Written Answers of 28 January 2002

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Terrorism Act
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Solicitor-General, pursuant to her answer of 3 December 2001,Official Report, column 106W, how many and what prosecutions have been initiated under section 54 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland; and how many of these charges in each jurisdiction concern (i)Northern Ireland conflict related offences and (ii)international terrorism. [29822]

  The Solicitor-General
  One prosecution has been initiated under section 54 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in England and Wales and that prosecution relates to international terrorism.

  The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland has informed me that he is not aware of any prosecutions being initiated in Northern Ireland under section 54 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Solicitor-General, further to the Secretary of State for the Home Department's answer of 3 December 2001,Official Report,column 106W, on the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2000, (a) how many and (b) what prosecutions have been initiated under section 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in (i) Great Britain and (ii) Northern Ireland; how many of these charges in each jurisdiction concern (a) Northern Ireland conflict related offences and (b) international terrorism. [29252]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Terrorism Act 2000 came into force on 19 February 2001.

  Prosecutions for a total of 51 offences have been initiated in England and Wales under sections 11 to 18 of the Act, of which 15 offences relate to the affairs of Northern Ireland and 35 offences relate to international terrorism. Further details are given as follows:

  Section 11

  Five offences related to international terrorism.

  One offence related to the affairs of Northern Ireland.

  Section 12

  One offence related to international terrorism.

  Section 13

  One offence related to international terrorism.

  Section 14

  This section does not include an offence.

  Section 15

  One offence related to international terrorism.

  Nine offences related to the affairs of Northern Ireland. This figure is made up of three separate cases in which three defendants are charged with s.15 offences.

  Conspiracy to commit an offence under s.15

  Four offences related to international terrorism. This figure is made up of two separate cases in which two defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit an offence under s.15.

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  Section 16

  16 offences related to international terrorism. This figure is made up of two separate cases in which eight defendants are charged with section 16 offences.

  Conspiracy to commit an offence under section 16

  Four offences related to international terrorism. This figure is made up of two separate cases in which two defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit an offence under s.16.

  Section 17

  One offence related to international terrorism.

  Six prosecutions have been initiated for offences related to the affairs of Northern Ireland. This figure is made up of two separate cases in which three defendants are charged with section 17 offences.

  Conspiracy to commit an offence under section 17

  Two offences related to international terrorism. This figure is made up of one case in which two defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit section 17 offences.

  The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland is aware of only one prosecution being initiated in Northern Ireland under sections 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the Terrorism Act 2000. That prosecution was under section 11(1) of the Act and was connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

  Ministerial Transport
  Bob Russell
  To ask the President of the Council when he last used the railway service in connection with his official duties; what station he left from and what was the destination; and whether it is his intention to make greater use of the railways in future. [28104]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  By definition, my role as Leader of the House of Commons is largely confined to London. However, since 1 November I have travelled by rail on non-departmental business from London to York, Cheltenham and Brussels and from Edinburgh to Lockerbie.

  I intend to visit the National Assembly for Wales shortly to discuss their procedures and will travel to Cardiff by rail.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list those public bodies to which his Department appoints members and which are not listed in Public Bodies 2000; [17600]

  (2) if he will list those public bodies which are the responsibility of his Department and which are not listed in Public Bodies 2000. [17601]

  Dr. John Reid
  The bodies which my Department has responsibility for and appoints members to, which are not listed in Public Bodies 2000 are as follows:

  Non-departmental Public Bodies

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel

  Northern Ireland Policing Board1

  Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland2

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  Other Bodies

  Chief Electoral Officer for NI

  Independent Assessor of Military Complaints Procedures

  Independent Commissioner for Detained Terrorist Suspects

  International Fund for Ireland3

  Life Sentence Review Commissioners

  Oversight Commissioner

  Sentence Review Commissioners

  1 Replaced Police Authority for Northern Ireland on 4 November 2001

  2 Replaced Independent Commission for Police Complaints on 6 November 2000

  3 Board members of the Fund are appointed jointly by the British and Irish Governments.

  Local Bodies
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those local bodies which were set up under legislation which is the responsibility of his Department since May 1997. [17602]

  Dr. John Reid
  My Department has set up the following bodies since May 1997:

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel

  Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

  Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

  Policing Board for Northern Ireland1

  Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland2

  Life Sentence Review Commissioners

  Oversight Commissioner

  Sentence Review Commissioners

  1 Replaced Police Authority for Northern Ireland on 4 November 2001

  2 Replaced Independent Commission for Police Complaints on 6 November 2000

  Dublin Bombing (1974)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what request he has received for assistance from the Irish Government's Independent Commission of Inquiry into the 1974 Dublin bombing; when the request was received; what his response was; and if he will make a statement. [20973]

  Dr. John Reid
  An initial request was received by my predecessor from Mr. Justice Barron on 21 November 2000 asking for assistance in his Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk bombings of 1974. All relevant Government Departments and agencies have been engaged in a comprehensive trawl of their files to establish what material may still be in existence. This has required an extremely time consuming manual trawl of a huge number of files.

  I met Mr. Justice Barron on 17 January to update him on the matter and I hope to be able to respond substantively to his request in the near future.

  Electoral Arrangements
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will begin the review of the electoral and structural arrangements deriving from the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement. [28843]

  Mr. Browne
  The recently completed Strand One Review, which looked at Assembly electoral arrangements, concluded that this issue should be looked at again in the review provided for under paragraph 8 of the Validation, Implementation and Review section of the 4W
  Belfast Agreement. As yet, no start date has been agreed but the Government intend to discuss this with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly parties.

  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will next meet David Ford, leader of the Alliance party of Northern Ireland, to discuss matters relating to electoral arrangements for First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [28842]

  Mr. Browne
  No such meeting has been scheduled or, indeed, requested.

  We have just completed a three month Review of Assembly voting procedures under the provisions contained in paragraph 36 of the Strand One section of the Belfast Agreement. This was a constructive process, which helped clarify the issues for all participants. Furthermore, it was agreed at the conclusion of the review that this subject should be looked at again during the review of Assembly arrangements provided for in paragraph 8 of the Validation Implementation and Review section of the agreement.

  We have yet to decide when this review should begin—I shall need to discuss this with the Irish Government and with the Assembly parties. I expect to meet David Ford in his capacity as leader of the Alliance party as a part of this process.

  Trial Records
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long trial records are kept for those charged with terrorist acts; what difference there is between the records kept for those found(a) guilty and (b) not guilty; and what the time limits are for keeping records for trials of (i) terrorists in Northern Ireland and (ii) other criminal trials. [27659]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I have been asked to reply.

  All records in relation to Crown court hearings in Northern Ireland are preserved permanently, as is the case for such records in England and Wales. Records in relation to magistrates courts in Northern Ireland are normally destroyed after 15 years, with the exception of records containing entries for a census year which are retained permanently. Retention schedules for records of magistrates courts in England and Wales are different.

  There is no difference between the records kept for those found guilty and those found not guilty in criminal trials either terrorist or non-terrorist.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Afghanistan
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid to Afghanistan for reconstruction will be given(a) bilaterally and (b) through the European Union. [31088]

  Clare Short
  As I announced at the Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan earlier this week in Tokyo, the UK has committed a further £200 million over the next five financial years for both reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.
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  The European Commission (EC) has pledged euro 200 million (£125 million) for 2002. It intends to propose to the European Union's budgetary authority to provide assistance at a comparable level in the subsequent four years, totalling approximately euro 1 billion (£600 million) over the period 2002–06. The UK share of EC contributions is 20 per cent. —which is charged to the DFID budget.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will report on the outcome of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Conference held in Tokyo on January 21 and 22, with particular reference to meeting the needs of Afghan women. [30413]

  Clare Short
  I refer my hon. Friend to the oral statement I made to the House this afternoon at columns 21–36.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contributions the United Kingdom(a) has made and (b) has committed itself to make to the costs of creating and supporting the interim Government of Afghanistan (i) bilaterally and (ii) through agencies of the (A) United Nations and (B) European Union. [29696]

  Clare Short
  We have set aside £20 million in this financial year to support the Interim Administration and the United Nations-led transitional recovery and rehabilitation process, while continuing to respond to humanitarian needs. This further support follows on from the £40 million of emergency humanitarian relief assistance that we have already provided to UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs since September 2001.

  Our support to date has included £1 million to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to support peacemaking efforts and the establishment of the Afghan Interim Administration. We have also contributed $3 million (£2.075 million) to support the costs of the Interim Administration, including civil servants' salaries, through the UNDP-administered trust fund.

  As I announced at the Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan earlier this week in Tokyo, the UK has committed a further £200 million ($288 million) over the next five financial years for both reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.

  This pledge is in addition to the significant sums that the UK contributes to the World Bank, European Union and Asian Development bank who will also be channelling funds into Afghanistan over coming years. The European Commission has pledged £125 million for 2002, of which the UK share, which is charged to DFID's budget, is 20 per cent.

  Departmental Expenditure (Publications)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her estimate is of the expenditure of her Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last four years. [30095]

  Clare Short
  The Department's core, central expenditure on newspaper and periodicals (journals and magazines) is as follows.
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  £

  Newspapers

  Periodicals

  1997–98

  4,786

  57,639

  1998–99

  4,736

  61,901

  1999–2000

  5,748

  65,660

  2000–01

  2,540

  97,824

  The decline in expenditure on newspapers in 2000–01 reflects the decentralisation of non-core provision to Departments and country offices. The rise in expenditure on periodicals in the same year reflects the electronic provision of certain periodicals, which are now more easily available to a larger proportion of DFID's UK-based and overseas staff.

  World Bank Loans
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has received on replacing World Bank loans to the world's poorest countries with grants. [29628]

  Clare Short
  The US Administration are advocating that the World Bank arm that provides assistance to low-income countries should cease to focus on 40-year highly concessional loans and instead provide at least 50 per cent. grant. This proposal is opposed by all other countries. It would severely deplete the resources available to IDA and undermine the Poverty Reduction Strategy Process, which has led to greatly improved effectiveness in development partnerships in recent years. I have not received any direct representations in support of this proposal, but the issue has been discussed in many forums. The Government of the United States of America have made representations at official level. The UK—along with many other countries that contribute resources to IDA—believes that we should protect and enhance IDA' s existing role as the largest provider of concessional finance to the world's poorest countries and that grant should be provided by bi-lateral donors in a way which complements IDA lending.

  Debt Reduction
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the role of debt reduction in achieving 2015 goals on poverty reduction. [29704]

  Clare Short
  In the 41 heavily indebted poor countries, the heavy burden of servicing debt reduces the resources available for tackling poverty and offsets the benefits of development assistance. There is in these countries a strong link between debt relief and poverty reduction. Following debt relief, the social expenditures of HIPC countries are projected to rise by an average of some $1.7 billion per year. On average, a quarter of this increased social expenditure will go towards health schemes directed at HIV/AIDS and diseases like malaria and tuberculosis, with 40 per cent. being directed towards education. HIPC countries will spend on average much more on such priority social investments than on debt service. This will directly benefit the poor in those countries.

  However, while debt relief for the HIPC countries is a necessary condition for poverty reduction, it is not enough. Huge numbers of poor people live in countries which are not heavily indebted, particularly in south Asia. It is vital that their needs are not neglected as a result of

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  our efforts to help the HIPC countries. In addition to debt relief, many other factors are important for reducing poverty. These include the Governments' own policies, the levels of development assistance they receive and their ability to attract foreign direct investment, to capture the benefits of trade and to create an environment where the domestic private sector can flourish. The UK is working to address all of these at the international level and through our partnerships with developing countries.

  Volcanic Eruption, Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Foreign Office concerning the recent volcanic eruption in Goma; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure a co-ordinated approach with the Foreign Office on the provision of aid to those affected by the disaster. [30398]

  Clare Short
  My Department has been in regular consultation with our embassies in Kigali and Kinshasa. DFID and the FCO work closely together on issues affecting the region.

TREASURY

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the inception of the working families tax credit to date, what the average number of working days for the processing of applications for working families tax credit from families in the Perth constituency has been; and what the UK average is. [30874]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The figures requested are not available for individual constituencies, or as an average for the period since working families tax credit began in 1999. For the 12 months ending 31 December 2001, the average number of days taken to process a working families tax credit application in Great Britain was 14.5.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for working families tax credit from families in the Perth constituency in the last 12 months have not been dealt with within the average number of working days for the processing of applications from families in Perth constituency. [30875]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The figures requested are not available for individual constituencies.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the average sum paid out by way of compensation to applicants for working families tax credit in the Perth constituency in the last year for which figures are available; [30873]

  (2) how many applications from the Perth constituency have received compensatory payments from the Inland Revenue with respect to delays in the processing of their working families tax credit applications. [30876]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue Code of Practice allows for certain exceptional payments to be made to working families tax credit (WFTC) applicants to recognise the effects of unreasonable delays in paying 8W
  their tax credit entitlement. Figures are not available for such payments broken down by individual constituency. However, available records show that, since WFTC began in October 1999 to date, no such payments have been made to any WFTC applicants in Perthshire.

  VAT (Sports and Leisure)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce further relief from value added tax for local authority sport and leisure facilities; and if he will make a statement. [30018]

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

  Aggregates Tax
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has discussed with the Scotland Office the implementation of the aggregates tax in Scotland. [31009]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government have received a large number of representations regarding the aggregates levy, and have held discussions regarding its implementation with a wide range of organisations both within and outside Government.

  Budget Statement
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to deliver his Budget Statement. [31612]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  On Wednesday 17 April.

  Unemployment Benefits
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are claiming benefits relating to unemployment; and if he will make a statement. [28641]

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

  Letter to Miss Anne McIntosh from Len Cook, dated 28 January 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question regarding the number of people claiming benefits relating to unemployment. (28641)
  The claimant count consists of all people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance credits at Employment Service local offices. They must declare that they are out of work, capable of, available for and actively seeking work during the week in which their claim is made.
  The latest available figure relates to December 2001, when the seasonally adjusted claimant count for the United Kingdom was 963,500.

  Drug Smuggling
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent action he has taken to prevent and deter drug smuggling from Jamaica to the United Kingdom. [26529]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 15 January 2002]: In partnership with police and immigration, Customs closely target flights, including those from Jamaica, identified as having a high risk of drug trafficking. Customs also work

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  closely with Jamaican colleagues to help identify and arrest couriers before they board their flight to the UK. Customs are in discussion with the Jamaican authorities and others to improve the overall effectiveness of action to tackle cocaine supply from Jamaica. The UK also supports interdiction activity in the Caribbean area to stop bulk consignments of cocaine reaching Jamaica for onward shipment to the UK.

  Accidental Deaths (Children)
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children died in accidents away from home, other than road deaths, in each of the last five years for which figures are available in the age groups(a) zero to seven, (b) eight to 13 and (c) 14 to 18 years; and if he will classify them in terms of (i) holiday or adventure related, (ii) work or work related and (iii) other. [29743]

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

  Letter to Bob Russell from Len Cook, dated 28 January 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the number of children dying of accidents away from home, other than road deaths, in the last five years in the age groups (a) zero to seven, (b) eight to 13, and (c) 14 to 18 years, and if these can be classified into (i) holiday or adventure related, (ii) work or work related, and (iii) other. (29743)
  The answer to parts (a) to (c) are given in the table below:

  Number of deaths occurring away from the home caused by accidents other than road deaths1, persons by age group, England and Wales, 1996–2000

  Age group

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  0–7years2

  20

  18

  11

  23

  12

  8–13 years

  24

  23

  21

  18

  19

  14–18 years

  40

  33

  31

  26

  31

  1 International Classification of Diseases. Ninth Revision, codes E850–E869, E880–E928, E929.2–E929.9

  2 Excludes deaths under 28 days

  Note:

  Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year. Latest year's data are for 2000.

  It is not possible to provide figures for whether these deaths were (i) holiday or adventure related,(ii) work or work related, or (iii) other.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children died in accidents in the home, other than fire, in each of the last five years for which figures are available in the age groups(a) zero to seven, (b) eight to 13 and (c) 14 to 18 years. [29742]

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

  Letter to Bob Russell from Len Cook, dated 28 January 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the number of children dying of accidents in the home, other than fire related, in the last five years in the age groups (a) zero to seven, (b) eight to 13, and (c) 14 to 18 years. (29742)
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  The answer is given in the table below:

  Number of deaths in the home1 occurring from accidents other than fire2, persons by age group, England and Wales, 1996–2000

  Age group

  0–7 years3

  8–13 years

  14–18 years

  1996

  67

  8

  37

  1997

  50

  16

  50

  1998

  55

  17

  42

  1999

  75

  18

  37

  2000

  63

  11

  38

  1 Includes the category 'Residential institution'. Deaths are only coded for place of occurrence of accident for selected ICD9 codes where there was an inquest.

  2 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, (ICD9) codes E850–E869, E880–E888, E900–E928, E929.2–E929.9 (excluding E929.4).

  3 Excludes deaths under 28 days.

  Note:

  Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year. Latest year's data are for 2000

  Tax Evasion
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) individuals and (b) businesses were investigated for tax evasion in the constituency of Buckingham in each year since 1997. [30064]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Inland Revenue records show the number of inquiries made into tax returns by its offices. However, the geographical ranges of Inland Revenue offices, particularly specialist offices, do not correspond to parliamentary constituencies.

  So while there is a record of the number of inquiries undertaken by offices located within parliamentary constituencies, it will not follow that those inquiries relate to individuals and businesses resident or operating within those constituencies. Similarly, offices outside constituency boundaries will undertake inquiries into the returns of individuals and businesses within those boundaries.

  Consequently, no meaningful figures are available of the number of inquiries into the returns of individuals and businesses within the constituency of Buckingham.

  Public Works Loan Board
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Public Works Loan Board's interest rate on new loans is and what the rate has been in each of the last five years. [30351]

  Ruth Kelly
  The interest rate applied to a new PWLB loan is dependent on the maturity of the loan, the method of repayment the authority has chosen and the underlying gilt yield curve. It is also affected by the progress a local authority has made in applying its provisions set aside to meet credit liabilities.

  The range of PWLB interest rates applicable at 22 January in each of the last five years was:

  1998: 6⅛to 7 9/16 per cent.

  1999:4⅜ to 5 13/16, per cent.

  2000:5¼ to 6¾ per cent.

  2001: 4¾ to 5½ per cent.

  2002: 4 1/16 to 5¼per cent.

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  Terrorism
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a list of organisations whose assets have been frozen under powers taken following 11 September with the reason for the action in each case; and if he will make a statement. [29445]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: The Government are committed to the fight against terrorism and since the events of 11 September 2001 have led by example in issuing asset freeze lists against individuals and organisations. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, issued on 28 September 2001, calls on states to freeze the funds and financial assets of persons or entities involved in terrorism.

  The resolution is implemented in the UK by an Order in Council (SI 3365/2001) and where there are "reasonable grounds to suspect" that an organisation is involved in the financing of terrorism the Government will not hesitate to meet their international obligations by freezing their assets.

  Listed are the 34 organisations subject to an assets freeze under the UN order:

  1. Abu Nidal Organisation (ANO)

  2. Afghan Support Committee (ASC)

  3. Aum Shinrikyo

  4. Babbar Khalsa

  5. Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)

  6. Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)

  7. Gama'a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group)

  8. Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Quassem

  9. Hizballah External Security Organisation

  10. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development

  11. International Sikh Youth Federation

  12. Kahane Chai (Kach)

  13. Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Chairman Abdullah Ocalan

  14. Lashkar e Tayyaba

  15. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

  16. Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF)

  17. Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK or MKO)

  18. National Liberation Army (ELN)

  19. Orange Volunteers (OV)

  20. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

  21. Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)

  22. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

  23. Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command

  24. Real IRA

  25. Red Hand Defenders (RHD)

  26. Revival of Islamic Heritage Society (RIHS)

  27. Revoluntionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)

  28. Revoluntionary Nuclei (formerly ELA)

  29. Revolutionary Organisation 17 November

  30. Revolutionary People's Liberation Army/Front/Party (DHKP/C)

  31. Shining Path

  32. Ulster Defence Association/Ulster Freedom Fighters (UDA/UFF)

  33. Ummah Tameer E-Nau (UTN)

  34. United Self-Defense Forces/Group of Colombia (AUC).

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the freezing of assets of an organisation whose administration address is a house in Leyton. [29446]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: A charitable organisation in Leyton has had its assets frozen by the Charity Commission under the Charities Act 1993.
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  National Minimum Wage
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Barnsley, East and Mexborough received the recent increase in the national minimum wage. [30525]

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

  Letter to Jeff Ennis from Len Cook, dated 28 January 2002:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of people in Barnsley East and Mexborough who have received the increase in the national minimum wage. (30525)
  Estimates for Parliamentary Constituencies are not available.
  Estimates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions are posted on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/themes/labour_market/pay_and_earnings/measuring_low_pay.asp

  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Motherwell and Wishaw received the recent increase in the national minimum wage. [30860]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Frank Roy, dated 28 January 2002:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of people in Motherwell and Wishaw who have received the increase in the national minimum wage (NMW). (30860)
  Estimates for Parliamentary Constituencies are not available.
  Estimates for the United Kingdom and Government Office Regions are posted on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/themes/labour_market/pay_and_earnings/measuring_low_pay.asp.

  Ministerial Transport
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last used the railway service in connection with his official duties; what station he left from and what was the destination; and whether it is his intention to make greater use of the railways in future. [28092]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I use railway services for both official duties and in a private capacity.

  I last used the railway service for official duties on 5 July 2001 to travel to Brighton for the Transport and General Workers Union Conference. All arrangements for official travel are made in line with the guidance set out in Chapter 7 of the "Ministerial Code", and the accompanying guidance document "Travel by Ministers", using the most efficient and cost effective mode of transport, and bearing in mind security considerations.

  I will continue to use the railway for official and private travel as appropriate.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002,Official Report,columns 797–98W, on employment in the Buckingham

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  constituency, what the average figures for working age employment in the UK were in each year from 1997 to 2001. [30126]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Bercow, dated 28 January 2002:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the proportion of working age people in employment in the United Kingdom. (30126)
  The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of the employment rate of working age people (ie men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59). The annual estimates for the United Kingdom for each year from 1997/8 to 2000/1 are given in the table overleaf.

  Working age1 employment rates2: United Kingdom 1997–98 to 2000–01

  Not seasonally adjusted

  Percentage

  March 1997 to February 1998

  72.8

  March 1998 to February 1999

  73.5

  March 1999 to February 2000

  73.8

  March 2000 to February 2001

  74.1

  1 Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59

  2 Total employed of working age as a percentage of all persons of working age

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey (annual LADB dataset)

DEFENCE

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many C130Ks are being used in the deployment in Afghanistan; how many flying hours per week they are flying; and whether that can be increased. [26349]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 11 January 2002]: The number of C130Ks deployed to support operations in Afghanistan has varied with time, depending on operational requirements. As of 20 January, eight C130Ks were deployed. Flying hours vary depending on the operational requirement; between 13 and 19 January the deployed aircraft averaged 30 hours per week. There is no operational reason at present to increase the numbers of hours flown by each aircraft but, if it were necessary, the deployment of additional crews would allow us to do so.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made to enable parcels to be sent to forces in Afghanistan. [30823]

  Mr. Ingram
  We consider delivery of mail to all overseas personnel, including parcels, to be a high priority. Accordingly, a BFPO number has been assigned to Afghanistan, and parcels can be sent at reduced rates. Mail is delivered as frequently as possible using the military aircraft deploying and sustaining the UK armed forces personnel in country, within the constraints of operational imperatives.
  14W

  Fixed-wing Aircraft
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to his answer of 5 December 2001,Official Report,column 359W, on fixed wing aircraft, how many and what type of fixed wing aircraft there were in the Royal Air Force in each year from 1985 to 2000; and if he will make a statement. [22387]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 13 December 2002]: The best available set of centrally held figures denoting the size of the RAF's fixed wing aircraft fleet for the period from 1985 to 1991 inclusive, is the 'RAF Form STATS 1003'. I will place a copy of these figures in the Library of the House.

  Ministry of Defence annually published figures for the years 1992–2000 are contained in either the Statement on Defence Estimates or the MOD Performance report, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Specific references are as follows:

  1992: The Statement on the Defence Estimates—pages 90–92 inclusive

  1993: The Statement on the Defence Estimates—pages 99–101 inclusive

  1994: The Statement on the Defence Estimates—pages 102–104 inclusive

  1995: The Statement on the Defence Estimates—pages 131–133 inclusive

  1996: The Statement on the Defence Estimates—Annexe D D1–D5

  1997: MOD Performance Report—pages 63–67 inclusive

  1998: MOD Performance Report—pages 63–67

  1999:MOD Performance Report—Annexe B B8—B13

  2000: MOD Performance Report—Annexe B, pages 69–72

  Combatants (Minimum Age)
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the youngest age is at which someone can(a) join the armed forces and (b) take part in operations. [29466]

  Mr. Ingram
  The lowest age at which people are able to join the armed forces is 16 years. Applicants under the age of 18 years require the formal consent of their parents or guardians before they are permitted to join.

  No service personnel under the age of 17 are deployed on operations. No personnel under the age of 18 carry out operational patrols in Northern Ireland, although 17-year-olds can be based in the Province. Under-18s are not deployed as aircrew or in submarines.

  In line with United Nations (UN) policy, we do not deploy personnel under the age of 18 on UN peacekeeping operations.

  We are currently finalising detailed administrative procedures and guidelines for the armed forces to give concrete form to the United Kingdom's commitment made on signing Optional Protocol II of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to take all feasible measures to ensure that personnel under the age of 18 do not take a direct part in hostilities.
  15W

  Army Complement
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) the official complement and (b) the actual numbers in post in the Army are, broken down by regiment and other section headings. [29468]

  Current UKTAP manning state by arm/service at 1 December 2001 (including Gurkhas and full-time reserve service)

  Officers

  Soldiers

  Arm/service

  Liability

  Strength

  Liability

  Strength

  Staff

  715

  758

  —

  —

  Household Cavalry/Royal Armoured Corps

  861

  815

  5,011

  4,915

  Royal Artillery

  1,062

  1,020

  7,439

  6,947

  Royal Engineers

  1,139

  1,107

  7,662

  7,417

  Royal Signals

  952

  875

  7,586

  7,111

  Infantry

  2,766

  2,786

  23,971

  22,675

  Army Air Corps

  459

  411

  1,309

  1,319

  Royal Army Chaplains Department

  148

  144

  —

  —

  Royal Logistic Corps

  1,653

  1,583

  15,022

  13,152

  Royal Army Medical Corps

  882

  661

  2,040

  1,869

  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  875

  817

  9,856

  8,360

  Adjutant General Corps (Provost)

  214

  178

  1,895

  1,895

  Adjutant General Corps (Staff Personnel Support)

  488

  441

  4,345

  4,036

  Adjutant General Corps (Education and Training Corps)

  335

  315

  —

  —

  Adjutant General Corps (Army Legal Service)

  90

  88

  —

  —

  Royal Army Veterinary Corps

  23

  21

  146

  126

  Small Arms Service Corps

  31

  30

  112

  122

  Royal Army Dental Corps

  149

  127

  271

  240

  Intelligence Corps

  258

  245

  1,011

  1,005

  Army Physical Training Corps

  50

  50

  354

  362

  General List

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps

  343

  284

  610

  404

  Corps of Army Music

  35

  36

  1,120

  993

  Long Service List

  —

  —

  638

  577

  Unallocated

  —

  2

  —

  —

  UKTAP total

  13,528

  12,795

  90,398

  83,525

  Gurkhas

  116

  128

  2,931

  3,455

  Full-time Reserve Service

  —

  339

  —

  562

  Whole Army total

  13,644

  13,262

  93,329

  87,542

  Whole Army trained strength

  100,804

  Notes:

  1. The officer strength figures exclude 105 mobilised reservists.

  2.The soldier strength figures exclude 646 mobilised reservists.

  3.The liability figures are based on the Manpower Planning Targets (MPT) for 2001.

  4.Gurkha liability does not include an addback against UKTAP undermanning of 409 or 22 non-established posts (two officers and 20 soldiers).

  Pensions
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made of the cost to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme of maintaining the early pension point; and if he will make a statement. [29494]

  Mr. Ingram
  Under the terms of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, an Immediate Pension (IP) is paid to scheme members much earlier than most other schemes. This is to allow the services to retain the expertise of personnel who might otherwise leave during their thirties, while also recognising the needs of those to whom the services cannot offer further employment from around the age of 40.

  In reviewing the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS), we have considered a number of alternatives to the current IP point and their effect on recruitment and retention. It was concluded that any significant delay in the IP point would require costly alternative retention
  16W
  Mr. Ingram
  The information is not centrally held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However details on the current United Kingdom Trained Adult Personnel (UKTAP) manning state by arm/service as at 1 December 2001 are in the table.

  measures likely to outweigh any savings from such a delay. The confidence of the services in the efficacy of the early IP as a well-proven manning tool led to the conclusion that it would not be sensible to undertake a costing of alternative measures or therefore a net costing of the early IP. The provisional conclusions of the review, issued for public consultation in March of last year, therefore recommended only a small change should be made to the IP point, to provide a common point at age 40 (or after 18 years service, whichever is later) for officers and other ranks.

  Mr. Pollard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to assist ex-service men who were unable to join a pension scheme during their Army careers; and if he will make a statement. [28144]

  Dr. Moonie
  There are no plans to make retrospective pension provision for ex-service men who were unable to join a pension scheme during their service careers.
  17W
  Prior to 1975, when the pension arrangements for the armed forces were brought into line with the Social Security Act 1973, there were no legal requirements for pensions to be preserved for those who left before meeting the qualifying period for payment of pension. Officers leaving the service without completing 16 years' service after age 21 and other ranks leaving without completing 22 years' service after age 18 were not entitled to a pension. Officers who left with between nine and 16 years of service and other ranks with between 12 and 22 years of service were, however, paid a gratuity in lieu of pension. Those who left with less service had no pension rights.

  There was no distinction between service personnel and members of both public and private pension schemes with regard to the fact that there was no requirement until 1975

  1 November 1998 to 31 October 1999

  1 November 1999 to 31 October 2000

  1 November 2000 to 31 October 2001

  Naval Service and Royal Marines

  327

  322

  278

  Army

  433

  445

  461

  RAF

  450

  420

  524

  Royal Marine figures are only held as part of the Royal Navy figures.

  Gurkhas
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact the commitment of British troops in Afghanistan will have on his plans for recruiting more Gurkhas. [29976]

  Mr. Ingram
  None. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 19 October 2001,Official Report,column 1371W. There has been no change to the Gurkha recruitment plans outlined on that occasion.

  Age

  Single

  Percentage

  Married

  Percentage

  Divorced/Separated

  Percentage

  Total

  Naval Service

  24 and under

  11,958

  96.2

  447

  3.6

  23

  0.2

  12,428

  25–29

  5,190

  66.9

  2,352

  30.3

  219

  2.8

  7,761

  30–34

  2,843

  33.8

  5,029

  59.8

  539

  6.4

  8,411

  35–39

  1,152

  15.2

  5,707

  75.2

  729

  9.6

  7,588

  40–44

  361

  9.9

  2,948

  81.1

  326

  9.0

  3,635

  45 and over

  149

  6.2

  2,120

  88.2

  135

  5.6

  2,404

  Grand total

  21,653

  51.3

  18,603

  44.1

  1,971

  4.7

  42,227

  Age

  Single

  Percentage

  Married Percentage

  Divorced

  Percentage

  Widowed

  Percentage

  Total

  Army

  24 and under

  40,029

  89.4

  4,663

  10.4

  65

  0.1

  3

  0.0

  44,760

  25–29

  10,933

  49.8

  10,475

  47.7

  553

  2.5

  5

  0.0

  21,966

  30–34

  3,409

  17.4

  15,050

  76.8

  1,127

  5.8

  17

  0.1

  19,603

  35–39

  1,040

  7.0

  12,725

  86.0

  1,038

  7.0

  17

  0.1

  14,820

  40–44

  219

  4.5

  4,379

  89.5

  293

  6.0

  14

  0.3

  4,905

  45 and over

  117

  3.4

  3,218

  93.5

  108

  3.1

  24

  0.7

  3,467

  Grand total

  55,747

  50.9

  50,510

  46.1

  3,184

  2.9

  80

  0.1

  109,521

  18W
  for preservation of pension benefits for those who left before the retirement age of the scheme. It has been the long-standing policy of successive Governments that individuals should be treated under the rules of the pension scheme applying at the time they retire. Improvements to benefits were therefore restricted to those currently in service and were not made retrospective.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) RAF and Royal Marine officers, (b) Navy officers and (c) Army officers have retired before receiving a full pension, after serving for over 10 years, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [25836]

  Mr. Ingram
  The numbers of officers who have retired from the three services before completing the 34 years necessary for full pension, but having served for more than 10 years are as follows:

  Armed Forces (Marital Status)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of serving military personnel in(a) the Army, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Royal Navy are (i) single, (ii) married, (iii) divorced and (iv) separated listed by age ranges (1) 16 to 20, (2) 20 to 24, (3) 30 to 34, (4) 35 to 39, (5) 40 to 44, (6) 45 to 49, (7) 50 to 59 and (8) 60 and over; what percentage of force strength this represents in each age range; and if he will make a statement. [27677]

  Mr. Ingram:
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: The current strength of UK regular forces by marital status and age range is as follows:
  19W

  Age

  Single

  Percentage

  Married

  Percentage

  Divorced

  Percentage

  Separated

  Percentage

  Widowed

  Percentage

  Total

  RAF

  24 and under

  10,528

  90.0

  1,072

  9.2

  8

  0.1

  89

  0.8

  —

  0.0

  11,697

  25–29

  4,653

  52.9

  3,607

  41.0

  180

  2.0

  360

  4.1

  —

  0.0

  8,800

  30–34

  2,392

  21.0

  7,601

  66.6

  615

  5.4

  787

  6.9

  13

  0.1

  11,408

  35–39

  903

  8.4

  8,477

  79.0

  672

  6.3

  662

  6.2

  15

  0.1

  10,729

  40–44

  287

  4.9

  4,975

  84.3

  325

  5.5

  298

  5.1

  14

  0.2

  5,899

  45 and over

  124

  2.7

  4,154

  89.4

  201

  4.3

  137

  2.9

  30

  0.6

  4,646

  Grand total

  18,887

  35.5

  29,886

  56.2

  2,001

  3.8

  2,333

  4.4

  72

  0.1

  53,179

  Source:

  DASA (Tri-Service)

  Separate divorced/separated figures are not available for the Naval service. Widowed figures are also not available for the Naval service. Separate figures are not available for the Army. These are included in the married figures. Figures are provided for the UK regular forces and show trained and untrained personnel including officers and other ranks. The figures exclude gurkhas, full time reserve service personnel, home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists.

  Plastic Baton Rounds
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 2001,Official Report, column 760W, on plastic baton rounds, what reasons HM forces have given for requiring guidelines for use at variance with those governing law enforcement officers engaged in joint operations. [29728]

  Mr. Ingram
  The armed forces are deployed to Northern Ireland to provide military support to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which has primacy for security matters in the Province. Soldiers carry out their role using the same practices and procedures that are applicable to the rest of the British Army wherever they may be deployed in the world. While these practices and procedures may be different to those of the police, they are of a commensurate standard.

  As I have already stated in my answer of 27 November 2001, Official Report,column 760W, differences between the guidelines for the police and the Army on the use of baton rounds stem entirely from the differences in their respective operational structures and practices. There are therefore no plans to bring the guidelines exactly into line with the regime governing the use of those weapons by the police.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 November 2001,Official Report, column 760W, on plastic baton rounds, how many plastic baton rounds have been fired in each overseas operational theatre since 1981; how many such firings have resulted in death and injury; and what compensation has been paid to victims of firings. [29727]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence's records show that there has been one occasion on which British forces have fired plastic baton rounds since 1981. On 1 February last year, 58 plastic baton rounds were fired during a public order incident at Mitrovica in Kosovo. We are not aware of any civilians being injured as a result of the firings or of any claims for compensation.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many plastic baton rounds have been procured since 1981; and at what cost. [29729]
  20W
  Mr. Ingram
  I am withholdings details of the number of plastic baton rounds procured in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I am also withholding information on costs on the grounds of commercial confidentiality in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Gulf War Veterans
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria have to be met in order for British Gulf war veterans to be eligible for compensation from the UK Government. [29380]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: When claims for compensation are submitted they are considered on the basis of whether or not on the balance of probabilities the Ministry of Defence has a common law liability to pay compensation. Where there is a legal liability arising from negligence to pay compensation we do so. The amount of compensation awarded is assessed in accordance with an individual's symptoms, degree of disability, personal circumstances and the levels being awarded by the courts in similar cases.

  The MOD has received about 2,000 notices of intention to claim from Gulf veterans and members of their families in respect of illness allegedly arising from the Gulf conflict, but no writs or claims of sufficient detail to be considered have been received.

  The War Pensions Agency also makes provision for ex-service personnel suffering from injury or disease attributable to their service in the form of a war pension and associated benefits.

  Tendering Process
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on encouraging the employment of local contractors for new build projects on the UK mainland. [30312]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: The Ministry of Defence is pursuing greater efficiency in the delivery of services essential to maintain and develop the Defence Estate. To fulfil this objective we aim to involve industry in a broader way through public-private partnerships, and in particular the Prime Contracting Initiative.

  Prime Contracting should not be seen as a bar to local or smaller companies. A key feature is the development of supply chains with the capability to cover the full range of the activities required to deliver estate projects. It is envisaged that this will present significant opportunities for the involvement of local contractors.
  21W
  The greater efficiencies and better value for money will also allow more work to be completed for the Department, resulting in increased opportunities for those involved in its delivery. Where companies do not wish to bid for contracts in their own right as Prime Contractors, they are fully encouraged to be part of the supply chain. Opportunities for Prime Contracts will be advertised in the Works Services Opportunities Bulletin. Sub-contracts will also be advertised.

