions from incinerators in the last three years; and if she will make a statement. [8089]

  Mr. Meacher
  Existing municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) are regulated by the Environment Agency under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Within the last three years the Government have implemented EC Directive 96/61 on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC). All new MSWIs must now obtain an IPPC permit before they can operate. Existing MSWIs must obtain the new form of permit by 31 August 2005.

  The Environment Agency has also recently varied the authorisations for existing MSWIs to reduce the dioxin emission limit (10 fold) to 0.1 ng/m3. This is ahead of the timetable required by the recently adopted Waste Incineration Directive.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of levels of dioxin emissions from incinerators in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [8088]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Environment Agency's Pollution Inventory is compiled from data submitted annually by operators of IPC-processes in England and Wales, including municipal solid waste incinerators. The level of dioxins and furans emitted from municipal solid waste incinerators in the year 2000 is recorded in this inventory as 1.1g ITEQ. This compares to a level of 413g ITEQ in 1995.

  Municipal Waste
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much municipal waste has been collected in each year since 1996; and if she will make a statement; [8084]

  (2) what assessment the Government have made of the increase of annual municipal waste in the United Kingdom in the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [8093]

  Mr. Meacher
  Data are available for England and Wales for the last four years. The total amount of municipal waste collected is as follows:

  Year

  Thousand tonnes

  1996–97

  25,979

  1997–98

  27,166

  1998–99

  27,912

  1999–2000

  29,332

  The increase in municipal waste over this period is nearly 13 per cent. 2000–01 data are currently being collected from local authorities.
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  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of UK household waste was disposed of through landfill in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [8094]

  Mr. Meacher
  The latest available data for England and Wales show that 81 per cent. of municipal waste was disposed of through landfill in 1999–2000. Household waste is approximately 90 per cent. of municipal waste.

  Under the EU Landfill Directive, the UK must divert substantial quantities of waste away from landfill over the coming years. We have put in place a national strategy, 'Waste Strategy 2000', for managing our waste and resources more effectively and will be introducing a system of tradable landfill permits to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste that goes to landfill. The Government have also set tough statutory performance standards for recycling and composting of household waste, requiring local authorities to double the amount recycled or composted within three years and nearly treble it within five years. The setting of these statutory targets is expected to lead to an increase in the availability of kerbside recycling.

  Slaughtermen
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what are the qualifications and licensing arrangements required of(a) professional slaughtermen and (b) persons slaughtering animals in herds affected by foot and mouth disease; what training arrangements were in place for forces personnel engaged to slaughter animals during the foot and mouth crisis; and what (i) licensed and (ii) otherwise qualified professional supervision was in place for casual slaughtermen engaged during the foot and mouth crisis. [7499]

  Mr. Morley
  Requirements for the training and licensing of slaughterers are laid down in the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995. Everyone engaged in the slaughter or killing process must have the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the tasks humanely and efficiently in accordance with the regulations. Most slaughterers need to be licensed in accordance with Schedule 1 of the regulations, but there are a number of exemptions from this requirement.

  Members of the armed forces were trained before becoming involved in the foot and mouth cull, and were supervised by qualified veterinary surgeons. Outside of licensed slaughterhouses, the legislation is enforced by Veterinary Officers of the State Veterinary Service. In addition, the RSPCA had an open invitation to visit major culling sites and visited Great Orton several times.

  Recycling
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of councils in the United Kingdom have separate recycling collections; and if she will make a statement. [8082]

  Mr. Meacher
  The latest available data for England and Wales for 1999–2000 show that local authorities operate a variety of collection schemes, through civic amenity sites, bring sites and kerbside collection. The 168W
  percentages of local authorities that operate such schemes, over some or all of their area, for different materials are as follows:

  Percentage

  Paper and card

  97

  Glass

  97

  Compost1

  43

  Scrap metal/white goods

  55

  Textiles

  90

  Cans2

  87

  Plastics

  31

  Other3

  74

  1 Includes organic materials (kitchen and garden waste) collected for centralised composting schemes from households via kerbside schemes or taken by householders to civic amenity sites. Home composting is not included.

  2 Includes ferrous and aluminium cans

  3 Includes oils, batteries, aluminium foil, books and co-mingled collections

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what measures the Government have taken to meet their target of recycling two thirds of all household waste by 2015; and if she will make a statement; [8080]

  (2) what steps the Government have taken to encourage businesses (a) to recycle waste and (b) to use recycled materials in the last three years; and if she will make a statement. [8081]

  Mr. Meacher
  "Waste Strategy 2000" sets a target to recycle or compost at least 33 per cent. (one third) of household waste by 2015. It also sets out targets for doubling the recycling and composting of household waste in three years and nearly tripling it in five years. We have underpinned these targets by setting statutory performance standards for each local authority to achieve by 2003–04 and 2005–06. In due course we will consider setting further Statutory Performance Standards for later years taking account of technological advances.

  In Spending Review 2000 we provided substantial financial support to local authorities to assist with delivering these targets including a substantial uplift in the relevant Standard Spending Assessment block. £140 million ring-fenced fund for waste and recycling; £40 million for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP); and £220 million for Private Finance Initiative waste schemes. We expect that approximately £50 million of New Opportunities Fund moneys will also be available over the next two years to support community sector work on recycling.

  WRAP has been set up to promote sustainable waste management by removing barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling, and by working with businesses to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products.

  We have also imposed measures under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended), requiring certain businesses which handle packaging to recover and recycle specified amounts of packaging waste each year based on the amount of packaging handled by their business.
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  Packaging Regulations also include incentives for businesses to minimise the amount of packaging they use and businesses are being encouraged to look closely at the type of materials being used in the manufacture of their product and consider the benefits of using greater quantities of recyclate.

  The recovery and recycling targets for 2001 under the packaging Regulations are 56 per cent. for recovering and 18 per cent. for material-specific recycling of packaging waste. We are currently consulting on recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste in 2002.

  Unadopted Sewers
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has commissioned into the scale of and problems associated with unadopted sewers. [8849]

  Mr. Meacher
  A research contract will shortly be let to ascertain the extent and condition of unadopted sewers, identify any problems and produce costed solutions. It is expected to take up to 18 months.

  MOX Plant
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the timing of the announcement of the approval for the MOX plant in Sellafield. [8292]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: Having considered all relevant information, including the responses to our public consultation which ended on 24 August, the Secretary of State for Health and I decided on 3 October that the manufacture of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel is justified, and announced it the same day.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase payments to contractors operating under the home energy efficiency scheme. [8297]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The home energy efficiency scheme is managed by Eastern HEES Ltd. in the East of England, and by the Eaga Partnership in the rest of England. The scheme managers are responsible for appointing contractors to work under the scheme, through open competition in accordance with UK public procurement rules and regulations.

  A number of these installer contracts are coming up for re-tender. The prices paid will depend on the results of the competition and it is possible that the contracts awarded will be at a higher price.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the maximum payment is per housing unit available to contractors operating the home energy efficiency scheme in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales. [8296]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The home energy efficiency scheme (HEES) offers packages of insulation and heating improvements to those households most vulnerable to cold-related ill health in England. The maximum value of grant-funded work
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  carried out on any single home under the scheme is £2,000. This level of grant is provided to those aged 60 years or more and in receipt of an income-related benefit.

  As fuel poverty is a devolved matter, it is the responsibility of the respective Parliament and Assemblies to comment on the situation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many properties have benefited from the home energy efficiency scheme since June 2000; and what is the target number for the current year. [8298]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: During the period 1 June 2000 to 30 September 2001, 224,000 householders benefited from HEES in England. We expect 300,000 householders will benefit in the current financial year.

  Agenda 21
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the impact of the introduction of Agenda 21 in the UK. [8744]

  Mr. Meacher
  This country has been prominent in taking action on sustainable development since Agenda 21 was agreed at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. We produced our new Sustainable Development Strategy 'A better quality of life' in 1999, and the first annual report on the strategy earlier this year. In 1999 and 2000 we published reports setting out progress on Greening Government. Almost all local authorities prepared Local Agenda 21 strategies by the end of 2000, meeting a target set by the Prime Minister in 1997.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards the use of short rotation coppice/forestry in renewable energy. [8536]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: Energy crops and forest material have the potential to make a significant contribution to sustainable development and the Government's climate change and renewable energy targets. We support the development of short rotation coppice in England through the Energy Crops Scheme and promote the use of forest material, working closely with developers of renewable energy projects.

  Milk
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will made a statement on her Department's support for the generic campaign to support milk drinking; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of that campaign. [8629]

  Mr. Morley
  We are pleased that milk producers and processors have co-operated in jointly funding and overseeing 'The White Stuff', a generic promotion of milk. It is for milk producers and processors to assess the effectiveness of 'The White Stuff campaign and decide how to proceed.

  Condensing Boilers
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to promote the use of environmentally efficient condensing boilers [8199]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The Government currently promote the use of energy efficient condensing boilers in a number of ways. The benefits of condensing boilers are likely to be attractive to energy suppliers in meeting their requirements under the Energy Efficiency Commitment for 2002–05. Under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (part of our strategy to combat fuel poverty) the new central heating systems provided use condensing boilers wherever possible. The amendments to the energy efficiency aspects of the Building Regulations, due to come into force next year, will require energy efficient boilers to be installed, both in new build and for replacements. The Energy Saving Trust and the "Are you Doing Your Bit?" campaigns also promote the use of energy efficient boilers in the domestic sector.

  Meat Imports
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list by country of origin the meat imports into the United Kingdom over the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the exposure of the animals from which such meat came to foot and mouth disease. [8063]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The table shows the amounts of meat from foot and mouth disease susceptible animals imported into the UK for the 12 month period August 2000 to July 2001.

  Community legislation permits the importation of meat from certain countries where foot and mouth disease is present but only where the disease is restricted to specific areas. Imports are only permitted from parts of the country that are free of disease or under strict conditions that ensure the meat does not come from any animal that may have come in contact with foot and mouth disease before, during and after slaughter. These provisions are in line with the guidelines set out in the Office International des Epizooties International Animal Health Code 2001.

  All meat imported from third countries must be accompanied by veterinary certification. This must confirm that the meat is derived from animals which have been subjected to an ante-mortem inspection during the 24 hours prior to slaughter at which the animal showed no signs of foot and mouth disease.

  If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health such as foot and mouth disease, Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of meat from all, or parts, of that country. Recent examples include Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Swaziland, Uruguay and Zimbabwe, and within the EU, France, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland.
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  UK imports of carcase meat of foot and mouth disease susceptible animals1 August 2000-July 2001

  Tonnes

  Description

  Beef

  Goat

  Pigmeat

  Sheepmeat

  Total

  Irish

  82,098

  —

  28,845

  1,901

  112,844

  Republic

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Denmark

  2,608

  —

  98,678

  46

  101,332

  New Zealand

  500

  9

  —

  82,525

  83,035

  Netherlands

  11,060

  2

  37,279

  3,457

  51,799

  Germany

  7,108

  —

  24,274

  1,024

  32,407

  France

  3,022

  —

  25,043

  2,044

  30,109

  Australia

  6,375

  —

  0

  11,043

  17,418

  Brazil

  16,218

  —

  —

  —

  16,218

  Belgium

  1,548

  20

  11,448

  481

  13,496

  Botswana

  10,172

  —

  —

  —

  10,172

  Zimbabwe

  7,638

  —

  —

  —

  7,638

  Namibia

  6,803

  —

  —

  —

  6,803

  Spain

  1,598

  —

  2,831

  1,557

  5,986

  Uruguay

  4,395

  —

  —

  818

  5,2136

  Italy

  2,402

  —

  1,000

  17

  3,419

  USA

  18

  —

  2,541—

  —

  2,558

  Argentina

  1,613

  —

  —

  254

  1,867

  South Africa

  84

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Other

  646

  —

  2,724

  270

  3,724

  Grand total

  165,907

  31

  234,664

  105,436

  506,038

  1 Cattle, sheep, pigs goats and reindeer. There were no imports of reindeer meat in 2000–01.

  Hunting with Dogs
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the views of veterinary surgeons on hunting with hounds; and if she will make a statement. [8986]

  Alun Michael
  No recent assessment has been made of the attitude of veterinary surgeons to hunting with dogs.

  Lamb and Sheep Meat (Scotland)
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the EU Veterinary Standing Committee with regard to the lifting of the export ban on lamb and sheep meat from Scotland. [8502]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: Ministers and officials from DEFRA and the Scottish Executive have had extensive discussions with Commissioner Byrne's officials on this issue. Regular reports have been made to the EU Standing Veterinary Committee on progress towards eradication of foot and mouth from Great Britain. The SVC has recently agreed that exports of pigmeat may resume from certain counties from 22 October onwards. The SVC is expected to re-examine the possibility of a resumption of sheep meat exports at its 2 October meeting.

