Written Answers of 11 June 2002

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the number of farm businesses in receipt of compensation during the foot and mouth epidemic which have since(a) been sold and (b) ceased to trade as farms. [54341]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 7 May 2002]: No formal assessment has been made of the number of farm businesses in receipt of compensation during the foot and mouth epidemic which have since (a) been sold and (b) ceased to trade. However, an informal survey conducted by the Department in February 2002 suggested that 6 per cent. of farmers whose animals had been infected with foot and mouth disease intend to move out of farming.

  Committee Mandates
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress and implementation of the directives on waste is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; when it is next due to meet; what the UK representation on it is; whether any experts nominated by the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [60390]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Committee's mandate is determined by Articles 17 and 18 of the Waste Framework Directive. Article 9 of the Hazardous Waste Directive and Article 11 of the End-Of-Life Vehicles Directive. In summary, its mandate is to assist the European Commission to adapt aspects of those Directives in the light of scientific and technical progress.

  The Committee met on 6 July 2001, 30 January 2002 and 22 May 2002. The UK's representation is determined by the agenda for each meeting but the basic representation is usually two officials.

  The Scottish Executive have not nominated any experts to attend the Committee's meetings. However, my officials work closely with the Scottish Executive on waste management issues, including those dealt with by the Committee.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigations she has made into alternative ways of disposing of unwanted(a) hazardous and (b) nonhazardous items; and if she will make a statement. [60100]
  1124W
  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The EU Landfill Directive bans the landfilling of:
  Liquid waste.
  Waste which in the conditions of landfill is explosive, oxidising, corrosive, flammable or highly flammable.
  Chemical substances from R&D or teaching, e.g. unidentified or new laboratory residues whose effects on man or the environment are not known.
  Hospital and other clinical wastes arising from medical or veterinary establishments which are infectious.
  Whole used tyres from 2003 and shredded used tyres from 2006.
  Any waste that does not fulfil the waste acceptance criteria.

  Some of the wastes banned from landfill are not generally landfilled at present. For those that are, research for the Department concluded that there were sufficient alternative disposal systems (in use or planned) to cope with the large volume of organic process waste streams requiring diversion from landfill. Examples given included:
  Pyrolysis and gasification—commissioned in some major industrial sites already.
  Merchant treatment plants for organic wastes offering pre-treatment, such as air stripping or pH balancing.
  Existing landfill leachate plant could treat a range of aqueous organic waste streams, further developments could provide a wider range of outlets for organic wastes.
  Some water companies are encouraging greater use of their spare capacity in aerobic and anaerobic treatment systems
  Solvent recovery plants have some spare capacity and are planning investment to recover useful materials from aqueous feedstock.
  High temperature incineration.

  The report suggested additional facilities might be required for oily wastes, contaminated soils, and inorganic chemical wastes.

  The Government are also working in partnership with the tyre industry through the Used Tyre Working Group (UTWG) investigating alternative disposal, recycling and recovery options for those tyres displaced from landfill with the aim of ensuring that sufficient capacity is available to handle those tyres displaced from landfill.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 11 September 2001 from the hon. Member for Torbay on behalf of Mr. Moore of Paignton. [58921]

  Mr. Morley
  A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 12 November 2001.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 28 November 2001 from the hon. Member for Torbay on behalf of Mr. Jones of Torquay. [58924]

  Mr. Morley
  The hon. Member's letter was transferred to the Department for Trade and Industry as the issues it raised are the responsibility of that Department. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Energy and Industry (Mr. Wilson) replied on 12 March 2002.

  Farm Subsidies
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to rationalise the main funding schemes in the uplands to provide a simplified system of support for farmers in these areas. [59705]

  Mr. Morley
  The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food recommended that the long-term aim for less favoured area support should be an integrated tiered payment scheme reflecting environmental and social benefits, actual cost of landscape, wildlife and access maintenance and the economic difficulties of traditional hill farming. The Government will take full account of this recommendation in reviewing the hill farm allowance and the current agri-environment schemes. In addition, plans are being drawn up for a small farmers scheme which will provide a simplified claims procedure for small farmers in the uplands and lowlands.

  Fishing Industry
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the

  Table 2: Number of fishermen 1997–2000

  Year

  England and Wales

  Scotland

  Northern Ireland

  United Kingdom

  1997

  10m and under

  5,129

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Over 10m

  4,300

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  All vessels

  9,429

  8,194

  981

  18,604

  1998

  10m and under

  5,045

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Over 10m

  4,066

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  All vessels

  9,111

  7,771

  1,007

  17,889

  1999

  10m and under

  4,100

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Over 10m

  3,596

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  All vessels

  7,696

  7,330

  935

  15,961

  2000

  10m and under

  4,185

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  Over 10m

  3,121

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  All vessels

  7,306

  6,092

  686

  14,084

  Source:

  Fisheries Departments in the UK

  Regional Organisation
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regional organisation her Department has; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in(a) 1997 and (b) 2002. [58934]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was created in June 2001 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and parts of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Home Office.

  In relation to MAFF in 1997 there were nine regional service centres carrying out work for the Ministry. There were also three regional areas for the State Veterinary Service, and offices in Scotland and Wales. The counties for each of these offices are laid out in the table. The unitary authorities are not included in this table due to the disproportionate cost of providing such information in the requested form.

  On 1 April 2001 the regional service centres were dissolved and the Rural Development Service was established with eight regional offices to take forward the
  1126W
  (a) value of and (b) number of jobs in the UK inshore fishing industry in each year since 1997. [60158]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: Accurate estimates of the value of jobs in the inshore fishing industry are not available. Vessels under 10 metres in length comprise most of the UK inshore fleet, and Table 1 shows the value of landings made by these vessels for 1997 to 2001. The available data on jobs in the fishing industry cover only numbers of fishermen working on vessels. The information is given in Table 2; information for vessels under 10 metres is available only for England and Wales.

  Table 1: Value of landings by the under-10m fleet, 1997–2001

  Year

  Value (£ million)

  1997

  60.0

  1998

  69.1

  1999

  56.0

  2000

  48.2

  2001

  50.1

  Source:

  Fisheries Departments in the UK

  England Rural Development Programme. Since the creation of DEFRA in June 2001, the Government offices have also carried out work for my Department.

  The details of the counties and unitary authorities for the regional offices of the Rural Development Service, the State Veterinary Service and the Government offices in 2002 are set out in the second table.

  1997 MAFF regional structure

  MAFF regional service centres/counties

  State Veterinary Service

  South West

  Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

  West1

  Wessex (Bristol)

  Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire

  South Mercia (Worcester)

  Hereford and Worcester

  Gloucestershire

  West Midlands

  East

  Warwickshire

  South East (Reading)

  Greater London, Kent,

  East and West Sussex,

  Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire,

  Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

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  1997 MAFF regional structure

  MAFF regional service centres/counties

  State Veterinary Service

  Anglia (Cambridge)

  (East)

  Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Bedfordshire

  East Midlands (Nottingham)

  Leicestershire

  Northamptonshire

  Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire

  North

  North Mercia (Crewe)

  Greater Manchester, Cheshire,

  2002 DEFRA regional structure

  RDS/GO regions

  Counties

  Unitary authorities

  SVS regions

  South West

  Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire

  Plymouth, Torbay, Poole, Bournemouth, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Swindon

  West

  West Midlands

  Shropshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire—see footnote 1

  Herefordshire, Telford and Wrekin, Stoke-on-Trent-see footnote 1. The metropolitan authorities in the West Midlands

  East—East of England

  Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire

  Peterborough, Luton, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock

  East

  South East

  Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, West Sussex, East Sussex East Sussex

  Isle of Wight, Milton Keynes, Brighton and Hove, Medway, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham

  London

  Greater London

  East Midlands

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire. Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire

  Leicester, Rutland Derby, Nottingham

  North1

  North East

  Northumberland, Durham

  Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland. The Metropolitan authorities in Tyne and Wear

  North West

  Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire

  Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Warrington, Halton. The Metropolitan authorities in Merseyside and in Greater Manchester

  Yorkshire and Humber

  North Yorkshire

  York, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire. The Metropolitan authorities in South Yorkshire and in West Yorkshire

  North

  Wales Scotland

  1Includes Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the potential carbon savings are in the EU as a result of the proposed energy performance of buildings directive expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide. [45138]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 21 March 2002]: The European Union Final Energy Demand by sector and by fuel in 1997 (Mtoe) indicated that 40.7 per cent. of final energy demand would come from buildings1. A further review by the European Union2 reviewed existing energy
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  1997 MAFF regional structure

  MAFF regional service centres/counties

  State Veterinary Service

  Staffordshire, Shropshire (see footnote 1) and Merseyside

  (North)

  North East (Northallerton)

  North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Durham

  Northern (Carlisle)

  Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear

  Wales Scotland

  1 Includes Shropshire

  efficiency measures and identified buildings as a priority action area for the short and medium term. An action plan3 outlined ways to limit carbon dioxide emissions from buildings and to improve their energy efficiency.

  In the UK, the residential and tertiary building sectors have been shown to be the largest overall end users of energy, mainly for heating, lighting, appliances and equipment. The energy consumed in buildings in the UK amounts to 46 per cent. of the national total (27 per cent. from the domestic sector and 19 per cent. from the

  1129W
  non-domestic sector). This equates to about 235 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year—or about 63.5 million tonnes of carbon per year (MtC/year).

  1 Source: Energy in Europe—European Union Energy Outlook to 2020, special issue November 1999. The Shared Analysis Project, EEC.

  2 Communication from the Commission of 29 April 1998: Energy Efficiency in the European Community—Towards a Strategy for the Rational Use of Energy.

  3 Action plan to improve energy efficiency in the European Community, 2000. Commission Proposal COM (2000) 247 final http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/energy/Ivb/127033.htm.

  GM Crops
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent meetings she has had with her EU counterparts to discuss regulation of GM crops; and if she will make a statement; [58128]

  (2) what recent meetings she has had with her counterparts in the EU at which plans to change the procedure for approval of GM foods and seeds within the EU was discussed. [58547]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Secretary of State attended Environment Council in October 2001, at which the proposed regulations on traceability and labelling of food and feed products derived from genetically modified organisms were discussed. She also attended the Agriculture Council on 23 October, at which the proposed regulations for GM food and feed and the proposed regulations on traceability and labelling were discussed.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what bilateral meetings she and her officials have had with the United States Department of Agriculture at which the subject of GM crops was discussed; and if she will make a statement. [58127]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Secretary of State visited the USA in December 2001 and April 2002 and discussed GM crops in meetings with her counterparts. There have recently been discussions of an informal nature at official level with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Agricultural Research Service.

  Press Releases
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each month of 2002. [59481]

  Mr. Morley
  Our records show that the DEFRA Press Office have issued a total of 169 press releases in the first four calendar months of 2002.

  Press releases issued

  January

  44

  February

  33

  March

  48

  April

  44

  Total

  169

  Flooding
  David Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the cost to the Environment Agency and local authorities of sandbag deployment in areas experiencing and prone to flooding in each of the last five years. [59271]

  Mr. Morley
  The cost of sandbag deployment is highly variable and is not recorded separately from other costs of dealing with flooding emergencies. For example, in emergency situations, bags can be supplied full or empty. They may be filled manually on site or by bagging machines, if access to the problem area is easy. Alternatively, they may be filled at a central depot and transported by road or air, as for example occurred in the north-east during autumn 2000.

  The information requested is therefore not available and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures the Government are taking to ensure that international aid given to Zimbabwe is linked to(a) allowing UN observers into the country and (b) land reform. [60190]

  Clare Short
  There are no links between our humanitarian aid, which is managed outside of Government channels, and land reform. The UN already has a large presence in Zimbabwe implementing emergency programmes. This includes the presence of food programme monitors in 19 districts. Our aid for Zimbabwe is confined to humanitarian assistance, and the prevention and mitigation of HIV/AIDS.

  United Nations Commission on Human Rights
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which resolutions were supported by the UK representatives at the recent annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. [58628]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  This year the Commission passed over 100 resolutions. The UK supported (through co-sponsorship and in votes) 72 resolutions including those on the death penalty, a draft optional protocol to the Convention Against Torture, rights of the child, freedom of expression, torture and the rights of persons with disabilities. We also co-sponsored initiatives on countries including Iraq, Burma, Sudan, Cuba, East Timor, Cambodia, Colombia and Israel and the Occupied Territories.

  I will send the hon. Member a full voting record, which shows how each country voted on each resolution and the outcome of the texts. A copy will also be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the recent annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. [58630]
  1131W
  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  Promotion of human rights is at the heart of our foreign policy. The Commission on Human Rights is the UN's main human rights forum. The UK is committed to playing a major role at CHR, and has been one of its most active and committed members since its inception in 1946. The recent session adopted over 100 resolutions on human rights issues. The UK actively supported over 70 of these. Particular achievements were resolutions on a draft optional protocol to the Convention Against Torture, the death penalty, rights of people with disabilities and rights of the child, and the Commission's condemnation of human rights violations in Burma, Iraq, Sudan, Cuba and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We were, however, disappointed by the lack of progress in some areas, including racism, and the reluctance of the Commission to condemn human rights violations in some parts of the world, including Zimbabwe, Iran and Chechnya. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs addressed the plenary of this year's Commission on 18 April. A copy of his speech can be found on the FCO website.

  Subcontinent
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has made to the Governments of India and Pakistan regarding their policy on land mines. [59852]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  Since July 1998, when the United Kingdom became a state party to the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines, we have lobbied all users of land mines, including India and Pakistan, to ratify the Convention. Both states claim political and defence reasons for not doing so.

TRANSPORT

  Rail ways
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the GNER franchise will next be advertised. [59355]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The current franchise agreement expires in April 2005. The Strategic Rail Authority will put arrangements in place for awarding a new franchise, in good time and in the light of progress on the development of the proposed East Coast Main Line infrastructure upgrade.

  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) whether inspection bodies operating in the UK railway systems are accredited by UKAS; [59168]

  (2) whether UKAS accredited personnel certification is used for those undertaking track maintenance and safety; [59166]

  (3) if the sub-contractors employed by Railtrack operate quality management systems certified by UKAS accredited certification bodies. [59167]
  1132W
  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  I understand that there are currently no certification bodies accredited by UKAS for railway specific purposes. UKAS will provide advice to the Strategic Rail Authority on the appointment of notified bodies under the Railways (Interoperability) (High-Speed) Regulations 2002.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list(a) the contractors and (b) sub-contractors responsible to Railtrack for maintenance of the track for each operating zone; what changes have taken place since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [59325]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  My Department does not hold the information requested, which are operational matters for Railtrack.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport. Local Government and the Regions whether(a) he and (b) his officials have met directors of Network Rail since they announced their bid for Railtrack. [59357]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is not the normal practice of the Government to discuss details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether train operating companies' driving staff are required to carry, and complete when they judge necessary, report forms detailing irregularities, incidents and other matters related to safe operation of the railways which are the responsibility of rail companies, their contractors and their sub-contractors. [58860]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Train operating companies have various reporting forms on which drivers record delays and other incidents as they occur. Drivers submit these written reports to their line management at the earliest opportunity and before signing off duty. These forms usually have a section that prompts action by the train operator's management to inform Railtrack of incidents as necessary.

  Drivers are required to report to the signaller all incidents that have an immediate effect on the safety of train operation or on the operation of the line. Reports are made at the time of the incident by either cab secure radio or signal post telephone.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions(a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have had with the Solicitor-General on the case for a corporate manslaughter charge arising from the Paddington rail crash since 20 May. [59819]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  None.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment(a) his Department and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority has undertaken of the ability of station operators to conform with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [59634]
  1133W
  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Strategic Rail Authority published its code of practice "Train and Station Services For Disabled Passengers" on 6 February 2002. The Authority is currently reviewing each train operators Disabled People's Protection Policy (DPPP) against its code of practice and its DPPP guidance to identify where current facilities need to be improved.

  Mr. Mike Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the report of the rail industry interview process carried out by Mercer Management Consulting. [61250]

  Mr. Spellar
  Following the High Court's decision to place Railtrack plc into administration last October, the Government wanted the development of railway policy to be based on a full understanding of the issues facing the rail industry. The Government therefore commissioned Mercer Management Consulting to manage a series of interviews with rail industry stakeholders to gather views about all aspects of the UK railways. Mercer kept the Government informed of the views expressed throughout the process and has now produced a report summarising the key messages heard. This has been made public today, and copies have been placed in the House Libraries.

  Uff-Cullen Recommendations
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which of the Uff-Cullen recommendations have been implemented. [59356]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) published the first action plan/progress report, indicating firm commitments to implement the recommendations of the Joint Inquiry into Train Protection Systems, on 27 September 2001. A copy is available in the House Library. The HSE are currently analysing progress towards implementation of the recommendations with the intention of publishing a further progress report before the end of July 2002. A copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Dibden Bay Planning Inquiry
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the planning inquiry at Dibden Bay will report. [60425]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The inquiry is currently timetabled to finish at the end of this year. On that basis we are expecting to receive the inspector's report in the latter half of 2003.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the evidence that his Department has given to the planning inquiry at Dibden Bay. [60415]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department has not supplied any evidence to the Dibden Bay inquiry.

  Traffic Management
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what 1134W
  guidance he gives to local authorities and to elected mayors on the timing sequence of traffic lights on trunk roads to ensure that congestion is minimised. [59107]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Highways Agency issues advice on the safety-related timings for traffic signals. These are contained in their Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to introduce during non-rush hour periods traffic lights which have a light vehicle flow which are switched to show only a flashing amber light in each direction. [59184]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  We do not think this is appropriate. A short flashing amber stage is already used at Pelican pedestrian crossings and has a specific meaning—if there are no pedestrians on the crossing the driver may proceed with caution. The same signal sequence cannot safely be used to indicate a different message.

  The adoption of this proposal could confuse drivers and increase the likelihood of accidents at junctions, particularly those where the visibility of crossing traffic is limited, for example, by difficult junction geometry.