  The MOD fully supports the objectives laid out in the Office of Government Commerce publication "Tendering for Government contracts" which sets out the opportunities and benefits within the public sector for small and medium sized enterprises.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 336W, on special educational needs, how many married accompanied service personnel, not in receipt of boarding school allowance, are serving in areas (a) under SCE educational jurisdiction and (b) not under SCE educational jurisdiction. [27477]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Agency
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the conclusions and recommendations of Phase I of the Quinquennial Review of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre Agency; how many and what submissions were made to Phase I by stakeholders and other interested parties; if he will place a copy of the Phase I report in the Library; what the period to be allowed for consultation over the Phase I report is; and what is the projected Schedule leading up to the publication of the final Review. [29248]

  Mr. Ingram
  Phase 1 of the Quinquennial Review of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre is continuing.

  On completion, once its recommendations have been agreed, I will announce the outcome and place a copy of the summary report in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Expenditure (Publications)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last four years. [30088]

  Dr. Moonie
  Expenditure on commercial and HMSO publications, including newspapers and periodicals, by the Ministry of Defence in each of the last four years was as follows:

  Financial year

  £ million

  1997–8

  6,910,298.74

  1998–99

  8,204,787.64

  1999–2000

  7,499,237.00

  2000–01

  9,830,204.18

  22W

  Atomic Weapons Establishment
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the purpose is of AWE's Billi-G project; what its cost is; and if he will make a statement. [29955]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Billi-G programme is one element in a suite of experiments by the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) using high-energy radiation to examine the behaviour of materials when subjected to explosive shock. It is important in predicting the performance of a nuclear warhead and hence in underwriting our nuclear deterrent in a nuclear test ban era.

  The cost of the programme is included in the total AWE operating costs of £2.3 billion for the 10-year period beginning 1 April 2000. The specific costs of these experiments could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Trident
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has decided to extend the life of the Trident warhead beyond the expected service life; and what plans he has to extend the life of the submarine beyond the expected service life. [29954]

  Mr. Ingram
  No such decision has been made; as with other key military capabilities, we routinely undertake studies into options for achieving the optimum operational life and value for money.

  Defence Aviation Repair Agency
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost is of the inter-site transportation of components and material in the Defence Aviation Repair Agency in the last 12 months. [30106]

  Mr. Ingram
  The inter-site costs of transporting components and materials across the Defence Aviation Repair Agency are not recorded separately and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Anti-tank Missiles
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the MOD's balance of investment of anti tank missiles study will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [30290]

  Mr. Ingram
  The most recent studies of anti-tank guided weapons were concluded in summer 2001. These studies considered the procurement of such weapon systems for mechanised infantry and armoured infantry. The conclusions reached in these studies will be used to inform any future procurement options.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the existing Milan system for medium range anti-tank missiles; and if he will make a statement. [30286]

  Mr. Ingram
  The MILAN system meets the requirements for which it was designed, and is successfully deployed in over 40 countries. The system has been in service since 1977, and replacements are developed in line with technological advances and changing capability requirements. MILAN, which is due to be phased out of
  23W
  service between 2005 and 2008, is to be replaced by the Light Forces' Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (LF ATGW) system.

  Colchester Garrison
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 21 January 2002,Official Report, column 557W, on Colchester Garrison, when the temporary living accommodation for soldiers at Colchester Garrison will be ready for occupation; if he plans to allow the public to view the new buildings; and if there will be an official opening ceremony. [30550]

  Dr. Moonie
  The temporary 'portakabin' type single living accommodation for soldiers at Colchester Garrison is ready for occupation now, though it is yet to be utilised due to operational deployments. There are no plans to invite the public to view the new buildings or to hold an official opening ceremony.

  Civilian Work Force
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce the results of his analysis of his Department's civilian work force; and what effect this will have on the age of retirement. [31121]

  Dr. Moonie
  The review of the Ministry of Defence's age of retirement policy for civilian staff has taken rather longer than expected because it has thrown up some complex issues, but it is now nearing completion and we expect to be able to announce the findings in the next few weeks.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department has put in place to aid civilian recruitment where there is a shortage of people for the appropriate grades. [31136]

  Dr. Moonie
  Recruitment to the civil service is on the basis of merit and fair and open competition. In the Ministry of Defence, most recruitment is delegated to local budget holders. Various steps are taken to try to ensure the success of our recruitment efforts, particularly in relation to women, disabled people and members of ethnic minorities, who are currently under-represented in our work force. Depending on the circumstances, we can also make available flexible working arrangements and some financial incentives.

  RAF Bases
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the freehold of(a) RAF Brize Norton, and (b) RAF Lyneham. [30805]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence owns the freehold at both sites.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to redevelop RAF Wroughton; [30806]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Wroughton. [30808]

  Dr. Moonie
  All elements of the former RAF Wroughton are now in private ownership with the exception of the married quarter estates at Langton Park and Beranburh Field. These are still in Ministry of 24W
  Defence ownership but are now surplus to operational requirements. They will shortly be sold in accordance with disposal policy. Defence Estates will not redevelop the sites.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medical equipment there is in RAF Wroughton; and what plans he has to re-deploy it elsewhere. [30807]

  Dr. Moonie
  RAF Wroughton comprised the main airfield, married quarters estates and the Princess Alexandra hospital.

  Prior to the disposal of the hospital site the medical equipment was sold, with the exception of the MRI and CT scanners which were obsolescent. They were therefore included as fittings within the hospital sale.

  The Princess Alexandra hospital was sold to Dukeminster Ltd. on 14 January 2000.

  Army Units (Germany)
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the establishment against actual strength of British Army units in Germany; and how many requests for transfer there are for each of these units. [29650]

  Mr. Ingram
  The establishment and actual staffing levels for major British Army units in Germany, as at 1 January 2002, are shown in the table. It is not possible to say how many requests for transfer there are for each unit in Germany as this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  British Army units in Germany1

  Establishment

  Actual strength

  HQ 1(UK) Armoured Division and TPS

  1 Div HQ

  180

  178

  12 Regt RA

  627

  563

  28 Engr Regt RE

  880

  804

  1 ADSR

  681

  586

  1CS Med Regt RAMC

  517

  443

  Chaplain pool

  28

  32

  1 Reg RMP

  350

  350

  1 GS Regt RLC

  689

  600

  2 CS Regt RLC

  886

  696

  RLC Mil Trg Wmg

  8

  8

  4 Armoured Brigade

  4 Bde HQ and Sig Sqn

  157

  164

  RDG

  590

  585

  QRL

  590

  511

  4 Regt RA

  684

  606

  21 Engr RE

  657

  657

  1IG

  744

  689

  1DWR

  741

  719

  1Bn REME

  367

  308

  RL Band

  35

  31

  7 Armoured Brigade

  7 Bde HQ and Sig Sqn

  157

  167

  SCOTS DG

  590

  491

  9/12L

  453

  440

  2 RTR

  599

  568

  3 RHA

  554

  457

  32 Engr Regt RE

  653

  638

  1 RRF

  741

  654

  1BW

  741

  660

  Cambrai Band

  35

  35

  2 Bn REME

  367

  289

  25W

  British Army units in Germany1

  Establishment

  Actual strength

  20 Armoured Brigade

  20 Bde HQ and Sig Sqn

  157

  129

  QHR

  590

  531

  26 Regt RA

  684

  607

  35 Engr Regt RE

  656

  622

  1 RRW

  741

  703

  2 RGJ

  741

  726

  3 Bn REME

  367

  281

  HQ UK Support Command (Germany)

  HQ UKSC(G)

  122

  119

  1 Signal Brigade and Rhine Garrison

  3,307

  2,955

  1 As at 1 January 2002

  Iraq
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British aircraft, and how many, are patrolling the no fly zones in Iraq; and how many times they have been(a) locked on to by surface-to-air missile batteries,(b) attacked by surface-to-air missiles and (c) threatened by other means. [28896]

  Mr. Ingram
  The RAF currently deploys eight Tornado GR4, six Tornado F3, four Jaguar, two VC10 and one Tristar on operations in connection with enforcing the no fly zones.

  Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2001, reports from coalition aircraft patrolling the no fly zones indicated that they were threatened or attacked on 918 occasions, broken down as follows: 64 radar threats; 55 attacks by surface-to-air missiles; and 799 other threats, primarily attacks by anti-aircraft guns.

PRIME MINISTER

  Ian Stillman
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to make representations to the Indian Government with respect to the case of Ian Stillman; and if he will make a statement. [30865]

  The Prime Minister
  I am aware of the case of Mr. Stillman. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British high commission in New Delhi have made many high-level representations to the Indian authorities about Mr. Stillman. The most recent of these was a meeting on 2 January 2002 between the British high commissioner in New Delhi and the Indian Home Minister. We shall continue to monitor Mr. Stillman's welfare while in jail and ensure that his special needs are catered for as far as possible.

  Single European Currency
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Prime Minister if he plans to follow the precedent of the 1975 referendum on membership of the Common Market in respect of the Government's agreement to differ in a referendum on membership of the single European currency as binding. [30754]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 2 November 2001,Official Report, column 883W.
  26W

  Energy Review
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister on what date he received the final report of the Energy Review from his Performance and Innovation Unit; and on what date he intends to publish the report. [31059]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mr. Thomas) on 9 January 2002,Official Report,column 816W.

  Defence Sales (India)
  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with Indian Ministers, on his recent visit, about the United Kingdom selling(a) armaments and (b) war planes to the Indian Government. [30852]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 23 January 2002,Official Report,column 854W.

  Lost/stolen Property
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those items valued at more than £50 which have been stolen or lost from his office in each of the last four years. [28002]

  The Prime Minister
  In respect of my office, none for the last four financial years.

  Camp X-Ray
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the assurances Her Majesty's Government have obtained from the Americans that those captured in Afghanistan are being humanely treated include assurances that those people are being treated in accordance with(a) the Geneva convention and (b) international norms; and if he will make a statement. [30133]

  The Prime Minister
  US officials have stated publicly that all detainees are being treated consistently with the principles of the Geneva convention.

  As the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw) told the House on 21 January, British officials visited Guantanamo Bay between 17 and 20 January and were able to have lengthy discussions with the three British detainees who were all in good physical health and none of whom complained of ill treatment or had medical conditions requiring treatment.

  I am satisfied on the basis of the public statements made by the US authorities, together with the report of the visiting British officials, that the detainees are being treated in line with international humanitarian norms.

  New Year Honours List
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister how many persons in each county were(a) knighted or equivalent and (b) admitted to each rank of the orders of chivalry in the recent New Year's Honours List. [30022]
  27W
  The Prime Minister
  The information available is outlined in the table, which shows the number of awards

  Numbers of Honours recipients in each county

  County

  GBE

  CH

  KCB

  DBE

  Kt

  CB

  CMG

  CBE

  OBE

  MBE

  Aberdeenshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  4

  2

  Angus

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Antrim

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  10

  Argyll and Bute

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  Armagh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  Ayrshire and Arran

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  Banffshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Bedfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  Belfast

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  5

  10

  Berkshire

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  5

  8

  Berwickshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Bristol

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  4

  Buckinghamshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  2

  8

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  4

  1

  9

  Carmarthenshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  Ceredigion

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Channel Islands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  4

  Cheshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  3

  13

  Cleveland

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Clwyd

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Cornwall

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Cumbria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  11

  Denbighshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Derbyshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  6

  Devon

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  13

  Dorset

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  7

  Down

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  6

  10

  Dumfries

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  6

  Dunbartonshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Dundee

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Durham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  4

  East Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  3

  East Sussex

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  12

  Edinburgh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  5

  8

  10

  Essex

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  14

  Fermanagh

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  7

  Flintshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Glasgow

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

  Gloucestershire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  7

  Greater Manchester

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  2

  14

  Gwent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Gwynedd

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Hampshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  8

  15

  Herefordshire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  6

  8

  9

  Inverness-shire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  Isle of Man

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Isle of Wight

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Kent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  3

  10

  19

  Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  4

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  5

  13

  Leicestershire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  5

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  5

  London

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  4

  1

  17

  35

  41

  Londonderry

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  6

  Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Merseyside

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  10

  Mid Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1

  6

  Middlesex

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  7

  16

  Mid Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Monmouthshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  5

  Norfolk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  8

  North Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  2

  5

  Northamptonshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4

  Northumberland

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  5

  Nottinghamshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  7

  Orkney

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  28W
  made on my recommendation in each county in the New Year Honours List 2002.
  29W

  Number of Honours recipients in each county

  County

  GBE

  CH

  KCB

  DBE

  Kt

  CB

  CMG

  CBE

  OBE

  MBE

  Oxfordshire

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  2

  4

  6

  Pembrokeshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Perth and Kinross

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  Powys

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Renfrewshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  5

  3

  Ross and Cromarty

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4

  Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Shetland Island

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Shropshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  4

  Somerset

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  4

  9

  South Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  5

  South Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  7

  10

  Staffordshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  15

  Stirling and Falkirk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Suffolk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  5

  Surrey

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  11

  11

  19

  Sutherland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Vale of Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Torfaen

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Tweeddale

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Tyne and Wear

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  5

  Tyrone

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Warwickshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  4

  West Glamorgan

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  4

  West Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  West Midlands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  5

  10

  West Sussex

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  3

  5

  West Yorkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  14

  Western Isles

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Wiltshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  8

  Worcestershire

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on(a) the number of UK citizens arrested in Afghanistan for alleged terrorist activity by (i) United Kingdom forces, (ii) United States forces and (iii) Afghan forces or paramilitaries, (b) their present whereabouts, (c) their identities and (d) their access to consular and legal representation. [26773]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are attempting to clarify the numbers and identify all who may be British nationals detained in Afghanistan. This may be a lengthy process because we have extremely limited consular facilities in Afghanistan.

  No British nationals are being held by UK forces. There are three British nationals held by the United States forces in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The US armed forces have also confirmed that they are holding others who may be British nationals in locations in Afghanistan.

  We are seeking to verify reports of the number of possible British nationals who may have been detained by Afghan or local forces. We are aware of one British national who was detained by the Northern Alliance and are seeking information on his current whereabouts.

  In line with normal consular practice, we do not intend to release the identities of those detained.

  We are seeking access to all alleged British detainees. British officials have visited the three detainees at Guantanamo Bay from 17 to 20 January and have
  30W
  confirmed that they are all in good physical health and have no complaints about ill treatment. We have told the US authorities that we expect them to ensure that the detainees are treated in accordance with international standards, including those applicable to trial.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have been detained by(a) United States, (b) United Front and (c) other local forces in Afghanistan; and where they are now being held. [27227]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are attempting to clarify the numbers and identify all who may be British nationals being detained in Afghanistan. This may be a lengthy process because we have extremely limited consular facilities in Afghanistan.

  As I said in my statement on 21 January there are currently three British detainees at the Guantanamo Bay base.

  We are seeking to verify reports of the number of possible British nationals who may have been detained by Afghan or local forces. We are aware of one British national who was detained by the Northern Alliance during the civil war, and are seeking information on his current whereabouts.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK is being consulted about the handling of prisoners in custody in Afghanistan. [27835]
  31W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have not been consulted about the handling of prisoners in Afghanistan. We believe that all detainees in Afghanistan, as elsewhere, should be treated humanely and in accordance with international standards. We are seeking access to all alleged British detainees.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information British troops in Afghanistan have gathered on the fate of the women of Kabul who were taken by the fleeing Taliban forces. [28236]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  British troops in Afghanistan are there as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Their mission is to assist the Afghan Interim Administration in achieving security in Kabul and the surrounding areas. However, the British embassy in Kabul have been investigating these reports and have so far been unable to substantiate them.

  We work closely with the UNHCR in Pakistan, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Special Mission to Afghanistan on all matters of humanitarian concern, including the appalling treatment of women under the Taliban. We have also raised a range of women's issues with Dr. Sima Sumar, the Interim Administration's Vice Chair responsible for Women's Affairs.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2002,Official Report,column 132W on Afghanistan, if he will make a statement on the problems the ICRC face in gaining access to detainees held at Bagram airport and those being held in a place of detention in Kabul. [30699]

  Peter Hain
  The ICRC obtained access to the detainees in Kabul on 13 January, although this information was not to hand at the time of the earlier answer.

  On 22 January the ICRC obtained access to the detainees at Bagram airport.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) centres at which prisoners from the conflict are being held in Afghanistan and (b) nationalities of those who are being detained; if he will specify how many are being held there; and if the ICRC is being allowed into every centre to see all prisoners. [30664]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK is not holding any detainees. Information on the location and nationality of detainees is a matter for the US and Afghan authorities. We understand that ICRC is being allowed access to prisoners in Afghanistan.

  Safiyatu Hussaini
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Nigerian Government in support of Safiyatu Hussaini in advance of her appeal hearing on 18 March following her sentence of death by stoning for the crime of adultery; and if he will make a statement. [28967]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are deeply concerned at the sentence of stoning given to Safiyatu Hussaini for adultery by a Sharia Court in Sokoto State, northern Nigeria, on 9 October 2001. We are following this case 32W
  closely. The British high commission in Abuja takes every opportunity to raise the human rights implications of the extreme sentences laid down in the Sharia criminal code. We expect the Nigerian Government to meet their international human rights obligations. Nigeria ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1993. We also remind the Nigerians regularly of our opposition to the use of the death penalty.

  The Sokoto Sharia Court of Appeal has issued a stay of execution until Ms Hussaini's appeal is heard.

  Sierra Leone
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to support reform of the judiciary, police force and detention facilities in Sierra Leone. [28768]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  A strong judiciary, police force and penal system is essential to establishing the rule of law, which will help to consolidate the fragile peace in Sierra Leone. The United Nations mission has deployed throughout the country and the Sierra Leone army, police and administration is in the process of extending the Government's authority.

  Lasting stability depends on a strong and accessible legal system. The UK is working with the international community and the Government of Sierra Leone to improve the effectiveness of Sierra Leone's judicial system. This includes updating the legal code and training legal personnel.

  The Government of Sierra Leone are committed to the development of a democratic police force. The UK is helping to deliver an effective and accountable force by training and restructuring the police, and support moves towards prison reform.

  The UK has played a leading role in the successful efforts to bring peace to Sierra Leone. We remain committed to helping rebuild the country.

  Western Hemisphere Institute for Security and Co-operation
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to monitor the connections between the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security and Co-operation, the School of Americas and the committal of violent acts intended to influence the policy of other Governments. [28793]

  Mr. MacShane
  The United States Congress is responsible for scrutinising the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security and Co-operation (formally known as the School of Americas).

  Empty Properties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the(a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) his Department, (ii) his agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility in each of the last four years. [30070]

  Mr. MacShane
  It is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's policy to limit empty properties to one of four categories: (a) those that must be vacated while
  33W
  undergoing refurbishment or adaptation; (b) those that are surplus and in the process of disposal; (c) those we cannot occupy because of a break in diplomatic relations or a similar eventuality, but we expect to need in the future; and (d) short gaps between officers' overseas tours.

  Because routine management of the estate is devolved to our overseas posts, it is not possible to identify these properties or their costs without disproportionate cost.

  Gibraltar
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will postpone the Brussels talks with his Spanish counterpart until proceedings on the new constitutional proposal before Gibraltar's House of Assembly have been completed. [30634]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) on 12 December 2001, Official Report,columns 853–54W. We shall continue talks with Spain under the Brussels Process.

  We understand that the Select Committee on Constitutional Reform of the Gibraltar House of Assembly has agreed draft proposals for constitutional reform, and look forward to receiving these in due course.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure a referendum in Gibraltar resulting from any bi-lateral agreement between Spain and the United Kingdom on the future status of Gibraltar is conducted in a free and fair manner. [30697]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 8 January 2002, Official Report,column 580W. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in this House on 14 January, the Government stand by the pledge that any agreement reached under the Brussels Process will be subject, in a free, secret ballot, to the wishes of the people of Gibraltar.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are taking place with Spain to allow re-directed aircraft from Gibraltar to land in Spain. [30551]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: The Government resumed talks with Spain under the Brussels Process in July 2001:these talks continue. In accordance with the terms of the Brussels Communiqué, November 1984, the talks are aimed at overcoming all the differences between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar and at promoting co-operation on a mutually beneficial basis, including on aviation.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with Spain on(a) direct sailings of cruise ships from Gibraltar to Spain, (b) direct flights from Spain to Gibraltar and (c) ferry links between Gibraltar and Algeciras. [30553]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: The Government resumed talks with Spain under the Brussels Process in July 2001: these talks continue. In accordance
  34W
  with the terms of the Brussels Communiqué, November 1984, the talks are aimed at overcoming all the differences between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar and at promoting co-operation on a mutually beneficial basis on economic, cultural, touristic, aviation, military and environment matters.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what statutory powers action can be taken against Spain in respect of(a) the open skies policy, (b) air safety and (c) direct sailings between Spain and Gibraltar. [30436]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: No such statutory powers exist.

  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place on including Gibraltar in the EU Open Skies Agreement. [30725]

  Peter Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 1 November 2001,Official Report,column 811W. There have been no further discussions with Spain on this matter, except in so far as any agreement with Spain approved by the people of Gibraltar at the European Union would resolve this issue.

  Spain
  Mr. Ronnie Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal action he plans to take against Spain about(a) mobile telephone roaming and (b) border queues. [30723]

  Peter Hain
  The UK Government have no plans to take legal action against Spain. The EC Treaty confers primary responsibility for the enforcement of Community Law on the Commission.

  UK Nationals (Cuba)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if members of the UK delegation who visited the UK nationals being held by US forces in Cuba will be involved in the interrogation of those UK nationals. [30662]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK team which visited Guantanamo Bay has interviewed those detainees held there who claim British nationality. The team comprised members qualified to ask questions about the identity, nationality and welfare of the detainees and also to ask questions relevant to international terrorism and UK national security.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if UK nationals held by US forces in Cuba were informed before they left Afghanistan that they were to be taken to Cuba and of the length of the journey. [30656]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The report by officials did not cover this point, which is one for the US authorities.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there were United Kingdom nationals among the wounded prisoners who arrived at the US base in Cuba in the week beginning 21 January. [30660]
  35W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have not been informed of any further transfers of British detainees. The US have assured us that they will keep us informed.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if members of the UK delegation who visited the UK nationals being held by US forces in Cuba discussed allegations of sensory deprivation with them. [30661]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The British officials responsible for the interviews gave the detainees full opportunity to express concern about their treatment, including sensory deprivation. None complained of ill-treatment and they all appeared to be in good physical health.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that Parliament is kept informed on a regular basis of the conditions under which UK nationals are being held by US forces. [30654]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I will be happy to bring any significant changes to the attention of Parliament.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the US Government about the tribunals by which the UK nationals who are being held by US forces at Guatanamo Bay will be tried. [30658]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The US has yet to make public the procedures. We have asked for information and made clear our view that these should be consistent with international norms for trial.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the UK Government were notified that the first planeload of prisoners to the US base for prisoners in Cuba included UK nationals. [30653]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have had many discussions with the US authorities about detention of British nationals, including their possible transfer. Their transfer was confirmed to our Embassy in Washington on 11 January, the day the detainees arrived in Guantanamo.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the officials who were members of the UK Government delegation who visited the UK nationals held by US forces in Cuba. [30657]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Under Exemptions 1a and 15 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, I am unable to publish the names of the officials.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if US personnel were present at the meetings held between the UK delegation and the UK nationals being held by US forces in Cuba. [30663]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  British officials visiting the detainees were accompanied by representatives of the US as the detaining power.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what charges have been laid against the UK nationals held by US forces in Cuba; whether their legal rights have been discussed with them; and whether they have been offered legal representation. [30655]
  36W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are not yet aware of any charges but are in regular contact with the US regarding next steps. If the detainees face prosecution, under international norms they are entitled to legal representation.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from foreign Governments on the conditions in which prisoners are being held by US forces at Guantanamo Bay. [30659]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  None.

  Iran
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to name the new ambassador to Iran; and if he will make a statement. [30733]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 14 January 2002,Official Report, column 4W.

  British Expatriates (Spain)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens live permanently in Spain. [30726]

  Peter Hain
  According to official Spanish figures, the number of UK nationals permanently resident in Spain is in the region of 500,000.

  Morocco
  Mr. Terry Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Government of Morocco regarding the Spanish enclaves of(a) Ceuta and (b) Melilla. [30729]

  Peter Hain
  Ministers and officials have regular contacts with their Moroccan counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral and foreign policy issues. There have been no specific discussions regarding the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, as this is a bilateral matter between the Governments of Spain and Morocco.

  Hamas
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made as to which Governments(a) provide support to Hamas terrorists and (b) allow Hamas to operate within their borders. [31129]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are aware that Hamas receives some funding from Iran. Hamas also receives funding from a wide variety of sources across the middle east, including substantial funding from private foundations and individuals in the Gulf. Hamas activity covers a wide spectrum, from charitable social and educational support in the community to terrorism. We have no clear evidence of any Government allowing Hamas terrorists to operate within its borders. We take all evidence of external involvement in Hamas very seriously. Such involvement can only complicate the international community's efforts to help the Palestinians achieve viable statehood, and Israel and the region to enjoy lasting security.
  37W
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the middle east peace process of the intention of the Hamas terrorist group to wage an all-out war against Israel. [31131]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are gravely concerned by the violence in the middle east, including Hamas' declared intention to wage 'general war' against Israel. The Government's view on terrorism is clear: we have repeatedly condemned terrorism in all its forms. We have accordingly proscribed the terrorist wing of Hamas. We continue to urge President Arafat to make 100 per cent. effort to dismantle terrorist networks. We will continue to urge both parties to end the violence and resume substantive dialogue.

  Greenpeace
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the case of the 17 Greenpeace activists and two journalists who were arrested near Vandenberg Airbase, California. [30221]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Three British nationals were among 17 people arrested for entering a restricted area at Vandenberg Airbase, California, on 15 July 2001. Two of these British nationals have been sentenced to a period of probation of one year. The third British national is due to be sentenced on 15 April. We have offered all three detainees full consular assistance since their arrest and will continue to do so.

  Brussels Process
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agenda has been set for future discussions under the Brussels Process; and if he will make minutes of the meeting under the Brussels Process available to Parliament. [R] [30639]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his question on 6 November 2001, Official Report,column 121W. We will continue to ensure that the House is kept fully informed of progress under the Brussels Process.

  Al-Aqsa Brigades
  Mr Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the links between the Palestinian Authority and the Al-Aqsa Brigades who have claimed responsbility for recent terrorist attacks. [R] [31130]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We understand that the Al-Aqsa Brigades is the name used by members of Fatah when they carry out attacks on Israeli targets. Fatah is a political party The Palestinians after the Oslo accords. As such, there is no direct link between the Palestinian Authority and the actions of individual Fatah members. Fatah is President Arafat's political party but both he and more generally the Palestinian Authority have repeatedly condemned terrorism.
  38W

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Pension Credit
  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to introduce the pension credit. [28153]

  Mr. McCartney
  Pension credit will be introduced from October 2003, so that no pensioner will need to live on less than £100 per week (£154 a week for couples). For the first time, we will reward—not penalise—savings, ensuring those who have worked hard to save modest amounts will gain from having done so.

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he will put in place to ensure the application procedures for the pension credit are transparent and easily understandable. [28168]

  Mr. McCartney
  Pension credit will be delivered, from 2003, by the Pension Service which will be launched in April this year. The aim of the Pension Service is to promote a modern service that is tailored to meet customers' needs. The Department is currently designing and developing the processes and customer products (forms, leaflets, etc) that will support the introduction of pension credit next year.

  Plans for pension credit communications are being worked up at present and we intend to engage customer representative groups and partner organisations during the first half of 2002, in helping us to develop detailed marketing, communications and take-on plans. We will also test customer products, such as the claim form and leaflet, with these expert groups to ensure that they are easy to understand. They will of course, be approved by the Social Security Advisory Committee. We will ensure that everyone who is entitled to pension credit knows in good time what they need to do to apply for their pension credit entitlement.

  Pension Schemes
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the savings ratio with respect to pension schemes. [28155]

  Mr. McCartney
  Overall contributions to non-state pensions have increased year on year since 1997. It has risen from:

  £50 billion in 1997

  £60 billion in 1998

  £65 billion in 1999

  £69 billion in 2000.

  Additionally, the introduction of stakeholder pensions has increased access to pension schemes and promoted greater pension saving generally. For example, the value of new pensions sales rose by 9 per cent. in the third quarter of 2001 to £2.8 billion.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many uncancelled national insurance numbers there are in issue. [28156]
  39W
  Malcolm Wicks
  As I explained in a reply to the right hon. Member on 7 November last year, the national insurance numbers (NINOs) currently in issue are needed for a variety of purposes.

  Since 1998 we have removed over 375,000 NINOs from the system. We are also marking suspected fraudulent NINOs when they are discovered. However our main focus is to tighten up the identification process to prevent false numbers being allocated in the first place.

  New Deal
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to make the new deal for young people more responsive to the needs of(a) young people and (b) employers. [28157]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  We are continually seeking to develop the new deal for young people to ensure that it is responsive to the needs of employers and young people.

  We have already introduced a number of measures to increase the flexibility of the programme for employers and young people. For example, since June 2001 we have:
  introduced 'Recruit', a pilot initiative to help employers in deprived areas employ more people through the new deal's employment option;
  broadened training within new deal to allow training that leads to a certificate recognised by employers in their occupational areas;
  increased the permitted length of work experience placements for new dealers to eight weeks to enhance their employability; and
  revised the entry conditions for the new deal employment option, so participants can enter the option from the day they enter the programme.

  We are introducing tailored pathway pilots, the first of which began on 2 January. These pilots will enable young people to use the new deal options more flexibly and move into sustained employment. New deal clients will be able to access a mix of full-time training, work experience and employment through the new deal options.

  From February, employers will be given more flexibility in the training they provide for new deal clients taken on under the employment option. Employers will be able to give new deal clients their own in-house training so that they have greater freedom to deliver training that best meets their needs.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are taken to safeguard the training needs of the long-term unemployed on new deal projects when the Department terminates training contracts. [28159]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The continuity of programmes for all new deal participants is of paramount importance, particularly where contracts expire or are terminated. Should termination or expiry occur, contracts contain clauses to minimise any disruption caused to participants, and to assist in the implementation of contingency plans allowing participants to complete their programme.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will extend the new deal to 14 to 18-year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [28164]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  We currently have no plans to extend the new deal to 14 to 18-year-olds.
  40W
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for work and Pensions how many people have entered work through the new deal since May 1997 [28175]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Latest results show that over 600,000 people have entered work through the new deals.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the taper formula for occupational pensions. [28158]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  We introduced changes to the treatment of occupational pensions in incapacity benefit last April. We believe it is right to take account of pensions which duplicate the purpose of incapacity benefit, which is to provide some replacement of earnings for people of working age. The 50 per cent. taper on pension income above £85 a week encourages and rewards personal provision.

  We keep all our policies under review but have no plans to introduce further changes to the present arrangements.

  Carers
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his plans to reform benefits for carers. [28162]

  Maria Eagle
  On 17 December, we laid a draft regulatory reform order before Parliament which, if accepted, will give those aged over 65 the right to claim invalid care allowance for the first time.

  The order would also provide for the extension of entitlement to invalid care allowance for up to eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for and a change in the name of the benefit to carer's allowance to reflect more closely the purpose of the benefit.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to help carers. [28823]

  Maria Eagle
  In autumn 2000 the Government announced a package of measures to enhance the current social security provision for carers, worth more than £500 million over a three year period. Two of the measures were implemented in April last year. The invalid care allowance (ICA) earnings limit was increased from £50 to £72 per week and the carer premium paid through the income-related benefits was increased from £14.15 to £24.40.

  On 17 December 2001, we laid a draft regulatory reform order before Parliament. If accepted, this will give those aged over 65 the right to claim invalid care allowance for the first time; will provide for the extension of entitlement to ICA for up to eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for; and will change the name of the benefit to carer's allowance.

  Benefit Fraud
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress in tackling fraud in the benefit system. [28163]
  41W
  Malcolm Wicks
  We are getting to grips with social security fraud. We have set out our strategy for tightening up the system and ensuring that from the outset the right benefits are going to the right people.

  We have introduced the Social Security Fraud Act 2001, which includes powers to improve fraud investigation and strengthen punishment for persistent offenders. We have increased the number of people sanctioned or prosecuted and we are working with local authorities to tackle housing benefit fraud and error.

  Latest figures show that from our baseline period in 1998 to March 2001 we have reduced the level of fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance by nearly 18 per cent. and we expect the good progress to continue.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions his Department has authorised, pursuant to the Targeting Fraud campaign.[28165]

  Malcolm Wicks
  It is not possible to estimate how many prosecutions have been authorised as a direct result of the Targeting Fraud campaign. However, more than 7,500 fraudsters have been successfully prosecuted since the campaign began.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners holding annuities are making claims for a non-disability benefit paid by his Department.[28166]

  Mr. McCartney
  Approximately 200,000 pensioner benefit units who are claiming income support, housing benefit or council tax benefit are in receipt of income from pension annuities.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he plans to assist long-term unemployed people in deprived areas. [28167]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Our welfare to work initiatives are helping people into work in all parts of the country. The new deals have already helped well over 600,000 people into jobs.

  We introduced employment zones specifically to help long-term unemployed people in deprived areas get and keep work. The performance of the 15 employment zones is encouraging. Early indications are that almost half of participants find work. We are currently evaluating the zones before deciding how to take the initiative further.

  Action teams for jobs are helping jobless people in the most employment deprived areas in the country into work. By the end of their first year of operation (mid-October 2001), action teams had helped nearly 16,500 people into jobs. Earlier this month we increased the number of action teams from 53 to 63.

  Winter Fuel Payment
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who became 60-years-old before 25 December 2001 were not entitled to the winter fuel payment. [28169]
  42W
  Mr. McCartney
  An estimated 150,000 people who reached age 60 before 25 December 2001 were not entitled to a payment for this winter, 2001–02. The reasons for this will have been either that they did not reach the age of 60 in or before the qualifying week, which was 17–23 September 2001, or that one of the scheme's exclusions applied in their case.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people living in tenements in Scotland have received only half their winter fuel entitlement because of a computer error; what action is being taken to identify them; when he expects all such cases to be paid in full; and what steps he is taking to prevent the error recurring. [26402]

  Mr. McCartney
  In order to ensure that the correct level of winter fuel payment is paid, the addresses of eligible people are matched. However, the Department is aware that there have been problems regarding people living in tenements in Scotland and, to alleviate this, the Department clerically matches the addresses in areas where there are many tenement flats. Figures are not available for tenements, but from over 11 million payments issued before Christmas, a total of 2,089 cases have been identified to date across Great Britain and Northern Ireland where the half rate payment has been applied in error. Where an underpayment has come to light, corrective action has been promptly taken.

  Universal Bank
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral answer of 10 December 2001,Official Report,column 578, on the Universal Bank, if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations between the Post Office and its partners. [28170]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 21 January 2002,Official Report,column 634W.

  Mining Communities
  Mr. Bryant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to enable more people in former mining communities to move off benefit and into work.[28171]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  People in former mining communities can benefit from the range of help available through their local Jobcentres. New deal programmes can help them gain new skills and advisers can help people find the job best suited to their circumstances.

  Some former mining communities are also benefiting from becoming an employment zone or an area for one of the action teams for jobs. Both of these initiatives are focusing help on some of the most deprived areas of the country to provide people with the extra support they need to move from benefits into work.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Miliband
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made towards achieving the Government's objective of halving child poverty by 2010. [28173]
  43W
  Malcolm Wicks
  Details of the progress we are making in tackling child poverty can be found in our third annual report on poverty and social exclusion, "Opportunity for all—making progress" (CM 5260), published on 19 September 2001.

  Disabled People
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to assist disabled people who wish to secure employment. [28154]

  Maria Eagle
  We have introduced a range of measures to help people with disabilities secure work where they are ready and able to do so.

  Our new deal for disabled people pilots helped over 8,200 disabled people into work. Building on that success we have now introduced a national network of job brokers.

  We are making work pay through the disabled person's tax credit and the national minimum wage.

  Jobcentre Plus offers disabled people making new or repeat benefit claims work-focused meetings with a personal adviser so as to ensure they are aware of the help and opportunities available to them.

  Pension Service
  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the new Pension Service to come into operation. [28160]

  Mr. McCartney
  The new Pension Service will offer an improved service for pensioners. It will be customer focused and will give pensioners a modern, personalised, efficient service designed to meet their needs. It will also provide information for future pensioners to help them make decisions about their future pension arrangements.

  The Pension Service will bring together the backroom processing in 26 locations rather than over 400 at present. These processing centres will support a local service offering face-to-face contact for those who need it.

  The local service will work in partnership with local agencies to undertake outreach activity such as visiting, private interviews in locations which suit them and drop-in services. We will build on the Better Government for Older People and Care Direct pilots and are striving to improve local access, not reduce it, and are keen to see a much more joined up approach towards services more generally for pensioners.

