Written Answers of 3 April 2002

DEFENCE

  Training Expenditure
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expenditure is on training in the(a) Royal Navy and Royal Marines, (b) the Army and (c) the RAF in (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland. [32459]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 1 February 2002]: The latest best estimates for the amounts spent by the Services' Training Agencies on individual training for the Royal Navy, Army and RAF in the last 12 months are respectively: £403.6 million; £894 million and £404.5 million. These figures are approximate and are in accordance with Resources Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) procedures which incorporate consumption figures not included in a cash budget.

  For the Royal Navy, a small proportion of trainee days are spent in Scotland, but separate costs are not recorded for these activities by the Naval Training and Recruiting Agency. The Army Training and Recruiting Agency estimates that its total expenditure in Scotland in the current Financial Year will be £22 million. The majority of the RAF Training Group Defence Agency's training establishments are based either in England or Wales, but the in-year cost of their Outdoor Activity Centre in Scotland for the current financial year is £675,000.

  The cash costs of Royal Marines individual training for financial year 2001–02 are projected to be £39.9 million. It is not possible to identify separately Royal Marines training expenditure in Scotland.

  Training costs falling to the Service Commands are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Deployment
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) army personnel, (b) navy personnel and (c) RAF personnel are deployed on operations; and what percentage is deployed on operations in each case. [45684]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The number of personnel deployed on operations is as follows:

  Service

  Number

  Percentage

  Naval Service

  3,938

  11

  Army

  19,895

  20

  RAF

  4,480

  9

  1016W
  These figures include both joint and single service deployments and are shown as a percentage of trained strength.

  Naval Service figures are as at 25 March 2002.

  Army and RAF figures are as at 1 March 2002.

  Helicopters
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the serviceability rate is of(a) Gazelle, (b) Lynx, (c) Sea King, (d) Chinook and (e) Puma helicopters. [44660]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 March 2002]: The serviceability rate for the month of February for (a) Gazelle, (b) Lynx, (c) Sea King, (d) Chinook, and (e) Puma helicopters is shown in the following table:

  Aircraft type

  Average serviceability rate

  Aircraft numbers (actual operating fleet)

  Gazelle

  55%

  116

  Lynx

  57%

  131

  Sea King

  61%

  84

  Chinook

  56%

  27

  Puma

  64%

  35

  The hon. Member should note that these figures represent an average taken over the whole month of February. Serviceability figures are influenced by a number of factors and fluctuate daily.

  Chinook Crash
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy only to review the findings of the air marshals on the reasons for the crash of the ZD 576 Chinook helicopter on 2 June 1994 if there is new evidence in this case; and if he will make a statement. [45860]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 26 March 2002]: As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence made clear in the House on 19 March 2002, it is necessary to look very carefully at the report published by the Select Committee in the other place. We are conducting a detailed study of its analysis of the facts and the interesting technical views expressed. Were new evidence to be determined, this would of course, be fully evaluated.

  Anti-aircraft Defences
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether anti-aircraft defences in the United Kingdom have combat identification of friend and foe facilities; and what steps he is taking to ensure that all anti-aircraft defences can use information from air traffic control systems. [46612]

  Mr. Ingram
  I can confirm that all Ministry of Defence Rapier Ground Based Air Defence assets are equipped with combat identification friend or foe facilities. These assets would be integrated within the military Airspace Surveillance and Control System and communicate, co-ordinate and integrate with military air traffic control services as necessary. A joint operating instruction combining civil and military air
  1017W
  traffic control and air defence actions within United Kingdom flight information regions has recently been published which enhances co-ordination of airspace activity. It is planned that Royal Marine and Army man portable air defence systems will have friend or foe identification facilities by 2008 and 2004–05 respectively.

  West Freugh Airfield
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will retain external consultants to investigate the potential for future commercial development at West Freugh airfield. [45915]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The position has not changed since I answered a similar question from the hon. Member on 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 558W.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used by the Airfield Regulator in assessing the safety of future operations at West Freugh airfield. [45916]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The criteria used by the Regulator to assess the safety of future operations at West Freugh airfield were the adequacy of safety infrastructure and the number of aircraft movements. Regulatory minima are set for both the overall number of movements and the number of fast jet movements in order to maintain the currency of air traffic controllers. The numbers of aircraft movements at West Freugh had fallen below these regulatory minima, leading to the decision to cease full-time airfield operations.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many air traffic movements were handled at West Freugh airfield in each of the last five years; how many were(a) civilian and (b) military; and of the military movements, from which countries they were from. [45918]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The following aircraft movements took place at West Freugh between 1997 and 2001:

  Date

  Military

  Civilian

  Total

  1997

  5,946

  5,694

  11,640

  1998

  4,636

  7,208

  11,844

  1999

  7,236

  1,152

  8,388

  2000

  5,976

  —

  5,976

  2001

  3,186

  —

  3,186

  The figures shown do not include overflights. The bulk of military movements shown are in support of the United Kingdom armed forces activities. Foreign aircraft movements are not identified separately in our records.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when, prior to the announcement of 20 March on closure of the airfield, the next scheduled re-surfacing of the West Freugh airstrip was due to be completed; and at what projected cost. [45975]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: Two programmes of re-surfacing work were recommended for 2002 and 2003 at an estimated cost of about £1.6
  1018W
  million and £0.19 million respectively. However, neither task was included in the maintenance plan and completion dates were not allocated.

  Property Managers
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which areas have no property managers in post; how the property in these areas is being managed; and if he will make a statement. [46438]

  Dr. Moonie
  There are no areas of the Defence Housing Executive which currently do not have Property Managers in post. There are vacancies for two Property Managers at the present time but the posts are currently occupied by other experienced staff from within the relevant property management office on temporary promotion, pending the recruitment of permanent replacements. Property Managers are assisted in their tasks by Assistant Property Managers and other staff.

  HMS Sheffield
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2002,Official Report, column 1179W (1) if he will list those who gave statements but were not called to give evidence; how many of those who made a statement expressed a wish to give evidence; and if he will make a statement; [45836]

  (2) on HMS Sheffield, whether Ministers have reviewed the information now available; and if he will make a statement; [45838]

  (3) whether the Board of Inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield were given copies of all statements; whether all 98 people were offered as witnesses; who decided which of them were called to give evidence and be cross-examined; and if he will make a statement. [45837]

  Mr. Ingram
  As I informed the hon. Member in my reply to his previous questions on HMS Sheffield, I am satisfied that the Board of Inquiry was conducted in a professional and proper manner and no new information has become available that would warrant the re-opening of this tragic incident. We have no record of any individual who made a statement expressing a wish to give his evidence through being interviewed by the Board. The statements taken from the surviving crew members were available to the Board of Inquiry. The Board interviewed witnesses where it was believed that doing so could assist in its inquiries. The decision as to which witnesses were interviewed was the responsibility of the Board. To publish a list of those who provided statements to the Sheffield Board of Inquiry would be a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 and a breach of confidentiality, unless the permission of all the individuals involved was first obtained. This could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  HMS Invincible
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to withdraw HMS Invincible from service before 2012. [46459]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 January 2002, Official Report, column 125W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle)

  Procurement
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account his Department takes of a firm's good practice in(a) training and (b) employment practice in awarding procurement contracts. [46484]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence recognises that supplier training and employment practices are important for the timely delivery of the quality goods and services the MOD requires. The MOD will normally contract only with suppliers who have achieved an appropriate, certified quality management standard. Additionally, it will usually make use of qualification questionnaires and associated tools to help assess a potential supplier's suitability for a contract both before and after invitations to tender are issued. The MOD's standard contract terms also remind suppliers of their obligations under the Racial Discrimination and, where appropriate, Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Acts.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the target time will be in 2000–03 for(a) Ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in his Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [44955]

  Dr. Moonie
  In 2002–03, the Ministry of Defence target time for replies to both Ministerial and Treat Official correspondence is within 15 working days.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average length of time taken to answer letters to Ministers has been in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [43949]

  Dr. Moonie
  Information is published annually by the Cabinet Office on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by Ministers and Agency Chief Executives: Departments' and Agencies' handling targets; and their performance in meeting these targets. The Report for 2001 is due to be published shortly.

  New Deal
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many people have been employed by his Department in each of the last three years under(a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for the Over 50s and (c) the New Deal for Lone Parents; and at what cost, listed by category to public funds; [44921]

  (2) how many people employed by his Department under the New Deal for Young People in each of the last four years have subsequently (a) found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks and (b) returned to jobseeker's allowance or other benefits. [44903]
  1020W
  Dr. Moonie
  Data on the number of New Deal appointments under the programme for Young People was recored from the beginning of the scheme until April 2001. From then, data also included the over 50s and lone parents programmes. Since October 2001 data has not been held centrally on the New Deal programmes. Available data are detailed in the following table:

  Financial year

  Lone parents

  Over 50s

  Young people aged 18–24

  Total numbers rectuited under New Deal (includes those aged 25 and over)

  1998–99

  n/a

  n/a

  11

  17

  1999–2000

  n/a

  n/a

  35

  58

  2000–01

  n/a

  n/a

  20

  43

  2001–02 (until October 2001)

  0

  2

  6

  10

  Forty-two New Deal recruits subsequently became permanent members of staff. Others who have left the scheme will have had the opportunity to acquire new skills and enhance their marketability for employment elsewhere, but information is not held on whether they returned to jobseekers allowance or other benefits. New Deal recruits take up existing vacancies so extra costs to public funds are limited to the subsidy, where appropriate, and any training and development that may be needed. Details of costs are not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  CFCs
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the handling by the European Commission of the issue of CFCs in refrigerator insulating foam. [44929]

  Mr. Meacher
  My colleagues and I have not discussed the issue of the European Commission's handling of the clarification of the meaning of Article 16 of EC Regulation 2037/2000 with Environment Ministers from other Member States.

  We are taking urgent action to ensure recovery facilities are put in place in the UK as quickly as possible. A mobile plant is already operational in Lewes, and we expect that several static plants will be established at various sites around the UK by July, to ensure that the UK will be able to meet its obligations to recover and destroy CFCs from refrigeration insulating foam.

  Dangerous Substance Rules
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2002,Official Report, column 793W, on dangerous substance rules, if she will place in the Library copies of the correspondence between the Government and the Commission relating to the reasoned opinions referred to; and if she will make a statement on how the Government are dealing with these Reasoned Opinions. [44727]

  Mr. Meacher
  No, Reasoned Opinion infraction cases are confidential matters between Member States and the Commission.

  Environmental Impact Assessment
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the second draft of the Environmental Impact Statement on the Ashmoor disposal site will be completed; and if drafts will be placed in the Library. [45922]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The first draft of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the site at Ashmoor is being revised to take account of comments received from the various interested parties we consulted. There is further work to be done and I cannot yet say when it will be completed but we are progressing matters as quickly as possible.