  It is believed that the flashing amber sequence was introduced in the USA to help counter the inherent inefficiencies of fixed-time signals, particularly at off-peak times. As most traffic signals in the UK are traffic responsive, there would be little if any improvement in efficiency from adopting this proposal because our traffic signals are able to respond to varying traffic demands without compromising road safety.

  Channel Tunnel
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the arrangements to secure rail freight through the channel tunnel; and who will pay for them. [59069]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  It is for the French railway industry and public authorities to ensure that rail freight through the channel tunnel is not disrupted by incursions into the Frethun freight yard. SNCF has just announced investment of euro 7.5 million to improve physical security measures at Frethun. I understand that this will be funded by Reseau Ferre de France.

  Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by(a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority of the operation of the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick; if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [60400]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 10 June 2002,Official Report, columns 759–60W.
  1135W
  The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the air safety regulator, gave National Air Traffic Services its full approval to take Swanwick into operation. Assessments made by the CAA are a matter for that organisation.

  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on recent safety levels at the Air Traffic Control Centre in Swanick with special reference to reports of the(a) Health and Safety Executive and (b) Civil Aviation Authority. [60272]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 10 June 2002,Official Report, columns 759–60W.

  The Civil Aviation Authority, the air safety regulator, remains satisfied that there are no breaches of the CAA safety regulations nor is flight safety affected.

  Working Time Directive (Maritime Sector)
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken by the Department to monitor the effects of the implementation of the EU working time directive in the maritime sector. [60165]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: When the directive is implemented in the UK the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as the competent authority, will be responsible for enforcing its provisions and monitoring its operation.

  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the Department is making in implementing the EU working time directive in the maritime sector. [60167]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: Regulations are in preparation to implement the directive in the UK.

  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the need in implementing the EU working time directive to include measures to limit the maximum number of hours worked in the maritime sector. [60166]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: In implementing the working time directive in the maritime sector the UK, like several of its EU partners, has elected to apply the option within the directive of specifying the minimum hours of daily and weekly rest which must be provided to seafarers. The maximum number of hours which may be worked each day and each week can be calculated by reference to these minima.

  Passenger Transport Authorities
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what benchmarks are laid down for staffing levels in PTAs. [60677]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None.

  Roads (Newcastle to Edinburgh)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what planned works there are on the(a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh; [60644]
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  (2) what his estimate is for the increase in traffic on the (a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh over the lifetime of the 10-year plan; [60646]

  (3) if he will list the major infrastructure work carried out on the (a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh in the last 15 years, in each case giving (i) the aim and nature of the works, (ii) the name of the Government body responsible, (iii) the length of time the works took and (iv) the costs of the works. [60643]

  Mr. Jamieson
  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 11 June 2002:
  I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Transport to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A68, A696 and A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
  The Highways Agency only has responsibility for trunk roads in England, in this case the A696, part of the A68 and a short section of the A7 in England between Carlisle and the Scottish border that is earmarked for detrunking. Roads in Scotland, including the remaining sections of the A68 and A7, are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
  The only major infrastructure work carried out over the last 15 years on the A68/A696 was the building of the A696 Woolsington Bypass which connected to the Al Newcastle Western Bypass providing better access to Newcastle International Airport. The scheme was completed in 1990, was delivered by the then Department of Transport and cost £12.6 million.
  Improvement works currently planned for the A68/A696 include carriageway widening and resurfacing of the A696 at Heeston Bank, carriageway resurfacing and bridge deck waterproofing on the A68 between Whitelees Farm and Carter Bar, bridge deck waterproofing on the A68 at Rochester and various small highway improvements on the A696 at Ponteland.
  On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, we plan to harden verges along the A696 to provide passing points for Army tank convoys travelling to and from the MOD Otterburn Training Area. We hope to finish these works by November 2003.
  The Highways Agency does not forecast increases in traffic for specific roads. However, the growth in traffic on rural single carriageway roads in the National Road Traffic Forecast 1997 is forecast to be 22% by 2011, relative to 1996 levels.
  If you require any further information, Peter Moffatt in our Leeds Office will be happy to assist you. He can be contacted on 0113 283 6503.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) cars, motorbikes and vans, (b) lorries and (c) camper-vans and caravans used the (i) A68, (ii) A696 and (iii) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh on an average day in the last 12 months. [60645]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The available information on the average numbers of vehicles per day on the A696/A68/A7 route between Newcastle and Edinburgh in 2000, is given in the table:

  Vehicle type

  Number

  Cars

  5,041

  Motorcycles

  68

  LGV (vans)

  639

  HGV (lorries)

  446

  Road Haulage Vehicles
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road haulage vehicles were inspected by the vehicle inspectorate in each of the last three years. [60457]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Information about the vehicle inspectorate's enforcement activities for the three years to the end of March 2001 is published in the inspectorate's Effectiveness Report 2001, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources were provided for inspections of road haulage vehicles with regard to overloading and vehicle drivers' hours offences, in each of the last three years. [60456]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Traffic examiners (TEs) carry out weighings and check compliance with drivers' hours legislation as part of their duties. The vehicle inspectorate (VI) employed 175 TEs in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. The number of TEs increased to 209 at the end of 2001–02 in response to additional funding from the Road Haulage Forum. In addition to VI's network of permanent weighbridge sites, a number of mobile weighpads were introduced in 2000–01 which have improved VI's ability to target its checks. Work will be done in 2002–03 to test electronic tachograph analysis equipment which will improve the examiner's ability to detect drivers' hours and other offences.

  Parking
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much in the last financial year for which figures are available each local authority in England and Wales has raised from the issuing of(a) parking permits, (b) parking meters and (c) pay and display systems. [55797]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have been asked to reply.

  Separate statistics on local authority income from parking permits, parking meters and pay and display systems are not collected centrally. A table showing the expenditure on and income from parking for local authorities in England in 2000–01 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Local authorities in Wales spent £10.72 million on parking and received income of £16.58 million in 2000–01.

  Railtrack
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers the administrators of Railtrack have to sell(a) major stations, (b) other property and (c) other land assets independently of the remainder of the rail network. [60650]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In accordance with section 59 of the Railways Act 1993, the railway administration order made in respect of Railtrack plc directs that the affairs, business and property of the company shall be managed by the administrators for the achievement of the purposes of the administration order. The purposes of the order include transferring the network undertaking as a going concern and ensuring that the management of the rail network can be properly carried on pending a transfer.
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  The administrators have the power to sell major stations, other property and other land assets, but may use it only to achieve the purposes of the administration order. Furthermore, to protect the public interest, it is a condition of its network licence that Railtrack plc (in administration) may not dispose of land without the consent of the Rail Regulator.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time engineers were employed by Railtrack who worked on(a) maintenance and (b) enhancements and projects on 24 September 2001; how many there are; and how many have joined the company since 5 October 2001. [60653]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 24 May 2002,Official Report, column 617W. Further information is not held in the form requested.

  Vehicle Registration
  Mr. Miller
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the vehicle registration system. [60884]

  Mr. Spellar
  Some months ago the Department undertook a review of the vehicle registration system in partnership with the insurance industry. Research was undertaken by the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science, University College London (JDI). The review examined ways of enhancing the accuracy of databases, improving enforcement arrangements and providing more reliable services to benefit all motorists. The JDI report made 11 recommendations. The first of these, the introduction of continuous registration, has already been accepted and enabling provisions have been included in the Finance Bill. The details of those provisions and the other recommendations will be discussed in detail with stakeholders prior to implementation. I have made available copies of the JDI report in the Library of the House.

  Cycling
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many kilometres were cycled per person in each of the last three years. [60455]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The latest data available, from the National Travel Survey, cover the average distance cycled for those living in Great Britain for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000:

  Distance cycled per person per year (kilometres)

  1998

  58

  1999

  68

  2000

  59

  The volatility of the single year figures is likely to be a result of the relatively small sample sizes and the geographical clustering of the sample. Cycling patterns over individual years are also very dependent on the weather.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the average carbon dioxide emissions for a motorist using their car in the last 12 months in the UK. [60427]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In 2000 (the latest year for which data are available), it is estimated that average carbon dioxide emissions from cars in the UK were three tonnes.

  International Flights
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many international flights there were from the UK(a) over the North Atlantic, (b) to other EU countries and (c) to other world destinations in each quarter of the last five years. [60655]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The number of international flights from the UK(a) over the North Atlantic (b) to other EU countries and (c) to all other world destinations in each quarter of the last five years is shown in the table. Flights are attributed only to their final overseas destination and not, if any, to intermediate destinations. There were a similar number of international flights arriving in the UK.

  Flights from the UK over the North Atlantic1

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  1997

  8,786

  11,053

  12,782

  10,677

  1998

  9,840

  12,226

  13,782

  11,674

  1999

  10,733

  12,730

  14,208

  12,103

  2000

  11,380

  13,256

  14,550

  12,332

  2001

  11,442

  13,597

  14,171

  10,897

  1 Flights to USA and Canada

  Flights from the UK to other EU countries

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  1997

  77,409

  92,483

  99,661

  86,195

  1998

  83,351

  99,510

  109,436

  93,357

  1999

  89,997

  106,602

  117,345

  99,812

  2000

  97,906

  115,318

  127,260

  105,324

  2001

  100,194

  119,921

  130,702

  102,997

  Note:

  For the purpose of this analysis Gibraltar has been included in 'other EU countries'

  Flights from the UK to other world destinations

  Q1

  Q2

  Q3

  Q4

  1997

  29,621

  34,194

  36,624

  33,264

  1998

  31,363

  35,272

  38,332

  34,219

  1999

  33,240

  36,186

  38,917

  34,216

  2000

  33,074

  36,203

  39,577

  35,725

  2001

  33,852

  37,537

  40,031

  34,329

  Note:

  Flights are attributed to the overseas country of destination and not to each point of call. For example a flight whose route is Gatwick—Paris—Tunis is allocated only to 'other world destinations'.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued to the CAA on the relationship between the number of flights(a) over the North Atlantic, (b) to other EU countries and (c) to other world destinations, and the level of the price cap that the CAA places on the fees that NATS charges airlines. [60656]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  I have issued no guidelines on these matters to the CAA. Although the initial price cap on NATS was set by the Government, as is usual when a public entity is transferred to the private sector, the CAA is the economic regulator of NATS and the Government do not interfere with its discharge of its economic regulatory duties.

  High Speed Network
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been set aside as part of(a) the SRA Plan and (b) the 10-Year Plan for the implementation of the EU directives on interoperability on the high speed network. [60413]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Neither the 10-Year Plan or the SRA Strategic plan identify specific sums for implementing the high speed interoperability directive which does not, in itself, require projects to be initiated. However, new high speed projects will have to comply with the Directive and the cost of implementation will he taken into account when those projects are developed.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the costs of implementing the EU directives on interoperability on the high speed network. [60411]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the regulatory impact assessment produced in support of the Railways (Interoperability) (High-Speed) Regulations 2002 implementing the high-speed interoperability directive, a copy of which was placed in the Libraries of the House on 25 April 2002.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of the possible costs for implementing the EU directives on interoperability on the high speed network, that will be borne by(a) the Government, (b) the successor to Railtrack, (c) the SRA, (d) freight rail companies and (e) passenger rail companies. [60412]

  Mr. Jamieson
  No assessment has been made of the potential allocation of costs arising from implementation of the high speed interoperability directive which does not, in itself, require projects to be initiated. However, new high speed projects will have to comply with the directive and, to the extent that this results in costs being incurred by network or train operators (which will vary from project to project), those costs will be taken into account in the railway funding and charging regime in the usual way.

  Non-departmental Bodies
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the non-departmental bodies attached to his Department that have a responsibility for transport issues, listing their responsibilities in each case. [60422]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The main non-departmental public bodies whose responsibilities are transport issues, are:The Commission for Integrated Transport's remit is to provide independent advice to Government on the implementation of the integrated transport agenda, to monitor developments across transport, environment, health and other sectors and to review progress. Its responsibilities are UK-wide in respect of those matters reserved to the UK Government after devolution to

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  Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and it also advises Government on all aspects of integrated transport policy in England.
  The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee advises Government and industry on the transport and built environment needs of disabled people.
  The Northern Lighthouse Board and Trinity House Lighthouse Service provide marine aids to navigation to make transport safer.
  The Strategic Rail Authority's purposes are set out at section 205 of the Transport Act 2000.
  The Traffic Commissioners have responsibility in their geographical area for the licensing of operators of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and of buses and coaches (PSVs); the registration of local bus services; and disciplinary action against drivers of HGVs and PSVs.

  Bus Companies
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives he has given to encourage bus companies to convert their fleets to use more environmentally friendly fuels. [60642]

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–011

  Overturning or serious damage to a tank while conveying by road prescribed dangerous substances, or the uncontrolled release or fire involved the substance being conveyed

  28

  21

  26

  Uncontrolled release or escape of a dangerous substance, or a fire involving the dangerous substance, when being conveyed by road in a vehicle

  24

  44

  74

  Rail accidents involving vehicles transporting dangerous goods

  11

  4

  4

  1 Provisional

  Electoral Arrangements
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the(a) numbers and (b) percentage of residents who were not registered on the electoral register in (i) the UK, (ii) Greater London and (iii) Enfield in each of the last five years. [58972]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  Data on which to make such an estimate are not available.

  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much public expenditure was incurred in organising the 2001 general election in(a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield; and if he will make a statement. [58967]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  The funds made available to acting returning officers to conduct the 2001 general election were as follows:

  (a) England and Wales—£27 million;

  (b) Greater London—£5 million; and

  (c) Enfield—£153,000.

  These figures represent advances made; when final accounts are submitted and paid they are expected to rise. In addition in England and Wales, around £18 million was paid for the delivery of candidates' election material and for electoral equipment. No further breakdown of this figure is available in the form requested. The responsibility for funding parliamentary elections in
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  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government have introduced a range of measures to encourage environmentally friendly buses. These include: lower fuel duties for cleaner fuels; reduced vehicle excise duty for buses that meet tighter emissions standards; and grants from TransportAction for buses that run on cleaner fuels or are fitted with pollution reducing technology. In addition the Green Fuels Challenge programme is supporting, through duty exemptions, hydrogen fuel cell buses.

  Hazardous Materials
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) road and (b) rail accidents there have been in each of the last three years which involved vehicles transporting dangerous or hazardous materials. [60663]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The number of road and rail accidents notified to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations for 1995 for the past three years is:

  Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Pensions
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce proposals to change the pensions rules to remove the ability of companies to take contribution holidays from their employees' pension schemes. [51377]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Government do not have any plans to change the rules about, or to prevent firms from taking, contribution holidays from their defined benefit pension schemes. Under Inland Revenue rules, pension funds that are funded in excess of 105 per cent. of their liabilities must take action to reduce that surplus. That action might take the form of improved benefits for members, contribution holidays for members or sponsoring employers, or a taxable return to the employer.

  It is for the individual scheme (trustees) to decide how best to deal with a fund surplus according to the particular circumstances of each scheme.

  The Pensions Act 1995 provides that before any surplus is returned to an employer, all current and future pensions in payment should be increased annually in line with the retail prices index up to a maximum of 5 per cent. In

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  addition, trustees have to satisfy themselves that the use of the surplus is in the interest of the members, and that members should be notified of the proposal.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the development of statutory money purchase illustrations and composite annual pension benefit statements. [59063]

  Mr. McCartney
  We have been working closely with the Faculty of Actuaries and the Institute of Actuaries to produce regulations and guidance that will mean people paying toward money purchase benefits will, starting in April 2003, receive an annual illustration of what their future pension might be. Regulations were laid before the House on 20 May, and a technical memorandum has been published on the Faculty of Actuaries and Institute of Actuaries website.

  This is an important development that will help people plan more effectively for retirement.

  The combined pension forecasting service, that gives information about state and private pensions together, was launched in October 2001 at the industry's annual pensions show. Since that date, the service has been open to all pension providers to register their interest in participating.

  We are also looking at the feasibility of a composite pension forecast, where information about state pension would be combined with details of private pensions from more than one provider. This is still at a very early stage, but we are working closely with the office of the e-envoy and people in the pensions industry.

  Departmental Staff (Scotland)
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of(a) civil service, (b) executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public body jobs under the remit of his Department are located in Scotland; and how many of each have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997. [56304]

  Mr. McCartney
  Information on the number and percentage of Department for Work and Pensions jobs in Scotland as at 1 April 2002 is in the following table.

  None of these posts have relocated to Scotland since May 1997.

  Number of posts

  Percentage of total DWP

  Executive agencies

  12,255

  12.2

  Independent statutory bodies

  0

  0

  Others

  1,192

  6.2

  Notes:

  1. The numbers are expressed in whole time equivalent rounded to the nearest whole number.

  2. The figures do not include casual posts.

  Anti-fraud Hotline
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls have been dealt with by the anti-fraud hotline in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases of suspected fraud have been reported to the hotline; how many of these cases have 1144W
  been investigated; how many of them have led to a successful prosecution; and how many of them have led to a custodial sentence. [56417]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The National Benefit Fraud Hotline receives over 17,000 calls a month, resulting in more than two prosecutions a day.

  The available information is in the table.

  National Benefit Fraud Hotline 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002

  Number

  Number of calls received

  205,999

  Number of cases of suspected fraud reported1

  161,052

  Number of resulting investigations

  108,986

  Number of resulting benefit rate changes

  26,385

  Number of prosecutions so far

  768

  Number of resulting custodial sentences

  3Not available

  1 Including referrals received by telephone, e-mail and post.

  2 Figures include increases and decreases and can relate either to fraud, client error or official error.

  3Information is not collated centrally on the number of custodial sentences arising from investigations as a direct result of calls to the hotline.

  Source:

  National Benefit Fraud Hotline Management Information.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received about changing the eligibility for winter fuel payments when couples separate after the eligibility date; and if he will make a statement. [58393]

  Mr. McCartney
  Queries are received from time to time regarding revised entitlement to benefits following a change in a person's circumstances. However, entitlement to a winter fuel payment is based on the individual's circumstances in the qualifying week. Changes of circumstance occurring after that date are irrelevant but could affect entitlement to a winter fuel payment the following year.