  The Pension Service will roll out in a phased approach from February this year, with work continuing over the next few years.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the CSA is owed in outstanding maintenance payments. [28161]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The amount owed to the Child Support Agency in outstanding maintenance payments as at 31 December 2001 is £584,562,023.
  44W

  Disability Discrimination
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of cases brought under Parts II and III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [29485]

  Maria Eagle
  The Department monitors the numbers of complaints made to the employment tribunals and the courts under Parts II and III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA). It also carries out targeted research on how the provisions of Part II and III of the DDA are working. We will shortly publish a report by Incomes Data Services Ltd., "Monitoring the Disability Discrimination Act 1995—Phase 2", which provides a statistical analysis of complaints made to the employment tribunals and county courts and a commentary on the emerging case law.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to commission research into the effectiveness of the awards against employers and service providers for discrimination against people with disabilities, with specific reference to the impact on their future behaviour. [29486]

  Maria Eagle
  We are committed to keeping the operation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) under review, including through research into the effectiveness of its provisions.

  We are currently developing proposals with the Disability Rights Commission for the next phase of the research project to monitor and analyse cases brought under the DDA.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the use of county and sheriff courts and their jurisdiction in cases under Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [29487]

  Maria Eagle
  We are committed to keeping the operation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 under review, including through research into cases brought under its provisions. Part III is not yet fully in force so it is too early to consider a review of specific provisions.

  Disabled Households
  David Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families in the Midlothian constituency include a disabled person; how many of these families have income support as their main income; and what the average amount is per week that these households spend on(a) food, (b) fuel and (c) medicines. [27178]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Information is not available in the format requested.

  Disability Living Allowance
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for disability living allowance were received from applicants in Perth constituency for the period 31 May 2000 to 31 May 2001; how many of those applications were refused at first instance; how many of those applicants whose applications were refused appealed; and how many of such appeals were successful(a) in whole and (b) in part. [30871]
  45W
  Maria Eagle
  In the year ending 31 May 2001, approximately 200 first applications for disability living allowance in Perth were successful at the claim stage, and 100 were unsuccessful. Local information (on a constituency basis) about appeals is not available.

  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy in respect of a claimant in receipt of a higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance who claims a core component to require medical information to be obtained from the claimant's doctor before a decision to refuse a claim is taken. [27220]

  Maria Eagle
  The mobility and care components of disability living allowance have separate qualifying criteria and entitlement to one component does not necessarily imply, or result in, entitlement to the other.

  Disability living allowance is primarily a self-assessment benefit with no automatic requirement to obtain further evidence to support a claim. The obtaining of additional evidence on a claim inevitably increases the time taken to process it—sometimes substantially—and an approach will only be made to a claimant's doctor for further medical evidence when it is considered necessary and the doctor is deemed to be the most appropriate source for it.

  Stakeholder Pensions
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many reports Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority has received of companies that failed to designate a stakeholder pension in time for the 8 October deadline; how many fines it has imposed as a result; and what the total value of fines imposed is. [24221]

  Mr. McCartney
  Opra has, up to 31 December 2001, received 220 reports of alleged failure of an employer to designate a stakeholder pension scheme for its work force. Seventy seven of those cases have been cleared, either because the employer has now designated a scheme or because the designation requirement does not apply.

  On average it can take Opra up to three months to look into a reported failure to designate a stakeholder pension scheme. Initial reports are sometimes anonymous and work can be needed to track down accurate contact details for the employer. Opra will then write to the employer to establish the facts of the case and point out the employer's responsibilities. Opra will check by telephone that the letter has been received, and will give the employer around four weeks to respond. In some situations the employer may need time to meet with their advisers to clarify their circumstances—especially where there is a possibility that they may be exempt. On receiving a response from the employer, Opra may need to contact the employer again to clarify information provided in the response or to request further information.

  The Government seek to work in co-operation with business on stakeholder pensions. Opra's overriding objective is to secure compliance with the law rather than to punish. At present, if the employer complies with the law before the investigation is completed, Opra will take no further action. Given this approach, and the normal timescales involved in following up reports, it is too early for any cases to have progressed to an Opra Board for consideration of a fine.
  46W
  At the end of November 2001, 304,750 employers had already designated a stakeholder scheme for their work force.

  Retirement Planning
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to improve awareness of the need for retirement planning. [28022]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Government are committed to providing people with better information to improve awareness of the importance of retirement planning.

  The Government's pension education strategy includes raising awareness of retirement planning through a dedicated publicity campaign; providing more information to people about their pension provision through combined pension forecasts; and testing new ways to get information out to the public, for example through interactive Digital Television.

  The Department continues to liaise with the Financial Services Authority, employers, private pension providers and other organisations, on an on-going basis, to improve continuously the way we provide pensions information to consumers.

  Cervical Spondylosis
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to designate cervical spondylosis as a registered industrial injury. [25399]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Cervical spondylosis is a common degenerative condition which cannot result solely from an industrial injury and cannot be easily attributable to employment. In view of the lack of medical or scientific evidence to the contrary, we have no plans to designate it as a prescribed industrial disease.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the changes that individual benefit offices in the Jobcentre Plus areas have been asked to make to ensure they are accessible to incapacity benefit claimants, with specific reference to changes to(a) buildings, (b) furniture and (c) printed materials. [24219]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Jobcentre Plus is currently being delivered in 56 pathfinder offices. In the seven offices where providing entirely equal physical access to services has not been possible, alternative arrangements are in place to ensure that disabled people can still access these services. At Halifax, Darwen, Derby Normanton Road, and Wellington, there is restricted access to the first floor of these buildings, however all public services can be provided on the ground floor. At Pyle and Hoylake space restrictions mean there are some restrictions to staff movement. Only at Harlesden has public access been severely compromised by steps to the public entrance. Planning consent is being sought for a ramp. Alternative arrangements are in place to ensure service access for disabled people including home visits and assisted access at the office itself. The nearby office at Kilburn is fully accessible.
  47W
  Internally, Jobcentre Plus offices and furniture have been designed to enable full and equal access for all Jobcentre Plus customers. Adviser workstations enable both customers and staff to view the information on the monitor screen. The shape of the worktop allows wheelchair users the same access as able-bodied customers. The newly introduced self-service job vacancy terminals, known as "Jobpoints", have been designed specifically to enable access by wheelchair users.

  All Jobcentre Plus leaflets are available in alternative formats, including Braille and audiocassette. In addition to alternative formats for printed material, Jobcentre Plus offers textphone facilities and British Sign Language interpreters or other suitable communicators to help deaf or hard of hearing customers.

  Job Vacancies
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what use is made of(a) Jobpoints and (b) Employer Direct for the advertisement of vacancies in Government Departments. [18041]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  All vacancies notified to the Employment Service through Employer Direct are shown on Jobpoints. Many Government jobs are advertised on Jobpoints and the internet job bank. Government Departments advertising their vacancies in this way include the Employment Service, Benefits Agency, Office for National Statistics and the Inland Revenue. Discussions are taking place with both the Cabinet Office and NHS Executive regarding advertising vacancies on the ES website.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees of(a) his Department and (b) agencies sponsored by his Department work in (i) London, (ii) areas benefiting from EU objective 1 status, (iii) areas with objective 2 status and (iv) other areas. [16113]

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 19 November 2001]: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) currently covers 2,500 locations. The list of objective 2 status areas in England contains 1,700 areas. The information required for objective 2 status is therefore not easily available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  The figures available for London and objective 1 status areas are:

  Number of staff in DWP

  London

  17,334

  Objective 1 areas

  12,654

  Other areas

  109,678

  Total

  139,666

  Retirement Statistics
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many men and women over the age of retirement are in employment; what allowances there 48W
  are for men and women over the age of 60 looking to (a) remain in and (b) return to work; and what plans he has to raise the retirement ages of men and women. [29843]

  Mr. McCartney
  Employers are responsible for setting the retirement age of their employees. They often use the age at which the State pension becomes payable, or base the decision around their occupational pension scheme. State pension age will be equalised at 65 for both men and women from 6 April 2020. Women's state pension age will be increased gradually from 60 to 65 between the years 2010 and 2020.

  The Department for Work and Pensions does encourage employers, through the Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment, and the Age Positive campaign, to value the contribution of older workers and to adopt flexible approaches to retirement which benefit both them and their employees.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Landfill Tax Credit Scheme
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which community projects based in the Buckingham constituency have benefited from the landfill tax credit scheme since its inception; and if he will indicate the amount of funding granted for each project. [30059]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information about the types of projects that have received funding under the landfill tax environmental bodies credit scheme is a matter for the regulator for the scheme, Entrust. I have therefore asked them to provide such data as they hold and will place a copy of their response in the Library.

  Railtrack
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what interest liability the Railtrack administrator has incurred under the commercial loan agreement. [26304]

  Mr. Spellar
  The interest which is paid to the Secretary of State, accrued up until 15 January under the commercial loan agreement, is of the order of £14.2 million. It will be rolled up into the loan and paid at the same time that principal is repaid.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he estimates that increased operating costs that Railtrack has experienced post-Hatfield will have an impact on the financial projections in the SRA strategic plan. [28545]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We will assess any impact on the SRA financial projections once the administrator or railtrack's successor has obtained a clearer picture of its underlying cost base and its operational needs.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers he has to end the Railtrack administration through a refinancing package for the existing company. [30026]
  49W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The powers of the Secretary of State in respect of a railway administration are set out in the Railways Act 1993 and the Railway Administration Order Rules 2001. My right hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 23 October 2001,Official Report, columns 195–97W set out the basis for a proposal for a private sector company limited by guarantee as a successor to Railtrack. We have no plans to develop other proposals.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made on the impact of(a) Railtrack administration and (b) the move to two year franchise extensions on levels of new orders for rolling stock. [28552]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There are a number of mechanisms available to the SRA to secure investment under short franchise extensions, including rolling stock commitments under section 54 of the Railways Act 1993 where appropriate. I am not aware of any adverse effect on rolling stock orders caused by Railtrack going into administration.

  Rail Electrification
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many miles of railway he expects to be electrified under the 10-year plan. [26465]

  Mr. Jamieson
  No specific targets have been set. Electrification in itself is not a priority aim of the SRA when considering investment in the railways. The authority are more interested in the benefits delivered for the passenger and freight customer than in the particular form of traction used.

  Rail Safety
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of track has been inspected in each of the last five years for which records are available under Railtrack's preventative maintenance scheme; and what proportion will be inspected in the current 12-month period. [26068]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I understand that all track owned by Railtrack has been inspected in each of the last five years; and will be inspected in the current 12-month period. The frequencies and methods of inspection reflect the speed and annual tonnage of trains using the track and are set out in Railway Group Standard GC/RT 5021.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many children died in railway accidents(a) as passengers and (b) through trespass misadventure in each of the last five years for which figures are available in the age groups (i) zero to seven, (ii) eight to 13 and (iii) 14 to 18 years. [29744]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The number of fatalities to young people on the railway reported to the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) over the last five years are shown in the following three tables. For statistical purposes HMRI classify children as between the ages of one to 15 years. Further information on railway fatalities to children can be found in the Chief Inspector of Railways annual reports on Railway Safety, copies of which are available in both House Libraries.
  50W

  Table 1: Passenger fatalities

  Age

  1 April to 31 March

  0–7 years

  8–13 years

  14–18 years

  1996–97

  0

  0

  1

  1997–98

  0

  1

  1

  1998–99

  0

  0

  4

  1999–2000

  0

  0

  0

  2000–01

  0

  0

  0

  Table 2: Trespasser and suicide fatalities

  Age

  1 April to 31 March

  0–7 years

  8–13 years

  14–18 years

  1996–97

  2

  4

  16

  1997–98

  1

  4

  18

  1998–99

  0

  2

  16

  1999–2000

  1

  1

  9

  2000–01

  1

  4

  19

  Table 3: Other member of the public fatalities (eg Level Crossings)

  Age

  1 April to 31 March

  0–7 years

  8–13 years

  14–18 years

  1996–97

  0

  0

  0

  1997–98

  0

  0

  1

  1998–99

  0

  0

  1

  1999–2000

  0

  0

  0

  2000–01

  0

  0

  0

  Rail Subsidy
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total(a) direct and (b) indirect projected public subsidy to the railways (i) was in each of the past five years and (ii) will be in the next 10 years. [30254]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Total public support to the rail industry over each of the last five years is outlined in Table 4.1 of the Strategic Rail Authority's quarterly National Rail Trends bulletin. Government support via the franchised train operating companies is contained in the two 'Revenue support grant' columns contained in the table.

  The reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 23 January 2002, Official Report,columns 871–72W, outlines the estimated profile of Government support for the next 10 years.

  London Underground
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) redeployments, (b) retirements and (c) absence of London Underground staff on medical grounds there were (i) by underground line and (ii) in total in each of the last five years and in each of the last 12 months. [27711]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd., who have provided the following information1.
  51W
  1London Underground are not able to provide this data disaggregated by each underground without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Year

  Redeployments

  Retirements2

  Absence3 (working days lost)

  1996–97

  85

  n/a

  n/a

  1997–98

  84

  n/a

  n/a

  1998–99

  31

  n/a

  n/a

  1999–2000

  21

  n/a

  n/a

  2000–01

  6

  n/a

  n/a

  Total (Five years)

  227

  n/a

  n/a

  Last 12 months4

  120

  115

  140,494

  n/a = Not available

  2 Data for retirements on medical grounds in each of the last five years would require disproportionate cost to collate. London Underground have said that their policy is not to retire employees on medical grounds, but instead, employees' contracts are terminated on medical grounds; employees then apply, if eligible, for their pension.

  3 London Underground have not been able to provide information on absence on the medical grounds over the last five years.

  4 January to December 2001

  Note:

  Detailed in-year operational information such as monthly data are a matter for London Underground; however a total for the last 12 months has been provided.

  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the level of absence and the reasons for absences on each London Underground line and in total for the last five years and each of the last 12 months. [27709]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd., who have provided the following information.

  Working days lost

  Absence

  Last five years1

  Last 12 months2

  Authorised

  Not available

  31,459

  Unauthorised

  Not available

  3,155

  Due to sickness

  Not available

  140,494

  Total

  458,819

  175,108

  1 January 1996 to December 2000

  2 January to December 2001

  Notes:

  1. London Underground are not able to provide data disaggregated by each underground line without incurring disproportionate cost.

  2. London Underground are unable to disaggregate the total for absence in the last five years into absence type.

  3. Detailed in-year operational information such as monthly data are a matter for London Underground. However, a total for the last 12 months has been provided.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the meetings he has had in the last 10 months with the Health and Safety Inspectorate to discuss safety on the London Underground. [28480]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There is no such body as the Health and Safety Inspectorate.

  Departmental Sponsorship
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list all(a) funding resources and (b) initiatives sponsored by his Department for (i) the private sector, (ii) the voluntary sector and (iii) local authorities. [26848]
  52W
  Ms Keeble
  Details of the resources made available by Parliament to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in 2001–02 and their allocation are set out in the Department's Winter Supplementary Estimate presented to Parliament in November 2001 (Cm 5294). The expenditure plans 2001–02 to 2003–04 for programmes within the Department's predecessor, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, were set out in that Department's Annual Report 2001 (Cm 5105) and for programmes previously in the Home Office in that Department's Annual Report 2001 (Cm 5106). An analysis is not readily available of the allocation of funds or specific initiatives between (i) the private sector, (ii) the voluntary sector and (iii)local authorities.

  Housing Authorities
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the advantages are of stock transfer for housing authorities under the proposed local prudential capital expenditure regime. [28336]

  Ms Keeble
  The Department makes it clear that it is for local authorities to consider the relative advantages of the different financial and management options available for their housing stock.

  Former Railway Routes
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will protect former railway routes for future railway use. [28735]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority retains land with a realistic prospect of rail or other transport use in the foreseeable future, or sells it to the rail industry, local authorities or others, for those purposes. Under a new licence condition that came into effect on 15 November 2001, Railtrack plc must now seek the Rail Regulator's specific consent in important cases of disposal of land that may be required for future railway use.

  Rail Services (South-west)
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the impact the proposed investment in rail services in the south-west will have on journey times between(a) Penzance and Paddington and (b) Exeter and Waterloo; and if targets have been set for revised journey times; [28827]

  (2) if he will make a statement on projected increases in train frequency between (a) Exeter and Waterloo and (b) Penzance and Paddington by 2005; [28828]

  (3) what the projected total levels of investment are for the (a) Penzance to Paddington and (b) Exeter to Waterloo rail routes under the SRA strategic plan. [28829]

  Mr. Jamieson
  For both routes the main purpose of the proposed infrastructure investment is to improve the reliability of services. There may be marginal improvements in scheduled journey times as a consequence. No targets have been set for revised journey times.
  53W
  There are seven Incremental Outputs Statement (IOS) infrastructure schemes planned for the Penzance to Paddington route with a current estimated value of over £25 million, and at least 13 stations on the route are due for improvements under the IOS stations programme. The frequency of services is unlikely to alter by 2005, although an IOS scheme currently under consideration could increase the level of service from Plymouth to Paddington to two trains per hour.

  On the Waterloo-Exeter route, 14 stations are included in the IOS stations programme. The value of the IOS stations work will not be known until site visits assessing the level of improvements needed has been completed. The SRA is currently awaiting the outcome of the South West Area Regional Multi-Modal Study to see if any rail infrastructure improvements are recommended. There are no current plans to increase frequency on the Waterloo to Exeter line by 2005. South West Trains introduced a regular half-hourly service instead of the previous hourly service in May 2001.

  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding investment in branch lines in Cornwall. [28830]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Representations have recently been received regarding investment in the Truro to Falmouth branch line.

  Affordable Housing
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2001,Official Report, column 976W, on affordable housing, what representations he has received regarding the number of affordable housing units in rural areas. [30001]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: Over the past three months DTLR Ministers have replied to three letters and four parliamentary questions on the issue of rural affordable housing. Affordable housing provision is a key priority for this Government and in this correspondence we outlined the measures we are taking to increase provision in rural areas.

  Over the same period, my noble Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning has discussed rural affordable housing in several meetings with the Countryside Agency, with whom we have a good working relationship.

  Waverley Station, Edinburgh
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects detailed plans for the investment in Waverley station in Edinburgh will be brought forward. [29480]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority explained in their strategic plan that they and the Scottish Executive are in discussion with Railtrack about how best to take the project forward.

  SRA Strategic Plan
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how 54W
  much of the proposed expenditure announced in the SRA strategic plan will be spent in Scotland (a) in monetary terms and (b) as a proportion of the total spending; [29458]

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown of total expenditure announced in the SRA strategic plan by nations and regions of the UK; [29457]

  (3) how much of the proposed expenditure on new rail infrastructure announced in the SRA strategic plan will be spent in Scotland (a) in monetary terms and (b) as a proportion of the total spending; [29460]

  (4) how much of the proposed expenditure on new trains announced in the SRA strategic plan will be spent in Scotland (a) in monetary terms and (b) as a proportion of the total spending. [29459]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The total public sector expenditure proposed in the Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA's) strategic plan is £33.5 billion. Many individual rail projects and improvements negotiated through franchise agreements, particularly the larger projects and improvements, will benefit more than one part of the country. The SRA has therefore not attempted to break down its planned expenditure on a regional basis.

  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many of the proposals announced on 14 January in the SRA strategic plan that relate to Scotland had been announced previously. [29461]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The plan sets out for the first time a prioritised list of schemes to be taken forward, and estimates the resources needed to deliver them.

  Airport Rail Links
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports will be completed by 2010. [29456]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA's) strategic plan sets out its short, medium and long-term priorities, including those for completion by 2010. Improved rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports have been identified as schemes for further development. Detailed economic and engineering studies of options are being led by the Scottish Executive in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, BAA and the SRA.

  Train Drivers
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many train drivers(a) in total and (b) subdivided by train operating company worked on Britain's railways for each (i) year and (ii) month since 1988. [29588]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This information is not held centrally. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is encouraging train operating companies to recruit sufficient drivers to meet their service obligations.

  Road Fuel (Consumer Information)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans his Department has to give consumers information
  55W
  relating to the (a) fuel consumption and (b) carbon dioxide emissions of new cars in a form which (i) makes possible comparisons with cars of a similar size and (ii) is based on the colour-coded appliance energy label scheme. [29585]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department will shortly be consulting on future developments of the EU scheme under which information on fuel consumption and CO22 emissions is required to be displayed on labels on new passenger cars offered for sale. The consultation will focus in particular on options for banded labelling. We expect that this will result in a pilot scheme of banded label and/or focus group studies of the preferred options. We will draw on our experience of this, and of ongoing research when negotiating in the EU on development of the labelling scheme.

  Secure Stations Scheme
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the stations accredited as of 16 January, or the latest date for which information is available under the Secure Stations scheme. [29581]

  Ms Keeble
  The list set out records the name of each of the 132 stations accredited under the Secure Stations scheme as of 21 January 2002.

  The percentage of stations accredited under the scheme is small in relation to the number of stations eligible to be accredited under the scheme. However, the accredited stations account for approximately one third of the total annual passenger throughput of overground rail journeys.

  Barking (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Basildon (c2c Rail Ltd.)1

  Benfleet (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Chafford Hundred (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Chalkwell (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Dagenham Dock (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  East Tilbury (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Fenchurch Street (c2c Rail Ltd.)1

  Grays (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Laindon (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Leigh-on-Sea (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Limehouse (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Ockendon (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Pitsea (c2c Rail Limited)

  Purfleet (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Rainham (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Shoeburyness (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Southend Central (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Southend East (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Stanford-Le-Hope (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Thorpe Bay (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Tilbury Town (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Upminster (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  West Horndon (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Westcliff (c2c Rail Ltd.)

  Marylebone Rail (Chiltern)1

  Stoke Mandevile (Chiltern)

  Chipstead (Connex South Central Ltd.)

  Dorking (Connex South Central Ltd.)

  Eastbourne (Connex South Central Ltd.)

  Horsham (Connex South Central Ltd.)

  Oxted (Connex South Central Ltd.)

  Tattenham Corner (Connex South Central Ltd.)

  Worthing (Connex South Central Ltd.)

  Belvedere (Connex South Eastern)

  56W

  Charlton (Connex South Eastern)

  Greenwich (Connex South Eastern)

  Hither Green (Connex South Eastern)

  Maidstone West (Connex South Eastern)

  Orpington (Connex South Eastern)

  Ashford International (Eurostar)1

  Waterloo International (Eurostar) [reaccredited]1

  Gatwick (Gatwick Station Services)

  Chelmsford (Great Eastern Railway Ltd.)

  Berwick Upon Tweed (Great North Eastern Railway Ltd.)

  Doncaster (Great North Eastern Railway Ltd.)

  Dunbar (Great North Eastern Railway Ltd.)

  Durham (Great North Eastern Railway Ltd.)

  Newark Northgate (Great North Eastern Railway Ltd.)1

  Retford (Great North Eastern Railway Ltd.)

  Wakefield Westgate (Great North Eastern Railway Ltd.)

  York (Great North Eastern Railway Ltd.)

  Chippingham (Great Western Railway Ltd.)

  St. Pancras (London and Continental Stations and Property Ltd.)

  Charing Cross (LUL)

  Edgware Road (Bakerloo) (LUL)

  Elephant and Castle (LUL)

  Kilburn Park (LUL)

  Lambeth North (LUL)

  Maida Vale (LUL)

  Marylebone (LUL)

  Oxford Circus (LUL)

  Piccadilly Circus (LUL)

  Regents Park (LUL)

  Warwick Avenue (LUL)

  Derby (Midland Main Line)1

  Kettering (Midland Main Line)

  Leicester (Midland Main Line)1

  Market Harborough (Midland Main Line)1

  Birmingham New Street (Railtrack)

  Charing Cross (Railtrack)

  Edinburgh Waverley (Railtrack Ltd.)

  Euston (Railtrack)

  Glasgow Central High Level1

  Kings Cross rail (Railtrack)

  Leeds City (Railtrack)

  Liverpool Street (Railtrack)

  London Bridge (Railtrack)

  Manchester Piccadilly (Railtrack)1

  Paddington (Railtrack)

  Victoria Rail (Railtrack)1

  Waterloo (Railtrack)

  Kew Gardens (Silverlink Train Services)

  Alton (South West Trains)

  Andover (South West Trains)

  Ascot (South West Trains)

  Basingstoke (South West Trains)

  Bracknell (South West Trains)

  Eastleigh (South West Trains)

  Fareham (South West Trains)

  Famborough (South West Trains)

  Farnham (South West Trains)

  Feltham (South West Trains)

  Fratton (South West Trains)

  Godalming (South West Trains)

  Guildford (South West Trains)

  Haslemere (South West Trains)

  Havant (South West Trains)

  Hounslow (South West Trains)

  Kingston (South West Trains)1

  Petersfield (South West Trains)

  Portsmouth Harbour (South West Trains)

  Putney (South West Trains)

  Richmond (South West Trains)1

  57W

  Salisbury (South West Trains)

  Southampton Airport Parkway (South West Trains)

  Southampton Central (South West Trains)

  Surbiton (South West Trains)

  Twickenham (South West Trains)

  Wimbledon (South West Trains)

  Winchester (South West Trains)

  Windsor and Eton Riverside (South West Trains)

  Woking (South West Trains)

  Bourne End (Thames Trains Ltd.)

  Windsor and Eton Central (Thames Trains Ltd.)

  City Thameslink (Thameslink)

  Haydons Road (Thameslink)

  Morden South (Thameslink)

  South Merton (Thameslink)

  St. Helier (Thameslink)

  Sutton Common (Thameslink)

  Tooting (Thameslink)

  West Sutton (Thameslink)

  Wimbledon Chase (Thameslink)

  Lancaster (Virgin Trains)

  Oxenholme (Virgin Trains)

  Barnstaple (Wales and West)

  Exeter Central (Wales and West)

  Gloucester (Wales and West)

  Penzance (Wales and West)

  Truro (Wales and West)

  Weston-super-Mare (Wales and West)

  1reaccredited

  Millennium Dome
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions at what stage negotiations are with Meridian Delta over the sale of the Millennium Dome; when he expects negotiations to be completed; and if he will make a statement. [29587]

  Ms Keeble
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Ian Stewart) on 18 December 2001,Official Report,columns 220–21W. Negotiations are on-going between English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Ltd.

  Deep Vein Thrombosis
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what financial assistance the Government have given to the World Health Organisation's study into deep vein thrombosis; [29796]

  (2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Smith) of 16 January 2002, Official Report, columns 336–37W, what target the World Health Organisation has set for the completion of their study into deep vein thrombosis;[29806]

  (3) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Smith) of 16 January 2002, Official Report,columns 336–37W, what representations he (a) has made and (b) plans to make to the World Health Organisation as part of their study into deep vein thrombosis. [29807]
  58W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Officials from the Department of Health and from my Department have made a number of visits to the World Health Organisation in Geneva to discuss the scope and organisation of its proposed study into deep vein thrombosis. A further visit is planned shortly. A decision on funding will be made when those discussions are completed. The WHO estimates that the study will take approximately two and a half years to complete. Assuming the World Health Organisation secures the necessary funding in the early part of this year, the study should be completed by the end of 2004.

  Mobile Phone Masts
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many letters his Department has received from residents of the Buckingham constituency(a) in favour and (b) opposed to the erection of mobile phone masts in the last year. [30041]

  Ms Keeble
  The Department has received centrally five letters from members of the public in Buckinghamshire about the erection of mobile phone masts. All of these letters were either opposed to the erection of an individual mobile phone mast and/or requested clarification of our telecommunications planning policy.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many mobile phone masts there were in Buckingham constituency in each of the last five years. [30046]

  Ms Keeble
  The Department does not hold information about the number or locations of existing mobile phone masts.

  However, the Radiocommunications Agency has made information available to the public via their website (www.radio.gov.uk). The database, called Sitefinder, gives details about all operational mobile phone base stations and their emissions. Sitefinder employs a "user-friendly" map-based facility indicating the location of cellular phone base stations. More information on a particular base station is available by simply clicking on the position indicator for the base station in question.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers he has to ensure that mobile telecommunication companies share masts. [31120]

  Ms Keeble
  The Government's policy is firmly to encourage mast and site sharing where that is the optimum environmental solution in a particular case. Indeed, conditions attached to individual operating licences by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry include a requirement to investigate mast sharing before seeking to put up any new mast.

  Planning Policy Guidance Note 8, "Telecommunications", makes clear our expectation that developers should provide the local planning authority with clear evidence that they have considered the use of existing masts, buildings and other structures before seeking to erect any new mast, regardless of size. The authority may be justified in refusing prior approval or planning permissions if it considers the evidence regarding the consideration of alternative sites is not satisfactory.
  59W

  English Nature
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he plans that English Nature should remain a statutory consultee on proposed regional spatial strategies, local development frameworks, action plans and planning applications; and if he will make a statement. [29898]

  Ms Keeble
  The consultation paper "Planning: Delivering a Fundamental Change" sets out the Government's proposals to overhaul the planning system. One option proposed is to clarify the status of statutory consultees and reduce their number. Decisions about which bodies might be in future be statutory consultees will be made in the light of consultation.

  Tenancy Deposit Scheme
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if it is his policy to continue the Tenancy Deposit Scheme. [30035]

  Ms Keeble
  We hope shortly to reach a decision on the voluntary pilot tenancy deposit scheme and on such alternative options as there might be for safeguarding tenants' deposits from unjustified appropriation by landlords.

  Overnight Parking (Residential Areas)
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to extend to smaller lorries and vans the ban on parking overnight in residential areas; and if he will make a statement. [29756]

  Ms Keeble
  Control of parking on local roads is a matter for local traffic authorities using their powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. They are in the best position to address problems taking account of particular local circumstances. Generally, goods vehicles with a gross plated weight of more than 3.5 tonnes or an unladen weight of more than 1525kg have operator licensing controls on them, which require them to be kept at an operating centre specified in the licence when not in use. The Government have no plans to ban the overnight parking on residential roads of smaller lorries and vans.

  English Partnerships
  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which organisations have made submissions to stage 1 of the English Partnerships review; and if he will place the submissions in the Library. [30025]

  Ms Keeble
  Submissions have been made by the New Town Special Interest Group, the Coalfield Communities Campaign, Telford and Wrekin council, National Housing Federation, Harlow council, The Woodland Trust, and the Government office for the west midlands. The regional development agencies submitted a joint response. Further correspondence has been received from a number of individuals and organisations.

  Submissions will be placed in the Library at the conclusion of the review.
  60W

  Campaign Medal
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will review the eligibility of the merchant seamen who served while on convoy to Russia for a campaign medal; and if he will make a statement. [30118]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A 1946 Merchant Shipping Notice (M Notice) issued in 1946 gives information about the individual campaign medals which are issued to merchant seamen who served in the 1939–45 war and the qualifying conditions for their award. The M Notice specifically states that service covered by the 1939–45 Star includes voyages in the North sea, Baltic and Arctic ocean between Greenland and longitude 70.E. Similarly the Atlantic Star includes service convoys to the north of Russia; therefore the existing campaign stars cover the service in the Arctic Campaign.

  There have been several requests over many years for a separate Arctic Convoy medal. However, this Government, in line with decision of previous post war Governments, continue to uphold the ruling given in 1946 by the Interdepartmental Committee on Honours, Decorations and Medals, that no further consideration would be given to awards for 1939–45 service.

  Regional Planning
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what the total cost to his Department was of producing regional planning guidance for the English regions; [30200]

  (2) what was (a) the total bill for salaries and expenses for board members, (b) the administrative operating costs and (c) the total annual budget in the latest year for which figures are available for each regional planning conference in England. [30202]

  Ms Keeble
  Details of the costs incurred by all regional planning bodies in producing draft regional planning guidance are not available to the Department. These bodies, which range from local authorities acting collectively to voluntary regional chambers, are neither appointed by nor report to the Department but are recognised by it for the purposes of preparing and monitoring regional planning guidance. The Department contributes some £6 million a year to the upper tier local authorities on an unhypothecated basis towards the costs of producing and monitoring regional planning guidance. In addition it has an annual budget of approximately £1 million a year for running the public examinations and research. The annual staff costs of the Department and Government offices for this work are approximately £800,000.

  Train Operating Companies
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the projected requirements are for public subsidy to the train operating companies over the period of the 10 year plan. [30256]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 23 January 2002,Official Report, columns 871–72W, outlines the estimated profile of available Government

  61W
  resource (revenue) support. It is impossible to place precise figures on how much of this will be received by the train operating companies in advance of future commercial negotiations through the refranchising process.

  National Rail Academy
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which organisation has responsibility for taking the lead in establishing the national rail academy. [30228]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority has the lead responsibility in establishing the national rail academy with the active involvement and support of the Rail Industry Training Council, the national training organisation for the rail industry.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his oral statement of 14 January 2002,Official Report,columns 30–5w, what progress has been made in establishing the national academy for the railways, with special reference to the training of engine drivers. [28817]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A cross-industry task force is being established to define the scope, aims, funding and modus operandi of a national rail academy. The training of drivers will figure in this work along with the other skills needs of the industry.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the proposed national rail academy to commence operations. [30263]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A cross-industry task force is being established to define the scope, aims, projected modus operandi and the funding requirements of national rail academy. This will provide the basis for full consultation with the industry with a view to operations commencing as soon as is reasonably practical.

  Low-cost Airlines
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has made to the German Government about access to the German marketplace for low-cost airlines. [30223]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None.

  European Interoperability Directives
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many stations would require alteration works to enable Britain to comply fully with European interoperability directives. [30246]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Existing stations are only required to comply with the interoperability directives when work is being undertaken on them. No assessment can be made of the alterations required, such as platform lengths and heights, until the technical specifications for interoperability (TSIs) for the conventional rail network have been drafted. This process has only just begun and is not expected to be completed before 2004. The UK is 62W
  involved in the TSI drafting process and will be seeking to ensure that they take account of the characteristics of the British network.

  Ports
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which UK ports levy port charges; and what the level of the fees is in each case. [30333]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Payment of port charges is a condition of the public right to use any harbour for which there is a statutory harbour authority. The level of such charges has not required the approval of Government since the Harbours Act 1964 and central records of charges are not kept. However, the 1964 Act does require that charges in particular ports are advertised in the harbour by the harbour authority.

  St. Kevin's Playing Fields
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will review Knowsley borough council's proposals for St. Kevin's playing fields in Kirkby following changes to the earlier proposals which he has considered. [30437]

  Ms Keeble
  Since the Secretary of State's decision on the planning application for the site has been issued he has no further jurisdiction in the matter.

  Council Housing (Birmingham)
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has collated on the average(a) market value based on right to buy sales, (b) adjusted vacant possession value and (c) value for stock transfer purposes of council houses in Birmingham. [30390]

  Ms Keeble
  The values requested are not for comparable transactions. The price payable under the Right to Buy is the open market value of the house, less a significant discount based on the number of years the purchaser has been a local authority tenant. Tenants who buy their home through RTB are subsequently free to sell the house on the open market. The value of transferring stock is determined by what is known as tenanted market value. This reflects that the property is sold with sitting tenants and with an obligation for the properties to be retained for social housing tenants. Tenanted market value is based on the income from rents the landlord will receive, less an estimate for the cost of management and repairs for the next 30 years.

  (a) The average market value before discount of council houses only (ie excluding flats) sold on a right to buy basis by Birmingham in 2000–01 was £38,094.

  (b) The average vacant possession value of Birmingham's city council's dwellings (ie both houses and flats) as at April 2001 was estimated to be £28,978 at January prices.

  (c) The average value of council dwellings (ie both houses and flats) in Birmingham for stock transfer purposes is estimated to be £3,032 per unit.
  63W

  Neighbourhood Renewal
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made by the Government of the administrative requirements on voluntary and community organisations applying to the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chests. [29919]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: The Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest will provide funding to stimulate and support community activity in deprived areas. The Community Chest programme is administered through local voluntary sector organisations who are best placed to ensure that local groups are not prevented from applying because of administrative constraints. The Government want to rationalise and simplify access to funding for community and voluntary groups and are undertaking a number of initiatives aimed at achieving this. Where appropriate we will revise the Community Chest to reflect the outcome of these initiatives.

  Planning
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers he has to intervene in planning proposals in cases where he has already made a determination on outline proposals but detailed later proposals are at variance with those already considered. [30963]

  Ms Keeble
  The Secretary of State's power to call in planning applications for his own decision extends to applications for the approval of reserved matters. However, his policy is to be very selective about exercising his call-in powers. He will, in general, take this step only if planning issues of more than local importance are involved. Each case is considered on its individual facts.

  Road Traffic Offences
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to amend the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. [30649]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: There are no immediate plans to amend the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

  Road Signage
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to issue new guidance on road signage to(a) the Highways Agency and (b) other highway authorities. [30756]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We are currently consulting on draft revised guidance on the provision of traffic signs to tourist attractions and facilities on trunk roads and local roads in England, which we expect to publish in the summer. We are also preparing updated and revised Traffic Signs Regulations for publication later this year, and will be issuing guidance for all highway authorities on the changes made to the 1994 regulations, as well as publishing revised chapters 4 and 5 of the Traffic Signs Manual on the design and use of warning signs and road markings.
  64W

  Urban Stock Transfers
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is on help towards debt breakage costs for urban stock transfers; and what plans he has to change it. [31343]

  Ms Keeble
  The Department requires local authorities to meet the debt breakage costs incurred on repayment of housing attributable debt subsequent to a housing stock transfer. At present there are no plans to change this policy.

  Green Waste
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if it is the Government's policy to allow the re-use of green waste on farms without a requirement for planning permission. [30727]

  Ms Keeble
  The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 requires a planning application to be submitted for the importation of waste materials on to farms unless the waste is for use in certain specified engineering or building works. It is for local authorities in the first instance to determine whether planning permission is required.