  I see no reason to place copies of the draft Assessments in the Library but I will arrange for a copy of the final version to be placed there in due course.

  Pesticide Tax
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring there has been of the annual financial commitments given by the farming unions and the Crop Protection Association in respect of the voluntary measures in place of a pesticide tax; and if she will make a statement. [45923]

  Mr. Morley
  Some initial monitoring of costs has been carried out by the Steering Group for the voluntary package. The Steering Group are aiming to produce an Annual Report of progress in April/May 2002 which is expected to contain details of costs incurred during the first year of the programme. It is intended that this report will be made widely available and I will place copies in the Library of the House.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments have been received from(a) farming unions and (b) the Crop Protection Association since the introduction of the voluntary measures package. [45924]

  Mr. Morley
  No payments have been received in connection with the voluntary package of measures to minimise the environmental impact of pesticides nor will they be in the future. The farming unions and the Crop Protection Association have estimated the costs to themselves associated with implementing the voluntary package and they will be expected to show actual costs as the programme progresses.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's preparations for the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development. [46334]

  Mr. Meacher
  DEFRA, working closely with other departments, is leading on the UK's domestic and international preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). The Department is represented on MISC18, the Cabinet Committee set up to co-ordinate, develop and deliver the Government's strategy for WSSD. DEFRA also chairs two official level groups which co-ordinate preparations across Government. My officials are fully involved in the international preparations for the Summit and are attending the third preparatory meeting in New York which started on 25 March.

  DEFRA also leads on the development of a cross Whitehall communications strategy to raise awareness of the Summit. We are working closely with local authorities, NGOs, business and other organisations to ensure that we engage a wide range of stakeholders in the Summit. DEFRA has also developed the government sustainable development website (www.sustainable-development.gov.uk) to include information on WSSD.

  Packaging Waste
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether the 2001 United Kingdom business package waste recovery and recycling targets for(a) recovery and (b) material-specific recycling were met; and whether the percentage levels of business packaging waste recovery and recycling in the United Kingdom in 2001 satisfied the stipulations of the EU Packaging Waste Directive 1994; [46357]

  (2) what the percentage levels of (a) business packaging waste recovery and (b) business packaging recycling were in the United Kingdom in 2001. [46358]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 26 March 2002]: The recovery and recycling targets in article 6(1) of the EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste—94/62EC—were implemented in Great Britain by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended).

  In order to comply with the requirements in the Directive, recovery and recycling targets for 2001 under the packaging regulations were 56 per cent. for recovery and 18 per cent. for material-specific recycling of packaging waste. Final figures for 2001 are not yet available, but data received to date suggest that, if all obligated parties met their obligations, these targets should be met. This would mean that the UK had recovered 4.6 million tonnes of packaging waste in 2001 ie 50 per cent. We would expect to recycle some 45 per cent. We also anticipate that all materials will meet the 15 per cent. material-specific recycling target in the Directive, with the possible exception of plastic.

  EU Fishing Rights
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her assessment is of the economic benefit to the United Kingdom of European Union fishing rights agreements(a) with third countries south of the EU and (b) with third countries north of the EU. [45514]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 March 2002]: The United Kingdom's fishing industry has a negligible interest in fisheries agreements south of the EU so no assessment has been carried out. Fisheries agreements with countries north of the EU are of considerable importance to UK fishermen. However, the economic benefit cannot be assessed precisely since it depends on availability of fishing opportunities which can vary year on year and actual catches taken.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps the Government have taken to ensure that the funding assigned to conservation within the money spent on the acquisition of EU fishing rights agreements with third countries is spent on the purpose for which it was intended in countries(a) north of the EU and (b) south of the EU; [45512]

  (2) what assessment the Government have made of the environmental impact of EU fishing rights agreements with third countries (a) north of the EU and (b) south of the EU. [45513]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 March 2002]: It is the responsibility of the European Commission on behalf of the EU to ensure value for money and to assess environmental impact in relation to international fisheries agreements to which the EU is party. It is the United Kingdom's view that, certainly in relation to many of the southern agreements, the Commission's performance of these tasks needs to be improved. We have expressed this view in the Council of Ministers and will be looking for the issue to be addressed in the forthcoming review of the Common Fisheries Policy.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many EU directives were received by her Department and its predecessor departments; and what the average time taken to implement such directives was from(a) 1990 to 1996 and (b) 1997 to 2002. [40698]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The Department does not hold information in the form requested. This information could only be assembled at disproportionate cost.

  Catering Services
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of(a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by her Department in each of the last four years. [38932]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department has only been in existence since June 2001. To collect this information retrospectively from the component parts that now make up DEFRA would involve disproportionate cost.

  Golden Jubilee
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department has spent on the Queen's Jubilee in each of the past three years; how the money was allocated; and if she will make a statement. [44595]

  Mr. Morley
  Any such expenditure has not been separately identified by the Department.

  Worldwide Web
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of farming businesses which are connected to the worldwide web. [38828]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Internet access is becoming an essential business tool for agriculture and information on computer and internet usage by farmers was collected in the December 2001 Survey of Agriculture. The results are due to be published in early April.

  Farming and Food
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to respond to the report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food; and if she will make a statement. [39399]

  Mr. Morley
  The Commission's report will make a substantial contribution to a new strategy for sustainable food and farming, which we aim to launch in the autumn. This will be a response to the report but will go further than that. We will work with a wide range of stakeholders to determine how best to take forward the Commission's ideas and deliver positive changes on the ground. As responsibility for addressing the Commission's recommendations rests with industry and other organisations as well as Government, we will be looking for their active involvement.

  Countryside Agency
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria are being applied to determine applications for appointments to the Countryside Agency after 1 April; on what date the advertisements for applicants was placed in the national press; what timescale was anticipated for drawing up the list for applicants for interview at the time the advert was first placed; when it is expected that such interviews will now take place; what measures were taken to encourage applicants in addition to the national advertising campaign and on what dates those measures were taken; what the political balance is of board members; what the political balance is intended to be after the appointments are made; and if she will make a statement. [45271]

  Alun Michael
  The criteria applied to determine the applications for the appointments to the Countryside Agency were that applicants should have a general interest and experience of countryside issues, and preferably have specific expertise in the areas of rural business/rural enterprise, rural development or the
  1025W
  voluntary sector. In addition we made clear that we were particularly seeking applications from candidates based in the West Midlands or South West England.

  Advertisements were placed in the national press on 13 and 16 September 2001, with a closing date of 11 October 2001. Our intention was to appoint up to two candidates. In line with our normal timetable, a shortlist of candidates for possible interview was drawn up in November, four shortlisted candidates from South West England were interviewed in January and one has now been appointed. The deadline for applications from candidates based in the West Midlands was extended to 11 February 2002 and this was advertised on the DEFRA and Countryside Agency websites. We are now considering the applications from candidates based in the West Midlands, received both before and after the original deadline, and hope to interview a shortlist in May. However, there is no fixed number for the number of people on the Board, and only one member is leaving the Board in April; so we will not necessarily appoint a second person this year.

  In addition to the national advertising campaign, which included information being posted on the DEFRA and Countryside Agency websites, we approached 160 organisations with an interest in countryside issues in September 2001 asking them to suggest candidates. We also made a limited number of further approaches in the West Midlands for additional suggestions in January.

  Appointments to the Board of the Countryside Agency are not made on the basis of political affiliation.

  Badgers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is the present estimated number of badgers in England and Wales. [45248]

  Mr. Morley
  Based on two surveys, the first conducted in the mid-1980s and the second in the mid-1990s, the number of badgers in Great Britain is estimated to be between 300,000 and 400,000.

  Water-based Sport and Recreation
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many enclosed waters of one hectare or more in size there are in(a) South Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) the North East; and how many of these are known to be used for sport and recreation. [45249]

  Alun Michael
  Our research report, "Water-Based Sport and Recreation: the Facts" was published in December 2001. The researchers found that 73 of the 169 enclosed water spaces of one hectare or more in the North are used for sport and recreation. The report does not provide separate figures for South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear and the North East.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many clubs are associated with inland water sport and recreation in(a) South Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) the North East. [45250]
  1026W
  Alun Michael
  Our research report, "Water-Based Sport and Recreation: the Facts" was published in December 2001. The researchers conducted interviews with 58 national stakeholder organisations in England and Wales and also undertook a questionnaire survey of 1,250 local clubs, associations and organisations. The report does not detail how many clubs are associated with inland water sport and recreation in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear and the North East.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce what action she plans to take on the research report "Water Based Sport and Recreation: the Facts". [45251]

  Alun Michael
  Officials recently met British Waterways, the Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and Sport England as the other sponsors of the research along with other interested Government Departments. We are considering what action to take in the light of the report's findings.

  New Deal for Market Towns
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which market towns have received grants for regeneration under the New Deal for Market Towns, stating(a) the amount and (b) the purpose of each grant. [46600]

  Alun Michael
  The Market Town Initiative is being taken forward on DEFRA's behalf by the Regional Development Agencies, working with the Countryside Agency and local partners and using the £37 million of Government funding announced in the Rural White Paper. We hope that match funding will raise the figure to some £100 million. The Department does not plan to monitor the amount and purpose of individual grants made in each town. The process at a local level is important in itself. Most towns are still at the stage of community consultation prior to agreeing action plans, and few project grants have been approved. I understand the total grant allocation by RDAs to individual towns remain indicative. The table below lists the towns included in the programme to date.