  Older People
  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps he has taken to develop his Department's strategy to help older people. [59650]

  Mr. McCartney
  In developing the Department for Work and Pension's strategy to help older people, the creation of the Pension Service is a major step forward. The Pension Service has a customer focus that will provide support to pensioners via 26 pension centres, backed by a local service providing face to face contact to those pensioners unable to use the telephone.

  Over the next 18 months the Pension Service will develop and implement the Government's new pension credit, which will provide additional income for some 3.9 million pensioners.

  In addition to this the Pension Service is working closely with other Government Departments, local authorities and voluntary organisations to improve services to older people. Groups such as Better Government for Older People and Partnerships Against Poverty are helping the Pension Service to develop its

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  strategies and service while local partnerships, for example through Care Direct, are being pursued to provide a more joined up service to pensioners.

  For those older people not yet ready to retire, Jobcentre Plus will continue to provide support with new deal 50 plus and work to change employers attitudes to older people through the age positive campaign. In the longer term the Government will be legislating against age discrimination in employment by 2006.

  Smoking
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Health of 21 May 2002,Official Report, column 302W, on smoking, if he will estimate the savings to public funds relating to pension payments as a consequence of premature deaths among smokers. [60267]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information is not available.

  SERPS
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data he has collated on the proportion of people earning above £10,000 per year who have been contracted out of SERPS and the state second pension over the past three years. [60486]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information requested is not available.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals(a) receive SERPS and (b) have contributed to SERPS but are yet to receive any pension. [60487]

  Mr. McCartney
  The latest figures available show that 6.24 million people were in receipt of an additional pension from SERPS'.

  The latest available information is that around 22.2 million people under state pension age have built up some entitlement to an additional pension from SERPS2.

  Sources:

  1 Pensions Strategy Computer System.

  2 National Insurance Recording System.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the(a) mean and (b) median payment of SERPS has been in the five most recent years for which he has data. [60488]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information is in the table.

  Mean and median amounts of additional pension (SERPS)

  £ weekly

  Mean amount

  Median amount

  31 March 1997

  10.90

  6.87

  31 March 1998

  11.82

  7.42

  31 March 1999

  13.10

  8.35

  31 March 2000

  14.37

  9.25

  31 March 2001

  15.13

  9.64

  Notes:

  1. Average amounts are based on pensioners' entitlement records on Pension Strategy Computer System at the date of extraction.

  2. Mean and Median amounts are rounded to the nearest penny.

  3. Figures are for GB only.

  Source:

  RP administrative data.
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  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many pensioners he expects will be receiving SERPS in(a) five (b) 10 and (c) 15 years' time; [60489]

  (2) what the (a) mean and (b) median payment of SERPS will be in (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 15 years' time. [60490]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information available is in the following table.

  People in receipt of additional pension1 (million)

  Mean amount of additional pension1 (£ weekly)

  2007–08

  8.6

  19.60

  2012–13

  9.9

  21.70

  2017–18

  10.6

  23.05

  1 SERPS and the state second pension.

  Notes:

  1. Number of recipients of additional pension rounded to the nearest 100,000.

  2. Mean weekly amounts rounded to the nearest 5p, in 2002–03 prices.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Key Stage 2 Tests
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils were omitted from the calculation of the LEA average in KS2 performance tables in(a) 2000 and (b) 2001 because they met the criteria of having English as an additional language, being new to English schooling and having joined their primary school during years 5 or 6 in each. [60038]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what number and percentage of pupils were allowed additional time for completion of KS2 tests in 2002 because of special needs or EAL needs for each LEA. [60039]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority collects information on special arrangements, including the use of additional time, from local education authorities at pupil and school level. The information for 2002 is currently being collected and figures will be available at the end of June 2002.

  Further Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the areas where reorganisation of 16 to 19 provision has taken place in each year since 1997, listing in each case the general further education colleges, sixth form colleges and school sixth forms involved. [60040]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information requested is contained in tables, copies of which I have placed in the Library.
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  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the proposals under consideration involving changes to the organisation of 16 to 19 provision. [60044]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Department has been informed of the following proposals for schools to open new, or close existing, sixth forms for which we understand a decision has not yet been made by the local School Organisation Committee:

  Name of school

  LEA

  Proposals to establish new sixth forms

  The Giles School

  Lincolnshire

  Proposals to close sixth forms

  Batley High School for Boys

  Kirklees

  Colne Valley High School

  Kirklees

  St. Thomas Becket RC High School

  Knowsley

  Stratford Foundation School

  Newham

  Tideway Community School

  East Sussex

  Information held by the Department on proposals for the reorganisation of colleges in the FE sector is as follows:
  A proposal for Teesside College and Middlesbrough College to merge and to form Middlesbrough College has been submitted by the LSC to the Secretary of State.
  A feasibility study has been completed into the possible merger of Oxford College and North Oxfordshire College. The LSC has proposed that an area wide review of provision should be carried out before any decisions are made.
  Additionally, the organisation of 16–19 provision is reviewed in those local areas where a recent Area-Wide inspection has so recommended. In such cases the Learning and Skills Council is required to agree an Action Plan with local partners, before seeking Ministerial approval.

  Pupil Absence
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the target proportion of pupil days to be lost through absence was for(a) each LEA and (b) England in each year since 1997. [59117]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: There is no target proportion of pupil days to be lost through absence for England. In the past local education authorities have only set targets for unauthorised absence through their Education Development plans. Local education authorities were asked to set new targets for the proportion of pupil days lost in their Education Development Plans this year, these targets will apply to the academic years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Education Development Plans are published by local education authorities.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997. [59315]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the volume of Members' correspondence received by departments. The Report for 2001 was published on Friday 24 May (22 May 2002,Official Report, column 326W). Copies of previous reports are available in the Library of the House.
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  Information about other correspondence received by Ministers (ie Treat Official correspondence) is not held centrally and can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  School Bullies
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has issued to appeals panels on overturning head teachers' decisions to exclude(a) bullies and (b) racist bullies. [60132]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Earlier this year we consulted publicly on a draft revised version of the guidance on the use of exclusion in our Circular 10–99 'Social Inclusion: Pupil Support'. This made clear that the Secretary of State would normally regard it as inappropriate to reinstate a pupil permanently excluded for (among other things) persistent and defiant behaviour—which would encompass bullying including racist bullying. All forms of bullying need to be dealt with firmly by schools. We cannot direct appeal panels to take particular decisions in particular cases, but we have made clear that they should also consider the impact that a reinstatement might have on other members of the school community.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Local Taxes and Rates
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister what council tax and non-domestic rates collection rates were achieved by English billing authorities in 2001–02. [61296]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I am publishing today figures showing that English councils have collected an extra £40 million in council taxes this year by simply improving on council tax collection rates. The figures show the good start of a joint initiative launched last year by us and the Local Government Association (LGA), to help poorly performing councils improve their collection rates.

  English councils had collected £12.84 billion in council taxes for 2001–02 by the end of March 2002. The figures represent 96.1 per cent. of the £13.36 billion collectable. This is an increase of 0.3 per cent. on the previous year.

  We recognise that council tax collection has therefore improved slightly, and that many councils are making a great effort. However, half a billion pounds was still uncollected last year. We recognise that this is money that could have been spent on local services and we believe there is still room for improvement. The Council Tax Collection Help Team which we set up with the LGA last year will continue its work to identify and tackle barriers to better performance and encourage good practice.

  We also recognise that the in-year collection rate does not provide the full picture of the work authorities put in to collecting council tax. We will also be collecting and publishing authorities' levels of arrears and performance in collecting them.

  The councils showing the best improvements in their performance include Hackney Council, which improved its collection rate from 67.8 per cent. during 2000–2001 to 74.0 per cent. this year, an increase of 6.2 percentage points; Lambeth Council, which improved its collection rate from

  1149W
  82.0 per cent. during 2000–2001 to 86.5 per cent. this year, an increase of 4.5 percentage points; and Southwark Council, which improved its collection rate from 87.1 per cent. during 2000–2001 to 90.2 per cent. this year, an increase of 3.1 percentage points.

  Other improving councils include North Hertfordshire, an increase of 2.8 percentage points, Waltham Forest, an increase of 2.6 percentage points, Castle Point, an increase of 2.5 percentage points, South Gloucestershire UA, an increase of 2.5 percentage points, and Oxford City, an increase of 2.4 percentage points.

  In addition, figures show that £14.42 billion in non-domestic rates for 2001–2002 had been collected by the end of March. This represents 97.9 per cent. of the £14.74 billion collectable, an improvement of 0.5 percentage points on last year.

  Background note "Information for the Minister (Not for the public domain)".

  Local Authority Grant
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister how and when he intends to consult on new formulae for distributing general grant to local authorities in England. [61295]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We will consult publicly on the new system over the summer, ahead of implementing change in the 2003–04 Local Government Finance Settlement. The consultation document will include the principles for the new system and will show the effects of a range of possible options for each formula. We intend to start the consultation by mid-July.

  Indices of Deprivation
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to include in the Indices of Deprivation statistics on access to local services and public transport for those over 65 and 75 years in the most deprived wards; and whether indicators on age-related issues will be included in the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit's review of how the Indices of Deprivation may be developed. [60623]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Indices of Deprivation (ID 2000) has been developed to provide a measure of how deprived a particular area (ward or local authority district) is relative to the rest of the country.

  The current 'Access to Services' domain measures the extent to which people have poor geographical access to certain key services. Three of the indicators included in the domain (access to post offices, large food shops and doctors surgeries) measure geographical access to services for people on low incomes (ie claimants of means-tested benefits). As such, this will include pensioners who are eligible for income support payments.

  The ID 2000 has been designed to reflect deprivation as experienced by all age groups, including the elderly. The forthcoming review on the further development of the indices will continue to maintain this objective.

  Home Ownership
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister how many home-owners there were in(a) 1979, (b) 1997 and (c) at the latest date for which figures are available; and what percentage of the population this represented at each of these dates. [60792]

  Mr. McNulty
  Consistent estimates of the number of owner occupied households are not available before 1981. For England, the information requested for 1981, 1979 and 2000 is given in the following table.

  Owner occupied households in England

  Year

  Owner occupied households (thousand)

  All households (thousand)

  Percentage of owner occupiers

  1981

  9,860

  17,225

  57

  1997–98

  13,940

  20,250

  69

  2000–01

  14,437

  20.660

  70

  Source:

  Survey of English Housing. ODPM

  House Fires
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households were made homeless by house fires in each of the last six years. [60434]

  Mr. McNulty
  Precise information is not collected centrally. Data presented in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness includes the number of households accepted by local authorities where homelessness was due to an emergency (table 3), but this does not distinguish cases involving house fires. Copies of the latest Statistical Release, issued on 14 March 2002 and covering the period to end December 2001, are available in the Library.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were(a) killed and (b) injured in house fires in the UK in each of the last six years, broken down by (i) deliberate and (ii) accidental fires. [60433]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The following table shows the number of people killed or injured in deliberate and accidental dwelling' fires in the UK between 1995 and 2000.

  Deliberate fires2

  Accidental fires

  Deaths3

  Injuries3

  Deaths3

  Injuries3

  1995

  78

  1,932

  481

  11,176

  1996

  76

  2,026

  488

  12,163

  1997

  65

  2,019

  497

  12,877

  1998

  59

  2,152

  454

  12,827

  1999

  65

  2,068

  398

  12,556

  20004

  51

  2,326

  396

  12,065

  1 Including caravans, houseboats and other non-building permanent dwellings.

  2 Includes those fires where deliberate ignition is merely suspected.

  3 Including brigade casualties.

  4 Data for 2000 are provisional. Death figures have been estimated to take account of revisions expected to occur as a result of checks made against death certificates later in the year.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many house fires there were in each of the last six years broken down by(a) deliberate and (b) accidental fires in each fire authority. [60437]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information is contained in the table.
  1151W