  Local Government Finance Report (England) 2002–03
  Phil Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on the local government finance settlement for 2002–03; and what conclusions he has reached. [31570]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have today laid before the House the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2002–03. This report establishes the amounts of revenue support grant (RSG) and non-domestic rates (NDR) to be paid to local authorities in 2002–03, and the basis of their distribution. A draft of this report was issued for consultation on 4 December 2001, and updated information on grant allocations was published on 15 December and 28 December. The Department received a total of 386 written representations within the consultation deadlines from the Local Government Association and the Association of London Government, as well as from 334 local authorities, local authority groups and hon. Members.

  Having considered the views of the local authority associations and others who have commented on my initial proposals, I have decided to make two main changes to my original proposals on grant distribution.

  I have introduced an alternative baseline for 2001–02. This change, in effect, adjusts only for the transfers of service for which shire districts, police and fire authorities are responsible. In order to guarantee a minimum 2.3 per cent. increase, I have given these authorities whichever increase is greater—2.3 per cent. on the original baseline, or 2.3 per cent. on the alternative.

  I have also made a change on the basis of the adjustment for the National Care Standards Commission transfer. We have concluded that it is correct to adjust only for the existing cost of local authority activity in this area. Otherwise, this change would have had adverse

  65W
  impacts for a number of authorities. After careful consideration, I have added extra money to the settlement to ensure that these authorities are reimbursed for the cost of this change.

  No local authority loses out as a result of these changes as I have added some £27 million to the total of RSG and NNDR I announced on 4 December.

  In addition, the final figures published today reflect the more accurate data that have become available since we published our proposals.

  This year's settlement provides a good increase in money for local authorities. For the first time every local authority has been given a grant increase at least in line with inflation and in many cases much higher. This will allow councils to improve services while setting reasonable council tax increases. There should be no reason for big increases. The Government have increased money for local councils by 20 per cent. over the last four years.

  This year, bills show clearly how much different tiers of authority are charging and by how much they have increased their part of the council tax. If any councils set substantial increases, their taxpayers and local electorate will have every reason to question their council's decision.

  I shall be sending copies of this report and a guide to the settlement to all authorities, together with tables showing each authority's Standard Spending Assessment and its entitlement to RSG and NDR. Copies of the report, tables, and the guide are available in the Vote Office and the Libraries of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Gender Pay Gap (Northern Region)
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the ratio of female to male earnings in the northern region. [28142]

  Alan Johnson
  The gap between male and female earnings in the north-east Government office region has narrowed in recent years. According to the New Earnings Survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics, average hourly pay for full-time employees, excluding overtime, in the north-east, was £8.99 for men and £7.26 for women in 1998, equivalent to a female to male ratio of 80.7 per cent. By 2001, the gender pay gap in the region had narrowed to 84.1 per cent. (£10.08 for men and £8.48 for women), a reduction which can be attributed at least in part to the introduction of the national minimum wage. In Great Britain as a whole the gender pay gap has narrowed from 80.0 per cent. to 81.6 per cent. over the same period.

  Correspondence
  John Austin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to answer the letter of 28 December from the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead regarding tobacco smuggling and the Guildford Depository. [26300]
  66W
  Ms Hewitt
  The letter from the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead regarding tobacco smuggling and the Guilford Depository was answered on 20 January 2002.

  Tanzania
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the International Civil Aviation Organization on Tanzania's export control licences. [29626]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation has received no representation from the International Civil Aviation Organization on Tanzania's export licences.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of(a) first and (b) second class mail was delivered within the target time in the (i) UK, (ii) HP postcode area and (iii) MK postcode area in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [30058]

  Ms Hewitt
  This is an operational matter for Consignia, subject to the regulatory powers and duties of the Postal Services Commission in respect of service standards.

  I am advised by Consignia that in the year 2000–01 the percentage of first class mail delivered the next working day in the UK was 89 per cent., in the MK postcode area was 85 per cent. and in the HP postcode area was 91 per cent. The percentage of second class mail delivered within three working days in the UK was 98 per cent., in the MK postcode area was 97 per cent. and in the HP post code area was 98 per cent.

  Post Office Network
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) of 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 1034W, on sub-post offices, if she will list the funding allocated to each scheme. [30000]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: Further to the answer given to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 1034W, the funding allocated to the five initiatives is:

  £13,200 to Capel-le-Ferne, Kent

  £1,669 to Goadby Marwood, Leicestershire

  £208 to Risby, Herefordshire

  £10,200 to Kirk Ireton, Derbyshire

  £3,862 to Coleby, Lincolnshire.

  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of Consignia's strategic plan to close post offices in rural communities; and if she will make a statement. [29993]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: Consignia has submitted no such strategic plan. A formal requirement was placed on Consignia in November 2000 to maintain the rural network and to prevent avoidable closures and this remains in place and will apply in the first instance until 2006. Transitional financial assistance to the rural network is currently under consideration.
  67W
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) post offices and (b) sub-post offices there are at present in Britain; how many post offices and sub-post offices have closed since (i) 1 January 1997 and (ii) May 1997; and if she will make a statement. [30020]

  Ms Hewitt
  At the end of September 2001, the latest available figures indicated that the post office network comprised 17,687 outlets of which 17,092 were sub-post offices. As at the end of March 1997 there were 19,251 post offices of which 18,645 were sub-post offices. I understand from Post Office Ltd. that figures at 1 January 1997 and May 1997 are not available.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the strategic plan for the future of the post office network recently submitted to her by Consignia; what proposals are made in this plan to change the size of the post office network; and if she will make a statement. [30019]

  Number of businesses using Business Link

  1995–96

  1996–971

  1997–981

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–022

  England

  3—

  455,339

  439,604

  393,580

  419,294

  400,813

  335,150

  North East

  3—

  37,317

  26,954

  18,348

  22,466

  16,577

  14,063

  North West

  3—

  79,752

  89,056

  74,925

  75,215

  77,930

  39,680

  Yorkshire and Humber

  3—

  29,938

  40,232

  39,577

  44,587

  38,678

  53,743

  East Midlands

  3—

  32,445

  25,398

  26,635

  30,111

  24,997

  20,845

  West Midlands

  3—

  67,213

  49,214

  49,176

  57,758

  53,628

  33,229

  East of England

  3—

  71,512

  72,346

  45,599

  47,525

  45,072

  54,074

  London

  3—

  37,541

  36,767

  39.877

  42,647

  36,944

  17,779

  South East

  3—

  58,048

  59,496

  60,928

  62,517

  72,088

  41,979

  South West

  3—

  41,573

  40,141

  38,515

  36,468

  34,898

  59,758

  1 Usage includes non-business assistance

  2 Quarter 4 data not included, quarter 3 data subject to validation procedures

  3 Not available

  Source:

  Business Link Management Information returns

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was(a) the total bill for salaries and expenses for board members, (b) the administrative operating costs for each and (c) the total annual budget in the latest year for which figures are available for each of the regional development agencies in England. [30203]

  Alan Johnson
  The RDAs' net annual budget and administrative costs for the financial year 2001–02 are as follows:

  £000s

  Regional development agency

  Net budget (excluding receipts)

  Administration budget

  One North East

  161,653

  12,853

  North West Development Agency

  281,089

  14,956

  Yorkshire Forward

  245,437

  9,989

  East Midlands Development Agency

  96,940

  7,528

  Advantage West Midlands

  170,721

  8,793

  East of England Development Agency

  62,113

  5,836

  South East of England Development Agency

  108,859

  7,143

  South West of England Regional Development Agency

  92,059

  9,099

  London Development Agency

  298,139

  9,470

  Total

  1,517,010

  85,667

  68W
  Ms Hewitt
  Consignia has submitted no such strategic plan. The Government are committed to the maintenance of a nationwide network of post offices.

  Business Links
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses used business links in each year since 1995, broken down by region; and how many of these inquiries were the result of initial contact with the Small Business Service. [30547]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The table shows how many businesses used Business Links in each year since 1996–97; data for 1995–96 are not available. A business that receives advice twice within a quarter is counted only once but a business that receives assistance in separate quarters will be counted in each quarter.

  Between April 2001 and September 2001, over 12,000 inquiries were referred to Business Links from initial contact with SBS service providers. Earlier data are not available.

  These are the latest figures available and are excluding receipts. The changes from the original budget reflects in-year additional funding for things such as the Business Recovery fund to help small businesses deal with the foot and mouth crisis and new programmes such as the regional centres of manufacturing excellence.

  The RDA board members' salaries and expenses for the financial year 2000–01 are as follows:

  £000s

  Regional Development Agency

  Total Salaries for board members

  Total Expenses for board members

  One North East

  139

  14

  North West Development Agency

  139

  29

  Yorkshire Forward

  120

  7

  East Midlands Development Agency

  148

  19

  Advantage West Midlands

  138

  15

  East of England Development Agency

  148

  21

  South East of England Development Agency

  152

  17

  South West of England Regional Development Agency

  146

  34

  Total

  1130

  156

  Note:

  All figures have been rounded to the nears £000.
  69W
  London Development Agency board members are the responsibility of the Greater London Authority.

  The total salaries for board members of each region vary for a number of reasons, such as: numbers of members, date of appointment, some members waive their fees and some members have additional responsibilities for which they are remunerated. The figures for board members' salaries are taken from the RDAs' annual accounts for 2000–01.

  Fixed Term Work Directive
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her plans to implement the European directive on fixed term work. [29348]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Dr. Naysmith) on 21 January 2002,Official Report, column 561W.

  Government Payment Performance
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the average number of days from the date of invoice to date of payment taken by Government Departments and non-departmental agencies during 2001 to pay accounts payable. [30144]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government take this issue very seriously and are working hard to improve their payment performance.

  All Government Departments and agencies have been required to monitor their payment performance, and are required to pay all valid invoices within 30 days or other agreed credit period.

  My Department collects the payment performance figures, which are published annually in July.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth (Mr. Wright) on 19 July 2001, Official Report, column 322W.

  Regulations
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new regulatory measures in relation to business the Government have introduced in the last year; and how many have ceased to have effect. [30145]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department was responsible for 100 regulations introduced since 1 January 2001. Of these regulations 83 imposed negligible or no costs on business and eight have saved costs.

  Records relating to repealed regulations are not held centrally. The information requested could be obtained and collated only at disproportionate cost.

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the net change in employment levels in the telecommunications and telecommunications equipment industries in 2002. [30148]
  70W
  Ms Hewitt
  2002 is likely to be a year of transition for both the telecommunications services and the telecommunications equipment industries following dramatic global restructuring in 2001. Given the pace of change in these sectors, it is not possible to predict the net impact on employment in 2002.

  Broadband
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that by 2005 Britain will have the most competitive and extensive broadband network in the G7. [30150]

  Ms Hewitt
  We set out the Government strategy for broadband in the UK Online report on 3 December. This report can be found on the website of the e-envoy http://www.-envoy.gov.uk/ukonline/championsh/anrepmenu.htm.

  Recruitment Agencies
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of recruitment agencies specialise in(a) IT recruitment, (b) secretarial recruitment, (c) health care recruitment and (d) transport industries recruitment; and how many recruitment agencies are classified as SMEs. [30692]

  Alan Johnson
  I have no detailed breakdown of the private recruitment industry by particular specialist areas, since many agencies and employment businesses provide work-finding services for a number of occupations. However, we estimate that of around 20,000 establishments in the industry, about 10 per cent. specialise in IT recruitment and almost 5 per cent. are licensed nurses agencies. While this industry is made up predominantly of small firms, I have no details of the number of establishments which would be classified as SMEs.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has withdrawn support for the proposals in the draft regulations on the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2001; and what plans she has to hold further discussions with the Confederation. [30684]

  Alan Johnson
  I have received no indication that the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has changed its position on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations. I currently have no plans for further meetings with the Confederation but my officials have regular meetings with its representatives.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations her Department has received on her proposals for quarantine periods in the legislative framework governing agency conduct; and if she will make a statement. [30674]

  Alan Johnson
  During the latest consultation exercise on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations, we received 80 representations containing comments on the proposed quarantine provisions.
  71W
  The principles underlying our proposals on the quarantine periods to apply to the payment of transfer fees are in line with suggestions made by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the principal trade association in the private recruitment industry.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which individuals and organisations will be invited to respond to the further consultation on the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. [30678]

  Alan Johnson
  The further consultation on certain aspects of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations will cover all those consulted last time. These regulations will also be placed on the DTI website.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies her Department has conducted into the length of time an IT professional placed through a personal services agency must be in post to recoup an agency's initial costs. [30691]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department has undertaken no studies into the length of time an IT professional placed through a personal services agency must be in post in order to recoup the initial costs of the placement incurred by an employment business. Such information would be regarded as commercially confidential by the industry.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to exempt from the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations those temporary staff who choose to operate through personal service companies; and if she will make a statement. [30682]

  Alan Johnson
  I have no plans to exempt work-seekers who choose to operate through personal service companies from the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations.

  When the existing Conduct Regulations were introduced in 1975, it was very unusual for workers to be incorporated, and those working through limited companies were, therefore, left outside the protection provided. However, in recent years, incorporation has become widespread in some sectors, notably IT, and I think we should ensure that these work-seekers are also covered by the protections provided in the proposed regulations.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to meet representatives of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies during the further consultation period for the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations. [30677]

  Alan Johnson
  I have no current plans to meet representatives of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies during the further consultation on certain aspects of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if she will make a statement on the length of time it has taken to draft the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2001 and the costs involved; [30683]
  72W
  (2) what her timetable is for the completion of the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; [30679]

  (3) if she will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in laying the revision of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations before the House. [30675]

  Alan Johnson
  The draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations comprise a large and detailed package, covering a wide range of issues. We have taken the time necessary to undertake extensive consultation exercises and discuss these issues with the recruitment industry. It is important to ensure that the new regulations are right for the industry, since they are likely to stay in place for some time.

  I expect to issue the revised draft regulations shortly, following a short consultation exercise on certain aspects of these regulations.

  I have no estimate of the costs involved in drafting these regulations.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations the Better Regulation Task Force has made on revising the existing Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and if she will make a statement. [30676]

  Alan Johnson
  In 1999 the Better Regulation Task Force suggested alternative options for the transfer fee proposals in the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations.

  The task force welcomed the Government's review of the existing Conduct Regulations and endorsed our objectives. In particular, it supported our aims of improving the protections for vulnerable people and excluded groups, while avoiding placing unnecessary burdens on the private recruitment industry. The task force shares the Government's view that this industry has a vital role to play in the economy. After further discussions with the industry we decided to adopt a modified version of one of the task force's proposals.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the Recruitment and Employment Federation on the temporary recruitment industry. [30711]

  Alan Johnson
  I have discussed a range of issues affecting the private recruitment industry with representatives of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). At my last meeting with the REC on 9 October 2001, the subjects covered included the draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations and the proposed EU Directive on agency workers.

  Icelandic Trawlermen (Compensation)
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for compensation have been paid to former Icelandic trawlermen, since her Department's decision on the post-79 issue; and how many remain to be paid. [29905]
  73W
  Nigel Griffiths
  Since 26 October 2000, when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced an additional £10 million being made available to former Icelandic trawlermen, 928 claims have been paid.

  There are currently 284 claims where further information is required before entitlement to compensation can be assessed and a further 386 which are in the process of being paid.

  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many payments have been made to former Icelandic trawlermen; and what the total amount of compensation claims paid is, broken down in each case by port. [29906]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The figures as of 23 January 2002 are as follows:

  Current area of residence of claimant

  Number of payments

  Amount of compensation (£)

  Hull

  1,370

  15.3m

  Grimsby

  497

  3.8m

  Fleetwood

  256

  2.5m

  Blackpool

  38

  311k

  Cleethorpes

  134

  1.1m

  Newcastle

  260

  2.9m

  West Yorkshire

  162

  1.5m

  Aberdeen

  117

  671k

  Others

  362

  3m

  Total

  3,196

  31m

  National Minimum Wage
  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the national minimum wage in the(a) Cleethorpes and (b) Grimsby constituency. [29907]

  Alan Johnson
  Estimates for parliamentary constituencies are not available. Between spring 1998 and 2001, there has been a reduction of around 120,000 in the number of jobs paying less than the national minimum wage rates in Yorks and Humberside.

  Faulty Goods
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce legislation to require retailers and manufacturers to repair faulty goods within a given time scale; and if she will make a statement. [29935]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: When the Sale of Consumer Goods Directive (1999/44EC) is transposed into UK law later this year, it will give consumers a legal right to repair, carried out within a reasonable time, if goods do not conform to contract.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total sum is of(a) premiums received by the Export Credits Guarantee Department,
  74W
  and (b) claims paid out by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the financial years of (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02. [27213]

  Ms Hewitt
  Using the published annual report and the provisional figures to December the figures are as follows:

  £ million

  Financial year

  2000–01

  2001–021

  Earned premium

  109.5

  57.5

  Claims authorised

  298.0

  180.1

  1 Provisional to end December 2001

  The claims figures relate mostly to business with Indonesia that has been rescheduled and which ECGD expects to recover in the fullness of time. These claims are in respect of business supported before the years indicated.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 10 December 2001,Official Report,column 671W, on public appointments, if she will list the bodies with the names of those appointed. [27887]

  Ms Hewitt
  My answer of 10 December gave the number of appointments made between 7 June and 30 November as 167. Details of the bodies to which the appointments were made and the names of the appointees have been placed in the Libraries of the House, together with details of a further 11 who were appointed to the research councils in that period but whose numbers were inadvertently omitted from the original figure of 167. The total number of appointments in the period concerned was in fact 178.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 18 January 2001,Official Report, column 508W, on departmental expenditure, if she will state the calculation by which she reached her answer; and if she will make a statement. [30291]

  Ms Hewitt
  For each loan refinanced, ECGD calculates the savings generated by the reduction in the guaranteed return paid to the lending banks and the savings generated by using HMG funding as compared to alternative fixed funding over the life of the loan. The figure of £75 million represents the sum of these savings for all cases refinanced in this way up to 31 March 2001.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the net cost of the climate change levy to the manufacturing sector. [30168]

  Mr. Boateng
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is not possible to say what the precise effect of the climate change levy will be on any one particular sector.
  75W

  Government Supplies
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is regarding credit checking its supplier companies and traders. [29903]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Office of Government Commerce published new guidance on the financial appraisal of suppliers in October 2001. The guidance stresses that while credit ratings are useful indicators they should not be used as a substitute for a more detailed financial examination of prospective suppliers.

  A copy of Supplier Financial Appraisal Guidance is available on the Office of Government Commerce website at: www.ogc.gov.uk/ogc/publications.nsf/pages/publications.html.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

  Transfer of Functions
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the additional costs relating to the transfer of the functions of the Local Government Commission for England to the Electoral Commission will be met in advance of the transfer date of 1 April 2002 provided for in the Local Government Commission for England (Transfer of Functions) Order 2001 (SI2001/ 3962). [31316]

  Mr. Beith
  In order to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the transfer and to enable the transferring local government boundary review functions, together with the related functions transferring from the Secretary of State for Local Government, Transport and the Regions, to be carried out without interruption, urgent expenditure estimated at £127,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Council Tax (Police Costs)
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by police authority, the police element of council tax per head for each year since 1995–96 and the percentage change(a) in each year and (b) for the whole period. [28667]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I have been asked to reply.

  A table showing the police authority council tax for each year since 1995–96 per head of population and the percentage change in each year, and for the whole period, has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The figures per head of population include council tax that is met by council tax benefit.

  Police Grant
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he plans to allocate police grant in 2002–03; and what the final funding allocations for police authorities will be for that year. [31248]
  76W
  Mr. Denham
  I have today laid before the House the Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2002–03 (HC 533). The report sets out my determination for 2002–03 of the aggregate amount of grants that I propose to pay under section 46(2) of the Police Act 1996, and the amount to be paid to each police authority and to the Greater London Authority for the Metropolitan Police Authority.

  Allocations of police grant: 2002–03

  £

  Grant allocations

  Transitional grants

  Total

  Avon and Somerset

  91,025,174

  0

  91,025,174

  Bedfordshire

  34,313,252

  0

  34,313,252

  Cambridgeshire

  40,842,075

  0

  40,842,075

  Cheshire

  59,689,589

  0

  59,689,589

  City of London

  29,843,245

  0

  29,843,245

  Cleveland

  44,723,013

  0

  44,723,013

  Cumbria

  32,733,488

  0

  32,733,488

  Derbyshire

  56,470,734

  0

  56,470,734

  Devon and Cornwall

  94,722,350

  0

  94,722,350

  Dorset

  37,600,585

  0

  37,600,585

  Durham

  43,958,181

  0

  43,958,181

  Dyfed-Powys

  28,173,194

  0

  28,173,194

  Essex

  92,346,333

  0

  92,346,333

  Gloucestershire

  33,653,863

  0

  33,653,863

  Greater Manchester

  203,722,362

  0

  203,722,362

  Gwent

  37,640,172

  0

  37,640,172

  Hampshire

  108,365,042

  0

  108,365,042

  Hertfordshire

  61,640,063

  300,000

  61,940,063

  Humberside

  60,476,986

  0

  60,476,986

  Kent

  102,446,510

  0

  102,446,510

  Lancashire

  97,392,588

  0

  97,392,588

  Leicestershire

  55,659,650

  0

  55,659,650

  Lincolnshire

  34,305,310

  0

  34,305,310

  Merseyside

  126,336,316

  0

  126,336,316

  Metropolitan police

  1,015,895,687

  0

  1,015,895,687

  Norfolk

  46,284,453

  0

  46,284,453

  North Wales

  41,105,875

  0

  41,105,875

  North Yorkshire

  42,026,127

  0

  42,026,127

  Northamptonshire

  35,505,178

  0

  35,505,178

  Northumbria

  113,187,850

  0

  113,187,850

  Nottinghamshire

  67,683,907

  0

  67,683,907

  South Wales

  89,252,826

  0

  89,252,826

  South Yorkshire

  92,071,806

  0

  92,071,806

  Staffordshire

  60,965,947

  0

  60,965,947

  Suffolk

  37,702,731

  0

  37,702,731

  Surrey

  54,442,942

  800,000

  55,242,942

  Sussex

  91,312,691

  0

  91,312,691

  Thames Valley

  122,386,580

  0

  122,386,580

  Warwickshire

  28,078,851

  0

  28,078,851

  West Mercia

  61,765,548

  0

  61,765,548

  West Midlands

  206,139,660

  0

  206,139,660

  West Yorkshire

  155,924,778

  0

  155,924,778

  Wiltshire

  34,566,488

  0

  34,566,488

  Totals

  England

  3,808,207,933

  1,100,000

  3,809,307,933

  Wales

  196,172,067

  0

  196,172,067

  England and Wales

  4,004,380,000

  1,100,000

  4,005,480,000

  MI5
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many MI5 files were extant at 31 December 2001; how many were categorised as(a) green, (b) amber and (c) red in each category; and how many were (i) held on microfiche and (ii) held as hard-copy in each category. [28639]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 22 January 2002]: The Security Service held approximately 360,000 files at the end of December 2001, of which 210,000 are personal files and of those 40,000 were on microfiche.
  77W
  There were 20,000 personal files categorised as green, the remainder being either amber or red.

  I cannot give an immediate breakdown between these categories but I will write to the hon. Member shortly with this information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Immigration Advisers
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) individuals and (b) organisations giving immigration advice for profit are (i) registered and (ii) in the process of registering with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioners. [28776]

  Angela Eagle
  I understand that, as of 18 January 2002, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) had registered 135 immigration advisers in business for profit. Of these, 87 are sole practitioners and 48 are organisations comprising two or more practitioners. The OISC has under consideration 11 registration applications from sole practitioners and nine from organisations.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) individuals and (b) organisations giving immigration advice for profit have been refused registration with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner since 30 April 2001; and if he will publish a list of those individuals and organisations. [28777]

  Angela Eagle
  I understand that, as of 18 January 2002, the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) had refused to register 12 immigration advisers in business for profit of which eight are sole practitioners. Whether this information should be published is a matter for the OISC; I understand that there are no current plans to do so.

  Probation Service
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the National Probation Service by division and function(a) on the last date for which figures are available and (b) in April 2001. [28784]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information requested is given in the tables.

  Information on staff in post by grade, gender and type of employment is collected at end June and end December each year. There is a separate collection of numbers of staff in post by grade, gender and ethnicity; this was annually from December 1995 to December 2000 but has now changed to a September and March basis starting September 2001.

  The numbers of probation officers in post fell between December 2000 and June 2001 because of the transfer of Family Court Welfare Work, and associated staff, to the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS) at 1 April 2001.

  The reduction in numbers of probation officers is a reflection of the loss of "Family Court Welfare Officers". The Probation Service is no better or worse off, in terms of having enough staff, than before the transfer took place.
  78W
  The numbers exclude those in the National Probation Directorate (NPD). The numbers are purely those working in areas including Chief Officers who are appointed by the Home Office.

  Table 1: Probation officers in post, by grade and type

  Number

  England and Wales

  31 December 2000

  30 June 2001

  CPO

  T54

  42

  DCPO

  12

  11

  ACPO

  213

  209

  Area Manager

  49

  51

  Regional Training

  48

  39

  Senior Probation Officers

  Family Court Welfare

  60

  —

  Other field work

  816

  864

  Seconded to prison

  110

  121

  Hostels

  71

  82

  Other

  8

  14

  Senior Practitioner

  Field work

  105

  109

  Seconded to prison

  11

  5

  Hostels

  9

  8

  Other

  4

  12

  Main Grade

  Family Court Welfare

  543

  —

  Other field work

  4,258

  4,060

  Trainee

  564

  543

  Seconded to prison

  509

  480

  Hostels

  74

  67

  Other

  53

  69

  All probation officers1

  7,571

  6,785

  1 Whole-time equivalent. Individual figures may not round to the total because of the rounding of part-time hours.

  Table 2: Staff other than probation officers in post, by grade and type

  Number

  England and Wales

  31 December 2000

  30 June 2001

  Probation Services Officers

  1,019

  1,083

  CS schemes

  1,019

  1,083

  Seconded to prison

  132

  136

  Other duties

  869

  916

  General duties

  849

  1,076

  Clerical and Secretarial

  2,529

  2,317

  Research and Information Officers

  106

  141

  Administrative officers

  1,489

  1,532

  Sessional supervisors

  421

  444

  Others

  254

  194

  Hostels

  791

  778

  All staff other than probation officers1

  8,458

  8,616

  1 Whole-time equivalent. Individual figures may not round to the total because of the rounding of part-time hours.

  Either-way Criminal Offences
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the either-way criminal offences; and if he will make a statement. [29644]

  Mr. Denham
  There is no readily available list of triable either-way offences. Appendix Four of the annual Command Paper "Criminal statistics England and Wales" lists just over 370 triable either-way offence codes which are used for statistical purposes. Each code may cover
  79W
  more than one offence and these codes cover approximately 700 offences. Other triable either-way offences are grouped together under one ad hoc code. Copies of the Command Paper are available in the Library.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to extend the interim regulations for the support of asylum seekers for another two years. [29834]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: Some asylum seekers fall to be supported by local authorities under the Asylum Support (Interim Provisions) Regulations 1999. These regulations came into force on 6 December 1999 and are due to end on 1 April 2002. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has decided that it would be appropriate to extend these regulations until 5 April 2004. This extension will enable Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) staff to complete the data matching exercise between its records and those held by local authorities. In addition during this time asylum seekers are to be issued with application registration cards. Once these two exercises have been completed we will have detailed information on the number of asylum seekers being supported by local authorities.

  We can then discuss with the local authorities how best to transfer the cases to the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) system of support.

  Skilled Migrant Programme
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to attract skilled foreign workers to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [29835]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman) on 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 1010W. Applications under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme will be accepted by diplomatic posts overseas from 28 January. The work permit system additionally provides a fast, effective route for employers to recruit skilled people to fill vacancies where they are unable to recruit or train a resident worker. The forthcoming White Paper will further set out the Government's strategy for making sure the immigration system maximises the benefits to the United Kingdom of skilled foreign workers.

  Police Personnel Data
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the quality of data in recent police personnel statistics publications. [29476]

  Mr. Denham
  The Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate makes a careful assessment of the quality of any national statistics that it publishes and is carrying out a series of reviews under the National Statistics framework.
  80W
  A Police Numbers Task Force was established last year specifically to address concerns over police personnel data. This group has now completed its work and its report was made available to police forces for consultation on 18 December 2001. A copy of this report is available on the Home Office website.

  Ministerial Group on the Family
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Ministerial Group on the Family has met since(a) its formation, (b) the publication of Supporting Families and (c) 7 June 2001. [29931]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: The Ministerial Group on the Family, as with other ministerial groups, met when needed. Following the June 2001 general election the ministerial group was replaced by the Cabinet Committee on Domestic Affairs Sub-Committee on Active Communities and Family Issues, which is chaired by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and which co-ordinates Government policies on the family.

  Family Visitor Appeals
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the net annual income is from family visitor appeals in the first year of its operation. [29400]

  Angela Eagle
  The net income from fees for family visitor appeals in the first year of the scheme was £104,000.

  Police (Early Retirement)
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Government policy towards police officers taking early retirement while disciplinary charges are pending. [22782]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government believe that it is unacceptable for sickness or medical retirement to be used as a means of avoiding discipline. Regulations allow for disciplinary hearings to go ahead in the absence of the accused, although the power is not used very frequently. It will require strong support from the centre—which we will provide—and firm management action to use the existing power to proceed with hearings in all but the most exceptional cases. We will amend the central guidance and, if necessary, the statutory regulations to achieve this. Where medical retirement is at issue, the police authority should consider whether it would be right to exercise its discretion not to retire the officer where the public interest in completing the proceedings in a misconduct case outweighs the medical condition.

  Violence Against Women
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to include violence against women in his Department's recent policy initiatives on violent crime. [27860]

  Mr. Denham
  The Government have made it clear that they have committed to the reduction of all violent crime, including against women. Tackling violence against women is an integral element of our strategies to reduce violent crime.
  81W
  Domestic violence is the largest single form of violent crime against women. We have taken a number of steps to address domestic violence including issuing a new Home Office circular to the police, issuing multi-agency guidance for addressing domestic violence, and issuing guidance for prosecuting cases of domestic violence to Crown prosecutors. We have provided over £10 million funding under the Crime Reduction Programme to the Violence Against Women initiative. This initiative is aimed to discover what is effective and cost effective in reducing domestic violence, rape and sexual assault by known perpetrators.

  Ministers from across Government are working closely together to consider areas for priority action (to effectively address domestic violence and reduce incidents) such as intervention by health professionals and enhancing the interface between the criminal and civil jurisdictions.

  Police Pensions
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Police Federation on proposals to change the pension provisions for police officers. [30213]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: We are looking at ways of modernising police pensions to make them more flexible and affordable for future entrants and to reflect modern lifestyle patterns. Any proposals for change would of course be subject to discussion and negotiations with the Police Federation.

  Police Terms and Conditions
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers on the terms and conditions for the employment of police officers; and when he expects the new pay and terms and conditions document will be agreed. [30211]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: Both the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Association of Chief Police Officers are represented on the Official Side of the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) for the United Kingdom. On 27 December 2001, following negotiations, the Official Side reached agreement in principle with the Staff Side on a package of changes to police pay and conditions of service. The changes are set out in the Heads of Agreement. Both Sides are now consulting their members on the changes which have to be ratified by the end of February.

  Young Offender
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of youth crime in the London borough of Havering. [21012]

  Mr. Denham
  Information provided by the youth offending team in Havering shows that, in the year 2000, youth crime accounted for just under a quarter (24 per cent.) of all crime in the borough. The corresponding figure for 1999 was 31 per cent.

  The number of young offenders arrested by the police in Havering during 2001, excluding those in respect of whom no action was taken, is set out in the table.
  82W

  Male

  Female

  Total

  January to March

  155

  31

  186

  April to June

  181

  31

  212

  July to September

  161

  37

  198

  October to December1

  140

  28

  168

  Total

  637

  127

  764

  1 Up to 5 December

  Children (Supervision Orders)
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children who are the subject of supervision orders issued by each local authority in England and Wales are resident in institutions in Scotland. [27733]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 17 January 2002]: The information required is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

  Police Overtime
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of his proposal to reduce police officers' enhanced overtime rates on the morale of frontline officers. [30113]

  Mr. Denham
  The Police Negotiating Board (PNB), on which both the Secretary of State and the Police Federation are represented, reached agreement in principle on 27 December 2001 on a package of changes to police pay and conditions of service. The changes are set out in the heads of agreement.

  One of the proposed changes is to reduce the premium rates of pay, but not to plain time, for working overtime, on rostered rest day and on public holidays. The reductions would be phased in over two years, the first stage on 1 April 2003 and the second stage on 1 April 2004. The savings from reducing the premium rates of pay would be re-invested into the new pay framework.

  The proposed reductions in premiums have to be seen in the context of all the other changes set out in the heads of agreement. Those changes include shortened pay scales for all federated ranks, a minimum increase of £402 on 1 April 2003 on each point of the pay scales, a new competence-related payment of £1,002 at the top of the scales.

  There will also be a new special priority payments scheme to reward those officers working at the sharp end of public service, doing the most difficult and demanding tasks. Officers in qualifying posts will receive a payment of between £500 and £5,000 a year. The national criteria are that posts carry a significantly higher responsibility than the norm for the rank; or are particularly difficult to fill; or have specially arduous working conditions. All parties in PNB recognise that there are a number of specialist posts where long hours are a necessary and integral part of the officers' role rather than due to management failure.

  In addition, chief constables will be able to award bonuses of between £50 and £500 for occasional work of an outstandingly demanding, unpleasant or important nature, such as hostage negotiation, or fingerprinting and searching badly decomposed bodies.
  83W
  The Government believe that, taking all the elements of the package into account, the vast majority of officers will be better off.

  Nuclear Security
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reviews of the preparedness for terrorist attack against(a) chemical industry plants and (b) nuclear industry facilities have been conducted by the civil contingencies unit following the terrorist activities in the United States on 11 September 2001. [28537]

  Mr. Blunkett
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry keeps security and safety precautions at nuclear sites under regular review. The United Kingdom's civil nuclear sites apply stringent security measures regulated by the security regulator, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security. She is also working closely with industry representatives and others to analyse the vulnerabilities of the chemical industries to terrorist attack and to identify and implement measures to maximise their resilience.

  Force

  Chief Constable

  Appointment date

  Term

  Avon and Somerset

  S. C. Pilkington Esq QPM

  February 1998

  3 years 11 months

  Bedfordshire Police

  Paul Hancock Esq

  April 2001

  9 months

  Cambridgeshire

  D. G. Gunn Esq CBE QPM

  September 1993

  8 years 4 months

  Cheshire Police

  N. Burgess Esq QPM

  October 1997

  4 years 3 months

  City of London Police

  Perry Nove QPM

  April 1998

  3 years 9 months

  Cleveland Police

  B. D. Shaw Esq QPM

  August 1995

  6 years 5 months

  Cumbria

  Michael Baxter

  December 2001

  1 month

  Derbyshire

  D. Coleman Esq

  July 2000

  1 year 6 months

  Devon and Cornwall

  Sir John Evans QPM

  September 1988

  13 years 4 months

  Dorset Police

  Mrs. Jane Stichbury QPM

  December 1998

  3 years 1 month

  Durham

  G. E. Hedges QPM

  August 1997

  4 years 5 months

  Essex Police

  D. F. Stevens Esq QPM

  March 1998

  3 years 10 months

  Gloucestershire

  Timothy Brain Esq

  March 2001

  10 months

  Gtr Manchester Police

  D. Wilmot Esq QPM

  April 1991

  10 years 9 months

  Hampshire

  P. R. Kernaghan Esq QPM

  May 1999

  2 years 8 months

  Hertfordshire

  Paul Acres Esq QPM

  February 2000

  1 year 11 months

  Humberside Police

  D. Westwood Esq QPM

  November 1998

  3 years 2 months

  Kent

  Sir David Phillips QPM

  November 1992

  9 years 2 months

  Lancashire

  Mrs. P Clare QPM

  May 1995

  6 years 8 months

  Leicestershire

  D. J. Wyrko Esq QPM

  April 1997

  4 years 9 months

  Lincolnshire Police

  R. J. N. Childs Esq QPM

  March 1998

  3 years 10 months

  Merseyside Police

  N. Bettison Esq QPM

  November 1998

  3 years 2 months

  Metropolitan Police

  Sir John Stevens QPM

  February 2000

  1 year 11 months

  Norfolk

  K. R. Williams Esq QPM

  May 1993

  8 years 8 months

  Northamptonshire Police

  Mr. Chris Fox QPM

  July 1996

  5 years 6 months

  Northumbria Police

  J. C. Strachan Esq QPM

  October 1997

  4 years 3 months

  North Yorkshire Police

  D. R. Kenworthy Esq QPM

  October 1997

  4 years 3 months

  Nottinghamshire Police

  Stephen M. Green Esq, QPM

  February 2000

  1 year 11 months

  South Yorkshire Police

  M. I. I. Hedges Esq QPM

  February 1998

  3 years 11 months

  Staffordshire Police

  J. W. Giffard Esq QPM

  October 1995

  6 years 3 months

  Suffolk

  P. J. Scott-Lee Esq QPM

  April 1998

  3 years 9 months

  Surrey Police

  Denis O'Connor CBE, QPM

  February 2000

  1 year 11 months

  Sussex Police

  Ken Jones

  January 2002

  under 1 month

  Thames Valley Police

  Peter Neyroud

  January 2002

  under 1 month

  Warwickshire Police

  John Burbeck QPM

  August 2000

  1 year 5 months

  West Mercia

  P. Hampson Esq QPM

  April 1999

  2 years 9 months

  West Midlands Police

  Sir Edward Crew QPM

  May 1996

  5 years 8 months

  West Yorkshire Police

  Graham Moore Esq QPM

  November 1997

  4 years 2 months

  Wiltshire

  Miss E Neville QPM

  October 1996

  5 years 3 months

  84W
  In addition, I chair the civil contingencies committee which, through its sub-committees, has co-ordinated reviews by the appropriate lead Government Departments and devolved Administrations into the contingency and other arrangements to protect the United Kingdom against the effects of a terrorist attack, particularly in the light of the terrorist attacks of 11 September.

