Written Answers of 24 July 2002

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Death in Custody
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Solicitor-General when the Attorney-General will announce the outcome of the review of the role and practices of the Crown Prosecution Service in cases arising from a death in custody. [73440]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Attorney-General hopes to make an announcement around the end of September. He had hoped to do so before Parliament rose this month, but because of the thought provoking contributions that have been made, and because he wishes to examine aspects of the handling of a trial which ended in acquittal earlier this month, he has decided to extend the period of the review. He is grateful to all those who have so far responded to the consultation paper or contributed their views in other ways.

DEFENCE

  Aircraft
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by aircraft type, the RAF's(a) requirement, (b) actual operating fleet and (c) the total number of aircraft of each type owned and leased by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [52132]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 25 June 2002]: The information requested is set out in the table. The figures provided in the table are a snapshot of the situation as at 3 May 2002.

  The Required Operating Fleet is the total number of aircraft needed to undertake the defined military task, the Actual Operating Fleet is the total number of aircraft available to undertake the defined military task and the Departmental Fleet is the total number of aircraft.

  MOD owned aircraft

  Aircraft type

  Required operating fleet (ROF)

  Actual operating fleet

  Departmental fleet

  BAe 125 ccMk3

  5

  6

  6

  BAe 146 ccMk2

  2

  2

  3

  C-17

  4

  4

  4

  Canberra PR9

  4

  3

  5

  Canberra T4

  1

  2

  4

  Dominie

  8

  10

  17

  Harrier GR7

  51

  54

  74

  Harrier T10

  9

  8

  12

  Sea Harrier FA2

  26

  28

  49

  Harrier T8

  4

  4

  7

  Hawk

  98

  99

  132

  Hercules C-120J

  25

  23

  25

  Hercules C-130K

  25

  25

  34

  Islander

  1

  2

  8

  Jaguar GR1a/3/3a

  39

  43

  93

  1104W

  MOD owned aircraft

  Aircraft type

  Required operating fleet (ROF)

  Actual operating fleet

  Departmental fleet

  Jaguar T2a/T4

  7

  —

  19

  Jetstream TMk

  9

  11

  II

  Nimrod MR2

  20

  20

  21

  Nimrod R1

  3

  2

  3

  Sentry E-3D AEW Mkl

  6

  6

  7

  Tornado F3

  93

  90

  135

  Tornado GR

  112

  112

  168

  Tristar

  8

  8

  9

  Tucano Mkl

  71

  71

  126

  VCIO

  19

  19

  22

  Rotary wing aircraft

  Sea King Mk3/3a

  23

  25

  25

  Wessex

  4

  4

  4

  Contractor owned aircraft

  Firefly

  43

  43

  45

  Griffin

  9

  9

  9

  Squirrel

  41

  41

  41

  Tutor

  99

  99

  99

  The RAF also operates the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which comprises 10 fixed wing aircraft. The breakdown of this figure by aircraft type and number is detailed in the table.

  Aircraft type

  Chipmunk

  1

  2

  2

  Dakota

  1

  1

  1

  Hurricane

  2

  2

  2

  Lancaster B1

  1

  1

  1

  Spitfire

  5

  5

  5

  Suez Medal
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Honours and Decorations Committee re-opened the case to consider awarding a 1951–54 Suez Canal Campaign Medal; who requested that the matter be reviewed; and when he expects a decision to be made. [61264]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 17 June 2002,Official Report, column 43W to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard).

  The Government considers it important to respect the principle that where there is a clear, demonstrable decision taken within five years of a campaign that a General Service Medal should not be awarded, that decision should not be reopened.

  The evidence relating to consideration of a General Service Medal for the Suez Canal Zone is however less clear-cut. A number of representations.

  In view of these exceptional circumstances, the Government is setting up a small sub-committee of HD Committee under the chairmanship of General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank to report on the case for an exceptional award of a General Service Medal for the Suez Canal Zone without creating wider precedent or breaching longstanding principles which underpin the making of such awards.
  1105W

  International Criminal Court
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the UK Government's policy towards the surrender of UK nationals where accused of a crime in connection with a UN peacekeeping or enforcement operation committed after 1 July upon request of the International Criminal Court. [66479]

  Mr. Hoon
  Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), investigation and, if necessary, prosecution of any allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide by United Kingdom nationals would be carried out by the UK. The purpose of the ICC is to bring to justice those who commit these crimes and to act as a deterrent against their being committed. The UK strongly supports the ICC and these aims. The ICC will intervene only when it determines that a state is unwilling or unable to pursue a particular case, but it is inconceivable that this would ever apply to the UK. We do not, therefore, envisage that the UK would ever be required to surrender its nationals to the ICC.

  RAF Chilmark
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the closure of RAF Chilmark was announced; what was the(a) planned date and (b) actual date of closure; what was the (i) estimated and (ii) actual date of disposal; what was the (a) estimated and (b) actual sale value of the site ; what was the (1) estimated and (2) actual cost of remediation; who calculated the estimated sale value of the site and on what basis; what the (x) estimated and (y) actual annual running costs of the site were between closure and disposal; and what the annual costs have been of decontamination work since the announcement of closure. [68927]

  Dr. Moonie
  The closure of RAF Chilmark was formally announced in September 1992, with a planned closure date of April 1995. The site closed on 1 April 1995.

  RAF Chilmark originally comprised separate sites at Dinton and Chilmark. Sales of the various parts were planned to follow clearance of explosive ordnance devices and any necessary decontamination, although it was accepted that final clearance of the entire site could take a considerable time.

  The first major sale was completed in July 1995, with seven further sales since. Chilmark HQ site and land at Ladydown are the only parts remaining unsold.

  No formal estimate was made of overall sale receipts, since at the time of closure, no firm estimation could be made as to the eventual timetable for sale.

  Public consultations

  Issued

  Responses required by

  The Future of the Defence Diversification Agency

  Mid February 2001

  23 March 2001

  The Military Maritime Graves and the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986

  14 February 2001

  14 May 2001

  Proposed introduction of the Voluntary Screening Programme following Health concerns in respect of Depleted Uranium

  13 February 2001

  9 March 2001

  Armed Forces Pension Scheme Review

  1 March 2001

  31 July 2001

  Joint Compensation review

  1 March 2001

  31 July 2001

  Second Consultative Document on the introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium

  11 April 2001

  4 July 2001

  Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review

  26 April 2001

  Within six months

  1106W
  Receipts from those parts sold since closure total approximately £1.5 million.

  No formal figure was prepared prior to the results of the Land Quality Assessments and prior to the introduction of more refined investigatory equipment.

  The cost over the first five years since closure of clearing explosive ordnance has been in the region of £1.7 million. A further £371,000 has been spent on preparation of Land Quality Assessments and remediation. Later figures have not yet been compiled.

  The values of those parts already sold have been assessed either by consultants to the Ministry of Defence or by the District Valuer. All sales have been at not less than open market value.

  The total of the actual holding costs of the site from closure in 1995 to 31 March 2002, excluding remediation works but including the cost of security guarding, is in the region of £1.9 million (excluding VAT). Estimated costs are prepared on an annual basis, and have proved to he very close to the actual costs.

  The future cost of any necessary decontamination of the remaining parts at Chilmark HQ site and Ladydown cannot he assessed until clearance of explosive ordnance is complete.

  Nuclear Arsenal
  Linda Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of maintaining Britain's nuclear arsenal in each of the last five years; and what the projected annual cost of maintaining the nuclear arsenal is in each of the next five years. [71007]

  Mr. Hoon
  The cost of maintaining Britain's nuclear weapons has been about 1 per cent. of the total annual defence budget and is expected to remain at around that level for each of the next five years.

  Consultation
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since 1997, indicating for each consultation(a) if copies were available online, (b) if copies were available in print, (c) the date the time period given for responses opened and (d) the date the time period given for responses closed. [69797]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation applies to all formal national public consultation documents issued by departments from 1 January 2001 and the information requested is not available before that date. Since that date, all formal consultation documents have been published on-line and either immediately made available in print or made available in print on request. Details are as follows:
  1107W
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations. [70989]

  Dr. Moonie
  Yes.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many consultation documents published in 2001 in(a) electronic or (b) printed form his Department has monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations. [70986]

  Dr. Moonie
  For two of the consultations it is too early in the process for meaningful evaluation. The remainder have not yet been monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice.

  Galileo Satellite Navigation System
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from(a) other European countries and (b) the United States regarding the possible military implications of the Galileo satellite navigation system. [70695]

  Dr. Moonie
  Secretary for Defence Rumsfield discussed Galileo with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence at the NATO Defence Ministers' meeting of 6–7 June 2002. Deputy Secretary for Defence Wolfowitz had previously written to my right hon. Friend about United States concerns over Galileo in December 2001. No representations to the Secretary of State about possible military implications of Galileo have been received from European countries.

  Armed Forces (Recruitment)
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recruitment figures to the armed forces from the Glasgow, Pollok constituency and the city of Glasgow were in the latest year for which figures are available; if he will list the services and units to which people have been recruited; how many individuals were recruited as(a) officers and (b) other ranks in each service; and what the figures were in each of the last five years. [71652]

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

  Chinook ZD576
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Chinook ZD576. [711851

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made to the House on 22 July 2002, Official Report, columns 689–704.

  Emergency Repairs
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of emergency repairs have been done within 24 hours of notification; what percentage of urgent repairs have been completed within five working days of notification; what percentage of routine repairs have been completed within two months of notification in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [71818]
  1108W
  Dr. Moonie
  The Defence Housing Executive became an Agency of the Ministry of Defence in 1999. Prior to this date the information requested was not collected in a comparable way. The information requested is as follows:

  —Per cent.

  Target

  Outturn

  To complete emergency repairs within 24 hours of notification:

  1999–2000

  95

  95

  2000–01

  95

  94

  2001–02

  95

  93

  To complete urgent repairs within five days of notification:

  1999–2000

  90

  90

  2000–01

  90

  86

  2001–02

  90

  87

  To complete routine repairs within two months of notificaton:

  1999–2000

  90

  90

  2000–01

  90

  96

  2001–02

  95

  99

  The 2001–02 figures are provisional. Routine repairs within the required time scale have consistently achieved or exceeded the targets. The achievement on urgent repairs continues to fall slightly short of the target but still represents a year on year improvement. There has also been a slight shortfall against target emergency repairs for the past two years. The Defence Housing Executive (DHE) is addressing areas of under-performance and will take remedial action to improve their service to service families. The DHE is also developing a more sophisticated system of measuring its performance on repairs which will take into account quality and customer satisfaction.

  Defence Housing Executive
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who manages the Defence Housing Executive IT national database of recorded repairs; and if he will make statement. [72026]

  Dr. Moonie
  Data is inputted into the Defence Housing Executive (DHE) database of repairs by DHE staff. The provision of IT services to DHE, including an application that maintains the database of housing repairs, is managed by Steria Ltd. (formerly Bull Information Systems Ltd.) under a contract let on 7 September 2001.

  Property Disposal
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role Annington Homes Ltd. has in deciding which properties are released back to them for disposal; and if he will make a statement; [71817]

  (2) how much money has been received in each year since 1996 from the profit share on his Department's homes released to Annington Homes Ltd. for disposal; what share of the profit these amounts represent; and if he will make a statement. [71840]

  Dr. Moonie
  Annington Homes has no influence over which properties are released to them. They can only reject properties if a release is not in accordance with the sale agreement. This states that a release must comprise, as Annington's minimum entitlement, the lesser of
  1109W
  10 per cent. of a site or 20 units. The Ministry of Defence releases to Annington Homes only those families quarters for which there is no longer a service requirement.

  The sale agreement incorporates a profit share agreement which has yielded the following by financial year:

  £ million

  1997–98

  2.29

  1998–99

  3.53

  1999–2000

  6.80

  2000–01

  8.03

  2001–02

  18.79

  The Exchequer receives a proportion of any gains in excess of an agreed level according to the sliding scale as follows:

  Percentage

  1997

  50

  1998

  45

  1999

  40

  2000

  35

  2001

  30

  2002

  25

  2003

  25

  2004

  25

  2005

  25

  2006

  25

  2007

  22

  2008

  19

  2009

  16

  2010

  13

  2011

  10

  National Asset Register
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disposals and acquisitions have been made by his Department since the publication of the National Asset Register on 19 July 2001; and if he will make a statement. [71767]

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

  Departmental Funding
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list his net cash requirement and planned net cash requirement in 2002–03 cash terms for financial years from 1997–98 to 2005–06; [71633]

  (2) if he will list his Department's parliamentary funding and planned parliamentary funding in 2002–03 cash terms from the Consolidated Fund (Supply) for financial years from 1997–98 to 2005–06. [71632]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The data requested are given in the table. All figures are at 2002–03 prices and include costs of un-programmed operations/conflict prevention. Figures beyond 2002–03 are not available.
  1110W

  £ million

  Net cash requirement

  1997–98

  23,617

  1998–99

  24,671

  1999–2000

  24,175

  2000–01

  24,782

  2001–02

  25,512

  2002–03

  26,092

  Budget Holders
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's top level budget holders and their related management grouping for each financial year since 1997–98. [71634]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  C130J
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems have arisen with the propellers of RAF C130Js when landing on non-concrete runways; and if he will make a statement. [71715]

  Dr. Moonie
  No RAF C130J aircraft have landed on non-concrete runways. The first rough strip landing trial is scheduled for later this year.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made on troop seating on RAF C130Js; and if he will make a statement. [71713]

  Dr. Moonie
  No changes have been made to the configuration of troop seating in the RAF C 130J aircraft. A maximum of 128 personnel can be accommodated in the C-Mk 4 and 91 people in the C-Mk 5. At present, however, passenger seating in the cargo compartments of both C130J marks is restricted while an investigation is carried out into the cause of noise and vibration within the compartment and its effect on passengers. This has temporarily reduced the seating capacity by 22 seats on the C-Mk 4 and 23 seats on the C-Mk 5.

  Ammunition
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long after their arrival in, and how long before their departure from Afghanistan, Royal Marines were issued with, and had to return, their ammunition; and if he will make a statement. [71700]

  Dr. Moonie
  Royal Marine commandos at Bagram were issued with ammunition prior to specific tasks or operations, and returned any unused ammunition upon their completion. Ammunition was also issued to troops at Bagram for force protection tasks, including guarding.

  SA80s
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many SA80s and SA80 A2s have been issued to(a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Royal Marines, (c) the RAF, (d) army armoured regiments, (e) airborne regiments, (f) infantry regiments, (g) the TA and (h) other units; and if he will make a statement. [71699]
  1111W
  Dr. Moonie
  As the SA80 A2 deployment continues and the unmodified weapon is withdrawn, the information requested changes daily. As at 19 July 2002 the following information was available.

  MOD unit

  SA80 A2

  SA80 Al

  (a) The Royal Navy

  131

  10,179

  (b) The Royal Marines

  3,713

  5,012

  (c) The RAF

  5,437

  27,389

  (d) Armoured regiments

  514

  6,982

  (e) Airborne regiments

  2,137

  1—

  (f) Infantry regiments

  2,415

  32,939

  (g) The TA2

  100

  —

  (h) Other units (including the TA)

  9,522

  89,264

  Total

  23,969

  171,765

  1SA80 A I figures for Airborne troops are included within Infantry regiments figures.

  2Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre (RTMC), Chilwell.

  Approximately 4,000 SA80 A2s are being issued each month and the deployment is expected to be complete by May 2006.

  Reserve Forces Doctors
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the opportunity cost was of the compulsory mobilisation of reserve forces doctors on 16 May. [72552]

  Dr. Moonie
  I understand that the opportunity costs requested relate to any national health service (NHS) operations or activities which did not take place because of compulsory mobilisation of reserve forces doctors on 16 May. Such details are not held by the Ministry of Defence.

  Defence Spending
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence spending was as a percentage of United Kingdom gross domestic product in each year since 1980. [72576]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 30 October 2001,Official Report, column 565W to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws). On the basis of provisional outturn for 2001–02, United Kingdom defence spending as a percentage of UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in that year is now estimated to be 2.5 per cent.

  All the figures are based on cash outturn and include the unprogrammed cost of operations and other additions to the planned budget provided in Supplementary Estimates. They are not therefore comparable to forecasts of future defence spending as a percentage of UK GDP, based on the defence spending plans published in the White Paper "2002 Spending Review: New Public Spending Plans 2003–06" (Cm 5570).

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected defence spending is, as a percentage of UK GDP, from 2002–03 to 2005–06. [725771

  Dr. Moonie
  The defence budget is expected to represent the following share of forecast GDP.
  1112W

  Financial year

  Percentage GDP

  2002–03

  2.3

  2003–04

  2.3

  2004–05

  2.3

  2005–06

  2.2

  This reflects the defence budget expressed as 'near-cash spending in MOD DEL' in Table 12.1 of the White Paper "2002 Spending Review: New Public Spending Plans 2003–06" (Cm 5570), which is the most appropriate basis of comparison with forecast GDP. Outturn figures are likely to be higher than these plans, when the costs of operations and any other in-year additions are taken into account, and this would increase the share of GDP represented by defence spending in these years.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of incremental 2002–03 defence spending announced in the 2002 comprehensive spending review by(a) type of expenditure, (b) country and (c) region of the United Kingdom in which this increase is likely to be spent. [72579]

  Dr. Moonie
  The 2002 spending review covered the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. Additional resources will also be made available during 2002–03 to enable us to manage the pressure arising from the high levels of activity in which we are currently engaged. but these will not be finalised until later in the year and it is therefore not possible to provide the breakdown requested.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the increase in defence spending announced in the recent comprehensive spending review will be spent on Trident in each year from 2002–03 to 2005–06. [72575]

  Dr. Moonie
  Decisions on the allocation of the defence budget plans announced in spending review 2002 will be made in the normal way through the Ministry of Defence's annual planning process.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide a breakdown of defence spending in each year since 1997–98 by each country and region of the United Kingdom in which it was spent. [72578]

  Dr. Moonie
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Future Rapid Effects System
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Future Rapid Effects System and the future of(a) the UK's heavy warfighting capability, (b) the development of lighter forces and (c) the role of the medium force in the UK army. [72539]

  Dr. Moonie
  In order to meet the full range of security challenges it might encounter in the future, the Army must be able to draw upon a full spectrum of forces—heavy, medium and light. The Strategic Defence Review, with its emphasis on expeditionary forces, recognised the requirement to develop further the capabilities of all our forces for more rapid intervention.

  The Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) is intended to balance our capacity to meet the requirement for capable medium forces. We shall continue to develop our heavy and light forces as we anticipate a continuing need for
  1113W
  the capabilities they provide. None of the capabilities is discrete. We shall continue to organise our forces for specific operations into force packages tailored to the requirements of the missions, using joint capabilities drawn from across the services.

  Army Pensions
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the current pension system for widows of army personnel who decide to remarry or cohabit. [72151]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Defence and the Social Security Minister announced on 20 July 2000 that changes would be made to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) to allow widows and widowers in receipt of an Attributable Forces Family Pension to retain their pension if they remarry or cohabit. These changes took effect from 31 October 2000. Previously, an attributable widow(er)s' pension was withdrawn on remarriage or cohabitation, although it would have been automatically restored on second widowhood or at the end of a period of cohabitation. Those widows or widowers who had already remarried, and have had their attributable pension withdrawn, were not included in the change. Those in receipt of a War Widows' Pension payable under the Naval, Military and Air Force etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983, or a non-attributable widows or widowers' AFPS pension, are also not affected by the change; their pensions will still cease on remarriage or cohabitation.

  No further changes to widow(er)s' pensions under the current pension scheme are envisaged, however, the review of the AFPS currently proposes extending the October 2000 change to non-attributable pensions. On current plans, this would only apply to those joining the new scheme.

  Anglo-Irish Ministerial Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when and where Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting. [72695]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 20 June 2002,Official Report, columns 533–34W, by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Peter Hain).

  Memorandums of Understanding (US)
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what memorandums of understanding have been signed with the United States Administration since 1 January 1999; on what dates each was signed; where each was signed; and with which Department of the United States Administration each was signed. [72690]

  Mr. Hoon
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  1114W

  Colchester Garrison
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2002,Official Report, column 36W, if the Investment Approvals Board has further considered the Colchester Garrison PFI project; if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Board's considerations; and when it will next meet to consider this matter. [72608]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Colchester Garrison PFI Project remains under review by the Investment Approvals Board (IAB), and an outcome of their considerations has not yet been reached. The IAB is scheduled to convene again on 12 August.

  Runways
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's airfields in the UK have runways in excess of 1,800 metres in length; how many have a runway and taxiway bearing strength sufficient to take large civil aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [71899]

  Dr. Moonie
  The table lists all Ministry of Defence airfields with runways in excess of 1,800 metres. 16 of these 34 airfields, indicated by `*', can in principle accommodate a large civil aircraft, such as a DC 10. To give a specific answer on the capability of any of these airfields to take large civil aircraft, details would be required of the aircraft type, variant, Aircraft Classification Number (ACN), maximum all up weight and tyre pressure for the load to be carried, as well as details of crash category and handling equipment requirements.

  Barkston Heath

  Benson

  Boscombe

  Down

  Brize

  Norton*

  Chievnor

  Church Fenton

  Coltishall*

  Coningsby*

  Cottesmore*

  Cranwell

  Culdrose

  Dishforth

  Fairford*

  Kinloss*

  Lakenheath*

  Leeming*

  Leuchars

  Llanbedr

  Lossiemouth

  Lyneham

  Marham*

  Mildenhall*

  Odiham

  Scampton*

  Shawbury

  St. Athan

  St. Mawgan*

  1115W

  Topcliffe

  Valley

  Waddington*

  Wattisham*

  Wittering*

  Wyton*

  Yeovilton.

  Military Maritime Graves
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in offering protection to military maritime graves. [73461]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 9 November 2001,Official Report, column 435W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore). A Statutory Instrument (SI) was made on 9 July 2002 which prohibits intrusive activity without licence on 11 vessels: HMS Bulwark, HMS Dasher, HMS Formidable, HMS Hampshire, HMS Natal, HMS A7, HMS Vanguard, HMS Affray, HMS Exmouth, HMS Royal Oak and H5, and in addition the U-boat U 12, as representative of all U-boats lost in United Kingdom territorial waters. The SI prohibits intrusive activity without licence by UK national on a further five vessels: HMS Hood, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Repulse, HMS Gloucester and RFA Sir Galahad which lie in international waters. These regulations come into force on 30 September 2002.

  Army Headquarters
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has completed the final assessment of the decision to locate the Army's headquarters in the north in Edinburgh. [73462]

  Dr. Moonie
  A post Project Evaluation into this decision has been completed and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Warship Support Agency
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Warship Support Agency for financial year 2002–03. [73463]

  Dr. Moonie
  Key Targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the War Support Agency for financial year 2002–03. The targets build on progress already made and are as follows:

  Key Target 1: Timeliness

  Upkeep period timeliness—target: Less than 7 per cent.

  Key Target 2: Quantity

  Available Vessel Days—target: More than 95 per cent.

  Key Target 3: Timeliness

  Timely completion of high priority upgrade programme—target: 95 per cent.

  Key Target 4: Quantity

  Provision of the appropriate standard of single living accommodation to Naval Personnel—target: 25 per cent.
  1116W
  Key Target 5: Quality

  Operational support services—meeting the customers need ISO Quality Control Comment Form—targets:

  Group 1: 0 failures

  Group 2: Less than 1 per cent. failure

  Group 3: Less than 5 per cent. failure

  Survey target:

  Greater than or equal to 95 per cent. to standard by survey

  Greater than or equal to 45 per cent. of customers more than satisfied

  Key Target 6: Quantity

  Availability of material/manpower to Support the Naval Force General Plan—target: green assessment against all elements.

  Key Target 7: Cost/Efficiency

  To make the necessary Agency contribution to the DLO Strategic Goal of reducing output costs by 20 per cent. by 2005 while ensuring that we continue to deliver and indeed where appropriate improve the quality of our outputs.

  RAF Personnel Management Agency
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the RAF Personnel Management Agency for the financial year 2002–03: [73464]

  (2) what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the RAF Personnel Management Agency for financial year 2002–03. [73468]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Commander-in-Chief Royal Air Force Personnel and Training Command has set the Chief Executive of the Agency the following targets for financial year 2002–03.

  Key Target 1: Peacetime Manning

  Performance indicator: The percentage of available trained personnel either filling established posts or on diversions for which there is an approved Manning and Training Margin—Greater than or equal to 93.25 per cent.

  Key Target 2: Operational and Non-Operational MOD Authorised Unestablished Tasks

  Performance indicator: The percentage manning level of operational and non-operational MOD authorised unestablished tasks—target: Greater than or equal to 98 per cent.

  Key Target 3: Career Management

  Performance indicator: The percentage of PMA's customers who are either satisfied or not dissatisfied with the service provided by the PMA—target: Greater than or equal to 82.5 per cent.

  Key Target 4: Manpower Planning

  Performance indicator: Percentage variation between actual trained strength and the authorised trained strength taken as an average over the financial year—target: No greater than or equal to ±1 per cent.

  Key Target 5: Efficiency

  Performance indicator: Maintain operating costs within resources allocated—target: Expenditure contained within RCT.
  1117W

  Duke of York's Royal Military School
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School for the financial year 2002–03. [73470]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Chief Executive of the Duke of York's Royal Military School has been set the following Key Targets for 2002–03.

  Key Target 1

  To achieve 95.9 per cent. of 15-year-old pupils gaining five or more passes graded A* to C at GCSE.

  Key Target 2

  To achieve 23.93 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A* or A.

  Key Target 3

  To achieve an average GCSE points score per 15-year-old pupil of 57.36.

  Key Target 4

  To achieve an average GCE points score per candidate of 20.59.

  Key Target 5

  To achieve 38.72 per cent. of GCE passes at grades A or B.

  Key Target 6

  To achieve a pupil per capita cost of no more than f12,542.

  Key Target 7

  To generate income of at least £600,000.

  Key Target 8

  To achieve at least 300 applications for September 2003 intake.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to send a TA infantry platoon to support the International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan. [73502]

  Dr. Moonie
  We plan to deploy a composite Territorial Army infantry platoon to Kabul in order to provide a protection platoon to the United Kingdom component to the International Security and Assistance Force. The platoon will comprise members of the Territorial Army who have volunteered to be called out for this task. They will be mobilised at the end of July and deployed for three months from the end of August. The deployment is in line with the policy of making the Territorial Army more usable and integrated with the regular force.

  Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency for the financial year 2001–02. [73452]

  Dr. Moonie
  The role of the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency is to provide imagery intelligence and geographic support to Defence policy, operations and training; to meet customer requirements for imagery intelligence and geographic support in accordance with Defence priorities; to maintain and develop Agency capabilities and readiness in line with 1118W
  future Defence requirements; and to become progressively more efficient, while improving the quality and delivery of its products and services. The Key Targets for the Agency for the 12 months from April 2002 are:

  Key Target 1

  To satisfy operational requirements for Imagery Intelligence and Geographic Support within time scales and to standards agreed between the Agency and its customers.

  (a) For Imagery Intelligence, by satisfying at least 95 per cent. of requirements overall, while delivering not less than 98 per cent. of Priority 1 tasks.

  (b) For Geographic Support, by satisfying 100 per cent. of the geographic products and services essential to support current and potential operations, both from the Agency's United Kingdom based capabilities and its deployable units.

  Key Target 2

  To achieve the required levels of operational readiness for the deployable geographic support elements of the Agency in line with Defence Planning Assumptions.

  To maintain agreed states of readiness as set by PJHQ for all contingency forces (JRRF).

  Key Target 3

  To satisfy strategic and contingency requirements for Imagery Intelligence and Geographic Support within time scales and to standards agreed between the Agency and its customers.

  (a) For Imagery Intelligence, by satisfying at least 54 per cent. of the requirements as set out in the Imagery Exploitation Programme (IEP) agreed during Financial Year (FY) 2001–02, while delivering not less than 92 per cent. of Priority 1 tasks.

  (b) For Geographic Support, completing at least 90 per cent. of a customer endorsed programme of work for geographic products and services.

  Key Target 3T (Transitional)

  To develop Regional Support Agreements (RSAs) and establish an accurate baseline of the totality of Defence requirements for geographic information to be used as measurement in FY 2003–04.

  The implementation of the new Key Target.

  Key Target 4

  To demonstrate a further 1 per cent. improvement in the coverage of geographic information holdings resulting in a cumulative 3 per cent. improvement on the baseline established in 1999 and to maintain their quality for Defence use.

  Maintain the Ministry of Defence Map Library collection at the agreed level of readiness and achieve a further 1 per cent. improvement in coverage of geographic information holdings.

  Key Target ST (Transitional)

  In FY 2002–03, to develop output related targets and performance measures for implementation in FY 2003–04, which taken together across the Agency deliver outputs through a more efficient utilisation of resources.

  The implementation of the new Key Target.

  Army Personnel Centre Agency
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Army Personnel Centre Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73453]
  1119W
  Dr. Moonie
  The Chief Executive of the Army Personnel Centre has been set the following key targets for 2002–

  Key Target I

  To maintain at 94 per cent., the percentage of posts which are manned (excluding posts gapped for less than 28 days and all posts for private soldiers and subaltern officers). The 2001–02 performance was the maintenance of 94 per cent. of posts manned.

  Key Target 2

  To increase to 98 per cent. the proportion of personnel posted in-year by the APC whose rank and service qualifications meet the specifications of the post. The 2001–02 performance was 98 per cent. of personnel posted in-year who met the specifications of the post.

  Key Target 3

  To increase to at least 65 per cent., the percentage of in-year postings authorised by the APC where personnel are given at least four months notification. The 2001–02 output was 63 per cent. of personnel were given at least four months notification.

  Key Target 4

  To remain within 0 per cent. to -1 per cent. of the annual resource allocation while achieving targets.

  Transport and Movements Agency
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Transport and Movements Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73455]

  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Transport and Movements Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73467]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Chief Executive of the Defence Transport and Movements Agency has been set the following Key Targets for 2002–03:

  Key Target I

  To meet the customer's requirements as negotiated and agreed in Customer Supplier Agreements.

  Key Target I a

  95 per cent. or more of Agency transactions and services provided under call-off contracts to be within agreed (TQQC) criteria.

  Key Target Ib

  At least 92 per cent. of transactions against each Agency service, and call-off contracts, to be within agreed (TQQC) criteria.

  Key Target 2

  To achieve an overall 3 per cent. increase in efficiency.

  Key Target 3

  To demonstrate improved net added value.

  Key Target 4

  To achieve at least a satisfactory rating in the provision of operational transport and movements support.

  British Forces Post Office Agency
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the British Forces Post Office Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73456]
  1120W
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the British Forces Post Office Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73465]

  Dr. Moonie
  The chief executive of the British Forces Post Office Agency has been set the following key targets for 2002–

  Key Target I

  To meet 95 per cent. of customers' requirements as negotiated and agreed in customer supplier agreements.

  Key Target 2

  To achieve an overall 4 per cent. increase in efficiency.

  Key Target 3

  To reduce the net level of Customer Care Unit (CCU) compensation paid that is directly attributable to BFPO by 3 per cent. on the 2001–02 financial year.

  Storage and Distribution Agency
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73457]

  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73466]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Chief Executive of the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) has been set the following key targets for 2002–03:

  Key Target I

  To meet the customers' requirements as negotiated and agreed in customer supplier agreements.

  Key Target la

  95 per cent. of all issues to consumers to meet that element of the supply chain pipeline for which DSDA has a responsibility.

  Key Target lb

  98 per cent. of all receipts that conform to the specifications laid down in the contract and/or material regulations to be processed within time limits agreed with each individual customer.

  Key Target 2

  To achieve an overall 5 per cent. reduction in the unit cost of output.

  Key Target 3

  The value of inventory written-off as a result of DSDAs action to be less than levels agreed within each specific customer supplier agreement.

  Training Group Defence Agency
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Training Group Defence Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73458]

  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Training Group Defence Agency for the financial year 2002–03. [73469]
  1121W
  Dr. Moonie
  The Commander-in-Chief Royal Air Force Personnel and Training Command has set the Chief Executive of the Agency the following targets for financial year 2002–03.

  Key Target 1—Training Output

  To recruit and select Royal Air Force personnel in the required numbers to achieve the Into Training Targets defined by the Royal Air Force manning plans.

  To train aircrew of the three services to standards for entry to the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy Operational Conversion Unit training, the Defence Helicopter Flying School and other specialist flying training courses.

  To train military personnel to the standards required to undertake ground appointments.

  KT1a—Quantity of Output (ab initio flying training)—the number of RAF aircrew trainees graduated as follows:

  Target

  Fast Jet Pilots

  67

  Multi-Engine Pilots

  57

  Rotary Wing Pilots

  33

  Fast Jet Navigators

  28

  Multi-Engine Navigators

  9

  Rotary Wing Navigators

  10

  Airman Aircrew

  104

  KT1b—Quantity of Output (ab initio ground training)—the number of RAF trainees who graduated from the following courses:

  Target

  Officer Initial Specialist Training

  358

  RAF Tradesmen Training

  2,104

  Key Target 2—Quality of Output (Training Places)

  To train the aircrew of the three services to standards for entry to the Royal Air Force, to Royal Navy Operational Conversion Unit, the Defence Helicopter Flying School and other specialist flying training courses.

  To train military personnel to the standards required to undertake ground appointments.

  KT2a—Training Place (Flying)1

  Target

  Flying Training Courses—RN

  202

  Flying Training Courses—Army

  374

  RAF Flying Instructor Courses

  150

  RAF Refresher and Orientation Courses

  170

  RAF Specialist and Operational Courses

  240

  Flying Training (F and C)

  92

  1The number of training places provided on the following RN, Army, RAF instructor Refresher and Orientation, and specialist and operational flying courses. Also, the number of training places provided for Foreign and Commonwealth (F and C) flying courses.

  KT2b—Training Places (Ground)

  Target

  Pre-Employment Training

  15.547

  Career Development Training

  6.506

  1122W
  Key Target 3—Quality of Output

  To underpin the military effectiveness of the Royal Air Force by the timely provision of military personnel trained to the standards agreed with the Agency's customers.
  KT3—Quality of Output: Achievement of a satisfactory assessment of customer satisfaction with the quality of graduate trainees as reflected in an assessment based on a matrix of the following measures:

  Reports from the Aircrew Training Standards Sub-Committees;

  Quantitative reports from the Owner's Customer Advisory Committee;

  Quantitative reports on the satisfaction level of graduate trainees.

  Target: Satisfactory rating.

  Key Target 4—Cost Management

  To ensure the necessary systems are in place to manage the business on an output cost basis.

  KT4—Cost Management: Output based management.

  Target: Deliver an Agency wide prototype of the planned financial management and accounting system to provide unit costs of output by 31 March 2003.

  Key Target 5—Efficiency

  KT5—Efficiency: By 2005–06, reduce by 3 per cent. the average annual per capita cost of training a successful recruit to the agreed standard.

  Target: Performance level for 2002–03 to be 0.138 million.

  Queen Victoria School
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of Queen Victoria school for the financial year 2002–03. [73459]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Chief Executive of Queen Victoria school has been set the following key targets for 2002–03

  Key Target 1

  To maintain the staying on rate at school of S4 to S5 at a minimum of four per cent. above the Scottish national) average.'

  Key Target 2

  To maintain the percentage of pupils obtaining at least five credit awards at standard grade at two per cent. above the Scottish national average.'

  Key Target 3

  To maintain a percentage of the S4 roll gaining 3+ awards at level 6 or better by the end of S5, at least equal to the Scottish national average.'

  Key Target 4

  To achieve a pupil per capita cost of not more than £14,000 by March 2003.

  Key Target 5

  To generate gross income to the school of at least £295,000 per annum.

  All Queen Victoria school statistics to be based on the school's results over the last three years, compared with the Scottish national average for the current year, those statistics being as published in the Scottish Executive Official Statistics.

  Test and Evaluation Facilities
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future provision of test and evaluation facilities. [73460]
  1123W
  Dr. Moonie
  It is widely recognised that the Test and Evaluation (T&E) business has been in need of radical restructuring for many years. As part of tackling this problem head on, a long-term partnering contract is currently being negotiated with QinetiQ for the delivery of the T&E capability. The process includes the Ministry of Defence setting challenging targets to ensure that the T&E structure is more closely aligned with MOD's requirement for T&E capabilities. To achieve this within the taut budget, QinetiQ has put forward a number of proposals, which aim to remove excess capacity, duplication and obsolete facilities.

  QinetiQ has identified three major rationalisation proposals for the air ranges. These are: conversion of the Aberporth range to an instrumented training range, the closure of Llanbedr airfield, and the reduction to campaign operation status of the West Freugh range.

  The proposals will potentially deliver net savings in excess of £300 million across the life of the 25-year contract, and will transform the T&E business into the effective, modern organisation that we require.

  The delivery of these savings is likely to lead to around 400 job losses, spread across all three establishments. I will be writing today to fully inform interested parties, including the unions, about the proposals beginning the consultation process.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

  Consultations
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many times the Electoral Commission has been consulted in accordance with 7(1) and 2(h) of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000; where their consultation responses are reported; and on how many occasions the Electoral Commission has provided a response. [69787]

  Mr. Beith
  I will write to the hon. Member.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  World Bank
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the forthcoming United Nations world summit on sustainable development will review the performance of the World bank business partners for development initiative. [69879]

  Ms. Keeble
  Business Partners for Development (BDP) was a project-based initiative set up in 1998 to initiate partnerships for development. It involved 30 focus projects in 20 countries around the world. The BPD final report containing conclusions and recommendations was launched in April of this year. An independent evaluation of BPD, funded by my Department and the World bank, has already been conducted, and the findings will be available later this month. WSSD will review general progress on sustainable development to see where the
  1124W
  implementation gaps are, as well as new challenges. Although not formally part of the WSSD process, the review will of course be available to all participants.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she next expects to meet representatives of international aid agencies to discuss their plans for assisting Zimbabwe; and if she will make a statement. [69880]

  Clare Short
  My Department is in frequent contact with representatives of development agencies in Harare and internationally. We are working to try to prevent the current crisis becoming a catastrophe but the situation is very worrying.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy towards aid for Zimbabwe. [69887]

  Clare Short
  Our aim is to prevent loss of life arising from current food shortages and the increasing burden of disease and to support survival strategies of the poorest people. We have increased our financial provision for Zimbabwe to £32 million to meet humanitarian needs. Aid is being channelled through non-governmental and international organisations.

  Cameroon
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to relieve poverty among the anglophobe minority in Cameroon. [69882]

  Clare Short
  The support my department provides to Cameroon is not restricted to a particular linguistic or ethnic group. As part of the international community we support Cameroon's efforts to develop a poverty reduction strategy for all its people. Moreover, my department contributes directly to overall poverty reduction through our support to the forestry sector, in recognition of the sector's importance to the Cameroonian economy and the number of poor people living in the forest zone.

  Famine (Southern Africa)
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what she is doing to prevent famine in southern Africa. [69883]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 17 June 2002,Official Report, columns 58–59W. Since then our contribution to the world food programme has been used to buy about 60,000 tonnes of commodities which are being shipped now. Further allocations from the overall commitment of £45 million have been made to NGOs, and support has been provided for logistics personnel and vulnerability and nutrition assessments.

  Fatal Diseases
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to tackle(a) HIV/AIDS, (b) TB, (c) malaria and (d) other fatal diseases. [69884]
  1125W
  Clare Short
  Approximately half of infectious disease deaths in developing countries can be attributed to three diseases: HIV, TB and malaria, which cause more than five million deaths per year. DFID is working to strengthen developing countries' health systems to deliver effective services to the poorest. We have committed more than £1 billion to that purpose since 1997. The UK has also taken an active role in the establishment of the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, which is designed to improve provision of drugs and commodities to treat those diseases. DFID has pledged $200 million over five years for the fund.

  Clean Water (Africa)
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to improve supply of clean water in Africa. [69885]

  Clare Short
  My Department is working with Governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve the Millennium development goals for access to safe water in Africa. With all partners we seek to ensure that activities are sustainable and have a pro-poor focus. Expenditure on water in Africa was over £29 million last year.

  Sub-Sahara
  Mr. Peter Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her policy towards assisting economic and agricultural developments in the sub-Sahara. [69886]

  Clare Short
  DFID policy is to work with African Governments to implement internationally agreed poverty reduction strategies and to work through multilateral organisations, African institutions and the international community to promote private investment, create an equitable international trading system and bring an end to conflict in Africa.

  Trade Links
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she will take to seek reform of European Union policy on international aid and development relating to promotion of trade links with aid recipients. [69888]

  Clare Short
  The European Union has three instruments to help improve trading opportunities for developing countries:

  First, the Everything but Arms initiative (EBA), which grants the worlds 49 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) duty and quota free access to EU markets for all their export products, excluding arms and munitions.

  Second, the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which are about to be negotiated with the 77 countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions which are party to the Cotonou Agreement. These EPAs will seek to create WTO compatible free trade areas between coherent groups of ACP countries and the EU.

  Third, the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which grants all developing countries zero or reduced tariffs on the majority of their exports to the EU.
  1126W
  The Government will continue to work to improve the trade access offered under these arrangements.

  Agricultural Exports
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact on the economies of developing countries of subsidised agricultural exports from the European Union; and if she will make a statement. [69889]

  Clare Short
  The UK understands the damaging impact of subsidised agriculture exports on developing countries. We recognise that subsidised agriculture exports have a dampening effect on world prices and thus constrain agriculture investment and growth in developing countries. The UK is therefore pressing for substantial CAP reform under the current mid-term review, to reduce EU subsidies.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the development aid she is providing to Ethiopia. [69890]

  Clare Short
  We are building up a development partnership with Ethiopia which will support the Ethiopian Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy. We understand that the Government of Ethiopia hope to produce a final version of the strategy in the next few weeks. Excluding humanitarian support our initial aid framework for 2002–03 was £9 million. There are also additional funds for a three-year input to help tackle HIV/AIDS.

  Current and planned support includes assistance in the road sector, water, food security including rural transportation, pastoralism and tax reform. We are currently developing a strategy for future years when the programme will expand. The strategy will address which sectors will be focus areas for DFID support. There will be full consultation during the strategy process. Initial discussions with the Ethiopian Government suggest that our focus should be on education, food security and capacity building across sectors. We shall continue to bear in mind political developments in Ethiopia while drawing up our plans.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the oral answer of 26 June 2002,Official Report, column 866, on Afghanistan, what the result has been of the Under-Secretary of State's inquiries. [69891]

  Clare Short
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 16 July 2002,Official Report, column 258W.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. [69892]

  Clare Short
  Thanks to the efforts of the UN-led humanitarian system, with the support of the international community, a potential humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan after 11 September 2001 has been avoided. The achievements of recent months have led to an
  1127W
  optimism that can be seen in the massive influx of returning refugees from neighbouring countries—over 1.25 million Afghan refugees have returned to their country since 1 March 2002. However, serious challenges remain. Chronic malnutrition, food shortages and socio-economic vulnerability are still alarmingly high. According to the UN, almost one third of the Afghan population is dependant on some form of emergency assistance. In many parts of the country these challenges are compounded by problems of access due to continuing insecurity, the presence of land mines and UXOs, and, in the later winter months, will be further complicated by heavy snows and extreme cold temperatures.

  The United Nations estimates that donors must provide a further US$780 million in order to meet immediate requirements in Afghanistan up to December 2002; almost US$400 million of which is required to cover needs over the next three months. Support from the international community, under the guidance of the Afghan transitional administration (ATA), will be used to address the on-going humanitarian crisis, support the return of refugees to Afghanistan, develop a comprehensive analysis of and approach to vulnerability in Afghanistan, and support the transition of competence, ownership and technical capacity to the ATA to meet the immediate needs of its own people.

  In addition to the £60 million that my Department disbursed from September 2001 to March 2002 under our humanitarian programme, we pledged at the Tokyo conference in January 2002 to commit a further £200 million over the next five years. This amount is already being allocated and disbursed. We are fully committed to helping to meet the immediate priorities of the ATA and are encouraging other donors to do likewise by maximising their contributions and speeding up the disbursement of promised assistance.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's relief activities in northern Afghanistan. [69898]

  Clare Short
  My Department is supporting a range of humanitarian agencies working across Afghanistan, including in northern areas; these include UN humanitarian agencies, the Red Cross, and international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We remain concerned about continuing insecurity in northern Afghanistan, including attacks against NGOs. We support. the actions of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Lakhdar Brahimi, who has written to President Karzai, and visited the north to impress upon the various factions the need for a secure environment. Other UN representatives have also visited insecure areas and received assurances from local leaders that measures are being put in place to control factional fighting and allow for the safe delivery of humanitarian and recovery assistance. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the aid money promised to Afghanistan has reached that country. [69901]

  Clare Short
  Precise data on the disbursement of aid to Afghanistan are not yet available. However, we estimate that donor pledges to Afghanistan amount to a1128W
  little under $2 billion in 2002, of which about $1.1 billion has been committed and about $0.8 billion disbursed. The pace of further disbursements will now depend on improvements in security and access and on the completion of the national Development Framework and Development Budget.

  The UK has disbursed over £60 million to Afghanistan since September 2002 and is in the process of completing a further round of disbursements to UN agencies, NGOs, quick impact projects and the Afghan Authority for the Co-ordination of Assistance.

  Social Exclusion
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department is giving to programmes combating social exclusion of vulnerable groups in south eastern Europe. [69893]

  Clare Short
  We are working with governments, civil society and international organisations in the region to tackle this issue. Specifically: we are supporting two regional programmes on promotion of minority rights and rights and access to justice for Roma communities and a project in Bulgaria focused in reduction in social exclusion. In Romania we are assisting the Anti-Poverty Commission to develop a social exclusion policy.

  We are funding projects in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria to assist with the reform of social policy, focused on more effective social services, social welfare and employment systems, including improved cooperation between government and civil society. These will, in part, address the situation of socially-excluded groups. These projects are mostly linked to World bank structural adjustment credits.

  We are supporting poverty surveys in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania to assist the authorities in identifying the features of poverty and monitoring measures to address it.

  We have provided grants totalling £8.4 million to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for family welfare payments targeted at the poorest section of the population.

  We have assisted with the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Albania, and are supporting their preparation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia.

  We are working with the World bank to support social mitigation programmes in Romania (targeted at ex-mining communities) and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also in Romania we are assisting the Social Development Fund.

  In Romania and Bulgaria we are supporting child welfare and protection projects.

  In Albania we are funding a programme of support to rural livelihoods, targeted at the poorer, mountainous regions.

  Sexual and Reproductive Health
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on UK funding to international sexual and reproductive health organisations. [69894]
  1129W
  Clare Short
  My Department supports a number of international sexual and reproductive health organisations which share our aim of eliminating poverty including United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations. We believe that the goal of the international conference on population and development of universal access to reproductive health is central to attainment of the health Millennium Development Goals, specifically those related to maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS and child mortality. Without access to high quality reproductive health services and care, it is most unlikely that progress will be achieved in meeting the health MDGs. We will continue to support international organisations which make an effective contribution to these goals, and of course the efforts of governments seeking to improve people's access to reproductive health services.

  Departmental Management Board
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development who has been recruited as non-executive directors to her Department's management board. [73499]

  Clare Short
  Bill Griffiths, Director of WRG Associates, and Nemat Shafik, Vice-President for Private Sector Development and Infrastructure at the World bank, have been recruited as non-executive Directors to sit on DFID's Management Board. Mr. Griffiths will also chair our Audit Committee.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the European Commission's proposal for the reform of the common agricultural policy, with particular reference to farmers in developing countries; and if she will make a statement. [72768]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 17 July 2002,Official Report, column 261W.

  Gujarat
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she has given to refugees in the State of Gujarat. [69895]

  Clare Short
  My Department has provided nearly £750,000 of assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gujarat, channelled through international and local NGOs operational on the ground.

  Primary Education
  Mr. Savidge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of World Bank proposals to fast-track support for primary education in certain poor countries. [69896]

  Clare Short
  The Government are strongly committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on education and is working to mobilise the international community in support of them. The World bank has a critical role in supporting countries as they seek to give priority to education, and primary education in particular, within the overall context of their poverty reduction 1130W
  strategies. We have been working with the Bank to develop its new Action Plan for accelerating progress towards Education for All.

  We believe the World bank Action Plan's fast-track initiative provides an opportunity to try to ensure that no country genuinely committed to economic development, poverty reduction and good governance is denied the chance to achieve universal primary education through lack of resources. The Government were successful in calling for the fast-track initiative to include Nigeria and Ethiopia, where over 14 million children are out of school. It offers 18 poor countries the chance to qualify for additional financing for primary education if they can demonstrate that their Government is fully committed and has effective policies in place. A further five countries can apply for assistance in building capacity, filling gaps in data and developing effective policies for primary education.

  The Government are committed to further increasing our support for basic education, particularly in Africa. We will continue to support the Fast Track proposals and participate in on-going discussions with the World bank about implementation arrangements.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects the additional resources committed for good quality primary education to the group of 18 countries selected to receive immediate financing to be provided. [72767]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 17 July 2002,Official Report, column 291W.

  Steel Industry (Eastern Europe)
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's policy is in relation to financial support for the steel industry in eastern Europe. [69897]

  Clare Short
  The UK believes that the countries of Eastern Europe need to privatise and restructure their steel industries as part of their transition from central planning to open market orientated economies. Privatisation and restructuring help to improve efficiency and enable governments to redirect subsidies—which currently keep inefficient companies afloat—into investment in essential public services.

  The UK does not provide direct financial support to the steel industry in Eastern Europe. The UK is a shareholder in the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which both support the restructuring of former communist economies in Eastern Europe, including through non-concessional loans to support steel industry privatisation and restructuring.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to widen access to renewable energy in developing countries. [69899]

  Clare Short
  My Department takes the approach that a full menu of options should be considered when providing access to energy in developing countries, not just
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  renewable energy. Poor people will rely on fossil fuels and traditional biomass resources for many years to come, so cleaner more efficient uses of these energy resources should not be ignored.

  Our recent consultation document 'Energy for the Poor' invited comments on the role that DFID can play in providing poor people in developing countries with access to energy for poverty reduction. The final Paper will be produced in August.

  We have a number of on-going activities in the energy sector in specific countries, which are listed on the attachments to this reply, together with details of our research work in this sector. We are also a contributor to the multi-donor technical co-operation facilities (ESMAP and PPIAF), which have activities in the energy sector, some of which include renewables. Brief details of the work of these are also attached to this reply.

  Commodity Prices
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to ensure that the work done to reduce the debt burden of highly indebted poor countries and other countries is not undermined by recent declines in commodity prices. [69900]

  Clare Short
  The Government have been working to try to ensure that countries exit the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative process with sustainable debt levels. At the Annual Meetings of the World bank and IMF we asked the World bank staff to revisit the debt sustainability analyses of all commodity dependent low-income countries, including HIPCs. The IMF and World bank analysis shows that, although the situation varies from country to country, the external debt indicators for most HIPC countries have deteriorated, and several HIPC countries now face unsustainable debt burdens as a result. Following UK pressure, the World bank and IMF Boards have agreed to provide additional relief to countries in this situation. This was reconfirmed at the Spring meetings, in April, and Burkina Faso became the first HIPC country to benefit from 'topping up' at Completion Point.

  World Summit
  Mr. Luke
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her priorities are for the world summit on sustainable development in September. [69902]

  Clare Short
  The Government's strategic objective for the world summit is to make globalisation work for sustainable development, especially for the poorest. We see the summit as part of a broader process that includes the Millennium Declaration, the WTO Doha Development Agenda and the agreement reached at the Financing for Development Conference in Monterrey.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the affordability of HIV/AIDS drugs to patients in Africa. [71933]
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  Clare Short
  The Government are strongly committed to increasing access to essential medicines for the world's poor, especially in Africa.

  The Working Group on Access to Medicines, which I chair, has brought together UK Government, pharmaceuticals and others over the last year to look at options for bringing about widespread, sustainable and predictable differential pricing of medicines, including HIV/AIDS drugs. Good progress has been made. The final meeting will be held tomorrow and the group will report back to the Prime Minister by September.

  Affordability is only one of four key factors that influence access to medicines. Others are the need for sustainable financing, the rational selection and use of existing drugs and reliable health and supply systems.

  On sustainable financing, we have pledged $200 million over five years to the Global Fund to Fight TB, AIDS and Malaria (GFATM). We have also committed over £1 billion since 1997 to strengthening developing countries' health systems, building their capacity both to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection and use of drugs.

  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if the Government support a continued role for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the EU candidate countries after accession. [73472]

  Clare Short
  Yes. We have refined the view taken in the UK's institutional strategy paper for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) that accession to the EU would complete transition for eligible countries and should trigger a graduation from EBRD operations. We now consider that there will still be important transition challenges in less advanced sectors of the countries of Central Europe and the Baltics after they join the EU. Working within its three key principles—transition impact, additionality and sound banking—the EBRD will continue to have a role assisting the countries address these challenges. The UK believes that the EBRD should take a strategic approach, co-ordinating closely with other public institutions and working to widen the benefits of transition to those who have benefited least.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she will answer the written question from the hon. Member for Chichester, tabled on 22 May, on the official travel of departmental and non-departmental special advisers. [72677]

  Clare Short
  According to the Order Paper, no such question was tabled to my Department on 22 May by the hon. Member for Chichester.

  Temporary Staff
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in her Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff
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  (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72643]

  Clare Short
  The information on staff numbers is set out in the following table as at 1 April 2001 and 1 April 2002, which are the only two of the last five years for which figures are available. The table shows the information as a percentage of total DFID staff numbers in the UK.

  April 2001

  April 2002

  Temporary agency staff employed

  29

  58

  Temporary agency staff as a percentage of total staff number in UK

  2.2

  3.6

  No central data are held on the cost of agency staff. However as a proportion of the total staffing budget, this will be less than percentages for staff numbers shown in the table because the majority of such staff are contracted to fill temporary positions at junior level.

  Departmental Bodies
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many jobs under the remit of her Department in(a) the core Department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by her Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual Department, body or organisation. [7273 1]

  Clare Short
  The information in respect of DFID's civil service posts as at 1 April 2002 is contained in the table. Information in the other categories listed is not readily available.

  Number

  Percentage of total

  Scotland

  527

  33.5

  Greater London

  791

  50.3

  Overseas

  255

  16.2

  G8 (Expenditure and Policies)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the G8's commitment to focusing their development efforts on cultures that demonstrate a political and financial commitment to good governance and the rule of law, investing in their people and pursuing policies that spur economic growth and alleviate poverty will be reflected in(a) their development spending for 2003 and (b) their policies in 2003. [72304]

  Clare Short
  Each G8 member will decide for itself how to meet the commitments entered into at the Kananaskis Summit. These commitments reflect the Department for International Development's existing policies as set out in its Strategies for Achieving the International Development Targets published in 2000–01, copies of which are available in the House Library. The 1134W
  Department is currently reviewing how these should be applied to the outcome of the recent Comprehensive Spending Review. The resulting allocation and its underlying rationale will be set out in the 2003 departmental report. In setting our priorities we will take fully into account the extent to which developing country Governments pursue effective pro-poor policies. We encourage other donors to do likewise.

  Developing Countries
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to ensure that poorer people in developing countries benefit from water supply projects in which United Kingdom companies invest. [72055]

  Clare Short
  My Department is working in many different ways to ensure that all water companies who engage in water supply projects cater for all, especially the poor. Our policy for achieving the Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people without access to safe water by 2015 is set out in the strategy paper "Addressing the Water crisis—Healthier and More Productive Lives for Poor People". The policy seems sustainability in water supply and sanitation service delivery with a proper pro-poor focus. We are working with developing country Governments to ensure priority for pro-poor water supply and sanitation services within the Poverty Reduction Strategy processes. We are also supporting a considerable body of research that is seeking specifically to develop mechanisms by which the private sector is able best to provide for the poor.

  My Department has been at the forefront of developing new facilities to ensure that the engagement of the private sector in water supply and sanitation addresses the needs of the poor. These include the Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), which is building capacity for effective regulation, and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), which seeks to harmonise developmental and commercial objectives.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, as they relate to developing countries are monitored. [72054]

  Clare Short
  Like all 36 signatories to the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises (MNEs), the UK has a national contact point (NCP), responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the guidelines, this includes contributing to the resolution of concerns about the behaviour of MNEs raised with it. The UK NCP is based on the Department of Trade and Industry working in liaison with other Government Departments. Signatories to the guidelines recognise that there are greater difficulties in implementing them in non-adhering countries (which includes almost all developing countries), not lest because they do not have NCPs. However, the Government's expectations of UK MNE behaviour are the same wherever they operate. In developing countries positive co-operation between the NCP, UK Government representation locally, business, unions, NGOs, and individuals is important for successful implementation and promotion. The UK Government are working hard to raise the profile of the guidelines in developing countries, for example through the recent G7/8 Action Plan for Africa initiative, through UK overseas
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  posts, and through discussions with fellow signatories and interested parties at the regular NCP meetings in the OECD. We will continue these efforts as it is in developing countries where, arguably, the guidelines can make the most impact.

  Consultations
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what public consultations have been commenced by her Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72062]

  Clare Short
  Since April 2002, my Department has conducted limited public consultations on the following documents:"Better Livelihoods for Poor People: The Role of Agriculture" (consultation closed 5 July 2002)
  A DF1D-wide research policy study, "Research For Poverty Reduction", (consultation closed 10 May 2002);
  "Energy for the Poor" (consultation closes 31 July 2002)
  "Making connections: Infrastructure for poverty reduction" (consultation closes 31 July 2002).

  All these documents are made available in print form and electronically on our website www.dfid.gov.uk for the public to comment on.

  Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for international Development what level of funding her Department intends to provide for research by the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh(a) over the current financial year, (b) in the period up to 2005 and (c) after 2005. [72152]

  Clare Short
  The Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh is contracted by my Department to manage a programme of animal health research. The programme develops, and promotes the adoption of, cost-effective strategies for the sustainable control of livestock diseases affecting the livelihoods of poor people in parts of east and southern Africa and in Asia. The contract runs to March 2005. Funding available under the contract by financial year is:

  2002–03: £3,373,000

  2003–04: £2,771,000

  2004–05: to be determined.

  These figures include funds provided specifically for a project to develop an improved vaccine to prevent losses from East Coast fever, a fatal tick-transmitted disease of cattle in eastern, central and southern Africa.

  No decisions have been taken on funding for animal health research after March 2005.

  China
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will ascertain from the Government of China if the population and family planning law due to come into effect in China in September requires detailed population control quotas; and if she will make a statement. [72543]
  1136W
  Clare Short
  We understand that the new Population and Family Planning Law in China, which is due to come into effect on 1 September this year, does not include detailed population quotas. The law sets out the rights and responsibilities of the state and individuals in the areas of reproductive health and family planning. Birth targets and quotas remain a feature of population policy in China, but we are supporting the work of the United Nations population fund which seeks to demonstrate to the Chinese authorities that a client-oriented quality of care approach is a viable alternative to the current administrative family planning approach. Birth targets and quotas have been removed in counties where UNFPA is operating.

  Somalia
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2002,Official Report, column 41W, on Somalia, which individuals her Department have lobbied for the lifting of the ban on Somali livestock exports. [72436]

  Clare Short
  Our embassies in relevant Arab states have lobbied foreign Ministers about the livestock restrictions affecting Somalia. My Department is in regular touch with the FCO about these efforts.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Ann McKechin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimates her Department has made of how the planned increases in her departmental budget announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review will assist in reaching the UN millennium targets for development. [71728]

  Clare Short
  The planned increase in my Department's budget announced in the 2002 spending review settlement will enable us to increase significantly our bilateral contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and to play a greater role in strengthening the contribution of the international system. There is no room for complacency. Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals will entail a massive collective effort by the entire international community, developed and developing countries, to support poverty reduction. This includes further progress by donors towards the 0.7 per cent. target; delivering on the Doha commitments to make trade fairer for developing countries; improving the effectiveness of development assistance through sharpening its poverty focus; untying and promoting harmonisation of donor practices to reduce transaction costs. for developing countries it means tacking responsibility for developing and implementing poverty reduction policies and tackling the constraints on pro-poor growth including corruption, weak governance and conflict.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress being made with the campaign for good governance her Department is supporting in Sierra Leone; and what plans she has for developing further this work. [72332]
  1137W
  Clare Short
  DFID's current support for the civil society campaign for good governance is committed for two years. Its aim is to help build up a well informed, strong, viable and active civil society that effectively addresses political. socio-economic and human rights issues in Sierra Leone, particularly in areas of corruption, local government, economic empowerment, and the legal and human rights of women. It is just over half way through its course.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about progress being made with the Chieftans' Government reform projects in Sierra Leone; and what plans she has for developing this work further. [72331]

  Clare Short
  In response to the wishes expressed by civil society, soon after the conclusion of the peace agreement signed at Lome in July 1999, I agreed to support a project that would help restore the machinery of government at the local level in Sierra Leone. This entailed returning Paramount Chiefs to their Chiefdoms.

  A project was designed for this purpose and became known as the Chiefdom Governance Reform Programme. It had three components: the construction of a chiefdom house from where chiefdom business is conducted; the filling of chiefdom vacancies (there are presently more than 60 and the drafting of a code of conduct that would constitute a uniform set of regulations determining chiefdom administration and practices.

  The project has run its course and has recently been reviewed. The review findings are awaited. They will help to inform us whether we should approve a second phase to complete what we have begun or take forward only a limited range of activity, concentrating on what the review team deem to be the crucial components of the project.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress in implementing the EU health programme in Sierra Leone. [72168]

  Clare Short
  The EU Health Sector Support Project was approved under the 8th EDF, National Indicative Programme for Sierra Leone. It will concentrate on revitalising much needed health care delivery and management systems with an emphasis on first contact and first referral levels in rural areas.

  It is disappointing that despite lobbying from DFID and others the project has not yet started, over 18 months since the EDF Committee approved it in November 2000. We are advised that their preliminary assessments will be completed by last August and implementation will commence in early 2003.

  Street Children
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what estimate she has made of how many street children there are in the developing world; and what plans she has to provide support for the work being done in developing countries to bring street children into mainstream society to benefit from more general education and health programmes ; [72326]
  1138W
  (2) what account her Department will take of the policy statement on promoting and protecting the rights of street children formulated by the South Asian Civil Society Forum meeting in Colombo last December when developing programmes to support Governments in South Asia combating poverty, ill health and poor education. [72167]

  Clare Short
  Children live on the streets because of poverty in their communities. We have no specific estimate of their numbers, but street children form a proportion of the 600 million children who live in poverty and we know that some 113 six to 11-year-olds are not in school (1998 figure). Some of these will be street children. Support for children's rights to basic health care, education, nutrition, shelter, and protection from violence and abusive labour, along with work on sustainable livelihoods for their parents, is central to our effort towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

  We are currently providing financial support of nearly £2 million to a number of organisations that work directly with street children. We also support many more organisations and Governments working to tackle the underlying causes of the poverty, deprivation, and social exclusion that force children on to the streets.

  Arms Exports
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposed changes to guidelines on UK arms exports on the possibility of British military equipment reaching developing countries in regions of instability. [72623]

  Clare Short
  I have made no assessment of the impact of the proposed changes to the guidelines on UK arms exports on the chances of British military equipment reaching developing countries in regions of instability.

  Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings her Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by(a) Scottish Executive Department, (b) subject and (c) date. [72723]

  Clare Short
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Malawi
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the percentage of farmers in Malawi who will receive seed and fertiliser as overseas aid for planting 2003's crop. [73402]

  Clare Short
  DFID is currently discussion with Malawi Government and other potential donors the options for supply of inputs for the 2002–03 crop. These discussions will take account of the national food needs and the availability of finance for this and other interventions within an overall National Food Security Programme. Agreement is expected within the next three weeks to enable registration and required procurement to proceed in a timely manner.
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  Spring Meetings
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people attended the spring meetings of the IMF and World bank from(a) her Department and (b) other UK Government Departments; and what the total cost of the visit was. [66227]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I am giving today to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow).

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Press Office
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) full-time equivalents were employed by her press office and (b) secondees were placed in her press office in the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [70549]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: As DEFRA was set up in June 2001, information relating to the last five years is not available.

  There are 18 full-time press officer posts in the DEFRA Press Office. None of these posts are secondees.

  Farm Payments
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 to farmers in matching funds to charitable payments. [72487]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: Under the Charity Matched Funding Scheme, the Government matches charitable donations from the public pound for pound from Government funds. The Government paid over £17,000,000 to charities to alleviate rural hardship resulting from the foot and mouth disease outbreak in match funding in 2001–02. Match Funding was not made available in 2000–01.

  Foot and Mouth
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her latest assessment is of the contribution that the closure of footpaths made to resisting the spread of foot and mouth disease. [72488]

  Alun Michael
  In the early stages of last year's outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), the extent to which the disease might have spread was highly uncertain. At this stage MAFF encouraged local authorities to close footpaths and other rights-of-way on a precautionary basis. On 28 March MAFF and DETR published guidance advising authorities to reopen footpaths as quickly as possible when reopening was justified by the veterinary risk assessment. It is not possible to quantify the impact that footpath closures had in helping to control the disease.

  Responding to the recommendations of the Rural Task Force report published last October, the Government made clear that in any future outbreak of FMD, any restrictions on countryside access would take account both
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  of the requirements of disease control and of the impact on countryside users, the businesses that depend on them, and the wider rural economy. On the basis of the current veterinary risk assessment, closures of rights of way would probably be advised only within a 3 km radius zone around infected premises; this is set out in DEFRA's published Interim Contingency Plan for FMD.

  There is no case in which FMD is known to have been spread by walkers; but the Royal Society's report "Infectious Diseases in Livestock", published last week, states at paragraph 3.24 that
  "There is a theoretical risk that tourists on footpaths close to infected areas can spread disease, particularly if their route brings them into intimate contact with animals, but the actual risks from this source are poorly understood and require proper investigation."

  The Government will respond in full to this and other recommendations from the FMD inquiries later this year.

  Bushmeat Trade
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the latest machinery for monitoring and checking bags to tackle the illegal trade of bushmeat into the UK. [70306]

  Mr. Morley
  In March of this year the Department published its action plan to reduce the risk of plant and animal diseases entering the country and damaging our horticultural and agricultural industries.

  In implementing this action plan the Department has been investigating a variety of alternatives for improved detection and deterrence of illegal imports of meat and animal products. The Department has held discussions with officials from other countries on their experience with different regimes and technologies, as well as other individuals, and has a number of pilot schemes due to start this summer to determine the effectiveness of these in detecting illegal imports of meat and animal products.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on those groups which are involved in illegally importing bushmeat into the UK. [70307]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department currently has no conclusive evidence of specific groups involved in the illegal importation of bushmeat into the UK. We are in the process of improving our intelligence gathering and sharing this with enforcement agencies and specialised units such as the Wildlife Crime Unit. If and when such intelligence builds up a suitable evidence action will, of course, be taken accordingly.

  Illegal Meat Imports
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place to check against the illegal importation of meat by sea and air, with specific reference to(a) their cost and (b) man hour equivalents devoted to them. [69991]

  Mr. Morley
  Consignments of meat or animal products entering the European Union are subject to documentary and identification checks as well as physical checks, testing and sampling. The proportion subject to physical checks is dependent on the product—for example, at least 20 per cent. of beef, pork and lamb and at least
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  50 per cent. of consignments of poultry, game and honey are checked to ensure they comply with the appropriate rules. The cost of these checks are recovered from importers.

  Checks on other consignments not declared as meat or animal products are targeted on a risk basis.

  There are enforcement officers employed by local and port health authorities, HM Customs and Excise, Meat Hygiene Service and DEFRA who contribute directly or indirectly to policing laws on meat imports. Total numbers are not held centrally.

  Targeted checks for illegal imports of meat and animal products are carried out at sea ports and air ports. We do not hold information centrally on the costs of these checks.

  Through its action plan published in March, the Government are stepping up activities to improve the prevention and detection rates for illicit trade. Measures include improved co-ordination and co-operation with, and between, enforcement agencies. Certain measures in the action plan measures will have implications for future arrangements. For example the volume and type of checks made will be informed by the outcome of a disease risk assessment, and how checks are arranged, by the outcome of a Cabinet Office review of the current enforcement arrangements. Both reports are due this autumn.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the Government's strategy to tackle illegal meat importation; [72008]

  (2) what steps she has taken since March to tackle illegal meat importation. [72007]

  Mr. Morley
  The strategy to tackle illegal imports is to assess the disease risks linked to imports; identify the critical control points that need to be strengthened in order to reduce those risks, and to maximise opportunities for the prevention and detection of illicit trade. The strategy is underpinned by improved communication, including campaign to increase public awareness of our import rules and reasons for them.

  The various measures we are taking are set out in the action plan published in March, and which have been endorsed by the Curry, Follett and Anderson reports. I refer the hon. Member to our progress report published on 8 July: a copy of which can be viewed on the illegal imports pages on the DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk/ animalh/illegali).

  Correspondence
  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters from hon. Members received by her Department before 1 January have not been answered. [72018]

  Mr. Morley
  As at 23 July there are 113 letters from hon. Members received before 1 January that have not been answered.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to improve the performance of her Department in replying to correspondence. [72016]
  1142W
  Mr. Morley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and all of her ministerial team have afforded the highest importance to improving performance against correspondence targets and this has been tackled at the highest levels within the Department.

  The Department has addressed this by trebling the number of staff in the correspondence unit and strengthening its line management; introducing a more up to date IT system to facilitate faster transmission of letters within the Department, better case recording and improved management data; strengthening contingency arrangements to deal with surges of correspondence on a particular issue and enhancing guidance and training throughout the department (with input from Ministers) to improve the timeliness and quality of draft replies.

  Mr. Hague
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time taken by her Department has been to answer a letter from an hon. Member since January; and what the longest time for which such a letter has been awaiting a reply is in this period. [72017]

  Mr. Morley
  The average time taken to answer a letter from an hon. Member since January is 21 working days. The longest time for which such a letter has been awaiting a reply in this period is 139 working days. The latter relates to problems of disruption carried out during the FMD outbreak.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 10 June from the hon. Member for the Vale of York on behalf of constituent L. Peter Davies, concerning the Meat and Livestock Commission. [71301]

  Mr. Morley
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 18 July.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when a reply will be sent to the letter of 4 March from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on behalf of Mrs. Griffin, a constituent. [69360]

  Mr. Morley
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 17 July.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 19 April about illegal trade in wildlife, which was transferred to her Department from the Home Office on 26 June. [71273]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 19 July.

  Livestock Movements
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria the Government have set for the removal of the 20 day standstill rule on livestock movement. [72006]

  Mr. Morley
  There is firm veterinary and scientific advice in support of the present 20 day standstill, as a means of helping protect against the rapid spread of any new incursion of disease. Such a standstill both improves the prospect of identifying disease on infected premises before animals move off and slows the rate of spread of any undetected disease.
  1143W
  Before making a decision on the future of the 20 day rule, we wish to consider—and discuss with stakeholders—the relevant recommendations of the Royal Society and Lessons Learned Inquiries into the FMD outbreak. In reaching a view, we will seek to strike a balance between disease control considerations and the economic impact of movement standstills on livestock farmers and markets.

  Rural Farms
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help she plans to give(a) rural farms to help with modulation and (b) environmental schemes (i) in national parks and (ii) elsewhere. [71297]

  Mr. Morley
  Because of the requirement for match-funding, modulation means an increase in the national funds available to farmers. Depending upon their ability to deliver the objectives of agri-environment or other rural development schemes, farmers may have access to additional funding streams. In England, the Government plan to roll-out a new "broad and shallow", entry-level agri-environment scheme during 2005–06, following a successful pilot. This scheme will be widely drawn so that most farmers will be eligible to enter.

  The scheme will be introduced as an addition to the existing agri-environment schemes, Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and the Organic Farming Scheme. Under the England Rural Development Programme the Government planned to spend a total of £1 billion on these schemes in the period 2000–06.

  There are currently no plans to give English rural farms within national parks additional help with national modulation or environmental schemes over and above that which they receive at present or may be eligible to apply

  Current public consultations since 1 April 2002

  Date issued

  Deadline date

  Website address

  Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control: a Practical Guide, 2 edition—published for comment

  28 June 2002

  1 November 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/ppc/ippcguide/index.htm

  Consultation on the proposed Animal Health Rules Regulation

  17 July 2002

  18 October 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/ahealth/index.htm

  New draft Environmental Information Regulations

  15 July 2002

  4 October 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/envinfo/index.htm

  Consultation on CAP reform: mid-term review of Agenda 2000

  11 July 2002

  4 October 2002)

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/capreform/index.htm

  Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications (COM (2002) 119 final)

  5 July 2002

  30 September 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/profqual/index.htm

  Review of Access in Agri-Environment Schemes

  8 July 2002

  27 September 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/erdpacccss/index.htm

  Consultation exercise on the bio-energy infrastructure scheme

  25 June 2002

  16 September 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/bio-energy/index.htm

  Crime prevention on rights of way: public consultation paper on the designation of areas and other procedural matters

  19 June 2002

  20 September 2002

  http://defraweb/wildlife-countryside/consult/rowcrime/index.htm

  Enforcement of highway authorities' duty to prevent obstructions on rights of way: consultation paper on the implementation of section 63 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000

  19 June 2002

  20 September 2002

  http://defraweb/wildlife-countryside/consult/rowcrime/obstruct/index.htm

  1144W
  for. However, individual national park authorities are able to negotiate their own management agreements with individual farmers and landowners within their boundary.

  Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many appointments have been made to Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees since 1997; and how many have a(a) canoeing background and (b) fishing background. [71587]

  Alun Michael
  Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees were established under the Environment Act of 1995 to replace the previous Regional Fisheries Advisory Committees. Their principal remit is to deal with issues of relevance to fishing. Representation of fishing interests therefore form the majority of their members. There is no statutory requirement to have recreation and navigation interests represented on these committees but the Environment Agency with the approval of Ministers, has agreed that these interests should be represented. The committees comprise no more that 21 members and each has at least two members representing recreation interests.

  Public Consultations
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what public consultations have been commenced by her Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72073]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department has commenced 28 consultations since 1 April 2002. The following table is a list of the consultations indicating the date it was issued, the deadline for responses and the website address for each consultation.
  1145W

  Current public consultations since 1 April 2002

  Date issued

  Deadline date

  Website address

  Implementation of Directive 2000/76/EC on the Incineration of Waste

  21 June 2002

  9 September 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/wasteincin/index.htm

  Consultation on shrimp trawls: separator trawls (sieve/veil nets) and sorting grids

  18 June 2002

  6 September 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/shrimps/index.htm

  Draft guidance on control of Johne's disease in dairy herds

  31 May 2002

  31 August 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/johnes/index.htm

  Energy labelling of household air conditioners and electric ovens: Consultation on New Regulations for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

  11 June 2002

  30 August 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/energylabel/index.htm

  Implementation of Directive 2001/18/EC on the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment: second consultation on new regulations for England

  31 May 2002

  26 August 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/ec-gmo/index.htm

  Consultation on Water Grid PPP: Removal of Restrictions on British Waterways' Statutory Powers

  15 June 2002

  16 August 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/bwpowers/index.htm

  Statistical methodology review of the monitoring sites used in the air quality headline indicator

  15 May 2002

  8 August 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/statistics/des/airqual/research/index.htm

  Consultation on the Government's Strategy for Combined Heat and Power to 2010

  15 May 2002

  7 August 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/chpstrat/index.htm

  Policy Review of Woodland Creation in England under the Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme

  13 May 2002

  7 August 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/woodlandcreation/index.htm

  LAPC Consultation on risk-Based Regulation and Inspection Frequency

  3 May 2002

  2 August 2002

  http:///defraweb/environment/consult/lapcrisk/index.htm

  Consultation on Stage II Petrol Vapour Recovery

  16 April 2002

  9 July 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/pvrstage2/index.htm

  Review of seed certification in England: draft seeds regulations and registration, licensing and enforcement regulation (third consultation)

  12 April 2002

  8 July 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/seedcert-three/index.htm

  Current public consultations since 1 April 2002

  Date issued

  Deadline date

  Website address

  Economic evaluation of the Apple and Pear Research Council

  5 April 2002

  27 June 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/aprc/index.htm

  Consultation on Sustainable Food and Farming: Working Together

  2 April 2002

  18 June 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/sustainworking/index.htm

  Consultation on possible changes to the Landfill Credit Tax Scheme

  17 April 2002

  17 June 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/landfillcredit/index.htm

  Mid-term evaluation of the England Rural Development Programme: consultation on proposed strategy

  1 May 2002

  12 June 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/erdpstrategy/index.htm

  Consultation on proposed Agricultural Development Scheme

  10 April 2002

  31 May 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/adscheme/index.htm

  Consultation on proposals for an EU Directive on environmental liability

  12 April 2002

  24 May 2002

  http://defraweb/environment/consult/liability2/index.htm

  Consultation on detailed rules for determining the mesh size of fishing nets

  2 April 2002

  6 May 2002

  http://defraweb/corporate/consult/mesh/index.htm

  Groundwater Regulations
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help and advice is available to sectors affected by the requirements of the Groundwater Regulations 1998. [73503]
  1146W
  Mr. Meacher
  Following publication of a groundwater protection code for sheep dipping last summer, the Department has prepared two further codes of advice. A groundwater protection code for those involved with petrol stations and underground storage tanks for hydrocarbons will be published shortly. In addition the
  1147W
  Department will be consulting this summer on a code aimed at businesses which use solvents. These codes will provide a useful source of advice on all aspects relating to groundwater protection, including site design and development, operation and decommissioning.

  Farms
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) mean and (b) median farm (i) incomes and (ii) sizes were in the last five years broken down by region. [71028]

  Mr. Morley
  Mean and median full-time farm incomes and sizes as recorded by the Farm Business Survey in England are given in the table. A regional breakdown is not available due to sample size limitations.

  Mean and median full-time farm incomes and sizes in England

  Farm income (£ per farm)

  Farm size (European size units)

  Mean

  Median

  Mean

  Median

  1996–97

  29,830

  18,430

  75

  49

  1997–98

  13,850

  8,050

  76

  49

  1998–99

  10,360

  5,460

  77

  53

  1999–2000

  7,980

  5,930

  78

  51

  2000–01

  9,890

  5,530

  80

  51

  Note:

  Accounting years ending on average in February.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals have been tested for bovine TB in 2002, broken down by month, in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Herefordshire and Worcestershire. [71021]

  Mr. Morley
  The total number of cattle tested for bovine TB by month in 2002, in the areas specified, is shown in the table.

  (a) England

  (b) Wales

  (c) Hereford and Worcester

  January

  217,232

  49,342

  18,535

  February

  317,197

  70,750

  27,493

  March

  327,290

  67,644

  19,613

  April

  414,503

  81,636

  30,459

  May

  209,926

  52,869

  14,676

  June

  125,319

  31,386

  10,012

  Total

  1,611,467

  353,627

  120,788

  Source:

  DEFRA Vetnet database system as at 16:30 22 June 2002. Figures subject to revision as more data become available.

  Contaminated Land
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial support is being given to English local authorities to meet the capital costs of dealing with contaminated land. [73505]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Contaminated Land Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA) programme has provided support to English local authorities' capital works for 12 years. It assists local authorities to fulfil their responsibilities under the contaminated land regime which was introduced on 1 April 2000, under part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The regime makes local authorities
  1148W
  responsible for identifying contaminated land as defined in the Act, and they may also be responsible for its remediation in their capacity as regulators or in carrying some responsibility for the land's condition. The SCA programme assists local authorities to meet these obligations.

  I have agreed the programme for new projects to start this year. The Department has already written to the successful authorities notifying them of the allocations which have been made for these new projects, and in respect of continuing commitments for projects approved in previous years.

  Some bids are still being discussed with the authorities concerned, and there may be further allocations in respect of these and any further bids received later this year. The following table sets out the allocations which have been made so far this current financial year.

  Local authority

  Number of sites

  Allocation for each authority (£)

  Barnsley MBC

  1

  4,000

  Bexley LB

  1

  50,000

  Bristol City

  2

  216.000

  Calderdale MBC

  2

  720,000

  Cherwell DC

  1

  35,000

  Cheshire CC

  2

  150,000

  Chorley BC

  1

  13,500

  Darlington BC

  1

  13,907

  Devon CC

  7

  650,065

  Durham CC

  5

  76,500

  Ellesmere Port and Neston BC

  1

  30,500

  Gateshead MBC

  1

  246,000

  Hammersmith and Fulham LB

  1

  7,851

  Newcastle City

  3

  779,935

  Newham LB

  1

  30,219

  Northamptonshire CC

  7

  344,983

  North Lincolnshire C

  1

  830,000

  Oldham MBC

  1

  9,496

  Plymouth City

  1

  4,275

  Poole B

  2

  60,000

  Portsmouth City

  1

  19,500

  Rotherham MBC

  3

  99,000

  Sandwell MBC

  2

  7,722

  Solihull MBC

  1

  193,000

  Southampton City

  2

  4,200

  Stoke-on-Trent City

  1

  12,000

  Thanet DC

  1

  2,900

  Warrington BC

  1

  126,015

  Warwickshire CC

  1

  23,000

  West Sussex CC

  1

  1,143,304

  Sustainable Development
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will publish their Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. [73504]

  Mr. Meacher
  I am pleased to announce that, from today, the first three parts of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate are publicly available on the Government's Sustainable Development website. Copies of the website on floppy disk have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Part A of the Framework sets out the overarching commitments to which all Departments have signed up, and outlines the means by which progress towards these targets will be monitored and reported. It also sets a new

  1149W
  target for Environmental Management Systems to be rolled out across the Estate. Parts B and C contain specific targets and guidance in the areas of Travel and Water consumption.

  It is planned that the remaining parts of the Framework—covering Waste, Energy, Procurement, Estates Management, Biodiversity, and Social Impacts—will be rolled out over the coming year.

  The online publication of the Framework is designed to facilitate the provision of the most up-to-date guidance, and examples of best practice, in relation to targets to all those involved in management of the Government Estate.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will publish its response to the Environmental Audit Committee's third report of Session 2001–02, "UK Preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development". [73506]

  Margaret Beckett
  I am pleased to announce that I have today, laid in the Libraries of both Houses, copies of the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's third report of the 2001–2002 Session, "UK Preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development".

  The Government's response sets our continued commitment to the achievement and promotion of sustainable development both internationally and at home. We have continued to play a significant role in preparations for the World summit on sustainable development taking place in Johannesburg between 26 August and 4 September 2002.

  Sheep
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of(a) the number of sheep and (b) the proportion of the national flock which were born before the imposition of the ban on feeding animal protein to ruminants and are still alive. [65467]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 1 July 2002]: Pursuant to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 695W. My answer referred to an estimate that the number of sheep still alive

  EC directives transposed in the whole of the UK and notified in 2002 for which DEFRA took the lead

  Directive number

  Directive name

  2002/8/EC

  Minimum conditions for examining vegetables and agricultural varieties

  2001/109/EC

  Statistical surveys to be carried out by member states to determine potential of certain species of fruit trees

  2001/57/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2001/49/EC

  Placing of plant protection products on the market

  2001/48/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2001/47/EC

  Placing of plant protection products on the market

  2001/39/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2001/36/EC

  Placing of plant protection products on the market

  2001/35/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2001/33/EC

  Organisms harmful to plants

  2001/32/EC

  Recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks

  2001/28/EC

  Placing of plant protection products on the market

  2001/21/EC

  Placing of plant protection products on the market

  2000/82/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2000/81/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2000/80/EC

  Placing of plant protection products on the market

  2000/58/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2000/57/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  1150W
  which were born before 1 August 1996 is less than 500, representing approximately three per cent. of the UK national flock. This is incorrect. The number of sheep still alive which were born before 1 August 1996 is 500,000, representing approximately three per cent. of the national flock of around 17 million breeding sheep. The rest of the answer remains correct.

  Foxhunting
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of correspondence she has received on the consultation on the future of foxhunting; and how many of those were in favour of the continuation of the sport. [64130]

  Alun Michael
  Over 7,000 communications were received following my statement to the House on 21 March. The majority were pro-hunting and came in response to a pro-hunt campaign. These have to be balanced against a smaller number of anti-hunting representation received immediately prior to the statement. We have also received many contributions providing evidence and referring to practical experience from a variety of viewpoints.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the EU directives and regulations that have been implemented through her Department in 2002; and what was the cost of each to public funds. [64990]

  Mr. Morley
  In answer to the first part of the question the information is in the tables. The first table shows all EC directives transposed in the whole of the UK and notified in 2002, for which DEFRA took the lead. The second table shows Council regulations agreed in 2002 for which DEFRA took the lead. Regulations have a direct effect in the laws of member states and do not usually require Governments to take action to implement them. The table does not show Commission regulations. Details of all regulations and directives agreed can be found on the Eur-Lex database available on the European Union's website.

  The Department does not hold information in the form requested in the second part of the question. This information could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
  1151W

  EC directives transposed in the whole of the UK and notified in 2002 for which DEFRA took the lead

  Directive number

  Directive name

  2000/48/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2000/42/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2000/37/EC

  Veterinary medicinal products

  2000/27/EC

  Control of fish diseases

  2000/24/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues

  2000/20/EC

  Animal health problems affecting intra-community trade in bovine animals

  1999/71/EC

  Fixing of maximum levels in pesticide residues

  1999/32/EC

  Sulphur content of certain liquid fuels

  1999/54/EC

  Marketing of cereal seed

  1999/8/EC

  Marketing of cereal seed

  1998/96/EC

  Unofficial field inspections

  1998/95/EC

  Genetically modified plant varieties

  Council regulations agreed in 2002 for which DEFRA took the lead

  Regulation number

  Regulation title

  120/2002

  Amending Regulation (EC) No. 2793/1999 as regards the adjustment of the tariff quota for wine.

  154/2002

  Amending Regulation (EEC) No. 2358/71 on the Common organisation of the market in seeds and fixing the aid granted in the seeds sector for the 2002–03 and 2003–04 marketing year.

  179/2002

  Amending Regulation (EC) No. 2792/1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries sector.

  249/2002

  On the conclusion of the Protocol establishing the fishing opportunities and the compensation provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau on fishing off the coast of Guinea-Bissau for the period from 16 June 2001 to 15 June 2006.

  254/2002

  Establishing measures to be applicable in 2002 for the recovery of the stock of cod in the Irish sea (ICES Division VIIa).

  284/2002

  A proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) renewing for 2001 the measures laid down in Regulation (EC) No. 1416/95 establishing certain concessions in the form of Community tariff quotas in 1995 for certain processed agricultural products originating in Norway.

  301/2002

  On the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Cape Verde on fishing off the coast of Cape Verde for the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2004.

  322/2002

  Amending Regulation (EC) No. 772/1999 imposing definitive anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of farmed Atlantic salmon originating in Norway.

  442/2002

  Amending Regulation (EEC) No. 2019/93 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean Islands concerning certain agricultural products. Covering aids for the maintenance of olive groves, other products and farming activities.

  545/2002

  Extending the financing of quality and marketing improvement plans for certain nuts and locust beans approved under Title IIa of Regulation (EEC) No. 1035/72 and providing for a specific aid for hazelnuts.

  546/2002

  Fixing the premiums and guarantee thresholds for leaf tobacco by variety group and member state for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 harvests and amending Regulation (EEC) No. 2075/92.

  579/2002

  Amending Council Regulation (EC) No. 1587/98 of 17 July 1998 introducing a scheme to compensate for the additional costs incurred in the marketing of certain fishery products from Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and the French departments of Guyana and Reunion as a result of those regions remoteness.

  580/2002

  On the conclusion of the Protocol setting out the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for by the Agreement between the European Community and the Gabonese Republic on fishing off the coast of Gabon for the period 3 December 2001 to 2 December 2005.

  962/2002

  Amending Regulation EC No. 1868/94 establishing a quota production of potato starch.

  1149/2002

  Opening an autonomous quota for imports of high quality beef (Paraguay).

  1150/2002

  Opening an autonomous quota for imports of high quality beef (Argentina).

  Beef Exports
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of UK beef exports was in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [69093]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 11 July 2002]: The following table shows the volume and value of UK exports of beef and beef products between 1997 and 2001.

  Beef

  Beef product

  Year

  Tonnes

  £ thousand

  Tonnes

  £ thousand

  1997

  6,061

  15,104

  4,040

  6,626

  1998

  4,884

  12,157

  7,746

  6,110

  1999

  5,647

  19,720

  3,708

  5,598

  2000

  5,387

  20,983

  3,884

  6,070

  2001

  5,202

  18,175

  2,962

  5,614

  Source:
  1152W
  HM Customs and Excise

  Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA

  Frozen Chicken Imports
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tons of imported frozen chicken breasts were consumed in the UK in the past year. [68844]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 11 July 2002]: Information on the consumption of frozen chicken breasts in the UK is not available. The following table shows the total volume of UK imports of; frozen chicken breasts (with bone-in) and frozen cuts(boneless)in 2001.
  1153W

  Tonnes

  Product

  2001

  Frozen chicken cuts, (boneless)'

  103,902

  Frozen chicken cuts, breasts (bone-in)

  15,373

  Grant total

  119.275

  Includes boneless chicken breasts and other boneless chicken cuts

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excise

  Data prepared by statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA

  Scottish White Fish Producers Association
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Fisheries Minister next intends to meet the Scottish White Fish Producers Association. [70333]

  Mr. Morley
  I am always ready to meet representative organisations where there is business which would justify this. I am currently considering a response to a letter of 28 June from the Scottish White Fish Producers Organisation about the deep water fishery.

  Infectious Diseases
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her proposed action following the Royal Society's report into infectious diseases in livestock. [71930]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on the foot and mouth inquiries, given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, to the House, on 22 July 2002,Official Report, column 669.

  Countryside and Rights of Way Act
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which regulations under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 need to be in force before the Act can be implemented in any region before 2005. [72940]

  Alun Michael
  Regulations on the following must be put in place before land shown on maps of open country and registered common land may be opened up for access under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000:

  (a) mapping of access land and consultation on draft maps (section 11);

  (b )the issue of provisional maps, appeals against such maps, and the issue of conclusive maps (section 11);

  (c) the exclusion or restriction of access under Chapter 11, including appeals (section 32);

  (d) the exclusion of access in emergencies (section 31);

  (e)appeals relating to notices in respect of means of access (section 38);

  (f)references to public places in existing enactments (Section 42).

  Regulations under (a)came into force on 1 November 2001. Regulations under (b) will come into force on 29 July 2002. We have completed consultations on (c) and, subject to the outcome of consultations on the remaining regulations, expect all of them to be in force by the end of 2003.
  1154W

  Free Range Poultry Units
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning planning applications for the erection of mobile and static free range poultry units. [72519]

  Mr. Morley
  Producer interests wish to see a positive approach taken by local planning authorities when planning permission is needed for new or enlarged poultry units. Other interests are concerned about the environmental effects of some proposals. Government planning policies for local authorities make clear that an efficient and competitive agricultural industry is very important. In particular, local authorities are encouraged in general to support proposals relating to the requirements of new environmental, hygiene and welfare legislation.

  DEFRA contributes to both national and regional planning and, through Government offices, provides technical advice to local authorities to help achieve sustainable development. This includes advice on giving farmers flexibility to adapt to changing animal welfare legislation and market conditions. In doing so, local authorities are enabled to take due account of these aspects as part of considering all economic, environmental and social issues when preparing their local development plans and assessing individual planning applications.

  Air Conditioning
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 25 March 2002,Official Report, column 717W, on air conditioning, if she will make a statement on the results of the monitoring of the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment; and what progress has been made in BREEAM to discourage the procurement of refrigerants with a high global warming potential. [71453]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  BREEAM is a commercial product of the Building Research Establishment and its methodology is revised annually. I understand that the current revision, which is due to be applied for assessments from September 2002 onwards, is likely to address the global warming potential of refrigerants.

  Sausages
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what scientific evidence she has collated that supports the proposed ban on the use of sheep's intestines in the manufacture of sausages. [68068]

  Ms Blears
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that the basis of their recommendation to the European Commission that sheep intestine be banned as specified risk material (SRM) is outlined in a report by a core group of stakeholders endorsed by the Board of the FSA on 13 June 2002. The risk assessments taken into account in this report indicate that the proposed ban, added to the current controls, could increase the reduction in potential infectivity entering the food chain to up to two-thirds if BSE were found in sheep. Current precautionary SRM

  1155W
  measures are estimated to reduce risk by very approximately one-third. The FSA believes the proposed measure has to be considered in the context of the lives that might be saved from variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD) if BSE were present in sheep.

  A copy of the report can be found on the FSA's website www.food.gov.uk

  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the potential presence of BSE in beef protein collagen used in the manufacture of sausages. [68069]

  Ms Blears
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Food Standards Agency have advised me that the European Commission Scientific Committee gave an opinion on safety with respect to TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, including BSE) and the risks of collagen produced from ruminant hides at its meeting of 10–11 May 2001. They concluded that on the basis of current knowledge the parts of ruminant hides used for the production of collagen do not present a risk with regard to TSEs, provided contamination with potentially infected material is avoided. It is a regulatory requirement that food and food products (including collagen) must not be derived from BSE cases or suspected cases, or from specified risk material.

  Chickens
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks are made for the presence of nitrofurans and chloramphenicol in chicken imported into the United Kingdom(a) directly from non-EU countries and (b) from a third country via another EU member state. [64117]

  Ms Blears

  I have been asked to reply.

  Chloramphenicol and nitrofurans are veterinary medicines no longer permitted in the European Union for use in food producing animals and therefore residues of these chemicals should not be present in food.

  Title

  Format that results were published

  National Gallery/National Portrait Gallery Review: stage one consultation

  Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website and copies were also placed in the libraries of both Houses.

  National Heritage Memorial Fund Review: stage one consultation

  Results not yet published.

  Report of the Gambling Review Body

  Results of the consultation were published in A safe bet for success (Cm 5397). In addition, copies of all the substantive responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) were placed in the libraries of both Houses.

  National Museum of Science & Industry Review: stage one consultation

  Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website and copies were also placed in the libraries of both Houses.

  Geffrye Museum/Horniman Museum/Museum of London Review: stage one consultation

  All responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) and a summary of the views of consultees were published on the Department website and placed in the libraries of both Houses.

  Consultation on the draft Digital Television Action Plan

  Responses to the consultation were confidential but they informed the content of a revised Digital Television Action Plan, which was published on 20 December 2001.

  English Heritage Review: stage one consultation

  Summary of the views of consultees was published on the Department website.

  Public Lending Right. Quinquennial Performance Review: Consultation Paper

  Results not yet published.

  Quinquennial Review on the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art

  Results not yet published.

  National Maritime Museum Quinquennial Performance Review

  Results not yet published.

  Consultation on Media Ownership Rules

  All responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) and a summary of responses were published on the Department website.

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  Imports of products of animal origin for human consumption such as poultry meat to the United Kingdom from third countries are subject to harmonised EU import controls and must enter the EU through designated border inspection posts (BIP). Where the official veterinary surgeons at the BIPs have reason to suspect that poultry meat being imported to the UK direct from a third country may be contaminated with choramphenicol or nitrofurans, they may take samples of the product for testing.

  Imports of poultry meat from third countries to other EU member states must enter the EU through designated BIP where they may be subject to checks for chloramphenicol and nitrofurans. Once a food product is in free circulation within the EU it is not subject to routine checks at points of entry to the UK under EU single market requirements.

  In response to concerns that poultry meat from South East Asia may be contaminated by illegal residues of veterinary medicines, the Food Standards Agency initiated a retail survey. As a consequence of the publication of these results and others from the Netherlands, an EU Commission Decision has recently required sampling and testing of poultry meat coming from Thailand. This requirement to sample and test applies to all EU member states.

  The veterinary medicines directorate also undertakes testing of imported poultry meat as part of its non-statutory surveillance programme. In 2001, 50 samples of raw chicken were tested for the presence of chloramphenicol. No residues above the reporting limit were detected.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Consultations
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what format her Department has published the results of its 2001 written consultations. [70978]

  Dr. Howells
  The following table indicates in what format the Department published the results of all its 2001 written consultations:
  1157W

  Title

  Format that results were published

  Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester: Quinquennial Performance Review

  Results not yet published.

  Spectrum Planning Consultation

  All responses (unless respondents requested otherwise) were published on the joint DCMS/DTI digital television website.

  Council of Europe—Convention on the Protection of Audiovisual Heritage

  Results not yet published.

  Religious Broadcasting
  Donald Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether in the course of her consultations on the draft Communications Bill she plans to meet representatives from the Christian broadcasting industry to discuss the statutory ban on religious organisations holding several categories of broadcasting licence. [70728]

  Dr. Howells
  I met representatives from the Centre for Justice and Liberty on 21 March 2002 and discussed a range of issues concerning religious organisations and broadcasting licensing.

  Mr. Fisher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if it is her policy to seek to regulate religious broadcasting by(a) placing limits on ownership, (b) regulation and (c) legislation. [72406]

  Dr. Howells
  Yes. We have set out our position on religious broadcasting in the document "The draft Communications Bill—The Policy".

  Libraries
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which libraries have(a) opened and (b) reopened since 1997; and what sources of public funding are available to them. [71167]

  Dr. Howells
  The number of library openings and re-openings is not held centrally. However, the total number of libraries in England between 1996–97 and 2000–01 was:

  Number

  1996–97

  3,083

  1997–98

  3,053

  1998–99

  3,037

  1999–2000

  3,031

  2000–01

  3,032

  The figures in the table reflect only branch and central libraries open for at least 10 hours a week. They do not include static libraries open for less than that duration, mobile libraries or special services provided by English library authorities to senior citizens' homes and others in sheltered housing schemes. In 2000–01 the figures for these two types of provision were, respectively: 130 static libraries open for less than 10 hours, 465 mobiles and 16,819 outlets in institutions.

  Core funding for public libraries is provided through the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services block.

  It is for local authorities to decide how much of their EPCS funding to allocate to their libraries in line with their statutory duty to provide library services that are
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  comprehensive and efficient.Core funding for public libraries is provided through the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services block.

  It is for local authorities to decide how much of their EPCS funding to allocate to their libraries in line with their statutory duty to provide library services that are comprehensive and efficient.

  National Foundation of Youth Music
  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the success of the National Foundation of Youth Music in increasing the participation of young people from low-income families in its activities. [71926]

  Dr. Howells
  Youth Music has established 19 Youth Music Action Zones in the most deprived areas of the country, and its programmes have already reached over 270,000 young people.

  All Youth Music programmes are evaluated. Youth Music's ongoing programme of Youth Music Action Zones (YMAZ) began in August 2000 and an interim evaluation of each of the zones was carried out from December 2001 to April 2002.

  Website
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for how long she retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website. [72284]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department will seek to retain any document held on my Department's website referred to in a parliamentary answer for at least the life of that Parliament and while the document remains valid.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture. Media and Sport whether it is her policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via her Department's website. [72292]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department makes all publications available through the Department's website. Other documents, if referred to in a parliamentary answer, may be published on the website if it is felt relevant and useful to do so.

  Tourism
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she will take to encourage people to holiday in the United Kingdom. [72400]

  Dr. Howells
  This year the Government are spending £72 million on tourism, of which £54 million is available to the British Tourist Authority (BTA). The BTA promotes Britain as a tourist destination in 27 countries
  1159W
  and is currently running the 'Only in Britain, Only in 2002' campaign in our seven biggest overseas markets with television, radio and press advertising.

  On 13 May we announced that we will be working with the English Tourism Council to improve the marketing within the UK of England as a tourist destination.

  BBC
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (I) what representations she has received regarding the BBC's digital curriculum proposition; and if she will make a statement; [72337]

  (2) when she expects to make a decision on the BBC's digital curriculum proposition; and if she will make a statement. [72336]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering the digital curriculum proposal in accordance with the Department's published guidelines on proposed new BBC public services. The proposal has been subject to a period of public consultation which closed on 22 July and a substantial number of comments have been received. My right hon. Friend will now assess the response to the consultation and reach a decision as soon as possible.

  Wembley Stadium
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's sixth report entitled "Wembley National Stadium Project: Into Injury Time". [72964]

  Tessa Jowell
  I am today publishing the Government's response to the Select Committee's sixth report entitled "Wembley National Stadium Project: Into Injury Time". The response is available on the DCMS website (www.culture.gov.uk) and copies of the response have been laid before Parliament and deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Scottish Executive
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings her Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by(a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date. [72711]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister for Sport regularly meet the Scottish Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport at the Sports Cabinet meetings. These were held on:

  6 October 1999;

  6 October 2000;

  16 February 2001;

  31 October 2001;

  18 June 2002.

  My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts met with the Scottish Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport on 25 April 2002 to discuss Design Champion issues.
  1160W
  In addition Ministers in DCMS and the Scottish Executive are in regular contact on policy issues by telephone, e-mail and letter.

  Free Television Licences
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households are entitled to free television licences in Taunton; and if she will make a statement. [73272]

  Dr. Howells
  TV Licensing, which administers the free television licence scheme for the BBC as Licensing Authority, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 8,500 people aged 75 or over in the Taunton constituency.

  Science and Discovery Centres
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to assist the funding of science and discovery centres; and if she will make a statement. [72324]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government have currently no plans to assist the funding of science and discovery centres. The Millennium Commission, together with the Wellcome Trust and the Wolfson Foundation has on Monday 22 July launched a £33 million fund for science centres and museums to allow them to renew or replace high quality science, education and technology exhibitions.

  "A Force for Our Future"
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations contained in the Government's statement on the historic environment: A Force for Our Future. [73437]

  Dr. Howells
  Since A Force for Our Future was published in December 2001 the following has been achieved:

  December

  The Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme was launched.

  March

  Paradise Preserved, a guide to local authorities and cemetery managers on the care of the built and natural history of cemeteries was published.

  April

  The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment put in place arrangements for providing advice on all post-war listing proposals.

  May

  The Heritage Lottery Fund's Strategic Plan for 2002–07, agreed with the DCMS, DEFRA and then DTLR was published. Entitled Broadening the Horizons of Heritage it sets out proposals, among other things, to ensure that everyone can learn about, have access to and enjoy their heritage.
  1161W
  The Quinquennial Review of English Heritage was completed with the full involvement of the DTLR (now OPDM), DEFRA, HMT and DTES. English Heritage are taking forward the recommendations as part of their modernisation programme;

  The review of PPG 15 'Planning and the Historic Environment' and PPG 16 'Archaeology and Planning' commenced with full involvement from the sector.

  Heritage Link, an umbrella organisation for the voluntary organisations working in the sector was established. It will be formally launched in December.

  The Construction Industry Training Board set up a heritage working group with full participation of the Building Skills Action Group and English Heritage to coordinate the promotion of heritage skills. English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund are promoting training in conservation craft skills by making it a requirement that all projects over £1 million produce a Training Plan, and by supporting training, including Modern Apprenticeships, as part of wider projects. HLF also support stand-alone projects for training volunteers in heritage skills.

  June

  The consultation document People and Places: a draft social inclusion policy for the built and historic environment, was launched by the Secretary of State, during Architecture Week.

  July
  The National Heritage Act 2002 Act came into force. This allows English Heritage to operate in overseas countries and to become involved in underwater archaeology in territorial waters adjacent to England. A Statutory Instrument specifying the boundaries of English territorial waters is being drafted in consultation with he Devolved Administrations and other relevant bodies.

  The Statutory Order extending the definition of Treasure was laid before Parliament in July. It comes into force in January 2003 subject to its successful passage through both Houses.

  English Heritage hosted a workshop with key players in the sector to consider how to take forward the consultation on how to broaden access to the historic environment. This was informed by the National Trust leaflet "Making History Matter".

  English Heritage published a consultation document Making the Most of our Civic Heritage—sonic guiding principles for decision makers—at the Local Government Association Conference in June.

  Sustainable Communities: Delivering through Planning, sets out the Government's plans for transforming the planning system.

  DEFRA have agreed that English Heritage become a distributor for the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, alongside the Countryside Agency and English Nature. Together they will disburse over £30 million to mitigate the impact of aggregates extraction.

  The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has distributed Our Street: Learning to See and From One Street to Another to every school in the UK.
  1162W
  This is only the beginning of the process. We and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are working closely with the sector to take this forward. We will publish a full progress report in December.

  Playing Fields
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture. Media and Sport when the Playing Fields Monitoring Group will be publishing statistical information concerning playing fields. [73447]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Playing Fields Monitoring Group has today published for the first time statistics which clearly show that Government policy is already protecting playing fields that schools and local communities need. The statistics are available from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website at: www.culture.gov.uk/sport/

  Out of 875 planning applications to change the use of playing fields referred to Sport England in 2000–01, only 39 which were deemed to represent a net detriment to sport were approved. Indeed, 92 per cent. of the 1,765 playing field planning applications referred to Sport England over the last two years were either not detrimental to sport or did not proceed—ensuring that sport is the winner in the vast majority of cases.

  This Government is committed to the protection of playing fields and will continue to look closely at how current protective measures are working as well as publishing figures through the DCMS Playing Fields Monitoring Group. I should like to pay tribute to the assistance that the Central Council of Physical Recreation and the National Playing Fields Association are providing to the work of the Group.

  Sport Expenditure
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government's expenditure plans are for sport following the 2002 Spending Review. [73448]

  Tessa Jowell
  Increasing opportunities for all to participate is key to the Government's strategy for sport. As a result of the Spending Review, the Government will channel £6 million into talent scholarships up to 2005–06. When combined with funding from other sources, these will provide quality-assured support to 2,000 young people in higher education.

  The Youth Sports Trust has already produced web-based guidance for local coordinators and teachers. Now, for the first time, they have a clear framework for responding to the needs of talented young sportspeople of different ages and abilities. Next year, we will build on those foundations. We will expand the website into a one-stop shop for teachers, coaches, mentors and parents; develop a national support network based around specialist sports colleges; introduce a full programme of summer schools and performance camps for different ages and abilities; and ensure a much stronger emphasis on sporting talent within all parts of our national strategy for gifted and talented education. For the first time, teachers and coaches will be working together to ensure that all of our talented young sportsmen and women reach their full potential while continuing to receive a broad and balanced education.
  1163W
  As a final rung of the talent development ladder, over £25 million over the next three years will enable the key recommendations of the Coaching Task Force to be implemented. This investment will create 3,000 full-time, qualified Community Coaches to help develop sports skills across the country by 2006, with particular emphasis on improving opportunities for those in areas of deprivation.

  For the first time, nationally-recognised qualifications will be established to give coaches a professional career pathway, and we will create new opportunities to enable skilled coaches in a number of disciplines to be deployed across the country.

  There will also be support for governing bodies of sport to help them make the most of our new coaching initiatives. This will ensure that new coaches work in partnership at local level with clubs, schools and other regional organisations supporting sport.

  Complementing this, £ 4 million of funding for the Step into Sport programme will enable more than 60,000 young people to achieve awards for leading sport. By developing a sense of teamwork, responsibility and self-esteem while serving their schools and communities, the young sport leaders of today will form the volunteer and coaching base of our sporting future.

  These and other programmes stand to benefit more from the extensive reform of Sport England that is now under way. I expect substantial savings to be made and these resources to be directed into our priority programmes for sport.

  Finally, the Government is committed to ensure that funding of the World-Class Performance programme in the four years leading up to the Athens Olympics remains as high as in the run-up to Sydney, our most successful Olympics since London in 1920.

  Criminal Records Checks
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will share information with other countries about UK citizens who have been convicted of offences against children within sport. [68831]

  Hilary Benn
  I have been asked to reply.

  If a person is convicted of a relevant sex offence against a child they become subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997.

  New provisions in the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 (including regulations made under the power contained therein) provide that if an offender subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 leaves the United Kingdom for eight days or longer, he must notify the police at least 24 hours prior to his departure: of his date of departure; the country to which he is travelling; the identity of the carrier he intends to use; his point of arrival in the country; details of his first night's accommodation; if he intends to return to the United Kingdom; and if so, the date of his return and point of arrival.

  On such a notification, the police will assess the level of risk the offender poses and then make a decision over whether to pass on this information to the authorities of the destination country or not.
  1164W

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Employment Relations Act
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, when he expects an announcement to be made about granting the clergy the rights and privileges given to workers under the Employment Relations Act 1999. [73304]

  Mr. Bell
  The Church of England is currently considering issues raised by the Department of Trade and Industry's "Discussion Document on Employment Status in Relation to Employment Rights". It will make a formal response by 11 December.

CABINET OFFICE

  Central Office of Information
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to publish the Central Office of Information's annual report and accounts 2001–02. [73438]

  Mr. Alexander
  I have today laid the COI annual report and accounts 2001–02 before Parliament, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what rules govern appointments to non-departmental public bodies; and what have been the(a) ethnic, (b) gender and (c) party breakdown of these appointments in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [72445]

  Mr. Alexander
  Appointments to non-departmental public bodies made by Ministers are subject to the Commissioner for Public Appointments' code of practice, and regulated accordingly. Appointments to tribunals follow the code of practice as best practice, but are not regulated by the Commissioner. It is Government policy that appointments to non-departmental public bodies, not made by Ministers, also follow the code as best practice.

  The Commissioner for Public Appointments issued the seventh annual report on 17 July 2002. Included in this publication are tables showing details of gender, ethnicity, disability, and political activity of those appointed for regulated appointments made in the year ending 31 March 2002, and a comparative set of figures for the previous five years. Additionally, the Cabinet Office's annual publication, "Public Bodies", includes details of diversity in public appointments as a cumulative total rather than for those appointments made in any one year. "Public Bodies 2002" will be published shortly.

  Public Consultations
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72070]
  1165W
  Mr. Alexander
  The following formal national public consultations, which are subject to the Code of Practice on Written Consultation, have been commenced by the Cabinet Office since 1 April 2002:"In the Service of Democracy". A consultation paper on a policy for electronic democracy, July 2002. The closing date for the consultation is 31 October 2002. The web address for the consultation document is www.edemocracy.gov.uk
  "Privacy and Data-sharing: the Way Forward for Public Services", published by the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit on 11 April 2002. The report included three recommendations that were raised for consultation. The consultation exercise is being managed by the Lord Chancellor's Department. The consultation period ended on 12 July. The web address for the consultation document is www.lcd.gov.uk/ foi/shari ng/index.htm

  Legal and Regulatory Framework for Charities
  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Strategy Unit Review of the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Charities in the not-for-profit sector will be published. [73439]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Strategy Unit (formerly Performance and Innovation Unit) review of the legal and regulatory framework for charities and the not-for-profit sector will be published in September.

  EU Legislation
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what mechanism there is to ensure Government Departments produce explanatory memoranda on proposed EU legislation in time for proper consideration by the European Scrutiny Committee. [71654]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Government is committed to the effective scrutiny by Parliament of proposed EU legislation and has given an undertaking that Ministers will not agree to proposals in the Council of Ministers until scrutiny by Parliament has been completed. This undertaking is the cornerstone of the scrutiny process and is embodied in a Resolution of the House of Commons dated 17 November 1998.

  The Government is committed to depositing proposals for primary EU legislation in Parliament within 48 hours of receipt by the Government, and to the provision of an Explanatory Memorandum (EM) within 10 working days of an EU document's deposit in Parliament, wherever practicable.

  The Cabinet Office is responsible centrally for the maintenance of scrutiny procedures, working closely with Departments and the staff of the European Scrutiny Committee. Where EMs cannot be submitted quickly, the Cabinet Office ensures that the lead Department provides the European Scrutiny Committee with an explanation for any delay together with an assessment of the impact on the opportunity for consideration by the Committee. The Cabinet Office also liaises with Departments to ensure Departments plan ahead effectively to avoid occasions
  1166W
  when late submission of an EM will cause difficulties for the proper consideration of issues by the European Scrutiny Committee.

  Politics (Young People)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent meetings he has had regarding young people's involvement in the political process; and what the outcomes of those meetings were. [72386]

  Mr. Denham
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have held a number of meetings with young people, members of the UK Youth Parliament, hon. Members, and the media, relating to the re-engagement of young people in democracy and voting. Those discussions have supported the recommendations of the YVote?/YNot? project published on 3 July.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what(a) legislation is in place and (b) programmes are being funded that encourage young people's involvement in the political process. [72387]

  Mr. Denham
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government have taken several legislative steps in recent years to modernise and simplify electoral law and processes so that they are more relevant to modern lifestyles, including those lived by young people. These measures should make access to the process more flexible and make it easier both to register to vote and to cast a ballot. The Government, with the help of others such as the Electoral Commission, will continue to consider carefully any suggestions for changes that will lead to increased involvement of the young in the electoral process.

  The National Curriculum Order for Citizenship laid before Parliament on 23 June 2000 sets out the statutory requirements for citizenship education. The subject will be part of the national curriculum for secondary schools from this August. It will consist of three main strands: political literacy, social and moral responsibility and community involvement. These will help young people to develop the skills and confidence they need to engage in active citizenship and understand their role in the political process.