  North East (12)

  Northumberland

  Alnwick

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  Haltswhistle

  Hexham

  Morpeth

  Seahouses

  Wooler

  County Durham

  Barnard Castle

  Crook

  Middleton-in-Teesdale

  Stanhope

  Cleveland

  Guisborough

  North West (14)

  Cumbria

  Cockermouth

  1027W

  Egremont

  Keswick

  Longton

  Millom

  Penrith

  Windermere with Arableside

  Ulverston

  Wigton

  Lancashire

  Barnoldswick

  Carnforth

  Clitheroe

  Garstang

  Padiham

  Cheshire

  Sandbach

  East Midlands (13)

  Derbyshire

  Belper

  Bolsover

  Chapel en le Frith

  Lincolnshire

  Market Rasen

  Spalding

  Louth

  Leicestershire

  Market Harborough

  Melton Mowbray

  Northamptonshire

  Desborough/Rothwell

  Thrapston

  Rutland

  Oakham

  Nottinghamshire

  Ollerton

  Retford

  Yorkshire & the Humber (12)

  North Yorks

  Bentham

  Malton & Norton

  Pateley Bridge

  Thirsk

  Whitby

  North Lincolnshire

  Brigg

  East Riding of Yorks

  Hornsea

  Market Weighton

  South Yorks

  Thorne

  Penistone

  West Yorks

  Todmorden

  Otley

  West Midlands (19)

  Shropshire

  Craven Arms

  Oswestry

  Wern

  Bridgnorth

  Highley

  Alveley

  Market Drayton

  Whitchurch

  Herefordshire

  Kington

  Ledbury

  Bromyard

  1028W

  Worcestershire

  Evesham

  Bewdley

  Pershore

  Staffordshire

  Leek

  Uttoxeter

  Warwickshire

  Alcester

  Atherstone

  Polesworth

  South East (5)

  Kent

  Hythe

  Cranbrook

  Minster

  East Sussex

  Battle

  Heathfield

  South West (16)

  Devon

  Okehampton

  Hatherleigh

  Holsworthy

  South Molton

  Crediton

  Gt Torrington

  Tavistock

  Cornwall

  Launceston

  Helston

  Dorset

  Bridport

  Somerset

  Minehead

  Langport

  Gloucester

  Lydney (Forest of Dean)

  Wiltshire

  Devises

  Melksham

  Bath and NE Somerset

  Norton/Radstock

  East of England (20)

  Cambridgeshire

  Wisbech

  March

  Chatteris

  Whittlesey

  Ely

  Essex

  Walton-on-the-Naze

  Manningtree

  Harwich

  Brightlingsea

  Norfolk

  Dereham

  Walton

  Downham Market

  Aylsham

  Harleston

  Diss

  Suffolk

  Beccles

  Brandon

  Wickham Market

  Debenham

  Woodbridge

  Total 112

  GM Crops
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the approved buffer zone is between GM crop trial plantations and non-GM crops; on what basis it was arrived at; and what equivalent buffer zone is in use in other EU countries where GM crop trials are taking place. [43036]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 14 March 2002]: There is no single approved buffer zone between GM crop trials and non-GM crops. The conditions governing each trial, including the separation distance between GM plants and other crops, are determined on a case-by-case basis and set out in each consent.

  The basis for the size and nature of the buffer zone on other conditions is to restrict the impact of the GM crop on the environment. The distances are dependent on the reproductive characteristics of the GM crop, the nature of the modification and whether any alternative form of risk management is in operation (eg flower removal, pollen barrier).

  These distances are set after consultation with the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), the Government's statutory advisory committee on matters relating to the release of GMOs to the environment, which examines all applications for GM trials. ACRE advises on the basis of the best scientific evidence available and experience gained from previous releases and, for example, by the seeds industry in the use of separation distances to secure specific levels of seed purity amongst conventionally bred plant varieties.

  The legislation governing GM crop trials derives from European Union directives, so similar principles are followed in other EU countries.

  Wild Animals
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many cases of illegal possession of wild animals there have been in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement; [45437]

  (2) what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of procedures for preventing unlicensed possession of wild animals; and if she will make a statement. [45436]

  Mr. Morley
  There are several pieces of legislation for which my Department is responsible that regulate the possession of wild animals (including wild birds), but details of illegal keeping are not readily available.

  The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which regulates the possession of some wild animals, was reviewed last year by independent consultants to examine its effectiveness. The Act is administered and enforced by local authorities and no records are held centrally. However, the consultants report, which has been put on the website, contains some information about prosecutions, though it is not limited to the last five years and is not necessarily comprehensive.
  1030W
  The review highlighted a number of shortcomings, including some relating to enforcement. We have sought views on the report's recommendations from stakeholders and shortly will be preparing our proposals on how we intend to address the shortcomings. The public will be invited to comment.

  Laying Hens
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the enriched cages to be permitted in England under the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive 99/74/EC will need to provide more than 250 cubic centimetres of which shall be usable. [45316]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 26 March 2002]: Council Directive 99/74/EC lays down minimum requirements for enriched cages, including cage area per hen and usable area. It is intended that the Directive will be implemented in England without being added to in any way. If further changes are proposed, there will be a full public consultation.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information supported the designation of(a) Gatcombe parish council and (b) Newchurch parish council. [44281]

  Alun Michael
  Neither Gatcombe parish council nor Newchurch parish council have been classified as "barely active". The work which is being undertaken by the Countryside Agency towards a national indicator of community vibrancy is not a categorisation of parish councils or their effectiveness. The National Indicator uses as a proxy for community vibrancy measures of the opportunities for members of a community to contribute to community activities.

  The information used was collected as part of the Agency's Rural Services Survey from parish clerks and comprised the presence of a village hall or similar local meeting place, the presence of a public house, incidence of local traditions and events and contested parish council elections. Full details are set out in the Countryside Agency's State of the Countryside Report 2001 where it was noted that there is a marked relationship between the indicator score and population size. The indicator was reported at the national level.

  Livestock Movements
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many drop-offs will be allowed by her Department from a single auction pick-up of cattle moving through market; what checks will be made by divisional veterinary managers on farms seeking qualification for multiple drop-offs; and when she intends to make an announcement. [46385]

  Mr. Morley
  At present, multiple drop offs are only permitted from a market if(a) stock are being dropped off at slaughterhouses only or (b) for cattle only, if they are moved to no more than five farms.
  1031W
  A Veterinary Inspector will check to ensure that anyone applying for their premises to be a drop off point understands the conditions linked to approval and to ensure that the premises are capable of meeting the standards set. For example, he must be satisfied that suitable cleansing and disinfection facilities are available and that there are sufficient gates and hurdles to prevent animals escaping during the unloading process.

  Further details of the conditions that apply to multiple pick-ups and drop offs are available at: www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/movementsitransport/index.htm.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the letter of appointment agreed between the Government and Dr. Anderson in relation to his duties as Chairman of the Lessons Learned Inquiry. [38841]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: No. It is not normal practice to publish such letters of appointment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to prevent ill-treatment of Gibraltarians at the Gibraltar-Spain border; [43430]

  (2) what recent reports he has received about (a) the nature and (b) the extent of problems experienced by Gibraltarians resulting from Spanish border authorities. [43429]

  Peter Hain
  Ministers and officials have raised our concerns about border delays on numerous occasions with their Spanish counterparts, including during the Brussels Process talks. We have also raised our concerns with the European Commission on several occasions.

  The Commission announced on 19 March the closure of its investigation into restrictions at the border between Gibraltar and Spain, having concluded that
  "there was no evidence to legally support claims that the checks carried out by the Spanish authorities … are disproportionate and therefore incompatible with Community law".

  The Spanish Government also confirmed on 19 March that in response to requests made by the UK during the Brussels Process talks a new second channel would be opened, aimed at significantly speeding up the passage of private vehicles across the border between Spain and Gibraltar. The new channel became operational on 21 March. We welcome this.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with the European Commission on its recent investigation into Spanish/Gibraltarian border restrictions. [45472]
  1032W
  Peter Hain
  [holding answer of 26 March]: Ministers and officials have raised our concerns about border delays on numerous occasions with their Spanish counterparts, including during the Brussels Process talks. We have also raised our concerns with the European Commission on several occasions.

  The Commission announced on 19 March the closure of its investigation into restrictions at the border between Gibraltar and Spain, having concluded that
  "there was no evidence to legally support claims that the checks carried out by the Spanish authorities … are disproportionate and therefore incompatible with community law".

  The Spanish Government also confirmed on 19 March that in response to requests made by the UK during the Brussels Process talks a new second channel would be opened, aimed at significantly speeding up the passage of private vehicles across the border between Spain and Gibraltar. The new channel became operational on 21 March. We welcome this.

  Saville Inquiry
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs have been incurred since 24 January by his Department in connection with the Saville Inquiry; and what his estimate is of the final cost to his Department. [46025]

  Peter Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24 January 2002,Official Report, column 999W. This Department has incurred no costs since 24 January 2002.

  Departmental Visits
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates Ministers in his Department have visited United States Government military bases and establishments on United Kingdom territory since 1 January 1999; which Ministers were involved; and what facilities were visited. [43475]

  Mr. MacShane
  We have no record of any Foreign and Commonwealth Minister visiting a military base staffed by US personnel on British territory since 1 January 1999.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Guardianship Office
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she expects to introduce the planned fee increases at the Public Guardianship Office for new applications to the Court of Protection; and whether public consultation will take place beforehand. [45921]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  No date has yet been set for the introduction of changes to the fees charged by the Public Guardianship Office, although it is planned to lay statutory instruments before both Houses soon. Proposed changes have been discussed with members of the Public Guardianship Office's Consultative Forum. The Consultative Forum includes representatives from voluntary organisations with an interest in issues
  1033W
  affecting the Public Guardianship Office's clients and from the Law Society. Members of the Consultative Forum are working with my officials to recommend improved guidelines for remission of fees, so that those who would suffer real hardship as a result of having to pay fees will be able to have them remitted.

  Court Closures
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many courts he has closed since 7 June 2001. [46175]

  Mr. Wills
  No county court or Crown Court centre has been closed since this date.

  Magistrates' courts committees are not statutorily required to inform the Lord Chancellor's Department of proposed courthouse closures which are not subject to an appeal by its paying authority or authorities.

  It is the Government's policy that decisions concerning the number, location and future of magistrates' courts are for each magistrates' courts committee to determine, in consultation with its local paying authority or authorities. 11 magistrates' courthouses have been closed since 7 June 2001.

  Adoption Bill
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has received concerning the Adoption Bill. [46176]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Secretary of State for Health presented the Adoption and Children Bill to the House of Commons. However, I have received 50 representations on the Bill.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she expects to reply to the letter of 4 February from the hon. Member for Torbay, regarding Mrs. Skilton of Torquay. [43028]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  My Noble Friend, Baroness Scotland, has now replied. I am sorry we were not able to reply to the hon. Member's letter within departmental deadlines.

TREASURY

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the classification of motorbikes of over 600cc used by courier companies as leisure vehicles for vehicle excise duty. [45859]

  Mr. Boateng
  The consultation on reforming vehicle excise duty for motorcycles was published alongside the 2001 Pre-Budget Report. The consultation closed on 8 February, the Government are currently carefully considering the responses, which numbered over 12,000. Any changes to taxation policy will be announced in the context of the Chancellor's Budget judgment.

  Road Fuel
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy to encourage motorists through the tax system to change to use the cleanest available fuels; [45949]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to maintain the road fuel duty differential. [45948]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: The Government set duty differentials to encourage the production and use of cleaner fuels, and the development of alternative transport fuels. We announced in Budget 2001 that, to provide the stability needed for the merging road fuel gas market, duty on road fuel gases (such as liquefied petroleum gas) would not be increased in real terms until 2004 at the earliest.

  Financial Services Industry
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that fund manager and stockbroking firms do not levy unjustified charges on their clients. [45784]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Myners review of institutional investment reported that the costs of broking commissions were subject to insufficiently clear scrutiny and control. The Government took forward the recommendations of the review, and following a period of consultation, issued a set of principles of investment for pension funds, and 10 questions for trustees to ask fund managers to ensure that they understand charges. A review of progress will start in March 2003 to decide how successful the principles have been in bringing about change.