  Royal Prerogative
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many ministerial decisions were made where authority for the same derived from the royal prerogative for the most recent calendar month for which information is available. [9373]

  Mr. Morley
  Records are not kept of the individual occasions on which powers under the royal prerogative are exercised, nor could it be practicable to do so.

  Wildlife Protection
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the measures she is taking to ensure the protection of wildlife. [9017]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: The protection of wildlife is fundamental to the Department's work. In the recent public consultation on a draft aim and objectives for the new Department, the proposed first objective is:
  "To protect and improve the environment and conserve and enhance biodiversity, and to integrate these with other policies across Government and internationally".
  The Department has targets to bring 95 per cent. of Sites of Special Scientific Interest into favourable condition by 2010 and to reverse the decline in farmland birds by 2020.

  The conservation of wildlife is integral to the Department's policies across the range of its responsibilities, including the promotion of sustainable, modern and adaptable farming and the promotion of more sustainable management and use of natural resources such as energy, water, fisheries and forests. The Department is also active in a large range of specific policies and programmes to achieve its objectives including:
  Support for and implementation of the relevant international conventions to which the UK is a signatory, in particular the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats and the Ramsar Convention on wetlands. Bilateral assistance such as the Darwin initiative grant scheme helps developing countries implement their obligations under the Conventions.
  Grant in aid to English Nature, the Government's statutory nature conservation adviser, to finance major programmes on designated nature conservation sites, species protection and recovery, and improving the wider countryside and the marine environment for wildlife.
  Implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which introduced improved means of protection from Sites of Special Scientific Interest and measures to combat wildlife crime.
  Management and licensing the taking, capture, killing, keeping and trade of wildlife species, including through support for the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime and Liaison with the police and HM Customs and Excise. For example commercial trade in about 850 species is currently prohibited under CITES and trade in 30,000 other species is only permitted where we are satisfied that it will not be detrimental to wild populations.
  Full implementation of the European Wild Birds and Habitats Directives through the designation and conservation of special sites (Natura 2000). Implementation is being extended to include the marine environment to the 200-mile limit of national sovereignty.
  Co-ordinating the UK-wide partnership for implementation of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan including the preparation of over 400 individual Habitat and Species Action Plans and the development of a Biodiversity Strategy for England, as announced in the Rural White Paper.
  Delivery of agri-environment schemes aimed at conserving and improving the landscape, wildlife and historic heritage of the countryside for which around £1 billion will be available over the seven years of the England Rural Development Programme.
  Policy reviews assessing future requirements for marine nature conservation and the management and control of non-native invasive species.
  Research to support and inform wildlife policies and programmes.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she plans to take to enforce the Cabinet Office Guidance on Codes of Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies. [9023]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: The latest edition of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies was published in July 2001 and immediately circulated to all teams sponsoring non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) in my Department. It is mandatory for Government Departments to abide by this Code when making public appointments. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) strictly monitors the observance of the Code.

  Also in July 2001, the Cabinet Office issued a best practice guide for Departments, entitled "Making Public Appointments". This provides practical and helpful advice on the process of making public appointments. It supplements the OCPA Code and the Cabinet Office's own policy requirements, but does not create rules. It has been sent to all our NDPB sponsor teams.

  Haskins Report
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next plans to meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the Haskins report. [9626]

  Alun Michael
  I meet my right hon. Friend frequently. The Haskins report is one item among many that we discuss.

  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the Haskins report, dated 2 October, was not published until 18 October. [9628]

  Alun Michael
  The report was published on the earliest date that was possible both for Lord Haskins to launch it and for me to respond to it.

  We were able to help readers by publishing on the same day the report of the Rural Task Force, which dealt with many connected issues.

  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the work of Lord Haskins in assessing and making recommendations about the impact of foot and mouth disease in Cumbria. [7522]

  Alun Michael
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 18 October 2001, Official Report, column 1301.

  Pollution (Warehouse Fires)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the damage to the environment through(a) airborne pollution and (b) pollution of water courses resulting from fires in warehouse, distribution and storage premises since 1990. [8227]
  175W
  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The responsibility for estimating any impact from such events on the local air and water environment would be a matter for local authorities or the Environment Agency. Records of assessments are not held centrally.

  Airports (Landing Charges)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the(a) landing charges for airliners at the main United Kingdom and international airports and (b) changes in Heathrow landing charges since BAA's privatisation. [8467]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department does not collect information on airport charges. Comparative information on international airport landing charges is available at BAA's website www.baa.co.uk/pdf/regulation.pdf which shows such information as one of its issues briefs. This ranks airport charges in descending order, and relative to that at Tokyo, for 40 airports. The figures are based on TRL's Index of Charges and the following is a selection from BAA's table.

  Comparison of international airport charges TRL index 2000

  Airport

  Rank

  Index of airport charges

  Tokyo

  1

  100

  New York—JFK

  3

  68

  Frankfurt

  8

  41

  Paris—CDG

  9

  41

  Amsterdam

  11

  40

  London—Heathrow

  21

  31

  Brussels

  25

  28

  Washington

  27

  27

  Hong Kong

  28

  27

  London—Gatwick

  31

  23

  Los Angeles

  39

  11

  Note:

  BAA's commentary states that "Heathrow's charges average a little over £5 per passenger, and those at Gatwick and Stansted average just over £4 per passenger".

  There are several elements to airport charges at Heathrow, of which the landing charge is only one. However, dividing the total revenue from airport charges by the total number of passengers to give the average revenue per passenger from airport charges, shows that since privatisation this has risen from £3.64 per passenger (equivalent to £6.00 at current prices) in 1986–87 to £5.23 in 2000–01 at Heathrow. In monetary terms, the change represents an increase of 44 per cent. but, after adjusting for inflation, the average revenue per passenger has fallen by 13 per cent. in real terms over the period.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to require planning permission to be sought for the erection of telecommunications masts less than 15 metres high; and if she will make a statement. [9016]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: I have been asked to reply.
  176W
  We have no plans to require planning permission to be sought for the erection of telecommunications masts less than 15 metres high. Such masts do, however, require approval by local planning authorities under a simplified planning procedure known as prior approval.

  We have significantly improved the planning procedures and guidance for telecommunications mast development in order to:
  strengthen public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below so that they are the same as for planning applications;
  increase the time for an authority to deal with prior approval applications to 56 days;
  underline that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college; and
  increase fees to enable authorities to carry out full public consultation.
  These changes came into force on 22 August this year.

  Water Safety
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department has tested and analysed the quality of(a) the holding lakes either side of Faggs Road and Princes Lake, Bedfont, (b) the River Crane and (c) drinking water supplied to London residents in the last 12 months. [8304]

  Mr. Meacher
  No. The Environment Agency is responsible for testing and analysing water quality in rivers and lakes; and Water Companies in England and Wales carry out daily testing of supplies to consumers for compliance with regulatory standards. In the London area this duty is fulfilled by Thames Water Utilities, Sutton and East Surrey Water Company and Three Valleys Water Company.

  Milk (Packaging Waste Directive)
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications of the EU Packaging Waste Directive for doorstep milk deliveries and the use of milk bottles. [8338]

  Mr. Meacher
  The EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste 94/62/EC, requires certain recovery and recycling targets to be met and encourages reuse of packaging. This includes drinks containers such as milk bottles. The UK Regulations implementing the Directive also encourage reuse by allowing obligated businesses to exclude from the calculation of their tonnage recovery and recycling obligation, tonnages of packaging that are being reused. Milk bottles are reused for between 10 and 40 trips, so this provision will apply to the proportion of milk bottles that are being reused.

  We expect a proposal from the European Commission next month for new targets for 2006. We are not aware that the proposed revisions will in any way threaten the UK doorstep milk delivery service.

  GM Crops
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring of glufosinate ammonium is being carried out in water courses and supplies in the vicinity of GM crop trials. [4464]
  177W
  Mr. Meacher
  Before glufosinate ammonium was authorised for use in GM crop trials, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) considered scientific data, which included data relevant to the risk of the compound entering water. The Government accepted the ACP's advice that winter use could be allowed in the trials (which are subject to a number of conditions including a limit on the treated area); the ACP did not advise that monitoring of water was needed.

  The ACP noted that the data provided did not rule out that one of the metabolites of glufosinate ammonium might locally exceed the 0.1 g/1 standard set for drinking water. Although any exceedance would be localised and short-term, the ACP recommended that winter use should not be allowed on a commercial scale until the company had provided further data.

  The Pesticides Safety Directorate is working with the Environment Agency to develop arrangements that will ensure that all sites for experimental field use of pesticides are kept away from vulnerable ground waters. This is a precautionary step as existing restrictions on experimental use are designed to prevent damage to the environment irrespective of the location of the experimental site.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Pensions
  Hywel Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase the 25p addition for pensioners aged over 80. [8347]

  Mr. McCartney
  This Government have done much to help older pensioners since we came to office. The free television licences for those aged over 75 is worth over £100 a year. The Winter Fuel Payment is worth £200 per household and the Minimum Income Guarantee has been increased this year to £92.15 a week for a single pensioner and £140.55 for a couple. Under this Government, older pensioners are sharing in rising prosperity. The 25p addition for pensioners aged over 80 was introduced in 1971 and, like all benefits, is kept under constant review.

  Disability
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to enable the Disability Rights Commission to support disabled individuals wishing to sue under the Human Rights Act 1998. [7400]

  Maria Eagle
  As we made clear in "Towards Inclusion", which set out our response to the Disability Rights Task Force's report, we are committed to considering giving to the Disability Rights Commission the power to assist individuals in proceedings under the Human Rights Act. This is also an issue for the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality. We therefore want to take a holistic approach and consider the matter in relation to all equality commissions, in the light of any recommendations the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights may make on whether there should be a Human Rights Commission.

  Staff Training
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training was given to his Department's staff with regard to the regulations under the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations issued on 22 November 2000 before they came into effect. [6741]

  Malcolm Wicks
  This is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Andrew George, dated 22 October 2001:
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what training was given to his Department's staff with regard to the regulations under the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations issued on 22 November 2000 before they came into effect.
  Two training events were developed to support the introduction of the Incapacity Benefit Reforms.
  A three and a half day course, aimed at all staff who administer and process claims to Incapacity Benefit, was designed and developed centrally and delivered locally through the District Office Training Officer network. This event examined in detail the changes affecting the treatment of Incapacity Benefit claims and provided practice cases to consolidate trainees' learning.
  A further event, a half-hour question and answer brief, again developed centrally, was delivered to all other staff by either local line management or training personnel. This product provided awareness of the Incapacity Benefit changes and was aimed at those staff without any direct involvement in the administration of Incapacity Benefit.
  In addition to the training events outlined above, the detailed changes to Incapacity Benefits were also conveyed to staff through benefit specific circulars.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what consultations he has had with groups representing people with disabilities regarding the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria for the payment of the lower rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance; and if he will make a statement; [8975]

  (2) what plans he has to reform the eligibility criteria for the payment of the lower rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance; and if he will make a statement; [8974]

  (3) what research his Department has examined relating to fear and anxiety in connection with the eligibility criteria for the payment of the lower rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance; and if he will place copies of such research in the Library. [8976]

  Maria Eagle
  Proposed regulations to clarify the circumstances in which fear or anxiety about walking out of doors without guidance or supervision from another person may satisfy the conditions of entitlement to the lower rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance are currently being considered by the Social Security Advisory Committee. The Committee recently consulted publicly and asked for comments on the draft regulations by 14 September. The Committee is considering the responses it has received and we await its report.
  179W
  A SSAC press release that included a copy of the draft regulations and an explanatory memorandum are available in the Library.

  The proposed regulations do not alter the basic qualifying criteria for the lower rate mobility component. People with severe physical and mental disabilities will still be able to qualify on the basis of those disabilities alone.

  The intention of the proposed regulations is to ensure that people who experience fear or anxiety when walking out of doors on unfamiliar routes without supervision or guidance are entitled to lower rate mobility component only if their ability to walk independently is directly affected by a severe mental disability. This is to ensure that the scope of the lower rate mobility component remains within the parameters set out when the component was first introduced.

  We are not aware of any available research which considers fear or anxiety in the context of eligibility for the lower rate mobility component.