  The Children and Young People's Unit will continue to work with a range of organisations to support the action recommended in the YVote?/YNot? project. The independent Electoral Commission, with whom the Children and Young People's Unit has been working closely, has a statutory responsibility for raising public awareness of the electoral process and democratic systems, and has run focused advertising campaigns aimed at encouraging higher levels of voter participation within specific communities, including young people. The commission intends to continue to run bi-annual advertising campaigns, linked to key dates in the electoral calendar, including local and national elections and the annual registration canvass. The commission will also be launching later this year a 'New Initiatives Fund' which will provide grant funding to individuals and organisations outside government to test innovative ideas aimed at increasing participation in elections by young people and others.
  1167W

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Publications Scheme
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement about the House's publications scheme under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [73374]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires any public authority, including this House, to develop and implement a publication scheme setting out details of the classes of information which it publishes or intends to publish. I am pleased to announce that the House of Commons scheme has now been approved by the Information Commissioner and will be available on the parliamentary website at www.parliament.uk from Wednesday 24 July. Paper copies are available to hon. Members in the Library and to any member of the public on request from the House of Commons Information Office.

  House of Commons Staff
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what percentage of House of Commons staff are(a) full-time employees and (b) agency staff provided by outside contractors. [72814]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  At 30 June 2002, the House employed 1,373 full-time staff and 90 agency staff, out of a total work force of 1,740 individuals. Thus full-time staff represent 79 per cent. of the total, and agency staff represent 5.2 per cent.

  Sir Edward Heath Statue
  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what arrangements have been made for re-siting the bust of the right hon. Sir Edward Heath by Martin Jennings within the Palace of Westminster. [73638]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  I have been asked to reply.

  Hon. Members will wish to know that Mr. Speaker has amended the "10-year rule", governing the display of representations of politicians in the main building of the Palace. A portrait, bust or statue of a politician other than a Prime Minister may be displayed once 10 years have passed after their death. A portrait, bust or statue of a former Prime Minister may now be displayed either once five years have passed after their death, or when three Parliaments have elapsed after they have resigned the office of Prime Minister (provided they are no longer Members of the House and that a minimum of 12 years has elapsed), whichever of these events comes first. There remain no restrictions on the siting of representations of living politicians in the outbuildings of the Palace.

  Accordingly the bust of Sir Edward Heath may now be displayed in the main building of the Palace. It is the intention that it should be sited in Members' Lobby from later this year.
  1168W

PRIVY COUNCIL

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the President of the Council what the(a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information. [72245]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  Computer Equipment
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the President of the Council what his policy is for the disposal of computer equipment that has been updated; and if he will make a statement. [72843]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 19 June 2002, Official Report, column 398W.

TREASURY

  Value Added
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the gap between value-added per employee in the public and private sectors in the UK. [73653]

  John Healey
  The Office for National Statistics publish data on jobs in the public and private sectors annually in an article in Economic Trends. The latest, which gives data for 2001, appeared in the June 2002 edition of Economic Trends (page 39-52). Value Added by sector of the UK economy is available in the ONS Blue book. The latest Blue book dataset, including statistics for 2001, will be published on 26 July.

  Transport Expenditure
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate, in respect of the graph entitled UK Transport Spending on page 3 of the leaflet 2002 Spending Review, how much spending in each year is(a) subject to the decisions of devolved Administrations and (b) central Government's own investment. [71608]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The information requested is set out in table 8.1 of the Spending Review 2002 White Paper, "Opportunity and Security for All: Investing in an Enterprising Fairer Britain".

  There was a misprint in the table as set out in the White Paper. A corrected version of the table is as follows. The Treasury will be issuing a corrigendum shortly.
  1169W

  Table 8.1: Key figures

  £million

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  2005–06

  Department for Transport

  Resource budget

  4,960

  7,632

  7.749

  8,650

  Capital budget

  2,948

  3,369

  3,811

  3,391

  Total departmental expenditure limit1

  7,661

  10,692

  11,197

  11,640

  Near-cash spending in DfT DEL2

  7,843

  10,829

  11,333

  11,774

  UK transport spending (estimated)2

  11,962

  15,347

  15,827

  16,406

  1Full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation.

  2Consistent with previous control basis.

  3Subject to spending decisions of local authorities and devolved Administrations.

  Statistics
  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of the population in(a) Wigan MBC, (b) the North West Region and (c) England had an income of (i) up to twice, (ii) up to five times and (iii) more than five times the national average in each of the past 10 years; [71898]

  (2) what proportion of the total relevant population were higher rate tax payers in (a) Wigan MBC, (b) the North West Region and (c) England for each of the last 10 years. [71897]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Available estimates are in the tables.

  Number of higher rate taxpayers1 as a percentage of the total population' for the respective geographical areas

  Wigan

  North West3

  England

  1995–96

  1.5

  2.5

  3.8

  1996–97

  1.7

  2.5

  3.7

  1997–98

  1.4

  2.5

  3.8

  1998–99

  1.4

  2.8

  4.2

  1999–2000

  1.9

  3.1

  4.4

  Number of individuals4 with total income up to twice GB average earnings5 as a percentage6 of the total population2 for the respective geographical areas

  Wigan

  North West3

  England

  1995–96

  99.5

  98.6

  97.7

  1996–97

  99.3

  98.5

  97.7

  1997–98

  99.3

  98.6

  97.6

  1998–99

  99.4

  98.4

  97.4

  1999–2000

  99.1

  98.3

  97.3

  Number of individuals 4 with total income up to five times GB average earnings 5 as a percentage of the total population 2 for the respective geographical areas

  Wigan

  North West 1

  England

  1995–96

  99.9

  99.9

  99.7

  1996–97

  99.9

  99.8

  99.7

  1997–98

  99.9

  99.8

  99.6

  1998–99

  100.0

  99.8

  99.6

  1999–2000

  99.9

  99.8

  99.6

  1170W

  Number of individuals 4 with total income over five times GB average earnings 5 as a percentage 6 of the total population 2 for the respective geographical areas

  wigan

  North West 3

  England

  1995–96

  0.1

  0.1

  0.3

  1996–97

  0.1

  0.2

  0.3

  1997–98

  0.1

  0.2

  0.14

  1998–99

  0.0

  0.2

  0.4

  1999–2000

  0.1

  0.2

  0.4

  1 Number of higher rate taxpayers based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.

  2 Source for population estimates: Official for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

  3 Government Office Region of North West.

  4 Number of individuals based on the Survey of Personal Incomes.

  5 Average earnings based on the New Earnings Survey.

  6 Rounded to 1 decimal place.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the annual report of the Statistics Commission. [72457]

  Ruth Kelly
  The 2001–02 annual report of the Statistics commission, which was released on Wednesday 17 July 2002 is a thorough review of the year's developments and details the Commission's progress in achieving its aims as set out in the "Framework for National Statistics".

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the independence and quality of national statistics. [72452]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's commitment to improving trust and confidence in official statistics was set out in the National Statistics Framework document which became operational in June 2000. Since then the National Statistician has issued a National Statistics Code of Practice for public consultation. This showed widespread support for the Code of Practice and its aim of promoting and demonstrating the independence and quality of National Statistics. The final version of the Code of Practice will be published shortly.

  R and D Tax Credit
  Mr. McWilliam
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has carried out on the impact of the DTI guidelines on the definition of development for tax purposes on the research and development tax credit in respect of large companies; and if he will make a statement. [70864]

  :
  The current definition of Research and Development (R&D) in the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's guidelines is based on UK accounting principles—in SSAP (Statement of Standard Accounting Practice) 13—and on international standards established by the OECD. It was introduced in 2000 and underpins both the R&D tax credit for SMEs, also introduced in 2000, and the new R&D tax credit for large companies, in the current Finance Bill.

  This definition was introduced after extensive consultation. It has only been in force for a short time, and it will not be possible to assess either its impact or that of the credits themselves (which are measures for the long-term) until companies have had a period of stability in which to make use of them. In the meantime, the Inland

  1171W
  Revenue, the Treasury and the DTI are working with industry on case studies to clarify the application of the definition.

  Energy Efficiency
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the reduced rate of five per cent VAT to all purchases of energy efficiency materials. [72705]

  John Healey
  The existing reduced rate applies to installations by contractors of certain energy-saving materials whose primary purpose is to save energy. European law does not permit a reduced rate for energy-efficient or energy-saving materials sold direct to the public, but the Government has pressed the European Commission to bring forward proposals to allow a reduced rate for energy-saving materials.

  Jobs Location
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the number of customs staff employed in Scotland. [72706]

  Staff in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Department

  Scotland

  England excluding Greater London

  Greater London

  Wales

  Northern Ireland

  Overseas

  Total

  Percentage of Chancellors staff

  HM Treasury

  —

  —

  1,030

  —

  —

  —

  1,030

  1.1

  (Percentage)

  —

  —

  100.0

  —

  —

  —

  100.0

  Customs and Excise

  1,233

  14,544

  5,735

  569

  594

  —

  22,675

  23.5

  (Percentage)

  5.4

  64.1

  25.3

  2.5

  2.6

  —

  100.0

  Inland Revenue

  6,230

  44,880

  6,875

  3,778

  1,421

  —

  63,184

  65.5

  (Percentage)

  9.9

  71.0

  10.9

  6.0

  2.2

  —

  100.0

  ONS

  —

  1,535

  941

  1,042

  —

  —

  3,518

  3.6

  (Percentage)

  —

  43.6

  26.7

  29.6

  —

  —

  100.0

  OGC

  9

  239

  183

  —

  —

  —

  431

  0.4

  (Percentage)

  2.1

  55.5

  42.5

  —

  —

  —

  100.0

  Debt Management Office

  —

  —

  77

  —

  —

  —

  77

  0.1

  (Percentage)

  —

  —

  100.0

  —

  —

  —

  100.0

  National Savings and Investments

  6

  9

  111

  —

  —

  —

  126

  0.1

  (Percentage)

  4.8

  7.1

  88.1

  —

  —

  —

  100.0

  Royal Mint

  —

  —

  2

  966

  —

  —

  968

  1.0

  (Percentage)

  —

  —

  0.2

  99.8

  —

  —

  100.0

  Valuation Office Agency

  81

  2,812

  725

  236

  —

  —

  3,854

  4.0

  (Percentage)

  2.1

  73.0

  18.8

  6.1

  —

  —

  100.0

  Government Actuary's Department

  —

  2

  96

  —

  —

  —

  98

  0.1

  (Percentage)

  —

  2.0

  98.0

  —

  —

  —

  100.0

  Crown Estates

  34

  230

  194

  —

  —

  —

  458

  0.5

  (Percentage)

  7.4

  50.2

  42.4

  —

  —

  —

  100.0

  Statistics Commission

  —

  —

  10

  —

  —

  —

  10

  0.0

  (Percentage)

  —

  —

  100.0

  —

  —

  —

  100.0

  Total

  7,593

  94,251

  15,979

  6,591

  2,015

  —

  96,429

  100.0

  (Percentage)

  7.9

  66.6

  16.6

  6.8

  2.1

  —

  100.0

  Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many formal and official inter-ministerial
  1172W
  John Healey
  HM Customs and Excise focuses its resources on areas of greatest risk and keeps its staffing numbers and locations under review to ensure that staff with the necessary skills are in place to support the Department's operational activities.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs under the remit of his Department in(a) the core Department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations are, located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation. [72727]

  Ruth Kelly
  The numbers of whole time equivalent staff employed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Department are shown in the following table:

  meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999. broken down by (a) Scottish Executive Department, (b) subject and (c) date. [72721]
  1173W
  Mr. Boateng
  Treasury Ministers meet Scottish Executive Ministers on occasion on a range of subjects.

  White Van Imports
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many vehicles have been impounded by HM Customs and Excise in respect of white van imports since 1 January 2000. [72505]

  John Healey
  Customs' centrally held information on vehicle seizures does not differentiate the types of vehicle seized as outlined in the answer given by the former Financial Secretary (Paul Boateng), to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty), on 3 December 2001,Official Report, column 65W. The total number of vehicles seized for all excise offences across the whole of the UK was 5,200 in the financial year 1999–2000, and 10,219 for the year 2000–01. Figures for 2001–02 will be published in the context of the overall performance of the `tackling tobacco smuggling' strategy later in the year.

  Hearing Aids
  Rachel Squire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to exempt from tax the hearing aids required for hearing impaired people to pursue employment. [72203]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Perth (Annabelle Ewing) on 11 July 2002,Official Report, column 1104W.

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the rules so that hearing aids paid for by employers are exempt from tax. [71717]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government are continuing to remove barriers to work and ensure that disabled people do not face discrimination in the work place. Regulations came into force on 9 July 2002 to ensure that benefits for disabled employees which may be used both in and out of the work place, such as a hearing aid, will not be liable to a tax charge.

  Non-domicile Tax Status
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology the Inland Revenue is using to assess the number of individuals claiming non-domicile tax status; what the cost is of such status; what other work is being undertaken as a result of the review announced in paragraph 5.83 of the 2002 Budget; and if he will make a statement. [70274]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In his Budget statement, the Chancellor announced a review of the residence and domicile rules as they affect the tax liabilities of individuals. The work of the review is being undertaken by officials. As part of that work the Inland Revenue will be carrying out various fact-finding exercises, drawing on a range of sources.

  EU Committees
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the EU Customs Code Committee on customs warehouses and free zones is next due to meet;
  1174W
  whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [71834]

  (2) when the EU Customs Code Committee on transit is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [71839]

  (3) when the EU Customs Code Committee on the movement of air or sea passengers' baggage (technical problems) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [73150]

  (4) when the EU Customs Code Committee on favourable tariff treatment (nature or end-use of goods) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [73151]

  (5) when the EU Customs Code Committee on counterfeit and pirated goods is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [73148]

  (6) when the EU Customs Code Committee on the single administrative document is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [73149]

  (7) when the EU Customs Code Committee on general customs rules is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [73156]

  (8) when the EU Customs Code Committee on the recovery of claims is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [73157]

  (9) when the EU Customs Code Committee on customs procedures with economic impact is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement; [73147]

  (10) when the EU Customs Code Committee on customs valuation is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [73144]

  John Healey
  The following table indicates when the various EU Committees are next due to meet.

  EU Committee14

  Next meeting (2002)

  Transit

  16 September

  Customs warehouses and free zones

  25 September

  Customs Valuation

  23 September

  Movement of air or sea passengers' baggage (technical problems)

  2—

  General Customs Rule

  Date to be arranged

  Counterfeit and Pirated Goods

  3 September

  Customs Procedure with Economic Impact

  25 September

  Favourable Tariff Treatment (Nature or End-use of Goods)

  25 September

  Single Administrative Document

  Date to be arranged

  1175W
  1 There is no EU VAT or Customs Committee on the recovery of claims other than that on mutual assistance.

  2 This Committee has not met in the past five years and has no outstanding items under consideration. No further meetings have been timetabled.

  The UK is normally represented by one or two officials from HM Customs and Excise on each of these Committees. The Customs delegates at these Committees represent all of the UK.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the European Advisory Committee on statistical information in the economic and social spheres (CEIES) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71838]

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

  Letter, from John Pullinger to Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU European advisory committee on statistical information in the economic and social sphere (CEIES). I am replying in his absence. (71838)

  The European advisory committee on statistical information in the economic and social sphere (CEIES) next meets on 22nd November 2002. In addition to the National Statistician there are 2 UK members who serve in a personal capacity. Members do not represent individual interests or organisations.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-of-payments statistics is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71826]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-of-payment statistics. I am replying in his absence. (71826)

  The EU Committee on monetary, financial and balance-ofpayments statistics is due to meet at the end of January 2003. The exact date of the meeting is not yet fixed.

  The Scottish Executive has never attended and is not a member.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the EU Committee on the harmonisation of the compilation of gross national product at market prices is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71833]

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

  Letter from Mr. John Pullinger to Mr. Angus Robertson, dated 24 July 2002:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question concerning the EU Committee on the harmonisation of gross national product at market prices. I am replying in his absence. (71833)
  1176W
  The EU Committee on the harmonisation of gross national product at market prices is due to meet on 5th November 2002.

  The terms of reference of the committee relates to methodology for compilation of National Accounts, which is a reserved issue. The Scottish Executive has never attended and is not a member.

  PFI Contracts
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002,Official Report, column 120W, on PFI contracts, what estimate his Department has made of the payments under PFI contracts for each year from 2002–03 to 2027–28 for Government PFI deals which are expected to reach preferred bidder stage in the next three years. [71927]

  Mr. Boateng
  During the competitive process, before a preferred bidder is selected, it is not possible to determine with any degree of accuracy exactly what the long term payment obligations are likely to be for any project. However, once projects have reached preferred bidder status, Departmental estimates of the relevant future service payments are published twice a year.

  The most recent publication of this information can be found in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2002, Table C 19. As is customary, I shall provide an update of these figures later this year.

  Inward Investment
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of inward investment into the United Kingdom was in the years ending(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) 1 May 2002; and if he will make a statement. [72094]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Office for National Statistics publishes annual figures on inward investment into the United Kingdom in its Foreign Direct Investment Business Monitor (MA4). It also publishes quarterly estimates as part of the Balance of Payments First Release. Both of these can be found on the ONS website (statistics.gov.uk). The UK has continued to attract the largest share of inward investment in Europe and announcements made in this year's Budget will further serve to consolidate the UK's lead position.

  DEL Spending
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of DEL spending labelled 'transport' is spent on(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) England and Wales and (d) England, Wales and Scotland in each year from 2002–03 to 2005–06. [72591]

  Mr. Boateng
  The amount allocated to the Department for Transport to spend on transport provision in England, and the national rail system, is given in the Spending Review 2002 White Paper, table 8.1. (An amended version of this table follows, which corrects a misprint. A corrigendum will be issued shortly.). The line in this table which gives an estimate of total UK transport spending does so on the basis of estimated spending by local authorities and devolved Administrations. It is of course a matter for devolved Administrations as to how they spend their allocated budgets.
  1177W

  Table 8.1 key figures

  £ million

  Department for Transport

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–05

  2005–06

  Resource budget

  4,960

  7,632

  7,749

  8,650

  Capital budget

  2,948

  3,369

  3.811

  3,391

  Total Departmental Expenditure

  Limit1

  7,661

  10,692

  11,197

  11,640

  Near-cash spending in DfT DEL2

  7,843

  10,829

  11,333

  11,774

  UK transport spending (estimated) 3

  11,962

  15,347

  15,827

  16,406

  1Full resource budgeting basis net of depreciation.

  2Consistent with previous control basis.

  3Subject to spending decisions of local authorities and devolved Administrations.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which mid-year population estimates were used to determine incremental Scottish DEL expenditure for 2002–03; and which mid-year population estimates will be used for the same determination for Scottish funding for each year from 2003–04 to 2005–06. [72594]

  Mr. Boateng
  The mid-year estimates were set out in the Statement of Funding Policy on 15 July 2002 and were the Office for National Statistics latest mid-year estimate published last year. Future funding changes will be based on the latest available ONS estimates as explained in the Statement of Funding Policy.

  Taxis and Buses
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new incentives he will introduce to stimulate the use of less environmentally damaging vehicles as(a) taxis and (b) other public service carriers. [73207]

  John Healey
  In Budget 2002, the Chancellor announced a number of measures to encourage reductions in the environmental impact of transport, which could apply equally to taxis and public service carriers. Any new incentives will be considered as part of the normal Budget process.

  United Kingdom Listing Authority
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make available the annual objectives for the United Kingdom Listing Authority. [73471]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Financial Services Authority, acting in its role as the competent authority for listing, is referred to as the United Kingdom Listing Authority. Every year, the operational objectives of the UKLA are discussed with the Treasury. The annual objectives for 2002–03, which the Treasury has endorsed, will be placed in the Library, and also put on the Treasury website.

  Royal Gifts
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanism is in place to distinguish between gifts received by(a) the Queen and (b) other members of the royal family in (i) their official roles and (ii) their private capacities; what rules govern the receipt of gifts donated to members of the royal family in their official capacities; and whether such gifts are exempt from taxation. [65160]
  1178W
  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 2 July 2002]: Gifts are categorised as official if given during an official engagement or in connection with the official role or duties of a member of the royal family.

  Gifts received in an official capacity are not taxed because they do not belong to the individual members of the royal family. Gifts received in a private capacity are treated by members of the royal family in the same way as gifts received by anyone else. The normal inheritance tax and lifetime transfer rules would apply to such gifts subject to the arrangements for Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales set out in the Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC464) published on 11 February 1993.

  Records are kept of official gifts received by the Queen and where they are stored. Other members of the royal family follow similar practice. Gifts received by any member of the royal family in a private capacity are not listed in official records.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public funds were expended in 2001 on gifts given by(a) the Queen and (b) other members of the royal family in their official roles. [65161]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 2 July 2002]: The cost of official gifts given by Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the royal family in 2001 amounted to £36,783 and £11,071. respectively.

  Royal Finances
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether paragraph 31 of the 1993 Memorandum of Understanding on the subject of royal finances has been invoked since its inception. [694141

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  [holding answer 17 July 2002]: No.

  Throat Cancer
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the survival rate was for throat cancer in the UK in the last 12 months. [71097]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Tim Loughton, dated 24 July 2002:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on the survival rate for throat cancer in the UK in the last 12 months. I am replying in his absence. (71097)

  Cancer of the larynx is commonly referred to as "throat cancer". Information on laryngeal cancer survival for the UK as a whole is not available. Survival rates for the constituent countries of the UK are not comparable.

  Cancers of the throat and related areas are formally classified to codes C13 and C14 (malignant neoplasm of hypopharynx, and malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx) according to the International Classification of Disease tenth revision (ICD10). There were 311 newly diagnosed cases of cancers in these locations in England in 1998, the most recent year for which information is available. No information on survival is available.
  1179W
  Information on survival from cancer of the larynx for patients diagnosed in England and Wales is summarised in chapter 21 of the book Cancer Survival Trends1. This publication present cancer survival trends in patients diagnosed between 1971 and 1990 and followed up for at least five years to the end of 1995.

  For men, the most recent information available relates to diagnosis in 1991–93 and follow-up up to the end of 1998 (Health Statistics Quarterly 62). The crude' survival rate was 51% and relative' survival 64%, based on 4,501 men diagnosed. Women are not included in the analysis, as they represent less than 20% of all the cases of cancer of the larynx.

  The figures for patients diagnosed in 1986–90 and followed up to the end of 1995, are given in the table below.

  One-and five-year survival from cancer of the larynx* for patients diagnosed in 1986–90, England and Wales

  One-year (%)

  Five year (%)

  Number of patients

  Crude 1

  Relative 1

  Crude 1

  Relative 1

  Men

  7,195

  80

  84

  51

  64

  Women

  1,592

  76

  79

  49

  58

  Source:

  Coleman MP et al. Cancer Survival Trends in England and Wales, 1971–1995: deprivation and NHS Region.

  Studies in Medical and Population Subjects No. 61. London: The Stationery Office, 1999.

  *Cancer of the larynx has been defined to the International Classification of Disease eight and ninth revision (ICD8 and ICD9) code 161 for the period 1975–1994, and to the code C32 according to the International Classification of Disease tenth revision (ICD10) from 1995 onwards.

  1Crude survival is the proportion of a cohort of subjects alive at the end of a specified time interval since diagnosis (irrespective of the cause of death). Relative survival is the ratio of the observed survival in the group being studied and the survival that would have been expected had they been subject only to the mortality rates of the general population.

  1Coleman MP et al. Cancer Survival Trends in England and Wales, 1971–1995: deprivation and NHS Region. Studies in Medical and Population Subjects No. 61. London: The Stationery Office, 1999.

  2Coleman MP, Babb P, Harris S, Quinn Mi. Sloggett A, De Stavola B. Cancer survival in England and Wales, 1991–98. Health Statistics Quarterly 6:71–80, The Stationery Office (2000) on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_ health/HSQ6Book.pdf

  Drug Seizures
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many drug seizures from foreign vessels have been made in Scottish waters since 1995; [70635]

  (2) what the weight of drug seizures from foreign vessels caught in Scottish waters has been in each year since 1995, broken down by type of drug. [70636]

  John Healey
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: Since 1995, HM Customs and Excise have made 58 seizures from UK and foreign flagged vessels in international and UK waters. Of these, three were made from foreign vessels in Scottish waters. Two of the three seizures were made in 1998, one from a German and one from an Irish vessel. The third seizure was made in 2000, from a Maltese vessel. A total of 80 kilograms of amphetamine, 120 tonnes of cannabis, 14 and a half tonnes of cocaine, and 25 kilograms of heroin were seized as a result of these 58 cases. The three seizures in Scottish waters resulted in the recovery of 17 tonnes of cannabis.

  Family Resources Survey
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2002,Official Report,
  1180W
  column 462W, on tax credits, when the Family Resources Survey 2000–01 was received by the Treasury; when full analysis of the survey began; and when he expects the analysis to be concluded. [65385]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The final data set was received in May 2002.

  Government Art Collection
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when an inventory was last prepared of the Government's holdings of art and antiques [68461]

  Mr. Boateng
  The National Asset Register, published for the first time in 1997 and updated, with full valuations, in 2001, summarised asset holdings across Departments. Where appropriate, Departments summarise heritage assets separately.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) disposals from and (b) acquisitions to the Government's art and antiques collection there have been since 1997. [R] [68463]

  Mr. Boateng
  The National Asset Register summarised departmental asset acquisitions and disposals between 1997 and 2001. Similar information is provided annually in Departments' accounts. Where relevant, heritage assets are categorised separately.

  The aggregate information requested is not held centrally. Details of individual asset acquisitions and disposals are available from individual Departments.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to sell its holdings of art and antiques; and what discussions his Department is having on the subject. [R] [68464]

  Mr. Boateng
  Specific asset sales are a matter for individual Departments. Departments' asset acquisition and disposal strategies will be set out in full in new departmental investment strategies, to be published in the autumn.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of the Government's holdings of art and antiques. [R] [68462]

  Mr. Boateng
  The 11,500 items that comprise the Government Art Collection are not valued, in accordance with accounting policy on heritage assets. Details of departmental asset holdings—including art and antiques assets—and their values are available in summary in Departments' accounts and are also published in the National Asset Register.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the(a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case. [68728]

  Ruth Kelly
  All overseas travel by Treasury officials is undertaken in accordance with the principles set out in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code, and the Department's own rules and guidance.
  1181W

  Consultation Documents
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which consultation documents published by the Treasury in 2001 were not made available as paper copies. [69852]

  Ruth Kelly
  Paper copies of all Treasury consultation documents are available from the Treasury's public inquiries unit.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long the Treasury allowed for consultation on each of the consultation documents it published in 2001 in(a) electronic and (b) printed form. [70094]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Twickenham on 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 865W. The same time is allowed for consultations regardless of the format in which the document is published.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints the Treasury has received about its 2001 consultations by(a) electronic and (b) printed means. [69851]

  Ruth Kelly
  Records of complaints about consultations are not held centrally by the Treasury.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what format the Treasury has published the results of its 2001 written consultations. [69849]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury consults regularly on a wide range of policy areas. Results have so far been formally published for a number of 2001 consultation exercises including responses to the Review of the Supply of the Supply of Scientists and Engineers (the Sir Gareth Robert's Review) and Securing our Future Health (the Wanless Review).

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether consultation documents published by the Treasury in 2001 carried the consultation criteria as recommended in the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations. [70091]

  Ruth Kelly
  Recent Treasury consultation documents have not carried the criteria. The relevant guidance will be re-issued.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consultation documents published in 2001 in(a) electronic and (b) printed form the Treasury has monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations. [69850]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury has not yet formally monitored and evaluated consultation documents published in 2001.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury has appointed a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations. [69853]

  Ruth Kelly
  Yes, the Treasury has appointed a designated consultation co-ordinator.

  Public Consultations
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public consultations
  1182W
  undertaken by his Department since 1997, indicating for each consultation (a) if copies were available online, (b) if copies were available in print, (c) the date the time period given for responses opened and (d) the date the time period given for responses closed. [69793]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations applies to all formal national public consultation documents issued by Departments from 1 January 2001 and the information requested is not available before that date. For consultations issued from January 2001, the information is available on the Consultations section of the Treasury's website, www.htm-treasury.gov.uk, which includes both launch dates and closure dates. Paper copies of Treasury publications are available on request.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72066]

  Ruth Kelly
  A list of consultations commenced since 1 April, with closing dates, is available on the Treasury's website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/Consultations_ and_Legislation/.

  Accounts
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the rules governing the publishing of(a) the Queen's accounts, (b) 10 Downing Street's accounts, (c) Chequers' accounts and (d) accounts relating to grace and favour apartments. [69012]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The accounts for The Queen's Civil List, and for the grants in aid for royal travel by air and rail, maintenance of the occupied royal palaces in England, royal communications and information, and for the maintenance of Marlborough House are published annually by the royal household on a purely voluntary basis.

  Expenditure on No. 10 Downing Street is included in the Cabinet Office annual accounts and is not reported separately. Resource accounts for the Cabinet Office are laid annually before the House of Commons under sections 6 and 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. They are then published.

  Chequers is a private trust and not a Government building. As a private trust the accounts are confidential.

  Trading Partners
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) the coefficient of the exchange rates variation with sterling and (b) the value in sterling of reciprocal trade with the UK was for each of the United Kingdom's 20 principal trading partners from 1997 until 31 December 2001. [71813]

  Ruth Kelly
  The coefficient of variation of a data series can be calculated by dividing the standard deviation by the mean.

  A detailed geographical breakdown of UK trade is published by the Office For National Statistics in section 9 of the annual Balance of Payments publication (The Pink Book). The ONS also publishes a list of the UK's top
  1183W
  50 trading partners for goods exports and imports in the Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics. Both publications are available on the ONS website (http:// www.statistics.gov.uk/).

  Employee Share Schemes
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the potential for employers to offer fractional shares within employee share schemes; and if he will make a statement. [716971

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Chancellor of the Exchequer has not received any representations on the potential for employers to offer fractional shares within employee share schemes.

  Payroll Software
  Lembit Opik
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much is set aside for Government Departments to replace their existing payroll provision with new software which has the Inland Revenue payroll standard; and if he will make a statement; [71709]

  (2) which Government Departments have filed their P14 and P35 IR documents electronically; when those Departments that have not tiled electronically will do so; and if he will make a statement; [71706]

  (3) which elements of the payroll standard the Government's payroll provisions do not meet; and if he will make a statement; [71708]

  (4) how much is to be set aside to enhance Government Departments' existing software to comply with the Inland Revenue payroll standard and undertake the testing; and if he will make a statement; [71710]

  (5) which Government Departments pay their employees through software that has the Inland Revenue payroll standard; and if he will make a statement. [71707]

  Dawn Primarolo
  This information is not available or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Quality standards for mandatory electronic filing of employers' end of year tax returns have not yet been settled.

  Tax Return Errors
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) financial and (b) promotional incentives are offered to staff at the Inland Revenue for investigating errors in tax returns. [71870]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No financial or promotional incentives are offered to Inland Revenue staff specifically for investigating errors in tax returns. However, annual pay awards take account of overall individual performance.

  National Rail
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether debt incurred by National Rail will be included in the net cash requirement. [72098]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Office for National Statistics has decided that Network Rail will be classified as a private sector company in national accounts. Therefore, its borrowing will not be included in the public sector net cash requirement.
  1184W

  Enterprise Investment Scheme
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on take-up of the Enterprise Investment Scheme. [71660]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Information on investment in EIS companies is published on the Inland Revenue website. The latest figures for take-up of EIS for the last three years are:

  £ million

  1998–99

  278.1

  1999–2000

  469.0

  2000–01

  661.6

  The figures for 2001–02 will be available in September. The amounts for the earlier years will also be updated then as there is a considerable time lag between the year to which the claim relates and the receipt of the claim.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many outstanding claims are pending in respect of the cases at issue in Clark(Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals. [72566]

  Dawn Primarolo
  720 claims were still receiving consideration as at 19 July 2002.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the total potential payout due from the Inland Revenue to claimants stemming from the cases at issue in Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals. [72568]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No estimate of the total to be repaid has been made.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what redress can be sought by claimants who have not been paid their back-tax, pursuant to the Court of Appeal's decision Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals. [72571]

  Dawn Primarolo
  If a taxpayer wants to find out why a decision on their entitlement to a tax repayment has not yet been made they should follow up their claim with the Inland Revenue involved. If they are concerned about the way in which their claim is being handled they should contact the officer in charge.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason payments have ceased following the Court of Appeal's decision Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals; and if he will make a statement. [72570]

  Dawn Primarolo
  They have not ceased. Repayment claims continue to be considered.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for which years claimants may have valid claims for refunds from the Inland Revenue after the Court of Appeal's decision, Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals. [72569]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Taxpayers who were employed on a jack up rig before 17 March 1998 may be entitled to claim the foreign earnings deduction for tax years up to and
  1185W
  including the year ended 5 April 1998 (1997–98). Taxpayers have until 31 October 2002 to request a return for 1996–97 and until 31 October 2003 to request one for 1997–98. For the year 1995–96 and earlier years claims can only be made within six years of the end of the tax year in which an assessment was made.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the(a) lowest, (b) highest and (c) average payout to claimants stemming from the cases at issue in Clark (Inspector of Taxes) v. Perks and other appeals. [72567]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The lowest repayment to date is £11. The highest is £70,590 and the average is £5,333.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims made by offshore workers have been paid as a result of the court decisions in Clark (Inspector of Taxes)v. Perks and other appeals. [72565]

  Dawn Primarolo
  851 repayments of tax have been made up to 19 July 2002.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Court of Appeal's decision Clark (Inspector of Taxes)v. Perks and other appeals, for what reason taxpayers who overpaid due to mistaken classifications between offshore jack-up rigs and ships, have not been repaid in full. [72572]

  Dawn Primarolo
  All taxpayers who establish a valid claim to the foreign earnings deduction will have the tax they overpaid as a result refunded. Work is still continuing in some cases to determine whether the various conditions for entitlement to FED are satisfied.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the status is of claims made by offshore workers regarding payment to them by the Inland Revenue stemming from the court decisions in Clark (Inspector of Taxes)v. Perks and other appeals; and if he will make a statement. [72564]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A majority of these claims have now been dealt with and either repayments made, or the claims turned down because entitlement to the foreign earnings deduction has not been established. Decisions will be made on the cases that remain under consideration in due course.

  Development Assistance
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2002,Official Report, column 73W, on development assistance, what strategy he has for raising UK official development assistance to the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of GNP from 2005–06. [72544]

  John Healey
  Since this Government came to power our aid has doubled and our aid ratio has increased from 0.26 per cent. in 1997, to 0.32 per cent. in 2001. The Government have pledged our aid ratio will rise to 0.40 per cent. in 2005–06, its highest level since 1981. This will take the UK above the commitment agreement at the UN Financing for Development conference held at Monterrey in March, to bring the EU average oda/GNI ratio to 0.39 per cent. by 2005–06. This is also more than double the current G7 country oda/GNI average of 0.18 per cent. and above the current OECD average of 0.22 per cent.
  1186W
  Any timetable beyond 2005–06 is a matter for future Parliaments.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website. [722771

  Ruth Kelly
  When answering parliamentary questions, Treasury Ministers refer to a wide range of documents published by the Treasury, the other Chancellor's Departments and by other organisations, such as National Statistics.

  Where a document is specifically referred to in a parliamentary answer as being on the Treasury website, it will be found there, as well as in the House of Commons Library. Other documents referred to in a parliamentary answer will be available in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website. [72287]

  Ruth Kelly
  Website documents which have been referred to in answers to parliamentary questions, will be on the Treasury's website for at least the next year and will be available on request thereafter.

  Pharmaceutical Companies
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2002,Official Report, column 336W, on pharmaceutical companies, what steps he is taking to ensure such tax incentives are not exploited by UK-based pharmaceutical companies, for the clearance of expired or nearly expired medicines to developing countries. [72432]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Donors will be encouraged to comply with the World Health Organisation's Guidelines for Drug Donations. Reference will be made to them in the guidance that the Inland Revenue issues to its inspectors which is published on the Inland Revenue website and is widely used by taxpayers and businesses in determining their tax liability.

  Where a company makes a gift from its trading stock it would normally be required to bring the market value of the gift into its tax computation in order to reflect the sales proceeds foregone. The relief in Clause 55 of the Finance Bill 2002 works by removing this charge, subject to certain conditions. If stock is unsaleable because it is time expired or nearly so, there would be little or no tax charge to add back—therefore the tax relief would be of little or no value to the donor company.

  Incomes
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people's annual gross income increased by more than £2,500 in each of the last two financial years for which such figures are available. [72416]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I regret that this information is not available.
  1187W

  Scotland Office Budget
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the budget of the Scotland Office is determined. [72553]

  Mr. Boateng
  Provision for the costs of the Scotland Office is found from within the total resources voted for Scotland by the United Kingdom Parliament, as allowed for in the Statement of Funding Policy.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the comparability factors for Scottish expenditure via Barnett were determined. [72592]

  Mr. Boateng
  The comparability factors for Scottish expenditure via the Barnett formula were published in the Statement of Funding Policy on 15 July, following consultation with the devolved Administrations. They reflect the extent to which UK departmental expenditure is devolved.

  Spending Review Targets
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government will ask the National Audit office to determine whether the spending review targets have been met. [72448]

  Mr. Boateng
  Departments are responsible for delivering and reporting progress against their public service agreement targets. The Government have invited the Comptroller and Auditor General to take responsibility for the validation of systems used in reporting on PSA targets where measurement of performance depends on data.

  Culture, Media and Sport (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the comparability factor for Culture, Media and Sport in Scotland has decreased. [72593]

  Mr. Boateng
  The comparability factor for Culture, Media and Sport in Scotland has decreased because a higher proportion of the DCMS budget is not devolved.

  Scottish Fiscal Autonomy
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive on the issue of Scottish fiscal autonomy. [72554]

  Mr. Boateng
  No specific representations have been received on this topic, although the Executive makes representations to Government on a wide range of issues.

  Temporary Staff
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff(a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72646]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave her on 23 May 2002,Official Report, columns 574–75W.
  1188W

  Ministerial Meetings
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people attended the G7 Finance Ministers meeting in Halifax in June from(a) his Department and (b) other UK Government Departments; and what the total cost of the visit was; [66224]

  (2) how many people attended the World Economic Forum in New York in February from (a) his Department and (b) other UK Government Departments; and what the total cost of the visit was. [66214]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I am giving today to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow).

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when and where Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting. [72700]

  Ruth Kelly
  No formal meetings have been held between Treasury Ministers and their Irish counterparts since 1 June 2000. However, Treasury Ministers meet regularly with their Irish counterparts, for example in the margins at ECOFIN council meetings.

  Growth Rates
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much growth would be required in the United Kingdom over the next two quarters of 2002 in order to meet the GDP growth targets set out in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review. [72589]

  Mr. Boateng
  The economic assumptions underpinning the public finance projections in Budget 2002 are set out in table C3 of the April 2002 Financial Statement and Budget Report.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average GDP growth rate for the United Kingdom has been in each year since 1997–98. [72590]

  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. Alex Salmond, dated 24 July 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on GDP annual growth rates. (72590)
  The information requested is given in the table below.

  GDP annual growth rates in percentages covering the period from 1997–2001

  Year

  Percentage

  1997

  3.4%

  1998

  2.9%

  1999

  2.4%

  2000

  3.1%

  2001

  1.9%

  1189W
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on(a) the real growth rates of UK (i) total and (ii) average managed expenditure outlined in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review and (b) real growth rates in UK total managed expenditure over the last five years. [72555]

  Mr. Boateng
  Total managed expenditure (TME) is planned to rise in real terms by 4.3 per cent. a year on average between 2002–03 and 2005–06, while annually managed expenditure will rise at 3.0 per cent. a year in real terms over the same period, as detailed in the 2002 Spending Review White Paper, "Opportunity for all: investing in an enterprising, fairer Britain" (Cm 5570, July 2002). Between 1997–98 and 2001–02, TME rose in real terms by an average of 1.6 per cent. a year.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on(a) the real growth rates of UK departmental expenditure levels as outlined in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review and (b) real growth rates in UK departmental expenditure levels over the last five years. [72556]

  Mr. Boateng
  Total spending within departmental expenditure limits, on a full resource budgeting basis, is growing at 5.2 per cent. a year in real terms on average between 2002–03 and 2005–06, as detailed in the 2002 Spending Review White Paper, "Opportunity for all: investing in an enterprising, fairer Britain" (Cm 5570, July 2002). On a near-cash basis, the growth rate is 5.4 per cent. Between 1997–98 and 2001–02, real growth in total spending within departmental expenditure limits was on average 3.0 per cent., in near-cash terms.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in cases where two parents share the care of a child, which parent will be eligible for the child tax credit. [72427]

  Mr. Boateng
  Where two people share the care of a child the decision as to who is eligible to claim or who will receive payment depends on who has the main responsibility or is the "main carer" for that child or those children. This will depend on the particular circumstance of each case.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his answer of 24 April 2002,Official Report, column 336W, on tax credits, for what reason the Family Resources Survey for 2000–01 cannot be used to calculate a figure for the take-up of the working families tax credit; [64206]

  (2) what assessment the Treasury has made of the research conducted by the Policy Studies Institute on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue on the take-up rate of the working families tax credit. [64124]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have nothing to add to my previous answer.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft application form for the child tax credit and the working tax credit, with the relevant guidance notes. [172420]
  1190W
  Mr. Boateng
  As the Paymaster General made clear in the debate in Standing Committee on the Child Tax Credit Regulations on 16 July, in August we shall start to send out application packs to potential claimants. She confirmed then that we would keep hon. Members informed, and provide them with the guidance to ensure they can property advise their constituents at that time.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which non-Government organisations will help distribute information about the new tax credits. [72428]

  Ruth Kelly
  The new tax credits, child tax credit and working tax credit, are to be introduced in April next year In the run-up to their introduction, the Inland Revenue is working with a large number of organisations from across the voluntary sector to make sure they have the information they need.

  Government (Appraisal and Evaluation)
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the consultation paper on a revised version of appraisal and evaluation in central Government before 24 July; and if he will make a statement. [71303]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Treasury is today publishing for consultation a revised version of the new Green Book: Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government. Copies are available in the Vote Office and in the Library of the House.

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of publishing his Department's annual report for each of the past five years. [70486]

  Mr. Boateng
  Over the past five years the costs of publishing the Treasury's annual report that were born directly by the Department are set out in the table. Other costs of printing and publication are met directly by the publisher, The Stationery Office Limited (TSO), and do not fall to Government.

  £

  Direct cost

  20021

  4,100

  2001

  11,760

  2000

  4,450

  19992

  —

  19982

  —

  1 Costs are approximate and, pending some outstanding issues, will be finalised shortly.

  2 Prior to 2000, the report was designed in-house and thus no additional costs were incurred.

  Statistical Information
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many questionnaires or forms seeking statistical information were sent to businesses by(a) the Office for National Statistics, (b) the Inland Revenue and

  1191W
  (c) HM Customs and Excise in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many in each case were mandatory. [70838]

  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. J. Whittingdale, dated 24 July 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many questionnaires or forms seeking statistical information were sent to businesses by (a) the Office for National Statistics, (b) the Inland Revenue and (c) HM Customs and Excise in the latest year for which figures are available; and how many in each case were mandatory. (70838)
  The information requested is given in the table below.

  Statistical surveys of business and local authorities, carried out by the Office for National Statistics, HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue, 20001

  Number of surveys

  Department

  Forms2

  Total

  Voluntary

  Statutory

  ONS

  1,476,229

  74

  11

  63

  HM Customs and Excise

  156,000

  2

  1

  1

  Inland Revenue

  100,000

  197

  197

  0

  1 All surveys are attributed to the sponsoring department.

  2Includes telephone interviews, personal interviews, etc.

  Source:

  ONS—Government Statistical Service Report 2000—Annex A Tables, published 2002

  Taxation
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answers of 8 July 2002,Official Report, column 769W, and 26 June, Official Report, column 945W, on taxation, if he will restate his answers excluding benefits and assumed changes in original incomes; and if he will make a statement. [70755]

  Mr. Boateng
  The table gives the information requested. The estimates are based on a pooled Family Expenditure Survey dataset for the three years from 1997–98 to 1999–2000 with incomes and expenditure projected forward to 2001–02. The estimates themselves only include the impact of measures introduced and do not include any assumed changes to original incomes.

  Net income Decile

  Percentage change in net income

  Bottom

  1

  2

  2

  3

  1

  4

  1

  5

  1

  6

  1

  7

  1

  8

  1

  9

  0

  Top

  0

  Note:

  The decile groups are of all households ranked by net income before housing costs and equivalised using the McClements scale.

  Marks and Spencer
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the implications for
  1192W
  his consultation document on VAT on Face Value Vouchers of the 11 July judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-62/00, Marks and Spencer v Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise; [71696]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the total cost to the Exchequer of the 11 July judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-62/00, Marks and Spencer v Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise, relating to HM Customs' three year rule on retrospective VAT claims across the economy; [71695]

  (3) with reference to the 11 July judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-62/00, Marks and Spencer v Commissioners of HM Customs and Excise, if he will estimate the total VAT erroneously charged on (a) chocolate coated teacakes and (b) face value vouchers since 1973; and if he will make a statement. [71698]

  John Healey
  Customs officials are in the process of consulting with legal advisers on the implications of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-62/00, Marks and Spencer plc v the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

  As the ECJ has endorsed the UK's three year time limit for repayments of overpaid VAT, Customs' view is that the judgment will only affect certain claims which were made, or could have been made, around the time when the cap was introduced in 1996.

  Customs will be publishing guidance on the wider implications of the judgment for VAT registered businesses soon.

  We are currently unable to provide an accurate estimate of the total revenue effect of this judgment, nor of its effect on claims relating to particular types of product. However, given the limited scope of this judgment, it is not expected to have a significant revenue effect.

  This judgment is not thought to have implications for the current consultation document on 'VAT on Face Value Vouchers'.

  Salaries
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the percentage increase in spending on salaries in his Department for each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [71722]

  Ruth Kelly
  The percentage change in spending on salaries for the Tresury, including what is now the Office of Government Commerce, can be seen in the table. Data for years before 1996–97 could only be collated at disproportionate expense. Growth rates may be affected by changes of functions.

  Pay bill £ million

  Percentage change on previous year

  1996–97

  56

  —

  1997–98

  55

  –1.8

  1998–99

  49

  –10.9

  1999–2000

  51

  4.1

  2000–01

  55

  7.8

  2001–021

  61

  10.9

  1unaudited outturn
  1193W

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to monitor annual progress against long term targets set out in public service agreements. [71614]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 19 July 20021: Progress against all targets in public service agreements (PSAs) is set out in departmental reports and autumn performance reports. The Government will provide regular web-based reports on all the new PSA targets from next year.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sanctions he will use against Departments which fail to deliver their public service agreements. [71615]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 19 July 20021: Departments are accountable to the public and Parliament for their performance against their public service agreement targets (PSAs). Performance is also one of a number of factors taken into account during a spending review, where performance can indicate where resources can best be deployed and the need for action and reforms to ensure delivery.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why there is no public service agreement target for Customs and Excise in respect of the illicit market share for oils in Northern Ireland: and if he will make a statement. [71607]

  John Healey
  [holding answer 19 July 20021: As explained in "Measuring Indirect Tax Fraud", published in November 2001, the non-UK duty paid share of the road fuel sector in Northern Ireland is more complex than in the rest of the UK. Because of the long land border with the Republic of Ireland, Customs are unable to distinguish clearly between legitimate cross-border shopping and fraud there in the same way they are able to on the UK mainland.

  As a consequence, while the Government have judged it right to set a PSA target for reducing the size of the illicit market for England, Scotland and Wales, it is not yet possible to set a comparable target for Northern Ireland.

  The Government are, however, determined to tackle road fuel fraud in Northern Ireland and Customs have, over the last two years, enhanced its enforcement activity by increasing the number of officers tackling oils fraud in Northern Ireland from 25 officers to over 160. This has resulted in the first increase in the volume of UK duty paid fuel delivered into Northern Ireland for over four years.

  The Government still consider the level of fraud to be unacceptable and Customs is pursuing, with other agencies and in addition to steps taken on mainland oils fraud, ways in which the impact on oils fraud in Northern Ireland can be increased.

  Public Works Loan Board
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is on loan from the Public Works Loan Board, broken down by country or region of the United Kingdom; and how much money is available for lending from the PWLB. [72588]
  1194W
  Ruth Kelly
  The 127th Annual Report of the Public Works Loan Board, laid before Parliament on 8 July 2002, notes that at 31 March 2002 the following principal amounts were on loan:

  £

  England

  34,359.0

  Scotland

  9,254.4

  Wales

  3,267.6

  Total

  46,881.0

  The Public Works Loan Board does not lend to Northern Ireland authorities.

  The maximum amount of loans outstanding to the Public Works Loan Board at any one time should not exceed £55,000 million.

  Inheritance Tax
  Andrew Bennett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have applied for conditional exemption from inheritance tax in the last 12 months; and how this tax relief is being amended to take into account the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 about access to the countryside. [72185]

  Ruth Kelly
  In the last 12 months the Inland Revenue have received eight inheritance tax exemption claims involving land. Of these, only one covers land in England not associated with a building where access may in due course be available by virtue of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; the remainder are outside the territorial scope of the Act, or relate to the land surrounding a historic building, or both. Given this limited overlap, and the other public benefits secured by inheritance tax exemption, we are not persuaded that early change to the inheritance tax rules is called for: but we will keep the matter under review.

  National Insurance Numbers
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of employees working in the UK without national insurance numbers. [72124]

  Ruth Kelly
  No estimate has been made of the number of employees working in the UK without national insurance numbers.

  Local Government Staff
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he estimates would be saved on the working families tax credit and other benefits if local government staff were paid a rate of £5 an hour. [72220]

  Ruth Kelly
  No reliable estimate can be made except at disproportionate cost.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how fees for an(a) voluntary and (b) compulsory proposed entitlement identity card will be treated in the national accounts. [72115]
  1195W
  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Mr. Len Cook to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 24 July 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on treatment of identity cards in the National Accounts. (72115)
  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) will treat any fees relating to identity cards in the National Accounts according to established international guidelines. ONS have not been asked to offer advice on this subject and will not do so until requested and proposals are clearly specified.

  Strikes
  Hywel Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many strikes due to industrial dispute have occurred in the UK in the past 10 years; and what the(a) location and (b) duration was of those that went beyond six weeks. [71789]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Hywel Williams, dated 24 July 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number and location of strikes due to industrial dispute in the UK over the last 10 years. (71789)
  Figures for 1992–2001 are given below. They cover the number of days that strike action took place; not the number of days that the parties to the dispute were actually in disagreement. Data on the location of stoppages are not available.

  Stoppages due to labour disputes in the UK in the last ten years

  Year

  Total number of stoppages

  Of which, over 30 days duration

  1992

  325

  28

  1993

  211

  13

  1994

  205

  4

  1995

  235

  9

  1996

  244

  15

  1997

  216

  7

  1998

  166

  8

  1999

  205

  5

  2000

  212

  5

  2001

  194

  7

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the(a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information. [72244]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon.. Gentleman to the answer the Prime Minister is giving him today.

  Public Appointments
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action his Department has taken in
  1196W
  response to the comments in the Seventh report by the Commissioner for Public Appointments concerning (a) an independent element in interviews undertaken by HM Treasury and (b) performance assessment systems; and if he will make a statement. [72676]

  Ruth Kelly
  (a) HM Treasury is already fully compliant with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments that requires an independent member to form part of any appointments panel. In the past, we have used fully independent members who understand Treasury business, and who are familiar with the nature of the relationship between the Treasury and its public and other bodies. We will ensure—for the future—that such independent members receive formal training from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  (b) We will consider whether it is appropriate to introduce more formal performance assessment processes for any bodies that currently have only informal systems in place.

  Pregnancy Statistics
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the incidence per 1,000 population of(a) under-16 pregnancies, (b) 16 to 18-years-old pregnancies, (c) under-16 having abortions and (d) 16 to 18-years-old having abortions in (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in each year since 1996. [71278]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Shaun Woodward Esq MP, dated 24 July 2002:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on incidences per 1,000 population of (a) under 16 pregnancies, (b) 16 to 18-years-old pregnancies, (c) under 16 having abortions and (d) 16 to 18-years-old having abortions in (i) St. Helens (ii) Merseyside (iii) the North West and (iv) England in (A) 1996, (B) 1997, (C) 1998, (D) 1999, (E) 2000 and (F) 2001. (71278)
  The information requested is given in the table.

  Conception and abortion rates in St. Helens, Merseyside, North West Region and England 1996–2001

  Year of occurrence

  Area of residence

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  12000

  12001

  Conception rates at ages under 162

  St. Helens3

  12.1

  11.6

  12.3

  11.7

  11.4

  4—

  Merseyside

  7.9

  8.2

  8.5

  8.1

  8.4

  4—

  North West

  9.8

  8.5

  8.9

  8.8

  8.6

  4 —

  GOR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England

  9.3

  8.8

  8.8

  8.2

  8.3

  4—

  Conception rates at ages 16 to 185

  St. Helens3

  88.5

  73.6

  80.6

  97.0

  71.5

  4—

  Merseyside

  73.6

  72.4

  76.2

  75.0

  69.1

  4—

  North West

  72.6

  70.8

  74.1

  69.7

  69.8

  4—

  GOR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England

  64.4

  64.1

  66.7

  64.1

  63.4

  4—

  Conception rates at ages under 162

  St. Helens3

  3.8

  4.8

  3.3

  3.6

  4.7

  4.1

  Merseyside

  3.0

  3.5

  3.2

  3.3

  3.2

  3.1

  North West

  3.8

  3.6

  3.9

  3.8

  3.7

  3.8

  GOR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England

  3.9

  3.7

  4.0

  3.8

  3.9

  3.7

  1197W

  Conception and abortion rates in St. Helens, Merseyside, North West Region and England 1996–2001

  Year of occurrence

  Area of residence

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  12000

  12001

  Abortion rates at ages 16 to 185

  St. Helens3

  23.7

  23.5

  26.7

  26.0

  23.0

  18.8

  Merseyside

  24.2

  25.7

  28.4

  27.9

  28.5

  26.8

  North West

  22.8

  22.8

  24.4

  23.6

  25.9

  24.8

  GOR

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  England

  22.5

  22.7

  24.6

  24.1

  24.6

  24.9

  1 Conception data for 2000 and abortion date for 2001 are provisional.

  2 Rates per 1,000 resident females aged 13 to 15.

  3Population denominators are less reliable than for larger areas.

  4Not yet available.

  5Rates per 1,000 resident females aged 16 to 18.

  Advertising
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on advertising in the last five fiscal years by(a) National Savings and (b) National Statistics. [72675]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 7 May 2002,Official Report, column 36W.

  Departmental Appointments
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions on which appointments were made by Treasury Ministers in financial year 2001–02 an additional candidate was added to the shortlist at the request of the Minister. [72654]

  John Healey
  On one occasion in 2001–02 an additional candidate was put forward to a selection panel, at the request of a Minister, to improve the sectoral and regional balance of the available candidates. The selection panel considered that he merited a place on the shortlist.

  Cervical Cancer
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women(a) over the age of 60, (b) between 30 and 59 and (c) under 30 years for (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; and if he will make a statement. [72502]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Vincent Cable, dated 24 July 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question, on what proportion of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in women (a) over the age of 60, (b) between 30 and 59 and (c) under 30 years for (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002. (72502)
  The latest available data are for deaths occurring in 2000. For that year, figures are shown in the table below.

  Deaths from cervical cancer,1 England and Wales, 20022

  Age

  No

  Percent

  Under 30

  14

  1.3

  30–59

  443

  40.0

  60 and over

  649

  58.7

  All ages

  1,106

  100.0

  1198W
  1Cancer of the cervix has been defined to the International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision , code ICD9 180.

  2Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics. Mortality statistics cause. Series DH2 No.27

  Euro Preparations
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( 1) what the staff costs are for NHS staff from trusts in the South East Region NHS trusts involved in the possible UK. changeover to the euro preparations; [72195]

  (2) if he will provide a breakdown of the non staff costs for health trusts in Sussex involved in possible UK changeover to the euro preparations. [72196]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: Details of changeover planning work in the national health service were set out in the Sixth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 18 July. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House.

  Euro
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of entry he regards as suitable to join the euro. [72900]

  Ruth Kelly
  1 refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the then Financial Secretary, Mr. Boateng on 3 July 2001,Official Report, column 125W.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has obtained EU permission to enter the euro without first rejoining the ERM, subject to a referendum. [72898]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government has no intention of rejoining the ERM.

  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of British overseas trade in 2001 took place using the euro. [72923]

  Ruth Kelly
  Customs and Excise conduct an annual survey of trade invoices used by British business for the import and export of goods between the UK and the rest of the world. The survey indicates the extent to which UK traders use the euro as a means of payment for international trade.

  The results for 2001 are not yet available. They will be detailed in the next Press Release. now scheduled for the 30 July 2002.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost involved to date in collating, drafting, completing and publishing the National Changeover Plan. [72948]

  Ruth Kelly
  Details of expenditure on changeover planning were included in the Sixth Report on Euro Preparations, published on 18 July 2002. Copies of the report are in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the period the UK should hold steady at his preferred rate for joining the euro before holding a referendum. [72899]
  1199W
  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the right hon. Member to the comments made by the then Chief Secretary, Andrew Smith on 24 January Official Report, column 992–93.

  11 Downing Street (Functions)
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has permitted charities to use 11 Downing Street for functions since 1997; and how much money has been raised. [73243]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to my written answer of 11 July to the hon. Member for Yeovil, (Mr. Laws),Official Report, column 1107W. The funds raised are a matter for the charities concerned.

  EU Economy Report
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the document he sent to the EU giving the six monthly report on the UK's economy. [72897]

  Ruth Kelly
  The UK submits an Excessive Deficit return (Article 104 of the Treaty) to the European Commission every September and March. Copies can be found in the Library of the House. The returns are based on figures published in the previous Budget or Pre-Budget Report, and on figures included in the "Government deficit and debt under the Maastrict Treaty" First Releases issued by the Office for National Statistics in August and February.

  Solicitors
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what accounting procedures exist to log the amount of funds given to solicitors from private practice who are instructed to act for the Treasury. [73242]

  Ruth Kelly
  Direct transactions between the Treasury and solicitors in private practice are recorded in the Department's accounting system against the appropriate account code, together with details of the relevant supplier and the responsible unit within the Department. Other transactions are similarly treated. To distinguish transactions with solicitors in private practice would require a review of every transaction, which would entail disproportionate cost.

  Equities
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the(a) real and (b) nominal annual rate of return on UK equities between May 1997 and 16 July 2002. [72903]

  Ruth Kelly
  Between May 1997 and 16 July 2002, the nominal annual rate of return for the FTSE All Share was one per cent. equivalent to a total nominal return of 5.6 per cent. over the period. The annual real rate of return over the same period was 1.1 per cent. equivalent to a total real return of minus 5.8 per cent. over the same period.

  Financial Services Offences (Buckingham)
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which(a) companies and (b) individuals in
  1200W
  Buckinghamshire have been found to have committed offences by the FSA; and what action was taken in each case. [73145]

  Ruth Kelly
  The FSA assumed its powers and responsibilities as single statutory regulator under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 on 1 December 2001. Where appropriate, it has disciplined under the Act those responsible for conducting financial business in breach of the rules and it has publicised the measures taken. These measures do not include any companies or individuals in Buckinghamshire.

  Pension Taxation
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue review of pension taxation will be completed; whether the report will be published; and if he will make a statement. [73018]

  Ruth Kelly
  When the Inland Revenue review of pension taxation was commissioned early last year, it was expected to take a couple of years. Work is proceeding well and, when Ministers have considered the proposals, there will be a public consultation exercise in the autumn.

  Pension Schemes (Tax Relief)
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the annual tax relief in each of the last five years received by individuals in(a) final salary, (b) defined contribution, (c) group personal and (d) personal pension schemes; and if he will make a statement. [73540]

  Ruth Kelly
  A breakdown of tax relief into the categories asked for is not available. However, estimates of the annual cost of tax relief attributable to individual and employer contributions to occupational and personal pension schemes are contained in table T7.9 of Inland Revenue Statistics. The latest version is on the Inland Revenue's website http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uld stats/pensions/pt091.htm

  Service Attributable Pensions
  Mr. Greenway
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice his Department has given to the Ministry of Defence about the eligibility of retired disabled officers in receipt of a pension granted on account of medical unfitness attributable to military service to(a) have their pensions exempted from income tax and (b) be awarded a refund of tax wrongly deducted from their pension; and what advice it gave on whether such entitlement should be backdated to the date of discharge. [72853]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Inland Revenue has provided advice over a number of years to the Ministry of Defence on matters relating to the taxation of pensions granted to disabled officers. The Inland Revenue has advised that the tax legislation exempts from income tax:"retired pay of disabled officers granted on account of medical unfitness attributable to or aggravated by naval, military or Air Force service".

  Unless a pension was granted because of a disabling condition attributable or aggravated by service, the statutory exemption will not apply.
  1201W
  The Inland Revenue has further advised that where the Veteran's Agency (VA) or one of its predecessors has made an award in respect of a disability which is attributable to service, it is prepared to treat the VA award and any service pension in payment as one combined and tax exempt pension from the date of the VA award.

  Where tax has been wrongly deducted from an exempt pension, the Inland Revenue has advised that the tax should be refunded and backdated to the date on which an attributable pension was first granted.

  Community Development
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002,Official Report, column 286W, on the community development venture capital fund, if he will list those private sector initiatives in which his Department has invested in the last three years, indicating (a) the amount and (b) the purpose. [71364]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK High Technology Fund has been developed to encourage institutional investment in predominately early stage high technology venture capital funds, and to increase the finance available for investment in technology based businesses. Government cornerstone investment of £20 million enabled a fund of £126.1 million to be raised.

  Regional Venture Capital Funds (RVCFs) are being established to ensure that small businesses in each of the English regions have access to equity based finance in amounts below £500,000, and to demonstrate to institutional investors that robust returns can be made in this sector. £155 million of small scale risk capital is now available from the five funds that have become operational during 2002. £46.75 million of this is Government cornerstone investment.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Paramilitary Symbols
  Lembit Õpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what actions his Office is taking to address the problem of(a) paramilitary flags, (b) paramilitary murals and (c) kerbstone painting; and if he will make a statement. [67222]

  Jane Kennedy
  The subject you have raised is now a devolved matter and therefore no longer the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on using 0870 telephone numbers for inquiries by the public to the Department and its agencies. [66196]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Northern Ireland Office does not have a central policy on the use of such telephone numbers.

  EU Funding
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what assessment he has made of the future job security of those employed in the voluntary and community sector after EU funding ceases in 2006; [70621]

  (2) what provision is being made financially to support the voluntary and community sector when EU peace funds cease to be accessible after 2006. [70620]

  Dr. John Reid
  The subject matters raised have been devolved and are no longer the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  Escaped Prisoners
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the commitments he has given on the future treatment of prisoners on the run when they voluntarily return to the United Kingdom. [66085]

  Jane Kennedy
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given to question refs. 63942, 3943 and 63944 from the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford on 20 June 2002,Official Report, columns 136–37W.

  Faith Communities
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list projects involving faith communities which are supported by his Department. [71851]

  Jane Kennedy
  There are no projects involving faith communities supported by the Northern Ireland Office.

  Police Co-operation
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the agreement between the British and Irish Governments on police co-operation will come into operation. [73435]

  Jane Kennedy
  The agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland on police co-operation was signed in Belfast on 29 April 2002 and was laid before Parliament on 22 July (Cm 5579). It will come into operation when the necessary parliamentary procedures have been completed in both jurisdictions; this may not be until the autumn. In the meantime, both Governments and the two police services will continue to progress work on the various measures required to give it effect.

  Forensic Science
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to publish the accounts of the Forensic Science Northern Ireland for the year 2001–02. [73436]

  Dr. John Reid
  The accounts have been published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Life Sentence Review Commissioners
  Mr. Cawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends publishing the annual report of the Life Sentence Review Commissioners. [73446]
  1203W
  Dr. John Reid
  The annual report has been published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Basingstoke on 4 July on the future of the full-time police reserve in Northern Ireland, ref 68440. [73534]

  Jane Kennedy
  The question referred to has now been answered.

  Full-time Reserve
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full time reserve police officers there were in Northern Ireland on 1 April in each year since 1990. [68458]

  Jane Kennedy
  The numbers of full-time reserve police officers in Northern Ireland in each year since 1990 are as follows:

  Number of officers

  1990

  3.007

  1991

  2,969

  1992

  3,072

  1993

  3,199

  1994

  3.211

  1995

  3,181

  1996

  3,066

  1997

  2,898

  1998

  2,963

  1999

  2,858

  2000

  2,668

  2001

  2,459

  2002

  2,123

  Police strengths are calculated at the end of each month. Therefore the figures illustrated in the table reflect the number of full-time reserve officers on 30 April in each year.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the full-time reserve in Northern Ireland. [R] [68460]

  Jane Kennedy
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Gentleman for Lagan Valley on 27 June 2002.Official Report, column 1040W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Grant Distribution
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will revise the exemplifications of each of the options

  £million

  Area-based Initiative

  2000–01

  Carried paforward

  2001–02

  Carried forward

  Coalfields

  54

  16

  52

  7

  Community Chest

  0

  0

  10

  3

  Community empowerment fund

  0

  0

  12

  7

  European regional development fund

  239

  4'

  204

  89

  Neighbourhood management

  0

  0

  6

  n/a

  Neighbourhood renewal fund

  0

  0

  200

  n/a

  1204W
  set out in "Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper" to take account of the comprehensive spending review decisions. [72907]

  Mr. Leslie
  We are not intending to revise the exemplifications set out in the consultation paper, because using the spending review figures would introduce a new source of variation between the figures 2002–03 and those produced by the options we have set out. This variation would obscure the consultation's focus on options for the new system.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the proposed percentage rates are of the floors and ceilings in relation to the transition to the new local government funding methodology set out in "Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper"; [72904]

  (2) what options he is considering for the length of the transition period for the new formula grant distribution system. [72905]

  Mr. Leslie
  We will take decisions on the movement between the old and new grant distribution systems, including the duration of the transition and the levels of floors and ceilings, ahead of the 2003–04 provisional local government finance settlement. As in previous years, we will announce those decisions around the end of November as part of the provisional settlement process.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate for each London borough the effects of each of the options set out in Chapter 9 of "Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper". [72906]

  Mr. Leslie
  The effects on each London Borough of the options contained in Chapter 9 of "Formula Grant Distribution: A Consultation Paper" are set out on page 112 of that document.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out illustrative grant charges for Wokingham DC and West Berkshire DC for the current year on the assumption that each of his possible changes to grant distribution was taking effect this year. [72896]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The question cannot be answered except at disproportionate cost.

  Area-based Initiatives
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for each area-based initiative for which his Department is responsible the amount originally budgeted for in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02, stating in each year what funds budgeted for were not spent and if they were carried forward. [71464]

  Mr. Leslie
  The RCU Area-based Initiative (ABI) website lists 11 ABIs that are currently the responsibility of Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The details requested are as follows:
  1205W

  £ million

  Area-based Initiative

  2000–01

  Carried paforward

  2001–02

  Carried forward

  Neighbourhood wardens

  4

  0

  5

  0

  New deal for communities2

  166

  129

  240

  160

  Single regeneration budget

  794

  69

  872

  n/a

  Street wardens

  0

  0

  5

  0

  Urban regeneration companies3

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1 ERDF funding carried over into the next FY can be called upon at any time during the programming round (2000–06).

  2 The partnerships wrote their delivery plans after the provision had been made and planned to spend £49 million in 2000–01 and £129 million in 2001–02.

  3 URCs do not receive any central Government funding. Running costs are met by the main partners themselves—the local authority, the Regional Development Agency, English Partnerships (in some cases), the private sector and other key partners.

  Note:

  All figures rounded to nearest million.

  Improvement and Development Agency
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual cost is of the Improvement and Development Agency to public funds; how many staff have been employed there in each of the last four years; and what evaluation has taken place as to its effectiveness. [72745]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) received 14.2 million of revenue support grant for 2002–03.

  Under the Memorandum of Understanding with the ODPM the Local Government Association is required to assess the IDeA's effectiveness at intervals of no more than five years. The first review is due within the next 18 months.

  The IDeA from time to time receives additional financial support to implement particular projects. For example, with support from the capital modernisation fund it has undertaken work on the preliminary stages of a platform for a national electronic electoral register. In line with other Government-funded IT projects this has been subjected to a Gateway Review process, designed to review the arrangements for leading and managing the project.

  The approved number of permanent full-time staff as at 1 April for each of the last four years were as follows:

  Permanent full-time staff

  1999

  193.5

  2000

  185.2

  2001

  204.0

  2002

  210.0

  Council Housing
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which councils retain control of council housing. [73032]

  Mr. McNulty
  The 251 local authorities in England with council housing are in the following list. A few of the 103 authorities which have carried out whole stock transfers continue to own a small number of dwellings.

  Adur

  Alnwick Amber Valley

  Arun

  Ashfield

  1206W

  Ashford

  Aylesbury Vale

  Babergh

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barnet

  Barnsley Barrow-in-Furness

  Basildon

  Bassetlaw

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  Birmingham

  Blaby

  Blackpool

  Blyth Valley

  Bolsover

  Bolton

  Bournemouth

  Bracknell Forest

  Bradford

  Braintree

  Brent

  Brentwood

  Bridgnorth

  Brighton and Hove

  Bristol

  Bromsgrove

  Broxbourne

  Broxtowe

  Bury

  Cambridge

  Camden

  Cannock Chase

  Canterbury

  Caradon

  Carlisle

  Carrick

  Castle Morpet

  Castle Point

  Charnwood

  Cheltenham

  Cherwell

  Chesterfield

  Chester-le-Street

  1207W

  Chorley

  City of London

  Colchester

  Copeland

  Corby

  Craven

  Crawley

  Crewe and Nantwich

  Croydon

  Dacorum

  Darlington

  Dartford

  Daventry

  Derby

  Derwentside

  Doncaster

  Dover

  Dudley

  Durham

  Ealing

  Easington

  East Devon

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  Eastbourne

  Ellesmere Port and Neston

  Enfield

  Epping Forest

  Exeter

  Fareham

  Fenland

  Forest Heath

  Forest of Dean

  Gateshead

  Gedling

  Gloucester

  Gosport

  Gravesham

  Great Yarmouth

  Greenwich

  Guildford

  Hackney

  Halton

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Harborough

  Haringey

  Harlow

  Harrogate

  Harrow

  Hartlepool

  Havering

  Herefordshire

  High Peak

  Hillingdon

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  Hounslow

  Hyndburn

  Ipswich

  Isles of Scilly

  Islington

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1208W

  Kettering

  Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

  Kingston upon Hull

  Kingston upon Thames

  Kirklees

  Lambeth

  Lancaster

  Leeds

  Leicester

  Lewes

  Lewisham

  Lincoln

  Liverpool

  Luton

  Macclesfield

  Maidstone

  Manchester

  Mansfield

  Medway Towns

  Melton

  Merton

  Mid Devon

  Mid Suffolk

  Middlesbrough

  Milton Keynes

  Mole Valley

  New Forest

  Newark and Sherwood

  Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  Newham

  North Cornwall

  North East Derbyshire

  North East Lincolnshire

  North Hertfordshire

  North Kesteven

  North Lincolnshire

  North Norfolk

  North Shropshire

  North Somerset

  North Tyneside

  North Warwickshire

  North West Leicestershire

  Northampton

  Norwich

  Nottingham City

  Nuneaton and Bedworth

  Oadby and Wigston

  Oldham

  Oswestry

  Oxford

  Pendle

  Peterborough

  Plymouth

  Poole

  Portsmouth

  Preston

  Purbeck

  Reading

  Redbridge

  Redditch

  1209W

  Ribble Valley

  Richmondshire

  Rochdale

  Rochford

  Rossendale

  Rotherham

  Rugby

  Runnymede

  Rushcliffe

  Rutland

  Salford

  Salisbury

  Sandwell

  Scarborough

  Sedgefield

  Sedgemoor

  Sefton

  Selby

  Sheffield

  Shepway

  Slough

  Solihull

  South Bedfordshire

  South Cambridgeshire

  South Derbyshire

  South Gloucestershire

  South Holland

  South Kesteven

  South Lakeland

  South Norfolk

  South Northamptonshire

  South Tyneside

  Southampton

  Southend-on-Sea

  Southwark

  St. Albans

  Stafford

  Stevenage

  Stockport

  Stockton-on-Tees

  Stoke-on-Trent

  Stroud

  Sutton

  Swindon

  Tamworth

  Tandridge

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  100 per cent, sales

  Total right-to-buy sales

  4,532

  4,414

  7,245

  7,127

  Total voluntary sales

  550

  370

  359

  213

  Total outright sales

  554

  317

  1,008

  1,134

  Total 100 per cent, sales

  5,636

  5,101

  8,612

  8,474

  Estimated market value per sale

  49,308

  51,288

  56,661

  60,373

  Estimated total value of 100 per cent, sales (£ million)

  277.9

  261.6

  488.0

  511.6

  1210W

  Taunton Deane

  Teesdale

  Teignbridge

  Tendring

  Thanet

  Three Rivers

  Thurrock

  Torridge

  Tower Hamlets

  Trafford

  Uttlesford

  Wakefield

  Walsall

  Waltham Forest

  Wandsworth

  Wansbeck

  Warrington

  Warwick

  Watford

  Waveney

  Waverley

  Wealden

  Wear Valley

  Wellingborough

  Welwyn Hatfield

  West Lancashire

  Westminster

  Wigan

  Winchester

  Wirral

  Woking

  Wokingham

  Wolverhampton

  Worcester

  Wychavon

  Wycombe

  York.

  Social Landlords
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many units were disposed of and what the total value was of disposals by registered social landlords in each year since 1997. [70275]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Housing Corporation advises that the number of units disposed of by registered social landlords (RSLs) during the past four years were as follows:
  1211W

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Partial sales and other disposals

  Shared ownership: total sales of initial shares

  6,887

  6,209

  4,392

  3,718

  Total demolitions

  1,612

  1,961

  3,335

  2,640

  Notes:

  1. Sales and demolitions data are derived from the Housing Corporation's annual Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR).

  2. The estimated market values of 100 per cent. sales are derived from CORE (reported sales).

  3. The value of the sale of initial shares sold under Shared Ownership schemes cannot easily be determined.

  4. A monetary value cannot be associated with demolitions.

  5. Sales under the Home Buy scheme are not reported on separately the RSR—but it is likely that they have been included in the Shared Ownership total.

  The market values of sales are "estimated" rather than "actual" because not all sales are reported in CORE. Consequently the average value derived from CORE may not be the actual average value of the total sales as reported in the RSR.

  Buildings (Height Restrictions)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what height restrictions there are on buildings in major cities throughout the UK. [72859]

  Mr. McNulty
  Within the plan-led system of development control, local development plans form the framework within which decisions on proposals for tall buildings are taken. A number of local authorities have, or are developing, policies on tall buildings.

  Fire Safety Legislation
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to introduce new fire safety legislation. [70777]

  Mr. Leslie
  We intend to publish shortly a consultation document giving details of our proposals to reform fire safety legislation by means of a Regulatory Reform Order under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. The aim of the reform is to simplify, rationalise and consolidate fire safety law. It would provide for a risk-based approach to general fire safety allowing more efficient, effective enforcement by the fire service and other enforcing authorities. It would reduce the burden on business by removing the confusion caused by overlapping fire safety regimes. We hope to make the Order next year.

  Single Housing Inspectorate
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much it will cost to set up and run the Single Housing Inspectorate; and if he will make a statement. [72510]

  Mr. McNulty
  As my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister told the House on 18 July (column 441), he intends to establish a single housing inspectorate, building on the excellent work of the Audit Commission and the Housing Corporation. He said he would announce further details later in the year, in the light of discussion with key stakeholders.

  English Partnerships
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he proposes to announce the outcome of stage 2 of the review of English Partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [73451]
  1212W
  Mr. Leslie
  I am today announcing the conclusion of stage two of the Review of English Partnerships.

  English Partnerships will be a key player in the delivery of my new "living communities" agenda. As I announced in my Statement to the House on 18 July, I am instructing English Partnerships to use its new role to search out and deliver even more land for housing and sustainable urban development. 1 also want English Partnerships to help in regenerating those places most badly affected by abandonment and decay.

  Stage one of the Review confirmed English Partnerships as having an important role as an agency for best practice regeneration and development of brownfield land. I am keen that it develops that role, and in particular, I am asking the organisation to draw up plans to meet the following objectives:
  To bring about speedy development of new schemes that can help meet the objectives set out in my policy statement of 18 July. In particular, I am determined to see a step change in both the quantity and the quality of new development in those areas that are facing acute demand pressures. I am therefore today announcing an initial list of their sites on which I wish EP to concentrate, as shown in the table, and we will be consulting on the way forward for those sites. A further list of sites will be announced in the autumn.

  2. To work closely with the Housing Corporation, and with other key agencies including the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), to ensure effective co-ordination in the delivery of plans for key worker and affordable housing within the wider context of "living communities".

  3. To advise on the efficient and effective development of surplus Government land and buildings that may help deliver new communities where most needed.

  4. To help with the assembly of sites for regeneration and sustainable development purposes.

  5. To produce and maintain a national brownfield strategy, to include best practice guidance in the assembly, remediation and development of land and buildings, to help drive forward the Urban Renaissance.

  6. To continue to operate its innovative programmes, including the Coalfields Programme, Millennium Communities, support for Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs), the English Cities Fund, the National Land Use Database (NLUD), Priority Sites Ltd, Land Stabilisation Programme, and Englishsites.com, and to develop new ideas for extending good practice.

  7. To operate a regime that enables developers to use approved `gap' funding for the delivery of housing projects that would otherwise be commercially unviable.

  1213W

  Initial list of sites

  Location

  Site

  Eastern

  1) Basildon

  Gardiners Lane

  2) Basildon

  Dry Street

  3) Basildon

  Five Links (Phase 2)

  4) Harlow

  Sports Centre

  5) Hatfield

  Town Centre

  6) Hemel Hempstead

  Spencers Park

  7) Hemel Hempstead

  Paradise Fields

  8) Hemel Hempstead

  Breakspear

  9) Stevenage

  Town Centre

  10) Stevenage

  West Stevenage

  11) Peterborough

  Various sites

  North East

  12) Middlesbrough

  Middlehaven

  13) Stockton

  North Bank

  14) Stockton

  Haverton Hill

  North West

  15) Liverpool

  Kings Waterfront

  16) Liverpool

  Liverpool Land Development Co. sites

  17) Preston

  Preston East

  18) Preston

  Cuerdon Regional Business Park

  19) Runcorn

  Castlefields

  20) Skelmersdale

  Town Centre

  21) Warrington

  Omega

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  22) Sheffield

  Various sites in the URC

  East Midlands

  23) Corby

  Various sites in the URC

  24) Northampton

  SW District Phase 1

  25) Northampton

  SW District Phases 2 and 3

  West Midlands

  26) Telford

  Town Centre

  27) Telford

  South Telford (Woodside)

  28) Telford

  Lightmoor

  29) Telford

  East Ketley Millennium Community

  30) Telford

  Lawley

  South West

  31) Weston-super-Mare

  RAF Locking

  South East

  32) Crawley

  Expansion sites

  33) Crawley

  Town Centre

  34) Milton Keynes

  Central MK / Campbell Park

  35) Milton Keynes

  Oak Grove Millennium Community

  36) Milton Keynes

  Bletchley / MK Stadium

  37) Milton Keynes

  Broughton Atterbury

  38) Milton Keynes

  East Flank

  39) Milton Keynes

  West Flank

  40) Milton Keynes

  National Bowl / East Ashland

  London

  41) Greenwich

  Greenwich Peninsula including the Millennium Community

  Cross-regional

  42) Various

  Key Worker Housing Initiative sites

  1214W
  Mr. McNulty
  The allocation of the Land and Property (L&P) budget (from April 1999) between the RDAs and the LDA (from July 2000), took into account both their anticipated capital receipts arising from the L&P programme and the level of European funding they expected for L&P purposes. This was achieved by adding the total of all capital and European receipts to the grant in aid to create a 'gross' L&P budget that was then allocated to the RDAs and LDA.

  The European funding was as follows:

  £million

  2000–01

  2001–02

  European funding

  North East

  6.800

  1.800

  North West

  12.000

  7.800

  Yorkshire and Humber

  0

  0.700

  West Midlands

  1.000

  0.600

  East Midlands

  0

  0

  East of England

  0

  0.400

  South West

  8.100

  8.100

  South East

  0

  0

  London

  0

  0

  Total

  27.900

  19.400

  Total RDA and L&P allocation without the European funding

  North East

  151.193

  162.671

  North West

  231.186

  280.387

  Yorkshire and Humber

  191.727

  246.267

  West Midlands

  145.880

  170.850

  East Midlands

  93.596

  97.439

  East of England

  43.997

  62.956

  South West

  81.844

  91.940

  South East

  86.364

  110.542

  London

  283.151

  298.158

  Total

  1,308,938

  1,521,210

  Land and Property Allocations

  North East

  42.924

  49.254

  North West

  74.776

  100.388

  Yorkshire and Humber

  43.223

  43.700

  West Midlands

  40.934

  49.428

  East Midlands

  34.551

  30.413

  East of England

  9.478

  14.560

  South West

  32.758

  47.798

  South East

  20.635

  37.966

  London

  28.626

  49.100

  Total

  327.905

  422.607

  Transport (Deprived Areas)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public money has been invested in transport provision for deprived areas in each of the last five years. [69378]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The following table compares total capital allocations for local transport provision in England with the amounts allocated to those local transport authorities which include within their boundaries one or more of the 88 local authorities in the most deprived areas of England which are eligible for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). London is excluded.
  1215W

  £ million

  Total

  NRF area authorities

  1998–99

  541

  256

  1999–2000

  540

  276

  2000–01

  657

  367

  2001–02

  1,360

  698

  2002–03

  1,580

  817

  For London, capital allocations for local transport provision for the years 1998–99 to 2000–01 were £82 million, £84 million and £102 million respectively. Of this, £46 million, £47 million and £52 million was allocated to authorities in the most deprived areas which are eligible for the NRF. From 2001–02 onwards, capital allocations for local transport provision in London have been the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London.

  Indices of Deprivation
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what indices of deprivation he will use to allocate funds within the proposed new formula for the SSA for education. [71743]

  Mr. Miliband
  I have been asked to reply.

  The options illustrated in the consultation paper issued on 8 July use the following indices of deprivation: the proportion of children of parents on income support; the proportion of children of parents in receipt of working families' tax credit; English as an additional language and ethnicity, as recorded in the annual schools' census; and the proportion of live births less than 2.5kg. All indices have been calculated at local authority level.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the accuracy of the figures used for deprivation in the DETR report "Indices of Deprivation 2000"; and what use is made of these figures. [73000]

  Mr. McNulty
  The "Indices of Deprivation 2000" was based on a robust review of methods and data sources in 1999. Where possible, the data underpinning the indices have been published via the Neighbourhood Statistics website hosted at the Office for National Statistics. The indices have been used to inform the allocation of resources that are directed to areas affected by multiple deprivation, including the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund administered by my Department. They are also used in the formulation of the Government policy towards deprived areas, such as the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.

  Children Act
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many families with children have been assisted with accommodation through the provisions of the Children Act 1989 in each of the last 10 years. [67684]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not collected centrally.

  Housing Statistics
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a document specifying for each of the last three years(a) the number of people presenting as homeless, (b) the number of council homes sold under the right to buy, (c) the number of new affordable homes completed, (d) the capital value of public investment in affordable housing and (e) the number of new lets of affordable homes, and at a specified date in each of the last three years (i) the number of people on the housing waiting list and (ii) the stock of affordable homes in each (A) English region and (B) housing authority in England. [72014]

  Mr. McNulty
  Data on the requested items can be found in various ODPM publications, available in the House of Commons Library and electronically via the ODPM website. The publications provide the data for each local authority in England and regional totals include estimates for any incomplete or missing data.

  (a) ODPM publication "Statutory Homelessness: England", quarterly statistical release and associated "Supplementary Tables";

  (b) ODPM publication "Progress on Council Houses Sales" quarterly report;

  (c), (d) and (e) ODPM "Housing Investment Programme: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix 2001" return and "Operational Information" return for earlier years; Housing Corporation "Annual Review" report.

  Information about stock completions or acquisitions of additional affordable housing by local authorities (LA), Registered Social Landlords (RSL) and the private sector for rental, outright or shared equity for each year since 1997–98 were collected for the first time on the 2001 return. Summary data on recent years' LA and RSL lettings is also presented.

  Local authority capital investment in housing, including HRA dwelling stock and support to RSLs, since 1997–98 is summarised on the 2001 return. Equivalent information about RSLs' expenditure is included in each of the Housing Corporation's "Annual Review" reports.

  LA and RSL dwelling stock as at 1 April is reported on each year's HIP return. Total private sector dwelling stock is also reported, although there is no centrally collected information on those classified as affordable.

  Property Statistics
  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of properties are in(a) Band A, (b) Band B and (c) Band H in (i) Wigan MBC, (ii) the North West Region, (iii) inner-London boroughs, (iv) outer-London boroughs and (v) England. [71894]

  Mr. Leslie
  Information on the number of properties in each council tax band is shown on the valuation list, compiled by the Valuation Office Agency. The number and percentage of properties in council tax Bands A, B and H as at 26 March 2002, for Wigan Metropolitan borough council, the North West Region, inner-London boroughs (including the City of London), outer-London boroughs and England are shown in the table below.
  1217W

  Number and percentage of properties in council tax bands A, B and H

  Number of properties

  Number of properties as percentage of total

  Band A

  Band B

  Band H

  Total

  Band A

  Band B

  Band H

  Wigan Metropolitan borough council

  65,562

  28,110

  49

  131,735

  49.8

  21.3

  0.0

  North West Government Office region

  1,322,421

  563,533

  5,612

  2,996,664

  44.1

  18.8

  0.2

  Outer-London boroughs

  53,358

  212,568

  15,594

  1,928,308

  2.8

  11.0

  0.8

  Inner-London boroughs (including the City)

  55,859

  212,013

  37,315

  1,197,376

  4.7

  17.7

  3.1

  England

  5,562,268

  4,131,021

  117,936

  21,436,841

  25.9

  19.3

  0.6

  Note:

  Percentage figures are subject to rounding.

  Open Space and Playing Fields
  Claire Ward
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he intends to take to increase the protection for open space and playing fields through the planning system. [73376]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government have today published revised planning policy on open space, sport and recreation. Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note 17 replaces PPG17 published in 1991. It contains a range of policies designed to protect and enhance open spaces and sports and recreational facilities.

  PPG17 sets out how the Government expect local authorities to plan for the delivery of high quality open space, sport and recreational facilities in a sustainable manner. The policies it contains are crucial to our efforts to deliver an urban renaissance and rural renewal by ensuring that everyone has access to high quality and well maintained and managed open spaces, sports and recreational facilities. It will be a vital tool in delivering the Government's agenda for sport by providing an up-to-date strategic framework within which local authorities can plan effectively for new sports and recreational facilities. The policies in PPG17 will be supported by Good Practice Guidance on how to plan effectively for open space. This will be published shortly.

  The Government remain fully committed to the protection of playing fields. PPG17 sets strict criteria to limit the circumstances in which playing fields can be developed for non-sporting and recreational purposes. Additionally I intend to reduce the threshold for the size of playing field upon which Sport England must be consulted when a planning application for development is submitted from 0.4ha to 0.2ha. This will enable Sport England to be consulted on planning applications affecting these smaller playing fields, and help to protect these important facilities which are used by young people for the small sided games of football and rugby.

  Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Patrick Hall
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the process for deciding which regions will be the first to hold a referendum on establishing an elected regional assembly. [73682]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 5 July to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady). When the announcement is made, a copy will be put in the Library.
  1218W

  Planning Appeals (Castle Point)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning appeals relating to Castle Point were successful in each of the last five years for which statistics are available. [73031]

  Mr. McNulty
  The number of planning appeals allowed in Castle Point in each of the last five years were:

  Number of planning appeals

  1997–98

  24

  1998–99

  29

  1999–2000

  13

  2000–01

  20

  2001–02

  13

  Town Planning
  David Wright
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultations will take place with relevant former new town local authorities on which sites and projects will be designated as strategic under stage two of the review of English Partnerships. [70793]

  Mr. McNulty
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that the Deputy Prime Minister gave today to a question from my hon. Friend, the Member for Gravesham (Chris Pond), announcing a number of sites on which English Partnerships will concentrate.

  There will be consultation, in due course, with the relevant local authorities and other interested parties about the way forward for the sites announced today and over the remaining portfolio

  Ministers (Compensation)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department paid in compensation to Ministers from the former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions who left Government in June; and if he will make a statement. [70747]

  Mr. Leslie
  Under the terms of section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, all Ministers (except my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor) are entitled to a severance payment equal to one quarter of their final ministerial salary on leaving office, provided that the individual has not attained the age of 65 or been appointed to another paid office within a period of three weeks. The salaries of Ministers who left the Government in June are already in the public domain.
  1219W

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the(a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information. [72246]

  Mr. Leslie
  All special advisers' contacts with the media, speeches and presentations must be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. All civil servants, including special advisers are expected to keep departmental heads of information informed of contacts with the media. Details of such contacts are for internal purposes only.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website; [72289]

  (2) whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website. [72270]

  Mr. Leslie
  My office aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply, this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on the office's website.

  Minimum requirements for the type of documents which should be published on Government websites are set out in guidance issued by the Office of the E-Envoy, `Guidelines for Government Websites' (Illustrated Handbook for web management teams section 2.2 'What content should be on your website?' and section 2.3 `Cross-government requirements'). In addition to setting out guidelines on documents for inclusion, the guidance explicitly requires Departments to ensure that content of the site as a whole is up to date and current, and where it is necessary to update the content of individual documents, to show the latest date of amendment clearly on the document concerned. Section 1.2.7 deals with the issue of Record management and the Office of the e-Envoy currently has a consultation paper out on archiving websites. The purpose of this draft annexe to the Illustrated Handbook is to provide government website managers with a framework towards developing within their website management policy suitable procedures and systems to assist in the management, appraisal and preservation of electronic records. A copy of this draft is available online at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk:/ webguidelines.htm

  A copy of the Guidelines for UK Government websites is available at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ webguidelines.htm

  Crichel Down Rules
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to bring forward proposals to change the Crichel Down rules. [72770]
  1220W
  Mr. McNulty
  The Government's policy statement entitled "Compulsory Purchase Powers, Procedures and Compensation; the way forward", published on 18 July. made it clear that there will be a consultation exercise on the details of a revised set of rules which we envisage will then form the basis for the formulation of statutory rules in due course.

  Double Glazing
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council homes in the UK do not have double glazing; and what is being done to ensure that modernisations to council housing take place as soon as possible. [72858]

  Mr. McNulty
  We estimate that approximately 1.3 million council homes (45 per cent.) did not have any double glazing in 2001. This estimate comes from 1996 English House Condition Survey, which showed that two million council homes did not have any double glazing (about 60 per cent of all council homes), updated by data provided by local authorities on the works they carried out between 1996 and 2001. Final 2001 estimates will be available when the 2001 English Housing Condition Survey results are published later this year.

  A target was set in the 2000 Spending Review to bring all council houses, and those owned by housing associations, up to a set standard of decency by 2010. The commitment to meet this target was reaffirmed in the Deputy Prime Minister's statement on the 2002 Spending Review.

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Minister will be responsible for taking decisions related to planning applications in respect of the Dome and surrounding developments on the Greenwich peninsula. [73450]

  The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
  Taking account of the constituency interests and other policy responsibilities of Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), and in order to ensure that the advice set out in the "Guidance on Propriety Issues in the Handling of Planning Casework" is followed, I have decided that any planning matters arising in respect of the Dome and related developments should be dealt with by Christopher Leslie MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State).

  Lord Rooker will be responsible within ODPM for policy issues related to the Dome.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what representations his Department has had regarding the fitness of Anschutz Entertainment Group to proceed with the deal to hand over the Millennium Dome; and if' he will make a statement; [72515]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the suitability of the Anschutz Entertainment Group as partner for the Millennium Dome's development; and if he will make a statement; [72513]

  (3) what processes of due diligence have been undertaken by his Department during the deal to hand over the Millennium Dome to the Anshutz Entertainment Group; and if he will make a statement. [72514]
  1221W
  Mr. McNulty
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received no representations about the fitness of Anschutz Entertainment Group to proceed with the deal that was signed on 29 May, other than a number of press inquiries.

  The Anschutz Entertainment Group is part of one of the largest private companies in the United States, and has extensive expertise and experience in delivering world class entertainment facilities. It is, therefore, an eminently suitable partner for the development of the Dome and the continued regeneration of the Greenwich peninsula.

  English Partnerships, which is the contracting party on behalf of the Government, has carried out full due diligence on all relevant counterparties, as is the normal practice for a commercial transaction of this nature.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of progress with the deal to hand over the Millennium Dome to Anschutz Entertainment Group; and if he will make a statement. [72516]

  Mr. McNulty
  Following the exchange of contracts between English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Limited (MDL) on 29 May, MDL and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) are continuing to work up their proposals and to consult with stakeholders. They expect to embark on a public consultation exercise early next month, and to submit a planning application in the autumn.

  Social Services
  Clive Efford
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of demand he estimates there will be for social care beds in each London borough area over the next three years; what resources will need to be made available to meet that demand; and if he will make a statement. [69148]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 1 February 2002, Official Report, columns 626–27W. Funding for personal social services will increase by an average of 6 per cent. a year in real terms for each of the next three years.

  Foster Care
  Clive Efford
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what action he is taking to improve recruitment rates of foster carers for London boroughs; what has been the change in use of agency foster placements(a) for each borough and (b) for London as a whole in the last

  Housing benefit recipients in each London borough as a percentage of the total population aged 16 or over in the Government office region of London: 1995 to 2002

  London borough

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Barking

  0.33

  0.33

  0.32

  0.31

  0.3

  0.29

  0.26

  0.26

  Barnet

  0.36

  0.36

  0.36

  0.34

  0.33

  0.31

  0.29

  0.3

  Bexley

  0.21

  0.21

  0.22

  0.21

  0.19

  0.18

  0.17

  0.17

  Brent

  0.6

  0.6

  0.57

  0.54

  0.5

  0.43

  0.4

  0.38

  Bromley

  0.29

  0.29

  0.28

  0.26

  0.25

  0.24

  0.23

  0.22

  Camden

  0.6

  0.6

  0.58

  0.54

  0.51

  0.48

  0.47

  0.46

  City of London

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  Croydon

  0.44

  0.44

  0.44

  0.44

  0.42

  0.35

  0.37

  0.36

  Ealing

  0.49

  0.49

  0.46

  0.43

  0.38

  0.38

  0.26

  0.32

  Enfield

  0.33

  0.33

  0.38

  0.36

  0.35

  0.3

  0.3

  0.3

  Greenwich

  0.49

  0.49

  0.49

  0.48

  0.47

  0.38

  0.37

  0.37

  1222W
  five years; what steps he is taking to limit the cost of agency foster care placements in London; and what representations he has received on this subject; [69153]

  (2) how many looked-after children there were in the care of each London borough and how many were (a) in borough foster care, (b) fostered with family or friends, (c) in agency foster placements and (d) in care homes in each of the last five years. [69216]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  A table has been placed in the Library which provides total numbers of looked-after children, and the proportion in foster care and in residential care in each London borough for years ending 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2001.

  The breakdown of placements between family and friends care, in-house placements, and agency placements is collected on the SSDA 903 statistical return, a one-third sample of anonymised care histories of looked-after children. In 2000–01 a breakdown of in-house and agency placements has been collected for the first time. However the resulting figures for these particular placement categories are too small to form a reliable basis upon which to estimate activity for individual London boroughs. Therefore such a breakdown has not been included in the table.

  A national campaign for recruiting foster carers was carried out in 2000 by the Department.

  Local authorities commission placements according to their needs and strategies, and will negotiate with agencies accordingly. It is the responsibility of local authorities to consider and agree the level of payments that it makes to fulfil the needs of those children who require these services.

  The role of independent foster agencies will be reviewed in the context of the current "Choice Protects" review, announced on 20 March, and in particular in relation to the Government's plans to improve the number and quality of placement options for looked-after children.

  Housing Benefit
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people claimed housing benefit as a percentage of the(a) population of London and (b) population of the UK in (i) each London constituency and (ii) each London borough in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [72834]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I have been asked to reply.

  The available information is in the tables.
  1223W

  Housing benefit recipients in each London borough as a percentage of the total population aged 16 or over in the Government office region of London: 1995 to 2002

  London borough

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Hackney

  0.74

  0.74

  0.76

  0.71

  0.65

  0.41

  0.46

  0.51

  Hammersmith

  0.41

  0.41

  0.39

  0.37

  0.35

  0.31

  0.31

  0.31

  Haringey

  0.71

  0.71

  0.61

  0.6

  0.56

  0.51

  0.48

  0.42

  Harrow

  0.2

  0.2

  0.2

  0.19

  0.19

  0.16

  0.15

  0.16

  Havering

  0.21

  0.21

  0.21

  0.2

  0.19

  0.18

  0.17

  0.17

  Hillingdon

  0.28

  0.28

  0.27

  0.26

  0.25

  0.25

  0.24

  0.24

  Hounslow

  0.32

  0.32

  0.31

  0.29

  0.26

  0.24

  0.25

  0.24

  Islington

  0.61

  0.61

  0.6

  0.59

  0.6

  0.46

  0.46

  0.45

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0.33

  0.33

  0.31

  0.28

  0.27

  0.26

  0.24

  0.24

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  0.13

  0.13

  0.12

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  Lambeth

  0.8

  0.8

  0.74

  0.65

  0.58

  0.6

  0.53

  0.48

  Lewisham

  0.64

  0.64

  0.65

  0.6

  0.54

  0.5

  0.47

  0.46

  Merton

  0.22

  0.22

  0.21

  0.2

  0.18

  0.17

  0.16

  0.15

  Newham

  0.69

  0.69

  0.7

  0.67

  0.63

  0.54

  0.51

  0.48

  Redbridge

  0.24

  0.24

  0.26

  0.24

  0.23

  0.2

  0.19

  0.19

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  0.17

  0.17

  0.16

  0.15

  0.14

  0.15

  0.13

  0.13

  Southwark

  0.78

  0.78

  0.75

  0.66

  0.59

  0.53

  0.54

  0.55

  Sutton

  0.19

  0.19

  0.19

  0.18

  0.17

  0.15

  0.15

  0.13

  Tower Hamlets

  0.6

  0.6

  0.59

  0.58

  0.56

  0.54

  0.52

  0.5

  Waltham Forest

  0.43

  0.43

  0.43

  0.41

  0.35

  0.29

  0.27

  0.31

  Wandsworth

  0.55

  0.55

  0.48

  0.45

  0.41

  0.36

  0.35

  0.34

  Westminster

  0.48

  0.48

  0.42

  0.39

  0.36

  0.33

  0.3

  0.31

  Housing benefit recipients in each London borough as a percentage of the total population aged 16 or over in Great Britain: 1991 to 2002

  London borough

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Barking and Dagenham

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.03

  0.03

  Barnet

  0.04

  0.05

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  Bexley

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  Brent

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.06

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  Bromley

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  Camden

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Croydon

  0.05

  0.06

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  0.04

  0.05

  0.05

  Ealing

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  0.03

  0.04

  Enfield

  0.04

  0.04

  0.05

  0.05

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  Greenwich

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  Hackney

  0.09

  0.09

  0.09

  0.09

  0.08

  0.05

  0.06

  0.06

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  Haringey

  0.09

  0.08

  0.08

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.06

  0.05

  Harrow

  0.02

  0.03

  0.03

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  Havering

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  Hillingdon

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  Hounslow

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  Islington

  0.08

  0.08

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  Kensington and Chelsea

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  0.02

  0.02

  0.01

  0.01

  0.01

  0.01

  0.01

  0.01

  Lambeth

  0.1

  0.09

  0.09

  0.08

  0.07

  0.08

  0.07

  0.06

  Lewisham

  0.08

  0.08

  0.08

  0.07

  0.07

  0.06

  0.06

  0.06

  Merton

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  Newham

  0.08

  0.09

  0.09

  0.08

  0.08

  0.07

  0.07

  0.06

  Redbridge

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.03

  0.02

  0.02

  Richmond-upon-Thames

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  Southwark

  0.1

  0.1

  0.09

  0.08

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  Sutton

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  0.02

  Tower Hamlets

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.07

  0.06

  Waltham Forest

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  0.04

  0.04

  0.03

  0.04

  Wandsworth

  0.07

  0.07

  0.06

  0.06

  0.05

  0.05

  0.05

  0.04

  Westminster

  0.06

  0.06

  0.05

  0.05

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  0.04

  Notes:

  1. Housing benefit data for parliamentary constituencies are not available; figures are only available by local authority area.

  2. The data refer to households claiming housing benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.

  3. The percentages are rounded to two decimal places.

  4. '—' indicates that the percentage is statistically negligible.

  5. Figures exclude any housing benefit extended payment cases

  6. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.

  7. Social security matters in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

  Sources:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly 100 per cent. counts taken in February of each year; Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates, 1995 to 2000.
  1224W 1225W

SCOTLAND

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many overseas visits she has undertaken since her appointment; to which countries; to meet which institutions and bodies; and at what cost. [30315]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 25 January 2002]: Since my appointment as Secretary of State, I have visited Europe, North America and South East Asia, at an approximate cost of £17,500. My meetings on these visits focused on constitutional and trade issues and the Friends of Scotland initiative.

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

  Ministerial Private Offices
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the running costs were of(a) her Ministers' private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) her Department in each year from May 1997 to the nearest date for which the information is available. [40977]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

  In the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000, an incomplete year as it was the first for the Department, were £3.6 million, of which £2.0 million were staff costs. The running costs in 2000–01 were £5.7 million, of which £3.6 million were staff costs.

  Litigation
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases(a) her Department and (b) its agencies have defended in (i) industrial tribunals and (ii) the courts in each year since 1997; how many were concluded in their favour; and what the total cost to his Department of litigation was in each year. [411101]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

  My Department has not been involved in any industrial tribunal cases since it was established.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the target time will be in 2002–03 for(a) Ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in her Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [44944]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My Department's 2002–03 target time for replying to letters is 15 working days in both instances.

  Entertainment Costs
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the total amount of money spent by Ministers in her Department since its creation on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for official entertainment purposes. [47210]
  1226W
  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 10 April 2002]: The information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent by departmental special advisers on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for official entertainment purposes in each of the last five years. [46833]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on I July 1999.

  Since that date, my special advisers have not spent any departmental funds on entertainment.

  Press Office
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total cost of running the Department's press office was in(a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [46817]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

  The identifiable cost of running the press office in 2001–02 was £147,244. This does not include certain accommodation and support costs, which are not held separately.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with reference to the 2000 Spending Review service delivery agreement targets, if a three-year rolling audit programme of local authorities by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland began in April 2001; and if a third of Scottish authorities were audited in 2001–02. [49073]

  Mrs. Liddell
  This is a matter for Scottish Ministers, but I understand that the local authority audit programme undertaken by the Food Standards Agency Scotland commenced in April 2001. The three-year rolling programme consists of each Scottish local authority receiving an annual partial audit, equating to a full audit over the three-year programme, and the target was met in 2001–02.

  Recruitment
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many net additional staff her Department has recruited in each month since June 2001 at(a) executive officer level and (b) administrative level. [52421]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My Department has recruited seven net additional staff in the 12-month period from June 2001—three at executive officer level: one in September 2001, one in November 2001. one in April 2002; and four at administrative level: two in June 2001, one in November 2001 and one in April 2002.

  Press Subscriptions
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the magazines and periodicals subscribed to by her Department, stating for each subscription the(a) number of copies taken and (b) annual cost. [52824]
  1227W
  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 26 April 2002]: My Department subscribes to the following magazines and periodicals:

  Title

  Average number of copies

  Economist

  2

  European Voice

  1

  New Statesman

  2

  Press Gazette

  1

  Private Eye

  2

  PR Week

  1

  Scottish Field

  1

  The Week

  1

  Spectator

  2

  Some titles are cancelled during the recess and the numbers supplied may vary depending on the location of Ministers. The total cost of magazines and periodicals in 2001–02 was £1,328.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the newspapers subscribed to(a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by her Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost. [52823]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 26 April 2002]: My Department subscribes to the following newspapers:

  Newspaper

  Average number of copies

  Aberdeen Press and Journal

  2

  Business AM

  2

  Daily Express

  3

  Daily Mail

  4

  Daily Mirror

  3

  Daily Record

  5

  Daily Star

  2

  Daily Telegraph

  4

  Dundee Courier

  1

  Evening News

  1

  Evening Standard

  2

  Evening Times

  2

  Financial Times

  4

  Guardian

  4

  Herald

  5

  Independent

  4

  Le Monde

  1

  Scotsman

  5

  Sun

  4

  Times

  4

  Tribune

  1

  West Highland Free Press

  1

  Sunday newspapers

  Independent on Sunday

  2

  Mail on Sunday

  2

  News of the World

  1

  Observer

  2

  Sunday Express

  2

  Sunday Herald

  4

  Sunday Mail

  3

  Sunday Mirror

  1

  Sunday Post

  3

  Scotland on Sunday

  4

  Sunday Telegraph

  2

  Sunday Times

  2

  Some newspapers are cancelled during the recess and the numbers supplied vary depending on the location of Ministers. The total cost of newspapers in 2001–02 was £11,640.
  1228W

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of ordinary written questions for her Department were answered within a week of tabling in each month since June 2001; and what proportion of questions for named day received a substantive answer on that day in each month since June 2001. [58987]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Approximately 60–70 per cent. of both types of written question were answered within the required time scales. In view of the large increase in the number of questions being tabled, an upgraded PQ tracking system is being considered as one of the options in improving performance in this area.

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff were employed by her Department on(a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002. [60926]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 13 June 2002,Official Report, column 1402W.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many families are in receipt of the national minimum wage in each constituency in Scotland. [61303]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, some 110,000 people across Scotland have benefited from the national minimum wage since it was introduced in April 1999.

  Beef Exports (France)
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she plans to have with French representatives concerning the export of beef from the UK to France. [72441]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regularly raises the French Government's illegal ban on British beef with her French counterpart and will continue to do so until the ban is lifted.

  Aggregates Levy
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has received from quarry operators since the aggregates levy come into effect in April. [72410]

  Mrs. Liddell
  One representation from the British Aggregates Association has been received since the levy came into effect on 1 April. The Aggregates Levy has been introduced to address the environmental impacts of the extraction and transportation of aggregates, including noise, dust, vibration, visual intrusion, loss of biodiversity and amenity. The levy will result in prices for primary aggregates which better reflect these environmental costs, and so encourage both the use of recycled aggregates as an alternative and more efficient use of aggregates.
  1229W

  Offshore Workers
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland Office Scotland what representations she has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding claims by offshore workers, pursuant to the Court of Appeal s decision Clark(Inspector of Taxes)v. Perks and other appeals; and if she will make a statement [725501]

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the(a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in her Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information. [72256]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister.

  Temporary Staff
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in her Department:: and how much was spent on temporary staff(a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72645]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Since that date my Department has had a number of employees under contract from temping agencies. Details are given in the table.

  Year

  Number of temporary staff

  Total spend on temporary staff(£)

  Percentage of total staffing budget

  1999–2000

  13

  38,431

  1.9

  2000–01

  16

  79,643

  2.4

  2001–021

  19

  90,798

  2.4

  1 Provisional

  Departmental Bodies
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs under the remit of her Department in(a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by her Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation. [72738]
  1230W
  Mrs. Liddell
  The information requested is as follows:

  Scotland Office

  Location

  Number of staff

  Percentage of Department

  Scotland

  86

  72

  Greater London

  33

  28

  The Boundary Commission

  Location

  Number of staff

  Percentage of NDPB

  Scotland

  4

  100

  Ministerial Meetings
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings her Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by(a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date. [72710]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Information is not available in the form requested. Ministers from my Department have frequent meetings with Ministers from the Scottish Executive, both formal and informal, covering a broad range of topics.

  LPG
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the location of each liquefied petroleum gas vehicle filling station in Scotland. [72709]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The following list (provided by the LP Gas Association) comprises 93 filling stations in Scotland which currently supply LPG:

  Aberdeen—Aberdeen Calor Centre;

  Aberdeen—Five Mile Garage;

  Dyce—Johnston Oils Ltd.;

  Balmedie—Aberdeen Auto Gas;

  Dyce—Dyce Service Station;

  Dinnett—Dinnett Service Station;

  Fordoun—Fiddes Bridge Services;

  Inverurie—Gauld Gas;

  Laurencekirk—Mann Automotive;

  Ellon—Overton Garage;

  Peterhead—Peterhead Motors;

  Portsoy—Portsoy Motors;

  Aberdeen—Wellington Service Station;

  Fraserburgh—Ugle Motors;

  Dundee—Bullionfield Filling Station;

  Montrose—Montrose Commercial Motors;

  Tarbert—Kintyre Filling Station;

  Oban—Oban Service Station;

  Oban—Tralee Bay Holiday Park;

  Stevenston—Global (Manufacturing) Ltd.;

  Ayr—Ayr Calor Centre;

  Isle of Arran—Glencloy Garage;

  Lugton—Custombuilt Vehicles Ltd.;

  1231W

  Irvine—Flogas Irvine;

  Duns—Aitken-Walker Cars;

  Galashiels—Borders Autogass;;

  Eyemouth—Eyemouth Service Station;

  Earlston—Rhymers Towers Service Station;

  St. Boswells—Johnston Oils Ltd.;

  Peebles—Techauto Ltd;

  Gretna—Gretna Services;

  Dumfries—St. Michaels Garage;

  Lockerbie—Castlehillgate Garage;

  Newton Stewart—Wigtown Road Service Station;

  Balloch—Lomond Autogas;

  Dundee—Johnston Oils Ltd.;

  Dundee—Caird Park Service Station;

  Kilmarnock—John Forbes Motors;

  Kilmarnock—Glencaim Service Station;

  Kilmarnock—Torn Palmer (Scotland) Ltd.;

  Musselburgh—Betaheat Ltd.;

  Leith—Crewe Tool Filling Station;

  Edinburgh—Flogas Edinburgh;

  Edinburgh—Russells of Edinburgh Ltd.;

  Longniddry—Seton Engineering;

  Edinburgh—Circle Filling Station;

  Edinburgh—Dreghorn Filling Station;

  Grangemouth—Earlsgate Filling Station;

  Grangemouth—Refinery Filling Station;

  Falkirk—JAB Autogas;

  Dunfermline—Kingdom Services;

  Newburgh—Clathcard 4 x 4;

  Kirkcaldy—Randolph Gas Supplies;

  Queensferry—Forth Road Bridge Filling Station;

  Cowdenbeath—Gleaner Services;

  Glasgow—Autogass Ecosse;

  Glasgow—Stuart Filling Station;

  Glasgow—Clarksons of

  Glasgow; Glasgow—Clyde Coin;

  Bridge of Weir—Eddie Lovett;

  Glasgow—Express Fuels (Scotland) Ltd.;

  Paisley—Flogas Glasgow;

  Uddingston—Allans of Uddingston Ltd.;

  Glasgow—Fullarton Service Station;

  Paisley—Glasgow Airport Filling Station;

  Glasgow—Hillington Filling Station;

  Glasgow—Universe Filling Station;

  Dingwall—Westend Filling Station;

  Inverness—Go-Gas Depot;

  Inverness—S & D Harpers;

  Evanton—Skiach Service Station;

  Brora—Sutherland Arms Garage;

  Isle of Lewis—Engebret Ltd.;

  Isle of Skye—Sutherlands Garage (Broadford) Ltd.;

  Airdrie—Colston Garage Ltd.;

  Rigside—Colliershall Motors;

  Bellshill—Lanarkshire

  Calor—Centre;

  Coatbridge—Scotcast;

  Biggar—Abington Filling Station;

  East Kilbride—Spring Autopoint;

  Loanhead—MB Autogas Ltd.;

  Elgin—Allarburn Farm Dairy Ltd.;

  1232W

  Forres—Alves Autos;

  Grantown on Spey—Dulnain Bridge Garage;

  Keith—KCR Autogas Services;

  Elgin—Tyock Filling Station;

  Perth—2Xcel;

  Perth—Oswald Gas Supplies;

  Aberfeldy—King & Sons;

  Kinross—Wellside Motors;

  Paisley—Paisley & Barrhead Gas;

  Stirling—Maxwell Conversions;

  Livingston—Deer Park Filling Station;

  Bathgate—Johnston Oils Ltd.;

  Livingston—Lizzie Brice Filling Station.

  Illegal Meat Imports
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she is having with Customs and Excise on(a) detecting the people responsible for importing illegal meat products from China and (b) increasing checks on meat imports coming into Scotland. [73002]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Scotland Office has frequent discussions with HM Customs & Excise on a wide range of issues.

  The relevant public authorities, including HM Customs & Excise, are participating in discussions about illegal meat imports and in an action plan to tackle the problem.

  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he is having with the Scottish Executive on illegally imported meat from China found on sale in shops; and if she will make a statement. [73003]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Scotland Office has frequent discussions with the Scottish Executive on a wide range of issues.

  The question of illegally imported meat is the subject of discussions and an action plan involving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive, HM Customs & Excise and other public authorities.