  Fires1 in dwellings2 by brigade area and motive, UK, 1995–2000

  19953

  1996

  1997

  Brigade area

  Total

  Accidental

  Malicious

  Total

  Accidental

  Malicious

  Total

  Accidental

  Malicious

  United Kingdom

  66,401

  52,761

  13,640

  71,709

  57,456

  14,253

  72,492

  58,708

  13,784

  England and Wales

  55,182

  43,783

  11,399

  59,955

  48,152

  11,803

  60,957

  49,568

  11,389

  England

  52,175

  41,212

  10,963

  56,626

  45,396

  11,230

  57,584

  46,783

  10,800

  England: Non-met counties

  26,645

  22,231

  4,414

  29,381

  24,787

  4,594

  29,970

  25,569

  4,401

  Avon

  841

  689

  152

  980

  814

  166

  1,047

  896

  151

  Bedfordshire

  458

  379

  79

  466

  357

  109

  536

  424

  112

  Berkshire

  559

  492

  67

  646

  568

  78

  671

  596

  75

  Buckinghamshire

  646

  543

  104

  726

  643

  83

  738

  631

  107

  Cambridgeshire

  491

  395

  96

  562

  433

  129

  579

  453

  126

  Cheshire

  922

  770

  152

  1,010

  804

  206

  1,069

  875

  194

  Cleveland

  1,117

  545

  571

  954

  581

  373

  852

  594

  258

  Cornwall

  375

  354

  21

  452

  414

  38

  481

  455

  26

  Cumbria

  543

  459

  84

  609

  517

  92

  587

  505

  82

  Derbyshire

  644

  555

  89

  710

  603

  107

  773

  650

  123

  Devon

  1,030

  904

  126

  1,117

  987

  130

  1,189

  1,086

  103

  Dorset

  467

  430

  37

  522

  478

  44

  568

  519

  49

  Durham

  658

  530

  128

  653

  539

  114

  719

  566

  153

  East Sussex

  890

  779

  111

  1,000

  867

  133

  995

  852

  143

  Essex

  1,015

  883

  132

  1,091

  978

  113

  1,041

  918

  123

  Gloucestershire

  471

  405

  66

  479

  432

  47

  511

  461

  50

  Hampshire

  1,138

  993

  145

  1,410

  1,159

  251

  1,321

  1.141

  180

  Hereford and Worcester

  529

  471

  58

  670

  615

  55

  762

  679

  83

  Hertfordshire

  725

  644

  80

  903

  805

  98

  951

  853

  98

  Humberside

  907

  695

  211

  1,018

  797

  221

  1,082

  797

  285

  Isle of Wight

  116

  108

  8

  154

  144

  10

  163

  155

  8

  Kent

  1,176

  1,001

  175

  1,316

  1.110

  206

  1,401

  1,217

  184

  Lancashire

  2,290

  1,832

  458

  2,413

  2,042

  371

  2,287

  1,909

  378

  Leicestershire

  765

  597

  168

  825

  625

  200

  774

  603

  171

  Lincolnshire

  404

  337

  68

  429

  338

  91

  475

  412

  63

  Norfolk

  532

  462

  70

  551

  469

  82

  629

  549

  80

  North Yorkshire

  450

  406

  44

  567

  524

  43

  476

  433

  43

  Northamptonshire

  564

  478

  87

  671

  567

  104

  780

  643

  137

  Northumberland

  277

  239

  38

  358

  312

  46

  324

  271

  53

  Nottinghamshire

  1,028

  771

  257

  1,161

  897

  264

  1,158

  937

  221

  Oxfordshire

  485

  428

  56

  520

  453

  67

  452

  393

  59

  Shropshire

  370

  317

  53

  370

  315

  55

  382

  340

  42

  Somerset

  341

  314

  28

  363

  338

  25

  389

  350

  39

  Staffordshire

  875

  739

  135

  983

  820

  163

  956

  827

  129

  Suffolk

  574

  523

  51

  559

  516

  43

  563

  512

  51

  Surrey

  616

  558

  58

  669

  615

  54

  701

  646

  55

  Warwickshire

  373

  327

  46

  397

  339

  58

  416

  367

  49

  West Sussex

  607

  555

  52

  626

  565

  61

  670

  597

  73

  Wiltshire

  375

  323

  52

  468

  404

  64

  498

  454

  44

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  0

  2

  2

  0

  England: Met-counties

  25,530

  18,981

  6,549

  27,245

  20,609

  6,636

  27,613

  21,214

  6,399

  Greater Manchester

  4,425

  3,196

  1,230

  4,835

  3,527

  1,308

  4,934

  3,607

  1,327

  Merseyside

  2,720

  1,861

  860

  2,782

  1,955

  827

  2,932

  2,009

  923

  South Yorkshire

  1,371

  1,093

  279

  1,441

  1,092

  349

  1,416

  1,116

  300

  Tyne and Wear

  2,081

  1,180

  902

  1,913

  1,239

  674

  2,117

  1,456

  661

  West Midlands

  4,240

  3,141

  1,099

  4,643

  3,418

  1,225

  4,610

  3,504

  1,106

  West Yorkshire

  2,656

  1,930

  725

  2,925

  2,142

  783

  2,875

  2,156

  719

  Greater London

  8,037

  6,581

  1,455

  8,705

  7,236

  1,469

  8,729

  7,366

  1,363

  Wales

  3,006

  2,571

  435

  3,329

  2,756

  573

  3,373

  2,784

  589

  North Wales

  686

  615

  71

  805

  704

  101

  758

  656

  102

  Mid and West Wales

  915

  834

  81

  949

  816

  133

  999

  860

  139

  South Wales

  1,406

  1,122

  284

  1,576

  1,237

  339

  1,616

  1,268

  348

  Northern Ireland

  2,067

  1,558

  509

  2,238

  1,606

  632

  2,210

  1,616

  594

  Scotland

  9,152

  7,420

  1,732

  9,516

  7,698

  1,818

  9,325

  7,524

  1,801

  Strathclyde

  4,620

  3,776

  845

  4,685

  3,823

  862

  4,716

  3,845

  871

  Highland and Islands

  339

  321

  17

  309

  288

  21

  288

  269

  19

  Grampian

  668

  576

  92

  757

  632

  125

  711

  605

  106

  Tayside

  772

  628

  144

  834

  670

  161

  780

  647

  133

  Lothian and Borders

  1,765

  1,252

  513

  1,906

  1,367

  539

  1,832

  1,264

  568

  Fife

  469

  391

  78

  475

  404

  71

  463

  410

  53

  Central

  349

  317

  32

  367

  329

  38

  356

  317

  39

  Dumfries

  171

  158

  12

  186

  185

  1

  179

  167

  12

  1152W 1153W

  1998

  1999

  20004

  Brigade area

  Total

  Accidental

  Malicious

  Total

  Accidental

  Malicious

  Total

  Accidental

  Malicious

  United Kingdom

  71,077

  57,718

  13,359

  72,228

  58,366

  13,862

  70,897

  56,655

  14,242

  England and Wales

  59,680

  48,701

  10,979

  60,808

  49,497

  11,311

  59,413

  47,929

  11,484

  England

  56,464

  46,052

  10,412

  57,490

  46,744

  10,746

  56,184

  45,277

  10,907

  England: Non-met counties

  29,463

  25,008

  4,455

  29,942

  25,563

  4,379

  29,243

  24,539

  4,704

  Avon

  974

  831

  143

  970

  826

  144

  976

  820

  156

  Bedfordshire

  485

  368

  117

  431

  366

  65

  463

  374

  89

  Berkshire

  695

  612

  83

  726

  673

  53

  687

  616

  71

  Buckinghamshire

  740

  636

  104

  679

  609

  70

  669

  569

  100

  Cambridgeshire

  569

  442

  127

  547

  432

  115

  547

  444

  103

  Cheshire

  1,067

  888

  179

  999

  835

  164

  999

  818

  181

  Cleveland

  776

  545

  231

  836

  562

  274

  951

  658

  293

  Cornwall

  445

  400

  45

  436

  408

  28

  470

  426

  44

  Cumbria

  641

  576

  65

  609

  535

  74

  551

  466

  85

  Derbyshire

  775

  655

  120

  783

  663

  120

  734

  617

  117

  Devon

  1,144

  1,055

  89

  1,226

  1,128

  98

  1.290

  1,118

  102

  Dorset

  510

  462

  48

  491

  446

  45

  530

  478

  52

  Durham

  702

  601

  101

  677

  567

  110

  690

  572

  118

  East Sussex

  1,043

  904

  139

  1,128

  993

  135

  1,038

  900

  138

  Essex

  1,024

  879

  145

  1,220

  1,064

  156

  1.265

  1,073

  192

  Gloucestershire

  512

  460

  52

  521

  474

  47

  456

  408

  48

  Hampshire

  1,428

  1,212

  216

  1,491

  1,290

  201

  1,407

  1,269

  138

  Hereford and Worcester

  743

  679

  64

  689

  640

  49

  594

  537

  57

  Hertfordshire

  894

  812

  82

  947

  856

  91

  936

  851

  85

  Humberside

  1,060

  788

  272

  1,104

  820

  284

  1,043

  743

  300

  Isle of Wight

  169

  162

  7

  165

  164

  1

  151

  141

  10

  Kent

  1,318

  1.113

  205

  1,272

  1.108

  164

  1,242

  1,051

  191

  Lancashire

  2,324

  1,894

  430

  2,273

  1,729

  544

  2,299

  1,770

  529

  Leicestershire

  838

  607

  231

  737

  567

  170

  656

  488

  168

  Lincolnshire

  457

  379

  78

  519

  446

  73

  512

  444

  68

  Norfolk

  574

  471

  103

  583

  508

  75

  584

  489

  95

  North Yorkshire

  503

  451

  52

  545

  479

  66

  666

  597

  69

  Northamptonshire

  714

  596

  118

  715

  580

  135

  653

  501

  152

  Northumberland

  311

  251

  60

  308

  269

  39

  332

  266

  66

  Nottinghamshire

  1,074

  870

  204

  1,109

  886

  223

  1,043

  799

  244

  Oxfordshire

  509

  461

  48

  474

  421

  53

  490

  429

  61

  Shropshire

  357

  296

  61

  436

  380

  56

  361

  317

  44

  Somerset

  385

  351

  34

  387

  349

  38

  436

  390

  46

  Staffordshire

  985

  866

  119

  1,182

  1,047

  135

  926

  778

  148

  Suffolk

  523

  472

  51

  554

  500

  54

  510

  447

  63

  Surrey

  666

  615

  51

  629

  588

  41

  645

  585

  60

  Warwickshire

  396

  343

  53

  402

  349

  53

  353

  287

  66

  West Sussex

  648

  570

  78

  659

  577

  82

  651

  544

  107

  Wiltshire

  484

  434

  50

  482

  428

  54

  435

  387

  48

  Isles of Scilly

  1

  1

  0

  1

  1

  0

  2

  2

  0

  England: Met-counties

  27,001

  21,044

  5,957

  27,548

  21,181

  6,367

  26,941

  20,738

  6,203

  Greater Manchester

  4,782

  3,531

  1,251

  5,120

  3,697

  1,423

  4,934

  3,654

  1,280

  Merseyside

  2,914

  2,023

  891

  3,018

  2,009

  1,009

  3,023

  1,975

  1,048

  South Yorkshire

  1,483

  1,165

  318

  1,433

  1,092

  341

  1,463

  1,092

  371

  Tyne and Wear

  2,318

  1,721

  597

  2,241

  1,696

  545

  2,210

  1,717

  493

  West Midlands

  4,400

  3,428

  972

  4,429

  3,444

  985

  4,243

  3,201

  1,042

  West Yorkshire

  2,582

  1,940

  642

  2,505

  1,877

  628

  2,510

  1,904

  606

  Greater London

  8,522

  7,236

  1,286

  8,802

  7,366

  1,436

  8,558

  7,195

  1,363

  Wales

  3,216

  2,649

  567

  3,318

  2,753

  565

  3,229

  2,652

  577

  North Wales

  704

  607

  97

  824

  704

  120

  776

  674

  102

  Mid and West Wales

  955

  831

  124

  1,029

  884

  145

  984

  566

  118

  South Wales

  1,557

  1,211

  346

  1,465

  1,165

  300

  1,469

  1,112

  357

  Northern Ireland

  2,243

  1,601

  642

  2,005

  1,398

  607

  2,175

  1,505

  670

  Scotland

  9,154

  7,416

  1,738

  9,415

  7,471

  1,644

  9,309

  7,221

  2,088

  Strathclyde

  4,575

  3,795

  780

  4,727

  3,774

  953

  257

  3,685

  1,007

  Highland and Islands

  322

  300

  22

  288

  274

  14

  273

  257

  16

  Grampian

  761

  658

  103

  885

  762

  123

  864

  723

  141

  Tayside

  730

  603

  127

  795

  636

  159

  788

  619

  169

  Lothian and Borders

  1,752

  1,207

  545

  1803

  1,241

  562

  1,765

  1,174

  591

  Fife

  510

  422

  88

  437

  363

  74

  418

  326

  92

  Central

  354

  300

  54

  326

  282

  44

  335

  279

  56

  Dumfries

  150

  131

  19

  154

  139

  15

  174

  158

  16

  1 Including late call, heat and smoke (LCHS) incidents. Fires are sampled and weighted to brigade totals.

  2 Includes caravans, houseboats and other non-building structures used solely as a permanent dwelling.

  3 Excludes some late call, heat and smoke incidents.

  4 Figures for 2000 are provisional.

  Sound Insulation
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate he has made of the cost per household of improving sound insulation in houses affected by poor sound insulation. [60661]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made an estimate of the cost of improving sound insulation for the existing housing stock. However, in a House of Lords ruling on two Appeal Court cases determined in 1999, it was estimated that the average cost of installing sound installation in the flats in question was £8,000 per flat. The cost in any particular case would depend on the nature and extent of the work required.

  Electronic Services
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister of the central Government Departments and agencies required to meet the Prime Minister's target for electronically available services by 2005, what common problems have been revealed through the regular e-business strategy documents; and how they are being addressed. [55985]

  Mr. Alexander
  I have been asked to reply.

  The latest e-business strategies were submitted to the e-envoy during summer 2001. An analysis of the strategies revealed several common issues.
  There is a need for staff to gain necessary skills. Departments are tackling this in a number of ways with support from the centre. For example the office of the e-envoy has developed a skills map for e-government which identifies all the skills that might need to be considered when implementing e-services. In addition, the Centre for Management and Policy Studies ran a series of events where the leadership dimensions of successful e-government projects was addressed.
  Additional resources are required to support IT-enabled change programmes—this is being addressed in part under the current spending review. In addition Departments may bid for funding from the Capital Modernisation Fund and Invest to Save Budget.
  Departments need to update existing, or legacy, IT systems. This is a matter for Departments to address. Centrally, the Government Gateway infrastructure allows joined-up government services to be delivered electronically.
  In order to more reliably assess the costs and benefits from e-government, the office of the e-envoy are considering with HM Treasury the case for developing additional guidance addressing the appraisal of risks involved in realising the benefits from e-delivery projects.
  Internet-enabled 'Intermediaries'—acting on behalf of their customers—can provide better access to e-government services for those without other means to benefit from online access. The office of the e-envoy has worked with intermediaries, including the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) which has received funding to assist its advisers in 1,400 centres to deliver e-government services and advice to individuals who may not have direct Internet access themselves.

  Air Miles
  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many air miles he has been awarded from flights at public expense since 1 June 2001; [57837]

  (2) how many (a) air miles and (b) other airline rewards members of his Department have been awarded in total since 1 June 2001. [57834]

  Mr. Alexander
  I have been asked to reply.
  1156W
  All travel arrangements for Ministers are made in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Travel arrangements by officials are delegated to Departments in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code.

  Travel by officials in my Department is subject to internal Cabinet Office guidelines, which state that benefits of frequent flying and similar schemes deriving from expenditure on official business should be used for official travel or forgone, as set out in the answer given by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 15 March 1994, Official Report, column 646W.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Holiday Industry
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to create an independent regulator for the holiday industry; and if she will make a statement. [59097]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  A considerable body of consumer protection legislation applies to the holiday industry and there are no plans to create an independent regulator.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what licences have been granted for equipment on the military list to(a) Georgia, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) Kyrgyzstan, (d) Tajikistan, (e) Turkey, (f) Bahrain, (k) Oman, (l) Jordan and (m) Yemen in each month since September 2001, including military list and dual-use ratings; what equipment is covered under these licences; and if she will make a statement. [60626]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The number of Standard Individual Licences (SIELs) covering items on the military and dual-use lists issued to end users in Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, the Philippines, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Yemen in each month since September 2001 is set out in the tables that I have placed in the Libraries of the House today. Individual licences might cover a range of items with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the tables in the total for all of the relevant ratings.

  The summary description of the items covered by these ratings will be published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which will be available in the Libraries of the House. In addition some of the countries are permitted destinations on certain Open General Export Licences, copies of which are also placed in the Libraries of the House. All relevant export licence applications are considered very carefully on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. The criteria include a specific reference to the behaviour of the buyer country with regard to the international community, as regards in particular to its attitude to terrorism, the nature of its alliances and respect for international law.
  1157W
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to improve the process for granting arms export licences. [60240]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Government recognise that the system for processing export licence applications requires continuous improvement if we are to deliver a more efficient and effective export licensing system, which is both accountable and transparent.

  The Export Control Organisation (ECO) has introduced a number of initiatives to improve the risk assessment and to reduce the time taken to process individual export licence applications. These include the roll out of new enhanced IT systems that will allow exporters to submit applications for a Standard Individual Export Licence over the internet.

  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking about reports that UK arms dealers are offering prospective brokers means of circumventing licensing requirements; and if she will make a statement. [59662]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Government and the UK enforcement authorities take very seriously reports of any breaches of UK export licensing requirements.

  I understand that the police and HM Customs and Excise are investigating the case which was recently reported.

  Street Trading
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding the(a) reform and (b) repeal of the Pedlars Act 1871; and what plans she has to amend legislation relating to street trading. [60498]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  One representation has been received suggesting reform or repeal of the Pedlars Act 1871 from Chelmsford borough council. I have no plans to amend street trading legislation.

  Director of Civil Nuclear Security
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will place the report of the Director of Civil Nuclear Security in the Library. [61138]

  Mr. Wilson
  The report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by the Director of Civil Nuclear Security "The State of Security in the Civil Nuclear Industry and the Effectiveness of Security Regulation" will be placed in the Library of both Houses today. It is also being made available on the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk.

  New Corporate Identities
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent work her Department has undertaken on new corporate identities; and if she will make a statement. [60073]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The independent review of company law set in hand by my Department considered the case for new corporate identities and recommended a new form of incorporation for charities. In addition, this Department's Social Enterprise Unit established a1158W
  working group on issues surrounding social enterprises. The Government are carefully considering the final report of the company law review.

  Internal Market, Consumer Tourism Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Internal Market, Consumer and Tourism Council on 21 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [59177]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Council conclusions were agreed on the Community Patent stating that the Presidency package is the basis for further work but that nothing is finally agreed until there is agreement on the whole package and that further work is needed on jurisdiction in particular. There was political agreement on the Public Procurement Directive and on the European Co-operative Society Statute.

  Resolutions were agreed on the Future of European Tourism and supporting the Commission's approach to better regulation. There was political agreement on the substance of the Customs 2007 programme, to continue and enhance customs co-operation, although the UK and two other member states maintained reservations on the legal base.

  There was a policy debate on the draft sales promotion regulation and Commission briefings on consumers and the euro, the follow-up to the Green Paper on EU Consumer Protection, services of general economic interest and on the proposal for a consolidated directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. The Commission presented its recently adopted Consumer Policy Strategy 2002–06 and there was a Presidency presentation on the fourth European Consumers' Day in Madrid. There was a short discussion on the 2002 Review of the Internal Market Strategy, the Single Market Scoreboard and the Joint Work Programme of the Three Presidencies and a Presidency briefing on the proposal for a regulation on Food Hygiene.

  Under Any Other Business the Commission urged member states to accept the European Parliament's broad endorsement of the Council's common position on the Distance Marketing of Financial Services Directive.

  The UK voted in favour of the two legislative items—the public procurement directive and the European Co-operative Society Statute. Conclusions were adopted on the Community Patent with the UK in favour. The Resolutions on Tourism and Better Regulation were agreed also with the UK in favour. The UK voted against political agreement on the Customs 2007 item, due to the proposed legal base.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures she is taking to address the impact of late payments of invoices on small businesses. [59645]
  1159W
  Nigel Griffiths
  We are ensuring that from 7 August 2002:all businesses and public sector bodies can claim interest for late payment;
  creditors can claim a fixed sum of compensation to cover debt recovery costs if they have to chase up late payment;
  all businesses and public sector bodies can challenge contractual terms that do not provide a substantial remedy for late payment; SMEs are provided with the right to have appropriate organisations and a trade association act on their behalf and to challenge unfair contractual terms that try to remove or alter their right to statutory interest; and
  a simple reference rate will be created which will be set for six months and used to determine the late payment interest rate. (The late payment interest rate is the reference rate plus 8 per cent.) This will make it easier for firms to calculate the interest they may be owed.

  Lakshmi Mittal
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer given by the Foreign Secretary on 21 May 2002,Official Report, column 255W, on meetings with embassy staff, what the commercial benefit to the United Kingdom was of the Lakshmi Mittal Romanian steel contract. [60552]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) and the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 14 February 2002,Official Report, columns 610–12W.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Child Care
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the most recent assessment was made of the(a) present and (b) future child care needs of people who work in the Palace of Westminster. [57427]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 April 2002,Official Report, column 691W.

  Catering and Cleaning Staff
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if all House of Commons catering and cleaning staff(a) are included in the House-wide annual performance appraisal process and (b) have personal development plans that are regularly reviewed and updated. [59682]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  All the Departments of the House have achieved recognition as Investors in People; this process has involved ensuring that the appraisal systems are operating effectively, and that personal development is given due attention.

  Management and administrative staff of the Refreshment Department are included in the House-wide annual performance review process, and the department
  1160W
  operates two separate appraisal schemes developed to meet the specific needs of its catering staff. All catering staff have personal development plans which are reviewed and updated regularly. In addition, the department last year became an approved centre with the Hospitality Awarding Body to register and certificate its own National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). So far, three staff of the Department have been trained as NVQ Internal Verifiers and a further 12 staff are qualified NVQ Assessors. Last year over 50 staff of the Refreshment Department achieved nationally recognised trainer qualifications.

  All House cleaning staff are included in the House-wide annual performance appraisal process. They have annual personal objectives, which are agreed with line managers and are regularly reviewed. Their training and development needs are identified and updated through that process.

PRIVY COUNCIL

  Programme Motions
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the President of the Council what recent representations he has received about the working of programme motions on legislation. [57428]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The hon. Member himself has made representations as have some other hon. Members. The Modernisation Committee will report on programming before the end of the Session.

  House of Lords Reform
  David Taylor
  To ask the President of the Council what representations he has received from campaigning organisations following his statement on 13 May to the House on Lords reform. [57429]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  We have received one communication from Charter 88 about the setting up of the Joint Committee which the two Houses are in the process of establishing. I would expect any representations about the substance of reform now to be made to the Joint Committee.

  Parliamentary Proceedings (Access)
  Julie Morgan
  To ask the President of the Council what proposals he plans to put to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons relating to making proceedings in the House more accessible to visually disabled people. [57430]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons has a full programme, but I am sure my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will be interested in proposals from any hon. Members. The House of Commons Commission may also have an interest.

  Parliamentary Terminology
  Mr. Bryant
  To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to reform the use of parliamentary terminology in the business of the House. [57431]
  1161W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.