  For retail investors, CAT standards and stakeholder pensions impose strict limits on charges by financial institutions.

  VAT Registration
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his estimate is of the annual lost revenue due to the illegal use of UK VAT registration numbers; [46112]

  (2) what his estimate is of the number of illegally obtained VAT registration numbers in each of the last three years. [46113]

  Mr. Boateng
  No such estimates exist.

  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he is giving to the tightening of VAT registration procedures for VAT numbers. [46114]

  Mr. Boateng
  Customs selectively apply extended checks aimed at identifying fraudulent applications, including making visits before registration is granted and applying conditions to the registration, where appropriate. Cases are monitored on an individual basis to ensure a balanced approach between facilitating business and protecting the revenue.

  In addition, Customs are working to automate their validation, verification and risk scoring system by September 2002.

  Smuggling
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the loss of revenue to the South East economy caused by the smuggling of(a) alcohol and (b) tobacco in the last three years. [46433]

  Mr. Boateng
  No such estimates are currently available. However, estimates of the tax revenue lost from smuggling of alcohol and tobacco into the UK were set out in "Measuring Indirect Tax Fraud" published by HM Customs and Excise alongside the Pre-Budget Report.

  Aggregates Levy
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of(a) the increase in recycling of construction and demolition waste and (b) the reduction in demand for virgin aggregates as a direct result of the aggregates levy. [45737]

  Mr. Boateng
  Research suggests that there is significant scope for increased use of recycled construction and demolition waste. The levy is designed to encourage use of this material as an alternative to virgin aggregate, thereby reducing demand for the latter.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the long term impact of the aggregates levy in Northern Ireland once the levy has been fully phased in. [45738]

  Mr. Boateng
  Phasing in the levy for aggregate used in processed products will allow the industry in Northern Ireland time to adjust, and to use greater amounts of recycled and alternative materials in their products.

  Sir Robert Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he will adopt for setting the rate for the aggregates levy in future years. [46406]

  Mr. Boateng
  As with all taxes, the aggregates levy will be reviewed at each Budget.

  Public Services
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department has commissioned external research into its paper on public services productivity; and if he will make a statement. [46573]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  No

  Press Office
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department's press office have received(a) termination and b) redundancy payments in each of the last four years. [41072]

  Ruth Kelly
  None.

HEALTH

  Wheelchairs
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to reduce the number of adverse incidents involving wheelchairs. [45146]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 21 March]: The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) has specific responsibility on behalf of the Secretary of State to safeguard public health where medical devices are involved. Within this overall remit, MDA has a specific unit responsible for wheeled mobility devices where adverse incidents concerning the safety or quality of wheelchairs are considered.

  The MDA unit works with users, manufacturers, trade associations, professional groups, service providers, and other Government departments where appropriate to reduce safety problems for users both in the short and in the longer term. If the unit finds that there is a need for improvement in a wheelchair design, usage instructions or manufacturing process then appropriate action is taken with the manufacturer/supplier. When necessary Safety Warning notices are widely distributed which incorporate the actions required to reduce specific problems with wheelchairs that are already in use. Advice or written guidance on wider issues relating to the safety of wheelchair users is also given where root cause, or trend, analysis highlights a particular area of concern which requires improvement for the future. Also, if a shortcoming is revealed in an issued British Standard concerning wheelchairs or a need for a new standard the unit works with the British Standards Institute (BSI) to make any necessary revisions or assist with the drafting of any new standard.

  Jim Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the budgets for the provision of electric powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs to health trusts. [42525]

  Ms Blears
  Funding for wheelchair services is part of health authorities general allocations. It is for health authorities in partnership with Primary Care Groups/Trusts and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. Health authority allocations for 2002–03 were announced on 6 December 2001.

  Primary Care Trust
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which PCTs have delayed planned initiatives and new services(a) in 2001–02 and (b) for 2002–03. [45934]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer issued 25 March 2002]: Decisions about local priorities and investment in local services are made by PCTs. The Department does not collect this information centrally.

  Delayed Discharges
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average delay for patients with delayed discharges was in the third quarter of 2001–02. [42702]
  1037W
  Jacqui Smith
  The Department does not collect information in the detail requested. I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow), on 18 March,Official Report, column 160W.

  It is not possible to calculate an accurate average length of delay from the information collected.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of all acute beds were occupied due to delayed discharges in each of the last five years. [37484]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Information on the proportion of acute beds occupied due to delayed discharge is collected centrally once a quarter. The information which is available since June 1997 has been on the basis of the proportion of patients aged over 75 occupying an acute bed whose discharge has been delayed. The table below shows this proportion for each quarter since June 1997.

  Delayed Discharge—patients aged 75 and over

  Per cent.

  Collection

  Proportion of patients over 75 with a delayed discharge

  2001–02 Q3

  10.5

  2001–02 Q2

  12.0

  2001–02 Q1

  11.1

  2000–01 Q4

  11.9

  2000–01 Q3

  11.7

  2000–01 Q2

  13.0

  2000–01 Q1

  12.1

  1999–2000 Q4

  11.3

  1999–2000 Q3

  11.7

  1999–2000 Q2

  12.8

  1999–2000 Q1

  13.4

  1998–99 Q4

  12.4

  1998–99 Q3

  12.5

  1998–99 Q2

  14.3

  1998–99 Q1

  13.4

  1997–98 Q4

  13.2

  1997–98 Q3

  13.9

  1997–98 Q2

  15.7

  1997–98 Q1

  13.3

  Pharmacists
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from pharmacists on the global sum dispensing fee(a) on his original announcement of fee levels for 2002–03 and (b) consequent upon its revision; and if he will make a statement. [42944]

  Ms Blears
  I have not yet determined the overall level of fees for community pharmacy services for 2002–03. However, pending my decision, the basic dispensing fee from April 2002 will rise from the current level of 91.6p to 94.6p per prescription item.

  I agreed in February that officials should work with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) to explore ways of improving information about community pharmacy finances as part of a set of measures to inform our discussions on remuneration and on modernising the current NHS contractual framework. This work is under way.

  Osteoporosis
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Department has to investigate the use of(a) ultrasound and (b) biochemical tests in combination with Dexa scanning for identifying osteoporosis in (i) the population and (ii) a sub-set of the population. [42972]

  Jacqui Smith
  We maintain an interest in the development of all technologies for the investigation or monitoring of patients suspected of being at risk of osteoporosis. We work closely with the National Osteoporosis Society. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry is currently the preferred method for the assessment of bone mineral density in individuals selected to be at high risk of fracture based on clinical risk factor assessment.

  Social Services
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the circumstances in which responsibility for social services would be removed from a local authority; and if he will make a statement. [43235]

  Jacqui Smith
  It is for local councils with social services responsibilities to meet their statutory obligations and achieve best value for the people they serve. We have agreed a protocol on the use of intervention powers with the Local Government Association. This forms Annex D of the (former) Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Circular 10/99, which has been placed in the Library. The protocol sets out the framework to discuss policy for the use of the intervention powers set out in the Local Government Act 1999. It states"Except in cases of serious service failure or unless there is a need for urgent intervention the authority will normally be given the opportunity to make the necessary improvements itself."
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health would only use the power
  "to transfer responsibility to another local authority or third party"
  when it was necessary to protect the lives of vulnerable children and adults.

  Boarding Schools
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to alter the charges proposed for the welfare inspections of boarding schools. [43817]

  Jacqui Smith
  The fees in respect of boarding schools are set out in the National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspection) Regulation 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3980). In response to representations made during consultation, the fee levels are now set as a flat rate £250, £15 for the fourth to twenty-ninth pupil, and £7.50 for each subsequent pupil. These fees will not come into force until 1 September 2002. There are no plans to alter these fee levels at present.

  Psychiatric Patients
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the influence of outdoor open space on the health of psychiatric patients; and if he will make a statement. [43562]

  Jacqui Smith
  No assessment has been made on the influence of outdoor open space on the health of psychiatric patients.

  Medicinal Control
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2002, on Medicinal Control,Official Report, columns 130–32W, whether the (a) MCA and (b) CSM have plans to publish articles relating to the inappropriate or overuse of anti-psychotic medication in care settings. [42629]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) in conjunction with its independent scientific advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) is responsible for monitoring the safety of all marketed medicines to ensure that medicines meet acceptable standards of safety and efficacy. The nature of the clinical setting is not within the scope of CSM advice. However, if the balance of risks and benefits for a medicine when used in a particular indication or population is considered to be unfavourable MCA/CSM will not hesitate to take action to modify its use and to inform prescribers of this action.

  For example the balance of risks and benefits for thioridazine in the following indications was considered unfavourable: anxiety, agitation and restlessness in the elderly, moderate to severe psychomotor agitation, violent and dangerously impulsive behaviour, mania/hypomania, and behavioural disorders and epilepsy in children. Upon advice from the CSM, in December 2000

  NHS hospital admissions where there was a primary diagnosis of selected alcohol related disease, by NHS Regional Office area of treatment

  England, 1996–97 to 2000–01

  Number of admissions

  Primary diagnosis (ICD10)

  England

  Northern & Yorkshire

  Trent

  Anglia & Oxford

  North Thames

  South Thames

  South West

  West Midlands

  North West

  1996–97

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  32,500

  5,600

  2,900

  1,900

  3,200

  4,200

  3,600

  4,300

  6,800

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  7,900

  1,200

  700

  600

  1,100

  1,000

  800

  1,000

  1,500

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  2,300

  500

  200

  200

  200

  300

  200

  200

  500

  1997–98

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  34,400

  5,400

  3,700

  2,100

  4,100

  4,900

  3,500

  4,300

  6,500

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  9,000

  1,300

  800

  700

  1,200

  1,100

  1,000

  1,200

  1,600

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  2,400

  500

  200

  200

  200

  300

  200

  300

  400

  1998–99

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  32,100

  5,100

  3,300

  2,000

  4,100

  4,500

  3,500

  3,700

  5,900

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  9,200

  1,400

  800

  800

  1,100

  1,100

  1,100

  1,300

  1,600

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  2,000

  500

  200

  200

  200

  200

  300

  200

  300

  1999–00

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  32,300

  5,000

  3,100

  3,700

  6,000

  2,100

  5,900

  3,800

  2,700

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  10,100

  1,400

  1,000

  1,300

  1,900

  800

  1,600

  1,200

  900

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  2,000

  500

  100

  200

  300

  200

  200

  400

  200

  1040W
  the use of thioridazine was restricted to the second line treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Health professionals were notified of this via a Dear Doctor letter and an article in the drug safety bulletin Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance. A copy of this article has been sent to the Library.

  Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the longest time is that a hospital consultant at Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust has been waiting for determination of an appeal against dismissal. [40017]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: There is currently one consultant appealing against dismissal from Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust. He was dismissed on 22 March 2001.

  Road Accidents
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what duties the medical services have to carry out before an accident site can be cleared from(a) an A-road and (b) a motorway. [42786]

  Ms Blears
  The main duties of the emergency medical services would be to assess, treat and remove those patients who were injured in any accident on an A-road or motorway. A decision on when the site may be cleared is usually made by the police.

  Alcoholism
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients have been treated for(a) alcoholism and (b) alcohol-related disease in each region in the last five years. [42613]

  Ms Blears
  The information available is shown in the table.
  1041W

  NHS hospital admissions where there was a primary diagnosis of selected alcohol related disease, by NHS Regional Office area of treatment

  England, 1996–97 to 2000–01

  Number of admissions

  Primary diagnosis (ICD10)

  England

  Northern & Yorkshire

  Trent

  Anglia & Oxford

  North Thames

  South Thames

  South West

  West Midlands

  North West

  2000–01

  F10

  Mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol

  27,300

  4,500

  2,700

  3,300

  5,600

  1,800

  3,800

  3,500

  2,100

  K70

  Alcoholic liver disease

  10,100

  1,500

  1,100

  1,200

  1,900

  900

  1,400

  1,100

  1,000

  T51

  Toxic effect of alcohol

  1,700

  400

  100

  100

  300

  200

  100

  300

  200

  Notes:

  1. The data include private patients in NHS hospitals.

  2. The data do not include patients admitted with a primary diagnosis not related to alcohol (eg an injury).

  3. Data in the table have been rounded to the nearest one hundred admissions. Data for 1996–97 to 1999–2000 have been grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

  4. ICD10=International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision.

  Source:

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics.

  St. George's Hospital, Tooting
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the level of service provided to cancer and non-cancer lymphoedema patients at St. George's Hospital, Tooting. [42755]

  Mr. Hutton
  A clinic was established at St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust in 1997 to treat non-cancer lymphoedema patients (primary lymphoedema) and cancer patients. While there are other clinics in South West London where cancer patients and lymphoedema are treated, the St. George's service also meets the needs of patients with non-cancer lymphoedema. The St. George's service is a specialist service and receives referrals nationally. The Trust is also one of the few places where academic and epidemiological work is progressing related to lymphoedema. This work includes a recent local study run by the Lymphoedema Epidemiology Project Group.

  Asian Women
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics he collates on the rates of depression, self-harm and suicide amongst Asian women; and what services and resources have been made available to tackle this issue in the last three years. [42407]

  Jacqui Smith
  No national statistics are routinely collected centrally on suicide or self-harm of Asian women.

  We are developing a national suicide prevention strategy, which we will launch for public consultation in spring 2002. The strategy will consider the commissioning of further research into suicides amongst Asian women. We will also be looking at this issue further in the Black and Ethnic Minority Mental Health Strategy being developed this year.

  Rates of depression in people from black and minority ethnic groups are being established through a national survey of ethnic minority psychiatric illness rates in the community (EMPIRIC). The results of this survey will be published in April 2002.
  1042W
  The Department commissioned a study from the Institute of Psychiatry on "Deliberate self-harm in Asian women: An intervention study". The findings of which have been fed into information leaflets.

  There are several projects in England addressing suicide and self-harm amongst Asian women, such as the Newham Asian Women's Project highlighted in the national Service Framework for Mental Health.

  The Department has also provided the FPA with funding through the Section 64 scheme for their "JINNA" Sexuality and Self-harm project to identify the causes and develop effective preventative interventions for suicide and self-harm among young Asian women.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent Government research(a) has been planned and (b) has been conducted into (i) existing mental health services, (ii) take up of existing mental health services by members of Asian. black and ethnic minority communities in the UK and (iii) the future of mental health services. [42394]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department has undertaken a number of exercises to inform its future research programme in mental health, in particular to support the National Service Framework (NSF) in mental health. A "Scoping Review of the Effectiveness of Mental Health Services" was conducted by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at York University. A thematic review of the National Health Service Research and Development funded mental health research in relation to the NSF for Mental Health was undertaken by the Institute of Psychiatry. The outputs from these reviews will be considered alongside the Strategic Review of NHS R&D on mental health, which is looking at current research in the NHS on this area, to determine future research priorities in mental health.

  Further work on mental health services is being commissioned and includes: literature reviews and primary research concerning the effectiveness of post qualification mental health training; occupational outcomes (social inclusion); self help interventions; early intervention in psychosis; services for women;

  1043W
  assertive outreach (particularly for black and ethnic minority groups); suicide prevention; models of services to support carers; rehabilitation of people with severe personality disorder and delivery of forensic services.

  Future research priorities include: evaluation of alternative models for the introduction of primary care mental health workers; suicide prevention strategy; evidence based management of people with dual diagnosis; development of prison mental health services and a randomised controlled trial for effective management of sex offenders.

  Ongoing research on mental health services funded via the Department's Policy Research Programme includes:
  processes of disengagement with assertive outreach for African-Caribbean and white British men—St. Bartholomew's and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry;
  National Survey of Links between Social Services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services—University of Manchester;
  a randomised controlled trial to detect benefit from training practice nurses in detection and management of psychiatric morbidity—Institute of Psychiatry (Kings College, London);
  expert topic papers in mental health (women only)—University of Birmingham;
  expert topic paper in mental health: early intervention—Victoria University, Manchester:
  expert topic papers in mental health: Self-help Interventions—University of Bristol;
  child and adolescent mental health services in primary care—University of Manchester;
  inequalities in mental health: a systematic review—University of Cambridge;
  pathways into care for the adult mentally ill from various ethnic communities—Institute of Psychiatry (Kings College London);
  development of culturally appropriate child mental health services: perceptions and use of services'—United Medical and Dental School (Kings College London).

  The Department's Health Technology Assessment and Service Delivery and Organisation Programmes are also funding a number of projects in mental health, including:
  cost utility of the latest anti-psychotics in severe schizophrenia (CUtLASS): a multi-centre, randomised controlled trial;
  long-term outcome of cognitive behaviour therapy clinical trials in central Scotland;
  a randomised controlled trial to compare the cost-effectiveness of trycyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and Iofepramine;
  measurement of health related quality of life in people with dementia: the development of a new instrument responsive to change and an evaluation of current methodology;
  randomised trial of fluoxetine and cognitive behavioural therapy versus fluoxetine alone in adolescents with persistent major depression;
  cognitive behavioural therapy in chronic fatigue syndrome: a randomised controlled trial of an outpatient group programme;
  a randomised controlled multi-centre treatment trial of adolescent anorexia nervosa, including assessment of cost effectiveness and patient acceptability;
  1044W
  problem solving by community psychiatric nurses (CPNs) for anxiety, depression and life difficulties among general practice patients;
  clinical effectiveness and cost of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus ECT in severe depression: a multi centre randomised controlled trial and economic analysis;
  the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of SSRIs in the treatment of sex offenders;
  the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of electro-convulsive therapy;
  services to support carers for people with mental health problems;
  effectiveness of counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy and GP care for depression in general practice;
  a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of counselling with patients with chronic depression and anxiety;
  a systematic review of randomised and non-randomised intervention studies to examine which of the brief psychological treatments used in primary care lead to improved outcomes; and
  continuity of care for people with severe mental illness whose needs span primary, secondary and social care.

  In July 2001 the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) was launched and presents a unique opportunity to reshape services and practice in line with the evidence base. The Institute will bring together the research, development and dissemination functions of the full range of mental health services. NIMHE will be concerned with primary, specialist and tertiary care organisations in both health and social care and recognise the need to integrate service development and mental health legislation. One of the standing programmes of NIMHE will be a mental health research network designed to increase the number of multi-centre research projects in mental health.

  The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. The MRC are funding a number of research projects looking at mental health services and one project looking specifically at people of Asian origin.

  Yellow Card Scheme
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department has given to Mind in the promotion, operation and analysis of its yellow card scheme. [42393]

  Ms Blears
  In 1997, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) performed a detailed analysis of reports received through the Mind patient reporting scheme. Expert advice on this analysis was sought from the Committee on Safety of Medicines. No new drug safety signals were identified, although the results highlighted that patients considered that insufficient information was available to them about their medicines. There was an ongoing programme at that time to ensure that Patient Information Leaflets were authorised for all products and this programme was completed by January 1999.
  1045W
  In March 2001 officials at the MCA met with representatives from Mind to discuss the relaunch of their reporting scheme. MCA will be reviewing the results of Mind's analysis of the reports received through this scheme.

  NICE
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drugs are being assessed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; what the timescale is for publishing these assessments; and if he will make a statement. [41599]

  Ms Blears
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has completed 32 technology appraisals (covering drugs, devices and treatments) and NICE has a further 43 technology appraisals on its work programme. Where NICE has established timescales for individual appraisals, details are given on its website at www.nice.nhs.uk.

  Consultants
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the expenditure on external consultants for each year since 1997. in 2001 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what the quantified annual cost savings are which such expenditure has resulted in. [41701]

  Ms Blears
  Expenditure by the Department and its Agencies on external consultants, for each year since 1997 and at 2001 prices, is shown in the table.

  FY 1997–98 £million

  FY 1998–99 £million

  FY 1999–2000 £million

  FY 2000–01 £million

  FY 2001–02* £million

  Department

  12.694

  7.332

  8.132

  6.531

  4.400

  Agencies

  1.634

  1.575

  3.190

  4.047

  0.411

  * Reported spend as of February 2002, based on information currently available.

  The Department does not centrally report or record the quantified annual cost savings resulting from expenditure on consultants therefore the final part of this question could only be answered at disproportionate cost.

  Medical Negligence
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the outstanding liabilities of the NHS in respect of medical negligence claims. [41703]

  Ms Blears
  According to the National Audit Office in their report entitled "Handling Clinical Negligence Claims in England", which was published on 3 May 2001, it was estimated that a total of £3.9 billion represents the outstanding liabilities of the NHS for clinical negligence claims.
  1046W
  This figure includes £2.6 billion for all outstanding claims if they were settled straight away, and £1.3 billion for all incidents that have been incurred but not reported.

  Women's Hospitals
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the proposals to re-locate the maternity services located at Aintree University Hospital to the Liverpool Women's Hospital; and if he will list them. [41407]

  Yvette Cooper
  Ministers have received one letter in October 2001 about maternity services in Liverpool and Sefton from another hon. Member, as well as this representation from my hon. Friend.