  Employment Statistics
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will publish for each constituency in Scotland the(a) actual and (b) percentage change in (i) youth, (ii) long term and (iii) total unemployed since May 1997 and present. [61294]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

  The National Statistician will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

  Correspondence
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Advocate-General what the target time will be in 2002–03 for(a) ministers to reply
  1233W
  to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in her Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [44942]

  The Advocate-General
  I refer the lion Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Recruitment
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Advocate-General how many net additional staff her Department has recruited in each month since June 2001 at(a) executive officer level and (b) administrative level. [52422]

  The Advocate-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Advocate-General how many staff were employed by her Department on(a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002. [60924]

  The Advocate-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, on 13 June,Official Report. column 1402W.

  Overseas Trips
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Advocate-General if she will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in her Department; and what the(a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case. [68738]

  The Advocate-General
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

TRANSPORT

  Ferries (Southern Europe)
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in extending the terms of the Stockholm Agreement to ferries operating in Southern Europe. [73198]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The European Commission's proposal for a directive to extend the "Stockholm" stability standards to all EU-flagged ro-ro ferries and third country flagged ro-ro ferries calling at EU ports was agreed at Transport Council in June. It will now go to the European Parliament for debate, under co-decision procedures.

  Community Councils
  Mr. Tom Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many community councils were operating in England in(a) 1997 and (b) 2001. [58877]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have been asked to reply.
  1234W
  Community councils operate in Wales and Scotland. Their counterparts in England are parish councils. 79 new parishes have been created between the years 1997 and 2001.

  Mobile Telephones
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce legislation(a) enforcing a ban and (b) introducing a criminal offence for driving while operating a hand held mobile telephone; and if he will make a statement. [72517]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In accordance with our road safety strategy we are keeping the need for new legislation under review.

  Aviation Policy
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Government are evaluating runway options for Heathrow and Gatwick that will provide additional runway capacity in five years or less; and if he will make a statement. [71900]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The South East airports consultation document published on 23 July 2002 sets out options for future development of runway capacity in the South East, but none of these options could deliver more runway capacity within five years.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that London Gatwick maintains a network of full service operators and operations to enable passengers from UK regional points who fly into Gatwick to make connections to a network of world-wide services. [71901]

  Mr. Jamieson
  It is a commercial choice for airlines to decide which routes they serve. Gatwick airport offers a range of inter-connecting opportunities which enables passengers from UK regional points to make connections to a variety of world-wide destinations.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many take-off and landing slots have been handed back to the airport co-ordination slot co-ordinator at London Gatwick in the last 12 months, broken down by airlines. [71902]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The information requested is not held by the Department.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Ministry of Defence airfields have been included in the Government review of UK aviation policy and subsequent consultations; and if he will make a statement. [71801]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House on 23 July 2002 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. The use of military airfields is considered in the published consultation documents on regional air services and airports. These documents cover the whole of the UK.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many take-off and landing slots have been bought at London Heathrow and Gatwick in the last 12 months, broken down by company. [71904]
  1235W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The information requested is not recorded.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to hold discussions with airlines giving up slots on re-allocating them through the slot co-ordinators for use by regional air services. [71903]

  Mr. Jamieson
  DfT officials are engaged in ongoing discussions with airlines about regional air services. When an airline gives up a slot, it is returned to the slot pool and allocated by the co-ordinator in accordance with the criteria set out in the Regulations 95–

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Ministry of Defence about opening up more RAF airfields for civil operations; if such openings will be on a full cost recovery basis; and if they will recognise the obligations on other Government owned airfields. 71905]

  Mr. Jamieson
  During the preparation of the consultation documents on the Future of Air Transport in the UK, which was published yesterday discussions were held with MOD about the potential commercial use of some of their airfields. The outcome of those discussions is reflected in the consultation documents.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has ensured that in the negotiations with the EU on changes to the slot allocation rules the existing mechanisms to allow for ring fencing of slots and application of public service obligation protection will be maintained after the change in the rules. 1895]

  Mr. Jamieson
  During Working Group negotiations on the Commission's proposal to amend European Regulation 95–93, the UK will argue that the existing mechanisms available for the ring-fencing of slots for regional air services be maintained.

  Per cent

  AM

  PM

  AM/PM combined

  TOC

  1999

  2000

  2001

  1999

  2000

  2001

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Chiltern

  5.4

  2.5

  2.4

  2.0

  0.3

  0.6

  4.0

  1.6

  1.6

  South Central

  5.2

  6.2

  11.2

  2.2

  2.7

  1.0

  3.9

  4.7

  6.9

  Connex South Eastern

  3.2

  3.7

  3.2

  1.5

  1.9

  1.3

  2.4

  2.9

  2.3

  Great Eastern

  4.1

  6.4

  3.7

  1.2

  1.4

  1.6

  2.7

  4.1

  2.7

  c2c

  3.1

  1.6

  0.3

  0.1

  1.0

  0.6

  1.7

  1.3

  0.5

  Silverlink

  3.0

  9.8

  8.1

  2.0

  3.1

  3.4

  2.5

  6.6

  5.9

  South West Trains

  4.7

  7.9

  6.3

  1.7

  1.1

  2.5

  3.4

  4.9

  4.6

  Thames

  0.8

  1.9

  3.3

  2.7

  1.9

  1.6

  1.7

  1.9

  2.5

  Thameslink

  4.0

  4.4

  4.3

  2.5

  2.7

  3.9

  3.3

  3.6

  4.1

  WAGN

  2.4

  2.8

  2.3

  1.0

  1.6

  1.6

  1.8

  2.3

  2.0

  London Total

  3.8

  5.1

  5.0

  1.6

  1.8

  1.7

  2.8

  3.6

  3.6

  Scotrail (Forth Bridge)

  1.7

  3.1

  1.0

  4.1

  2.9

  3.2

  2.8

  3.0

  2.1

  Note:

  The information is only collected for train operating companies serving London and South East commuter lines and one Scotrail commuter line.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train operating companies have an overcrowding standard as part of their franchise agreement; and what each such standard is. [71062]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]:All train operating companies are required by their franchise
  1236W
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on recent studies undertaken by his Department on UK-US Government aviation policy options and place the findings of such studies in the Library. [71785]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The Civil Aviation Authority have undertaken an analysis of UK-US aviation policy options on behalf of the Department. This study is informing the evaluation of those options. It would not be appropriate to place the CAA study in the Library at this time, as to do so might undermine the UK's position if further bilateral aviation talks were to be held.

  Runways
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the location of new runways to be built in the South East. [71928]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made to the House on 23 July 2002,Official Report, columns 847–68 by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport.

  Passenger Overcrowding
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of passenger overcrowding on the railways as the percentage of passengers in excess of capacity was during(a) the morning peak, (b) the evening peak and (c) both peaks together, (i) for each train company and (ii) overall in each of the last three years. [71061]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The number of passengers now travelling into London each morning are at the highest level for over 10 years. Overcrowding figures for 2001, which were published in June, show a decrease on most lines compared to the previous year. That year, however, showed an increase overall compared to 1999. The figures are:

  agreements to avoid "regular, systematic, excessive overcrowding".

  In addition, train operating companies which provide local services into London (South Central, Connex South Eastern, South West Trains, Thameslink. Thames Trains, Chiltern Trains, Silverlink, c2c, First Great Eastern and
  1237W
  West Anglia Great Northern) and Scotrail (for Fife/Edinburgh area services only) are required by their franchise agreements to comply with the standards laid down under "Passengers in Excess of Capacity". These are the same for each operator and are: not more than 4.5 per cent. in excess of nominal capacity which varies with journey length and rolling stock type; and not more than 3 per cent. overall.

  London Underground
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the discussions his Department has held with the EU about the PPP for London Underground and state aid. [62418]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 17 June 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to Part (a) of my answer of 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 67W.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the extra money in expenditure on the London underground announced in the spending review will be spent on; and if he will make a statement; [71064]

  (2) what representations he has received from the consortia involved with the public-private partnership for the London underground about the extra spending announced in the spending review. [71065]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The spending review takes full account of the Government's commitment to full funding for the first seven-and-a-half years of the tube modernisation plans. A statement of how the Government intend to fund the London underground in the long term was annexed to the draft letters of comfort reported to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State's Minute of 20 March 2002.

  Percentage

  2001–02

  2002–031

  Peak

  Off peak

  Peak

  Off peak

  Chance of being on a train with all seats full.

  53

  30

  53

  27

  Chance of being on a train with at least one person standing for each one sitting.

  14

  4

  14

  3

  Chance of being on a train with at least two people standing for each one sitting.

  1

  1

  1

  2—

  1 First quarter

  2 Sample is too small to provide a meaningful percentage figure, but is less than 1 per cent.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to send the first payments to London Underground PPP contractors. [72894]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Government will make no direct payments to the PPP contractors. London Underground will pay a monthly Infrastructure Service Charge to the contractors, once the Infrastructure Companies have been transferred to the private sector, following completion of the PPP contracts.

  Measure

  Targeted performance by end March 2002

  Actual performance at Targeted performance end March 2002

  Targeted performance by end March 2003

  performance

  Excess journey time (unweighted) (minutes)

  3.63

  3.44

  3.42

  Train kilometres operated (million)

  65.6

  65.4

  67.2

  Customer satisfaction1:

  Overall evaluation

  n/a

  n/a

  75

  Train service

  75

  75

  2—

  1238W
  No representations have been received from the consortia involved with the public-private partnership.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002,Official Report, column 143W, what contingency plans he has for the case where, after the financial close of PPP, a key partner in the Tubelines or Metronet Consortium fails and no replacement partner is found. [71812]

  Mr. Jamieson
  As my answer of 16 July made clear, the PPP contracts allow for changes in the shareholders of the consortia, subject to the consent of London Underground, including changes to the number of shareholders.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out Government spending on London Underground in each of the next three years as a result of the CSR. [72216]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) today.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the overcrowding statistics for(a) 2001 and (b) 2002 to date for the London Underground. [71735]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 22 July 20021: This is an operational matter for London Underground (LU), who have informed me that they measure how crowded services are in terms of the percentage chance of boarding a train with:

  (i) all seats full,

  (ii) one person standing for each seated passenger, and

  (iii) two persons standing for each seated passenger.

  LU have provided the information in the table showing this information for 2001–02 and the first quarter of 2002–03.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the performance and investment targets set for London Underground in 2002–03. [73536]

  Mr. Spellar
  The table shows the targets that have been set for London Underground Ltd. in 2002–03, together with the previous targets, and actual performance achieved at the end of March 2002.
  1239W

  Measure

  Targeted performance by end March 2002

  Actual performance at end March 2002

  Targeted performance by end March 2003

  Safety and security

  80

  78

  2—

  Staff helpfulness and availability

  69

  69

  2—

  Cleanliness

  67

  68

  2—

  Information

  77

  76

  2—

  Investment

  Project expenditure (£ million)

  410

  429

  587

  Project delivery3:

  Track renewals (km)

  19.5

  24.0

  25.4

  Station upgrades

  5

  5

  3

  Station designs

  n/a

  n/a

  50

  Escalator refurbishments

  20

  19

  20

  Other asset improvements

  n/a

  n/a

  4

  1 Average scores out of 100.

  2 Customer satisfaction scores are being rebased in 2002–03 to better reflect customers' views of journeys undertaken in the peak periods. Although not set as formal targets the five individual elements of the customer satisfaction scores will continue to be monitored and published by London Underground Ltd.

  3 A number of other investment works on escalators, rolling stock, signalling, stations and track will also be started, progressed or completed during the year.

  The Government are separately discussing longer-term performance targets for the London Underground with the Mayor as part of the proposed tube modernization plans.

  Railtrack
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government are taking to ensure that Railtrack consults with the relevant local authority before it removes trees from railway property. [71773]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: I understand that Railtrack seek to consult with local authorities and other interested parties wherever practicable.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on maintenance of track by Railtrack in each of the financial years since 1996–97. [72901]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the Hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 18 June 2002,Official Report, column 179W.

  Lawrie Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the European Commission's decision of 13 February to approve state aid towards the rescue of Railtrack Plc (in administration) has been published. [73547]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government informed the house on 13 February 2002 that state aid clearance towards the rescue of Railtrack plc in administration had been given Official Report, column 390W. However the Commission only recently published the decision and copies have been placed in the House Libraries of the House for the record.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the expenditure on capital account by Railtrack in administration since being placed in administration. [72890]

  Mr. Spellar
  As the administrator holds this information, and not the Department, this is a matter for him.
  1240W
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been drawn down by(a) Railtrack in administration and (b) Network Rail. [72891]

  Mr. Spellar
  £1.9 billion was drawn down from the original Government loan facility, and to date, £1.2 billion has been drawn from the commercial banking facility. The Government loan facility was repaid, with interest, on 25 March 2002.

  Railway Vandalism
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2002,Official Report, column 772–3W, on railway vandalism, if he will (a) place a copy of the speech referred to in the Library and (b) state how the Department was represented at the recent National Route Crime Group. [66045]

  Mr. Spellar
  A copy of my speech to the Trespass and Vandalism on the Railways Conference on 17 October 2001 has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The Department is not represented on the National Route Crime Group, which is a cross-industry group. However, the Health and Safety Executive and the Strategic Rail Authority are members.

  Rail Insurance
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is proposed to ensure that companies involved in railway repair and maintenance continue to have access to insurance cover liability in respect of their companies' and their employees; and if he will make a statement. [163619]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 21 June 2002]: Railtrack is aware that certain infrastructure maintenance companies have experienced difficulties in renewing insurance cover; and is considering a range of alternative options in response to emerging circumstances and changing market conditions.

  Replacement Rails
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average present cost is of relaying one
  1241W
  mile of twin track on the UK railway network with replacement rails, and what the cost was five years ago. [65636]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 1 July 2002]: My Department does not possess the information requested. I understand from Railtrack, however, that the cost of rail replacement will vary significantly according to track layout, maximum linespeed, tonnage capacity and other factors relating to particular lines.

  Gatwick-Inverness Transport Link
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the proposed public service obligation between Gatwick and Inverness. [668781]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 4 July 2002]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport to the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (John Thurso) following yesterday's statement on the future of air transport, Official Report, columns 847–68.

  Rail Delays
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply of 19 December 2001,Official Report, columns 524–25W, on rail delays, if he will place copies of the latest updated information in the Library. [70637]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 July 2002,Official Report, column 665W.

  Crossrail
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made for his Department and the Strategic Rail Authority on the benefits of Crossrail; and if he will make a statement. [70740]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Cross London Rail Links has been charged with developing the case for Crossrail, and will be reporting to Ministers, the Mayor of London and the Strategic Rail Authority in October. The project development work will include a full assessment of the benefits Crossrail could deliver in terms of relieving congestion on the existing national rail and underground network, increasing transport accessibility and capacity in London, and its contribution to the national economy.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department and the Strategic Rail Authority have received on Crossrail proposals from(a) the Royal Docks Cross Rail Group, (b) Crossrail and (c) other groups; and if he will make a statement. [70745]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A number of groups have made representations on Crossrail either to my Department. the Strategic Rail Authority, or Cross London Rail Links Ltd.—particularly in response to the CLRL's Stakeholder Consultation document issued in May. The Royal Docks Crossrail Group is one. CLRL will give full consideration to all these representations in reaching a view on a preferred scheme, which will be reported to Ministers, the Mayor of London and the Strategic Rail Authority in October.
  1242W

  Great Western Rail Network
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment programmes are planned for the Great Western Rail Network; and if he will make a statement. [70828]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan sets out its plans for investment in the rail network in the short, medium and longer term.

  Rail Fares
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to allow increases in regulated rail fares above the current cap. [71384]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Strategic Rail Authority issued a consultation paper on fares on 19 July. The document sets out current policy and practice on fares regulation, and invites views. We will review our current policy on fares regulation in the light of responses to this consultation. Copies of the SRA's paper have been placed in the House Library.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to the changes in the level of unregulated rail fares in comparison to the RPI in each of the last three years; and if he will list those train operating companies that have increased unregulated fares above the RPI, in each of the last two years. [71385]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The level of unregulated fares is a matter for train operating companies. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has responsibility for monitoring fare levels and pricing policies. As part of its duties, the Authority has compiled a 'fares index', published in the June (2001–02 quarter 4) edition of National Rail Trends, available in the House Library. This details the average increase in unregulated fares since January 1999 by class of operator. Information on company specific increases is commercially confidential and is not published by the SRA.

  Fatalities
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what value for preventing a fatality is used by(a) his Department and (b) the Highways Agency when assessing cost benefit ratios on (i) the roads and (ii) the railways; and how these are calculated. [72943]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department and the Highways Agency use an appraisal figure of £1.14 million (in 2000 prices) per fatality prevented when assessing the costs and benefits of road investments. The Department uses the same appraisal figure of £1.14 million for valuing road and rail fatalities prevented through railway investments. The final decisions on all transport investments are not just based on cost benefit ratios, but a wide range of criteria, namely: environment, economy, safety, accessibility and integration.

  The appraisal value was derived from research into individual's willingness to pay for reductions in highway risk. Full details of the road values used are published annually in Highway Agency's Economics Note No. 1, which is available in the Library of the House and on the Department's website. The value is updated annually for inflation and economic growth.
  1243W

  Public Transport (Taunton)
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the reliability of rail services to Taunton. [73268]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Performance figures for each of the train operating companies are published by the Strategic Rail Authority in their quarterly publication, "National Rail Trends", and in more detail in their six-monthly publication, "On Track". Copies of these publications are available in the Libraries of the House. The most recent editions of both documents were published on 6 June.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the greater use of bus travel(a) within Taunton, (b) within Wellington and (c) in and around Wiveliscombe in Somerset. [73267]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Our policies are aimed at encouraging the greater use of buses in all parts of the country. Implementation at local level is a matter for the local transport authority, in this case, Somerset county council, through its local transport plan. The Department is providing local authorities, including Somerset, with substantially increased capital funding and on-going increases in revenue funding to enable them to plan and implement a range of measures to improve bus services in their areas.

  In addition. Somerset county council has been allocated £1.49 million for the support of rural bus services in the current financial year. Since 1998, the council has also been successful with nine bids under the Department's Rural Bus Challenge scheme, including an award last year of £100,000 towards a community transport service for the areas around Wiveliscombe.

  Train Protection and Warning System
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what value for preventing a fatality is used in assessments conducted(a) by and (b) for his Department from the fitting of (i) train protection and warning system, (ii) ERTMS level 1, (iii) ERTMS level 2 and (iv) ERTMS level 3. [72944]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Health and Safety Executive tell me that in the regulatory impact assessment, which they conducted for the train protection and warning system, a figure of £2.65 million (1997–98 prices) was used for the prevention of fatalities in railway accidents. This is broadly equivalent to the figure of £3.46 million (2002–03 prices) currently used by Railway Safety for the prevention of multiple fatalities or where the risks are close to intolerable.

  The report on ERTMS, published earlier this year by Railway Safety and the Strategic Rail Authority, did not use an explicit value for preventing a fatality.

  Following research into the willingness of individuals to pay for reductions in risk and independent expert evidence given to the Ladbroke Grove public inquiry, the Health and Safety Executive no longer encourages the use of a higher figure than that used by the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency for appraising road risk. This is £1.14 million at 2000 prices.

  Railway Lines
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new railway line have been completed in the last year; and how many are planned for each of the next two years. [72892]

  Mr. Spellar
  Railtrack's Network Management Statement estimates 790 km of line renewed in 2001–02, and 785 km in each of the following two years.

  Railway Rolling Stock
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new carriages have been delivered to train operating companies in Britain in the last year. [72889]

  Mr. Spellar
  In the year 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 a total of 615 new passenger vehicles entered service.

  Railway Bridges
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to ensure that Railtrack and its successor body are undertaking the work necessary(a) to maintain, (b) to clean and (c) to keep free of birds those railway bridges in its ownership; and if he will make statement. [73009]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I understand from Railtrack that their maintenance regime for rail structures includes visual inspection annually and in detail every six years. Annual inspection includes cleaning as required. Railtrack seeks to work in partnership with local authorities to tackle pigeon nuisance and is also currently assessing alternative pigeon deterrents to netting.

  Railway Infrastructure (Repointing)
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many square metres of gridland stone work on the railway system have been repointed in each year since 1992. [72848]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department does not hold this information.

  Railway Speed Restrictions
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many structures on the railtrack system have been subject to speed restrictions in each year since 1992. [72847]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department does not hold this information.

  Network Rail
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what interest rates have been agreed for the different financial facilities being made available by the SRA to Network Rail. [67056]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The interest rates that would be charged in the unlikely event of a drawdown on the standby credit facilities will be:(a) facilities supporting the bridge financing: LIBOR plus 1.5 per cent:

  1245W
  (b) facilities supporting the financing of legacy costs: LIBOR plus a margin of between 1.5 per cent. to 6 per cent., depending upon the facility drawn upon and the circumstances of the drawdown;
  (c) facility for long-term contingency buffer: LIBOR plus 6 per cent.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what Railtrack's cost of borrowing was in 2001–02; and what the cost of borrowing for Network Rail will be; [71260]

  (2) by how much the proposed financing arrangements for Network Rail will increase the buying power of the transport settlement announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July. [71261]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: Railtrack's cost of capital was determined by the Rail Regulator. He determined an eight per cent. rate of return (in real terms) in his October 2000 periodic review.

  The interest rate on the finance secured by Network Rail is a commercial matter for the company. Network Rail has been designed to secure a strong investment grade credit rating to raise finance in a cost-effective and efficient manner. It is expected to have a cost of capital substantially lower than that of Railtrack, which will have a significant positive impact on the buying power of the company's income.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the documents referred to in the Rail Regulators statement on 27 June on the(a) enhancement refitting, (b) funding and (c) co-operation regime between SRA and Network Rail. [71053]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: These documents remain confidential, as Network Rail has yet to conclude its purchase of Railtrack plc shares. Disclosure now could harm Network Rail's competitive position if its bid failed and the administrators then proceeded with inviting bids for a transfer of Railtrack plc's assets under Schedule 7 to the Railways Act 1993. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will review the status of these documents and the information in them if Network Rail's acquisition of Railtrack plc is successfully completed.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimated date is for the first day of trading of Network Rail CLG. [72895]

  Mr. Spellar
  Network Rail have said that it is possible that Railtrack could be released from administration by the end of September.

  Road Deaths
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government are taking to reduce the number of road related deaths. [73686]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Wiggin) on 9 July 2002,Official Report, column 805W.

  Disabled Parking
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recommendations the Disabled Persons
  1246W
  Transport Advisory Committee have made to him in relation to the Disabled Persons Parking Badge Scheme Consultation Paper; and if he will make a statement. [73400]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Committee have made a series of recommendations following analysis of responses to the discussion paper, covering eligibility, administration and enforcement. We are currently considering their report together with our colleagues in the devolved Administrations with whom we are working collaboratively on this review.

  Alternative Fuels
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK takes a leading role in meeting the European Commission's objective of a 20 per cent. substitution by alternative fuels in the road transport sector by 2020. [72862]

  Mr, Jamieson
  The UK actively promotes the wider use of alternative fuels through the low rates of duty on liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, biodiesel and hydrogen road fuel; the lower rates of vehicle excise duty and company car tax on alternatively-fuelled vehicles; Enhanced Capital Allowances for investment in compressed natural gas and hydrogen fuel infrastructure; and the TransportAction programmes of grants for purchase of or conversion to alternatively-fuelled cars, buses and goods vehicles. There are also fuel duty exemptions under the Green Fuels Challenge, subject to European agreement, for three pilot projects relating to the capture and use of landfill bio-gas, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and the use of methanol, with a further round of the Green Fuels Challenge currently in progress, offering support for the pilot testing of further promising alternative fuels.

  A46 (Little Beckford)
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the Highways Agency to remove the bollards at the pedestrian safety refuge on the A46 at Little Beckford. [72860]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The pedestrian safety refuge and bollards at Little Beckford are part of a general scheme of traffic calming through the village to enable pedestrians to cross the A46 safely. A road safety audit carried out after installation has shown no major problems with the scheme design and the police have not identified any safety concerns as a result of their accident investigations. To remove any of the refuges would reduce the effectiveness of the traffic calming and thus increase the risks to road safety. The Highways Agency will, however, continue to monitor the performance of these measures to ensure that they remain effective.

  Intelligent Motor Generator Technology
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the intelligent motor generator technology developed by Ricardo in reducing fuel consumption in road vehicles. [72624]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There are a range of technologies in development-including the intelligent motor generator system developed by Ricardo-that promise substantial reductions in vehicle fuel consumption. My Department's New Vehicle Technology Fund is currently assessing
  1247W
  proposals from various suppliers of such technology for demonstrating and testing the effectiveness of their vehicles in real-world operating conditions. The results of the projects will be available from the Energy Saving Trust which manages the Fund on behalf of my Department.

  Road Schemes (South West)
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for new road schemes in the South West; and what the(a) cost and (b) commencement date is in each case. [73266]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Within the targeted programme of improvements for the Highways Agency the following major schemes (that is schemes costing more than £5 million) are being delivered in the South West area:

  Scheme

  Estimate of cost (£ million)

  Estimated start of construction

  A303 Stonehenge

  130

  2005–06

  A30 Bodmin-Indian Queens

  49

  2004–05

  A38 Dobwalls bypass

  17

  2005–06

  A419 Blunsdon bypass

  20

  2006

  Further schemes may emerge from the London to South West and South Wales Multi-Modal Study.

  In addition, the Highways Agency will deliver a number of small scale schemes aimed at, for example, improving safety. It is estimated that around fl 1 million will be spent on these schemes this year.

  A12 (Colchester)
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to be completed on connecting the Colchester northern approach road to the A12. [72097]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Proposals for a junction between this road and the A 12 trunk road are included in one of five current applications for planning permissions for comprehensive redevelopment of the site of the former Severalls hospital. The Highways Agency has agreed to the principle of the proposed junction and is currently discussing with the developers details of its design and location. Work is not programmed to begin on site within the next three years.

  HGV Lanes
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the strategic routes with HGV lanes. [71336]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: There are no lanes in the Highways Agency's strategic road network dedicated solely to the movement of heavy goods vehicles.

  Car Use
  Jim Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002,Official Report, column 143W, on car use, what evaluation he has made of the impact of the Mayor of London's policies in this regard. [72001]
  1248W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Road engineering in London is a matter for Transport for London and the London local authorities.

  A3 Hindhead
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is for(a) the commencement and (b) the completion of construction of the A3 at Hindhead; what representations he has recently received about the improvement scheme there; and what further steps must be completed before its commencement. [71915]

  Mr. Spellar
  There has been no change to the programme for the A3 Hindhead scheme. The Highways Agency is presently assessing bids from contractor/ designer teams to progress the scheme through statutory procedures and construction phases. It is expected that the contract will be awarded in September, that draft orders will be published in the late summer of 2003; and a public inquiry, if required, would be held in 2004. Subject to the satisfactory completion of these statutory procedures, work would start in 2005 and be completed by 2009.

  Amendments to the preferred scheme as a consequence of on-going consultation with the local community were announced last March. Since then 11 representations have been received about the revised proposals. These were either seeking more information on specific local impacts or about changes in traffic patterns on local roads as a result of the scheme.

  Variable Road Speeds
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002,Official Report, column 217W, on variable road speeds, if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [70694]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The trials on the use of variable message signs outside schools formed part of a wider piece of research carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory on behalf of the Department. The results of the trials were unpublished.

  However, my Department is preparing guidance in the form of a traffic advisory leaflet on the use of vehicle activated signs. This new guidance will reflect the results and conclusions of these earlier trials. We expect to publish by the end of the year, and at that time, a copy will be placed in the Library.

  Highways Agency Contracts
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research and contract work has been
  1249W
  conducted for the Highways Agency since 7 June 2001 by (a) W. S. Atkins, (b) Amey and (c) Balfour Beatty; and if he will make a statement. [70660]

  Contract description

  Approximate value

  Date awarded and duration

  (a) W.S. Atkins Research

  Provision of research and development advice facilities framework.

  £700k

  7 September 2001, for 3 years

  For design and management of highways structures

  General roadworks, including design services

  Highways Agency (HA) area 2 managing agent (MA)

  £25 million

  Commenced pre-June 2001; runs until 31/3/04

  HA area 4 MA

  £5.8 million p.a.

  Commenced pre-June 2001; runs until 31/5/03

  HA area 6 MA

  £3.5 million p.a.

  Commenced 1/9/2001 for 5 years1

  HA area 10 MA

  £5 million p.a.

  1/7/2002 to 30/6/20061

  HA area 11 MA

  £7 million p.a.

  Awarded pre-June 2001, ending 30/6/2002

  HA area 11 Managing Agent Contractor (MAC)—(as member of a joint venture (JV))

  £25 million p.a.

  1/7/2002 to 30/6/20061

  Consultancy design framework—midlands

  Orders of various values

  1/7/2001 to 1/6/2006

  Consultancy design framework—north

  Orders of various values

  9/7/2001 to 1/6/2006

  Consultancy design framework—south east

  Orders of various values

  1/7/2001 to 1/6/2006

  Project management support services framework

  Orders of various values

  1/6/2001 to 1/6/2004

  Development control advice (for SW of west midlands area)

  £750k

  27/2/2002, 3 year contract

  Tactical traffic control

  £182k

  31/3/2002, 1 year

  Consultancy framework arrangement

  £3 million

  15/4/2002, 3 years

  Northern development control consultancy

  £600k

  12/6/2002, 3 years

  Procedural and technical advice facilities

  £150k

  24/5/2002, 3 years

  (b) Amey General roadworks

  HA area 6 term maintenance contractor (TMC)—(as a member of a JV)

  £15 million p.a.

  Runs 1/6/2002 for 5 years1

  HA area 9 MAC—(as a member of a JV)

  £30 million p.a.

  Runs 1/7/2002 for 4 years1

  HA area 10 TMC—(as a member of a JV)

  £20 million p.a.

  1/7/2002 for 4 years1

  HA area 18 TMC

  £10–11 million p.a.

  Awarded pre-1/6/2002, runs to 1/4/2003

  HA area 19 TMC—(as member of a JV)

  £26 million p.a.

  Awarded pre-1/6/2002, runs to 1/4/2003

  (c) Balfour Beatty General roadworks

  Midland framework for roads and structures

  Individual task orders varying in value between £500k-£5 million

  1/7/2002–1/7/2006 (extendable by 1 year)

  Technology framework agreement

  Orders of various values

  18/9/2001–17/9/20042

  A5 Nescliffe bypass

  £11 million

  10/12/2001—completion in 2006

  A41 Aston Clinton bypass

  £21.7 million

  Awarded 30/3/20013

  A303 Stonehenge bypass—(as a member of a JV)

  £136 million

  15/3/2002—completion in 2013

  Ml Wilne Lane to M25, Ml J25 noise barriers and Ml J24–30 Notts/Derby renewal of technology (advance works) hybrid

  £4.8 million

  24/9/2001–21/3/2002

  A120 Stansted to Braintree improvements

  £75.5 million

  17/7/2001, runs until spring 2004

  HA area 16: northern framework agreement for roads and structures

  Individual task orders varying in value between £500k and £5 million

  1/8/2001–30/4/20033

  HA area 18: framework for roads and structures

  Individual task orders varying in value between £500k and £10 million

  30/6/2002 (extended by 1 year to 30/6/2003)

  1 With options for extensions.

  2 Extendable by 2 periods of 1 year.

  3 To be incorporated into a MAC from 1/7/2003

  Silverstone Bypass
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2002 to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster),Official Report, column 880W, on the Silverstone Bypass, if he will (a) place his letter of direction in the Library, (b) state
  1250W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The research and contract work that has been conducted for the Highways Agency since 7 June 2001 to the present time by these companies is as follows:

  the component reasons of the wider national interest that justified his decision and (c)stat the category of direction; and if he make a statement. [70237]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A copy of the letter of direction from the then Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions my right hon. Friend the
  1251W
  Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) to the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency has been deposited in the Library.

  The British Grand Prix is an important global showcase for the UK motorsport industry, which is estimated to contribute approximately £5 billion annually to the national economy. In addition it brings about £30 million to the local economy over the Grand Prix weekend. In the light of doubts expressed by the Federation Internationale de l' Automobile (FIA) about retaining the British Grand Prix at Silverstone because of access problems in previous years, Ministers felt that the wider national interest would be best served by speeding up the Silverstone project and thereby providing the best available road access for this year's event.

  The direction was sought for reasons of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

  Public Highway Closures
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2002,Official Report, column 1094W, on public highway closures, when and by which magistrates court Downing street was closed under section 116 of the Highways Act 1980. [69973]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 538W.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average incidence of people(a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents in Great Britain was for 1994 to 1998; and what the average incidence was in disadvantaged communities. [71624]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has designated, for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, 88 local authorities which include the majority of the most deprived wards in England. Casualty figures are available for these authorities. However, these figures relate to the whole of the authority areas, which may include relatively advantaged areas as well as deprived wards. The averages for these authorities therefore, as shown in the table, do not fully represent the position in the most disadvantaged areas.

  The table provides the average number of people, and the average number of pedestrians, (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents for 1994 to 1998, together with the rate per 100,000 population. Figures are given for Great Britain, and the average for the 88 most deprived local authorities in England as designated for Neighbourhood Renewal funding.

  1994–98 average

  Number

  Rate per 100,000 population

  All casualties killed

  Great Britain

  3,578

  6.3

  Average for 88 NRF authorities in England1

  871

  4.4

  Seriously injured

  Great Britain

  44,078

  77.1

  Average for 88 NRF authorities in England1

  13,929

  69.8

  1252W

  1994–98 average

  Number

  Rate per 100,000 population

  Pedestrian casualties Killed

  Great Britain

  1,008

  1.8

  Average for 88 NRF authorities in England1

  422

  2.1

  Seriously injured

  Great Britain

  10,662

  18.7

  Average for 88 NRF authorities in England1

  5,087

  25.7

  1 As designated for Neighbourhood Renewal funding

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the criteria for assessing whether a road accident in Great Britain takes place in a disadvantaged community for the purposes of the PSA targets for transport set out in the 2002 Spending Review. [71622]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has designated 88 local authorities which include the majority of the most deprived wards in England. The criteria for the purposes of the road casualty PSA target set out in the 2002 Spending Review will be looking to specifically address the child pedestrian problem within these areas.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average incidence of children(a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents in Great Britain was for 1994 to 1998; and what the average incidence was in disadvantaged communities. [71623]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has designated, for Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, 88 local authorities which include the majority of the most deprived wards in England. Casualty figures are available for these authorities. However, these figures relate to the whole of the authority areas, which may include relatively advantaged areas as well as deprived wards. The averages for these authorities therefore, as shown in the table, do not fully represent the position in the most disadvantaged areas.

  The table provides the average number of children under 16, and the average number of child pedestrians, (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents for 1994 to 1998, together with the rate per 100,000 population under 16. Figures are given for Great Britain, and the average for the 88 most deprived local authorities in England as designated for Neighbourhood Renewal funding.

  1994–98 average/Severity

  Number

  Rate per 100,000 population

  All child casualties Killed

  Great Britain

  260

  2.2

  Average for 88 NRF authorities in England1

  87

  2.0

  Seriously injured

  Great Britain

  6,600

  56.5

  Average for 88 NRF authorities in England1

  2,706

  63.9

  Child pedestrian casualties Killed

  Great Britain

  133

  1.1

  Average for 88 NRF authorities in England1

  56

  1.3

  1253W

  1994–98 average/severity

  Number

  Rate per 100,000 population

  Seriously injured

  Great Britain

  4,034

  34.5

  Average for 88 NRF authorities in England1

  1,906

  45.0

  1 As designated for Neighbourhood Renewal funding

  Note:

  Figures relate to children aged 0–15

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to take forward his responsibility for delivering the public service agreement to reduce fatalities and serious injuries in traffic accidents in Scotland. [71619]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: My Department's public service agreement target for reducing road casualties covers Great Britain as a whole. We will continue to work in partnership with the devolved Administration in Scotland-and likewise the one in Wales-to achieve the casualty reduction targets set out in the national road safety strategy document "Tomorrow's roads-safer for everyone" that we agreed and published in March 2000.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children were(a) killed and (b) seriously injured in Great Britain in road accidents in each year from 1994; and what the average was for 1994 to 1998. [71504]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The table gives the number of children (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in Great Britain from 1994.

  Year

  Killed

  Seriously injured

  1994

  299

  7,226

  1995

  270

  6,983

  1996

  270

  6,719

  1997

  255

  6,197

  1998

  206

  5,873

  1999

  221

  5,478

  2000

  191

  5.011

  20011

  218

  4.768

  1994–982

  260

  6,600

  1 The figures for 2001 are provisional.

  2 Average

  Roads
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total length of HGV lanes is on the strategic network. [71337]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: There are no lanes in the Highways Agency's strategic road network dedicated solely to the movement of heavy goods vehicles.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the roads providing drivers with instant access to network conditions; and what the total length of road is providing this information. [71334]

  Mr. Jamieson
  /holding answer 19 July 2002]: Variable message signs are being installed on the busiest parts of the motorway network as part of a commitment to have automatic hold up warning systems operating on 30 per cent. of motorways (825km) in England by March
  1254W
  2005. As part of the Traffic Control Centre project, variable message signs are also being installed at strategic points on the English trunk road network to provide drivers with information about major incidents, including, where appropriate, advice on alternative routes. Some local authorities provide similar information on their own roads but those details are not held centrally.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new(a) motorway and (b) trunk roads have been completed in the last two years; and how many are planned for the next two years; [72893]

  Mr. Spellar
  9.4 miles of new motorway and 13.75 miles of new trunk road were completed in the last two years. 30 miles of new motorway and 66.1 miles of new trunk road are planned for completion in the next two years.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the estimated number of people living within 600m of a trunk road; [71338]

  (2) what length of strategic road network was widened in each of the last three years; [71321]

  (3) what the average noise level is (a) 100m, (b) 300m and (c) 600m away from a trunk road in each of the last three years; [71339]

  (4) what length of the trunk road network has been given lower-noise surfaces (a) since July 2000 and (b) in each of the last three years. [71335]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Tim Matthews to Mrs. Theresa May dated 24 July 2002:
  I have been asked by the Transport Minister to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the estimated number of people living within 600m of a trunk road; the length of trunk road that has been given lower-noise surfaces; the average noise level at 100m, 300m and 600m away from a trunk road; and the length of strategic road network widened in each of the last three years.
  The Highways Agency estimates that there are over 2.1 million households located within 600m of the trunk road network. In the National Office of Statistics 'Living In Britain' publication (published 2000) the average number of people per household was 2.3. it is therefore estimated that approximately 4.83 million people live within 600 metres of the trunk road network.
  Since July 2000, 3,257 of the 34,000 trunk road lane kilometres have been laid with lower noise surfacing. Between April 2001 and March 2002 lower noise surfacing was laid on 1,611 lane kilometres and between April 2000 and March 2001 this figure was 1431 lane kilometres. Prior to April 2000 this information was not collated by the Agency.
  It is not possible to provide average noise levels at given distances from a trunk road because the noise level arising from any major road is determined by the characteristics of the traffic it carries, principally the amount of traffic and the percentage of heavy goods vehicles. The type of road surface and other noise mitigation measures will also affect the noise level. Provided that other factors remain the same, the effect of traffic growth year on year is minimal.
  A number of important widening schemes are currently under construction, but none have been completed in the last three years. The Ml to Al Lofthouse-Bramham Link Road DBFO was completed in May 1999 and this contained within it some stretches

  1255W
  of widening of the A1, the MI and the M62 totalling 9.9km. These stretches were completed by February 1999, just prior to the three-year period in question.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Congestion
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent he estimates the Mayor of London's proposals for congestion charging will contribute to the delivery of the public services agreement targets to reduce congestion in large urban areas in England. [71627]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: My Department's forecasting work for the 10-year plan assumed that a central London road user charging scheme would be introduced as part of the plan. The impact of individual schemes was not assessed.

  While congestion reduction benefits of road user charging schemes may be significant at the local level in specific urban centres, they are likely to be small within the context of total traffic volumes, and hence the national congestion target, in England as a whole.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to take forward his responsibility for delivering the Public Services Agreement to reduce congestion in London to below 2000 levels by 2010. [71628]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Public Service Agreement target relates to large urban areas, including London. The Mayor of London's Transport Strategy and Transport for London's Business Plan set out measures which are designed to tackle congestion. We shall monitor the delivery of them and their impact on congestion and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of a 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London, as given in the 10-year plan; [71320]

  (2) what the benchmark is against which he will judge the 10-year plan target of 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London; and what the subsequent performance statistics relating to this target are. [71319]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: There is a Public Service Agreement target to reduce road congestion in large urban areas below 2000 levels by 2010. The 10-year plan listed the 15 per cent. reduction in traffic congestion across London among a number of possible outcomes for transport in London which could be delivered over the life of the plan, but the plan made it clear that the Mayor was responsible for specific priorities. The Mayor's Transport Strategy and Transport for London's Business Plan indicate these priorities. We shall monitor the delivery of them and their impact on congestion and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the next surveys relating to the level of congestion on the inter-urban trunk road network and in large urban areas. [71565]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: We hope to publish the year 2000 baseline for congestion in the autumn.
  1256W
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to restrict the power of the Mayor of London to introduce congestion charging. [72953]

  Mr. Spellar
  No. Parliament has given powers to the Mayor in the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to decide whether or not to introduce congestion charging.

  Transport Benchmarks
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the benchmarks are for(a) rail punctuality, (b) rail reliability and (c) rail use against which the PSA targets for transport contained in the 2002 Spending Review are set. [71621]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The benchmark year is 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001, against which we will measure the PSA target to increase rail use, while at the same time securing improvements in rail punctuality and reliability.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of overcrowding on London trains; and if he will give the benchmark against which he will judge the target of reducing overcrowding to meet the SRA standards by 2010, as indicated in annex 2 of the 10-year plan. [71345]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Strategic Rail Authority publishes overcrowding statistics on an annual basis. The most recent information was published on 6 June 2002 in the Authority's "On Track" publication. Overcrowding in London is controlled by the Authority's "Passengers In Excess of Capacity" (PIXC) mechanism.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department will publish local competition
  benchmarks. [71617]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]. I assume the hon. Member's question refers to local congestion benchmarks.

  The Department plans to use the national transport model to provide congestion benchmark profiles for different areas and reflecting different needs. Publication will follow once we are satisfied this information will be helpful to local authorities in planning how to tackle local congestion.

  Road Maintenance
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to(a) the current level and (b) the level as at July 2000 of maintenance backlog for (i) local roads, (ii) bridges and (iii) lighting. [71343]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The maintenance backlogs on local roads in England in 2000 were estimated at £2 billion for carriageways and footways, £750 million for bridges and retaining walls. and £1 billion for street lighting. Estimates of the current backlogs will depend upon data that is being collated at present.

  Road Works
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department issues to the Highways Agency with regard to the(a) phasing of roadworks and (b) timing of verge grass cutting. [72949]

  Mr. Spellar
  In line with Road User's Charter targets, the Highways Agency is tasked with ensuring that a minimum of 90 per cent. of works carried out during a year are no more than 2.5 miles long and are at least six miles apart.

  The guidelines for verge grass cutting are set out in the Agency's Trunk Road Maintenance Manual. This sets out minimum standards. Higher standards may be used at particular locations for, for example, safety or environmental reasons.

  Buses
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many(a) passenger journeys on buses and (b) bus trips per person per year there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [71330]

  (2) how many (a) passenger journeys on local bus services and (b) local bus trips per person there were in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [71329]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The Department collects details of passenger journeys on local bus services as part of the annual public service vehicle operators' survey. We do not at present collect information on passenger journeys on other types of bus service.

  Figures for England are as follows:

  (a) passenger journeys on local bus services

  Million

  1998–99

  3,719

  1999–2000

  3,732

  2000–01

  3,761

  Source:

  DfT annual survey of Public Service Vehicle operators.

  (b) Local bus trips per person per year

  Number

  1996–98

  62

  1997–99

  59

  1998–2000

  58

  Source:

  DfT National Travel Survey. (Three year averages. Excludes trips made by non-householders, for example, tourists and students).

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (1) pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2002,Official Report, column 205W, on bus priority schemes, how many routes were operated by guided buses as part of the London bus initiative in each of the last three years; and what the average level of Government funding was for each route; [71383]
  1258W
  (2) pursuant to his answer of 23 July 2002, Official Report, column 205W, on bus priority schemes, what the components are of the London Bus Initiative, including the breakdown of the purposes for which funding provided by Government have been used; and if he will make a statement. [71382]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The London Bus Initiative (LBI) is a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). I understand from TfL that improvements are specifically tailored to each route but could include:

  Upgraded buses;

  Improved safety measures;

  Improved accessibility;

  New bus priority measures;

  Improved customer information systems;

  Passenger waiting environments;

  Enforcement of bus lanes and other bus stop infringements.

  There are currently no guided bus routes forming part of the LBI.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on progress towards the output of(a) improved bus frequencies, (b) enhanced off-peak and (c) enhanced night bus services in London as part of the 10-Year-Plan; [71318]

  (2) what the benchmark is against which he will judge the 10 year plan output of (a) improved bus frequencies, (b) enhanced off-peak and (c) enhanced night bus services in London; and what the subsequent performance statistics relating to this target are. [71317]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The I 0-Year-Plan indicated a number of possible outcomes for transport in London which could be delivered over the life of the Plan, while making clear that the Mayor was responsible for specific priorities. In respect of improvements to bus services in London, we shall monitor delivery and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport. pursuant to his answer of 10 July 2002,Official Report, column 976W, on bus services, against what benchmark he will judge whether his Department is meeting its public service agreement to secure improvements in bus punctuality. [71372]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: We are considering the most appropriate means of measuring improvements to punctuality in relation to this target.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the accessibility indicator (households within 13 minutes walk of a bus stop with a service frequency at least once an hour was for(a) small urban areas three to 25k, (b) small urban areas three to 10k, (c) small urban areas 10 to 25k, (d) median urban areas, (e) large urban areas, (f) metropolitan built-up areas and (g) London boroughs in each of the latest three years for which figures are available. [71328]
  1259W
  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The proportion of households within 13 minutes walk of a bus stop with a service frequency of at least once an hour was:

  England

  1996–98

  1997–98

  1998–99

  (a) small urban areas 3–25k

  79

  76

  75

  (b) small urban areas 3–10k

  69

  66

  63

  (c) small urban areas 10–25k

  88

  85

  87

  (d) medium urban areas 25–250k

  95

  96

  96

  (e) large urban areas over 250k

  98

  98

  97

  (f) metropolitan built-up areas

  99

  99

  98

  (g) London boroughs

  98

  98

  98

  In 1998–99 we introduced new funding to improve accessibility to bus services in all rural areas. Since that year, Rural Bus Subsidy Grant has supported 1,800 new or improved bus services in rural England. The grant was extended in 2001–02 to cover all areas outside towns with a population of 25,000 or more and has now been increased to £47.5 million this financial year. In addition, we are now supporting over 200 rural transport projects under the Rural Bus Challenge scheme, which was also first introduced in 1998–99.The source is the National Travel Survey and normally three years of data are aggregated. However, the sample numbers for rural areas were exceptionally low for 2000, casting doubts on the validity of using the data for that year within the indicator. To provide consistency across areas, the average for 1998 and 1999 has been used instead of the average for the three years 1998–2000, as previously published. Figures for the average of 1999 and 2001 will be published when the results for 2001 are released on 25 July.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he collates on the frequency of buses in London; and if he will provide such statistics for the last four years. [71498]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: Bus services in London are the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport "for" London (TfL), and my Department does not routinely collect this information. However, I understand from TfL that there are currently 322 high frequency routes (every 12 minutes or better) and 185 low frequency routes. These exclude school routes, mobility services and night services. Figures for previous years are not available.

  Bus service frequencies are planned by TfL to allow the majority of passengers to use the network on a "turn-up-and-go" basis, with as many routes as possible running every 12 minutes or better. In general, service frequencies will not fall below hourly, including night services where applicable.

  Buses and Taxis
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve the sustainability and environmental quality of buses and taxis in city areas. [73206]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government have introduced a range of fiscal incentives to encourage the wider availability and use of cleaner fuels such as ultra-low sulphur petrol and diesel and road fuel gases such as LPG and natural gas. These incentives are relevant to all road vehicle sectors including buses and taxis.
  1260W
  My Department's PowerShift and CleanUp programmes-administered by the Energy Saving Trust-provide grants towards the cost of converting vehicles to run on cleaner fuels and towards the cost of fitting emission reduction technologies such as particulate traps. Both taxis and buses have benefited from these programmes.

  In addition, my Department has set up the New Vehicle Technology Fund to support the demonstration of innovative clean, fuel-efficient technologies such as fuel cells and hybrid vehicles. The Department views urban vehicles such as taxis and buses as important early markets for the introduction of these technologies and is currently assessing a number of taxi and bus proposals.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish a working group to review the quality of taxi systems in major English cities. [73204]

  Mr. Jamieson
  While we are responsible for the legislative framework for taxis throughout England and Wales, taxi licensing rests with local authorities; it is up to them to use their licensing powers to ensure that their local taxi system is of a satisfactory standard.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will license a new class of taxis in inner city areas based on smaller vehicles. [73203]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Under the legislation governing taxi licensing in England and Wales, a taxi must be a vehicle with fewer than nine passenger seats. Within this broad provision, it is up to local licensing authorities to determine which vehicles they consider suitable for licensing as taxis, bearing in mind that taxis are licensed for the purpose of enabling both individuals and small groups to hire them at a rank or hail them in the street.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the Smart car and similar vehicles as taxis for city areas. [73205]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department has made no specific assessment of the Smart car or any similar vehicle for use as taxis in city areas. Decisions about which vehicles to license as taxis are made by local licensing authorities based on their assessment of local conditions and circumstances. They would, of course, want to bear in mind the needs of people who wish to travel in small groups as well as those of disabled people, some of whom may need to travel in a wheelchair.

  Trams and Light Rail
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment for the purposes of the 10-year plan he has made as to the change in journey speeds on tram systems in London over the last two years; and if he will make a statement; [71499]

  (2) what the average journey speed on light rail systems in London was at July 2000; and what the benchmark is against which he will judge whether he has achieved the output of faster journeys by light rail in London in the 10-year plan; [71312]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the change in journey speeds on light rail systems in London in the last two years; and if he will make a statement; [71315]
  1261W
  (4) what assessment for the purposes of the 10-year plan he has made as to the change in journey speeds on guided buses in London over the last two years; and if he will make a statement; [71500]

  (5) what the average journey speed on tram systems in London was at July 2000; and what the benchmark is against which he will judge whether he has achieved the output of faster journeys by tram in London in the 10-year plan; [71313]

  (6) what the average journey speed on guided buses in London was at July 2000; and what the benchmark is against which he will judge whether he has achieved the output of faster journeys by guided bus in London in the 10-year plan. [71314]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The 10-year plan indicated a number of possible outcomes for transport in London which could be delivered over the life of the plan, while making clear that the Mayor was responsible for specific priorities. We shall monitor delivery and from time to time we shall review the situation with the Mayor. The outcome in the plan concerning new routes and faster journeys by light rail, tram or guided bus, was a general reference to possible new services which could result from new infrastructure which could be delivered using the plan's resources.

  Departmental Reorganisation
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by his Department in re-branding his Department(a) in total and (b) subdivided between (i) design of the departmental logo, (ii) design and orders of new stationery, (iii) Department signage and (iv) website design as a result of the Department structural change in June; and if he will make a statement. [70692]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department is spending a nominal sum of less than £25,000 from within existing budgets, to make the required changes to these items.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much has been spent on consultancy fees in relation to the change in Department structure since June; and if he will make a statement; [70711]

  (2) how much has been spent on changes in office accommodation as a result of the change in Department structure since June; and if he will make a statement. [70704]

  Mr. Jamieson
  So far no changes to office accommodation have been made as a result of the recent machinery of government changes and no money spent to date. Over the summer Ministers and officials will be co-located with Department for Transport staff currently in Great Minster House. This will be more effective and reduce travelling between Great Minster House and Eland House.

  Public Transport
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish new guidance on the flexible public transport services which the law already allows. [73537]
  1262W
  Mr. Spellar
  Fresh guidance on the range of flexible public transport services, which can currently be undertaken, will be published later this week. It is aimed at bus, taxi and private hire vehicle operators, local authorities, transport partnerships and voluntary groups because many may not be aware of the opportunities available. We want to encourage greater use of these services because they can bring more benefits both to passengers and providers and help improve public transport provision. We are distributing the document, which is a free publication, widely as well as publishing it on our website. Although this guidance has been produced as a follow up to the rural White Paper and gives examples of schemes being undertaken in rural areas, I would stress that the services apply equally for urban areas.

  REPPIR
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the meaning is of the term 'carrier' as used in REPPIR. [73189]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 a `carrier' is an employer undertaking the transport by rail of any radioactive substance, which includes a carrier for hire or reward and a carrier on own account, and an employer transferring or conveying a radioactive substance through any public place otherwise than by rail, road, inland waterway, sea or air or by means of a pipeline or similar means.

  Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by(a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date. [72717]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Ministers have held meetings with members of the Scottish Executive on a variety of transport issues since May 1999.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when and where Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting. [72699]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Ministers have held meetings with representatives of the Irish Government on a variety of transport issues since June 2000.

  Job Location
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs under the remit of his Department in(a) the core Department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater

  1263W
  London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual Department, body or organisation. [72733]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I would refer the hon. Member to the following table, which shows the position within the Department for Transport at 1 June 2002:

  Department for Transport

  Full-time equivalent

  Location

  Core Department1

  1,700

  London, rest of England and Scotland

  Executive Agencies2

  12,212

  consisting of:

  Driver and vehicle licensing

  5,144

  England, Scotland and Wales

  Driving Standards Agency

  1,970

  England, Scotland and Wales

  Highways Agency

  1,770

  England

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  112

  UK, USA and Japan

  Vehicle Inspectorate

  2,116

  England, Scotland and Wales

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency

  1,100

  UK

  Grand Total:

  13,912

  1 The core Department for the Department for Transport (DfT) employs approximately 1,700 staff. This figure is composed of staff working on policy areas and includes an estimate of 50 per cent. of the support staff who worked for the former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR). This figure may change when re-structuring is complete and final decisions have been taken on how support staff are to be allocated to the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and Department for Transport (DfT).

  2 The figures for the Executive Agencies are estimates—based on their plans for year 2002–03 and are taken from the DTLR (C) departmental annual report 2002.

  I will write to the hon. Member with details for non-departmental public bodies and independent statutory bodies in due course. It has not been possible to calculate the percentage per individual Department, body or organisation as we do not have a breakdown of the total figures by region.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Chichester, tabled on 22 May, on the official travel of departmental and non-departmental special advisers. [72683]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We have no record of such a question being tabled to this Department or its predecessor by the hon. Member.

  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the(a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information. [72248]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  Temporary Staff
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72637]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The information is not held centrally and is therefore not available.

  Travel Concessions
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities grant a 100 per cent. concession for travel by(a) bus, (b) train and (c) bus and train. [72670]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In England, Crawley, Reading and Redditch provide free concessionary travel for pensioners and disabled people on local bus services only. There are no free concessionary travel schemes that cover only local train travel. Those areas which provide free concessionary travel on local bus services and other transport modes (including travel by local train) for pensioners and disabled people are: the London boroughs (together), Merseyside PTE, West Midlands PTE (pensioners only), and Rutland (disabled people only).

  An additional 81 areas in England provide free concessionary travel for blind people on local bus services; of those areas 39 also offer free concessionary travel on other transport modes.

  Transport Schemes
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many transport schemes to address demand in rural areas were funded by the Government in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [72671]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Precise information on the number of transport schemes in rural areas is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, funding for transport schemes in rural areas is available through the Government's targeted programme for improvements (TPI) to the trunk road network, the local transport plan (LTP) system and the rural bus challenge.

  Of the schemes in the TPI, one rural bypass has been completed and a further 15 rural bypasses and road improvements are under construction. Under the LTP system, local authorities have been allocated ring-fenced capital funds for major schemes costing over £5 million, some of which will benefit rural areas, and block allocations for smaller scale schemes. Authorities have reported in their LTP annual progress reports that capital allocations for local transport are expected to deliver 31 schemes in rural areas in 2000–01 and 55 schemes in 2001–02. This covers rural bypasses on local roads, quiet lane schemes and rural 20-mph zones. The rural bus challenge supported 77 innovative public transport projects in 2000–01 and 85 such projects in 2001–02.

  We have also funded improved transport services in rural areas through the rural bus subsidy grant, and the rural transport partnership and parish transport fund schemes administered by the Countryside Agency.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website; [72278]

  (2) for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website. [72288]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply, this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on the Department's website.

  Minimum requirements for the type of documents which should be published on Government websites are set out in guidance issued by the Office of the E-Envoy, "Guidelines for Government Websites" (Illustrated Handbook for web management teams section 2.2 'What content should be on your website?' and section 2.3 `Cross-government requirements'). In addition to setting out guidelines on documents for inclusion, the guidance explicitly requires Departments to ensure that content of the site as a whole is up to date and current, and where it is necessary to update the content of individual documents, to show the latest date of amendment clearly on the document concerned. Section 1.2.7 deals with the issue of record management and the OeE currently has a consultation paper out on archiving websites. The purpose of this draft annex to the Illustrated Handbook is to provide Government website managers with a framework towards developing, within their website management policy, suitable procedures and systems to assist in the management, appraisal and preservation of electronic records. A copy of this draft is available online at: http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk:/webguidelines.htm

  A copy of the guidelines for UK Government websites is available at: http://www.-envoy.gov.uk/webguidelines.htm

  Thames Gateway
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding is available to develop transport links to the Thames Gateway. [72110]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Approved transport schemes will be funded from the resources in the 10-year Plan for transport.

  Consultations
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72067]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A list of the public consultations by the Department or its predecessors since 1 April 2002 is listed below, including the closing dates for responses and the website address of each document. The list is based on central records and reflects the public consultations undertaken within the areas for which the Department is currently responsible.
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  Local Transport
  Reform of national regulations and approval schemes for the construction and use of minibuses, buses, and coaches. Issued 15 July 2002. Responses requested by 11 October 2002.
  "http://www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/consult/busconstruct/index.htm"
  Public Consultation on the Proposed Trunk Road Charging Schemes (Bridges and Tunnels) (Keeping of Accounts) (England) Regulations. Published 8 July 2002. Responses requested by 27 September 2002.
  "http://www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/trunkroad/index .htm"

  Railways
  Establishing a Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Issued 18 July 2002. Responses requested by 10 October 2002.
  "http://www.railways.dft.gov .uk/consult/raib/index.htm"
  EC Second Railway Package. Issued 24 May 2002. Responses requested 23 August 2002.
  "http://www.railways.dft.gov.uk/consult/ecsecond/index.htm"
  Exemptions from sections 76 and 77 of the Railways Act 1993 (as amended by section 228 of the Transport Act 2000) and section 248 of the Transport Act 2000. Issued 30 April 2002. Responses requested by 24 June 2002.
  "http://www.railways.dft.gov.uk/consult/act/index .htm"

  Roads Vehicles and Road Safety
  Joint consultation with DTI and DEFRA—Developing Energy Policy—Key Issues for Consultation for the White Paper (13 September 2002). Issued
  1 July 2002. Responses requested by 20 September 2002.
  "http://www2.dti.gov.uk/energy/developep"
  Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations 2002 (20 September 2002) Archive Papers. Issued 21 June 2002. Responses requested by 20 September 2002.
  "http://www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/pedbicreg/index.htm"
  Public Consultation on the Proposed Trunk Road Charging Schemes (Bridges and Tunnels) (Keeping of Accounts) (England) Regulations. Published 8 July 2002. Responses requested 27 September 2002.
  "http://www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/trunkroad/index.htm"
  Joint consultation with HM Treasury—Implementing the Fourth Motor Insurance Directive. Issued 24 April 2002. Responses requested by 17 July 2002.
  "http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ConsultationsandLegislation"
  Proposals for regulation changes to enable MOT computerisation. Issued 5 July 2002. Responses requested by 4 October 2002.
  "http://www .roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/mot/index.htm"

  Shipping
  Port Waste Reception Facilities: A consultation paper Issued 23 May 2002. Responses requested by 19 August 2002.
  "http://www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/consult/portwaste/index.htm"
  Light Dues Review: Meeting the Costs of Marine Aids Issued 10 May 2002. Responses requested by 31 July 2002.
  "http://www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/consult/light/index.htm"

  Financial Assistance for Moving Freight from Road to Inland Waterway and Maritime Transport Issued 29 April 2002. Responses requested by 26 July 2002. "http://www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/consult/famcon/index.htm"

  Consultation Documents
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many consultation documents published in 2001 in(a) electronic and (b) printed form his Department has monitored and evaluated in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations; [70963]

  (2) which consultation documents published by his Department in 2001 were not made available as paper copies; [70965]
  1267W
  (3) whether his Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations; [70966]

  (4) how many complaints his Department has received about its 2001 consultations in electronic or printed form; [70964]

  (5) how long her Department allowed for consultation on each consultation document it published in 2001 in (a) electronic and (b) printed form; [70960]

  (6) in what format his Department has published the results of its 2001 written consultations; [70962]

  (7) whether consultation documents published by his Department in 2001 carried the consultation criteria as recommended in the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations; [70961]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department has issued internal guidance to ensure consultation documents comply with the requirements of the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation. The Department has also appointed a consultation co-ordinator in accordance with criterion 7 of the Code.

  A list of the public consultations undertaken by the Department or its predecessors in 2001 has been placed in the Library, including the dates for which the period for responses opened and closed. The list is based on central records and reflects the public consultations undertaken within the areas for which the Department is currently responsible. More specific details concerning the handling of individual consultation exercises are not held centrally.

  Home Zones
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which home zones have been introduced in each of the last three years. [71332]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: Information is not held centrally on the home zones introduced in each of the last three years. Figures for the number of home zones proposed by English authorities outside London within their August 2001 Local Transport Plan Annual Progress Reports were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 663–64W.

  Direct Electronic Access
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the transport-related services offered by Government via direct electronic access. [71322]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: Publicly available policy statements, reports, guidance, statistics and press notices are made available through the Department for Transport's website: http://www.dft.gov.uk. The Department's consultations are available on the website and facilities are available for response by e-mail.

  The Department already offers a large number of transport-related services via electronic direct access. For example, the portal http://www.motoring.gov.uk brings together the range of Government services for the motorist. Further initiatives are also under way for the future electronic provision of transport-related services.

  Galileo Satellite System
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates his Department has made of the economic and transport-related benefits to the United Kingdom and the European Union from the proposed Galileo satellite navigation system. [70697]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon on 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 884W.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations have been made by his Department into the possible use of the Galileo satellite system for monitoring the movements of motorists. [70696]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None. Satellite-based positioning systems do not of themselves permit the movement of vehicles to be monitored. However, many commercial "intelligent transport systems" such as those used for fleet management purposes by operators of commercial vehicles, do make use of satellite-based navigation technology, in conjunction with communication systems. Galileo could improve the performance of such intelligent transport systems.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates have been made by his Department of the extent to which the proposed Galileo satellite navigation system will duplicate services available under the Global Positioning System. [70708]

  Mr. Jamieson
  At present the civil community makes use of an open access signal provided by the US Global Positioning System (GPS) but this is subject to US national security interests, is not guaranteed and is not adequate for some safety critical uses such as in air traffic management. GPS is managed and operated by the US Government and funded by the US Department of Defense (DOD). It was developed primarily as a military system with the main purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of US military forces. Through co-operation agreements, the US has made available the GPS military signals to NATO and individual States such as the UK. GPS will continue to be used by NATO and the UK for military applications.

  Galileo has the potential to provide Europe with its own purpose built civil navigation and positioning system which could generate strategic and economic benefits to the UK, Europe and globally. For example, in transport it could help in the development of traffic management and intelligent transport systems across all modes of transport to help control congestion, reduce pollution and contribute to improved safety. Additionally, as it is intended that it should complement and be interoperable with the civil signal (and future planned signals) provided by GPS, users should obtain improved availability and reliability particularly in urban areas. The two systems could provide the integrity of service required for greater use of the technology in safety critical applications such as air traffic management.

  The Government intends to work to ensure that there is co-operation with the US, so that Galileo is interoperable with GPS civil signals and is developed in such a way as to give value for money to UK and European taxpayers and users.
  1269W
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total estimated cost is of the Galileo Satellite Navigation System; how much the United Kindgom is contributing; and if he will make a statement on the need for the Galileo system. [71032]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A study carried out last year by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on behalf of the Commission has put the capital cost of Galileo at euro 3.4 billion, with annual operating costs of euro 224 million over a 20-year concession period. PWC considered that the programme would require some continued public funding for deployment of the system and payments during operation. Total public sector funding was estimated at some euro 3.8 billion, depending on the private sector assessment of revenues and risks, and subject to the outcome of a competitive tendering process for a public-private partnership (PPP) for the deployment and operational phases.

  The UK is helping to fund Galileo through contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA), which is jointly funding and carrying out the programme with the European Union. For the definition phase (1999–2000) and some early development work (2001) the Government contributed about £10.4 million. For the development and validation phase (2002–05) which was approved in March by the EU Transport Council, negotiations within ESA over member states' contributions are still progressing. Funds for the development and validation phase are also being provided from the budget of the European Communities to which the UK contributes.

  Galileo has been discussed at a number of European Councils including the Laeken Council in December last year, which reaffirmed the strategic importance of the project to Europe. The UK has always supported the Council's conclusions on Galileo as it recognises

  Department

  Total despatched

  Regionally generated

  Despatched for national department

  Department for Transport

  7

  6

  1

  Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

  218

  125

  93

  Highways Agency

  40

  35

  5

  Health and Safety Executive

  47

  26

  21

  Totals

  312

  192

  120

  I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Adventure Holidays
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths have occurred on adventure holidays in the past five years. [69772]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Based on information provided by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority there have been 31 fatalities (which includes adults) during organised adventure activity holidays since 1997. Of the three deaths at licensed centres, one involved a pre-existing condition and two involved instructors. This figure includes fatalities to UK residents participating in overseas adventure activity holidays that were organised through UK providers as set out in the table.
  1270W
  the potential benefits that it could bring to the UK and Europe in transport and other economic and industrial areas.

  Former Ministers (Compensation)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid by his Department in compensation to Ministers from the former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, who left Government in June; and if he will make a statement. [70705]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Under the terms of section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, all Ministers (except the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor) are entitled to a severance payment equal to one quarter of their final ministerial salary on leaving office, provided that the individual has not attained the age of 65 or been appointed to another paid office within a period of three weeks. The salaries of Ministers who left the Government in June are already in the public domain.

  Government News Network North East
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions press releases have been released on behalf of(a) his Department, (b) the Highways Agency and (c) the Health and Safety Executive by the Government News Network North East since 7 June 2001; and if he will place copies of such press releases in the Library. [70653]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Between 7 June 2001 and 15 July 2002 Government News Network North East (formerly the Central Office of Information North East) issued press releases on behalf of the Department for Transport, the Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions, the Highways Agency and the Health and Safety Executive as follows:

  Number of fatalities during participation in adventure activities from 1 January 1997 to 21 July 20021 as recorded by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority

  Group type

  Number of fatalities

  Scouts

  6

  Schools

  16

  Licensed Centres

  3

  Others (vol.clubs/army training/unlicensed centres)

  6

  Total

  31

  1 Deaths recorded over a period of five years six months

  Notes:

  1. Of these deaths three are thought to be as a result of a previous and unknown medical condition.

  2. The figures do not include sub-aqua diving fatalities.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the(a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case. [68722]

  Mr. Jamieson
  All overseas travel by officials in my Department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set out in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code (available on the Cabinet Office website at http:// www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/managementcode/ csmc.pdf)

  The annual expenditure on overseas travel for the last financial year for the predecessor department, the Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions, was £1,804,386.65. This total includes the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards meeting the targets set out in 'Our towns and cities: the future', relating to(a) journey times on the London underground, (b) road congestion in large urban areas, (c) increasing bus use, (d) increasing rail use, (e) reducing the number of people killed and injured in road accidents and (f) increasing light rail use. [69385]

  Mr. Jamieson
  These targets were set out in the 10 Year Plan for Transport and referred to in "Our towns and cities: the future". The progress recorded so far is as follows:(a) Journey times on the London Underground PSA target: "Cut journey times on London Underground by increasing capacity and reducing delays. Specific targets will be agreed with the Mayor after the PPP has been established."

  London Underground Limited's Reliability Improvement Programme delivered improvements in both indicators last year. In 2001–02 capacity increased by 2.5 per cent. and delays reduced by 6.7 per cent.
  (b) Road congestion in large urban areas PSA target: "Reduce road congestion in large urban areas below current levels by 2010 by promoting integrated transport solutions and investing in public transport and the road network".

  A new congestion monitoring exercise to establish the baselines from which progress will be measured is being finalised and the results will be published in due course.
  (c) Increasing bus use PSA target: "Increase bus use from 2000 levels by 10 per cent. by 2010, while improving punctuality and reliability".

  The latest figures for bus use, for 2000–01, show the number of passenger journeys increased by 1 per cent. across England as a whole. Results for 2001–02 are due in October. Latest results for service reliability, for the fourth quarter in 2001–02 show 98.7 per cent. of scheduled local bus mileage in England was completed compared with 98.6 per cent. one year ago.
  (d) Increasing rail use PSA target: "Increase rail use in Great Britain by 50 per cent. between 2000 and 2010, while improving punctuality and reliability".

  The latest results for 2001–02 show an increase of 2.4 per cent. in passenger kilometres travelled compared to the previous year.
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  (e) Reducing the number of people killed and injured in road accidents PSA target: "Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in GB in road accidents by 40 per cent. by 2010 and the number of children killed or seriously injured by 50 per cent. compared with the average for 1994–98."

  Provisional results for 2001 show a reduction of 14.9 per cent. (total) and 27.3 per cent. (children) compared to the baseline.
  (f) Increasing light rail use PSA target: "Double light rail use from 2000 levels by 2010".

  The latest results, for 2000–01 show a 27 per cent. increase in passenger journeys compared to the previous year. Results for 2001–02 are due shortly.

  Infrastructure Pricing Reform
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the forthcoming European Directive on infrastructure pricing reform. [66059]

  Mr. Spellar
  The European Commission indicated in its European Transport Policy White Paper that it would propose a framework directive in 2002 to establish the principles of infrastructure charging and a pricing structure for all modes of transport.

  The Commission has not yet brought forward its proposals. And, at this stage, it is unclear what it wants to achieve by proposing a common methodology across all modes. Clearly, it would need to be demonstrated that these measures are necessary at a Community level and respect the principles of subsidiarity. It would also be essential that any proposals are based on the appropriate Treaty provisions.

  Transport Projects
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the review of the planning process for transport projects to which transport funding announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July are linked. [71255]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: This will be the subject of discussions between my Department and that of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the(a) benchmark lead times for major infrastructure transport projects and (b) shortened lead times are which form part of the delivery reform measures to which transport funding announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July are linked. [71259]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: It is too early to provide precise details of the work to streamline processes for transport planning and delivery, but it is the intention to build on the improvements already made by the Highways Agency, while the SRA will be working with the rail industry to develop special purpose vehicles to deliver major rail projects more effectively.

  EU Committees (Scottish Representation)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EU Scientific Committee for occupational exposure limits to chemical agents is next
  1273W
  due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [71820]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The European Union's Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) is next due to meet on 26 and 27 September 2002. No member or representative of the Scottish Executive either has been or is currently a member of SCOEL. The Health and Safety Executive nominates the two UK members of SCOEL on the basis of their scientific and toxicological background rather than as representatives of the UK Government. The current UK nominees are a Senior Toxicologist at the Medical Research Council Institute for Environment and Health and the Head of the Health and Safety Executive's Industrial Chemicals Unit.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Joint Committee on the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway (EC-Czech Republic-Republic of Poland-Slovak Republic) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [73153]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have not been able to identify the Committee referred to by the hon. Member.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Slovak Republic Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [73154]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This Committee is established under the provisions of an agreement between the European Community and the Slovak Republic establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been—and would not in the future be—members of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Hungary Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [73158]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This Committee is established under the provisions of the Agreement of 12 July 2000 between the European Community and the Republic of Hungary establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met since the conclusion of the Agreement or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been—and would not in the future be—members of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

  EU (Scottish Representation)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State when the EC-Czech Republic Joint Transport Committee is next 1274W
  due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [73155]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This Committee is established under the provisions of an Agreement between the European Community and the Czech Republic establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the Agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been—and would not in the future be—members of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the EC-Poland Joint Transport Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [73159]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This Committee is established under the provisions of an Agreement between the European Community and Poland establishing certain conditions for the carriage of goods by road and the promotion of combined transport. The remit of the Committee is to ensure the proper implementation of the agreement. I am not aware that it has met in recent times or that there are any plans for it to meet in the future. Representatives of the Scottish Executive have not been—and would not in the future be—members of the Committee as the matters for which it has responsibility are reserved.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2002,Official Report, columns 606–07W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Committee on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (SEVESO II); and if he will make a statement. [73168]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Scottish Executive has not attended meetings of the EU Committee on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (SEVESO II) since May 1999.

  The mandate of the EU Committee on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances (SEVESO II) is to promote coherent implementation and consistent application of the provisions of the Seveso II Directive throughout the Community. This necessitates close co-operation of the competent authorities of all member states and the European Commission. The committee of competent authority meetings (CCA) provide such a forum. The CCA consists of representatives of the member states and the Commission services. It discusses all issues concerning the implementation of the Seveso II Directive and gives guidance as to their practical application.

  The committee meets twice a year and is attended on behalf of the UK by representatives of the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency. Where appropriate officials from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Executive and other agencies may also attend.
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  In Great Britain a Competent Authority for the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999, which implements the Seveso Directive, has been established. This committee meets twice a year, and its meetings are attended by the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.

  General Lighthouse Fund
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what terms the General Lighthouse Fund has lent money to operate holiday homes to Trinitas Services; what net rental proceeds have been remitted to the fund; and if he will make a statement. [72310]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The General Lighthouse Fund has made available to Trinitas Services Ltd. a loan facility up to £1 million for the refurbishment and marketing of the lighthouse cottages under a commercial contract with Rural Retreats Ltd. To date £440,000 has been drawn down against this loan facility.

  The loan is repayable over 10 years and carries an interest rate of 5 per cent. starting after three years. Security is by a Deed of Charge over TSL's interest in each property. The lease provides for ground rents in addition to the interest on the loan. There is no direct rental income. A non executive director of Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) has been appointed to the board of TSL as a nominee of the Lighthouse Service.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the General Lighthouse Fund report and accounts for the financial year 2001–02 will be published; and if he will make a statement. [72313]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: We expect to publish the General Lighthouse Fund report and accounts for the financial year 2001–02 in early 2003.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the lighthouse centres opened to visitors over the past two years; what the(a) capital costs, (b) revenue costs and (c) income of each of those centres has been in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [72311]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The Northern Lighthouse Board has none of its lighthouses opened to visitors over the last two years other than by exceptional special arrangement. The board is currently negotiating with two local trusts one in south-west Scotland and the other in Orkney to reach agreement for regular public access to two lighthouses.

  All of the Trinity House Lighthouse Service visitor centres are operated through third parties and not directly by the Lighthouse Service. The GLF benefits from an agreed share of the profits under each scheme and thus profits and costs are set out in the table.

  £

  Lighthouse

  Income

  Capital cost

  2000–01

  Alderney

  405

  —

  Flamborough

  370

  3,500

  Lizard

  5,616

  3,000

  North Foreland

  472

  2,474

  1276W

  £

  Lighthouse

  Income

  Capital cost

  Pendeen

  797

  2,807

  Portland Bill

  7,746

  3,000

  South Stack

  3,364

  26,721

  Southwold

  30

  2,500

  Start Point

  894

  3,307

  19,695

  40,310

  2001–02

  Alderney

  466

  —

  Flamborough

  643

  —

  Lizard

  5,117

  —

  North Foreland

  —

  —

  Pendeen

  570

  —

  Portland Bill

  595

  —

  South Stack

  9,223

  —

  Southwold

  5,963

  2,965

  Start Point

  251

  —

  1,781

  —

  23,470

  2,965

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment has been made by the General Lighthouse Fund in the development of the 40 vacant houses owned by Trinity House to turn those dwellings into holiday lettings; and if he will make a statement. [72314]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The properties are ex lighthouse keepers' cottages and have been empty in recent years. In order to put them in a suitable material state for transferring to Trinitas Services Ltd. it was necessary to bring them up to modern building standards and comply with health and safety regulations. The cost is in the order of £500k which includes reinstatement of kitchens and bathrooms. This cost would have been similar if the cottages had been prepared for sale.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value is of the General Lighthouse Fund's reserve fund; and if he will make a statement. [72312]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The General Lighthouse Fund is valued at £64 million as at 22 July 2002. This includes a reserve of £32 million to support pension arrangements.

  The fund is maintained at a level to meet liabilities under Section 211 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, including expenditure on wreck removal, pensions and self insurance of assets.

  Transport 10-year Plan
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a list of the 96 major local road and public transport schemes approved under the transport 10-year plan. [71609]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the lines included in the target given in his 10-year plan for an 80 per cent. increase in patronage on
  1277W
  intercity lines, at paragraph 6.22, page 49; and if he will publish the relevant patronage levels for each of the last three years. [71566]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The 80 per cent. increase in patronage on intercity lines is an expected outcome over the period of the 10-year plan. There are six operators who run high-speed services between major towns and cities. These are listed in the table, which shows passenger kilometres for these operators over the last three years. These figures are included in the Strategic Rail Authority's annual report.

  Passenger Kilometres

  Million

  Long distance operator

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  First Great Western

  2,387

  2,387

  2,428

  Great North Eastern Railways

  3,931

  3,910

  3,768

  Midland Mainline

  1,070

  1,091

  1,134

  Virgin CrossCounty

  2,374

  2,205

  2,423

  Virgin West Coast

  3,398

  3,322

  3,177

  Anglia

  726

  666

  774

  Note:

  The Anglia figure includes both local as well as intercity services

  Source:

  SRA Annual Report

  Passenger kilometres on long-distance operators fell by 8 per cent. following the Hatfield accident, down from 13.2 billion km in 1999–2000 to 12.1 billion km in 2000–01. This has been followed by a rise of 7 per cent. to 12.9 billion km in 2001–02. These figures are included in the Strategic Rail Authority's National Rail Trends publication, the most recent of which was published on 6 June, a copy of which is in the House Library.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library an updated copy of Table A3 from the 10-year transport plan(a) at outturn prices or (b) at today's prices. [72771]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A breakdown of revised 10-year plan spending will be published in the autumn as part of the first year report on the plan.

  Public Service Agreement
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the public service agreement target in respect of the national cycling strategy was removed in the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review; and what impact he estimates the removal will have on the implementation of the strategy. [71736]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Although no target for cycling was included in either the 2000 or 2002 public service agreements, the target set out in the 10-year plan for Transport to treble the number of cycling trips from 2000 levels by 2010 remains in place, as does the strategy aimed at delivering it.

  Mersey Passenger Transport Authority
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extent to which his officials consult the Mersey Passenger Transport Authority on questions about the authority. [72155]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority is consulted from time to time in relation to aspects of Government business in which it may have an interest

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Members of Parliament (Personal Data)
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what information is held by her Department on each hon. Member in relation to(a) personal relationships, both current and past, (b) financial status and dealings, (c) connections with companies and interest groups, (d) connections with Governments and (e) published works; and what was held in January 2002. [61829]

  Yvette Cooper
  Ministers and officials in this Department have access to published reference sources, as well as to the information about hon. Members made publicly available by the House authorities, for the purpose of parliamentary business.

  The Department may also hold information in connection with applications for judicial appointments or Queen's Counsel and information that relates to court proceedings.

  Any request to the Department for the disclosure of information relating to individuals are handled in accordance with the principles laid down in the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

  EU Committees (Scottish Executive Representation)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the EU Committee on the service in the member state of judicial and extrajudicial documents and on co-operation between the courts of the member states in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [70926]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There are two separate committees, one relating to the regulation on the service in the member states of judicial and extrajudicial documents and the other relating to the regulation on co-operation between the courts of the member states in the taking of evidence in civil and commercial matters. No meetings are scheduled for the former. The latter will not meet until after the regulation applies from 1 January 2004. It will meet only when it is necessary to review the standard forms in the annexe to the regulation. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in, discussions at official and Ministerial level, with the Lord Chancellor's Department on the formulation of EU policy which touches on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive. A representative of the Scottish Executive attended the one previous meeting of the former committee and a representative is likely to attend further meetings as well as any meetings of the latter committee.
  1279W
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the EU Committee on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses and on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I and II) is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [70927]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Consideration of the draft `Brussels I' and 'Brussels II' Regulations was concluded by the end of 2000 and both Regulations are now in force. The Scottish Executive was fully represented throughout. The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved with discussions on the formulation of EU policy by the Lord Chancellor's Department which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for how long she retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on her Department's website. [72230]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  My Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on our Departmental website.

  My Department aims to ensure that it follows guidance issued by the Office of the e-Envoy "Guidelines for UK Government Websites" and that records are kept for a period appropriate to their use.

  The website does not have any local policies which go beyond the requirement set out in the e-Envoy's guidelines but aims to follow Departmental policy on record management, namely that policy documents are subject to first review after five years after the last-dated correspondence, and second review 25 years after first-dated correspondence.

  Bonded Legal Assistance
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what plans she has to regulate and control solicitors and companies who provide bonded legal assistance; and what plans she has to review her policy on protection for parties to civil actions by bonds. [73360]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Solicitors and companies providing legal assistance are regulated by a range of bodies, including the Law Society, the Financial Services Authority and the General Insurance Standards Council. The possibility of further regulation is kept under review.

  Parties to civil actions have a range of methods by which they may fund their litigation. These include public funding, conditional fee agreements, trade union support or the purchase of insurance against the risk of losing and paying costs. Bonds are not one of these methods, as far as the Government are aware.
  1280W
  Insurance cover is available to protect against the risk of losing and paying costs. The cost of the premium is dependent on the extent of cover, the complexity and type of case arid any inherent risk. With effect from 1 April 2000 it has been possible to recover the premium from the losing party as an item of costs, subject to the normal rules of court. Where the court is called on to assess those costs the court will allow only such costs as are reasonable and proportionate.

  Rape Trials
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will set up a Thematic inquiry into the way rape trials are dealt with by the judiciary; and if she will make a statement. [65209]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Lord Chancellor has no proposal to set up a Thematic inquiry into the way rape trials are dealt with by the judiciary. The conduct of a rape trial is a matter for the judge in the exercise of his or her judicial discretion.

  To assist those who have to give evidence the Government will be introducing special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses in the Crown court from today. These will be subject to judicial discretion but they will, for example, allow witnesses to give evidence over a live television link from outside the courtroom.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what procedure there is for removing the authorisation to judges to hear rape trials; and to whom the procedure is available; [70680]

  (2) what authorisation is necessary before a court of appeal judge may hear rape appeals; [70681]

  (3) who decides whether a judge ought to be authorised to hear rape trials; and how the decision is taken; [70689]

  (4) whether there is outside inspection of judges' conduct before they are authorised to hear rape trials; [70690]

  (5) if she will list the judges in the Court of Appeal who were authorised to hear rape trials when they were judges of first instance; [70818]

  (6) if she will list the judges in the (a) High Court and (b) Crown Court who are authorised to hear rape trials. [70827]

  Yvette Cooper
  My noble and learned Friend, the Lord Chancellor, is concerned that only those Judges with the appropriate experience and sensitivity hear rape cases.

  Section 75 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 states that the Lord Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, can, by means of a practice direction, determine the cases or classes of cases suitable for allocation to High Court Judges, Circuit Judges and Recorders. From time to time successive Lord Chief Justices have issued such practice directions. In October 2001 the current Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, issued a practice direction which, again, determined that all High Court Judges and those Circuit Judges and Recorders, approved for that purpose by the Senior Presiding Judge, with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice can hear rape cases.
  1281W
  In practice, primarily those High Court Judges assigned to the Queen's Bench Division hear rape cases. Authorisations of Circuit Judges and Recorders are sought by the Presiding Judge of each Circuit in consultation with the Resident Judge of the relevant Crown court. The Senior Presiding Judge then makes the decision on the basis that the Judge is suitable to try sensitive cases.

  Those Judges selected for authorisation have to attend a Judicial Studies Board seminar on serious sexual offences before they are formally authorised. They also have to attend further seminars from time-to-time. The names of Circuit Judges currently authorised to hear rape cases are listed.

  There is no "outside inspection" of a Judges' conduct prior to authorisation. If he thinks it appropriate, the Lord Chief Justice can remove an authorisation.

  All 35 Judges of the Court of Appeal were formerly Justices of the High Court and could hear rape cases when they held that office. All Judges of the Court of Appeal can hear rape appeals without any further authorisation.

  Midland circuit

  His Honour Judge Alexander QC

  His Honour Judge Appleby QC

  His Honour Judge Dudley Bennett

  His Honour Judge Richard Benson

  His Honour Judge Brunning

  Her Honour Judge Butler QC

  His Honour Judge Cavell

  His Honour Judge Chapman

  His Honour Judge Paul Clark

  His Honour Judge Marten Coates

  His Honour Judge Richard Cole DL

  His Honour Judge Corrie

  His Honour Judge Eades

  His Honour Judge Eccles QC

  His Honour Judge Trevor Faber

  Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Fisher

  His Honour Judge Fletcher

  His Honour Judge Geddes

  His Honour Judge Griffith-Jones

  His Honour Judge Julian Hall

  His Honour Judge Simon Hammond

  His Honour Judge Charles Harris QC

  His Honour Judge Heath

  Her Honour Judge Hindley QC

  His Honour Judge Christopher Hodson

  His Honour Judge Inglis

  His Honour Judge Richard Jenkins

  His Honour Judge Macduff QC

  His Honour Judge Marshall

  His Honour Judge Matthews

  His Honour Judge Mayor QC

  His Honour Judge McCarthy

  His Honour Judge McCreath

  His Honour Judge David McEvoy QC

  His Honour Judge Metcalf

  His Honour Judge Morrell

  His Honour Judge Morris

  His Honour Judge Mott

  His Honour Judge Oliver-Jones QC

  1282W

  His Honour Judge Orme

  His Honour Judge Orrell

  His Honour Judge Perrett QC

  His Honour Judge Pollard

  His Honour Judge Pugsley

  His Honour Judge Pyke

  His Honour Judge Rubery

  His Honour Judge Shand

  His Honour Judge Stanley

  His Honour Judge Michael Stokes QC

  His Honour Judge Stretton

  His Honour Judge Styler

  His Honour Judge Alan Taylor

  His Honour Judge Teare

  His Honour Judge Tonking

  His Honour Judge Wait

  His Honour Judge Richard Wakerley QC

  His Honour Judge Warner

  His Honour Judge Wide QC

  North eastern circuit

  His Honour Judge Adams

  His Honour Judge Armstrong

  His Honour Judge Barber

  His Honour Judge Barr-Young

  His Honour Judge Bartfield

  His Honour Judge Bentley QC

  Her Honour Judge Bolton

  His Honour Judge Bowers

  His Honour Judge Briggs

  His Honour Judge Bryant

  His Honour Judge Bullimore

  His Honour Judge Bush

  Her Honour Judge Annabel Carr QC

  His Honour Judge Carr

  His Honour Judge Cartlidge

  His Honour Judge Charlesworth

  His Honour Judge Cockroft

  His Honour Judge Crabtree

  His Honour Judge Cracknell

  Her Honour Judge Davies

  His Honour Judge Dobkin

  His Honour Judge Faulks QC

  His Honour Judge Fox QC

  His Honour Judge Goldsack

  His Honour Judge Grant

  His Honour Judge Grenfell

  His Honour Judge Gullick

  His Honour Judge Hawkesworth QC

  His Honour Judge Heppel QC

  His Honour Judge Hewitt

  His Honour Judge Hodson

  His Honour Judge Hoffman

  His Honour Judge Norman Jones QC

  1283W

  His Honour Judge Kamil

  His Honour Judge Keen QC

  His Honour Judge Langan QC

  His Honour Judge Lawler QC

  His Honour Judge Lowden

  His Honour Judge McCallum

  His Honour Judge Mettyear

  His Honour Judge Milford QC

  His Honour Judge Murphy QC

  His Honour Judge Reddihough

  His Honour Judge Robertshaw

  His Honour Judge Scott

  His Honour Judge Spencer QC

  His Honour Judge Shaun Spencer QC

  His Honour Judge Spittle

  His Honour Judge Stewart QC

  Her Honour Judge Sutcliffe

  His Honour Judge Michael Taylor

  His Honour Judge Robert Taylor

  His Honour Judge Walford

  His Honour Judge Walton

  His Honour Judge Whitburn QC

  His Honour Judge Wolstenholme

  His Honour Judge Wood

  Northern circuit

  His Honour Judge Appleton

  His Honour Judge Atherton

  Her Honour Judge Badley

  His Honour Judge Stuart Baker

  His Honour Judge Raymond Bennett

  His Honour Judge Blake

  His Honour Judge Boulton

  His Honour Judge Mark Brown

  His Honour Judge Robert Brown

  His Honour Judge Burke QC

  His Honour Judge Ian Campbell

  His Honour Judge David Clarke QC

  His Honour Judge Denis Clark

  His Honour Judge Clifton

  His Honour Judge Crompton

  His Honour Judge Sir Rhys Davies QC

  His Honour Judge Duckworth

  His Honour Judge Duncan

  His Honour Judge Ensor

  His Honour Judge Fawcus

  His Honour Judge Fish

  His Honour Judge Geake

  His Honour Judge George

  His Honour Judge Gilmour QC

  1284W

  His Honour Judge Hammond

  His Honour Judge Henshell

  His Honour Judge Holloway

  His Honour Judge Humphries

  Her Honour Judge Kusher QC

  His Honour Judge Lakin

  His Honour Judge Lewis

  His Honour Judge Lynch

  His Honour Judge Lyon

  His Honour Judge Maddison

  His Honour Judge Mahon

  His Honour Judge Morgan

  His Honour Judge William Morris

  His Honour Judge Mort

  His Honour Judge Openshaw QC

  His Honour Judge Phillips

  His Honour Judge Phipps

  His Honour Judge Roberts

  Her Honour Judge Ruaux

  His Honour Judge Singer

  His Honour Judge Slinger

  His Honour Judge Adrian Smith

  His Honour Judge Peter Smith

  Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Steel

  His Honour Judge Steiger QC

  His Honour Judge Swift

  Her Honour Judge Watson

  His Honour Judge Woodward

  South eastern circuit

  His Honour Judge Addison

  His Honour Judge Ader

  His Honour Judge Ansell

  His Honour Judge Anthony

  Her Honour Judge Anwyl QC

  His Honour Judge Findlay Baker QC

  His Honour Judge Balston

  His Honour Judge Barham

  His Honour Judge Barker QC

  His Honour Judge Christopher Barnett QC

  His Honour Judge Bassingthwaighte

  His Honour Judge Bathurst-Norman

  His Honour Judge Beaumont QC

  His Honour Judge Beddard

  His Honour Judge Binning

  His Honour Judge Black

  His Honour Judge Blacksell QC

  His Honour Judge Boal QC

  His Honour Judge Brown

  His Honour Judge Bull QC DL

  1285W

  His Honour Judge Byers

  His Honour Judge Campbell

  His Honour Judge Carroll

  His Honour Judge Clegg

  His Honour Judge Coleman

  His Honour Judge Colgan

  His Honour Judge Collins

  His Honour Judge Colston QC

  His Honour Judge Coltart

  His Honour Judge Jeremy Connor

  His Honour Judge Roger Connor

  His Honour Judge Coombe

  His Honour Judge Copley

  His Honour Judge Crocker

  His Honour Judge Crawford QC

  His Honour Judge Croft QC

  His Honour Judge Curl

  His Honour Judge De Mille

  His Honour Judge Devaux

  His Honour Judge Downes

  His Honour Judge Dunn QC

  His Honour Judge Ellis

  His Honour Judge Elwen

  His Honour Judge Fabyan Evans

  His Honour Judge Fingret

  His Honour Judge Focke QC

  His Honour Judge Forrester

  His Honour Judge Freedman

  His Honour Judge Gerber

  Her Honour Judge Goddard QC

  His Honour Judge Goldstein

  His Honour Judge Gordon

  His Honour Judge Gosschalk

  His Honour Judge Goymer

  His Honour Judge Hardy

  His Honour Judge Charles Harris QC

  His Honour Judge Michael Harris

  Her Honour Judge Hamilton QC

  His Honour Judge Hawkesworth

  His Honour Judge Hawkins QC

  His Honour Judge Jonathan Haworth

  His Honour Judge Richard Haworth

  His Honour Judge Hayward

  His Honour Judge Hitching

  His Honour Judge Holt

  His Honour Judge Hordern QC

  His Honour Judge Hucker

  His Honour Judge Hyam

  His Honour Judge Inman

  His Honour Judge Issard-Davies

  His Honour Judge Jacobs

  His Honour Judge Joseph

  His Honour Judge Katkhuda

  His Honour Judge Kemp

  His Honour Judge Anthony King

  His Honour Judge Lait

  His Honour Judge Langdon

  His Honour Judge Laurie

  His Honour Judge Lawrence

  1286W

  His Honour Judge Lindsay QC

  His Honour Judge Lockhart

  His Honour Judge Lyons

  His Honour Judge MacRae

  His Honour Judge Maher

  His Honour Judge Martineau

  His Honour Judge McDowall

  His Honour Judge Rodney McKinnon

  His Honour Judge Warwick McKinnon

  His Honour Judge Medawar QC

  His Honour Judge Meier

  His Honour Judge Mellor

  His Honour Judge Mercer

  His Honour Judge Fergus Mitchell

  Her Honour Judge Agelica Mitchell

  His Honour Judge Moss

  Her Honour Judge Mowat

  His Honour Judge Nash

  His Honour Judge Norris OBE

  His Honour Judge Paget QC

  His Honour Judge Patience QC

  Her Honour Judge Pearlman

  His Honour Judge Pearson

  His Honour Judge Philpot

  His Honour Judge Pitman

  His Honour Judge Pollock

  His Honour Judge Pontius

  His Honour Judge Pratt

  His Honour Judge Radford

  His Honour Judge Rant QC

  His Honour Judge Reid QC

  His Honour Judge Rivlin QC

  His Honour Judge Robbins

  His Honour Judge Roberts

  His Honour Judge Jeremy Roberts QC

  His Honour Judge Samuels QC

  His Honour Judge Sanders

  His Honour Judge Scott-Gall

  His Honour Judge Sessions

  His Honour Judge Simpson

  His Honour Judge Simon Smith

  His Honour Judge Colin Smith QC

  Her Honour Judge Zoe Smith

  His Honour Judge Spence

  His Honour Judge Stephens QC

  His Honour Judge Stokes QC

  His Honour Judge Thomas

  His Honour Judge Thorpe

  His Honour Judge Thompson

  His Honour Judge Tilling

  His Honour Judge Tyrer

  His Honour Judge van der Werff

  His Honour Judge Wadsworth QC

  His Honour Judge Walker

  His Honour Judge Waller

  His Honour Judge Webb

  His Honour Judge Welchman

  His Honour Judge Wilkie QC

  His Honour Judge Wilkinson

  His Honour Judge Winstanley

  1287W

  His Honour Judge Yelton

  His Honour Judge Zucker QC

  Wales and Chester circuit

  His Honour Judge Burr

  His Honour Judge Clarke

  His Honour Judge Curran

  His Honour Judge Daniel DL

  His Honour Judge Diehl QC

  His Honour Judge Denyer QC

  His Honour Judge Dutton

  His Honour Judge Elgan Edwards DL

  His Honour Judge Gaskell

  His Honour Judge David Hale

  His Honour Judge Robert Hughes

  His Honour Judge Merfyn Hughes QC

  His Honour Judge Graham Jones

  His Honour Judge Llewellyn Jones QC

  His Honour Judge Wynn Morgan

  His Honour Judge David Morris

  His Honour Judge Christopher Morton

  His Honour Judge Gerald Price QC

  Her Honour Judge Eleri Rees

  His Honour Judge Philip Richards

  His Honour Judge Rogers QC

  His Honour Judge Griffith Williams QC

  Western circuit

  His Honour Judge Beashel

  His Honour Judge Boothman

  His Honour Judge Brodrick

  His Honour Judge Burford QC

  His Honour Judge Bursell QC

  His Honour Judge Cottle

  His Honour Judge Crowther QC

  His Honour Judge Cutler

  His Honour Judge Darlow

  His Honour Judge Darwall Smith

  His Honour Judge David Smith QC

  His Honour Judge Foley

  His Honour Judge Gilbert QC

  His Honour Judge Griffiths

  His Honour Judge Griggs

  Her Honour Judge Hagen

  His Honour Judge Hooton

  His Honour Judge Hughes QC

  His Honour Judge Hutton

  His Honour Judge Jarvis

  His Honour Judge Jones

  His Honour Judge Leigh QC

  His Honour Judge Longbotham

  His Honour Judge MacKean

  His Honour Judge MacLaren Webster QC

  1288W

  His Honour Judge McKintosh

  His Honour Judge McNaught

  His Honour Judge Meston QC

  His Honour Judge O'Malley DL

  His Honour Judge Overend

  His Honour Judge Price

  His Honour Judge Pryor QC

  His Honour Judge Roach

  His Honour Judge Rucker

  His Honour Judge Selwood

  His Honour Judge Shawcross

  His Honour Judge Taylor

  His Honour Judge Thompson QC

  His Honour Judge Ticehurst

  His Honour Judge Wiggs.

  Code of Practice on Access to Government Information
  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she plans to publish the monitoring report for the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information covering the year
  2001. [73441]

  Yvette Cooper
  I am pleased to inform hon. Members that the monitoring report for the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information for the year 2001 will be published in August. A pre-print copy of the report has been placed in the House Library and a copy is available on my Department's website.

  Libra Project
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the progress of discussions between the Lord Chancellor's Department and Fujitsu Services on the Libra project to provide IT services for the magistrates courts in England and Wales. [73445]

  Yvette Cooper
  There are two parts to the Libra project: the provision of a modern IT infrastructure and network to link the magistrates courts with other parts of the criminal justice system and the special software for case management, accounting and other administration within the courts. Installation of the infrastructure and network is 75 per cent. complete and will be completed during the first half of 2003. The specialised software has been delayed.

  The Department has now signed a variation to the contract with Fujitsu Services (formerly known as ICL) in respect of the Libra project.

  Under these new arrangements, Fujitsu Services will continue to deliver the IT infrastructure and network and provide support until March 2007.

  However, the Department has decided that Fujitsu Services will not be required to continue with the development of the specialised software for case management, accounting and other administration. Serious concerns arose last year when delays in delivery of the software and increases in their costs led Fujitsu Services to seek to renegotiate the contract. As many courts and offices had already been equipped with the IT infrastructure, a basis for renegotiation was agreed.
  1289W
  Despite intensive negotiation however, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the specialised software at an acceptable price, which will deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

  Instead, the Department will procure application services separately. Assessments show that robust, tried and tested software, is now available in the marketplace, which could meet requirements at a lower cost than that on offer from Fujitsu Services.

  The original 1998 contract was valued at £183 million to run until July 2009. A variation to this was signed with Fujitsu/ICL in 2000, which was valued at £319 million and was to run until 2013. This was not a real price increase as the extra cost was for the extra years and other benefits. In each case the contract with Fujitsu Services was for the delivery of both the infrastructure and the specialised software.

  The estimated value of the revised contract with Fujitsu Services is £232 million which includes some £31 million paid under the existing contract from 2000 to the end of June 2002 for the delivery and operation of the infrastructure services received by the magistrates courts. In addition, the Government have paid Fujitsu Services £6.8 million for design products produced as part of the software application development that can be reused. Apart from this amount, the financial and management risks of developing the software have been borne by the supplier.

  A number of studies have been carried out by external organisations to provide assurances on the way forward, including a benchmark exercise on the infrastructure costs and an assessment of the costs, timescales and market capacity to deliver the software application services.

  The benchmarking exercise shows that the cost of the provision of the infrastructure service in the revised contract is in line with the cost of similar services provided to organisations of similar size, structure and complexity in the private and public sectors. It is possible, but by no means certain, that a new competitive procurement could deliver the services for less cost, but the Department's assessment of the costs of delays and procurement and completing the implementation of the service to all courts shows that the revised contract provides best value for money to the taxpayer.

  The studies on the software application services indicate that the services can be delivered by the end of 2004—a delay of nine months on the original 1998 contract—and at a price that will be affordable and provide value for money. The Department is planning on this basis. However, these services will be subject to new procurements and the House will be informed of the outcome when the procurements have been completed.

  There are lessons to be learned for all parties from the project. Since the original award of contract a range of Government guidelines on managing IT contracts and on PFI/PPP contracts has been issued. These have been fully utilised in the recent negotiation. Improvements introduced on Libra in the last 12 months include strengthening of the governance arrangements, better risk management, the use of external benchmarking and an
  1290W
  external review under the gateway process. This has provided more effective controls for the negotiations and future plans. The new arrangement separates the delivery of the infrastructure from the application which is designed to better ensure the success of the overall programme and at the same time place appropriate risk with the respective providers and the Department.

  Asylum Seekers
  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the personal delivery of some appeal determinations to asylum seekers. [73102]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Under the Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Procedure) (Amendment) Rules 2001, the Home Secretary has been responsible since 7 January 2002 for the delivery of asylum appeal determinations to appellants who have no further rights of appeal within the Immigration Appellate Authorities (IAA). While the majority of these determinations have been served by post, some determinations have been deemed suitable for delivery in person either by a home visit or at a reporting centre.

  A pilot scheme to test the effectiveness of personal delivery procedures commenced on 7 January in the areas covered by Croydon, East Midlands and Leeds Local Enforcement Units and more recently Eaton House (Heathrow). The primary focus of the pilot scheme has been to establish that the correct procedures are in place to ensure that determinations are delivered promptly and that asylum seekers have access to their legal representatives and to the courts.

  The Home Office has set targets of 48 hours for posting determinations and six weeks for those being served personally. This allows the Home Office, where appropriate, to serve the determination at a time when the appellant attends a reporting centre, in line with any reporting conditions, or by home visit. Where the Home Office is unable to deliver the determination in person within six weeks, it is posted to the appellant.

  The first evaluation of this pilot has now been completed and the results are as follows. Between 7 January and 31 May 2002 the average time taken to deliver a determination in person (including those delivered at reporting centres when a person attends for their regular appointment) has been 19 days. A copy of the determination has been forwarded to the appellant's representative within a maximum of two and a half hours of personal delivery. For those appellants who were removed by 31 May, the average time between delivery of the determination and removal has been 13 days and the minimum time was one day.

  Failed asylum seekers who have been taken into detention or removed have been informed of their right to contact a legal representative and given reasonable opportunity to do so. Those wishing to apply for judicial review have had three working days in which to submit an application and a day in which to obtain the High Court reference number. During this time removal directions have been suspended.
  1291W
  Two such applications for judicial review were made between 7 January and 31 May. There have been no applications for a review (under rule 16 or 19 of the Immigration and Asylum (Procedure) Rules) by the Chief Adjudicator or President of the Tribunal respectively.

  As of 31 May 2002, of the 76 determinations deemed suitable for personal delivery, 34 were successfully delivered in person and 24 people have been removed from the country.

  The Home Office is now considering expanding the scheme in the light of the evaluation results.

  Gibraltar
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Electoral Commission will be advised of the need to incorporate Gibraltar within a European Constituency in time for the next European Elections; and if he will make a statement. [67853]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government intends to seek legislation at the next convenient opportunity to allow people of Gibraltar to vote in the next European parliamentary elections and to provide for the Electoral Commission to recommend of which regional constituency Gibraltar will form a part. Preliminary consultations with the Commission have begun.

  Consultation
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72063]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The titles and closing dates of each of the written national public consultations commenced by the Lord Chancellor's Department since 1 April are listed.

  Each national public consultation carried out by the Department is normally published on the Lord Chancellor's Department website at http://www.lcd.gov.uk/consult/confr.htm. However the third and fourth of these consultation papers were originally published online by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions at http://www.elections.dtlr.gov.uk/consult. Following the recent machinery of Government changes both of these papers now fall under the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor's Department. Arrangements are currently being made for their transfer onto the Lord Chancellor's Department website.

  Title

  Closing date

  5) Selection procedures for the circuit bench and recordership

  5 July 2002

  6) Making Decisions: Helping people who have difficulty deciding for themselves

  9 July 2002

  7) Electoral Registers—Access, Supply and Sale— Regulatory Impact Assessment Questionnaire

  13 June 2002

  8) Electoral Registers—Access, Supply and Sale— Policy paper and draft regulations

  13 June 2002

  Anglo-Irish Ministerial Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when and where Ministers in her Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting. [72694]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I met the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform briefly in the margins of an Inter-governmental Conference on domestic violence entitled 'Raising the Standards', held in Dublin in December 2001. No other LCD Ministers have met Ministers or officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000.

  Freedom of Information
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on what grounds a freedom of information request can he denied by the Government; and how many of these requests have been denied in the last five years, broken down by reason for denial. [70886]

  Yvette Cooper
  The right of access to information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 will come into force on 1 January 2005. Until that date, requests for Government information will be dealt with in accordance with the non-statutory Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Under the code, the approach to release of information should in all cases be based on the assumption that information should be released except where disclosure would not be in the public interest, as specified in Part II of the code. Part II of the code sets out categories of information that are exempt from the commitments to provide information under the code. These exemptions are listed in table 2.

  Table 1 gives details of the numbers of requests under the code that were received and the number of code requests refused in the last five years for all of the bodies covered by the code. We do not have records of the reason for denial for each of the requests refused. However, if an applicant is dissatisfied with the response to their request they can ask the Department to review that decision internally. Table 2 sets out the number of times each exemption has been cited at this stage in the review process for the last five years. Monitoring reports on the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information are published annually and copies are available in the House Library.

  Annex A

  Table 1: Number of requests received and refused under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information

  Year

  Number of requests received

  Number of requests refused

  20011

  4,668

  797

  2000

  5,969

  1,072

  1999

  4,863

  1,398

  1998

  23,754

  1,745

  1997

  3,772

  1,894

  1 The code monitoring report for 2001 has not yet been published.

  1293W

  Table 2: Number of exemptions cited at internal review of code of practice requests

  Number of times cited in

  Code exemption

  20011

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  1994–2001

  1) Defence, security and international relations

  4

  5

  4

  3

  0

  21

  2) Internal discussion and advice

  18

  11

  10

  7

  11

  72

  3) Communication with the royal household

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  2

  4) Law enforcement and legal proceedings

  12

  11

  8

  8

  9

  58

  5) Immigration and nationality

  0

  6

  0

  2

  0

  9

  6) Effective management of the economy and collection of tax

  2

  1

  1

  0

  4

  8

  7) Effective management and operations of the public service

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  17

  8) Public employment, public appointments and honours

  0

  3

  4

  1

  3

  14

  9) Voluminous or vexatious requests

  4

  6

  6

  6

  10

  40

  10) Publication and prematurity in relation to publication

  3

  3

  4

  0

  3

  13

  11) Research, statistics and analysis

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  2

  12) Privacy of an individual

  6

  9

  3

  5

  2

  30

  13) Third party's commercial confidence

  2

  1

  2

  5

  3

  22

  14) Information given in confidence

  6

  3

  0

  2

  3

  23

  15) Statutory and other restrictions

  7

  2

  0

  0

  2

  13

  1 The code monitoring report for 2001 has not yet been published.

  Thames Valley (Trials)
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many trials in the Thames Valley Magistrates' Court area have been cancelled because of a shortage of legal advisers since November 2001. [71629]

  Yvette Cooper
  I am advised by the Thames MCC that they have not cancelled any trials, but that approximately 300 trials have been postponed; deferred or rescheduled because of a shortage of legal advisers.

  To place this figure in context, the statistical returns from the Thames Valley Magistrates' Court Committee show that proceedings in 55,261 criminal and civil matters were concluded, in the Thames Valley Magistrates' Court Committee area, in the period October 2001 to March 2002.

  Magistrates' Courts Committees
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements are being made to transfer civil servants from national to local employment in connection with the replacement of magistrates' courts committees. [70800]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government said in the White Paper "Justice for All" (CM 5563) that it intends to legislate to integrate the management of the courts within a single national courts organisation to replace existing magistrates' courts committees and the Court Service. The new organisation will have local management boards operating within a national framework of standards. No arrangements are being made to transfer civil servants from national to local employment.

  Performance Targets
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the performance targets that the Lord Chancellor's Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet, apart from those set out in the public service agreements for 1999–2002 and 2001–2004; and if he will specify for each target(a) who sets it and (b) who monitors achievement against it. [60474]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Lord Chancellor's Department performance targets are all set out in our Public Service 1294W
  Agreement and supported by our Service Delivery Agreement. The targets and our current progress against them is set out in the Lord Chancellor's Department's Departmental Report (Cm 5408), which was published recently.

  The Court Service's performance targets are set by Ministers, and the Chief Executive reports directly to the Lord Chancellor. The current targets are set out in the following table.

  We have three executive non-departmental public bodies.

  The Legal Services Commission (LSC) came into being in April 2000. Its targets are set out each year in its corporate plan, which is approved by the Lord Chancellor and laid before the Houses of Parliament. The Commission's chair reports progress and achievements directly to the Lord Chancellor. The LSC also reports progress in its annual report; its first report was published in July 2001. The second annual report, published on 22 July, reports against the 2001–02 to 2003–04 corporate plan. In its annual report, the Commission also reports against four categories of business performance targets: applications processed; bills paid; correspondence, appeals and reviews of civil funding decisions. The Commission's second corporate plan, for the period 2002–03 to 2003–04, sets out its 54 performance targets. These are broken down into 24 Community Legal Service targets, 13 Criminal Defence Service targets and 17 targets on the work of the Commission. These are set out in the following list.

  The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) has been in existence since April 2001 and will be publishing its first annual report later this year. CAFCASS's corporate plan for 2002–06, published earlier this year, includes the development of five key performance targets for use in the future. These are laid out in the following table.

  The Information Commissioner sets her own performance targets which are set out in the Commissioner's annual reports, the latest of which was published in June 2002. These are laid out in the following table.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department monitors achievement against the targets through the supply of quarterly reports by the Office of the Commissioner.
  1295W

  Court Service key performance indicators

  Target

  KP1 1

  The percentage improvement in the level of satisfaction to court and tribunal users

  2 per cent, improvement on the current level of 79 per cent.

  KP1 2

  The percentage of civil cases heard within target (from allocation to track to hearing)

  75 per cent.

  KP1 3

  The percentage of value recovered of enforceable warrants in the county court

  76 pence in the pound

  KP1 4

  The percentage of public law Children Act cases dealt with in target (from commencement to final order)

  70 per cent.

  KP1 5

  The percentage of defendants/appellants in the Crown court whose cases commence within target time

  78. per cent.

  KP1 6

  The percentage of asylum appeals completed (through both the Immigration and Appellate Authority) within four months

  65 per cent.

  KP1 7

  The percentage improvement in the European foundation for Quality Management Excellence Model score for the Court Service

  10 per cent. improvement by March 2004

  Legal Services Commission

  CLS—Access to services: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Commence Family Information and Advice Network pilots
  Secure a year-on-year increase in the number of CLS Information Points.
  Commence further telephone advice and specialist support service pilot contracts
  Ensure that by April 2002 the CLS Directory of General and Specialist help services is confined to Quality Mark holders
  Issue proposals for the allocation of resources under the replacement General Civil Contract

  2003–04
  Secure a year on year increase in the number of CLS information points.

  CLS—Service quality: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Implement the Specialist Quality Mark (April 2002)
  Implement Quality Mark standards for the Bar (certifying 100 chambers), mediation and websites
  Complete peer review pilot (January 2003)
  Complete cost compliance audit of all contracted suppliers by March 2003, reducing the number of suppliers with a 'poor' rating
  Complete pilot supplier development projects in central and east London and Birmingham (March 2003)
  Establish whether targets can be set for numbers of minority ethnic firms with contracts by March 2003
  Introduce remuneration policy changes:-
  grants for training contracts
  payment of registration fees for specialist and generalist panels

  2003–04
  To ensure that 95 per cent. of expenditure from the CLS Fund is on work carried out by quality assured suppliers by March 2004.
  To increase the percentage of funding from Community Legal Service Fund and funding members of CLS partnerships going to CLS providers of legal services holding the Quality Mark.

  CLS—Co-ordinate service and provision: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  75 per cent. of population covered by a CLS Partnerships strategic plan by March 2003.
  Publish first report on the CLS Partnership performance indicators.

  2003–04
  Achieve 100 per cent. population coverage of CLS Partnerships in England and Wales by March 2004.
  1296W
  CLS—Value for money: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Payments to suppliers by March 2003 not to exceed the value of claims by more than 2.5 per cent.
  Make amendments to the General Civil Contract:
  Simplifying the taking of sanctions against suppliers not complying with the contract.
  Promoting value for money in not-for-profit agency contracts.
  Bring 95 per cent. of new qualifying high cost cases under individual case contract.
  Introduce and monitor value for money targets for social welfare law, legal help and non-family legal representation.

  2003–04
  Secure a year on year increase in the number of disputes resolved with funding from the CLS Fund through ADR including mediation.
  By March 2004 reduce CLS cost inflation to 0.5 per cent. p.a. for:
  the average cost of very high cost cases (civil and criminal).
  the average cost per case of legal help in a) immigration, and b) all other work.