  Disability Discrimination Act
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to change the rules that exclude disabled people from protection under the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 if they have been dismissed from a company employing less than 15 employees; and if he will make a statement; [8969]

  (2) what plans he has to update the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [8968]

  Maria Eagle
  Our proposals to amend the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) are set out in our response to the Disability Rights Task Force, "Towards Inclusion—civil rights for disabled people", which was published on 5 March. Copies are held in the Library.

  We will end the exemption of small employers from the DDA's employment provisions in 2004.

  Summer Recess (Departmental Publications)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by his Department during the summer recess. [9221]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The number of press notices issued during the summer recess is in the table.

  July

  August

  September

  October

  National

  15

  35

  37

  11

  Regional

  12

  44

  29

  4

  Eight consultation documents were issued.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what action has been taken since 8 October against employers who have not made a stakeholder pension scheme available to their employees; [9706]
  180W
  (2) against how many employers action has been taken since 8 October for failure to make a stakeholder pension available to their employees; [9708]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the proportion of employers required to make stakeholder pensions available to their staff who have not yet done so. [9707]

  Mr. McCartney
  We estimate that there are between 350,000 and 400,000 employers who need to designate a stakeholder pension scheme for their employees. The latest available figures show that around 147,000 employers had designated a scheme by the end of August 2001. Reports from the pensions industry indicate a late surge of designation activity in September and early October leading up to the 8 October designation deadline.

  The regulation of compliance with the stakeholder pension terms and conditions is a matter for the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra). At 19 October Opra had received 211 reports of alleged non-compliance with the requirement on employers to offer their work force access to a stakeholder pension scheme. It will make contact with each employer to provide education material and guidance, and to establish the facts of the case.

  If Opra's inquiries indicate that the employer has failed to comply, Opra will send out a statement of facts to which the employer can add any relevant mitigating factors. An agreed statement of facts will then be placed for determination before a committee of the Opra board. The board will then decide if a breach of the legislation has occurred, and if so, what penalty is to be imposed.

  Social Security Legislation
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to what extent discretion may be exercised by those charged with taking decisions on the application of the social security legislation such that not only the facts of a particular case may be taken into account, but general circumstances; and under what powers he grants such discretion. [9218]

  Malcolm Wicks
  In the application of social security legislation to social security benefits, decision makers make their decision by considering all the evidence and applying the law, including any relevant case law, to the facts of the case. Discretion does not feature in the decision making process in determining claims and applications for benefit other than in relation to the discretionary social fund. The powers for that Scheme are found in the Social Security Contribution and Benefits Act 1992, the Social Security Administration Act 1992, and in the directions issued by the Secretary of State.

  Decisions affecting the administration of benefit, such as suspending payment of benefit where a doubt as to entitlement arises and the making of interim payments where administrative processes are delayed are subject to a certain degree of discretion, but only within the constraints of the legislation. The powers are to be found in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and the Social Security Act 1998 respectively.

  Child Support
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the
  181W
  efficiency of the service offered to child support claimants by the Office of the Independent Case Examiner; and if he will made a statement; [9704]

  (2) what the backlog of child support cases to be examined by the Independent Case Examiner is; [9702]

  (3) what the budget is for the office of the Independent Case Examiner for child support cases in the current financial year; [9700]

  (4) what the average waiting time was before a child support case is examined by the Independent Case Examiner in the last three months; [9703]

  (5) if he will make a statement on the delays experienced by child support claimants in having cases examined by the Independent Care Examiner; [9699]

  (6) what plans he has to recruit staff to the office of the Independent Case Examiner for child support cases. [9701]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The budget for the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) was increased in the current financial year to £1,684,311.00.

  Recently, the number of investigative staff has increased from 25 to 42 and there are plans to appoint two further staff to support the new ICE.

  The time between a case being received by the ICE and bringing it into action was, on average, 23 weeks for the three-month period ending in September 2001. There are currently 114 such cases awaiting action.

  The ICE shares our concerns about the length of time it has taken to deal with cases in the past. A recent review of working practices has led to changes in case processing methods. This, together with the additional staff and financial resources already made available, will enable cases to be dealt with more efficiently. The delays currently experienced by parents awaiting action on their case will be reduced.

  Cold Weather Payments Scheme
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will announce the outcome of the annual review of the cold weather payments scheme; and if he will make a statement. [10167]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Following advice from the Meteorological Office, the annual review of the cold weather payments scheme has now been completed. Amending regulations were laid on 11 October and will come into force on 1 November, in time for the beginning of the winter period.

  In addition to the amendments necessary due to Royal Mail postcode changes, a new weather station, Cassley, has been introduced to provide data for the scheme following Meteorological Office advice.

  Cold Weather Payments are separate from, and in addition to, Winter Fuel Payments, which are paid to eligible people from age 60.

  Elderly People's Homes
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local authority elderly people's homes have closed since the introduction of the Care Standards Act 2000. [9587]
  182W
  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Care Standards Act will require the National Care Standards Commission to register and inspect local authority care homes for the first time from 1 April 2002. As this legislation has not yet been implemented there should not have been any impact on local authority homes. The Care Standards Act will regard local authority homes as "existing homes" for purposes of compliance with national minimum standards. This means that local authorities will have until 2007 to comply with the room size and shared room standards. This longer lead in time was set in order to avoid any closures in care homes once the National Care Standards Commission begins to apply the standards. It allows local authorities sufficient time to comply with the standards.

WALES

  Summer Recess (Departmental Publications)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by his Department during the summer recess. [9222]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Following is the information requested:

  (a) 20

  (b) None.

  Royal Prerogative
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many ministerial decisions were made where authority for the same derived from the royal prerogative for the most recent calendar month for which information is available. [9371]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Records are not kept of the individual occasions on which powers under the royal prerogative are exercised, nor would it be practicable to do so.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Devolved Administrations
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is with regard to(a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly Committees; and to what categories of document she gives (A) full access. (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish Parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly. (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees. [7039]

  Mr. Caborn
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 15 October 2001,Official Report, columns 1003–04W.

  Sports Tests
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many unannounced tests taken on premises not owned by a professional football club have been undertaken in each of the last five years. [8258]

  Mr. Caborn
  All tests for sports in the UK are unannounced tests, that are collected at short or no-notice to the individual athlete, whether collected in competition or out of competition. For team sports such as football, testing is arranged by collecting samples at squad training sessions or after a match which ensures that players are subject to the same procedures as they would be for an out of competition test.

  Testing will always take place on football premises, whether a club ground, training venue, or academy. Because of the ease of access to football players it has not been necessary to instigate testing at players' homes.

  Number of tests

  In competition

  Out of competition

  1996–97

  63

  415

  1997–98

  57

  460

  1998–99

  69

  470

  1999–2000

  133

  928

  2000–01

  97

  919

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many erythropoietin and human growth hormone tests have been undertaken in the last three years by Sport England; if the method of conducting such tests in England is the same as that used by Fina in Sydney; and if she will make a statement. [8260]

  Mr. Caborn
  As testing for erythropoietin and growth hormone is very much at its infancy the level of testing for these substances has been confined to research and limited screening, making the data regarding test numbers of limited value. Methods have been refined since the protocols introduced at the Sydney Olympics, different methods and protocols are adopted by different sports and the purpose of testing can vary. UK Sport is closely monitoring the different testing systems in order that any national testing programme that would include erythropoietin and growth hormone, particularly if it will be based on blood testing, has integrity and is legally robust.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tests for banned substances have been undertaken on footballers playing in the(a) Premier League and (b) Football League in each of the last five years. [8257]

  Mr. Caborn
  The anti-doping programmes for the football governing bodies in the UK are delivered through the national anti-doping organisation UK Sport. UK Sport monitors the type and level of testing.

  For the Football Association, the nature of promotion and relegation within the Football League and Premiership means that it is difficult to present meaningful and accurate figures that separate the Premier League and the Football League testing over the last five years. Teams may have been in numerous different divisions during that period, individual players may have
  184W
  moved clubs or been included in testing of international competitions or squads. Furthermore, it is not in the interests of an effective testing programme to reveal the testing plan for any sport and therefore the figures are represented below as a total.

  Year

  Total number of tests for the FA

  1996–97

  478

  1997–98

  517

  1998–99

  539

  1999–2000

  1,061

  2000–01

  1,016

  The above totals include testing across all divisions of the Football League and Premiership and include testing at women's football and FA Conference football as well as FA Vase testing. Also included in the programme is the testing of national squads (male and female) and target testing through punitive action and that performed at the request of clubs. The programme covers all possible periods of training and, competition for an athlete, as testing can take place on any day of the week.

  To explain the significant level of testing for the Football Association programmes, it may be helpful to point out that for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 they comprise over one sixth of the total tests conducted within the UK Sport testing programme.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she commissioned a review of blood tests for the drugs erythropoietin and human growth hormone; and if she will make a statement. [8259]

  Mr. Caborn
  UK Sport conducts the testing programme for sports in the UK, presently the body fluid used for testing is urine. No formal review of blood testing has been commissioned for the detection of erythropoietin or human growth hormone. The introduction of blood testing to sport is quite recent. The testing protocols are still being revised to ensure that they are effective.

  Blood testing took place at the World Cycling Championships in Manchester in 2000, this testing was part of the medical check on the cyclist and measured haematocrit. Blood screening was also carried out at the London Marathon this year as part of a research project to consider the operational issues and effectiveness of EPO testing, more recently blood tests were also carried out at the World Half Marathon in Bristol. As research into detection continues it is possible that blood tests may be replaced by urine tests for the detection to erythropoietin. Presently research into growth hormone has been limited, although Professor Peter Sonkson at St. Thomas' Hospital had made significant advances, this work is on-going in other countries with financial support from the World Anti-Doping Agency.

  Rowing
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to meet representatives of the Amateur Rowing Association to discuss their plans for the new training centre at Caversham. [8757]
  185W
  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to meet representatives of the Amateur Rowing Association to discuss plans for the new training centre at Caversham.

  Sport England
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the funds available to Sport England to support voluntary sector sports clubs over the next five years. [8756]

  Mr. Caborn
  Sport England estimates that it will distribute approximately £1 billion over the next five years from the Lottery Sports Fund, of which over two thirds will go to community projects, many of which involve voluntary sector sports clubs. The amount distributed will be dependent on the amount generated by the National Lottery.

  Exchequer funding for Sport England has been set at £43.025 million in 2001–2002, £53.275 million in 2002–2003, and £78.275 million in 2003–2004. Sport England will allocate grants from its exchequer income to governing bodies of sport, who can invest in the development of clubs, community sports programmes and volunteers.

  In addition, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget Statement, the Government will shortly be consulting on proposals to introduce relief from some taxes for those amateur sports clubs which play a role in their community. This will give further assistance to the volunteers who are the backbone of these clubs and encourage more young people to volunteer their services in support of such clubs.

  Athletics Funding
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Sports Aid Foundation grant responsible for the funding of elite athletics is to be curtailed by Sport England. [8690]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: Sport England is continuing to provide funding to the Sports Aid Foundation for this financial year with an award of up to £250,000. Future funding is under discussion.

  Media Ownership
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to reform the existing rules on media ownership. [9874]

  Tessa Jowell
  I will announce later today that my Department will be engaging in a consultation exercise to determine the best way to regulate media ownership. A paper will be published shortly for two months formal consultation. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament and will be available on the Department's website at www.culture.gov.uk. Having considered the responses, we will publish our proposals in the draft Communications Bill next year. There will then be a further, three month period of consultation.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Regional Government
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss proposals for the reform of regional government. [5582]

  Mr. Raynsford
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State frequently meets my right hon Friend the Chancellor, and other ministerial colleagues, to discuss a range of issues, including regional government.

  London Underground
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will indicate the expected annual rate of return for investment of the infrastructure companies in London Underground over the next 15 years. [5583]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government's plans for a publicly run, privately built London Underground will deliver £13 billion of investment over the next 15 years.

  London Underground is currently negotiating the contracts to deliver this investment. To estimate what the private sector's rate of return might be while these negotiations are still ongoing would undermine London Underground's commercial position and jeopardise its ability to deliver best value.

  Biofuels
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will allocate substantial resources over the next two years to develop clean renewable biofuels for road transport. [5585]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Budget 2001 announced a new duty rate for biodiesel from Budget 2002 of 20p per litre below the rate for ultra low sulphur diesel. It also announced duty exemptions or reductions for pilot projects, lasting up to five years, to establish and assess the benefits of novel road fuels, including ethanol and biogas. The Chancellor will announce the first pilot projects granted duty concessions in the pre-Budget report.