  Chief Constables
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the length of service as chief constable is of each chief constable in England. [28044]

  Mr. Denham
  The appointment of a chief constable is a matter for decision by the appropriate police authority, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. In making an appointment, a police authority must adhere to Regulation 13A of the Police Regulations 1995, which provide that appointment as chief constable should be for a minimum period of four years and a maximum period of seven years.

  The current position for each force in England is given in the table. In a small number of cases, the appointment pre-dates the introduction of the fixed term regulations on 1 April 1995, and exceeds the current maximum period.
  85W

  Crime Fighting Fund
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Crime Fighting Fund officers were projected to be allocated to Hampshire in 2001–02; how many officers were allocated; how many Crime Fighting Fund officers will be allocated for 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [22438]

  Mr. Denham
  Hampshire has been allocated a total of 243 Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) recruits over and above previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003. This total was initially divided between the three years of the CFF recruitment scheme as follows:

  Year

  CFF allocation

  2000–01

  82

  2001–02

  77

  2002–03

  84

  As the force was unable to recruit all of its CFF allocation in 2000–01 it was allowed to carry over 63 recruits from 2000–01 to 2001–02, resulting in revised allocations as follows:

  Year

  CFF allocation

  2000–01

  19

  2001–02

  140

  2002–03

  84

  The allocation for 2002–03 is provisional and subject to the force meeting the requirements of the CFF continuation criteria.

  Domestic Violence (Buckingham)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of domestic violence were investigated by the police in the Buckingham constituency in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001. [22633]

  Mr. Denham
  The information requested is not held centrally. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Thames Valley police collect the information by Basic Command Unit areas, but none of these areas correspond exactly with the Buckingham constituency.

  Security Costs
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the costs of extra activities undertaken by his Department in connection with events following the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States; and if these costs will be met from his Department's budget. [14077]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Some extra costs are being incurred, on departmental security measures. These costs will be met from the Home Office's budget and it is not possible to quantify them. As regards the cost of the measures announced in my Statement of 15 October 2001, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question from the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 23 January 2002,Official Report, column 914W.
  86W

  Police Numbers (London)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish(a) the most recent figures, (b) the figures for May 1997 based on the old boundaries and (c) estimated figures for May 1997 based on the new boundaries, for the number of police officers within the city of London and Metropolitan police areas, broken down by London borough. [13844]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 9 November 2001]: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided police strength in the Metropolitan police at 31 October 2001 and 1 July 1997 broken down by borough. Information for May 1997 is not available.

  Borough

  Strength 31 October 20011

  Strength 1 July 19971

  Kensington and Chelsea

  539.51

  648.30

  Westminster

  1,540.96

  1,712.91

  Camden

  681.72

  698.35

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  506.14

  559.65

  Hackney

  675.15

  665.64

  Tower Hamlets

  527.95

  573.09

  Waltham Forest

  449.81

  490.62

  Redbridge

  387.32

  555.00

  Havering

  322.72

  325.59

  Newham

  577.41

  599.88

  Barking and Dagenham

  285.82

  299.05

  Lambeth

  863.58

  946.10

  Southwark

  784.76

  849.46

  Islington

  564.79

  568.60

  Lewisham

  567.50

  613.75

  Bromley

  422.60

  473.84

  Harrow

  315.42

  281.60

  Brent

  604.14

  636.33

  Greenwich

  570.14

  597.65

  Bexley

  322.09

  280.65

  Barnet

  509.92

  727.16

  Richmond upon Thames

  263.17

  278.85

  Hounslow

  416.29

  446.60

  Kingston upon Thames

  256.40

  354.33

  Merton

  289.26

  315.85

  Wandsworth

  545.92

  622.94

  Ealing

  617.87

  635.97

  Hillingdon

  369.70

  403.10

  Enfield

  474.91

  538.30

  Haringey

  542.59

  546.60

  Croydon

  566.77

  604.60

  Sutton

  252.74

  406.10

  Borough Total

  16,624.07

  18,254.46

  Heathrow2

  287.26

  375.15

  Spelthorne3

  194.40

  Recruits, non borough units and HQ staff

  8,621.52

  7,846.27

  Total

  25,532.85

  26,670.28

  1Figures are full-time equivalents

  2These posts are paid for by Heathrow airport plc.

  3Spelthorne was transferred to Surrey police in April 2000.

  The Metropolitan police force area boundary was changed in April 2000. The Metropolitan Police Service are unable to provide estimated figures for officers in post in 1997 on the basis of the new boundaries.

  There were 10,040 civilians in the Metropolitan police on 31 March 2001 and 13,493 on 31 March 1997.

  The city of London police force was unaffected by the Metropolitan police force area boundary changes. The city of London Police had 859 police officers on 31 March

  87W
  1997 and 705 on 2 November 2001. The force employed 347 civilian support staff in March 1997 and 223 in March 2001.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the advertising campaigns commissioned by his Department since May 1997, showing for each(a) its objectives, (b) its beginning and end dates, (c) the media used, (d) the criteria adopted to judge its effectiveness, (e) the extent to which effectiveness criteria were met, (f) any agency involvement and (g) its cost. [28240]

  Mr. Blunkett
  In relation to expenditure in 1999–2000 and 2000–01, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) of 17 January, 2002,Official Report,column 465W. In relation to expenditure from 1996–97 to 1998–99 the figure are as follows:

  £ million

  1996–97

  5.23

  1997–98

  1.4

  1998–99

  1.8

  Notes:

  1. Figures include value added tax (VAT).

  2. Figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99 reflect spending levels determined in 1996.

  The Home Office uses advertising in various media to inform the public how they are affected by departmental legislation, and also to effect attitudinal and behavioural change in such areas as vehicle crime reduction, fire safety, voter registration and police recruitment. Each campaign is rigorously evaluated to ensure maximum effectiveness and value for money. Evaluation criteria are set according to the individual objectives of each campaign (for example increases in awareness and understanding of fire safety issues were measured, along with changes in public attitudes and subsequent shifts in fire statistics). The results of each evaluation exercise are used to inform future campaign development.

  Historical data on the individual communication objectives, timings and evaluation criteria for each campaign can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  CCTV
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will offer separate funding for local closed circuit television schemes apart from the Safer Communities Initiative. [21476]

  Mr. Denham
  Under the Crime Reduction Programme Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Initiative a potential £170 million will be spent funding 686 CCTV schemes.

  Although this initiative is now closed, other opportunities for funding of CCTV schemes may exist under the Communities against Drugs or the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas initiatives. Further funding for CCTV schemes may also be available under the Safer Communities Initiative (SCI).
  88W

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Jane Coker Case
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total cost was for all Departments arising from the case of Jane Coker v. The Lord Chancellor considered by(a) the Industrial Tribunal, (b) the Employment Appeal Tribunal and (c) the Court of Appeal; and if, in each instance, she will identify the costs of Counsel and other lawyers, outside of the Government's service. [29527]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The total legal costs for all Departments arising from the case of Jane Coker and Martha Osamor v. The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chancellor's Department were as follows:

  (a) Costs up to and including the hearing before the Employment Tribunal—£84,349.96 (including VAT) of which £50,360.50 were Counsel's fees and £33,989.46 were Treasury Solicitor's costs;

  (b) Costs in relation to the hearing before the Employment Appeal Tribunal—£54,540.44 (including VAT) of which £40,243.75 were Counsel's fees and £14,296.69 were Treasury Solicitors' costs;

  (c) Costs in relation to the hearing before the Court of Appeal—£50,054.29 (including VAT) of which £38,639.87 were Counsel's fees and £11,414.42 were Treasury Solicitor's costs.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reason there was no application for costs on her behalf in the case of Jane Coker. [29939]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  No application was made for costs on behalf of the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chancellor's Department in relation to the hearings before the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal as the general rule in relation to costs before those Tribunals is that each side bears its own costs.

  No application was made for costs on behalf of the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chancellor's Department in relation to the hearing before the Court of Appeal as the Lord Chancellor was by that stage aware that the case brought by Jane Coker and Martha Osamor was supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality. The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chancellor's Department did not consider it would be appropriate to seek a costs order in circumstances where publicly funded bodies with particular responsibility for promoting equal opportunities in relation to employment matters had taken the view that there was a public interest in having the legal issues raised in the proceedings resolved by the Court of Appeal.

  Colchester Magistrates Court
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the new courthouse at Colchester will be opened. [29741]

  Mr. Wills
  It is anticipated that the new courthouse will be opened in Colchester during 2005.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement about the upgrading of cells at Colchester magistrates court; what the cost involved is; and when he expects the work to be completed. [29740]
  89W
  Mr. Wills
  In the financial year 2001–02, £60,192 has been allocated to the Magistrates Courts Committee and local authority to address health and safety issues in Colchester magistrates court by removing all ligature points in the cells. This is not essentially an upgrade of the cell accommodation, but necessary work to ensure that defendants are unable to harm themselves or others. This work is expected to be completed in 2002–03, at a total cost of £63,715. The new courthouse in Colchester planned for 2005, to be constructed under the private finance initiative, should address any concerns raised over the quality of the custody accommodation.

  Shared Residency Orders
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many families in the UK in each of the last three years have been granted shared residency orders in cases where parents have divorced or separated and terms governing the custody of children must be decided and approved by the courts; and what proportion of those orders dictate that custody should be split equally between parents. [29792]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  In 2001 there were 22,970 residence orders granted in private law proceedings in the county and High Courts. The Lord Chancellor's Department statistics do not differentiate between those residence orders made in favour of one or both parents. The underlying philosophy of the Children Act 1989 is that parents share responsibility for the upbringing of their children, even after their own relationship has failed.

  Census Website
  Mr. John Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement about the initial performance of the 1901 Census website. [29899]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The 1901 Census website was successfully piloted and tested in advance of its launch on 2 January 2002. Based on benchmarking, the 1901 site was specified to allow for 1 million users, with provision to cope with peak equivalent demand of 1.2 million users, in any 24-hour period. Prior to the site being closed on 7 January 2002 to enable enhancements to be carried out, it was estimated by the PRO's business partner QinetiQ Ltd., who are responsible for the technical aspects of the service, that the maximum demand it experienced was approximately 1.2 million users per hour. This prevented many users accessing the service. A decision to close the website temporarily to general internet access was taken by the PRO and QinetiQ Ltd. in order to allow enhancements to be made. The general internet service will be restored incrementally, on completion of this work.

  The online service is currently available at the Public Record Office at Kew, the Family Records Centre in Islington, and at a number of local public libraries and archives while the enhancements are being carried out. Meanwhile, the Public Record Office has fulfilled its statutory obligations by providing microform copies of the 1901 Census returns at the Public Record Office at Kew and at local record offices and public libraries across the country.
  90W

  Waltham Forest Court
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when it is proposed to notify the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead of the closure of Waltham Forest court; for what reason the media were notified before local hon. Members; what arrangements are proposed for Leyton and Leytonstone residents who have to attend a local magistrates court as defendants, victims or witnesses; and if he will make a statement. [30138]

  Mr. Wills
  The Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority (GLMCA) issued their strategic plan on 13 December 2001. I understand that hon. Members, the press and trade unions were notified at this time by the GLMCA. No final decisions will be made on Waltham Forest magistrates court until the GLMCA has concluded statutory consultation and taken into account all representations made during this period. The GLMCA plan to commence the first stage of their consultation next month. I understand my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen) will, in due course, have opportunity to comment directly to the GLMCA on the future of Waltham Forest magistrates court. The Government's policy is that decisions concerning listing practices, the number, location and future of magistrates courts are for magistrates courts committees to determine, in consultation with their local paying authority.

  Electoral Documentation
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps her Department has taken to provide an audit trail when marked registers are sent from the returning officers to her Department; and if she will make a statement. [30103]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Representation of the People Act 1983 requires the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery to ensure that a record is kept of the electoral documentation received from returning officers in respect of both general and by-elections in England and Wales.

  Details are recorded on receipt at our central warehouse.

  Saville Inquiry
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what costs have been incurred by the Lord Chancellor's Department in connection with the Saville inquiry; and what her estimate is of the final cost. [29067]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  No costs have been incurred by the Lord Chancellor's Department to date in connection with the Bloody Sunday inquiry and no future costs are expected to be incurred.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Civil Service
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Civil Service staff are on loan from each of the devolved Administrations to UK Government Departments, broken down by UK Government
  91W
  Departments; and what percentage of civil service staff the number on loan represents per the total number of civil servants for each devolved Administration. [29512]

  Mr. Leslie
  The information for the Scottish Executive is given in the table. The National Assembly for Wales has five staff currently on loan, all to the Cabinet Office; this is 0.1 per cent. of the total of 3,500 staff. Comparable figures for the Northern Ireland civil service are not available except at disproportionate cost.

  Scottish Executive

  Department

  Staff on loan at 21 January 2002

  Percentage

  Cabinet Office

  5

  0.0

  Department of Health (Food Standards Agency)

  59

  0.5

  Department of Trade and Industry

  1

  0.0

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  6

  0.1

  Forestry Commission

  2

  0.0

  HM Treasury

  5

  0.0

  Home Office

  367

  3.2

  Office of Fair Trading

  1

  0.0

  Oftel

  1

  0.0

  Prime Minister's Office

  1

  0.0

  Scotland Office

  109

  1.0

  Total staff on loan

  557

  4.9

  Total staff in post

  11,430

  100.0

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made in delivering the strategy to increase the numbers of(a) women and (b) ethnic minorities in Whitehall's senior civil service grades. [27851]

  Mr. Leslie
  The latest figures for April 2001 show that:

  24.2 per cent. of the senior civil service are women, up from 17.8 per cent. in 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 35 per cent.

  20.2 per cent. of those in the top 600 posts are women, up from 12.7 per cent. in 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 25 per cent.

  2.4 per cent. of staff at senior civil service level are from a minority ethnic background, up rom 1.6 per cent. in 1998. The target for 2004–05 is 3.2 per cent.

  Progress is being made in other areas. For example the number of successful candidates from minority ethnic backgrounds in the fast stream scheme has doubled from 3.4 per cent. in 1998 to 6.8 per cent. in 2000.

  Saville Inquiry
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what costs have been incurred by his Department to date in connection with the Saville inquiry; and what his estimate is of the final cost to his Department. [29590]

  The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
  The Cabinet Office does not employ staff full-time on Bloody Sunday inquiry work. Expenditure to date on staff time is estimated at £45,000. It is not possible to estimate the final cost to the Cabinet Office because of the number of uncertainties.

  Public Appointments
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account is taken of political affiliation in making appointments to non-departmental public bodies. [31060]
  92W
  Mr. Leslie
  While information on the political affiliation of candidates is not collected, the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice requires information on political activity to be collected. In a small minority of cases there may be a need to create a political balance. This can usually be achieved by asking political parties to nominate candidates.

  Arms Sales (BAE Systems)
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from BAE Systems concerning the sale of arms to(a) South Africa and (b) India. [28293]

  The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
  I have not received any representations from BAE Systems concerning the sale of arms to either South Africa or India.

  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to visit India; and if he will raise the issue of BAE Systems bid to supply Hawk jets with his Indian counterpart. [28303]

  The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
  I have no firm plans to visit India.

  Ministerial Properties
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the properties used by Ministers for(a) residential and (b) business purposes that are owned by Government organisations. [28280]

  The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
  [pursuant to his reply, 21 January 2002, c. 599W]: I regret that my answer was incorrect since there are some costs to the public purse in the Government's use of Chequers, Dorneywood and Chevening.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Industrial Action
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the latest figures for working days lost through industrial action within her Department and its agencies since June 2001. [27840]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 16 January 2002]: Between the launch of the Department and 14 January, a total of 16,201 working days has been lost due to strike action by departmental staff who are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union.

  Environmental Impact Assessments
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the progress FTSE 350 companies had made by the end of 2001 towards reporting on their environmental impacts; and what assessment she has made of the progress that would have been made if there was a mandatory requirement for such reports. [29325]
  93W
  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 22 January 2002]: About 79 of the FTSE 350 report while a further 24 had plans to do so. A further 10 per cent. of other companies in the FTSE 350 mentioned environmental issues, but did not report substantively on environmental performance. These figures are now being reviewed to improve the estimates and to distinguish between companies that produce quantified performance data and those that do not, since some reports contain little or no quantified information.

  A mandatory reporting requirement would have been expected to lead to environmental reporting by all the companies concerned.

  Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many instances there were in each English region in each month since June 2000 of(a) HEES and (b) HEES Plus grant being topped-up by the recipient to pay for the full costs of the improvements; what was the average amount of the top-up; and what was the average administration cost to Eaga Partnerships and Eastern Warm Front to process each top-up. [19348]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 29 November 2001]: The Eaga Partnership Ltd. and TXU Warm Front Ltd. manage the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, marketed as the Warm Front Team, under contract. The scheme provides packages of energy efficiency measures tailored to the circumstances of the householder and the property. Where the total cost of these cannot be met from the available grant, the scheme managers seek support from other programmes. If this is not possible, then the scheme manager advises the householder of the amount of money required to complete the work and asks them to contribute towards the excess cost if the full programme of recommended energy efficiency is to go ahead. Should they do so, the sum is paid directly to the installer concerned. If the client is unable to make the required contribution then those measures requiring additional funding are not installed.

  The majority of requests for a client contribution occur at the £1,000 grant level, when it is not possible to repair a gas central heating boiler and a replacement is required. A decision on grant levels will be made shortly and will take into account the level of client contributions and advice from the scheme managers on the expected rates of labour and materials for the forthcoming year.

  The table sets out the available information on the number of letters sent to HEES clients and the average contribution requested, month by month, since June 2000. Unfortunately, data are not available in the format requested by the hon. Member.

  Number of letters

  Average value of top-ups (£)

  2000

  June

  10

  690

  July

  10

  320

  August

  20

  210

  September

  90

  520

  October

  200

  300

  November

  290

  360

  December

  180

  420

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  Number of letters

  Average value of top-ups (£)

  2001

  January

  350

  330

  February

  370

  540

  March

  400

  390

  April

  350

  430

  May

  540

  450

  June

  980

  540

  July

  1,250

  830

  August

  1,260

  640

  September

  1,190

  510

  October

  1,490

  370

  November

  1,100

  400

  The higher number of top-up requests over the last six months reflects the increasing number of householders receiving assistance through HEES. Currently, 98,000 householders are having work carried out on their properties. Since the launch of the scheme on 1 June 2000, 234,000 households have received assistance. Some 10,000 have been invited to make a contribution.

  The cost incurred in seeking contributions is incorporated within the scheme managers' fees for administering the scheme. These fees are included in their contracts with my Department. It is not possible to identify their costs separately.

  England Rural Development Programme
  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those companies which have received processing and marketing grants under the England Rural Development Programme. [26416]

  Alun Michael
  I am writing to the hon. Member today with a list of those companies that have received processing and marketing grants under the England Rural Development Programme. I am placing a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

  EU Environment Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Environment Council held in Brussels on 29 October; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [11896]

  Margaret Beckett
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and I represented the UK at the Environment Council held in Luxembourg on 29 October. This was the first Environment Council of the Belgian presidency. Council reached political agreement on four common positions: the UK voted in favour of each. Four sets of Council conclusions were agreed. There were two orientation debates: one, in public, on a proposed regulation concerning traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products derived from them, and a second on the Commission's review of the Pesticides Authorisation Directive (91/414/EEC).

  Political agreement was reached without discussion on a recommendation concerning implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Europe. This aims to encourage member states to carry out a

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  stocktake of institutions and laws affecting their coastal zones, and to adopt national strategies to promote integrated management.

  In reaching political agreement on a proposed amendment to Directive 97/68/EC on non-road mobile machinery emissions, the UK achieved its objective of ensuring deletion of an article permitting the use of economic incentives, noting that the directive did not have an appropriate legal base for such an article. The amended directive will introduce exhaust emission standards for small, off-road petrol engines and large diesel generators, and aims to align European provisions with existing US regulations.

  Political agreement was also reached on an amendment to Directive 94/25/EC laying down limit values for exhaust and noise emissions from new recreational craft placed on the Community market. The Council agreed limit values at the levels proposed by the European Commission in COM(2000) 639 dated 12 October 2000. Particularly in relation to noise emissions, agreement was reached on less costly methods of demonstrating compliance. Overall the agreement represents a reasonable balance between achieving challenging environmental objectives while minimising the cost to small and medium-sized business and individuals.

  Council reached political agreement on a proposed decision continuing for the period 2002–06 an annual funding programme for environmental NGOs active at a European level. The Commission's proposed total budget of EUR 32 million was agreed. The UK's main objective of ensuring that the selection and monitoring process was transparent and fair was met in the common position text.

  Ministers agreed a common approach on a proposed directive to bring Community rules into line with the second pillar of the Aarhus Convention dealing with public consultation in environmental decision-making. The UK welcomed the proposal and asked that the Commission also take steps to present another proposal seeking to apply the provisions of the Aarhus Convention to the Community institutions, in order to enable the Community to ratify the Convention.

  During a public orientation debate on a proposed regulation on traceability and labelling of GMOs, Council discussed the scope of the proposed system. While welcoming the intention of the proposal to improve safety and consumer choice in GM food and crops, the UK's current judgment was that the requirement to label and trace the source of products which contain no detectable GM material would be unworkable. The UK expressed concern about whether the information given to consumers would be reliable and whether developing countries would be able to provide the information expected from importers. The UK took the view that the Commission's proposals for allowing certain imports of crops containing GMOs that are not approved in the EU were unsatisfactory as they stood and that further urgent work was needed, particularly on agreeing an international system for identifying individual GMOs. Member states were still divided on when the EU decision-making process for GM products could be restarted. While recognising the importance of the proposal to rebuilding confidence in the decision-making
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  process on GMOs in the EU, the UK called for case-by-case consideration of applications and said that it was not tenable to encourage an illicit moratorium.

  Council conclusions adopted in preparation for the seventh Conference of the Parties (COP7) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, taking place in Marrakesh from 29 October to 9 November, called on all parties to respect the Bonn agreement, and underlined the need for progress in the relevant international forums in tackling emissions from aviation and shipping. The conclusions stressed the resolve of the Community and its member states to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in a timely manner, with a view to its entry into force by the World Summit on Sustainable Development next September. Environment Commissioner Wallstrom also presented a proposal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, a draft directive on a CO2 emissions trading scheme and a Communication on the European Climate Change Programme.

  Council conclusions were adopted on a Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Programme stressing the priority attached to the problems of ozone, particulates and acidification. Council also adopted conclusions on a Communication on Conservation of Natural Resources, and conclusions on the Commission's general Communication on Biodiversity, highlighting the need to implement biodiversity action plans and halt biodiversity decline across the EU.

  Council held a discussion to inform the adoption of six sustainable development indicators to be used in the Commission's synthesis report for the Barcelona Spring European Council. The Commission would publish its report on indicators on 31 October. An exchange of views was also held on the Commission's review of Directive 91/414/EEC on agricultural pesticides. The UK stressed the need to speed up the pace of the review of older compounds. The debate also considered the substitution principle and restrictions on those allowed to use certain categories of pesticides.

  The Belgian presidency and Commission reported on a number of proposals, including the EU Chemicals Strategy, environmental liability and a recently adopted communication on dioxins, furans and PCBs. France briefly outlined measures taken by the French Government since a major explosion at an ammonium nitrate manufacturing plant in Toulouse in September. The inquiry into this accident will inform the planned revision of the Seveso II Directive, but the Commission will not delay adoption of its proposal.

  Over lunch Ministers discussed preparations for the WTO Ministerial in Doha on 9–13 November and preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) to be held in Johannesburg in September 2002.

  Litter Fines
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes she plans to make to allow local authorities more easily to issue on-the-spot fines for litter. [30616]

  Mr. Meacher
  As part of the local public service agreements currently being agreed, certain local authorities are being allowed to retain the moneys received from the fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling offences. On return, the moneys must be reinvested back into the
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  community on local environmental quality improvements. Should this be a success the Government plan to extend this scheme to all local authorities.

  Also, from 1 April 2002 the fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling offences will be doubled from £25 to £50.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what rules govern whether waste may be(a) composted and (b) directly applied on farms without (i) planning permission and (ii) Environment Agency approval. [30728]

  Mr. Meacher
  PPG 10 "Planning and Waste Management" advises that the large-scale commercial composting of green waste will generally require planning permission. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 requires a planning application to be submitted for the importation of waste onto farms unless it is for use in certain specified engineering or building works. It is for local authorities to determine in the first instance whether planning permission is required in each case.

  Both composting and landspreading of waste for agricultural benefit are classified as waste recovery operations under the waste framework directive. This means that anyone carrying out these operations must do so under the terms of either a waste management licence issued by the Environment Agency under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or a licensing exemption registered with the agency. Licensing exemptions for composting and landspreading of waste are provided in the Waste Management Regulations 1994 regulation 17 and schedule 3 paragraphs 7 and 12.

  Food Labelling (GMOs)
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will support the European proposal not to label foods that contain up to one per cent. of an unapproved GM variety in the forthcoming European negotiations on traceability and labelling. [29503]

  Mr. Meacher
  While recognising that zero presence of non-EU approved GMOs may be impractical, the Government have reservations about the approach proposed by the European Commission for addressing the issue. Other options need to be explored. The best means of overcoming the problem of non-approved GMOs is to clear the backlog of decisions required on outstanding applications for approval within the EU, subject to labelling and traceability conditions being required in each case.

  Packaging Waste
  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring is taking place for the application of revenues from packaging waste exports. [29726]

  Mr. Meacher
  The revenues from packaging waste exports come from two sources. The money received for the packaging waste from overseas reprocessors and the money received for the PERNs (Packaging Waste Export 98W
  Notes) which are provided to compliance schemes and individual compliers to show that recycling of packaging waste has been undertaken on their behalf.

  The Environment Agency collects information on the use of the PERN revenue. Accredited exporters and reprocessors are required to provide information on the amounts of PERN income spent on enhancing capacity, collection and end use markets.

  Mr. Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls are being applied to monitor the quality of packaging waste exports. [29725]

  Mr. Meacher
  Information about overseas exports of packaging waste and quantities of such waste shipped is held at the Environment Agency's National Waste Registration Unit (NWRU).

  The NWRU receives applications from potential exporters of UK-sourced packaging waste and accredits those which have suitable information systems showing the places of packaging waste generation through to reprocessing facilities overseas. Information from accredited exporters about sources of packaging waste and destinations for export has to be provided to the NWRU.

  Radioactive Waste
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if it is her policy to ensure that radioactive waste arising from the reprocessing of spent fuel for overseas customers under contracts signed since 1976 will be returned to countries of origin without any element of substitution. [15898]

  Mr. Meacher
  This is one of the issues on which we have invited public comments in our 12 September consultation paper "Managing radioactive waste safely". A copy is in the Library. Pages 25–26 of the paper say that British Nuclear Fuels plc wishes to substitute a small volume of high level waste in place of larger volumes of intermediate or low level waste returned to overseas customers, but that is dependent on how high or intermediate level waste should be managed in the UK in the long term—the main issue addressed in the consultation paper. No decision has been taken. The paper invites views on the link between "waste substitution" and the availability of a long-term management strategy. The consultation period closes on 12 March.

  Nitrate Pollution
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of research results which have shown that nitrate does not cause eutrophication in rivers and estuaries; and if she will make a statement on the source of the research upon which her Department's policy is based. [29084]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Department's current proposals to reduce nitrate pollution from agriculture arise from the requirement to comply with the European Court of Justice judgment that implementation of the Nitrates Directive is currently incomplete in the UK.

  The Department is aware of many sources of research relevant to eutrophication in rivers and estuaries. Two fundamental reports which have shaped both UK and

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  world wide opinion are those published by the OECD: "Scientific Fundamentals of the Eutrophication of Lakes and Flowing Waters" published in 1968 and "Eutrophication of waters: Monitoring, assessment and Control" published in 1982. Other recent reports are the Environment Agency's publications: "An environmental strategy for the millennium and beyond" published in 1997 and "Aquatic eutrophication in England and Wales: a proposed management strategy" published in 1998.

  The Department's assessment of this body of scientific information is that it supports the view that in the UK's freshwater systems, phosphorus is generally the key nutrient limiting the eutrophication process, although nitrates may also contribute to eutrophication. In marine waters, nitrate is generally the key limiting nutrient.

  Farming and Food Report
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government expects the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food to publish its report. [31571]

  Margaret Beckett
  The Policy Commission will publish its report to Government on 29 January. Copies of the report will be available from the Libraries of the House and from the Vote Office [PPO for Lords] at loam that day. It will also be available in electronic form from the Policy Commission website, www.cabinet-office/gov.uk/farming.
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  Environment Agency
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will consult on revised statutory guidance to the Environment Agency. [31572]

  Mr. Meacher
  On Friday 25 January 2002 I published for consultation draft revised statutory guidance to the Environment Agency under section 4 of the Environment Act 1995. The guidance concerns the agency's activities in England. It states the statutory objectives which the agency should pursue over the next few years, identifies its roles in contributing to the achievement of sustainable development, and sets out the principles it should follow in deciding its priorities. The document has been developed following the first financial management and policy review of the agency, which my Department carried out last year. Copies of the consultation draft have been placed in the House Library. I would welcome responses from interested organisations and individuals, by 18 April 2002. Following public consultation, I will lay proposed statutory guidance before Parliament.

  Home Energy Conservation Bill
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will propose amendments to the Home Energy Conservation Bill to give powers to the National Assembly for Wales for the provisions of the Bill to apply to Wales; and if she will make a statement. [29280]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government have tabled amendments to this Bill giving powers to the National Assembly for Wales in respect of Wales. These are consistent with the wishes of the National Assembly for Wales. Similar amendments were also tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Dr. Turner) and others.
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many investigations there have been to date into fraud by individual learning account holders. [27160]

  John Healey
  There have been no investigations into individual learning account holders. The Department's Special Investigation Unit has had 86 learning providers referred to it: four learning providers did not require investigation and 82 learning providers are in the process of being investigated. Of these the SIU are discussing 42 with the police, a further 12 are being investigated by the police and another has been charged.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when access to the ILA website for providers of ILA courses will be restored. [29258]

  John Healey
  The Department is currently looking closely into the operation of the ILA Centre system. The system will not be reopened to providers until we are satisfied on the robustness of the control and security arrangements. We are working with Capita to assess the control and security arrangements that were in place in the ILA system and we have engaged Cap Gemini Ernst and Young Consultants to support that process.

  Theft and Fraud
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate her Department has made of the cost to its budget since 1 May 1997 of fraud; and if she will make a statement. [27290]

  Estelle Morris
  Cases of fraud and irregularity involving staff and direct contractors are reported annually to the Treasury for inclusion in the Treasury Fraud Report which is laid before Parliament. From 1 April 1997 to date the number of cases reported were as follows:

  £

  Number

  Estimated Cost

  Internal

  17

  1,694

  Direct contractors

  44

  16,405,635

  The above figures do not include NDPBs or sub-contractors, eg training providers operating under contracts with Training and Enterprise Councils.

  The number of training providers investigated by the Department from 1 April 1997 to date was 112 and the estimated cost of the fraud/irregularity was £15 million.

  The above figures represent 0.14 per cent. of the relevant expenditure lines, and 0.05 per cent. of total departmental spend over the last four years.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and(c) non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years. [27973]
  102W
  Estelle Morris
  An estimate of cost to the Department of cases involving potential fraud and irregularity for the last four financial years is as follows:

  £000

  1997–98

  3,816

  1998–99

  5,716

  1999–2000

  4,548

  2000–01

  17,327

  Total

  31,407

  The figure for 2000–01 includes one specific direct contractor fraud valued at £7.9 million.

  The figures represent 0.14 per cent. of the relevant expenditure lines, and 0.05 per cent. of total departmental spend over the last four years.

  Details of fraud cases reported by the Employment Service are being included in DWP's response to this PQ. Information on NDPBs is not collected centrally.

  Standard Spending Assessment (Cambridgeshire)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list for Cambridgeshire(a) the difference between the education department budget and that county's education service block SSA in each year from 1992–93 to 2002–03 and (b) that sum divided by the total number of full-time equivalent pupils financed by that education department. [27627]

  Mr. Timms
  The following table provides the latest available information:

  Difference between education budget and SSA (£ million)

  Difference per pupil (£)

  1993–94

  7.1

  70

  1994–95

  16.3

  160

  1995–96

  17.5

  170

  1996–97

  7.7

  74

  1997–98

  14.4

  138

  1998–99

  10.8

  142

  1999–2000

  3.9

  51

  2000–01

  4.1

  53

  2001–02

  11.1

  144

  Notes:

  1. Information is taken from data published in the 2001 and previous years Departmental Annual Reports. Budget figures up to 1999–2000 were taken from local authorities' latest Revenue Account returns submitted to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and for 2000–01 and 2001–02, from LEAs s52 Budget statements.

  2. The authority's budgeted spend was more than the SSA.

  3. Cambridgeshire was re-organised in 1998–99. All pupil numbers but those for 2001–02 are financial year averages, based on January Annual Census returns. The figures for 2001–02 reflect the January 2001 returns. Figures for 1990–91 to 1998–99 include grant maintained schools. Figures for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 include ex-GM schools. The total figures include pre-primary, primary secondary and special schools.
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  White Hart Lane School, Tottenham
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants she has made to the White Hart Lane school in Tottenham to teach pupils in languages other than English; and if she will make a statement. [28108]

  Mr. Timms
  None. We understand that the school is seeking sponsorship for this proposed pilot project from a range of sources, including the local Turkish business community.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the development of Modern Apprenticeships. [28150]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Modern Apprenticeships are an important component of the Government's strategy to boost participation and attainment in learning by young people and to meet the skills needs of employers. They provide high quality vocational pathways for young people to progress from GCSEs or A levels to their chosen profession.

  On 29 November 2001, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced the new generation of Modern Apprenticeships and endorsed the main recommendations in the report of Sir John Cassels' Advisory Committee on the development, promotion and delivery of Modern Apprenticeships. These included:
  an expansion in employer places so that more than a quarter of young people can enter Modern Apprenticeships before they are 22-years-old, by 2004–05;
  an entitlement to a Modern Apprenticeship place for all 16 and 17-year-olds with five or more GCSE passes, from September 2004;
  a national framework for apprenticeship which defines basic standards and strengthens the relationship between the employer and apprentice. Technical certificates will reflect the broader knowledge and understanding acquired through off-the-job learning; and
  a £16 million marketing campaign, over three years, to promote Modern Apprenticeships and boost take-up among employers and young people.

  The Learning and Skills Council will spearhead the development and delivery of the new generation of Modern Apprenticeships working with a range of other partners, especially the Connexions Service and the new Sector Skills Councils.

  Copies of the report of the Modern Apprenticeship Advisory Committee (September 2001) and the Government's Consultation Response (March 2001) have been placed in the Library in the House of Commons.
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  LEA Grants
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will provide additional 100 per cent. funded grants to local education authorities within the F40 Groups. [28373]

  Mr. Timms
  We have no plans to do so.

  Special Education Needs
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make additional funds available to compensate for the costs of supplying services to special needs children in sparsely populated rural areas. [28433]

  Mr. Timms
  The overall settlement for 2002–03 is a good one: over £1.3 billion extra in Education Standard Spending Assessments; a further increase in Standards Fund grant of almost £160 million; and an increase in the direct grant for schools of 2.75 per cent. We believe that this settlement provides sufficient resources to cover the costs of supplying services to special needs children in sparsely populated rural areas.

  However, we are currently working up a new funding system for introduction in 2003–04. As part of that work we are taking account of the costs associated with sparsely populated areas.

  Specialist Schools
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have been granted specialist status on the basis of their first application for such status(a) in total and (b) in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [29201]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: Of the 685 specialist schools currently operational 315 (46 per cent.) have been granted specialist status on the basis of their first application. The number of schools granted specialist status on the basis of their first application in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.