  CDS—Access to services: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  LSC ensures access to quality assured criminal defence services:
  Rota solicitors accept 80 per cent. of police station duty solicitor requests.
  Police station duty solicitors to contact client within 45 minutes in 90 per cent. of cases.
  100 per cent. coverage of magistrates' court sessions requiring a duty solicitor.
  Introduce targeted remuneration policy changes:
  pay for duty solicitor accreditation.
  grants for training contracts.

  2003–04
  Ensure that by March 2004 90 per cent. of people in police stations requesting the service of a duty solicitor receive the service within 45 minutes.
  Ensure by March 2004 100 per cent. access to a quality assured solicitor for people charged with criminal offences and meeting the interests of justice tests.
  Ensure that by March 2004 all magistrates' courts are covered by the duty solicitor service.
  Ensure that 95 per cent. of expenditure from the CDS Fund is on work carried out by quality assured suppliers by March 2004.
  1297W
  CDS—Value for money: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Introduce new payment regime for police station duty solicitor claims (April 2002).
  Extend the counsel graduated fee scheme in the Crown court to cover all cases with trials of up to 25 days in length.
  Ensure payments to all suppliers under the General Criminal Contract do not exceed the sums billed by more than 5–10 per cent. during the year.
  Complete cost compliance audits of all contracted suppliers by March 2003, reducing the number of suppliers receiving a `poor' rating.

  2003–04
  Transfer accountability from the Court Service for legal aid in the Crown and Higher courts (April 2003).
  By March 2004 reduce CDS cost inflation to 0.5 per cent. p.a. for:
  the average cost of very high cost cases.
  the average cost of all CDS representation (excluding very high cost cases).

  CDS—Contribute to CJS Plan: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03 to 2003–04
  Contribute to CJS strategic targets:
  Reduce by 2004 the time from charge to disposal of defendants
  Improve the standard by which the CJS meets the rights of defendants.
  Improve the level of public confidence in the CJS by 2004, including that of ethnic minority communities.

  LSC—Ensure sufficient asylum legal services: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Reduce the volume of applications for asylum refused on grounds of non-compliance with application rules.
  Reduce the number of adjournments of appeals before the adjudicators because of the lack of representation.

  LSC—Ensure actions and decisions are justifiable to those affected: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Put in place mechanisms to ensure equal opportunities are promoted by the Commission's priority decision making activities by 31 May 2002.
  Develop and apply an organisational standard for consulting users and stakeholders, including those with special needs.

  LSC—Quality and efficiency: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Improve levels of supplier satisfaction with:
  Telephone contact.
  Correspondence handling.
  Communication about important issues.
  Consistency of decision making.
  Improve the levels of consistency in:
  Audit decision making.
  Funding and bill assessment work.
  Cash flow to suppliers.
  Attain published customer service standards, including:
  reduce the time files are held for audit.
  providing prompt feedback on cost compliance audits so it is co-ordinated with the management audit or, where this is not possible, provided within 28 days of the completion of the file audit.
  1298W
  LSC—Developing people: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Achieve improved staff satisfaction with:
  How people are helped to understand their performance.
  Reward.
  Working environment.
  Training and development opportunities.
  Improve recruitment and selection—measured by the number of new staff who complete their probation period successfully.
  Improve quality of personal objective setting.
  Complete an independent verification of LSC's position within the labour market.
  Ensure all staff have a personal development plan.
  Deliver an average of nine days training per full time employee.
  Put in place mechanisms to ensure equal opportunities are promoted for staff by May 2002.

  LSC—Developing systems: Key objectives and performance targets 2002–03
  Develop MI systems for:
  Statutory charge.
  Debtors.
  Damages on deposit.
  Complete supplier information and audit performance management system (Aug 2002).
  Migrate the core business systems to a new IT platform (Jan 2003)

  CAFCASS

  KPI 1

  Performance against CAFCASS National Standards. We will establish in 2002–03 performance benchmarks and targets for evaluation of service provision.

  KPI 2

  Satisfaction with CAFCASS services. We will establish in 2002–03 ways of measuring satisfaction of children, families and other stakeholders with the CAFCASS service.

  KPI 3

  Timeliness and quality of service to the courts. We will establish our performance baseline by the end of 2001–02 and in 2002–03 establish measures of timeliness and quality of the service provided to courts.

  KPI 4

  Value for money targets for service. We will undertake work in 2002–03 to establish measures of value for money.

  KPI 5

  Human Resources. We will establish in 2002–03 measure of performance, alongside development of the CAFCASS Human Resources Strategy.

  Information Commissioner output measures and performance indicators

  Estimate and targets

  Output measure/Performance indicator

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Notification

  Number of weighted transactions processed

  361,223

  237,155

  Number of weighted transactions processed per officer day

  182.61

  183.77

  Assessment and complaints

  Total requests for assessment received

  13,500

  14,000

  Complaints not investigated

  —

  —

  Inquiries handled

  6,548

  6,790

  No assessment made

  945

  980

  Sub-total

  7,493

  7,770

  Assessments completed

  6,480

  6,720

  Complaints investigated and closed

  120

  120

  Sub-total

  6,600

  6,840

  1299W

  Information Commissioner output measures and performance indicators

  Estimate and targets

  Output measure/Performance indicator

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Contact with our customers

  Telephone inquiries received by the information line

  57,000

  57,000

  Calls received per line hour

  9.36

  9.36

  Data protection—public awareness

  Percentage of large data controllers aware of subjects' rights

  85.0

  86.0

  Percentage of small data controllers aware of subjects' rights

  60.0

  62.0

  Percentage of data subjects aware of own rights

  42.0

  42.0

  Freedom of information—public awareness

  Among the public (percentage)

  15.0

  15.0

  Within public authorities (percentage)

  25.0

  35.0

  1 Dependent on increased staffing to handle current level of telephone calls.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will reply to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Putney (Mr. Colman) transferred to her Department by the Department of Trade and Industry, refs., 67261 and 67262, before 24 July. [72520]

  Yvette Cooper
  Yes. They are being answered today.

  Legal Services Commission
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, when the Legal Services Commission's Land Charges Department will complete its project to cleanse the data held on its computer system. [71704]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Commission's project to produce accurate statutory charge statements has depended upon its Land Charges Department carrying out a number of data cleansing exercises. Those exercises, and the first stage of the project, are expected to be completed by the end of August 2002. The Commission will then carry out checks to ensure that no further data cleanse is required.

  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what training has been given to staff of the Legal Services Commission Land Charges Department to improve the accuracy of data inputting in relation to clients. [71705]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Steps have been taken to improve the knowledge and understanding of all staff within the Commission who deal with the statutory charge. A programme of two days' training for 160 staff including those within the land charge department has taken place. The training covered the nature of the charge; the circumstances in which it arises; how its value is determined; the conditions on which the Commission can postpone its enforcement; the technicalities of how the charge is secured by registration on land; and the rules on payment of interest where enforcement is postponed by registration on the client's home.

  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Legal Services Commission will complete its project to enable its
  1300W
  computer system to produce statements of amounts owed by each client with a charge secured by registration on their home. [71701]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Legal Services Commission is in the final stages of testing the system for the production of statutory charge statements. If the testing proves successful the Commission intends to issue an initial 1,500 statements by the end of August 2002. The Commission will then review the impact before finalising a timetable for sending a statement to all the clients affected.

  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Legal Services Commission's computer system will be able to provide an on-screen explanation of the change to the statutory charge for use by the Commission's caseworkers. [71703]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Subject to satisfactory completion of the final stages of testing, which are currently under way, the Commission will be able to provide an on-screen explanation of the changes to the statutory charge for use by its caseworkers by the end of August 2002, in parallel with the timetable for issuing the initial 1,500 statutory charge statements as detailed in my earlier answer today (question 71701).

  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Legal Services Commission's computer system will produce statements on a rolling basis, annually from the date of first registration or when required. [71702]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Legal Services Commission intends that all clients will receive a statutory charge statement by the end of August 2003. Statements will then be issued annually on a rolling basis on the anniversary of first registration of each charge and on request. Statements are issued manually on request at present.

  Fines (Greater Manchester)
  Andrew Bennett
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the total fines imposed in each of the last three years for each magistrates court area in Greater Manchester; what percentage of fines was collected in each area in each year; what percentage of fines was written off in each year in each area; and what progress is being made in improving the enforcement ratio. [70723]

  Yvette Cooper
  Magistrates courts committees have a responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed by the courts. including not only fines but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not possible to separate out just fines from the total.

  The figures for the magistrates courts areas within Greater Manchester are contained in the table.

  The Government are committed to improving the enforcement of financial penalties. Variations in performance across the country are too wide. We transferred lead responsibility for warrant execution from the police to magistrates courts committees (MCCs) on 1 April 2001, giving MCCs control over the whole enforcement process.
  1301W
  We have established an information sharing scheme, which enables magistrates courts to obtain basic information on defaulters from the Department for Work and Pensions. We have set performance targets for

  Greater Manchester magistrates courts committee

  Imposed (£)

  Percentage paid

  Percentage amount written off

  April 1999-March 2000

  Trafford

  4,728,186

  24

  9

  Tameside

  1,861,182

  57

  13

  Stockport

  2,227,346

  49

  1—

  Oldham

  1,106,743

  101

  57

  North and West Manchester (includes Rochdale, Wigan, Leigh and Bury)

  10,727,563

  60

  23

  Manchester

  6,035,529

  49

  36

  April 2000-March 2001

  Trafford

  3,951,052

  33

  35

  Tameside

  1,776,096

  54

  22

  Stockport

  1,558,011

  89

  35

  Oldham

  1,063,770

  114

  50

  North and West Manchester (includes Rochdale, Wigan, Leigh and Bury)

  9,921,380

  63

  30

  Manchester

  6,700,253

  52

  35

  April 2001-March 2002

  Trafford

  4,302,658

  28

  6

  Tameside

  1,334,217

  71

  30

  Stockport

  1,381,183

  92

  30

  Oldham

  1,028,870

  106

  46

  Salford

  931,028

  123

  52

  Bolton

  1,448,566

  97

  18

  Wigan (includes Bury, Leigh and Rochdale)

  6,329,356

  54

  21

  Manchester

  6,278,014

  52

  40

  1 Date not available

  Following the amalgamation in April 2001 there was a change of areas making up Greater Manchester magistrates court committee.

  Please note that information regarding debt is calculated over a rolling year and that the percentages paid and written off in each area could also include amounts that were imposed in previous years. This is why the amount recorded as paid in any one year can exceed the amount imposed.

  Life-Prolonging Treatment
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the draft guidance to doctors "Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision Making", in particular the recommendation that a junior doctor be removed from the care of a patient should they have a conscientious objection to ending a patient's life by withholding fluids. [67211]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  It is not appropriate for me to make a statement on the draft guidance "Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision-Making" which has been recently issued by the General Medical Council. My officials are currently considering this guidance and in the meantime, I would welcome the comments of the General Medical Council on the Government's current consultation paper "Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty in Deciding for Themselves".
  1302W
  2002–03 and magistrates courts committees have been given nearly £10 million extra from April 2002, ring-fenced for enforcement purposes. We will monitor the position carefully to check that performance improves.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department with reference to consultation on "Making decisions: helping people who have difficulty in deciding for themselves", what legal advice is available to patients faced by a doctor's decision to withhold food or fluid. [70171]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The current legal position, and the advice available, is set out in the consultation paper referred to by my hon. Friend. Usually agreement can be reached between health care professionals, the patient and people close to the patient about the best treatment and whether treatment should be continued. Artificial hydration and nutrition can only be withdrawn if that is clearly in the patient's wishes or, in circumstances where the patient is unable to give consent, if receiving it is no longer in his or her best interests. Where the patient is in a persistent vegetative state, authorisation must also be sought from the court. If there is doubt in a particular case, the court may be asked to decide what is in the patient's best interests. In such cases, where the patient lacks capacity to be able to instruct his or her own solicitors, the Official Solicitor will be appointed to act on the patient's behalf.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether it has been assumed that ending the life of a patient on grounds of poor quality is standard practice in her consultation on "Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good
  1303W
  Practice in Decision Making"; and for what reason those consulted have not been asked for their opinions on this. [67210]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  "Withholding and Withdrawing Life-Prolonging Treatments: Good Practice in Decision Making" has recently been produced by the General Medical Council, not by my Department. My Department is however consulting on guidance explaining mental incapacity issues in "Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty Deciding for Themselves". This consultation paper reflects our view that decision-making relating to withdrawal of medical treatment which may lead to the death of a patient is a most sensitive area of medical practice and must be carried out according to strict guidelines and procedures. The draft guidance contained in my Department's consultation paper refers readers to guidance produced by the British Medical Association and by the General Medical Council which assist in promoting high-quality decision-making in this difficult area. The Government welcome responses on all issues addressed in the consultation paper and these will be thoroughly considered and will inform the guidance leaflets when they are published later this year.

  Trials
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of trials were ineffective in each of the last three years. [71645]

  Yvette Cooper
  A criminal trial is deemed as being ineffective when, for some reason, it cannot proceed on the day it has been listed for hearing and has to be re-listed at a later date. Figures relating to the proportion of ineffective criminal trials in the Crown court are set out in the table. This information is not available for the magistrates courts. Data on ineffective cases in the magistrates courts did not start to be collected on a national basis (England and Wales) until April of this year. The first quarterly figures should be available in September 2002.

  Total cases listed for trial

  Total ineffective trials

  Proportion of ineffective trials (%)

  1999

  50,791

  12,444

  24.5

  2000

  51,510

  12,468

  24.2

  2001

  52,338

  12,612

  24.1

  Data Protection Act
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will place in the Library copies of each version of the guidance distributed to officials to advise them on how to answer subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998. [72622]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon, North (Mr. Wills), gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. McCabe), on 25 April 2002,Official Report, column 446W.

  Judges' Lodgings
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action has been taken 1304W
  since the publication of Lord Justice Auld's report to assess the value for money provided by individual judges' lodgings; and what action will be taken in respect of judges' lodgings assessed not to provide value for money in line with the recommendation of the Auld report. [72810]

  Yvette Cooper
  The overall value for money and cost effectiveness of the Lodgings network is under continual review and has been so since the publication of Lord Justice Auld's report.

  In terms of the general administrative efficiencies, of which the hon. Member is already aware, a general cost reduction of approximately £300k p.a. across the network had been expected. The estimate is now that this will rise as far as £400k p.a. These efficiencies include discontinuing the use of the Lodgings at Mold.

  As the hon. Member will be aware the Government's White Paper "Justice For All" has now been published which sets out legislative proposals to modernise the criminal justice system. There are many issues connected to the White Paper, including Judges' Lodgings, which are under active consideration. When we have determined the way forward on Lodgings, I will write to the hon. Member with details.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost was of running judges' lodgings per night of accommodation provided in the financial year 2001–02. [72808]

  Yvette Cooper
  The figures for the financial year 2001–02 are not currently available, but I will write to the hon. Member with the figures as soon as they are.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the(a) units of residential accommodation owned or rented by his Department for occupation by judges on circuit, (b) accumulative capital value of the same when last valued, (c) the running costs of maintaining the same for the financial years (i) 2000–01 and (ii) 2001–02 and (d) the number of judges accommodated in the same for each of the above years and the number of nights they were so accommodated. [72809]

  Yvette Cooper
  A list of the units of residential accommodation owned or rented by the Lord Chancellor's Department for occupation by judges on circuit was supplied in the reply to the hon. Member's question 02/407 on 29 November 2001. The only change to this list is in respect of the Lodgings at Mold, use of which, as the hon. Member is already aware, has been discontinued.

  The capital value of the freehold lodging estate was £12.97 million as at September 2001.

  The cost of running the judges' lodgings for the year 2000–01 was:
  Total cost—£5.616 million
  Cost of lodgings (excluding the Treasury capital charge payable on all freehold properties)—£4.814 million.
  Costs solely attributable to judicial occupation—£2.244 million. The figures for the year 2001–02 are currently not available. Similarly it has not proved possible in the time provided to collate the judicial occupancy statistics requested. I will therefore write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.
  1305W
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost was of running judges' lodgings per judge accommodated at each of the individual lodgings in the lodging estate for the financial year 2001–02. [72807]

  Yvette Cooper
  The figures for the financial year 2001–02 are not currently available, but I will write to the hon. Member with the figures as soon as they are.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the average cost was of running judges' lodgings per judge accommodated in financial years(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [72811]

  Yvette Cooper
  The average cost of running judges' lodgings per judge accommodated for the financial year 2000–01 is set out in the table on three bases:

  £

  Cost per judge accommodated

  Total Cost of Lodgings

  2000–01

  61, 047

  Cost of lodgings1

  2000–01

  52,326

  Costs soley attributable to judicial occupation

  2000–01

  24,676

  1 Excluding the Treasury capital charge payable on all freehold properties

  The figures for 2001–02 are not currently available, but I will write to the hon. Member with them as soon as they are.

  Magistrates Courts
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make a statement on the implications of the criminal justice White Paper for her plans for magistrates court closures. [72219]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government said in the White Paper. "Justice for All" (CM 5563), that it intends to legislate to integrate the management of the courts within a single courts organisation to replace existing magistrates courts committees and the Court Service.

  The Government believe that an integrated system will support its aim of providing the widest possible network of viable local venues, keeping the delivery of justice local.

  Referendums
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what her responsibilities are for the organisation of referendums. [60314]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  The former responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for policy on referendums have been transferred to the Lord Chancellor. The procedures for the organisation of referendums are set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

  Goodwin and I v. UK
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much public money has been spent fighting the case of Goodwin and Iv. UK. [63971]

  Mr. McCartney
  I have been asked to reply.

  The costs involved are spread across several Departments over a number of years and are available only at disproportionate cost. Counsels' fees are commercially confidential.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mali
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the fairness of the recent parliamentary elections in Mali. [70874]

  Mr. MacShane
  The first round of parliamentary elections in Mali was on 14 July. The second is due on 28 July. Turnout for the first round was low, at under 20 per cent. However the Malian Government has worked hard to overcome some of the problems experienced in the presidential elections earlier this year. The elections are being observed by a number of Malian NGOs, who will not release their assessments of the elections until after the second round. Our Embassy in Bamako is also monitoring the elections closely.

  Liberia
  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to bring all sides in Liberia's civil war to peace negotiations; and if he will make a statement. [72173]

  Mr. MacShane
  We are concerned about the fighting in Liberia. Our Embassy in Abidjan regularly presses the Government of Liberia to end the fighting. In meetings of Security Council members we have urged all parties to the conflict to begin ceasefire negotiations. We have called on all states to stop supporting armed groups in Liberia. We believe that providing military assistance to any armed group in Liberia would be a breach of Un sanctions against Liberia (as renewed by UN Security Council Resolution 1408 on 6 May 2002). We support the efforts of the various regional and local initiatives under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States, King Mohammed of Morocco, the Liberian Leadership Forum and the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, to find a solution to the conflict in Liberia. A Security Council Workshop on the Mano River Union (Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea), which was held on our initiative and chaired by my noble Friend Baroness Amos on 18 July, identified the need for greater co-ordination between these initiatives. We also provide political and diplomatic support to the EU presidency representative to the Mano River Union.

  Central African Republic
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the relationship between the Central African Republic and its neighbouring countries. [70879]

  Mr. MacShane
  The relationship between the Central African Republic (CAR) and its neighbours is linked to political and social tensions within the country. There was an attempted coup in May 2001 and fighting in November, and serious economic difficulties continue.

  Relations with Chad deteriorated late last year when President Deby granted political asylum to General Bozize, former Chief of Staff of the CAR armed forces, allegedly implicated in the May 2001 coup attempt. There was fighting in the border area, but the two governments are now working to reduce tension.

  Relations with the Government of DRC are minimal, but the border area is under the control of DRC rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. CAR's relations with Bemba were reportedly strained because the CAR Government believed that he had supported the May 2001 coup attempt; and exacerbated when 23,000 civilians and 1,250 soldiers fled to DRC. Most refugees have now returned with the opening of dialogue between the Government of CAR and their political opposition.

  Sudan and CAR currently enjoy good relations. The Sudanese were the first to respond to President Patasse's request for a peacekeeping force following the coup attempt in May 2001.

  Cameroon and CAR also enjoy good relations. Negotiations are in train on border delineation and the free movement of goods.

  We are not aware of any significant problems in relations between CAR and the Republic of Congo.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had and what representations(a) he has made and (b) plans to make on the moving of international sporting events from Zimbabwe, as part of his policy on sanctions against Mr. Mugabe. [72627]

  Mr. MacShane
  It is for the relevant sporting bodies to decide whether Zimbabwe is a suitable venue for international events in the light of the security, political and humanitarian situation in that country. The FCO travel advice highlights our concerns about political and social unrest and violence in Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was discussed at the meeting with Foreign Minister Mudenge on 10 November 2001; and what the conclusions were from that meeting. [72301]

  Mr. MacShane
  During the meeting my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary expressed concern at Zimbabwe's failure to honour commitments made at the commonwealth ministerial meeting in Abuja in September 2001. There were no conclusions recorded from the meeting.

  Sierra Leone
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the appeal of the UN Security Council President for additional funding for peace building support in Sierra Leone. [70877]

  Mr. MacShane
  With the assistance of the United Nations, regional countries and the UK, Sierre Leone is emerging from over a decade of civil war and destruction. President Kabbah has appointed a new government following peaceful elections in May. The focus is now moving from conflict resolution to development. The challenges facing the new government have been identified by the UN to include security, reintegration, governance/corruption, poverty reduction and human right/reconciliation. The UK remains strongly committed to helping rebuild Sierra Leone. My noble Friend the Baroness Amos chaired a meeting of the Security Council on 18 July, which considered how best the international community could continue to engage in Sierra Leone and reduce conflict in the Mano River Union.

  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the international community continues to protect the peace process in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [72176]

  Mr. MacShane
  Ending the conflict in Sierra Leone after more than a decade of brutal civil war and destruction is a remarkable achievement. It comes as a result of the sustained engagement and commitment of the international community, particularly the United Nations, the UK and regional leaders. But the peace will remain fragile as long as many of the root causes of the war are not resolved. This is why it is so important for the international community to continue to support the efforts of the new Government of Sierra Leone, formed by President Kabbah after his re-election in May.

  We expect to spend some £100 million in Sierra Leone related activities in 2002–03, including £36 million in assessed contributions to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). We continue to urge other donors to come forward and help us provide the support needed by the Government of Sierra Leone to meet the many challenges ahead in consolidating the peace and rebuilding the country and the lives of its citizens.

  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received concerning divisions between Sierra Leone's army and the Sierra Leone People's party; and if he will make a statement. [72177]

  Mr. MacShane
  None. The army is accountable to the democratic Government of Sierra Leone.

  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the threat posed to peace and
  1309W
  stability in Sierra Leone by (a) President Charles Taylor of Liberia and (b) Revolutionary United Front insurgents and Kamajor militia inside Liberia. [72174]

  Mr. MacShane
  The role of President Taylor in destabilising Sierra Leone and prolonging the war there through his support for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels has been well documented in the reports of the UN Expert Panel on Liberia. Although the conflict in Sierra Leone has now ended and UN sanctions against Liberia have disrupted President Taylor's links with the RUF rebels, we believe that Taylor still has links with the RUF and harbours intentions to cause renewed instability in Sierra Leone.

  One of the risks to stability in Sierra Leone is that the fighting in Liberia could spill into Sierra Leone. There are reports of RUF fighters fighting on President Taylor's behalf in Liberia, and of Kamajor (or Civil Defence Force) fighters from Sierra Leone fighting for the Liberian dissident group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). To ensure that our large commitment to restoring peace to Sierra Leone is not wasted, we will monitor closely the threats posed by President Taylor, RUF fighters in Liberia, incursions by armed groups from Liberia and flows of deserters and refugees.

  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has collated concerning the fairness of the May electoral process in Sierra Leone; and in particular the levels of fraud and coercion; and if he will make a statement. [72181]

  Mr. MacShane
  The legislative and presidential elections held simultaneously in May 2002 were free from violence and generally credible. Eminent international observers representing the EU, the Commonwealth, the OAU and ECOWAS, and the Carter Foundation noted that, while the elections were not flawless, the overall results reflected the will of the overwhelming majority of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.

  The success of the elections was a remarkable achievement for a country just emerging from over a decade of war and destruction, and is further evidence of the international community's commitment to resolving conflict and bringing peace to Sierra Leone. Despite Opposition concerns over the conduct of the elections, they have decided to accept the results in the interests of moving the country forward. We have reiterated to President Kabbah our continued support to his efforts to consolidate the peace, improve governance and bring prosperity to Sierra Leone for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans.

  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs until when the UN Mission and the British military and police training teams are scheduled to remain in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [72180]

  Mr. MacShane
  The end of the conflict in Sierra Leone does not mean that sustainable peace has been achieved. Consolidating the peace will require the continued engagement of the international community for the foreseeable future.
  1310W
  It is right therefore that the UN Secretary-General re-examine the role and composition of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). As a member of the UN Security Council and a key player in the Sierra Leone peace process, we are taking part in the discussion of UNAMSIL's future. We support the Secretary-General's intention to consider a phased drawdown according to timings yet to be agreed, taking into account the vital role UNAMSIL continues to play in maintaining peace in Sierra Leone.

  In December 2001, we announced our intention to re-configure our military presence in Sierra Leone. From the end of July, we will focus our military engagement there on a contribution of about 100 troops leading the International Military Advisory Training Team, which over the next three years, and possible thereafter, will be responsible for taking forward training for the new Sierra Leone army. A police project was designed for implementation over a period of three to five years, commencing December 2000. A review of the project has recently been completed, seeking to ensure that the police are able to fulfil their responsibilities for providing internal security by the time that UN troops withdraw.

  Mr. Alan Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to seek to ensure that Revolutionary United Front insurgents and Kamajor militias inside Liberia will not be a threat to peace and stability in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [72175]

  Mr. MacShane
  We take very seriously the threat posed by Liberia to peace in Sierra Leone. We have worked with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure that the new Republic of Sierra Leone armed forces (largely trained by the UK) are deployed in strength on the Liberian border and regularly patrol the border. Some UK military advisers are deployed alongside these Sierra Leonean units. We have also encouraged the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone, UNAMSIL, to maintain regular patrolling of the border areas. Sierra Leonean armed forces and UNAMSIL have successfully intercepted armed groups crossing from Liberia into Sierra Leone. We played a leading role in securing the renewal of UN sanctions against Liberia in May. These sanctions, which include an arms embargo, a ban on the export of diamonds and a travel ban on President Taylor and his associates, continue to put pressure on President Taylor to break his links with the RUF rebels and restrict his ability to procure arms and destabilise Sierra Leone. We have made it clear to the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of Guinea that they should take steps to prevent the recruitment of fighters, including from the Civil Defence Force and Kamajors, for the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) within their countries. But Sierra Leone's stability will be threatened for as long as there is fighting in Liberia. We are supporting international and regional moves to promote a ceasefire in Liberia.

  G8 Summit
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans there are for taking forward the commitments made at the G8 summit to support African efforts to consolidate peace in(a) Angola and (b) Sierra Leone; [69469]
  1311W
  (2) what plans there are for taking forward the commitments made at the G8 Summit to support African efforts to resolve conflict in (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) the Sudan. [69468]

  Mr. MacShane
  In the Africa Action Plan, adopted at Kananaskis in June, G8 leaders committed themselves to providing additional support to efforts to bring peace to the DRC and Sudan, and to consolidate peace in Angola and Sierra Leone within the next year. The Africa Action Plan is a welcome basis for increased effort and greater co-ordination with other countries involved in providing political and financial support.

  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the G8 will take forward discussions relating to war economies. [69471]

  Mr. MacShane
  In the Africa Action Plan, adopted at Kananaskis in June, G8 leaders committed themselves to working with African governments, civil society and others to address the linkage between armed conflict and the exploitation of natural resources. A number of multilateral initiatives are already underway, for example the Kimberley Process which attempts to limit the trade in conflict diamonds, and the UN expert panels working on resource exploitation in DR Congo and Liberia. In the coming months the UK will also be seeking greater and more effective dialogue between G8 countries and the private sector on ensuring better accountability and greater transparency, and on promoting the adoption of voluntary principles of corporate social responsibility by companies involved in developing Africa's economic resources.

  Kashmir
  Ann McKechin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with(a) the Governments of India and Pakistan, (b) other Governments and (c) international agencies with regard to seeking a resolution to the continuing violence in Kashmir. [71727]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited India and Pakistan on 19–20 July, and had discussions with the governments of both countries on the subject of Kashmir. He welcomed the recent lowering of tensions between the two countries, but encouraged both to continue to take steps to continue the de-escalatory process. He reminded both governments that in the longer term, only full dialogue on all outstanding isssues, including Kashmir, will pave the way for lasting solutions.

  Although this is a bilateral dispute. it has potent international implications. We have been active in working with our international partners, including through the EU, the G8 and the UN, to encourage India and Pakistan to find ways to return to productive dialogue.

  Entry Clearance
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the opening hours of the entry clearance posts in(a) Islamabad, (b) Lahore, (c) Mumbai and (d) New Delhi are; and how many applications were made for visitors' visas in those centres on 15 July. [71589]
  1312W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Our office in Mumbai is open Monday to Friday between 0800 and 1130 for personal callers and 0900 to 1200 for the drop box. They received 275 visitor applications on 15 July.

  New Delhi is open Monday to Friday between 0800 and 1200. They received 433 visitor applications on 15 July.

  Due to the security situation in Islamabad the visa section is not open to personal callers. A restricted service is being provided, with applications delivered by a local courier service. On the 15 July Islamabad received 483 applications.

  The visa issuing office in Lahore has been closed; a future service there will be dependent on identifying a new property which can be made suitably secure.

  We are working to resume a fuller visa service in Pakistan as soon as the security situation allows.

  Visa Facilities
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will meet the hon. Member for Leicester East and other hon. Members to discuss the reduced visa facilities, in New Delhi, Mumbai, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. [73051]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 July Official Report, column 887W.

  Iran
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he had collated on how many executions there were on average in Iran each month in each year since 1997 and 2002 to date; how many women and men have been stoned to death since President Khatami came to power; and how many women and men have been punished by flogging in the same period; and what estimate he has made of the impact of his representations on these matters to the Government of Iran in the last 10 months. [72171]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Precise figures are not available. But drawing on press reporting, information from NGOs and from the annual reports of the UN Special Representative for Human Rights in Iran, we estimate that:

  (a) there were at least 199 executions in 1997, 155 in 1998, 165 in 1999, 130 in 2000 and 139 in 2001. There were at least 49 up to the end of May this year;

  (b) three men and three women were stoned to death in 1997 and two, possibly three, women in 2001. We have heard of three sentences against women in 2002, but we do not yet know whether they have been carried out;

  (c) we have no figures for floggings in 1997 or 1998 but are aware of at least 360 between 1999 and the end of 2001.

  The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and urges all states to abolish the death penalty. Debate on such issues is growing in Iran and we and EU partners continue to make clear our views to the Iranian Government at every suitable opportunity.
  1313W
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran on the discrimination against women set out in child custody laws reported on by the UN special representative for Human Rights in Iran in the report to the UN Human Rights Commission earlier this year. [72170]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We have not made any specific representations on this subject. But the UK plays a leading role in promoting and protecting the rights of women. The most recent UN Commission on Human Rights Resolution on Human Rights in Iran, which the UK co-sponsored as a member of the EU, noted "systematic discrimination against women and girls in law and in practice". It called upon the Government of Iran to "take further measures to ensure full and equal enjoyment by women and girls of their human rights". We will continue to monitor developments in this area.

  East Timor
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 May 2002,Official Report, column 310W, on East Timor, if he has congratulated the Government of Indonesia on their President's visit to East Timor to take part in the Independence Day celebrations on 20 May 2002; and what representations he made about the warships which accompanied the President. [72573]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We welcomed President Megawati's decision to attend the independence celebrations in East Timor. This was an important signal of Indonesia's commitment to developing a strong bilateral relationship with an independent East Timor.

  The British Embassy in Dili kept in close contact with the East Timorese Foreign Minister who took a pragmatic and measured response to the Indonesian warships entering their waters as part of the protection for the President's visit.

  Nominees

  Group I

  Bryan Cassidy

  Consultant

  David Sears

  Former Deputy Director General, British Chamber of Commerce

  Ben Butters

  Director, Small Business/Europe

  Donna St. Hill

  International Consultant

  Sheila Ritchie

  Solicitor

  Brenda King

  Chair, African and Caribbean Finance Forum

  Robert Baird

  Economist

  Clive Wilkinson

  Consultant, Gin and Vodka Association

  Group II

  David Feickart

  TUC European Officer

  Sir Ken Jackson

  AMICUS

  Alison Shepherd

  Vice President, UNISON

  Monica Taylor

  Transport and General Workers' Union

  Judy McKnight

  General Secretary, NAPO

  Derek Hunter

  Regional Secretary GMB Southern Region

  Sandy Boyle

  Deputy General Secretary, UNIFI

  Brian Curtis

  RMT Regional Organiser

  Cayman Islands (Human Rights)
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal challenges he has received to the application of the Human Rights Act 1998 in the Cayman Islands. [72162]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: None. The Human Rights Act 1998 has not been extended to the Cayman Islands.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal challenges he has received in respect of application of the European Convention on Human Rights in the Cayman Islands, effective under clause 53(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998. [72163]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: None. The Cayman Islands has accepted the extension by the UK of the European Convention on Human Rights to the Cayman Islands, but not the right of individual petition.

  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002,Official Report, column 175W, on overseas territories, if he will list those overseas territories with whom Her Majesty's Government are in consultation about refining and improving their statistical returns. [72309]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) today (UIN71571).

  EU Committees
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's representation on the European Union's Economic and Social Committee. [73497]

  Peter Hain
  The Government has submitted to the Council Secretariat details of the United Kingdom's twenty-four nominees for membership of the Economic and Social Committee, along with twenty-four reserve nominees.
  1315W

  Nominees

  Group III

  Ann Davison

  Executive Director, European Research into Consumer Affairs

  Rose D'Sa

  Law Professor, University of Glamorgan

  Sukhdev Sharma

  Former Chief Executive, Commission for Racial Equality

  Richard Adams

  Fairtrade Foundation

  John Simpson

  Consultant Economist

  Madi Sharma

  Managing Director

  Maureen O'Neil

  Director, Age Concern, Scotland

  Claire Whitten

  Executive Director, Northern Ireland Centre in Europe

  The reserve nominees are:

  Group I

  Len Collinson

  Management Consultant

  Brendan Burns

  Company Director, Burns, Burns and Burns

  Kathleen Secker

  City College Norwich

  William McKee

  DG British Property Federation

  Brian Prime

  Federation of Small Businesses

  Brian Rostron

  Director General, Confederation of UK Coal Producers

  Edmund Tucker

  Consultant, Scotch Whiskey Association

  Gary Parker

  Forum for Private Business

  Group II

  Nicholas Clark

  Policy Officer, GPMU

  Andrew Baird

  Regional Secretary (Scotland) Transport and General Workers Union

  Danny Carrigan

  National Officer, AMICUS

  Jim McCusker

  NIPSA

  Peter Bunting

  Assistant Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions

  Patrick Carragher

  General Secretary, British Association of Colliery Management

  Tom Leney

  Association of Teachers and Lecturers

  Anne Middleton

  STUC

  Group III

  Bill Ure

  Secretary, Rail Passengers Committee Scotland

  Hamish Morrison

  Chief Executive, Scottish Fishermen's Association

  Laura Hayes

  Director, Management Development and Coaching Programmes

  Jane McKay

  Glasgow Trades Union Council

  Barbara Kelly

  Former Chair, Scottish Consumer Council

  Rita Rees

  Brain Injured and Families European Confederation

  Naomi Sargant

  Visiting Professor, The Open University

  Shahwar Sadeque

  Former Commissioner for Racial Equality

  European Bodies
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the proposed percentage increase in staff following the forthcoming enlargement to the(a) Commission, (b) Council of Ministers, (c) Court of Justice and (d) European Parliament in relation to the percentage of the population of the respective applicant counties; and if he will make a statement. [72232]

  Peter Hain
  The Government accept that enlargement requires additional staff in the EU institutions, and will continue to scrutinise proposals from the institutions closely.

  The Government reiterate the importance of keeping to the financial agreement reached at Berlin as well as to the timetable for enlargement agreed at Gothenburg and Laeken. The UK will work to ensure the necessary human resources are made available to make enlargement a success—but believe this is achievable within the agreed budgetary ceilings. The Government note the proposal for a Standing Committee debate as proposed by the European Scrutiny Committee.

  Enron
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make
  1316W
  a statement on the reviews by the Turks and Caicos Islands and Cayman Islands of Enron-related offshore companies. [71711]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The United Kingdom's overseas territories are expected to co-operate internationally and regulate their financial services sector in line with international standards. The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission respectively are responsible for the regulation of the financial sector in the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, including licensed company service providers who are responsible for ensuring that non-resident companies comply with the laws and regulations of the territories concerned. The regulatory and criminal investigation authorities in both territories are actively assisting the Securities and Exchange Commission and other relevant authorities in the United States, where the investigation into the Enron case is currently focused. In the event that regulatory or criminal offences involving Enron subsidiaries were to be discovered in either jurisdiction, it would be for the legal and regulatory authorities in the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, in co-operation with the US and other authorities, to consider appropriate action to enforce the law.

  United States (Terrorism)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America concerning the US Justice Department's planned terrorism information and prevention system; and if he will make a statement. [71035]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We are monitoring the developments in the USA although we have had no formal discussions on this issue at this point. The Terrorism and Prevention System is a US Department of Justice proposal to develop a reliable and comprehensive national system for reporting suspicious and potentially terrorist-related activity. The system is to be developed in conjunction with federal agencies and industry.

  Weapons of Mass Destruction
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he plans to hold to account countries that have reneged on their ratification of global treaties on the spread of weapons of mass destruction. [71940]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  When a country ratifies an international treaty, it places itself under the obligations of that treaty once it is in force. The global treaties dealing with weapons of mass destruction, such as the existing chemical weapons convention and the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, have mechanisms aimed at ensuring compliance with their provisions. While the biological and toxin weapons convention has no comparable mechanisms, procedures exist for clarifying concerns.

  The UK routinely monitors the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and is a strong supporter of the effective functioning of treaty compliance mechanisms. We also work with the OPCW and IAEA to ensure that the verification and inspection mechanisms are as effective as possible. Other methods may also be employed as appropriate, including bilateral discussions. We have to be ready to make full use of all instruments to deter and uncover those who do not comply with their international obligations.

  Arms Exports
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 2002,Official Report, column 1256W, on arms exports, to which EU countries representations were made by the UK Government about the new criteria; what representations were made by the UK Government about the EU consolidated criteria on arms exports; what representations have been made to the UK Government by the EU member states about the introduction of the new criteria; and when these representations were made. [71361]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 12 July 2002,Official Report, column 1256W, in which I said HMG conducted two rounds of consultations with other EU member states to find out their approach to export license applications for goods to be incorporated into products for onward export. All EU member states have been approached at least once over the last two months. Some were approached a second
  1318W
  time in order to clarify the information they provided. The application to such cases of the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports was covered in these discussions.

  No representations have been made to HMG by EU member states about my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's reply on 8 July 2002 to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Paddy Tipping), Official Report, columns 650–52W.

  Export Licences
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 July 2002,Official Report, columns 650–52W, on export licences, with which countries the Government attach importance to the maintenance of a strong and dynamic defence relationship. [70226]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Pursuant to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 8 July 2002,Official Report, columns 650–52W, the Government attach importance to maintaining strong and dynamic defence relationships with our NATO allies, our EU partners, and many other countries around the world who share our commitment to international peace and stability.

  Rapid Reaction Embassies
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where he plans to instigate his first rapid reaction embassies. [71939]

  Mr. MacShane
  We were the first western embassy to open in Kabul. This involved extremely rapid provision of personnel, vehicles and IT communicating equipment.

  It is not possible to predict where the next rapid deployment will be.

  Applications for Asylum
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the method of handling the applications for asylum by two boys in Melbourne on 18 July. [72128]

  Mr. MacShane
  It is the responsibility of the Australian authorities to deal with applications for asylum in Australia in accordance with their obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention. While the brothers remained in the Consulate in Melbourne they were allowed access to legal representation, provided with food and drink, and given the opportunity to telephone their parents.

  Overseas Territories
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002,Official Report, column 175W, on overseas territories, with which overseas territories his Department is consulting about refining and improving their statistical returns. [71571]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding reply of 22 July]: We maintain a dialogue with all overseas territories over governance issues including, as appropriate, statistics. HMG is providing assistance to help refine and improve the statistical returns in Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands through DFID's development programme and has,

  1319W
  in the past, provided such assistance to Gibraltar. St. Helena has received similar support through the United Nations Development Programme. In addition, the Governments of other Overseas Territories have from time to time employed external consultants to assist them in producing statistical data. This has been the case in the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Cayman Islands.

  Travellers Tips
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2002, ref. 68235, if he will list his travellers tips for gay travellers and his guidelines on forced marriage. [72549]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The tips for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travellers and the guidelines for the police on forced marriage are both available on the FCO website—www.fco.gov.uk.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website; [72266]

  (2) whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website. [72263]

  Mr. MacShane
  This Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply, this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on the Department's website. Such documents are currently retained on the FCO website indefinitely.

  The FCO also adheres to Office of the e-Envoy "Guidelines for UK Government Websites", which sets out policy on website content and information management.

  Malcolm Rennie/Brian Peters
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 June 2002,Official Report, column 633W, on Malcolm Rennie/Brian Peters, whether the document that his Department has agreed to publish will include (a) the Department's correspondence with Mr. Rennie's and Mr. Peters' families from 1975 to 1977 and (b) the minutes of the meetings with Mr. Horta in 1976 and Mr. Dunn in 1977. [72574]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The political files relating to the Indonesian intervention in East Timor and the deaths at Balibo that the FCO will be releasing shortly will include:the minutes of a meeting that an FCO official held with Mr. Horta in February 1976:
  documents about an approach made to the FCO in 1976 by an MP on behalf of relatives of Malcolm Rennie. I am informed that other correspondence with relatives of Mr. Rennie and Mr. Peters was routinely destroyed after some years in accordance with the usual practice for consular case files.
  1320W
  We were requested to release files from 1975 and 1976 and did not, therefore, intend to release documents from 1977.

  Bilateral Ministerial Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2002,Official Report, columns 534–35W, on bilateral ministerial meetings, on what date Baroness Amos visited Dublin in July 2001; and which Ministers she met during her visit. [72619]

  Peter Hain
  On 22 July 2001, my noble Friend Baroness Amos attended the memorial service in Dublin to mark the 25th anniversary of the assassination in 1976 of Christopher Ewart-Biggs, Ambassador to Ireland. She met the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, as well as a number of other senior Irish representatives.

  UN Special Rapporteur
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to support the establishment of a UN Special Rapporteur on violence against children. [72327]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government are appalled by the use of violence against children and we fully support the UN mechanisms that tackle the issue of violence against children. These include:the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography
  the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its causes and consequences (which covers the girl child)
  the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict.

  We also fully supported calls for a study on violence which is being carried out by the UN Secretary-General, and we await the results of this study.

  Given the existing mechanisms, we do not believe that the creation of an additional Special Rapporteur would be the most efficient or practical way of addressing the immediate problems faced by these children although we continue to consider all proposals on their merits.

  Grant in Aid
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the actual and planned grant-in-aid to the(a) BBC World Service and (b) British Council for each of the years 1990–91 to 2005–06, expressed in constant prices. [72769]

  Mr. MacShane
  The table lists actual grant in aid outturns for the BBC World Service and the British Council from 1990–91 to 2001–02 and plans for 2002–03 to 2005–06. All figures are stated in real terms at current prices (2002–03). Plans are on a full resource budgeting basis, net of depreciation. From 1997–98 the BBC World Service grant in aid has included c. £4 million in respect of overseas relay station costs transferred from the FCO and from 1998–99 it has included c. £4 million to £5 million in respect of the World Service's subscription to BBC Monitoring.
  1321W

  £ million real terms (2002–03 prices)

  BBC World Service

  British Council

  1990–91

  192

  109

  1991–92

  186

  119

  1992–93

  189

  118

  1993–94

  196

  121

  1994–95

  194

  121

  1995–96

  196

  123

  1996–97

  181

  119

  1997–98

  177

  108

  1998–99

  178

  139

  1999–2000

  182

  144

  2000–01

  191

  145

  2001–02

  193

  149

  2002–03

  201

  157

  2003–04

  215

  166

  2004–05

  214

  167

  2005–06

  222

  172

  Consultation
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72059]

  Mr. MacShane
  The following consultation document has been issued since 1 April 2002:Strengthening the biological and toxin weapons convention: countering the threat from biological weapons.

  The closing date is 13 September 2002.

  The website address is http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/ kfile/btwc290402,0.pdf or the page can be accessed through the Consultations page in the Documents and Reference area on the FCO website.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the(a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information. [72252]

  Scotland

  England

  Greater London

  Staff

  Percentage

  Staff

  Percentage

  Staff

  Percentage

  FCO

  (i) UK based

  0.00

  0.00

  750.00

  12.80

  2,784.00

  47.51

  (ii) Locally Employed (LE)

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  NDPBs

  Britain-Russia Centre

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  3.50

  100.00

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  5.00

  100.00

  British Council

  26.00

  0.36

  418.00

  5.71

  601.00

  8.21

  Great Britain-China Centre

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  6.00

  100.00

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  2.50

  100.00

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  11.00

  100.00

  Wilton Park

  0.00

  0.00

  61.00

  100.00

  0.00

  0.00

  BBC World Service

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  1,606.00

  86.67

  1322W
  Mr. Straw
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to this question by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today (UIN 72246).

  Temporary Staff
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked in his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff(a) as a total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72649]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We do not have a central record of the numbers of staff employed under contract from agencies and it would involve disproportionate cost to obtain them. We do, however, have the costs, which are:

  FY

  Paybill costs (£)

  of which: Agency costs (£)

  Percentage

  1997–98

  188,078,000

  445,944

  0.24

  1998–99

  189,169,000

  804,788

  0.43

  1999–2000

  200,368,000

  971,657

  0.48

  2000–01

  204,900,000

  1,255,817

  0.61

  2001–021

  217,997,000

  1,933,841

  0.89

  1 2001–02 paybill provisional costs

  Departmental Jobs
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many jobs under the remit of his Department in(a) the core Department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and (e) embassy, consular other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual Department, body or organisation. [72729]

  Mr. MacShane
  The information requested is detailed in the table. The figures for FCO UK based staff appear in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's departmental report 2002. The figures for NDPBs and the BBC World Service will appear shortly in the Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies 2002.
  1323W

  Wales

  Northern Ireland

  Overseas

  Staff

  Percentage

  Staff

  Percentage

  Staff

  Percentage

  Total

  FCO

  (I) UK based

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  2,326.00

  39.69

  15,860.00

  (ii) Locally Employed (LE)

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  9,512.00

  100.00

  19,512.00

  NDPBs:

  Britain-Russia Centre

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  3.50

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  5.00

  British Council

  6.00

  0.08

  28.00

  0.38

  6,237.00

  85.25

  27,316.00

  Great Britain—China Centre

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  6.00

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  2.50

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  11.00

  Wilton Park

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  61.00

  BBC World Service

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  0.00

  247.00

  13.33

  31,853.00

  1 The staff numbers for FCO include staff working at posts overseas, and include consular staff

  2 The staff figures for British Council include staff on local contracts and teachers on contract

  3 The staff figures for BBC World Service includes BBC Monitoring staff

  Asylum Seekers
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances asylum seekers would be handed over by the staff in UK overseas missions to the local authorities; if he will list how often this has happened in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [62897]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Whether a person seeking asylum in a UK mission overseas would be handed over to the local authorities would depend on the circumstances of each case. There is no general right for persons to seek asylum in a UK mission overseas.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  EU Committees (Scottish Representation)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for senior labour inspectors is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [71825]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The EU Committee for senior labour inspectors is due to next meet in 5–7 November 2002.

  No representative of the Scottish Executive is, or has been, a member of it. The UK is, however, adequately represented.

  Directives (Trade Barriers)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of explosives for civilian uses is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66416]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.
  1324W
  No date has yet been fixed for the next meeting of this Committee. Officials from the Health and Safety Executive, which is sponsored by my Department, represent the UK on the Committee as policy responsibility for health and safety is a reserved matter. However, officials would consult the Scottish Executive in the event that there were agenda items in which it has an interest in accordance with our Concordat with the devolved Administrations.

  Arms Exports
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arms export licences to(a) India and (b) Pakistan her Department examined from January 2000 to June 2002; how many were (i) approved and (ii) denied in each month ; and if she will make a statement. [65435]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The number of Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) issued and refused in each month from January 2000 to June 2002 is as follows:

  India

  Pakistan

  SIELs issued

  SIELs refused

  SIELs issued

  SIELs refused

  2000

  January

  84

  1

  0

  0

  February

  57

  1

  0

  2

  March

  42

  8

  0

  1

  April

  14

  4

  0

  0

  May

  44

  9

  0

  0

  June

  122

  3

  1

  0

  July

  49

  12

  17

  30

  August

  72

  5

  0

  0

  September

  63

  0

  5

  0

  October

  64

  16

  29

  2

  November

  58

  8

  15

  4

  December

  30

  5

  21

  13

  2001

  January

  —

  4

  —

  4

  February

  —

  14

  —

  9

  March

  —

  5

  —

  3

  April

  —

  12

  —

  2

  May

  —

  16

  —

  6

  June

  —

  9

  —

  4

  July

  —

  3

  —

  0

  1325W

  India

  Pakistan

  SIELs issued

  SIELs refused

  SIELs issued

  SIELs refused

  August

  —

  7

  —

  4

  September

  —

  8

  —

  1

  October

  66

  5

  35

  0

  November

  50

  2

  17

  0

  December

  73

  4

  8

  3

  2002

  January

  22

  7

  3

  2

  February

  33

  6

  1

  0

  March

  88

  9

  38

  1

  April

  106

  4

  16

  3

  May

  53

  12

  7

  2

  June

  2

  4

  0

  0

  The number of Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) issued and refused, where the end users were in India and Pakistan, in each month between January 2000 and June 2002 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  For information on SIELs and OIELs issued, where the end users were in India and Pakistan, between January 2001 and September 2001, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 15 July 2002,Official Report, columns 77–78W.

  Details of all individual export licences issued and refused are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of UK arms exports she estimates to have been incorporated into products for annual export in each year since 1997. [72217]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 18 March 2002,Official Report, column 54W.

  Departmental Policies (Isle of Wight)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the activities pursued by her Department that have had a particular impact on the Isle of Wight since 7 June 2001. [57672]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: There are a wide variety of Trade and Industry initiatives being undertaken to help the Isle of Wight economy that are delivered by a number of different agencies. Among those initiatives that have had a particular impact since 7 June 2001, is the south-east RDA-led Isle of Wight Enterprise Hub initiative that has secured £500,000 funding to upgrade skills in the composites and advanced materials sector; DTI Smart Scheme grants totalling £230,517 offered to three companies; and DTI Enterprise Scheme grants totalling £468,135 offered to 18 companies.

  Company Takeovers
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the takeover offer made on 28 March by GBV Funfte GmbH,1326W
  for the whole of the issued share capital of Innogy Holdings plc with regard to the requirements of section 429(4) of the Companies Act and Schedule 12 to the Financial Services Act 1986; and if he will make a statement. [66591]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received two written representations on behalf of shareholders raising issues concerning section 429(4) of the Companies Act 1985 and Schedule 12 to the Financial Services Act 1986 and arising from the above takeover offer.

  Data Protection Act
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of the Data Protection Act 1998 on business transactions and volume of paperwork which has resulted. [67262]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  I apologise for the delay in replying. This was due to an administrative oversight. An estimate of the likely impact upon business of the Data Protection Act 1998 is contained in the December 1997 Regulatory Impact Assessment on the EC data protection directive to which the 1998 Act gives effect. This shows recurring costs to business of £630 million a year, and non-recurring costs of £836 million. The regulatory impact assessment is available on the Lord Chancellor's Department's website (www.lcd.gov.uk), and a copy is in the Library of the House. I have no additional quantified information on the impact of the 1998 Act on business transactions or the volume of paperwork.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from businesses as to difficulties in meeting the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998; and if she will make a statement. [67261]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply. I apologise for the delay in replying. This was due to an administrative oversight. About 25 organisations representing business interests responded to the Government's autumn 2000 consultation on the impact of the Data Protection Act 1998. A list of the respondents is in the summary of responses which was published in December 2001. The summary of responses is available on the Lord Chancellor's Department's website (www.lcd.gov.uk), and a copy is in the Library of the House. Since the consultation, the Lord Chancellor's Department has additionally received a small number of representations from or on behalf of businesses.

  Auditors
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on rotation of companies' auditors for quoted public companies; and if she will make a statement. [68250]
  1327W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government will consider the need for rotation of statutory auditors for quoted public companies in the light of the interim report of the Co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accountancy issues.

  Auditing
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what new steps she is taking to tighten the rules on auditing procedures. [71937]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government will consider the need to review auditing procedures in the light of the interim report of the Co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accountancy issues.

  Export Centres
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether an application was made by Harvey Logistics/Harvey Military Supplies in 2001 for the export of mortar bombs and parts of mortar primers to Namibia. [68811]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Department of Trade and Industry's export control organisation does not normally comment on export licence applications, which are commercially confidential and exempt from disclosure under Part II, Exemption 13 and 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Details of all relevant export licences issued and refused since 2 May 1997 are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which are placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Trawlermen (Compensation)
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of processed claims made under the Icelandic Waters Trawlermen's compensation scheme have been rejected. [70839]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Excluding duplicates, 60 per cent. of claims have been accepted and 40 per cent. of claims have been rejected. The calculation does not include claims that have not yet been decided. It includes as rejections claims that have been rejected but are being reviewed by the Department or have been referred to the independent adjudicator.

  WorldCom
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what complaints were received by her Department about accounting practices at WorldCom in Britain in 1999; and what action was taken to investigate. [70754]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  It is a long established practice that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry does not comment on the affairs of individual companies nor does she confirm or deny any particular investigation.

  Accountancy and Audit Regulator
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether her co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accountancy issues(a) has discussed and (b) will discuss (i) an independent Regulator of Accountancy and (ii) a ban on sales of other services by auditors to audit clients. [70715]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Co-ordinating Group has discussed both regulation of the accountancy profession and the provision of non-audit services by auditors to their audit clients. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry earlier today.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether she plans to review major reform in accountancy regulation(a) now and (b) at the end of the first five years of the existence of the Accountancy Foundation; [70716]

  (2) what plans she has to set up an Independent Regulator for Accountancy and Audit. [70714]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government will consider the need to review accountancy regulation in the light of the interim report of the Co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accountancy issues.

  Gas Storage
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals her Department has to encourage oil and gas companies to utilise existing offshore gas reservoirs for re-injected gas storage; and if she will make a statement. [71468]

  Mr. Wilson
  Making such proposals is a commercial matter for the oil and gas companies; the Department stands ready to assess such proposals for the purpose of issuing the necessary consents, notably production licences and pipe-line authorisations. Meanwhile the Department and Ofgem are ensuring industry and public awareness of the case for additional gas storage facilities, whether offshore or onshore, through the work of the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS). JESS's first report, published in June, noted that there is uncertainty about the adequacy of gas supplies to meet demand from consumers during a period of sustained peak demand from about 2004–05, and that additional infrastructure (including gas storage) may be the most efficient way of ensuring security of supply.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with major oil and gas companies about the future utilisation of depleted gas reservoirs in offshore fields for gas storage; and if she will make a statement. [71466]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department discusses this and other issues with petroleum companies from time to time. Details of such discussions are commercially confidential.
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  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessments she has made of the(a) current volume of depleted gas reservoirs in offshore fields and (b) potential volume of gas reservoirs in offshore fields, which could be used for re-injected gas storage; and if she will make a statement about gas reservoir depletion. [71467]

  Mr. Wilson
  It is for the oil and gas companies to make such assessments, and to come forward with commercial proposals. As gas production from some gas fields on the UK Continental Shelf stops, there may well be further opportunities—following the example of Rough—to use a number of reservoirs for gas storage. Whether a particular reservoir is suitable will depend on such factors as: how far it is depleted; whether it has the right physical characteristics, including "cushion gas" to permit easy injection/withdrawal without excessive production of liquids; and its proximity to shore.

  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received about the development of onshore subterranean gas storage and processing facilities; and what her Department's policy is on the development of such facilities. [71469]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department discusses such schemes with oil and gas companies, and other interested parties, from time to time. Details of such discussions are commercially confidential. In correspondence with Cheshire county council my Department has noted that gas storage facilities make a valuable contribution to the reliability of physical gas supplies and to maintaining competition in the gas supply chain, and that consumers (including electricity consumers who indirectly rely on gas) benefit in both ways. I am placing a copy of my Department's letter of 27 March in the Libraries of the House.

  Electricity Licences
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what electricity standard licence condition modification proposals she has received in(a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [71584]

  Mr. Wilson
  Ofgem has notified the Secretary of State under section 11A(4) of the Electricity Act 1989 of its proposal to make the following modifications to electricity standard licence conditions since they were introduced on 1 October 2001:Distribution licences
  SLC5: to suspend the effect of paragraphs 2 and 3 of the condition in relation to licensees to whom SLC 49 applies.
  SLC 39 and 40: to introduce revised conditions relating to the use of certain information relating to the distribution business.
  Transmission licences
  SLC C3: to enable a change to the procedural requirements for modifying the Balancing and Settlement Code proposed by the BSC Parties.

  Nuclear Industry
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations her Department has received regarding UK emission reduction obligations without nuclear energy. [71517]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government launched a consultation on energy policy on 14 May with a view to publishing a White Paper around the turn of the year.

  One of the questions raised in the document is how confident can we be that we can continue on a path of reducing our carbon emissions as most nuclear stations close over the next 20 years.

  We shall be posting the replies which we receive to the consultation on the DTI's website.

  Small Energy Generators
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of NETA on small energy generators. [71580]

  Mr. Wilson
  Ofgem, the gas and electricity regulator, is currently preparing a report on the operation of NETA in its first year. This is due to be published this month and will include a section on the impact of NETA on smaller generators. I shall ensure a copy of the document is placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Export Licence Applications
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when a decision will be made in respect of export licence application No 29747; and if she will make a statement. [71254]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: Licences to export arms and other items whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry acting through the Export Control Organisation.

  A decision has not yet been reached on export licence application 29747, but will be taken as quickly as possible consistent with the need to give full consideration to the issues involved.

  Business Start-ups
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what specific programmes her Department has to encourage environmental enterprise in rural areas. [71669]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS) is one of the measures announced under the "Action Plan for Farming". published in March 2000. The action plan aims to move farming forward and help farmers improve the way they run their business.
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  The spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the spring and summer of 2001 saw the need to design an enhanced FBAS service for farmers who had compulsorily culled their livestock as a result of FMD control measures. This service was announced in June 2001.

  The Development Fund for Rural Renewal, part of the Phoenix Fund, was announced in November 2001. £3 million is being spent to assist business communities hard hit by the foot and mouth.

  In addition, the SBS is spending £30 million up until March 2004 on 96 Phoenix Development Fund projects in disadvantaged areas and among under-represented groups in all areas. So far the development fund has enabled the start-up of over 400 new enterprises and the creation or safeguarding of more than 1,600 jobs.

  SBS is also supporting 46 Community Development Finance Initiative projects in disadvantaged areas. These CDFIs are receiving almost £20 million of support over the next two years. A number of the projects supported are researching new and innovative ways of providing last resort finance to disadvantaged communities.

  Finally, SBS' 45 business link operators assisted almost 245,000 businesses during 2001–02 and have helped over 18,000 new businesses to start-up in all areas.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what partners her Department works with in identifying and encouraging enterprise in rural areas. [71672]

  Nigel Griffiths
  In the public sector these include the Countryside Agency and the English Tourism Council, and in the private sector organisations, as diverse as the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Village Retail Services Association (ViRSA) and the British Association of Licensed Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALLPA).

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses in the environmental enterprise sector have been established with the help of resources from her Department in each year since 1997. [71671]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The New Business Relation Group of the DTI does not hold this information.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) conferences and (b) seminars her Department has (i) organised and (ii) supported in the past five years aimed at stimulating new enterprises in rural areas; and what organisations have partnered her Department in these initiatives. [71666]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Business Link Operators, which are part-funded by the DTI, have undertaken numerous local activities which have the effect either directly or indirectly of stimulating new enterprises in rural areas e.g. attendance at agricultural shows and participating in events to promote rural social enterprise.
  1332W

  WEEE Directive
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on basing the proposed waste electrical and electronic equipment directive on the principle of individual producer responsibility. [72022]

  Mr. Wilson
  DTI works very closely with all Departments, but especially with DEFRA on this directive.

  The Government support the principle of individual producer responsibility, but believe that making this mandatory might impose disproportionate cost and administrative burdens on some firms, especially SMEs with little additional environmental gain. We therefore continue to support the common position text, which would allow a collective or an individual approach.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to ensure that the proposed waste electrical and electronic equipment directive is introduced in a way that is(a) beneficial to the environment and (b) cost-effective for the producer. 171935]

  Mr. Wilson
  Studies undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the Department show that the WEEE directive is likely to offer significant environmental benefits over current practice. A report was written in 1999 and updated this year. It is available on the DTI website.

  We have negotiated hard in Brussels for as much flexibility as possible in the directive and will implement in the most cost-effective manner permitted by the final text, while maximising the environmental benefits. The Regulatory Impact Assessments already completed will help inform this. We will, of course, continue to consult widely.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responsibility for the implementation of the waste electrical and electronic equipment directive into UK law will lie with(a) her Department and (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [71934]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department has lead responsibility for negotiating this directive. We work very closely with other Government Departments, especially DEFRA. We have yet to make a decision on which Department will transpose the WEEE directive into UK law.

  Company Accounts
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the way in which small firms present their accounts, following her recent announcements on audit practice. [71938]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I announced on 17 July that I propose to raise the definition of a small company to the current EU maximum, benefiting some 15,000 companies who will no longer have to include a cash flow statement,
  1333W
  and can produce simplified profit and loss account and balance sheet. I also propose that small companies should file their accounts with Companies House: the current option to file abbreviated accounts would be abolished.

  Eco-design
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that incentives are in place for the eco-design of products. [71936]

  Mr. Wilson
  Both the Department and my colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are involved in the negotiation and implementation of a number of EC initiatives that are concerned with the eco-design of products. In addition, as part of their promotional effort to stimulate the adoption of waste minimisation and cleaner techniques within business, the Departments jointly sponsor the Envirowise programme to run workshops and publish design guides specifically to promote cleaner design.

  At European level, a Commission Green Paper on the establishment of a framework of Integrated Product Policy (IPP) was published in February last year. This aims to improve the environmental performance of a wide range of products throughout their life cycle.

  The Commission also published the first draft for a directive on the impact on the environment of electrical and electronic equipment, known as the EEE proposals, last year. These proposals aim to harmonise European requirements concerning the design of electrical and electronic products to minimise their overall impact on the environment.

  In addition, the final negotiating stages of a directive on the waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are currently taking place. This will encourage elements of eco-design by placing recycling costs on producers.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had regarding small business growth; and what the outcomes of those meetings were. [72459]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I meet small business representative organisations on a regular basis to discuss small business growth, including the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, the Federation of Small Business, the Small Business Council, and the Ethnic Minority Business Forum.

  In addition, I regularly visit all the Business Link Operators and I visit small businesses regularly to discuss the issues affecting their future development and growth.

  The outcomes of these discussions inform SME policy development and the strategy of the Small Business Service, the new Strategy Board of which I am the chair.

  In May I launched a consultation on a Comprehensive Strategy for Business Start-Ups in a drive to boost the enterprise culture and encourage more people to set up their own business. The strategy includes proposals for a new package of measures to support first-time entrepreneurs and growing businesses—particularly those from under-represented groups and disadvantaged parts of
  1334W
  the country—and proposals to reduce the barriers facing start-ups. The consultation period will run until the end of July 2002.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government defines a small business; and what(a) guidance has been given and (b) legislation is in place regarding the encouragement of small business growth. [724541

  Nigel Griffiths
  For statistical purposes the DTI uses the following definitions:

  Micro firm: 0–9 employees

  Small firm: 0–49 employees (includes micro)

  Medium firm: 50–249 employees.

  Section 249 of the Companies Act, 1985 states that a company is 'small' if it satisfies at least two of the following criteria:

  A turnover of not more than £2.8 million

  A balance sheet total of not more than £1.4 million

  Not more than 50 employees.

  A medium-sized company must satisfy at least two of the following criteria:

  A turnover of not more than £11.2 million

  A balance sheet total of not more than £5.6 million

  Not more than 250 employees.

  (a) The Small Business Service provides, through 45 local Business Operators, guidance, advice or access to experts, on just about everything needed to start or grow a business. Services include: business planning, finance, regulation, exporting, innovation, management, quality, employment issues, training and development, design, and E-commerce.
  (b) The Government's aim is to make Britain one of the most competitive environments for business in the world-since 1997 the Government have cut the corporate tax bills of small companies by around 30 per cent. rewarding entrepreneurial spirit and promoting growth.

  The Government have introduced numerous measures to help small enterprises since 1997, including:
  taking forward the recommendations of the Carter Review of Payroll Services;
  cutting the small companies rate of corporation tax from 23 per cent. to 19 per cent. and introducing a starting rate which we are now cutting from 10 per cent. to zero;
  introducing a 10p starting rate of income tax;
  making 40 per cent. first year capital allowances permanent; and
  introducing measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses have(a) started up and (b) closed down in the past five years by region. [72453]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The number of VAT registrations and de-registrations is the best official measure of business start-ups and closures. VAT data do not capture much of the activity of the very smallest firms that operate under the VAT registration threshold (turnover of £52,000 at 1 April 2000). The latest data available are those for 2000.
  1335W

  Number

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Start-ups: VAT registrations 1996–2000

  United Kingdom

  168,200

  182,570

  186,250

  178,460

  183,325

  North East

  4,085

  4,170

  4,215

  4,230

  4,280

  North West

  16,475

  18,120

  18,595

  18,085

  18,535

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  11,315

  11,825

  11,820

  11,635

  11,975

  East Midlands

  10,845

  11,745

  11,895

  11,255

  12,030

  West Midlands

  13,295

  13,635

  15,030

  14,405

  14,485

  East of England

  16,140

  18,270

  17,920

  17,080

  18,420

  London

  34,055

  37,165

  39,670

  37,335

  37,915

  South East

  27,055

  29,955

  29,915

  28,325

  29,185

  South West

  13,840

  15,315

  15,545

  15,140

  15,440

  England

  147,105

  160,200

  164,605

  157.490

  162,265

  Wales

  6,105

  6,240

  6,135

  5.995

  6,190

  Scotland

  11,275

  12,280

  11,825

  11,410

  11,410

  Northern Ireland

  3,715

  3,850

  3,685

  3,565

  3,460

  Closures: VAT De-registrations 1996–2000

  United Kingdom

  165,065

  164,455

  155,930

  171,970

  177,080

  North East

  4,505

  4,390

  4,035

  4,295

  4,220

  North West

  17,245

  17,120

  16,115

  17,215

  17,690

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  12,000

  12,250

  11,350

  12,295

  12,755

  East Midlands

  11,365

  11,235

  10,695

  11,480

  11,880

  West Midlands

  13,670

  13,885

  13,335

  14,200

  14,220

  East of England

  15,600

  15,750

  15,200

  16.515

  17,455

  London

  29,320

  28,295

  28,375

  32,765

  35,200

  South East

  25,680

  25,665

  22,985

  25,900

  27,255

  South West

  14,315

  14,400

  13,845

  15,040

  15,475

  England

  143,705

  142,990

  135,935

  149.705

  156,150

  Wales

  6,750

  6,320

  6,240

  6,740

  6,410

  Scotland

  11,535

  11,540

  10,930

  11,900

  11,390

  Northern Ireland

  3,080

  3,605

  2,825

  3,625

  3,130

  Source:

  Business Starts and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1980–2000, Small Business Service

  Energy Supply
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the powers Ministers have with regards to securing the supply of energy. [72559]

  Mr. Wilson
  Responsibility for energy security under the law is shared by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Ofgem. My right hon. Friend is responsible for setting the overall regulatory framework for the supply of gas and electricity. A key part of that framework is set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and the Gas Act 1986. These provide that in carrying out their functions the Secretary of State and Ofgem shall have regard to the need to secure that all reasonable demands in Great Britain for electricity and (so far as it is economical to do so) for gas are met.

  Under this legislation, the powers of the Secretary of State and Ofgem relating to security of supply are mainly exercised through their licensing functions. My right hon. Friend has laid down Standard Licence Conditions which apply to all classes of licensees. Power to modify these rests with Ofgem, with reference to the Competition Commission if a company and Ofgem cannot agree. My right hon. Friend has a power to veto agreed modifications. Enforcement of licence conditions is for Ofgem.

  My right hon. Friend has statutory responsibility for regulation of the offshore and onshore oil and gas industries, including the authorisation of pipeline
  1336W
  construction and settlement of disputes about access to pipelines. She also has general responsibility for gas regulation and for strategic international issues including European policy, and hence for security of supply issues falling within these areas. There are also provisions under HSE's Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 and under the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 which provide for maintaining security of supply.

  The Electricity Act 1989 gives my right hon. Friend powers to require particular measures to be taken by licence holders in the event of an electricity supply emergency. The Government may also use the powers contained in the Energy Act 1976 and the more general powers in the Emergency Powers Act 1920, which is the responsibility of the Home Office.

  BNFL
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) for what reasons her Department has engaged Andersens as a consultant to advise on the restructuring of BNFL; [72430]

  (2) who the (a) engagement partner and (b) client partner at Andersens are who will be carrying out the work on behalf of her Department into the restructuring of BNFL. [72429]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department has not engaged Andersens. Following a competitive tender, the Department is in the process of appointing Deloitte and Touche as its accountancy adviser on BNFL and the
  1337W
  proposed Liabilities Management Authority. Deloitte and Touche has invited partners and staff at Andersens in the UK to join Deloitte and I understand that arrangement is currently being implemented. The Deloitte's team will be led by David Wadsworth, a long-standing partner at Deloitte.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the financial position of BNFL. [72548]

  Mr. Wilson
  BNFL announced its results for 2001–02 on 16 July 2002. The company reported a loss after tax and exceptional items of £2,090 million, caused primarily by exceptional charges of £1.9 billion relating to a review of strategy for historic waste management and £375 million for the early closure of the Magnox nuclear power stations Calder Hall and Chapelcross. Before tax and exceptional items, the company made a profit of £22 million.

  BNFL also announced a net asset deficit of some £1.85 billion. However, the Company has a strong cash position. Further, in November 2001 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced proposals to establish a Liabilities Management Authority (LMA) which will take on financial responsibility for the nuclear legacy liabilities. The Government are committed to pushing ahead with the proposed LMA at the earliest opportunity and published on 4 July 2002 a White Paper "Managing the Nuclear Legacy" which, among other things, sets out in more detail the plans for the LMA.

  Business Ethics Training
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the SBS Business Incubation Fund has been allocated; how many applications have been rejected; how many applications are awaiting a decision; and if she will make a statement. [70194]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The SBS Business Incubation Fund was created in October 2001.

  Applications totalling £4.5 million have been received. The fund's panel of independent experts are evaluating these. Further applications from projects, currently at an early stage, are expected to be made to the fund once they reach their appropriate level of development. To date, three have been rejected.

  Auditing and Accounting
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action the Government are taking to strengthen auditing and accounting requirements. [72969]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House earlier today.

  Office for Civil Nuclear Security
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2002,Official Report, column 353W, on OCNS, which other Government agencies are used to train OCNS staff; and for what reason the publication of the first annual report from OCNS was not accompanied by a press release. [72603]
  1338W
  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: OCNS staff are given the training which is considered necessary in order to complete their tasks. This training will vary from task to task and from person to person, therefore the agency giving the training will vary' according to the requirement.

  It was thought more appropriate for the publication of the OCNS annual report to be placed in the Library of both Houses and to be made generally available on the DTI website.

  European Energy and Transport Forum
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the European Energy and Transport Forum will meet; where it will meet; how often meetings will take place; and if she will make a statement. [72674]

  Mr. Wilson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 1 July 2002,Official Report, column 132W. The European Energy and Transport Forum is a Commission Committee. It is for the Commission to decide organisational arrangements for meetings.

  Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times in the last 12 months members of the SBS have met the Council for Excellence in Management and Leadership. [70193]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Seven.

  Employment Tribunals
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects the Employment Tribunal System Taskforce to report; and if she will publish the report. [73548]

  Alan Johnson
  The Employment Tribunal System Taskforce have just completed their work. I expect to receive their report shortly. I know that Members of the House and the public are keen to see the outcome of their work, so I hope to publish as soon as practical after receipt of the report; copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the regional development agencies have prepared annual accounts and reports for 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [73549]

  Alan Johnson
  The regional development agencies' annual reports and accounts for 2001–02 have been published today. Copies have been laid before Parliament. These cover the period from 1 April 2001 through to 31 March 2002. The Government welcome the continued progress made by agencies to improving the economic regeneration, skills and competitiveness of the regions.

  Company Auditors (Supervisory Bodies)
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has received the annual reports for
  1339W
  2001 from the recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors under Part II of the Companies Act 1989; and if she will make a statement. [73550]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have received the annual reports for the year 2001 from the five recognised supervisory bodies for company auditors: a combined report from the institutes of chartered accountants in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and one each from the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and the Association of Authorised Public Accountants. Copies of the reports have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Schedule 11 of the Companies Act 1989 sets out the requirements which a body must meet to be eligible for recognised supervisory body status. These include requirements to have adequate arrangements for monitoring and enforcing compliance with its rules relating to membership and eligibility (e.g. holding an appropriate qualification, being a fit and proper person, working to technical and ethical standards, maintaining competence), discipline and investigation of complaints. In these reports, the recognised bodies inform the Government about their activities in relation to these arrangements. We shall discuss the reports with the bodies shortly, and will do so in the light of the interim report of the co-ordinating group on audit and accounting issues.

  These arrangements now also fall within the oversight remit of the Review Board. It is currently completing a study of the bodies' discipline and complaints arrangements and will start work shortly on a study of their systems for registration and monitoring of auditors.

  Penrose Inquiry
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she expects the Penrose Inquiry to be published in 2002; and if she will make a statement. [72837]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 19 July 2002, Official Report, column 636W.

  Directives (Trade Barriers)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of colouring matters which may be added to medicinal products is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66426]

  Mr. Lammy
  I have been asked to reply.

  The UK representatives on the European Union Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of colouring matters which may be added to medicinal products are the chief executive of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) in relation to medicines for human use, and the chief executive of the
  1340W
  Veterinary Medicines Directorate in relation to veterinary medicines. We have not received notification of any committee meetings planned for the future.

  The committee is a regulatory committee which assists the European Commission in exercising its powers of implementation and facilitates the adoption of draft measures in the field of permitted colours for medicinal products.

  EU Committees (Scottish Representation)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee overseeing the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68563]

  Ms Blears
  I have been asked to reply.

  The ad hoc comitology committee set up to advise the European Commission on measures needed to control agricultural products originating in third countries affected by fallout from the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station has no date set for its next meeting. The United Kingdom is represented on the committee by an official from the Food Standards Agency who consults with all interested parties, including the Scottish Executive, prior to committee meetings. The Scottish Executive has never had a separate representative on the committee.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Minister for Women (1) what is the budget of the Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence; [59848]

  (2) how many times the Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence has met in the last 12 months; and on what dates; [59846]

  (3) how many letters from the public the Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence has received. [59849]

  Mr. Denham
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Ministerial Group itself has not received any letters from the public, but the Home Office has received 20 such letters since 5 February, relating to domestic violence. As chair of the Ministerial Group on Domestic Violence, I have received nine further letters from other members of the group and Members of Parliament. Other members of the Ministerial Group may have received letters specific to their policy areas.

  The Ministerial Group has met three times in the last seven months, on 10 January 202 (its inaugural meeting), 5 February 2002, and 12 June 2002.

  The Ministerial Group does not have a specific budget as it utilises resources currently available within each Department to help tackle domestic violence.
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  School Transport
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on school transport per secondary pupil in each English local education authority in each of the last five years; and how many secondary pupils there were in each local authority. [68170]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 15 July 2002]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

  School Management
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the statement of the School Standards Minister of 15 July 2002,Official Report, column 67, lines 1–2, and the statement of the former School Standards Minister of 13 December 2001, Official Report, Standing Committee G, column 157, lines 59–61, if subsection (1) (a) of section 10 of the Education Bill allows governing bodies to form a company to manage or operate a school [71732]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: As a matter of law, the conduct of a maintained school must be under the direction of a school's governing body. That duty is re-enacted in clause 20 of the current Education Bill. (References are to HL Bill 51 (Rev) as first printed for the Lords.) This statutory position is referred to in both lines 1 and 2 of column 67 of the Official Report for 15 July 2002 and in lines 58–59 of column 157 of the Official Report on Standing Committee G on 13 December 2001.

  It would not therefore be possible for a company or any other body to "take over the running of the school", because the governing body cannot contract out the duty to conduct the school.

  Nothing in the Bill means that governing bodies have greater powers to enter into contracts. By virtue of schedule 10 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, governing bodies already have the power to enter into contracts, which may include elements of the operational management of the school.

  Clause 10 (1)(a) gives groups of schools the power to form a company to deliver services to other schools. Thus, clause 10(1)(a) means that a governing body may contract with a school company on the same basis as with other bodies. However, the conduct of the school must remain under the direction of the governing body.

  Out-of-School Clubs
  Jonathan Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what targets Ofsted has set for the inspection and registration after 2003 of out-of-school clubs; and when they will be published; [71694]

  (2) how long on average Ofsted has taken to inspect and register an out-of-school club, broken down by region; [71693]
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  (3) how many out-of-school clubs Ofsted estimates had to be inspected and registered before March 2003 for its targets to be met. [71692]

  Mr. Miliband
  These are matters for the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED). The HM Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell will write to the hon. Gentleman and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

  Crèches
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what requirements there are for qualified staff to be in attendance at creche facilities operating for less than two hours a day in public places; [72165]

  (2) whether staff and assistants working in creche facilities open to the general public and operating less than two hours per day are subject to the same checks as those working in creche facilities open to the general public and operating more than two hours per day; [72319]

  (3) how many complaints her Department has received in the last 12 months about the quality of care provided in creche facilities available to the general public operating for less than two hours a day; [72166]

  (4) what information a provider of creche facilities operating for less than two hours a day is required to supply to parents. [72164]

  Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: Crèches operating for two hours or less per day are not regulated in the same way as childcare facilities operating for longer periods. There are no particular requirements for staff to be checked by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), for information to be supplied to parents, or for qualified staff. However, people providing such facilities have a general duty of care for the children being looked after, and should therefore ensure that they employ people suitable for the job. Within the last twelve months, the Department for Education and Skills has received only one complaint about the quality of care in crèche facilities operating for less than two hours per day. We keep under regular review the provisions of the Children Act relating to the regulation of childcare.

  Children
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether, in preparing a response to the UN General Assembly Special Assembly for Children held in May, she will report on the work of other Departments affecting children both in the UK and overseas. [72328]

  John Denham
  At the UN General Assembly Special Session, countries committed themselves to developing or strengthening national policies with the goals agreed in the Plan of Action set out in the final declaration. In the Government's over-arching strategy for children and young people, which will cover all departments and which will be published later this year, we will ensure that the commitments in the Plan of Action are reflected.

  Schools (Administrative Staff)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many administrative staff were working in(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in (i) St. Helens Metropolitan borough council area,

  Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools: Full-time equivalent1 of administrative staff2 1997–2001

  Position in January each year

  Total administrative staff1,2

  Primary3

  Secondary3

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  St Helens LEA

  55

  57

  59

  68

  67

  70

  66

  65

  69

  Merseyside4

  545

  543

  554

  569

  607

  501

  519

  529

  562

  North West5

  1,828

  1,880

  1,910

  2,033

  2,136

  1,868

  1,920

  1,949

  2,604

  ENGLAND

  19,211

  19,565

  19,985

  21,180

  22,258

  17,592

  18,084

  18,686

  19,424

  1 Includes both full-time and the full-time equivalent of part-time non-teaching staff.

  2 Includes secretaries and bursars.

  3 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  4 For 2000 and 2001 Merseyside is incorporated into North West region so these figures have been derived by a Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral LEAs.

  5 North West figures for 2000 and 2001 have been alterred to exclude Merseyside Metroplolitan County for consistency with previous years

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census.

  Behaviour Improvement Plans
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which LEAs have behaviour improvement plans funded by central Government; what the cost of each has been; and what criteria were adopted by Government for the selection of those authorities. [71816]

  Stephen Twigg
  The following 34 local education authorities (LEAs) were selected to submit plans to improve behaviour and attendance in particular schools under the Behaviour Improvement Programme strand of the Government's Street Crime initiative:

  Barking and Dagenham

  Hounslow

  Oldham

  Birmingham

  Islington

  Reading

  Bolton

  Kensington and Chelsea

  Rochdale

  Bradford

  Knowsley

  Salford

  Brent

  Lambeth

  Sheffield

  Bristol

  Leeds

  Slough

  Camden

  Lewisham

  Southwark

  Enfield

  Liverpool

  Tower Hamlets

  Greenwich

  Manchester

  Waltham Forest

  Hackney

  Newham

  Westminster

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Nottingham

  Wolverhampton

  Haringey

  All 34 plans have received initial approval and the LEAs now have access to up to £1.5 million in 2002–03 and around a further £1.25 million in 2003–04. Funding beyond 2003–04 will be determined following further consideration of the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review. The 34 LEAs were selected on the basis of crime figures and truancy data from among the 83 LEAs which fall into the ten police force areas which account for over 80 per cent. of street crime.

  Teaching Vacancies
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching vacancies in Surrey are unfilled; and how many were unfilled 12 months ago. [72397]
  1344W
  (ii) Merseyside, (iv) the north-west and (v) England in (A) 1997, (B) 1998, (C) 1999, (D) 2000 and (E) 2001. [70187]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 17 july 2002]: The information requested is shown in the table

  Mr. Miliband
  There were 104 vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Surrey in January 2001. This is the most recent date for which these data are available.

  There were 39 vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Surrey in January 2000.

  Teachers' Pensions
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the proportion of the rise in Government liabilities resulting from unfunded teacher pension schemes in England and Wales in the last five years owing to(a) wage inflation, (b) longevity, (c) extension of the rights of part-time workers and (d) other factors; and if she will make a statement. [67024]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Teachers' Pension Scheme is subject to regular actuarial reviews by the Government Actuary. A review of the position as at 31 March 2001 is underway and the report is due to be published at the end of the year. Actuarial reviews include full allowance for the effects on the scheme liabilities of such factors as price inflation, salary growth, membership changes and pensioner mortality. Intermediate valuations are produced to provide updated liability figures for the purposes of Resource Accounting, and are generally based on the assumptions adopted for the latest full review.

  Information is not readily available in the form requested. The liabilities of the scheme were calculated to be £76 billion for the actuarial review as at 31 March 1996, and were estimated to be £98 billion for the Resource Accounts as at 31 March 2001. Changes in price inflation, real wage inflation and in the membership are the main factors underlying the higher liabilities. The increase in liabilities caused by the extension of the rights of part-time workers was not significant over the period.

  Head Teachers
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of serving head teachers have participated in the leadership and management programme for new head teachers. [72824]

  Mr. Miliband
  10,243 headteachers have registered since 1995 for the Leadership and Management Programme for New Headteachers (HEADLAMP), which represents 43 per cent. of serving headteachers.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of teachers have achieved the National Professional Qualification for Headship. [72823]

  Mr. Miliband
  6,340 teachers have achieved the National Professional Qualification for Headship since 1997, which represents 1.4 per cent. of all full-time and part-time teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools in the maintained sector in January 2002 (provisional). In addition, 4,500 teachers are currently working towards the qualification.

  Pupil Referral Units: Number (headcount) of Pupils1

  Position at January in each year

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  St Helens

  0

  1

  0

  0

  21

  35

  Merseyside

  283

  418

  442

  428

  470

  385

  North

  West(excluding Merseyside)

  177

  247

  378

  274

  360

  1,033

  England

  6,872

  7,530

  7,740

  8,263

  8,479

  9,289

  1 Excludes pupils who are also registered at a mainstream or special school.

  Number of Pupils not in Schools1

  Position at January in each year

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  St Helens

  23

  47

  48

  84

  70

  81

  Merseyside

  329

  300

  305

  362

  —

  —

  North West

  1,521

  1,564

  1,849

  2,100

  2,616

  2,061

  England

  10,553

  12,295

  13,594

  14,005

  15,670

  16,307

  1 Includes pupils not in school, e.g. pupils taught at home, Traveller children, asylum seekers at FE colleges or with voluntary sector providers—not applicable (Merseyside is incorporated into North West region).

  We do not require Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to report separately on the numbers of children educated in the home by the LEA and this could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  We do not require LEAs to report on the numbers of children whose parents choose to home educate them and this figure also could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacant teaching positions there were(a) by subject and (b) as a percentage of all teaching positions in (i) St Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in (A) 1996, (B) 1997, (C) 1998. (D) 1999, (E) 2000 and (F) 2001. [70863]
  1346W
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of serving head teachers have achieved the(a) Leadership Programme for Serving Head Teachers and (b) National Professional Qualification for Headship. [72822]

  Mr. Miliband
  9,391 serving headteachers have participated in the Leadership and Management Programme for Serving Heads, which represents 39 per cent. of serving headteachers.

  Serving headteachers are not eligible to undertake the National Professional Qualification for Headship. However, since its inception in 1997, 6,340 teachers have achieved the qualification and over 4,500 are currently working towards it.

  Education (St Helens)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children received education(a) in pupil referral units and (b) at home in (i) St Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the Northwest and (iv) England in each year since 1996. [71739]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The information requested is set out in the tables below.

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the adult literacy rate was in(a) St Helens, (b) Merseyside, (c) the North West and (d) England in each year since 1996. [71288]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The table below shows the estimated level of poor literacy skills in the areas concerned. The data are from a series of surveys undertaken for the Basic Skills Agency in 1996–97. There are no data available for the subsequent years, although we are now conducting a large survey of literacy, language and numeracy needs in England as part of the Skills for Life strategy to improve adult basic skills. This will provide a more current assessment of literacy need.
  1347W

  Area

  Percentage of population aged Area 16–60 with poor literacy skills

  St Helens

  26

  Merseyside

  27

  North West average

  25

  England average

  24

  Education Initiatives
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils in each

  Pilot/Pathfinder

  Area

  Diversity Pathfinders

  Middlesbrough; Hertfordshire; Portsmouth; Cornwall; Newham

  To explore various avenues towards developing a truly diverse secondary system by creating the opportunity for LEAs to work with schools to develop their own distinctive ethos and excellence in order to raise standards throughout secondary education.

  Excellence in Cities Primary Pilot Extending the programme to primary schools in EiC areas.

  Birmingham; Bradford; Camden; Coporation of London; Greenwich; hackney; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Islington; Knowsley; Lambeth; Leeds; Lewisham; Liverpool; Manchester; Newham; Rotherham; Salford; Sheffield; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea

  National Mentoring Pilot Project To raise the achievement of secondary school pupils aged between 12–18 years in deprived areas, encouraging them to develop and move on to independent learning, and promoting the benefits of entering into higher education to those who may not otherwise consider it.

  Birmingham; Oxfordshire; Hackney; Lambeth; Manchester; Nottingham; Brighton; Salford; Trafford; Portsmouth; Plymouth; Bradford; Lancashire; Gloucestershire; Newcastle; South Tyneside; Middlesbrough; Telford and Wrekin

  Learning Mentors To help pupils remove barriers to learning.

  Barking and Dagenham; Barnsley; Birmingham; Blackburn; Blackpool; Bradford; Brent; Bristol; Camden; Corporation of London; Doncaster; Ealing; Enfield; Gateshead; Greenwich; Hackney; Halton; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Hartlepool; Hounslow; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Kingston Upon Hull; Knowsley; Lambeth; Leeds Leicester City; Lewisham; Liverpool; Luton; Manchester; Middlesbrough, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Newham; North Tyneside; City of Nottingham; Oldham; Redcar and Cleveland; Rochdale; Rotherham; St Helens; Salford; Sandwell; Sefton; Sheffield; South Tyneside; Solihull; Southwark; Stockton on Tees; Stoke on Trent; Sunderland; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster; Wirral; Wolverhampton; Portsmouth; West Cumbria; Kent; Dewsbury and Batley; East Lancashire; Walsall; Croydon; Tameside; Huddersfield; West Lancashire; Coventry

  Advanced Skills Teachers (AST) Groupworking Schemes Off-shoot of national AST project to ascertain benefit and good practice in using AST's in groups rather than individually.

  Birmingham; Essex; Gloucestershire; Kent; Leeds; Lincolnshire; Newham; York

  School Partnership Pilots To develop models of partnership working between schools and with external partners to inform development of policy and tackle some current weak and failing schools where existing support is not securing sufficiently rapid progress.

  Sheffield; Isles of Scilly; Sandwell; Walsall; Bolton; Lewisham; Birmingham; Swindon; Derby

  Pupil Learning Credits To provide secondary schools with extra funding to enable them to provide additional learning opportunities for Key Stage 3 pupils whose social circumstances are exceptionally challenging, and then to assess the benefits of this to the pupils and the schools.

  Camden; Croydon; Greenwich; Hackney; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Lambeth; Lewisham; Newham; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster; Knowsley; Lancashire; Liverpool; Manchester; Salford; Portsmouth; Kent; Birmingham; Walsall; Bradford; Kirklees; Leeds; Rotherham; Sheffield

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  local education authority took part in each of her Department's initiatives which have not yet been subject to nationwide roll-out. [71814]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following pilot/Pathfinder initiatives were in operation during the school year 2001–02. These will not necessarily roll-out nationally though, as a result of the Spending Review, Education Maintenance Allowances will be available throughout England from September 2004. Information on numbers of pupils taking part is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
  1349W

  Pilot/Pathfinder

  Area

  Peer Mentoring Resource Pack Trial To help schools run programmes where Y10/11 pupils mentor Y7 pupils to help them through the transition into secondary schooling.

  Birmingham; Lancashire; Salford; Westminster

  Schools Facing Extremely Challenging Circumstances To find new and innovative ways to raise attainment.

  Liverpool; North East Lincolnshire; Sunderland; Hammersmith and Fulham; Birmingham; Kent; Calderdale; Barnet

  Gifted and Talented Intensive programme to support the development of gifted and talented pupils.

  Barking and Dagenham; Barnsley; Birmingham; Blackburn; Blackpool; Bradford; Brent; Bristol; Camden; Corporation of London; Doncaster; Ealing; Enfield; Gateshead; Greenwich; Hackney: Halton; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Hartlepool; Hounslow; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Kingston Upon Hull; Knowsley; Lambeth; Leeds Leicester City; Lewisham; Liverpool; Luton; Manchester; Middlesbrough, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Newham; North Tyneside; City of Nottingham; Oldham; Redcar and Cleveland; Rochdale: Rotherham; St Helens; Salford; Sandwell: Sefton; Sheffield; South Tyneside; Solihull; Southwark; Stockton on Tees; Stoke on Trent; Sunderland; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster; Wirral; Wolverhampton; Portsmouth; West Cumbria; Kent; Dewsbury and Batley; East Lancashire; Walsall; Croydon; Tameside; Huddersfield; West Lancashire; Coventry

  Zoneparc Pilot Playground improvement and management scheme to increase activity levels of young people and tackle social exclusion

  Bristol; Lambeth

  Education Maintenance Allowance To improve participation, retention and attainment in post-compulsory education among 16–18 year olds

  Cornwall; Knowsley; Leeds; Liverpool; Luton; Manchester; Middlesbrough; Northumberland; Southampton; Sheffield; Walsall; Wolverhampton; Nottingham; Oldham; Bolton; Coventry; Doncaster; Tameside; North Tyneside; Wakefield; Birmingham; Gateshead; Leicester; South Tyneside; Stoke on Trent; Wigan; Barking and Dagenham; Brent; Camden; Ealing; Fulham; Greenwich; Hackney; Halton; Hammersmith and Fulham; Waltham Forest; Hartlepool; Haringey; Islington; Kingston upon Hull; Lambeth; Lewisham; Newham; Salford; Sandwell; Southwark; Wandsworth; Tower Hamlets: Bradford; Barnsley; St Helens; Wirral; East Lancashire; Sunderland; Suffolk;; North East Lincolnshire; Worcestershire Barking and Dagenham; Barnsley; Birmingham; Blackburn; Blackpool; Bradford; Brent; Bristol; Camden: Corporation of London; Doncaster; Ealing; Enfield; Gateshead; Greenwich; Hackney; Halton; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Hartlepool; Hounslow; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Kingston Upon Hull; Knowsley; Lambeth; Leeds Leicester City; Lewisham; Liverpool; Luton; Manchester; Middlesbrough, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Newham; North Tyneside; City of Nottingham; Oldham; Redcar and Cleveland; Rochdale; Rotherham; St Helens; Salford; Sandwell; Sefton; Sheffield; South Tyneside; Solihull; Southwark; Stockton on Tees; Stoke on Trent; Sunderland; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster; Wirral; Wolverhampton; Portsmouth; West Cumbria; Kent; Dewsbury and Batley; East Lancashire; Walsall; Croydon: Tameside; Huddersfield; West Lancashire; Coventry

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on proposals for new grammar schools as part of her schools specialisation policy. [72888]

  Mr. Miliband
  Grammar schools are schools which were effectively wholly selective at the beginning of the 1997–98 school year. New grammar schools are not possible under current education legislation, and we have no intention of changing this.

  School specialisation is concerned with a focus on curriculum subjects, not with selection for general academic ability.
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  Secondary Transfer Places
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action is being taken to assist those local authorities with a shortfall of secondary transfer places for September; and if she will make a statement. [73017]

  Mr. Miliband
  It is for local education authorities to ensure they have sufficient school places to meet demand. Where an authority can demonstrate it has a shortfall of places it may apply to the Department for capital funding to create additional provision. LEAs with a projected shortfall of places submitted their capital bids to fund an increase in provision this year in September 2001, and allocations were announced in December 2001.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the cost of the closure of(a) the Individual Learning Account programme, (b) the investigation by the ILA Compliance Unit and (c) referrals of ILA learning providers to the police. [70445]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The estimated cost to the Department to end June 2002 of: (a) closure of the Individual Learning Account (ILA) programme is £1,710,000; (b) investigation by the Department's ILA Compliance Unit is £570,000; and (c) referrals by the Department's Special Investigation Unit of ILA learning providers to the police is £190,000.

  Foreign Languages
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made as to the number of schools that plan to make the teaching of a foreign language optional at Key Stage 4. [69229]

  Stephen Twigg
  Modern Foreign Languages remain a compulsory National Curriculum subject at key stage 4 and we expect schools to observe this.

  The Green Paper 14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards proposes that the existing arrangements under which all young people must study a modern foreign language at key stage 4, unless their schools have used the disapplication procedures, is too constraining. The Green Paper therefore proposes that the statutory obligation for young people at Key Stage 4 to study a language, be replaced by a new statutory entitlement that would require schools to make the subject available to any young person wishing to study it.

  Consultation only closed on 31 May 2002 and we are reflecting carefully on the views expressed during consultation before reaching our decision. We have indicated in the Green Paper that any curriculum changes would be subject to further consultation before their introduction.

  We have made no estimates at this stage of the effect of our proposals on the study of modern foreign languages at key stage 4.

  Somerset College for Arts and Technology
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what levels of funding for further education will be given to Somerset College for Arts and Technology in(a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05. [73254]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

  Learn Direct Plus
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have enrolled on Learn Direct Plus in the constituency of Taunton since it began;
  1352W
  how many courses are provided in Taunton constituency; how much funding has been provided for these courses; and if she will make a statement. [73255]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  501 learners have enrolled on alearndirect course in the constituency of Taunton since the initiative was rolled out nationally in October 2000. Learners in Taunton can choose from the current portfolio of 692 learndirect courses, which can be accessed at a learndirect centre or at home, at work or other locations. We are unable to provide information on the amount of funding provided for courses in the Taunton constituency.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent advice she has issued to further education colleges in connection with the education of young people aged between 14 and 16 years, with particular reference to legal issues including enrolment and child protection. [71909]

  Stephen Twigg
  The Department. in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Council, has issued detailed draft guidance on a range of legal issues in relation to the new "Increased Flexibility for 14–16 Year Olds" programme, which will be delivered largely by Further Education Colleges. This guidance covers child protection, health and safety, supervision and a range of other matters. Local LSCs were encouraged to share the guidance with FECs on the programme. A published version is expected in the Autumn.

  Per Capita Funding
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the per capita central Government funding was for(a) Surrey and (b) Durham. [72392]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table shows for 2002–03 the overall level of recurrent funding per capita for pupils in Surrey and Durham. Other per capita funding for the other sectors of education are not collected by the Department.

  £

  Durham

  3,390

  Surrey

  3,340

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

  2. Funding consists of Education Standard Spending plus all schools-related revenue grants in DfES' departmental expenditure limit which are relevant to pupils aged 4 to 19.

  3. Calculations are based on full-time equivalent pupils aged 4 to 19 in maintained schools.

  4. The figures are in 2001–02 prices based on the GDP deflators published by the Treasury on 28 June.

  Leadership Incentive Grant
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what criteria the recipients of leadership incentive grant will be chosen; and why the grant is only available to secondary schools. [72315]
  1353W
  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: Detailed criteria for the leadership incentive grant will be set out later in the year. The grant will be available to secondary schools in recognition of the particular challenges in their sector.

  Schools Funding
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what extra funding, in addition to the education standard spending assessment, has been supplied to(a) schools and (b) local authorities in England as a result of successful bids since 1999 in each local authority. [71308]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The information requested is not held centrally in the Department and could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Most additional education funding is allocated and paid to local education authorities through the Standards Fund and Special Grant. Since April 2001, Standards Fund grants have been distributed by formula not on the basis of bids. The Government expects LEAs to devolve Standards Fund grants to schools by a fair formula, in which case schools should not have to apply for grant. All Special Grants are allocated to LEAs via specified formula by which they must pass on grant on to their schools.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what contribution her Department made to determining the indices of deprivation to be used to allocate funds within the proposed new formula for the SSA for education. [71742]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Department for Education and Skills commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to carry out a research project into additional educational needs or deprivation. The project was steered through the Education Funding Strategy Group, the Department's group of external stakeholders. The project used a survey to determine the cost and incidence of additional educational needs in 42 local education authorities. covering all types of LEA. Data from the survey has been used to inform the choice of indicators and the weights assigned to them in the formulae which underlie the exemplifications issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 8 July. A copy of the report on the PwC project will be placed in the library of the House when it has been finalised.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment she made of alternatives to the former DTLR's Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 in determining funding for different levels of deprivation in the schools' formula budget; and for what reason the Index was not used; [71745]

  (2) what assessment she made of alternatives to the former DTLR's Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000 in determining funding for different levels of deprivation in the schools' formula budget; and for what reason the IMD was not used. [71746]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Department has considered deprivation indicators, including the Index of Multiple Deprivation, on a number of occasions over the past 15 months in its work with the Education Funding 1354W
  Strategy Group on the new education funding formula. In the education options in the consultation paper issued on 8 July, the overall Index of Multiple Deprivation has not been used: it is not suitable as a basis for reflecting deprivation in the distribution of funding for additional education needs, since it incorporates many measures of deprivation not relevant to the educational needs of children. The options set out in the 8 July consultation document include at LEA level a number of the indicators that are part of the IMD: children in families on income support; low birth weight; and English as an Additional Language.

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Department for Education and Skills has formulated a sum for basic allocation within the new SSA formula for education for(a) under fives, (b) primary schools and (c) secondary schools, as envisaged in the consultation paper on reforming the Formula Grant System issued on 8 July. [71744]

  Mr. Miliband
  The sum to be allocated for basic funding within the new SSA formula will depend on decisions taken following consultation on the structure of the formula, and on the overall sums available within education standard spending following the Spending Review 2002.

  Special Schools
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether money allocated to her Department as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be used to increase funding and resources for special schools. [71741]

  Mr. Milliband
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce details of the full allocations between and within the various sectors of education later in the year. Individual special schools will continue to be funded by local authorities, but they will all benefit from an increase next year in direct funding through School Standards Grant and devolved formula capital.

  Specialist Schools
  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of(a) specialist schools and (b) applicants for that status offer music as their specialist subject. [71922]

  Mr. Miliband
  There are no specialist schools or applicants for specialist designation offering music as their specialism. However, 66 of the 685 specialist schools in operation as of September 2001 are Arts Colleges specialising in the performing arts, including music, dance and drama.

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list(a) the total sums made available to training and enterprise councils and (b) the sums spent by TECs on (i) work-based training for young people, (ii) work-based training for adults and (iii) other Government-funded programmes, in each year from 1995–96 to 2000–01. [71169]
  1355W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The following table gives details of sums made available to TECs and actual spend between the years 1996–97 and 2000–01. Information for earlier years is not available.

  Training and Enterprise Council Budget and Spend 1996–2001 for PQ71169

  (£000s) Spend

  Sums made available (Budget)

  2000–01

  Work Based Training Young People

  810,592

  859,237

  Work Based Training Adults

  260,448

  279,314

  Other Programmes

  198,900

  183,407

  Total

  1,269,940

  1,321,958

  1999–2000

  Work Based Training Young People

  770,876

  832,376

  Work Based Training Adults

  233,360

  298,622

  Other Programmes

  215,929

  222,078

  Total

  1,220,165

  1,353,076

  1998–99

  Work Based Training Young People

  696,499

  727,908

  Work Based Training Adults

  130,337

  169,891

  Other Programmes

  206,675

  218,993

  Total

  1,033,511

  1,116,792

  1997–98

  Work Based Training Young People

  729,834

  730,530

  Work Based Training Adults

  213,806

  223,577

  Other Programmes

  201,279

  213,470

  Total

  1,144,919

  1,167,577

  1996–97

  Work Based Training Young People

  736,807

  750,165

  Work Based Training Adults

  265,875

  271,046

  Other Programmes

  153,537

  154,882

  Total

  1,156,219

  1,176,093

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in respect of each training and enterprise council the number of staff(a) employed at the end of 1999–2000, (b) transferred to the Learning and Skills Council, (c) transferred to the Small Business Service, (d) transferred to Business Links, (e) transferred to other organisations and (f) made redundant by the TEC prior to 31 March 2001. [71173]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Please following table shows the number of staff employed by the Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) for the period 1999–2000. These figures were taken from the TEC audited Statutory Accounts. As TECs were private limited companies engaged in a wide range of activities the Department was not in a position to monitor the actual destination of each individual employed by them.

  However the Department can confirm that of the staff in post at March 25 2001, 3750 transferred with TUPE rights of employment to the LSC and just over 320 to the Employment service. A further 520 staff with transfer rights took voluntary severance or were made redundant for technical reasons.
  1356W
  Information relating to the numbers of staff transferring to other organisations or otherwise being made redundant is not available.

  Staffing Statutory Accounts 1999–2000

  TECS

  Staff numbers

  Hampshire

  195

  Wight

  85

  Kent

  237

  Milton Keynes

  127

  Heart of England

  105

  Surrey

  71

  Sussex

  159

  Thames Valley

  159

  SOUTH EAST TOTAL

  1,138

  AZTEC

  87

  FOCUS

  185

  LeTEC

  189

  N London

  156

  NW London

  102

  SOLOTEC

  177

  W London

  160

  LONDON TOTAL

  1,056

  WESTEC

  116

  Prosper

  307

  Dorset

  103

  Gloucester

  132

  Somerset

  138

  Wiltshire

  60

  SOUTH WEST TOTAL

  856

  Birmingham

  179

  Cov/War

  239

  Dudley

  97

  HAWTEC

  222

  Sandwell

  98

  Shropshire

  115

  Staffordshire

  152

  Walsall

  81

  Wolverhampton

  92

  WEST MIDS TOTAL

  1,275

  Greater Nottingham

  107

  Leicester

  114

  Lincoln

  183

  Northamptonshire

  95

  North Derbyshire

  79

  North Nottingham

  117

  South Derbyshire

  194

  EAST MIDS TOTAL

  889

  Bedford

  155

  Cambs TEC

  78

  Essex

  130

  Greater Peterborough

  120

  Hertfordshire

  219

  Nor/Wav

  112

  Suffolk

  70

  EASTERN TOTAL

  884

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  128

  Bradford

  98

  Cardles/Kirkles

  162

  Humberside

  200

  Leeds

  129

  North Yorkshire

  124

  Rotherham

  128

  Sheffield

  160

  Wakefield

  68

  Y and H TOTAL

  1,197

  Bolton/Bury

  157

  Manchester

  500

  Wigan

  151

  1357W

  Staffing Statutory Accounts 1999–2000

  TECS

  Staff numbers

  Oldham

  99

  Rochdale

  75

  S and E Cheshire

  190

  Stockport

  134

  Cumbria

  213

  ELTEC

  130

  LAWTEC

  128

  N and Mid Cheshire

  93

  CEWTEC

  205

  Mersey

  309

  St Helens

  90

  NORTH WEST TOTAL

  2,474

  C Durham

  114

  Northumberland

  197

  Tees Valley

  154

  Tyneside

  221

  Sunderland

  147

  NORTH EAST TOTAL

  833

  GRAND TOTAL

  10,602

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the aggregate amounts for each year from 1995–96 to 2000–01 to which her Department gave consent to transfer by training and enterprise councils between budget heads, showing for each budget head the total amount transferred out and the heads to which it was transferred. [71171]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  This information is not available. Training and enterprise councils obtained approval from Government Offices to transfer between budget heads on an individual TEC basis. This information was not collated centrally.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance was given by her Department to training and enterprise councils on the virement of funds between the budgets allocated for work-based training for young people and adults and those for central TEC administration, for each of the years 1995–96 to 2000–01. [71170]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The guidance relating to the virement of funds between budgets allocated for work-based training for young people and adults was detailed and complex but in essence prior to 1999–2000 TECs were allowed to vire up to 10 per cent. of their surpluses from one "budget" (funding block) to another subject to them meeting certain minimum performance targets.

  This guidance was revised in the 1999–2000 TEC Licence to formally restrict the levels of surpluses that could be generated and switched from one funding block to another to 7 per cent. in total.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in respect of each training and enterprise council(a) her estimate of the aggregate of training and enterprise council surpluses attributable to public funds, (b) the amount paid over to public funds to date in respect of those surpluses, and (c) the action her Department is taking to recover outstanding amounts. [71174]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We are not yet able to give a final account of the individual or aggregate amounts of Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) surpluses
  1358W
  attributable to public funds and we will not be able to do so until the Liquidators appointed to wind up the TEC companies (59 of the 72 TECs) have completed their work. In the case of the remaining TECs who are to continue trading, we will not be able to give the figures until we have finally resolved the amount of attributable reserves due back to us.

  However the Department believes that by March 2003 they will have received back from the Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) approximately £250 million worth of reserves. This amount includes £127 million in respect of Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs), £45 million in legacy funds for the Learning and Skills Council, £40 million in fixed assets transferred to a range of successor bodies or for use in the local community and £38 million for the National Transition Budget which is used to meet specific costs incurred in setting up the LSC, e.g., new IT system.

  To date we have received £100 million for ILAs, £24 million for LSC legacy funds and 16m towards the National Transition Budget.

  The return of funds has taken longer than initially expected due to the variety and complexity of issues which have had to be resolved, prior to TECs being able to appoint a liquidator or agree a clean break with the Department where the TEC have decided to continue. The Department are currently working closely with the relevant TECs and liquidators to ensure that outstanding issues are resolved and funds released as a matter of urgency. We have on occasions threatened the appointment of an administrative receiver where we have failed to secure the level of co-operation needed.

  In return for releasing funds the Department is offering TEC Boards and or liquidators financial guarantees in the form of indemnities that ensure the funds will be repaid if they need them to meet genuine contractual commitments. In our experience all liquidators have been reluctant to release reserves until they have completed the wind-up, which in most cases is proving a complex and time-consuming process that can take over a year from appointment.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if she will list in respect of each training and enterprise council for 2000–01 the proportion of total expenditure on Government-funded programmes represented by central administration costs; and what assessment she has made of whether the sums spent on central administration represented value for public money; [71172]

  (2) if she will list (a) the total sums made available by her Department or its predecessors to training and enterprise councils for their central administration costs and (b) the amounts actually spent by TECs on central administration for each year from 1995–96 to 2000–01. [71168]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Information on central administration costs is not available. Training and enterprise councils were not provided with specific funds for their central administration costs. They received payments for programme and strategic budgets deemed to include an unspecified contribution towards administration costs. The amounts spent by TECs on administration and its disclosure were a matter for individual TECs and varied
  1359W
  between them. Some TECs showed no administration costs within their statutory accounts under this heading, while most excluded the costs of staff involved in the direct delivery of their programmes. However, all TECs had to show staffing costs as a note within their accounts.

  While this understates administration costs, as it does not cover expenditure on premises, information technology and other support systems, it is the best proxy for the information sought. I have therefore provided

  TEC/CCTE Administration Costs

  TECS by Region

  1995–96 Staff costs £

  1996–97 Staff costs £

  1997–98 Staff costs £

  1998–99 Staff costs £

  1999–2000 Staff costs £

  2000–01 Staff costs £

  NORTH EAST

  County Durham

  2,311,019

  2,381,375

  2,418,663

  2,445,110

  2,264,783

  2,190,271

  Northumberland

  2,883,378

  2,902,466

  3,095,325

  3,242,676

  3,470,126

  3,333,138

  Teesside

  2,474,000

  2,546,000

  2,706,000

  3,175,000

  3,804,000

  3,651,000

  Tyneside

  0

  4,356,000

  4,887,000

  5,373,000

  5,191,000

  5,087,000

  Sunderland

  0

  2,171,496

  2,530,218

  2,970,942

  3,090,144

  3,454,791

  TOTAL

  7,668,397

  14,357,337

  15,637,206

  17,206,728

  17,820,053

  17,716,200

  NORTH WEST

  Bolton/Bury

  0

  2,263,878

  2,745,104

  3,255,303

  3,542,121

  3,837,185

  Manchester

  1,856,463

  6,177,225

  8,495,725

  11,080,599

  12,635,740

  13,101,439

  Wigan

  1,387,932

  1,758,968

  2,963,066

  2,872,720

  3,124,399

  2,954,404

  Oldham

  0

  0

  1,811,362

  2,146,895

  2,288,594

  2,283,321

  Rochdale

  0

  0

  1,193,879

  1,499,157

  1,675,210

  1,970,153

  SECTEC

  0

  3,891,142

  4,072,153

  4,537,011

  4,068,952

  4,313,025

  Stockport

  0

  2,049,794

  2,284,839

  2,919,825

  3,642,684

  4,463,939

  Cumbria

  0

  0

  4,148,320

  4,348,398

  4,167,719

  2,706,589

  ELTEC

  0

  2,569,201

  2,712,421

  2,748,113

  2,844,807

  3,264,345

  LAWTEC

  0

  3,091,784

  3,312,162

  3,934,181

  3,395,214

  3,984,551

  NORMID

  0

  1,821,911

  1,959,869

  2,030,310

  2,276,603

  2,195,353

  CEWTEC

  0

  2,174,555

  3,718,651

  4,096,319

  4,441,424

  4,368,431

  Merseyside

  3,634,498

  4,694,248

  5,003,540

  5,981,867

  6,924,000

  7,048,000

  St Helens

  1,150,150

  1,537,204

  1,610,316

  1,879,467

  1,990,971

  1,985,784

  TOTAL

  8,029,043

  32,029,910

  46,031,407

  53,330,165

  57,018,438

  58,476,519

  Y and H

  Barnsley/Doncaster

  2,143,000

  2,197,000

  2,445,000

  2,974,000

  3,328,000

  5,369,000

  Bradford

  1,789,517

  2,059,238

  2,102,648

  2,272,563

  2,267,865

  2,253,228

  Calderdale/Kirklees

  1,715,654

  2,483,786

  3,303,476

  3,654,117

  3,863,677

  3,872,012

  Humberside

  2,958,170

  3,260,066

  3,641,593

  4,384,166

  5,941,686

  5,602,448

  Leeds

  1,914,944

  2,298,615

  2,771,812

  3,049,722

  3,263,066

  3,911,480

  North Yorks

  0

  1,831,000

  2,009,000

  2,418,000

  2,871,000

  2,840,000

  Rotherham

  0

  2,117,437

  2,479,131

  2,842,753

  3,034,383

  3,187,066

  Sheffield

  0

  2,670,000

  3,160,000

  4,215,000

  3,704,000

  3,950,000

  Wakefield

  0

  1,302,102

  1,759,642

  1,456,005

  1,476,719

  1,883,145

  TOTAL

  10,521,285

  20,219,244

  23,672,302

  27,266,326

  29,750,396

  32,868,379

  EASTERN

  Bedfordshire

  1,347,352

  1,466,866

  2,074,747

  2,984,815

  3,749,095

  3,613,427

  Cambridgeshire

  913,069

  913,733

  1,009,261

  1,632,060

  2,231,354

  2,313,959

  Essex

  2,317,688

  2,528,000

  2,619,000

  2,832,000

  4,154,000

  3,764,000

  Gtr Peterborough

  0

  1,771,605

  2,253,241

  2,830,365

  2,881,068

  2,823,756

  Hertfordshire

  0

  3,118,000

  3,266,000

  4,875,000

  5,744,000

  6,035,000

  Norfolk and Waveney

  2,212,000

  2,576,000

  2,676,000

  2,714,000

  3,106,000

  3,352,000

  Suffolk

  1,147,572

  1,225,160

  1,415,769

  1,488,925

  2,076,086

  1,306,817

  TOTAL

  7,937,681

  13,599,364

  15,314,018

  19,357,165

  23,941,603

  23,208,959

  EAST MIDS

  Gtr Nottingham

  1,196,000

  1,243,000

  1,442,000

  1,738,000

  2,313,000

  3,011,000

  Leicester

  1,747,112

  1,937,746

  2,053,777

  2,190,371

  2,834,946

  3,036,332

  Lincolnshire

  0

  3,109,697

  3,681,204

  4,067,859

  3,945,748

  4,403,380

  Northamptonshire

  0

  1,654,135

  1,825,258

  2,228,847

  2,628,728

  2,906,319

  North Derbyshire

  1,576,138

  1,713,066

  1,886,098

  1,827,427

  1,788,715

  1,761,888

  North

  Nottinghamshire

  0

  2,015,070

  2,298,889

  2,525,876

  2,969,381

  3,179,244

  South Derbyshire

  0

  0

  3,329,000

  3,663,000

  3,911,000

  4,521,000

  TOTAL

  4,519,250

  11,672,714

  16,516,226

  18,241,380

  20,391,518

  22,819,163

  1360W
  below figures for each of the financial years from 1995–96 to 2000–01 showing spend on staffing costs of each of the former Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) in England as stated in their consolidated annual statutory audited accounts for the full range of activity TECs undertook.