  Disqualification
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the President of the Council if he will introduce legislation providing for parity of treatment between Members of both Houses in relation to disqualification following imprisonment consequent upon criminal conviction. [57432]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In their proposals on House of Lords reform, the Government consulted on possible changes to the rules which would enable those members of the House of Lords who had been sentenced to particular terms of imprisonment to be expelled from the House. House of Lords reform will now be looked at by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament. It would be premature for the Government to introduce any measures in advance of that Joint Committee reporting.

  People's Peers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council when the House of Lords Appointments Commission is to embark on its proposed road shows to encourage applications from putative people's peers. [57433]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I understand that the Commission has yet to finalise plans for its forthcoming programme of regional visits.

  Legislation
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Council if he will ensure that each new Bill undergoes pre-legislative scrutiny similar to that of the Communications Bill. [60065]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  As I made clear to my hon. Friend in answer to his question of 23 May 2002,Official Report, column 395, it is our intention that pre-legislative scrutiny should become the norm for Government legislation. However, capacity constraints, including the number of the Parliamentary draftsmen, mean that it may take some years to achieve this. The appropriate form of scrutiny will vary from Bill to Bill. Many draft Bills will fall naturally to pre-existing Select Committees, some may be scrutinised by Joint Committees and others by ad hoc Committees of either House. The detailed method of scrutiny is a matter for the Committee examining a particular Bill.

  The Government nevertheless welcome the use of electronic forms of communication to involve the public in such scrutiny.

  Travel
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the President of the Council if he will ask the Commission to amend the rules concerning spouse warrants to enable hon. Members' families to travel more often. [60066]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  This is not a matter for the Commission. I am not aware of great demand for an increase in the present number of 15 return journeys for 1162W
  spouses and each child, but this would be an issue the Speaker's Advisory Panel could consider if there are substantial concerns.

DEFENCE

  Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 2002,Official Report, column 178W, on the armed forces pension scheme, when he will write to the hon. Member. [43325]

  Dr. Moonie
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 6 June and a copy of my letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the agencies that have been responsible for the administration of armed forces pensions since 1972. [60543]

  Dr. Moonie
  Until 1997, when the Armed Forces and Administration Agency (AFPAA) was formed as a partnership between Ministry of Defence and Electronic Data Services (EDS), administration for the armed forces pension scheme was undertaken in-house by the three single services. From 1997, AFPAA has undertaken the administration, ie the calculation and award, of pensions on behalf of Navy and RAF personnel, with administration for the Army remaining with that service until 1 October 2001, when it too became part of AFPAA.

  The actual payment of pensions to retired forces personnel has since been made on MOD's behalf in respect of Navy and RAF personnel and Army officers, by the 1830s Paymaster (formerly Paymaster General). Payments of pensions for other ranks in the Army were retained in house until 1 October 2001, when these payments were also transferred to Paymaster.

  NATO
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the agenda is of the meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government in Prague from 18 to 24 November; and what the United Kingdom's objectives are for the meeting. [59822]

  Mr. Hoon
  The NATO summit will take place in Prague on 21–22 November. There is no formal agenda as yet, although we expect that capabilities, enlargement, the new relationship with Russia, NATO's adaptation to the changed strategic setting, strengthening of the NATO-EU relationship and partnership will be discussed. The United Kingdom's principal objective at Prague will be to ensure the continued effectiveness and relevance of an enlarged Alliance in the face of new challenges.

  Nuclear Deterrents
  David Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people working in the armed forces are directly employed in the area of nuclear deterrent. [60284]

  Dr. Moonie
  There are currently some 1,509 full-time armed forces posts in the Ministry of Defence and its agencies for tasks directly related to the nuclear deterrent,
  1163W
  though not all posts are filled at any given time. In addition, a number of other service personnel spend some of their time directly or indirectly on such tasks but comprehensive data are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  David Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost(a) of retaining the nuclear deterrent by the UK in each year since 1990 and (b) of being a part of NATO and the percentage this was of the defence budget in each year since 1997. [60283]

  Mr. Hoon
  The estimated total acquisition cost of the Trident programme is £9,764 million. As described in the Strategic Defence Review Supporting Essay 5 of July 1998. a copy of which is in the Library of the House, the average annual operating cost of the Trident force is expected to be around £280 million. As a percentage of the defence budget, the capital and running costs for retaining the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent for each year since 1990 were as follows:

  Financial year

  Capital costs

  Running costs

  1990–91

  4

  1

  1991–92

  5

  1

  1992–93

  4

  1

  1993–94

  4

  1

  1994–95

  3

  1

  1995–96

  2

  1

  1996–97

  2

  1

  1997–98

  1

  1

  1998–99

  1

  1

  1999–2000

  1

  1

  2000–01

  1

  2

  These figures do not include the costs of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb and Lance nuclear artillery system that went out of service in 1997–98 and 1992–1993 respectively.

  The United Kingdom's contributions to NATO's Security Investment Programme and Military Budget are funded by the Defence budget. For each year since 1997, these were as follows:

  Financial year

  £ million

  Percentage

  1997–98

  102.032

  0.459

  1998–99

  110.477

  0.471

  1999–2000

  103.812

  0.436

  2000–01

  101.411

  0.408

  Final figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

  Public Consultation
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since June 2001, stating in each case the(a) number of respondents and (b) percentage of those specifically consulted who responded. [60143]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: Since June 2001 the Ministry of Defence has completed or undertaken the following public consultations:
  Armed Forces Pension Scheme Review
  Joint Compensation Review
  1164W
  2ndConsultation on the Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium
  MOD Police Quinquennial Review.
  The MOD also issued a public discussion document on the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) New Chapter during this period.

  1,500 Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) Review and Joint Compensation Review (JCR) consultation documents were issued in March 2001 with a closing date of 31 July 2001 for responses. These were issued to all units of the three services and also sent to ex-service organisations such as the Forces Pension Society, Widows Associations and the Royal British Legion. 20,000 leaflets were also distributed to serving members of the armed forces and the consultation documents were issued on the MOD website. 203 responses were received in total, with some respondents commenting on both the AFPS and JCR. Responses were received from all the principal ex-service organisations specifically consulted.

  The 2nd consultation on the Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium was issued in April 2001 with a closing date of 4 July 2001 for responses. A total of 21 responses were received by the Department and a full summary of the responses received is available on the MOD website.

  I am unable to provide the requested information for the MOD Police Quinquennial Review in the time available. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  In addition, the SDR New Chapter public discussion document has attracted a wide range of constructive responses, some 315 to date. The closing date for responses was 15 March 2002 and all have been given full consideration in the continuing SDR New Chapter work.

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on compensation for the families of nuclear test veterans. [60780]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence has every confidence in the independent studies carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund that showed veterans' participation in the nuclear test programme has not had a detectable effect on their expectation of life, or on their risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases. Consequently grounds do not exist for compensation to be paid to British nuclear test veterans or their surviving spouses and families. There are no plans to review this position.

  Military Threat
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the potential threat from(a) Iraq, (b) Iran, (c) Syria, (d) Libya and (e) North Korea. [60257]

  Mr. Hoon
  We assess that there is no immediate threat of military attack by Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya or North Korea to the United Kingdom mainland, although Iraq threatens RAF aircraft patrolling the Iraqi No-Fly Zones daily.
  1165W
  An assessment of the ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programmes of a number of countries was included in a "Supplementary Memorandum to the House of Commons Defence Committee: The Ballistic Missile Threat" of 18 March 2002 and, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a "Joint Memorandum to the House of Commons Defence Committee: Missile Defence" of 11 February 2002.

  We continue to monitor developments closely, particularly as they might affect deployed forces.

  Armed Forces (Minority Representation)
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future targets have been set to achieve higher ethnic minority representation in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [61246]

  Mr. Ingram
  The armed forces are seeking an approach that recognises and values diversity, without in any way compromising their commitment to comply with equality legislation and eradicate any form of harassment, intimidation or unlawful discrimination. The new diversity policy has been embodied in a revised Armed Forces Personnel Strategy Guideline, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House; this sets out the armed forces' diversity goal, and the principles which underpin it, and seeks to define diversity in a military context, demonstrating its importance for the achievement of operational effectiveness while recognising the unique circumstances of the armed forces.

  The armed forces are determined to become more representative of the ethnically diverse society they serve. Targets remain an important means of achieving this. For the future, I have agreed that this year's target should be for each service to increase recruitment of ethnic minorities by a further 1 per cent. of all recruits, subject to an overall target of 6 per cent. This marks the continuation of the major drive by the armed forces over the past four years to attain a proper share of talent available in the ethnic communities. Future goals for ethnic minority representation and recruitment will be set in the coming year, taking account of the results of the ethnic origin resurvey of armed forces personnel currently under way, ethnic minority recruiting achievement and evidence on ethnic minority numbers likely to emerge from the 2001 national census.

  War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received to extend the War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [61247]

  Dr. Moonie
  Following a recent approach by the Royal British Legion, I have agreed to an extension of the War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme for a further two years, until 31 March 2005. The Government greatly appreciate the excellent work of the Royal British Legion who administer this subsidised scheme on our behalf. To date the scheme has enabled more than 4,000 widows to visit their husband's grave in many parts of the world.

  Porton Down
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for epidemiological research on Porton Down volunteers; and if he will make a statement. [61248]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence has accepted a recommendation by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to fund research to be undertaken by Dr. Kate Venables of Oxford University and colleagues from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and from Imperial College, London. This research will consist of a one-year pilot study to assess the incidence of mortality and cancer among a selected group of 500 Porton Down volunteers compared with a control group of 500 other members of the armed forces and a small scale questionnaire study to evaluate volunteers' own views of their health status.

  The pilot study will commence later this month and will take about a year to complete. The MRC will be in a position towards the end of the pilot study to advise MOD whether the available historical data are of sufficient quality and quantity to allow a full scale epidemiological study to proceed.

  BioReliance
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contact was made between his Department and BioReliance after the visit of his Department's officials in late 2001. [57315]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 478W.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Paddington Rail Crash
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Solicitor-General on what basis the CPS decided that the investigation of the case of corporate manslaughter arising from the Paddington rail crash should be re-opened. [59817]

  The Solicitor-General
  The CPS has advised the police to undertake limited inquiries to determine whether or not there is an impediment in linking the management of the signal sighting around Ladbroke Grove, in particular Signal SN109, with the actual circumstances of the Ladbroke Grove collision. This was on the basis of having considered further legal advice.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Solicitor-General when the CPS(a) decided and (b) informed the British transport police that the investigation of a corporate manslaughter charge in relation to the Paddington rail crash should be re-opened. [59818]

  The Solicitor-General
  The CPS considered the advice that it would offer to the British transport police over a number of weeks, and kept the British transport police informed of its developing thinking. A decision was made recently and formal notification of its advice was made by the CPS to the British transport police on 21 May.
  1167W
  Letters to interested parties, including victims' relatives, were dispatched that day. If any further evidence is obtained that will, of course, be considered by the CPS. The HSE has in any event announced its intention to issue proceedings against Railtrack and Thames Trains for offences contrary to sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.

  Freedom of Information
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has to propose changes to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to align its provisions with the Council of Europe Recommendation on Freedom of Information; and if she will make a statement. [59206]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  None. I am advised that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is fully consistent with the Council of Europe Recommendation on access to official documents (Rec. (2002)2).

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Hockey
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate she has made of(a) the number of people who play hockey, (b) the number of children and young people who play hockey and (c) the trend in levels of participation in hockey; [58323]

  (2) if she will make a statement on the effect of the financial situation of English Hockey on the organisation and promotion of hockey among young people; [58322]

  (3) if she will make a statement on the state of hockey in England; [58324]

  (4) what steps she is taking to promote and develop hockey among young people in the inner cities. [58325]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 21 May 2002]: The Government Plan for Sport sets out a framework and range of policies aimed at increasing participation in all sports particularly among young people with an emphasis on the part that sport can play in tackling a range of objectives including social exclusion, crime reduction and better health. The implementation of programmes to promote and develop particular sports is a matter for the relevant governing bodies.

  Following a Special General Meeting on 4 May 2002, the English Hockey Association is currently being restructured into a new organisation to be called "Hockey England Ltd.". I am assured that, despite this restructuring, the new governing body intends to continue actively to promote the sport at all levels in the future. Its main funding comes from annual subscriptions paid by member clubs, of which there are approximately 1,650 representing some 165,000 active club members playing in some 4,300 teams. In addition, elite English hockey players and the governing body's grass roots activities will continue to receive support and funding from Sport England. When the restructuring has been completed the new governing body expects to be a strong, financially solid organisation providing for hockey requirements at all levels in England. It believes that the game will
  1168W
  continue to be played by people of all ages and both sexes with a high proportion of participants from ethnic minorities.

  The governing body has a network of regional development managers across England in the north, south, east, west and midlands. Each of these managers has a specific brief to aid and assist the development of hockey in the regions, with specific emphasis on youth and in the inner cities in particular.

  The General Household survey carried out in 1996, the latest year for which this survey collected figures for sports participation, indicated that in England 118,000 adults had played hockey at least once in the previous four weeks. Sport England's Young People in Sport Survey carried out in 1999 indicated that 409,300 young people aged six to 16 participated in hockey out of school lessons at least 10 times in the previous 12 months, while in school lessons 1,200,000 young people participated at least 10 times in the last 12 months. The governing body's view is that the numbers involved in men's, women's and mixed hockey will remain constant and that participation by juniors is likely to rise due largely to the increasing use of artificial pitches.

  Culture and Audiovisual Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the outcome was of the Culture and Audiovisual Council held in Brussels on 23 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including their voting record; and if she will make a statement. [60491]

  Dr. Howells
  The culture and audiovisual Council held in Brussels on 23 May discussed future EU cultural co-operation, the preservation of digital content for future generations and proposals to revise the Directive on "Television Without Frontiers". A lunchtime discussion addressed the role of private sector cultural sponsorship.

  Resolutions were agreed by unanimity on a work plan for future EU cultural co-operation and on the importance of ensuring that digital content is preserved so as to be accessible by future generations.

  Discussions on the future of the current framework programme for cultural co-operation—Culture 2000—were of a preliminary nature only and there was no vote. The UK view was that the existing programme should be extended in order to allow sufficient time to review its impact to date and to discuss its successor. The Commission has agreed to produce a report on the existing scheme by the end of 2002 and will also put forward a number of proposals for further discussion.

  All delegations agreed that the review of the "Television Without Frontiers" Directive should be preceded by detailed debate and reflection and the Commission agreed to produce a work programme by the end of 2002. There was no formal vote. The priority for the UK will be to ensure that discussions on the review of the Directive take into account the provisions outlined in the draft communications Bill, published by my Department earlier this month.

  The lunchtime discussion reiterated the importance of private sector cultural sponsorship and it was agreed that Member States should discuss ways of sharing

  1169W
  experiences and agreeing best practice. This was an informal discussion and there was no vote. The UK fully supported the outcome of the debate.

  European Football Championships 2008
  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance is being given to support the bid of Scotland and Ireland to stage the 2008 European Football Championships. [60232]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government consider the Scotland and Ireland bid to be a strong one, and will give their full support. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the Scottish Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport on 18 March to discuss how DCMS may best support the bid team's efforts. To date, central Government support has centred on the provision of the formal guarantees required by UEFA. As well as a statement of UK Government support for the bid, these included commitments from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office, HM Customs and Excise and other Departments, covering issues of work permits, immigration control and value added tax.

  Television Licence
  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost would be of removing the requirement for a TV licence for people between 70 and 75 years. [60482]

  Dr. Howells
  In 2001–02 total expenditure on free TV licences for people aged 75 and over was £369.57 million. If everyone aged 70 and over had been eligible for a free TV licence in 2001–02, the additional cost would have been £182 million.

  Sport England
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the sum given in each of the last three years to Sport England was allocated to model aircraft flying. [59781]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: None of Sport England's Exchequer income has been given to model aircraft flying in any of the last three years. The lottery funds awarded were as follows:

  Lottery funding

  Year

  £

  Percentage of total lottery income

  1999–2000

  0

  0

  2000–01

  2,850

  0.00127

  2001–02

  4,683

  0.00160

  Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been granted under the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme, broken down by region. [59778]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The total amount of funding committed to date in the United Kingdom under the New Opportunities Fund's Green
  1170W
  Spaces and Sustainable Communities programme is £25,379,355. This comprises £17,432,146 in England, £6,058,366 in Scotland, £1,426,271 in Wales and £462,572 in Northern Ireland. The table breaks down funding in England by region, where such a breakdown is possible.

  Region

  Funding (£)

  Number of projects

  Eastern

  1,041,989

  32

  East Midlands

  1,061,908

  49

  London

  1,687,502

  58

  North East

  2,415,197

  71

  North West

  3,112,983

  100

  South West

  2,416,668

  70

  West Midlands

  2,609,675

  53

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,916,851

  66

  South East

  1,114,525

  56

  Tourism (England)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her proposals for the marketing of tourism in England. [60035]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: Proposals for the modernisation and reform of tourism were announced on 13 May and further details will be announced later in the summer.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which(a) individuals and (b) companies or organisations her Department consulted on the proposals for the marketing of tourism in England. [60034]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: Since the difficult events of 2001, we have consulted a wide variety of individuals and organisations about the future arrangements for domestic marketing. Our emerging proposals have been discussed with key industry stakeholders at the Tourism Forum, organised by the English Tourism Council, and at a special seminar chaired by the Secretary of State at Hartwell House. We have also worked closely with the Tourism Alliance and many national and regional tourism bodies.

  Arts Development
  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will respond to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's third report on arts development. [61137]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Government's response to the report was laid before Parliament earlier today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Departmental Staff (Scotland)
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what percentage of(a) Civil Service, (b) executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public body jobs under the remit of his Department are located in Scotland; and how many of each have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997. [56303]
  1171W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No civil service or executive agency jobs under the remit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are located in Scotland.

  For non-departmental public bodies, 34 jobs (3.11 per cent.) are located in Scotland. All these were located in Scotland prior to 1997. A further 20 British Council slots will be relocated to Edinburgh between now and summer 2003.