  Variant-CJD
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to produce a new risk model to predict the number of potential exposures to v-CJD through poor decontamination practice before 2001; and if he will publicise the result using this model. [41806]

  Yvette Cooper
  "Risk Assessment for transmission of vCJD via Surgical Instruments: A Modelling Approach and Numerical Scenarios", published by the Department on 16 March 2001, set out a methodology for assessing the risk of transmission of vCJD through the re-use of surgical instruments. A new risk assessment model is unnecessary since there is no significantly new scientific evidence to warrant revising the structure or assumptions of the current model.

  Because of the multiple uncertainties surrounding this issue, it was not considered feasible to make a straightforward prediction of potential secondary infections from surgery. The Risk Assessment therefore did not predict the scale of any secondary epidemic of vCJD, instead, it developed different scenarios to address the various uncertainties-including the standard of decontamination-and gaps in our knowledge about vCJD.

  The advice we had from Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee was that good decontamination is key in reducing the risk of person to person transmission of vCJD via surgical instruments. This was confirmed by the Risk Assessment. As a result of the work we did last year on improving decontamination, all NHS hospitals in England have access to decontamination services of an acceptable standard.

  Pre-School Services
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been made available to provide services for under-fives in Liverpool in each year since 1997. [41123]

  Jacqui Smith
  Data on funding to provide services specifically for children under 5 who are resident in Liverpool is not available. However, the following table provides details of total recurrent contract income and additional cash increases received over the last four years by the Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust
  1047W
  from Liverpool Health Authority for the care and treatment of the authority's resident child population. Approximately 30 per cent of the child population in Liverpool are under 5 years old. The figures exclude paediatric intensive care and special assistance funding.

  Total Recurrent Contract

  Recurrent Increase

  Non- Recurrent Increase

  Total Increase

  1998–99

  21,587,170

  731,357

  817,360

  1,548,717

  1999–2000

  23,157,553

  1,570,383

  948,743

  2,519,126

  2000–01

  24,885,218

  1,727,665

  572,609

  2,300,274

  2001–02

  27,166,523

  2,281,305

  1,584,990

  3,866,295

  Teenage Magazines
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contact his Department has had with the publishers of magazines aimed at teenagers in the past two years. [40876]

  Ms Blears
  Routine contacts between press and magazines are not recorded centrally by the Department's press office.

  In the past two years my Department has worked in partnership with teenage magazines to highlight issues around teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and provide information about where young people may access further information and professional advice. Advertising has been placed in these magazines to enable those young people who are sexually active to have easy access to high quality contraceptive advice and to provide young people with information and advice to enable them to develop the skills to resist peer pressure to have early sex.

  Last autumn, an agency contracted by the Department also contacted journalists at magazines aimed at teenagers to generate coverage for "Smokescreen", the Department's peer to peer youth tobacco education project.

  In January, February and March 2001, as part of a campaign designed to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking during pregnancy amongst 16–24 year olds, advertising was placed in magazines aimed at a teenage audience.

  Medical Practices Committee
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department issues to health authorities and primary care trusts on the arrangements to take effect after the abolition of the Medical Practices Committee on 31 March. [37940]

  Mr. Hutton
  Advice was issued to Primary Care Trusts and other interested parties on 13 March 2002.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to decide whether to open dental access centres. [45464]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: Dental access centres (DACs) are pilot schemes established as part of the Personal Dental Services initiative. They
  1048W
  provide access to National Health Service dentistry in areas where other sources of treatment do not meet demand. The location of DACs was determined by combining several sources of information on availability and access problems: statistical data, in particular registration figures and expenditure changes; self reporting by health authorities; and the local knowledge of regional offices.

  Orthodontists
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to tackle shortage of orthodontists in(a) Lincolnshire and (b) England; [42536]

  (2) what the shortfall of NHS orthodontists is in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) England. [42535]

  Ms Blears
  The number of orthodontists and the amount of orthodontic work in the General Dental Service has increased significantly since 1996–97 in both Lincolnshire and England as a whole. Additional clinics have been set up in Lincolnshire and by the end of March 2002, it is envisaged that there will be no over 26-week waits for orthodontic appointments in Lincolnshire. An additional consultant orthodontist post has been funded and concerted efforts are being made to recruit to this post.

  The number of principal dentists performing 100 or more orthodontic claims a year in (a) Lincolnshire Health Authority (HA) and (b) England is shown in the table for the years 1996–97 and 2000–01 together with the number per 100,000 population.

  The table also shows the number of orthodontic appliance claims in 1996–97 and 2000–01. These went up by 28 per cent. for Lincolnshire HA during the period shown, compared to an increase of 14 per cent. for England.

  General Dental Service: Number of orthodontists, orthodontists per 100,000 population and total number of orthodontic appliance claims in 1996–97 and 2000–01

  (a) Lincolnshire

  (b) England2

  Number of orthodontists

  1996–97

  7

  679

  2000–01

  10

  869

  Number of orthodontists1 per 100,000 population3

  1996–97

  1.1

  1.4

  2000–01

  1.6

  1.7

  Number of orthodontic appliance claims

  1996–97

  1,200

  217,000

  2000–01

  1,600

  247,100

  1 An orthodontist is defined as a principal dentist who submitted one hundred or more orthodontic claims in a year.

  2 Some dentists have contracts in more than one Health Authority. These dentists have been counted only once, in the HA which they hold their main contract.

  3 ONS 1996 and 2000 mid year population estimates based on the 1991 census.

  NHS Direct
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with GP bodies about the safety of advice offered by NHS Direct; [42352]

  (2) what representations he has received from general practitioners expressing concern about the standard of advice offered by NHS Direct; [42353]

  (3) what plans he has to achieve greater co-operation between NHS Direct and general practitioners. [42354]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: During the implementation of NHS Direct, the Department had regular meetings with general practitioners bodies, including the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association and the National Association of GP Co-operatives, to discuss ways in which NHS Direct and GPs could work collaboratively to improve patient care. Bodies representing GPs are also represented on the NHS Clinical Assessment System Clinical Reference Group, a national group that ensures the system used by NHS Direct is safe and reflects evidence-based best practice.

  Independent evaluation by the National Audit Office and Sheffield University found evidence that NHS Direct has a good safety record, is as safe as other entry points into the NHS, and that serious adverse clinical outcomes associated with the service are likely to be rare.

  Cancer
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients of(a) Brighton Health Care NHS Trust and (b) Worthing and Southlands NHS Trust have received treatment for cancer of the (i) breast, (ii) uterus, (iii) cervix, (iv) bladder, (v) prostate, (vi) non Hodgkin's lymphoma, (vii) bowel, (viii) all leukaemias, (ix) ovary, (x) stomach, (xi) lung, (xii) pancreas, (xiii) oesophagus and (xiv) other cancers in each of the last five years; and how many patients are currently awaiting these operations; [42271]

  (2) how many patients are awaiting referrals to consultants in the oncology department in the Brighton Health Care NHS Trust. [42277]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: Information on the number of patients awaiting referral to Brighton Health Care NHS Trust and the number awaiting operations is not collected centrally. The information collected centrally on cancer waiting times at Brighton Health Care NHS Trust and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust has been placed in the Library.

  Patient Complaints
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment has been made about the cost to(a) individual NHS trusts and (b) his Department of requiring trusts to compile data about the ethnicity of patients making complaints; and how many staff are involved; [42210]
  1050W
  (2) what proportion of patients requested to give details about their ethnicity subsequent to making a complaint about treatment by an NHS trust have returned their survey form having ticked the decline to state box; [42206]

  (3) which NHS trusts have been instructed to compile data about the ethnicity of patients making complaints; [42209]

  (4) if he proposes to publish the findings of his Department's instructions to NHS trusts to compile data regarding the ethnicity of patients making complaints; [42204]

  (5) what the purpose is of the instructions from his Department to NHS trusts requiring complaint departments to compile data about the ethnicity of persons making a complaint since April 2001; [42208]

  (6) how he proposes to use the data collected from NHS trusts regarding the ethnicity of patients making complaints. [42205]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: The cost of the implementation of ethnic category data has only been estimated in terms of staff-days. It is estimated that up to two staff-days will be needed in each health authority and trust to extract the information from their existing systems in order to complete the two returns KO41A and B. In addition, it is expected that each Primary Care Trust will require up to two staff-days in total to complete the new K041C central return.

  The collection of ethnic category data on written complaints will be valuable in gauging fair and equal access to health care across ethnic groups. Where monitoring shows unequal outcomes between different minority ethnic groups, public authorities will be required to take action to promote greater equality and to prevent discrimination whether direct or indirect. In the longer term, data collected on written complaints will be used to inform service improvements as well as give practice managers and the service as a whole more qualitative information around access to health care services.

  All trusts and health authorities have been asked to complete ethnic category details of complainants and staff complained against for the first time in the 2001–02 annual NHS Complaints Monitoring Collection.

  The Department publishes the results of its annual complaints monitoring exercise every year in "Handling complaints: monitoring the NHS complaints procedures". The 2001–02 data, which will include ethnic data, should be published in late autumn 2002.

  Stolen Equipment
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2002,Official Report, columns 1160–64W, on stolen equipment, what criminal proceedings have been undertaken for cases of theft against his Department, stating in each case (a) whether the proceedings (i) led to a criminal conviction and (ii) were unsuccessful, (b) the cost incurred by his Department in pursuing a conviction and (c) the value of items recovered; and if he will make a statement. [41508]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 18 March 2002]: All losses are investigated by the Department and stolen equipment has been recovered on some occasions to the value of about £5,000. Losses over £500 are reported to the police. It has not been possible to bring criminal proceedings in any one case mainly due to a lack of evidence. We have progressively put in place a series of measures to combat our losses from both organised and opportunistic theft. We take seriously the theft and loss of our assets. We recognise the importance of safeguarding our equipment both inside and outside the office.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many special advisers were employed by him(a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive; and what the total amount spent on special advisers by the Department was in each of those years. [41251]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is shown in the tables.

  Year

  Numbers

  Cost (£)

  1997–98

  2

  see note1

  Year

  Numbers

  Cost (£)

  1998–99

  2

  see note1

  1999–2000

  2

  see note1

  2000–01

  2

  see note1

  1 Details of costs for Special Advisors within the individual departments are not given, in order to protect the privacy of the small number of individuals concerned.

  Press Office
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department's press office have received(a) termination and (b) redundancy payments in each of the last four years. [41078]

  Ms Blears
  No staff in the Department of Health Press Office have received(a) termination and (b) redundancy payments in each of the last four years.

  Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual budget for communications activities, including press, public relations, marketing and internal communications, was for his Department for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2001–02. [39916]
  1052W
  Ms Blears
  Expenditure on Communications activities comes under two headings as shown in the table below:

  £000

  Year

  Running costs

  Programme

  1997–98

  4,661

  14,954

  1998–99

  4,806

  21,810

  1999–20001

  6,814

  28,995

  2000–012

  7,969

  45,746

  2001–023

  8,582

  49,737

  1 The Department's Press and Publicity Division and NHS Communication Unit amalgamated on 1 April 1999.

  2 The Department took on direct control for a number of public Health Campaigns with the closure of the Health Education Authority on 3 March 2000.