  Any direct comparison of staff costs between TECs is misleading, both because there is no statutory definition of staff costs and also because the range of training and enterprise activities differed between TECs.
  1361W

  TEC/CCTE Administration Costs

  TECS by Region

  1995–96 Staff costs £

  1996–97 Staff costs £

  1997–98 Staff costs £

  1998–99 Staff costs £

  1999–2000 Staff costs £

  2000–01 Staff costs £

  WEST MIDS

  Birmingham

  2,481,000

  3,067,000

  3,306,000

  4,115,000

  4,911,000

  4,915,000

  CENTEC

  0

  1,069,644

  1,177,224

  0

  0

  0

  Cov/Warwick

  0

  3,821,050

  4,453,813

  4,725,901

  5,061,723

  5,355,204

  Dudley

  919,800

  1,930,312

  1,765,958

  1,838,992

  2,402,219

  2,100,788

  HAWTEC

  0

  264,995

  3,169,812

  3,991,952

  5,258,626

  4,829,276

  Sandwell

  0

  1,519,404

  2,077,656

  2,406,903

  2,587,877

  2,267,000

  Shropshire

  1,108,286

  1,714,043

  1,897,373

  2,000,996

  2,055,106

  1,663,543

  Staffordshire

  2,123,000

  2,412,000

  2,461,000

  2,682,000

  3,459,000

  3,609,000

  Walsall

  1,152,790

  1,322,744

  1,580,134

  1,727,060

  2,197,035

  2,027,310

  Wolverhampton

  417,000

  1,700,000

  2,022,000

  2,203,000

  2,156,000

  2,516,000

  TOTAL

  8,201,876

  18,821,192

  23,910,970

  25,691,804

  30,088,586

  29,283,121

  SOUTH WEST

  WESTEC

  2,094,000

  2,328,000

  2,425,000

  2,017,000

  2,342,000

  2,617,000

  Prosper

  4,126,000

  4,886,000

  5,559,000

  6,296,000

  8,282,000

  8,283,000

  Dorset

  0

  1,359,210

  1,518,023

  1,939,118

  2,198,014

  2,672,488

  Gloucester

  1,385,007

  1,646,505

  1,939,644

  2,879,008

  3,172,585

  3,757,699

  Somerset

  1,016,565

  1,363,417

  1,618,554

  2,648,489

  2,813,010

  1,839,239

  Wiltshire

  1,285,468

  1,486,814

  1,492,318

  1,501,086

  1,571,918

  1,899,769

  TOTAL

  9,907,040

  13,069,946

  14,552,539

  17,280,701

  20,379,527

  21,069,195

  LONDON

  Aztec

  1,401,327

  1,486,758

  1,609,045

  2,002,548

  2,714,681

  2,429,414

  Centec

  2,144,932

  2,646,805

  Cilntec

  1,653,706

  0

  FOCUS

  0

  0

  5,371,000

  6,259,000

  6,368,000

  8,410,000

  LETEC

  2,463,241

  3,640,819

  4,521,474

  4,898,407

  5,617,403

  5,890,489

  North London

  2,012,587

  2,451,110

  2,991,331

  3,750,158

  4,408,581

  3,629,736

  North West London

  666,888

  1,194,798

  1,512,188

  1,967,655

  2,726,005

  3,568,732

  SOLOTEC

  2,859,000

  3,555,000

  4,174,000

  5,492,000

  4,851,000

  5,385,000

  West London

  0

  3,548,546

  5,684,669

  5,583,113

  5,244,201

  5,556,025

  TOTAL

  13,201,681

  18,523,836

  25,863,707

  29,952,881

  31,929,871

  34,869,396

  SOUTH EAST

  Hampshire

  0

  2,613,000

  3,474,000

  4,399,000

  4,867,000

  5,492,000

  Isle of Wight

  582,378

  618,585

  733,424

  1,241,925

  1,582,489

  1,575,765

  Kent

  1,999,858

  2,832,777

  3,624,774

  4,138,710

  6,315,951

  6,255,099

  Milton Keynes

  0

  2,760,094

  2,940,610

  3,022,377

  3,302,090

  2,810,683

  Heart of England

  1,616,454

  1,855,421

  2,146,037

  2,354,176

  2,483,181

  2,747,806

  Surrey

  1,606,187

  1,515,129

  1,827,970

  2,037,138

  2,259,269

  2,331,546

  Sussex

  2,534,000

  3,246,000

  3,619,000

  3,952,000

  4,229,000

  5,018,000

  Thames Valley

  0

  3,656,480

  3,757,432

  4,037,146

  4,432,670

  4,781,825

  TOTAL

  8,338,877

  19,097,486

  22,123,247

  25,182,472

  29,471,650

  31,012,724

  GRAND TOTAL

  78,325,130

  161,391,029

  203,621,622

  233,509,622

  260,791,642

  271,323,656

  EU Committees (Scottish Representation)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when(a) the EU Socrates Committee, (b) the Erasmus and (c) the Comenius subcommittees are next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of them; and if she will make a statement. [66458]

  Margaret Hodge
  The EU Socrates Committee and sub-committees are scheduled to meet next as follows: Socrates Committee 7–8 November 2002; Higher Education sub-committee 23–24 October 2002; Schools sub-committee 4 November 2002. The UK is represented on the committees by officials from the Joint International Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Education and Skills, but members of the Scottish Executive and the representatives of the other Devolved Administrations are also "Alternate Members" of the Socrates Committee, in rotation. The Scottish 1362W
  Executive are consulted about the content of the meetings in advance, and make their views known, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. Representatives of the Scottish Executive, and of the other Devolved Administrations, are members of the Socrates Network Committee which oversees the administration and implementation of the programme in the UK.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the EU Tempus Committee is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66462]

  Margaret Hodge
  The next meeting of the EU TEMPUS Committee is provisionally set for 13 December 2002. The UK has two seats on the Committee and is represented by officials from the Department for Education and Skills and from the Joint International Unit of the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions. Scottish Executive
  1363W
  officials, as with officials from the other Devolved Administrations, are consulted and make their views known, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations. We understand the Executive is content with this arrangement.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the EU Advisory Committee on vocational training is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [66464]

  Margaret Hodge
  The next meeting of the EU Advisory Committee on vocational training (ACVT) is due to take place on 9 and 10 December 2002. Members of the Scottish Executive have not been and are not members of the committee. The ACVT was established by Council Decision No. 63/266/eec dated 2 April 1963 which laid down general principles for implementing a common vocational training policy across the EU. Its purpose is to offer advice and submit opinions to the European Commission on vocational training policy which the Commission is obliged to take account of. Membership of the committee comprises Government officials and representatives from employers' organisations and trades unions. Member States are represented by one person from each group making a total of three per delegation. The representative of Government for the UK is an official from the Joint International Unit of the Department of Work and Pensions and the Department for Education and Skills, who routinely consults policy colleagues in the Scottish Executive, Northern Ireland Executive and the National Assembly for Wales on issues to be discussed by the Committee. These arrangements are in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations.

  Anglo-Irish Ministerial Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when and where Ministers in her Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting. [72693]

  Stephen Twigg
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 2 July 2002,Official Report, column 243W.

  Politics (Young People)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outcome was of the survey conducted by the Government's children's and young people's unit regarding young people's involvement in the political process; and if she will make a statement. [72388]

  John Denham
  The YVote?/YNot? project has produced recommendations and advice that would help to re-engage young people in democracy and voting. These are directed by the young people at three main groups: politicians; Government and the Electoral Commission; and the media. The Children and Young People's Unit
  1364W
  will be working with the Electoral Commission and a wide range of young people's organisations to extend the debate on these findings.

  We also plan to make the materials from the project available to teachers, youth workers and organisations working directly with young people. We shall be working with the All Party Group on Youth Affairs to explore how Honourable Members can be helped to improve their communication with young people. The report also identified the importance of information about the political process and this will be a key feature of citizenship education, which will be part of the National Curriculum for secondary schools from August 2002.

  Deprived Communities
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional support is provided to schools in deprived communities; and if she will make a statement. [73008]

  Mr. Miliband
  Nationally, about 20 per cent. of Education Standard Spending is based on additional educational need (AEN). The additional support provided to a particular school with a high number of pupils from deprived backgrounds will depend on decisions made at local level through the Fair Funding formula operated by its local education authority (LEA).

  Around 25 per cent. of the Standards Fund, or £800 million of grant in 2002–03, is allocated to LEAs using deprivation factors, normally the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals. All schools will receive a devolved Standards Fund budget, based on a distribution agreed with their LEA, including any factors for deprivation.

  The Standards Fund includes £255 million of targeted support in 2002–03 for deprived communities through grants for Excellence in Cities and Excellence Clusters. The Government is also providing £64 million to Education Action Zones, based in deprived areas, to run programmes to achieve pre-agreed targets and objectives in zone schools.

  Public Inquiries
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on using 0870 telephone numbers for inquiries by the public to the Department and its agencies. [66201]

  Stephen Twigg
  The Department for Education and Skills and its Agencies use a variety of different call rates. We employ the use of national rate, Lo-call and free phone numbers according to our business need. We endeavour to ensure that the cost of calls is appropriate to target users and that all people calling these numbers are charged equally.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many statutory instruments have been(a) introduced, (b) removed and (c) amended by her Department since I January; and what the (i) cost and (ii) saving has been in each case. [64624]
  1365W
  Stephen Twigg
  The Department has introduced 47 statutory instruments since 1 January 2002, 31 instruments have been revoked and 16 amending instruments have been made in the same period. Information about the cost and saving of statutory instruments to public funds is not held centrally and would cost a disproportionate amount to establish. Similarly the cost and saving to businesses and individuals is not held centrally and is not available.

  Statistics
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the statistics that are collected by her Department by English parliamentary constituency; and if she will make a statement. [67102]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 8 July 2002]: The Department does not collect any statistics by English parliamentary constituency as such. Data to compile statistics are collected either from individual education or training institutions, or from local administrative bodies such as Local Education Authorities. In the former case statistics can generally be derived on a parliamentary constituency basis by aggregating data from the relevant education or training institutions. This is not carried out routinely, but is done when requested (for example in a Parliamentary Question), subject to considerations of proportionate cost.

  I understand that the honourable Member has also received a letter from the National Statistician on this matter.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) for how long she retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website; [72265]

  (2) whether it is her policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via her Department's website. [72294]

  Estelle Morris
  My Department aims to be as helpful as possible in responding to hon. Members' Questions. Where it is helpful to refer hon. Members to other documents as part of the substantive reply, this may be done by making hard copies of documents available in the Libraries of the House, or by reference to material available on the Department's website.

  Minimum requirements for the type of document which should be published on Government websites are set out in guidance issued by the Office of the E-envoy, "Guidelines for UK Government Websites" (Illustrated Handbook for web management teams section 2.2 "What content should be on your website?" and section 2.3 "Cross-government requirements". In addition to setting out guidelines on documents for inclusion, the guidance also explicitly requires Departments to ensure that the content of the site as a whole is up to date and current, and where it is necessary to update content of individual documents, to show the latest date of amendment clearly on the document concerned. Section 1.2.7 deals with the issue of Records management and the OeE currently has a consultation paper on Archiving websites. The purpose of this draft annex to the illustrated handbook is to provide government website managers with a framework towards
  1366W
  developing within their website management policy suitable procedures and systems to assist in the management, appraisal and preservation of electronic records. A copy of this draft is available online at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/webguidelines.htm

  A copy of the Guidelines for UK government websites is available at http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/ webguidelines.htm

  Broadband Internet Access
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of schools have broadband Internet access in(a) Tamworth, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England. [71567]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The information is not available in the form requested.

  In April 2001, 97 per cent. of maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England were connected to the Internet. An estimated 4 per cent. of these had access through a broadband connection.

  Information for England is derived from a sample of schools, which is designed for National figures.

  Information for England 2001 was published in Statistical Bulletin 09–01 "Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2001", which is available on my Department's web-site www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics and from the Library. Information for England 2002 will be published in a Statistical First Release later this year.

  Education SSA
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities are in the lowest decile measured by their percentage change in education SSA since 1997; and what the change was in each case. [71815]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table shows the fifteen authorities which have had the lowest percentage increase in education SSA between 1997–98 and 2002–03. The table does not include the new unitary authorities which have been created since 1997.

  Local Education Authority

  Percentage increase since 1997–98

  %

  City of London

  19.41

  Middlesbrough

  22.63

  Isles of Scilly

  24.28

  Leicester

  24.58

  Sunderland

  25.66

  Liverpool

  25.66

  Knowsley

  25.86

  Wandsworth

  25.88

  Redcar and Cleveland

  26.25

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  27.12

  Gateshead

  27.47

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  27.54

  Salford

  27.84

  Manchester

  28.05

  Bradford

  28.2

  1367W

  Tameside College
  Andrew Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the inquiry into the management of Tameside College has been completed; whether all those who complained were interviewed by the inquiry team; and how many claims for unfair dismissal by the college(a) are outstanding and (b) have been settled. [72186]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills has received a formal complaint alleging breaches of corporate governance at Tameside College. An investigation into these allegations has been completed. The complainant was interviewed as part of the investigation. The report of the investigation is now being considered and decisions based on its findings will be made in the near future. The College has received one claim of unfair dismissal during the period relevant to the inquiry. This claim is outstanding but does not relate to any matter pertinent to the inquiry.

  Strategic Training For Apparel And Textiles Programme
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she is taking to secure the continuation of the strategic training for apparel and textiles programme after June. [72206]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The programme is currently due to end in September. I have recently written to Patricia Hewitt suggesting that officials from my Department meet colleagues from DTI, the Learning and Skills Council, the Sector Skills Development Agency and others with an interest in the programme to discuss how we might work together to continue to support training in this important sector.

  Computers
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her Answer of 8th March, references 39110 and 39111, what the total cost was of the Computers Within Reach pilot scheme; how much funding remains; what evaluation has been made of the success of the scheme; and how this will inform future policy on the computers within reach concept. [43326]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Pursuant to the reply given by John Healey on 19 March 2002,Official Report, column 256W, the expenditure of £5.5 million on the Computers Within Reach Scheme referred to the 2001–02 financial year only. The total expenditure on the scheme over the last two financial years was £7.1 million.

PRIME MINISTER

  Bushmeat
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Prime Minister if he intends to raise the issue of the unsustainable bushmeat trade at the world summit on sustainable development. [69914]

  The Prime Minister
  The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the illegal international trade in forest products will be raised at WSSD. The issue of unsustainable trade in bushmeat could be raised in this context.
  1368W
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Prime Minister if his working group on forestry in preparations for the world summit on sustainable development has examined mechanisms for tackling the unsustainable trade in bushmeat. [70309]

  The Prime Minister
  As part of the preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development the working group on forestry has been considering mechanisms for tackling the unsustainable use of natural resources, including wildlife, and has produced the paper "World Summit—Framework for Forestry Initiative".

  The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the illegal international trade in forest products will be raised at WSSD. The issue of the unsustainable trade in bushmeat could be raised in this context.

  12 Downing Street
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Prime Minister what costs have been incurred in refurbishing 12 Downing Street since June 2001; and if he will make a statement. [64874]

  The Prime Minister
  For the financial year 2001–02 the Cabinet Office Resource Account is still undergoing final adjustments and awaiting audit. This will cover expenditure for Numbers 10,11 and 12 Downing Street. I will write to the hon. Member with details once the account is finalised, and I will place a copy in the Library.

  No. 10 Downing Street
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost of refurbishment and repairs to No. 10 Downing street was in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [66881]

  The Prime Minister
  Maintaining, refurbishing and work associated with security across Number 10 Downing Street is part of a continuing programme of work. Number 10 Downing Street now as in the past is maintained to standards appropriate to its status as a Grade 1 listed building, in consultation with English Heritage and other experts as appropriate. The building also fulfils an important representational role.

  Expenditure is recorded by financial years. Since 2 May 1997, the recorded expenditure by the Cabinet Office for projects covering Numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street is:

  £

  1997–98

  188,000

  1998–99

  348,000

  1999–2000

  662,000

  2000–01

  453,000

  The expenditure is mainly attributable to security measures required, maintenance, converting rooms into office accommodation and the refurbishment and continuing upkeep of the State Rooms. Only a small proportion relates to work on the Prime Minister's personal accommodation.

  Expenditure prior to 1997–98 is recorded in respect of the Numbers 10–12 Downing Street complex as a whole. On this basis, recorded expenditure is as follows:
  1369W

  £

  1995–96

  504,700

  1996–97

  1,486,775

  For the financial year 2001–02 the Cabinet Office Resource Account is still undergoing final adjustments and awaiting audit. This will cover expenditure for 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street. I will write to the hon. Member with details once the account is finalised, and I will place a copy in the Library.

  Health and Safety Commission
  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the review of the location in Government of the Health and Safety Commission. [69869]

  The Prime Minister
  Following the establishment of the Department for Transport as a department focused solely on transport issues, I have decided that the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive will transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions. The Health and Safety Sponsorship Division, currently located within the Department for Transport, will also transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions. These changes will take effect from today 24 July 2002.

  Anglo-Irish Ministerial Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister on what dates he has held meetings with ministers in the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; where each meeting took place; which Irish Government departments were involved in each meeting; and which ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting. [72691]

  The Prime Minister
  Since 1 June 2000, I have met the Taoiseach on the following occasions:

  Dale

  Location/Event

  7 June 2000

  Dinner at No. 10

  19 June

  Meeting in Oporto

  31 July

  Working lunch at No. 10

  6 September

  UN Summit, New York

  10 October

  Talks at No. 10

  12 October

  Bilateral talks during Informal European Council, Biarritz

  20 October

  Asia/Europe Business Forum in Seoul

  23 November

  Bilateral talks on flight to EU/Balkans Summit in Zagreb

  7 December

  Nice European Council

  31 January 2001

  Dinner at No. 10

  28 February

  Dinner at No. 10

  8 March

  Meeting at Hillsborough

  24 March

  Stockholm European Council

  14 June

  Bilateral at EU/US Summit in Gothenburg

  18 June

  Meetings at No. 10

  28 June

  Working lunch at Hillsborough

  4 July

  Dinner at No. 10

  9–11 July

  Meetings at Chequers and then Weston Park

  13–14 July

  Meetings and Press Conference at Weston Park

  27 July

  Meeting in Sedgfield

  19 September

  Meeting at No. 10

  30 November

  Bilateral at British Irish Council, Dublin Castle

  18 February 2002

  Working lunch at No. 10

  14 June

  Bilateral at British Irish Council, Jersey

  4 July

  Meeting and press conference at Hillsborough

  1370W

  Official Visits
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 20 June 2002,Official Report, column 463W, when he will publish the detailed list of cabinet ministers' visits overseas and information on expenditure by all Ministers for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002. [72785]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer 1 gave the hon. Member for Birmingham Hall Green (Mr. McCabe) today.

  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister what assistance was received for(a) non-Governmental organisations, (b) overseas Governments and (c) other agencies in meeting the cost of departmental special advisers' official travel between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002. [72685]

  The Prime Minister
  All official travel by special advisers is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and the Civil Service Management Code. The cost of official travel will normally be met by individual departments.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost was to the Government of employing departmental and non-departmental special advisers between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002; and what percentage of this total was(a) salary and related expenses and (b) other costs. [72679]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ellesmore Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) today.

  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Prime Minister what the cost is of the paybill for special advisers in 2001–02; what the paybands are for 2002–03; and how many special advisers there are in each payband, broken down by department. [73410]

  The Prime Minister
  The paybands and pay ranges for special advisers for 2002–03 are as follows:

  £

  Scheme Maximum

  128,125

  Pay Band 4

  76,876 to 92,250

  Pay Band 3 and Premium

  57,401 to 89,175

  Pay Band 2

  45,101 to 58,240

  Pay Band 1

  34,851 to 45,760

  Pay Band 0

  Up to 34,850

  At 22 July 2002, the number of special advisers in each payband by department is as follows:
  1371W

  Department

  0

  1

  2

  3

  4

  No 101

  —

  6

  6

  11

  2

  Office of the Deputy Prime Minister2

  —

  —

  2

  1

  —

  Chief Whip's Office

  —

  1

  2

  —

  —

  Culture, Media and Sport

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Defence

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Education and Skills

  —

  —

  1

  1

  —

  Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Health

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  Home Office3

  —

  —

  4

  —

  —

  International Development4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Leader of the House of Lords5

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Lord Chancellor's Department

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Northern Ireland Office

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  President of the Council

  —

  —

  2

  —

  —

  Scotland Office

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  Trade and Industry6

  —

  1

  1

  1

  —

  HM Treasury7'8

  —

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Transport9

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  Wales Office

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  Work and Pensions10

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Total

  —

  13

  26

  21

  4

  The cost of special advisers in 2001–02 is £5.1 million.

  1Plus two special advisers who are paid beyond Pay Band 4 but still within the scheme.

  2Provision for three full-time posts but currently only 2.5 special advisers employed.

  3Includes one special adviser who is part-time.

  4One special adviser has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.

  5Includes one part-time special adviser who provides advice to the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

  6Plus one adviser who is part-time and unpaid.

  7Includes the Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury.

  8Plus the five members of the Council of Economic Advisers who are employed on special adviser terms (one in Band 4, three in Band 3 and one in Band I—one is part-time)

  9Plus one special adviser who has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.

  10One special adviser has been appointed but the job has not yet been evaluated.

  Public Pronouncements
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Prime Minister what the(a) dates, (b) locations and (c) sources of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by his Chief of Staff, Director of Communications or other members of his office since March 2001; who in the Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the Departmental Head of Information. [72678]

  The Prime Minister
  All special advisers' contacts with the media, and speeches and presentations made by them are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. All civil servants, including special advisers, are expected to keep departmental heads of information informed of contacts with the media. Details of such contacts are for internal purposes only.

  Knighthoods
  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list, broken down by party, the hon. and right hon. Members that have been knighted in each year since 1979. [72942]

  The Prime Minister
  The information requested is being collated and I will write to the hon. Member in due course.
  1372W

  Ministerial Meetings
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Prime Minister how many formal and official meetings he has held with the First Minister of Scotland since May 1999, broken down by(a) subject and (b) date. [72722]

  The Prime Minister
  I have meetings with the First Minister on a regular basis, both bilaterally and through the Joint Ministerial Committee, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what dates and in what locations Ministers in his Department held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since 1 June 2000; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting. [72687]

  Mr. Murphy
  I refer to the answer you received from my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe on 20 June 2002,Official Report, column 533W.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. McCabe
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list(a) Government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the financial years 1996–97 to 2001–02 and (b) all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet ministers costing in

  1373W
  excess of £500 between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002 including the cost, destination and purpose of each visit. [73406]

  The Prime Minister
  Expenditure on Ministerial overseas visits for the period requested is estimated as follows:

  Year

  £

  1996–97

  7.9

  2 May 1997 to 31 March 1998

  6.4

  1998–99

  4.9

  1999–2000

  4.6

  2000–01

  4.7

  2001–02

  5.6

  The figure for 2001–02 reflects payments made so far for travel undertaken in this period; a few bills have yet to be submitted to departments for payment.

  A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate.

  Departmental Jobs
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Prime Minister how many jobs under the remit of his offices excluding those under the departmental remit of his Cabinet Ministers, are located in(a) Scotland, (b) England, excluding Greater London, (c) Greater London, (d) Wales, (e) Northern Ireland and (f) overseas, broken down by (i) whole-time equivalent jobs and (ii) the percentage per each individual body or organisation. [72726]

  The Prime Minister
  All jobs in my Office are located in London.

  International Students
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has for the future of the Prime Minister's Initiative to attract more international students to the UK. [73195]

  The Prime Minister
  Through the British Council, we will continue to invest in marketing the benefits of UK education and training. Our aim is to meet the target of recruiting an extra 75,000 international students from outside the European Union by 2005, and we are currently on track to achieve this. We hope these students will gain advantage from the high quality and wide international recognition of their UK qualifications and remain friends of the UK, helping our trade and diplomacy. This initiative is a partnership with all education and training institutions across the UK and we welcome their continuing support.

  Throckmorton
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Throckmorton to study the effects of his Government's policies. [72922]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no immediate plans to do so.
  1374W

  Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the offices of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England. [73404]

  The Prime Minister
  The current Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, Sir Michael Buckley, plans to retire later this year.

  Her Majesty has been pleased to approve the appointment of Ann Abraham as Sir Michael's successor as Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England. Ann Abraham, who is currently the Legal Services Ombudsman, will take up appointment later this year.

  I am grateful to Sir Michael for the dedication and commitment he has shown over the past five and a half years, and for the valuable contribution he has made to public life.

  Information Commissioner
  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Prime Minister who the new Information Commissioner will be. [73405]

  The Prime Minister
  I am pleased to announce that the Queen has approved the appointment of Mr. Richard Thomas as the new Information Commissioner, to succeed Mrs. Elizabeth France CBE later this year. Mr. Thomas is currently Director of Public Policy at the law firm Clifford Chance. He is expected to take up his duties as Commissioner on 30 November.

  Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
  Ms Munn
  To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are to the leadership of the United Kingdom Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. [73407]

  The Prime Minister
  The right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Davis) replaces the right hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George), who has been elected President of the Assembly, as leader of the Delegation. The right hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) remains a Member of the Delegation.

WALES

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff have contributed to his Department's input to the Spending Review. [68689]

  Mr. Murphy
  The Spending Review involves a comprehensive assessment of the department's performance, priorities and resource requirements and a range of staff make a contribution.

  Temporary Staff
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees under contract from temping
  1375W
  agencies worked in his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72634]

  Mr. Murphy
  My Department came into existence in July 1999.

  Information is not readily available for the whole period. However my Department currently has 4 agency staff out of a total of 48. Expenditure on agency staff amounted to £86,000 in 2000–01; £35,000 in 2001–02; and £17,000 in the first quarter of 2002–03.

  The figure for 2000–01 equates to 4.8 per cent. of the paybill for that year; the spend in 2001–02 equates to 1.4 per cent. of the paybill.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the(a) dates, (b) location and (c) sources were of attributable (i) articles, interviews or contributions for the media, books or other journals and (ii) speeches or presentations made in the public domain, by departmental special advisers since March 2001; who in his Department authorised the activity; and on what date this activity was recorded with the departmental Head of Information. [72259]

  Mr. Murphy
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

  Public Consultations
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since 8 June 2001, indicating the(a) length and (b) number of responses received in each case. [68701]

  Mr. Murphy
  Since 8 June 2001, my department has undertaken consultations on the following:jointly with Department of Health, Draft mental health Bill;
  jointly with Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Tenancies Regulatory Reform Order from March to June 2002;
  draft NHS (Wales) Bill from May to July 200, available on line. with an e-mail address for respondents, and in print.

  Both the Welsh Affairs Committee and the National Assembly for Wales considered and reported on the draft NHS (Wales) Bill, with a further 31 responses from other organisations

  Departmental Reports
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how much the(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 departmental reports cost to produce; [63105]

  (2) what the total production cost to the Wales Office was of the Departmental report in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001; [66681]

  (3) what the total cost was of producing the Wales Office departmental report in 2002. [67652]

  Mr. Murphy
  The cost to the Wales Office of producing departmental reports for those years was:
  1376W

  1999

  The Wales Office did not produce a departmental report in 1999;

  2000

  £2,576.25;

  2001

  £23,932.63; and

  2002

  £20,264.45.

  The Wales Office 2000 report cost less than the other reports because it was shorter and very basic, compared with the later reports. It was done in black and white and the pages were simply folded and stapled whereas the Wales Office 2001 and 2002 reports were bigger, spine-bound, in colour and were altogether less simple in style.

  Another factor affecting the cost is the subsidy paid by the Department to determine the cover price. Because Wales Office reports are bilingual they have twice as many pages as a comparable single language report. The subsidy the Department pays, therefore, enables it to keep down the cover price to something comparable with a single language report. There are other factors which affect the amount paid but these are a commercial matter for the Stationery Office.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost was of publishing his Department and its predecessor's annual report for each of the past five years. [70487]

  Mr. Murphy
  The cost to the Departments of producing Welsh Office and Wales Office departmental reports for those years was:

  1998

  £7,388.82;

  1999

  £9,828.91;

  2000

  £2,576.25;

  2001

  £23,932.63; and

  2002

  £20,264.45.

  The Wales Office 2000 report cost less than the other reports to produce because it was shorter and very basic, compared with the later reports. It was done in black and white and the pages were simply folded and stapled whereas the Wales Office 2001 and 2002 and the Welsh Office 1998 and 1999 reports were bigger, spine-bound, in colour and were altogether less simple in style.

  Another factor affecting the cost is the subsidy paid by the Department to determine the cover price. Because Wales Office and old Welsh Office reports are bilingual they have twice as many pages as a comparable single language report. The subsidy paid by the Department, therefore, enables the cover price to be kept to something comparable with a single language report. The Welsh Office cover prices were much higher than the Wales Office's (£11.50 and £14.00 compared with £4.70, £7.00 and £8.00) so a lower subsidy would have been paid. There are other factors affecting the amount paid but these are a commercial matter for The Stationery Office.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the(a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case. [68726]
  1377W
  Mr. Murphy
  All overseas travel by officials in my department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code. Detailed information about individual trips is not held centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Political Appointments
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many political appointments he has made in the Welsh Office since taking office. [64547]

  Mr. Murphy
  In accordance with the Ministerial Code, I have two Special Advisers. Since 1999 I have made 3 appointments to these posts.

  In addition I have one Parliamentary Private Secretary, and since 1999 have appointed two Members of Parliament to this post.

  Job Location
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs under the remit of his Department in(a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation. [72737]

  Mr. Murphy
  My department's structure currently contains 48 permanent posts, 9 of which are based in Cardiff and the remainder of which are based in central London. It has no NDPBs, agencies, or other related bodies.

  Overseas Profile
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent steps he has taken to extend the profile of Wales abroad. [71772]

  Mr. Murphy
  I and my colleague the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales undertake a regular programme of activities with the aim of extending the profile of Wales abroad. This programme includes: visits to the European institutions; bilateral visits overseas; meetings with key national and regional politicians, both in the UK and abroad; attendance at international conferences and events; support for trade missions overseas; and meetings with UK based representatives of Wales' overseas partners.

  In the past twelve months, our programme has included visits to Brussels, Strasbourg, Spain and the Czech Republic and other activities with partners from the USA, Ireland, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovakia. Future meetings are planned with Danish and Japanese representatives.
  1378W

  Civil Courts
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Home Office concerning the Government's proposals for improvement of civil courts. [71771]

  Mr. Murphy
  I have regular discussions with colleagues about matters affecting Wales.

  The Court Service Report "Modernising the Civil and Family Courts" is the responsibility of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor. This involves a major programme of investment, which will enable the Court Service to change radically the way that the courts across all jurisdictions work, and provide a significantly improved overall level of service to its customers. I understand that the National Assembly for Wales was consulted about the programme.

  Monetary Union
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government colleagues concerning the impact of possible monetary union on Wales. [71768]

  Mr. Murphy
  I have regular discussions with the First Secretary and his Cabinet Colleagues on a range of issues affecting Wales including Monetary union.

  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales concerning the backlog in processing the results of TB tests; and if he will make a statement. [68920]

  Mr. Murphy
  The interim programme of action to tackle TB in Wales announced on 29 May 2002 gives priority to tackling the backlog of overdue tests. The State Veterinary Service in Wales has already acted to minimise the spread of TB through the introduction of movement restrictions on herds in annual testing parishes with overdue 6 and 12-month check tests. Prioritisation has also been given to those herds with tuberculosis tests that are overdue. Significant progress has been made. In Wales the number of overdue tests has reduced from 5,135 at 30 November to 3,450 at 30 June 2002.

  Software
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his policy is towards using open source software; and what percentage is used in his Department. [69326]

  Mr. Murphy
  IT services are provided to my department by the National Assembly for Wales under a Service Level Agreement. The system does not use open source software.

HEALTH

  Correspondence
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 11 February
  1379W
  from Councillor Carole Paternoster of Aylesbury Vale District Council about the provision of hospital beds in the Aylesbury area. [70861]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The Department has no record of receiving this correspondence. The Ministerial Correspondence Unit is seeking a copy of this correspondence.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will obtain for the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton a reply to the letter regarding Ms M. Allcock which the right hon. Member sent to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 May and which the Secretary of State fowarded to the Medicines Control Agency for reply. [72139]

  Mr. Milburn
  A reply was sent on 24 July.

  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 'when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 12 March, 11 April, 9 May, 6 June and 4 July 2002 relating to her constituent, Mr. Gordon Thorne of Hoddesdon. [68384]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 9 July 2002]: A reply was sent 24 July.

  Mr. Gamier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. and learned member for Harborough regarding(a) St Luke's Hospital and the Coventry Road Hospital in Market Harborough, dated 7 February, (b) Mrs. C Foreman of Wigston, dated 10 January and (c) a constituent and Leicester City Social Services Department concerning allegations of child abuse dated 30 July 2001. [59883]

  Jacqui Smith
  Replies were sent to the hon. Member's letters on 24 June, 2 July and 24 July respectively.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 25 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Miss Irene Boyd. [70347]

  Mr. Milburn
  A reply was sent on 18 July.

  Waiting Lists
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made since May 2001 in the way waiting lists are compiled; and whether NHS trusts in England apply the same criteria. [56276]

  Mr. Hutton
  The NHS Plan set waiting time targets for first outpatient appointments following general practitioner (GP) referral and for inpatient treatment. Waiting list data are collected from National Health Service trusts to monitor progress against these targets. NHS trusts are required to compile their waiting list returns according to criteria and guidance set out by the Department and the NHS information authority.
  1380W
  Further to recommendations made in the national audit office report "Inappropriate Adjustments to NHS Waiting Lists", guidance setting out the main rules for recording waiting list or waiting time information, and some related technical guidance prepared by the NHS information authority, will be sent to trust directors of information shortly. The NHS and social care bulletin number 21 issued on 18 July 2002 referred to this forthcoming guidance and also reminded chief executives of their duties of reasonableness to patients and honesty to the public when reporting waiting list information.

  Premature Retirements
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amounts have been provided for in 2002–03(a) primary care trust budgets and (b) strategic health authority budgets for the cost of premature retirements. [56290]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]: No funding has been earmarked in allocations to health authorities and primary care trusts in 2002–03 to meet the costs of premature retirements. National Health Service organisations meet such costs from their general allocations.

  Cardiology Operations
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting for cardiology operations in(a) the quarter ending March 1997 and (b) the latest available quarter in each health authority in England. [61459]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table below shows the number of patients waiting for elective cardiology admission by Health Authority as at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2002.

  The total number of patients awaiting cardiology operations has increased by 5,662. In the same period, the number of cardiology episodes increased from 177,304 in 1996–97 to 255,998 in 2000–01.

  Patients waiting for elective cardiology admission: Position at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2002': Health Authorites, England

  Health Authority

  31 March 1997

  31 March 20021

  Avon HA

  489

  886

  Barking and Havering HA

  198

  289

  Bamet HA

  153

  .

  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey

  .

  389

  Barnsley HA

  64

  51

  Bedfordshire HA

  219

  423

  Berkshire HA

  182

  372

  Bexley and Greenwich HA

  106

  .

  Birmingham HA

  469

  489

  Bradford HA

  157

  107

  Brent and Harrow HA

  561

  222

  Bromley HA

  214

  .

  Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich

  .

  366

  Buckinghamshire HA

  169

  440

  Bury and Rochdale HA

  165

  202

  Calderdale and Kirklees HA

  76

  137

  Cambridge and Huntingdon HA

  301

  .

  Cambridgeshire HA

  .

  538

  Camden and Islington HA

  140

  191

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA

  398

  64

  1381W

  Patients waiting for elective cardiology admission: Position at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 20021: Health Authorites, England

  County Durham and Darlington HA

  137

  135

  Coventry HA

  171

  157

  Croydon HA

  188

  302

  Doncaster HA

  101

  102

  Dorset HA

  479

  319

  Dudley HA

  49

  54

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA

  795

  599

  EandN Hertfordshire HA

  196

  .

  East Kent HA

  428

  344

  East Lancashire HA

  280

  448

  East London and City HA

  436

  671

  East Norfolk HA

  348

  .

  East Riding and Hull HA

  8

  340

  East Surrey HA

  197

  172

  East Sussex Brighton and Hove HA

  125

  93

  Enfield and Haringey HA

  186

  .

  Gateshead and South Tyneside HA

  236

  59

  Gloucestershire HA

  81

  207

  Herefordshire HA

  .

  16

  Hertfordshire HA

  .

  763

  Hillingdon HA

  94

  163

  Isle of Wight HA

  11

  .

  Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South

  .

  461

  East Hampshire

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA

  189

  274

  Kingston and Richmond HA

  126

  301

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA

  651

  378

  Leeds HA

  357

  203

  Leicestershire HA

  411

  827

  Lincolnshire HA

  189

  223

  Liverpool HA

  133

  396

  Manchester HA

  432

  452

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA

  260

  572

  Morecambe Bay HA

  101

  210

  Newcastle and North Tyneside HA

  330

  197

  Norfolk HA

  .

  570

  North and East Devon HA

  8

  19

  North and Mid Hampshire HA

  140

  368

  North Cheshire HA

  72

  190

  North Cumbria HA

  221

  196

  North Derbyshire HA

  161

  137

  North Essex HA

  317

  717

  North Nottinghamshire HA

  62

  123

  North Staffordshire HA

  222

  88

  North West Anglia HA

  211

  .

  North West Lancashire HA

  345

  802

  North Yorkshire HA

  53

  92

  Northamptonshire HA

  154

  92

  Northumberland HA

  189

  153

  Nottingham HA

  21

  155

  Oxfordshire HA

  208

  235

  Portsmouth and SE Hampshire HA

  151

  .

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA

  284

  413

  Rotherham HA

  94

  39

  Salford and Trafford HA

  224

  243

  Sandwell HA

  59

  298

  Sefton HA

  51

  126

  Sheffield HA

  230

  308

  Shropshire HA

  46

  65

  Solihull HA

  87

  90

  Somerset HA

  119

  166

  South and West Devon HA

  328

  70

  South Cheshire HA

  184

  271

  South Essex HA

  329

  680

  South Humber HA

  25

  48

  South Lancashire HA

  127

  344

  South Staffordshire HA

  107

  60

  Southampton and SW Hampshire HA

  387

  618

  Southern Derbyshire HA

  32

  60

  St Helens and Knowsley HA

  103

  303

  Stockport HA

  141

  123

  Suffolk HA

  367

  542

  Sunderland HA

  205

  143

  Tees HA

  184

  139

  Wakefield HA

  238

  44

  Walsall HA

  16

  27

  Warwickshire HA

  187

  161

  West Hertfordshire HA

  131

  .

  West Kent HA

  338

  337

  West Pennine HA

  222

  238

  West Surrey HA

  227

  141

  West Sussex HA

  209

  332

  1382W

  Patients waiting for elective cardiology admission: Position at 31 March 1997 and 31 March 20021: Health Authorites, England

  Wigan and Bolton HA

  286

  322

  Wiltshire HA

  167

  383

  Wirral HA

  127

  248

  Wolverhampton HA

  35

  40

  Worcestershire HA

  191

  107

  1This data is consistent with the Department's statistical press notice of 10 May 2002 about end March 2002 waiting list/times. However, some of the figures may change slightly when final details about the end March position at Royal United Hospitals, Bath become available.

  Source:

  Department of Health form QF01.

  Note:

  "." Denotes data not applicable due to non-existence of Health Authority at that time.

  Derbyshire Primary Care Trusts
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the salary of the(a) Chair and (b) Chief Executive, and the total spending and capitation fee, of each of the Derbyshire primary care trusts; and if he will list the distance from target of the annual spending in each primary care trust area in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03. [67433]

  Mr. Hutton
  Chairs of primary care trusts (PCTs) receive an allowance. There are three levels of chair allowance:

  band 1

  £20,420

  band 2

  £18,154

  band 3

  £16,017

  Table 1 shows the allowance band for the chairs of the primary care tusts in Derbyshire.

  Table 1: Chair's allowance for PCTs in Derbyshire

  Primary care trust

  Chair allowance

  Amber Valley

  band 2

  Central Derby

  band 2

  Chesterfield

  band 2

  Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire

  band 3

  Erewash

  band 3

  Greater Derby

  band 2

  High Peak and Dales

  band 3

  North East Derbyshire

  band 2

  Chief executive salaries are not collected centrally.

  Of the 8 primary care trusts in Derbyshire, only Central Derby Primary Care Trust was operational in 2000–01. The total expenditure, or gross operating cost, of the primary care trust for that year was £70.08 million. Total expenditure figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are not yet available.

  For each of the three years, the Department has made allocations to health authorities, and health authorities have subsequently made allocations to primary care groups and primary care trusts within their area.
  1383W
  Table 2 shows the allocation and distance from target in 2000–01 for the 9 previously existing primary care groups (PCGs) in Derbyshire. All of the primary care groups became part of primary care trusts in 2001.

  Table 2: Allocation and distance from target 2000–01

  2000–01

  PCG

  Allocation £000s

  Distance from target £000s

  Chesterfield PCG

  75,979

  -1,060

  Derby Dales PCG

  47,244

  493

  Derby West PCG

  45,424

  -2,286

  Table 3: Allocation and distance from target 2000–01 to 2002–03, PCTs

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  PCT

  Allocation £000s

  Distance from target£000s

  Allocation £000s

  Distance from target £000s (per cent.)

  Allocation £000s

  Distance from target £000s (per cent.)

  Amber Valley PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  84,531

  -3,388 (-3.85)

  93,848

  -3,659 (-3.52)

  Central Derby PCT

  73,684

  -1,801

  88,138

  -2,427 (-2.68)

  94,592

  -4,389 (-4.16)

  Chesterfield PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  82,599

  417 (0.51)

  92,842

  402 (0.41)

  Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  55,080

  -1,451 (-2.57)

  61,312

  -1,793 (-2.66)

  Erewash PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  72,512

  -189 (-0.26)

  79,550

  2,392 (2.90)

  Greater Derby PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  105,365

  -463 (-0.44)

  117,004

  -2,171 (-1.71)

  High Peak and Dales PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  74,422

  3,368 (4.74)

  81,498

  3,226 (3.85)

  North East Derbyshire PCT

  n/a

  n/a

  112,060

  -2,225 (-1.95)

  122,632

  -1,020 (-0.77)

  Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Service
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his Department's review on the Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy service; and if he will make a statement. [69437]

  Mr. Lammy
  The review of the domiciliary oxygen service has not yet been concluded. We hope to be in a position shortly to say what steps we propose to take in the light of the work which has been done so far.

  Branded Drugs
  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of(a) the cost to the health service and (b) consequences for patients of the practice among pharmaceutical companies of withdrawing branded drugs from the market shortly before the expiry of their patents and replacing them with similar patented formulations; and if he will make a statement. [69539]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Department is aware of only two Instances of companies withdrawing a branded drug from the market shortly before patent expiry. In both cases, the "replacement" products were no more expensive than those that were withdrawn, and there was every reason to expect that generics would be available when the patent on the withdrawn product expired. In both cases, therapeutic alternatives were available for patients.

  Morning-After Pill
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what tests have been carried out on the morning-after pill prior to its authorisation for use; [69314]

  (2) whether an audit of the effectiveness of the morning-after pill has been carried out. [69313]
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  Table 2: Allocation and distance from target 2000–01

  2000–01

  PCG

  Allocation £000s

  Distance from target £000s

  East Derby PCG

  57,898

  -1,783

  Erewash PCG

  63,941

  1,302

  High Peak and Dales PCG

  68,409

  2,243

  North Amber Valley PCG

  39,671

  -1,727

  North East Derbyshire PCG

  104,543

  -2,273

  South Amber Valley PCG

  47,121

  -156

  Table 3 shows the allocation and distance from target for the primary care trusts in Derbyshire for each of the years 2000–01 to 2002–03.

  Mr. Lammy
  Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg (the morning-after pill) was authorised in the UK as a prescription only medicine in November 1999. This followed advice from the committee on safety of medicines (CSM) who were satisfied as to the evidence of quality, safety and efficacy of levonorgestrel 0.75 mg for emergency contraception. The evidence considered by CSM included two World Health Organisation (WHO) sponsored pivotal studies. One study involving approximately 2000 women in 14 countries including the UK, has been published in the Lancet (1998). The other, published in the journal Human Reproduction (1993), involved 880 women. Copies are available in the Library.

  The WHO study published in the Lancet demonstrated that this method of emergency hormonal contraception prevented 86 per cent. of pregnancies when treatment was initiated within 72 hours of unprotected sex. The trial also showed that the efficacy is higher the sooner the product is taken after unprotected intercourse. If it is taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex the product is 95 per cent. effective, and this falls to about 56 per cent. if taken within 49 to 72 hours.

  Food Labelling
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the labelling with the Union flag of food products processed in the United Kingdom but originating in other countries; and if he will make it his policy to restrict the use of the Union flag to food products originating within the UK. [69618]

  Ms Blears
  The Food Standards Agency has issued guidance to enforcement authorities on interpretation of the law on country of origin labelling. The guidance makes it clear that the use of the Union flag, or any other indication of United Kingdom origin, on foods produced from ingredients sourced outside the UK may contravene legislation prohibiting misleading labelling. The agency is
  1385W
  pressing for a statutory definition of the circumstances under which UK origin, or equivalent, claims can be made.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Food Standards Agency's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition's sub-group on salt received copies of the references, studies, research and evidence listed in the submissions. [69979]

  Ms Blears
  All the evidence referred to in the submissions was made available to the salt subgroup.

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence the Food Standards Agency's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition will use in their review of the evidence on salt. [69978]

  Ms Blears
  Members of the salt subgroup requested a range of evidence in addition to that highlighted in submissions by stakeholders. This evidence is listed in the minutes of the meetings placed on the scientific advisory committee on nutrition website (www.sacn.gov.uk).

  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Food Standards Agency's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition expects to contact the interested parties who submitted evidence to its review on salt and inform them of the procedure involved in the assessment of evidence. [69981]

  Ms Blears
  Information on the procedure used by the salt subgroup to assess evidence is available to stakeholders through the minutes and papers of the meetings which have been placed on the scientific advisory committee on nutrition web site (www.sacn.gov.uk).

  Abortion
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact an increase in induced medical abortions in the community will have on the hospital services of the NHS. [69760]

  Ms Blears
  Within the National Health Service, abortions have traditionally been carried out in gynaecology wards and day care units. A 1999 survey showed that women can wait up to four or five weeks for an abortion in some parts of the country. There is clear evidence that the earlier in pregnancy an abortion is performed the lower the risk of complications. We therefore want to ensure that women who have legal grounds can access an abortion within three weeks as recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists evidence based clinical guideline The Care of Women Seeking Induced Abortion.

  We plan to test, at a very limited number of sites on hospital premises, whether providing early medical abortions in a setting such as a family planning clinic can help to reduce waiting times. We will also monitor the impact on local hospital services, particularly whether greater use of medical abortion reduces waiting times for surgical abortion and whether staff and operating theatre time is released for other procedures.

  Under-Age Pregnancy
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that plans to reduce under-age pregnancy protect children from sexual abuse and rape. [69757]

  Ms Blears
  One of the central aims of the teenage pregnancy strategy is to help young people develop the skills to make informed choices about sexual relationships, to resist pressure to have early sex and to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation.

  This is being done through improving sex and relationship education and increasing young people's confidence in accessing professional advice and support. All guidance issued by the teenage pregnancy unit to professionals working with young people makes clear that it may be necessary to breach the usual confidentiality arrangements if there are serious child protection concerns, in order to engage further support for the young person.

  The Government is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of sex offences legislation and is considering how it should be modernised and strengthened to ensure that it protects everyone, particularly children and vulnerable people, from sexual abuse and exploitation. We plan to publish our proposals for legislative reform in the Autumn.

  Non-executive Directors
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-executive directors on the(a) Doncaster Royal Infirmary/Mexborough Montagu/Bassetlaw Hospitals Trust, (b) Barnsley PCT, (c) Barnsley District General Hospital Trust and (d) Doncaster West PCT live in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency. [70812]

  Mr. Lammy
  Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Barnsley Primary Care Trust and Doncaster West Primary Care Trust each have one non-executive board member who lives in the the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency. None of the board members of Barnsley District General Hospital NHS Trust live in Barnsley East and Mexborough.

  Waiting Times (Breast Cancer)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was in the(a) Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and (b) South East Hampshire Health Authority for treatment of breast cancer in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [70999]

  Ms Blears
  Average waiting times for treatment of breast cancer cannot be calculated from the data centrally collected.

  Monitoring of the 1 month target from diagnosis to first definitive treatment for breast cancer began in January 2002. The first available data, therefore, is Quarter 4 of 2001–02, January—March 2002. The table below shows the performance against the 1 month target for Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust. These NHS trusts were hosted by the former Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority. The Publication of Quarter 1 2002–03 data will be in September 2002.
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  Performance against the 1 month target from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer: Quarter 4 2001–02

  NHS Trust

  Percentage of patients treated within 31 days

  Total patients treated

  Number of patients treated within 31 days

  Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

  98.5

  67

  66

  Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust

  100.0

  31

  31

  Source:

  Department of Health form QMCW.

  Neurofibromatosis
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health trusts have consultants specialising in neurofibromatosis; and how many doctors are receiving training in this illness. [70727]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the services provided by local trusts, the skill mix of the staff they employ and the training they receive is not held centrally.

  A range of doctors deal with this condition including consultants in ear, nose and throat, neurology, dermatology and clinical genetics. All doctors receive a general medical training but it is in their postgraduate years that consultants in the specialities mentioned above receive advanced training for conditions like neurofibromatosis.

  Teenage Pregnancy
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the value of peer education projects as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. [70718]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education regarding (a) the promotion and take up of peer education projects in schools, (b) action to promote the take up of peer education projects in schools and (c) the incorporation of peer education projects into the National Curriculum, as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. [70719]

  (3) what plans he has in place to increase funding for peer education projects as part of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. [70720]

  Ms Blears
  Peer education is recognised as having the potential to contribute to the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy by complementing classroom based Sex and Relationships Education (SRE). This is reflected in key SRE guidance documents (DfES, 2000; Ofsted, 2002). The Teenage Pregnancy Unit is working closely with the Department for Education and Skills to disseminate effective peer education approaches more widely.

  The available research evidence concludes that peer education can be effective in increasing young people's knowledge, can have positive impact on attitudes, intentions and self-esteem and, in some instances, can change behaviour. Young people like peer approaches; involvement in programmes raises the self-esteem of peer educators; and peer education projects give young people control over their own health.

  The Teenage Pregnancy Unit is funding a limited evaluation of a peer education programme called "A PAUSE" developed by Exeter University. The evaluation includes investigating the transferability of the
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  programme to deprived areas and the potential to develop the programme for those at an increased risk of teenage pregnancy. The evaluation is due to report in March 2003.

  The Teenage Pregnancy Unit has recently published "Involving Young People in Peer Education: A Guide to Establishing Sex and Relationships Peer Education Projects". This document aims to support those setting up SRE peer education projects and encourage good practice. Copies will be sent to every secondary school at the start of the new school year. The document will also be disseminated to local teenage pregnancy co-ordinators, National Healthy Schools co-ordinators and Initial Teacher Training providers.

  The Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship framework provides pupils with opportunities to engage in peer related projects. There are no plans to include peer education within the national curriculum. The Department for Education and Skills is developing its PSHE website for teachers to include examples of where peer education programmes are working well.

  Local teenage pregnancy partnership boards draw on a range of funding sources, including the Teenage Pregnancy Local Implementation Grant, to support projects which contribute to the local teenage pregnancy strategy. £16 million is available through the Local Implementation Grant during the current financial year. The level of funding planned for future years has not yet been decided.

  HIV/AIDS
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he(a) has had and (b) plans with the Ukrainian Government to offer advice on AIDS prevention and treatment schemes. [71045]

  Clare Short
  I have been asked to reply. My Department works closely with other donors involved in supporting the Ukrainian Government's HIV/AIDS prevention activities. We have funded a study on tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS for the World Bank office in Ukraine, which has been used to support the design of a $92 million loan for TB/AIDS treatment and prevention. We have also funded a study by the United Nations Development Programme on the cost-effectiveness of HIV prevention, also in support of the Ukrainian Government's national HIV/AIDS programme.

  guidance of the Afghan Transitional Administration (ATA), will be used to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis, support the return of refugees to Afghanistan, develop a comprehensive analysis of and approach to vulnerability in Afghanistan, and support the transition of competence, ownership and technical capacity to the ATA to meet the immediate needs of its own people.
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  In addition to the £60 million that my Department disbursed from September 2001 to March 2002 under our humanitarian programme, we pledged at the Tokyo conference in January 2002 to commit a further £200 million over the next five years. This amount is already being allocated and disbursed. We are fully committed to helping to meet the immediate priorities of the ATA and are encouraging other donors to do likewise by maximising their contributions and speeding up the disbursement of promised assistance.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent representations he has received on(a) drug resistant disease and (b) HIV/AIDS; [70884]

  (2) what progress has been made towards the discovery of new drugs to fight drug-resistant HIV/AIDS. [70829]

  Ms Blears
  Since its widespread introduction in the mid-1990s, highly active antiretroviral therapy has improved the lifespan and quality of life for people with HIV and AIDS. This is reflected in the dramatic reduction in reported cases of AIDS and HIV-related deaths. There are concerns that this "treatment effect" is reaching a plateau and emerging drug resistance is an important limiting factor.

  Two advisory non-departmental public bodies received presentations recently from the public health laboratory service's antiviral susceptibility reference unit—the expert advisory group on AIDS and the specialist advisory committee on antimicrobial resistance (SACAR). The presentations covered drug resistance in patients on treatment for HIV infection and in untreated individuals recently infected. SACAR, which advises Government on all issues relating to antimicrobial resistance, has prioritised antiviral resistance for its future work programme.

  The pharmaceutical industry continues to have an active drug discovery programme for antiretroviral agents. New anti-HIV drugs are being developed, belonging both to the existing classes (reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors) but selected for their ability to work in the presence of resistant virus and novel classes such as fusion inhibitors and integrase inhibitors. Several promising new agents are undergoing clinical trials in the United Kingdom and abroad.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the programmes that the Government are involved with in regard to HIV/AIDS research(a) at present and (b) in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the nature of the Government's involvement. [70843]

  Ms Blears
  The Government is involved in HIV/AIDS research programmes through the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry, through the other research councils, through the Department for International Development, through the Department of Health and through its executive non-departmental public bodies.

  The MRC has a wide portfolio of research into the causes and treatment of HIV/AIDS, ranging from basic immunological studies to clinical trials of drugs and vaccines. Examples of the latter include a new phase of the world's first clinical trial to test a vaccine for one of the most prevalent HIV strains affecting Africa, and an international co-operation to develop effective vaginal
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  microbicides for prevention of HIV transmission. The Department for International Development is supporting both of these, and is also supporting two HIV/AIDS knowledge programmes.

  The Department of Health contributes to MRC-managed research on HIV/AIDS, through its policy research programme, mainly for epidemiological studies. In addition, the Department's health technology assessment and its new and emerging applications of technology programmes support relevant research.

  These programmes are ongoing and are not likely to be substantially different in 2003 than at present.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his officials last met the MRC with regard to further research into the health effects of water fluoridation. [63952]

  Ms Blears
  Departmental officials last met the Medical Research Council regarding fluoridation on 14 May.

  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the MRC report with regard to further research into the health effects of water fluoridation. [63951]

  Ms Blears
  We expect to receive the report shortly.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the question of 16 May from the hon. Member for Workington on fluoridation in West Cumbria. [69499]

  Ms Blears
  The Department has no record of receiving this correspondence. The Department's ministerial correspondence unit is seeking a copy of this correspondence.

  Smallpox Vaccine
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether during the negotiations for the smallpox vaccine contract he was informed of which company was to manufacture the smallpox vaccine should Powderject be awarded the contract. [67541]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 3 July 2002,Official Report, column 454W.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Powderject has guaranteed that the smallpox vaccine to be supplied by them will be free of BSE. [67539]

  Mr. Hutton
  The smallpox vaccine to be supplied by Powderject is not manufactured using bovine cell culture. If a manufacturer wished to produce smallpox vaccine using virus culture in bovine cells, the appropriate regulatory guidance on cell characterisation and storage would have to be followed.

  European legislation demands that an application for marketing authorisation of a medicinal product in the European Union must include satisfactory demonstration of compliance with the European Note for Guidance on

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  minimising the risk of transmitting animal spongiform encephalopathy agents via human and veterinary medicinal products.

  Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices in the United States. [70256]

  Ms Blears
  An official from the Department is a liaison member of the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices in the United States and attends some of their meetings.

  Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the application to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation of the open principles of Government. [70249]

  Ms Blears
  The working practices of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) have been influenced by the office of science and technology (OST) code of practice for scientific committees. The committee members are aware of the recommendations of the OST code of practice. Lists of members and their declarations of interest, and minutes of meetings are posted on the website at www.doh.gov.uk/jcvi/index.htm members are recruited to the JCVI in line with guidelines laid down by the commissioner for public appointments.

  Rubella Vaccine
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department had with Glaxo SmithKline about their decision to cease production of single rubella vaccine. [70292]

  Ms Blears
  Glaxo Smithkline informed officials in the Department that a decision had been taken by the company at a global level to stop production of single rubella vaccine. This information was unsolicited.

  Pneumococcal Vaccination
  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has conducted into the effects an over-65 age recommendation for pneumococcal vaccination would have on the health of people in Wyre Forest. [70223]

  Ms Blears
  The Department asked the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) an independent expert advisory group, to review all available data on the use of this vaccine and report back. The costs and benefits of changing this policy are currently being considered.

  Dr. Richard Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many over-65 year olds have received the pneumococcal vaccination in Wyre Forest in the past five years. [70224]

  Ms Blears
  Information on age breakdown of those receiving pneumococcal vaccine is not available.

  MMR Vaccines
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with management of Glaxo Smithkline about production of component vaccines of MMR. [71095]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 17 July 2002]: Glaxo Smithkline informed officials that a decision had been taken by the company at a global level to stop production of single rubella vaccine. This information was unsolicited.

  School Nursing Service
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 1114W, on the School Nursing Service, what steps he is taking to encourage primary care trusts to increase the number of school nurses. [71037]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: We recognise the importance of the school nursing contribution to improving the health of children and young people and have taken forward a three-year development programme to strengthen their role.

  It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to determine the school-nursing workforce they require to meet the health needs of the local population. However, lessons from the national development programme are being disseminated to help PCTs develop school nursing services as effectively as possible to improve school age health and deliver on priority areas such as nutrition, smoking cessation and teenage pregnancy.

  Since 1997 we have increased the number of nurses working in the National Health Service by over 30,000. We intend to boost their numbers by a further 35,000 by 2008, increasing the available workforce from which school nurses can be drawn.

  An extra £100,000 has recently been made available on top of the existing national campaigns to support recruitment; retention and return to practice in primary care including school nursing. Whilst we do not collect data on the numbers of nurses working in the school health service, training establishments show a year on year increase in the number of commissions for specialist school nurse training.

  The children's national service framework (NSF) currently being developed will look at the role school nurses can play in delivering improved services to children, young people and their families. The NSF team is working closely with the children's care group workforce team to review the workforce implications of the NSF standards and ensure that workforce-related recommendations are achievable.

  Patient Deregistrations
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the recommendations of the University of Sheffield report on patient deregistrations from GP lists. [65725]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Sheffield University Report was published earlier this year and its recommendations are making a valuable contribution to our developing policy on patient choice, rights and responsibilities.

  GPs
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs have benefited from the Golden Hello Scheme since November 2001. [47845]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service golden hello scheme was introduced in November 2001. All new general practitioners taking up their first post in the NHS from 1 April 2001 are eligible for the scheme.

  To date, the Department has received over 1100 applications to the scheme. We will continue to monitor take up and keep the scheme under review.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to(a) cut the workload of general practitioners and (b) increase their pay. [72043]

  Mr. Hutton
  New mechanisms that will enable general practitioners to vary their workload according to the income to which they aspire are set out in the new general medical services contract framework, which has been accepted by the profession. The Government is committed to investment in return for the delivery of higher quality, and a wider range, of primary services.

  GP Golden Hello
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the NHS GP Golden Hello scheme. [62653]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service golden hello scheme was introduced in November 2001. All new general practitioners taking up their first post in the NHS from 1 April 2001 are eligible for the scheme.

  To date, the Department has received over 1100 applications to the scheme. We will continue to monitor take up and keep the scheme under review.

  Graduates
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incentives available to encourage graduates to enter the National Health Service. [64335]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government is implementing a range of measures to improve recruitment and retention of all staff, including graduates. These include improving terms and conditions, encouraging the National Health Service to become a better employer through the Improving Working Lives and Positively Diverse programmes and developing better career pathways further information on improving working lives is available at www.doh.gov.uk/iwl. This approach is working. Applications to nursing and medical training are increasing. A scheme for graduate entrants to medical school is developing well.

  The NHS general management scheme has for the past two years been rated the second most popular scheme for graduates seeking a career in general management. The NHS finance scheme has this year been rated 8 in the finance sector. Whilst the starting salary offered to graduate trainees is slightly below the median for all graduate recruiters, the starting salary in 2002 will be
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  £17,800 compared with a median of £19.000 across all sectors, the overall package offered to graduate trainees is worth around £30,000. This includes:
  annual performance award of up to 6 per cent. of salary;
  fully funded course of professional study, leading to a recognised qualification in finance or management;
  personal development programme;
  on-going development programme on completion of the scheme; NHS pension scheme;
  provision of laptop computer.

  Doctors (Recuitment)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) of 2 July 2002,Official Report, column 298W, on doctors (recuitment), which developing countries have Government to Government agreements with the UK; and if he will make a statement on the policy; [71048]

  (2) pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox), of 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 298W, on doctors (recruitment), what action his Department will take against those (a) National Health Service employers and (b) recruitment agencies who are found to have targeted developing countries, which do not have a Government to Government agreement with the UK, for recruitment of health care personnel. [71047]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The Code of Practice on international recruitment states that the National Health Service should not actively recruit in developing countries. International recruitment co-ordinators in the Workforce Development Confederations work with employers to ensure they comply to the entire Code of Practice.

  The Department is currently compiling a list of recruitment agencies who comply to the Code of Practice and therefore do not actively recruit in developing countries. This list will be posted on the website for employers to use when entering into new recruitment contracts.

  The only Government to Government agreement we have with a developing country to recruit doctors is with India. This agreement was reached following an approach by the Indian Government who were concerned with some of the actions of recruitment agencies who were operating in India.

  Over-Medication
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the statement of the hon. Member for Salford, (Ms Blears) of 13 February 2002,Official Report, column 112W, on over-medication, when he will respond to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam. [71585]

  Jacqui Smith
  I replied to the hon. Member on 13 February 2002.

  Health Services (Sussex and Worthing)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his latest calculations are for the GP: patient ratio in(a) Worthing and (b) each PCT in Sussex; [71088]
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  (2) what funds have been committed to improving access to primary care in Worthing since 1997; and what improvements have taken place. [71086]

  (3) what monitoring is in place to make sure that funds earmarked for improving access to primary care in West Sussex are used for that purpose. [71152]

  (4) what discussions he has had with the Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT about improving access to primary care in Worthing. [71087]

  (5) What assessment he has made of routine appointment wait times at Worthing general practice surgeries. [71151]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: Information on the ratios of general practitioners (GPs) to patients is held at primary care trust (PCT) level but I am advised by the PCTs that this varies around the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area, from 1,782 patients per GP in Bexhill and Rother PCT to 2,050 in Crawley PCT. In Worthing I am informed that the ratio is 1,885. I recognise that local GPs are under pressure and this concern is shared by Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT, which has advised me that it is concerned about the level of access to GP services in some practices. The PCT is actively working to improve the situation though a number of actions including effective use of incentive schemes.

  As part of the Department's commitment to improving access to primary care nationally, we have increased the PCT primary care access fund by £83.5 million to £168 million, with at least £48 million dedicated in 2002–03 to improving access in primary care and implementing advanced access. Significant funding has also been made available to enhance primary care services in Worthing. The former Worthing Primary Care Group invested £235,000 in 1999–2000 rising to £691,000 in 2001–02. The provision of additional funding has made it possible to improve access to a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services, as well as providing improved audit and clinical effectiveness. Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT monitors the use of all funds allocated to practices by practice and by use. The PCT will be included in the Audit Commission's national study to review use of all earmarked funds including primary care access monies.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any meetings with representatives from Adur, Arun and Worthing PCT to discuss access issues. I visited Worthing in August 2001 to meet representatives from local GP practices and we discussed local issues in the course of that meeting.

  Overseas Visitors
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overseas visitors to the UK were treated by the NHS in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what the total cost was to the NHS; how many reimbursed the NHS and by how much; and how many failed to reimburse the NHS, and by how much. [70803]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: This information is not collected centrally.

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what policies he has to increase access to NHS dentistry in Gloucestershire; and what offers he has made to private dentists to re-enter the NHS as part of this. [71265]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: Access to National Health Service dentistry is an important issue for this Government and we have invested over £100 million in the last 18 months to modernise NHS dentistry.

  We recognise that the provision of NHS dental care in Gloucestershire has been a challenge over the last few years. During 2001–02 Gloucestershire Health Authority received £1.35 million for their two personal dental service pilots, £247,100 from the modernisation fund and £16,500 from the dentistry action plan fund. The Gloucestershire personal dental service pilots are a growing service and more capacity will become available over the coming months.

  The NHS enjoys very good working relationships with the whole dental community in Gloucestershire, both salaried and private dentists, with much collaborative planning continuing to take place to increase access to dentistry for Gloucestershire's population.

  Clinical Negligence
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual expenditure by the NHS Litigation Authority on clinical negligence claims was in each year since 1995 [71561]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: According to the National Audit Office summarised accounts for the National Health Service (England) expenditure for claims and associated costs for clinical negligence for the latest years available is set out in the following table:

  Year

  Expenditure £000s

  1996–97

  74,411

  1997–98

  11,498

  1998–99

  309,855

  1999–2000

  490,672

  2000–01

  3,116,589

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors are used to calculate levels of clinical negligence insurance premiums paid by NHS trusts and primary care trusts to the NHS Litigation Authority. [71558]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The National Health Service Litigation Authority assesses each year, using actuarial analysis, the total pool of cash required to administer the clinical negligence scheme for trusts for the following financial year. This global pool is then translated into an individual contribution per member trust by calculating a weighted risk exposure for each trust and then allocating a charge accordingly.

  In short the risk exposure is calculated by assessing annually the levels of key staff involved in delivering clinical care across major service delivery areas.
  1397W
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by English(a) NHS trusts and (b) primary care trusts to the NHS Litigation Authority in the form of clinical negligence insurance premiums in each year since 1995. [71559]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: Contributions to the clinical negligence scheme for trusts for each year were as follows:

  Year

  NHS Trust £000s

  PCT £000s

  Total

  1996–97

  7,963

  —

  7,963

  1997–98

  10,864

  —

  10,864

  1998–99

  15,214

  —

  15,214

  1999–2000

  32,115

  —

  32,115

  2000–01

  49,533

  163

  49,696

  2001–02

  39,583

  1,549

  41,177

  The figures were taken from the National Health Service Litigation Authorities final accounts and represent the actual amounts billed, not necessarily the amounts that were physically paid and received.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the net present value of outstanding clinical negligence claims against the NHS in England was in each year since 1995. [71560]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: In the National Health Service summarised accounts (England), the National Audit Office includes figures for the provisions for clinical negligence in relation to all current claims and potentially successful claims (which may arise from incidents which have been incurred but not reported). The figures for this for each year were as follows:

  Year

  Provision £000s

  1996–97

  1.3 billion

  1997–98

  2.3 billion

  1998–99

  3.2 billion

  1999–2000

  3.9 billion

  2000–01

  4.4 billion

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how deficits in the NHS Litigation Authority budget for clinical negligence compensation are financed; and how surpluses are disposed of. [71556]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The NHS Litigation Authority does not account on an income and expenditure basis so does not have surpluses and deficits. It is controlled on its overall spending, which includes provisions for future liabilities that are met if and when they materialise, from cash financing agreed with Her Majesty's Treasury and voted by Parliament in estimates.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Government's White Paper on Clinical Negligence. [71562]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The chief medical officer (CMO) is producing a report for the Government on the options for reform of the system for dealing with clinical negligence. It is expected that this will be presented to Ministers in the course of the summer
  1398W
  and will form the basis for published proposals later on this year. Neither Ministers nor CMO have yet to come to final conclusions.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and how much ex-gratia payments have been paid to NHS patients for NHS clinical negligence in the last(a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years. [71078]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: National Health Service bodies make ex-gratia payments in a range of circumstances. Figures for these payments are reflected in individual NHS body's accounts, however, they are not collated centrally.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he(a) has met and (b) plans to meet consultees to the White Paper on Clinical Negligence Reform. [71077]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: I have asked the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to lead a wide ranging review of options for reforming the way clinical negligence cases are handled. As part of this work, the CMO and the officials assisting him have met with representatives of several of the organisations that responded to our "Call for Ideas" on clinical negligence reforms. The CMO is now preparing a report with recommendations for reform, which I will be considering over the summer. Once the outcome of this work is published we will consider any further requests for meetings we may receive.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hearing aids fitted under the NHS is represented by digital aids; and what proportion of hearing aids being fitted as current practice are digital. [71759]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the number of analogue aids fitted in the National Health Service is not collected centrally. We do however, know that services purchased 392,000 analogue aids from the NHS logistics authority in 2001–02. (These figures are exclusive of any purchases outside of NHS purchasing and supply agency contracts). By comparison, approximately 37,000 digital aids were purchased in 2001–02 by those involved in the modernising hearing aid services project that year with approx 28,000 being fitted as part of that project.

  Health Funding
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the per capita health funding is in(a) Surrey and (b) Durham for the 2002–03 financial year. [71912]

  Mr. Hutton
  In the 2002–03 allocations, West Surrey Health Authority received £839 per weighted head of population (045 per unweighted head) and County Durham Health Authority received £804 per weighted head (£884 per unweighted head).

  Hospital Acquired Infections
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many older people whose discharge from hospital
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  was delayed have acquired a healthcare-associated infection while waiting to be discharged in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; [71863]

  (2) how many emergency readmissions associated with health care acquired infections there were in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement. [71864]

  Jacqui Smith
  The data requested are not routinely collected. However, we are committed to tackling healthcare associated infections and as part of implementing "Getting Ahead of the Curve", our strategy for combating infectious diseases, we are developing targeted action plans for healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital trusts closed(a) wards and (b) operating facilities in the last 12 months due to hospital acquired infections. [71090]

  Social work staff1 (whole-time equivalent) per 1,000 population

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  20012

  Hampshire (old)

  0.5

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  ..

  Hampshire (remaining)

  ..

  0.4

  0.5

  0.4

  0.4

  0.5

  Isle Of Wight Unitary Authority

  0.6

  0.7

  0.9

  0.9

  0.9

  0.8

  Portsmouth Unitary Authority

  ..

  0.8

  0.8

  0.8

  0.8

  0.9

  South East

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  0.6

  .. = not applicable due to local government reorganisation.

  1 Includes care managers.

  2 2,000 population figures used as these are the latest available.

  Sources:

  Form SSDS001, annual return of local authority social services departments staff and Office for National Statistics population figures.

  Alzheimer's Disease
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take measures to ensure that a higher proportion of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease receive Reminyl; [71921]

  (2) if he will take measures to increase the number of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease receiving treatment; [71919]

  (3) how many people within each health authority are suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease; how many and what percentage of these are being treated; and how many and what percentage of patients are receiving Reminyl. [71918]

  Jacqui Smith
  A 1998 medical research council cognitive function and ageing study found that about 600,000 people in the UK have dementia and that up to 60 per cent. of dementia cases are Alzheimer's. Information about the numbers of people within each health authority with Alzheimer's, and about the type of treatment they are receiving, is not routinely collected.

  Reminyl and other anti-dementia drugs like Aricept and Exelon are available to people with Alzheimer's since NICE recommended their availability in January 2001.

  The national service framework (NSF) for older people aims to promote good mental health in older people and to treat and support people with dementia including those
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  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The data requested are not routinely collected. Tackling hospital acquired infection (HAI) underpins the priorities in the NHS Plan and a number of initiatives are underway to reduce HAI.

  Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers there were per 1,000 population in(a) the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority, (b) Hampshire and (c) the South East in each year since 1996; and if he will make a statement. [72024]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the number of social workers per 1,000 population is not available by health authority, only by local authority. The table below shows the whole-time equivalent number of social work staff (including care managers) per 1,000 population as at 30 September in each year between 1996 and 2001 for Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and the south east region.

  with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Implementation of the NSF will ensure that people with Alzheimer's disease will receive the care and treatment they need.

  Care Costs
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the sum to be transferred from local authority budgets to the NHS to cover the nursing contribution payments from 1 April 2003. [71196]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: We are still considering the amount that should be transferred from local authority budgets to the National Health Service to cover the nursing contribution payments in respect of local council supported clients from 1 April 2003. We expect to go out for consultation about that amount shortly.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the recently published report of the Rowntree Trust into the economics of the care home sector. [71679]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: My officials are considering the report by the Joseph Rowntree Trust. We welcome its contribution to the debate about the appropriate level of care home fees. We support any research that that helps councils to set fair and realistic fee levels.
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  The Government increased resources for social services by 20 per cent. in real terms between 1996–97 and 2002–3. This represents an average real terms increase of 3 per cent. per annum. In addition, funding will increase by 6 per cent. per year in real terms in each of the next three years. There is evidence that this extra investment is making a difference. Laing and Buisson, the authors of the Joseph Rowntree Trust report, reported last month that most councils have increased their care home fees by at least 3 per cent. in 2002–03 and that almost a third have agreed increases of at least 10 per cent. since last year.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the final free nursing care contribution evaluation report was received by his Department. [71348]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) of 2 July, Official Report 2002, column 309W. A report has not been received by the Department and will not be received until later this year.

  Carers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 2002,Official Report, column 449W, on carers, what steps his Department has taken to encourage general practitioners to detail in patient records whether a patient is also a carer. [71893]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The Department is funding a three-year project by Carers UK to disseminate good practice in National Health Service support for carers including identification of carers by general practitioners in patient records. In addition, the existence of the carers field in general practitioner (GP) computer systems was highlighted in the March edition of the Department's bulletin to GPs.

  Care Homes (Questionnaire)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2002, on care homes ref. 68876, if he will place a copy of the questionnaire in the Library. [71648]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The national care standards commission (NCSC) is consulting service users and representative organisations as part of its inspection process.

  The postcard questionnaire is one of the range of tools being used by the NCSC to gather information from service users on their perception of the care they receive. I have asked the commission to send a copy of this particular questionnaire to the hon. Member. Use of the cards to provide feedback to the Commission is, of course, entirely voluntary.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authority(a) residential homes, (b) nursing homes and (c) dual registered homes have been voluntarily deregistered in each (i) local authority and (ii) region in each of the last five years. [45639]
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  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 26 March 2002]: The information centrally available on establishment closures will be placed in the Library. It is not possible to distinguish voluntary deregistrations from these statistics.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many single bed care homes there are in(a) England and (b) each local authority. [68445]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the number of care homes with only one bed is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the availability of qualified staff before implementing Regulation 19(5)(b) in respect of care homes. [70315]

  Jacqui Smith
  Regulation 19(5)(b) requires that care home staff have qualifications suitable to the work they are to perform. and the skills and experience necessary for such work. The regulation does not specify the types and levels of qualifications which may be required, this depend on the type of care home and the needs of the residents. The regulations were extensively consulted on and the Department has no evidence to suggest that large numbers of care homes will be unable to meet this requirement.

  To support training, a new fund—the training strategy implementation fund—was set up in April 2001. It is available to all social care employers—whether they are in the voluntary, private or statutory sectors. There was £2 million in this fund for 2001–02 and this has been used to support and embed induction standards in the social care field. The amount available within this fund has increased to £15 million for 2002–03. On 23 July this year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced that the national training strategy implementation fund will rise to £70 million by 2006.

  Foster Care
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 July 2002,Official Report, column 540W, how much his Department has spent on recruitment campaigns to encourage people to become involved as foster carers since 1997. [72839]

  Jacqui Smith
  Since 1997 the Department has spent £2 million to fund a national foster carer campaign, which was launched in July 2000. The campaign focused on addressing the national shortage of foster carers in England.

  Additionally, this Department is currently funding fostering network, a voluntary organisation through the section 64 general scheme grant. The three-year project called placement choice for children aims to work with local authorities on effective foster care recruitment. The three year project which began in 1999 has been funded for £90,000 per year.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in the number of children being placed in foster care over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [71737]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The table shows the number of looked after children in foster placements over the past 5 years.
  1403W

  Number of looked after children in foster placements at 31 March 1997–2001

  England

  Numbers

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Total number of children looked after

  51,200

  53,300

  55,500

  58,100

  58,900

  Of which, total in foster placements

  33,500

  35,000

  36,200

  37,900

  38,400

  Excludes placements forming part of an agreed series of short term placements.

  Information Campaigns
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in financial year 2001–02; if he will list the campaigns that spent over £250,000; and if he will make a statement. [70202]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The Department spent £27.872 million on information literature, advertising and campaign material in financial year 2001–02.

  Campaigns, which had an expenditure of over £250,000 during 2001–02, are listed as follows:

  Child Immunisation

  Flu Immunisation

  National Health Service including nurse recruitment

  NHS Direct

  Sexwise/teenage pregnancy

  Sexual Health

  Social Work recruitment

  Tobacco Education

  TB Awareness

  Drugs (Import Restrictions)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (I) what proportion of drugs used in(a) the hospital service and (b) the community through the NHS are the subject of parallel importation from other European member states; what assessment he has made of the effect on the NHS of national quotas imposed by multinational drug companies to impede such activity; and if he will make a statement. [71729]

  (2) what representations he has made to the European Commission in respect of the decision by Eli Lilly to impose a quota system in the supply of the drug Zyprexa in other European Union member states; [71730]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the impact on the price of the drug Zyprexa to the NHS of the restriction of imports of the drug from other European member countries. [71731]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Full information on the proportion of parallel imported medicines used by the National Health Service is not available but it is estimated that parallel imports into the United Kingdom are 13 per cent. of total sales. Parallel imported products represent approximately 11 per cent. of NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency pharmaceutical contracts for secondary care. No assessment has been made on the effect on the NHS of national quotas imposed by pharmaceutical companies.
  1404W
  The European Community Commission is already looking at quota policies to determine whether they are compatible with European Union competition law. We have neither received nor made representations in respect of the decision by Eli Lilly to impose a quota system in the supply of the drug Zyprexa in other EU member states.

  The NHS reimbursement price of Zyprexa is unchanged.

  Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoptions
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the United Kingdom Government will be in a position to ratify the Hague Convention on inter-country adoptions. [71487]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The Government remain fully committed to ratifying the Hague Convention. All countries within the United Kingdom are working hard to ensure that the UK as a whole will be able to ratify the Convention as soon as possible. The Department has already consulted on draft regulations for England and Wales, and we are currently working on final regulations, taking account of the consultation responses that we received. Once final regulations have been made and laid in each of the respective parliaments, notice will be given to The Hague that the UK wishes to ratify in accordance with Article 46 of the Convention. The Convention will come into force three months after formal notification has been given. We anticipate that this will be at the beginning of next year.

  NHS Bank
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the management of the NHS Bank will be franchised to the private sector. [71873]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The future management arrangements for NHS Bank have yet to be determined.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the activities of the NHS Bank since 15 May. [71886]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The NHS Bank has been established and is operating in shadow form. This year the Bank is offering grants and loans to National Health Service organisations, with a direct link to helping NHS organisations to deliver the NHS Plan.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been lent by the NHS Bank since it commenced operation on 15 May. [71881]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The shadow NHS Bank has been established with an allocation of £100 million. The distribution between grants and loans has yet to be determined.
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  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what interest rate will be charged on amounts borrowed from the NHS Bank. [71879]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002 2002]: The future basis and terms for loans from the NHS Bank have yet to be determined.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the NHS Bank will be accountable to Parliament. [71877]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The NHS Bank will be accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Health.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether trusts investing surplus cash with the NHS Bank will earn interest on new deposits. [71875]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The future basis and terms for any deposits with NHS Bank have yet to be determined.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets have been set for the NHS Bank. [71882]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The shadow NHS Bank's initial remit is to manage the £100 million allocation it has been given.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Bank will be accountable to the Chancellor of the Exchequer through public service agreements. [71884]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: No. The NHS Bank will be accountable to the Secretary of State for Health.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much cash has been deposited with the NHS Bank by trusts. [71885]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: None.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the expected composition of the board of the NHS Bank. [71874]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The shadow NHS Bank is being overseen by four strategic health authority chief executives and the Department's director of finance and investment.

  The future arrangements are under consideration.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Office for National Statistics on the accounting treatment of the borrowings of the NHS Bank. [71872]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: None.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health over what period repayments of money borrowed from the NHS Bank will be made. [71880]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The future basis and terms for any loans from the NHS Bank have yet to be determined.

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Bank will have the authority to borrow from sources other than the Government. [71878]
  1406W
  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The shadow NHS Bank does not currently have the power to borrow from non-Government sources.

  The future arrangements are under consideration

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will determine the criteria to be met by successful applicants for loans from the NHS Bank; and what those criteria will be. [71876]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: An application to the shadow NHS Bank will only be permitted where:

  (i) the application has been validated by the relevant director of health and social care;

  (ii) the applicant can demonstrate that all other options including local support arrangements have been fully considered;

  (iii) there is commitment by the strategic health authority to deliver performance targets in 2002–03;

  (iv) the problem to be addressed is of a scale and nature that is fundamentally different from those faced by other health organisations;

  (v) there is a clear, realistic and deliverable plan for resolution of the problem that has led to the need for support;

  (vi) the relevant chief executive(s) within the health economy personally commit to and are willing to he held accountable for delivery against agreed milestones;

  (vii) there is support for the plans from the respective National Health Service trust and primary care trusts boards and a clear endorsement by clinicians; and

  (viii) the directorate of health social care and any person nominated by the shadow NHS Bank are given full open hook access to the applicant organisation(s).

  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is expected that the Government will deposit further sums at the NHS Bank. [71883]

  Mr. Milburn
  [holding answer 22 July]: The disposition of overall resources for 2003–04 onwards has yet to be determined.

  Epilepsy
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans there are to increase the number of neurologists and paediatric neurologists with a specialism in epilepsy; [72765]

  (2) how many neurologists and paediatric neurologists with a specialism in epilepsy there are in the UK. [72764]

  Mr. Hutton
  I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Ms Atherton) today.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to promote epilepsy specialist nurses. [72844]

  Jacqui Smith
  We set targets in the NHS Plan to increase the number of nurses working in the health service. Figures released earlier this year show that between September 1999 and September 2001 recruitment of nurses rose by 20,740. We set new targets in the 2002 budget to recruit 35,000 nurses by 2008 and this will become part of the continuing drive to recruit more health professionals for the National Health Service.
  1407W
  We recognise the important role that epilepsy nurse specialists play in the treatment and management of people with epilepsy. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to determine the number of epilepsy nurse specialists required to support the development of epilepsy services within the overall increase in nursing capacity.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration the Government have given to the finding of the national audit of epilepsy-related death relating to deficiencies in the implementation of existing NICE guidelines; and what plans he has to ensure the implementation of the guideline due in 2004; [72763]

  (2) what plans are in place to ensure that primary care trusts will act on the NICE recommendation that local NHS clinicians and organisations should establish or review policies of practices regarding the management of epilepsy. [72762]

  Jacqui Smith
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a summary report of the national sentinel audit of epilepsy related death in May 2002. The publication draws the attention of local National Health Service clinicians and organisations to the need to establish or review policies and practices regarding the management of epilepsy and epilepsy related deaths.

  Additionally NICE is developing a clinical guideline for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy to help address widespread variations in clinical practice and contribute to the improvement of epilepsy services. The guideline is due to be completed in Summer 2004. It will be supported by a technology appraisal of the clinical and cost effectiveness of new anti-epileptic drugs in children and adults, to help promote appropriate uptake and equitable access. The appraisal is due to be completed in Autumn 2003.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps are being taken to inform those with epilepsy of the risks of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and ways of reducing risk; [72747]

  (2) what plans he has to address the information and support needs for bereaved families affected by (a) SUDEP and (b) other epilepsy deaths; [72752]

  (3) what measures are (a) in place and (b) planned to ensure that clinical assessments for epilepsy are performed to a satisfactory standard, including the accurate recording of seizure types, seizure triggers and seizure frequency; [72758]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the information and training needs of (a) people with epilepsy and (b) their carers; [72759]

  (5) what plans he has to address the finding in the epilepsy deaths report on the adequacy of post-mortem investigations; [72750]

  (6) what plans the Government have for implementation and funding of the action plan to address epilepsy-related death; [72754]

  (7) what plans he has to ensure that people with epilepsy receive six-monthly check-ups with their GP or an epilepsy specialist to review their medication; [72757]
  1408W
  (8) what further initiatives the Government will take to improve levels of epilepsy care across the country; [72749]

  (9) what steps are being taken to set a national target for reduction of epilepsy deaths; [72753]

  (10) what plans he has to increase the availability of information for health professionals surrounding the issue of drug management for epilepsy medication; [72756]

  (11) what plans he has for the involvement of health professionals and the voluntary sector in the implementation of the Action Plan to address epilepsy-related death; [72761]

  (12) what plans he has to improve public awareness of epilepsy; [72748]

  (13) whether the Home Office is being consulted on the Action Plan to address the finding in the national audit of epilepsy-related death on the adequacy of post-mortem investigations; [72751]

  (14) what plans he has to improve the awareness of GPs and health professionals of epilepsy and epilepsy-related death. [72760]

  Jacqui Smith
  In May 2002, we welcomed the publication of the government funded national sentinel audit of epilepsy-related death. The audit looked at investigations into epilepsy deaths, care provided prior to death and contact with bereaved families. We have given a commitment to consider in full the recommendations of the audit including the issues raised by the hon. Member and to develop an action plan later this year to address the key issues. It will need to take account of and feed into a range of other initiatives including the national service framework (NSF) for long term conditions, which will have a focus on neurological conditions such as epilepsy. We expect to meet with the epilepsy voluntary organisations shortly, and will consult with others as appropriate.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a summary report of the audit. The publication draws the attention of local National Health Service clinicians and organisations to the need to establish or review policies and practices regarding the management of epilepsy and epilepsy related deaths.

  The department is also undertaking a range of other initiatives to improve services for the care and management of people with epilepsy. For example, we have:
  Asked NICE to develop a clinical guideline, due in summer 2004, for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy to help address widespread variations in clinical practice and contribute to the improvement of services. This will be supported by a technology appraisal, due autumn 2003, of the clinical and cost effectiveness of new anti-epileptic drugs in children and adults, to help promote appropriate uptake and equitable access.
  Announced that the NSF for long term conditions is expected to develop standards of care for specific neurological conditions, including epilepsy. The NSF is expected to be published in 2004. Implementation is expected to start from 2005.
  Developed the expert patients programme, which aims to provide training in self-management skills for people with long term chronic conditions. The first pilot phase will include people with epilepsy.
  Provided funding to the joint epilepsy council to develop a National Statement of Good Practice for the Treatment and Care of People who have Epilepsy, which was published in May 2002. The

  1409W
  statement makes a series of recommendations for good quality epilepsy services. It is intended to facilitate commissioning and will be of use to NHS purchasers, providers and service users.
  Provided funding to the national society for epilepsy for its living well project. The project aims to promote independent living by providing locally based short-term courses for people with epilepsy to develop self-help and self-management techniques.

  Local health and social care organisations are responsible for planning and providing services for people with epilepsy, including the frequency of contact. The recently announced Budget settlements for the NHS, which represents an annual average increase of 7.5 per cent. above inflation over the five years 2003–04 to 2007–08, and personal social services, which represents an annual average increase of 6.0 per cent. above inflation over the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06, will provide the investment needed to support the services which best meet patients' and users' needs.

  Health and Social Care Inspectorates
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it will cost to set up and run the new merged Health and Social Care Inspectorates; and if he will make a statement. [72511]

  Jacqui Smith
  Estimates of the cost of establishing the new health inspectorate will be made in preparing the required legislation, which will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

  Homelessness
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 27 June 2002, Official Report, column 1075W, on homeless people, what the reasons were for the delay in answering the Question. [70232]

  Ms Blears
  We place a high priority on our obligation to ensure that Members receive a timely, accurate and helpful response to their questions, and make every effort to ensure that the live load of questions still awaiting a reply is kept to a minimum at all times. In this instance, the cross-cutting nature of the question led to a regrettable delay in preparing a response, for which I apologise to the hon. Member.

  Social Services
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the effects of the changes to the calculation of personal social services block formula grant in 1999–2000 on the performance of social services authorities. [67822]

  Jacqui Smith
  Personal social services (PSS) funding is distributed using information about the social care needs of each area, including demographic, physical and social characteristics. The changes to the PSS standard spending assessment formulae in 1999–2000 were made to better reflect those needs. All councils with social services responsibilities have benefited from the increased funding the Government has provided for social care, through the block formula grant, since we came to office. This increased funding has generally enabled councils to provide improved services for their clients.

  Local Consultations
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information and guidance he issues to members of the public on becoming involved in local consultations on the provision of health care and social services; and what plans he has to develop this. [72191]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: Currently, it is the legal responsibility of community health councils (working with their local National Health Service organisation/s) to ensure the public view is represented in decisions about local health care provision.

  When the new system for patient and public involvement is established, the staff employed by new commission for patient and public involvement in health (CPPIH), based with primary care trust patients' forums will be locally responsible for promoting local consultations and involvement activity to involve local people in healthcare decision making with statutory organisations.

  One of the ways the CPPIH may carry out its functions is by providing guidance for members of the public who would like to get involved. This will be a matter for the CPPIH.

  Patients' Forums will also be established for every NHS trust and PCT, they too will provide a mechanism for local peoples' views to be heard. In addition community and voluntary organisations, working through the Local Compact, will be another pathway for local people to be involved and consulted in decisions about local healthcare.

  Clinical Guidelines
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each UK region, the cost to the NHS of implementing each of the clinical guidelines set down by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in each year since 2000 for which figures are available. [72463]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: We do not hold this information centrally. The Final Appraisal Determinations published by the Institute do, however, now include estimates of the aggregate national cost of implementing its recommendations.

  London Ambulance Service
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the introduction of stab and bullet-proof vests to London Ambulance Service staff will cost; and to what extent this will(a) come from the London Ambulance Service current budget and (b) be met by extra central Government funding. [71079]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The contract for the provision of body armour for crews in the London Ambulance Service is currently out to tender. This process is expected to be complete in October, when a definitive cost will be available. The cost will be met within existing budgets, as part of the London Ambulance Service's four-year improvement programme.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the latest available figures for ambulance
  1411W
  response times to category A calls, listed by ambulance trust, stating (a) what proportion of responses were achieved within eight minutes and (b) for those responses which took longer than eight minutes, how long it took for the ambulance to respond. [68278]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 10 July 2002]: The latest information about the proportion of emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response times is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2001–02". A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and available at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0213.htm.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the accuracy of data collected on ambulance response times; [71178]

  (2) what monitoring is undertaken to ensure the quality of ambulance response time statistics. [71179]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Department has no evidence that data on ambulance response times is inaccurate.

  All ambulance services and their performance are subject to audit by those commissioning their services and by the Audit Commission.

  NHS Pension Schemes
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the proportion of the rise in Government liabilities resulting from unfunded NHS pension schemes in England and Wales in the last five years due to(a) wage inflation, (b) longevity, (c) extension of the rights of part-time workers and (d) other factors; and if he will make a statement. [67021]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government Actuary's Department has estimated the accrued liabilities of the National Health Service Pension Scheme for England and Wales at 31 March 2001 to be £75 billion and at 31 March 1994 to be £50 billion.

  A breakdown of the rise in liabilities is not readily available in the form requested. However, the Government Actuary's Department believe that the most important factor in the increase was pay growth, followed by allowances made for increasing pensioner longevity and price inflation. The increase in liabilities caused by the extension of the rights of part-time workers is not thought to be as material as these other factors.

  General Practice Surgeries
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of routine appointment wait times in(a) Twickenham and (b) the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames at general practice surgeries; and if he will make a statement. [72836]

  Mr. Hutton
  Reducing the routine wait times for appointments in primary care is a government priority. By the end of March 2004, all patients will be able to see a primary care professional within 24 hours and a general practitioner within 48 hours.

  Results for the Q4 service and financial framework return (SaFFR) primary care access survey are shown below.
  1412W

  Percentage of practices with an appointment system offering an appointment within 2 working days to see a GP

  Richmond Primary Care Trust

  94

  Teddington, Twickenham and Hamptons Primary Care Trust

  100

  Percentage of practices with an appointment system offering an appointment within 1 working days to see a PCP

  Richmond PCT

  93

  Teddington, Twickenham and Hamptons PCT

  75

  England

  59

  Redwood Hospital
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in negotiations with BUPA to create a diagnostic and treatment centre at the Redwood Hospital. [72755]

  Ms Blears
  The National Health Service and BUPA have agreed commercial terms and are now going through a process of consultation with medical and other staff who will be affected by the diagnosis and treatment centre. An announcement will be made once this process has been completed and an agreement signed.

  Consultation is essential not just in terms of good practice but to agree the medical manpower plan with consultants. This will not delay the opening of the centre.

  Specialisms
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) neurologists, (b) paediatric neurologists and (c) nurses with a specialism there are in the UK. [72659]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department's workforce censuses do not collect information on the number of neurologists, paediatric neurologists or nurses with a specialism in the treatment of epilepsy.

  The numbers of doctors working in paediatric neurology is not collected centrally, it is a sub-specialty of neurology. As at 31 March 2002, the numbers of consultants working in neurology was 372. This is an increase of 34 per cent. since 1997.

  We are investing in extra training places in neurology and have agreed an increase of up to fifteen specialist registrars in neurology for 2002–04. The Department's current workforce projections suggest that by 2004, there may be around an additional 80 trained specialists available to take up consultant posts in neurology, over a 2000 baseline of 326.

  We continually review future requirements for trained specialists as part of the National Health Service's new multi-disciplinary workforce planning processes. These look at the requirements for doctors alongside other staff focusing on the potential for new ways of working and developing new roles.

  The long term conditions care group workforce team covers the national service frameworks for diabetes, renal and long term conditions, including neurological conditions. The care group workforce team is working to address not only the need for increased numbers of staff but also for new ways of working, including skill mix, role extensions and multi-disciplinary working, based around patient needs. It has already fed in to national

  1413W
  planning processes recommendations on the future supply of professionals and development of new ways of working.

  Hospital Trust Boards
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules govern the appointment of vice-chairs for hospital trust boards. [71869]

  Mr. Lammy
  The rules are set out in regulations (13) and (14) of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 1990 (SI No. 2024). Chairs and non-executives board members of trusts are appointed by the National Health Service appointments commission. However, vice chairs are appointed from amongst the non-executives by all the other directors of the trust.

  Inpatient Waiting Times
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of patients waiting for inpatient treatment have been waiting over one year; [71911]

  (2) which 10 health authorities have the highest percentage of patients waiting for more than one year for inpatient treament; and which health authorities have no patients waiting more than nine months for inpatient treatment; [71998]

  (3) if he will list, in rank order of health authority, the proportion of patients waiting a year or more for in-patient treatment (a) at the latest available date and (b) 12 months ago. [72413]

  Mr. Hutton
  Two per cent. of patients were waiting over one year for elective admission at 31 March 2002. This is the latest available data on a health authority basis.

  The table shows the equivalent figures at health authority level ranked in descending order for both March 2001 and March 2002. The table includes the ten health authorities that have the highest percentage of patients waiting more than one year for elective admission.

  All health authorities have patients waiting more than nine months as at March 2002.

  Percentage of patients waiting over 1 year for elective admission: Health Authorities England

  Percentage of patients waiting over 1 year

  Health Authority

  March 2001

  March 2002

  South and West Devon HA

  6

  5

  Avon HA

  7

  5

  East Kent HA

  6

  5

  North Cheshire HA

  9

  5

  East Surrey HA

  10

  5

  Northamptonshire HA

  5

  4

  Bromley HA

  5

  4

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA

  8

  4

  West Sussex HA

  10

  4

  Wiltshire HA

  6

  4

  West Surrey HA

  10

  4

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA

  6

  4

  Stockport HA

  3

  4

  Barking and Havering HA

  5

  4

  East Sussex Brighton and Hove HA

  6

  4

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA

  9

  4

  1414W

  Percentage of patients waiting over 1 year for elective admission: Health Authorities England

  Percentage of patients waiting over 1 year

  Health Authority

  March 2001

  March 2002

  Croydon HA

  10

  4

  Barnet HA

  4

  4

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA

  6

  3

  Buckinghamshire HA

  5

  3

  North and Mid Hampshire HA

  5

  3

  Worcestershire HA

  4

  3

  Bedfordshire HA

  7

  3

  Norfolk HA

  5

  3

  Hertfordshire HA

  .

  3

  Salford and Trafford HA

  6

  3

  Suffolk HA

  4

  3

  Isle of Wight HA

  6

  3

  Southampton and SW Hampshire HA

  8

  3

  West Kent HA

  7

  3

  Kingston and Richmond HA

  5

  3

  Manchester HA

  7

  3

  Somerset HA

  2

  3

  East Riding and Hull HA

  1

  3

  North Essex HA

  6

  2

  East London and City HA

  4

  2

  Berkshire HA

  3

  2

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA

  5

  2

  South Cheshire HA

  4

  2

  Cambridgeshire HA

  4

  2

  Hillingdon HA

  5

  2

  East Lancashire HA

  1

  2

  Liverpool HA

  4

  2

  Brent and Harrow HA

  5

  2

  St Helens and Knowsley HA

  4

  2

  Wigan and Bolton HA

  3

  2

  Camden and Islington HA

  4

  2

  North West Lancashire HA

  1

  1

  Sefton HA

  5

  1

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA

  2

  1

  Morecambe Bay HA

  2

  1

  Coventry HA

  1

  1

  Gloucestershire HA

  1

  1

  Bury and Rochdale HA

  2

  1

  South Essex HA

  3

  1

  South Lancashire HA

  4

  1

  Wirral HA

  3

  1

  Oxfordshire HA

  4

  1

  West Pennine HA

  2

  1

  North and East Devon HA

  6

  1

  Lincolnshire HA

  4

  1

  Solihull HA

  0

  0

  Sheffield HA

  1

  0

  Warwickshire HA

  1

  0

  Nottingham HA

  1

  0

  North Nottinghamshire HA

  1

  0

  North Derbyshire HA

  0

  0

  South Humber HA

  0

  0

  Calderdale and Kirklees HA

  0

  0

  Shropshire HA

  4

  0

  Leeds HA

  1

  0

  Rotherham HA

  0

  0

  Herefordshire HA

  4

  0

  North Yorkshire HA

  0

  0

  Southern Derbyshire HA

  1

  0

  Barnsley HA

  0

  0

  Dorset HA

  0

  0

  South Staffordshire HA

  5

  0

  Bradford HA

  0

  0

  Leicestershire HA

  2

  0

  North Staffordshire HA

  5

  0

  Doncaster HA

  0

  0

  Wakefield HA

  2

  0

  Birmingham HA

  1

  0

  North Cumbria HA

  2

  0

  1415W

  Percentage of patients waiting over 1 year for elective admission: Health Authorities England

  Percentage of patients waiting over 1 year

  Health Authority

  March 2001

  March 2002

  Tees HA

  0

  0

  County Durham and Darlington HA

  0

  0

  Dudley HA

  2

  0

  Gateshead and South Tyneside HA

  0

  0

  Newcastle and North Tyneside HA

  1

  0

  Northumberland HA

  1

  0

  Sandwell HA

  1

  0

  Sunderland HA

  0

  0

  Walsall HA

  1

  0

  Wolverhampton HA

  1

  0

  Bexley and Greenwich HA

  6

  .

  EandN Hertfordshire HA

  6

  .

  Enfield and Haringey HA

  7

  .

  Portsmouth and SE Hampshire HA

  6

  .

  West Hertfordshire HA

  7

  .

  Source:

  Patient Environment Action Teams

  Note:

  "." denotes not aplicable.

  Patient Environment Action Teams
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many visits have been made by patient environment action teams since their inception; which hospital trusts have been visited; and what improvements have been registered by hospital trusts visited by patient environment action teams. [71089]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: Since publication of the NHS Plan, patient environment action teams (PEATs) teams have undertaken four rounds of assessment visits to acute National Health Service trusts. The first was made in Autumn 2000 to "spot check" the quality of the patient environment, validate the trusts' action plans, and identify what work still needed to be done to raise standards. Subsequent visits were made during Spring and Autumn 2001 and Spring 2002, to assess improvements made and to determine whether trusts had been successful in bringing standards up to a higher level.

  PEAT visits have largely concentrated on the acute sector and assessments have taken place at all of the acute trusts; some of the larger mental health units have also been assessed. To date a total of 1,289 unannounced inspections have been carried out. Details of all the trusts' including examples of advancements in improvements made, can be found in "The NHS Plan—Clean Hospitals" report which can be located on the clean hospitals web site at www.cleanhospitals.com

  The clean hospitals' programme has been a clear success and has had a significant impact on standards of cleanliness, decoration and supporting services. Patient areas, visitors' toilets, outpatients and accident and emergency units have been thoroughly cleaned and maintained. Many have been refurbished and redecorated. Trusts have increased resources devoted to maintaining standards of cleanliness—some have employed additional cleaning staff, others have increased the frequency with which their hospitals are cleaned. There are now no hospitals in England where cleaning standards are found to be less than acceptable.

  Acute Wards
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the bed occupancy rate in acute wards in(a) England, (b) each region and (c) each NHS trust was in each of the last six years, including the most recent year for which figures are available. [70240]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the average occupancy rate for beds in acute wards in each National Health Service trust, NHS region and England from 1996–97 to 2000–01 is available from the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity-1996–97 is the first year information on occupied beds was collected.

  Surrey and Sussex Health Authority
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority to avoid manipulation of the waiting lists at hospitals in its area. [70343]

  Ms Blears
  Surrey and Sussex Health Authority has introduced a number of procedures to review waiting list data on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis; on both Trust and population basis.

  The health authority will be working closely with all health organisations in its area to ensure they are fully supported in achieving performance targets.

  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what process is available to inform doctors and patients as to the state of the waiting lists for(a) neurophysiology and (b) MRI scanning in the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area; [70342]

  (2) what his Department's policy is on the Association of British Neurologists' recommendation that there should be more full-time neurologists per 100,000 of population in (a) the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area and (b) the rest of England; [70340]

  (3) how many full-time neurologists there are per 100,000 of population in (a) the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area and (b) the rest of England; [70339]

  (4) how many patients in (a) the Surrey and Sussex Health Authority area and (b) the rest of England have not had the treatment to address neurological conditions as recommended by their doctors. [70341]

  Ms Blears
  Information is not held centrally on the numbers of patients who have not had neurological treatment recommended by their doctors. Surrey and Sussex Health Authority has advised me that waiting times for non-urgent neurophysiology tests are longer at Hurstwood Park Neurological centre than the other service providers in London, although an urgent or priority request is dealt with on the same day or within 1–2 days depending on clinical priority. Waiting times for magnetic resonance imaging scans are also determined by the urgency of the case. Close links are maintained between local consultants and specialist service providers so information on waiting times is readily available, allowing patients to be kept informed of the expected waiting time for their treatment.
  1417W
  Information held centrally on the number of Neurologists per 100,000 population is as follows:

  Hospital medical consultants, working full time within the neurology specialty

  As at 30 September 2001

  Numbers

  numbers

  Numbers per 100,000 population

  England

  230

  0.5

  of which

  Surrey and Sussex1

  10

  0.4

  Source:

  Department of Health 2001 medical and dental workforce census.

  Note:

  1Includes East Surrey HA, West Surrey HA, East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA, West Sussex HA.

  The Department fully supports the need for an increase in the number of neurologists. Indeed, recommendations by the medical workforce review team are for the numbers of consultants in Neurology to grow by some 50 per cent. by 2010, from 326 in 2001 to 496 in 2010.

  Workforce has been recognised as key to the successful delivery of the NHS Plan and the national service frameworks. New national workforce planning and development structures have been set up to help deliver a multidisciplinary and integrated health and social care workforce to support service improvement.

  Failing Hospitals
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement regarding how the Government will assess whether a hospital is failing; [68999]

  (2) if he will make a statement on how quickly the management changes in failing hospitals will occur; [68997]

  (3) if he will make a statement regarding the Government's plan to change the management of failing hospitals, with specific reference to having a common pay scale; [689961

  (4) if he will make a statement on how extensive the management changes in failing hospitals will be. [68998]

  Mr. Lammy
  The performance of hospital trusts is publicly assessed through a star rating system based on an organisation's performance against a range of national targets and indicators. Clinical governance reviews by the Commission for Health Improvement are also used to determine the star ratings. The poorest performing hospital trusts receive no stars.

  Following publication of National Health Service performance ratings in September 2001, all zero star NHS trusts were given three months to provide detailed action plans highlighting how performance would be improved. Support has been provided by the Department and the NHS Modernisation Agency.

  Franchise arrangements for new senior management has been initiated in six trusts to ensure delivery of the sustainable improvement necessary. This has led to the appointment of five new chief executives, with the outcome of the process still pending in the sixth.
  1418W
  Trust chief executives are appointed and employed by NHS trust chairman and non-executives on behalf of the trust. The pay of the new chief executive is a matter for the trust and will be commensurate with the size and complexity of the management role.

  Applications for future franchises will be invited from individuals and organisations from within and outside the NHS. These will last for a fixed time period. The franchises will include the replacement of the chief executive and could include other senior management roles if deemed necessary.

  Special Hospitals
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places there were in the special hospitals at(a) Ashworth, (b) Broadmoor and (c) Rampton at the latest date for which figures are available. [68057]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 9 July 2002]: Service level agreements between the high security hospitals and the regional commissioners of their services provide for the following bed numbers for 2002–03:

  Ashworth Hospital: 436 beds.

  Broadmoor Hospital: 404 beds.

  Rampton Hospital: 437 beds.

  Hospital Safety
  Helen Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers exist to enable NHS hospital staff to require co-operation from patients and visitors in complying with reasonable Health and Safety requests in order to protect the safety of people on NHS hospital sites. [61408]

  Mr. Lammy
  Health and Safety is a major issue for the National Health Service, and one that is taken very seriously. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1972 all employers, including NHS organisations, must ensure as far as is reasonably practicable, that people not employed by them but affected by their undertaking (such as patients and visitors) are not exposed to health and safety risks.

  Whilst there is no legal requirement for people to co-operate, patients and visitors have a responsibility to behave in a manner that does not put others at risk, and to respond to staff's requests and hospital regulations for the protection of themselves and others. Where a patient or visitor is observed to be acting in an unsafe manner, measures to minimise the risk must be undertaken by the NHS trust.

  Over the next few months primary care trusts will receive guidance on developing a new contract on rights and responsibilities at a local level. The contract will be negotiated through consultation with their communities, and will cover access to and appropriate use of both primary and secondary care services.

  Intermediate Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from health care
  1419W
  providers on the use of intermediate care money to (a) reopen previously closed wards and (b) rebrand existing care beds as intermediate care beds. [57183]

  Jacqui Smith
  I am not aware of any representations.

  Some of the growth in intermediate care beds has been achieved by bringing dormant capacity back into use—in some cases by reopening closed wards—or by changing the service provided within care homes. Using spare capacity in this way ensures that services are provided to meet people's needs, and to avoid unnecessary admission to, or inappropriately to delay transfer from, acute beds.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the percentage occupancy rate was of mental illness beds in(a) England and (b) each region in each of the last six years; [67712]

  (2) what the average daily availability of beds in wards open 24 hours for mental illness was in (a) England and (b) each region in each of the last six years. [67711]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the average daily number of available and occupied mental health beds and percentage occupancy rate for England and National Health Service regions from 1996–97 to 2000–01 is set out in the table. These figures are also available available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity

  Bed occupancy rates, mental illness sector, England and NHS Regions, 1996–97 to 2000–01

  year

  Available beds

  Occupied beds

  Percentage occupancy

  2000–01

  England

  34,214

  29,918

  87.4

  2000–01

  Northern and Yorkshire

  4,887

  4,163

  85.2

  2000–01

  Trent

  3,754

  3,120

  83.1

  2000–01

  West Midlands

  3,191

  2,744

  86

  2000–01

  North West

  4,499

  3,903

  86.7

  2000–01

  Eastern

  3,471

  3,040

  87.6

  2000–01

  London

  6,401

  5,926

  92.6

  2000–01

  South East

  4,849

  4,333

  89.4

  2000–01

  South West

  3,163

  2,689

  85

  1999–2000

  1

  England

  34,173

  29,775

  87.1

  1999–2000

  Northern and Yorkshire

  4,985

  4,235

  85

  1999–2000

  Trent

  3,592

  3,068

  85.4

  1999–2000

  West Midlands

  3,181

  2,648

  83.2

  1999–2000

  North West

  4,636

  3,949

  85.2

  I999–2000

  Eastern

  3,461

  3,074

  88.8

  1999–2000

  London

  6,155

  5,768

  93.7

  1999–2000

  South East

  4,938

  4,323

  87.5

  1999–2000

  South West

  3,225

  2,710

  84

  1998–99

  England

  35,692

  31,219

  87.5

  1998–99

  Northern and Yorkshire

  5,120

  4,415

  86.2

  1998–99

  Trent

  3,697

  3,155

  85.3

  1998–99

  West Midlands

  3,216

  2,730

  84.9

  1998–99

  North West

  4,748

  4,027

  84.8

  1998–99

  Eastern

  3,510

  3,167

  90.2

  1998–99

  London

  7,008

  6,459

  92.2

  1998–99

  South East

  5,014

  4,411

  88

  1998–99

  South West

  3,378

  2,856

  84.5

  1997–98

  England

  36,601

  31,647

  86.5

  1997–98

  Northern and Yorkshire

  5,222

  4,576

  87.6

  1997–98

  Trent

  3,780

  3,257

  86.2

  1997–98

  West Midlands

  3,243

  2,750

  84.8

  1997–98

  North West

  5,030

  4,170

  82.9

  1997–98

  Eastern

  3,460

  3,139

  90.7

  1997–98

  London

  7,300

  6,399

  87.7

  1997–98

  South East

  5,160

  4,495

  87.1

  1997–98

  South West

  3,406

  2,863

  84.1

  1996–97

  England

  37,640

  32,718

  86.9

  1996–97

  Northern and Yorkshire

  5,551

  4,690

  84.5

  1996–97

  Trent

  3,820

  3,329

  87.2

  1420W

  Bed occupancy rates, mental illness sector, England and NHS Regions, 1996–97 to 2000–01

  year

  Available beds

  Occupied beds

  Percentage occupancy

  1996–97

  West Midlands

  3,480

  2,947

  84.7

  1996–97

  North West

  5,171

  4,387

  84.8

  1996–97

  Eastern

  3,588

  3,253

  90.7

  1996–97

  London

  7,186

  6,539

  91

  1996–97

  South East

  5,250

  4,482

  85.4

  1996–97

  South West

  3,594

  3,091

  86

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has a target for reducing the average period of untreated psychosis prior to a person receiving treatment. [67946]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 8 July 2002]: The development of early intervention in psychosis teams as outlined in the NHS Plan is aimed at reducing the length of time that young people wait for appropriate treatment in first onset psychosis. Shorter periods of untreated psychosis are associated with a better outcome. By 2004 fifty early intervention teams will provide treatment and active support in the community to these young people and their families.