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the latest estimate by Railtrack of the upgrade of the west coast main line; and if he will make a statement. [5587]

  Mr. Spellar
  First, I would like to reassure my hon. Friend that the west coast main line upgrade will not be put at risk by Railtrack going into administration. The Government remain committed to providing a revitalised rail network in the UK, and the upgrade of the west coast main line is an integral part of that commitment. Work on the west coast main line upgrade will continue, and we are discussing with the administrators and the Strategic
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  Rail Authority the best way of carrying it forward, without prejudice to the outcome of the public inquiries into specific elements of the project.

  Local Government
  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the recent discussions he has had with representatives of local government on improving local services. [5588]

  Dr. Whitehead
  My Department has frequent discussions with representatives of local government about improving local services and other matters. Such discussions will be particularly useful in helping us develop the forthcoming local government White Paper.

  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with local authority associations on the formula for allocating local government finance. [5594]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I have not had any recent discussions with the Local Government Association on this issue. However, I have met representatives of local government special interest groups, and the LGA attend regular working groups with my officials on formula reform. The most recent of these was on the 4 October this year.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with representatives of local government on improving local services. [5606]

  Dr. Whitehead
  My Department has frequent discussions with representatives of local government about improving local services and other matters. Such discussions will be particularly useful in helping us develop the forthcoming local government White Paper.

  Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
  Paul Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of people in local authority paid bed-and-breakfast accommodation. [5589]

  Ms Keeble
  We have significantly increased money for housing and targeted new affordable housing in areas of shortage. We have also established a bed-and-breakfast unit. Over the next two years the unit will work with partners to introduce measures to reduce the need to place families in B and B.

  Bus Services
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in rural areas. [5590]

  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in urban areas. [5591]
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  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in rural areas. [5598]

  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in urban areas. [5586]

  Ms Keeble
  The new powers in the Transport Act 2000 will improve bus services throughout the country by raising standards and improving access to services. Furthermore, increased funding for our rural bus grant schemes and the new Urban Bus Challenge will directly assist disadvantaged communities by improving transport links.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much subsidy is provided to bus services in west Kent. [5597]

  Ms Keeble
  Local authorities are responsible for decisions on bus subsidy within their area. However, I understand Kent county council's subsidy on bus services in west Kent is currently £2.88 million (gross) per year. This includes services supported under the Government's Rural Bus Grant Subsidy scheme. All local bus services also receive fuel duty rebate from my Department.

  Road Safety
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on speed management on the roads. [5592]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Road Safety Strategy, published last year, set challenging new targets to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads and the measures required to achieve them. These include better speed management through engineering, education and enforcement.

  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to improve road safety. [5577]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government published a comprehensive road safety strategy, "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone", in March 2001 and, at the same time, set challenging targets for reducing road deaths and serious injuries in Great Britain by 2010. We are making solid progress on all fronts. Our latest quarterly report will be posted on the Department's website soon.

  As part of the ongoing implementation of the Road Safety Strategy, the following are examples of recent activities:
  The THINK! road safety publicity campaign has included action on speed, drink-drive, seat-belts, and child safety, including the successful "Hedgehogs" advertisements.
  A national scheme for child pedestrian training in schools has been launched and the first tranche of 38 authorities to receive funding was announced in September.

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  The pilot safety camera funding arrangement which started in eight partnership areas has been extended nationally and seven new partnerships have recently been set up. We expect the scheme to cover most areas over the next two years.
  Road Safety Good Practice Guidelines were published in June to assist local highway authorities in their efforts to reduce casualties and meet their local target.
  The Government will be consulting on various measures to improve the safety of novice drivers through a more structured approach to learning to drive.

  Passenger Rail Franchising
  Miss Begg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on passenger rail franchising. [5593]

  Mr. Jamieson
  On 16 July we issued a draft statement of franchising policy for consultation with key stakeholders. Over 60 responses were received. We will publish a final statement in due course.

  Rent Restructuring
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his proposals for rent restructuring. [5595]

  Ms Keeble
  We are committed to the reforms to social rents that are set out in the December 2000 policy statement, "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all—the way forward for housing".

  Unlike the current structure of social rents, which is confusing and unfair to tenants, the reforms will lead to all social tenants facing rents that reflect size, location and condition. Tenants will have a choice between paying a lower rent on a less attractive property or a higher rent on a more attractive property. Rents will be based upon a coherent approach and remain affordable, at well below market levels.

  Social landlords should aim to begin reforming their rents in 2002–03 and to complete the process over a 10-year period. Landlords are expected to ensure that the changes in rents as a result of the reforms are no more than £2 per week in any one year above the normal inflation-linked increase.

  Local Transport
  Mr. Mike Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on local transport plans. [5596]

  Ms Keeble
  Local transport plans are a major step forward for integrated planning of transport improvements at local level. We have doubled the amount of money available to support the very wide range of schemes that authorities have proposed. We are currently looking at authorities' reports on their progress and will make further announcements in December.

  Road Noise
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the introduction of quieter motorway surfaces. [5599]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  Last week we announced criteria for prioritising the surfacing of concrete trunk roads with quieter material. The four criteria that have been adopted are:Wherever possible the application of quieter surfaces will fit in with normal maintenance needs;
  Priority will be given to those sites where treatment would benefit the greatest number of people;
  Works will be carried out in such a way as to minimise disruption to general public and users of network;
  Priority will be given to roads, opened since June 1988, where actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of the Public Inquiry.

  The list of schemes that satisfy the first criterion and are planned for the following three years (2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05) together with those that are planned for 2001–02 were announced on 17 October 2001.

  The Highways Agency is currently identifying additional schemes that satisfy the second and third criteria and could be added to this list. The Agency has also identified 17 roads with concrete surfaces that have been opened since June 1988 and has instigated a programme of noise surveys to identify those that satisfy the fourth criterion. The list of these 17 roads was also given in the announcement of 17 October.

  Automatic Train Protection
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards installing automatic train protection across the rail network. [5602]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Automatic train protection is already installed on the Great Western main line (London to Bristol), Heathrow Express and the Chiltern line. It is being installed as part of the upgrade of the west coast main line and the channel tunnel rail link. Installation of the train protection and warning system across the rail network will be completed by the end of 2003.

  The Government expect to receive advice next spring from the Health and Safety Commission on taking forward the recommendations from the joint inquiry on train protection chaired by Professor Uff and Lord Cullen.

  Rail Franchise (Wales)
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implementation of the single rail franchise for Wales. [5603]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority has proposed the creation of a single franchise for Wales. It is considering this alongside the other options for delivering benefits to rail passengers on Welsh routes. An announcement will be made in due course.

  Key Worker Homes
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the provision of homes for key workers. [5604]
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  Ms Ward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps are being taken to provide homes for key workers. [5584]

  Ms Keeble
  Our Starter Home Initiative and the Housing Corporation's programme will help 11,000 key workers to buy homes in high cost areas over the next three years. We are also reviewing planning guidance on affordable housing, including the scope for providing more key worker housing within new developments.

  London Underground (Northern Line)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans there are to improve services on the Northern line. [5605]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Over recent years there has been enormous improvement on the Northern line. In the last five years, £330 million has been invested in the Northern line stations, tunnels and service, plus a further £400 million of private investment to provide 106 new trains. This investment has already delivered a faster, more reliable train service, eight station modernisations (with three more in progress), 6km of new track, increased security, and more Customer Care Assistants. The percentage of schedule operated reached a record of 97 per cent. in 2000–01—well above the network-wide performance. As a result the Northern line is now one of London Underground's (LU) top three performing lines.

  Customers are noticing the improvements: Customer Satisfaction Surveys (CSS) show increases in the last five years in overall satisfaction with the Northern line service from 75 per cent. to 78 per cent. However, LU is continually looking to improve customer experience further. The plans for a publicly run, privately built Tube will ensure millions of pounds of substantial investment on the Northern line. Central to these improvements will be the installation of a brand new signalling system. This will allow over 25 per cent. more trains to run in the central area. In addition over 25 miles of track will be replaced in the first seven years of the modernisation contracts. This investment will build on the improvements already made and guarantee better services for years to come.

  East Coast Main Line
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on how many occasions in(a)(b) 2000 and (c) 1999 services on the east coast main line have been disrupted owing to collapse or other failure of the overhead power cables; and what average length of delay has been caused to passenger services as a result. [6652]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following lists from Railtrack show the number of overhead line failures attributable to Railtrack and the train operators respectively in 1999, 2000 and 2001:Minutes delay to ECML passenger services due to overhead line problems period 11 (January) 1999 to end of period 6 (mid September 2001
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  Overhead line (excluding emergency speed restrictions) Overhead line emergency speed restrictions

  Railtrack attributable

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Total minutes delay

  15,812

  20,037

  16,445

  Number of incidents

  143

  111

  80

  Average delay

  111

  181

  206

  Percentage of all delays on ECML

  5.4

  3.0

  2.9

  Total minutes delay

  3,516

  4,000

  1,352

  Number of incidents

  14

  23

  20

  Average delay

  251

  174

  68

  Pantograph

  TOC attributable

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Total minutes delay

  1—

  387

  16,445

  Number of incidents

  1—

  5

  80

  Average delay

  1—

  77

  206

  Percentage of delays on ECML

  1—

  0.2

  2.9

  1 Data relating to these were not collected until 2000.

  Elected Mayors
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is on introducing directly elected mayors in London boroughs. [8520]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Our policy for London boroughs, as for other local authorities, is that local people should be able to elect a Mayor to lead their council where they so choose, and that people should not be denied the opportunity to make that choice. As stated in the Government's Urban White Paper "Our towns and cities: the future"—Cm. 4911, November 2000—our belief is that international experience suggests that directly elected mayors are often the best option to provide the leadership that larger towns and cities need.

  Railway Interoperability
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the(a) timetable for and (b) cost implications of meeting European regulations on railway interoperability. [8331]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Following consultation in May-July this year, we are revising the draft Regulations to implement directive 96/48/EC of 23 July 1996 on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system. We currently expect that the final regulations will be made and then come into force by early next year. The draft Regulatory Impact Assessment included in the consultation document indicated that the estimated cost to UK businesses was £45 million (net present value at 2000 prices) of which £15 million would be incurred in the next three years, plus some smaller-scale costs for conformity assessment. There are also potential benefits, which are difficult to quantify, in terms of the provision of more competitive rail services which would benefit freight customers and passengers and attract more traffic to rail, yielding environmental benefits.

  Directive 2001/16/EC of 19 March 2001 on the interoperability of the trans-European Conventional rail system is required to be implemented by 20 April 2003. An assessment of the costs and benefits of the implementation of this directive is not yet available.

  Speed Signs
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the rules which prevent repeater 30 mph signs from being used in 30 mph zones. [8340]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Repeater signs are prohibited on roads with the urban 30mph national speed limit (restricted roads). Here the presence of street lighting is used to indicate the limit. The prohibition is the result of case law which makes it difficult to gain convictions for speeding if some restricted roads and not others have repeater signs.

  The DTLR is due to review speed limit signing early next year. This will look at the question of repeaters on restricted roads.

  Detrunking
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to allocate specific funds for North Yorkshire county council to detrunk the roads; and if he will make a statement. [8145]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Highways Agency has been and is having regular liaison meetings with North Yorkshire county council, most recently on 11 October, to discuss detrunking. At present, negotiations are progressing well and my Department has offered to make over £1.1 million available to the council for maintenance of those trunk roads to be detrunked in the county. Orders are currently being drafted and the majority should be published before the end of the calendar year.

  Local Government Funding
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's review of local government funding. [8165]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Following last year's consultation on local government finance we have been working with local government and other stakeholders in developing proposals for reform. The Local Government White Paper is due to be published later this year and will include a daughter document detailing our financial proposals. We have already announced that changes following the review of the revenue grant distribution system will take effect in April 2003.

  PFI Road Schemes
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 July 2001,Official Report, column 203W, on PFI road schemes, what the total points awarded is as a percentage of total that could be awarded; what percentage of projects had points awarded; and what the five main reasons were for awarding of points. [8174]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There is no limit to the number of penalty points that can be awarded on the Department's PFI trunk road projects. Penalty points are issued when it is appropriate to do so. Points have been awarded on 87.5 per cent. (7 of 8) of the projects. The five main reasons for the award of penalty points on the Department's DBFO contracts are: testing of construction 194W
  materials, traffic management, public safety during construction, management of the construction process and road maintenance.

  Night Flights
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the adequacy of controls on night noise at UK airports. [8524]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Controls on aircraft noise at night may be imposed voluntarily by the airport operator, in consultation with those affected. They may be subject of informal agreement, for example, with the relevant airport consultative committee, or of enforceable obligations under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 or they may be the subject of planning conditions. At airports designated for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, controls may be set under that power: at present, only Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are so designated.