  Year

  Number of specialist school designations

  Number of designations based on first application

  Percentage of designations based on first application

  1996–97

  74

  35

  47

  1997–98

  83

  46

  55

  1998–99

  80

  46

  58

  1999–2000

  140

  103

  74

  2000–01

  152

  64

  42

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) joint and (b) associated applications for specialist school status have been received since May 1997; and how many of these have been successful. [29203]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: There have been 48 joint applications for specialist school status since May 1997, of which 19 have been successful. A

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  further 12 joint applications have been received under the current competition which are currently being assessed. Two applications we would identify as 'associated applications' are being considered in the October 2001 competition, the results of which will be announced in February.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many bids for specialist school status have been received from each local education authority area since May 1997; what proportion of such bids has been

  Specialist school application and designations, 5 years to 2001 by LEA

  Applications

  Designations

  LEA

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Barking and Dagenham

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Barnet

  2

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Barnsley

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Bath and NE Somerset

  3

  —

  3

  1

  2

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  Bedfordshire

  1

  2

  1

  2

  5

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Birmingham

  7

  3

  4

  16

  13

  2

  —

  4

  13

  6

  Blackburn with Darwen

  1

  —

  2

  —

  2

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Blackpool

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Bolton

  3

  2

  2

  4

  1

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  Bournemouth

  1

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Bracknell Forest

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bradford

  6

  2

  1

  2

  4

  1

  —

  1

  2

  4

  Brent

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Brighton and Hove

  —

  2

  —

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Bristol, City of

  4

  4

  2

  1

  3

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Bromley, LB of

  —

  1

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Buckinghamshire

  8

  2

  —

  1

  8

  2

  1

  —

  1

  4

  Calderdale

  2

  —

  2

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Cambridgeshire

  5

  2

  4

  —

  3

  1

  —

  4

  —

  3

  Camden, LB of

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  2

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Cheshire

  11

  6

  1

  3

  4

  1

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Cornwall

  7

  6

  1

  3

  4

  3

  —

  —

  1

  3

  Coventry

  4

  2

  —

  1

  2

  2

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Croydon, LB of

  1

  2

  —

  2

  3

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Cumbria

  6

  5

  —

  3

  3

  1

  2

  —

  1

  3

  Darlington

  —

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  Derby, City of

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Derbyshire

  6

  3

  —

  7

  9

  1

  —

  —

  1

  5

  Devon

  8

  2

  —

  1

  3

  2

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Doncaster

  —

  —

  —

  —

  6

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset

  —

  —

  2

  4

  2

  —

  —

  2

  2

  2

  Dudley

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Durham

  1

  5

  4

  5

  10

  1

  4

  4

  2

  1

  Ealing, LB of

  2

  2

  1

  4

  2

  —

  —

  1

  1

  2

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  2

  1

  —

  5

  1

  1

  1

  —

  2

  1

  East Sussex

  7

  2

  —

  3

  5

  1

  1

  —

  2

  3

  Enfield, LB of

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  16

  4

  4

  11

  9

  —

  1

  2

  4

  4

  Gateshead

  —

  1

  3

  1

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  1

  Gloucestershire

  9

  5

  4

  4

  7

  2

  1

  3

  2

  2

  Greenwich, LB of

  3

  2

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  —

  1

  —

  Hackney, LB of

  2

  1

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  2

  —

  1

  Halton

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Hampshire

  4

  2

  —

  7

  5

  —

  —

  —

  4

  1

  Haringey, LB of

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Harrow, LB of

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hartlepool

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Havering

  2

  —

  —

  —

  6

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Herefordshire

  4

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Hertfordshire

  7

  3

  1

  4

  9

  —

  2

  1

  2

  3

  Hillingdon

  4

  1

  2

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Hounslow

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Isle of Wight

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Islington, LB of

  —

  —

  1

  3

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Kent

  12

  6

  6

  7

  8

  2

  —

  2

  1

  3

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Kingston upon Thames

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kirklees

  1

  3

  2

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Knowsley

  2

  2

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  Lambeth, LB of

  —

  1

  —

  2

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  106W
  accepted in each case; if she will break down these figures for each year from 1997–98 to 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [29213]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: The total number of bids for specialist school status received from each local education authority each year from 1997–98 to 2000–01 and the number of those applications which were successful is provided in the table. Information for 2001–02 is not yet available as the result of the October 2001 competition has not yet been announced.
  107W

  Specialist school applications and designations, 5 years to 2001 by LEA

  Applications

  Designations

  LEA

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Lancashire

  12

  3

  2

  6

  6

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  Leeds

  —

  3

  1

  4

  6

  —

  1

  1

  3

  3

  Leicester, City of

  —

  2

  2

  3

  2

  —

  —

  2

  1

  2

  Leicestershire

  7

  2

  2

  —

  5

  3

  2

  2

  —

  1

  Lewisham

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  2

  9

  13

  —

  —

  1

  4

  7

  Liverpool

  5

  4

  —

  3

  7

  2

  1

  —

  2

  3

  Luton

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Manchester

  4

  1

  —

  3

  —

  1

  1

  —

  3

  —

  Medway

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Middlesbrough

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Milton Keynes

  1

  4

  —

  —

  1

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1

  4

  —

  3

  1

  —

  1

  —

  3

  —

  Newham

  2

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Norfolk

  6

  3

  1

  6

  11

  —

  1

  1

  5

  2

  North East Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  —

  North Lincolnshire

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  North Somerset

  1

  3

  3

  2

  3

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  North Tyneside

  2

  3

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  North Yorkshire

  —

  3

  1

  3

  3

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Northamptonshire

  6

  2

  3

  3

  1

  4

  —

  2

  2

  —

  Northumberland

  4

  4

  1

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  Nottinghamshire

  5

  4

  1

  2

  9

  —

  2

  —

  —

  1

  Oldham

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Oxfordshire

  5

  3

  1

  1

  4

  2

  1

  1

  1

  2

  Peterborough

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Plymouth

  —

  —

  2

  3

  —

  —

  —

  2

  3

  —

  Poole

  —

  —

  —

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Portsmouth

  1

  2

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Reading

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Redbridge, LB of

  —

  —

  —

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Redcar and Cleveland

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Richmond, LB of

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Rochdale

  3

  2

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Rotherham

  —

  1

  —

  1

  4

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Salford

  —

  —

  1

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Sefton

  —

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Sandwell

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  Sheffield

  3

  4

  —

  1

  4

  —

  1

  —

  —

  4

  Shropshire

  1

  —

  —

  1

  7

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3

  Slough

  —

  —

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  Solihull

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Somerset

  2

  4

  3

  5

  3

  1

  2

  1

  2

  1

  South Gloucestershire

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  South Tyneside

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Southampton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Southend on Sea

  —

  1

  1

  1

  3

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  Southwark

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  St. Helens

  —

  —

  1

  3

  2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1

  Staffordshire

  4

  1

  —

  2

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Stockport

  9

  3

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Stockton on Tees

  1

  2

  5

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  —

  —

  Stoke on Trent

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Suffolk

  3

  4

  2

  5

  6

  1

  2

  1

  2

  4

  Sunderland

  3

  2

  2

  1

  1

  1

  —

  2

  —

  1

  Surrey

  5

  2

  —

  8

  3

  1

  2

  —

  1

  2

  Sutton, LB of

  1

  1

  —

  1

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Swindon

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Tameside

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Telford and Wrekin

  1

  3

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Thurrock

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Torbay

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Tower Hamlets, LB of

  2

  1

  —

  1

  3

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Trafford

  2

  1

  —

  1

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  2

  Wakefield

  4

  —

  —

  2

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Walsall

  3

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Waltham Forest, LB of

  1

  —

  —

  2

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  Wandsworth, LB of

  6

  2

  —

  1

  1

  2

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Warrington

  —

  1

  —

  2

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  —

  Warwickshire

  —

  2

  1

  4

  2

  —

  1

  1

  2

  —

  West Berkshire

  14

  10

  —

  1

  1

  1

  1

  —

  1

  1

  West Sussex

  7

  7

  —

  1

  3

  3

  3

  —

  1

  —

  Westminster

  2

  2

  —

  1

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  Weston Super Mare

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Widnes

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wigan

  2

  2

  2

  3

  4

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  108W 109W

  Specialist school applications and designations, 5 years to 2001 by LEA

  Applications

  Designations

  LEA

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Wiltshire

  4

  3

  —

  5

  1

  1

  2

  —

  4

  1

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wirral

  1

  2

  —

  2

  3

  —

  1

  —

  1

  2

  Wolverhampton

  1

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1

  —

  —

  3

  —

  Wokingham

  —

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  1

  Worcestershire

  —

  1

  —

  3

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1

  —

  York, city of

  1

  1

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  332

  219

  118

  285

  354

  73

  83

  81

  130

  152

  Central Pupil Database
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) which organisations and individuals will have access to the personal details of pupils stored on the central pupil database; [29372]

  (2)who will have responsibility for approving requests for access to information held on the central pupil database; [29373]

  (3) if it is her policy to destroy files on the central pupil database which relate to pupils who leave the state education system. [29370]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 22 January 2002]: The central pupil database will contain statistical profiles of pupils in England, built up over time from the "Pupil Level Annual Schools Census" (PLASC) returns which maintained schools will provide each January from January 2002, plus details of Key Stage assessment and examination results obtained separately from schools, marking agencies or examination boards. In order for these profiles to be accurate pupil names are needed to help ensure that all data relating to the same pupil are collated correctly.

  Access to the personal details of pupils

  The Department has no interest in the identity of individual pupils as such, and will be using the database solely for statistical purposes, with only technical staff directly engaged in the data collation process having access to pupil names.

  Any disclosures of personal data (ie data including names or other details that would enable the recipient to determine the identity of individual pupils) will have to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and any other legislation relevant to the particular case. Subject to this proviso, organisations or individuals who may have access to personal data are as follows:

  1. the pupil (or their parents or guardians) will be able to request a copy of their own record in order to confirm its accuracy;

  2. in the case of a child in local authority care, the local authority social services department will, as the child's "corporate parent", be able to obtain a copy of that child's record;

  3. schools and LEAs will be able to obtain information about their own pupils to which they have a statutory entitlement but may be missing (for example as a result of pupil mobility);

  4. requests from research organisations will be considered by the Secretary of State if, for a specific research project, pupil names are needed in order to link information from the central database with other information obtained by the research organisation via a separate survey;

  110W

  5. to minimise burdens on schools, for pupils approaching or above age 13, consideration is being given to the Connexions Service receiving from the central database (rather than from schools):

  (a) pupil names and any available contact details (information to which the Connexions Service has a statutory entitlement under section 117(1) of the Learning and Skills Act 2000);

  (b) other information held on the database if, and only if, the pupil or their parent (depending on the pupil's age) has not exercised their right under section 117(2) of the Learning and Skills Act to instruct that this information be withheld from the Connexions Service;

  (6) where there are legal proceedings to trace a child (for example in an abduction case) the court can require the Department to provide it with any information it has about the whereabouts of that child.

  Approval of requests for access to personal data

  No disclosures of personal data beyond those listed above are anticipated at this time. Should future developments indicate that further disclosures may be appropriate, these will be considered by the Secretary of State on their merits, subject to the overriding requirement to comply with the Data Protection Act and any other relevant legislation.

  With respect to (4) above, requests from research organisations, the precise arrangements for considering whether or not to approve such requests have yet to be decided. However the factors likely to be taken into account are:

  the bona fides of the research and the organisation undertaking it;

  a demonstrable need for information including pupil names (in many cases anonymised information may be sufficient);

  a willingness by the research organisation to take all reasonable steps to inform schools of the research and involve them in it;

  satisfactory assurances from the research organisation with regard to storing the information securely, using it only for the approved research purpose, disposing of it when that research has been completed, and not passing it on to any other person or organisation.

  In cases of doubt on any of these points, the Department would expect to err on the side of caution.

  Policy with respect to pupils leaving the state education system

  The Department does not intend to delete the records of pupils who leave the maintained schools sector, either at age 16 or 18, or before then. Information for these pupils remains of statistical and research value—for example to analyse young people's progression from school into further education and training, higher education and the labour market. The Department will be using information on past pupils for statistical and research purposes only, and any disclosures will be for

  111W
  those purposes only. On this basis section 33 of the Data Protection Act allows personal data to be retained indefinitely.

  Higher Education
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which constituencies have no higher education establishments within their boundaries. [29387]

  Margaret Hodge
  The available information, showing the number of HE institutions in each constituency in the UK, is contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The tables only take into account the location of the main site of the institution; some institutions have more than one campus, which may be situated in a different constituency.

  Administration
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administrative cost was of those functions of her Department concerned with schools in each year since 1997; and how much that sum represented per pupil. [29660]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: Since 1997, the Government's agenda for raising standards in schools has led to the introduction of many new policies, programmes and strategies. For example,

  Financial year

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  DFES further education administration costs (£000s)

  1,717

  1,471

  2,578

  1,763

  DFES administrative cost per full time equivalent FE students (£s)

  1.69

  1.48

  2.63

  1.69

  DfES higher education administrative costs (£000s)

  6,162

  8,358

  5,501

  6,358

  DfES administrative cost per full time equivalent HE student (£s)

  6.05

  8.17

  5.28

  5.98

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administrative cost was of those functions of her Department concerned with early years in each year since 1997; and how much that sum represented per pupil child under five in the population. [29663]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: The estimated administrative costs of my Department concerned with early years and the sums that these represent per child under five in the population in each of the years in question were:

  Year

  Administrative costs (£000)

  Sum per child under five (£)

  1997–98

  612

  0.20

  1998–99

  1,018

  0.33

  1999–2000

  1,149

  0.38

  2000–01

  1,623

  0.54

  The increase in funding for these functions reflects this Government's manifesto commitment to expand the early years sector, helping create new provision and to extend support for existing provision. This has mostly been achieved by redeploying resources from other functions in DIES. In real terms the Department's overall administrative costs were broadly the same in 2000–01 as they were in 1997–98.
  112W
  the national literacy and numeracy strategies, working towards improved results at Key Stages 2 and 3, excellence in cities, along with modernising the teaching profession have all led to an increase in administrative spending on schools functions within the Department to ensure their effective delivery and continued success. However, this has mostly been achieved by redeploying resources from other functions in DfES. In real terms the Department's overall administrative costs were broadly the same in 2000–01 as they were in 1997–1998.

  Administrative costs for schools related functions, along with the sums that these represent per pupil, each year since 1997 were as follows:

  £ million

  £ per pupil

  1997–98

  23.4

  2.85

  1998–99

  27.0

  3.28

  1999–2000

  31.0

  3.73

  2000–01

  34.5

  4.14

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administrative cost was of those functions of her Department concerned with(a) further and (b) higher education in each year since 1997; and how much those sums represented per full-term equivalent student. [29661]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: The figures are given in the table for the years in question:

  Adult Education
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the administrative cost was of those functions of her Department concerned with adult education and basic skills in each year since 1997; and how much that sum represented per adult in the population. [29662]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: The figures are set out in the table for the period 1998–99 to 2000–01. Figures prior to 1998–99 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. 'Adult Education' is interpreted as the local education authority secured adult education sector.

  Financial year

  DfES admin cost (£000)

  Cost per adult1(£)

  1998–99

  207

  0.01

  1999–2000

  351

  0.01

  2000–01

  351

  0.01

  1The administrative cost for each complete financial year divided by the adult (age 19+) resident population for England (from the Office for National Statistics) taken at the mid point of the calendar year which forms the first nine months of each financial year.

  113W

  Student Profiles
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the social class breakdown was in 2001 of students who(a) applied for and (b) were successful in obtaining places on degree courses at British universities in (i) law, (ii) medicine, (iii) engineering, (iv) nursing, (v) B Ed teaching, (vi) accountancy, (vii) veterinary studies and (viii) psychology; and what the percentage change in (A) applicants and (B) successful places has been since 1995, broken down by social class. [29690]

  Applicants 1and accepted applicants through UCAS to full-time and sandwich first-degree courses in the United Kingdom by social class and subject

  Social class

  Year of entry

  Professional

  Intermediate

  Skilled manual

  Skilled non-manual

  Partly skilled

  Unskilled

  Not known

  Grand total

  1995

  Applicants1

  Pre-clinical medicine

  3,489

  3,665

  879

  845

  554

  125

  490

  10,047

  Nursing

  594

  1,948

  1,066

  560

  526

  136

  560

  5,390

  Psychology

  3,726

  11,205

  4,806

  3,444

  2,303

  658

  2,991

  29,133

  Veterinary science

  348

  647

  136

  124

  62

  7

  57

  1,381

  Engineering2

  4,254

  9,544

  4,907

  2,809

  2,242

  467

  2,580

  26,803

  Law

  2,919

  7,598

  3,062

  2,259

  1,462

  480

  2,039

  19,819

  Accountancy

  1,171

  3,978

  2,216

  1,510

  1,064

  328

  1,192

  11,459

  Education3

  4,199

  16,010

  9,306

  5,338

  3,811

  1,002

  3,840

  43,506

  Accepted Applicants

  Pre-clinical medicine

  1,720

  1,571

  280

  341

  167

  29

  127

  4,235

  Nursing

  225

  596

  290

  171

  126

  31

  146

  1,585

  Psychology

  1,015

  2,671

  1,055

  782

  502

  136

  673

  6,834

  Veterinary science

  >145

  248

  27

  42

  10

  2

  8

  482

  Engineering2

  2,430

  5,034

  2,411

  1,432

  1,115

  240

  1,399

  14,061

  Law

  1,541

  3,570

  1,272

  965

  592

  166

  793

  8,899

  Accountancy

  424

  1,381

  731

  538

  354

  108

  390

  3,926

  Education3

  1,285

  4,605

  2,442

  1,513

  952

  214

  1,014

  12,025

  2001

  Applicants1

  Pre-clinical medicine

  2,805

  3,017

  690

  716

  351

  74

  1,003

  8,656

  Nursing

  538

  2,878

  1,221

  1,086

  1,222

  177

  1,560

  8,682

  Psychology

  2,969

  10,327

  4,176

  3,409

  2,143

  537

  3,179

  26,740

  Veterinary science

  394

  698

  161

  151

  71

  11

  131

  1,617

  Engineering2

  3,418

  8,277

  4,081

  2,393

  1,624

  378

  3,403

  23,574

  Law

  2,686

  7,693

  3,246

  2,584

  1,416

  476

  2,961

  21,062

  Accountancy

  1,000

  3,587

  1,943

  1,429

  850

  271

  1,479

  10,559

  Education3

  1,222

  5,912

  3,397

  2,438

  1,875

  352

  2,071

  17,267

  Accepted Applicants

  Pre-clinical medicine

  2,053

  2,037

  406

  439

  204

  36

  500

  5,675

  Nursing

  246

  1,349

  472

  431

  515

  58

  622

  3,693

  Psychology

  1,166

  3,981

  1,404

  1,305

  732

  164

  1,209

  9,961

  Veterinary science

  175

  290

  43

  48

  26

  1

  53

  636

  Engineering2

  2,058

  4,493

  2,047

  1,216

  841

  190

  1,749

  12,594

  Law

  1,731

  4,658

  1,781

  1,501

  747

  256

  1,686

  12,360

  Accountancy

  411

  1,413

  743

  649

  355

  103

  626

  4,300

  Education3

  530

  2,422

  1,320

  1,009

  777

  115

  792

  6,965

  Percentage change for applicants1and accepted applicants from 1995 to 2001

  Social class

  Year of entry

  Professional

  Intermediate

  Skilled manual

  Skilled non-manual

  Partly skilled

  Unskilled

  Not known

  Grand total

  2001

  Applicants1

  Pre-clinical medicine

  -20

  -18

  -22

  -15

  -37

  -41

  105

  -14

  Nursing

  -9

  48

  15

  94

  132

  30

  179

  61

  Psychology

  -20

  -8

  -13

  -1

  -7

  -18

  6

  -8

  Veterinary science

  13

  8

  18

  22

  15

  57

  130

  17

  Engineering2

  -20

  -13

  -17

  -15

  -28

  -19

  32

  -12

  114W
  Margaret Hodge
  Information for the years 1995 and 2001, and the percentage change, is shown in the tables. A change in the UCAS application system contributed to the decrease in applications between 1995 and 2001: in 1995 each applicant could make up to eight applications; but in 2001 each applicant could only make up to six applications.

  The Government are committed to raising the participation rates for people from less affluent family backgrounds, and have introduced Excellence Challenge, including the AimHigher campaign, which is targeted at raising attainment and aspirations among young people who traditionally would not consider going to university.
  115W

  Percentage Change for applicants1 accepted applicants from 1995 to 2001

  Social class

  Year of entry

  Professional

  Intermediate

  Skilled manual

  Skilled non-manual

  Partly skilled

  Unskilled

  Not known

  Grand total

  Law

  -8

  1

  6

  14

  -3

  -1

  45

  6

  Accountancy

  -15

  -10

  -12

  -5

  -20

  -17

  24

  -8

  Education3

  -71

  -63

  -63

  -54

  -51

  -65

  -46

  -60

  Accepted Applicants

  Pre-clinical medicine

  19

  30

  45

  29

  22

  24

  294

  34

  Nursing

  9

  126

  63

  152

  309

  87

  326

  133

  Psychology

  15

  49

  33

  67

  46

  21

  80

  46

  Veterinary science

  21

  17

  59

  14

  160

  -50

  563

  32

  Engineering2

  -15

  -11

  -15

  -15

  -25

  -21

  25

  -10

  Law

  12

  30

  40

  56

  26

  54

  113

  39

  Accountancy

  -3

  2

  2

  21

  0

  -5

  61

  10

  Education3

  -59

  -47

  -46

  -33

  -18

  -46

  -22

  -42

  1In 1995 each student could make up to eight applications; in 2001 each student could make up to 6 applications. In the tables, applicants are counted once under each subject to which they applied.

  2Includes general, civil, mechanical, aeronautical, electrical, electronic, production/manufacturing and chemical engineering courses.

  3Includes courses within the Education Group that lead to Qualified Teacher Status. In 1995, the Education group included all sports science, leisure studies and recreation management courses. Since 1997, these courses have been re-coded into other subject lines.

  Special Measures
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list(a) the name and corresponding local education authority of each school placed under special measures since May 1997 and (b) the duration for which they were under special measures. [29731]

  Mr. Timms
  I shall place in the Library a list of the names of schools which have been judged to require special measures since May 1997, together with their local education authority and the length of time they were in special measures. The list also includes a number of schools which were closed while in special measures.

  Financial Resources and Initiatives (Dorset)
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the financial resources and initiatives sponsored by her Department in the last 12 months for Dorset which are additional to the Government SSA grants. [29894]

  Mr. Timms
  The table shows the Department's allocated grants to Dorset local education authority in 2000–01 and 2001–02.

  £

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Standards Fund (revenue)

  7,369,622

  9,104,494

  Teachers Pay Reform Grant

  2,069,823

  2,699,397

  Nursery Education Grant (3-year-olds)

  395,024

  1,513,512

  Nursery Education Grant (4-year-olds)

  1,332,672

  —

  Early Years Training and Recruitment

  52,300

  231,024

  Early Years Special Education Needs Co-ordinators

  —

  33,691

  Childcare Grant

  373,700

  1,670,361

  School Standards Grant

  2,354,000

  4,866,000

  School Budget Support Grant

  343,176

  —

  Education Budget Support Grant

  —

  100,000

  Transitional Funding and Transitional Grant Insurance (former GM Schools)

  36,837

  4,742

  Capital Grant

  11,018,000

  9,061,000

  Note:

  Amounts are in cash terms. 2001–02 figures may be subject to change.
  116W
  Information on other support for projects in Dorset, provided outside the local government finance system, is not readily available.

  Direct Grants
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the direct grants for schools in north Lincolnshire and north-east Lincolnshire in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [29908]

  Mr. Timms
  The tables show School Standards Grant payable for each school in north Lincolnshire and northeast Lincolnshire in 2000–01 and 2001–02.

  School standards grant—north Lincolnshire LEA

  £

  School number

  School name

  2000–01

  2001–02

  1103

  Millbrook Holme PRU

  3,000

  7,000

  1105

  Young Parents Unit

  3,000

  0

  2001

  Westcliffe Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2100

  Alkborough Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  2101

  Althorpe and Keadby Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2105

  Bottesford Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2106

  Brigg Primary School

  9,000

  30,000

  2107

  Broughton Infant School

  6,000

  13,500

  2108

  Burton-upon-Stather Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2115

  Crowle Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2116

  East Halton Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  2118

  Goxhill Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2120

  Hibaldstow Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  2121

  Kirton Lindsey Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2122

  Luddington and Garthorpe Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  2123

  Messingham Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2125

  Killingholme Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  2126

  Scawby Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2129

  Brumby Junior School

  9,000

  30,000

  2130

  Bushfield Road Infant School

  6,000

  13,500

  2133

  Frodingham Infant School

  9,000

  24,000

  2134

  Henderson Avenue Primary School

  9,000

  48,000

  2136

  Lincoln Gardens Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2137

  Lincoln Gardens Infant School

  9,000

  24,000

  2138

  South Ferriby Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  2140

  Winteringham Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  2141

  Worlaby Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  2143

  Priory Lane Infant School

  6,000

  13,500

  2146

  Priory Lane Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2147

  Grange Lane Infant School

  9,000

  24,000

  2148

  Grange Lane Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2149

  Riddings Infant School

  9,000

  13,500

  2150

  Rochdale Road Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  117W

  School standards grant—north Lincolnshire LEA

  School number

  School name

  2000 –01

  2001–02

  2152

  Riddings Junior School

  9,000

  2,400

  2155

  Enderby Road Infant School

  6,000

  7,000

  2159

  Leys Farm Junior School

  6,000

  13,500

  2168

  Parkwood Infant School

  6,000

  13,500

  2169

  Parkwood Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2171

  Sunway Infant School

  6,000

  13,500

  2172

  Berkeley Infant School

  9,000

  24,000

  2173

  Bottesford Infant School

  6,000

  24,000

  2174

  Berkeley Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2180

  Winterton Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2567

  Holme Valley Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  2568

  Bowmandale Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2880

  Broughton Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2890

  Epworth Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2907

  Crosby Primary School

  9,000

  30,000

  2940

  Castledyke Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  3055

  St. Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby

  6,000

  13,500

  3056

  John Harrison CofE Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  3057

  Barton St. Peter's CofE Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  3058

  Belton All Saints CofE Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  3063

  Gunness and Burringham CofE Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  3064

  Haxey CofE Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  3067

  Kirmington CofE Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  3071

  Scunthorpe CofE Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  3073

  West Butterwick CofE Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  3074

  Westwoodside CofE Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  3075

  Winterton CofE Infant School

  6,000

  24,000

  3076

  Wrawby St. Mary's CofE Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  3077

  Wroot Travis Charity Church of England Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  3078

  New Holland Church of England and Methodist Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  3079

  Ulceby St. Nicholas Church of England Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  3320

  St. Martin's CofE Primary School

  6,000

  7,000

  3322

  Wootton St. Andrew's CofE Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  3323

  St. Mary's Catholic Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  3324

  Saint Norbert's Catholic Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  3325

  St. Bernadette's Catholic Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  3326

  Saint Augustine Webster Catholic Primary School

  9,000

  30,000

  3330

  Eastoft Church of England Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  4074

  Huntcliff School

  40,000

  70,000

  4075

  Brumby School

  40,000

  70,000

  4076

  Foxhills Comprehensive School

  40,000

  70,000

  4077

  Thomas Sumpter School

  40,000

  70,000

  4081

  South Leys School

  30,000

  58,000

  4082

  North Axholme School

  30,000

  58,000

  4083

  South Axholme Community School

  40,700

  70,000

  4087

  Frederick Gough School

  40,000

  70,000

  4088

  High Ridge School

  30,000

  58,000

  4090

  Winterton Comprehensive School

  40,000

  70,000

  4091

  Vale of Ancholme School

  30,000

  58,000

  4491

  Baysgarth School

  40,000

  70,000

  4501

  Sir John Nelthorpe School

  40,000

  70,000

  4700

  St. Bede's Catholic School

  40,000

  70,000

  7019

  St. Hugh's School,

  15,000

  28,000

  7020

  St. Luke's School

  15,000

  20,000

  School standard grant: north-east Lincolnshire LEA

  £

  School number

  School name

  2000–01

  2001–02

  1006

  Nunsthorpe Nursery School

  3,000

  7,000

  1007

  Great Coates Nursery School

  3,000

  7,000

  1012

  Scartho Nursery School

  3,000

  7,000

  1101

  Phoenix House

  3,000

  7,000

  1104

  Young Mothers Unit

  3,000

  7,000

  2000

  Allerton Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2001

  Yarborough Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2002

  Woodlands Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2003

  Nunsthorpe Community School

  0

  24,000

  2109

  William Barcroft Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  118W

  School standard grant: north-east Lincolnshire LEA

  £

  School number

  School name

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2112

  Elliston Infants' School

  9,000

  24,000

  2113

  Queen Mary Infant School

  9,000

  24,000

  2114

  Reynolds Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2124

  New Waltham Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2142

  Thrunscoe Infants' School

  6,000

  13,500

  2144

  Pelham Infants' School

  6,000

  13,500

  2145

  Enfield (New Waltham) Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  2151

  The Leas Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2153

  Thrunscoe Junior School

  6,000

  13,500

  2154

  Healing Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2175

  Signhills Infants' School

  9,000

  24,000

  2176

  Signhills Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2178

  Eastfield Junior School

  6,000

  13,500

  2179

  Eastfield Infants' School

  6,000

  13,500

  2181

  The Leas Infants' School

  9,000

  24,000

  2182

  Middlethorpe Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2183

  Reynolds Infants' School

  9,000

  24,000

  2184

  Elliston Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2877

  Coomb Briggs Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2892

  Weelsby Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2895

  Edward Heneage Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2896

  Fairfield Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2897

  Great Coates Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2898

  Springfield Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2899

  Western Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2900

  Willows Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2919

  Grange Infant and Nursery School

  9,000

  24,000

  2920

  Grange Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2921

  Macaulay Infants' School,

  9,000

  24,000

  2922

  Macaulay Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2923

  South Parade Infant School

  9,000

  24,000

  2924

  South Parade Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2925

  Strand Infants' School

  9,000

  13,500

  2926

  Strand Junior School

  9,000

  13,500

  2927

  Nunsthorpe Infants' School

  9,000

  0

  2928

  Nunsthorpe Junior School

  9,000

  0

  2929

  Scartho Infants' School

  6,000

  13,500

  2930

  Scartho Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2931

  Welholme Infants' School

  9,000

  24,000

  2932

  Welholme Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2933

  Wybers Wood Infant School

  6,000

  13,500

  2934

  Wybers Wood Junior School

  9,000

  24,000

  2935

  Old Clee Infants' School

  9,000

  24,000

  2936

  Old Clee Junior School

  9,000

  30,000

  2937

  Little Coates Primary School

  9,000

  13,500

  2938

  Laceby Acres Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2939

  Humberston Cloverfields Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  2943

  Bursar Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  3059

  St. Peter's CofE Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  3060

  East Ravendale CofE Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  3065

  The Humberston CofE Primary School

  9,000

  24,000

  3066

  Immingham St. Andrew's CofE Junior School

  6,000

  13,500

  3068

  Stanford Junior and Infant School

  9,000

  24,000

  3072

  Stallingborough CofE Primary School

  3,000

  7,000

  3300

  Lisle Marsden CofE Aided Primary School

  0

  30,000

  3512

  Lisle Marsden CofE (VA) Infant School

  9,000

  0

  3513

  Lisle Marsden CofE (VA) Junior School

  9,000

  0

  3514

  St. Joseph's RC Primary School

  6,000

  13,500

  3515

  St. Mary's RC Primary School

  9,000

  7,000

  4008

  Havelock School

  40,000

  70,000

  4009

  Hereford Technology School

  40,000

  70,000

  4011

  Whitgift School

  40,000

  70,000

  4013

  The Western Technology School

  40,000

  70,000

  4038

  Wintringham School

  40,000

  58,000

  4073

  The Immingham School

  40,000

  70,000

  4078

  Toll Bar School

  50,000

  82,000

  4084

  Healing Comprehensive School

  40,000

  70,000

  4086

  The Lindsey School and Community Arts College

  50,000

  82,000

  4092

  Humberston Comprehensive School

  40,000

  70,000

  4503

  Matthew Humberstone Church of England School

  50,000

  82,000

  4627

  St. Mary's Catholic School

  30,000

  58,000

  7011

  Humberston Park School

  15,000

  20,000

  7033

  Cambridge Park School

  15,000

  28,000

  119W

  Standards Funds
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the Standards Funds received by schools in north Lincolnshire and north-east Lincolnshire for the years(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–20. [29909]

  Mr. Timms
  The table shows allocations for the Standards Fund for north Lincolnshire and north-east Lincolnshire local education authorities in 2000–01 and 2001–02. The figures include both Government and local authority contributions. The amount actually paid to schools depends on local expenditure decisions by schools and the local authority.

  Standards Fund allocations

  £

  North Lincolnshire council: 2000–01

  Administrative Support for Small Schools

  263,315

  Beacon Schools

  35,300

  Best Practice Research Scholarships

  2,998

  Class Size Initiative

  1,214,276

  Devolved Formula Capital for Schools

  1,155,991

  Early Years Training and Development

  42,186

  Education and Health Partnerships

  42,401

  Ethnic Minority Pupils and Traveller Achievement

  281,121

  Key Stage 3 Numeracy: Secondary Schools Conference

  10,196

  Literacy and Numeracy: Summer Schools and Key Stage 3

  110,000

  National Grid for Learning

  815,218

  New National Curriculum

  65,100

  Performance Management Training

  149,694

  Primary Literacy and Numeracy Strategies

  525,243

  Protecting Local Authority Music Services

  190,000

  Qualifications

  37,481

  School Improvement

  941,482

  School Laboratories for the 21st Century

  127,660

  School Leadership

  110,213

  School Security

  76,870

  Secondary School Learning Support Units

  51,723

  Seed Capital Challenge

  130,270

  Small School Support Fund

  84,663

  Social Inclusion, Drugs and Youth

  403,017

  Special Educational Needs

  213,338

  Specialist Schools

  280,418

  Study Support

  50,710

  Summer Schools for Gifted and Talented Pupils

  27,000

  Support for Parent Governor Representatives

  1,200

  Supported Early Retirement Scheme for Heads

  34,702

  Teacher Incentives

  13,375

  Teaching Assistants

  432,314

  Transforming Key Stage 3

  708,500

  Working Environment Fund

  67,852

  Year 6 Literacy and Numeracy Booster Classes

  143,180

  Total

  8,839,007

  North Lincolnshire council: 2001–02

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  99,500

  Beacon Schools

  64,700

  Children in Public Care

  21,908

  Class Size Initiative

  788,758

  Devolved Capital

  1,481,065

  Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco

  57,310

  Early Years Training and Development

  37,365

  Education Health Partnerships

  29,718

  Ethnic Minority Achievement

  281,121

  Induction of Newly Qualified Teachers

  153,788

  Information Management Strategy

  104,787

  Key Stage 3 Strategy

  633,140

  Learning Support Units

  111,916

  Literacy and Numeracy Summer Schools

  140,000

  Local Education Authority Music Services

  190,000

  National Curriculum

  64,814

  National Grid for Learning

  876,804

  NDS Condition Funding

  757,823

  Performance Management

  89,173

  120W

  Standards Fund allocations

  £

  Primary Literacy and Numeracy Strategies

  568,392

  Qualifications

  13,069

  School Achievement Awards

  181,520

  School Improvement

  742,000

  School Laboratories

  144,809

  School Leadership

  150,731

  School Security

  76,844

  Seed Capital Challenge

  141,185

  Sick Children

  6,259

  Small Schools Fund

  336,606

  Social Inclusion: Pupil Support

  437,100

  Special Educational Needs

  228,472

  Specialist Schools

  301,427

  Study Support

  186,354

  Summer Schools for Gifted and Talented Children

  18,000

  Supported Early Retirement Scheme for Heads

  40,000

  Teaching Assistants

  650,329

  Year 6 Booster Classes

  156,544

  Year 9 Booster Classes

  4,500

  Total

  10,367,831

  North-East Lincolnshire council: 2000–01

  Administrative Support for Small Schools

  136,924

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  105,000

  Beacon Schools

  10,000

  Best Practice Research Scholarships

  25,415

  Class Size Initiative

  1,207,193

  Developing and Extending Maintained Nursery School Services

  37,009

  Devolved Formula Capital for Schools

  1,208,164

  Early Excellence Centres

  212,128

  Early Years Training and Development

  41,796

  Education and Health partnerships

  29,043

  Ethnic Minority Pupils and Traveller Achievement

  43,476

  Key Stage 3 Numeracy: Secondary Schools Conference

  9,558

  Literacy and Numeracy: Summer Schools and Key Stage 3

  110,000

  Local Authority Music Services

  309,000

  Maintained Nursery Capital

  15,317

  National Grid for Learning

  767,268

  New National Curriculum

  66,800

  Nursery Capital: Wrap-around Care

  60,295

  Performance Management Training

  138,166

  Pilot Education Maintenance Allowance

  480,103

  Playing for Success

  100,000

  Primary Literacy and Numeracy Strategies

  546,906

  Qualifications

  39,460

  School Improvement

  1,112,357

  School Laboratories for the 21 st Century

  132,684

  School Leadership

  106,413

  School Security

  79,479

  Secondary School Learning Support Units

  67,572

  Seed Capital Challenge

  138,120

  Small School Support Fund

  47,758

  Social Inclusion, Drugs and Youth

  614,430

  Special Educational Needs

  299,809

  Specialist Schools

  375,380

  Study Support

  95,343

  Summer Schools for Gifted and Talented Pupils

  18,000

  Support for Parent Governor Representatives

  1,200

  Teaching Assistants

  495,318

  Teenage Pregnancies

  68,400

  Working Environment Fund

  66,606

  Year 6 Literacy and Numeracy Booster Classes

  155,129

  Total

  9,573,019

  North-East Lincolnshire council: 2001–02

  Adult: Pupil Ratios in Reception Classes

  173,396

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  110,000

  Beacon Schools

  122,000

  Children in Public Care

  27,881

  Class Size Initiative

  699,104

  Devolved Capital

  979,884

  Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco

  48,490

  Early Excellence Centres

  470,531

  Early Years Training and Development

  34,609

  Education Health Partnerships

  28,609

  121W

  Standards Fund allocations

  £

  Ethnic Minority Achievement

  43,476

  Fresh Start

  393,800

  Induction of Newly Qualified Teachers

  262,600

  Information Management Strategy

  106,607

  Key Stage 3: National Implementation

  248,283

  Learning Support Units

  131,666

  Literacy and Numeracy Summer Schools

  70,000

  Local Education Authority Music Services

  309,000

  Maintained Nursery School Service

  37,546

  National Curriculum

  65,813

  National Grid for Learning

  847,023

  NDS Condition Funding

  1,351,460

  Performance Management

  95,561

  Playing for Success

  100,000

  Primary Literacy and Numeracy Strategies

  590,585

  Qualifications

  11,202

  School Achievement Awards

  255,850

  School Improvement

  897,000

  School Laboratories

  132,684

  School Leadership

  80,859

  School Security

  78,179

  Seed Capital Challenge

  150,835

  Sick Children

  7,966

  Small Schools Fund

  160,289

  Social Inclusion

  764,800

  Standards Fund allocations for Hampshire county council

  £

  Total allocation

  DfES contribution

  2000–01

  Administrative Support for Small Schools

  608,000

  304,000

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  136,500

  68,250

  Beacon Schools

  341,450

  341,450

  Best Practice Research Scholarships

  75,675

  75,675

  Class Size Initiative

  4,245,393

  4,245,393

  Developing and Extending Maintained Nursery School Services

  24,945

  24,945

  Devolved Formula Capital for Schools

  7,605,169

  7,605,169

  Early Excellence Centres

  98,228

  98,228

  Early Years Training and Development

  303,077

  151,539

  Education and Health Partnerships

  97,995

  97,995

  Ethnic Minority Pupils and Traveller Achievement

  397,838

  230,746

  Key Stage 3 Numeracy: Secondary Schools Conference

  61,812

  30,906

  Literacy and Numeracy: Summer Schools and Key Stage 3

  176,000

  88,000

  Local Education Authority Music Services

  1,085,380

  882,190

  Maintained Nursery Capital

  11,613

  11,613

  National Grid for Learning

  3,858,095

  1,929,048

  New Models for LEA Services

  45,000

  45,000

  New National Curriculum

  431,400

  215,700

  Performance Management Training

  907,454

  725,963

  Primary Literacy and Numeracy Strategies

  2,792,848

  1,790,773

  Qualifications

  197,363

  98,682

  School Improvement

  7,239,927

  3,619,964

  School Laboratories for the 21st Century

  550,813

  550,813

  School Leadership

  449,904

  349,952

  School Security

  510,545

  382,909

  Secondary School Learning Support Units

  239,741

  239,741

  Seed Capital Challenge

  593,728

  593,728

  Small School Support Fund

  440,681

  220,341

  Social Inclusion, Drugs and Youth

  1,776,297

  888,149

  Special Educational Needs

  741,547

  370,774

  Specialist Schools

  756,016

  756,016

  Study Support

  160,640

  80,320

  Summer Schools for Gifted and Talented Pupils

  63,000

  63,000

  Support for Parent Governor Representatives

  1,200

  1,200

  Supported Early Retirement Scheme for Heads

  180,399

  90,200

  Teacher Incentives

  82,555

  82,555

  Teaching Assistants

  2,806,098

  2,525,488

  Working Environment Fund

  485,925

  485,925

  Year 6 Literacy and Numeracy Booster Classes

  873,277

  873,277

  Total

  41,453,528

  31,235,617

  122W

  Standards Fund allocations

  £

  Special Educational Needs

  290,761

  Specialist Schools

  297,606

  Study Support

  204,534

  Summer Schools for Gifted and Talented Children

  18,000

  Supported Early Retirement Scheme for Heads

  40,000

  Teacher Recruitment Measures (Golden Hellos)