  Pharmacists (Late Payments)
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons payments to pharmacists are not covered by the Late Payment of Debt Act 1998. [72228]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 applies to contracts. We consider that payments by the prescription pricing authority to chemists are not made under a contract but under statutory arrangements, as set out in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992 and the drug tariff.

  Electronic Prescriptions
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop electronic prescriptions. [62352]

  Mr. Lammy
  Pharmacy in the Future—Implementing the NHS Plan promised electronic transmission of prescriptions by 2004, and piloting is now underway to explore ways of linking computerised general practitioner practices to local community pharmacies using the NHSnet. Both will link to the prescription pricing authority.

  Anaesthetic Machines
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether all anaesthetic machines used in the NHS operate with(a) an oxygen analyser, (b) an anti-hypoxic guard and (c) both. [59871]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) published SN2001(15) in May 2001 on "Anaesthetic Machines: Prevention of Hypoxic Gas Mixtures". This advised that all anaesthetic machines capable of delivering hypoxic gas mixtures must have a hypoxic guard fitted or use an oxygen analyser with audible alarms to warn of the delivery of hypoxic gas mixtures.
  1421W
  As a follow up to this safety notice, in October 2001, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and Dr. David Jefferys, chief executive of MDA, wrote joint letters to chief executives of trusts and regional directors of public health requesting that they report back on how the actions recommended in the safety notice had been implemented.

  We know that of 5,843 anaesthetic machines in National Health Service hospitals in England, 186 have neither an oxygen analyser or hypoxic guard. Of those 186, 47 have had their ability to deliver hypoxic mixtures disabled, meaning they can deliver only oxygen or air only. All other anaesthetic machines in use in the NHS in England, 5657, comply with the safety notice by having at least one or the other.

  Many of the non-compliant machines have now been put out of service and new, compliant machines have already been ordered by many trusts. Assurances have been given by all trusts with non-compliant machines that these will be replaced or made compliant and regional directors of public health will ensure that this happens by 31 October 2002, reporting to the CMO and MDA.

  We do not hold centrally details of the number of the number anaesthetic machines which have both the guard and the analyser as this information was not required in either the safety notice or CMO/MDA joint letter.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many anaesthetic machines are in use in NHS hospitals which are not fitted with(a) oxygen analysers and (b) hypoxic guards. [59418]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 24 May 2002]: The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) published SN2001(15) in May 2001 on "Anaesthetic Machines: Prevention of Hypoxic Gas Mixtures". This advised that all anaesthetic machines capable of delivering hypoxic gas mixtures must have a hypoxic guard fitted or use an oxygen analyser with audible alarms to warn of the delivery of hypoxic gas mixtures.

  As a follow up to this safety notice, in October 2001, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and Dr. David Jefferys, chief executive of MDA, wrote joint letters to chief executives of trusts and regional directors of public health requesting that they report back on how the actions recommended in the safety notice had been implemented.

  We know that of 5,843 anaesthetic machines in National Health Service hospitals in England, 186 have neither an oxygen analyser or hypoxic guard. Of those 186, 47 have had their ability to deliver hypoxic mixtures disabled, meaning they can deliver only oxygen or air only. All other anaesthetic machines in use in the NHS in England, 5657, comply with the safety notice by having at least one or the other.

  Many of the non-compliant machines have now been put out of service and new, compliant machines have already been ordered by many trusts. Assurances have been given by all trusts with non-compliant machines that these will be replaced or made compliant and regional directors of public health will ensure that this happens by 31 October 2002, reporting to the CMO and MDA.

  Cancer
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much time is required of(a) medical, (b) nursing and (c) management staff to develop a local cancer care plan. [60849]

  Ms Blears
  All cancer networks have developed strategic service delivery plans (SDPs) to deliver the NHS Cancer Plan and ensure seamless, high quality care for patients. Although network managers, in the main, take the lead in drawing SDPs together the input of doctors, nurses and other staff is crucial to the development of realistic SDPs. It is not possible to quantify the amount of time spent by managers and other staff in developing SDPs.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations she has received regarding cancer rates at Burnham-on-Sea. [71552]

  Ms Blears
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received four parliamentary questions concerning this matter.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has evaluated of cancer clusters in Burnham-on-Sea. [71239]

  Ms Blears
  The Department is aware of the recent survey by Green Audit of cancer in Burnham on Sea, however, it has not been provided with details of the results of the survey. Government is advised on cancer clusters near to nuclear installations by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) which was set up in 1985. This committee is carrying out a very large study of childhood cancer in Great Britain which includes all cases registered since the 1960s (some 33,000 cases). This study is expected to report in 2003 and will include areas around all nuclear installations in Great Britain including Burnham on Sea. The small area health statistics unit (SAHSU) is considering the feasibility of a study of all adult cancers in the areas around nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom.

  Nuclear Power (Cancer Clusters)
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has evaluated on the effects of civil nuclear power on cancer clusters in areas around nuclear plants. [71238]

  Ms Blears
  The Government is advised on these matters by the independent Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE). This committee has published six reports concerning claims of excess cancer in the areas surrounding a variety of nuclear installations. The committee has a large work programme and three further reports are in preparation. COMARE has not confirmed the claims that cancer levels are related to radioactive discharges.

  Henoch Schonlein Purpura
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002, Official Report, column 124W, on henoch schonlein purpura, what criteria his Department uses to allocate funding in respect of combating henoch chonlein purpura among children. [72725]
  1423W
  Jacqui Smith
  Henoch-Schonlein Purpura is most common among young children and may occur after an infection. Most children make a good recovery, with no specific treatment, but a few can develop serious complications. Whilst funding is not allocated specifically for combating Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, funding is allocated to health authorities and primary care trusts (PCT) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority's/PCT's share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.

  Asthma
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the estimated costs to the National Health Service of treating asthma in(a) hospital expenditure, (b) primary care expenditure and (c) pharmaceutical expenditure in each of the last five years; and what research his Department has carried out into the potential contribution of improved (i) heating, (ii) insulation and (iii) ventilation in reducing the incidence of asthma. [55598]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department does not have precise estimates of the cost of treating asthma. However respiratory disease accounted for approximately 0.5 per cent. of hospital expenditure, 1.4 per cent. of primary care expenditure and 0.3 per cent. of pharmaceutical expenditure respectively.

  Also attached is a statistical table showing net ingredient cost and the estimated total expenditure of items dispensed in the community in England for the treatment of asthma from 1997 to 2001.

  England

  Year

  Net ingredient cost (£millions)

  Total expenditure(£millions)

  1997

  470

  472

  1998

  502

  497

  1999

  523

  506

  2000

  532

  519

  2001

  567

  551

  The Department ran a research programme on the health effects of indoor air pollutants that finished last year. Three of the projects in the research programme were:
  Exposure to indoor air pollution and the risk of upper and lower respiratory disease in asthmatic children and their mothers. Dr. J Clough, University of Child Health, Southampton General Hospital at a cost of £165,175.
  Consequences for health and effects of damp on the incidence of airborne microbial cell wall components in the home. Ms T Gladding, University of Luton at a cost of £125,000.

  1999

  2000

  2001

  STAFF IN OPERATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS/NOT ESTABLISHMENT BASED

  Provision specifically for children's services

  Team leaders/managers

  2,300

  2,410

  2,575

  Assistant team managers/senior social workers

  2,040

  2,225

  2,340

  Care managers

  350

  285

  345

  Field social workers

  9,925

  9,890

  9,675

  1424W
  An epidemiological study of the impact of damp and other aspects of poor housing on adult health. Dr. S Stewart-Brown, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford at a cost of £8,778.

  Details of these projects can be found at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hef/airpol/airpolh.htm

  Multiple Sclerosis
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the co-ordinator for the prescription plus scheme for sufferers of MS will be in post. [71203]

  (2) what data his Department plans to collect to monitor the progress of the prescription plus scheme. [71200]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Sheffield University's school of health and related research (ScHARR) has been appointed to co-ordinate monitoring under the risk-sharing scheme for drugs for multiple sclerosis announced in Health Service Circular 2002–04. ScHARR will shortly be approaching neurology centres about the data requirements of the scheme and the arrangements for their collection.

  Stroke
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism will be used to monitor progress against the milestones contained in Standard Five of the National Service Framework for Older People, for every general hospital treating stroke patients to have a plan to introduce a specialised stroke service by April 2002. [59351]

  Jacqui Smith
  The monitoring of this April milestone through the new health and social care directorates will be part of the service and financial framework return (SaFFR) process. This milestone will be monitored in the first quarter of the SaFFR which should be available at the end of July 2002.

  Informal reports from regional offices indicate that the milestone should he met in all by a few cases. Any hospital identified by the strategic health authority in the monitoring process, as not having plans will be offered appropriate advice.

  Childcare Staff
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 June 2002,Official Report, column 148W, on childcare staff if he will provide a breakdown of whole time equivalent staff in child and family services by (a) grade, (b) job description and (c) salary band; and if he will estimate how many of these staff are frontline staff. [63877]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 24 June 2002]: The annual return that local authority social services departments in England complete only provides data on the number of staff by job description. It does not give numbers of staff by grade or salary band. The numbers of staff by job description are shown in the attached table. All the staff shown in the attached table work in front line teams.
  1425W

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Social services officers/social work assistants

  1,755

  1,980

  2,245

  Child protection, family placement, juvenile/youth justice workers

  2,705

  2,950

  3,175

  Community workers

  455

  480

  530

  Occupation therapists

  90

  105

  105

  Occupation therapist assistants, aids and other officers

  275

  360

  310

  Technical officers

  45

  95

  60

  Total of above

  19,935

  20,780

  21,360

  Guardians ad litem

  Total staff employed within GAL

  170

  195

  20

  DAY CARE PROVISION

  Family centres

  Officers in charge

  335

  335

  325

  Deputy officers in charge

  300

  305

  295

  Social workers based in family centres

  355

  340

  240

  Family centre workers, family aides and other staff

  2,265

  2,345

  2,285

  Other support services staff

  565

  585

  570

  Total of above

  3,825

  3,910

  3,715

  Staff in day nurseries

  Managers and officers in charge and nursery group leaders

  195

  185

  140

  Deputy officers in charge

  230

  315

  245

  Nursery officers, students and assistants

  1,730

  1,565

  1,285

  Other support officers staff

  480

  445

  395

  Total of above

  2,635

  2,510

  2,060

  Stuff in playgroups

  Playgroup leaders and assistants

  120

  125

  70

  Other support officers staff

  5

  5

  0

  Total of above

  125

  135

  70

  Nursery centres where funded by social services

  Teachers (whether qualified or not)

  10

  0

  0

  Managers and officers in charge

  25

  10

  10

  Deputy officers in charge

  25

  15

  10

  Nursery officers, students and assistants

  140

  80

  80

  Other support officers staff

  40

  35

  25

  Total of above

  240

  145

  130

  CARE IN RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHMENTS

  Staff of homes and hostels mainly for children with learning disabilities

  Managers and officers in charge

  105

  100

  100

  Deputy officers in charge

  160

  155

  140

  Other supervisory staff (e.e. senior care officers)

  385

  375

  380

  Care staff

  1,210

  1,160

  1,165

  Other support officers staff

  270

  285

  260

  Total of above

  2,130

  2,075

  2,045

  Staff of community homes for children looked after (including observation and assessment centre
  where mainly residential)

  Managers and officers in charge

  595

  595

  595

  Deputy officers in charge

  690

  645

  640

  Other supervisory staff (e.e. senior care officers)

  1,550

  1,395

  1,540

  Child care staff

  4,765

  4,775

  4,660

  Teaching staff

  105

  90

  95

  Other support officers staff

  1,140

  1,155

  1,155

  Total of above

  8,850

  8,655

  8,685

  SPECIALIST NEEDS ESTABLISHMENTS

  Mainly for children (includes observation and assessment centres not included above)

  Managers and officers in charge

  90

  75

  60

  Deputy officers in charge

  65

  60

  60

  Other supervisory staff (e.e. senior care officers)

  255

  200

  150

  Child care staff

  775

  720

  600

  Teaching staff

  50

  50

  55

  Other support officers staff

  230

  245

  190

  Total of above

  1,465

  1,340

  1,110

  Total staff involved with children and families

  39,375

  39,745

  39,195

  Notes:

  All these figures represent the number of whole time equivalent (wte) staff. The actual numbers of staff employed by local councils are greater than the figures shown as some of the staff work part-time.

  Figures are rounded to the nearest five wte staff.

  Guardian's Ad Litem became part of the Children and Family Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) in April 2001.
  1426W

  Children in Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many(a) agency staff, (b) positions unfilled for (i) one month and (ii) three months and (c) staff in children in care settings there were in each quarter of each of the last three years. [61368]

  Jacqui Smith
  Pursuant to my reply on 17 June 2002, shown in the Official Report, column 148W: I regret that my reply was incorrect. It should have read:

  We do not collect information on the numbers of agency staff who work in child care settings. Information about the number of child care positions unfilled is not collected on a regular basis. Ad-hoc surveys have been undertaken in the past which have determined the vacancy rates in child care posts in social services departments or in the private sector. The last survey undertaken in this area was for community homes for children looked after run by local authorities in England and Wales and it was undertaken in 1999. This survey stated that in England the overall full-time and part-time vacancy rates were both 10.3 per cent.

  However, local authority social services departments in England complete an annual return giving information about the staff they employ as at 30 September. The data from this return gives the numbers of whole time equivalent staff employed in child and family services as follows:

  1999

  39,375

  2000

  39,745

  2001

  39,195

  Notes:

  The actual numbers of staff employed by local councils are greater than the above figures as some of these staff only work part-time. The above figures do not take into account those central and strategic staff and certain other categories of staff who provide more generic services across a range of council responsibilities.

  Commission for Health Improvement
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the salaries are of the Chief Executive of the Commission for Health Improvement and other senior executives; [72479]

  (2) what has been the cost of the Commission for Health Improvement since its inception. [72477]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The cost of the commission for health improvement (CHI) between its inception on 1 November 1999 and 31 March 2002 is £39.4 million. This total includes a proportionate contribution from the National Assembly for Wales.

  The breakdown of expenditure in each year is shown below:

  Year

  Amount (£ million)

  November 1999-March 2000

  2.3

  April 2000-March 2001

  11.4

  April 2001-March 2002

  25.656

  The commission's accounts for the period 2001–02 are published with their annual report, copies of which are available in the Library.
  1428W
  Details of the salaries of the chief executive and directors are published as part of the commission for health improvement's annual accounts

  The figures for the financial year 2001–02 are as follows:

  Remuneration for year ended 31/03/02 (£)

  Chief executive

  135,458

  Director of policy and development

  100,717

  Director of nursing

  93,788

  Director of communications

  75,893

  Director of operations

  84,833

  Director of human resources

  85,576

  Director research and information

  79,330

  Medical director

  115,468

  Joint director of finance and information

  technology

  104,232

  Remuneration includes gross salary and any other allowances subject to UK taxation.

  Comprehensive Spending Review
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the implications are of the comprehensive spending review with regard to enhancing the patient environment; and if specific capital budgets will be set for this. [71858]

  Mr. Lammy
  The National Health Service is currently seeing the largest sustained increase in funding in its history. Decisions about the allocations of these funds will be announced in due course.

  NHS Information
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department plans to change the amount of NHS information collected centrally. [71074]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The information collected by the Department from the National Health Service is subject to ongoing change and review. The aim is to ensure that the value of all centrally collected information fully justifies the burden and cost it places on those in the NHS who provide it. The changes made to NHS organisations in April 2002 define new responsibilities within the service and information requirements are to be reviewed accordingly.

  Performance Targets
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin of 2 July 2002,Official Report, column 306W, on performance targets, what percentage of correspondence to his Department is answered within the 20 working days targets; and whether this target includes correspondence from hon. Members. [71068]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: In 2001 the Department responded to 60 per cent. of its Ministerial correspondence (including hon. Members) within its service first target of 20 working days.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in his Department; and what the(a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case. [68721]

  Mr. Lammy
  All overseas travel by officials in the Department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set in Chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code, and the detailed rules and guidance set out in the Department Code covering Travel and Subsistence and its Expenses Guide. The detailed information requested about individual trips is not held centrally, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Competitive Tendering
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions in the last 12 months the requirement to engage in a competitive tendering process has been waived by his Department due to national security obligations under paragraph 6(h) of the supply regulations. [62818]

  Mr. Hutton
  In the last 12 months the Department has on one occasion used the exemptions provided for in paragraph 6(h) of the Public Supply Contracts Regulations as grounds for not conforming to open competitive tendering.

  This one occasion relates to the purchase of smallpox vaccine where the Department nonetheless held discussions with several potential suppliers prior to awarding a contract.

  Departmental Consultation
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints his Department has received about its 2001 consultations by(a) electronic and (b) printed means. [69832]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Department has not collected data about complaints received on consultations in any form.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations. [69834]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Department of Health's designated consultation co-ordinator is Mr. P B Allanson.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which consultation documents published by his Department in 2001 were not made available as paper copies. [69833]

  Mr. Lammy
  All consultations issued during 2001 were available from the Department in printed form on request and many were available on the Department's website.

  Remploy
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) of 2 July 2002,Official Report,
  1430W
  column 304W, on Remploy, what guidance his Department gives to primary care trusts to encourage them to purchase Remploy products. [71067]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The Department does not give guidance to the National Health Service to encourage the purchase of products from Remploy.

  The NHS complies with government policy on procurement determined by the Office of Government Commerce. Contracts for goods and services are awarded following strict Official Journal of the European Community procedures and on the basis of value for money. This means that all public procurement of goods and services for the NHS is based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity. Value for money is defined as the optimum combination of whole-life cost and quality (or fitness for purpose) to meet the user's requirement.

  Liam and Joel Blood
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will allow Liam and Joel Blood, constituents, to put their father's name on their birth certificates. [72772]

  Ms Blears
  It remains the Government's position that it will bring forward legislation to permit the name of the father to be put on the child's birth certificate where that child was conceived using the father's stored sperm after his death as soon as the Parliamentary timetable allows.

  Kava
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to review the sale of kava. [64281]

  Mr. Lammy
  Following the emergence of safety concerns in Europe, the issue of liver toxicity in relation to the use of medicinal products containing the herbal ingredient kava-kava was reviewed by the committee on safety of medicines (CSM) in December 2001. The herbal sector voluntarily withdrew stocks of products containing Kava-kava while the safety concerns were under investigation. In the light of further data that has since become available the CSM has recently given a provisional opinion that the possible therapeutic benefits of medicinal products containing kava-kava can not be considered to outweigh the safety risks and that consideration should be given to appropriate regulatory action.

  The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is currently aware of 68 cases worldwide of liver problems suspected to be associated with kava-kava. These include cases of liver failure resulting in six liver transplants and three deaths. There have been three reports of liver toxicity in the United Kingdom suspected to be due to consumption of kava-kava.

  Following the committee's advice, the MCA will be consulting on proposals to make an Order under Section 62 of the Medicines Act 1968, prohibiting the sale, supply or importation of unlicensed medicines containing kava-kava. Regulatory action is in progress in relation to licensed medicines containing kava-kava.
  1431W
  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has also considered the CSM's assessment as kava-kava may be used as an ingredient in some foods. In parallel with the MCA, the FSA will consult on legislation banning food products containing kava-kava.

  Pending the outcome of consultation and any regulatory action which may follow, the MCA and the FSA have indicated to the relevant sectors that they would welcome continuing support for the voluntary withdrawal of kava-kava products in the interests of public safety.

  Alternative Medicine
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last met representatives of alternative and complementary medical practitioners; what was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [69745]

  Ms Blears
  My noble Friend, Lord Hunt, and I met representatives from the European Herbal Practitioners Association and a wide range of other herbal interest groups on 10 July. The primary focus of that meeting was the proposed European Directive on traditional herbal medicinal products.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has taken a decision on referring cannabis to NICE for assessment once the clinical trials are completed; and if he will make a statement. [69790]

  Mr. Lammy
  We referred the use of cannabis derivatives for treatment of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on 20 May 2002. The precise timetabling of the appraisal is a matter for the Institute.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Nottingham North for answer on 23 May on strokes. [70047]

  Jacqui Smith
  I replied to the hon. Member today.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he sets as to the time for information to be placed in the Library in response to parliamentary answers to hon. Members. [71044]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: Information is usually placed in the Library at the same time as responses are given to parliamentary questions.

  Where information is not available at the time of answering, the material is placed in the Library as soon as it becomes available.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many oral questions he has transferred to other departments in each of the last 18 months. [65508]

  Mr. Lammy
  No oral questions from hon. Members have been transferred to other Departments.

  Acrylamide
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance the Chief Medical Officer has issued 1432W
  to the public regarding the incidence of acrylamide in baked and fried food; and if he will make a statement. [66835]

  Ms Blears
  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for providing advice on this issue. It advised consumers on 24 April 2002 that there was no need to change their diet as a result of research published that day by the Swedish National Food Authority, which had found previously unexpected levels of acrylamide in a range of cooked and heat-processed foods. Further information on the levels of acrylamide in food and their significance to public health has since been published by FSA and others. The FSA has reiterated, in statements on 17 May and 27 June, that on the basis of current evidence people should eat a balanced diet including a variety of fruit and vegetables, and that as part of a balanced diet people should moderate their consumption of fried and fatty foods. The FSA has not advised people to stop eating any of the foods tested. The same advice has been issued by an expert consultation convened by the World Health Organisation and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, and has been endorsed by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food. The FSA will publish further information on acrylamide in food as it becomes available, and will keep its public advice under review.

  Encephalitis
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of encephalitis tick-borne infection were diagnosed in the UK in each year since 1997. [70345]

  Ms Blears
  No clinical cases of UK diagnosed tick-borne encephalitis have been reported to the public health laboratory service communicable disease surveillance centre between January 1997 and the end of June 2002.

  Devolution
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee on the approximation of the laws, regulation and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70602]

  Ms Blears
  Under European Union Directive 2001/37/EC on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products, provision is made for a committee to be set up to assist the European Commission in developing and updating the provisions of the Directive. The committee is currently in the process of being set up and its first meeting is anticipated to take place before the end of this year. The United Kingdom will be represented by one independent expert, who is not an official of either the UK Government or the Scottish Executive.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee on the Community action programme on injury prevention is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70598]
  1433W
  Ms Blears
  This Committee last met on 18 December 2001, when it was formally disbanded, there are no plans for this committee to meet again.

  The Department has lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this committee. They consult the Devolved Administrations to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.

  Following the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new European Union public health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the current committee which will cease to function under the new programme.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Decision to set up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70596]

  Ms Blears
  The next meeting is due to be held on 7/8 October. The director of the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) attended for the UK surveillance unit on one occasion.

  The Scottish Executive is represented by the Department.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health monitoring in the framework of the action plan for public health is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70600]

  Ms Blears
  There are no plans for this committee to meet again.

  The Department and the Office for National Statistics have had lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this committee. They consult the devolved authorities to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.

  Following the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new European Union public health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the current committee which will cease to function under the new programme.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health promotion, information, education and training is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70599]

  Ms Blears
  We understand there are no plans for this Committee to meet again. The Department has had lead responsibility for representing the United Kingdom at meetings of this Committee. The Devolved Administrations have been consulted to ensure points made represent all parts of the United Kingdom including the Scottish Executive.
  1434W
  Following the successful outcome of the recent conciliation exercise, a new EU Public Health programme will start in January 2003. This programme will build on the work of the Committee which will cease to function under the new programme.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme for the prevention of AIDS and certain other communicable diseases is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [70597]

  Ms Blears
  The date of the next meeting has not been set. There are no Scottish executive members. The Scottish Executive is represented by the Department.

  Nuclear Emergency Plan
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has commissioned into the practicality of distributing iodine tablets as part of a national nuclear emergency plan. [71465]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government has established detailed plans for responding to major incidents involving radiation. Cross-departmental contingency plans are in place and regular exercises test national and local responses to a radiation or nuclear incident. Careful consideration has been given to the practicalities of distributing potassium iodate tablets to the population and arrangements for distributing these tablets have been tested in recent exercises.

  RU-486
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies his Department has undertaken during each of the last 10 years into the safety of the abortion drug RU-486; and if he will make a statement; [70114]

  (2) what the (a) contra-indications and (b) side effects are of the use of the abortion drug RU-486; and if he will make a statement. [70218]

  Ms Blears
  RU-486, now more commonly known as mifepristone (Mifegyne), is licensed for use in medical termination of pregnancy. Information on how to use mifepristone, as well as information on possible side effects, is provided in the product information for prescribers in the summary of product characteristics (SPC) and for patients in the patient information leaflet (PIL).

  Warnings and contraindications for the use of mifepristone which are included in the SPC and PIL are as follows: allergy to mifepristone or any component of the product, suspected ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy not confirmed by ultrasound scan or biological tests, chronic adrenal failure, severe asthma not controlled by therapy and presence of a inter-uterine device in situ. In addition, special care should be given to patients with haemostatic disorders with hypocoagulability or with anaemia, and patients on long term therapy with corticosteroids since corticosteroid efficacy can be decreased by concomitant treatment with mifepristone. Mifepristone is not

  1435W
  recommended for use in patients with hepatic or renal failure or in women over 35 years of age and who smoke more than ten cigarettes a day.

  As with all medicines, mifepristone is not without side effects. Some of the side effects experienced by patients such as pain, uterine contractions or cramping and vaginal bleeding result from the termination of pregnancy. Side effects of the medication which may occur in some women include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, hypersensitivity reactions such as skin rashes and urticaria, headaches, malaise, hot flushes, dizziness, chills and fever.

  The Medicines Control Agency, with advice from the independent scientific advisory Committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, is responsible for monitoring the safety of all marketed medicines.

  The safety of a mifepristone was evaluated at the time of granting a marketing authorisation and continues to be monitored using information from clinical trials, post-marketing studies and from spontaneous adverse reaction reports. There have been a large number of studies and reviews of the safety of mifepristone published in the scientific literature in the last ten years.

  Induced abortion is one of the most commonly performed gynaecological procedures in Great Britain. Abortion, both surgical and medical, is safer than carrying a pregnancy to term and complications are uncommon. All available evidence in terms of safety and efficacy of mifepristone was reviewed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists when producing its evidence based clinical guideline "The Care of Women Seeking Induced Abortion (2000)" and is referenced. Medical abortion is one of the methods recommended in the guideline.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what he estimates will be the savings during each of the next five years to the National Health Service of using the abortion drug RU-486 instead of surgical abortion; and if he will make a statement; [70115]

  (2) what was the total cost to the National Health Service in each of the last five years of providing the abortion drug RU-486. [70119]

  Ms Blears
  The information available relates to all medical abortions, of which about 95 per cent. are undertaken using RU-486.

  The estimated cost to the National Health Service for NHS-funded medical abortions that took place on NHS premises is in the table below. This information is not available prior to 1998–99.

  Inpatient and day case activity

  Outpatient attendances 1,2

  1998–99

  £3.9m

  Not available

  1999–2000

  £4.4m

  Not available

  2000–01

  £5.2m

  £1.8m

  1A medical abortion, using RU486, is a two-stage process. The first stage, which is the administering of the drug RU486, often takes place in an outpatient clinic.

  2The outpatient clinic component of the cost of medical abortions is not available prior to 2000–01.

  Source:

  National Schedule of Reference Costs.
  1436W
  The independent sector also undertakes some medical abortions, using RU486, under NHS contract. Costs to the NHS for these abortions are not collected centrally.

  It is important that women should be offered a choice of recommended methods for relevant gestation hands, in accordance with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000). The Government has not set targets or made projections for the future uptake and costs of medical abortion. There is no significant difference in the overall costs between surgical and medical abortion.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the abortion drug RU-486 will be administered in accordance with the Abortion Act 1967, as amended by section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and if he will make a statement. [70116]

  Ms Blears
  Under Section 2(2) of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, registered medical practitioners must notify the Chief Medical Officer of every completed termination of pregnancy they perform. The notification form contains detailed information relating to the procedure including the doctors who certified there were grounds under the Act, gestation, method used and place of termination. Every form is checked and monitored by Departmental officials to ensure that the abortion was performed within the provisions of the Act.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many abortions were carried out in each of the last 10 years using the abortion drug RU-486; [70117]

  (2) what his proposed target levels in 2002–03 are for use of the abortion drug RU-486; and if he will make a statement. [70118]

  Ms Blears
  The number of abortions carried out in the last ten years using the abortion drug RU-486 for residents of England and Wales are shown in the table.

  Year

  England

  Wales

  England and Wales

  1991

  1022

  42

  1064

  1992

  1502

  63

  1565

  1993

  3719

  224

  3943

  1994

  5324

  376

  5700

  1995

  6983

  685

  7668

  1996

  8782

  933

  9715

  1997

  10345

  956

  11301

  1998

  12849

  1064

  13913

  1999

  14735

  1284

  16019

  2000

  17647

  1844

  19491

  Source:

  Statistics Division—Department of Health.

  The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000) recommends that women should be offered a choice of recommended methods for relevant gestation bands. It is expected that as medical abortion becomes more widely available more women will choose this method. No targets have been set for the use of medical abortion.
  1437W
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of incomplete abortions following the use of the abortion drug RU-486 is; and if he will make a statement. [70219]

  Ms Blears
  All methods of first trimester abortion carry a risk of failure to terminate the pregnancy, thus necessitating a further procedure. The evidence based clinical guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000) produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists states that the failure rate for medical abortions is around 6.0 per thousand.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what counselling is offered to a woman(a) contemplating, (b) during and (c) after an abortion using the abortion drug RU-486; and if he will make a statement.[70220]

  Ms Blears
  The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists's evidence-based guideline "The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion" (2000), which applies to both medical and surgical abortions, recognises the importance of women seeking abortion receiving accurate impartial information. Verbal advice must be supported by printed information which every woman considering abortion can understand and may take away and read before the procedure.

  Clinicians caring for women requesting abortion should try to identify those patients who require more support in decision making than can be provided in the routine clinic setting. Facilities for additional support, including access to social services, should be available. Appropriate information and support should be available for those who consider, but do not proceed to, abortion.

  Professionals should be equipped to provide women with the information they need in order to give genuinely informed consent:
  that abortion is safer than continuing a pregnancy to term and that complications are uncommon;
  description of the abortion methods that are available;
  immediate complications;
  complications in the early weeks following abortion.

  During the procedure, staff are on hand to give support to women.

  The guideline also considers the mental health implications of termination and concluded: "Only a small minority of women experience any long term, adverse psychological sequelae after abortion. Early distress, although common, is usually a continuation of symptoms present before the abortion. Conversely, long-lasting, negative effects on both mothers and their children are reported where abortion has been denied."

  Referral for further counselling should be available for the small minority of women who experience long term post abortion distress.

  Birth Statistics
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to include women's health issues relating to preganancy and birth in future funding priorities for research councils. [67065]
  1438W
  Jacqui Smith
  Research into women's health issues relating to pregnancy and childbirth will be given appropriate priority during the process to develop the children's national service framework, in competition with the Secretary of State's other priorities. These will be discussed with the research councils.

  NHS Maternity Units
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list NHS maternity units in descending order of the number of(a) live births and (b) stillbirths in 2001. [67459]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

  The National Statistician will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

  HFCs
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review NHS Model Engineering Specification Rev 3 of November 1997 (MES C10 Refrigeration Plant General) to ensure that it conforms with the Government's policy on use of HFCs. [71354]

  Mr. Lammy
  The current version of model engineering specifications C10 refrigeration plant (general), although pre-dating European Community regulations on the supply and use of CFCs and HCFCs, identifies the phasing out of CFC and HCFC compounds and requires the use of HFC refrigerants in accordance with Government policy.

  All National Health Service Estates model engineering specifications are subject to periodic review to take account of updates in standards and changes in clinical practice. Any necessary changes to model engineering specifications C 10 will be made as part of the next review during 2003.

  Dental Treatment
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance is available to pensioners when paying for dental treatment; and if he will make a statement. [67139]

  Mr. Lammy
  Patients, including pensioners, who are likely to have difficulty in paying for dental treatment are entitled to financial help with the charges. Many pensioners will be able to afford to pay for treatment, but where they cannot they can apply for help under the low income scheme and may be entitled to free treatment, or partial help with the cost of treatment.

  The Government believes that it is a better use of limited resources to base help with charges for National Health Service dentistry on the individual's ability to pay, so ensuring that help is focused on those who need it most. The Government meets over two thirds of the total cost of dentistry. Many patients including pensioners, receiving NHS dental treatment are either exempt from charges or can receive help through the low income scheme.

  Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on pollution-related diseases in the framework of the action plan for public health is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [57478]

  Ms Blears
  The European Union Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on pollution-related diseases was mandated under Article 5 of Decision No 1296/1999/EC of the European Parliament and Council. The Committee assists the Commission in taking forward the programme by providing opinions on the work programme and research proposals submitted for funding under the programme.

  The Committee met twice in the last year, on 12 September 2001 and on 23 January 2002. One United Kingdom official from the Department attended the September 2001 meeting.

  Costs to public funds were minimal, meetings usually last one day, the Commission pay the travel costs of nominated representatives, UK Departments are required to pay subsistence and UK travel costs.

  Details about the Committee, the programme and funded projects can be found on Europa, the EU on-line website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/index—en.html

  Together with Member States, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EX, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Library on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final).

  As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent action, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community action plan to combat cancer is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [57481]
  1440W
  Ms Blears
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 4 July,Official Report, column 570W.

  Drink Additives
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive guidance from the European Union Scientific Committee on Food on the upper safe levels for daily intake of(a) taurine and (b) glucuronolactone; and if he will make a statement. [68349]

  Ms Blears
  The European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) concluded in their 1999 opinion on the safety of caffeine and other constituents of energy drinks that further studies would be required in order to be able to establish upper safe levels for daily intake of taurine and glucuronolactone. The SCF is currently reviewing new data on the ingredients of energy drinks and considering whether there is a need to review its 1999 opinion in light of this information. It is expected that this review will be completed before the end of the year, when the remit of the SCF expires.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive analysis of the research on the safety of high caffeine drinks from the EU Scientific Committee on Food; and if he will make a statement. [68314]

  Ms Blears
  New data on the safety of the ingredients of "energy drinks" has been submitted to the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF). The committee has been asked to consider if, in light of this new information, there is a need to revise their previous opinion expressed in 1999. It is expected that the SCF will report on their findings by the end of the year, when the remit of the committee expires.

  Orphan Chemicals
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely changes in cost to the NHS of the creation of monopoly suppliers through the licensing of orphan chemicals following the implementation of UK legislation on the EU Directive on Orphan Chemicals. [67576]

  Mr. Lammy
  No assessment has been made of the cost to the National Health Service of medicines licensed under the European Orphan Drugs Regulations. Four drugs have been authorised to date and approximately 200 others have been designated and are in the pipeline for authorisation. Until the prices of these medicines and the number of patients requiring them are known it is difficult to quantify the cost. Where companies make excessive profits on branded medicines these are recovered under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS) and statutory powers are available to deal with medicines not covered by that scheme.

  EU Food Supplements Directive
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response the United Kingdom has made to the EU proposals to bring food supplements under the Medicines Directive. [57959]
  1441W
  Mr. Lammy
  The European Commission published proposals for wide ranging amendments to the regulatory regime for human and veterinary medicines in December 2001. The proposed changes include a new definition of a medicinal product.

  The Government recognises the need to ensure that the definition of a medicine is drafted in such a way that will allow new therapies to be appropriately regulated. However, the United Kingdom's view is that the extension of the scope of the medicines legislation, particularly when linked to the new definition, is unwarranted and unacceptable as it would capture many products, including certain food supplements, that are already covered by other sectoral legislation. The Government sees no justification for this proposal and will continue to resist it. This position is shared by most other Member States.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offences there were and what the rate of incidence per 1,000 population was of(a) violence against the person, (b) sexual offences, (c) robbery, (d) burglary, (e) theft and handling stolen goods, (f) fraud and forgery, (g) criminal damage and (h) drug and other offences in (i) St Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the North West and (iv) England in (A) 1997, (B) 1998, (C) 1999, (D) 2000 and (E) 2001; [71276]

  Recorded crimes by offence group—St Helens1

  Offence Group

  Offences Recorded

  1999–2000 Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  2000–01 Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  2001–02 Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Violence against the person

  1,693

  9.5

  69

  1,795

  10.1

  74

  1,913

  10.7

  69

  Sexual offences

  109

  0.6

  68

  153

  0.9

  79

  125

  0.7

  Robbery

  171

  1.0

  21

  168

  0.9

  27

  214

  1.2

  36

  Burglary in a dwelling

  15

  14

  17

  1Full details of the other groups were not collected in the time period requested.

  Recorded crimes by offence group—Merseyside

  Offence group

  Offences recorded

  1997 Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offence cleared up

  1998–99 offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  1999–2000 Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  2000–01 Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  2001–02 Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Violence against the

  person

  8,083

  5.7

  69

  12,208

  8.6

  74

  14,639

  10.4

  69

  15,855

  11.3

  71

  16,030

  11.4

  64

  Sexual offences

  906

  0.6

  82

  1,019

  0.7

  73

  935

  0.7

  67

  982

  0.7

  68

  1,018

  0.7

  55

  Robbery

  2,141

  1.5

  25

  2,484

  1.8

  23

  2,663

  1.9

  18

  2,405

  1.7

  21

  3,155

  2.3

  19

  Burglary

  26,266

  18.5

  26

  26,498

  18.8

  22

  25,638

  18.2

  12

  23,938

  17.1

  13

  25,478

  18.2

  12

  Burglary in dwelling

  30

  27

  15

  17

  15

  Theft and Handling

  58,520

  41.2

  29

  59,044

  41.8

  24

  62,230

  44.2

  19

  57,844

  41.2

  21

  59,698

  42.5

  19

  Fraud and Forgery

  4,269

  3.0

  59

  4,884

  3.5

  59

  4,794

  3.4

  55

  5,021

  3.6

  53

  5,380

  3.8

  28

  Criminal damage

  23,677

  16.7

  15

  27,465

  19.4

  12

  30,822

  21.9

  11

  30,593

  21.8

  12

  33,899

  24.2

  10

  Drug offences

  5,620

  4.0

  95

  4,838

  3.4

  99

  4,421

  3.2

  97

  4,390

  3.1

  95

  Other offences

  2,117

  1.5

  97

  1,652

  1.2

  90

  1,613

  1.1

  82

  1,748

  1.3

  79

  1,886

  1.3

  76

  Total

  125,979

  88.7

  31

  14,0874

  99.7

  31

  14,8172

  105.1

  26

  14,2807

  101.7

  28

  15.0934

  107.6

  24

  Crime (Detection Rates)
  (2) what the rate of detection was of (a) violence against the person, (b) sexual offences, (c) robbery, (d) burglary, (e) theft and handling stolen goods, (f) fraud and forgery, (g) criminal damage, (h) drug and other offences and (i) burglary of a dwelling in (1) St Helens, (2) Merseyside, (3) the North West and (4) England in (A) 1997, (B) 1998, (C) 1999, (D) 2000 and (E) 2001. [71277]
  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The available requested information is given in the tables. For the number of offences, the number of recorded crimes are given, from which the rates per population and detection rates are calculated.

  It should be noted that there was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, and so numbers of recorded crimes and detection rates before and after that date are not directly comparable. Also, some forces will have introduced the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard ahead of its national implementation on 1 April 2002, and so this will be reflected in the England and North West Region figures. The counting rules for detections changed on 1 April 1999, so that numbers of detections before and after that date will not be directly comparable.

  It should be noted that recorded crime is subject to changes in reporting and recording. For example, the number of common assaults in England and Wales recorded in the British Crime Survey, which measures victims' experience of crime, decreased by an estimated 24 per cent. from 1999 to 2001–02. However, common assaults recorded by the police in that area over that period increased by 23 per cent. Offences recorded by the police may therefore not necessarily be a reflection of the real level of offences, or trends for offences.
  1443W

  Recorded crimes by offence group–North West Region

  1997

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Offence Group

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  Offences Per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Violence against the person

  32,097

  4.7

  73

  70,555

  10.3

  78

  75,568

  11.0

  74

  77,150

  11.2

  72

  85,416

  12.4

  66

  Sexual offences

  4,425

  0.6

  82

  4,865

  0.7

  77

  4,550

  0.7

  70

  4,663

  0.7

  65

  5,070

  0.7

  58

  Robbery

  9,702

  1.4

  23

  11,613

  1.7

  22

  12,911

  1.9

  18

  14,127

  2.1

  18

  16,406

  2.4

  17

  Burglary

  150,235

  21.8

  18

  14,8840

  21.6

  16

  140,632

  20.4

  11

  131,766

  19.2

  10

  140,353

  20.4

  10

  Burglary in dwelling

  20

  18

  13

  13

  12

  12

  Theft and Handling

  290,143

  42.1

  24

  297,498

  43.2

  22

  294,620

  42.8

  20

  280,300

  40.7

  19

  298,199

  43.3

  17

  Fraud and Forgery

  16,398

  2.4

  57

  28,694

  4.2

  51

  32,363

  4.7

  43

  33,019

  4.8

  40

  31,029

  4.5

  33

  Criminal damage

  137,796

  20.0

  13

  135,878

  19.7

  16

  150,369

  21.8

  14

  155,192

  22.6

  13

  177,127

  25.7

  12

  Drug offences

  19,267

  2.8

  99

  16,106

  2.3

  99

  15,070

  2.2

  98

  14,775

  2.1

  97

  Other offences

  8,514

  1.2

  98

  9,520

  1.4

  85

  9,262

  1.3

  83

  8,768

  1.3

  82

  9,434

  1.4

  78

  Total

  649,310

  94.2

  25

  726,730

  105.6

  30

  736,381

  106.9

  26

  720,055

  104.7

  25

  777,809

  112.8

  23

  Recorded crimes by offence group—England

  1997

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Offences recorded

  Offences per 1,000 population

  Percentage cleared up

  Violence against the person

  233,441

  4.8

  78

  470,689

  9.6

  70

  543,,116

  11.0

  63

  562,692

  11.3

  60

  613,661

  12.3

  57

  Sexual offences

  31,291

  0.6

  76

  34,356

  0.7

  67

  36,043

  0.7

  57

  35,605

  0.7

  51

  39,674

  0.8

  48

  Robbery

  62,261

  1.3

  27

  65,982

  1.3

  22

  83,368

  1.7

  18

  94,264

  1.9

  18

  120345

  2.4

  16

  Burglary

  968,630

  19.7

  22

  911,243

  18.5

  18

  869.704

  17.6

  12

  803,144

  16.2

  12

  846,287

  16.9

  12

  Burglary in dwelling

  25

  22

  14

  14

  14

  Theft and Handling

  2,059,130

  42.0

  24

  208,7864

  42.4

  21

  2,124,893

  42.9

  17

  2,056,337

  41.3

  17

  2,177,042

  43.5

  16

  Fraud and Forgery

  128,641

  2.6

  48

  267,497

  5.4

  35

  322,884

  6.5

  29

  308,875

  6.2

  28

  307,165

  6.1

  27

  Criminal damage

  822,029

  16.8

  16

  823,520

  16.7

  17

  890,756

  18.0

  15

  906800

  18.2

  14

  1007567

  20.2

  13

  Drug offences

  126,196

  2.6

  97

  113,346

  2.3

  96

  105,107

  2.1

  95

  111,895

  2.2

  94

  Other offences

  55,968

  1.1

  95

  59748

  1.2

  77

  61,590

  1.2

  73

  59,566

  1.2

  71

  61,681

  1.2

  70

  Total

  4,361,391

  88.9

  27

  4,847,095

  98.4

  28

  5,045,700

  101.9

  24

  4932390

  99.1

  24

  5,285,317

  105.7

  23

  There was no separate drug offence category in 1997. Trafficking was included in "Other Offences".

  Young Offender Institutions
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions have been undertaken to promote education on(a) human rights and (b) the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in young offender institutions. [72154]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  All staff in the Prison Service are provided with information about the Human Rights Act 1998. Senior managers and key policy staff have undertaken training on the implications of the Act for their work and a range of information has been produced and distributed for both staff and prisoners. No formal training has been provided on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the. Child but staff are kept informed regarding changes in policy or procedures which are implemented in order to meet our obligations under the Convention.

  New Police Standards Unit
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it will cost to set up and run the New Police Standards Unit; and if he will make a statement. [72512]

  Mr. John Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 17 June 2002,Official Report, column 108W.

  Court/Prison Closures
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the closure of(a) courts and (b) prisons. [73222]
  1444W
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Decisions on the closure of magistrates' courts in England and Wales are for the individual magistrates' courts committees (MCCs) to determine in consultation with their paying authorities. An authority that is aggrieved by determination of an MCC has the right to appeal to the Lord Chancellor.

  Decisions on the closure of county courts in England and Wales are for the Lord Chancellor. The Court Service is reviewing the existing network of courts under the Courts and Tribunals Modernisation Programme. Detailed plans are still being developed and will be subject to public consultation.

  The Strategy for the court estate published in the report "Modernising the Civil and Family Courts", shows that only one county court at Shorditch, is currently earmarked for closure.

  In respect of Crown Courts, public consultation on the proposed closure of the Knutsford Crown Court has ended and the Group Manager responsible for the court is currently considering the responses to the consultation process.

  The Government has no plans to close prisons at present. However the closure of outdated prisons, as and when population pressures allow, does form part of the Government's long term strategy for modernising the prison estate.

  Police Cells
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) adult male prisoners,

  1445W
  (b) women prisoners and (c) juveniles were held in police cells in each of the last six weeks; and for how long in each case. [73217]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Her Majesty's Prison Service does not collect data on the individual status of prisoners held in police cells or how long they are held in police custody. The table shows the total number of prisoners, including adult males, females and juveniles held in police cells over the last six weeks.

  Week Commencing in 2002

  Total Prisoners held in police accommodation

  10 June

  325

  17 June

  509

  24 June

  542

  1 July

  813

  8 July

  1,034

  15 July

  749

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being held in police cells; in what areas of the country they are held; and at what cost to the Prison Service. [73213]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  There were 191 prisoners held in police accommodation on the night of 23 July 2002. With the exception of Wales, prisoners were held in all areas of the country.

  Police forces that have been asked to accommodate prisoners, where Prison Service accommodation is exceptionally unavailable, will be able to claim the costs of that accommodation from the Prison Service. As yet, no police force has submitted invoices for this service, but any claims submitted should be in line with the costing guidance issued in 1997 which ensures that police forces charge on a consistent and auditable basis.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations and standards govern the treatment of prisoners held in police cells. [73219]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The operational management of prisoners held in police accommodation is a matter for the Chief Constable of the forces concerned. While the police will do everything possible to care for the prisoners and to meet their basic needs it will not be possible to offer a prison regime. Every effort is made, however, to minimise the length of time that individual prisoners are held in police cells.

  Youth Offenders (Drugs)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate, for each prison, youth offenders institution and other institutions for offenders, people on remand and ex-offenders(a) the way in which drug prescriptions are recorded and (b) the progress being made towards this work being dealt with using information technology. [72333]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Most Prison Service establishments manually record drug prescriptions as part of the Inmate Medical Record (IMR). Where prisons have in-house pharmacy services, drugs dispensed will usually be recorded both on a pharmacy computer system and manually on the IMR.
  1446W
  A pilot exercise is currently being undertaken in seven prisons to asses the operation of new clinical information systems to support prison health services. The pilots are focusing specifically on primary care provision, including electronic prescribing, and will be evaluated to inform decisions on the wider rollout of clinical information systems in prisons. We are also considering how best to update our information technology support for prison pharmacies.

  Immigration
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful applications have been made since 1999 under the concession for over-age applications for entry clearance, following DNA testing; and if he will make a statement on the future of this concession. [72777]

  Beverley Hughes
  On 1 January 1991 a concession was introduced concerning over-age applicants for entry clearance, following DNA testing. It enabled those dependent children who had previously been refused entry to join their parents in the United Kingdom owing to doubts about their being related as claimed, to re-apply if a DNA test now confirmed the relationship. Amongst other requirements, they had also still to be dependent upon their parents and unmarried. By July 1991, some 550 cases relating to the concession had been considered of which 115 were conceded. However, in recent years use of the concession has been nil. Each year between five and 10 people who have already re-applied once and been refused, have applied again, but no applications have been granted under the concession.

  Last year, some members made representations to my predecessor, urging that the concession be widened so as to allow people who had been refused as minors to re-apply. The Government had considerable sympathy with their views and with the people yet more who were wrongly refused before the introduction of DNA tests made such decisions much more reliable. However, this situation arose owing to technological advances and we have already attempted, by way of the present concession, to correct any previous injustices resulting from decisions which were taken in good faith on the available evidence at the time. It is now no longer possible to identify those people who may have been wrongly refused due to doubts about their relationship to a United Kingdom sponsor, as many records of earlier decisions have been destroyed.

  Given that it is not possible to widen the concession, and given that the concession is not being used and has not been used for some time, we have decided that the concession should end. After 24 August 2002 no new applications under the concession will be considered. There remains within the immigration Rules provision for dependent relatives who find themselves in distressed circumstances to apply to join a sponsor in the United Kingdom. Any future applications will instead be considered under the existing immigration Rules governing dependent relatives.

  Correctional Services Review
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the form will be of the independent review of the correctional services described in the White Paper, "Justice For All". [73633]
  1447W
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  I shall shortly be announcing membership of the new Correctional Services Board which will include a number of independent non-executive members. These members will have a specific remit to oversee work on reviewing effectiveness and value for money in the delivery of correctional services so as to reduce re-offending, and on how we improve our ability to manage the prison population.

  Brixton Prison
  Charlotte Atkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the outcome of the market testing of the management of HMP Brixton. [73628]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The market test for the management of Brixton did not attract bids from the private sector, partly because of its poor physical condition and location. The in house bid, while being impressive, was not affordable. Therefore, instead of operating under a Service Level Agreement, the prison will continue to be run under existing management arrangements. However, a performance baseline will be set with challenging improvement targets, and progress will be closely monitored.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Tom Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist for asylum seekers to submit material in support of their claim. [73629]

  Beverley Hughes
  Under existing procedures, an applicant who is not issued with a Statement of Evidence Form (SEF) to complete prior to their asylum interview is allowed five days after their substantive asylum interview to make further representations before a decision is taken on their asylum claim.

  Those asylum applicants issued with an SEF prior to any substantive interview do not benefit from this arrangement. This is because applicants issued with an SEF form are given 10 working days to submit the completed form to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. We think this gives applicants a reasonable period to set out their claim and time to seek legal representation if they wish for the submission of further supporting evidence.

  We have decided that asylum applicants who go through the induction centre process will no longer benefit from the five day period to make further representations. The induction centre process is designed to familiarise an asylum applicant with the asylum procedures, providing the asylum seeker with detailed briefings on different aspects of the asylum process and to explain to applicants what their obligations are. All asylum applicants who go through the induction centre process are told that all information relevant to their claim must be available by the time they are substantively interviewed because decisions on claims will be made shortly after the interview. The interview itself will be scheduled to take place two weeks after the applicant has gone through the induction process. We consider that this two week period offers the applicant sufficient time to prepare for the interview and gather any supporting information he considers necessary.
  1448W
  This change is in keeping with our commitment to deliver fast asylum decisions, whilst at the same time ensuring that asylum seekers have a proper opportunity to establish their claims.

  These arrangements do not apply to Oakington or any detained cases.

  Road Traffic Penalties
  Mr. Tom Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government's response to the consultation paper on road traffic penalties will be published. [73630]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The Government's response to the consultation paper on the review of road traffic penalties is published today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  Campsfield House
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the Campsfield House immigration removal centre. [73631]

  Beverley Hughes
  On 7 February, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, announced that he had decided that the Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre would close by spring 2003. However, following the incident at The Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in February and the consequent temporary reduction in Removal Centre capacity, I have decided to postpone the closure of Campsfield House until September 2004. This is in order to maintain Removal Centre capacity and thus support our commitment to increase the rate of removal of failed asylum seekers.

  IND Complaints Committee
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on changes in the membership of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's independent Complaints Audit Committee. [73632]

  Beverley Hughes
  Ms Catherine Tuitt has been appointed as a new Member of the Complaints Audit Committee to replace Mercy Jeyasingham, whose three-year term of tenure ends in July 2002. Ms Tuitt has worked in a variety of positions, both in the private and public sector, ranging from legal consultancy and public affairs, to chairing council committees. A local elected councillor until recently, Ms Tuitt has considerable experience in facilitating service provision. She is presently an advocate for a voluntary community organisation providing support and advice to refugees and children of refugees.

  Careless Driving
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers convicted of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs caused crashes which resulted in multiple deaths in each of the past 10 years. [70969]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I will write to the hon. Member.
  1449W
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of the breath tests carried out by police officers proved(a) over the legal drink-drive limit and (b) positive, but not over the legal drink-drive limit, broken down by police force, in each of the last 10 years: [70954]

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average penalty given to(a) drivers convicted of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs and (b) drivers convicted of multiple counts of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in each of the past 10 years. [70971]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers charged with causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs were involved in crashes that resulted in multiple deaths in each of the past 10 years. [70968]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I will write to the hon. Member

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were convicted of multiple counts of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in each of the past 10 years. [70970]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Table A: Percentage of positive or refused screening breath tests, by police force area, 1992–2000

  England and Wales Police force area

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19981

  19991

  Percentages 20001

  Avon and Somerset

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  15

  17

  19

  Bedfordshire

  13

  15

  11

  14

  17

  19

  16

  27

  22

  Cambridgeshire

  11

  8

  8

  8

  8

  7

  7

  8

  9

  Cheshire

  15

  16

  26

  15

  11

  7

  7

  8

  16

  Cleveland

  9

  9

  6

  4

  4

  3

  3

  3

  4

  Cumbria

  19

  13

  13

  11

  9

  8

  8

  8

  10

  Derbyshire

  14

  10

  8

  7

  6

  5

  5

  4

  3

  Devon and Cornwall

  38

  36

  32

  29

  22

  11

  14

  18

  20

  Dorset

  24

  19

  17

  20

  17

  15

  15

  14

  11

  Durham

  26

  19

  19

  27

  31

  29

  17

  7

  7

  Essex

  13

  12

  10

  8

  6

  6

  10

  11

  9

  Gloucestershire

  20

  19

  17

  16

  22

  17

  14

  16

  17

  Greater

  Manchester

  24

  16

  9

  7

  7

  8

  21

  22

  31

  Hampshire

  28

  26

  20

  21

  18

  14

  14

  12

  10

  Hertfordshire

  31

  29

  30

  26

  28

  25

  24

  27

  33

  Humberside

  18

  19

  20

  17

  14

  17

  18

  15

  13

  Kent

  12

  12

  13

  17

  18

  15

  11

  11

  9

  Lancashire

  33

  27

  23

  16

  12

  13

  9

  10

  10

  Leicestershire

  22

  16

  11

  17

  20

  22

  11

  9

  11

  Lincolnshire

  8

  7

  7

  7

  6

  4

  4

  4

  6

  London, City of

  15

  19

  19

  16

  16

  16

  14

  17

  23

  1450W
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were(a) charged with and (b) convicted of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in each of the past 10 years. [70967]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I will write to the hon. Member

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers convicted of multiple counts of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs(a) served the whole of their sentences and (b) had their sentence reduced, in each of the past 10 years. [70973]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers convicted of multiple counts of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs(a) were given concurrent sentences and (b) were given consecutive sentences, in each of the past 10 years. [70974]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I will write to the hon. Member

  Breath Tests
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of the breath tests carried out by police officers proved(a) over the legal drink-drive limit and (b) positive, but not over the legal drink-drive limit, broken down by police force, in each of the last 10 years. [70954]

  (2) how many breath tests were carried out by police officers, broken down by police force, in each of the last 10 years. [70953]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  Since 1992 police forces have been required to supply centrally the total number of screening tests and the sum of positive and refused tests as given in the tables.
  1451W

  Table A: Percentage of positive or refused screening breath tests, by police force area. 1992–2000

  England and Wales Police force area

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19981

  19991

  Percentages 20001

  Merseyside

  49

  28

  16

  16

  17

  17

  13

  12

  17

  Metropolitan

  8

  6

  8

  13

  12

  13

  13

  11

  10

  Norfolk

  9

  16

  18

  20

  16

  11

  7

  7

  8

  Northamptonshire

  18

  20

  20

  20

  17

  21

  26

  23

  25

  Northumbria

  54

  51

  49

  51

  38

  30

  27

  28

  27

  North

  Yorkshire

  35

  43

  37

  35

  22

  16

  15

  16

  17

  Nottinghamshire

  32

  40

  40

  43

  29

  25

  27

  29

  28

  South

  Yorkshire

  29

  22

  21

  18

  16

  14

  13

  12

  11

  Staffordshire

  24

  29

  30

  20

  15

  11

  14

  18

  16

  Suffolk

  20

  18

  17

  14

  14

  9

  8

  7

  9

  Surrey

  17

  19

  19

  16

  15

  13

  11

  14

  13

  Sussex

  16

  16

  16

  15

  11

  10

  11

  11

  9

  Thames

  Valley

  12

  10

  11

  12

  14

  17

  15

  16

  17

  Warwickshire

  34

  29

  18

  13

  12

  12

  10

  12

  13

  West Mercia

  14

  11

  11

  9

  11

  10

  8

  13

  25

  West

  Midlands

  34

  40

  35

  29

  18

  14

  25

  23

  28

  West

  Yorkshire

  24

  28

  24

  17

  17

  19

  20

  21

  23

  Wiltshire

  15

  16

  17

  15

  21

  17

  15

  15

  15

  Dyfed-Powys

  17

  16

  17

  15

  14

  9

  12

  10

  11

  Gwent

  9

  13

  12

  12

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  North Wales

  11

  11

  10

  12

  12

  12

  10

  10

  11

  South Wales

  22

  20

  18

  17

  16

  11

  13

  13

  15

  Total

  16

  15

  14

  13

  13

  12

  13

  12

  13

  1Since 1998 comparisons between the number of positive breath tests reported by each police force and the number of court proceedings for drink/driving related offences have indicated that there has been under-reporting in a number of forces. Appropriate adjustments have been made.

  Table B: Number of screening breath tests, by police force area, 1992–2000

  England and Wales Police force area

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Percentages 2000

  Avon and Somerset

  5,400

  4,000

  3,800

  6,700

  15,100

  16,000

  19,700

  19,200

  15,800

  Bedfordshire

  6,000

  4,900

  8,200

  6,100

  6,400

  6,000

  5,300

  2,900

  3,300

  Cambridgeshire

  11,700

  16,000

  16,500

  16,300

  16,200

  19,100

  17,800

  13,600

  12,800

  Cheshire

  9,400

  12,300

  8,200

  15,300

  21,300

  25,500

  23,300

  20,500

  15,800

  Cleveland

  12,600

  10,100

  15,000

  28,200

  26,100

  31,600

  34,200

  28,600

  18,800

  Cumbria

  5,000

  6,000

  7,000

  7,800

  9,800

  11,200

  9,400

  7,100

  6,100

  Derbyshire

  9,100

  14,700

  17,000

  20,500

  28,600

  34,500

  35,700

  49,200

  52,000

  Devon and Cornwall

  6,900

  5,600

  5,600

  6,800

  9,100

  15,200

  15,700

  14,700

  13,000

  Dorset

  4,600

  5,800

  6,800

  5,800

  7,400

  9,100

  10,100

  9,200

  12,300

  Durham

  5,800

  6,700

  6,900

  4,500

  4,100

  4,300

  7,400

  12,700

  15,300

  Essex

  21,500

  28,000

  38,200

  27,700

  32,400

  28,700

  28,400

  24,100

  27,200

  Gloucestershire

  3,700

  2,700

  4,200

  5,200

  7,000

  9,400

  9,300

  8,300

  8,200

  Greater

  Manchester

  27,700

  47,700

  78,500

  102,400

  100,400

  95,600

  31,200

  21,500

  27,300

  Hampshire

  9,900

  10,200

  14,100

  17,000

  18,200

  25,000

  27,300

  31,600

  35,200

  Hertfordshire

  5,500

  5,700

  7,100

  6,400

  5,900

  7,400

  8,100

  7,000

  6,000

  Humberside

  8,000

  6,500

  6,800

  8,900

  7,500

  6,500

  8,300

  8,100

  9,400

  Kent

  20,200

  17,200

  17,000

  9,200

  8,100

  9,100

  27,500

  32,700

  32,200

  Lancashire

  6,100

  6,500

  8,600

  15,900

  26,100

  21,300

  20,300

  19,100

  15,500

  Leicestershire

  6,300

  10,300

  15,500

  11,700

  10,300

  10,200

  20,200

  21,100

  18,600

  Lincolnshire

  12,600

  12,600

  11,600

  15,600

  15,800

  20,200

  25,900

  21,000

  12,100

  London, City of

  2,200

  2,800

  4,400

  3,300

  4,500

  3,600

  3,300

  1,700

  1,100

  Merseyside

  5,300

  10,700

  16,000

  15,300

  15,900

  14,800

  18,700

  18,600

  12,800

  Metropolitan

  132,300

  143,000

  141,600

  123,300

  123,000

  137,900

  111,400

  99,800

  93,800

  Norfolk

  7,700

  3,900

  3,500

  4,200

  5,500

  9,200

  12,400

  11,600

  9,100

  Northamptonshire

  5,000

  6,400

  6,000

  5,100

  7,400

  7,100

  4,700

  5,300

  5,800

  Northumbria

  4,600

  5,500

  6,100

  5,800

  8,400

  11,900

  12,200

  12,500

  12,700

  1452W 1453W

  Table B: Number of screening breath tests, by police force area, 1992–2000

  England and Wales Police force area

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  Percentages 2000

  North

  Yorkshire

  4,300

  3,900

  4,500

  4,800

  7,800

  10,500

  9,900

  8,100

  6,700

  Nottinghamshire

  6,800

  5,000

  5,500

  5,700

  9,300

  11,500

  8,900

  8,400

  8,400

  South

  Yorkshire

  6,500

  9,400

  11,300

  11,000

  13,300

  14,200

  12,600

  16,100

  19,200

  Staffordshire

  6,800

  4,600

  5,300

  6,300

  9,700

  13,800

  15,400

  10,100

  7,700

  Suffolk

  5,900

  6,300

  5,900

  7,500

  8,200

  12,300

  15,600

  15,100

  9,200

  Surrey

  8,300

  8,100

  8,500

  9,300

  11,200

  11,200

  11,400

  11,700

  12,400

  Sussex

  10,900

  15,800

  16,000

  15,900

  24,300

  26,100

  17,400

  17,900

  20,800

  Thames

  Valley

  29,700

  48,300

  51,400

  47,200

  39,700

  33,100

  34,200

  30,300

  30,800

  Warwickshire

  2,300

  2,700

  6,100

  8,200

  9,200

  8,700

  8,700

  8,600

  7,100

  West Mercia

  17,500

  18,500

  18,400

  19,900

  18,100

  18,300

  19,100

  12,300

  8,900

  West

  Midlands

  13,700

  15,400

  14,800

  9,100

  19,500

  22,600

  24,100

  21,300

  16,200

  West

  Yorkshire

  14,500

  10,600

  11,800

  15,800

  19,500

  23,300

  22,900

  18,800

  18,300

  Wiltshire

  8,200

  8,000

  8,000

  10,000

  6,300

  7,400

  7,100

  6,800

  6,500

  Dyfed-Powys

  5,400

  4,300

  4,500

  5,000

  5,900

  8,500

  9,200

  9,900

  7,400

  Gwent

  6,800

  6,000

  5,600

  4,900

  9,300

  12,200

  11,200

  10,600

  10,100

  North Wales

  16,100

  13,400

  15,900

  14,900

  14,900

  13,300

  15,200

  15,900

  15,000

  South Wales

  12,400

  13,400

  10,400

  12,200

  14,900

  23,100

  24,900

  20,700

  17,800

  Total

  531,300

  599,600

  678,500

  702,700

  781,100

  860,400

  815,500

  764,500

  714,800

  Source:

  Home Office (RDS/CCJU) 19 July 2002.

  Criminal Checks
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests have been received from(a) local authorities and (b) others for Criminal Reference Bureau checks on job applicants, what the (i) average and (ii) longest delay in response has been; and if he will make a statement. [69766]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  As at 10 July, a total of 236,191 applications have been received by the Criminal Records Bureau for criminal record checks. Information relating to the number of applications received from local authorities and the delays in responding is not available in the format requested. I will write to my hon. Friend when the information becomes accessible.

  Measures continue to be taken to overcome the early operating difficulties experienced by the Bureau, which have led to delays in responding to applications. The Criminal Records Bureau is determined to meet the high standards of service that it has made clear it will deliver to its customers, and expects to see increasing service improvements during the coming weeks.

  Home Detention Curfew
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners since 1 January have been released on the home detention curfew scheme broken down by(a) homicide and attempted homicide, (b) other violence against the person, (c) drug offences, (d) assaults and (e) other offences; what the average sentence (i) received and (ii) served and the average period spent on the scheme was in respect of each offence; how many prisoners in each of the above categories have (A) breached the conditions of the curfew, (B) disappeared
  1454W
  and been recaptured, (C) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (D) had their licences revoked with reasons; what the offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme were while on the scheme, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and what the offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted were, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement. [69691]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  I will write to the hon. Member.

  Age of Consent
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is intended to lower the age of consent, following the consultation "Setting the Boundaries; Reforming the Law on Sex Offences". [69755]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The independent review body on reforming the law on sex offences recommended that the age of consent should remain at 16.

  Paedophile Sex Offenders
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of convicted paedophile sex offenders re-offended after release from prison in each of the last 10 years. [69976]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Re-offending rates are not normally measured as they rely on the self-reporting of offending by offenders. Such an approach can lead to questions over the reliability of data based on individuals' recollection and willingness to impart their offending behaviour to an official source.
  1455W
  However two year reconviction rates for persons discharged from prison after serving a sentence for a sexual offence are collected and published annually in Prison Statistics, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Sex Offenders Register
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women are registered on the Sex Offenders Register. [70281]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Sex Offenders Act 1997 requires offenders cautioned for, convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of insanity of an offence specified in Schedule One to the Act to provide certain details to the police. There is, however, no "register" of sex offenders, as such; nor are sex offenders subject to the requirements of the Act separately identified as such in criminal statistics.

  Until recently, data on the number of sex offenders subject to the requirements of the Act was collated biannually on a national basis from the police national computer. However this arrangement has been overtaken following guidance issued by the Home Office in respect of the provisions in section 67 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. The guidance requires information about the number of sex offenders subject to

  Defendants proceeded against and those found guilty at all courts of offences relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to underage persons England and Wales 1996 to 20001,2

  Offence description

  Statute

  Year

  Persons proceeded against

  Persons found guilty

  Sale of tobacco etc. to persons under 16

  Children and Young Persons Act 1933 Section 7 as amended by Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 Section 1.

  1996

  131

  111

  1997

  130

  112

  1998

  166

  129

  1999

  127

  102

  2000

  161

  134

  Sale of unpackaged cigarettes

  Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991 Section 1.

  1996

  6

  6

  1997

  2

  2

  1998

  3

  2

  1999

  3

  3

  2000

  1

  Total

  1996

  137

  117

  1997

  132

  114

  1998

  169

  131

  1999

  130

  105

  2000

  162

  135

  1These data are on the principal offence basis.

  2Staffordshire Police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

  Paedophiles (Name Changes)
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prevent convicted paedophiles from changing their name by(a) deed poll and (b) other legal routes. [70037]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 15 July 2002]: It is a criminal offence for a sex offender required to register under Part I of the Sex Offender Act 1997 to change his name or address and not to notify the police of this change. The maximum penalty for failure to do this is five years' imprisonment.

  Alcohol (Under-Age Sales)
  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions relating to 1456W
  the Act's requirements in each police area to be published on an annual basis starting in 2002. These local reports will be published over the next few weeks. A national report published on 22 July 2002 contained a consolidated total figure of 18,513 registered sex offenders in England and Wales as at 31 March 2002.

  Information broken down by gender is not available.

  Tobacco (Under-age Sales)
  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products from retail outlets to underage persons there were in the last five years in the UK; [70406]

  (2) how many prosecutions relating to the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products from retail outlets to underage persons there were in the last five years in the UK. [70403]

  Mr. John Denham
  The information requested, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table.

  Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.

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

  the sale of alcohol to underage persons (a) by retailers and (b) from licensed premises there were in the last five years in the UK. [70402]

  (2) how many convictions relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons (a) by retailers and (b) from licensed premises there were in the last five years in the UK. [70405]

  Mr. John Denham
  The available information, relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is shown in the table.

  Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.

  Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.
  1457W

  Defendants proceeded against and those found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons England and Wales 1996 to 20001,2

  Offence description

  Statute

  Year

  Persons proceeded against

  Persons found guilty

  Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to Persons under 18 for consumption on the premises

  Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1).

  1996

  251

  119

  1997

  214

  125

  1998

  310

  157

  1999

  204

  115

  2000

  130

  56

  Person under 18 buying or consuming intoxicating liquor in licensed premises

  Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(2), Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(2).

  1996

  33

  19

  1997

  31

  24

  1998

  39

  24

  1999

  38

  21

  2000

  24

  22

  Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18

  Licensing Act 1964, Sec. 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988, Sec17.

  1996

  –

  –

  1997

  1

  1

  1998

  1

  1

  1999

  1

  –

  2000

  2

  1

  Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy intoxicating liquor from wholesale premises

  Licensing Act 1964, Sec. 181A(3) as added by Licensing Act 1988, Sec. 17.

  1996

  1

  1

  1997

  1

  –

  1998

  2

  1

  1999

  –

  –

  2000

  –

  –

  1These data are on the principal offence basis.

  2Staffordshire Police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000.

  Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

  Crime (Avon and Somerset)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in the levels of crime in each category in the Avon and Somerset Police Authority between 2000–01 and 2001–02. [69207]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 16 July 2002]: As the requested data relates to a police single police force area, details from the British Crime Survey, which

  Crimes Recorded by the Police Avon and Somerset

  Offence

  April 2000 to March 01

  April 01 To March 02

  Change

  Percentage Change

  Violence against the person

  2,310

  15

  15,376

  17,686

  Sexual offences

  930

  165

  18

  1,095

  Robbery

  2,124

  77

  2,765

  4,889

  Total violent crime

  4,599

  24

  19,071

  23,670

  Burglary

  7,060

  27

  25,805

  32,865

  Theft and handling

  12,874

  19

  69,605

  82,479

  Fraud and forgery

  883

  10

  9,211

  10,094

  Criminal damage

  4,511

  20

  22,479

  26,990

  Drug offences

  -130

  -7

  1,990

  1,860

  Other offences

  -60

  -5

  1,093

  1,033

  1458W
  estimates people's actual experience of crime, are not available.

  Percentage changes between 2000–01 and 2001–02 for the numbers of offences in the major categories of recorded crimes by police force area have been published in Table 7.03 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Crime in England and Wales 2001–2002", which is available in the Library. The overall figures for Avon and Somerset are as follows:
  1459W
  Some police forces, such as Avon and Somerset, adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in advance of the national implementation in April 2002. Changes in crime statistics in these forces will be strongly influenced by the changes in recording practice, and the impact will vary for different types of offences. Details of the impact of the recording changes are included in chapter three of the above bulletin.

  Specialist Police Officers
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many specialist police officers are expected to be trained in the use of baton guns by the end of 2002; and if he will make a statement. [71002]

  Mr. John Denham
  The information is not held centrally.

  Policing (Sussex)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much of the street crime, counter-terrorism, policing and prisons package announced on 1 May will be available to Sussex Police; and for what purpose; [71093]

  (2) how much of the additional funding for policing in the South East announced by his Department on 10 June will be made available for (a) Sussex Police and (b) improving security at Shoreham Airport. [71094]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The additional counter terrorist funding announced following the budget was additional and complementary to existing funding streams for ports security and counter terrorist operations. The sums allocated were the result of full consultation between individual forces, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office. Sussex Police already receive funding through established routes for airport security within the police authority area. Shoreham Airport is policed by resources already in place.

  In addition to extra funding for ports security and counter terrorist operations announced on 10 June, we also announced extra funding for 10 forces taking part in the Government's crackdown on street crime. These 10 forces account for 82 per cent. of robbery across the country. Sussex is not among these 10.

  Criminal Justice
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what criteria the level of public confidence in the criminal justice system is to be measured under the 2002 Public Service Agreement for which he is reponsible; and, using the same criteria, what the level of public confidence was in each of the last five years. [71611]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: Responses to six questions in the British Crime Survey (BCS) will be taken as indicating the state of public confidence in the criminal justice system. The relevant questions are whether the public is confident that the criminal justice system:
  — respects the rights of the accused and treats them fairly;
  — is effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice;
  1460W
  — deals with cases promptly and efficiently;
  — meets the needs of victims;
  — is effective in reducing crime;
  — is effecting in dealing with young people.

  A target was set for the first time in SR2000 and we therefore do not have information before that period. Our first set of findings (31 January 2001) were:
  — 69 per cent. of people are confident that the system respects the rights of the accused and treats them fairly (the confidence rates were 70 per cent. for white people, 52 per cent. for black people and 66 per cent. for Asians);
  — 46 per cent. are confident that it is effective in bringing people who commit crimes to justice (46 per cent. white, 51 per cent. black and 55 per cent. Asian);
  — 34 per cent. are confident it deals with cases promptly and efficiently (34 per cent. white, 38 per cent. black and 48 per cent. Asian);
  — 26 per cent. are confident it meets the needs of victims (25 per cent. white, 37 per cent. black and 42 per cent. Asian).

  New questions, which address crime reduction and tackling youth crime, were included in the most recent survey and findings will be published in the Autumn. Therefore, due to changes in the collation of the BCS, we do not have two sets of directly comparable data available.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the 2002 pay settlement for the National Probation Service will be implemented. [71631]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The pay settlement for the National Probation Service is currently awaiting approval and an announcement is expected shortly.

  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many permanent posts have been frozen for budgetary reasons in the London probation area in 2002–03. [71630]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: There are 2,137 full time employees in the London Probation Area, 530 part-time employees, 89 on temporary contract and 80 agency staff. 69 new Trainee Probation Officers will be employed this financial year.

  The London Probation Area is an amalgamation of the five former London Probation Boards. Against the previous establishment figures of the five Boards the amalgamated Area is holding vacancies of two hundred and forty-nine posts or approximately 10 per cent. of the old establishment figure.

  The Area is presently working with the Unions and the National Probation Directorate to develop a workload measurement tool that will identify the staffing needs of the Area. It was understood early in the amalgamation process that there would be duplication of certain functions that would allow for reductions in staffing levels. The vacancies are being maintained until the workload measurement tool identifies the precise needs of the Area.

  Home Detention Curfew Scheme
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many participants were in the home detention curfew scheme in(a) January, (b) February and (c) March. [70554]
  1461W
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The numbers of prisoners on Home Detention Curfew on the Friday of each week during January, February and March 2002 were as follows:

  Date

  Caseload

  4 January

  1,672

  11 January

  1,686

  18 January

  1,675

  25 January

  1,672

  1 February

  1,694

  8 February

  1,707

  15 February

  1,688

  22 February

  1,707

  1 March

  1,783

  8 March

  1,821

  15 March

  1,872

  22 March

  1,918

  29 March

  1,965

  Drugs
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were(a) cautioned and (b) arrested for (i) possession and (ii) supply of (A) heroin, (B) crack, (C) cocaine, (D) ecstasy and (E) cannabis by each police force in June. [71647]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Statistics on cautions and arrests for 2002 will be published by December 2003. Counts of arrests are only available centrally by broad offence group (in this case for the group "drug offences") and quarter.

  Crime Reduction Initiatives
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the population in each police authority's area benefit from each of his crime reduction initiatives which has not been subject to national roll-out. [71890]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: It is not possible to estimate, with accuracy the proportion of any specific population that will benefit from many crime reduction initiatives, but the population as a whole will have benefited from the reduction in crime achieved since 1997.

  Asylum Removal
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what lessons have been learned by his Department from the Yarl's Wood fire incident; and how those have been incorporated into the site search and assessment criteria for asylum removals centres. [70944]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: We await the recommendations of the Home Office inquiry into the incident, which will also take into account those of the Bedfordshire County Council, the Bedfordshire Police and the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

  Double Jeopardy
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which crimes will be affected by the new double jeopardy proposal. [72446]
  1462W
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The proposal contained in the White Paper, Justice for All, published on 17 July 2002 would allow the Court of Appeal to quash an acquittal only where there is compelling new evidence of an acquitted defendant's guilt, and following the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions for that defendant to be re-investigated and for an application subsequently to be submitted to the Court of Appeal.

  This would apply to a limited range of very serious offences such as murder, rape, manslaughter and armed robbery. We will publish our detailed legislative proposals in due course.

  Remanded Children
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children remanded to prison were subsequently(a) found not guilty by the courts and (b) not given a custodial sentence, broken down by age, in each year since 1995. [72049]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: Information on remands is collected centrally for the Home Office, but it is not possible to reliably disaggregate the data by age to this level.

  Heroin
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what method his Department uses to estimate the level of availability of heroin on the streets. [71397]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  Heroin availability can be defined and measured in a variety of ways. The clandestine nature of drugs supply and consumption also mean that definitive figures on heroin availability are not possible. However, the Home Office has produced figures on the size of the United Kingdom (UK) heroin market.

  The method for producing these figures draws on general population surveys, and on the urine testing and surveying of arrestees in police custody. These allow estimates to be produced on the total number of regular heroin users, frequency of heroin consumption and level of consumption. A figure can then be calculated for total amount of heroin consumed and therefore an overall estimate for the value of the UK heroin market.

  A more detailed outline of the above method and the estimates produced can be found in "Sizing the UK Market for Illicit Drugs" (Home Office Research Development Statistics Occasional Paper No 74. 2001). A copy of this report has been placed in the Library and is available on www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.html.

  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of heroin-using offenders in(a) England, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) Bassetlaw re-offended in the last 12 months. [71395]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  Information on the proportion of heroin-using offenders re-offending is not held at the detailed level requested.

  Numbers of prisoners in England and Wales re-convicted, by offence for which originally convicted and offence on first reconviction, within two years of discharge from prison in 1997 are contained in Table 9.8 of "Prison statistics England and Wales 2000".
  1463W
  Details of level of illegal income by type of drug, and self reported crime by type of drug are reported in Chapters 7 and 8 of Home Office Research Study 205 "Drugs and crime: The results of the second developmental stage of the New England and Wales Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (NEW-ADAM) programme". This study reports outcomes from pilot sites (including Nottingham) participating in the NEW-ADAM Programme.

  Copies of these documents are available in the Library.

  Child Prison Suicides
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child suicides in prisons there were, broken down by(a) age and (b) prison in each year since 1990. [72050]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]The available information is set out in the tables. The number of self-inflicted deaths of young prisoners from 1990 to 2002 (to 17 July 2002) are shown in Table 1.

  Table 2: Self-Inflicted Deaths of Young Prisoners by Prison: 1990–2002*

  Establishment

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Totals

  Altcourse

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Aylesbury

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Brinsford

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1

  0

  5

  Brixton

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Cardiff

  0

  0

  0

  0

  I

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Deerbolt

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Exeter

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Feltham

  0

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  0

  6

  Glen Parva

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  0

  0

  3

  Gloucester

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Hindley

  3

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  8

  Leeds

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Lewes

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Low Newton

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  5

  Moorland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Parc

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Portland

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  Reading

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Stoke Heath

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Swansea

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Swinfen Hall

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  Wetherby

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  0

  3

  Totals

  7

  2

  3

  1

  5

  2

  5

  5

  9

  4

  6

  5

  1

  55

  *Up to and including 17 July 2002.

  Children in Care (Offenders)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of(a) registered young offenders, (b) registered offenders, (c) young offenders resident in youth offender institutions, (d) offenders resident in adult prisons, (e) persons convicted of drug-related offences and (f) persons convicted of violent crimes are known to have a history of being in care. [72929]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  No data are held centrally on the upbringing of persons in prisons in England and Wales. This means that it is not possible to provide specific
  1464W

  Table 1: Self-Inflicted Deaths of Young Prisoners by Year: 1990–2002*

  15

  16

  17

  18

  Total

  1990

  0

  2

  1

  4

  7

  1991

  1

  0

  0

  1

  2

  1992

  0

  1

  0

  2

  3

  1993

  0

  0

  1

  0

  1

  1994

  0

  0

  2

  3

  5

  1995

  0

  1

  0

  1

  2

  1996

  0

  0

  1

  4

  5

  1997

  0

  0

  0

  5

  5

  1998

  0

  0

  3

  6

  9

  1999

  0

  0

  2

  2

  4

  2000

  0

  0

  3

  3

  6

  2001

  0

  3

  0

  2

  5

  2002

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  1

  8

  13

  33

  55

  * Up to and including 17 July 2002

  The Prison Service employs the term "self-inflicted death" (which includes all those deaths where it appears that the person may have acted specifically to take his/her own life) rather than suicide.

  Table 2 shows the overall number of self-inflicted deaths of young prisoners in establishments during each of the last 13 years.

  answers to questions (a) to (f). However, according to the Criminality Survey 2000, 31 per cent. of the sentenced male prison population (excluding sex offenders) had been taken into local authority care as a child.

  In 1997, a survey was carried out by the Office for National Statistics, called "Psychiatric Morbidity Among Prisoners in England and Wales". A sample of around 1,200 male remand, 1,200 male sentenced and 800 female prisoners were interviewed. 33 per cent. of the males on remand and 26 per cent. of the males under sentence had been taken into local authority care as a child. 29 per cent.
  1465W
  of the females on remand and 25 per cent. of the females under sentence had also been taken into local authority care as a child.

  According to the National Prison Survey 1991, when interviews were conducted with around 4,000 sentenced and remand prisoners (juveniles and immigration detainees were excluded): "26 per cent. said that they had at some point before the age of 16 been taken into local authority care. As many as 38 per cent. of prisoners under 21 reported that they had had such an experience".

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which statutory body has responsibility for the welfare of children in care who have been committed to a young offender institution or adult prison; and if he will make a statement. [73058]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Prison Service, on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, has responsibility for the day-to-day welfare needs of everyone who is committed to a young offender institution or adult prison, including those who are "looked after children".

  Communications Data (Access)
  Sandra Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made for consultation on the regulation of access to communications data. [72295]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]We are considering how best to carry out the consultation exercise on the regulation of access to communications data to ensure a wide-ranging and detailed debate of the issues raised and how to balance the individual's right to privacy with legitimate arrangements to safeguard national security and protect the public.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Woking dated 13 June regarding Dayekh reference D1056360. [69771]

  Beverley Hughes
  I wrote to the hon. Friend on 24 July 2002.

  Retail Crime
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the £15 million grant funding to help retailers tackle crime in deprived areas has been allocated; to whom it has been allocated and over what time period. [71221]

  Mr. John Denham
  The £15 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the Small Retailers in Deprived Areas initiative has been made available in annual instalments of £3 million in 2001–02, £6 million in 2002–03 and £6 million in 2003–04. Apart from a small amount set aside for administration and evaluation, all this money has been allocated to regional Crime Reduction Directors, as in the table.
  1466W

  Region

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Total (£)

  Eastern

  196,620

  393,475

  393,475

  983,570

  East

  Midlands

  236,060

  471,052

  471,052

  1,178,164

  London

  454,720

  910,515

  910,515

  2,275,750

  North East

  248,530

  496,244

  496,244

  1,241,018

  North West

  470,670

  942,209

  942,209

  2,355,088

  South East

  246,500

  493,580

  493,580

  1,233,660

  South West

  194,300

  389,604

  389,604

  973,508

  Wales

  190,820

  381,257

  381,257

  953,334

  West

  Midlands

  333,210

  666,182

  666,182

  1,665,574

  Yorkshire and Humber

  327,410

  655,882

  655,882

  1,639,174

  For more details about the scheme, and the funding formula used, I would refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Ann Coffey) on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 984W.

  I placed in the Library at the same time a paper showing the allocation of funds to individual projects for 2001–02. I hope to announce shortly the projects we shall be funding in 2002–03.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make retail crime a best value indicator for police force performance. [54623]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) for 2002–03 came into effect on 1 April 2002, following consultation with the Association of Police Authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers. Following the Home Secretary's commitment in September last year to halve the number of indicators, there are currently 18 BVPIs as compared with 32 in 2001–02.

  Whilst we have no plans to introduce an additional national performance indicator on retail crime, a police authority would be able to set a local performance indicator relating to retail crime should this be a particular problem locally.

  Police (Compensation Claims)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the public have been prosecuted this year for making fraudulent and malicious compensation claims against the police; and what range of penalties was imposed. [71104]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The information requested cannot be distinguished in the court statistics collected centrally from other offences of fraud.

  Antisocial Behaviour Orders
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in West Sussex, broken down by local authority area. [71099]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. The data given in the table covers the period up to the end of December 2001 (latest available).
  1467W
  We are currently considering whether any further checks are needed to ensure the accuracy of the number of ASBOs reported.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensation claims, and at what financial cost, have been made against(a) Sussex Police and (b) the Metropolitan Police in each year since 1999. [71103]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 18 July 2002]: The Home Office does not collect this information centrally. Information is compiled by forces according to their own management needs and is not therefore directly comparable. Information provided by the forces is as follows:

  (a)Sussex Constabulary

  (i) Civil claims: public liability (wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and damage to property) and employer liability

  Civil Claims in Financial Years

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Claims closed

  258

  308

  295

  Dismissed

  36

  65

  28

  Not proceeded with

  144

  169

  191

  Settled

  77

  69

  74

  Judgement for claimant

  1

  5

  2

  Payments (£)

  224,776

  166,609

  155,342

  (ii) Employment Tribunals

  Civil Claims in Financial Years

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Claims

  received

  9

  6

  6

  Dismissed

  2

  2

  1

  Withdrawn

  3

  1

  3

  Settled

  4

  3

  2

  Judgement for claimant

  0

  0

  0

  Payments (£)

  0

  29,000

  22,000

  (b) Metropolitan Police Service

  (i)Employer liability and damage to property

  Number of Chaims

  Number of Chaims

  Amount Paid (£million)

  1999–2000

  2,800

  3,600

  7.0

  2000–01

  2,700

  3,150

  7.0

  2001–02

  2,450

  2,900

  10.1

  (incl. £5 million provision against future claims)

  (ii) Civil actions and damages: the following tables relate to actions against the police by members of the public for wrongful arrest, false imprisonment etc.

  Civil Actions received in financial years

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Actions

  164

  190

  157

  Threatened actions

  633

  503

  439

  1468W

  Damages paid in financial years

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  No of Cases

  Cost (£k)

  No of Cases

  Cost(£k)

  No of Cases

  Cost (£k)

  Out of court settlements

  413

  3,703

  220

  2,318

  129

  1,261

  Court awards

  22

  203

  15

  340

  6

  125

  (iii) Employment Tribunals

  £

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Claims Settled

  386,970

  531,764

  129,574

  Tribunal

  Awards

  14,652

  363,085

  0

  Totals

  401,622

  894,849

  129,574

  Number of Cases with financial settlement

  Claims Settled

  17

  18

  18

  Tribunal

  Awards

  2

  2

  0

  Totals

  19

  20

  18

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Maidenhead of 8 March on the number of functioning police stations. [71491]

  Mr. John Denham
  With apologies for the delay in responding I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 22 July 2002 Official Report, column 829W.

  Policing (Bromley)
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police served in(a) the London Borough of Bromley and (b) the Orpington sector of Bromley; and what the establishment figure was in each year since 1996. [9997]

  Mr. John Denham
  The information in the table has been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. Figures for the Orpington Sector of Bromley are not available.

  The budgeted strength is not an establishment figure. Differences between actual and budgeted strength have a variety of causes. They may arise because patterns of recruitment to and wastage from the police service are different or because targets for strength at the end of the financial year reflect planned changes in strength, for example the allocation of officers recruited through the Crime Fighting Fund.

  Year

  Budgeted Workforce Total in Bromley

  Strength

  December 1996

  479

  471

  December 1997

  Not Available

  464

  December 1998

  Not Available

  443

  December 1999

  440

  432

  December 2000

  440

  412

  January 2002

  458

  424

  Departmental Policies (Northamptonshire)
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Northamptonshire, the effects on the town of Northampton of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [11282]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Home Office is working with individuals and communities to build a safe, just and tolerant society enhancing opportunities for all and in which rights and responsibilities go hand in hand and the protection and security of the public are maintained and enhanced. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report, Home Office Annual Report–2001–02, is available in the Library. Information on crime levels is contained in the publication: "Crime in England and Wales 2001–02", which can be found in the Library.

  These statistics provide information specifically relating to Northampton and to Northamptonshire. A number of Home Office initiatives funded under the Crime Reduction Programme will have an impact on crime levels in Northamptonshire, including some with specific reference to Northampton, for example;

  Reducing Burglary Initiative: Three schemes funded to the value of £178,390, including a £72,000 scheme in Northampton. Targeted Policing Initiative: A county-wide scheme for tackling vehicle crime using Automatic Number Plate Reading technology—£1,095,000.

  Violence Against Women: a £225,706 domestic violence project in Northampton.

  Close Circuit Television (CCTV): £383,285 on three CCTV schemes covering Northampton town centre, car parks and housing estates.

  In addition, funding of £410,200 under the Communities Against Drugs Initiative and £80,608 under the Safer Communities Initiative has been made available to the Northampton Crime and Disorder reduction partnership. Northamptonshire partnerships have also received £51,500 under the Partnership Development Fund.

  Further information on the Home Office and its policies is published on its website. (www.homeoffice.gov.uk).

  Prisoners (CAB Advice)
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on pilot schemes funded by the Community Legal Service to support Citizens Advice Bureau staff to advise prisoners on(a) welfare benefits and (b) debt management. [18852]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I have been asked to reply. I apologise for the delay in replying this was due to an administrative error. As part of the ongoing development of the Community Legal Service, the Legal Services Commission is exploring projects to support advice to prisoners on legal matters. Specifically this includes work with the Kent Probation Project, based at the Tunbridge Wells area office for the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, which is supporting the needs of prisoners in Kent. In addition all prisons in England and 1470W
  Wales have been supplied with a full set of Community Legal Service Legal Information Leaflets and an increasing number of prisons are formally applying to be quality marked as Community Legal Service Information Points.

  Emergency Services (Radios)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department issues to police authorities on the need to ensure interoperability of radio systems with other emergency services. [19702]

  Mr. John Denham
  Interoperability between emergency services is, at present, arranged locally by each force and the Home Office provides the radio channels necessary for communication between operational commanders at major incidents. Full interoperability is one of the potential operational benefits of Airwave, the new police radio communications service. The other emergency services have the option of either joining the Airwave service or arranging interoperability between their separate networks.

  The Home Office is promoting agreement between the three emergency services on the level of interoperability necessary to ensure public safety.

  Police Funding (Surrey)
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in funds allocated by his Department to Surrey Police in real terms since 1997. [23079]

  Mr. John Denham
  The information is set out in the table.

  Government Grant (cash) (1) £m

  (real) (3) £m

  Real terms change per cent.

  Additional Home Office funding (including special grant, capital, DNA and other payments) (4) £m

  1997–98

  75.6

  83.1

  2.2

  1998–99

  67.7

  72.5

  -12.7

  1.9

  1999–00

  74.7

  78.1

  7.7

  1.7

  2000–01

  89.6

  91.6

  17.3

  3.6

  2001–02

  87.6

  87.6

  -4.3

  4.2

  2002–03

  87.0

  84.9

  1.2

  (5)

  (2)

  1.2

  1. Total Government Grant includes Home Office Police grant, Revenue Support Grant, National Non Domestic Rates, Crime Fighting Fund and Rural Policing Fund Grant. Surrey gained resources following changes in boundaries of the Metropolitan Police District in April 2000. Grant also includes provision to offset costs incurred in transitional arrangements: £7.0 million in 1999–2000, £5.5 million in 2000–01, £1.61 million in 2001–02 and £0.8 million for 2002–03.

  The reduction in grant in 2002–03 reflects a shift from local to central financing of National Crime Squad (NCS) National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) from 1 April 2002. However, on a like-for-like basis, government grant in 2002–03 shows a 2.2 per cent. increase in cash terms or 1.2 per cent. increase in real terms compared to 2001–02. Actual cash figures with the like-for-like percentage change are included above.

  Real terms figures are given at 2001–02 prices (GDP deflator)

  The additional payments were specific to particular years, and have therefore been excluded from the year-on-year comparison.

  Capital grant only.
  1471W
  In addition, under the Crime Reduction Programme over £3.7 million has been allocated since 1999 to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships for projects in Surrey.

  Urban Regeneration
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what schemes targeting urban regeneration needs are managed by his Department; how much each scheme has available to invest; what issues each scheme aims to tackle; and how much has been spent annually since 1997(a) in the United Kingdom, (b) in Teesside, (c) in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough Councils and, (d) in the Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency. [25474]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Home Office makes a contribution to urban regeneration through a number of schemes which reduce crime, tackle drugs and drug-related crime, encourage community development and support racial equality. Relevant information that is currently available includes:

  Crime Reduction Programme
  A range of schemes to reduce burglary, install Close Circuit Televisionn (CCTV), prevent violence against women etc. £350 million has been committed nationally to over 1,500 schemes since 1999. The requested local figures are:

  Area Total

  No Schemes

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Teesside £2,031,345

  22

  £649.766

  £1,063.313

  £318,266

  Redcar and Cleveland £733,500

  7

  £166,348

  £458,152

  £109,000

  Middlesbrough £866,195

  11

  £185,299

  £478,422

  £209,266

  Stockton £424,858

  4

  £298,119

  £136,739

  —

  Middlesbrough South/Cleveland £606,200

  5

  £154.048

  £395,152

  £57,000

  Communities Against Drugs
  A programme to tackle drug related crime, drug supply and to strengthen communities. Nationally there is £50/£70/£100 million available in the three years 2001–04

  2001–02

  £

  Total funding

  50,000,000

  Teesside

  494,800

  Redcar and Cleveland

  121,600

  Middlesbrough

  210,300

  Stockton

  162,900

  Security For Small Retailers In Deprived Areas

  2001–02

  £

  Total funding

  £2,900,00

  North East Region

  £248,530

  Teesside

  £112,000

  Redcar and Cleveland

  £28,000

  Middlesborough

  £50,000

  Stockton

  £34,000

  Youth Inclusion Schemes
  These are targeted at the young people most at risk of offending in the area of the scheme.

  Area Total

  No Schemes

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Redcar and Cleveland £130,000

  1

  0

  £65,000

  £65,000

  Middlesbrough

  £162,125

  1

  £25,125

  £68,500

  £68,500

  Stockton £187,250

  1

  £50,250

  £68,500

  £68,500

  Section 11 Grant

  Enabled local authorities which had a significant number of minority ethnic origin resident in its area to employ additional staff.

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  England and Wales

  84,690,663

  87,578,663

  Teesside

  Not Available

  424,030

  Middlesbrough

  Not Available

  275,464

  Stockton-on-Tees

  Not Available

  118,783

  Redcar and Cleveland

  Not Available

  29,783

  County of Cleveland

  427,996

  439,123

  Connecting Communities

  There are four race equality support programmes:—
  Community Networks—
  Opportunity Schemes—
  Towards More Representative Services—
  Positive Images—

  2000–01

  2001–02 (to date)

  All projects

  £1,761,267

  £2,577,627

  Middlesbrough

  £5,396

  £7,944

  Police numbers
  Figures for police numbers and spending are available nationally and for the Cleveland Authority. They are not available for individual councils or parliamentary constituencies.
  On 31 January this year there were 128,748 police officers in England and Wales, a record number and 4,578 more than in March 2000. Spending by the police has increased by £1.27 billion (+ 17.9 per cent.) since 1997 to £8.361 billion in 2002–03.
  Between March 2000 and January 2002 police numbers in the Cleveland Police increased by 33 to 1,437. The increase in numbers has been made possible by the extra recruits allocated to the Cleveland Police under the Crime Fighting Fund over the three years to March 2003. Cleveland Police has been allocated a total of 74 Crime Fighting Fund recruits. 20 were recruited in 2000–01 and 36 were recruited in 2001–02. The force is expected to take on a further 18 Crime Fighting Fund recruits in 2002–03. Spending on policing by the Cleveland Police Authority has increased by 24 per cent. (+ £18.57 million) since 1997 and now totals £95.13 million for 2002–03.

  Offence Statistics
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offences were reported in the Metropolitan police force area between(a) April to November 2000 and (b) April to November 2001; [27644]
  1473W
  (2) how many street crimes there were in the Metropolitan Police Force area in (a) April to November 2000 and (b) April to November 2001. [27646]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 15 January 2002]: Home Office recorded crime statistics for the whole years ending March 2001 and 2002 are given in the table. Rather than using the Metropolitan Police's category of "Street Crime", recorded robberies of personal property are given.

  Metropolitan Police area—Number of recorded crimes

  Years ending March 2001

  2002

  Total recorded crime

  994,233

  1,057,360

  Robbery of personal property

  37,023

  49,446

  Wheel Clamping
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the regulations in order to improve the clarity of signs relating to the clamping of cars on private roads. [28873]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 21 January 2002]: Currently there are no regulations governing signs relating to clamping on private roads. However, last year the Government introduced the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The Act specifies the creation of a Security Industry Authority. It is hoped that the authority, which will regulate the industry through licensing, will begin operations in 2003; it will have wheel-clamping as one of its priority areas.

  In the meantime, those who believe their vehicles have been unfairly clamped can have cases against wheel clampers heard in civil courts.

  Civil Disturbances (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the costs to West Yorkshire Police of dealing with civil disturbances in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [12532]

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question of 31 October 2001, tabled by the hon. Member for Pudsey (Reference 12532). [29064]

  Mr. John Denham
  I apologise for not responding to my hon. Friend more promptly. The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police (Graham Moore QPM) made representations on 24 October 2001 requesting a special grant to assist with the policing costs of the Bradford disturbances in July of last year. I also received a number of representations from hon. Members.

  On 30 January I announced that the Home Secretary had approved a special grant of 2.2 million as a contribution to the additional cost of policing the Bradford disturbances. This grant covered 64 per cent. of the additional policing costs incurred by West Yorkshire Police. It was decided to treat all applications for assistance arising out of last year's
  1474W
  summer riots with equal fairness. Similar special grants for around two thirds of additional policing costs were also paid to the Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Staffordshire forces.

  The West Yorkshire Police Authority has also received 35 claims for compensation under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 totalling £7.3 million. I understand that 12 claims totalling £46,419 have been settled and three further claims have been rejected. The largest claims are still under consideration by the Authority. It is open to the police authority to seek further grant support when the final impact on the force is known. Any application would be considered against the criteria for such matters.

  Police (Havering)
  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give funding for additional police officers in Havering to meet the demands of its late night entertainment centre. [29911]

  Mr. John Denham
  We made clear in the White Paper "Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for Reform" that we are concerned about the costs incurred in policing entertainment venues, particularly pubs and clubs. We restated the Government's position on charging in the Government's reply to the Home Affairs Select Committee's report into the Police Reform Bill. We are keen to explore how we might encourage and develop arrangements under which entertainment venues, including pubs, clubs and bars, make a contribution to the policing and public order costs generated by their activities. Complex issues need to be resolved in order to find a way forward.

  Excluding the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF), police grant for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for 2002–03 is £1.676 billion.

  Under the CFF recruitment initiative, the MPS has already been allocated an additional 2,044 recruits over and above the forces' previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003. The MPS/MPA (Metropolitan Police Authority) received £12 million from the CFF in 2000–01, £43.7 million was paid in 2001–02 and, on present forecasts of recruitment, is expected to qualify for full payment of £65.9 million in 2002–03.

  The allocation of available resources to the London Boroughs is a matter for the Commissioner and the Metropolitan Police Authority.

  Street Robbery
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries were caused by street robberies in the Metropolitan Police area in 2001; and at what estimated cost to public funds. [31019]

  Mr. John Denham
  Information is not available centrally in this form, and provision is a matter for the Commissioner for the Metropolis.

  Latest published Home Office figures show that, according to current records (which are subject to possible change), the Metropolitan Police recorded seven homicides in 2000–01 where the circumstances involved robbery.

  Police (Hillingdon)
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the operating hours of each police station within the Hillingdon Division of the Metropolitan Police Service in(a) 1997 and (b) 2001. [31362]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is responsible for the day to day operational management of the force. I am, therefore, sending notice of this question to the Commissioner and to the Metropolitan Police Commander in Hillingdon so that the Commissioner may address the question that you have raised.

  Football Matches (Policing)
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow police to charge for policing outside football grounds on match days; and if he will make a statement. [34796]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Government remains concerned at the costs incurred in policing entertainment venues, including major events such as sporting and outdoor entertainments. We are keen to explore how we might encourage and develop arrangements under which entertainment venues make a contribution to the policing and public order costs generated by their activities. Complex issues need to be resolved in order to find a way forward. As we said in response to the Home Affairs Committee's Report into the Police Reform Bill, as part of the Government's ongoing work in this area, we will consult interested parties about Chapter 13 of Home Office Circular 34/2000, "Home Office guidance on football-related legislation". This chapter deals specifically with charging for policing football.

  Police Recruitment
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers have(a) left the profession and (b) been recruited in Coventry in each year since 1997; [36501]

  (2) what the shortfall is in police officer numbers in Coventry; what measures are being taken to increase these numbers; and if he will make a statement. [36500]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 25 February 2002]: The information in the tables has been provided by the Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police.

  This Government is helping West Midlands Police to increase police numbers through the extra recruits being made available through the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF). West Midlands has been allocated 523 CFF recruits over three years to March 2003. The force recruited 222 CFF recruits in 2000–01 and expects to recruit 195 in 2001–02 and a further 106 in 2002–03. By 31 January 2002 West Midlands had 7,577 officers, a record number and 464 more than in March 1997. It is for the Chief Constable to determine the allocation of officers within the force area.

  The City of Coventry has three territorial divisions. Table 1 provides information on the budgeted strength of each division and its actual strength. Differences between actual and budgeted strength have a variety of causes. They may arise because patterns of recruitment to and
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  wastage from the police service are different or because targets for strength at the end of the financial year reflect planned changes in strength, for example the allocation of officers recruited through the Crime Fighting Fund.

  Table 2 shows the numbers of officers who were recruited and posted to Coventry and who left the profession from the Coventry divisions, it also shows the number of officers who left on transfer to another police force.

  (1) Number of officers in the Coventry Divisions

  Division

  Budgeted strength1

  Actual strength1,2

  M1 Division

  300

  282

  M2 Division

  276

  264

  M3 Division

  287

  272

  TOTAL

  863

  818

  1Figures are full-time equivalents.

  2Strength is the position at 31 January.

  (2) Number of officers joining and leaving Coventry Divisions

  Year (12 months Ending 31 March)

  Number of officers recruited (including transfers from other forces)

  Number leaving profession from Coventry divisions1

  Number of officers transferring from Coventry to other forces

  Total leavers

  1996–97

  39

  36

  1

  37

  1997–98

  56

  26

  6

  32

  1998–99

  39

  25

  7

  32

  1999–2000

  64

  39

  3

  42

  2000–01

  67

  37

  12

  49

  2001–02 (to 20/02/02)

  15

  7

  4

  11

  Total

  280

  170

  33

  203

  1Retirement, ill health/deceased, not satisfactory, career break, other.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 May 1997(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; and if he will list the total cost, including (i) travel, (ii) accommodation and (iii) subsistence allowance, for each occasion. [37978]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to Mr. Burns on 9 July 2002,Official Report, column 891W.

  In addition, two official visits have been made by Special Advisers to the United States since 1997. One in August 2000 at a total cost of £2,117 and the other in August 2001 at a total cost of £2,900.

  The advisor on international drug issues (who was employed on Special Adviser terms) has visited Belgium, Romania and the Czech Republic on official business at an average cost of £1,094 per trip.

  Information for the period beyond March 2002 will be available in due course.

  Police Complaints
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the complaints concerning the conduct of Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair by the
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  National Black Police Association and by members of the public have been referred to him in accordance with Regulation 7 (3A) Police (Conduct) (Senior Officers) Regulation 1999; and if the referral requirement is mandatory. [39360]

  Mr. John Denham
  No referral has been made. I am informed by the Metropolitan Police Authority that, following further representations from the National Black Police Association, the Metropolitan Police Authority are making further preliminary enquiries.

  When a complaint is made about the conduct of the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, referral to the Secretary of State is not mandatory if the authority is satisfied that the conduct complained of, even if proved, would not justify criminal or disciplinary proceedings. Where referral is not mandatory, the Metropolitan Police Authority may deal with the matter at its own discretion, subject to the Regulations.

  The Regulations allow for the authority to conclude, after preliminary enquiries, that no proceedings under regulation 11 need to be taken, and once this conclusion is reached by the Authority, no investigating officer needs to be appointed and no referral under regulation 7(3A) need be made.

  Crime and Disorder Partnerships
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crime and disorder partnerships have a named anti-social behaviour co-ordinators. [41383]

  Mr. John Denham
  236 of the 376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have confirmed that they have a designated co-ordinator for action against anti-social behaviour. We are working to ensure that the remainder follow suit as quickly as possible. Section 92 (10) of the Police Reform Bill amends the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 so as to grant the Home Secretary the power to call for reports from Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships annually. This will enable Crime Reduction Directors to ensure that partnerships have appropriate strategies to deal with anti-social behaviour and that they are implemented effectively.

  Policing (Cambridgeshire)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the Cambridgeshire Police Authority spend on the police and (b) the Government grant to the Cambridgeshire Police Authority in the years 1990–91 to 2001–02 and projected for the financial year 2002–03, adjusted for inflation at current values. [41749]

  Mr. John Denham
  The information is set out in the table.

  Net Expenditure in real terms (£000's)

  Government grant in real terms1 (£000's)

  1990–91

  59,070

  N/A

  1991–92

  61,900

  N/A

  1992–93

  63,864

  N/A

  1993–94

  69,452

  N/A

  1994–95

  70,559

  N/A

  1995–96

  71,356

  61,749

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  Net Expenditure in real terms (£000's)

  Government grant in real terms1 (£000's)

  1996–97

  73,723

  63,698

  1997–98

  75,538

  62,942

  1998–99

  78,603

  64,923

  1999–2000

  78,439

  65,711

  2000–01

  81,027

  67,209

  2001–022

  84,131

  70,396

  2002–032

  N/A

  69,022

  1Government grant includes Home Office Police grant, Department for Transport, London and the Regions (DTLR) national non domestic rates, revenue support grant, Crime Fighting Fund and rural policing grant. Before 1995–96 when most Police Authorities became independent local authorities, revenue support grant and national non domestic rates were paid as part of respective county council grant funding.

  1The grant figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are not directly comparable, owing to changes from 2002–03 in the method of funding the National Crime Squad/National Criminal Intelligence Service. Based on the new arrangements, comparable expenditure and grant figures for 2001–02, in real terms, would have been £82,374,000 and £68,619,000.

  Source for net expenditure: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics (Estimates only for 2000–01 and 2001–02).

  Real terms are at 2001–02 prices using GDP deflator at 28.6.02

  Police Reform
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish a White Paper on Police reform; and if he will make a statement. [41924]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: The white paper "Policing A New Century: A Blueprint for Reform" was published on 5 December 2001. My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, made a statement in the House.

  Superintendent Ali Dizaei
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order an investigation as to why telephone conversations between Superintendent Ali Dizaei, the legal advisor to the National Black Police Association and other officers and their lawyers were monitored and transcribed by officers investigating him. [42744]

  Mr. John Denham
  I have no plans at present to order an investigation. I would refer the hon. Friend to my letter to of 9 November 2001 to the hon. Member for Worthing West (Mr. Bottomley) which clarifies the position regarding the telephone calls that Superintendent Dizaei made in connection with his National Black Police Association business. A copy of this letter is in the Library.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Paice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to intervene in the operations of the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement. [42630]
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  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: Operational policy decisions are the responsibility of the chief officer of each police force. In the case of the Metropolitan Police, this is the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, Sir John Stevens.

  Where under-performance in a force has been identified by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Police Reform Bill contains a power which will enable the Home Secretary to require that the relevant police authority instructs the chief office to provide an action plan setting out the remedial measures which he/she will take to correct that under-performance. We have no current plan to use this power with respect to the Metrpolitan Police Service (MPS).

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have resigned from the Metropolitan Police force in each of the last three years. [51148]

  Mr. John Denham
  The information has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. Also included is information on the number of officers recruited by the Metropolitan Police in those years. Information for 2001–02 is not yet available.

  Year

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Resignations

  337

  365

  435

  All leavers (excluding transfers)

  1,300

  1,020

  1,154

  Recruitment

  1,516

  994

  1,276

  Mobile Phone Thefts
  Mr. Moss
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile phone thefts there have been by(a) police authority area and (b) crime and disorder partnership area each year since 1997. [43029]

  Mr. John Denham
  The requested information is not collected centrally.

  Estimates of the number of mobile phone thefts in England and Wales as a whole in 2000–01 vary widely, depending on the source of the data used to produce the estimate. A recent research study "Mobile Phone Theft" (by Victoria Harrington and Pat Mayhew, Home Office Research Study 235) contained a number of estimates. On the basis of figures from six police forces extrapolated to England and Wales, there were an estimated 330,000 offences recorded by the police in 2000–01, while the best estimate from analysis of data from three surveys indicates that there were some 710,000 phone thefts occurring annually at this time.

  We are working with the police and the mobile phone industry to reduce mobile phone robbery, undertaking public awareness campaigns and joint tracking exercises. Our discussions with the operators have recently borne fruit. By the summer all five of the main operators will be able to bar stolen handsets by reference to the unique IMEI number which identifies the handset. All of the operators are also working together to develop a shared database of stolen phones, which will allow them to disable stolen phones if there is an attempt to use them
  1480W
  on a different network. We believe that this is a very important step forward, as it should remove one of the major incentives for robbery.

  Operators have also agreed to improve security as they invest in new systems. We are pressing the handset manufacturers for similar commitments. A start has been made, but more needs to be done before Britain's mobile phone system can lead the world in security. The mobile phone industry needs to show more interest in the security of phones they are selling to British consumers and, as the motor industry has done, do more to prevent their customers from becoming the victims of crime.

  Police Officers
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours were lost in each year since 1997 owing to illness of police officers in Wales. [44044]

  Mr. John Denham
  Information held centrally by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary records the number of days lost due to sickness. This is shown in the table.

  96–97

  97–98

  98–99

  99–2000

  2000–01

  Number of police officer days in Wales lost due to sickness absence

  79,343

  87,191

  90,357

  89,811

  97,037

  The Home Office is currently developing the Occupational health status "Strategy for a Healthy Police Service", in consultation with the police service, which is intended to help bring about substantial reductions in police sickness and in sickness absence.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in the Wandsworth policing division on 1 April; and how many there were on 1 April(a) 2001 and (b) 2000. [50875]

  Mr. John Denham
  Information about strength in territorial divisions is not collected.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his definition is of a front line police officer. [43688]

  Mr. John Denham
  The only definition of an operational (frontline) officer which currently exists is that in the Report of the Working Group on the Classification of Police Service Personnel in September 1999 which was commissioned by the then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw). It describes such an officer as any officer, including covert officers, whose primary role (i.e., over 50 per cent. of the time) is directly to deliver the overarching aims of the police service.

  This definition however is insufficient for the purposes of determining who should benefit under the special priority posts scheme which forms part of the package of reforms agreed in the Police Negotiating Board on 9 May.

  Under the special priority posts scheme, forces will be able to target extra rewards on those working at the sharp end of public service, doing the most difficult and dangerous jobs. We are currently discussing with the Police Service how those to benefit should be identified.

  1481W
  It will be for chief officers and police authorities to draw up local schemes, taking account of national criteria and any guidance issued by the Home Secretary. They will also have to consult local staff associations.

  Posts may qualify for the payments where they:
  —carry a significantly higher level of responsibility than the norm for the rank;
  —present particular difficulties in recruitment and retention; or
  —have specially demanding working conditions or working environments.

  Payments from the scheme will normally be not less than £500 and not more than £3,000 a year, although exceptionally payments of up to £5,000 may be made.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the complaint procedure in relation to the Criminal Records Bureau. [43762]

  Mr. John Denham
  We are committed to ensuring that the service offered by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is of the highest standard. An applicant who believes that information in a Disclosure is inaccurate may make an application in writing to the CRB for a new one. If the Bureau is of the opinion that the information is inaccurate, a new Disclosure will be issued. For other complaints, in the first instance complainants should telephone the CRB contact centre or write to the CRB Customer Services Manager. If the applicant considers that a complaint has not been satisfactorily dealt with, the matter may be taken up with the CRB Operations Director or with the Chief Executive. The CRB has appointed a Complaint Mediator to resolve any complaint where a customer remains dissatisfied with the Chief Executive's reply.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Criminal Records Bureau will operate in relation to existing employees. [43758]

  Mr. John Denham
  Although the main thrust of the work of the Criminal Records Bureau is directed towards criminal record checks for new recruits, the Bureau will also receive applications from existing employees and volunteers.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take and what records he will use to monitor the work of the Criminal Records Bureau. [43800]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is an executive agency of the Home Office. The principal arrangements for monitoring and managing its work are as follows. Each year, the Bureau will continue to produce corporate and business plans, and an annual report and accounts, all of which will need to be approved at Ministerial level, and will then be published. The Bureau will also produce weekly and monthly operational performance reports for my information. The Bureau's work is overseen by an Advisory Board which meets frequently and reports directly to me. The Board is chaired by the Home Office Director of Crime and includes senior representatives from the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills, the National 1482W
  Council for Voluntary Organisations, and the Local Government Association and at least one independent non-executive member. The Board has access to whatever records and information it sees fit to fulfil its role.