  3 2001–02 figures are latest estimates.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 9 January from the hon. Member for Fareham, concerning Claire Bayliss. [45803]

  Ms Blears
  A reply was sent on 27 March.

  Free Prescriptions
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of under-25 year olds residing in England receiving free prescriptions in Wales since 1 April 2001; [41621]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the savings made by his Department since 1 April 2001 in relation to under-25 year olds residing in England receiving free prescriptions in Wales. [41622]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: Information about cross-border dispensing does not include information about the age of individual patients. The information available about cross-border dispensing is in the table.

  £

  Number of items1

  Net Ingredient Cost

  Written in England and dispensed in Wales2

  Quarter ended June 2000

  50,618

  744,721

  Quarter ended June 2001

  56,644

  848,914

  Written in Wales and dispensed in England3

  Quarter ended June 2000

  54,885

  1,508,928

  Quarter ended June 2001

  58,471

  1,753,489

  1 Dispensed by community pharmacies and appliance contractors.

  2 Source: Prescribing Services Unit of Health Solutions Wales, Bro Taf Health Authority.

  Source: Prescription Pricing Authority.

  Endometriosis
  Helen Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when national standards will be set for the treatment of endometriosis. [42670]
  1053W
  Yvette Cooper
  We have no plans to produce national standards for endometriosis. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has produced clinical guidelines on "The Investigation and Management of Endometriosis". These bring together the latest evidence-based knowledge and best practice on the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, and examine options for treatment in the light of the presenting symptoms. The guidelines have been distributed to all of the Royal College's Fellows and Members.

  Helen Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the number of women with endometriosis in(a) Warrington, South and (b) North Cheshire; and how many women have been diagnosed with endometriosis in those areas in the last five years. [42669]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is not available centrally in the form requested. However, the table shows the number of consultant episodes for women resident in North Cheshire Health Authority area who were admitted to hospital with endometriosis recorded as their primary diagnosis, for each of the past five years:

  Number

  1996–97

  129

  1997–98

  127

  1998–99

  128

  1999–2000

  123

  2000–01

  136

  Drug Abuse Services
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of health authority spending was, per 1,000 of the population, on drug abuse services in(a) Lincolnshire Health Authority and (b) other health authorities in England in the last three years. [42550]

  Ms Blears
  The level of health authority spending in the last three years in Lincolnshire was, per 1,000 of the population:

  £

  Spending on drug abuse services per 1,000 of population

  Health Authority

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  Lincolnshire

  3,000

  2,500

  1,750

  The following tables provide information allocations to Lincolnshire Health Authority and other Health Authorities in England per 1,000 population in relation to drug treatment services. Information about expenditure by Health Authorities against these allocations is not collected centrally.

  (a) Lincolnshire Health Authority

  £

  Drugs misuse allocation per 1,000 of population

  Health Authority

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  Lincolnshire

  1,944

  928

  826

  1054W
  (b) Other health authorities in England:

  £

  Drugs misuse allocation per 1,000 of population

  Health Authority

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  Avon

  2,065

  988

  905

  Barking and Havering

  2,286

  1,088

  907

  Barnet2

  2,421

  1,215

  1,019

  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey2

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Barnsley

  2,628

  1,251

  1,081

  Bedfordshire

  2,093

  1,002

  951

  Berkshire

  2,284

  1,091

  986

  Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich2

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Bexley & Greenwich2

  2,956

  1,410

  1,258

  Birmingham

  2,971

  1,402

  1,269

  Bradford

  2,113

  1,004

  961

  Brent & Harrow

  2,648

  1,301

  1,107

  Bromley2

  1,875

  897

  920

  Buckinghamshire

  2,082

  993

  917

  Bury & Rochdale

  2,138

  1,022

  948

  Calderdale & Kirklees

  2,041

  967

  925

  Cambridgeshire

  2,608

  1,233

  1,248

  Camden & Islington

  8,030

  3,913

  3,224

  Cornwall & Isles of Stilly

  1,717

  823

  779

  County Durham

  2,546

  1,209

  1,051

  Coventry

  2,164

  1,018

  927

  Croydon

  2,282

  1,094

  964

  Doncaster

  2,355

  1,110

  998

  Dorset

  1,723

  822

  782

  Dudley

  2,197

  1,039

  946

  Ealing, Hammersmith & Hounslow

  3,814

  1,895

  1,605

  East & North Hertfordshire2

  2,487

  1,193

  1,041

  East Kent

  1,953

  939

  876

  East Lancashire

  1,737

  822

  784

  East London & The City

  6,197

  3,053

  2,483

  East Riding

  2,487

  1,168

  1,020

  East Surrey

  1,620

  778

  724

  East Sussex Brighton and Hove

  1,941

  935

  902

  Enfield & Haringey2

  2,954

  1,439

  1,182

  Gateshead & South Tyneside

  3,184

  1,498

  1,237

  Gloucestershire

  2,050

  971

  955

  Herefordshire

  2,058

  983

  915

  Hertfordshire2

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Hillingdon

  2,453

  1,175

  1,032

  Isle of Wight2

  1,397

  669

  692

  Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire2

  N/A

  N/A

  N/A

  Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster

  7,361

  3,783

  3,048

  Kingston & Richmond

  2,575

  1,264

  1,225

  Lambeth Southwark & Lewisham

  5,854

  2,883

  2,314

  1055W

  £

  Drugs misuse allocation per 1,000 of population

  Health Authority

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  Leeds

  2,863

  1,359

  1,211

  Leicestershire

  2,061

  975

  921

  Liverpool

  3,852

  1,810

  1,648

  Manchester

  5,205

  2,466

  2,387

  Merton Sutton & Wandsworth

  3,368

  1,602

  1,367

  Moercambe Bay

  1,691

  802

  733

  Newcastle & North Tyneside

  3,391

  1,594

  1,364

  Norfolk

  2,077

  1,011

  N/A

  North & East Devon

  1,859

  896

  871

  North & Mid Hampshire

  2,477

  1,182

  1,174

  North Cheshire

  2,325

  1,100

  1,011

  North Cumbria

  2,217

  1,056

  940

  North Derbyshire

  2,087

  987

  899

  North Essex

  1,816

  869

  761

  North Nottinghamshire

  2,066

  969

  905

  North Staffordshire

  2,116

  1,003

  926

  North West Lancashire

  1,614

  762

  730

  North Yorkshire

  1,969

  939

  871

  Northamptonshire

  2,245

  1,078

  1,057

  Northumberland

  2,465

  1,169

  1,029

  Nottingham

  2,562

  1,214

  1,125

  Oxfordshire

  2,552

  1,233

  1,090

  Portsmouth & South East Hampshire2

  2,130

  1,013

  934

  Redbridge & Waltham Forest

  2,315

  1,110

  955

  Rotherham

  2,888

  1,369

  1,324

  Salford & Trafford

  3,045

  1,441

  1,463

  Sandwell

  2,934

  1,399

  1,177

  Sefton

  2,423

  1,145

  1,330

  Sheffield

  3,076

  1,453

  1,261

  Shropshire

  2,145

  1,029

  952

  Solihull

  1,714

  816

  766

  Somerset

  1,865

  893

  832

  South & West Devon

  2,070

  978

  942

  South Cheshire

  1,777

  846

  785

  South Derbyshire

  1,925

  923

  863

  South Essex

  1,730

  827

  751

  South Humber

  2,023

  952

  974

  South Lancashire

  1,739

  832

  846

  South Staffordshire

  1,909

  915

  870

  Southampton & South West Hampshire

  1,979

  941

  843

  St Helen's & Knowsley

  2,666

  1,267

  1,053

  Stockport

  1,594

  764

  736

  Suffolk

  2,104

  1,012

  906

  Sunderland

  3,273

  1,546

  1,286

  Tees

  2,463

  1,168

  1,054

  Wakefield

  2,612

  1,248

  1,087

  Walsall

  2,798

  1,331

  1,144

  Warwickshire

  1,847

  884

  852

  West Hertfordshire2

  2,010

  968

  779

  West Kent

  1,923

  919

  898

  West Pennine

  2,267

  1,081

  946

  West Surrey

  1,834

  879

  784

  West Sussex

  1,683

  812

  749

  Wigan & Bolton

  2,066

  985

  884

  1056W

  £

  Drugs misuse allocation per 1,000 of population

  Health Authority

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  Wiltshire

  2,289

  1,103

  987

  Wirral

  2,026

  962

  1,001

  Wolverhampton

  2,872

  1,350

  1,191

  Worcestershire

  1,886

  902

  871

  England total

  2,488

  1,190

  1,073

  Notes:

  1. Figures for 2000–01 are not comparable with those for later years which are for pooled Department of Health and Home Office funding.

  2. N/A denotes data not available due to Health Authority merge.

  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure equal access to treatment and support for drug abusers in England. [42549]

  Ms Blears
  The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) is promoting models of service delivery, which will improve the quality of treatment and accessibility to treatment for everyone who wants treatment, irrespective of their background. This will ensure effective access to all services, particularly substitute prescribing and residential rehabilitation services. The NTA are working towards achieving the national target of:"Increasing the participation of problem drug users in drug treatment programme by 55 per cent. by 2004, 66 per cent. by 2005 and 100 per cent. by 2008."

  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that drug abusers can access help from general practitioners when necessary. [42548]

  Ms Blears
  Drug misusers are entitled to access general practitioners (GPs) in the same way that any other member of the population is.

  I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her today for information on the specific work that the Department is funding in order to equip GPs with the specialist skills required when working with drug misusers.

  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investigations he has made into the number of drug abusers refused treatment by general practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [42547]

  Ms Blears
  Information is not available on the numbers of drug misusers who have been refused treatment by general practitioners (GPs).

  However, we do recognise that GPs have a crucial role to play in our overall strategy of increasing the availability of treatment to drug users. The Department made available £1.8 million to the Royal College of General Practitioners for the development and implementation of an accredited training programme to give GPs the skills they need when working with drug misusers. Since its launch in October 2001 more than 400 GPs have taken part in the programme.