  30,762,

  Teaching Assistants

  758,026

  Teenage Preganancies

  68,400

  Year 6 Booster Classes

  163,577

  Year 9 Booster Classes

  54,000

  Total

  11,813,254

  Mr.Hoban
  To ask the secretary of state for Education and Skill pursuant tot the answer of 21 January 2002 official Report column 587 – 89W, on Standard Funds if she will list the amounts contributed by the Government to the Standard Funds(a) 2000 – 01 and (b) 2001 – 02 [30560]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: The table show allocation for the Standard Funds for Hampshire local education authority in 2000 – 01 and 2001 – 02 and the Government's contribution.
  123W

  Standards Fund allocations for Hampshire country council

  £

  Total allocation

  DfES contribution

  2001–02

  Advanced Skills Teachers

  697,500

  369,675

  Beacon Schools

  643,150

  643,150

  Child Protection Co-ordinators

  39,600

  39,600

  Children in Public Care

  136,330

  72,255

  Children of Asylum Seekers

  1,000

  1,000

  Class Size Initiative

  5,520,194

  5,520,194

  Devolved Formula Capital for Schools

  11,928,266

  11,928,266

  Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco

  275,510

  186,628

  Early Excellence Centres

  89,030

  89,030

  Early Professional Development

  950,400

  950,400

  Early Years Training and Development

  350,537

  185,785

  Education Health Partnerships,

  86,634

  86,634

  Ethnic Minority Achievement

  250,513

  132,772

  Gifted and Talented Children

  72,000

  72,000

  Induction of Newly Qualified Teachers

  1,478,967

  783,853

  Information Management Strategy

  691,163

  691,163

  Learning Support Units

  640,155

  640,155

  Literacy and Numeracy Summer Schools

  420,000

  222,600

  Local Education Authority Music Services

  882,200

  882,200

  Maintained Nursery School Service

  53,663

  53,663

  National Curriculum

  427,613

  226,635

  National Grid for Learning

  5,595,910

  2,965,832

  NDS Condition Funding

  7,824,772

  7,824,772

  New Models for Local Education Authority Services

  100,000

  100,000

  Performance Management

  624,554

  624,554

  Primary Literacy and Numeracy Strategies

  3,279,526

  2,315,979

  Qualifications

  66,279

  35,128

  Recruitment and Retention Fund

  1,652,000

  1,652,000

  School Achievement Awards

  1,254,260

  1,254,260

  School Improvement

  4,528,000

  2,402,190

  School Laboratories

  1,101,626

  1,101,626

  School Leadership

  721,262

  612,672

  School Security

  506,853

  268,632

  Seed Capital Challenge

  687,914

  687,914

  Sick Children

  38,951

  38,951

  Small Schools Fund

  1,739,130

  921,739

  Social Inclusion: Pupil Support

  1,768,300

  937,199

  Special Educational Needs

  1,421,726

  753,515

  Specialist Schools

  854,715

  854,715

  Study Support

  1,302,976

  690,577

  Supported Early Retirement Scheme for Heads

  240,000

  127,200

  Teaching Assistants

  4,184,795

  2,217,941

  Transforming Key Stage 3

  918,789

  486,958

  Traveller Children Achievement

  177,231

  93,932

  Year 6 Literacy and Numeracy Booster Classes

  975,740

  975,740

  Year 9 Booster Classes

  319,500

  319,500

  Total

  67,519,234

  54,041,184

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of state for Education and Skills what the average(a) class size and (b) pupil: teacher ratio in (i) primary schools and

  Pupil:teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools—Position in January each year

  Yeovil constituency

  Somerset LEA

  England

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  2001

  23.3

  18.7

  22.9

  18.5

  22.9

  17.1

  2000

  23.9

  19.5

  23.7

  18.6

  23.3

  17.2

  1999

  24.3

  19.3

  24.3

  18.4

  23.5

  17.0

  1998

  24.1

  18.3

  23.9

  18.1

  23.7

  16.9

  1997

  23.6

  17.7

  23.5

  18.0

  23.4

  16.7

  1996

  1—

  1—

  23.2

  18.0

  23.2

  16.6

  1995

  1—

  1—

  22.6

  17.0

  22.9

  16.5

  1994

  1—

  1—

  22.6

  16.6

  22.7

  16.4

  124W
  (ii) secondary schools in (A) Yeovil constituency, (B) Somerset and (C) England was in each year from 1980 to 2001; and if he will make a statement. [30017]

  Mr. Timms
  The available information is shown in the following tables:
  125W

  Pupil: teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools—Position in January each year

  Yeovil constituency

  Somerset LEA

  England

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  1993

  1—

  1—

  22.5

  16.3

  22.4

  16.1

  1992

  1—

  1—

  22.3

  16.0

  22.2

  15.8

  1991

  1—

  1—

  22.1

  15.7

  22.2

  15.5

  1990

  1—

  1—

  22.2

  15.5

  22.0

  15.3

  1989

  1—

  1—

  22.8

  15.8

  22.0

  15.3

  1988

  1—

  1—

  23.1

  16.3

  22.0

  15.4

  1987

  1—

  1—

  22.9

  16.7

  21.9

  15.6

  1986

  1—

  1—

  23.9

  17.4

  22.1

  15.9

  1985

  1—

  1—

  24.2

  17.6

  22.2

  16.1

  1984

  1—

  1—

  23.8

  17.6

  22.1

  16.2

  1983

  1—

  1—

  24.6

  18.3

  22.3

  16.5

  1982

  1—

  1—

  24.7

  18.5

  22.5

  16.6

  1981

  1—

  1—

  24.7

  18.3

  22.6

  16.6

  1980

  1—

  1—

  24.7

  18.4

  22.7

  16.6

  1Not available

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Average class size in primary and secondary schools1—Position in January each year

  Yeovil constituency

  Somerset LEA

  England

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  2001

  27.0

  24.1

  26.9

  23.9

  26.7

  22.0

  2000

  27.7

  24.8

  27.6

  23.6

  27.1

  22.0

  1999

  27.8

  24.1

  28.0

  23.9

  27.5

  21.9

  1998

  27.6

  24.2

  27.8

  23.9

  27.7

  21.7

  1997

  27.0

  23.2

  27.6

  23.2

  27.5

  21.7

  1996

  2—

  2—

  27.3

  23.2

  27.3

  21.7

  1995

  2—

  2—

  27.0

  22.5

  27.1

  21.5

  1994

  2—

  2—

  26.9

  22.1

  26.9

  21.4

  1993

  2—

  2—

  27.0

  22.5

  26.6

  20.9

  1992

  2—

  2—

  26.8

  21.4

  26.4

  20.6

  1991

  2—

  2—

  26.5

  21.4

  26.3

  20.3

  1990

  2—

  2—

  26.3

  20.7

  25.9

  20.0

  1989

  2—

  2—

  26.3

  21.0

  25.4

  19.9

  1988

  2—

  2—

  26.8

  20.7

  25.4

  19.9

  1987

  2—

  2—

  26.4

  21.4

  25.4

  21.7

  1986

  2—

  2—

  27.1

  21.9

  25.5

  20.3

  1985

  2—

  2—

  27.2

  22.2

  24.9

  20.4

  1984

  2—

  2—

  26.6

  22.0

  24.7

  20.4

  1983

  2—

  2—

  27.1

  22.2

  24.8

  20.6

  1982

  2—

  2—

  27.3

  22.8

  25.1

  20.7

  1981

  2—

  2—

  27.2

  22.5

  25.2

  20.8

  1980

  2—

  2—

  27.5

  22.6

  25.4

  20.9

  1One teacher classes

  2Not available

  Note:

  Data at parliamentary constituency level are not available prior to 1997

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average pupil: teacher ratios for(a) primary and (b) secondary schools were for each of the shire counties in the last year for which figures are available. [30141]

  Mr. Timms
  The figures for pupil: teacher ratios in primary and secondary schools in shire counties are shown in the table.

  Maintained primary and secondary schools pupil: teacher rations by type of school in each shire county in England

  Pupil: teacher ratios

  January 2001

  Primary

  Secondary

  Bedfordshire

  22.9

  18.8

  Buckinghamshire

  22.8

  18.3

  126W

  Maintained primary an secondary schools pupil: teacher rations by type of school in each shire county in England

  Pupil: teacher ratios

  January 2001

  Primary

  Secondary

  Cambridgeshire

  24.1

  18.7

  Cheshire

  22.9

  16.9

  Cornwall

  22.9

  18.0

  Cumbria

  22.0

  16.8

  Derbyshire

  24.2

  17.5

  Devon

  23.1

  17.7

  Dorset

  22.7

  18.5

  Durham

  22.2

  17.2

  East Sussex

  22.7

  17.1

  Essex

  22.9

  17.5

  Gloucestershire

  22.3

  17.2

  Hampshire

  23.0

  17.6

  Hertfordshire

  23.0

  16.7

  127W

  Maintained primary and secondary schools pupil: teacher ratios by type of school in each shire county in England

  Pupil: teacher ratios

  January 2001

  Primary

  Secondary

  Kent

  23.4

  17.4

  Lancashire

  23.6

  16.9

  Leicestershire

  23.2

  17.8

  Lincolnshire

  23.9

  17.2

  Norfolk

  22.1

  16.9

  North Yorkshire

  22.5

  16.6

  Northamptonshire

  22.9

  17.4

  Northumberland

  22.8

  18.6

  Nottinghamshire

  24.0

  17.6

  Oxfordshire

  22.3

  17.8

  Shropshire

  22.8

  17.3

  Somerset

  22.9

  18.5

  Staffordshire

  23.7

  17.6

  Suffolk

  22.0

  17.1

  Surrey

  22.8

  17.6

  Warwickshire

  23.0

  17.2

  West Sussex

  22.5

  17.0

  Wiltshire

  22.8

  17.5

  Worcestershire

  22.9

  18.3

  England

  22.9

  17.1

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Pupil Referral and Learning Support Units
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 8 January 2002,Official Report, column 713W, on pupil referral and learning support units, how many people are employed in the Home Tuition and Hospital Teaching Service. [30102]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Buckinghamshire local education authority (LEA) have a combined hospital and home teaching service which employs one full-time hospital teacher, a part-time learning support assistant and supply teachers depending on demand. Home teachers are employed on a sessional basis as and when required. These staff are managed by, but not part of, the PRU service.

  Early Learning Places
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 5 December 2001,Official Report,column 415W, how many new free part-time early learning places will be made available in the Buckingham constituency. [30124]

  Margaret Hodge
  On 2 January 2002, Baroness Ashton announced details of £275 million of funding available in 2002–03 for the provision of free, part-time, early education places for 3-year-olds. Buckingham local education authority has been allocated £3.8 million of this funding to provide 3,100 free, part-time, early education places.

  Pupil Achievement
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils achieved Level 5 or above at Key Stage 3(a) in England and (b) from schools based in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997. [30048]
  128W
  Mr. Timms
  The percentage of pupils achieving Level 5 or above at Key Stage 3(a) in England and (b) from schools based in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997 are as follows:

  Percentage

  Buckingham

  England

  English

  20011

  79

  64

  2000

  72

  64

  1999

  75

  64

  1998

  78

  65

  1997

  72

  57

  Mathematics

  20011

  75

  66

  2000

  78

  65

  1999

  73

  62

  1998

  73

  59

  1997

  72

  60

  Science

  20011

  76

  66

  2000

  68

  59

  1999

  69

  55

  1998

  70

  56

  1997

  71

  60

  1Provisional

  Source:

  National Curriculum Results

  2001 SFR40/2001—National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 and 14-year-olds 2001

  1997–2000 Statistical Bulletins

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils achieved Level 2 or above at Key Stage 1(a) in England and (b) from schools based in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997. [30049]

  Mr. Timms
  The percentage of pupils achieving Level 2 or above at Key Stage 1(a) in England and (b) from schools based in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997 are as follows:

  Percentage

  Buckingham

  England

  Reading

  20011

  90

  84

  2000

  93

  83

  1999

  91

  82

  1998

  87

  80

  1997

  89

  80

  Writing

  20011

  92

  86

  2000

  93

  84

  1999

  93

  83

  1998

  88

  81

  1997

  90

  80

  Spelling

  20011

  83

  75

  2000

  83

  72

  1999

  80

  71

  1998

  73

  66

  1997

  70

  62

  Mathematics

  20011

  96

  91

  2000

  96

  90

  1999

  93

  87

  129W

  Percentage

  Buckingham

  England

  1998

  89

  84

  1997

  92

  84

  1Provisional

  Source:

  National Curriculum Results

  2001 SFR40/2001—National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 and 14-year-olds 2001

  1997–2000 Statistical Bulletins

  Departmental Expenditure (Publications)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the expenditure of her Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last four years. [30090]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The following figures cover the purchase of books as well as newspapers, magazines and periodicals. It is not possible to separate these costs further without disproportionate expense.

  Financial year

  £000

  1997–98

  209

  1998–99

  173

  1999–2000

  274

  2000–01

  269

  Assaults on Teachers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 19 December 2001,Official Report,column 402W, how many assaults there were on teachers in each LEA in each year since 1997. [30125]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department does not collect this information from local education authorities.

  Education Spending (Portsmouth)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the Portsmouth local education authority spending on education(a) above SSA per pupil for the primary and secondary sectors, (b) in total for 1990–91 to 2001–02 and (c) projected for the financial year 2002–03, adjusted for inflation at current values; and if she will make a statement. [30279]

  Mr. Timms
  Portsmouth local education authority did not exist as an LEA until 1997–98. The information for Portsmouth LEA is as follows:

  Real terms figures1

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  NCE per pupil

  Pre-pri/Primary

  2,180

  2,290

  2,460

  Secondary

  2,820

  2,860

  3,030

  Total

  2,410

  2,500

  2,680

  SSA per pupil

  Pre-pri/Primary

  2,110

  2,340

  2,460

  Secondary

  3,070

  3,120

  3,120

  Total

  2,460

  2,630

  2,710

  1Rounded to the nearest £10

  130W
  Notes:

  1. Figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99 include grant maintained schools. Figures for 1999–2000 include ex-GM schools.

  2. All figures are in real terms at 2000–01 prices, and rounded to the nearest £10.

  3. Portsmouth came into being as a result of an LEA reorganisation in 1997–98. It did not exist as a separate LEA but was part of Hampshire LEA prior to 1997–98.

  4. Expenditure is given by Net Current Expenditure (NCE) after recharges.

  5. Expenditure data for 1990–2000 is taken from section 52 outturn statements completed by local education authorities and returned to the DfES. Data for all previous years is taken from DTLR's Revenue Outturn returns.

  6. SSA figures implicitly cover funding for special schools, and there is no split available for special schools. The NCE figures provided here are for pre-primary and secondary only. Hence the two sets of figures are not comparable.

  7. Pupil numbers used in calculating per pupil figures are financial year averages, based on January Annual School Census returns.

  Information for 2000–01 and 2001–02 is not yet available and as a result it is not possible to arrive at a projection for 2002–03.

  Teachers (Returners' Bonus)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated for returners' bonuses for people returning to the teaching profession. [30280]

  Mr. Timms
  The allocation for the current financial year is £4.034 million.

  Standard Spending Assessment (Swindon)
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what Swindon's SSA per pupil for (i) post-16 and (ii) four-year-olds was for 1997–98 to 2002–03; and what the average figures for England were for those years. [30292]

  Mr. Timms
  The post-16 SSA and four-year-old SSA cannot be expressed meaningfully as a per pupil amount because education for those groups is not compulsory and a large part of the SSA for these sub-blocks is determined on factors other than pupil numbers.

  Student Financing
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will compensate students and former students who started their degrees in the years 1998 to 2002, if the review of student financing results in a significantly decreased debt burden for students starting their courses after 2003. [30368]

  Margaret Hodge
  No decision has been taken on the outcome of the student funding review. It is not usual practice, however, for the Government to apply any policy changes retrospectively.

  School Transport
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the study of post-16 school transport arrangements was completed; what indications it gave as to the number of education authorities which charge for transport to school for 16 to 19-year-olds; and what action she has taken as a result of the study. [30392]
  131W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The fieldwork for the study into post-16 transport support was completed in November 2001. We are awaiting the consultants' report. Their initial findings suggest that most LEAs charge for transport for students aged 16 and over, although free transport remains available to some, e.g. students assessed as disabled. Charges for transport vary between LEAs.

  In order to make improvements to transport support for students aged 16 to 19, we have introduced a clause in the current Education Bill to revise section 509 of the 1996 Education Act and clarify the duty on LEAs so that they work with the local LSCs, colleges and others, in developing and delivering policies for support.

  We are also making £9 million available to LEAs in 2002–03 to help them to develop and test the best approaches to transport support. Information about these developments will reach LEAs in February 2002.

  Deregulation
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what deregulatory measures have been taken by the DFEE and the DFES in each of the last five years. [30441]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: The information required is not held centrally, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Government will very shortly he publishing their Regulatory Reform Action Plan, which includes some deregulatory measures as well as proposals for better regulation and reform.

  Coalfield Areas
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to extend education maintenance allowances to each English coalfield area. [30526]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We have no such plans at present. We will he taking decisions on any future extension of the scheme on the basis of the rigorous evaluation, which is currently being conducted.

  Golden Jubilee
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans there are to give school children a commemorative mug to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. [30753]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We have no plans to give school children a commemorative Jubilee mug. However, as I have commented in previous answers to such questions, the Department is involved in a range of projects to mark Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee. Last October, we announced jointly with Buckingham Palace a national poetry competition and in December, my colleague the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced that the National Training Awards 2002 would include a special Jubilee category to mark exceptionally effective contributions to the community by individuals and organisations.
  132W
  My Department will shortly be posting information for schools and others about its various Jubilee activities on its website.

  School Closures
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools have closed since 1997. [31063]

  Mr. Timms
  Schools that closed in England during the period 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2001 were as follows:

  (a) Primary—924

  (b) Secondary—197.

  The figures include schools that have closed owing to the amalgamation or merger of two or more schools, and schools that have closed in local education authorities that have moved from a three-tier system to a two-tier system.

  School Pupils (Extended Holidays)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what(a) legislation and (b) guidance requires a head teacher to take off a school's roll pupils taking extended holidays outside the United Kingdom; and what time limits apply to a head teacher keeping open a place for such pupils. [31092]

  Mr. Timms
  The Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 1995 outline the circumstances under which a head teacher shall remove a pupil from the school roll. "Social Inclusion: Pupil Support" circular number 10/99 Annexe A provides guidance on holidays during term time.

  Examination Boards
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent communications she has had from(a) the Edexcel examination board and (b) the QCA about (i) that board's history A-level (syllabus code 9267) marking in 2001, (ii) that board's handling of parents' and examinees' complaints about examination marking and administration and (iii) that board's handling of schools' complaints about examination marking and administration. [31093]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no communications from Edexcel or QCA about History A-level (syllabus code 9267) marking in 2001. The QCA is responsible for maintaining all awarding bodies' performance in the delivery of examinations. The authority will be publishing its audit of Edexcel's performance in the delivery of general qualifications in 2001 in the near future.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many complaints and appeals were lodged with the Edexcel examinations board relating to the A-level history (syllabus code 9267) examination in each of the last five years. [31095]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I am advised that the number of complaints and appeals lodged with Edexcel relating to the A-level history (syllabus code 9267) in each of the last five years was as follows.
  133W

  Year

  Number

  Complaints

  1997

  5

  1998

  2

  1999

  8

  2000

  9

  2001

  6

  Appeals

  Stage 1 inquiries

  1997

  1—

  1998

  6

  1999

  8

  2000

  3

  2001

  6

  Stage 2 appeals hearings

  1997

  0

  1998

  21

  1999

  0

  2000

  21

  2001

  31

  1No information.

  2Not upheld

  3Pending

  Source:

  These figures have been provided by the Edexcel Foundation

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what performance targets she sets and performance standards she expects of examination boards; when they were last reviewed; and what monitoring procedures are in place. [31096]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Government introduced statutory arrangements in 1997 to regulate external qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Details of how the regulatory authorities ensure quality and consistent standards are contained in the document: "Arrangements for the statutory regulation of external qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland" (published 2000).

  Awarding body procedures are governed by codes of practice, issued by the regulatory authorities. General codes of practice are supplemented by codes for each qualification type. All are reviewed regularly.

  To support further improvements in awarding body performance, the regulatory authorities plan to publish specific performance targets, building on proposals in the Curriculum 2000 review report.

  The regulatory authorities' regular monitoring of awarding bodies includes: audits of their management and systems of quality assurance and control; detailed scrutinies of individual subjects and the way these are managed; and an extensive programme to monitor compliance with the codes of practice.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average time taken by each examination board to handle appeals and requests for re-marking was in the last 12 months. [31097]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has set targets for the awarding bodies to meet all requests for remarking and appeals and QCA monitors annually the awarding bodies' performance against the targets. The data for 2001 are not available at this stage, as the remarking and appeals process is not yet complete.
  134W

  FE Colleges
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the implications for FE colleges of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [31117]

  John Healey
  The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 exempted educational institutions from its provisions. The DDA was amended by the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 to include all FE sector colleges within its provisions.

  The Government intend to implement the new duties in three stages:
  From 1 September 2002 it will be unlawful for FE colleges to discriminate against disabled students by treating them less favourably than others. In addition, FE colleges will have a duty to provide reasonable adjustments to provision where disabled students might otherwise be substantially disadvantaged.
  From 1 September 2003 FE colleges will have a duty to make adjustments involving the provision of auxiliary aids and services.
  From 1 September 2005 FE colleges will have a duty to make adjustments to physical features of premises where these put disabled students at a substantial disadvantage.

  Colleges will be supported in implementing the new duties by additional funding, guidance and support made available through the Disability Rights Commission, the Learning and Skills Council, and the Department for Education and Skills. £66 million has been allocated over the years 2002–04.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to change the proportion of own resources further education colleges have to find for large capital projects. [31118]

  John Healey
  Funding for large further education capital projects is provided by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and it is a matter for the LSC what percentage of the cost of a project has to be found by the college itself.

  The percentage varies according to the circumstances and type of application which the college makes to the LSC and in some instances colleges are not required to use any of their own resources.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will review the levels of auditing and evaluation to which FE is subject to. [31119]

  John Healey
  The Department is committed to reducing the burdens faced by the FE sector. In consultation with the Department for Education and Skills, the Learning and Skills Council is reviewing the audit burden on FE colleges and the LSC is drawing up measures to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. John Harwood, Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council, recently announced the setting up of a task force headed by Sir George Sweeney, Principal of Knowsley college, to carry out a national inquiry into bureaucracy in colleges. However, while looking to reduce the burden on FE sector, it is vital to ensure that the interests of learners and of taxpayers in the FE budget, worth more than £4 billion, are protected and that proper and effective systems audit and control are in place. In addition, the Department is currently working to reduce the number of funding lines for FE sector for next year, including a
  135W
  radical simplification of the Standards Fund. This will enable the LSC to simplify its own approach to funding colleges.

  Holocaust Memorial Day
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on how schools are marking Holocaust Memorial Day. [31154]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Home Office is the Government Department with responsibility for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2002. It is working with a number of Government Departments and organisations on the preparations for the day. The Department for Education and Skills is a strong supporter of the day.

  This Department produced an education pack for all schools to support last year's Holocaust Memorial Day. Nearly 40,000 packs were sent out. New resources for schools to commemorate the day in 2002 have been developed which compliment last year's education pack. This year's resources—in the form of 12 flashcards—reflect the theme of Britain and the Holocaust. The cards highlight case studies of individuals affected by the Holocaust. Schools will be using this material in assemblies, in the classroom, and through exhibitions for their schools and their communities.

  The resources have been produced by an education working group of experts on the Holocaust, racism, and education, from bodies such as the Wiener Library, the Imperial War Museum, the Holocaust Education Trust and the London Jewish Culture Centre. I am grateful for their continued support and dedication to this work.

HEALTH

  Performance Ratings
  Mr. Kevan Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS trusts given a zero star rating in the 2000–01 NHS performance ratings. [31568]

  Mr. Milburn
  I shall be making an announcement shortly.

  Hospital Waiting Lists (Essex)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each month since March 1997 when in-patient waiting lists in the mid Essex hospital trust area have been lower than in March 1997. [29777]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of patients waiting at mid Essex hospital services NHS trust increased from 5,835 in March 1996 to 8,391 at the quarter ending March 1997. The waiting list has been higher than this each quarter or month since that period. At the end of November 2001, (the most recent data available) the number of patients on the waiting list was 8,787. This is 396 greater than March 1997 but 3,047 lower than the highest peak in the waiting list at June 1998.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects in-patient waiting lists in the mid Essex hospital trust area to fall below the level of March 1997. [29778]
  136W
  Mr. Hutton
  Mid Essex hospital services national health service trust achieved its waiting list targets for 2000–01 and is well on target to achieve its targets for the end of March 2002.

  The trust has been following Government guidelines to reduce the length of wait of those on the waiting list and has robust delivery plans in place to treat patients waiting over 15 months by the end of March 2002.

  Long-term Care
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of pensioners in resident nursing homes receiving expense allowances of £16.05 or less in(a) Great Britain and (b) south Gloucestershire. [30722]

  Jacqui Smith
  These data are not held centrally but, with a small number of exceptions, all council-supported residents in care homes are entitled to the personal expenses allowance.

  On 31 March 2001, 65,482 people were supported by councils in nursing homes in England, and 379 people were supported in nursing homes by South Gloucestershire council. The figures for Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of the devolved Administrations.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in(a) residential and (b) nursing home care (i) were self-funders, (ii) paid a proportion of the cost toward their care and (iii) had all their costs paid for by the state in each of the last five years. [24640]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 8 January 2002]: The number of people who are resident in residential care homes and paying for their own care is not collected centrally. A survey conducted in June 2001 estimated that around 42,700 residents in general and mental nursing homes were paying wholly for their own care.

  Information is not available separately for those who paid a proportion of the cost toward their care and those who had all their costs paid for by the state. Information on the numbers of people in residential and nursing care homes who had all or part of their costs paid for by councils with social services responsibilities is given in the following table.

  Residents in residential and nursing care homes supported by councils with social services responsibilities1, England, as at 31 March (rounded numbers)

  Year

  Supported residents in residential care homes

  Supported residents in nursing homes

  1997

  170,300

  66,100

  1998

  176,500

  72,900

  1999

  181,200

  73,500

  2000

  185,200

  73,900

  2001

  183,500

  71,800

  1 A supported resident is a resident whose fees are paid in part or in full by a council with social services responsibility

  Source:

  Department of Health return SR1

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on changes in bed numbers in the care home sector in Worcestershire since 1997. [26406]
  137W
  Jacqui Smith
  The information is in the following table:

  The number of places in residential care homes and the number of registered nursing beds in the Hereford and Worcester1 area between 1997 and 2001

  At 31 March

  Number of places

  Number of registered beds2

  19973

  5,552

  3,383

  1998

  5,413

  3,654

  1999

  5,543

  3,980

  2000

  5,392

  3,526

  2001

  5,080

  3,365

  1 Registered beds in general and mental nursing homes, hospitals and clinics. Information is presented on nursing beds for the two health authorities of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (equating to the former local authority district of Hereford and Worcester).

  2 Information is presented for the former local authority district of Hereford and Worcester to ensure details of residential places given in the table are on consistent boundaries. (At 1 April 1998 the unitary authority of Herefordshire and the shire county area of Worcestershire were created).

  3 Information for registered nursing beds for 1997 relates to the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997.

  Source:

  Department of Health annual returns

  We are aware of concerns about capacity problems in the care home sector. On 9 October we published "Building Capacity and Partnership in Care". This sets out clear policy objectives to improve the planning and commissioning of services in partnership with the independent sector, in a way which will see standards rise within a better range of services. This will benefit service users and allow better discharge planning.

  I am advised that Worcestershire county council's allocation of £713,000 from the Government's "Cash for Change" initiative will be used to fund additional residential and nursing home placements, a home care discharge scheme and one off payments to support independent sector homes cost pressures.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 2002,Official Report,column 379W, on residential nursing home beds, how many residential and nursing home beds were available, broken down by (a) constituency, (b) health authority and (c) region in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent year for which figures are available. [30273]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on residential and nursing homes is not available at constituency level. Information on residential care homes is collected at local authority level, while information on nursing care homes is collected at health authority level. The number of residential care beds cannot be shown at health authority level due to inconsistent geographical boundaries. My reply of 8 January 2002,Official Report, columns 656–58W, gives the number of residential care home beds for each local authority and the number of nursing care home beds for each health authority at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2001. Information on the total number of residential and nursing care home beds at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2001 by national health service region is shown in the table.
  138W

  Number of residential and nursing care home beds in England by NHS region

  At 31 March

  Rounded numbers

  NHS regions

  (i) 1997

  (ii) 2001

  Residential care home beds

  England

  338,100

  341,200

  Northern and Yorkshire

  42,900

  45,300

  Trent

  33,700

  37,200

  West Midlands

  33,000

  32,100

  North-west

  47,700

  49,800

  Eastern

  32,900

  35,400

  London

  30,100

  29,300

  South-east

  70,100

  67,300

  South-west

  47,600

  44,800

  Nursing care home beds

  England

  197,500

  186,800

  Northern and Yorkshire

  28,600

  27,000

  Trent

  23,600

  20,100

  West Midlands

  19,600

  20,000

  North-west

  35,500

  31,500

  Eastern

  16,900

  14,800

  London

  15,400

  18,100

  South-east

  31,700

  31,400

  South-west

  26,200

  24,100

  Source:

  Department of Health's annual returns

  Correspondence
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 January 2002,Official Report,column 545W, on correspondence, when he transferred the letter referred to to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. [30801]

  Jacqui Smith
  On 17 January.

  Meat Hygiene Service
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the numbers of meat hygiene service staff available in abattoirs in the south-west. [20153]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 3 December 2001]: The number of meat hygiene service (MHS) staff employed in licensed premises and therefore qualified to work in abattoirs in the south-west (defined as covering the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire), as at the end of December 2001, was as follows:

  Grade

  Number

  Official Veterinary Surgeon (employed)

  1

  Senior Poultry/Meat Hygiene Inspector

  14

  Poultry/Meat Hygiene Inspector

  132

  Meat Technician

  40

  Cleansing and Disinfection Supervisor (FMD Controls)

  11

  Total

  198

  The MHS also contracts the services of 89 full-time equivalent official veterinary surgeons within the south-west. In addition, four veterinary surgeons along with a varying number of Meat and Livestock Commission staff currently fill MHS vacancies in over-thirty-months scheme plants.
  139W

  CJD
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the relevant data available to his Department which have not been made available to the CJD Incidents Panel. [15299]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 15 November 2001]: The chairman of the CJD Incidents Panel requested in writing a copy of "the report on standards of decontamination in England and Wales". He has also requested the results of the subsequent comprehensive survey of decontamination standards.

  A preliminary survey of some hospitals and other health premises carried out last year informed the Department that there was considerable variation of decontamination standards in the national health service. It demonstrated the need to invest in sterile services and for a comprehensive look at standards. As a result, a full survey started in October 2000 and a £200 million investment programme was announced in January 2001 to improve decontamination within the NHS over the next two years. A report on the findings of the surveys, including the snapshot survey, was published on 11 December 2001.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if it was his intention, when commissioning the study by Dr. David Hurrell on hospital sterilisation procedures, to publish its findings; [15296]

  (2) for what reason the CJD Incidents Panel did not receive a copy of the interim and final report from Dr. Hurrell; [15297]

  (3) if he will publish the study by Dr. David Hurrell on hospital sterilisation procedures that reported to him in June 2000. [15294]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 15 November 2001]: The survey was a snapshot of a small number of hospitals and other health premises and was not commissioned with a view to publication. It was prepared for specific purposes, one of which was to set in train further work—including deciding whether a full survey was needed. It told us that there was considerable variation of decontamination in the national health service and it demonstrated the need to invest in sterile services. Hence the announcement of the start of the full survey in October 2000 and the commitment to a £200 million investment programme in January 2001. We have published the results of this full national survey today.

  Mr. Hurrell was technical co-ordinator for the snapshot survey, acted as lead assessor for some of the visits and helped to analyse the information collected. Although he contributed to the production of the interim and final reports, he did not write either of them.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the letter of the 28 September from the Head of NHS estates to Dr. Hurrell; [15295]

  (2) if he will publish correspondence between the Chief Executive of NHS estates and Dr. David Hurrell concerning CJD in hospitals. [15379]

  Yvette Cooper
  The correspondence—between an official in national health service estates and an external consultant—was sent during an early phase of the systematic work we have undertaken to raise the standard 140W
  of decontamination across the NHS. A full set of the papers describing the programme of work that extended over many months was made public on 11 December. These show that no hospital is assessed as being below standard. The text of the letter dated 26 September 2000 from Kate Priestley, chief executive of NHS estates to David Hurrell is set out:
  "Dear Colleague
  Re: Confidentiality requirements—Decontamination review
  You will be aware of the strict confidentiality approach, which has been continuously applied during the original national survey work and the subsequent report drafting process regarding surgical instrument decontamination and sterilisation.
  In light of the somewhat negative outcome recorded by the visiting assessors at the majority of clinical centres there is a need to ensure, at the express request of Ministers, that the final version and earlier draft reports remain strictly confidential.
  Excellent progress in terms of planning for the implementation of the conclusions and recommendations of the report is being made. However, this position and the benefits derived from it, in healthcare terms, may be compromised if the findings of the report were to enter the public domain in an inappropriate or unauthorised fashion.
  In light of the above we are reinforcing the need for confidentiality and ask that all members of the team return all report drafts as these are no longer needed. In the case of electronic copies would you please undertake to destroy these and to check that no relevant files remain on your system. Please ensure that this request is complied with promptly and confirm the destruction of electronic files by letter to the co-ordinator, Darryn Kerr.
  Thanking you for your co-operation in this and many other aspects of the work."

  Schizophrenia
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people living in the community with schizophrenia are on long-term medication. [13850]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is not available centrally. In 2000, 219,000 prescription items were dispensed in the community in England for antipsychotic depot injections.

  Social Services Websites
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of preparing and producing the new Social Work and Social Care website. [24441]

  Jacqui Smith
  The cost of preparing and producing the Social Work and Social Care website including site maintenance until October 2002, is £49,358. The website has attracted over 11,000 visitors to the site since its inception on 19 October 2001.

  Strategic Health Authorities
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will ensure that chief executives designate of the new strategic health authorities involve local communities and primary care trusts in the development of franchise plans. [26599]

  Mr. Hutton
  In developing three year franchise plans chief executives of strategic health authorities will be required to reflect the plans and targets of local primary care trusts, and to demonstrate how the health authority will ensure local community involvement.
  141W
  Plans will be based on a specification issued by the Department. All strategic health authorities will be required to meet the specification.