  In addition, I regularly meet with the Chief Executive of the CRB personally and my officials are in regular contact with his staff about all aspects of the Bureau's work.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the list of bodies registered with the Criminal Records Bureau. [43759]

  Mr. John Denham
  Since most have not given their specific consent, it would not be appropriate to publish a list of all the bodies registered with the Criminal Records Bureau for the purpose of countersigning applications for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures. A list of those registered bodies that have consented to having their details made available for the purpose of countersigning applications on behalf of non-registered organisations is available from the Criminal Records Bureau on request and information is also available on the website www.disclosure.gov.uk.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on spent convictions in relation to the Criminal Records Bureau. [43761]

  Mr. John Denham
  The package of measures which is being implemented by the Criminal Records Bureau is structured on the basis of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Of the three levels of Disclosure that the Bureau will issue, Basic Disclosures will contain details only of convictions that are not spent under the 1974 Act. Standard and Enhanced Disclosures will also include spent convictions, but will be issued only to applicants for positions that fall within the Exceptions Order under the 1974 Act.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Criminal Records Bureau will operate its disclosure service in relation to foreign nationals. [43760]

  Mr. John Denham
  A foreign national will be able to apply to the Criminal Records Bureau for information held on databases here. But the Bureau is not in a position directly to obtain information from other countries. In the case of a foreign national, or a British national who has lived overseas for a substantial period, the Bureau will offer guidance in due course to employers about the availability of criminal record checks in a range of foreign countries, to enable an enquiry to be made to the appropriate authority.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the Criminal Records Bureau will liaise with(a) Northern Ireland and (b) Scotland. [43757]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) will essentially provide the Disclosure Service, under Part V of the Police Act 1997, in England and Wales. In Scotland, the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) will provide a broadly equivalent service, called Disclosure Scotland. No conclusion has been reached as to how best to implement the Act in Northern Ireland. The objective is that both the CRB and the SCRO will seek to capture information across borders, so that someone who has
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  resided in, say, both England and Scotland should need to apply only once. Officials in the different administrations keep in regular touch about the detailed arrangements.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time from referral to answer by the Criminal Records Bureau was in the last 12 months. [67924]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Criminal Records Bureau began processing applications for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures on 11 March this year. A total of 286,770 applications have been received to date and the total number of Disclosures issued is 199,309. The service standards are to produce 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within three weeks and 95 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within one week. These service standards are not currently being met although the Bureau are typically processing correctly-completed applications within six weeks.

  Measures are being taken to overcome the early operating difficulties experienced by the Bureau, which have led to delays in responding to applications. We are determined that the Bureau will be in a position as soon as possible to meet the high standards of service that it has made clear it will deliver to its customers.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints he has received concerning the operation of the Criminal Records Bureau. [67923]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Since 5 March this year, the Criminal Records Bureau has received a total of 3,806 complaints concerning its operational performance.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the cost of the Criminal Records Bureau over its first 10 years; how far this varies from the initial estimates of the cost; and what he estimates accounts for this difference. [67248]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 5 July 2002]: The most recent estimate for the Bureau's cost for the first 10 years of operation is £928 million. This compares to the original cost estimate of £939 million. The reduction in this figure is the result of more accurate budget forecasting, due to the experience gained since the Bureau's inception.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had to increase the Criminal Records Bureau's access to criminal records from other countries with regard to child protection. [69125]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Criminal Records Bureau plans a non-statutory service to provide UK employers with information about overseas criminal record checking services. The service is expected to be available by September 2002. Employers will then be able to ask prospective employees with overseas residence to obtain copies of relevant records to aid safer recruitment decisions for all types of position.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Criminal Records Bureau; and what mechanisms exist to levy financial penalties for poor performance. [64235]
  1484W
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 25 June 2002]: (a) The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) reviews its service standards regularly and accepts that it is currently not meeting these service standards. The CRB is confident that over the coming few weeks it will improve its performance and start to achieve its published service standards.

  The CRB has introduced a performance improvement plan and a number of short-term contingency measures to address this issue. The performance improvement plan includes:
  — Rapid recruitment and training of additional staff to meet productivity forecasts;
  — Additional resources to deal with the older applications;
  — Extensions to working hours to increase output
  — Revised procedures to deal with errors/omissions on applications forms. These remove such applications from mainstream processes thereby increasing the efficiency of processing both correctly completed applications and the exceptions;
  — Call Centre staffing levels are being significantly increased to cope with demand;
  — Incomplete or incorrectly completed application forms are being returned to the Registered Body for correction;

  The CRB has also introduced the following short-term contingency measures:
  — Outsourcing most of the backlog of applications to the data entry facility of Hays Plc in Chennai (Madras, India).
  — The CRB will carry out and issue the results of a List 99 check, for all teachers, in advance of a full Disclosure check.
  — The CRB has introduced a contingency plan to deliver a very limited number of manual criminal record checks.
  — Customers are kept informed of all service developments through their monthly newsletter, Registration Matters.
  — Letters have been issued to Lead Countersignatories about the situation.

  (b) The contract contains a series of Service Levels, which, in turn have liquidated damage (financial remedies) regimes attached to them. In short, failure by the contractor to achieve contracted Service Level results in financial remedies being applied by the Agency. It is not possible to reveal the liquidated damage regimes attached as they are "commercial in confidence".

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mobile phones were stolen in(a) Wales. (b) the North West, (c) Lancashire and (d) Ribble Valley in each year since 1997. [44047]

  Mr. John Denham
  The requested information is not collected centrally.

  Estimates of the number of mobile phone thefts in England and Wales as a whole in 2000–01 vary widely. depending on the source of the data used to produce the estimate. A recent research study "Mobile Phone Theft" (by Victoria Harrington and Pat Mayhew, Home Office Research Study 235) contained a number of estimates. On the basis of figures from six police forces extrapolated to England and Wales, there were an estimated 330,000 offences recorded by the police in 2000–01, while the best estimate from analysis of data from three surveys indicates that there were some 710,000 phone thefts occurring annually at this time.
  1485W
  We are working with the police and the mobile phone industry to reduce mobile phone robbery, undertaking public awareness campaigns and joint tracking exercises. Our discussions with the operators have recently borne fruit. By the summer all five of the main operators will be able to bar stolen handsets by reference to the unique IMEI number which identifies the handset. All of the operators are also working together to develop a shared database of stolen phones, which will allow them to disable stolen phones if there is an attempt to use them on a different network. We believe that this is a very important step forward, as it should remove one of the major incentives for robbery.

  Operators have also agreed to improve security as they invest in new systems. We are pressing the handset manufacturers for similar commitments. A start has been made, but more needs to be done before Britain's mobile phone system can lead the world in security. The mobile phone industry needs to show more interest in the security of phones they are selling to British consumers and, as the motor industry has done, do more to prevent their customers from becoming the victims of crime.

  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will prohibit the sale of separate SIM cards for mobile phones. [56274]

  Mr. John Denham
  There are no plans to prohibit the sale of separate SIM cards for mobile phones.

  Community Wardens
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the funding of community wardens in Chorley. [45871]

  Mr. John Denham
  There is no central Government funding for neighbourhood or street wardens' schemes in Chorley. As no applications were made from Chorley for funding under either the Neighbourhood Wardens' or Street Wardens' programme it was not possible for Government funding to be allocated.

  Burglary
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of whether the PSA target for the reduction in recorded burglary crime in households covered by burglary schemes will be met. [47407]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Following the latest spending review, our target for reducing burglary has been incorporated in a wider crime reduction Public Service Agreement (PSA) target:

  "Reduce crime and the fear of crime; improve performance overall, including by reducing the gap between the highest crime, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership areas and the best comparable areas; and reduce:
  vehicle crime by 30 per cent. from 1998–99 to 2004;
  domestic burglary by 25 per cent. from 1998–99 to 2005;
  robbery in the 10 Street Crime Initiative areas by 14 per cent. from 1999–00 to 2005;
  and maintain that level.
  1486W
  In the 12 months to March 2002, there was a reduction. of 9.1 per cent. in the numbers of recorded burglaries compared to March 1999. The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard appears to have had some impact on the recording of domestic burglary.

  The British Crime Surveys show that between 1999 and 2001, the estimated number of domestic burglaries in England and Wales (including those not reported to or recorded by the police) fell from 1.284 million in 1999 to 0.991 million in 2001—a reduction of 23 per cent.

  Maladministration
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments have been made to individuals following finding of maladministration by ombudsmen with responsibility for agencies under the remit of his Department; and what plans he has to review powers to increase the level of awards that can be made in the last 12 months. [47978]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Over the last 12 months, no payments to individuals in cases where the Parliamentary Ombudsmen or the Prison Service Ombudsman has completed an investigation and issued a formal report have been recorded for the United Kingdom Passport Service the Forensic Science Service or the Prison Service.

  The levels of awards made for maladministration are not subject to a tariff or statutory limit. All payments are based on the merits of individual cases.

  Police Strength
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which(a) divisions (i) of the Metropolitan Police and (ii) elsewhere and (b) constabularies outside the Metropolitan Police numbers are lower than in 1997. [52337]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 25 April 2002]: Information on police numbers within the territorial divisions of the Metropolitan Police and other police forces is not collected. On 31 January 2002 12 forces had fewer police officers than in March 1997. They are:

  Force

  Strength as at 31 January 2002

  Decrease since March 1997

  Bedfordshire

  1,077

  -17

  Cleveland

  1,437

  -22

  City of London

  740

  -119

  Cumbria

  1,117

  -27

  Lincolnshire

  1,190

  -6

  Merseyside

  4,113

  -117

  Metropolitan Police1

  25,878

  -799

  Nottinghamshire

  2,313

  -10

  Staffordshire

  2,109

  -102

  Sussex

  2,878

  -207

  West Mercia

  2,012

  -28

  West Yorkshire

  4,899

  -310

  1Comparisons between 31 March 1997 and 31 January 2002 in the Metropolitan Police are affected by boundary changes with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey in April 2000 when resources were transferred from the Metropolitan Police. Where police numbers are used in the police funding formula a reduction of 887 officers was applied.

  2These figures have not yet been validated and published by the Home Office.

  1487W
  In March 2001 more than half of all the forces (24) had fewer officers than in March 1997. The Crime Fighting Fund has been a major contributory factor in improving the position.

  Today there is a recorded number of police officers in England and Wales and we are on target to have more than 130,000 by April 2003.

  Child Protection
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when guidelines will be issued for police authorities on child sex abuse cases; and if copies of the guidelines will be published. [51632]

  Mr. John Denham
  Much guidance relevant to this subject has already been issued by successive governments to the police and other agencies responsible for the protection of children. Inter-agency guidance on the management of complex child abuse investigations was published on 13 June. Copies have been placed in the Library and it is also available on the Home Office website.

  Professor Michael Barber
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Professor Michael Barber will produce his report on ways to curb mugging; and if he will make a statement. [51213]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 19 April 2002]: My officials have been working with the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (PMDU) on a variety of issues.

  The PMDU has been working with my officials on street crime. The Street Crime Action Group has been convened by my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to tackle the problem. Announcements have already been made on video ID, fast tracking robbery through the court.

  Criminal Justice Revenue (Expenditure)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his statement of 17 April 2002,Official Report, column 589, how much of the £100 million drawn down from the criminal justice revenue for addressing street crime, policing and counter-terrorism has been spent. [52440]

  Mr. John Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the member for Milton Keynes South West (Dr. Phyllis Starkey) on 1 May 2002,Official Report, column 822W. Of the funds allocated to the Home Office from the Criminal Justice Reserve, £10.7 million has been spent to date.

  HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and by what means the latest vacant position within Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary was advertised; how many applications there were for the post; what short-listing process was used; how many candidates were called to an interview; and if the guidelines for public appointments apply in appointments to HMIC. [53771]
  1488W
  Mr. John Denham
  The Director General of the Policing and Crime Reduction Group (PCRG) wrote on 10 October 2001 to all chief constables and equivalent office holders in the United Kingdom inviting expressions of interest in two forthcoming vacancies for Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary posts. Four applications were received. A selection panel comprising the Director General of PCRG, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and an independent member considered the applications and decided to invite all the applicants to interview.

  Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary are appointed by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the Home Secretary under section 54(1) of the Police Act 1996. They do not come within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were per 1,000 population in the London area in(a) March 1997 and (b) September 2001. [27643]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 15 Junary 2002]: The figures set out in the table are form the two forces that police Greater London, the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police.

  Year

  Combined strength of Metropolitan Police and City of London Police

  Police officers per 1,000 of population

  31 March 1997

  27,536

  3.61

  30 September 2001

  26,073

  3.531

  31 January 20022

  26,618

  3.611

  1Boundary changes on 1 April 2000 with Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey forces reduced the population of London by around 540,000.

  2These figures have not yet been validated and published by the Home Office.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) police civilian staff are employed by the Metropolitan Police. [54199]

  Mr. John Denham
  I am told by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (Sir John Stevens QPM) that on 31 January the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) had 25,878 full-time equivalent police officers which is 1,000 more than in March 2001. This is the largest increase in a single financial year in the Metropolitan Police for more than 20 years. In addition there were 10,240 civilian support staff, 93 more than in March 2001.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the ratio of police officers to notifiable offences in each English police force for each of the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [56228]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 21 May 2002]: The requested details are given in the tables. There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which increased the total number of crimes counted in each police force area.
  1489W

  The number of crimes recorded by the police per Police Officer

  1982

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  Avon and Somerset

  23

  23

  25

  27

  32

  34

  33

  33

  41

  50

  Bedfordshire

  33

  33

  35

  36

  40

  41

  40

  40

  51

  52

  Cambridgeshire

  28

  27

  27

  29

  29

  30

  29

  31

  37

  48

  Cheshire

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  28

  27

  26

  30

  35

  Cleveland

  31

  31

  34

  35

  40

  41

  40

  41

  50

  52

  Cumbria

  20

  21

  23

  25

  27

  26

  24

  25

  29

  38

  Derbyshire

  27

  27

  28

  27

  27

  26

  24

  27

  34

  43

  Devon and Cornwall

  22

  22

  23

  25

  26

  27

  26

  27

  32

  38

  Dorset

  26

  27

  28

  30

  31

  32

  29

  32

  38

  40

  Durham

  28

  28

  33

  34

  34

  34

  33

  34

  40

  48

  Essex*

  24

  25

  25

  26

  28

  28

  26

  28

  34

  38

  Gloucestershire

  21

  21

  22

  25

  26

  30

  29

  30

  36

  48

  Greater Manchester

  35

  36

  40

  43

  47

  47

  42

  42

  48

  54

  Hampshire

  27

  27

  29

  30

  32

  32

  30

  31

  38

  45

  Hertfordshire*

  26

  24

  26

  26

  27

  27

  25

  25

  28

  33

  Humberside

  32

  31

  33

  39

  42

  45

  44

  46

  52

  59

  Kent

  23

  23

  25

  26

  26

  27

  27

  28

  35

  46

  Lancashire

  24

  24

  25

  26

  29

  30

  31

  28

  34

  38

  Leicestershire

  25

  25

  26

  28

  28

  30

  29

  31

  41

  49

  Lincolnshire

  21

  22

  23

  27

  28

  30

  28

  30

  33

  37

  London, City of

  8

  8

  9

  9

  10

  10

  8

  9

  9

  9

  Merseyside

  31

  31

  34

  34

  37

  36

  31

  29

  30

  32

  Metropolitan Police*

  27

  25

  27

  27

  29

  27

  26

  27

  29

  33

  Norfolk

  28

  28

  27

  30

  32

  32

  32

  33

  40

  46

  Northamptonshire

  31

  31

  33

  35

  37

  38

  35

  36

  43

  51

  Northumbria

  41

  41

  45

  49

  49

  51

  46

  52

  58

  64

  North Yorkshire

  22

  21

  23

  27

  26

  28

  25

  26

  34

  37

  Nottinghamshire

  40

  38

  40

  42

  43

  44

  43

  46

  57

  64

  South Yorkshire

  27

  28

  32

  30

  32

  33

  31

  32

  37

  42

  Staffordshire

  22

  23

  24

  25

  27

  27

  27

  27

  33

  39

  Suffolk

  21

  22

  23

  24

  27

  27

  25

  27

  32

  33

  Surrey*

  18

  18

  19

  19

  20

  20

  20

  21

  26

  30

  Sussex

  21

  21

  23

  24

  24

  24

  23

  26

  32

  38

  Thames Valley

  30

  30

  32

  33

  36

  34

  31

  34

  40

  50

  Warwickshire

  22

  22

  24

  24

  25

  26

  24

  26

  34

  40

  West Mercia

  25

  25

  26

  26

  27

  27

  26

  27

  32

  37

  West Midlands

  33

  33

  36

  37

  41

  40

  36

  34

  39

  44

  West Yorkshire

  31

  30

  33

  34

  34

  36

  34

  36

  45

  56

  Wiltshire

  24

  24

  26

  27

  27

  26

  24

  25

  30

  34

  *These forces were affected by the boundary changes which took place in April 2000

  The number of crimes recorded by the police per Police Officer

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  Avon and Somerset

  57

  57

  55

  51

  53

  48

  49

  50

  50

  50

  Bedfordshire

  54

  50

  46

  45

  46

  43

  42

  47

  52

  48

  Cambridgeshire

  53

  52

  49

  54

  56

  46

  46

  53

  56

  50

  Cheshire

  42

  42

  39

  38

  33

  30

  30

  31

  32

  32

  Cleveland

  57

  53

  57

  55

  55

  44

  43

  47

  46

  46

  Cumbria

  38

  37

  36

  35

  36

  31

  31

  36

  35

  31

  Derbyshire

  52

  50

  47

  46

  45

  41

  42

  48

  48

  45

  Devon and Cornwall

  40

  42

  38

  36

  36

  33

  31

  38

  39

  35

  Dorset

  41

  40

  43

  42

  39

  34

  33

  41

  40

  37

  Durham

  48

  49

  47

  43

  37

  33

  31

  32

  31

  28

  Essex*

  40

  39

  36

  34

  35

  30

  31

  33

  37

  37

  Gloucestershire

  52

  53

  52

  48

  47

  42

  42

  44

  46

  43

  Greater Manchester

  56

  52

  49

  47

  47

  44

  45

  53

  55

  53

  Hampshire

  48

  45

  43

  41

  41

  36

  35

  37

  40

  39

  Hertfordshire*

  35

  33

  33

  33

  32

  28

  28

  29

  30

  33

  Humberside

  64

  69

  67

  63

  62

  59

  61

  66

  63

  58

  Kent

  52

  51

  49

  50

  47

  38

  37

  40

  39

  39

  Lancashire

  41

  42

  40

  39

  39

  37

  36

  36

  34

  36

  Leicestershire

  53

  55

  54

  51

  49

  42

  41

  47

  47

  43

  Lincolnshire

  41

  44

  40

  40

  41

  36

  35

  41

  41

  37

  London, City of

  8

  7

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  9

  11

  12

  Merseyside

  32

  30

  29

  33

  33

  30

  30

  33

  36

  35

  Metropolitan Police*

  33

  33

  31

  30

  31

  30

  30

  36

  41

  40

  Norfolk

  47

  45

  39

  37

  39

  37

  37

  41

  43

  40

  Northamptonshire

  51

  50

  49

  49

  50

  46

  46

  58

  55

  49

  Northumbria

  65

  60

  57

  54

  46

  38

  36

  39

  38

  35

  North Yorkshire

  39

  42

  47

  49

  43

  38

  37

  41

  42

  40

  Nottinghamshire

  71

  68

  66

  65

  62

  55

  54

  61

  62

  61

  1490W 1491W

  The number of crimes recorded by the police per Police Officer

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–00

  2000–01

  South Yorkshire

  46

  52

  52

  51

  49

  41

  40

  42

  42

  39

  Staffordshire

  45

  45

  42

  41

  42

  41

  39

  41

  46

  49

  Suffolk

  37

  35

  33

  32

  33

  30

  30

  34

  38

  39

  Surrey*

  31

  31

  28

  26

  26

  24

  24

  26

  26

  31

  Sussex

  40

  37

  36

  38

  38

  36

  37

  46

  48

  48

  Thames Valley

  52

  52

  48

  46

  47

  43

  41

  47

  51

  51

  Warwickshire

  45

  45

  41

  38

  40

  39

  39

  42

  43

  40

  West Mercia

  39

  40

  41

  39

  41

  38

  37

  40

  45

  40

  West Midlands

  47

  47

  45

  45

  44

  39

  39

  43

  51

  49

  West Yorkshire

  60

  60

  57

  56

  52

  47

  47

  55

  54

  54

  Wiltshire

  35

  33

  30

  29

  29

  29

  28

  33

  34

  33

  *These forces were affected by the boundary changes which took place in April 2000

  The figures in the table are calculated using the total of recorded crimes for the year in question (calendar up to 1997, and years ending March thereafter) and full-time equivalent numbers of police officers as at 31 March in that year (for years ending March, this is at the end of the year in question).

  Hertfordshire Constabulary
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the strength of the Hertfordshire constabulary was on(a) 1 May 1997, (b) 1 April 2000, (c) 1 April 2001 and (d) the latest date for which figures are available. [54616]

  Mr. John Denham
  Information on police strength is normally collected twice a year (31 March and 30 September). The latest available strength figure collected by the Home Office is for 31 January 2002. Police numbers for Hertfordshire are set out in the table.

  Hertfordshire Constabulary

  Year (as at 31 March)

  Police Strength

  1997

  1,759

  2000

  1,767

  20011

  1,922

  2002 (31 January)2

  1,851

  1Boundary changes with the Metropolitan Police contributed to the significant increase in police numbers between 2000 and 2001.

  2These figures have not yet been validated and published by the Home Office.

  Anti-crime Agencies
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the roles of(a) the Special Branch of Scotland Yard, (b) NCIS and (c) NCS in combating organised crime. [58359]

  Mr. John Denham
  Special Branch does not have a specific remit to tackle serious and organised crime.

  The National Crime Intelligence Service (NCIS) has a United Kingdom-wide remit to develop intelligence to combat serious and organised crime, providing both tactical and strategic intelligence and expertise for law enforcement, government and other relevant agencies at a national and international level. It houses the UK Central Bureau for Interpol and the Europol National Unit.
  1492W
  The National Crime Squad's role in England and Wales is to conduct operations against serious and organised crime. NCS works closely with NCIS, other agencies including the National Investigation Service of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and police forces.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions between 31 March 2001 and 31 March 2002(a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost. [58722]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to Mr. Burns on 9 July 2002,Official Report, column 891W.

  In addition, two official visits have been made by Special Advisers to the United States since 1997. One in August 2000 at a total cost of £2,117 and the other in August 2001 at a total cost of £2,900.

  The advisor on international drug issues (who was employed on Special Adviser terms) has visited Belgium, Romania and the Czech Republic on official business at an average cost of £1,094 per trip.

  Information for the period beyond March 2002 will be available in due course.

  Funding (Luton, South)
  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what moneys have been provided(a) directly and (b) via agencies for which the Department has responsibility to the Luton, South constituency since 1997. [58592]

  Mr. John Denham
  It is not possible to account for all funds directed to recipients in the Luton South constituency because funds are not allocated on the basis of Parliamentary Constituencies. However, I am pleased to publish the table showing the following grants made to organisations in Luton in the last years as shown. This demonstrates a substantiated investment in Luton by the Home Office.
  1493W

  Project

  Year

  Amount £

  Community Projects

  "Luton Lives"—an Active

  1999–00

  112,500

  Community demonstration project

  2000–01

  270,000

  2001–02

  250,456

  2002–03

  177,044 (to be paid)

  "Active Dads" pilot project.

  1999–00

  22,700

  Run by the Community

  2000–01

  2,500

  Education Development

  Centre

  Summer Activities

  2001–02

  59,360

  Section 11 grants*

  Luton Borough Council

  1997–98

  1,397,592

  1998–99

  1,433,919

  Stopley High School

  1997–98

  5,714

  1998–99

  5,862

  Luton Sixth Form College

  1997–98

  1,465,183

  1998–99

  1,503,267

  *Department For Education and Skills (DFES) took over responsibility for Section II from 99–2000

  Asylum Support Payments to Luton BC

  1999–2000

  1,825,718

  Adults and Families

  2000–01

  4,459,838

  2001–02

  4,182,727

  2000–01

  217,412

  Unaccompanied Asylum

  2001–02

  210,079

  Seeking Children (UASC)

  Crime Reduction

  Programme

  Close Circuit Television projects

  1999–02

  180,229

  Bury Park, Dunstable Road

  1999–02

  111,537

  Leagrave Railway

  1999–02

  68,343

  Luton Railway

  1999–02

  166,000

  Luton National Health

  1999–02

  272,680

  Service

  Hockwell Ring

  1999–02

  55,243

  Luton Town Centre Car

  1999–02

  704,880

  Park

  Luton Town Centre

  Reducing Burglary Initiative

  Luton Dallow Ward

  1999–02

  70,200

  Four Wards, Biscot, High Town

  1999–02

  78,100

  Lewsey and South Wards

  Small Retailers in deprived areas

  1999–02

  18,378

  Safer Luton-Wards Dallow and Biscot

  2001–02

  208,800

  2002–03

  208,800

  Communities against drugs

  2000–01

  10,000

  2001–02

  69,841

  Partnership development fund

  2002–03

  83,146

  Safer communities initiative

  University of Luton Research Projects

  Sex Victims Project

  1997–00

  74,338

  Evaluation of Round 2 Targeted Policing: Drugs and Vice in the London Borough of Haringey

  2001–02

  85,810

  Evaluation of Crime Reducation Programme (CRP) Tackling Crime and Disorder associated with Prostitution Initiative-Young People Group

  2001–02

  79,740

  Drugs Projects

  Drug Action Team Development Funding: Luton Primary Care Trust

  2001–02

  45,497

  Drug Prevention Advisory Service Grant: Luton Primary Care Trust

  2001–02

  8,500

  Communities Against Drugs: Drug Action Team Grant

  2001–02

  31,497

  1494W

  Data Protection
  Harry Cohen
  (1) To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the kinds of public authorities likely to be granted access to communications data; how frequently he estimates each kind of organisation will seek access to communications data; and if he will make a statement. [59258]

  (2) if he will introduce an amendment to (a) the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and (b) the Code of Practice in relation to Communications Data to prohibit the subsequent onward disclosure of communications data to third parties which are not authorised directly by him to receive such data; and if he will make a statement. [59264]

  (3) under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, how many times the Metropolitan Police Force sought access to communications data in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [59257]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Interception of Communications Act 1985 did not provide for access to communications data. The Metropolitan Police made approximately 127,000 separate requests for communication data under the Data Protection Act 1998 in the last year. The access to communications data provisions in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) have not yet been implemented.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, has withdrawn the order made under s.25(1) of RIPA adding a number of other public authorities to the access to communications provisions in the Act to allow for wider consultation before bringing forward new proposals.

  Chapter II of Part I of RIPA deals with the acquisition of data. The subsequent use made of that data is regulated by the Data Protection Act 1998 and by the statutes governing the Intelligence agencies.

  Community Policing
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what national standards exist on the local implementation and monitoring of community policing. [60634]

  Mr. John Denham
  The Government is committed to ensuring that policing services meet the needs of the local community. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Police Standards Unit monitor policing at a local as well as at force level. Police authorities are also required to publish information about their performance against a range of Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs), including those that address community issues such as police visibility and public satisfaction with the standards of service they receive from their local force.

  The Police Reform Act 2002 contains a number of radical measures which will increase and enhance the police service's visibility in the community, including the introduction of Community Support Officers.

  Police Communications
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department has taken in light of the report by the Trade and Industry Committee on testing of the police communications radio system. [60529]
  1496W
  Mr. John Denham
  Prior to the Trade and Industry Committee report on Mobile Phone Masts the Home Office had asked the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) to assess the health and safety aspects of the TETRA technology used by Airwave. The NRPB report concluded that it is unlikely that the unique features of TETRA pose a hazard to health. The Home Office has nonetheless set up a comprehensive research programme to ensure that any residual health and safety covers that has been revised by forces and users are addressed.

  Offender Assessment System
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total costs have been of introducing the Offender Assessment System for the prison and probation service; what estimates he has made of the time required for prison and probation officers to carry out assessments under the OASYS; how his Department proposes to monitor the effectiveness of the OASYS; and if he will make a statement. [62267]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Offender Assessment System (OASys) has not been fully introduced into the Prison and Probation services. The National Probation Service has started implementation of paper-based Offender assessments, while the Prison Service is intending to roll out on a computer-based system from April 2003.

  The combined development costs for OASys from 1999–2002 are approximately £883,000. The cost to the National Probation Service of implementing the paper-based system for the financial year was approximately £173,000.

  It has been estimated that on average it will take, on paper, 210 minutes for a Probation Officer and, electronically, 315 minutes for a Prison Officer to complete an initial OASys assessment.

  OASys effectiveness will be monitored through comprehensive Management Information Systems developed by each service and when OASys is bedded in, performance targets for both services will be defined and monitored. The OASys Central Research Unit will continue to carry out investigations into the validity and reliability of the OASys system as well as the effectiveness of interventions designed and implemented across the Services. In addition, independent evaluation will be carried out or managed by the Home Office Research. Development and Statistics Directorate.

  Price Standards
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information the Standards Unit has requested from(a) police forces and (b) basic command units within police forces; and if he will make a statement. [61179]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 13 June 2002]: Following discussions between the Home Office, including the Police Standards Unit (PSU), and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the police service have provided data on recorded crime and detections at force and Basic Command Unit (BCU) level on a monthly basis from 1 April this year. To serve as a basis for comparison of performance against previous
  1497W
  periods and the monitoring of trends, the Police Standards Unit has also asked that forces submit backdated monthly data for 2000–01 and 2001–02.

  PSU have also contributed to the work of the Home Office's Street Crime Action Team (SCAT). As part of their monitoring role. SCAT require weekly performance indication from BCUs in 10 urban forces on levels of robbery, snatch theft, car-jacking and criminal firearms offences.

  PSU have of course been in contact with a wide range of forces and BCUs over the past year as part of its overall programme of work.

  Prison name

  Target 2001–02

  Average weekly hours 2001–02

  Education

  Work

  Resettlement

  Other

  Acklington

  25

  23.2

  5.0

  15.4

  2.5

  0.3

  Albany

  24

  24.2

  5.3

  15.0

  1.3

  2.6

  Altcourse

  31.7

  34.3

  7.3

  19.9

  6.9

  0.1

  Ashfield

  30

  27.1

  11.9

  10.3

  4.3

  0.5

  Ashwell

  32

  31.7

  9.2

  18.2

  3.8

  0.4

  Askham Grange

  39

  41.1

  6.6

  15.0

  6.7

  12.8

  Aylesbury

  22

  17.4

  6.8

  6.8

  2.0

  1.8

  Bedford

  21

  19.8

  3.9

  14.8

  0.9

  0.2

  Belmarsh

  15

  11.0

  2.9

  5.6

  2.1

  0.3

  Birmingham

  16

  19.3

  3.4

  13.5

  1.8

  0.5

  Blakenhurst

  23

  18.9

  4.4

  12.0

  2.1

  0.5

  Blantyre House

  40

  49.0

  9.9

  10.2

  9.2

  19.7

  Blundeston

  26

  25.8

  8.0

  14.6

  2.1

  1.1

  Brinsford

  22

  27.5

  10.9

  11.6

  3.6

  1.3

  Bristol

  21

  21.1

  3.0

  15.8

  1.7

  0.5

  Brixton

  16

  16.6

  1.9

  11.3

  2.1

  1.3

  Brockhill

  22

  18.2

  6.8

  8.8

  1.7

  0.9

  Buckley Hall

  35

  30.3

  9.2

  16.6

  1.8

  2.5

  Bullingdon

  17

  13.8

  4.1

  6.6

  2.8

  0.3

  Bullwood Hall

  25

  27.2

  12.1

  12.4

  2.0

  0.7

  Camp Hill

  23

  21.4

  7.2

  10.2

  3.5

  0.5

  Canterbury

  18.5

  18.0

  5.4

  10.4

  1.5

  0.7

  Cardiff

  23

  20.4

  3.4

  13.8

  2.7

  0.4

  Castington

  25

  25.1

  15.3

  7.0

  2.0

  0.7

  Channings Wood

  32

  33.5

  6.1

  13.5

  13.3

  0.4

  Chelmsford

  20

  18.8

  4.1

  11.5

  2.9

  0.2

  Coldingley

  40

  38.2

  7.8

  25.8

  3.8

  0.8

  Cookham Wood

  25

  22.0

  5.4

  14.6

  1.3

  0.6

  Dartmoor

  22

  21.6

  4.8

  13.1

  2.1

  1.6

  Deerbolt

  23

  21.1

  11.8

  7.0

  2.0

  0.3

  Doncaster

  18

  20.1

  5.8

  12.2

  1.8

  0.2

  Dorchester

  20

  15.7

  5.4

  9.1

  0.9

  0.3

  Dovegate

  35

  27.5

  6.1

  17.1

  3.9

  0.4

  Dover

  28

  27.3

  10.0

  10.0

  6.1

  1.0

  Downview

  25

  23.7

  5.9

  10.0

  5.2

  2.7

  Drake Hall

  35.7

  35.8

  6.4

  21.5

  7.2

  0.7

  Durham

  19

  20.3

  4.5

  12.3

  3.2

  0.3

  East Sutton Park

  39

  42.0

  6.9

  24.4

  3.6

  6.9

  Eastwood Park

  18

  19.4

  4.3

  13.0

  1.1

  0.9

  Elmley

  22

  18.6

  4.4

  11.8

  1.9

  0.6

  Erlestoke

  28.5

  27.9

  8.4

  14.9

  3.8

  0.6

  Everthorpe

  27

  28.0

  9.5

  15.0

  3.0

  0.4

  Exeter

  21

  22.9

  4.6

  16.2

  1.7

  0.3

  Featherstone

  24.5

  24.2

  5.6

  16.8

  1.4

  0.4

  Feltham

  12.5

  24.7

  11.3

  8.7

  4.0

  0.4

  Ford

  40

  39.8

  6.2

  21.4

  7.3

  4.8

  Forest Bank

  25

  21.7

  6.0

  12.5

  2.5

  0.8

  Foston Hall

  25.5

  25.4

  7.6

  14.9

  2.4

  0.6

  Frankland

  22

  20.9

  6.7

  11.8

  2.0

  0.4

  Full Sutton

  18.5

  17.4

  3.1

  10.4

  1.4

  2.4

  Garth

  22

  23.4

  7.0

  10.7

  5.3

  0.4

  Gartree

  30

  30.5

  8.3

  17.3

  4.3

  0.6

  Glen Parva

  18.5

  18.2

  6.0

  9.8

  1.9

  0.5

  Gloucester

  30

  20.5

  7.3

  11.0

  1.8

  0.5

  Prisons
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the key performance targets are for training in each prison, broken down by category; and to what extent those targets have been met in the last 12 months for which information is available. [62379]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Prisons agree an annual target for the average number of hours per week that prisoners should spend in purposeful activity. This includes activities aimed at reducing crime such as work, education and resettlement. Targets are not set separately for each component part of the measure.

  The 2001–02 targets for each prison, with actual performance analysed by broad heading are given in the table. Figures are subject to rounding.
  1499W

  Prison name

  Target 2001–02

  Average weekly hours 2001–02

  Education

  Work

  Resettlement

  Other

  Grendon

  36

  35.6

  4.8

  11.6

  8.3

  10.7

  Guys Marsh

  24

  22.6

  5.3

  13.4

  2.5

  1.4

  Haslar

  18

  15.2

  5.9

  7.2

  0.7

  1.4

  Hatfield

  36

  37.1

  14.2

  14.8

  5.3

  2.9

  Haverigg

  33

  31.1

  8.9

  20.3

  1.2

  0.6

  Hewell Grange

  42

  42.6

  10.7

  26.0

  5.0

  0.9

  High Down

  17.5

  15.9

  4.7

  7.6

  2.1

  1.4

  Highpoint

  22

  18.9

  5.0

  11.4

  1.8

  0.7

  Hindley

  30

  20.5

  8.3

  10.9

  0.8

  0.4

  Hollesley Bay

  34.5

  36.5

  14.7

  14.7

  3.3

  3.7

  Holloway

  15

  20.3

  6.2

  6.5

  4.8

  2.9

  Holme House

  17

  15.5

  4.9

  7.7

  2.5

  0.2

  Hull

  22

  20.5

  6.3

  11.3

  2.2

  0.7

  Huntercombe

  30

  26.7

  10.9

  9.0

  6.0

  0.8

  Kingston

  24

  24.3

  6.4

  16.2

  1.1

  0.6

  Kirkham

  43

  43.4

  7.6

  29.5

  4.9

  1.2

  Kirklevington

  52

  51.6

  8.1

  10.8

  7.6

  25.2

  Lancaster

  26

  24.8

  9.4

  8.7

  6.0

  0.7

  Lancaster Farms

  24

  22.6

  12.2

  5.5

  3.8

  1.0

  Latchmere House

  64

  61.2

  2.4

  14.5

  44.1

  0.1

  Leeds

  20

  18.7

  4.1

  10.6

  1.7

  2.3

  Leicester

  20

  21.0

  5.7

  11.4

  2.5

  1.4

  Lewes

  19.5

  18.6

  4.7

  11.8

  1.6

  0.4

  Leyhill

  39

  37.8

  8.2

  19.0

  7.1

  3.3

  Lincoln

  24

  18.6

  3.4

  13.9

  1.1

  0.2

  Lindholme

  28

  27.7

  6.5

  13.9

  4.2

  3.0

  Littlehey

  25

  23.1

  6.9

  13.9

  2.0

  0.2

  Liverpool

  25

  17.7

  3.5

  12.9

  1.1

  0.2

  Long Lartin

  19

  18.3

  5.2

  11.9

  0.9

  0.3

  Low Newton

  24.5

  23.7

  6.8

  12.3

  4.4

  0.2

  Lowdham Grange

  24

  27.2

  2.3

  22.1

  1.0

  1.8

  Maidstone

  26

  21.0

  5.7

  13.2

  1.5

  0.4

  Manchester

  21

  19.7

  3.4

  12.7

  3.3

  0.2

  Moorland

  26

  25.0

  10.9

  11.3

  2.4

  0.3

  Morton Hall

  36

  30.7

  8.1

  20.4

  1.5

  0.5

  Mount

  22

  20.0

  5.6

  12.6

  1.2

  0.5

  New Hall

  24

  22.9

  6.5

  13.0

  2.2

  1.1

  North Sea Camp

  42

  42.2

  8.1

  25.8

  3.7

  4.5

  Northallerton

  18

  22.1

  10.9

  7.9

  1.9

  1.3

  Norwich

  20

  18.9

  4.2

  11.5

  2.7

  0.6

  Nottingham

  19.5

  17.2

  3.0

  11.3

  1.6

  1.3

  Onley

  23

  18.0

  7.8

  8.2

  1.4

  0.7

  Parc

  35

  26.8

  7.4

  15.8

  3.2

  0.4

  Parkhurst

  21

  19.1

  5.0

  12.0

  1.6

  0.3

  Pentonville

  19

  15.0

  2.2

  10.7

  1.1

  1.0

  Portland

  24

  24.5

  9.2

  7.9

  6.9

  0.5

  Preston

  21.5

  21.1

  5.5

  13.3

  1.7

  0.5

  Ranby

  27

  23.6

  7.2

  15.3

  0.7

  0.5

  Reading

  26

  24.4

  5.2

  1.7

  4.0

  13.5

  Risley

  25

  25.2

  6.9

  15.6

  2.1

  0.5

  Rochester

  22

  23.0

  4.4

  9.5

  6.8

  2.3

  Rye Hill

  35

  29.4

  9.2

  17.8

  1.8

  0.4

  Send

  30

  31.4

  5.9

  13.8

  11.0

  0.7

  Shepton Mallet

  27

  22.9

  7.1

  11.2

  3.8

  0.9

  Shrewsbury

  23

  23.8

  4.9

  15.2

  3.3

  0.3

  Stafford

  30

  26.4

  8.2

  15.5

  1.7

  0.9

  Standford Hill

  41

  39.6

  8.9

  21.5

  6.6

  2.6

  Stocken

  25

  23.2

  7.1

  13.9

  1.6

  0.6

  Stoke Heath

  29

  25.8

  10.4

  11.1

  2.9

  1.3

  Styal

  25.5

  24.9

  7.5

  13.2

  1.9

  2.1

  Sudbury

  41

  41.5

  8.8

  24.0

  5.5

  3.2

  Swaleside

  25

  24.3

  7.1

  13.3

  2.4

  1.5

  Swansea

  20

  22.0

  4.1

  14.9

  1.6

  1.4

  Swinfen Hall

  29

  28.0

  12.0

  11.2

  3.6

  1.2

  Thorn Cross

  42

  43.9

  17.9

  14.4

  6.9

  4.7

  Usk

  36

  37.9

  15.1

  18.4

  3.6

  0.7

  Verne

  28

  28.4

  8.1

  18.8

  1.5

  0.0

  Wakefield

  20

  18.2

  5.4

  10.7

  1.6

  0.4

  Wandsworth

  19

  17.1

  5.8

  9.8

  0.9

  0.6

  Wayland

  24.5

  20.8

  8.6

  9.9

  1.4

  1.0

  Wealstun

  33

  32.6

  11.9

  15.3

  4.5

  0.8

  Weare

  20

  18.8

  7.6

  9.0

  1.8

  0.3

  Wellingborough

  28

  28.1

  11.7

  11.7

  3.8

  0.9

  1500W 1501W

  Prison name

  Target 2001–02

  Average weekly hours 2001–02

  Education

  Work

  Resettlement

  Other

  Werrington

  35

  32.5

  21.7

  5.8

  4.6

  0.3

  Wetherby

  30

  27.1

  10.9

  11.6

  4.3

  0.3

  Whatton

  30

  30.6

  8.7

  19.3

  2.1

  0.5

  Whitemoor

  20

  20.2

  6.7

  10.6

  2.3

  0.5

  Winchester

  19

  19.0

  3.7

  12.3

  2.4

  0.5

  Wolds

  28

  28.3

  11.1

  14.8

  1.7

  0.7

  Woodhill

  20

  16.0

  6.0

  6.4

  3.0

  0.6

  Wormwood Scrubs

  21

  18.5

  4.2

  9.6

  2.7

  1.9

  Wymott

  28

  27.7

  4.9

  8.5

  2.4

  1.1

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total annual budget was in each of the last five years, for the inspection of Her Majesty's prisons. [62368]

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections were carried out in each of Her Majesty's prisons in each of the last five years. [62290]

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by or seconded to the Inspectorate of Her Majesty's prisons in each of the last five years. [62289]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The number of staff employed by or seconded to HM Inspectorate of Prisons since 1997–98 is as follows:

  1997–98

  27

  1998–99

  24

  1999–2000

  24

  2000–01

  26

  2001–02

  26

  Because of re-organisation within the Department it is not possible to dis-aggregate the budget for the inspectorate before 1999–00. The budget for that and succeeding years was:

  £

  1999–2000

  773,000

  2000–01

  896,000

  2001–02

  1,260,000

  Details of prison inspections carried out between 1997–98 and 2001–02 per prison establishment are set out in the attached table. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, prisons are not normally inspected more than once a year.

  Number of inspections taken place between 1997–98 and 2001–02

  Establishment

  No. of inspections

  Establishment

  No. of inspections

  Acklington

  1

  Frankland

  2

  Albany

  1

  Full Sutton

  0

  Altcourse

  1

  Garth

  2

  Ashfield

  1

  Gartree

  1

  Ashwell

  1

  Glen Parva

  4

  Askham Grange

  2

  Gloucester

  2

  Aylesbury

  1

  Grendon/Springhill

  1

  Bedford

  1

  Guys Marsh

  1

  Belmarsh

  2

  Haslar

  2

  Birmingham

  2

  Hatfield

  1

  Blakenhurst

  3

  Haverigg

  2

  Blantyre House

  1

  Newell Grange

  2

  Blundeston

  2

  Highdown

  2

  Brinsford

  2

  Highpoint

  2

  Bristol

  2

  Hindley

  2

  1502W

  Number of inspections taken place between 1997–98 and 2001–02

  Establishment

  No. of inspections

  Establishment

  No. of inspections

  Brixton

  2

  Hollesley Bay

  2

  Brockhill

  4

  Holloway

  2

  Bullingdon

  0

  Holme House

  1

  Bullwood Hall

  2

  Hull

  0

  Camp Hill

  1

  Huntercombe

  2

  Canterbury

  2

  Kingston

  2

  Cardiff

  2

  Kirkham

  2

  Castington

  3

  Kirklevington Grange

  1

  Channings Wood

  1

  Lancaster Castle

  1

  Chelmsford

  3

  Lancaster Farms

  1

  Coldingley

  1

  Latchmere House

  1

  Cookham Wood

  2

  Leeds

  1

  Dartmoor

  2

  Leicester

  2

  Deerbolt

  1

  Lewes

  2

  Doncaster

  2

  Leyhill

  1

  Dorchester

  3

  Lincoln

  2

  Dovegate

  0

  Lindholme

  2

  Dover

  0

  Littlehey

  1

  Downy iew

  1

  Liverpool

  1

  Drake Hall

  1

  Long Lartin

  2

  Durham

  1

  Lowdham Grange

  1

  East Sutton Park

  1

  Low Newton

  2

  Eastwood Park

  3

  Maidstone

  1

  Elmley

  2

  Manchester

  2

  Erlestoke

  3

  Moorland

  1

  Everthorpe

  1

  Morton Hall

  0

  Exeter

  3

  Mount (The)

  1

  Featherstone

  2

  New Hall

  2

  Feltham

  4

  Northallerton

  2

  Ford

  2

  North Sea Camp

  1

  Forest Bank

  0

  Norwich

  1

  Poston Hall

  1

  Nottingham

  2

  Onley

  2

  Swaleside

  0

  Parc

  2

  Swansea

  2

  Parkhurst

  1

  Swinfen Hall

  2

  Pentonville

  2

  Thom Cross

  1

  Portland

  3

  Usk and Prescoed

  2

  Preston

  2

  Verne (The)

  1

  Ranby

  1

  Wakefield

  1

  Reading

  2

  Wandsworth

  2

  Risley

  2

  Wayland

  2

  Rochester

  1

  Wealstun

  1

  Rye Hill

  0

  Weare (The)

  2

  Send

  2

  Wellingborough

  2

  Shepton Mallet

  1

  Werrington

  2

  Shrewsbury

  2

  Wetherby

  1

  (Spring Hill)

  Whatton

  1

  combined with

  Whitemoor

  1

  Grendon

  1

  Winchester

  2

  Stafford

  2

  Wolds (The)

  2

  Standford Hill

  1

  Woodhill

  2

  Stocken

  1

  Wormwood Scrubs

  3

  Stoke Heath

  3

  Wymott

  2

  Styal

  2

  Sudbury

  2

  Freemasons
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to require freemasons working in the police and criminal justice system to register their membership publicly; and if he will make a statement. [62394]
  1503W
  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 18 June 2002]: Voluntary arrangements for the declaration of freemasonry membership have been established for the judiciary, the police, Prison Service and other parts of the criminal justice system. The Government has made no decisions about the format of and arrangements for public access to any registers.

  Bigamy
  Phil Sawford
  (1) To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of bigamy were dealt with in British courts in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and how many resulted in a conviction. [63858]

  (2) how many people convicted of bigamy in British courts were sentenced to a term in prison in each of the past five years for which figures are available; and what was the average length of sentence. [63859]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The information requested. relating to England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2000, is given in the table.

  Statistics for 2001 will be available in the autumn.

  Persons proceeded against, convicted, sentenced to imprisonment and average sentence length at all courts for offences of bigamy1, England and Wales 1996 to 2000

  Year

  Proceeded against

  Convicted

  Total

  Sentenced to imprisonment Average sentence length (months)

  1996

  18

  16

  6

  11.5

  1997

  22

  16

  4

  4.7

  1998

  30

  18

  10

  7.9

  1999

  40

  28

  14

  5.6

  20002

  17

  12

  4

  5.0

  1These data are on the principal offence basis.

  2Staffordshire Police were only able to supply a nine per cent. sample of data for magistrates' courts proceedings covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on this sample have been included in the figures in the table.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) assaults and (b) other crimes with a racial motive were committed against Sikhs in the period 11 September to 31 December 2001 in England and Wales. [63609]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 21 June 2002]: Information on assaults and other crimes with a racial motive is not collected by ethnic group other than the categories of White, Black, Asian, other and unknown.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to answer of 14 May 2002,Official Report, column 611W, what the average delay was for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in relation to (a) deciding claims, (b) review of such decisions and (c) hearings challenging such decisions in each of the previous four years. [64477]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advise that, using as the start and finish points the date of receipt of the application for the relevant stage 1504W
  and the date that the decision was issued, the average elapsed times for the financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01 were as follows:

  Elapsed Time in Days

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Claims assessment

  245

  254

  244

  259

  Review

  161

  188

  186

  236

  Appeal

  178

  223

  295

  387

  Drug Users (Merseyside)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered drug users there were on Merseyside in each year since 1994. [64617]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  The term registered drug addict was based on the Home Office collection of data between 1968 and 1997. Since 1997, the description problem drug users has been used for people who present to treatment services.

  Nationally, the number of individuals in drug treatment has been estimated from the number of reports made to the regional drug misuse database, which records information on an individual for the first time that person visits an agency, and for the first re-visit in six months or more. These data, therefore, underestimate the total number of individuals receiving specialist drug treatment in any given year. The number of reports made to the Merseyside and Cheshire drug misuse database by Merseyside drug treatment agencies is shown in the table:

  Number of individuals accessing Merseyside drug treatment services

  Year

  Number of people

  1994

  1,323

  1995

  1,110

  1996

  1,273

  1997

  1,298

  1998

  1,914

  1999

  1,906

  2000

  2,103

  In 1996, an additional drug treatment monitoring database, which was prevalence-based, was established in Merseyside and Cheshire. The period prevalence database records information from drug treatment agencies on individuals seen by the agency within a year, regardless of how long they have been in contact with services. These figures give the numbers of individuals receiving structured treatment in-year. The numbers for Merseyside drug treatment agencies were as follows:

  Year

  Number of people

  1997

  5,238

  1998

  5,505

  1999

  5,241

  2000

  5,656

  Sentencing (Foreign Nationals)
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his
  1505W
  policy regarding the serving of sentences imposed by British courts on foreign nationals in their own countries. [64377]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 27 June 2002]: We have bilateral prisoner transfer agreements with 66 countries. Requests from prisoners who are nationals of these countries to serve their sentences in their own country are normally approved where they meet the criteria set out in the relevant agreement, namely: prisoners must normally be a nationals of the country concerned: have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment which is final and enforceable (i.e. no outstanding appeals against conviction or sentence); and have at least six months left to serve at the time the application is submitted. Decisions on individual applications require the consent of both jurisdictions. It is at present our policy normally to refuse requests if, as a consequence, the prisoner would be likely to receive a significant reduction in time to serve.

  We are working to increase the number of countries with whom we have repatriation agreements and expect to have signed up to nine more agreements in the course of this year.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South of 20 May, reference number 58559, on Metropolitan Police officers; and if he will make a statement. [65746]

  Mr. John Denham
  With apologies for the delay in responding I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 July 2002,Official Report, column 829W.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South of 25 March, reference number 46442, on anti-social behaviour orders; and if he will make a statement. [65748]

  Mr. John Denham
  With apologies for the delay in responding I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 July 2002,Official Report, column 557W.

  Corporate Killing
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to(a) complete the review of the law in relation to corporate killing and (b) introduce legislation on corporate killing. [66244]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  (a) The Government's Proposals were published in a consultation document in May 2000. The consultation period ended in September 2000, and an interdepartmental group has examined the issues raised by the consultation and other unresolved areas. The group has now completed its work. We will be publishing a digest of responses to the consultation paper shortly.

  (b) The Government is committed to introducing legislation to increase corporate liability for manslaughter, and will do so when parliamentary time allows.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in each prison establishment are held(a) two to a single cell and (b) three to a double cell. [66237]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The table shows the number of prisoners in each prison establishment held two to a cell designed for one and total overcrowding at the end of May 2002. Data are provisional and subject to validation by prisons.

  The Prison Service does not collect centrally the number of prisoners held three in a double cell. Prisons report the total overcrowding level, which includes prisoners held three to a cell for two and those overcrowded in dormitories and larger cells.

  Prison name

  Two to a cell designed for one

  Total Overcrowding

  Acklington

  0

  0

  Albany

  0

  0

  Altcourse

  0

  0

  Ashfield

  0

  0

  Ashwell

  0

  0

  Askham Grange

  0

  0

  Aylesbury

  0

  0

  Bedford

  184

  184

  Belmarsh

  0

  417

  Birmingham

  368

  368

  Blakenhurst

  198

  198

  Blantyre House

  0

  0

  Blundeston

  40

  134

  Brinsford

  36

  36

  Bristol

  86

  86

  Brixton

  232

  232

  Brockhill

  0

  0

  Buckley Hall

  0

  0

  Bullingdon

  80

  336

  Bullwood Hall

  0

  0

  Camp Hill

  268

  268

  Canterbury

  256

  256

  Cardiff

  268

  268

  Castington

  0

  0

  Channings Wood

  46

  46

  Chelmsford

  0

  192

  Coldingley

  0

  0

  Cookham Wood

  20

  20

  Dartmoor

  42

  42

  Deerbolt

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  0

  0

  Dorchester

  192

  192

  Dovegate

  0

  0

  Dover

  0

  0

  Downview

  0

  0

  Drake Hall

  0

  0

  Durham

  362

  362

  East Sutton Park

  0

  0

  Eastwood Park

  60

  60

  Elmley

  240

  240

  Erlestoke

  12

  12

  Everthorpe

  48

  48

  Exeter

  0

  366

  Featherstone

  0

  0

  Feltham

  0

  Ford

  0

  0

  Forest Bank

  0

  0

  Foston Hall

  0

  0

  Frankland

  0

  0

  Full Sutton

  0

  0

  Garth

  26

  26

  Gartree

  0

  0

  Glen Parva

  444

  444

  1507W

  Prison name

  Two to a cell designed for one

  Total Overcrowding

  Gloucester

  192

  192

  Grendon

  0

  0

  Guys Marsh

  82

  82

  Haslar

  0

  0

  Hatfield

  0

  0

  Haverigg

  20

  20

  Hewell Grange

  0

  0

  High Down

  0

  177

  Highpoint

  48

  224

  Hindley

  0

  0

  Hollesley Bay

  0

  0

  Holloway

  0

  0

  Holme House

  168

  168

  Hull

  324

  355

  Huntercombe

  0

  0

  Kingston

  0

  0

  Kirkham

  0

  0

  Kirklevington

  0

  0

  Lancaster

  0

  0

  Lancaster Farms

  48

  48

  Latchmere House

  0

  0

  Leeds

  964

  964

  Leicester

  340

  340

  Lewes

  98

  100

  Leyhill

  0

  0

  Lincoln

  316

  316

  Lindholme

  0

  0

  Littlehey

  56

  56

  Liverpool

  506

  506

  Long Lartin

  0

  0

  Low Newton

  96

  96

  Lowdham Grange

  0

  0

  Maidstone

  0

  0

  Manchester

  688

  688

  Moorland

  50

  50

  Morton Hall

  0

  0

  Mount

  86

  86

  New Hall

  60

  60

  North Sea Camp

  0

  0

  Northallerton

  152

  152

  Norwich

  392

  392

  Nottingham

  228

  228

  Onley

  0

  0

  Pare

  0

  0

  Parkhurst

  0

  0

  Pentonville

  506

  506

  Prison Name

  Total

  White (per cent.)

  Black (per cent.)

  Asian (per cent.)

  Chinese and Other (per cent.)

  Acklington

  763

  96

  1

  2

  0

  Albany

  439

  93

  5

  1

  1

  Altcourse

  920

  96

  3

  1

  0

  Ashfield

  386

  89

  8

  1

  2

  Ashwell

  482

  78

  16

  6

  0

  Askham Grange

  134

  76

  18

  2

  3

  Aylesbury

  349

  57

  33

  7

  4

  Bedford

  447

  76

  13

  8

  3

  Belmarsh

  858

  57

  31

  6

  6

  Birmingham

  907

  69

  19

  11

  2

  Blakenhurst

  850

  79

  12

  8

  1

  Blantyre House

  120

  75

  20

  4

  1

  Blundestone

  419

  52

  41

  3

  3

  Brinsford

  465

  70

  20

  10

  0

  Bristol

  590

  84

  14

  1

  1

  Brixton

  760

  44

  42

  5

  9

  Brockhill

  154

  80

  12

  5

  3

  Buckley Hall

  162

  79

  17

  1

  3

  Bullingdon

  919

  72

  20

  6

  2

  Bullwood Hall

  172

  68

  24

  1

  7

  Camp Hill

  531

  62

  32

  2

  4

  1508W

  Prison name

  Two to a cell designed for one

  Total Overcrowding

  Portland

  0

  0

  Preston

  588

  592

  Ranby

  96

  96

  Reading

  146

  146

  Risley

  34

  34

  Rochester

  0

  0

  Rye Hill

  0

  0

  Send

  0

  0

  Shepton Mallet

  46

  46

  Shrewsbury

  312

  312

  Stafford

  0

  0

  Standford Hill

  0

  0

  Stocken

  26

  52

  Stoke Heath

  80

  80

  Styal

  18

  18

  Sudbury

  0

  0

  Swaleside

  24

  24

  Swansea

  302

  302

  Swinfen Hall

  0

  0

  Thorn Cross

  0

  0

  Usk

  166

  166

  Verne

  58

  58

  Wakefield

  0

  0

  Wandsworth

  0

  0

  Wayland

  72

  72

  Wealstun

  0

  0

  Weare

  0

  0

  Wellingborough

  0

  0

  Werrington

  0

  0

  Wetherby

  0

  0

  Whatton

  0

  0

  Whitemoor

  0

  0

  Winchester

  352

  352

  Wolds

  0

  0

  Woodhill

  164

  164

  Wormwood Scrubs

  0

  0

  Wymott

  0

  0

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of(a) prisoners and (b) prison staff in each prison establishment in England and Wales are from minority ethnic groups. [66235]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The population breakdown for each prison establishment in England and Wales for 31 May 2002, by minority ethnic group is given in the table:
  1509W

  Prison Name

  Total

  White (per cent.)

  Black (per cent.)

  Asian (per cent.)

  Chinese and Other (per cent.)

  Canterbury

  305

  87

  8

  3

  2

  Cardiff

  670

  91

  5

  3

  2

  Castington

  329

  92

  4

  2

  1

  Channings Wood

  617

  93

  5

  1

  1

  Chelmsford

  562

  77

  16

  4

  4

  Coldingley

  375

  59

  36

  2

  3

  Cookham Wood

  131

  44

  45

  1

  9

  Dartmoor

  609

  88

  8

  2

  1

  Deerbolt

  480

  93

  5

  2

  1

  Doncaster

  1,113

  88

  6

  5

  1

  Dorchester

  259

  92

  6

  2

  1

  Dovegate

  723

  70

  23

  5

  3

  Dover(1)

  88

  67

  5

  25

  4

  Downview

  261

  44

  50

  2

  4

  Drake Hall

  291

  80

  17

  3

  0

  Durham

  711

  96

  3

  1

  1

  East Sutton Park

  97

  55

  36

  4

  5

  Eastwood Park

  314

  85

  15

  0

  0

  Elmley

  949

  82

  12

  4

  2

  Erlestoke

  331

  87

  10

  3

  1

  Everthorpe

  375

  88

  6

  6

  1

  Exeter

  514

  97

  3

  1

  0

  Featherstone

  603

  77

  14

  8

  0

  Feltham

  592

  43

  43

  7

  8

  Ford

  513

  76

  13

  7

  4

  Forest Bank

  1,024

  87

  7

  5

  0

  Foston Hall

  218

  83

  15

  0

  2

  Frankland

  634

  87

  8

  3

  2

  Full Sutton

  598

  81

  13

  4

  2

  Garth

  659

  84

  10

  6

  1

  Gartree

  278

  87

  5

  7

  1

  Glen Parva

  801

  81

  14

  4

  1

  Gloucester

  321

  92

  5

  3

  0

  Grendon/Spring Hill

  453

  83

  10

  6

  2

  Guys Marsh

  518

  83

  14

  3

  0

  Haslar

  138

  34

  27

  29

  10

  Hatfield

  173

  86

  6

  8

  0

  Haverigg

  556

  95

  3

  2

  0

  Hewell Grange

  190

  70

  14

  16

  1

  Highdown

  732

  61

  32

  5

  2

  Highpoint

  891

  62

  31

  2

  5

  Hindley

  527

  83

  12

  5

  0

  Hollesley Bay

  411

  78

  16

  4

  3

  Holloway

  479

  57

  33

  2

  7

  Holme House

  998

  95

  3

  2

  0

  Hull

  643

  95

  3

  2

  1

  Huntercombe

  343

  53

  33

  10

  4

  Kingston(Portsmouth)

  182

  86

  9

  3

  2

  Kirkham

  509

  90

  3

  7

  0

  Kirklevington

  182

  95

  2

  4

  0

  Lancaster

  243

  95

  1

  4

  0

  Lancaster Farms

  460

  90

  5

  3

  1

  Latchmere House

  190

  60

  28

  8

  4

  Leeds

  1,262

  84

  6

  10

  0

  Leicester

  369

  76

  13

  9

  2

  Lewes

  536

  85

  11

  3

  1

  Leyhill

  432

  91

  5

  4

  0

  Lincoln

  551

  96

  3

  2

  0

  Lindholme

  686

  81

  7

  9

  3

  Littlehey

  645

  79

  14

  5

  2

  Liverpool

  1,461

  90

  7

  3

  1

  Long Lartin

  422

  71

  18

  7

  4

  Low Newton

  294

  95

  4

  0

  0

  Lowdham Grange

  519

  70

  20

  7

  4

  Maidstone

  444

  70

  20

  4

  6

  Manchester

  1,252

  82

  11

  6

  1

  Moorland

  769

  81

  11

  7

  1

  Morton Hall

  195

  42

  53

  1

  5

  New Hall

  369

  90

  7

  1

  2

  North Sea Camp

  225

  84

  6

  10

  0

  Northallerton

  232

  91

  4

  4

  0

  Norwich

  745

  84

  11

  3

  2

  Nottingham

  510

  83

  13

  3

  1

  1510W 1511W

  Prison Name

  Total

  White (per cent.)

  Black (per cent.)

  Asian (per cent.)

  Chinese and Other (per cent.)

  Onley

  482

  73

  20

  5

  2

  Parc

  951

  96

  3

  1

  0

  Parkhurst

  511

  65

  26

  5

  4

  Pentonville

  1,157

  43

  39

  8

  9

  Portland

  427

  62

  29

  6

  3

  Preston

  619

  92

  2

  5

  0

  Ranby

  743

  87

  8

  5

  0

  Reading

  251

  80

  12

  6

  2

  Risley

  827

  86

  9

  4

  0

  Rochester

  158

  58

  20

  10

  12

  Rye Hill

  658

  67

  17

  10

  6

  Send

  217

  40

  52

  2

  6

  Shepton Mallet

  182

  90

  7

  2

  2

  Shrewsbury

  342

  91

  6

  2

  1

  Stafford

  636

  78

  16

  6

  0

  Standford Hill

  351

  62

  24

  7

  7

  Stocken

  579

  81

  10

  7

  1

  Stoke Heath

  646

  87

  9

  3

  1

  Styal

  442

  85

  12

  1

  2

  Sudbury

  515

  79

  9

  11

  1

  Swaleside

  772

  63

  26

  6

  5

  Swansea

  365

  98

  1

  1

  1

  Swinfen Hall

  311

  71

  20

  9

  0

  The Mount

  758

  47

  40

  8

  5

  The Verne

  587

  51

  39

  2

  9

  The Weare

  398

  73

  22

  2

  3

  The Wolds

  409

  95

  3

  1

  1

  Thorn Cross

  210

  80

  8

  10

  1

  Usk/Prescoed

  340

  96

  2

  2

  0

  Wakefield

  569

  87

  9

  2

  1

  Wandsworth

  1,460

  55

  31

  3

  11

  Wayland

  650

  70

  21

  4

  4

  Wealstun

  622

  84

  6

  9

  0

  Wellingborough

  523

  79

  15

  4

  1

  Werrington

  126

  91

  8

  1

  0

  Wetherby

  348

  81

  10

  8

  1

  Whatton

  273

  96

  3

  1

  0

  Whitemoor

  421

  71

  18

  6

  5

  Winchester

  638

  81

  14

  2

  2

  Woodhill

  743

  77

  14

  6

  3

  Wormwood Scrubs

  1,184

  36

  45

  11

  7

  Wymott

  803

  92

  3

  4

  1

  Total Population

  71,112

  78

  15

  5

  2

  Total Population

  71,112

  78

  15

  5

  2

  1Percentages as at 31 March 2002. due to atypical figures for May 2002 whilst Dover changed from Male Young Offenders Institution to Male Immigration Removal Centre.

  The prison service staff breakdown for each establishment in England and Wales for 31 May 2002 is in the table:

  Prison Name

  White

  Minority Ethnic

  Not Stated1

  Non Respondents2

  All Staff

  Per cent. Minority Ethnic3

  Acklington

  358

  9

  20

  387

  2.3

  Albany

  267

  3

  5

  1

  276

  1.1

  Altcourse4

  441

  3

  —

  —

  444

  0.7

  Ashfield4

  239

  8

  —

  —

  247

  3.2

  Ashwell

  208

  5

  28

  1

  242

  2.1

  Askham Grange

  79

  2

  81

  2.5

  Aylesbury

  272

  23

  39

  2

  336

  6.8

  Bedford

  72

  7

  160

  239

  2.9

  Belmarsh

  791

  83

  17

  891

  9.3

  Birmingham

  382

  54

  54

  2

  492

  11.0

  Blakenhurst

  262

  12

  9

  283

  4.2

  Blantyre House

  64

  2

  1

  2

  69

  2.9

  Blundeston

  268

  9

  277

  3.2

  Brinsford

  338

  34

  25

  1

  398

  8.5

  Bristol

  500

  14

  12

  1

  527

  2.7

  Brixton

  327

  96

  13

  9

  445

  21.6

  Brockhill

  150

  8

  6

  3

  167

  4.8

  1512W 1513W

  Prison Name

  White

  Minority Ethnic

  Not Stated1

  Non Respondents2

  All Staff

  Per cent. Minority Ethnic3

  Buckley Hall

  73

  6

  128

  207

  2.9

  Bullingdon

  277

  17

  110

  404

  4.2

  Bullwood Hall

  154

  9

  2

  3

  168

  5.4

  Camp Hill

  269

  2

  271

  0.7

  Canterbury

  188

  4

  1

  193

  2.1

  Cardiff

  396

  8

  404

  2.0

  Castington

  328

  3

  22

  1

  354

  0.8

  Channings Wood

  304

  4

  8

  8

  324

  1.2

  Chelmsford

  289

  13

  30

  332

  3.9

  Coldingley

  196

  6

  202

  3.0

  Cookham Wood

  87

  2

  1

  90

  2.2

  Dartmoor

  297

  9

  49

  6

  361

  2.5

  Deerbolt

  281

  2

  283

  0.7

  Doncaster4

  598

  23

  —

  —

  621

  3.7

  Dorchester

  153

  1

  9

  163

  0.6

  Dovegate4

  389

  19

  —

  —

  408

  4.7

  Dover

  178

  6

  11

  2

  197

  3.0

  Downview

  156

  7

  3

  2

  168

  4.2

  Drake Hall

  161

  3

  15

  7

  186

  1.6

  Durham

  347

  6

  362

  715

  0.8

  East Sutton Park

  48

  1

  14

  63

  1.6

  Eastwood Park

  230

  5

  235

  2.1

  Elmley

  440

  13

  3

  456

  2.9

  Erlestoke

  150

  5

  22

  12

  189

  2.6

  Everthorpe

  240

  2

  1

  243

  0.8

  Exeter

  293

  3

  21

  5

  322

  0.9

  Featherstone

  311

  11

  4

  326

  3.4

  Feltham

  464

  104

  92

  660

  15.8

  Ford

  173

  4

  1

  178

  2.2

  Forest Bank(4)

  348

  10

  —

  —

  358

  2.8

  Foston Hall

  180

  7

  187

  3.7

  Frankland

  734

  13

  46

  793

  1.6

  Full Sutton

  694

  3

  79

  8

  784

  0.4

  Garth

  361

  10

  43

  1

  415

  2.4

  Gartree

  225

  7

  30

  262

  2.7

  Glen Parva

  448

  25

  34

  507

  4.9

  Gloucester

  197

  4

  25

  1

  227

  1.8

  Grendon

  259

  16

  21

  296

  5.4

  Guys Marsh

  193

  9

  61

  263

  3.4

  Haslar

  88

  3

  2

  93

  3.2

  Hatfield

  56

  3

  17

  76

  3.9

  Haverigg

  202

  3

  89

  294

  1.0

  Hewell Grange

  67

  15

  1

  83

  0.0

  Highdown

  450

  53

  27

  2

  532

  10.0

  Highpoint

  363

  7

  1

  I

  372

  1.9

  Highpoint North

  131

  7

  138

  5.1

  Hindley

  392

  10

  54

  456

  2.2

  Hollesley Bay

  303

  10

  30

  1

  344

  2.9

  Holloway

  245

  134

  81

  6

  466

  28.8

  Holme House

  464

  4

  28

  496

  0.8

  Hull

  413

  10

  46

  2

  471

  2.1

  Huntercombe

  232

  15

  6

  2

  255

  5.9

  Kingston

  111

  3

  25

  139

  2.2

  Kirkham

  242

  5

  1

  248

  0.0

  Kirklevington

  88

  1

  5

  94

  1.1

  Lancaster

  149

  3

  8

  160

  1.9

  Lancaster Farms

  97

  3

  255

  355

  0.8

  Latchmere House

  74

  5

  1

  3

  83

  6.0

  Leeds

  659

  23

  5

  687

  3.3

  Leicester

  221

  14

  7

  242

  5.8

  Lewes

  262

  11

  13

  286

  3.8

  Leyhill

  182

  3

  5

  190

  1.6

  Lincoln

  327

  5

  28

  360

  1.4

  Lindholme

  358

  4

  63

  425

  0.9

  Littlehey

  268

  11

  6

  4

  289

  3.8

  Liverpool

  756

  10

  9

  775

  1.3

  Long Lartin

  650

  17

  1

  668

  2.5

  Low Newton

  232

  1

  233

  0.4

  Lowdham Grange4

  278

  10

  —

  —

  288

  3.6

  Maidstone

  256

  15

  76

  347

  4.3

  Manchester

  679

  20

  25

  1

  725

  2.8

  Moorland

  450

  11

  18

  6

  485

  2.3

  1514W 1515W

  Prison Name

  White

  Minority Ethnic

  Not Stated1

  Non Respondents2

  All Staff

  Per cent. Minority Ethnic3

  Morton Hall

  149

  7

  2

  158

  4.4

  New Hall

  301

  3

  13

  5

  322

  0.9

  North Sea Camp

  91

  2

  7

  100

  0.0

  Northallerton

  140

  1

  141

  0.7

  Norwich

  344

  6

  56

  15

  421

  1.4

  Nottingham

  299

  14

  17

  330

  4.2

  Onley

  385

  18

  4

  407

  4.4

  Parc4

  410

  5

  —

  —

  415

  1.2

  Parkhurst

  288

  6

  27

  14

  335

  1.8

  Pentonville

  430

  167

  6

  2

  605

  27.6

  Portland

  275

  6

  50

  1

  332

  1.8

  Preston

  347

  8

  22

  7

  384

  2.1

  Ranby

  376

  7

  8

  10

  401

  1.7

  Reading

  155

  7

  31

  193

  3.6

  Risley

  457

  9

  54

  520

  1.7

  Rochester

  278

  14

  6

  298

  4.7

  Rye Hill4

  190

  8

  —

  —

  198

  4.0

  Send

  116

  3

  7

  1

  127

  2.4

  Shepton Mallet

  137

  4

  5

  146

  2.7

  Shrewsbury

  190

  4

  1

  9

  204

  2.0

  Stafford

  292

  6

  21

  9

  328

  1.8

  Standford Hill

  176

  3

  18

  7

  204

  1.5

  Stocken

  226

  8

  34

  268

  3.0

  Stoke Heath

  396

  11

  13

  420

  2.6

  Styal

  307

  22

  2

  331

  6.6

  Sudbury

  168

  7

  13

  188

  3.7

  Swaleside

  321

  24

  46

  1

  392

  6.1

  Swansea

  228

  1

  229

  0.4

  Swinfen Hall

  205

  5

  25

  235

  2.1

  The Mount

  283

  14

  12

  3

  312

  4.5

  The Verne

  266

  2

  17

  285

  0.7

  Thorn Cross

  213

  5

  3

  221

  2.3

  Usk/Prescoed

  189

  5

  5

  199

  2.5

  Wakefield

  532

  14

  95

  641

  2.2

  Wandsworth

  488

  105

  59

  12

  664

  15.8

  Wayland

  272

  3

  35

  310

  1.0

  Wealstun

  135

  1

  171

  307

  0.3

  The Weare

  181

  6

  25

  212

  2.8

  The Wolds4

  158

  2

  —

  —

  160

  1.5

  Wellingborough

  257

  10

  3

  1

  271

  3.7

  Werrington

  165

  2

  5

  172

  1.2

  Wetherby

  231

  8

  28

  2

  269

  3.0

  Whatton

  136

  1

  6

  143

  0.7

  Whitemoor

  721

  20

  19

  14

  774

  2.6

  Winchester

  351

  6

  21

  378

  1.6

  Woodhill

  539

  24

  52

  1

  616

  3.9

  Wormwood Scrubs

  422

  120

  9

  551

  21.8

  Wymott

  333

  11

  60

  404

  2.7

  Total Prison Staff

  39,421

  1,946

  3,682

  243

  45,292

  4.3

  Head Quarters

  1,848

  336

  227

  2

  2,413

  13.9

  1Refers to staff who have requested that their ethnicity is not recorded.

  2Refers to staff who have had no ethnicity data collected.

  3Percentage of all staff including those with no ethnicity data recorded.

  4Refers to staff employed at private establishments as at the 2 July 2002.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service has a public interest disclosure policy. [67053]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Prison Service routinely discloses material to the public via its Libraries in Headquarters and establishments, and the internet. The Prison Service complies with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and the Data Protection Act 1998, and is actively preparing for implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
  1516W
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service keeps a certified record of allegations of assaults committed by staff. [67054]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Prison Service does not collate centrally a certified record of allegations of assaults committed by staff. However, the Prison Service Investigations Unit collate the number of investigations logged in respect of allegations of assaults committed by staff. Figures are also collated in respect of the number of allegations of assault that have resulted in formal disciplinary action being taken.
  1517W
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will bring forward legislation which would make the obtaining of DNA samples without consent an offence. [66872]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 4 July 2002]: The Human Genetics Commission's Report, "Inside Information—balancing interests in the use of personal genetic data" has recommended the creation of a new criminal offence of the non-consensual or deceitful obtaining or analysis of genetic information for non-medical purposes.

  We are currently considering this proposal and will respond to the Human Genetics Commission's report in due course.

  Telephone Taps
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to equalise the law of evidence on the admissibility in criminal trials of telephone taps carried out(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad. [65477]

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to liaise with ministers from the European Community on harmonizing laws on admitting the results of telephone taps in evidence in criminal trials. [65479]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between Member States of the European Union, signed by Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in May 2000, contains a number of detailed provisions relating to interception of communications.

  The United Kingdom is currently considering how best to implement these provisions as part of bringing the Convention into force in United Kingdom Law.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make the products of United Kingdom telephone taps admissible in evidence in criminal trials. [65478]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Section 17 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) prohibits the evidentiary use of intercept product in legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.

  This position. is kept under review.

  STEPS Contract
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the maintenance charges are for the probation STEPS contract during normal working hours; what the call out charge is between 6 pm and 10 pm; what the charge is for a Saturday and a Sunday call out; what the charge is in relation to an office relocation; what assessment he has made of the value for money of the contract with Bull/Integris for these matters; and if he will make a statement. [66619]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 2 July 2002]: It is normal in contracts such as these for the information requested to be covered by commercial confidentiality clauses. However, recent press reports on this subject
  1518W
  have been so inaccurate and misleading that both the supplier and the National Probation Directorate felt it appropriate to correct some specific points.

  The Standard Technical Environment for the Probation Service (STEPS) contract provides the foundation for the development of Information Technology (IT) in the probation service. Earlier this year it became one of the first contracts to pass through the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Gateway process, set up to scrutinise Government contracts for value and purpose.

  The core support hours for the contract are Monday–Friday from 8am to 6pm. The "maintenance charges" to extend these hours to provide full service cover for a whole office between 6 and 10 pm on a weeknight would be £2,661. On a Saturday the cost to support the entire network of 15,000 desktops across England and Wales would be £8,704. On a Sunday, the same cost would be £11,600. To deliver this service the supplier has to provide people on call around the country, responding to incidents and resolving problems. These costs would only be paid should this work be needed. To date, in the lifetime of this contract, it has not been. The cost to move a workstation would be £192. By any standards this contract represents good value for money.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the financial position of Bull/Integris was taken into account before the Standard Technical Environment for the Probation Service contract was let on 1 January; and if he will make a statement. [66618]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 2 July 2002]: The National Probation Directorate commissioned the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) to assess the financial position of Groupe Bull and it's subsidiary Bull Information Systems (including the business division Integris) prior to the shortlisting of service providers for the STEPS contracts.

  After shortlisting and prior to award of the STEPS contracts, the National Probation Directorate commissioned a firm of forensic accountants to evaluate the financial risks regarding the sale of Integris by Bull Information Systems to Steria.

  On-going financial checks will be carried out on Integris (now renamed as Steria following the change of ownership) throughout the life of the STEPS contracts.

  Criminal Records (Disclosure)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the outstanding disclosure applications from Wirral borough council social services department to the Criminal Records Bureau will be processed; how large the backlog is of applications awaiting processing; and what the most recent average figure is for how long the processing procedure takes. [66652]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Correctly completed applications are currently processed typically within six weeks; this time-scale applies to Wirral Borough Council Social Services. Around 70,000 Disclosure applications which have gone past the published delivery times (one week for standard Disclosures and three weeks for enhanced) remain to be completed.

  Ex-Prisoners (Suicide)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people committed suicide in 2001 within one year of leaving prison in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [67008]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  No information is held centrally on the suicide of prisoners after release from prison.

  However, a recent research study found that during 1996 and 1997, 34 ex-prisoners died from self-inflicted injury whilst receiving statutory post-release supervision by the Probation Service. Data on the number of days between release and self-inflicted death was available for 32 cases: 28 prisoners died within one year of release.

  Further details of this research are available in Home Office Research Study 231 which can be found on the Home Office website. Adult prisoners serving custodial sentences of less than 12 months were excluded from this study because they do not receive statutory post-release supervision. Self-inflicted death includes all verdicts of suicide, death by misadventure, accidental deaths and open verdicts.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has made to the Howard League's recent report on suicide following prison release; and if he will make a statement. [67015]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Government welcomes this report for the attention it rightly gives to the issue of suicide prevention. The National Probation Service is using it to inform the work it is doing in this area, which includes commissioning more detailed research into deaths in approved premises and the preparation of interim guidance on the reporting of and prevention of deaths.

  The National Probation Service is also working with the Prison Service to improve arrangements for the release of prisoners into approved premises. Consideration is also being given to how investigations into deaths in custody and in approved hostels may be strengthened.

  Life Prisoners
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  (1) To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving life sentences in England and Wales have had to wait(a) between three months and six months, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one year and two years and (d) in excess of two years, for his Department to decide whether to accept a Parole Board recommendation of that prisoner's transfer to open conditions in each of the last five years. [67012]

  (2) what procedures have been put in place to enable a prisoner serving a life sentence in England and Wales who has been removed from open conditions to put his case against such removal to the Parole Board prior to his next formal Parole Board review. [67014]

  (3) how many prisoners serving life sentences in England and Wales have been returned to closed conditions for alleged misdemeanours occurring after a prior transfer to open conditions and/or release on licence, in each of the last five years; and what the nature of the alleged misdemeanour was in each such case. [67013]
  1520W
  (4) how many prisoners serving life sentences in England and Wales have had to wait (a) between three months and six months, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one year and two years and (d) in excess of two years, for notification of the outcome of their Parole Board review in each of the last five years. [67010]

  (5) what (a) the average time and (b) the longest time which his Department has taken to decide upon Parole Board recommendations in respect of prisoners serving life sentences in England and Wales was in each of the last five years. [67011]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The procedures for those life sentence prisoners removed from open conditions are set out in Chapter 4 of the "Lifer Manual (Prison Service Order 4700)". I have arranged for a copy of this to be placed in the Library.

  Released life sentence prisoners are recalled to prison because they are deemed to present an unacceptable risk to public safety. In some cases this will involve criminal offences and other factors giving cause for concern of risk of harm either to specific individuals or the public at large. The numbers of lifers recalled in the past five years are as follows:

  1 April 2001–31 March 2002

  26

  1 April 2000–31 March 2001

  35

  1 April 1999–31 March 2000

  39

  1 April 1998–31 March 1999

  35

  1 April 1997–31 March 1998

  20

  This represents around three per cent. of the total number of lifers under supervision in the community.

  Her Majesty's Prison Service does not hold centrally information on the reasons for recall in each case. The other information requested is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost by examining the individual records of the prisoners concerned.

  Probation Service
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of suicide and self-harm there were in Probation Service-approved hostels in 2001 in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [67009]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  In 2001, 21 deaths of approved hostel residents were reported. Of these three were recorded as suicide, and a further 12 as a result of drug overdoses. Of the remaining six, five were from apparently natural causes and one resident died in a road traffic accident.

  We do not keep a central record of incidents of self-harm in approved hostels.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were under post-release supervision by the Probation Service last year in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [66818]
  1521W
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The number of people under post-release supervision by the Probation Service in England and Wales was 28,800 at the end of December 2000, the latest date for which complete information is available.

  Victims
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what systems are in place to inform victims about the release from hospital of a person who has committed serious offences whilst insane. [67152]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  There is currently no system for informing victims about the release from hospital of a person who has committed serious offences whilst insane, as this information has been considered to be subject to medical confidentiality. However, the Government believes that victims of their offending should have the same rights to information as victims of any other serious offending. On 25 June we announced proposals to that effect in the consultation paper accompanying the Mental Health Bill.

  Probation Services
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the extent of the funding shortfall for 2002–03 in probation services in(a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) London; what the implications of this are for provision of services in (i) Crown courts and (ii) magistrates' courts; and if he will make a statement. [68117]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Funding for probation services in 2002–03 has increased by five per cent. in England; 5.9 per cent. in West Midlands; and 4.3 per cent. in London 1522W
  over the allocations for the previous year. Some areas are experiencing funding pressures due to increased costs. Following risk assessments and prioritisation, courts may find that they are asked to accept that services may be delivered using different reporting arrangements, but there should be no adverse implications for the delivery of those services to courts.

  Police
  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police officers serving with its Firearms Branch are suspended because they have discharged a gun; and how long each officer has been suspended. [59448]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 25 May 20021: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that there are no Metropolitan Police officers within the SO19 Firearms Branch who are suspended from police duties as a result of firearms incidents. There are currently eight SO19 officers removed from operational firearms duties and on restricted duties pending the completion of investigations into incidents involving the discharge of a firearm.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish estimates of customer satisfaction for each English police authority in each of the years 1990–91 to 2001–02 in relation to(a) 999 calls response, (b) victims of violent crime, (c) victims of domestic burglary and (d) victims of theft; and if he will make a statement. [67107]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 8 July 2002]: The information requested is only available from 1993 and is shown in the table. It covers nearly all police authority areas in England and Wales; gaps in information are shown.

  HMIC Matrix of Indicators N/A

  Forces

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  1993 BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent, satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent, satisfied

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  1994–95 BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  BVPI 23b Victims of violence pet-cent, satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent, satisfied

  England and Wales

  5,297,040

  88

  82

  93

  6,088,654

  89

  90

  90

  Avon and Somerset

  88,235

  94

  88

  94

  159,800

  91

  79

  90

  Bedfordshire

  43,200

  94

  79

  94

  51,192

  94

  83

  93

  Cambridgeshire

  53,504

  92

  93

  97

  58,805

  95

  92

  96

  Cheshire

  75,094

  —

  —

  —

  80,035

  85

  —

  93

  City of London

  —

  —

  89

  —

  —

  —

  91

  —

  Cleveland

  67,398

  78

  79

  80

  84,346

  77

  84

  91

  Cumbria

  33,985

  69

  91

  86

  34,729

  92

  90

  81

  Derbyshire

  49,457

  92

  96

  96

  88

  90

  96

  Devon and Cornwall

  102,391

  91

  82

  93

  121,798

  86

  83

  93

  Dorset

  55,155

  78

  94

  94

  54,791

  85

  71

  94

  Durham

  29,447

  73

  82

  81

  29,923

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed-Powys

  21,231

  95

  100

  95

  24,068

  94

  97

  97

  Essex

  110,005

  —

  —

  —

  114,883

  87

  —

  —

  Gloucestershire

  40,462

  79

  80

  92

  45,388

  77

  82

  90

  Greater

  Manchester

  416,873

  78

  84

  93

  446,345

  82

  81

  95

  Gwent

  32,191

  94

  —

  93

  35,360

  86

  —

  79

  Hampshire

  162,082

  —

  —

  —

  170,560

  86

  —

  97

  Hertfordshire

  67,610

  84

  80

  88

  77,071

  80

  94

  92

  Humberside

  85,632

  73

  68

  69

  88,402

  75

  80

  83

  Kent

  130,015

  81

  87

  94

  141,769

  98

  91

  87

  Lancashire

  71,986

  81

  77

  86

  102,984

  86

  84

  92

  1523W

  HMIC Matrix of Indicators N/A

  Forces

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  1993 BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  1994—95 BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burdgwell per cent. satisfied

  Leicestershire

  100,232

  86

  —

  87

  114,314

  83

  —

  85

  Lincolnshire

  34,694

  75

  71

  84

  45,828

  91

  82

  92

  Merseyside

  200,711

  92

  —

  96

  220,432

  81

  —

  96

  Metropolitan

  Police

  1,347,207

  92

  86

  92

  1,538,385

  92

  92

  91

  Norfolk

  37,143

  98

  86

  93

  48,984

  97

  85

  95

  North Wales

  39,945

  86

  86

  92

  40,575

  86

  82

  88

  North

  Yorkshire

  31,956

  91

  92

  97

  56,646

  87

  94

  95

  Northamptonshire

  25,027

  83

  85

  90

  32,256

  97

  88

  92

  Northumbria

  213,369

  94

  —

  95

  224,569

  —

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire

  119,489

  92

  92

  97

  115,695

  87

  81

  90

  South Wales

  150,370

  —

  —

  —

  158,006

  South

  Yorkshire

  123,144

  67

  38

  68

  149,178

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire

  58,935

  91

  93

  95

  65,266

  90

  84

  92

  Suffolk

  27,521

  —

  —

  —

  30,253

  93

  85

  92

  Surrey

  56,182

  97

  100

  98

  67,268

  99

  100

  100

  Sussex

  94,251

  88

  87

  96

  138,265

  88

  96

  97

  Thames Valley

  125,754

  87

  89

  85

  195,016

  83

  84

  95

  Warwickshire

  43,468

  —

  —

  —

  48,870

  85

  90

  92

  West Mercia

  80,894

  90

  76

  92

  98,539

  90

  77

  89

  West Midlands

  358,009

  81

  —

  85

  412,211

  87

  80

  96

  West Yorkshire

  267,786

  84

  92

  94

  323,081

  83

  71

  85

  Wiltshire

  25,000

  —

  —

  98

  42,768

  93

  89

  98

  HMIC Matrix of Indicators N/A

  Forces

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  1995–96 BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  1996—97 BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied

  England and

  Wales

  6,881,163

  87

  84

  92

  7,302,078

  87

  83

  92

  Avon and

  Somerset

  195,095

  88

  79

  94

  197,706

  85

  83

  92

  Bedfordshire

  34,466

  93

  81

  94

  59,863

  91

  79

  92

  Cambridgeshire

  73,923

  89

  74

  84

  79,332

  88

  74

  84

  Cheshire

  90,243

  80

  —

  86

  94,953

  85

  91

  89

  City of London

  —

  —

  100

  90

  —

  —

  73

  98

  Cleveland

  87,253

  80

  79

  87

  89,061

  94

  90

  95

  Cumbria

  37,047

  82

  96

  82

  37,749

  94

  92

  92

  Derbyshire

  94,632

  87

  83

  95

  96,746

  89

  88

  95

  Devon and

  Cornwall

  148,381

  87

  83

  96

  165,013

  86

  89

  95

  Dorset

  71,700

  84

  91

  94

  71,362

  81

  79

  92

  Durham

  31,424

  85

  87

  88

  46,178

  —

  —

  —

  Dyfed—Powys

  25,208

  93

  74

  97

  25,374

  90

  91

  98

  Essex

  121,934

  85

  90

  98

  129,165

  83

  92

  98

  Gloucestershire

  46,678

  76

  82

  94

  62,790

  75

  80

  90

  Greater

  Manchester

  500,820

  83

  91

  96

  501,093

  82

  85

  95

  Gwent

  36,088

  92

  92

  —

  53,471

  89

  —

  93

  Hampshire

  191,090

  88

  84

  97

  211,000

  88

  81

  98

  Hertfordshire

  87,256

  80

  84

  91

  101,283

  77

  85

  86

  Humberside

  87,653

  76

  71

  78

  100,097

  75

  72

  82

  Kent

  161,149

  97

  85

  97

  170,908

  98

  86

  98

  Lancashire

  156,349

  90

  87

  89

  132,194

  90

  87

  90

  Leicestershire

  129,686

  79

  —

  82

  130,940

  83

  81

  87

  Lincolnshire

  46,556

  94

  88

  90

  46,102

  90

  84

  90

  Merseyside

  251,985

  79

  86

  90

  326,654

  76

  82

  94

  Metropolitan

  Police

  1,681,620

  93

  83

  92

  1,772,871

  92

  86

  92

  Norfolk

  56,261

  97

  83

  94

  63,684

  94

  90

  94

  North Wales

  42,864

  98

  65

  83

  48,131

  90

  77

  87

  North

  Yorkshire

  60,561

  87

  91

  93

  53,226

  90

  89

  94

  Northamptonshire

  55,994

  89

  90

  96

  60,028

  95

  89

  95

  Northumbria

  222,835

  —

  90

  94

  229,478

  90

  91

  93

  Nottinghamshire

  129,831

  81

  77

  88

  147,739

  91

  78

  88

  South Wales

  179,586

  —

  —

  —

  175,535

  —

  —

  —

  1524W 1525W

  HMIC Matrix of Indicators N/A

  Forces

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  1995–96 BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  1996—97 BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burdgwell per cent. satisfied

  South

  Yorkshire

  153,276

  68

  50

  76

  177,278

  78

  79

  87

  Staffordshire

  74,900

  86

  80

  93

  76,400

  88

  90

  95

  Suffolk

  56,112

  88

  74

  91

  60,951

  80

  64

  88

  Surrey

  74,763

  79

  83

  89

  80,201

  90

  86

  91

  Sussex

  151,652

  85

  94

  97

  162,452

  84

  91

  93

  Thames Valley

  221,119

  79

  82

  93

  228,508

  76

  77

  92

  Warwickshire

  54,921

  89

  86

  98

  60,861

  82

  86

  92

  West Mercia

  99,012

  80

  83

  91

  110,688

  86

  82

  93

  West Midlands

  455,056

  74

  96

  89

  462,052

  85

  89

  95

  West Yorkshire

  348,120

  81

  74

  83

  342,199

  78

  78

  84

  Wiltshire

  56,064

  95

  84

  96

  60,762

  81

  70

  89

  HMIC Matrix of Indicators N/A

  Forces

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  1997–98 BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  1998–99 BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burdgwell per cent. satisfied

  England and

  Wales

  7,671,115

  87

  82

  92

  7,986,070

  86

  81

  91

  Avon and

  Somerset

  198,390

  81

  75

  85

  205,350

  75

  73

  87

  Bedfordshire

  56,870

  84

  76

  90

  78,666

  88

  83

  86

  Cambridgeshire

  82,541

  88

  71

  83

  92,353

  78

  55

  79

  Cheshire

  102,665

  88

  83

  94

  111,533

  87

  90

  95

  City of London

  —

  94

  80

  86

  —

  —

  80

  88

  Cleveland

  86,318

  87

  88

  91

  88,834

  82

  92

  94

  Cumbria

  36,206

  90

  91

  92

  41,240

  85

  85

  89

  Derbyshire

  103,413

  89

  85

  96

  109,407

  79

  80

  90

  Devon and

  Cornwall

  175,942

  86

  73

  88

  169,634

  88

  75

  90

  Dorset

  73,005

  87

  88

  97

  71,680

  90

  84

  97

  Durham

  51,729

  —

  —

  —

  50,608

  80

  75

  87

  Dyfed-Powys

  29,382

  93

  89

  98

  32,672

  92

  81

  94

  Essex

  176,374

  82

  92

  98

  186,386

  —

  83

  92

  Gloucestershire

  57,833

  74

  79

  89

  57,335

  95

  89

  97

  Greater

  Manchester

  584,663

  90

  93

  96

  555,997

  88

  88

  96

  Gwent

  57,143

  —

  80

  —

  64,013

  82

  —

  89

  Hampshire

  225,355

  86

  82

  97

  231,052

  86

  74

  97

  Hertfordshire

  107,675

  74

  79

  84

  119,380

  93

  90

  95

  Humberside

  107,118

  70

  68

  81

  105,037

  74

  75

  86

  Kent

  168,849

  97

  93

  98

  179,523

  98

  88

  97

  Lancashire

  177,088

  86

  83

  92

  176,784

  86

  78

  91

  Leicestershire

  127,316

  86

  76

  93

  128,015

  81

  79

  94

  Lincolnshire

  48,247

  93

  78

  89

  53,097

  95

  86

  94

  Merseyside

  246,646

  74

  79

  90

  259,166

  80

  78

  91

  Metropolitan

  Police

  1,875,381

  93

  87

  93

  1,957,930

  92

  83

  91

  Norfolk

  69,852

  92

  84

  92

  75,125

  92

  83

  92

  North Wales

  71,690

  82

  89

  90

  75,046

  83

  88

  91

  North

  Yorkshire

  43,423

  —

  —

  —

  51,979

  —

  —

  —

  Northamptonshire

  69,581

  95

  89

  97

  77,543

  91

  91

  91

  Northumbria

  227,129

  83

  86

  91

  231,750

  85

  86

  92

  Nottinghamshire

  156,239

  —

  84

  91

  161,345

  81

  76

  87

  South Wales

  196,599

  —

  —

  —

  210,412

  83

  83

  90

  South

  Yorkshire

  180,197

  87

  83

  89

  194,592

  85

  82

  89

  Staffordshire

  87,737

  90

  91

  96

  102,663

  74

  75

  86

  Suffolk

  61,961

  84

  85

  92

  75,079

  88

  87

  94

  Surrey

  82,399

  85

  82

  90

  90,001

  82

  81

  91

  Sussex

  172,250

  79

  89

  90

  184,156

  78

  90

  86

  Thames Valley

  240,002

  78

  81

  93

  251,131

  80

  79

  91

  Warwickshire

  63,503

  74

  79

  89

  57,860

  74

  82

  80

  West Mercia

  111,924

  87

  81

  91

  122,238

  85

  75

  94

  West Midlands

  479,112

  93

  82

  95

  486,756

  90

  91

  93

  West Yorkshire

  353,125

  85

  75

  91

  361,322

  89

  77

  94

  Wiltshire

  48,243

  80

  72

  89

  51,380

  82

  75

  93

  1526W 1527W

  HMIC Matrix of Indicators N/A

  Forces

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  1999–2000 BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burgdwell per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 134 No. of 999 calls received

  2000—01 BVPI 23a per cent. Public satisfied 999 calls

  BVPI 23b Victims of violence per cent. satisfied

  BVPI 23c Victims burdgwell per cent. satisfied

  England and

  Wales

  9,307,151

  85

  79

  91

  9,597,934

  80

  11

  89

  Avon and

  Somerset

  242,832

  80

  70

  86

  247,089

  74

  70

  89

  Bedfordshire

  74,464

  83

  68

  82

  96,448

  78

  67

  81

  Cambridgeshire

  104,306

  -

  56

  85

  108,622

  84

  69

  85

  Cheshire

  134,361

  85

  82

  96

  140,593

  83

  82

  95

  City of London

  —

  -

  82

  75

  —

  71

  46

  Cleveland

  99,665

  80

  89

  90

  97,969

  76

  86

  91

  Cumbria

  47,516

  89

  82

  91

  48,310

  82

  82

  91

  Derbyshire

  126,060

  77

  78

  89

  133,524

  72

  68

  87

  Devon and

  Cornwall

  206,823

  88

  68

  86

  224,879

  83

  65

  75

  Dorset

  79,772

  —

  -

  —

  92,609

  79

  71

  90

  Durham

  61,657

  —

  —

  —

  57,548

  75

  78

  92

  Dyfed-Powys

  39,689

  87

  90

  90

  38,699

  89

  64

  93

  Essex

  206,635

  80

  —

  94

  243,347

  72

  79

  93

  Gloucestershire

  67,994

  97

  86

  98

  70,939

  94

  89

  96

  Greater

  Manchester

  578,719

  83

  82

  94

  573,911

  85

  87

  96

  Gwent

  73,226

  —

  72

  89

  62,867

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire

  269,027

  78

  82

  95

  341,999

  77

  84

  93

  Hertfordshire

  132,878

  86

  81

  100

  164,191

  83

  82

  86

  Humberside

  117,289

  78

  72

  87

  116,450

  80

  74

  79

  Kent

  209,215

  86

  88

  96

  235,208

  92

  87

  95

  Lancashire

  199,547

  75

  69

  80

  179,880

  79

  78

  90

  Leicestershire

  147,905

  81

  88

  94

  153,115

  76

  85

  86

  Lincolnshire

  66,665

  88

  87

  92

  75

  67

  82

  Merseyside

  292,549

  74

  74

  85

  311,183

  65

  72

  85

  Metropolitan

  Police

  2,412,981

  91

  86

  92

  2,319,688

  79

  74

  84

  Norfolk

  82,340

  87

  80

  87

  84,179

  89

  76

  86

  North Wales

  91,610

  85

  83

  93

  95,442

  86

  84

  93

  North

  Yorkshire

  75,513

  82

  67

  78

  72,120

  83

  53

  98

  Northamptonshire

  84,243

  87

  88

  90

  92,769

  76

  79

  88

  Northumbria

  245,139

  90

  88

  89

  256,646

  76

  82

  81

  Nottinghamshire

  199,583

  90

  71

  88

  219,156

  75

  74

  83

  South Wales

  252,018

  —

  —

  —

  238,890

  81

  88

  95

  South

  Yorkshire

  218,692

  83

  73

  87

  225,552

  84

  81

  91

  Staffordshire

  136,256

  70

  79

  83

  144,061

  83

  76

  87

  Suffolk

  88,740

  80

  76

  89

  100,203

  73

  75

  91

  Surrey

  102,628

  79

  78

  87

  134,192

  84

  71

  88

  Sussex

  201,365

  73

  73

  97

  270,692

  71

  74

  88

  Thames Valley

  285,747

  77

  79

  91

  312,420

  74

  75

  91

  Warwickshire

  67,219

  79

  87

  90

  71,820

  80

  82

  95

  West Mercia

  144,960

  79

  76

  94

  145,974

  78

  76

  90

  West Midlands

  561,684

  93

  79

  93

  571,912

  90

  90

  93

  West Yorkshire

  423,838

  84

  85

  93

  437,061

  81

  75

  90

  Wiltshire

  53,801

  82

  74

  86

  65,777

  83

  65

  87

  Prison Transfers
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted offenders were transferred from prison to high security hospitals in each year since 1992. [68231]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Figures are available only for the years 1995 to 2000, and are given in the table:

  2000

  52

  1999

  44

  1998

  48

  1997

  34

  1996

  54

  1995

  47

  Prison Visitors
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the National Association of Prison Visitors. [68220]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  I have yet to meet the National Association of Prison Visitors, having been unable to attend their annual general meeting this year. I look forward to meeting them at a suitable point in the future.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison visitors there were in each of the past 10 years; and what plans he has to increase their number. [68219]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Statistics on the number of official prison visitors are not collated centrally. However, the contribution of such visitors is highly valued and it is an
  1529W
  audited requirement for prisons to run prison visiting schemes, where there is demand. Moreover, the Prison Service continues to provide an annual grant to the National Association of Prison Visitors, and is actively assisting that organisation and others to increase and broaden the range of prison visitors.

  Prisoners' Mental Health
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners receive(a) anti-psychotic—medication and (b) atypical antipsychotics. [68218]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  This information is not available in precisely the form requested. A survey of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales, undertaken in 1997 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed that four per cent. of remanded and two per cent. of sentenced men were taking anti-psychotic medicine. The comparable figures for women were 14 per cent. and eight per cent. respectively.

  The ONS did not collect information about which prisoners were being treated with atypical antipsychotics.

  High Security Hospitals
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of convicted offenders in high security hospitals was in each year since 1992. [68217]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Figures in respect of transferred prisoners are available only for the years 1995 to 2000. They are shown in the table:

  2000

  235

  1999

  223

  1998

  214

  1997

  219

  1996

  233

  1995

  231

  Figures for the total number of convicted offenders detained are not available. For restricted patients, who are all convicted offenders, the average figures are:

  2000

  1,170

  1999

  1,193

  1998

  1,188

  1997

  1,201

  1996

  1,221

  1995

  1,245

  1994

  1,132

  1993

  1,187

  1992

  1,218

  Biological Standards Institute
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the(a) staffing structure, (b) works and (c) funding of the Biological Standards Institute in Northern Ireland. [68262]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 8 July 2002]: I have been asked to reply.
  1530W
  The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control is based in England and is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body accountable to Ministers, being the Secretary of State for Health, The Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and the Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State assumes lead responsibility on behalf of the four United Kingdom health departments in dealing with the management issues of National Institute for Biological Standards and Control.

  The functions of the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control are set out in Statutory Instrument 1976 No 917: to devise standards for the purity and potency of biological substances; to test biological substances; to prepare and distribute standards; to collaborate with the World Health Organisation, European Pharmacopoeia Commission and other international organisations; to carry out research.

  Core funding from the Government for 2002–03 is £9.853 million. The Northern Ireland contribution to the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control in 2001–02 was £261,000.

  Details of the staffing structure, the work and the funding of National Institute for Biological Standards and Control are in the public domain and can be found on the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control website at www.nibsc.ac.uk or in any of the published annual reports.

  Criminal Justice Centres
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how criminal justice centres will assist in the processing of cases. [65337]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 9 July 2002]: Two innovative and integrated Criminal Justice Centres are being developed in Warwickshire. The Centres will speed up justice, give a better service to victims, witnesses and defendants and help in the local efforts to reduce crime and improve public safety by co-locating all of the county's criminal justice agencies.

  Practitioners from the courts, Crown Prosecution Service, police, Probation Service and Youth Offending Teams will be working together with the National Health Service and voluntary organisations to create new partnership arrangements and modernise the existing single agency approaches. The Centres will deliver joined-up justice through improved business processes and Information Technology systems. This innovative approach will improve the quality and timeliness of prosecutions which should speed up the processing of cases.

  Victims and witnesses will receive a better service through the new integrated Centres by receiving help and support at all stages of the justice process, especially while they are at court. Cases will be dealt with faster and more efficiently, so the stress of their involvement should also be reduced.

  The project in Warwickshire is being reviewed as it progresses, so that the lessons learned can he applied quickly. This will allow us to examine the benefits of

  1531W
  co-locating of all local criminal justice agencies and whether to extend this approach to other criminal justice system areas.

  Mr. Matins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the re-offending rate of those leaving young offenders institutions was in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [68630]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 9 July 2002]: Re-offending rates are not normally measured as they rely on the self-reporting of offending by offenders.

  The Home Office does however keep information on reconviction rates. In relation to those leaving Her Majesty's Prison Young Offender Institutions during 1997, before the youth justice reforms took effect, 76 per cent. of male young offenders and 58 per cent. of female young offenders were reconvicted within two years of release from custody during 1997.

  Reconviction rates for those sentenced in July 2000, shortly after the new Detention and Training Order was introduced, are due in early 2003. Meanwhile, for those juveniles receiving non-custodial sentences in July 2000, we achieved a 14.6 per cent. reduction against the predicted reconviction rate was achieved.

  Eden Strang
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role his Department has played in the(a) release and (b) post-release arrangements of Eden Strang; and if he will make a statement. [67855]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 10 July 2002]: The Home Office played no role in the release arrangements for Mr. Strang. I regret that because of an unfortunate administrative error in the Home Office, authority for his detention as a restricted patient lapsed on 2 August 2000. Accordingly, his discharge was a matter for his hospital care team. Since his discharge, the Home Office has liaised closely with the local Multi Agency Public Protection Panel and established what the arrangements are for his safe care and supervision in the community. We have also learned of the concerns of the victims about his offence.

  I take these concerns extremely seriously. It is not right that victims of such terrible events should have to learn from the media that the offender has been discharged. We have therefore published proposals in the Mental Health Bill to bring the rights of victims of mentally disordered offenders into line with those of the victims of violent or sexual offending in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.

  Helen Smith
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order a new inquiry into the death of Helen Smith in Jeddah in May 1979. [68886]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  An inquest was held into Helen Smith's death in 1982. Inquest proceedings can be reviewed by the courts and we are not aware of any grounds for the Government to take further action.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the target of handling 87,000 applications for criminal injuries compensation was not met in 2001–02. [68788]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 11 July 2002]: The figure of 87,000 cases comprised 84,000 tariff scheme cases and 3,000 residual old scheme cases. The total was an early planning figure based on predictions that some 83,000 new applications would be received in that year, a figure that was eventually undershot by nearly 5,000.

  The old scheme cases proved more complicated and difficult to resolve than had been anticipated, and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority had to devote greater staff effort to them. This inevitably, affected output on tariff scheme cases.

  Sajanji Jivaji Odedra
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Sajanji Jivaji Odedra and his special voucher application which have been referred from the Foreign Office to his Department. [69246]

  Beverley Hughes
  I wrote to my hon. Member on 24 July 2002.

  London Probation Service
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there are in the London Probation Service. [69429]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The London Probation Area vacancy rate in the context of the new structure is in the region of 130 posts, which covers staff of all grades and contract, out of a total staffing figure of 2,836.

  The intention is to recruit 50 Trainee Probation Officers this year and offer 50 qualifying Trainee Probation Officers a permanent Probation Officer post in October.

  Targets (Sentencing)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the targets for reducing the time from arrest to sentence will be settled. [68787]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer II July 2002]: We are working on targets for reducing the time from arrest to sentence for all defendants and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Pornography
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to use technology similar to that which the Government are introducing to stop tobacco advertising on the web to stop the advertising of pornographic material on the web. [69434]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  There are no plans to use technology to stop tobacco advertising on the web. The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Bill before Parliament at the moment will, if passed, make the advertising of tobacco products a criminal offence in most circumstances. The offence could be committed by advertising a tobacco product over the web, just as it could be committed in
  1533W
  other circumstances, as the law applies equally online as offline. It is already a criminal offence to advertise pornographic material featuring children.

  As regards material which may be legal but offensive to many people, the Government supports the development of tools, such as the rating and filtering system operated by the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA), to encourage Internet users to regulate their own Internet experience or that of their children.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to require(a) pornographic sites and (b) emails advertising pornography to be clearly identifiable as to their nature. [69436]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The Government believes that a range of methods is required to provide parents and other Internet users with a way of exercising choice about what kind of material they and their children have access to.

  Easy to use rating and filtering systems, such as that operated by the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA), have an important role to play as does greater public awareness of simple measures which can be taken to protect personal information and help avoid unwanted e-mails (SPAM).

  These issues are being considered by a Sub Group of the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet which was established in March 2001 by my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary (Mr. Straw). The Task Force is a partnership of: representatives from internet service and communication providers; the Internet Watch Foundation (which provides a hotline for the public to report child pornography); PC and software retailers and manufacturers; child welfare organisations; the main opposition parties; law enforcement agencies and academics. Among other things, the Task Force is looking at good practice models for providers of chat services, instant messaging and web services which will promote the use of clear and accessible safety advice and better signposting of content.

  The problem of SPAM including those containing pornography is also being considered by the Sub-Group.

  Child Abuse
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will share information with other countries about UK citizens who have been convicted of offences against children. [69126]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  I have been asked to reply.

  If a person is convicted of a relevant sex offence against a child they become subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997.

  New provisions in the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 (including regulations made under the power contained therein) provide that if an offender subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 leaves the United Kingdom for eight days or longer, he must notify the police at least 24 hours prior to his departure: of his date of departure; the country
  1534W
  to which he is travelling; the identity of the carrier he intends to use; his point of arrival in the country; details of his first night's accommodation; if he intends to return to the United Kingdom; and if so, the date of his return and point of arrival.

  On such a notification, the police will assess the level of risk the offender poses and then make a decision over whether to pass on this information to the authorities of the destination country or not.

  Prisons
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons are the(a) most expensive and (b) cheapest in terms of cost per prisoner; and what criteria govern the differential allocation of funds to these prisons. [73214]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  Figures published in the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts for 2001–02 show that Whitemoor (high security) prison had the highest cost per prisoner at £54,184 and Ford open prison the lowest, at £14,968.

  Cost per prisoner figures shown in the annual report for private sector establishments include an element of capital repayment and the figures are not comparable with the public sector.

  Criteria used to determine the allocation of funds include internal benchmarking of prisons of similar size and category and assessments of the grading of staff necessary to maintain a safe, decent and healthy environment and to deliver regimes effective in reducing crime. Full consideration is given to the security classification of prisons within the estate, costs being higher in high security prisons and lower in the open estate where the risk of escape and danger to the public is reduced.

  Category B Prisons
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the provision of medical facilities within category B prisons; what the medical staffing complement is of each prison; how many fell below that for a substantial period in the last year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [67195]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 5 July 2002]: All prisons, including those holding category B prisoners, are required to work with their local National Health Service (NHS) partners to identify the health needs of their local prison population and provide appropriate services to meet those needs.

  Information about staffing levels is not held centrally in the form requested. The performance of health care centres is assessed on a quarterly basis, against a range of criteria, including the adequacy of staffing. The Prison Service is working with the NHS to ensure that minimum, safe staffing levels in prison health centres are maintained.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many prisoner days prisoners in each category B prison were held in segregation pending transfer to a secure mental hospital in the last 12 months. [67197]
  1535W
  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 5 July 2002]: Information is not collected centrally in the form requested. Prisoners who are awaiting transfer to secure National Health Service (NHS) hospitals are normally located in the prison healthcare centres. Where prisoners have to be placed in segregation, for control or other reasons, Prison Orders require that they be visited by a doctor or registered nurse, as a minimum requirement, at least once every three days, and visited more frequently where health needs dictate.

  All establishments

  120,869

  Males

  All establishments

  112,054

  Prisons

  70,693

  Local Prisons

  36,520

  Open Training Prisons

  3,156

  Closed Training Prisons

  31,017

  Young Offender Institutions

  41,361

  Remand Centres

  12,248

  Open Young Offender Institution

  1,106

  Closed Young Offender Institution

  15,874

  Juvenile Young Offender Institution

  12,133

  Female

  All establishments

  8,815

  Prisons

  7,267

  Local Prisons

  3,528

  Open Training Prisons

  524

  Closed Training Prisons

  3,215

  Young Offender Institution

  1,548

  Open Young Offender Institution

  109

  Closed Young Offender Institution

  1,439

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category B prisoners have been released on licence(a) tagged and (b) untagged from each category B prison in the last year for which information is available. [62382]

  Prison

  Total number of category B releases

  On licence and subject to electronic monitoring as a licence condition

  On licence and not subject to electronic monitoring as a licence condition

  On licence and subject to the home detention curfew scheme

  853

  8

  821

  24

  Acklington

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Albany

  48

  1

  47

  –

  Altcourse

  2

  –

  2

  –

  Bedford

  9

  –

  8

  1

  Belmarsh

  21

  –

  20

  1

  Birmingham

  17

  –

  17

  –

  Blakenhurst

  3

  –

  3

  –

  Blundeston

  4

  –

  4

  –

  Bristol

  45

  1

  34

  10

  Brixton

  8

  –

  7

  1

  Bullingdon

  33

  –

  31

  2

  Camp Hill

  2

  –

  2

  –

  Canterbury

  3

  –

  3

  –

  Cardiff

  8

  –

  8

  –

  Channings

  Wood

  1

  –

  –

  1

  Chelmsford

  8

  –

  8

  –

  Dartmoor

  15

  –

  15

  –

  Doncaster

  23

  –

  23

  –

  Dorchester

  5

  –

  5

  –

  Dovegate

  10

  –

  10

  –

  Durham

  17

  –

  16

  –

  Elmley

  11

  1

  10

  –

  1536W
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disciplinary adjudications and rulings under Rule 45 were made in each category of prison in the last year for which information is available. [67196]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 5 July 2002]: The number of disciplinary adjudications in each category of prison in 2000 is given in the table. This includes adjudications which were not proved. Data on the number of rulings under Rule 45 in each category of prison is not available centrally.