  In the consultation paper, "Control of noise from civil aircraft", published last year, we also proposed that the Secretary of State be given a new power to require a noise amelioration scheme to be made and agreed with an appropriate local authority to address particular local issues. Responses to that consultation are being analysed and I hope to announce the outcome shortly.

  Airport Security
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what funding his Department has made available for research into improving airport security in the last year; and what criteria are used to assess bids for such funding. [8139]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 19 October 2001,Official Report, column 1366W.

  Mobile Phones (Motorists)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on motoring offences and the use of hand-held mobile phones. [8588]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: As the Highway Code makes clear, drivers should never use hand-held mobile phones while driving. Using a hands-free phone is also distracting and drivers should always find a safe place to stop when using any type of phone. Drivers who use phones irresponsibly may be prosecuted for failing to have proper control of their vehicle. This offence carries a maximum fine of £2,500. It can also be an offence for employers to require employees to use mobile phones while driving.

  Drivers may also be prosecuted for careless or inconsiderate driving or even dangerous driving. The penalties for these offences include endorsement and possible disqualification from driving. We therefore share the view of the police that current legislation provides sufficient powers to prosecute drivers who use mobile phones or any other in-vehicle devices, or carry out other activities that may distract their attention from the

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  road. However, as stated in the Road Safety Strategy "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone", the Government will keep under review the need for new legislation.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings he held to discuss alternatives to putting Railtrack plc into administration with(a) Railtrack and (b) financial institutions. [8185]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: My right hon. Friend had a number of meetings with advisers and others before taking his decision to petition for Railway administration.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library his assessment of the financial position of Railtrack plc which led to the application for an administration order under section 59 of the Railways Act 1993. [8193]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: Copies of the bundle of High court documents relating to the railway administration order of 7 October have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the structure and funding of the company limited by guarantee which he will propose should take over Railtrack plc's role as network operator. [10123]

  Mr. Byers
  It is ultimately for the administrator to assess and make recommendations on proposals for how Railtrack's railway assets are transferred out of administration as a going concern. I will have to approve any such transfer under schedule 7 to the Railways Act 1993. As recent press coverage has made clear, there is every possibility that there may be more than one proposal before the administrator. The Government welcome this. At the same time however, it would be irresponsible of us to do nothing and leave it to others to work up a viable successor company to Railtrack plc. We are therefore developing what we would regard as an attractive successor vehicle. We will put a proposal to the administrator for a company limited by guarantee (CLG) to take over Railtrack plc's railway assets and its role as Network Operator.

  A CLG would be a private sector company run on purely commercial lines but without shareholders and consequently without the need to pay dividends in return for equity funding. Profits from the company would be re-invested in the network. The CLG structure could do much to address the current problems of the industry and could be one way of facilitating increased vertical integration with the possibility of individual TOCs playing a greater role in the maintenance of specific areas of infrastructure, where this was advantageous and appropriate. Any such vertical integration would need to include measures to protect the interests of other infrastructure users.

  We anticipate that the board of the CLG would comprise 12 to 15 executive and non-executive directors. The executive directors would include a CEO, and
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  engineering, finance, safety and commercial directors. The non-executive directors could include a chairman, one director nominated by the SRA, one director appointed after consultation with both the TOCs and FOCs, and up to seven other independent non-executive directors. As is the case with all companies, the directors would owe their first duty to the CLG itself.

  This would be a highly professional board, tightly focused on delivering a quality rail network fit for the 21st century, remunerated and incentivised accordingly, and with corporate governance structures comparable to that of a traditional plc. In its early years the company would clearly face a number of key challenges: maintaining very high standards of safety on the railway; retaining the confidence of customers, employees and contractors; diagnosing the cultural and structural problems of the company and planning the best way of overcoming them.

  We are confident that incentive packages can be devised which would be comparable with those for similar roles elsewhere in the private sector and which would ensure that the CLG recruited and retained the very best people. Incentives would be based initially on safety, meeting financial and efficiency targets, and providing a quality service to customers.

  Instead of shareholders, a CLG has members. The SRA would be the founder member of this CLG and we anticipate that the majority of the other members would come from the private sector. Individuals drawn from private sector companies with a direct stake in the railways, other interests including passenger groups and employees, and the SRA (or its successor) could all be possible members. Financial interests and construction companies could also be included.

  Under this structure the members would have a governance role equivalent to that of shareholders but would have no additional powers. They would be well placed to ensure the high performance and full accountability of the board.

  For funding purposes the CLG would have the same sources of revenue as Railtrack had: property income, track access charges and grant. Some 90 per cent. of the company's income would therefore be covered by stable long-term contracts. Revisions to these contracts, for example to reflect any changes to the regulatory regime, would be subject to independent regulation in respect of the fair price to be paid for the outputs Government wish to purchase.

  The CLG would not need equity to raise debt finance. The company would have the existing debt from Railtrack transferred to it and would be able to borrow further from the debt markets to the extent necessary. The cost of this borrowing would depend on the company's credit rating and under the proposals we are currently developing we would expect the CLG to have a solid investment-grade (ie at least BBB) credit rating. We anticipate that in practice lenders would view the company as a very low credit risk and a sound basis for their investment.

  The 'cushion' between the risk of poor financial performance and debt providers that equity would provide under the standard plc model would come from two main sources. First, we would expect to put in place an arrangement by which the company could access a

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  standby, subordinated loan facility. This facility would be enshrined in a contract, providing explicit support in specified circumstances up to a predetermined limit. It would be capped. It would not amount to a Government guarantee of debt, but the repayment of this facility would be 'last in the queue' of creditors for repayment. The possible value of this facility would be determined once the administrator has a better understanding of Railtrack plc's true financial position.

  Secondly, although the company would not be distributing profits in the form of dividends, it would earn a surplus over direct costs. This would be sufficient over time to build up a significant reserve. Together, the company's reserves and the explicit loan facility, would mean that the CLG would have access to sufficient funds to cover foreseeable circumstances.

  Under the CLG structure revenues would go further than they would have done with Railtrack. The cost of capital would be lower, there would be no dividends and the company would be able to prioritise cashflows in favour of lenders. In addition the company would operate with much lower risks than Railtrack, concentrating on operating and maintaining the infrastructure as well as undertaking small-scale renewals. The CLG would not undertake major new projects with all their attendant risks of cost overrun. As we announced in April this year, we anticipate that projects such as these, like the east coast main line upgrade, will henceforward be undertaken by special purpose vehicles. These are likely to be bespoke joint venture companies financed by a combination of Government grant and private sector debt and equity.

  A CLG company structure could be combined with a different, more streamlined, regulatory regime than the one under which the industry has had to labour to date and this would help to underpin its credit rating. As stated, transparent independent economic regulation would continue to be an element in the regulatory regime.

  There may well be other viable options for the administrator to consider, and we will give any transfer scheme put to us full consideration. Nevertheless, we are confident that the CLG structure we are proposing, along with the associated regulatory changes, would:
  produce a focused, professional, private sector company committed to maintaining and improving the rail network;
  retain the ability to raise significant private sector investment in the railways at reasonable cost;
  rid the industry of the previous tensions between the need to generate short-term increases in share price and the long-term needs of the network;
  give those with a stake in our railway infrastructure an input into how that infrastructure is operated and maintained;
  allow us to deliver our 10-year plan commitment of some £30 billion of public expenditure on the railways but with much improved value for money;
  play its role in levering in the matching £34 billion of private sector investment identified in the 10-year plan;
  put an end, once and for all, to the divisions all too apparent in the industry when the network was under Railtrack's stewardship.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what advice he has received regarding the value of the first phase of CTRL to Railtrack Group plc. [8692]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: We will be working with Railtrack and London and Continental Railways Ltd. over the next few weeks to consider valuation issues.

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when his review of policies relating to abandoned vehicles is expected to report. [8900]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 18 October 2001, Official Report, column 1318W.

  Summer Recess (Departmental Publications)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by his Department during the summer recess. [9224]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The total number of(a) press notices and (b) consultation documents issued by DTLR (C) during the summer recess (20 July 2001 to 15 October 2001) is as follows:

  (a) 110

  (b) 15.

  Standard Spending Assessment
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the standard spending assessment for highways and transport per kilometre of(a) principal and (b) non-principal road in each shire county in England in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [7963]

  Dr. Whitehead
  A table showing the standard spending assessment for highway maintenance per kilometre of principal and non-principal road in each shire county in England is as follows. The highway maintenance SSA is determined mainly by an authority's length of roads together with the average traffic flow for that authority.

  Highway Maintenance SSA per km

  Local authority

  Principal roads

  Non-principal roads

  Cornwall

  4,319

  3,308

  Cumbria

  4,690

  3,446

  Gloucestershire

  5,054

  3,950

  Hertfordshire

  12,007

  8,548

  Lincolnshire

  4,774

  3,260

  Norfolk

  5,177

  3,848

  Northamptonshire

  8,253

  6,536

  Northumberland

  5,084

  3,563

  Oxfordshire

  6,533

  5,499

  Somerset

  4,759

  3,502

  Suffolk

  5,564

  3,999

  Surrey

  12,318

  9,105

  Warwickshire

  6,392

  4,807

  West Sussex

  8,444

  6,513

  North Yorkshire

  5,226

  3,598

  Bedfordshire

  8,301

  6,612

  Buckinghamshire

  7,478

  5,992

  Derbyshire

  7,542

  5,101

  Dorset

  4,621

  3,827

  Durham

  6,866

  5,197

  East Sussex

  7,381

  5,384

  Hampshire

  7,339

  5,718

  199W

  Highway Maintenance SSA per km

  Local authority

  Principal roads

  Non-principal roads

  Leicestershire

  6,811

  5,683

  Staffordshire

  7,419

  5,137

  Wiltshire

  5,337

  4,269

  Cambridgeshire

  6,483

  5,412

  Cheshire

  6,636

  5,109

  Devon

  4,387

  3,142

  Essex

  9,739

  7,685

  Kent

  8,053

  5,661

  Lancashire

  8,386

  6,010

  Nottinghamshire

  7,999

  6,308

  Shropshire

  4,663

  3,265

  Worcestershire

  6,441

  4,930

  Isle of Wight Council

  6,840

  4,718

  It is not possible to provide a similar table for the other transport elements (concessionary fares and bus support outside London) included in the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block as these elements are not separately identifiable within this block.

  Terminal 5
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what studies have been made in the last five years of the effect of the proposed Terminal 5 at Heathrow on flooding in the area. [8305]

  Ms Keeble
  The Terminal 5 Inquiry Inspector heard and received evidence during the inquiry on drainage and flooding issues, including the potential flood risk from Terminal 5. The Inspector's report is currently being considered together with the results of the recent consultation on BAA's revised proposals for the diversion of two rivers around the proposed Terminal 5 site and other post-inquiry representations.

  Civil Aviation Authority
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he has appointed a new chairman to the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement. [10064]

  Mr. Spellar
  Following an open competition in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointment's guidance, the Government have appointed Sir Roy McNulty to the post of Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. Sir Roy succeeds Sir Malcolm Field, who retired from the authority on 16 September.
  200W
  Sir Roy's appointment is for three years. For the first six months, he will work three days per week at a salary of £90,640 per year. Thereafter, he will work two days per week at a salary of £60,427 per year. The appointment is pensionable and, with the consent of the Treasury, an employer contribution will be made to Sir Roy's personal pension of up to 20 per cent. of his actual salary in respect of this appointment. Additional member contributions of 4 per cent. of actual salary will also be payable. As this is a personal pension, the details of the arrangement are a matter for Sir Roy and his pension provider.

  Sir Malcolm Field made a substantial contribution to the CAA during his term of office, not least in taking the CAA through the establishment of the public/private partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. and the subsequent reorganisation of the CAA itself into a specialist regulatory body. Sir Roy faces the future challenges of establishing the CAA as the UK's aviation regulator; of ensuring that the CAA continues to promote, in an efficient and cost-effective way, high standards of safety in all aspects of civil aviation; of bedding in the regulatory framework for the provision of air traffic services, and of maintaining good communications with Parliament, the aviation sector both in the UK and abroad, and the public. The Government are confident of Sir Roy's ability and commitment to fulfilling these expectations.

  I have written to Sir Roy, giving him guidance on the aims and strategic direction which the Government wish him to pursue during his term of office. A copy of that letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Central Railway Project
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the Strategic Rail Authority's report on the Central Railway project. [9198]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The Strategic Rail Authority does not intend to publish its high level review or the consultants' report which informed that review on Central Railways' proposals. It will, however, be advising Ministers and is giving consideration to publishing an Executive Summary of the consultants' report.