  Hearing Aid Services Project
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what date the Hillingdon/Harrow health trust will be included in the modernising NHS Hearing Aid Services Project. [26939]

  Jacqui Smith
  I announced on 24 December 2001 that a further £20 million would be made available in 2002–03 so that a further 30 national health service sites can join the modernising hearing aids project during that year. Decisions on which sites will become involved in the project next year will be made shortly.

  Ashworth Hospital
  Mr. Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of assault by members of staff at Ashworth hospital on(a) patients of Ashworth hospital, (b) visitors to Ashworth hospital and (c) members of the public were reported each of the last three years. [27201]

  Jacqui Smith
  Recorded allegations of assault on patients, visitors and members of the public, by members of staff at Ashworth hospital, for each of the last three years are as listed:

  On patients

  1999—10

  2000—14

  2001—10

  On visitors

  1999—none

  2000—none

  2001—none

  On members of the public

  1999—none

  2000—none

  2001—none.

  Ashworth hospital treats all allegations very seriously. An investigation was undertaken into each of these allegations, but none were substantiated.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of PFI contracts made by his Department where an amount in excess of 90 per cent. of the capital value of the asset is recouped by the lessor out of the capital element of lease payments over the lifetime of the contract concerned; and if he will make a statement. [27699]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not calculate or collect data on this basis.

  The balance sheet treatment of private finance initiative schemes is determined by guidance developed by Her Majesty's Treasury (Technical Note 1) and the Accounting Standards Board (FRS5), which was issued in 1998. Neither of these refer to or rely on the numeric test referred to in the question.
  142W
  A small number of early national health service PFI schemes (total approximately £250 million) have been classed as on balance sheet. These schemes reached financial closure before 1998. Although they were classed as off-balance sheet under the tests in force at the time, they were reassessed following the issue of the 1998 guidance and re-classified as being on balance sheet. The test in force prior to 1998 relied on estimates of the variability of shareholders' return, not estimates of payments recouped by lessors.

  General Practitioners (Essex)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner vacancies there are in(a) Tendring primary care trust and (b) Colchester PCT. [28499]

  Mr. Hutton
  There are five general practitioner vacancies within Tendring primary care trust. Three vacancies are in the process of being advertised and the fourth vacancy will be advertised after 1 April 2002. The remaining vacancy is the subject of discussions which are currently taking place between Tendring PCT and the surgery.

  There are two general practitioner vacancies in Colchester primary care trust both of which are in the process of being recruited to.

  In all cases interim cover is being provided by locum or salaried general practitioners.

  Age Discrimination
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to address barriers to effective implementation of Government policy on age discrimination; [28837]

  (2) if he will implement the recommendations in the King's Fund report on anti-age discrimination policies; [28836]

  (3) what recent assessment he has made of the extent of ageism in the health and social services. [28835]

  Jacqui Smith
  The National Service Framework for Older People, published in March 2001, sets the elimination of age discrimination in accessing national health service or social care as a priority. To help achieve this, it provides a programme of actions and milestones to be achieved over the next 10 years. Much work has already been undertaken that will underpin the development of this programme. This includes:Older people and their representative organisations have been included within the national service framework's national and local implementation structure, giving them a voice in prioritising and planning.
  Detailed guidance on the development of a single assessment process across health and social care, that focuses on identifying and meeting the needs of each individual, was issued for consultation on 16 August 2001, and the final version will be published shortly.
  Audits of age-related policy in the NHS, as required by the NSF October 2001 milestone have been undertaken. Detailed information on the audits has been provided by over three-quarters of the NHS organisations involved. An initial analysis of returns on the audits undertaken in the NHS shows that age discrimination is not endemic in the health service's written policies, but rather reflects the varying local development of

  143W
  policy and practice. The audit provides for the development of local plans to review and tackle any age-discriminatory written policies found by April 2002 and will inform the development of a national approach to benchmark a range of services or treatments important in the care of older people.
  Detailed guidance on Fair Access to Care Services, covering a full review of adult social care eligibility criteria, was issued for consultation on 20 July 2001, and the final version will be published shortly.

  The detail and recommendations of the King's Fund report, "Old habits Die Hard—Tackling age discrimination in health and social care" is a welcomed addition to our knowledge of age discrimination in health and social care.

  Children's Rights Director
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health further to his answer of 1 May 2001,Official Report, column 575W, on the Children's Rights Director, what the terms of reference are of the position of Children's Rights Director; what responsibility the director will have for liaison with persons or bodies carrying out similar or equivalent functions within the devolved institutions; what responsibility the director will have for assisting in the preparation of the UK report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; who will have the lead role in its preparation; and what progress has been made in the appointment of a director. [29245]

  Jacqui Smith
  Roger Morgan has been appointed as Children's Rights Director at the National Care Standards Commission. Draft regulations setting out the proposed functions of the Children's Rights Director were published for consultation on 17 January 2002. The Children and Young People's Unit have the lead role in the preparation of the United Kingdom report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.

  Carers
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further action he is taking to help carers. [28822]

  Jacqui Smith
  We are increasing the carers grant to £85 million in 2002–03 and to £100 million in 2003–04 to ensure that more carers are able to receive breaks. We are developing guidance on voucher schemes for short term breaks in consultation with external stakeholders so that the remaining provisions of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 can be commenced in April this year. We are also revising the hospital discharge workbook, which will help national health service staff to support carers.

  Neurological Conditions
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with preparing the National Service Framework for neurological conditions; and if he will make a statement. [29110]

  Jacqui Smith
  Good progress has been made on preparatory work for the National Service Framework (NSF). The Department has held a number of meetings with a range of voluntary and professional groups, patients and users to hear their views and received many 144W
  written submissions. A scoping event was held on 12 November at which some of the key generic issues the NSF should address were identified.

  Pulmonary Illnesses
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many pulmonary rehabilitation centres there are in England and Wales; [29355]

  (2) what his policy is on the provision of pulmonary rehabilitation centres within the NHS. [29358]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on local service configuration in England, such as the number of pulmonary rehabilitation services, is not collected centrally. We are aware that provision of pulmonary rehabilitation is a service increasingly offered by local departments of respiratory medicine.

  It is a decision for health authorities, in partnership with primary care groups/trusts and other local stakeholders, to assess the health needs of their populations, including those needing pulmonary rehabilitation, and to commission services to meet those needs.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the training of specialist respiratory nurses and physiotherapists. [29353]

  Mr. Hutton
  Maintaining and extending the skills, potential and careers of national health service staff taking into account service developments and patient need in health and social care is a fundamental part of the NHS Plan and the Framework for Lifelong Learning for the NHS, "Working Together—Learning Together". Copies of these are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Training in many specialist areas takes place after registration and there are courses available for respiratory training for both qualified nurses and physiotherapists. Decisions on post-registration training are taken by individual practitioners and local NHS organisations in the light of local needs, and these will be better informed by National Service Framework and NHS Plan priorities.

  Statistics
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to allow continuous statistical comparisons to be made between(a) existing health authorities, (b) new primary care trusts and (c) strategic health authorities. [29709]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information needs—including the continuity of data—in the light of the current reorganisation are currently being considered. Routine statistics published at the level of individual national health service bodies will reflect the new organisational structures, but mapping to older units will be available where practicable and on request.

  From later this year primary care trusts will be taking on the majority of functions of existing health authorities and will be the focal point locally for improving the health of the community, securing high quality services and integrating health and social care locally. Data at this level will therefore be the main priority.
  145W

  Cancer
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the age standardised mortality rates for all cancers

  Trends in mortality from all malignant neoplasms (ICD9 140–208): Indirectly standardised ratios (SMR)—1989 to 1999 annually, all ages1

  Males

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  O00

  England

  SMR

  105

  105

  104

  103

  100

  98

  96

  95

  92

  91

  88

  QDD

  Bradford

  SMR

  107

  107

  117

  112

  98

  102

  100

  87

  95

  101

  93

  QDE

  County Durham

  SMR

  116

  121

  112

  113

  117

  111

  107

  113

  110

  105

  103

  QDF

  East Riding

  SMR

  116

  118

  106

  101

  105

  108

  101

  106

  95

  100

  98

  QDG

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  SMR

  149

  137

  132

  131

  131

  126

  123

  129

  112

  119

  111

  QDH

  Leeds

  SMR

  115

  112

  106

  102

  104

  101

  96

  101

  94

  93

  102

  QDJ

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  SMR

  129

  131

  130

  127

  128

  121

  113

  122

  109

  116

  112

  QDK

  North Cumbria

  SMR

  113

  109

  106

  104

  99

  105

  101

  108

  85

  95

  87

  QDM

  Northumberland

  SMR

  106

  102

  101

  109

  103

  98

  104

  106

  105

  104

  94

  QDN

  Sunderland

  SMR

  132

  129

  132

  129

  116

  124

  114

  119

  110

  120

  106

  QDP

  Tees

  SMR

  126

  138

  118

  128

  124

  125

  122

  111

  116

  114

  104

  QDQ

  Wakefield

  SMR

  115

  110

  118

  114

  107

  109

  107

  105

  100

  100

  90

  QDR

  North Yorkshire

  SMR

  94

  96

  92

  92

  94

  89

  85

  82

  84

  81

  78

  QDT

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  SMR

  108

  103

  110

  107

  101

  96

  94

  94

  95

  98

  92

  QCG

  Barnsley

  SMR

  110

  112

  111

  115

  114

  109

  106

  106

  96

  104

  99

  QCH

  North Derbyshire

  SMR

  103

  103

  105

  106

  106

  102

  105

  96

  86

  90

  87

  QCJ

  South Derbyshire

  SMR

  110

  99

  109

  103

  100

  98

  91

  90

  95

  91

  86

  QCK

  Doncaster

  SMR

  102

  114

  103

  109

  119

  102

  113

  111

  103

  99

  101

  QCL

  Leicestershire

  SMR

  104

  97

  93

  90

  90

  88

  83

  86

  82

  80

  81

  QCM

  Lincolnshire

  SMR

  102

  100

  99

  97

  100

  93

  91

  94

  85

  88

  85

  QCN

  North Nottinghamshire

  SMR

  109

  109

  102

  111

  108

  98

  102

  97

  96

  102

  92

  QCP

  Nottingham

  SMR

  111

  99

  101

  102

  107

  102

  99

  97

  100

  94

  92

  QCQ

  Rotherham

  SMR

  126

  102

  116

  114

  100

  112

  106

  90

  99

  95

  103

  QCR

  Sheffield

  SMR

  117

  113

  113

  115

  116

  107

  103

  105

  110

  101

  94

  QDL

  South Humber

  SMR

  106

  117

  120

  104

  91

  99

  112

  103

  104

  102

  100

  QD9

  Birmingham

  SMR

  113

  117

  112

  111

  109

  106

  100

  98

  95

  99

  92

  QEA

  Coventry

  SMR

  117

  117

  109

  111

  94

  96

  95

  93

  88

  91

  94

  QEC

  Dudley

  SMR

  108

  112

  107

  105

  107

  104

  102

  90

  93

  100

  94

  QED

  Herefordshire

  SMR

  113

  88

  96

  97

  97

  85

  88

  83

  92

  78

  79

  QEE

  Sandwell

  SMR

  124

  119

  118

  129

  110

  117

  110

  110

  106

  116

  104

  QEF

  Shropshire

  SMR

  93

  106

  97

  101

  102

  93

  94

  98

  89

  94

  87

  QEG

  Solihull

  SMR

  106

  100

  98

  94

  96

  89

  95

  80

  87

  93

  74

  QEH

  North Staffordshire

  SMR

  113

  120

  124

  114

  109

  111

  108

  114

  104

  101

  97

  QEJ

  South Staffordshire

  SMR

  110

  109

  106

  104

  102

  96

  100

  96

  90

  94

  83

  QEK

  Walsall

  SMR

  118

  118

  115

  107

  109

  105

  109

  94

  100

  97

  104

  QEL

  Warwickshire

  SMR

  97

  97

  100

  101

  99

  94

  97

  91

  88

  84

  85

  QEM

  Wolverhampton

  SMR

  111

  105

  114

  114

  120

  117

  96

  99

  103

  104

  100

  QEN

  Worcestershire

  SMR

  90

  95

  101

  96

  87

  91

  89

  88

  87

  85

  77

  QC1

  South Lancashire

  SMR

  101

  97

  108

  99

  100

  88

  98

  95

  97

  79

  93

  QC2

  Liverpool

  SMR

  132

  129

  135

  133

  132

  130

  126

  134

  124

  113

  117

  QC3

  Manchester

  SMR

  142

  129

  136

  129

  123

  130

  122

  117

  122

  125

  115

  QC4

  Morecambe Bay

  SMR

  118

  103

  102

  110

  103

  93

  95

  94

  92

  84

  87

  QC5

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  SMR

  126

  124

  125

  118

  119

  122

  125

  117

  115

  111

  109

  QC6

  Salford and Trafford

  SMR

  119

  123

  122

  122

  113

  115

  104

  113

  107

  102

  99

  QC7

  Sefton

  SMR

  119

  106

  120

  108

  118

  110

  111

  103

  98

  95

  98

  QC8

  Stockport

  SMR

  121

  105

  107

  113

  103

  89

  92

  94

  90

  92

  87

  QC9

  West Pennine

  SMR

  119

  123

  119

  114

  108

  118

  111

  110

  108

  109

  97

  QCT

  Bury and Rochdale

  SMR

  111

  106

  116

  108

  107

  100

  108

  97

  96

  101

  102

  QCV

  North Cheshire

  SMR

  115

  116

  124

  114

  113

  112

  107

  115

  106

  110

  101

  QCW

  South Cheshire

  SMR

  102

  106

  101

  100

  99

  93

  93

  93

  89

  91

  84

  QCX

  East Lancashire

  SMR

  106

  101

  110

  108

  106

  99

  98

  97

  101

  99

  96

  QCY

  North West Lancashire

  SMR

  100

  106

  98

  101

  104

  102

  102

  94

  90

  93

  95

  QDA

  Wigan and Bolton

  SMR

  111

  115

  115

  104

  103

  104

  105

  100

  97

  98

  104

  QDC

  Wirral

  SMR

  109

  122

  118

  120

  102

  102

  115

  104

  95

  100

  98

  QA6

  Bedfordshire

  SMR

  101

  101

  95

  99

  93

  95

  89

  92

  90

  82

  86

  QAX

  North Essex

  SMR

  90

  103

  93

  90

  95

  95

  90

  89

  82

  86

  83

  QAY

  South Essex

  SMR

  101

  101

  100

  111

  101

  96

  99

  97

  91

  90

  90

  QCF

  Suffolk

  SMR

  100

  91

  97

  92

  88

  90

  87

  87

  83

  78

  78

  QEP

  East and North Hertfordshire

  SMR

  96

  99

  97

  99

  97

  88

  87

  82

  86

  88

  83

  QEQ

  West Hertfordshire

  SMR

  96

  106

  93

  88

  92

  90

  78

  85

  84

  78

  80

  QER

  Cambridgeshire

  SMR

  101

  95

  94

  92

  92

  92

  83

  88

  83

  83

  73

  QET

  Norfolk

  SMR

  95

  98

  90

  95

  88

  88

  90

  89

  80

  83

  82

  QA2

  Hillingdon

  SMR

  105

  106

  110

  106

  95

  90

  88

  90

  89

  85

  83

  QA3

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminister

  SMR

  103

  102

  105

  102

  98

  93

  93

  86

  77

  81

  65

  QA4

  Enfield and Haringey

  SMR

  106

  106

  101

  97

  94

  95

  90

  92

  87

  85

  88

  QA5

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  SMR

  101

  100

  93

  100

  85

  96

  93

  85

  87

  93

  82

  QAA

  Bexley and Greenwich

  SMR

  106

  113

  105

  111

  102

  102

  99

  101

  103

  99

  93

  146W
  for men and women in each health authority in England were in each year since 1995. [29708]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  147W

  Trends in mortality from all malignant neoplasms (ICD9 140–208): Indirectly standardised ratios (SMR)—1989 to 1999 annually, all ages1

  Males

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  QAC

  Bromley

  SMR

  99

  99

  95

  104

  91

  91

  98

  91

  79

  84

  82

  QAD

  Croydon

  SMR

  94

  89

  99

  91

  89

  88

  96

  89

  84

  91

  90

  QAG

  Kingston and Richmond

  SMR

  87

  93

  89

  95

  87

  94

  97

  87

  88

  82

  72

  QAH

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  SMR

  119

  118

  117

  118

  111

  112

  106

  104

  100

  98

  96

  QA1

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  SMR

  110

  110

  110

  103

  109

  95

  95

  92

  96

  96

  88

  QAP

  Barking and Havering

  SMR

  119

  106

  120

  118

  109

  107

  104

  104

  101

  103

  99

  QAQ

  Barnet

  SMR

  91

  90

  97

  82

  83

  90

  76

  80

  71

  80

  67

  QAR

  Brent and Harrow

  SMR

  91

  91

  97

  90

  87

  84

  84

  79

  84

  81

  74

  QAT

  Camden and Islington

  SMR

  113

  119

  122

  120

  111

  102

  94

  99

  87

  93

  92

  QAV

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  SMR

  105

  104

  104

  100

  92

  93

  90

  97

  81

  92

  79

  QAW

  East London and the City

  SMR

  123

  122

  129

  127

  118

  114

  112

  103

  105

  104

  101

  QA7

  Berkshire

  SMR

  103

  95

  97

  95

  93

  92

  88

  90

  84

  83

  80

  QA8

  Buckinghamshire

  SMR

  105

  96

  101

  101

  91

  92

  85

  85

  76

  83

  87

  QAE

  East Kent

  SMR

  104

  100

  99

  106

  102

  101

  99

  100

  100

  92

  85

  QAF

  West Kent

  SMR

  99

  104

  106

  100

  97

  101

  101

  95

  88

  90

  89

  QAK

  East Surrey

  SMR

  95

  83

  85

  88

  94

  89

  83

  82

  80

  84

  76

  QAL

  West Surrey

  SMR

  97

  98

  94

  97

  86

  90

  86

  85

  84

  79

  77

  QAM

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  SMR

  91

  97

  98

  99

  94

  88

  92

  87

  87

  83

  82

  QAN

  West Sussex

  SMR

  94

  95

  93

  94

  91

  88

  90

  86

  80

  82

  83

  QCC

  Northamptonshire

  SMR

  108

  104

  108

  97

  98

  96

  103

  95

  95

  93

  89

  QCE

  Oxfordshire

  SMR

  91

  91

  94

  96

  95

  86

  87

  84

  80

  83

  82

  QD1

  North and Mid Hampshire

  SMR

  92

  92

  99

  97

  93

  93

  86

  85

  87

  85

  74

  QD2

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  SMR

  109

  111

  102

  101

  92

  102

  95

  93

  95

  94

  86

  QD3

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  SMR

  107

  100

  105

  101

  90

  94

  96

  92

  83

  87

  83

  QD4

  Isle of Wight

  SMR

  101

  99

  102

  105

  100

  90

  86

  88

  81

  94

  75

  QD5

  Somerset

  SMR

  87

  93

  88

  92

  85

  93

  89

  90

  87

  83

  82

  QD6

  South and West Devon

  SMR

  99

  100

  93

  99

  96

  98

  87

  90

  92

  88

  91

  QD7

  Wiltshire

  SMR

  98

  98

  96

  98

  95

  88

  87

  82

  82

  80

  80

  QD8

  Avon

  SMR

  99

  96

  100

  94

  89

  90

  90

  87

  88

  86

  81

  QDV

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  SMR

  90

  94

  92

  94

  96

  95

  91

  90

  84

  81

  86

  QDW

  Dorset

  SMR

  86

  89

  94

  91

  86

  83

  91

  84

  87

  82

  79

  QDX

  North and East Devon

  SMR

  92

  89

  96

  97

  83

  83

  86

  84

  80

  85

  82

  QDY

  Gloucestershire

  SMR

  100

  93

  83

  99

  87

  87

  91

  85

  82

  82

  83

  Females

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  O00

  England

  SMR

  105

  103

  103

  103

  100

  99

  98

  98

  96

  95

  94

  QDD

  Bradford

  SMR

  108

  111

  109

  101

  97

  105

  101

  99

  92

  102

  96

  QDE

  County Durham

  SMR

  113

  112

  115

  105

  107

  105

  105

  116

  98

  105

  100

  QDF

  East Riding

  SMR

  113

  104

  108

  105

  104

  103

  104

  105

  98

  107

  93

  QDG

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  SMR

  119

  109

  109

  116

  124

  114

  109

  110

  120

  114

  114

  QDH

  Leeds

  SMR

  111

  106

  107

  105

  102

  105

  107

  95

  97

  100

  99

  QDJ

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  SMR

  128

  114

  126

  118

  120

  116

  120

  113

  124

  105

  102

  QDK

  North Cumbria

  SMR

  114

  109

  112

  102

  100

  96

  91

  101

  100

  103

  98

  QDM

  Northumberland

  SMR

  111

  103

  106

  101

  102

  99

  104

  114

  92

  103

  101

  QDN

  Sunderland

  SMR

  116

  127

  119

  118

  123

  112

  114

  105

  105

  123

  110

  QDP

  Tees

  SMR

  120

  117

  119

  121

  118

  111

  110

  110

  108

  108

  103

  QDQ

  Wakefield

  SMR

  107

  119

  120

  113

  99

  108

  107

  101

  106

  100

  107

  QDR

  North Yorkshire

  SMR

  101

  96

  95

  91

  92

  90

  89

  97

  87

  86

  91

  QDT

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  SMR

  107

  103

  99

  99

  102

  100

  99

  99

  90

  93

  92

  QCG

  Barnsley

  SMR

  104

  101

  108

  103

  104

  118

  109

  108

  93

  119

  104

  QCH

  North Derbyshire

  SMR

  98

  104

  108

  109

  102

  102

  101

  108

  97

  99

  88

  QCJ

  South Derbyshire

  SMR

  100

  103

  109

  106

  97

  100

  99

  93

  91

  88

  90

  QCK

  Doncaster

  SMR

  120

  112

  110

  no

  114

  102

  106

  112

  104

  105

  106

  QCL

  Leicestershire

  SMR

  101

  97

  94

  92

  96

  97

  94

  94

  90

  85

  87

  QCM

  Lincolnshire

  SMR

  108

  96

  102

  105

  96

  95

  92

  90

  91

  88

  91

  QCN

  North Nottinghamshire

  SMR

  108

  98

  99

  110

  103

  98

  101

  97

  100

  96

  86

  QCP

  Nottingham

  SMR

  103

  106

  104

  109

  99

  99

  100

  98

  95

  97

  94

  QCQ

  Rotherham

  SMR

  103

  103

  96

  103

  106

  115

  108

  111

  106

  104

  86

  QCR

  Sheffield

  SMR

  105

  105

  108

  98

  100

  106

  107

  109

  110

  98

  100

  QDL

  South Humber

  SMR

  103

  109

  111

  108

  98

  101

  96

  106

  103

  102

  95

  QD9

  Birmingham

  SMR

  110

  101

  109

  105

  98

  96

  98

  102

  95

  94

  94

  QEA

  Coventry

  SMR

  106

  100

  103

  115

  100

  98

  102

  97

  103

  91

  94

  QEC

  Dudley

  SMR

  102

  106

  105

  95

  96

  101

  98

  91

  103

  89

  94

  QED

  Herefordshire

  SMR

  107

  99

  103

  100

  95

  102

  88

  94

  85

  95

  86

  QEE

  Sandwell

  SMR

  111

  101

  102

  107

  109

  116

  106

  107

  101

  98

  98

  QEF

  Shropshire

  SMR

  102

  96

  102

  100

  93

  93

  97

  95

  93

  93

  94

  QEG

  Solihull

  SMR

  101

  104

  106

  96

  98

  97

  101

  103

  89

  80

  88

  QEH

  North Staffordshire

  SMR

  107

  112

  115

  113

  111

  114

  111

  95

  100

  105

  104

  148W 149W

  Females

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  QEJ

  South Staffordshire

  SMR

  107

  104

  102

  102

  96

  103

  99

  98

  90

  97

  97

  QEK

  Walsall

  SMR

  110

  112

  105

  115

  98

  107

  92

  88

  97

  94

  87

  QEL

  Warwickshire

  SMR

  94

  99

  95

  111

  99

  96

  92

  109

  94

  94

  85

  QEM

  Wolverhampton

  SMR

  102

  100

  114

  104

  93

  100

  102

  99

  100

  96

  96

  QEN

  Worcestershire

  SMR

  100

  103

  90

  100

  92

  96

  94

  95

  91

  83

  84

  QC1

  South Lancashire

  SMR

  105

  90

  96

  103

  105

  99

  92

  100

  94

  86

  96

  QC2

  Liverpool

  SMR

  121

  134

  125

  131

  122

  122

  132

  129

  128

  126

  125

  QC3

  Manchester

  SMR

  123

  119

  115

  119

  117

  116

  120

  114

  117

  112

  126

  QC4

  Morecambe Bay

  SMR

  101

  106

  104

  106

  99

  96

  100

  92

  90

  95

  98

  QC5

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  SMR

  116

  115

  115

  107

  123

  115

  116

  108

  115

  112

  108

  QC6

  Salford and Trafford

  SMR

  120

  111

  121

  111

  110

  108

  112

  109

  108

  102

  104

  QC7

  Sefton

  SMR

  108

  96

  101

  110

  110

  97

  94

  112

  106

  94

  112

  QC8

  Stockport

  SMR

  104

  104

  103

  104

  98

  104

  96

  93

  101

  95

  90

  QC9

  West Pennine

  SMR

  116

  122

  109

  109

  113

  109

  100

  109

  100

  110

  106

  QCT

  Bury and Rochdale

  SMR

  108

  123

  114

  107

  103

  108

  110

  116

  112

  101

  104

  QCV

  North Cheshire

  SMR

  124

  118

  119

  111

  109

  106

  106

  114

  102

  113

  108

  QCW

  South Cheshire

  SMR

  106

  100

  103

  110

  92

  98

  89

  95

  96

  93

  94

  QCX

  East Lancashire

  SMR

  104

  105

  97

  111

  102

  107

  100

  104

  102

  102

  95

  QCY

  North West Lancashire

  SMR

  108

  105

  107

  95

  96

  97

  96

  99

  97

  93

  95

  QDA

  Wigan and Bolton

  SMR

  109

  106

  111

  108

  106

  104

  97

  103

  95

  97

  105

  QDC

  Wirral

  SMR

  103

  110

  110

  109

  106

  110

  104

  106

  106

  108

  101

  QA6

  Bedfordshire

  SMR

  107

  116

  108

  100

  91

  96

  88

  92

  96

  90

  86

  QAX

  North Essex

  SMR

  103

  106

  98

  97

  97

  94

  97

  92

  93

  95

  88

  QAY

  South Essex

  SMR

  103

  108

  107

  103

  101

  97

  106

  101

  94

  92

  94

  QCF

  Suffolk

  SMR

  102

  100

  97

  100

  92

  97

  94

  90

  92

  88

  83

  QEP

  East and North Hertfordshire

  SMR

  101

  107

  100

  95

  99

  92

  101

  91

  89

  103

  94

  QEQ

  West Hertfordshire

  SMR

  110

  100

  98

  98

  92

  96

  100

  91

  95

  94

  90

  QER

  Cambridgeshire

  SMR

  98

  101

  93

  97

  91

  96

  89

  89

  93

  90

  92

  QET

  Norfolk

  SMR

  97

  98

  94

  93

  95

  92

  95

  88

  89

  92

  91

  QA2

  Hillingdon

  SMR

  106

  92

  102

  105

  94

  98

  96

  102

  100

  99

  91

  QA3

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminister

  SMR

  106

  107

  99

  103

  100

  101

  94

  86

  102

  83

  79

  QA4

  Enfield and Haringey

  SMR

  101

  89

  100

  100

  92

  92

  93

  89

  86

  87

  93

  QA5

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  SMR

  102

  101

  100

  90

  89

  98

  89

  91

  84

  86

  93

  QAA

  Bexley and Greenwich

  SMR

  110

  114

  114

  100

  104

  105

  94

  97

  104

  102

  99

  QAC

  Bromley

  SMR

  95

  102

  95

  97

  96

  86

  97

  101

  99

  95

  89

  QAD

  Croydon

  SMR

  93

  101

  100

  94

  99

  93

  93

  105

  102

  95

  86

  QAG

  Kingston and Richmond

  SMR

  88

  102

  101

  95

  93

  98

  91

  94

  86

  95

  92

  QAH

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  SMR

  114

  110

  108

  110

  108

  103

  98

  99

  107

  100

  92

  QAJ

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  SMR

  101

  112

  102

  103

  103

  102

  90

  96

  96

  103

  93

  QAP

  Barking and Havering

  SMR

  120

  105

  111

  111

  114

  107

  110

  113

  95

  103

  101

  QAQ

  Barnet

  SMR

  104

  101

  96

  101

  86

  86

  89

  90

  96

  96

  86

  QAR

  Brent and Harrow

  SMR

  92

  93

  95

  93

  96

  100

  92

  97

  96

  88

  78

  QAT

  Camden and Islington

  SMR

  114

  107

  104

  112

  103

  104

  109

  96

  94

  101

  93

  QAV

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  SMR

  104

  102

  112

  105

  101

  95

  100

  97

  94

  90

  95

  QAW

  East London and the City

  SMR

  124

  113

  112

  114

  123

  109

  113

  102

  104

  99

  100

  QA7

  Berkshire

  SMR

  99

  105

  103

  103

  97

  95

  92

  96

  88

  92

  87

  QA8

  Buckinghamshire

  SMR

  102

  101

  95

  106

  94

  99

  97

  95

  92

  99

  95

  QAE

  East Kent

  SMR

  106

  108

  105

  102

  100

  104

  96

  97

  94

  92

  90

  QAF

  West Kent

  SMR

  109

  95

  102

  105

  104

  102

  98

  98

  102

  90

  100

  QAK

  East Surrey

  SMR

  100

  99

  97

  97

  98

  85

  83

  81

  81

  85

  83

  QAL

  West Surrey

  SMR

  99

  93

  90

  98

  95

  92

  89

  96

  92

  88

  88

  QAM

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  SMR

  98

  94

  94

  99

  96

  100

  96

  88

  95

  92

  92

  QAN

  West Sussex

  SMR

  101

  95

  96

  98

  94

  89

  94

  92

  86

  87

  89

  QCC

  Northamptonshire

  SMR

  107

  108

  110

  102

  99

  106

  99

  99

  94

  101

  98

  QCE

  Oxfordshire

  SMR

  100

  95

  100

  96

  96

  96

  93

  94

  95

  94

  88

  QD1

  North and Mid Hampshire

  SMR

  101

  92

  98

  103

  92

  95

  88

  92

  95

  93

  93

  QD2

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  SMR

  100

  102

  94

  104

  95

  93

  91

  100

  101

  97

  91

  QD3

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  SMR

  102

  96

  97

  93

  92

  92

  95

  93

  86

  88

  90

  QD4

  Isle of Wight

  SMR

  105

  96

  98

  85

  97

  88

  88

  89

  86

  88

  91

  QD5

  Somerset

  SMR

  108

  95

  95

  93

  91

  92

  90

  94

  85

  87

  92

  QD6

  South and West Devon

  SMR

  103

  99

  100

  102

  97

  100

  98

  94

  90

  91

  87

  QD7

  Wiltshire

  SMR

  99

  104

  95

  94

  100

  92

  93

  96

  95

  89

  92

  QD8

  Avon

  SMR

  101

  96

  96

  103

  95

  88

  93

  90

  94

  89

  86

  QDV

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  SMR

  98

  95

  105

  103

  97

  92

  95

  100

  97

  91

  90

  QDW

  Dorset

  SMR

  100

  93

  96

  94

  92

  85

  93

  83

  92

  88

  87

  QDX

  North and East Devon

  SMR

  99

  97

  96

  107

  97

  87

  87

  87

  92

  89

  90

  QDY

  Gloucestershire

  SMR

  99

  100

  97

  90

  92

  95

  95

  88

  88

  84

  88

  1 Standard rates are age-specific mortality rates in 1993

  Source:

  National Statistics
  150W 151W

  Electromagnetic Fields
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the letter from the Under-Secretary, the hon. Member of Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), of 20 December 2001 (ref POH (3)5653/13), what discussions he has had with the NRPB on action to be taken on electromagnetic fields from anti-theft security tagging systems and possible dangers from potential exposures from surveillance equipment. [26560]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 22 January 2002]: The use of electronic article surveillance devices has become widespread in use, particularly in shops and stores.

  Publicity has recently been given to a theoretical study of models of people exposed to the magnetic fields from simulated electronic article surveillance devices.

  I am advised by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) that it is theoretically possible, under quite specific conditions, for exposures to approach or potentially exceed the guidelines recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for members of the public, including children. Limited measurements made by NRPB to date have, in practice, indicated compliance with the guidelines.

  It is important for manufacturers to ensure that, in conditions of use, exposure to magnetic fields from their equipment complies with guidelines. The Department will continue to work closely with other relevant Government Departments and NRPB to ensure that the best available advice is sought on these matters.

  MMR Inoculations
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many letters he has received on MMR inoculations from residents of the Buckingham constituency. [30056]

  Yvette Cooper
  Because of a postal address not always being given, the information requested is not available.

  NHS Trusts (Foundation Status Applications)
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts seeking foundation status will be permitted to hire the services of management consultants, accountants, valuers and other professions to further their plans. [29655]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: National health service trusts already hire the services of management consultants and other professionals. Where necessary trusts seeking foundation status will be able to hire the services of management consultants, accountants, valuers and other professions to further their plans subject to existing standards of probity, value for money and tendering set out in good corporate governance in the NHS.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants he expects will be deployed on assessing applications by NHS trusts for foundation status. [29658]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 23 January 2002]: No estimates have been made of the number of civil servants that will be deployed on assessing applications by national
  152W
  health service trusts for foundation status. Applications will, in the first instance, be reviewed by the chief executives of the new health authorities and, in the light of this, advice will be given to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

  Social Workers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 January 2002,Official Report, column 530W, on social workers, how many social services staff were agency and temporary staff in each year since 1991. [30274]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  Health Funding
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 January 2002,Official Report, column 376W, on health care funding, how much funding for health care per patient there was in all English parliamentary constituencies in the last five years. [30275]

  Mr. Hutton
  Health authorities receive allocations to commission health care for their population. Health authorities for the parliamentary constituencies, and their allocations per weighted head of population and per unweighted head of population between 1997–98 and 2001–02 are shown in the tables that have been deposited in the Library.

  It is more meaningful to show health authority allocations per head of population using weighted populations. This is because funding takes into account the relative needs of populations using a weighted capitation formula.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the additional expenditure incurred by general practitioners who have registered significant numbers of asylum seekers as patients. [27550]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 24 January 2002]: The costs to the national health service incurred by general practitioners in providing services to asylum seekers are not separately identifiable within the financial frameworks for either general or personal medical services.

  Physiotherapists
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure that numbers of physiotherapists working in the NHS rises from 15,600 to 24,800 between 2000 and 2009; and if he will make a statement. [30191]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: Our plan to increase the number of physiotherapists working in the national health service by 59 per cent., from 15,600 in 2000 to 24,800 in 2009, was announced in the follow-up document to the NHS Plan, "Investment and reform for NHS staff—taking forward the NHS Plan", (published 15 February 2001).
  153W
  We will meet this target by a number of measures, including increasing training commissions, a return to practice campaign, promoting flexible, supportive and family friendly policies, and international recruitment.

  For basic grade physiotherapists who have done three years training, their starting salary has increased in cash terms by 36 per cent. since May 1997. This includes the 2002 increase which will be payable from 1 April.

  For graduates who have done four years training, the increase to their starting pay is 32 per cent. in cash terms since May 1997.

  Overseas Treatment
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimates he has made of the cost of treating patients sent abroad for treatment until the end of March 2002; [29717]

  (2) if he will publish the estimated costs of the treatment of patients who were sent on 18 January to receive treatment (a) at La Louvière hospital in France and (b) in a private sector hospital in England. [29716]

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the total cost to each health authority involved of the package of care for(a) cataract and (b) joint replacement operations per patient treated in (i) the UK under the NHS, (ii) Lille and paid for by the NHS and (iii) private hospitals and paid for by the NHS. [29674]

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total cost of treating NHS patients who were sent for treatment in French hospitals on 154W
  18 January broken down by (a) treatment costs paid to French hospitals, (b) other treatment costs, (c) travel costs, (d) non-clinical care costs and (e) other costs; if he will estimate the difference between the total costs of this form of treatment and the standard NHS costs of treatment; and if he will make a statement. [30021]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 23 and 24 January 2002]: The precise costs of the national health service funded operations purchased in Lille are commercially confidential. The same approach is taken in relation to NHS funded operations in the private sector in the United Kingdom, where we anonymise data before releasing it. Clearly this would be impossible in the present case.

  Direct comparisons of the costs of overseas treatment and NHS costs are not straightforward; for example, prices agreed so far for hip and knee replacements include intensive rehabilitation which would not be included in standard NHS reference costs. In general the prices agreed so far for treatment overseas are in excess of NHS average reference costs but comparable to those in the UK private sector. However, we would expect better prices if and when we commit to larger volumes of patients travelling overseas to individual hospitals.

  £1.1 million to fund treatment costs has been made available to the three test bed sites in south-east England who are developing processes for sending patients overseas. Depending on the case mix, this should fund 200 to 300 procedures.

  The primary care group will have to take account for how it spends its share of the public money that it receives as well as how it secures the highest possible standards of care and good value for money.

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