  Accountancy Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the contracts agreed by his Department with the five largest accountancy firms since May 1997; and what was the total value of contracts with each. [42102]

  Ms Blears
  The Department does not centrally hold a record of individual contracts. However our financial records, for the period April 1997 to date, show the Department (excluding Agencies) made highest payments for all professional services (including consultancy and accountancy services) to the following five companies and in the amounts shown:

  FY 1997–98 value £000

  FY 1998–99 Value £000

  FY 1999–2000 Value £000

  FY 2000–01 Value £000

  FY 2001–02 Value £000

  PWC

  143.7

  196.8

  244.6

  1,039.5

  308.3

  KPMG

  331.7

  166.9

  222.8

  33.0

  1,147.7

  D & T

  72.3

  45.4

  11.0

  55.6

  342.7

  E & Y

  26.2

  18.2

  0.0

  30.9

  66.6

  A Andersen

  51.5

  7.2

  0.0

  1.7

  0.0

  Flexible Working
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of the staff of his Department are(a) job sharing, (b) term working and (c) engaged in another form of flexible working. [42422]

  Ms Blears
  Employees working on job-share contracts or term-working are recorded as "part-time" workers. It is therefore not possible to identify the number of staff employed specifically on a job-share/term working contract. The Department currently has 496 staff (9.5 per cent.) working part time.

  As other forms of flexible working are arranged locally between staff and their managers, we do not centrally record this information.

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff have been employed by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [42469]

  Ms Blears
  I refer the hon. Member to the central answer provided by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

  Energy Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on energy costs incurred by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [42449]

  Ms Blears
  The hon. Member is referred to the answer provided by my right hon. Friend the Minister for State at the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Alun Michael) on 19 March 2002,Official Report, column 268W, which includes information on energy costs incurred by the Department of Health.

  Job Sharing
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in his Department. [41040]

  Ms Blears
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Cable) on 28 February 2002.

  Gender Pay Gap
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent of the gender pay gap amongst staff in his Department. [40996]

  Ms Blears
  We are committed to review our pay systems in response to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Task Force "Just Pay" report, in which the Government has committed departments and agencies to review their pay systems by April 2003 and prepare action plans to close any equal pay gaps.

  Relocation Expenses
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the payment of relocation expenses to staff in his Department. [41022]

  Ms Blears
  Payment of relocation expenses is made to staff when their transfer to another location is in the interests of the Department, for example, a compulsory transfer or bulk transfer of work or exceptionally for new recruits on appointment.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the official visits to(a) Paris and (b) Brussels made by each Minister in his Department in 2001 and the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on the choice of mode of travel for such visits; [38150]

  (2) if he will list the official visits within the UK outside London made by each Minister in his Department in 2001, giving for each (a) the origin and destination and b) the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on choice of mode of travel for official visits. [38186]

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

  The additional detailed information requested in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Policing Costs (Commonwealth Games)
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Greater Manchester Police in respect of the policing costs of the 2002 Commonwealth Games; what estimate he has made of the costs of(a) policing and (b) other security measures related to the Commonwealth

  1059W
  Games; and what proposals he has made to ensure that the policing and other security costs are appropriately funded. [27126]

  Mr. Denham
  I have had discussions with the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (David Wilmot) about the policing costs of the games. On 30 January 2002, I announced that my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) had approved a special grant of £3 million. We have asked officials with Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to look closely at the total additional costs estimated by the Chief Constable. On the basis of their further assessment we will consider whether any further grant would be justified.

  Other security costs fall to the organisers of the Commonwealth Games, who are confident that they can be met from existing budgets.

  Class A Drugs
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent analysis his Department has made of the number of offenders whose offences were related to their addiction to Class A drugs who had previously taken cannabis. [44976]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  [holding answer 21 March 2002]: On 23 October last year, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) asked the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to review the scientific literature on cannabis, including the so-called "gateway theory". Their analysis of this theory can be found in section 4.6 of their Report, "The classification of cannabis under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971", which was published on 14 March 2002. The Report says that it is not possible to state, with certainty, whether or not cannabis use predisposes users to dependence on Class A drugs. Nevertheless, the risks (if any) are small and less than those associated with the use of tobacco or alcohol.

  There is a link between Class A drugs and crime. Preliminary findings from the drug testing programme, currently being piloted in Staffordshire, Nottingham and Hackney, show that 55 per cent. of offenders arrested for trigger offences (property crime, robbery and Class A drugs offences) tested positive for heroin and/or cocaine (including crack cocaine). The number who previously used cannabis is not known.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department intends to reply to the letter of 6 December 2001 from the hon. Member for Aylesbury about case reference B 1087668. [45143]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 21 March 2002]: I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 March 2002. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

  Visas (Slovakia)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will remove the visa requirement for residents visiting the UK from Slovakia. [45147]
  1060W
  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 21 March 2002]: I have no plans at present to lift the visa requirement for Slovakian nationals.

  Rami Mehsen
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a decision on the case of Mr. Rami Mehsen (ref. GAT/37568), a constituent of the hon. Member for Putney. [45261]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 26 March 2002 about this matter.

  Human Rights Act Compliance
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training has been provided by the Government to assist(a) charitable organisations and (b) Citizens Advice Bureaux in ensuring that their activities comply with the Human Rights Act 1998. [45385]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: No training has been provided by the Home Office to assist (a) charitable organisations and (b) Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) with the Human Rights Act 1998.

  Fair Trade
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 16 November 2001,Official Report, column 970W, on fair trade goods, if he will review and increase the amount of fairly traded goods purchased by her Department during Fair Trade Fortnight. [35922]

  Angela Eagle
  We fully support ethical trading in mainstream business and fair trade products will be purchased where they meet the criteria on Procurement of Goods and Services.

  The Home Department will be raising awareness of fair trade products through:
  publishing an article in the department's purchasing periodical "Purchasing Matters";holding a purchasing symposium on fair trade on 15 April 2002.
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what fairly traded products, other than tea and coffee, have been purchased by his Department in each of the last five years; and what was their value. [17563]

  Angela Eagle
  The Home Department is not aware of any other fairly traded products purchased in the past five years. The department fully supports ethical trading in mainstream business and Fair Trade products will be purchased where they meet the criteria of value for money principles, which includes quality, fitness for purpose and delivery against price.

  The Home Office will be publishing an article on fair trade in the next edition of "Purchasing Matters", an internal periodical for all procurement staff which will help raise awareness of fair trade products. In addition the Home Office will be holding a purchasing

  1061W
  symposium on the issue of Fair Trade in April 2002. I hope these measures will enable greater purchasing of fair trade products.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to take account, when deciding asylum claims, of(a) an applicant's treatment in detention abroad and (b) medical evidence of torture; and in what proportion of cases such information is actively sought at interview by interviewing officers. [44254]

  Angela Eagle
  All information provided by an asylum applicant is fully considered in light of the known country situation in the country from which the applicant is claiming asylum. Any claim to have been maltreated whilst in detention abroad is fully considered by the caseworker. Caseworkers have access to various sources of information, including country assessments prepared by the Country Information and Policy Unit (CIPU) of the Home Office which often provide information on the prison conditions in a particular country. CIPU have access to a wide variety of further information and have links with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as other organisations who are able to assist with specific requests.

  If, during the course of an interview or in other written representations, an applicant claims to have been tortured, caseworkers ask the applicant whether a medical examination has taken place. If so, the applicant is asked to submit a copy of the report. Where the applicant has raised torture and the caseworker feels it would be useful, the applicant may be invited to submit a medical report.

  However, it is for the applicant to decide whether they wish to undertake a medical examination to establish that torture has taken place. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate does not insist that a medical report is submitted when torture has been alleged. Not all forms of torture result in physical scars or injuries which could be identified during a medical examination.

  Any medical report provided is fully considered in the light of the country situation and alongside any other information provided by the applicant. Information on the number of medical reports sought is not routinely collected.

  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, when an applicant for asylum has provided evidence of torture, he will ensure that any letter of refusal states whether the evidence has been accepted. [44256]

  Angela Eagle
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's Asylum Policy Instructions state that where a caseworker has decided to refuse an application for which a medical report has been submitted, the Reasons for Refusal Letter (RFRL) should explain how the medical report has been considered, and whether this evidence has been accepted or not.

  Any other evidence of torture which might be provided by the applicant would be considered in accordance with guidance issued to caseworkers which states that, following the Court of Appeal case of
  1062W
  Karanakaran, caseworkers are generally expected to set out in any RFRL what they accept as true, what they reject as untrue and what elements of a persons claim they are uncertain about.

  These instructions were issued in July 2001 and are available on the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate website.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken from application to the final decision for asylum applications has been in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [44729]

  Angela Eagle
  The average time between application and initial decision was 13 months for initial decisions made in the 12 months to December 2001, compared with 20 months for April 1997. This has been calculated using all cases for which data are available, including older cases decided as part of the reduction of the backlog, as well as new cases (see table).

  Average time1 between application and initial decision, for cases decided in 2001

  Average time in months2

  Number of cases2 3

  All Applications

  13

  119,190

  of which

  Application pre 19964

  87

  1,835

  Application 1996

  59

  1,685

  Application 1997

  46

  3,015

  Application 1998

  32

  9,975

  Application 1999

  21

  21,715

  Application 2000

  9

  32,335

  Application 2001

  2

  48,630

  1 Calculated using all available data from the date the application is lodged to the date of the initial decision.

  2 These data are still subject to revision following quality checking.

  3 Figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest five. The number of cases quoted differs from published figures due to uncertainty concerning date of application in a small minority of cases.

  4 Cases decided as part of the backlog clearance exercise, as part of measures outlined in the July 1998 White Paper entitled "Fairer, Faster and Firmer—A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum".

  Information on final decisions is not readily available and would only be obtained by examination of individual case files to obtain information on the outcomes of inital decisions, of subsequent appeals to the Immigration Appellate Authority and the Tribunal, and of cases which have been reconsidered, which would incur disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the numbers of asylum-seeking families and children in detention; and if he will make a statement. [45476]

  Angela Eagle
  Our White Paper "Secure Borders, Safe Haven" made it clear that there are occasions when it is necessary to hold families, including those with children, in removal centres. As part of our expansion programme for removal centres we shall consider what additional provision for family accommodation might be needed. No decisions have been taken as yet.
  1063W
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions about the suitability of siting an Accommodation Centre on the A631. [44640]

  Angela Eagle
  We have had no discussions with the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions about the suitability of any potential accommodation centre sites. Site specific issues are local issues which we will take into account as part of the planning process. At every site a range of factors, including transport links, will be taken into account before final decisions are made.

  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations took place with the relevant local authorities, the Intervention Board the 1064W
  Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Defence before the announcement that Hemswell Cliff was a proposed site for an Asylum Seekers Accommodation Centre. [44650]

  Angela Eagle
  No consultation took place with these bodies prior to the announcement of the potential sites for trial Accommodation Centres. A range of factors, including environmental, health and safety issues, will be taken into account at every site before final decisions are made.

  Yarl's Wood
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Riot Act 1881 was read at Yarl's Wood Remand Centre on the evening of 14 February. [38780]

  Angela Eagle
  I understand that it was not read.

  Chinook ZD576
  Chinook ZD576
  Hunting with Dogs
  Hunting with Dogs