  Strategic Rail Authority
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to announce the successor to Sir Alistair Morton as Chairman of the SRA. [8695]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: We expect to make an announcement shortly.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Libel Laws
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the compatibility of the libel laws and Articles 6 and 10 of the Human Rights Convention. [9104]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government believe that the law of libel is consistent with Article 6 (right to a fair trial) and Article 10 (right to freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

  It is the task of the courts to apply and develop the law of libel in a manner consistent with the convention rights. They are also under a duty themselves to act compatibly with these rights, as public authorities under the Human Rights Act 1988, which was introduced by this Government. Additionally, they are under a duty, under section 12 of the Act, to have particular regard to the importance of the convention right of freedom of expression, if they are considering whether to grant any relief which would affect the exercise of that right.

  Summer Recess (Departmental Publications)
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many(a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by her Department during the summer recess. [9228]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  During the summer recess period (21 July to 15 October 2001 inclusive) my Department issued 83 press notices and six consultation papers. All press notices and public consultation papers are published on the Lord Chancellor's Department website:www.lcd.gov.uk.

  Children Act
  Mr. John Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will review the Children Act 1989 to grant automatic parental responsibility status to unmarried fathers; and if she will make a statement. [8683]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government recognise the wide range of relationships outside marriage and that increasing numbers of children are being born to unmarried couples. The Adoption and Children Bill, as drafted, introduced on 19 October 2001, will have the effect of amending the Children Act to allow unmarried fathers who jointly register a child's birth with the mother to acquire parental responsibility without further formality. The new provisions will not apply retrospectively. Information will be made available to assist parents to understand the implications of joint registration.

  Sarwar v. Alam
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the implications of Sarwar v. Alam for funding arrangements of accident cases. [8664]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The findings of the Court of Appeal in Sarwar v. Alam are consistent with the
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  Government's policy that reasonable after the event insurance premiums reasonably incurred are recoverable items.

  HMS Thetis
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the Admiralty and Secretariat case papers relating to the loss of HM Submarine Thetis, reference 3817, 1939, Appointment of Public Tribunal of Inquiry: various papers as brief for Treasury Solicitor including findings of Board of Inquiry under Commander in Chief 5488 vol. 1; 3818, 1939, reports of salvage and life saving services by Rear Admiral (Submarines) and others, 5488, vol. 2; 3819, 1939, Tribunal of Inquiry: minutes days 1–5, 5488; vol. 3; 3820, 1939, Tribunal of Inquiry: minutes days 6–10, 5488; vol. 3; 3821, 1939, Tribunal of Inquiry: minutes days 11–16, 5488, vol 5 and 3822, 1939, Tribunal of Inquiry: minutes days 17–20, 5488, vol 6. [8608]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The papers in question form part of the national archive and are held by the Public Record Office at Kew. They are freely available for inspection there. Details of opening hours, catalogue references and copying services are given on the PRO website at http://www.pro.gov.uk. Because of the substantial nature of the documents in question, placing copies in the Library of the House would incur disproportionate cost.

TREASURY

  Impounded Goods
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the operation of the appeals procedure used by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in respect of the impounding of goods and transport vehicles deemed by customs officials to be in breach of the law governing imports into the United Kingdom; and how many staff are available to HM Customs and Excise to review appeals made against seizure of property and vehicles. [8872]

  Mr. Boateng
  All of Customs enforcement action is subject to legal appeal and challenge. The legality of any seizure can be challenged in the magistrates court. In addition, customs decisions not to restore vehicles or goods which have been seized can be appealed in the first instance to a customs review officer and then to the independent VAT and Duties Tribunal. Customs deploy approximately 60 staff years to deal with appeals and reviews.

  Institutional Property Market
  Hugh Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to develop the securitisation of the institutional property market. [5999]

  Ruth Kelly
  Securitisation is used to raise capital for a variety of sectors. Its development is led by market practitioners and their customers. The Government's objectives include securing an innovative, fair dealing, competitive and efficient market in financial services, as described in the Treasury's most recent departmental report (Cm 5116).

  Money Laundering
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which London banks were found by the FSA to have handled funds stolen from Nigeria by General Sami Abacha; and which banks were criticised for lax money laundering controls. [7995]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 15 October 2001]: The Banking Act 1987 restricts the FSA's ability to make its findings public. Under the new Financial Services and Markets Act, which comes into force on 1 December, the FSA will have wider powers to disclose this information.

  Pension Policies
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the implications of the Equitable Life situation on his policy towards the regulation of with-profits pension policies. [8336]

  Ruth Kelly
  This is an issue which the inquiry being undertaken by Lord Penrose may wish to look at.

  Suspicious Financial Transactions
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many referrals relating to suspicious financial transactions have been referred to NCIS in each year since 1997; and how many prosecutions have resulted from these referrals in each year. [8134]

  Ruth Kelly
  Since 1997 the Economic Crime Unit at NCIS has received the following numbers of suspicious transaction reports:

  Number

  1997

  14,148

  1998

  14,129

  1999

  14,500

  2000

  18,408

  January to September 2001

  19,981

  Suspicious transaction reports are a vital part of NCIS and other law enforcement agencies intelligence gathering operations and the broader fight against financial crime. However, suspicious transaction reports may be only one small part of a complex investigation that ultimately leads to the arrest and conviction of individuals and the confiscation of assets. Suspicious transaction reports can provide new information and intelligence that can substantially move an investigation forward as well as providing an invaluable insight into the presence or whereabouts of assets for later confiscation. On occasions they may also simply provide confirmation of information already known to the investigators. This means, therefore, that isolating prosecutions that were the result of suspicious transaction reports from those that were not could not be achieved without disproportionate costs.

  Article IV Reports
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is the policy of the Government to publish the UK's article IV reports to the IMF in future. [8136]

  Ruth Kelly
  As we said in our Annual Report to Parliament, "The UK and the IMF 1999–2000", the Government are committed to publishing IMF Article IV reports on the UK.
  204W
  In August 2000, following a successful pilot project, the Executive Board of the IMF adopted a policy of voluntary publication of Article IV staff reports. The UK had participated in the pilot project, authorising publication of our 1999 Article IV report at the earliest opportunity. The UK's 2000 Article IV was published in February 2001, shortly after its conclusion. The Government believe that publication is an important step in enhancing the transparency and credibility of IMF surveillance and will continue to publish the UK's reports in the future. We will also continue to encourage other IMF member countries to do likewise.

  Bank Disclosures
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he will take to ensure disclosure by the banking sector of their lending patterns in under-invested communities; and if he will make a statement. [8262]

  Ruth Kelly
  In the November 2000 Pre-Budget Report and the Budget 2001 the Government stated that they were encouraging banks to disclose details of their individual lending activities in disadvantaged communities on a voluntary basis, and that this improved flow of information should help to identify barriers to and opportunities for growth. The Government also said that they would look at the obligations on banks in the contents of requirements placed on the sector more widely.

  Working Hours
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department made towards achieving a declining trend in excessive hours worked over the years 1999 and 2000. [8133]

  Ruth Kelly
  Information for 1999 and 2000 shows a small reduction in the number of hours worked in excess of conditioned hours for those staff working the most hours, measured against the baseline for the Public Service Agreement target. The information for the period January to August 2001 shows a marked reduction in the numbers of staff working in excess of conditioned hours in general.

  Sudden Death Syndrome
  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of people who die each year from sudden death syndrome. [8862]

  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. Michael Foster, dated 23 October 2001:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the latest estimate of the number of people who die each year from sudden death syndrome (8862)
  In 2000, there were 34 instantaneous deaths with cause unknown, code 798.1 in the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for people aged 1 and over in England and Wales.

  205W
  For those aged under 1, an analysis of figures on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) for 1996–2000 was published in Health Statistics Quarterly 11 in August 2001. This analysis showed a provisional number of 243 deaths mentioning SIDS in 2000.

  Aid (Natural Disasters)
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for financial aid for natural disasters in the UK have been made to the EU in each of the last five years. [8766]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested is not held centrally. Decisions to seek financing from the European Union are taken by Departments on an individual basis.

  Abu Qatada
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what countries have sought the freezing of assets in the UK held by Abu Qatada; and if he will make a statement. [8661]

  Ruth Kelly
  United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 requires states to freeze the assets of entities and individuals who are suspected of committing, or posing a significant risk of committing, or providing material support for, acts of terrorism. In accordance with the resolution the Bank of England issued a press notice on Friday 12 October 2001 listing individuals and entities suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. The name Abu Qatada appears on this list.

  General Abacha
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government are taking in response to the allegations of money laundering by General Abacha, relating to the use of banks for which the UK has responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [9124]

  Ruth Kelly
  Following the Divisional Court's ruling of 18 October, the SFO will be able to provide evidence answering the Nigerian and Swiss requests for assistance.

  An FSA task force is now monitoring seven banks' actions to remedy inadequate money laundering controls. Under the Financial Services and Markets Act the FSA will have wider powers to disclose information and to prosecute breaches of the money laundering regulations.

  The Proceeds of Crime Bill, introduced on 18 November, will further strengthen the UK's anti-money laundering defences.

  Guaranteed Annuities
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to ensure that the full record of exchanges between the Government Auditor, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Treasury on the subject of guaranteed annuities, and particularly in relation to Equitable Life, are being made available for examination by the Penrose public inquiry. [8481]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: Lord Penrose will have full access to all the information he requires.

  Aggregates Tax
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT he forecasts will he raised by the imposition of the aggregates tax in the first full year of its operation. [8859]

  Mr. Boateng
  No such estimate is available.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of how much is forecast to be raised by the aggregates tax in its first full year from(a) low specification aggregates, (b) virgin aggregates and (c) recycled aggregates. [8852]

  Mr. Boateng
  Forecasts of tax revenues are published each March in the Financial Statement and Budget Report (FSBR) and in the autumn in the pre-Budget report. Forecasts of aggregates levy revenues are not broken down by type of aggregate. Recycled aggregates are exempt from the levy.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the impact which the aggregates tax will have on the cost of housing construction; [8850]

  (2) what will be the cost of the aggregates tax to the rail industry in its first full year of operation. [8853]

  Mr. Boateng
  No such estimates have been made.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total impact so far on UK carbon dioxide emissions of the reduction in VAT on domestic supplies of fuel and power from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent. [8851]

  Mr. Boateng
  The annual figure was set out in Table 6.2 of the Government's Financial Statement and Budget Report published in March 2001, which shows the latest estimates of the environmental impact of measures introduced in recent Budgets.

  EU Tax Companies
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those EU countries which operate taxes broadly comparable to(a) the aggregates tax and (b) the climate change levy. [8858]

  Mr. Boateng
  There are energy taxes in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden.

  There are aggregates taxes in Denmark, France and Sweden and the Netherlands is in the process of introducing a tax.

  Disabled Person's Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the Disabled Person's Tax Credit to people who work less than 16 hours per week; and if he will make a statement. [8977]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  There are no current plans to extend the Disabled Person's Tax Credit to people who work less than 16 hours per week.

  Royal Prerogative
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many ministerial decisions were made where authority for the same derived from the royal prerogative in the most recent calendar month for which information is available. [9375]

  Ruth Kelly
  Records are not kept of the individual occasions on which powers under the royal prerogative are exercised nor would it be practicable to do so.

  European Court of Justice Judgments
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for(a) UK tax law and (b) Government revenue of the 9 October Judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-108/99, Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise v. Cantor Fitzgerald International; and if he will make a statement. [9169]

  Mr. Boateng
  No change in UK tax legislation is needed as a result of this judgment. Subject to the final decision of the UK courts, this European Court of Justice decision is expected to have prevented a potential tax loss.

  Helpline
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress made towards the establishment of a virtual call centre structure to support the proposed national helpline for VAT, excise and freight. [9178]

  Mr. Boateng
  HM Customs and Excise introduced a new National Advice Service on 2 April 2001 that deals with all general telephone inquiries from businesses and the public about taxes and duties they are responsible for.

  Pension Fund Surpluses
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review legislation governing pension fund surpluses; and if he will make a statement. [9757]

  Ruth Kelly
  The pension fund surpluses legislation is kept under regular review and an announcement will be made if it is decided to change the current rules.