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  The table gives a breakdown, by prison, of all category B prisoners released during the 12 months ending 31 May 2002 (i) on licence and not subject to electronic monitoring as a licence condition (ii) on licence and subject to electronic as a licence condition and (iii) on licence and subject to the Home Detention Curfew scheme.
  1537W

  Prison

  Total number of category B releases

  On licence and subject to electronic monitoring as a licence condition

  On licence and not subject to electronic monitoring as a licence condition

  On licence and subject to the home detention curfew scheme

  Erlestoke

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Exeter

  9

  1

  8

  –

  Forest Bank

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Frankland

  43

  –

  43

  –

  Full Sutton

  33

  –

  33

  –

  Garth

  49

  –

  49

  –

  Gloucester

  4

  –

  4

  –

  Grendon

  6

  –

  6

  –

  Guys Marsh

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Highdown

  17

  1

  16

  –

  Highpoint

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Holme

  House

  23

  –

  23

  –

  Hull

  9

  –

  9

  –

  Kingston

  3

  –

  3

  –

  Leeds

  8

  –

  8

  –

  Leicester

  5

  –

  5

  –

  Lewes

  3

  –

  3

  –

  Lincoln

  6

  1

  5

  –

  Liverpool

  7

  –

  7

  –

  Long Lartin

  22

  –

  22

  –

  Lowden

  Grange

  21

  –

  21

  –

  Maidstone

  9

  –

  9

  –

  Manchester

  23

  1

  21

  1

  Mount

  2

  –

  2

  –

  Norwich

  4

  –

  4

  –

  Nottingham

  5

  1

  4

  –

  Parc

  14

  –

  14

  –

  Parkhurst

  28

  –

  27

  –

  Pentonville

  11

  –

  10

  –

  Preston

  5

  –

  5

  –

  Risley

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Rye Hill

  6

  –

  6

  –

  Shepton

  Mallet

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Stafford

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Swaleside

  19

  –

  19

  –

  Swansea

  2

  –

  2

  –

  Verne

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Wakefield

  20

  –

  20

  –

  Wandsworth

  76

  –

  75

  1

  Wayland

  1

  –

  1

  –

  Weare

  2

  –

  1

  Whitemoor

  16

  –

  16

  –

  Winchester

  13

  –

  12

  1

  Wolds

  7

  –

  7

  –

  Woodhill

  2

  –

  2

  –

  Wormwood

  Scrubs

  16

  –

  15

  1

  Wymott

  2

  –

  2

  –

  Prison Suicides
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison suicides among(a) men and (b) women there were in prisons in England and Wales in the last 12 months. [68449]

  Mr. Hilary Benn
  There have been 87 self-inflicted deaths among prisoners in England and Wales during the last 12 months to 8 July 2002. Further information is given in the table.

  Female Prisoners

  Male Prisoners

  Juveniles

  0

  3

  (aged 15–17)

  Young offenders

  1

  7

  1538W

  Female Prisoners

  Male Prisoners

  (aged 18–20)

  Adults

  5

  71

  (aged 21 and over)

  Total

  6

  81

  Police Sick Leave
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of Cheshire on the level of sick leave in the force; and if he will make a statement. [36506]

  Mr. John Denham
  [holding answer 25 February 2002]: Sickness absence rates in Cheshire Constabulary in 2000–01 were as follows:
  1539W

  Average days sick leave per person

  Police Officers

  13.7

  Support Staff

  15.8

  I am informed by the Chief Constable of Cheshire that the force has recently improved sickness absence management procedures and are now seeing an improvement in sickness absence for both police officers and support staff.

  In 1997 Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary published a report "Lost Time" about sickness absence in police forces. The Home Office has recently published "In Sickness and In Health: Reducing sickness absence in the police service', which reported the results of research into this subject. The reports made a number of recommendations to Chief Constables aimed at improving the management of sickness absence.

  The Home Office is currently developing the Strategy for a Healthy Police Service, in consultation with the police service, which will help bring about substantial reductions in police sickness.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  State Pension
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the level of the state pension since April 1998, in comparison with increases in(a) average earnings and (b) the retail price index. [714841

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Since April 1998, the rate of basic state retirement pension has increased from £64.70 to £75.50, an increase of 17 per cent.

  If we had uprated the basic state retirement pension in the same period:

  (a) by average earnings, the increase would have been 19 per cent.;

  (b) by RPI, the increase would have been 10 per cent.

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value would be of the 25 pence age addition to the retirement pension if it had been increased in each year since its introduction in line with(a) prices and (b) average earnings. [70233)

  Mr. McCartney
  The 25p age addition would be worth:

  (a) £2.19 per week had it been up-rated in line with prices; and

  (b) £3.77 per week had it been up-rated in line with earnings,

  since its introduction in 1971.

  These values relate to the value of the age addition for 2002–03.

  However, it should be noted that since 2000 all pensioners aged over 75 receive free TV licences, currently worth £112 per year and of pensioners aged 80 or over, the poorest single pensioners are £1,000 a year better off, and couples almost £1,400 better off in real terms when compared with the 1997 system.
  1540W
  Notes:

  1. The Office of National Statistics' "RP1: AI Items Index Table (table RP02)" has been used to up-rate in line with prices.

  2. The Office of National Statistics' "Average Earnings Index for the Whole Economy" has been used to up-rate in line with earnings.

  State Pension Credit
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated administration costs are of the state pension credit in each of the next five full financial years; and what percentage this represents in each of the next five full financial years of the total estimated cost of the state pension credit. [69276]

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 16 July 2002]: The Pension Service will be responsible for delivering Pension Credit along with Retirement Pension and other benefits for pensioners. Ultimately benefits will be delivered in a coordinated way so that administration is delivered as part of a seamless process.

  The costs to The Pension Service of delivering Pension Credit over the period covered by the Spending Review 2002 settlement (2003–04 to 2005–06) are estimated at £670 million.1

  These are the costs of converting 1.8 million MIG cases and bringing on an additional 1 million Pension Credit cases. Steady state running costs will be set in future Spending Reviews.

  Minimum Income Guarantee/Pension Credit programme expenditure will be £17.4 billion over the Spending Review period 2003–04 to 2005–06.2,3,4,5

  Notes:

  1. These include the estimate of staff costs for processing Pension Credit and for supporting functions within The Pension Service. As The Pension Service continues to develop a more integrated approach to benefit services these costs will be subject to change. They exclude one-off implementation costs such as changes to the Department's IT systems and any apportionment of Departmental overheads.

  2. The Minimum Income Guarantee will be replaced by the Pension Credit from October 2003.

  3. Programme expenditure beyond the year 2005–06 is not available.

  4. Costs are given in nominal terms.

  5. Programme costs relate to Pension Credit only and do not include any additional Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit expenditure resulting from the introduction of Pension Credit.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individual pensioners are represented by his target to pay pension credit to at least three million pensioner households by 2006. [71782]

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The PSA target, as published in the Spending Review 2002, is for 3 million pensioner households to be in receipt of Pension Credit by 2006. It is not possible to estimate with confidence the number of individual pensioners who will receive Pension Credit by 2006.

  Occupational Pensions
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of occupational pensions that are in independent trusteeship. [73133]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  The information is not collected. Independent trustees can be appointed to pension schemes for a wide variety of reasons to on-going schemes and those where a sponsoring employer has become insolvent.

  On 1 April 2002, we introduced regulations to help speed up the process of winding-up pension schemes and to increase the accountability of those involved in running schemes. Specifically, the measures include a requirement for; trustees to report to Opra within one month of their becoming aware that the scheme does not have an independent trustee; and the Insolvency Practitioner or Official Receiver to appoint an independent trustee within 3 months of becoming aware of the need for one.

  Pension Payment
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2002,Official Report, column 1009W, on pension payment, (a) how many letters were sent out to people within four months of retirement age and (b) how many claim packages were filled out and returned as a result in each year since 1997. [66586]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information requested concerning the number of letters sent out to people within four months of pension age is detailed in the table. No statistics are kept of the number of claim forms that are filled out and returned as a result of the letters that are

  Title of consultation

  Start Date

  End Date

  Revised code of practice on for gathering of information as required in Social Security Fraud Act 2001

  8 April 2002

  20 April 2002

  Consultation on Three Recommendations in the Myners' report—Institutional Investment in the UK—a review"

  4 February 2002

  3 May 2002

  Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA) quinquennial review

  10 May 2002

  2 August 2002

  Measuring Child Poverty

  18 April 2002

  10 July 2002

  The future of the residential allowance component of Income Support, Minimum Income Guarantee, Jobseeker's Allowance

  22 May 2002

  31 August 2002

  Equality, Opportunity, and Independence for all (Race Relations Amendment Act)

  30 May 2002

  30 September 2002

  Retirement Benefits
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are taken by his Department to advise those contemplating moving abroad for retirement or extended absence of the implications of the entitlement to retirement benefits. [71182]

  Mr. McCartney
  Individuals who are considering moving abroad are responsible for considering the financial impact of such a move. They can seek information and advice on the implications on entitlement to retirement benefits in a number of DWP publications.

  Leaflet NP46 "Retirement Pensions" (which is widely available in Social Security Offices and Post Offices) advises pensioners of the effect of going abroad on their retirement pension.
  1542W
  sent out four months in advance of pension age- claim forms can also be obtained via the Pension Service Website or from any of our Local Offices. Details of the number of claims to Retirement Pension that have been received in the relevant period(s) have been included in the table.

  Period

  No of letters

  No of claims Received

  01.04.97 to 31.03.98

  571,970

  602,696

  01.04.98 to 31.03.99

  568,264

  628,804

  01.04.99 to 31.03.00

  563,395

  621,967

  01.04.00 to 31.03.01

  581,416

  506,298

  01.04.01 to 31.03.02

  655,308

  556,626

  Consultation
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to what extent he has conformed to Criterion 6 of Cabinet Office guidelines on written consultations in relation to his consultation on the pension statement; and if he will make a statement. [54230]

  Mr. McCartney
  We aim to follow Cabinet Office guidance on all written consultation where appropriate.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what public consultations have been commenced by his Department since 1 April; and what the(a) closing date and (b) website address of each were. [72068]

  Mr. McCartney
  The titles, start and end dates of public consultations commenced by Department for Work and Pensions since 1 April 2002 are listed in the table. They can all be found on www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2002/index.htm

  Besides giving general information, it also advises people who are thinking of moving abroad to get leaflet GL29 "Going abroad and social security benefits" from their Social Security Office. In addition, the Department's International Pensions Centre provides oral and written advice to people who intend to move abroad.

  Information is also available on the DWP website—www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department would have been in each of the last five years of unfreezing state pension for those retired abroad in countries without a full reciprocal social security agreement. [71183]

  Mr. McCartney
  Due to data limitations, we are unable to provide meaningful estimates prior to 1999. However, such information as we can provide is set out in the table below
  1543W

  Year

  Additional cost of paving pensions at an unfrozen rate (£ million)

  2000–01

  280

  2001–02

  330

  2002–03

  370

  Notes:

  1. Costs are shown in cash terms, i.e. not adjusted for inflation.

  2. Costs include all components of State Pensions.

  3. Costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million.

  4. To fully restore the state pension to what it would have been had it not been frozen will cost around £3 billion

  Pension Service
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (1) pursuant to the oral statement of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,Official Report, column 173W, on the Pension Service, whether the decision to carry out a home visit to a pensioner will be made by the pensioner; [72842]

  (2) in what circumstances a pensioner requesting a home visit through the Pension Service would be denied one. [68988]

  Mr. McCartney
  By bringing together pension-related services customers of The Pension Service will be given a dedicated service in a way that is convenient for them.

  Many pensioners already deal with us over the phone—over two-thirds of Retirement Pension claims are made via the Pensions Direct telephone service—and this will increasingly be the case. So we are developing 26 modern centres using the most up-to-date equipment to deal with queries accurately and efficiently.

  These centres will be backed up by local services delivered in partnership with organisations very used to dealing with pensioners' needs, provided in locations accessible to pensioners. The local service will employ twice as many people undertaking similar activity in the old Benefits Agency.

  Where a pensioner requires a home visit we expect to be able to provide one. Pensioners will have that option—but in reality the vast majority of queries will be dealt with swiftly and effectively without the need for a home visit. Indeed a simple call to a Pension Centre is likely to be the most effective and satisfactory way of dealing with customers' inquiries without the delay of appointments.

  This is a period of change but it is change to create a better service. As the Pension Service is rolled out in each area existing pensioners will receive letters explaining those changes fully and giving them all necessary contact details.

  Pensioners deserve a decent modern service tailored to their needs; The Pension Service will deliver it.

  Pickering Report
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the cost to the Treasury of the proposals in the Pickering report to end(a) the compulsory indexation of occupational pensions and (b) the compulsory provision of survivor spouses benefits. [72998]

  Mr. McCartney
  We are currently carrying out analysis of the proposals in the Pickering report and we will respond to them in our autumn Green Paper.

  Pensions Advice
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that trained staff are always available in Jobcentre Plus offices to deliver pensions advice in areas where there is no local pension service in place: and if he will make a statement. [67858]

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what opportunities there will be for pensioners to receive face-to-face advice on their particular case under the new Pensions Service and Jobcentre Plus schemes for(a) exceptional and (b) day-to-day cases. [72189]

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The Department for Work and Pensions is currently creating an entirely new service focused on the needs of today's and tomorrow's pensioners.

  By bringing together pension-related services customers of The Pension Service will be given a dedicated service in a way that is convenient for them.

  Many pensioners already deal with us over the phone—over two-thirds of Retirement Pension claims are made via the Pensions Direct telephone service—and this will increasingly be the case. So we are developing 26 modern centres using the most up-to-date equipment to deal with queries accurately and efficiently.

  These centres will be backed up by local services delivered in partnership with organisations very used to dealing with pensioners' needs, provided in locations accessible to pensioners. The local service will employ twice as many people undertaking similar activity in the old Benefits Agency.

  The Pension Service is committed to providing the best for our customers and training holds the key to that. We will provide technical training to ensure that staff can do their job well and enhance their competencies in areas such as customer service. They will focus entirely on the needs of pensioners, ensuring an expert service which we believe our customers will want to use.

  We do recognise that there will be occasions when customers with a pension query might visit a Jobcentre Plus office in their community, particularly whilst the new arrangements are being introduced. Jobcentre Plus staff will deal with pensioners visiting such offices courteously and efficiently. They will ensure that the customers are given appropriate contact details for the Pension Service where there will be trained staff who will be able to deal effectively with their query.

  In the meantime, our customers can continue to access our services via the existing social security network until the new local arrangements apply.

  This is a period of change but it is change to create a better service. As the new Pension Service is rolled out in each area existing pensioners will receive letters explaining those changes fully and giving them all necessary contact details.
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  Pensioners deserve a decent modern service tailored to their needs; The Pension Service will deliver it.

  Pension Service Staff
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when Pension Service staff(a) based in local pension surgeries and (b) carrying out home visits will be able to access central Pension Service IT records; and what arrangements for accessing pensioner records and adding new details will be in place until then. [68987]

  Mr. McCartney
  It is planned that local service staff will be able to view a customer's details and record a narrative of ongoing action while on a home visit or conducting a surgery. We will bring in this functionality as soon as possible, but it will not be available for some time.

  In the meantime local service staff will preview their cases at their base office where they will have access to the appropriate customer records.

  They will not be able to input or amend any details of a customer's claim. The design intention has always been that all completed claim forms, information and verification details will be forwarded to the appropriate pension centre, which as "owner" of the claim, will be responsible for inputting information and amending existing records.

  State Second Pension
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 24 June 2002,Official Report, column 677W, how much he expects to spend promoting the state second pension during the current financial year. [69937]

  Mr. McCartney
  For details of the costs of this activity for the last financial year I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Vincent Cable).

  An estimate of the final spend of the State Second Pension publicity activity for the financial year 2002–03 is not currently available as final decisions on the campaign have yet to be made.

  Jobcentre Plus/Pension Service
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff will he employed in(a) Jobcentre Plus and (b) the Pension Service whose primary responsibility is face-to-face contact with the public (i) this year and (ii) in each future year for which projections have been made. [171784]

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Staffing in Jobcentre Plus is not broken down by this categorisation. On current assumptions, the local service for The Pension Service that we are starting to establish from October 2002 will require around 2,400 staff, once full national rollout is achieved.

  Child Support
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the latest anticipated date is by which the computer system to support delivery of the new child support scheme will be completed and fully 1546W
  tested; and what the latest anticipated dates are for (a) new clients and (b) existing clients to be assessed under the new scheme; [72774]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in introducing the new child support scheme. [72775]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State (Mr. Darling) 20 March 2002,Official Report, columns 315–324.

  Testing of the new IT system continues, but no firm date for completion of those tests has yet been agreed. Accordingly, no date for the commencement of the new scheme, either for new or existing clients has been set.

  Mr. Luke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the arrangements for the new child support scheme will come into effect. [73637]

  Mr. Malcolm Wicks
  The then Secretary of State's Statement to the House on 20 March 2002 made clear that this Government is not willing to take the risk of introducing the new child support scheme until we are confident that it will work properly.

  Testing of the new IT system continues, but no firm date for completion of those tests has yet been agreed. Accordingly, no date for the commencement of the new scheme has been set.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will investigate the level of accuracy of Child Support Agency assessments. [69742]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Roy dated 23 July 2002:
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
  You ask if the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will investigate the level of accuracy of Child Support Agency assessments.
  The Agency makes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of child maintenance assessments. These include;
  —requesting verification of all income declared by clients before the maintenance is calculated;
  —training and coaching at all stages of a maintenance application through workshops and weekly meetings to establish common understanding and best practices;
  —establishing checking teams to assess the accuracy of work being processed;
  —checking the cash value accuracy of a percentage of assessments by a centrally based team, the Monitoring and Guidance Unit.
  All this has contributed to the achievement in the last year of accuracy, to the nearest penny, on the last action taken on a case of 82.5 per cent. against a target of 78 per cent.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been to his Department of the child support reforms new rules implementation computer system; what delivery date was specified in the contract for this system; what(a) financial penalties to the

  1547W
  contractor and (b) costs to his Department accrue as a consequence of the late delivery of this computer system; and if he will make a statement. [71557]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 19 July 2002]: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Oaten dated 23 July 2002:
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
  You ask what the cost has been to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Department of the Child Support Reforms New Rules Implementation computer system; what delivery date was specified in the contract for this system; what (a) financial penalties to the contractor and (b) costs to his Department accrue as a consequence of the late delivery of this computer system; and if he will make a statement.
  I am sorry that I cannot provide the costs of the new IT for the Child Support Agency as it is commercially confidential. I can say that the planned total cost of the project to implement Child Support Reform over the 10 year period of the business case was £651 million.
  The planned delivery date for the new system that was specified in the contract was in line with the timetable for the implementation of the Child Support Reforms in April this year.
  With regard to the financial penalties to the contractor, we will take stock of the position when testing is complete and we are able to recommend to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions a revised commencement date for the next phase of Child Support Reforms.
  The cost of the delay to the implementation of the new child support scheme is highly dependent on the completion of testing to the new computer system. Until that testing is complete and a date for the new scheme announced, the total cost cannot be accurately stated.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) in how many cases a reduced benefit was given under section 46(5) of the Child Support Act 1991 in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02; [67235]

  (2) in how many cases the Secretary of State decided that a parent with care withdrew an application for maintenance after claiming good cause for not co-operating with the Child Support Agency in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02; [67236]

  (3) in how many cases the Secretary of State considered whether a parent with care was required to co-operate with the Child Support Agency in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02; [67238]

  (4) in how many cases the Secretary of State decided a parent with care (a) had and (b) had not good cause for not co-operating with the Child Support Agency in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02; [67239]

  (5) how many maintenance application forms were (a) issued and (b) received by the Child Support Agency in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02. [67240]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith.
  1548W
  Letter from Doug Smith to Ms Baird, dated 24 July 2002:
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.

  You have asked five questions:
  1. "In how many cases a reduced benefit was given under section 46 of the Child Support Act 1991 in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02";
  We do not hold this information for years prior to 1997. For subsequent years the information you require is:
  Year to 31st March:

  1998

  74,280

  1999

  49,688

  2000

  26,352

  2001

  13,422

  2002

  8,169

  Following the introduction in April 1998 of face-to-face interviews with parents with care claiming benefits, there has been a sharp rise in compliance and a corresponding fall in the number of reduced benefit directions issued. These interviews provide the opportunity to explain to parents with care the advantages of co-operating with the Agency as well as the good cause rules.

  2. "How many maintenance application forms were (a) issued and (b) received by the Child Support Agency in each year from 199394 to 2001–02".

  We do not hold this information for years prior to 1997 and do not record the number of application forms issued. The following information represents the number of application forms received by the Agency in each year:

  Year to 31st March:

  1998

  436,376

  1999

  400,747

  2000

  369,226

  2001

  303,797

  2002

  365,414

  3. "In how many cases the Secretary of State decided a parent with care (a) had and (b) had not "good cause" for not co-operating with the Child Support Agency in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02";

  We do not hold the information for years prior to 1997. For subsequent years the information you require is:

  Year to 31st March:

  Had good cause

  Did not have good cause

  1998

  30,952

  108,193

  1999

  28,591

  75,808

  2000

  25,234

  38,049

  2001

  32,465

  19,209

  2002

  17,511

  11,271

  4. "In how many cases the Secretary of State considered whether a parent with care was required to co-operate with the Child Support Agency in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02";

  The number of cases considered is the total of the figures given in my previous answer:

  Year to 31st March:

  1998

  139,145

  1999

  104,399

  2000

  63,283

  2001

  51,674

  2002

  28,782

  5. "In how many cases the Secretary of State decided that a parent with care withdrew an application for maintenance after claiming 'good cause' for not co-operating with the Child Support Agency in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02";

  I regret that this information is not available.
  1549W
  I am sorry not to be provide all the information requested but hope that what is available is helpful to you.

  Lone Parents
  Ms Buck
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of the lone parents subject to sanctions for non-attendance at compulsory personal adviser meetings. what was the average value of the sanction in terms of lost benefit; how long, on average, the sanctions were applied for; what was the longest period of sanction; how many lone parents subject to suspension had their sanctions reversed and under what circumstances; what analysis has been undertaken of the reasons for non-attendance at interview; and what evaluation has been undertaken on the effectiveness and impact of sanctions. [67550]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  We are giving lone parents more choices and more help than ever before to move off welfare and into work, in return for greater responsibility to consider the help that is on offer. On 30 April 2001 we introduced compulsory Personal Adviser (PA) meetings for lone parents across the country to ensure that they are aware of the help available. In cases where a lone parent is unable to attend a PA meeting, or the lone parent's circumstances mean that the meeting would not be appropriate, then the requirement to take part in the PA meeting can he deferred to a later date or waived completely.

  When PA meetings were introduced they were compulsory for all lone parents making a new or repeat claim for Income Support whose youngest child was of school age. From April 2002 these meetings have been extended to all lone parents making new or repeat claims with a youngest child aged three years or over. In addition, since October 2001, any lone parent making a new or repeat claim for benefit at one of our integrated Jobcentre Plus offices is required to take part in a Work Focused Interview, regardless of the age of their youngest child.

  Attendance at a PA meeting at the new/repeat claim stage is a condition of entitlement to benefit. If a lone parent chooses not to attend the meeting they will not receive any benefit. For the majority of lone parents who do attend, review meetings are held six months into their claim and then annually while they are still in receipt of Income Support.

  At the same time as PA meetings were being introduced for new/repeat claims they also began to be rolled out to lone parents already in receipt of Income Support. During 2001–02 annual PA meetings became compulsory for lone parents in receipt of Income Support with a youngest child aged between 13 and 15 years old. From April 2002, the annual PA meetings were extended to include lone parents with a youngest child over the age of 9.

  These lone parents are given up to three pre-notified appointments and if they fail, without good cause, to take part in the PA meeting they are subject to a benefit sanction. This sanction is equivalent to 20 per cent. of the Income Support personal allowance for a single person aged 25 or over (currently £10.74 per week). This sanction remains in force until the lone parent takes part in a PA meeting.
  1550W
  The number of lone parents having their benefit not awarded or sanctioned following non attendance at a PA meeting is in the table:

  Lone Parent Personal Adviser Meetings (To June 2002)

  No. entering PA meeting Process

  No. of Adverse decisions made

  No. of decisions overturned

  New/repeat claim

  131,746

  875

  11

  Existing claim

  83,653

  1,665

  81

  At review

  N/A

  191

  4

  Adverse decisions can be overturned if the lone parent demonstrates that they had good cause for not attending the meeting. Information on the individual circumstances of the lone parents is not collected centrally.

  As the sanctions can be indefinite we are not currently able to give estimates for the average length of these sanctions or the total value of the sanction in terms of lost benefit. Qualitative and case study research into the reasons for non-attendance at PA meetings is planned to start later this year. We plan to publish the findings of the research in spring 2003.

  Automated Credit Transfer
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met(a) the National Federation of Sub-postmasters and (b) Postwatch to discuss plans for the move to automated credit transfer from April 2003. [70016]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Department of Trade and Industry ministers and officials meet the NFSP. Department for Work and Pensions officials also meet the NFSP and Postwatch.

  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that recipients of benefits who do not choose to have benefits paid by automated credit transfer will retain the option of payment by order book. [73299]

  Mr. McCartney
  Paying benefits and pensions directly into accounts provides a safe, convenient, more modern and efficient way of making payments. The number of customers paid by this way increased by 800,000 in 2001.

  We will start to move customers to payments into their accounts in 2003. In doing so, we will gradually phase out order books and girocheques.

  The introduction of universal banking services means that there should only be a very small number of people who cannot genuinely obtain a suitable account, including accounts which can be used at post offices.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which advertising agency has won the contract to publicise automated credit transfer; and how much the contract is worth. [72425]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We have appointed Miles Calcraft Brigginshaw Duffy to work on development of the information campaign which will aim to give customers
  1551W
  the factual information they need about the choices they have as we reform the way we pay benefits and pensions.

  The advertising agency has been procured via the COI Communications framework contract. The advertising agency will receive commission based on the amount of work undertaken. As the campaign is currently being planned it is not possible to say how much the contract will be worth to the advertising agency.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which banks can receive benefit payments on behalf of their customers through automated credit transfer. [72424]

  Malcolm Wicks
  All the UK banks and building societies offer accounts which can receive payments through automated credit transfer.

  Benefit Payment Methods
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contingency plans are in place for April 2003 should the Universal Bank not be established on time. [70423]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 5 July 2002,Official Report, column 630W.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people receive their(a) state pension, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) disability living allowance and (d) invalid care allowance via automated credit transfer and encashment of girocheques broken down by constituency. [70415]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Statistical information relating to the proportion of people that receive their benefit direct into their bank/building society, by girocheque and other methods of payment, broken down by constituency, has been placed in the library.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the generic features of each type of account into which benefits will be paid from 2003 onwards. [72426]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Benefits may be paid into a wide range of accounts, including standard current accounts, building society accounts, basic bank accounts and, from 2003, the card account at the Post Office. The Financial Services Authority publish a leaflet ("No bank account? Why it could pay you to have one") setting out the generic features of the different types of bank account. The most important differences between the different types of account are:—Current accounts normally offer a cheque book and overdraft facilities;
  —Basic bank accounts and, from 2003, the card account at the Post Office are operated using a plastic card and a PIN number and do not provide overdraft facilities;
  —Basic and current accounts offer facilities to pay for goods and services in shops, to pay bills by Direct Debit and Standing Order, to accept payment in of wages and other credits, and to obtain cash in a variety of ways, including from cash machines and "Cashback" in some shops:
  —Some current accounts already provide for payments in and cash withdrawals at post offices; from 2003 all the major banks will make their basic accounts accessible at post offices;
  1552W
  —The card account at the Post. Office, available from 2003, will only accept payment in of benefits and tax credits, and will only permit cash withdrawals at post offices.

  The Department is currently planning an information campaign to give customers the factual information they need to make an informed choice about which type of account to use when we start to pay benefits and pensions into accounts from 2003.

  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of benefits in(a) Roxburgh and Berwickshire and (b) Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale there are, broken down by the method of payment. [70416]

  Mr. Malcolm Wicks
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Benefit Take-up (Scotland)
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in(a) Banff and Buchan and (b) Scotland were entitled to but did not claim (i) guardian's allowance, (ii) income support, (iii) disability living allowance, (iv) attendance allowance, (v) disablement benefit, (vi) reduced earnings allowance, (vii) retirement allowance, (viii) widow's pension, (ix) bereavement payment, (x) graduated retirement allowance, (xi) severe disablement allowance, (xii) invalid care allowance, (xiii) child benefit, (xiv) incapacity benefit, (xv) maternity allowance, (xvi) widow's payment and (xvii) widowed mother's payment in each year since 1997. [72841]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many individuals in Scotland were in receipt of(a) guardian's allowance, (b) income support, (c) child benefit, (d) working families tax credit, (e) disabled person's tax credit, (f) incapacity benefit, (g) maternity allowance, (h) widow's payment, (i) widowed mother's allowance, (j) widow's pensions, (k) bereavement payment, (l) graduated retirement allowance, (m) severe disablement allowance, (n) invalid care allowance, (o) disability living allowance, (p) attendance allowance, (q) disablement benefit, (r) reduced earnings allowance and (s) retirement allowance in each year since 1997; [72784]

  (2) how many individuals in Banff and Buchan were in receipt of (a) child benefit, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) maternity allowance, (d) widow's payment, (e) widowed mother's allowance, (f) widow's pension, (g) bereavement payment, (h) retirement allowance, (i) guardian's allowance, (j) income support, (k) graduated retirement allowance, (l) severe disablement allowance, (m) invalid care allowance, (n) disability living allowance, (o) attendance allowance, (p) disablement benefit and (q) reduced earning's allowance in each year since 1997. [72821]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The available information has been placed in the Library. Tax credits are the responsibility of the Inland Revenue.
  1553W
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many individuals in Angus were entitled to but did not claim(a) child benefit, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) maternity allowance, (d) widow's payment, (e) widowed mother's allowance, (f) widow's pension, (g) disablement benefit, (h) reduced earning's allowance, (i) retirement allowance, (j) guardian's allowance, (k) income support, (l) child benefit, (m) bereavement benefit, (n) graduated retirement allowance, (o) severe disablement allowance, (p) invalid care allowance, (q) disability living allowance and (r) attendance allowance in each year since 1997; [72797]

  (2) how many individuals in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) the UK were entitled to but did not claim (i) incapacity benefit, (ii) maternity allowance, (iii) widow's payment, (iv) widowed mother's allowance, (v) widow's pension, (vi) attendance allowance, (vii) disablement benefit, (viii) reduced earnings allowance, (ix) retirement allowance, (x) guardian's allowance, (xi) income support, (xii) bereavement payment, (xiii) graduated retirement allowance, (xiv) severe disablement allowance, (xv) invalid care allowance and (xvi) disability living allowance in each year since 1997. [72801]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested for the Angus constituency is not available.

  Estimates of the number of families entitled to income related benefits but not claiming them in Great Britain are published in "Income Related Benefits—Estimates of Take-Up". Copies of this annual publication are in the Library.

  Information on the other benefits listed is not available.

  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many individuals in the constituency of North Tayside were entitled to but did not claim(a) child benefit, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) maternity allowance, (d) widow's payment, (e) widowed mother's allowance and (f) widow's pension in each year since 1997; [72799]

  (2) how many individuals in North Tayside were entitled to but did not claim (a) bereavement payment, (b) graduated retirement allowance, (c) severe disablement allowance, (d) invalid care allowance, (e) disability living allowance, (f) attendance allowance, (g) disablement benefit, (h) reduced earnings allowance, (i) retirement allowance, (j) guardian's allowance and (k) income support in each year since 1997. [72800]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in the constituency of Moray were entitled to but did not claim(a) child benefit, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) maternity allowance, (d) widow's payment, (e) widowed mother's allowance, (f) widow's pension, (g) bereavement allowance, (h) graduated retirement allowance, (i) severe disablement allowance, (j) invalid care allowance, (k) disability living allowance, (l) attendance allowance, (m) disablement benefit, (n) reduced earnings allowance, (o) retirement allowance, (p) guardian's allowance and (q) income support in each year since 1997. [72798]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available.
  1554W
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in Perth were entitled to but did not claim(a) guardian's allowance, (b) income support, (c) child benefit, (d) incapacity benefit, (e) maternity allowance, (f) widow's payment, (g) widowed mother's allowance, (h) widow's pension, (i) bereavement payment, (j) graduated retirement allowance, (k) severe disablement allowance, (l) invalid care allowance, (m) disability living allowance, (n) attendance allowance, (o) disablement benefit, (p) reduced earnings allowance and (q) retirement allowance in each year since 1997. [72782]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available.

  Benefit Linking Rules
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the rules for those receiving benefits and undertaking voluntary work do not prevent them receiving their benefits; and if he will make a statement; [68754]

  (2) if he will list the recent changes to the benefit linking rules; and how many people have taken advantage of these in (a) Glasgow, Pollok, (b) the City of Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the United Kingdom. [68809]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We encourage jobseekers to participate in voluntary work and recognise that it can play an important role in preparing people for paid employment. People of working age in receipt of benefit can now do unlimited voluntary work as long as the usual entitlement conditions are met, and we have recently extended the disregard of reimbursed expenses for people in receipt of income-related benefits to help those wishing to take up voluntary work. To encourage more unemployed people to participate in voluntary work, the Department's leaflets have been, or are in the process of being, revised to ensure that they contain positive messages on volunteering.

  We are also removing other obstacles to work within the benefit system. For example, we have extended the Incapacity Benefit linking rules to 52 weeks, or 2 years for people receiving Disabled Person's Tax Credit, allowing disabled people to try out work safe in the knowledge that they can return to the same rate of benefit if the job doesn't work out. We estimate that 10,7001 people in Great Britain have benefited from this change since October 1998 and, of those, 1,6001 were in Scotland and around one hundred1 in the City of Glasgow. No reliable data are available by parliamentary constituency.

  In addition, linking rules for people receiving income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support were changed from 9 April 2001 to allow them to re-qualify for help with mortgage interest straight away if they reclaim benefit within 52 weeks of starting full-time employment. In Great Britain, we estimate that around one hundred people2 in receipt of income-based Jobseeker's Allowance have benefited from this change. No reliable data are available by country, local authority area or parliamentary constituency. Data for those in receipt of Income Support benefiting from this measure are not held centrally.
  1555W
  1. Figures are drawn from 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and are subject to a degree of sampling error. They exclude a small number of clerically held cases. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. Figure is drawn from Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries May 2001 to February 2002, and is subject to a high degree of sampling variation. It should therefore be treated as a guide to the number benefiting only. The figure has been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action is being taken to examine the records in the National Insurance record system to check whether they might relate to bogus identities; and how many records have been checked and over what time period. [69857]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 15 July 2002]: The Department has access to the National Insurance recording system. However, it is owned and controlled by the Inland Revenue. The Department and the Inland Revenue already work closely and jointly address issues relating to National Insurance Numbers (NINOs) and identity fraud, through a number of working groups and inter-departmental bodies. Data matching already takes place between the Department and Inland Revenue.

  Where the Inland Revenue's operational activity on individual cases suggests that there may be a problem with identity, these cases are sent to this Department's National Identity Fraud Unit for further action. Separate records are not kept of how many cases are referred in this way, or over what period.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 20 May 2002,Official Report, column 18, on benefit fraud, how many national insurance number applications have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in each year since 1992. [64208]

  Malcolm Wicks
  An Enhanced NINO Process (ENP) for the allocation of NINOs was implemented nationally from April 2001. This has led to the tightening of all aspects of the processing of adult NINO applications.

  Figures are not available for previous years but by the end of March 2002, 394, 044 applications had been received through the ENP of which 12,534 were refused and 2,141 were withdrawn.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many records on the National Insurance record system, relating to bogus identities, were notified to via his Department's National Identity Fraud Unit in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02. [69860]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 15 July 2002]: The Department has access to the National Insurance recording system under an agreement with the Inland Revenue. The Departmental Central Index (DCI) interfaces with the National Insurance recording system, enabling information relating to personal details, such as names, addresses and dates of birth, to be shared. The two systems broadcast details to each other when either system is amended or updated.
  1556W
  The National Identity Fraud Unit mark on the DCI all accounts where it can be proven that the application for a National Insurance Number was made using false documentation as proof of identity.

  It is not possible to provide a breakdown of figures for specific years, or to say how many referrals were from the National Insurance recording system. This is because the information is recorded by reason for the marking, rather than the source of referral. However, the following figures include cases referred from the National Insurance recording system. To date 1,042 accounts have been marked on the DCI as false identities, protecting these accounts from possible future abuse. 16,435 cases have been marked as immigration offenders and currently 6,917 suspect files are being monitored for any activity.

  When an identity is taken over with or without the co-operation of the individual the National Identity Fraud Unit examine and forward to the relevant sections such cases for account rectification or further investigation. They also monitor these accounts for future suspect activity. 3,000 such cases are currently being monitored.

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what was the(a) total annual value of fraudulent benefit claims estimated on the basis of benefit reviews and (b) estimated total value of fraudulent claims by people adopting a false identify in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [69309]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We set out our strategy for tackling fraud and error in March 1999. At that time we estimated that around £2 billion is lost annually through benefit fraud in Great Britain. This is a broad order estimate, derived from estimates from the continuously measured benefits (Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance), from National Benefit Reviews and from estimated levels of loss in the unmeasured benefits.

  The latest estimate of the total annual value of fraud and error from the continuous benefit reviews is in "The Results of the Area Benefit Review and the Quality Support Team from April 2000 to March 2001: Fraud and Error in Claims for Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance", a copy of which is in the Library.

  The latest estimate of the annual total value of fraudulent claims by people adopting a false identity is in the Cabinet Office's "ID Fraud Study", published in July 2002. A copy is in the Library.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the level of(a) fraud, (b) suspected fraud and (c) error in (i) housing benefit and (ii) council tax benefit in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [73539]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Information is not available on the level of fraud and error in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in each of the last 10 years.

  The Housing Benefit Review (Main-stage report) from 1995 and the National Benefit Review 1997–98 provided very broad "snapshot" estimates of fraud and error in Housing Benefit. Copies of these reports are available in the Library. The size and nature of the samples in the estimates and differences in the methodology employed in the two reviews mean that it is not possible to compare their results with an acceptable level of statistical certainty.
  1557W
  We have now made a commitment to deliver a continuous, comprehensive measurement of programme loss for Housing Benefit. The Housing Benefit review, which is underway, will enable us to establish a baseline level of fraud and error.

  We have recently announced a new target to aim for a 25 per cent. reduction in fraud and error in Housing Benefit by 2006.

  Fraud Investigations

  Prosecutions

  Cautions and administrative penalties as an alternative to prosecution

  Year

  DWP

  Local Authorities

  DWP

  Local Authorities

  Total

  1997–98

  11,700

  700

  –

  —

  12,400

  1998–99

  10,238

  800

  2,835

  –

  13,873

  1999–2000

  9,124

  860

  11,029

  390

  21,403

  2000–01

  11,403

  1,100

  15,555

  550

  28,608

  2001–02

  11,183

  1,700

  13,551

  2,600

  29,034

  Notes:

  1. Administrative penalties, as an alternative to prosecution, were introduced by the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act (1997) with effect from December 1998. Cautions were made available to local authorities as a sanction from the start of 2001–02.

  2. Figures for financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01 are taken from local authority management information returns. It is possible that there could be some double counting with DWP data if there were cases which involved a joint prosecution.

  3. Management information data for financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01 is not available for all local authorities. The total for Great Britain includes estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents. The figures for financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01 have been rounded to two significant figures.

  4. Information for 2001–02 is from a count of prosecutions and sanctions completed by all local authorities; this data is collected from local authority subsidy returns. Subsidy data may differ from management information data (shown for financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01) at local authority level; however, analysis shows a high level of consistency between the two data sources at national level.

  We had a firm target to reduce the level of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance by 10 per cent. by March 2002. By March 2001 we had already achieved an 18 per cent. reduction. We have now announced an increase in our target for March 2004, from 25 per cent. to 33 per cent., and we maintain our longer-term commitment to a 50 per cent. reduction by March 2006.

  To achieve this, we are preventing fraud happening as well as detecting and punishing fraud when it does occur.

  Benefit Appeals (Scotland)
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in which locations within Scotland appeals against refusal of benefits are held. [62388]

  Maria Eagle
  This is a matter for Neil Ward, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Neil Ward to Mr. Weir dated 22 July 2002:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent parliamentary questions, which asked which locations within Scotland appeals against refusals of benefits are held.
  The Appeals Service arranges independent hearings for appeals on decisions on Social Security, Child Support, Vaccine Damage, Tax Credit, and Compensation Recovery. Within Scotland, appeals are heard at 24 locations, which are as follows:
  1558W
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit fraud prosecutions there were in each of the last five years; and what proportion were successful. [71777]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: In each year since 1997, over 98 per cent. of prosecutions carried out by the Department and its agencies have resulted in convictions. Information on the number of prosecutions is in the table.

  The prosecutions shown in the table of local authority investigations were successful prosecutions for housing benefit fraud. Local authorities are not required to inform the Department of prosecutions which are subsequently abandoned or result in an acquittal.

  Appeal Locations

  Aberdeen

  Ayr

  Campbeltown

  Dumbarton

  Dumfries

  Dundee

  Dunfermline

  Edinburgh

  Elgin

  Galashiels

  Glasgow

  Greenock

  Hamilton

  Inverness

  Irvine

  Kilmarnock

  Kirkcaldy

  Kirkwall

  Lerwick

  Oban

  Stirling

  Stornoway

  Stranraer

  Wick

  Benefits Information
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms are in place to ensure that accessible information on benefits is sent out to those who need it in(a) large print, (b) braille and (c) audiotape. [70895]

  Maria Eagle
  The Department for Work and Pensions sends out information to customers on request and as part of specific campaigns. If any customer requests information relating to benefits the information can be supplied in braille and large print or on audio cassette (this includes Welsh versions of large print and audio cassette as desired). This does not include information of a technical nature which is produced for advisers, although we can make this available on request.

  Maternity Grant
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many low-income families have received the maternity grant in each year since it was established; and how many families who would otherwise have been eligible have been refused the grant because they have not accepted information about child healthcare from a doctor, midwife or health visitor. [72418]

  Maria Eagle
  Sure Start Maternity Grants were introduced on 27 March 2000 and complement the Sure Start programme, which is helping many thousands of children from the most deprived areas to get the best start in life. Sure Start Maternity Grants are now worth up to five times as much as the Maternity Payments they replaced and provide more help to the neediest families.

  The scheme means more than just a cash payment. To ensure that vulnerable people have at least one contact with a health professional during pregnancy or following childbirth, we introduced a new condition of entitlement which requires people to provide evidence of having received advice on either child or maternal health from a health professional. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the vast majority of those people refused a grant for failing to produce a certificate from a health professional subsequently successfully reclaimed.

  The information is in the table.

  Year

  Number of Sure Start Maternity Grant awards

  Number refused because no certificate from health professional produced2

  2000–01

  170,000

  9,000

  2001–02

  201,000

  8,000

  Sources:

  Annual Reports by the Secretary of State on the Social Fund 2000–01 and 2001–02; Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

  Note:

  1Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  2Figures include an unquantifiable number of cases where the person subsequently successfully reapplies for a grant.

  Bereavement Benefits
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many bereavement payments were made to(a) widows and (b) widowers in 2001–02; and what the total cost was; [69195]

  (2) what his estimate is of the take-up and cost of widowed fathers who have claimed the new widowed parents allowance over the last 12 months; [69199]

  (3) what the estimated costs were in 2001–02 of the new system of bereavement benefits under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999, broken down by gains or losses to (a) widowers, (b) widows and (c) those without dependent children. [69200]

  Mr. Malcolm Wicks
  Information on the number of Bereavement Payments awarded in 2001–02 is not available. The estimated outtum of expenditure on bereavement benefits in 2001–02 was £1,100 million. Estimates of take-up of bereavement benefits and of the expenditure for widowed fathers are not available.
  1560W
  The available information on the estimated additional expenditure following the introduction of bereavement benefits is in the table. Widows in receipt of Widows Benefits prior to 9 April 2001 were not affected by the changes, consequently they continue to receive full benefit so long as they meet the conditions of entitlement. The estimate here takes account of the expected fall in the number of women so entitled.

  Estimated additional expenditure following the introduction of Bereavement Benefits in 2001–02

  £

  Bereavement Payments

  Widows

  35

  Widowers

  35

  Widowed Parents Allowance

  Widows

  01

  Widowers

  65

  Bereavement Allowance

  Widows

  -52

  Widowers

  15

  Source:

  Based on data supplied by the Government Actuaries Department.

  1There is no change for widows as the Widowed Parents Allowance simply replaces the old Widowed Mother's Allowance.

  2Unlike the old widow's pension, the allowance is only paid for a year and does not attract an additional pension.

  3Costs are given in millions of pounds and rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  4Estimated costs do not take account of income-related benefits.

  Non-Resident Parents
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are avalable the Child Support Agency contacted the Inland Revenue for assistance with tracking down non-resident parents. [71788]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Webb dated 23 July 2002
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
  You have asked on how many occasions in the last year for which figures are available the Child Support Agency contacted the Inland Revenue for assistance with tracking down non-resident parents.
  In the year to 31 March 2002 the Child Support Agency issued 298,696 non-resident parent tracing enquiries to the Inland Revenue's Tax Information Distribution Office.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if it will be possible under the Social Security (Electronic Communication) (Child Benefit) Order 2002 for a father to claim and begin to receive child benefit without the mother of the children expressly giving her consent. [69260]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 12 July 2002]: Child benefit is awarded to a person who is responsible for a child. When a claim is received from a member of a

  1561W
  couple, there is no legal requirement for the consent of the partner. However, the child benefit recipient also qualifies for Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), which helps to protect the pension position of those who are unable to contribute towards a pension while bringing up children.

  In most cases it is the mother who needs this protection, so when an electronic claim is being completed by a man who is married or lives with a partner, an on-screen prompt will remind him of the importance of considering the HRP position. The system will prevent him completing his claim further without a specific response to this prompt, which asks him to read the child benefit information notes about HRP, available on screen, and to make sure the right person is making the claim.

  The declaration he is required to sign at the end of the claim also requires him to positively indicate that he has read and understood the notes about the Child Benefit/HRP link.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of gross rents in(a) the private rented, (b) local authority and (c) the housing association sectors is met by housing benefit. [69740]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table.

  Tenancy type

  Housing Benefit payments (HB)1 as a percentage of the total value of the rental market

  Private landlord2

  20

  Local Authority / Council / New

  Town / Scottish Homes

  55

  Housing Association / Trust

  55

  Source:

  Family Resources Survey 2000–2001

  1The percentages are calculated from the total value of Housing Benefit payments divided by the total value of gross rents due. Gross rent is the total amount of rent which would he eligible for Housing Benefit paid by a household to the landlord.

  2"Private Landlord" includes all landlords which do not fall into the other two categories.

  3Gross rent does not include rent paid by one member of the household to another—it is the total rent paid by the household which is counted. For Housing Benefit, payments in respect of rent paid by any member of the household are included.

  4Estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors to account for regional. Council Tax band and a number of demographic variables.

  5Estimates are subject to sampling error and variability in non-response.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the basis for his statement in paragraph 20 of the Government's Response to the Second report of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, on pension credit, that plans to improve the administration of housing benefit are well underway. [67806]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We have a comprehensive long-term strategy for reforming Housing Benefit (HB) and dealing with the legacy of neglect we have inherited. We are determined to work with local authorities to drive up standards of service, tackle fraud and error, reduce barriers to work and tackle social exclusion.
  1562W
  The Spending Review announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July includes the biggest investment in HB administration since the scheme began in 1988. Starting with £40 million next year, we are investing an extra £200 million over three years to help local authorities meet the performance standards in delivery of HB.

  From April 2003 all local authorities currently complying with the Verification Framework will receive a 50 per cent. increase in their funding allocation for this work. In addition, any authority seeking to become compliant now or in the near future will also receive 50 per cent. more than they otherwise would have done.

  In March last year we established a Help Team to work in partnership with local authorities to support them in improving the administration of HB. We are already seeing real improvements resulting from the Team's work.

  In addition, we have set up a Help Fund to support local authorities by providing funding for locally-led initiatives to improve the administration of HB. For the financial year 2001–02, a total of £1,637,570 was awarded which benefited over 200 authorities.

  We also want to help more authorities deliver a high standard of HB service by sharing good practice. We have now introduced a dedicated web-site for local authorities and have also distributed on CD a Housing Benefit manager's service improvement "toolkit".

  In April this year we published for the first time performance standards for the full range of HB administration. These standards provide authorities with a definition of what they should be delivering.

  We will continue to review local authorities core administration subsidy each year and we will fund the set-up and ongoing costs of implementing the changes needed to bring in the new tax credits and the pension credit.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps she takes to deal with councils which are not meeting their statutory obligations in delivering the housing benefit system; and if she will make a statement. [61096]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We have a comprehensive long-term strategy for reforming Housing Benefit (HB) and dealing with the legacy of neglect we have inherited. We are determined to work with local authorities to drive up standards of service, tackle fraud and error, reduce barriers to work and tackle social exclusion.

  We have already made progress. Through a programme of inspection and active support, we have helped many local authorities to improve their administration. But where inspection shows that an authority's performance continues to fall below acceptable standards and gives cause for concern, we will not hesitate to direct the authority to take the necessary steps to improve.

  In April this year we published for the first time performance standards for the full range of HB administration. These standards provide authorities with a definition of what they should be delivering.
  1563W
  The Spending Review announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July includes the biggest investment in HB administration since the scheme began in 1988. Starting with £40 million next year, we are investing an extra £200 million over three years to help local authorities meet the performance standards in delivery of HB.

  From April 2003 all local authorities currently complying with the Verification Framework will receive a 50 per cent. increase in their funding allocation for this work. In addition, any authority seeking to become compliant now or in the near future will also receive 50 per cent. more than they otherwise would have done.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of(a) the effectiveness of local authorities' administration of housing benefit and (b) the effects of poor administration of housing benefit on tenants; and if he will make a statement. [63913]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Housing Benefit has a key role to play in supporting our efforts to tackle poverty and social exclusion and promote work for those who are able to. Many local authorities are doing a good job of administering benefit and some are delivering to a high standard. However, we accept that too many local authorities have backlogs of work and that consequently tenants are experiencing delays in the processing of their claims. We are determined to tackle these unacceptable variations in performance and the weaknesses in the current Housing Benefit scheme. That is why we have set out a comprehensive long-term strategy for reforming Housing Benefit and dealing with the legacy of neglect we inherited.

  We have already made progress. Through a programme of inspection and active support, we have helped many local authorities to improve their administration. The result, in the better authorities, has been a fall in backlogs of cases, an improvement of turn-around times, tighter verification of claims, improved recovery of overpayments, and a strengthening of counter-fraud work.

  In April this year we published for the first time performance standards for the full range of Housing Benefit administration. These standards provide authorities with a definition of what they should be delivering.

  The Spending Review announced by my Right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15 July includes the biggest investment in Housing Benefit administration since the scheme began in 1998. Starting with £40 million next year, we are investing an extra £200 million over three years to help local authorities meet the performance standards in delivery of Housing Benefit.

  Local authorities need to process Housing Benefit claims quickly to avoid any inconvenience to tenants. The measures we are putting in place are designed to encourage better performance and are making Housing Benefit easier to administer.

  Mr. Neil Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Wigan MB are claiming housing benefit as a percentage of the total population there; and what the equivalent statistics are for(a) the North West Region and (b) England. [71896]
  1564W
  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table.

  Housing Benefit recipients in Wigan, the North-West Region and England as a percentage of the total population aged 16 or over in each area: February 2002.

  Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council area

  Government Office Region of North West England

  England

  8.1

  9.4

  7.9

  Sources:

  Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly 100 per cent. count taken in February 2002;

  Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates for 2000.

  Notes:

  1. The data refer to households claiming Housing Benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.

  2. Figures exclude any Housing Benefit Extended Payment cases.

  3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people were in receipt of incapacity benefit in(a) June 1997, (b) February 1999, (c) June 2001 and (d) May 2002; [64330]

  (2) what the total cost of incapacity benefit payments was, and how many claimants were in receipt of incapacity benefit payments, in each year since 1997, broken down into payments of (a) short-term incapacity benefit at the lower rate, (b) short-term incapacity benefit at the higher rate and (c) long-term incapacity benefit. [64334]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  We are committed to providing disabled people with the same employment opportunities as everyone else of working age. Our New Deal for Disabled People and Jobcentre Plus are helping more disabled people to get and keep jobs.

  The available information is in the tables.

  Number of people in receipt of Incapacity Benefit

  Thousands

  31 May 1997

  1,732.7

  28 February 1999

  1,557.1

  31 May 2001

  1,516.2

  28 February 2002

  1,496.9

  Notes:

  Figures are expressed in thousands, and rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Source:

  Figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
  1565W

  Incapacity Benefit recipients in each year since 1997

  Thousands

  All IB

  IB Short Term (Lower)

  IB Short Term (Higher)

  IB Long Term

  28 February 1997

  1,749.2

  117.1

  105.3

  1,526.8

  28 February 1998

  1,671.2

  109.4

  103.0

  1,458.7

  28 February 1999

  1,557.1

  94.7

  87.6

  1,374.9

  28 February 2000

  1,504.3

  90.9

  88.5

  1,324.9

  28 February 2001

  1,515.2

  93.6

  91.8

  1,329.8

  28 February 2002

  1,496.9

  84.1

  92.6

  1.320.3

  Notes:

  Figures are expressed in thousands, and rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Source:

  Figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of clerically held cases.

  Incapacity Benefit expenditure in each year since 1997

  £million

  Incapacity Benefit Expenditure

  IB Short Term (Lower)

  IB Short Term (Higher)

  IB Long Term

  Earnings Related2

  1996–97 Outturn

  313

  296

  5,792

  1,260

  1997–98 Outturn

  318

  317

  5,716

  1,062

  1998–99 Outturn

  283

  305

  5,744

  920

  1999–00 Outturn

  272

  274

  5,492

  753

  2000–01 Outturn

  264

  311

  5,331

  695

  2001–02 Estimated outturn

  278

  323

  5,595

  573

  Sources:

  Departmental Reports and Benefit Forecasting Model.

  1Expenditure for 2001–02 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn for the year.

  2The earnings-related additional pension component is paid in transitionally protected cases where a person was receiving Invalidity Benefit immediately before Incapacity Benefit was introduced in April 1995.

  Destinations of people leaving Incapacity Benefit

  Thousands

  Period

  Destination

  1/6/01–30/11/01

  1/12/00–30/11/01

  1/12/96–30/11/01

  Retirement Pension1

  19.3

  41.2

  173.8

  To another benefit within 3 months2

  70.8

  148.0

  949.8

  To WPTC/DPTC within 3 months3

  6.2

  12.6

  60.3

  Unknown, including employment

  264.8

  525.2

  2,957.6

  Total

  361.1

  727.0

  4,141.5

  Source:

  5 per cent. samples of DWP Information Centre administrative data.

  Notes:

  1Includes leavers within 3 months of state pension age.

  2Figures are based on cases moving to Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance within 3 months of the termination of the claim to Incapacity Benefit.

  3Figures are based on cases moving to Family Credit/Working Families Tax Credit or Disability Working Allowance/Disabled Person's Tax Credit within 3 months of the termination of the claim to Incapacity Benefit.

  4Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 8 January 2002,Official Report, column 688W, on incapacity benefit, what data his Department collate for each of the new jobcentre plus pathfinder areas on the number of new claims for incapacity
  1566W
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of incapacity benefit have been helped into permitted work through the Access to Work Scheme since its introduction. [73046]

  Maria Eagle
  The information requested is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes have been introduced into the incapacity benefit medical testing regime in the last 12 months; and what future changes are proposed. [70835]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  In May 2001 we strengthened the procedures for repeat Personal Capability Assessments (PCAs) to ensure that people receiving Incapacity Benefit have regular checks on their medical condition. Cases going through the PCA process are now marked for review at least every 3 or 5 years, or an earlier review if appropriate.

  From June 2002, a telephone booking system has been operated by Medical Services for PCA examinations wherever possible. This should improve attendance at examinations and reduced customer waiting times at the examination centres.

  From October 2002, we are bringing forward the start of the PCA process for new claims by up to 10 weeks in order to ensure decisions on continuing incapacity are made more promptly.

  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people leaving incapacity benefit in(a) the last six months, (b) the last year and (c) the last five years represented (i) transfers to other social security benefits, (ii) people moving from benefit into employment and (iii) people moving off benefit to unknown destinations. [64328]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

  benefit that have been made since the introduction of the scheme, and on the number of (a) waivers, (b) deferrals for work-focused interviews and (c) work-focused interviews that have taken place and the number of claimants that have (i) refused to attend an interview and (ii) been subjected to benefit sanctions. [66483]
  1567W
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Webb dated 23 July 2002.
  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the information which we collate for each of the new Jobcentre Plus Pathfinder areas on the number of new claims for incapacity benefit broken down by the categories you set out. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. Information in this respect is not collated for Incapacity Benefit claimants separately. We do collate information for claimants to both incapacity and disability benefits on numbers of new claims, waivers, deferrals and work focussed meetings.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of incapacity benefit are also in receipt of child benefit, broken down by local authority in Scotland. [69542]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Information is not available in the format requested. Information is held on the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients who have child dependants, but this does not necessarily mean that they will also be in receipt of Child Benefit. In order to receive a Child Dependency Increase the person claiming Incapacity Benefit must be either entitled to Child Benefit for the child or treated as entitled to Child Benefit by virtue of their spouse or partner receiving it. We cannot, therefore, give accurate figures for the number of Incapacity Benefit recipients who also receive Child Benefit.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants there were in(a) St Helens, (b) Merseyside, (c) the North West and (d) England in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (v) 2001. [71285]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  [holding answer 23 July 2002]: The information is in the table.

  Incapacity Benefit recipients

  Thousands

  England

  North West

  Merseyside(including St Helens)

  St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council

  February 1997

  1,853.8

  423.3

  114.0

  14.3

  February 1998

  1,836.2

  413.0

  111.2

  14.1

  February 1999

  1,790.8

  394.6

  106.7

  13.4

  February 2000

  1,779.1

  384.9

  102.9

  12.7

  February 2001

  1.835.0

  393.4

  104.3

  12.9

  February 2002

  1,850.7

  389.3

  102.4

  12.4

  Source:

  Figures are taken from 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

  Note:

  Figures are expressed as thousands and are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many incapacity benefit recipients have had their benefit reduced since April 2001 because they were in receipt of payments from an occupational or personal pension scheme or permanent health insurance scheme; [70820]
  1568W
  (2) what percentage of, and how many, incapacity benefit recipients, who would otherwise have seen a reduction in benefit due to receipt of personal or occupational pension, were exempted because they were in receipt of disability living allowance higher rate care component since April 2001: [70821]

  (3) how much total expenditure on incapacity benefit has been reduced as a result of the rules on offsetting of personal or occupational pensions introduced in April 2001. [70822]

  Mr. Nick Brown
  The available information on numbers of Incapacity Benefit recipients is in the table.

  Incapacity Benefit (IB) awards where the person is also receiving payments from an occupational or personal pension scheme or permanent health insurance scheme

  New awards of IB made from 6 April 2001 to 28 February 2002

  Number of awards (thousands)

  Number with IB reduced due to receipt of payment from an occupation or personal pension scheme or permanent health insurance scheme.

  9.9

  Number exempt from the rules due to receipt of Disability Living Allowance highest rate care component

  4.8

  Source:

  Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are expressed in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. Only new and repeat claims received from 6 April 2001 were affected by the new rules on offsetting personal and occupational pension schemes and permanent health insurance schemes.

  3. We are unable to separately identify those people subject to these rules but who are not affected because their income from a pension or health insurance scheme is below £85/week.

  We estimate that the reduction in expenditure on Incapacity Benefit due to the rules on offsetting personal and occupational pensions has been £10 million over the period April 2001 to mid-February 2002.

  Source: based on a 5 per cent. sample of the Incapacity Benefit computer system.

  Note:

  1 The estimate is rounded to the nearest £10m and excludes the impact of offsetting reductions in the income-related benefits.

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received a net increase in benefit income as a result of receiving non-contributory incapacity benefit instead of severe disablement allowance. [70826]

  Maria Eagle
  The information is not available.

  After a year on benefit, young people who qualify for Incapacity Benefit under the youth provisions will be up to £28.10 a week better off than they would have been on Severe Disablement Allowance. The Department estimated that around 6,500 young people would gain from the new provisions in the first year.

  Up to 28 February 2002 there have been 10,2001 awards of non-contributory Incapacity Benefit.
  1569W
  Source: Figures are taken from 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

  Note: figure is rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that those on incapacity benefit who reach their 65 birthday and move on to retirement pension do not experience a benefit gap between the end of the benefit and the start of the pension. [72204]

  Mr. McCartney
  The principle of paying Retirement Pensions in whole weeks stems from the fact that the benefit week is traditionally paid in advance. Entitlement to Retirement Pension begins with the pay-day on or following the pensioner's 60 or 65 birthday. Changes in entitlement, for example a decrease because of a prolonged stay in hospital, also takes effect from the pay-day following the change of circumstances. The same rule applies with the termination of the award.

  Incapacity Benefit is traditionally paid in arrears so in the transition between these benefits the claimant may experience a perceived gap in benefit. However, the claimant does not lose any payment days because payment of Retirement Pension will continue after the change in circumstances or the end of the claim for Retirement Pension until the next pay-day.

  Incapacity Reviews
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity reviews were undertaken in each of the last five years; and what the average time was to complete these reviews in each year.
  [70836]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The medical assessment procedure involves several stages including gathering information from the person and their GP or other health care professional and arranging and carrying out examinations. The most recent study of a sample of cases found that on average the whole process took 11.4 weeks where entitlement was confirmed and 17.5 weeks where benefit was withdrawn. The available information on the number of medical examinations carried out is in the table.

  Number of medical examinations

  Year

  Number of medical examinations

  19991

  432,210

  2000

  372,934

  2001

  455,454

  Source:

  Figures are taken from IMPACT 100 per cent. counts.

  Notes:

  1. Figures for the number of medical examinations performed are not available until the beginning of April 1999. Therefore, figures for the period 1 January to 31 March 1999 have been estimated.

  2. Figures include Severe Disablement Allowance.

  Disability Benefits
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans his Department has to review the operation of the disability living allowance, in 1570W
  particular the methods for resolving contradictions between medical reports provided by GPs and departmentally approved doctors; [69278]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the number of applicants who have been refused disability living allowance on grounds of ability to work who have subsequently managed to gain employment in each of the last five years, [69280]

  (3) how many people were (a) awarded and (b) refused (i) disability living allowance, (ii) attendance allowance and (iii) incapacity benefit on initial application in each of the last 10 years; [70076]

  (4) how many people were awarded (a) disability living allowance, (b) attendance allowance and (c) incapacity benefit on (i) review of initial application and (ii) appeal of initial application in each of the last 10 years. [70077]

  Maria Eagle
  [holding answer 16 July 2002]: The role of the Departmental approved doctor differs from the more familiar role of the GP, whose primary function is to make a diagnosis and arrange treatment. The Departmental doctor is a medical analyst who has received special training and is therefore able to provide a fully explained opinion of the person's functional ability, within the framework of the relevant legislation. Such opinion, together with any other evidence considered necessary, enables the Department to make an informed decision as to whether a person satisfies the criteria for entitlement to the benefit.

  The Department is aware of, and has taken account of, concerns expressed by GPs about difficulties in answering the functionally-based questions, such as how far someone can walk and whether they can prepare a main meal, currently contained in reports. Subject to satisfactory evaluation of trials we intend to introduce a new GP report, which asks for purely factual clinical information. The introduction of the new report will be accompanied by training for Decision Makers covering most appropriate sources of evidence, the interpretation of such evidence and how to resolve conflict in the evidence.

  Disability Living Allowance can be paid to severely disabled people both in and out of work. Entitlement depends on the extent to which a person needs help with personal care, needs supervision or has difficulties with walking. There have therefore been no applicants who have been refused Disability Living Allowance on grounds of ability to work.
  1571W
  The available information is in the table.

  Numbers of claims for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Incapacity Benefit awarded and disallowed each year from 1992–93

  Disability Living1 Allowance

  Attendance1 Allowance

  Incapacity Benefit2

  Year

  Awarded

  Disallowed

  Awarded

  Disallowed

  Awarded 3

  Disallowed4

  March 1992-February 1993

  277,150

  208,730

  379,455

  119,300

  March 1993-February 1994

  212,735

  213,440

  323,495

  132,785

  March 1994-February 1995

  232,795

  256,410

  334,405

  146,925

  March 1995-February 1996

  247,890

  255,280

  331,405

  134,570

  March 1996-February 1997

  239,670

  276,125

  319,900

  137,160

  495,600

  441,530

  March 1997-February 1998

  211,250

  255,710

  296,170

  116,810

  455,400

  434,725

  March 1998-February 1999

  175,600

  208,200

  292,555

  104,260

  410,000

  396,840

  March 1999-February 2000

  181,040

  190,390

  281,450

  96,815

  380,000

  396,280

  March 2000-February 2001

  211,340

  206,145

  316,675

  103,115

  388,700

  376,655

  March 2001-February 2002

  211,190

  192,320

  292,140

  89,130

  359,900

  355,765

  Notes:

  1ASD Information Centre, 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five.

  2Incapacity. Benefit was introduced in April 1995. Figures for Incapacity Benefit may include a small number of overseas cases.

  3PSCS computer system, 5 per cent. data rounded to nearest hundred. Figures include awards of all types except "credits only" and some cases which are returned to the computer system with a new start date. They exclude a small number of clerically held cases and late notifications on to the system.

  4PSCS computer system. 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five. Figures include cases where the claimant has failed the contribution conditions but may be awarded "credits only". They exclude a small number of clerically held cases.

  The available information is in the table. Following the introduction of the new system of decision making and appeals in October 1999, the number of appeals-received on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) cases increased significantly. The number of appeals upheld by tribunals also increased. Initial awards of Incapacity Benefit depend principally on submission of a medical certificate and satisfaction of the

  Disability Living1 Allowance

  Attendance1 Allowance

  Incapacity Benefit2

  Year

  Awards on review3

  Awards on appeal

  Awards on review3

  Awards on appeal

  Appeals found in favour of appellant

  March 1992-February 1993

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  March 1993-February 1994

  40,700

  6,200

  *

  *

  *

  March 1994-February 1995

  40,000

  10,200

  *

  *

  *

  March 1995-February 1996

  41,300

  11,800

  *

  *

  *

  March 1996-February 1997

  39,200

  13,200

  33,400

  2,700

  *

  March 1997-February 1998

  37,700

  13,100

  24,700

  2,700

  *

  March 1998-February 1999

  27,000

  15,400

  17,100

  3,200

  *

  March 1999-February 2000

  24,500

  15,900

  14,500

  2,400

  *

  March 2000-February 2001

  16,600

  25,900

  10,500

  5,200

  15,555

  March 2001-February 2002

  10,4004

  24,2004

  6,4004

  4,5004

  14,520

  Notes:

  *Not available

  1ASD Information Centre, five per cent. data rounded to nearest hundred.

  5Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS), 100 per cent. data rounded to nearest five. Figures refer to all types of appeal and are not available prior to 2000 as a change in the method of recording the type of appeal in GAPS, as part of the introduction of the new system of decision making and appeals, resulted in certain benefits being mapped incorrectly.

  6Figures include awards following reconsiderations under the new system of decision making and appeals.

  7. Latest available data to 30 November 2001.

  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) by how many adults have received the income support enhanced disability premium since April
  2001. [70823]

  (2) how many families have received the income support enhanced disability premium in respect of a disabled child since April 2001; [70824]
  1572W
  National Insurance contribution conditions, and there is no formal review process comparable with that for DLA and AA.

  Numbers of awards of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance on review and appeal each year from 1992–93, and numbers of appeals involving Incapacity Benefit which were found in favour of the appellant

  (3) what the overall expenditure has been on the enhanced disability premium in income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit since April 2001. [70825]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The available information on recipients of the Income Support enhanced disability and disabled child premia is in the table.
  1573W

  Thousands

  Quarter

  People receiving the enhanced disability premium

  People receiving the enhanced disabled child premium

  May 2001

  119.5

  31.2

  August 2001

  123.3

  32.8

  November 2001

  126.6

  34.1

  February 2002

  128.6

  34.7

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 2001 to February 2002.

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and expressed in thousands.

  2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  3. Figures represent a snapshot of people receiving the relevant premium at the time the sample was taken and do not therefore show the cumulative number of recipients.

  Since April 2001, expenditure on the enhanced disability and disabled child premia in Income Support is estimated to have been £100 million. Equivalent figures for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are not currently available.

  Source:

  Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, May 2001 to February 2002.

  Notes:

  1. Estimate is derived from the Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries.

  2. Figure is rounded to the nearest £5 million.

  3. Figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the purpose is of the six month period between a grant of higher rate disability living allowance and the commencement of payments; and if he will make a statement; [71649]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost of abolishing the six month period between qualification and payment of higher rate disability living allowance in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [71650]

  Maria Eagle
  Disability Living Allowance is a contribution towards the extra costs incurred by people who have long-term severe disabilities. Disability Living Allowance is paid from the date from which it is awarded. There is no delay of six months or any other period and, hence, the circumstances cited by the hon. Member do not arise.

  However, Disability Living Allowance cannot he awarded unless a severely disabled person has satisfied the conditions of entitlement for a period of at least three months and is likely to continue to satisfy them for a further period of at least six months. In some cases, therefore, people can be notified that they have been awarded Disability Living Allowance from a prospective date and the payment will start from that date. These qualifying rules establish that the severe disability and the extra costs arising from it are of a long-term nature and ensure that Disability Living Allowance is only awarded to people with long-term severe disabilities.
  1574W
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled children aged(a) three and (b) four years have been awarded disability living allowance higher rate mobility components since April 2001, and how much this costs. [70819]

  Maria Eagle
  The latest available information, based on a five per cent sample taken on 28 February 2002, is that about 3,100 disabled children aged three and approximately 3,500 aged four are receiving higher-rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. This represents a total annual expenditure of around £13.5 million.

  Disabled Access
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance is available to those businesses who wish to make their premises more accessible to disabled customers. [67117]

  Maria Eagle
  There are legal requirements concerning accessibility for disabled customers under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and, for new buildings, in Building Regulations. However, we know that many businesses simply wish to make their premises accessible because they know that this is good for customers and good for their business.

  There is significant technical and practical information available to help businesses who are planning to improve accessibility for disabled people. In particular, the Disability Rights Commission has published a Code of Practice on Rights of Access to Goods, Facilities, Services and Premises, which provides practical guidance on how to improve access.

  Local authority Building Control Departments are able to provide advice on compliance with Building Regulations and further advice on improving accessibility may be obtained from organisations such as the National Register of Access Consultants and the Centre For Accessible Environments.

  The Government works with these organisations to ensure that businesses have effective information on how to improve access for their disabled customers.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage businesses to ensure that their premises are fully accessible for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [67116]

  Maria Eagle
  We have run three publicity campaigns since 1999 to raise awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act, using posters, radio and press advertising. The latest campaign, "Open to Change" ran from January to March 2002. It was aimed specifically at service providers and illustrated the types of changes they can make to improve the delivery of their goods and services to disabled people.

  The Government will also continue working through the Equality Direct helpline, the Disability Rights Commission, the Small Business Service and other organisations to ensure that effective information and advice is available to businesses.

  Long-Term Sick and Disabled
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total spending on benefits for the long-term sick and disabled was in(a) 1990–91 and (b) 2000–01; and what change this represents in real terms. [69737]

  Mr Nicholas Brown
  We are committed to giving all people of working age the help and support they need to find jobs where they are able to do so, and providing security for those who are unable to work. Our New Deal for Disabled People and Jobcentre Plus are already helping more disabled people to get and keep jobs.

  The information is in the table.

  £millions

  1990–91

  2000–01

  Spending on Long Term Sick and Disabled people

  7,052

  19,261

  This represents a growth in real terms of 7 per cent. per annum.

  Source:

  Departmental Reports 1995 and 2002.

  Notes:

  1. Real terms growth has been calculated using 2002–2003 prices.

  2. Spending on those over working age has been excluded.

  Disability (Employment)
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will list the measures that have been introduced by this Government to make it easier for people with disabilities to gain employment; how many residents in(a) Glasgow, Pollok and (b) the City of Glasgow Council area have benefited from each of these proposals; how many people with disabilities in (i) Glasgow, Pollok and (ii) the City of Glasgow are seeking work; and if he will make a statement; [68804]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the reasons disabled people are over-represented among the unemployed; and what steps he plans to take to address these issues. [69361]

  Mr Nicholas Brown
  Health problems are the most common barrier to work for people with disabilities, although research indicates that a broad range of non-medical factors such as availability of suitable work, confidence, level of skills, discrimination and financial considerations are also relevant.

  We have introduced a range of measures to address these issues, making work possible and making work pay for people with disabilities. We have introduced the Disabled Person's Tax Credit and the National Minimum Wage. The New Deal for Disabled People and a range of specialist employment programmes such as Access To Work, WORKSTEP and Work Preparation are available to support disabled people who want to work.

  In addition, most disabled people are able to make effective use of mainstream employment and training programmes. Integrated Jobcentre Plus offices offer all disabled people making new or repeat claims to benefit interviews with a personal adviser to ensure they are aware of the help and opportunities available to them.
  1576W
  Specialist Disability Employment Advisers are available throughout Jobcentre plus to provide further support to people facing complex barriers to work.

  We set up the Disability Rights Commission in April 2000. Its function is to work towards the elimination of discrimination and promote equality of opportunities for disabled people, promote good practice to employers and service providers, provide information and advice about the Disability Discrimination Act, and advise the Government on a range of policy issues within its remit.

  We are also removing obstacles to work within the benefit system. For example, we have extended the Incapacity Benefit linking rules to 52 weeks, or 2 years for people receiving Disabled Persons Tax Credit, allowing disabled people to try out work safe in the knowledge that they can return to the same rate of benefit if the job doesn't work out. From April of this year, we have introduced the new permitted work rules to allow all people receiving incapacity benefits to try a small amount of work without the fear of losing their benefit entitlement.

  The information requested is not available at constituency or local authority level.

  Disability Rights Taskforce
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to implement the recommendations of the Disability Rights Taskforce to extend protection from discrimination to those people with HIV from the point of diagnosis. [72992]

  Maria Eagle
  We are already delivering on our commitments and have made clear that we will be bringing many of them into force in 2004 when we extend the current employment rights in the Disability Discrimination Act to employees in small firms, banisters, partners in business partnerships, the police and people in a range of other jobs. We are totally committed to comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people and will make further improvements to the DDA when legislative time allows including extending the definition of disability to people with HIV from the point of diagnosis.

  Disabled People
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1)(a) how and (b) when his Department will meet its commitments in the Government's response to the disability rights taskforce recommendations. [71754]

  (2) (a) how and (b) when his Department will introduce a public sector duty to provide rights for disabled people similar to the duty introduced in the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. [71755]

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how and when he intends to create comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people. [72224]

  Maria Eagle
  We are already delivering on our commitments and have made clear that we will be bringing many of them into force in 2004 when we extend the current employment rights in the Disability Discrimination Act to employees in small firms, banisters, partners in business partnerships, the police and
  1577W
  people in a range of other jobs. We are committed to comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people and will make further improvements to the DDA when Parliamentary time allows including introducing a duty on the public sector to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people.

  Community Care Grants
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will define more precisely the term "exceptional pressure" in Direction Four criteria for community care grant applications. [71212]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Guidance for decision makers on my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Social Fund Direction Four is in the Social Fund Guide, a copy of which is available in the Library. The guidance makes clear that the term "exceptional pressure" is designed to encompass a wide variety of special circumstances. However, the guidance does not attempt to give priority to different sets of circumstances or types of application because this would limit the decision maker's discretion and penalise or deter those applicants who have urgent need but whose circumstances do not fit into a pre-defined category.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to ensure that applicants for community care grants throughout the United Kingdom have equal access to these grants at all times; [71211]

  (2) what plans the Government have to review the allocation of community care grants by the Benefits Agency when prioritising applicants. [72085]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The community care grant scheme is administered through 127 cash-limited District budgets. The discretionary nature of the scheme means that there will always be variation in the amounts awarded depending on location, because customers' characteristics, needs and priorities are not directly comparable across areas. Budget allocations are designed to anticipate as far as possible, the nature and extent of local demand in order to achieve consistency in decision making. The scheme is kept under close review during the year to monitor the extent to which this objective is met.

  It is for each District to set the level of priority that can be met from their community care grant allocation. All Districts are required to give priority to high priority needs throughout the period of the allocation, working within the boundaries of the Secretary of State's directions and guidance.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that applicants for(a) community care grants and (b) budgeting loans will be provided with adequate information explaining their award or refusal. [71215]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Anyone who applies for a community care grant or a budgeting loan receives a written explanation about their decision, together with a telephone number for them to contact a decision maker if they require further explanation. In addition, budgeting loan decision notifications include a calculation sheet which sets out in clear stages how the final decision has been reached.
  1578W
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average community care grant was for(a) high and (b) medium priority awards in each year since 1997 in (i) cash and (ii) real terms. [53040]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We have increased the community care grant budget four times since 1997. The latest rise, of almost five per cent from £103 million in 2001–02 to £108 million for the current year, was above the level of inflation.

  Information on grant expenditure by priority could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Unspent Budgets
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list for each area-based initiative for which his Department is responsible the amount originally budgeted for in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02, stating in each year what funds budgeted for were not spent and if they were carried forward. [71462]

  Mr Nicholas Brown
  Action Teams for Jobs is an area-based initiative in employment-deprived, disadvantaged areas. The budget for 2000–01 was £20 millions, of which £11 millions were spent and the remainder carried forward into 2001–02. The budget for 2001–02 was £57 millions, of which £52 millions were spent. The remainder will be carried forward to support the Department's programmes helping disadvantaged groups.

  Employment Zones are pilots of an alternative way of delivering services to unemployed people aged 25 and over which are run in 15 areas where there are high concentrations of long-term unemployment. The budget for 2000–01 was £53 millions and for 2001–02 was £87 millions. There were no underspends in either year.

  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average sum of money clawed back by the compensation recovery unit under the Social Security (Recovery of Payments) Act 1997 has been in each of the last four years. [69736]

  Maria Eagle
  The information is in the table.

  Financial Year

  Average amount recovered1

  1998–99

  £3,163.32

  1999–2000

  £3,527.26

  2000–01

  £2,918.13

  2001–02

  £3,132.71

  Source:

  Compensation Recovery Unit records

  Notes:

  1Figures relate to the average amount recovered in cases considered by the Compensation Recovery Unit where recovery is effected. They do not include cases where no recovery is appropriate.

  2Amounts recovered can vary considerably depending on a number of factors including the nature of the illness or accident, the date of onset of the condition, the time taken to reach settlement, whether interim settlements are made, and the benefit in payment.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on press and advertising campaigns in 2001–02; and what the planned expenditure is for 2002–03. [60915]
  1579W
  Mr Nicholas Brown
  The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. Since that time and up till the end of 2001–02 financial year a total of 16.96 million was spent on advertising media.

  For the financial year 2002–03 campaign activity is being planned in a number of important areas such as Pensions Education and Payment Modernisation. The role of press, radio and TV advertising in these campaigns is still to be decided.

  Post Office
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2001,Official Report, column 695W, when the migration and marketing strategy for the Post Office Card Account will be developed; in what timescale it will be implemented; and if she will make a statement. [72607]

  Mr McCartney
  The Department for Work and Pensions, Northern Ireland Social Security Agency, the Inland Revenue and the Post Office are currently developing a customer information campaign to inform customers about the changes to the way we pay benefits and tax credits from April 2003. The information campaign will provide information on banking options, including the card account at the Post Office.

  Swipe Card Accounts
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether(a) the basic bank accounts and (b) the proposed Post Office swipe card accounts will provide interest to people whose accounts are in credit. [72423]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The terms and conditions of basic bank accounts are a matter for the individual banks. However, basic bank accounts do not generally pay interest. The card account at the Post Office will not offer interest. Other accounts are available for people who wish to earn interest on account balances.

  Budgeting Loans
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has to reform the management of budgeting loans; [71213]

  (2) what plans he has to (a) improve the flexibility of and (b) reduce interest rates for repayment of budgeting loans. [71214]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The discretionary Social Fund provides interest-free loans giving flexible help for a wide variety of needs to the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society.

  We have already substantially modernised and improved the administration of the budgeting loan scheme to make it simpler, less intrusive, more transparent and faster. We have also changed the way the loans budget is allocated to ensure greater consistency across all areas of the country.

  The scheme already provides for anyone who finds the repayments terms offered unacceptable to opt for a lower size of loan and lower repayments. In addition, anyone
  1580W
  who has difficulty maintaining repayments can ask for the repayment period to be extended so that weekly repayments are reduced to a more manageable level.

  We will continue to keep all elements of the Social Fund under review to see whether further improvements can be made to its operation and to ensure that the Fund supports our wider welfare reforms.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reasons underlying the proportion of allocated budgeting loans which are not received in full. [71210]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The discretionary Social Fund plays an important role in the welfare system by helping the poorest and most needy members of society meet the cost of occasional one-off essential items through community care grants, budgeting loans and crisis loans.

  It would be unfair to allow the cash-limited loan budget to be monopolised by people continually topping-up their loans to the maximum at the expense of others. Therefore under the reforms we introduced in April 1999 the scheme limits access to further budgeting loans while previous loans are still being repaid.

  We no longer allow further loans to people who have outstanding budgeting loan debt of more than half the maximum amount available to them. Once their existing debt drops to less than half they can reapply, although the amount of further loan available to them could still be affected by any outstanding debt.

  Other reasons for reduced awards are because a person's debt has reached the maximum of £1,000, because their savings exceed the limits or because they would be unable to repay a higher amount.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evaluation he has made of the number of jobs that will be lost as a result of the closure of rural jobcentres; how many rural jobcentres will be closed; how many new Jobcentre Plus facilities will be established in towns; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the closure of local jobcentres in rural areas on rural employment seekers and local businesses. [72746]

  Mr Nicholas Brown
  The integrated Jobcentre Plus offices, which we will be extending throughout Great Britain over the next few years, will open up more employment opportunities by offering a greatly improved, work focused service to all adults of working age who are not in work.

  In some rural locations existing Jobcentres are likely to be replaced as part of this programme by alternative forms of service delivery. Our aim will be to maintain the service we offer through the use of telephone and internet based services and through the use of partner organisations. Detailed decisions, location by location, will be taken only after discussion with local authorities and other organisations.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the turnover of staff was in jobcentres in(a) Somerset and (b) the UK in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [69395]
  1581W
  Mr Nicholas Brown
  The available information is in the table.

  Turnover of staff in the Employment Service in Great Britain (leavers as a percentage of staff in post)a

  1999–2000

  b

  2000–01

  11.1

  2001–02

  10

  Source:

  Jobcentre Plus Personnel

  Notes:

  a Staff turnover figures cover all Employment Service staff, approximately 90 per cent. of whom work in jobcentres.

  b Staff turnover figures for 1999–2000 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Staff turnover information for Somerset is not available.

  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list, by region, those jobcentres which will by the end of 2003 be(a) converted to jobcentre plus and (b) closed. [73442]

  Mr Nicholas Brown
  The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Heath dated 24 July 2002:
  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the conversion of Jobcentres to Jobcentre Plus offices. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
  Jobcentre Plus has brought together the working age parts of the Benefits Agency and the Employment Service. We began the process of bringing the work of Benefit Offices and Jobcentres together with the opening of 56 integrated Jobcentre Plus offices in 2001. We have also announced plans to open more integrated offices in 25 of our 90 Districts by the end of March 2003. I have arranged for a list of these Districts to be placed in the Library.
  Plans are currently being developed for conversion work to take place later in 2003 and beyond. It is not therefore possible to provide an overall number of offices which may close over the roll out period. I hope this is helpful.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Ministers and officials of the Irish Government since I June 2000; where each meeting took place; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which Irish Government Departments were involved in each meeting; and which Ministers and officials from the Irish Government attended each meeting. [72692]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Department for Work and Pensions Ministers meet Irish counterparts regularly e.g. in the margins of EU Councils and meetings.

  My right hon. Friend, the former Secretary of State, and I met the then Minister of State at the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Liege in July 2001 and Brussels in March 2002.
  1582W
  More recently, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, met the Minister for Labour Affairs at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Kolding in July 2002.

  Estates Strategy
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his Department's future estates strategy. [73443]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  A decision has been made to expand, through negotiation, the existing PFI arrangements under the PRIME contract to include the ex-Employment Service buildings. If these negotiations with the current PFI service provider are not considered to be offering value for money, the Department will seek an alternative commercial solution. Work on an alternative commercial solution is being developed in parallel with the negotiations with the PRIME contract supplier.

  Note: PRIME (Private Sector Resource Initiative for Management of the Estate) is a PH contract let to Trillium (now Land Securities Trillium) in April 1998.

  Attendance Allowance
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will implement a policy of paying attendance allowance from the date a claim is granted; and if he will make a statement; [72339]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost of paying attendance allowance from the date a claim is granted; and if he will make a statement; [72340]

  (3) for what purpose there is a six month delay between a decision to grant a claim for attendance allowance and the commencement of payments; and if he will make a statement; [72341]

  Maria Eagle
  Attendance Allowance is a contribution towards the extra costs incurred by people over the age of 65 who have long-term severe disabilities. Attendance allowance is paid from the date from which it is awarded. There is no delay of six months or any other period and, hence, the circumstances cited by the hon. Member do not arise.

  However, Attendance Allowance cannot be awarded unless a severely disabled person has satisfied the conditions of entitlement for a period of at least six months. In some cases, therefore, people can be notified that they have been awarded Attendance Allowance from a prospective date, and that payment will start from that date. The six-month qualifying period establishes that the severe disability, and the extra costs arising from it, are of a long-term nature and ensures that Attendance Allowance is only awarded to people with long-term severe disabilities. We have no plans to change the qualifying period.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to amend the formula for determining the social fund budget. [72086]
  1583W
  Malcolm Wicks
  There is no formula for determining the discretionary Social Fund budget. The size of the national social fund budget is reviewed annually, taking account of forecast loan recoveries for the year ahead. The national budgets for Community Care Grants, loans and the contingency reserve are also reviewed and determined annually.

  The discretionary Social Fund budget for 2002–03 is £627 million and includes increases over the previous year of £1.4 million for the loans budget and an above-inflation cash boost of £5 million for the Community Care Grant budget. Since 1997, the Community Care Grant budget has gone up by £11 million, an increase of over 11 per cent.

  During 2001–02 a record 2.3 million people were helped by the discretionary Social Fund.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total expenditure was in(a) grants and (b) loans from the Social Fund in each year from 1990; what the projected expenditure for the next three years is; and if he will make a statement. [73007]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The discretionary Social Fund budget for 2002–03 is £627 million and includes increases over the previous year of £1.4 million for the loans budget and an above-inflation cash boost of £5 million for the Community Care Grant budget. Since 1997, the Community Care Grant budget has gone up by £11 million, an increase of over 11 per cent.

  Expenditure figures are given in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Annual Reports on the Social Fund, copies of which are in the Library.

  The national budgets for Community Care Grants, loans and the contingency reserve are reviewed and determined annually taking account of net expenditure and forecast loan recoveries for the year ahead. The planned net expenditure for each year up to and including 2005–06 is £138.2 million.

  Anglo-Scottish Ministerial Meetings
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by(a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date. [72718]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Ministers in the Department for work and Pensions regularly speak to the Scottish Executive on a number of occasions, to discuss a range of issues.

  EU Committees (Scottish Representation)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2002,Official Report, column 270W, when members of the Scottish Executive have attended meetings of the EU Advisory Committee on employment; and if he will make a statement. [73169]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Each Member State has two nominated delegates to the Committee. For the UK these are from the Department for Work and Pensions and for 1584W
  Education and Skills. No member of the Scottish Executive has attended a meeting of the Employment Committee.

  There is close contact between the lead Departments and relevant officials in Whitehall and the Devolved Administrations before Committee meetings and copies of briefing are sent to all interested parties, including the Devolved Administrations.

  Contributions
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Government's pension policy will be reviewed to take account of the overestimation of contributions; and if he will make a statement. [68994]

  Mr. McCartney
  We believe that the overall framework of pension policy is the right one. The Basic State Pension will remain the foundation of income in retirement: while Second pensions are being reformed to help more of tomorrow's pensioners build up better pensions. We have introduced Stakeholder Pensions which are a flexible, low charge product enabling many of those who could not previously do so, to save for their retirement. And, we have put in place the Pension Credit to make sure that it pays to have saved even modest amounts for retirement.

  It is important that policy is informed by accurate statistics on pensions contributions. The review of statistics being led by the Office of National Statistics is intended to ensure that in developing our pensions policy we have access to the statistical information required.

  Social Security Claimants
  Martin Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will change the rules on payment of interest on mortgages for social security claimants, with special reference to pensioners, where the difference between the average local rate and the standard national rate is greater than two per cent. [69062]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We have no plans to change the current rules. Unlike most other benefit recipients, pensioners claiming Minimum Income Guarantee can get help with mortgage interest payments from the outset of their claims rather than having to serve a waiting period.

  The standard interest rate was introduced in October 1995 and is based upon the weighted average of the basic rates charged by the major building societies. It was introduced as an administrative easement in a complex area of benefit calculation, which had been highlighted in critical reports by the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee. Any changes would re-introduce this complexity and go against our commitment to simplify benefit administration wherever possible.

  Information Campaigns
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in financial year 2001–02; if he will list the campaigns that spent over £250,000; and if he will make a statement. [70215]
  1585W
  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001. Since that time and up to the end the 2001–02 financial year a total of £18.54 million was spent on advertising media and associated production and campaign materials costs.

  Since June 2001 and up until the end of the 2001–02 financial year the following major campaigns costing over £250,000 have been run:

  £

  New Deal for Disabled People

  850,000

  A national campaign to launch NDDP, covering press advertising in national and regional titles, supported by a helpline, website and publicity material.

  £

  New Deal 50 Plus

  500,000

  A regional campaign to encourage more of the over-50s into work and to increase their awareness of the local help available.

  £

  New Deal 25 Plus

  500,000

  A national campaign to inform the public about changes to the programme through radio advertising, a video and printed materials, supported by research.

  £

  Age Positive

  500,000

  PR (including direct mail and partnerships with regional newspaper, sponsoring an award, exhibitions, research and promotional printed material) to raise employers' awareness of the business benefits of employing an age-diverse workforce.

  £

  Work Incentives

  450,000

  Advertising campaign on local radio to raise awareness of the range of financial initiatives available to those moving from benefits into employment if they meet the qualifying criteria.

  £

  Pension Education

  7,188,000

  A publicity campaign to encourage people to save for their retirement and understand the pension options available to them.

  £

  State Second Pension

  463,000

  1586W
  Development and implementation of publicity to inform carers about how new state pension rules could help them—linked to the overall pensions education campaign.

  £

  Pensioners' Guide

  729,000

  Production and distribution of a guide on cross-government help and services for pensioners.

  £

  Winter Fuel Payments

  718,000

  Information for people aged 60 plus and advisers about winter fuel payments and activity reminding them to claim and telling them how to claim for winter 2001 and relevant previous winters.

  £

  Changes to rules on inherited

  £459,000

  SERPS

  Publicity about change to the rules on inheriting the State Earnings-Related Pensions Scheme.

  £

  Targeting Fraud

  9,000,000

  A national advertising campaign on television, radio, press and posters to deter dishonest behaviour, reinforced by regional press advertising showing that benefit fraudsters are regularly caught and punished.

  £

  Disability Discrimination Act

  3,000,000

  Awareness

  A national, regional and trade press advertising campaign to raise the public's awareness of the DDA and specifically to encourage service providers to ensure that disabled people have access to their services.

  The Department issues many hundreds of publications to ensure people have information about the availability of its services, and are aware of their own rights and responsibilities. Identifying the costs for all those issued during this period would only be possible at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 will be accounted for by staff costs; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [61020]

  Mr. McCartney
  Information relating to 2002–03 is not yet available. Information relating to 2001–02 is available in the Departmental Report published in May 2002 (Cm 5424).

  Temporary Staff
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees under contract from temping agencies worked within his Department; and how much was spent on temporary staff(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the total staffing budget in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72635]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Report
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of publishing his Department's annual report for each of the past five years. [70488]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Department for Work and Pensions published its first Departmental Report in May 2002. The costs that fell directly to the Department for publishing the report were £94,940. These costs include, amongst others, the design and editing of the report and of placing it on the Department's internet and intranet. Some 2,000 copies of the report were produced distributed directly by the Department to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, key contacts within Government and other associated bodies and to senior staff.

  Other costs of printing and publication are met directly by the publisher, The Stationery Office Limited (TSO), and do not fall to government.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason he has not replied to the letter to his predecessor dated 29 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Pat McGuinness. [72138]

  Andrew Smith
  I have not replied because the Right hon. Member wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and the issue concerned matters which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

  Faith Communities
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list projects involving faith communities which are supported by his Department. [71846]

  Number of jobs that come under the remit of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

  Scotland

  (Exc Greater London)

  POSTS (A)

  WTE (B)

  Percent (C)

  POSTS (A)

  WTE (B)

  per cent. (C)

  Core Dept.

  943

  889.50

  .64

  18,722

  17,356.90

  12.74

  Non Dept. Public Bodies

  0

  0

  56

  56.00

  Executive Agencies

  13,808

  12,853.22

  9.40

  88,028

  79,997.05

  59.91

  Independent Stat Bodies

  139

  134.00

  .1

  677

  630.00

  .46

  1588W
  Maria Eagle
  The Department has a number of formally constituted projects that support the Government's Modernisation Agenda. A project can be defined as "a management environment set up to deliver a business product to meet a defined business case". However none of these projects specifically involve faith communities. There could well be local initiatives aimed at improving local liaison with faith communities but there is no central register of these informal, local arrangements.

  One Stop Service
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 July 2002,Official Report, column 12, on one stop service, when he will write to the hon. Member for Wycombe. [69261]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 22 July 2002.

  NI No. AX 81 12 29D
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what type of(a) pension and (b) benefit entitlement was paid to national insurance number AX 81 12 29D from 1 January 1980 to 11 May 1984. [72869]

  Mr. McCartney
  I'll write privately to the hon. Member about this matter.

  Ministerial Visits
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many senior citizens groups he and his Ministers have visited since 7 June. [65044]

  Mr. McCartney
  I met the Greater London Pensioners' Association on 4 July 2002, the National Pensioners' Convention on 16 July 2002 and the T and G Retired Members Association on 22 July 2002.

  Job Location
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs under the remit of his Department in(a) the core department, (b) non-departmental public bodies, (c) executive agencies and (d) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations, are located in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, excluding Greater London, (iii) Greater London, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland and (vi) overseas, broken down by (A) whole-time equivalent jobs and (B) the percentage per individual department, body or organisation. [72732]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information is in the table
  1589W

  Greater London

  Wales

  POSTS (A)

  WTE (B)

  Percent (C)

  POSTS (A)

  WTE (B)

  per cent. (C)

  Core Dept.

  2,778

  2,644.97

  1.89

  461

  425.6

  .32

  Non Dept.

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Public Bodies

  Executive Agencies

  14,376

  13,437.28

  9.78

  6,674

  6,174.58

  4.55

  Independent Stat Bodies

  144

  132.8

  .11

  127

  117.70

  .1

  Column (A) is the number of posts

  Column (B) is the Whole Time Equivalent posts taking into account staff who work part time

  Column (C) is the per cent. of posts in (A) against the total number of posts in the Department

  Sanctions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number and size of deductions which have been

  Number of deductions made to benefits to repay fines in Great Britain from 1992–93 to 2001–02.

  Thousands

  Total

  Income Support(IS)

  Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA(IB))

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  1992–93

  *0.2

  *0.2

  ..

  *0.2

  *0.2

  –

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1993–94

  4.2

  1.6

  2.7

  4.2

  1.6

  2.7

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1994–95

  7.8

  2.7

  5.1

  7.8

  2.7

  5.1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1995–96

  10.6

  4.1

  6.5

  10.6

  4.1

  6.5

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1996–97

  18.1

  6.9

  11.2

  14.2

  6.6

  7.6

  7.9

  0.5

  7.4

  1997–98

  21.2

  8.5

  12.7

  13.5

  8.0

  5.5

  7.7

  *0.4

  7.3

  1998–99

  18.7

  8.0

  10.6

  12.5

  7.4

  5.0

  6.2

  0.6

  5.6

  1999–2000

  17.6

  7.7

  9.9

  12.5

  7.3

  5.1

  5.2

  *0.4

  4.8

  2000–01

  16.9

  7.4

  9.5

  12.4

  6.9

  5.5

  4.4

  *0.4

  4.0

  2001–02

  17.4

  8.3

  9.1

  13.6

  7.9

  5.7

  3.8

  *0.5

  3.4

  Average amount of deductions made to benefits to repay fines in Great Britain from 1992–93 to 2001–02.

  £ per week

  Total

  IS

  JSA (IB)

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  1992–93

  *4.58

  *4.58

  —

  *4.58

  *4.58

  —

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1993–94

  2.20

  2.21

  2.19

  2.20

  2.21

  2.19

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1994–95

  2.30

  2.29

  2.31

  2.30

  2.29

  2.31

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1995–96

  2.34

  2.33

  2.35

  2.34

  2.33

  2.35

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1996–97

  2.39

  2.39

  2.40

  2.39

  2.39

  2.39

  2.40

  2.40

  2.40

  1997–98

  2.50

  2.49

  2.50

  2.50

  2.49

  2.51

  2.50

  *2.50

  2.50

  1998–99

  2.54

  2.54

  2.54

  2.54

  2.54

  2.54

  2.55

  2.55

  2.55

  1999–2000

  2.59

  2.58

  2.59

  2.59

  2.58

  2.59

  2.60

  *2.60

  2.60

  2000–01

  2.64

  2.63

  2.64

  2.64

  2.63

  2.64

  2.65

  *2.65

  2.65

  2001–02

  2.69

  2.68

  2.69

  2.68

  2.68

  2.69

  2.70

  *2.70

  2.70

  Number of deductions made to benefits to repay council tax arrears in Great Britain from 1993–94 to 2001–0210.

  Thousands

  Total

  IS

  JSA (IB)

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  1993–94

  7.0

  3.1

  4.0

  7.0

  3.1

  4.0

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1994–95

  30.1

  15.0

  15.1

  30.1

  15.0

  15.1

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1995–96

  91.6

  48.1

  43.5

  91.6

  48.1

  43.5

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1996–97

  131.6

  71.7

  59.9

  112.9

  68.8

  44.1

  37.4

  5.8

  31.5

  1997–98

  148.2

  87.6

  60.7

  114.8

  82.1

  32.7

  33.5

  5.5

  27.9

  1998–99

  161.0

  95.7

  65.3

  125.6

  89.7

  35.9

  35.4

  5.9

  29.5

  1999–2000

  169.4

  103.7

  65.7

  136.1

  98.1

  38.0

  33.4

  5.6

  27.7

  2000–01

  192.4

  121.5

  70.9

  160.9

  115.7

  45.1

  31.5

  5.7

  25.8

  2001–02

  210.7

  135.6

  75.1

  182.2

  130.7

  51.5

  28.6

  4.9

  23.6

  1590W
  compulsorily made to benefits to help pay (a) fines, (b) council tax arrears, (c) child support arrears and (d) mortgage interest in each of the last 10 years, broken down by sex. [66728]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 04 July 2002]: The available information is in the tables.
  1591W

  Average amount of deductions made to benefits to repay council tax arrears in Great Britain from 1993–94 to 2001–0210.

  £per week

  Total

  IS

  JSA (IB)

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  1993–94

  2.20

  2.20

  2.19

  2.20

  2.20

  2.19

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1994–95

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  2.29

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1995–96

  2.34

  2.34

  2.34

  2.34

  2.34

  2.34

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1996–97

  2.38

  2.38

  2.38

  2.38

  2.38

  2.38

  2.39

  2.40

  2.39

  1997–98

  2.48

  2.48

  2.49

  2.48

  2.48

  2.48

  2.49

  2.49

  2.49

  1998–99

  2.54

  2.55

  2.54

  2.54

  2.55

  2.53

  2.55

  2.55

  2.55

  1999–2000

  2.60

  2.59

  2.61

  2.60

  2.59

  2.61

  2.60

  2.60

  2.60

  2000–01

  2.64

  2.64

  2.64

  2.63

  2.64

  2.63

  2.65

  2.65

  2.64

  2001–02

  2.69

  2.68

  2.70

  2.69

  2.68

  2.71

  2.70

  2.70

  2.70

  Number of deductions made to benefits to repay mortgage interest in Great Britain from 1992–93 to 2001–0211.

  Thousands

  Total

  IS

  JSA (IB)

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  1992–93

  44.0

  20.2

  23.8

  44.0

  20.2

  23.8

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1993–94

  452.5

  189.6

  262.9

  452.5

  189.6

  262.9

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1994–95

  437.4

  197.9

  239.5

  437.4

  197.9

  239.5

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1995–96

  430.7

  202.7

  228.0

  430.7

  202.7

  228.0

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1996–97

  398.0

  194.4

  203.6

  353.3

  186.9

  166.4

  89.5

  15.1

  74.3

  1997–98

  337.4

  174.9

  162.5

  276.7

  163.9

  112.9

  60.6

  11.1

  49.6

  1998–99

  308.2

  161.0

  147.2

  260.1

  151.7

  108.4

  48.1

  9.3

  38.8

  1999–2000

  280.7

  147.2

  133.5

  240.6

  139.2

  101.5

  40.1

  8.0

  32.1

  2000–01

  259.3

  135.8

  123.5

  230.1

  130.2

  99.9

  29.2

  5.6

  23.6

  2001–02

  242.2

  127.8

  114.4

  221.3

  123.8

  97.5

  20.9

  4.0

  17.0

  Average amount of deductions made to benefits to repay mortgage interest in Great Britain from 1992–93 to 2001–02.

  £per week

  Total

  IS

  JSA (IB)

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  All

  Female

  Male

  1992–93

  45.56

  44.36

  46.58

  45.56

  44.36

  46.58

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1993–94

  42.00

  37.45

  45.27

  42.00

  37.45

  45.27

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1994–95

  39.19

  36.33

  41.55

  39.19

  36.33

  41.55

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1995–96

  41.16

  39.03

  43.04

  41.16

  39.03

  43.04

  ..

  ..

  ..

  1996–97

  35.87

  34.76

  36.92

  35.19

  34.63

  35.83

  41.19

  37.92

  41.85

  1997–98

  33.93

  33.63

  34.25

  32.89

  33.56

  31.92

  38.65

  34.61

  39.55

  1998–99

  38.00

  37.74

  38.27

  37.23

  37.77

  36.46

  42.17

  37.27

  43.34

  1999–2000

  31.10

  30.77

  31.46

  30.35

  30.73

  29.82

  35.64

  31.51

  36.66

  2000–01

  35.33

  35.06

  35.63

  34.75

  35.08

  34.32

  39.95

  34.71

  41.19

  2001–02

  32.86

  32.50

  33.25

  32.34

  32.50

  32.14

  38.26

  32.45

  39.63

  1Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.

  2Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample up to and including February 1993, and a 5 per cent. sample thereafter. Numbers are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  3Numbers and amounts marked "*" are based on very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling variation. They should be considered a guide to the current situation only.

  4"–' indicates figures are nil or negligible.

  5"..'indicates figures are not applicable.

  6JSA(IB) figures will include cases where there is an underlying entitlement to contribution-based JSA.

  7IS figures for 1992–93 are based on May 1992 data and represent cases and average amounts in that enquiry week. IS Figures from 1993–94 are based on a four quarter average of caseloads and average amounts paid at the enquiry dates in May, August, November and February of each year. JSA(IB) figures are a four quarter average, with the exception of 1996–97 which is based on two quarters (November and February) following the introduction of JSA(IB) to replace IS for the unemployed in October 1996.

  8The component IS/JSA(IB) totals for 1996–97 do not sum to the overall total, due to the method used to calculate the averages over two and four quarters. The overall total is however representative of the total caseload.

  9Totals may not sum due to rounding.

  10Data were only collected from 1994 onwards.

  11The number of deductions for mortgage interest payments rose sharply between May 1992 and May 1993 following the introduction of mandatory deductions at the end of 1992.

  12Council tax replaced Community Charge in 1993. Figures here relate solely to Council tax arrears from its introduction.

  13Deductions for Council tax arrears are a last resort where other methods of payment have failed and where it is in the interest of the family in order to prevent the prosecution of the vulnerable for debt.

  Sources

  Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry, May 1992.

  Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1993 to February 2002.

  Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, November 1996 to February 2002.
  1592W

  Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
  Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many payments have been made under the vaccine damage payment scheme in each year since 1995. [72941]

  Maria Eagle
  The information is in the table. Column 2 refers to payments made under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979. Column 3 refers to extra-statutory payments made to past recipients of Vaccine Damage Payments to bring the real value of their original payment up to the current payment level of £100,000.

  Financial Year

  Vaccine Damage payments

  Vaccine Damage Top up Payments

  1995–96

  4

  1996–97

  5

  1997–98

  3

  1998–99

  0

  1999–00

  4

  2000–01

  4

  792

  2001–02

  3

  103

  2002–03 to date

  1

  1

  Employment Zones
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the terms of reference are of the current evaluation of employment zones; when the evaluation will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [73541]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The terms of reference of the current evaluation of Employment Zones are to assess the contribution of Zones to helping long-term claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance aged 25 and over find and retain jobs.

  The current evaluation will be completed with the publication in May 2003 of a cohort study comparing characteristics and outcomes of Zone participants with those of similar long-term unemployed people.

  Our evaluation to date shows that Employment Zones are making a positive contribution in helping long-term unemployed people in deprived areas move off benefit and into work. The 15 Zones have already helped over 23,600 people into jobs. We have recently extended the current Zone contracts to March 2004 and we will also be testing the Employment Zone approach with other groups such as lone parents and people returning to the New Deals.

  A qualitative study of Zone operations between winter 2000 and summer 2001 was published on 17 July 2002 (Working Age Evaluation Series, Number 124). A copy is available in the Library. The report highlights some encouraging findings about the Zones, recognising, for example, that they have a genuinely innovative delivery system and underlining the importance of the flexibility afforded to Personal Advisers in helping people move into jobs. We will study the report's findings closely and consider what lessons can be learnt from the Employment Zone approach.

  ONE pilot
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 13 December 2001,Official Report, column 993W, on the ONE pilot, what
  1594W
  feedback he has had from the introduction of the form by the north Nottinghamshire private and voluntary sector pilot; and if he will make a statement. [66484]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The use of a uniform Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit claim form by the North Nottinghamshire Private and Voluntary Sector pilot has not been formally evaluated. However, informal feedback suggests that the introduction of the form has achieved savings on printing costs for the local authorities concerned, and that staff can also complete and check the form more quickly, providing a more efficient service to customers.

  Building on the experience of the ONE pilots, the Customer Management System, which we plan to introduce early next year, will result in a uniform, single claims process for customers. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit information will be gathered when a claim is made to either Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, so that customers will need to provide information only once.

  Parliamentary Answers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether it is his policy to ensure that documents referred to in parliamentary answers are available via his Department's website; [72279]

  (2) for how long he retains documents referred to in parliamentary answers on his Department's website. [72290]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The Department publishes a wide range of documents in a printed and electronic format. Those that are of most significant interest are published on the Department's Internet site. [At present, all documents displayed on the Department's website are retained indefinitely].

  Documents that are not published on the internet site are made available to the public in a printed format and are either available from the Department or the House of Commons Library. The House of Commons Library also publishes library material on the Internet.

  Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department will extend the Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles programme after June. [72207]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles (STAT) programme, which was launched in April 2001, was developed as a specific response to a decline experienced in the textile industry. The programme was designed to improve the competitiveness of the industry by helping businesses with staff training and business planning. STAT received a fixed allocation of funding until June 2002, but due to an underspend in the early months, the programme has continued beyond this. There are no plans to extend it any further but the apparel, footwear and textiles sector now receives support through Skillfast-UK, one of five trailblazer Sector Skills Councils launched earlier this year. Skillfast-UK will ensure that people in the apparel and textiles sector continue to receive strategic training and support.
  1595W
  An interim assessment suggests that the project has achieved many of its goals, with over 1,800 jobs having been secured as a result of the initiative, and around 2,750 people gaining additional skills within the textile industry.

  Devolution
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the EU Audit Board of the Administrative Commission on social security for migrant workers is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if he will make a statement. [67742]

  Ms Blears
  I have been asked to reply.

  This is a reserved matter and no-one from the Scottish Executive has attended or is a member.

  Massey Ferguson
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to assist those who become unemployed following the closure of the Massey Ferguson plant in Coventry to find new work. [70801]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  [holding answer 22 July 2002]: Through the Rapid Response Service, we have already responded to the announcement of the job losses at Agco (Massey Ferguson) in Coventry, meeting key partners to discuss the assistance needed to help those facing redundancy.
  1596W
  Working with its partners, Jobcentre Plus will offer a tailored, co-ordinated package of support appropriate to the needs of the workers being affected by the redundancies. This will include information and advice on all aspects of job search, skills and training analysis to help identify individuals' transferable skills and any training needs. Early access to a range of Jobcentre Plus programmes, including the New Deals, will be offered and, where appropriate, re-training will be given. Funding will also be available to pay for one-off support to address individual barriers to re-employment linked to specific job offers.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer the written question from the hon. Member for Chichester, tabled on 22 May, on the official travel of departmental and non-departmental special advisers. [72681]

  Maria Eagle
  This question was not asked of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

  Consultation Document
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what format his Department has published the results of its 2001 written consultations. [69844]

  Mr. McCartney
  Replies to written consultations are published in a variety of formats. Where a Regulatory Reform Order is required, replies are submitted to Parliament as part of the scrutiny process. In other cases, results are published on the Department's website and are available in paper format.

  House of Lords Reform
  House of Lords Reform
  Libra Project
  Libra Project
  Code of Practice on Access to Government Information: Monitoring Report
  Code of Practice on Access to Government Information: Monitoring Report
  Deaths in Custody: Review of Role and Practices of CPs
  Deaths in Custody: Review of Role and Practices of CPs
  Northern Ireland Court Service: Language Policy
  Northern Ireland Court Service: Language Policy
  Transsexual People
  Transsexual People
  Magistrates' Courts
  Magistrates' Courts
  Immigration and Asylum Appeals: Personal Delivery of Determinations
  Immigration and Asylum Appeals: Personal Delivery of Determinations
  QinetiQ
  QinetiQ
  Defence Aviation Repair Agency
  Defence Aviation Repair Agency
  Gulf Veterans: Deaths
  Gulf Veterans: Deaths
  General Service Medal
  General Service Medal
  EU Health Council, Luxembourg, 26 June 2002
  EU Health Council, Luxembourg, 26 June 2002
  Verulamium Roman Town
  Verulamium Roman Town
  Historic Environment
  Historic Environment
  Scotland and England: Anniversaries of the Act of Union and of the Joining of the Crowns
  Scotland and England: Anniversaries of the Act of Union and of the Joining of the Crowns
  Single Currency
  Single Currency
  Inland Revenue: IT Services
  Inland Revenue: IT Services
  Housing Benefit
  Housing Benefit
  Common Land
  Common Land
  Enriched Cages
  Enriched Cages
  Veterinary Medicines Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
  Veterinary Medicines Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
  Veterinary Laboratories Agency: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
  Veterinary Laboratories Agency: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
  Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
  Pesticides Safety Directorate: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
  Central Science Laboratory: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
  Central Science Laboratory: Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02
  Water Industry: Consultation Paper on Competition
  Water Industry: Consultation Paper on Competition
  Rural Payments Agency: Targets for 2002–03
  Rural Payments Agency: Targets for 2002–03
  Radioactive Discharges: UK Strategy
  Radioactive Discharges: UK Strategy
  Contaminated Land: Supplementary Credit Approval Programme
  Contaminated Land: Supplementary Credit Approval Programme
  Groundwater Protection
  Groundwater Protection
  Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate
  Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate
  UK Preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development: Government Response to EAC Report
  UK Preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development: Government Response to EAC Report
  Bail
  Bail
  Samar Alami and Jarrad Botmeh
  Samar Alami and Jarrad Botmeh
  Sentencing: Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles
  Sentencing: Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles
  Draft Mental Health Bill
  Draft Mental Health Bill
  Road Closures
  Road Closures
  Police Driving
  Police Driving