  Disclosure of Interests
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rules apply to

  Non-departmental public body

  Present status

  Information available

  British Council

  Code of best practice for board members adopted on 1 November 1994

  Available on request from the secretariat of the British Council

  Wilton Park Academic Council

  Draft code of practice to be adopted on 13 June 2002. WPAC also hold 'conflict of interests' register

  Once approved, will be on WPAC website www.wiltonpark.org.uk/

  British Association for Central and Eastern Europe

  Does not have a register of interest, though compliant with Companies Act requirement for board members to declare any other company directorships

  —

  Great Britain China Centre

  Has a register of executive committee members' interests relevant to its activities

  May be obtained by contacting GBCC in writing. Details also given on website (www.gbcc.org.uk)

  Britain Russia Centre

  No code of practice in respect of its disclosure of interest currently in place

  Board members sign an annual declaration provided by the auditors that they have had no personal gain or financial interest from/in BRC activities. Website: www.briteastwest.org.uk/

  Diplomatic Service Appeals Board

  Code of practice currently being drafted. Register of interests covered in application forms

  Information can be obtained from Secretary, DSAB, FCO, London SW1A 2PA

  Westminster Foundation for Democracy

  Code of practice under review. Do hold a register of interests. WFD also has code of conduct for board members which includes the obligation to declare any material interests

  Held by company secretary. Website www.wfd.org/

  Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine

  Code of practice adopted

  Published in annual report. Information can be obtained from the Head of Government Hospitality, Lancaster House, St. James's, London SW1

  Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission

  Code of practice adopted by commission on 25 April 1997

  Documents available from commission secretariat at Association of Commonwealth Universities (not on website but details in ACU annual report)

  Libya (Flight LAA 1103)
  Martin Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of meetings held in the last six months between his staff at the Tripoli Embassy and the Libyan authorities on the subject of a crash report into flight LAA 1103. [57016]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given him by my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on 23 May 2002,Official Report, column 533W.

  Pakistan
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations 1172W
  the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to his Department. [56452]

  Mr. Straw
  All advisory and executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) are required to adopt a board members' code, based on guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, and they should have registers of interests. The definition of interests is ultimately for individual Departments since they are best placed to decide what might be thought to influence members of their NDPBs.

  The following table lists the NDPBs sponsored by this Department and in each cases indicates what the relevant code of practice is and where it is available.

  the Government have made to the Government of Pakistan on the protection of women's rights. [58342]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We and our EU partners regularly raise our human rights concerns, including women's rights issues, with the Pakistan authorities. The Government of Pakistan have made progress over the last year in addressing the position of women through electoral reform and their National Commission on the Status of Women. We support these steps and are supporting Pakistani women's groups in their campaigns to promote women's rights within the existing Islamic legal framework.

  The EU Human Rights Group takes a close interest in human rights development in Pakistan. The Group is currently considering what further action they should take.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information was provided by the French authorities to his Department concerning the visit of Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to that country recently. [59199]

  Mr. Straw
  As they were obliged to, under the terms of the EU travel ban, the French authorities provided full relevant information prior to Chihuri's recent attendance at the 14–16 May Interpol meeting in Lyon.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the meetings of international organisations which the Zimbabweans who are listed on the UK/EU travel ban list are allowed to attend. [58959]

  Mr. Straw
  There is no defined list. The terms of the Common Position imposing the travel ban allow Member States to grant exemptions on the grounds of"humanitarian need, including religious obligation, or on the grounds attending meetings of international bodies or conducting political dialogue that promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe".

  In practice, EU Member States examine visa applications from banned Zimbabweans on a case-by-case basis and consult other partners before reaching a final decision.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department was contacted by the French authorities concerning the visit of the Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri; and what response his Department gave to the French. [59198]

  Mr. Straw
  We understand that Chihuri entered France on a single-entry 10-day visa on 11 May and returned to Zimbabwe on 20 May.

  The French authorities alerted EU partners to Chihuri's application for a visa on 27 March. They explained that they were obliged under Article 15 of the Interpol Accord to allow Chihuri, a Vice-President representing Africa on Interpol's Executive Committee, to attend the organisation's 14–16 May meeting. The French authorities noted that the exemptions allowed under the EU travel ban include permission for banned individuals to attend international meetings of this kind.

  My Department accepted the legal basis of the French request, but asked the French authorities to attach maximum restrictive conditions to Chihuri's entry visa and, where possible, to restrict his movements on EU soil to the immediate vicinity of the Interpol meeting.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from European Government representatives since 11 March concerning Zimbabwean Ministers attending meetings in Europe, while they are on the EU sanctions list. [58960]

  Mr. Straw
  The terms of the EU travel ban allow banned individuals to attend meetings of international organisations based in Europe which are subject to established treaty arrangements. These may effectively require a host country to allow access irrespective of any ban.
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  France informed EU partners on 27 March that Augustine Chihuri had applied to attend an Interpol meeting in Lyon from 14 to 16 May, and again on 23 May that he had applied to attend another meeting from 18 to 20 June. France noted its obligation under the Interpol Accord to allow national representatives to attend meetings at the headquarters of this international organisation. France issued him a restrictive, single entry 10-day visa for the May meetings, and a five-day visa for the June meeting. Spain has reported an application from Chihuri to enter Spain following the June meeting. This application has been refused.

  France also reported a request from Zimbabwean officials on behalf of Robert Mugabe, Elliot Manyika, Elisha Muzonzini and Stanislaus Mudenge for permission to enter France while transitting Paris airport en route from New York on the weekend of 11 May. The request was turned down. Germany informed partners on 27 May that Stanislaus Mudenge had applied to enter Germany on private business. The application was turned down.

  Italy alerted partners on 29 May and 5 June to requests from Robert Mugabe, Stanislaus Mudenge, Elliot Manyika, George Charamba and Joseph Made for permission to attend the UN Food Summit in Rome from 10 to 13 June. Italy noted its obligation to allow these individuals entry to attend this UN summit. They are likely to be given a five-day single entry visa.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long the Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri was in the European Union. [59197]

  Mr. Straw
  We understand that Chihuri entered France on a single-entry 10-day visa on 11 May and returned to Zimbabwe on 20 May.

  Falkland Islands
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has recently discussed with the Argentine Government a change in sovereign status of the Falkland Islands. [58954]

  Mr. Straw
  The British Government have no doubt about their sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and have held no recent meetings with Argentina about the future status of the Islands.

  United Kingdom Overseas Territories
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the constitutional position of(a) the Falkland Islands and (b) Gibraltar. [58955]

  Mr. Straw
  The constitutional position of the Falkland Islands is expressed in the preamble to Chapter 1 of the 1985 Falkland Islands Constitution Order. In the case of Gibraltar this is expressed in the preamble to the 1969 Gibraltar Constitution Order. The constitutional positions of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands are bound by the legal frameworks in which they are set, and in this respect they are quite distinct.

  Jonathan Lincoln Brown
  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations
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  his Department has made to the Government of Oman about a constituent, Jonathan Lincoln Brown; and if he will make a statement. [58932]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Mr. Brown is involved in a private legal dispute. We have assisted him where we properly can in a number of matters. These included representations to the Omani Government requesting them to consider Mr. Brown's case compassionately because of his mother's ill health and subsequent death. Our ambassador raised the case with the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The embassy were also instrumental in ensuring Mr. Brown received an appeal date. We remain in contact with Mr. Brown and are providing all proper consular assistance.

  Afghanistan
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department received reports and representations from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the conditions of fighters held in Shibergan prison in Afghanistan; and what action his Department has taken. [58844]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I understand that this Department did not receive any representations from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regarding the conditions of fighters held in Shiberghan prison in Afghanistan.

  Our Embassy staff in Kabul are in frequent contact with the ICRC, which monitors closely the situation and welfare of all prisoners in Afghanistan. The ICRC is concerned about conditions in the camp. A number of prisoners have been released since February, but the prison continues to hold some 1,600 men (it was designed to hold 1,000). The ICRC began a feeding programme for prisoners in mid-April.

  Throughout the conflict last autumn, we urged the Northern Alliance to respect international human rights laws, including the Geneva Conventions, and to treat humanely all those who surrendered and were taken prisoner. Since then, we have made clear to the Afghan Interim Administration that we expect them to respect their international obligations, including to treat their prisoners humanely.

  The former Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for South Asia, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter, raised our concerns most recently on 27 May, when he discussed the reported mistreatment of prisoners with the Afghan Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. The US$4.5 billion pledged by the international community for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan over the next five years should help to improve conditions across the country, including in prisons. The Afghan Interim Administration has asked General Dostum, the regional commander with responsibility for the camp, to ensure that conditions at Shiberghan are improved swiftly.

  Kaliningrad
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on co-operation between Kaliningrad and the European Union. [59368]
  1176W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government recognise that Kaliningrad is a significant issue in the EU-Russia relationship.

  The EU recognises also the impact that enlargement will have on Kaliningrad. Due to concerns over illegal migration, the EU has made clear that visa-free transit will no longer be possible between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia after Poland and Lithuania have joined the European Union.

  The Union has therefore developed a package of assistance: to facilitate the issuing of visas; to promote workable border arrangements; and to support Kaliningrad's economic development. This assistance is intended to help Kaliningrad benefit from the opportunities offered by EU enlargement. Implementation of this package will depend on overall agreement between the EU and Russia. The issue was discussed at the EU-Russia summit on 29 May. Expert level contacts between the two sides will continue.

  Angola
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken since 5 April to help the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Angola and the UNITA rebels; what reports he has received from his staff in the area about possible problems; what representations he has made to the Government of Angola with respect to creating a lasting peace; and if he will make a statement. [58908]

  Mr. MacShane
  We are in close contact with the Angolan Government, from President dos Santos down. We discussed the latest developments with Foreign Minister Miranda in London in March. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development held follow-up discussions in Luanda in April. We are also in touch with Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Africa (including talks on 6 June), and with our EU colleagues, with the aim of encouraging transparent dialogue between all parties.

  There have been reports that quartering areas are over-stretched and unable to meet the basic welfare needs of former UNITA troops and their families. We have played a leading role with other donors to encourage the UN and Government of Angola to overcome earlier co-ordination problems and to agree roles and responsibilities in the quartering areas. The UN has now begun work on implementing relief activity, within guidelines agreed with the Angolan government. Her Majesty's Government are contributing $1 million to the UN's office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) in Angola. It is important that the Angolan Government fulfils its own stated obligations and that it continues to co-operate fully with the international community, particularly on the humanitarian relief agenda.

  European Council (Seville)
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's
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  priorities are for the European Council's meeting at Seville; by what standards he will judge the success of the meeting; and if he will make a statement. [59101]

  Peter Hain
  We want Seville to give fresh impetus to the EU's work to combat illegal immigration, by strengthening the EU's borders, enhancing our work with source countries in tackling the causes and consequences of illegal migration, and focusing the EU's policies and resources more sharply. We also want Seville to agree a package of reforms to the workings of the Council, to improve its efficiency and make it more transparent to the citizen. In addition, Heads of State and Government will discuss enlargement, in particular how to communicate its benefits more effectively to public opinion; other aspects of the future of Europe debate; sustainable development; a range of economic and social topics to continue to deliver the Lisbon agenda; and a number of CFSP issues.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government will be putting forward on the reform of the European Union's rotating presidency to the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if he will make a statement. [59099]

  Peter Hain
  The Government would like agreement at the Seville European Council on practical steps to improve the way the Council works. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out some concrete ideas in his joint letter to Prime Minster Aznar with Chancellor Schroder in February. Seville, however, cannot agree changes to the rotating presidency system: such changes would require amendments to the Union's treaties; these can only be agreed at an Intergovernmental Conference (expected to take place in 2004).

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's aims are for the promotion of environmental strategies in the European Union's external responsibilities at the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if he will make a statement. [59100]

  Peter Hain
  The Government want the European Council in Seville to elaborate the external dimension of the EU's sustainable development strategy. This strategy aims to strike a balance between the environmental, economic and social objectives of society, in order to maximise well-being in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. We want the EU to agree a set of priority objectives, with related targets and actions. These should include improving coherence between its internal and external policies and addressing developing country concerns such as market access. A commitment at Seville will demonstrate the EU's engagement with the global agenda for sustainable development, poverty eradication and achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

  The European Council is also the opportunity for the EU to make a clear statement on sustainable development and to prepare for the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg later this year. We favour decisions by the Council on the EU's top priorities for political agreement at Johannesburg, such as initiatives on freshwater and sanitation, and sustainable energy.

  Press and Public Relations
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much expenditure his Department has incurred in 1997–98 on employing external consultants to deal with the press or public relations of his Department. [59497]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 24 January 2002,Official Report, column 999W.

  That answer covered the period 1998–2002. In 1997–98, the British Council paid £23,500 to a consultancy which looked at the British Council brand development and identity.

  Tibet
  Mr. MacDougall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times in the last three years he has met his Chinese counterpart to discuss Tibet. [59597]

  Mr. MacShane
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has met his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, several times in the last three years to discuss issues of international and bilateral concern. He has raised our concerns over Tibet twice, most recently in January this year.

  Uzbekistan
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK observers were(a) sent by his Department and (b) part of international missions to Uzbekistan on 5 December 1999; and if he will make a statement. [59686]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office nor the OSCE sent observers to Uzbekistan for the parliamentary elections on 5 December 1999. No other international missions were deployed.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK observers were present in Uzbekistan on 27 January; and if he will make a statement. [59683]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The UK did not send official observers to the national referendum, which took place in Uzbekistan on 27 January 2002. However, the Government of Uzbekistan invited two UK nationals in a private capacity.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports have been received by his Department on human rights in Uzbekistan since April 1997; and if he will make a statement. [59688]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) receives regular reporting on human rights in Uzbekistan from our embassy in Tashkent. The embassy closely monitors the human rights situation in the country and is in regular contact with the leaders of independent human rights organisations and international NGOs based there. The FCO also receives information direct from human rights organisations. For example, in January, Human Rights Watch wrote to the Department outlining concerns about human rights in Uzbekistan. In
  1179W
  the same month, the UK ensured that issues highlighted by Human Rights Watch were raised at the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when representations have been made by(a) his Department and (b) UK diplomatic staff in Tashkent to the Government of Uzbekistan concerning human rights since April 1997; and if he will make a statement. [59687]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) frequently raises human rights concerns with the Ambassador of Uzbekistan in London. It also contributes to EU statements and raises human rights issues and individual cases together with EU partners at the OSCE.

  In Tashkent, the embassy monitors the human rights situation and maintains a close dialogue with human rights groups. General human rights concerns and individual cases are raised by senior FCO officials visiting Uzbekistan and by the British Ambassador. The embassy also makes representations with EU colleagues.

  UK diplomatic staff regularly remind Uzbekistan of its international obligations under the OSCE charter and the EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, as well as under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Uzbekistan signed in 1995.

  The UK has carried out, with the cooperation of the Uzbekistan authorities, a number of projects to improve human rights, including most recently a project to install electronic recording equipment in courtrooms.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK observers were present at the presidential elections in Uzbekistan on 9 January 2000; and if he will make a statement. [59684]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The UK did not send official observers to the presidential elections which took place in Uzbekistan on 9 January 2000.

  UN Conventions (Terrorism)
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) 12 UN conventions related to terrorism and (b) countries that have both signed and ratified all 12 conventions. [60778]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The twelve UN conventions related to terrorism are:Convention and Certain Other Offences Committed on Board Aircraft (Tokyo 14/06/63)
  Convention for the Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (The Hague 16/ 12/70)
  Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Aircraft (Montreal 23/09/71)
  Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons, Including Diplomatic Personnel (New York 14/12/73)
  Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (New York 17/12/79)
  Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (Vienna 03/03/80)
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  Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Aviation, complementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Aircraft (Montreal 24/02/88)
  Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (Rome 10/03/88)
  Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf (Rome 10/03/88)
  Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection (Montreal 01/03/91)
  UN Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (New York 15/12/97)
  UN Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism (New York 09/12/99).
  The states which have signed and acceded to all 12 Conventions and Protocols are: Canada, Chile, the Netherlands, Peru, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

  We have placed in the House Library details of the status of state's accession to each UN Convention or Protocol.

  European Union Business
  Kali Mountford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for June and (b) major European Union events for the period between 1 July and November. [61249]

  Peter Hain
  The information is as follows.