  Savings
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what constraints will be placed upon parents' investment decisions on behalf of their children in respect of money made available through the Child Trust Fund; [9753]

  (2) if people without bank accounts will be able to access the (a) Savings Gateway and (b) the Child Trust Fund, through the Universal bank; [9737]

  (3) what plans he has to encourage saving among families on low incomes; [9745]

  (4) what recent representations he has received from UK financial institutions on the Child Trust Fund; and of
  208W
  these how many have expressed concern about the implications of the fund for competition in the retail savings sector; [9755]

  (5) what will be the estimated cost of policing the Child Trust Fund to ensure that funds are invested in ways permissible under the associated regulations; [9752]

  (6) how many additional families he estimates will be subject to means-testing as a result of (a) the Child Trust Fund and (b) Savings Gateway; [9749]

  (7) if lump sums made available as part of the Child Trust Fund will be increased annually in relation to (a) average earnings and (b) inflation; [9746]

  (8) if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the Child Trust Fund; [9748]

  (9) what the cost will be to the Government of the (a) Child Trust Fund and (b) Savings Gateway in their first full year of operation. [9750]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's strategy towards saving and the measures they have taken, including the introduction of Individual Saving Accounts and Stakeholder Pensions, is set out in "Helping People to Save", published by HM Treasury in November 2000.

  The Government launched consultation on further proposals to encourage saving and asset-building, especially among households with low incomes, in "Saving and Assets for All" published by HM Treasury in April 2001. The consultation is focused on proposals for the Child Trust Fund and the Saving Gateway. As the consultation paper describes, decisions on the design and operation of the proposed initiatives have not been taken. The potential cost of the initiatives would depend on such decisions. Many financial service providers have responded to the consultation. The Government intend to report back on the results from the consultation and on its further intentions for these initiatives around the time of the pre-Budget report in autumn 2001.

  Taxpayers
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many UK taxpayers were subject to an income tax rate of 40 per cent. or more on the first day of tax years(a) 1979–80, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 2001–02. [9763]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Member to "The Survey of Personal Incomes 1979–80", table 16 and "Inland Revenue Statistics", table 2.1. Both of these publications are available in the Library of the House. The latest data on Inland Revenue Statistics can also be accessed on the Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats.

  Tax Returns (Penalties)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many incorrect penalties were issued to taxable persons
  209W
  who had completed and sent off tax returns on time for the tax years (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01 by (i) the Inland Revenue and (ii) HM Customs and Excise. [9758]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information is not available.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the continuation of deferred tax collection from businesses affected by the foot and mouth outbreak in Cumbria. [7521]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The Government keep all taxes under review and decisions will be made as part of the normal Budget process. Throughout the outbreak the Inland Revenue and Customs have been working constructively with businesses and their representatives to reschedule payments where possible. Deferment of payments is just one of the ways in which this can be achieved. Their approach has been to develop solutions that match the needs of individual businesses, rather than adopt a blanket approach.

  The Inland Revenue and Customs will continue to take a sympathetic approach to businesses which have been affected by FMD, and are aware that some businesses will continue to suffer problems throughout the autumn and winter.

  VAT (Small Firms)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations have responded to HM Customs and Excise's consultation on a flat-rate VAT scheme for small firms. [9774]

  Mr. Boateng
  Responses have been received from:

  Chartered Institute of Taxation

  Confederation of British Industry

  Federation of Small Businesses

  Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

  Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

  Institute of Company Accountants

  Institute of Directors

  Institute of Indirect Taxation

  Law Society of England and Wales

  Law Society of Scotland

  Small Business Service

  The Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Birmingham, London, Manchester, and Milton Keynes and North Bucks

  VAT Practitioners' Group

  Alliance of Independence Retailers

  Association of Convenience Stores

  Association of Pensioner Trustees

  British Association of Removers

  British Decorator's Association

  British Holiday and Home Parks Association

  Construction Confederation

  National Federation of Fish Friers

  National Hairdressers' Federation

  Professional Contractors' Group

  Retail Motor Industry Federation.

  210W
  Replies were also received from 25 individuals, firms or companies.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the responses to HM Customs and Excise's consultations on a flat-rate VAT scheme for small firms. [9775]

  Mr. Boateng
  Apart from those which consultees have asked should not be made public, responses will be placed in the Library when Ministers announce the outcome of the consultation. At that time Customs will also publish a summary of the responses received.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change Government policy following HM Customs and Excise's consultation on a flat-rate VAT scheme for small firms. [9777]

  Mr. Boateng
  Customs are currently analysing responses to the recent consultation exercise and will be making recommendations to Treasury Ministers in due course.

  Scottish Bus Group
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had since June relating to Scottish Bus Group pensioners. [9215]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Scottish Executive is taking forward matters regarding the Scottish Bus Group pension funds, following its announcement in December 2000 on the pension fund surplus.

  Excise Duties
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase excise duties. [9217]

  Mr. Boateng
  Decisions on taxation are considered on an annual basis as part of the Chancellor's overall Budget judgment.

  Equitable Life
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Baird report on Equitable Life was made available by the Treasury to Lord Penrose. [R][9216]

  Ruth Kelly
  A letter was sent to Lord Penrose on 16 October which enclosed a copy of the report as evidence for his inquiry.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Mrs. Sally Clark
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to refer the case of Sally Clark to the Court of Appeal. [8337]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The Home Secretary's powers to consider alleged miscarriages of justice came to an end on 31 March 1997, and were replaced by new powers vested in an independent body called the Criminal Cases Review Commission. I understand that, to date, Mrs. Clark has not
  211W
  submitted an application to the Commission. It remains open to her, or anyone acting on her behalf, to apply to the Commission for a review of her case.

  Absence
  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days on average were lost per employee in his Department because of sickness; and how many officials retired early from his Department in each of the past 10 years. [R][5050]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Available comparable information on working days lost due to sickness is given in table 1. Available information on the number of staff having retired early from the Department is given in Tables 2 and 3.

  Information on sickness absence data for the Civil Service between 1995 and 1998 was published in a British Medical Institute (BMI) Health Services Report, "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service", produced on behalf of the Cabinet Office. These figures were based on staff years and are not therefore comparable with later figures based on the approved method using working days.

  Table 2: Annual early retirements of staff within the Home Office and non-Prison Service agencies between 1 January 1992 and 20 September 2001

  Leaving reason

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Retirement—ill health

  36

  61

  77

  82

  97

  69

  59

  41

  33

  9

  Retirement—actuarially reduced

  2

  3

  7

  7

  3

  4

  9

  6

  4

  3

  Early Retirement/severance on structural grounds or grounds of limited efficiency/postability

  7

  29

  48

  36

  72

  25

  22

  24

  13

  17

  Compulsory early retirement/severance on redundancy/voluntary redundancy

  75

  48

  57

  30

  33

  60

  3

  3

  2

  2

  Total

  120

  141

  189

  155

  205

  158

  93

  74

  52

  31

  Table 3: Early retirements of staff within the Prison Service

  Leaving reason

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Retirement—ill health

  356

  321

  285

  105

  Retirement—approved early

  25

  32

  43

  25

  Retirement—actuarially reduced

  11

  6

  8

  4

  Retirement—compulsory early

  11

  13

  12

  6

  Total

  403

  372

  348

  140

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the special advisers in his Department and(a) their date of appointment and (b) their responsibilities; if any of them are authorised to speak to the media; and if he will make a statement. [9485]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The number of special advisers working for me had been increased by 0.5 of a full-time post compared with the number working for me in the pre-election period. This, as with the arrangements between 1997 and 2001, reflects the particular circumstances of my position and also the extent of written work associated with my present post. Nick Pearce, Katharine Raymond and Sophie Linden (part-time) took up their appointments as special advisers on 8 June. Huw Evens took up his appointment on 2 July. As part of their duties they will brief the media as appropriate.
  212W
  The Home Office and its agencies have introduced new guidelines, policies and procedures with a view to reducing sickness absence. The Department's service delivery targets for April 2001 to March 2004, which include a target for sickness absence, were published on Friday 3 November 2000 and are available on the Home Office website. The targets are to reduce sickness absence, and sustain this improvement thereafter in the:
  Home Office and its agencies (excluding the Prison Service) to an average of 6.9 days by end of March 2003.
  Prison Service to an average of 9.0 days per member of staff by 2004.

  Table 1: Average working days recorded as lost due to sickness in the Home Office 1999–2001

  Area/year1

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Home Office and non-Prison Service agencies2

  10

  7.5

  7.2

  Prison Service

  12.6

  13.4

  13.9

  1 Data for Home Office and non-Prison Service agencies are given by financial year. Prison Service data are given by calendar year (to August). Comparable data for earlier years are not available.

  2 United Kingdom Passport Agency, Forensic Science Service and Fire Service College.

  Note:

  Responsibility for the Fire Service College passed from the Home Office to DTLR in the 2001 machinery of Government changes.

  With the transfer of the United Kingdom Anti-Drug Co-ordination Unit from the Cabinet Office, Keith Hellawell is joining the Home Office, on special adviser terms, in an advisory role on international drug issues.

  Prisoners (Purposeful Activity)
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time per week spent by prisoners in purposeful activity in each category of prison. [9477]

  Beverley Hughes
  The average time per week spent by prisoners in purposeful activity in each category of prison between April and August 2001 is set out in the table.

  category

  Time spent in purposeful activity (hours)

  Category B

  25.4

  Category C

  26.4

  Female closed

  27.3

  Female local

  22.4

  Female open

  35.6

  High Security

  19.3

  Male closed Young Offenders Institute (YOI)

  23.1

  Male juvenile

  28.0

  Male local

  19.6

  Male open

  42.7

  Male open YOI

  40.3

  Male remand centre

  21.5

  213W
  These data are provisional and subject to validation by establishments. Establishments are categorised by their main role only. Establishments that have more than one role have been placed in the category that represents the primary or predominant function of the prison.

  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to consider the availability of appropriate training courses in allocating prisoners to particular institutions. [8825]

  Beverley Hughes
  Yes. The main factor which is considered in determining a prisoner's allocation is the security category of the prisoner. But allocation to a prison within that constraint will take account, among other things, of any need for identified offence-related behavioural programmes to confront assessed risk and the prisoner's educational or training needs or potential.

  Coroners Court
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the workings and practices of coroners courts; and if he will make a statement. [9020]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) on 5 July 2001, Official Report, column 250W. The chair and members of the review team were subsequently announced on 26 July.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter dated 14 September from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituents, Mr. and Mrs. G Chernov. [8226]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 19 October 2001]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying to his letters. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Department, Lord Rooker, has agreed to meet the hon. Member as requested in his correspondence and his office is currently arranging this.

  Victim Support
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help his Department makes available to victim support. [8558]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 18 October 2001]: The Home Office grant to the organisation Victim Support in the current financial year will be £25 million. This is over £6 million more than last year, and more than twice the grant paid in 1997. The extra money this year will enable Victim Support to complete the provision of witness support services in all magistrates courts and further enhance their service delivery to victims of crime.

  Prisoner Rehabilitation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets he has set HM prisons for the rehabilitation of offenders; and if he will make a statement. [7295]
  214W
  Beverley Hughes
  The targets set by the Home Secretary for the rehabilitation of offenders are contained in the Public Service Agreement (PSA) between the Chancellor and the Home Secretary, in a Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) between the Home Secretary and the Prison Service, and in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Prison Service.

  The PSA targets that relate to prisoner rehabilitation are:
  to reduce the rate of reconvictions:
  of all offenders punished by imprisonment or by community supervision by 5 per cent. by 2004 compared to the predicted rate; and
  of all young offenders by 5 per cent. by 2004 compared to the predicted rate;
  to reduce the levels of repeat offending among problem drug misusing offenders by 25 per cent. by 2005 (and by 50 per cent. by 2008).

  The targets contained in the SDA that relate to the rehabilitation of offenders are:
  to increase the educational and vocational qualifications of offenders to 23,400 accredited educational/vocational qualifications in 2001–02 and 36,200 in 2003–04. including an increase in the number of level 2 basic skill awards from 18,000 to 21,000;
  to increase the number of offenders going through accredited offending behaviour programmes to 8,900 by 2003–04, including 1,240 through sex offender treatment programmes;
  to double the number of prisoners getting jobs on release by April 2004;
  to reduce the rate of positive results from random drug tests from 20 per cent. in 1998–99 to 10 per cent. by 31 March 2004;
  to increase the number of prisoners entering treatment between 2001–02 and 2003–04 in the following categories:
  CARATS (Counselling, Assessment Referral, Advice and Throughcare, Services) from 20,000 to 25,000;
  detoxification-from 23,000 to 27,000;
  drug rehabilitation programmes and therapeutic communities—from 5,000 to 5,700;
  to establish, by December 2000, a baseline and targets for the Spending Review period, for increasing the caseload of prisoners on a voluntary drug testing compact.

  The four current KPI targets that relate to prisoner rehabilitation are:
  to deliver 23,400 accredited educational or vocational qualifications in 2001–02, including 18,000 level 2 basic skills awards;
  to ensure that prisoners spend on average at least 24 hours per week engaged in purposeful activity;
  to deliver 6,100 accredited offending behaviour programme completions in 2001–02, including 1,160 completions of sex offender treatment programmes;
  to ensure the rate of positive results from random mandatory drug tests is lower than 12 per cent. by April 2002.

  Special Constables
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in the West Midlands Police Force in(a) 1971, (b) 1981, (c) 1991 and (d) 2000, respectively; how many of these were from minority ethnic communities; and how many special constables were deployed in the Dudley North OCU in 2001.[7088]
  215W
  Mr. Denham
  The number of serving special constables at force level have only been recorded centrally from 1991 onwards. Figures for the years prior to this are not available. The total number of special constables, including the numbers of those from minority ethnic communities in West Midlands Police for 1991 and 2000 are set out in the table.

  Year

  Total number of Special constables

  special constables from minority ethnic backgrounds

  31 March 1991

  843

  115

  31 March 2000

  680

  75

  I am informed by West Midlands Police that in 2001, there was an average of 34 serving special constables deployed in the Dudley North Operational Command Unit (OCU).

  The Government are committed to increasing the special constabulary and we are looking at radical improvements in their management, welfare and deployment as part of the police reform process.

  Police Marksmen (Civilian Casualities)
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been shot by police in each of the last 10 years; how many(a) died and (b) were seriously injured; and how many of these were found not to have been carrying firearms at the time they were shot. [7414]

  Mr. Denham
  Figures available are as follows:

  Persons shot by police

  Died

  Injured1

  Unarmed2

  1991

  5

  3

  2

  —

  1992

  11

  3

  8

  —

  1993

  5

  3

  2

  —

  1994

  6

  2

  4

  —

  1995

  5

  2

  3

  2

  1996

  4

  2

  2

  2

  1997

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1998

  5

  2

  3

  2

  1999

  7

  3

  4

  —

  2000

  6

  2

  4

  —

  2001

  2

  2

  —

  —

  1 Includes all injuries

  2 Excludes incidents where the person was subsequently found to be in possession of a replica or imitation firearm or in possession of other dangerous weapons (knives, air weapon etc.)

  Departmental Staff
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate total annual staff costs for his Department and its agencies by nation and region of the UK; and if he will make a statement. [6853]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Information on Home Office staff cost estimates for 2001–02 (including the Prison Service Agency, the Passport and Records Agency and the Forensic Science Service) by nation and region of the United Kingdom is provided in the table shown.216W

  £000

  Region

  Total

  Scotland

  8,886

  North East

  86,484

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  131,821

  North West

  142,348

  Merseyside

  28,672

  West Midlands

  109,463

  East Midlands

  104,497

  Eastern

  110,802

  Wales

  30,052

  Northern Ireland

  2,177

  London

  469,024

  South East

  215,910

  South West

  98,661

  Total

  1,538,797

  Asylum Seekers
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number and proportion of asylum seekers to the UK who(a) are educated to (i) degree level, (ii) higher A-Level or equivalent level and (iii) Standard/GCSE or equivalent level, (b) are qualified as (i) doctors, (ii) nurses and (iii) teachers, and (c) have skills in high technology and IT related sectors; and if he will make a statement. [7002]

  Angela Eagle
  The information available is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only by examining individual case records and by consulting the asylum seekers themselves.

  Departmental Spending
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the total annual running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per sq m for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK. [6855]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The estimated running costs and average running cost per sq m for the Home Office (non-prison) estate by region and nation of the United Kingdom are as follows:

  Region

  Estimated running costs1 (£000)

  Estimated average running cost per sq m2 (£)

  England

  North East

  6,414

  234

  North West

  12,217

  264

  Yorkshire

  5,003

  280

  East Midlands

  6,385

  376

  West Midlands

  7,495

  115

  East England

  2,688

  105

  London

  45,227

  257

  South East

  38,537

  220

  South West

  352

  156

  England total

  124,319

  225

  Scotland

  3,734

  343

  Wales

  2,366

  123

  Northern Ireland

  486

  239

  UK total

  130,906

  224

  1 Running Costs include the annual rental charge, rates, utility costs, cleaning, maintenance and security guarding

  2 The floor area figures used are net internal area

  217W
  These figures do not include the Probation Estate, which became part of the Home Office estate on 1 April 2001. I will write to the hon. Member with these figures shortly.The figures for the Prison Service are collated by the 15 Prison Service Areas, 13 of which are regional. The other two areas are Female and High Security establishments.

  Area1

  Estimated running costs2 (£000)

  Estimated average running cost per sq m2 (£)

  East Midlands North

  2,753

  20

  West Midlands

  3,293

  14

  Manchester. Mersey and Cheshire

  3,681

  15

  North East

  2,775

  21

  Lancashire and Cumbria

  3,996

  21

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  4,677

  16

  East Midlands South

  3,280

  20

  Thames Valley and Hampshire

  5,356

  26

  Eastern

  4,758

  20

  Kent, Surrey and Sussex

  6,430

  22

  London

  3,847

  21

  South West

  7,743

  28

  Female Prisons

  4,088

  23

  High Security Prisons

  5,500

  17

  England total

  52,589

  20

  Wales

  1,277

  14

  UK total

  53,866

  20

  1 The figures relate to the Operational Directorate of the Prison Service and cover prison establishments. The Prison Service headquarters figures are included in the main Home Office figures.

  2 Running costs relate to rents, council tax, utilities and maintenance. Security guarding and cleaning are not identified separately on the Prison Service finance system. The figures do not include rates.

  3 Figures for the floor area are gross.

  The difference in the running cost between the main Home Office and the Prison estates is due to the fact that most of the Prison Service estate is freehold, whereas most of the main Home Office estate is leasehold. Rent accounts for the major running cost expenditure in the figures for the main Home Office estate.

  Crown Court Trials
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of(a) either-way cases and (b) all cases heard in magistrates courts were sent to Crown court for sentencing in each of the last three years. [7852]

  Project £000 at 2001–02 prices

  Projects costing over £2 million

  FY 2001–02

  FY 2002–03

  Future years

  Total anticipated expenditure

  Comments (figures include for fees, VAT and contingencies

  Collection Summary:

  Prison Service (capital)

  27,714

  77,978

  60,993

  166,685

  Immigration Service

  136,000

  3,100

  0

  139,100

  National Police Training

  13,300

  15,332

  20,000

  48,632

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  85

  —

  —

  —

  Planned expenditure not yet known

  Total anticipated expenditure

  177,099

  96,410

  80,993

  354,417

  PF1 Projects:

  Home Office Marsham Street

  —

  —

  —

  —

  PFI contract not yet signed

  Ashford Prison

  —

  —

  —

  —

  PFI contract not yet signed

  Peterborough Prison

  —

  —

  —

  —

  PFI contract not yet signed

  218W
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The available information, taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, is shown in the table.

  Numbers and percentages of defendants committed to the Crown Court for sentence by offence type—England and Wales 1999

  Triable either way

  All offences

  Number of defendants proceeded against

  479,917

  1,881,765

  Number of defendants committed to the Crown Court for sentence

  19,324

  20,417

  Percentage of defendants proceeded against who are committed to the Crown Court for sentence

  4

  1

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those who elected for trial in Crown court in either-way cases, including those found not guilty, had previous convictions. [7853]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Data from a sample of offenders sentenced during four weeks in 1999 show that 68 per cent. of those found guilty for a standard list offence at the Crown court had one or more previous convictions for a standard list offence. No data are available on whether those acquitted had previous convictions.

  Refurbishment Projects
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current year and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project. [6586]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Department does not maintain central records of every building and refurbishment project. The following table lists currently planned Home Office, including Prison Service capital construction projects (individual projects estimated to cost over £2 million) split between private finance initiative (PFI) and non-PFI which covers the projects on-site or expected to be on-site in 2001–02 and 2002–03. The figures given are total costs, previous expenditure, and estimated expenditure in the current year and future years. The Department is not directly responsible for the construction costs of PFI projects and these costs have not been shown. Projects for non-departmental public bodies are not included.
  219W

  Project £ at 2001–02 prices

  Projects costing over £ million

  FY 2001–02

  FY 2002–03

  Future years

  Total anticipated expenditure

  Comments (figures include for fees, VAT and contingencies

  Home Office Prison Service

  Aylesbury

  2,131

  2,182

  2,581

  6,894

  Birmingham

  800

  1,711

  64

  2,575

  Brockhill/Hewell G

  352

  2,475

  56

  2,883

  Buckley Hall

  0

  2,000

  0

  2,000

  Camp Hill

  1,357

  2,485

  521

  4,363

  Cardiff

  0

  1,744

  365

  2,109

  Dorchester

  498

  1,932

  62

  2,492

  Downview

  3,000

  7,000

  0

  10,000

  Drake Hall

  0

  2,000

  500

  2,500

  Durham

  2,728

  1,928

  4,773

  0

  Durham

  0

  2,032

  7,634

  9,666

  Eastwood Park

  0

  2,600

  300

  2,900

  Everthorpe

  210

  2,052

  55

  2,317

  Feltham

  0

  700

  2,000

  2,700

  Feltham

  0

  1,300

  1,300

  2,600

  Gartree

  2,352

  2,594

  8,359

  0

  Gartree

  0

  0

  2,225

  2,225

  Hull

  2,124

  11,008

  336

  13,468

  Kirkham

  200

  3,567

  60

  3,827

  Leeds

  500

  2,223

  300

  3,023

  Lincoln

  0

  1,909

  2,178

  4,087

  Long Lartin

  520

  2,089

  2,744

  5,353

  National Programme

  8,775

  225

  0

  9,000

  Onley

  92

  1,391

  4,257

  5,740

  Pentonville

  0

  3,000

  7,000

  10,000

  Portland

  0

  2,750

  7,888

  10,638

  Preston

  0

  3,540

  2,831

  6,371

  Wakefield

  0

  5,015

  1,808

  6,823

  Wakesfield

  —

  —

  7,500

  7,500

  Wandsworth

  1,771

  2,917

  116

  4,804

  Wandsworth

  1,500

  1,500

  3,000

  Wealstun

  —

  5,060

  1,320

  6,380

  Winchester

  304

  1,609

  680

  2,593

  Winchester

  —

  1,088

  1,148

  2,236

  Ashford (PFI)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Contract not yet signed

  Peterborough (PFI)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Contract not yet signed

  Prison Service total

  27,714

  77,978

  60,993

  143,951

  Immigration Service1

  Immigration Service

  136,000

  3,100

  0

  139,100

  Immigration Services total

  136,000

  3,100

  0

  139,100

  National Police Training1

  Redevelopment Harrogate

  1,000

  15,000

  20,000

  36,000

  Cmbran

  3,350

  91

  —

  3,441

  Ryton

  8,950

  241

  —

  9,191

  National Police Training Total

  13,300

  15,332

  20,000

  48,632

  Home Office

  Marsham Street PH

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Contract not signed

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  Relocation

  85

  —

  —

  —

  Future expenditure not yet known

  United Kingdom Passport Agency

  85

  0

  0

  0

  1 Information on the capital costs of individual projects is not divulged as it is commercially sensitive. The table sets out the total contractually committed expenditure for projects let by this office and relates to the Yarl's Wood, Harmondsworth, Dungavel and Oakington projects. (On both Harmondsworth and Yarl's Wood, there was significant expenditure during 2000–01 which is included in the figure shown in the 2001–02 column).

  220W

  Palace of Westminster: Line of Route Summer Recess Tours
  Palace of Westminster: Line of Route Summer Recess Tours
  Offence of "Corporate Killing"
  Offence of "Corporate Killing"
  Asylum Applications: Assessments at Sangatte
  Asylum Applications: Assessments at Sangatte
  Slopping Out in Prisons
  Slopping Out in Prisons
  Draft Directive on EU Food Supplements
  Draft Directive on EU Food Supplements
  Haemophiliacs: Hepatitis C Injection
  Haemophiliacs: Hepatitis C Injection
  Medicines Control Agency: Annual Report and Accounts
  Medicines Control Agency: Annual Report and Accounts
  House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Report on Genetics and Insurance: Government Response
  House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Report on Genetics and Insurance: Government Response
  Historical Manuscripts Commission: Quinquennial Review
  Historical Manuscripts Commission: Quinquennial Review
  Department for Work and Pensions: Information Technology Projects
  Department for Work and Pensions: Information Technology Projects
  Reinsurance: Acts of Terrorism
  Reinsurance: Acts of Terrorism