  4 June—ECOFIN—Brussels

  1. Adoption of the agenda

  2. (poss.) Approval of the list of "A" items

  3. Preparation of the Seville European Council

  Council report on Broad Economic Policy and Guidelines

  Council report on administrative co-operation in tax matters

  4. (poss.) Recasting of the Financial Regulation

  5. Macro-financial assistance

  Policy debate

  6. Directive on prospectuses

  Policy debate

  7. (poss.) Directive on Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision

  Political agreement

  8. Sixth half-yearly Commission report on the Financial Services Action Plan

  9. Tax Matters

  Tax Package

  Savings taxation

  Report on dependent or associated territories

  Report on negotiations with third States

  Code of Conduct: progress report

  (poss.) Taxation of biofuels

  Political agreement

  (poss.) Energy taxation

  Administrative co-operation in tax matters

  Council conclusions

  VAT treatment of cross-border motor vehicle leasing

  10. Methods of evaluating output gaps

  11. Advantages of the different types of pension schemes

  12. Other business

  1181W
  6–7 June—Industry and Energy Council—Brussels

  1. Approval of provisional agenda

  2. (poss.) Approval of the list of "A" items

  3. Competitiveness and enterprise policy in the EU

  (a) Commission communication "Productivity: the key to competitiveness"—annual Commission report on competitiveness (2002)

  Presentation by the Commission and discussion

  Council conclusions

  (b) Communication from the Commission on the impact of the e-Economy on European businesses: economic analysis and political implications 14748/01 ECO 367

  Council conclusions

  (c) Report on the European Charter for Small Enterprises: Follow-up to the Barcelona European Council on 15 and 16 March 2002

  Presidency briefing 6125/02 ECO 38

  4. Sustainable development

  (a) Strategy for chemicals

  Commission briefing

  (b) Contribution of enterprise policy to sustainable development

  Discussion

  Council conclusions

  5. Steel

  (a) Expiry of the ECSC treaty

  Commission briefing

  (b) Situation on the world steel market

  Commission briefing

  6. (poss.) Shipbuilding

  (a) Fifth report from the Commission to the Council on the situation in world shipbuilding

  Presentation by the Commission 8689/02 RC 6

  (b) Proposal for a Council regulation concerning a temporary defensive mechanism inn shipbuilding (LA)(*) (Articles 87(3) and 89 of the treaty) 11335/01 RC 14 WTO 83

  7. Competition

  (a) Proposal for a Council regulation on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the treaty and amending regulations (EEC) No. 1017/68, (EEC) No. 2988/74. (EEC) No. 4056/86 and (EEC) No. 3975/87

  Progress report

  (b) XXXIst Commission report on Competition Policy 2001

  Presentation by the Commission 8455/02 RC 4

  8. (poss.) Reduction/re-orientation of public aid, State-aid scoreboard-spring 2002 edition

  Presentation by the Commission

  9. Life sciences and biotechnology—A strategy for Europe

  Council conclusions 6415/02 RECH 40 ENV 103 CONSOM 14 SAN 24 DEVGEN 15 MI 31 IND 23 AGRI 43 SOC 87 RELEX 27 EDUC 30 AG 6

  10. Euromed—industrial cooperation

  Presidency briefing on the outcome of the Ministerial Conference in Malaga on 9 and 10 April 2002 7922/02 ECO 116 MED 30

  11. G1O medicinal products

  Report from the High-Level Working Party on innovation and the supply of medicinal products

  Commission briefing

  1182W

  Energy (7 June 2002)

  12. Proposal for a Council regulation on state aid to the coal industry after the expiry of the ECSC treaty (LA) (*) (Articles 87 and 89 TEC)

  Political agreement

  13. Internal market in electricity and gas

  (a) Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 96/92/EC and 98/30/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and natural gas (LA) (*) (Article 95 TEC)

  Political agreement

  (b) Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity (LA) (Article 95 TEC)

  Progress report

  14. Proposal for an amendment to the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision 1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines for trans-European energy networks (LA) (Article 196 TEC)

  General approach

  15. Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of biofuels for transport (LA) (Article 175 TEC)

  General approach

  16. Energy Charter

  Progress report

  17. Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a multi-annual programme for action in the field of energy: "Intelligent Energy for Europe" Programme (2003–2006) (LA) (Article 175 TEC)

  Presentation by the Commission

  18. Security of energy supply

  Commission briefing on follow-up to consultations on the Green Paper on security of supply

  Other business

  Other business

  3—Brussels—Employment and Social Affairs Council

  3—Brussels—Eurogroup (evening)

  4—Brussels—ECOFIN

  6–7—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session

  6–7—Madrid—EU—ASEM meeting (EU 15)

  6–8—Brussels—Foreign Affairs (ASEM Ministers)

  10–11—Brussels—General Affairs Council

  10–11—Brussels—Agriculture Council

  11—Brussels—Fisheries Council

  13–14—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council

  17–18—Brussels—Transport and Telecommunications Council

  17–18—Brussels—General Affairs Council

  21–22—Seville—European Council

  24–Brussels—General Affairs Council (evening)

  24–25—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session

  24–25—Brussels—Environment Council

  25—Brussels—ECOFIN

  26—Brussels—Health Council

  The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 July and November 2002. The list is based on the information available at the date of issue.
  1183W

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  July

  12–13

  Kolding

  Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers (Informal)

  15–16

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  19

  Brussels

  Budget Meeting

  19–21

  Århus

  Environment Ministers meeting (Informal)

  22–23

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  August

  31–1

  Elsinore

  Gymnich (Ministerial Informal)

  September

  6

  Brussels

  ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting

  6–8

  Copenhagen

  ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal)

  8–10

  Nyborg

  Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal)

  12–13

  Copenhagen

  Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal)

  22–23

  Copenhagen

  ASEM Meeting

  23–24

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  26

  Brussels

  Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council

  27

  Tent

  ACP-EU Ministers Meeting

  30

  Brussels

  Research Council

  30–1

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  October

  3–4

  Brussels

  Transport and Telecommunications Council

  8

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  October

  8

  Brussels

  Employment and Social Policy Council

  14

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  14–15

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council

  15–16

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  17

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  18–19

  Aalborg

  Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal)

  21–22

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  24–25

  Brussels

  European Council

  November

  1

  Brussels

  Culture Council

  2

  Brussels

  ECOFIN—Troika meeting on Macro-Economic Dialogue

  12

  Brussels

  Education and Youth Council

  14–15

  Brussels

  Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Youth Council

  18

  Brussels

  Fisheries Council

  18–19

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  19–20

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  22

  Brussels

  Development Council

  25–26

  Brussels

  Budget [Council]

  25–26

  Brussels

  Industry and Energy Council

  28–29

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council

SCOTLAND

  East Coast Main Line
  Mr. Luke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about improvements to the east coast main line north of Edinburgh. [57382]

  Mrs. McGuire
  My predecessor and Scotland Office officials met with senior management from the Strategic Rail Authority on 16 May. They discussed a range of issues including matters relative to the east coast main line north of Edinburgh.

  It was clear from the meeting that Richard Bowker leads a senior management team with a vision and commitment to improve rail services, knowledge of the rail system, and a pragmatic approach to getting the job done.

  National Minimum Wage
  David Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland benefit from the national minimum wage. [57383]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Some 110,000 people across Scotland have benefited from the national minimum wage since it was introduced in April 1999.

  Economic Trends
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on business growth and inward investment in Scotland. [57384]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Business support is devolved and policy responsibility rests with the Scottish Executive with delivery through the enterprise networks in Scotland. Scottish Development International will be publishing its latest annual inward investment results later this year.
  1185W
  This Government have put in place macroeconomic policies which are delivering economic stability, low inflation and low interest rates—providing a platform for business growth and confidence.

  Mr. MacDougall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning; and if she will make a statement on prospects for economic prosperity with reference to inward investment. [57389]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I meet with Ministers of the Scottish Executive on a regular basis.

  The UK economy coped well with the challenges posed by the world economic slowdown in 2001 and grew by 2.25 per cent. in 2001—the fastest of any G7 economy. The UK fundamentals remain strong—with the UK on course for sustained growth with low inflation. Scottish Development International., which is responsible to the Scottish Executive, will be publishing its latest annual inward investment results later this year.

  Air Links
  Mr. Tom Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on progress made on expanding direct air links from Scottish airports to European destinations. [57385]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government, together with the Scottish Executive, will shortly publish a regional consultation document on air services in Scotland. This will set out the options for development of Scotland's airports and air services for the next 30 years.

  Over the past year I have held meetings with the airlines, business organisations in Scotland and with the airport operators and tourism authorities with the aim of stimulating a response to the demand for more direct flights.

  Scottish Tourism
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to promote Scottish tourism. [57386]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I am undertaking a wide range of events to assist in promoting tourism to Scotland. On 15 May I hosted a reception for the overseas and UK managers of the BTA. On 26 June, I will join my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Secretary of State for Wales in hosting a reception at Dover House to thank the partners of the BTA for their contribution to the one million extra visitors advertising campaign.

  My Friends of Scotland team work very closely with the BTA and VisitScotland to ensure that the tourism message is a key part of my efforts to promote Scotland around the world.

  Customs Officers
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last discussed the deployment of customs officers in remote areas of Scotland with Treasury Ministers. [57387]
  1186W
  Mrs. McGuire
  My right hon. Friend has frequent discussions with Treasury Ministers on a wide range of issues.

  Broadband Coverage
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to increase the coverage of broadband in Scotland. [57388]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The UK Government work closely with the Scottish Executive to ensure that reserved and devolved responsibilities relating to the extension of broadband coverage in Scotland are co-ordinated.

  The Government have made available a £30 million fund for broadband, of which the Scottish Executive will receive £4.4 million to promote affordable pervasive access to broadband connections across Scotland.

  Economic Development
  Mr. McFall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has for increased public expenditure on economic development in Scotland. [57390]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government provided a substantial increase for public expenditure in Scotland in the 2002 Budget. Scotland will receive annual increases ranging from £224 million in 2003–04 to £3.2 billion in 2007–08. Economic development is a devolved matter and it is for the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament to decide on the allocation of resources according to their own priorities for Scotland.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues about the regulation of firework sales. [57391]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Government is aware about concerns in this area and is carefully considering what action should be taken.

  Enterprise
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to encourage enterprise in Scotland. [57392]

  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to encourage enterprise in Scotland. [57397]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Scotland Office continues to promote joint working between the Government and the Scottish Executive across a wide range of issues where there are shared or complementary interests, including matters which will encourage enterprise.

  Business Links (Europe)
  Rosemary McKenna
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent steps she has taken to further the interests of Scottish business within the European Union. [57393]
  1187W
  Mrs. Liddell
  The EU is Scotland's most important export market representing 63 per cent. of Scottish manufactured exports. I have regular discussions both with business organisations and within Government to ensure that Scottish business benefits from membership of the EU.

  Asset Seizures
  Ann McKechin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the action being taken to seize the assets of major drug dealers in Scotland. [57394]

  Mrs. McGuire
  We are determined to put in place even stronger seizure and confiscation procedures than currently exist and the Proceeds of Crime Bill, once law, will achieve that. This is a top priority and I will be working with Home Office and Scottish Executive colleagues to ensure the overall anti-drugs messages are effective.

  Postal Services
  Mr. Alan Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry concerning deregulation of postal deliveries in Scotland. [57395]

  Mrs. McGuire
  None. Regulation of postal services in Scotland is a matter for Postcomm.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the reform of postal services in Scotland. [57400]

  Mrs. McGuire
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer

  I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray), Official Report, column 703.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she will next meet representatives from Consignia to discuss the reform of Scotland's postal services. [57401]

  Mrs. McGuire
  I have no immediate plans to meet with representatives from Consignia. However, I am in touch on a regular basis with a wide range of individuals and organisations in relation to postal services in Scotland.

  Military Bases
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next expects to meet MOD officials to discuss military bases in Scotland. [57396]

  Mrs. McGuire
  My right hon. Friend has regular contact with the Ministry of Defence to discuss a wide range of issues, including military bases in Scotland.

  In 2000 (the latest year for which figures are available) the total deployment of defence personnel in Scotland was 24,400 of whom 15,100 were service personnel and 9,300 were civilian employees. This represents around 9.2 per cent. of UK defence personnel deployment.

  Pensioner Income
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to meet representatives of pensioners in Scotland to discuss the uptake of minimum income guarantee and the pensions credit. [57398]
  1188W
  Mrs. McGuire
  I will be speaking at the Scottish Pensioners' Forum annual conference on 18 June in Dundee.

  National Security
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list her responsibilities in relation to national security. [57399]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have no specific responsibilities for national security other than those discharged collectively through Cabinet and my membership of the Civil Contingencies Committee.

  Asbestos
  Jim Sheridan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on delays in payment of compensation to those with asbestos-related diseases in Scotland and the action taken by her to reduce delays. [57402]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I held a meeting on 24 April to discuss delays in dealing with claims against Chester Street. I have also issued a newsletter to all Scottish MPs. Progress is being made and a Service Standard has been laid down for dealing with Chester Street claims. Under this Service Standard, where damages are agreed and payment is due from the Association of British Insurers or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, claims will be processed and paid within 25 working days. This timetable is dependent on documents requiring a claimant's signature being returned promptly.

  Aggregates Tax
  Mr. Bacon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the aggregates tax as it affects quarrying in Scotland. [57403]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The levy came into effect on 1 April 2002. It 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.

  Part of the revenue from the aggregates levy will be used to establish the new Sustainability Fund, which will promote environmentally beneficial practices such as the use of recycled aggregate. Scotland stands to benefit from some £3 million from the fund.

CABINET OFFICE

  Refurbishment (22 Whitehall)
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Cabinet Office when he will complete the inquiry into the procurement of timber for the refurbishment project of 22 Whitehall. [57131]

  Mr. Alexander
  As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister stated to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 14 May 2002,
  1189W
  Official Report, column 567W, an initial report has been received and there will be a report to the House when the report is finalised.

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Cabinet Office what the median length of time has been between the departure of a chief executive and the commencement in post of a successor for all non-departmental public bodies since 1997. [59715]

  Mr. Alexander
  Following the machinery of Government changes announced by the Prime Minister on 29 May, none of the non-departmental public bodies for which the Cabinet Office is responsible require a chief executive or equivalent.

  Parliamentary Ombudsman
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Cabinet Office what instructions are given to officials on responding to requests for papers by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. [605781

  Mr. Alexander
  Guidance to officials on responding to requests for papers by the Parliamentary Ombudsman is set out in 'Handling of Parliamentary Ombudsman Cases.'

  'The Ombudsman in Your Files, the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information' and guidance on its interpretation are also relevant.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Information Technology
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the use of IT in the court system. [574121

  Yvette Cooper
  Current IT systems in the courts are relatively old, limited in their scope and in their ability to communicate with IT in other parts of the justice system.

  The Lord Chancellor's Department has started a programme of IT modernisation to improve service to users of the justice system and to meet the e-Government targets set by the Prime Minister.

  The first step in this process is well under way with the introduction of a modern IT infrastructure and is 75 per cent. complete in the magistrates courts. Subject to funding, it will be completed in 2004 for the Crown and civil courts.

  Justice of the Peace
  Hugh Robertson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement about the nationality requirements for appointment as a justice of the peace. [57413]

  Yvette Cooper
  As the hon. Member may know, my noble and learned Friend recently discovered that 22 people have been appointed as magistrates contrary to the nationality requirements of the Act of Settlement 1701. This Act requires people seeking a place of trust under the Crown to hold citizenship of Britain, Eire or a Commonwealth country. We are considering ways to allow the 22 people to return to sitting at the earliest opportunity.

  King Edward VIII
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will arrange for the release of official papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII. [57416]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I refer the hon. Member to the number of written questions I have answered on this subject. Any official papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII will need to be re-reviewed by Departments. It is hoped that the results of the review will be known and put into effect by the end of the year.

  Queen's Counsel System
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement about reform of the QC system. [57417]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Queen's Counsel system is one of a number of issues relating to the legal profession raised in the OFT report, which fall to my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor to consider. The Government plan to consult on those issues before the summer recess.

  Magistrates Courts
  David Taylor
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has for the rural magistrates court network. [57418]

  Yvette Cooper
  Magistrates courts committees (MCCs) are taking account of the need of rural users in the delivery of their services, by taking forward the rural proofing initiative, as set out in the rural White Paper. The Countryside Agency's rural proofing checklist was sent to all 42 MCCs in May 2001, to encourage MCCs to take into account the interests of rural communities when developing or implementing existing or new policy.

  Furthermore, my Department has been and continues to work closely with the Countryside Agency and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, to put in place protocols to ensure that rural proofing options are carefully considered, before any decisions on the future of magistrates courts are concluded.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she next expects to meet representatives of the magistracy to discuss magistrates courts in small towns. [57422]

  Yvette Cooper
  My predecessor my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) said in the debates on 1 May and 15 May that he would meet representatives of the magistracy to discuss magistrates' courts in Essex and Wiltshire. My office is in the process of arranging these meetings, but no dates have yet been confirmed.

  Witness Protection
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the Government's policy on the protection of witnesses on court premises. [57419]
  1191W
  Yvette Cooper
  The Government's policy is to provide adequate protection for witnesses on court premises to allow them to give their best evidence.

  The Court Service recognises that while witnesses are on court premises we have a responsibility to do what we can to prevent intimidation. For example, in all 67 designated street crime courts witnesses use a separate entrance or are segregated immediately on arrival. Provision for segregated waiting arrangements are made, as well as for separate catering and toilets to be used.

  Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services
  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions the Lord Chancellor has had with the National Assembly for Wales about the operation of CAFCASS in Wales. [57420]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  None. Since the creation of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), representatives of CAFCASS at board and director level have met, among others, the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services, Jane Hutt, and the Heads of Government Offices in Wales. The director and members of CAFCASS (Cymru) have also attended a number of conferences organised by the National Assembly for Wales.

  Court Sittings
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action the Lord Chancellor's Department will take to facilitate the extension of court sitting hours in selected areas to deal with street crime; and if she will make a statement. [57421]

  Yvette Cooper
  Extended court hours are currently being piloted in certain Magistrates courts in areas of high street crime, in London and Manchester. On completion of the four month pilot period at the end of September we will assess whether such an approach is a cost-effective means of reducing delays and best serves the needs of victims and witnesses, and in the light of that assessment will consider its possible extension to other criminal courts.

  Court Reform
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, (1) pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2002,Official Report, column 414W, if she will make a further statement on her plans to reform (a) criminal and (b) magistrates court; [60191]

  (2) what plans she has to introduce a White Paper on the reform of (a) criminal and (b) magistrates courts; when she intends to publish that White Paper; and if she will make a statement. [60192]

  Yvette Cooper
  Sir Robin Auld's Review of the Criminal Courts in England and Wales makes wide-ranging recommendations. The period for comment closed on 31 January. The Government have taken no decisions on the report and are now considering the recommendations in detail, taking account of the 1192W
  comments received. The Government will announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper before the summer recess.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has had from(a) magistrates and (b) magistrates courts committees, following her review of the criminal and magistrates courts system; and if she will a statement. [60193]

  Yvette Cooper
  We have received nearly 500 responses. On behalf of(a) magistrates, we have received responses from over 60 individuals who identified themselves as magistrates; and (b) of the 42 magistrates courts committee areas representations have been received from 37 areas.

  Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the mandate of the Committee on the service in the member states 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; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [58451]

  Yvette Cooper
  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. The former has met once in the last year to provide information to bring the regulation into force. No further meetings have been scheduled. The UK was represented by an official from the Lord Chancellor's Department and another from the Scottish Executive. The cost of attendance at this meeting was approximately £400. 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. As both committees are responsible only for the implementation of regulations that have already been subject to parliamentary scrutiny there are no plans to change the accountability or transparency of either.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the mandate of the 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; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [58452]
  1193W
  Yvette Cooper
  The committees which considered the two conventions mentioned (Brussels I and II) concluded their work over a year ago and are no longer in existence. Neither committee met within the last 12 months.

  Mortgage Defaults
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court repossessions of homes because of default on mortgages there have been in each of the last 20 years. [58666]

  Yvette Cooper
  Specific reasons for the instigation of mortgage possession proceedings in the county courts are not collected centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost to the Department. However, for information purposes, figures are provided in the table illustrating the number of possession warrants executed as a percentage of orders made for both mortgage and rent possessions. It is not currently possible to split the warrants executed figure into mortgage and rent components.

  Mortgage and rent possession actions—possession orders and warrants issued and executed

  Mortgage and rent possession actions

  Possession warrants:

  Warrants executed as percentage of:

  Possession orders made1

  Issued

  Executed

  Orders made

  Warrants issued

  2001

  158,857

  133,500

  65,620

  41.3

  49.2

  2000

  161,746

  134,478

  61,581

  38.1

  45.8

  1999

  171,518

  136,718

  68,723

  40.1

  50.3

  1998

  178,291

  129,961

  59,701

  33.5

  45.9

  1997

  157,025

  115,646

  49,865

  31.8

  43.1

  1996

  159,052

  111,473

  48,587

  30.5

  43.6

  1995

  157,857

  117,301

  51,096

  32.4

  43.6

  1994

  141,242

  115,688

  49,222

  34.8

  42.5

  1993

  188,007

  124,271

  51,333

  27.3

  41.3

  1992

  223,839

  124,211

  62,439

  27.9

  50.3

  1991

  237,918

  133,101

  61,139

  25.7

  45.9

  1990

  216,288

  106,980

  41,799

  19.3

  39.1

  1989

  164,843

  85,310

  29,287

  17.8

  34.3

  1988

  117,879

  70,121

  28,588

  24.3

  40.8

  1987

  101,340

  66,813

  30,092

  29.7

  45.0

  1986

  91,091

  59,971

  30,302

  33.3

  50.5

  1985

  82,516

  53,172

  26,116

  31.6

  49.1

  1984

  79,917

  49,563

  23,934

  29.9

  48.3

  1983

  87,748

  45,817

  20,373

  23.2

  44.5

  1982

  106,555

  50,711

  20,951

  19.7

  41.3

  1 Includes suspended orders

  Funding (Luton, South)
  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's 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. [58593]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Land Sales
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the land that her Department is(a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size. [59061]
  1194W
  Yvette Cooper
  The Lord Chancellor's Department currently has(a) no land which is offered for sale and (b) no plans to offer any land for sale in the next 12 months.

  Celebrations
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements her Department has made to celebrate(a) St Patrick's Day, (h) St George's Day, (c) St Andrew's Day and (d) Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and how her Department celebrated St David's Day. [42304]

  Yvette Cooper
  I apologise for the delay in replying. This was due to an administrative oversight. I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport gave to the hon. Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) in response to his question of 30 January 2002,Official Report, 11 February 2002, columns 58–59W.

  The Department flies the Union flag on certain days of the year known as 'named days'. 'Named days' include St David's Day (in Wales), St George's Day (in England), St Andrew's Day (in Scotland), but not St Patrick's Day.

  The Union flag was flown on Coronation Day (2 June) as this was a 'named day'.

  Supreme Court
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on her policy on a separate new Supreme Court; and if she will make a statement. [57695]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government do not believe that a sufficient case has been made for the abolition of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords and its replacement by a separate new Supreme Court.

  Youth Court
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment the Department has made of the effect on the attendance of witnesses of youth court adjournments. [60327]

  Yvette Cooper
  A joint monitoring scheme with the Crown Prosecution Service and other criminal justice agencies began on 1 April in all magistrates courts. This collects data for all adjourned trials including youth cases, and includes the attendance of witnesses. The first quarterly figures will be available in July 2002. The Crown court also operates a similar monitoring scheme. The data will inform a research project, planned to start later this year, to investigate the effect of trial adjournments on witness attendance. It will include youth cases.

  Correspondence
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what targets her Department and the agencies it sponsors have for responding to correspondence(a) from hon. Members and (b) from members of the public; and what her Department's performance against such targets has been for each of the last 36 months in both categories. [31006]
  1195W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Pursuant to my reply of 26 March 2002,Official Report, columns 842–44, I regret that the information provided for Court Service HQ for I April 2001 to 31 December 2001 was incorrect. The 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 figure of 94 per cent.

  Percentage of correspondence from MPs answered within target

  Per cent.

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001

  LCD Headquarters

  88

  76

  73

  75

  Land Registry1

  100

  91

  93

  79

  Public Trust Office2

  99

  83

  78

  Public Guardianship Office

  52

  Public Record Office

  100

  100

  96

  100

  Court Service HQ3

  99

  93

  94

  74

  1 Figures for the Land Registry are for the calendar years 1998, 1999 and 2000.

  2 The Public Guardianship Office was created on I April 2001 when the Public Trust Office ceased to exist.

  3 The Court Service target in 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 was 20 working days and was tightened to 15 days from 1 April 2001. The percentage figure for 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 is against the 15 day target.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lakshmi Mittal
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer by the Foreign Secretary of 21 May 2002,Official Report, column 255, on meetings with embassy staff, what the overall benefit to the United Kingdom was of the Lakshmi Mittal Romanian steel contract. [60550]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Members for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) and for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 14 February 2002,Official Report, columns 610–12W.

  Nepal
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the discussions he held with the Nepalese Prime Minister on his recent visit to London; and what commitments were made regarding military assistance and exports. [60628]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 20 May 2002,Official Report, column 55W.

  The United Kingdom will be hosting a conference in London in June with the aim of bringing together the international community to agree a common strategy of support for Nepal. This will address security concerns as well as the political and developmental challenges facing Nepal.

  Royal Marriages
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with his counterparts in independent countries within the Commonwealth where the Queen is head of state about providing for(a) the monarch and (b) the heir to the throne to enter into a morganatic marriage. [57415]

  The Prime Minister
  None.
  1196W
  represented performance against the previous 20 working day target and not the current 15 working day target. The table for the "Percentage of correspondence from MPs answered within target" should have read:

TREASURY

  Aggregates Levy
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a review date has been set when the effectiveness of the Sustainability Fund established by the Aggregates Levy will be assessed. [59402]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund will be distributed through the Countryside Agency, English Heritage, English Nature, WRAP, DTI's Construction Innovation and Research Management Programme, DTLR's Planning Research programme, Clean Up programme and Freight Facilities Grant. It will run for two years initially, with £29.3 million available each year. The fund aims to reduce damage to the environment from extracting aggregates by reducing the demand for primary aggregates, promoting more environmentally friendly extraction and transport and reducing the effect of local aggregate extraction.

  Monitoring and review arrangements will be put in place to assess the impact of the fund and help inform future decisions on how the fund works, although there is no specific review date.

  Press Office
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [46811]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 10 April 2002]: It is not possible to separate out figures for the cost of running the press office. The number of press officers employed across this period remained broadly constant. Figures are available for the total running costs for the strategy and public inquiry unit and press office combined, which were as follows:
  1996–97: £694,419
  2000–01: £1,235,649.

  Monetary Policy Committee
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which members of(a) the Monetary Policy Committee and (b) his office had communications by (i) personal meeting, (ii) telephone call, (iii) e-mail and (iv) other forms of communications during the period 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2002; and how many such contacts occurred. [60258]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Chancellor meets with the Governor of the Bank of England regularly to discuss a wide range of issues. He does not have regular contact and there are no official meetings with other members of the MPC.

  Hospital Transport
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will bring forward proposals to exempt VAT paid by charities on fuel for(a) the transport of out-patients to hospital in voluntary sector-run patient transport vehicles and (b) for accident and emergency transport which would otherwise be undertaken by NHS ambulance trusts. [60621]

  John Healey
  Long-standing agreements with our European partners mean that the UK may not relieve road fuel from VAT. Accident and emergency transport is undertaken only by NHS ambulance trusts.

  VAT Exemptions (Voluntary Sector)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will bring forward proposals to exempt from VAT, projects whereby voluntary organisations in the care sector extend their building in order to take on new partnership arrangements with a local authority. [60622]

  John Healey
  Construction of new buildings and of annexes to existing buildings by charities, including those in the care sector, is already subject to a zero rate of VAT provided the building or annex is to be used for a relevant charitable purpose. The Government have no plans to extend VAT reliefs in this area.

  Construction Industry
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the Inland Revenue definition of a permanent place of work in respect of those employed in the construction industry. [60549]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Employees working in the construction industry are subject to the same tax rules as other employees. We have no plans to change this.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  IRA Ceasefire
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2002, Ref. 48766, on the IRA ceasefire, what activities(a) within and (b) outside the UK by the Provisional IRA he assessed in order to reach his determination on the level of threat to the ceasefire; and what activities he defines as constituting a breach of the ceasefire. [60259]
  1198W
  Jane Kennedy
  The Secretary of State keeps the status of all paramilitary ceasefires under constant review. Any judgment on the status of an organisation's ceasefire is made in the round in the light of all the available information and taking account of the views of security advisers.

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2002,Official Report, column 579W, on job advertisements, what the outcome was of the advertisements placed in each case; and how many more have joined his Department's payroll as a result. [50554]

  Jane Kennedy
  As a result of the advertisements, detailed in the answer of 4 March 2002,Official Report, column 579W, all the vacancies have been filled/are in the process of being filled by successful candidates. A total of 15 new starts have so far joined the Department's payroll.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating(a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals. [36230]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested is as follows:Statutory instrument—The Financial Investigations (Northern Ireland) 2001

  Purpose
  This amends Part IV of the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI9) ("the 1996 Order").
  The Order provides additional investigation powers to cover investigations into the extent or whereabouts or property held or transferred within the previous six years by or to a person who has benefited from conduct of a criminal nature. The Order also allows senior customs officers to apply for a financial investigator to be appointed and other powers to assist in the recovery of the proceeds of crime. The Order also extends a power to require information regarding money laundering and a power to require a solicitor to provide information as to whether a specified person was a client of his in respect of certain matters and about the nature of any transaction relating to them. The Order also extends the time limit for bringing summary proceedings for offences.

  Costs
  There will be a neutral impact on any public expenditure incurred on implementing the proposals, as they will be met within existing resources. It is anticipated that these proposals will result in additional revenue from the confiscation of the proceeds of crime. There will be a small impact on businesses, particularly solicitors. It is anticipated that no more than eight man hours would be required to meet an individual request from a financial investigator at £15 to £20 per hour, this suggests a maximum of £160 per request. As to the number of requests that are likely to be made on solicitors for information in a similar regime which already exists regarding banks 20 such requests have been made since 1998. There will be no financial impact on individuals.
  1199W
  Statutory Instrument—The Police (Northern Ireland) Order 2001

  Purpose
  The Order amends two provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. Section 41, which deals with trainees, is amended so that, before the Northern Ireland Policing Board is established, references to the Board are to he construed as references to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.
  Section 76 is amended so that draft orders under section 47(3) (renewal of temporary provisions on recruitment) and 54 (emblems and flags) are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure rather than the procedure provided for in section 6 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946.
  The Order also amends the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 to include police trainees and police reserve trainees in the provision which exempts police officers from the need for a firearm certificate.

  Costs
  No costs to either public funds, businesses or individuals.

  Statutory Instrument—The Criminal Injuries Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 2001

  Purpose
  This Order repeals the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988. It replaces the arrangements under that Order for paying compensation for criminal injuries. The key features of the new arrangements are:

  Organisation

  Subject consulted on

  Date consulted

  Childline

  Proposed Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order

  June 2001

  Children's Law Centre

  Proposed Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order

  June 2001

  Putting Children First

  Proposed Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order

  June 2001

  Youth Council for NI

  Proposed Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order

  June 2001

  NIACRO

  Community Safety

  2000

  Youth Council

  Community Safety

  2000

  DENI

  Community Safety

  2000

  Extern

  Community Safety

  2000

  Belfast Education and Library Board

  Community Safety

  2000

  Press Subscriptions
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the newspapers subscribed to(a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by his Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost. [52829]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested is as follows:

  Newspapers

  Number of copies per week

  Monday to Saturday

  Belfast Telegraph

  373

  Daily Express

  62

  Daily Mail

  101

  Daily Mirror

  68

  Daily Record

  5

  Daily Star

  45

  Daily Telegraph

  106

  Evening Standard

  11

  Financial Times

  53

  Guardian

  101

  Independent

  96

  Irish Independent

  71

  Irish News

  213

  Irish Star

  5

  Irish Times

  164

  1200W

  (a) the introduction of a new statutory scheme;

  (b) the establishment of a tariff of injuries to calculate the standard amount of compensation;

  (c) in certain cases payment for loss of earnings and special expenses;

  (d) the introduction of a new bereavement support payment;

  (e) provision for review of decisions;

  (f) the establishment of an independent appeals panel to hear appeals against decisions of the Secretary of State;

  (g) the introduction of funded support and assistance from a designated body to replace paid legal assistance.

  Costs
  It is anticipated that the proposed scheme will he capable of delivering fair compensation without incurring any additional costs to the Exchequer. It is likely that savings will accrue in the longer term, but, for the initial five years, additional funds for the compensation budget will be necessary while claims are settled under both the new and existing schemes. There are no costs to businesses and individuals.

  Young People
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what subjects and on which dates his Department has consulted organisations representing young people; and if he will list such organisations. [52496]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested is set out in the following table.

  Newspapers

  Number of copies per week

  Morning Star

  1

  News Letter

  212

  The Sun

  70

  The Times

  139

  Weekly newspapers

  Andersonstown News

  2

  An Phoblacht

  1

  Antrim Guardian

  4

  Antrim Times

  1

  Armaghdown Observer

  1

  Ballymena Guardian

  2

  Ballymena Times/Observer

  1

  Ballymoney and Moyle Times

  2

  Banbridge Chronicle

  3

  Carrick Advertiser

  2

  Coleraine Chronicle

  3

  Coleraine Times

  1

  County Down Spectator

  4

  Derry Sentinel

  1

  Derry Journal

  9

  Derry People (Donegal News)

  1

  Down Democrat

  1

  Down Recorder

  3

  Dromore Leader

  2

  Dungannon Observer

  1

  Fermanagh Herald

  2

  1201W

  Newspapers

  Number of copies per week

  Impartial Reporter

  2

  Larne Times

  3

  Lurgan Mail

  2

  Lurgan Portadown Examiner

  1

  Mid Ulster Mail

  2

  Mid-Ulster Observer

  3

  Mourne Observer

  2

  Newry Democrat

  2

  Newry Reporter

  3

  Newtownabbey Times

  3

  Newtownards Chronicle

  4

  Newtownards Spectator

  2

  North Belfast News

  2

  Northern Constitution

  2

  Outlook

  1

  Portadown Times

  3

  Roe Valley Sentinel

  2

  Strabane Weekly News

  2

  Strabane Chronicle

  2

  Tyrone Constitution

  2

  Tyrone Courier

  2

  Tyrone Times

  1

  Ulster Star

  4

  Ulster Gazette

  2

  Ulster Herald

  2

  Sunday newspapers

  Independent on Sunday

  5

  Ireland on Sunday

  2

  Mail on Sunday

  4

  News of the World

  4

  Observer

  6

  Sunday Business Post

  3

  Sunday Express

  5

  Sunday Independent

  4

  Sunday Life

  9

  Sunday Mirror

  5

  Sunday People

  5

  Sunday Telegraph

  5

  Sunday Times

  6

  Sunday Tribune

  5

  Sunday World

  9

  The annual cost is £63,528.55.

  Victims' Rights
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to protect the rights of victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland; which of the measures for victims' rights contained within the Belfast Agreement have been implemented; and what plans he has to protect victims' rights. [53690]

  Mr. Browne
  The Belfast agreement 1998 makes specific reference to the importance of acknowledging and addressing the suffering of victims of violence as a necessary element of reconciliation, and recognises the need to provide services that are supportive and sensitive to their individual needs.

  In November 1997 the Government had appointed Sir Kenneth Bloomfield as head of a Victims' Commission
  "to examine the feasibility of providing greater recognition for those who have become victims in the last 30 years as a consequence of events in Northern Ireland"
  and asked him to consult various organisations concerned with the welfare of the bereaved and disabled as well as with community groups, churches and political parties and to make recommendations.
  1202W
  Following publication of his report "We Will Remember Them" in April 1998, the Government appointed Adam Ingram as Minister for Victims and the Victims Liaison Unit was established to take forward the implementation of the report. Since then Government have committed more than £18.25 million to support victims of the Troubles, funding a number of initiatives including:
  £700k for a family trauma centre in Belfast which provides therapeutic service addressing the psychological needs of families and young people.
  £300k for an educational bursary pilot scheme-for individuals whose education was directly affect by the Troubles. 350 people received awards.
  £4 million to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund with a commitment of a further £1 million for 2003–04. The fund has put in place a number of schemes including:

  The small grants scheme

  The chronic pain management scheme

  The respite break scheme

  The wheelchair assessment scheme

  The amputee assessment scheme

  The education and training scheme

  £225k initially for a victim support grants scheme to assist community groups and voluntary organisations to take forward recommendations in the Bloomfield report; and more recently a further £750,000 to extend this small grants scheme.
  £6.1 million core funding for groups who support victims of the troubles.
  £500k for initiatives in Great Britain including £250k for the legacy project. This project aims to identify and meet the needs of victims of the troubles living in Great Britain.
  £1.5 million over the next three years for the development of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation.
  £1.5 million over the next two years to the Devolved Administration's Strategy Implementation Fund to help NI Departments fulfil their commitment to addressing victims' needs.
  It is now four years since the Bloomfield report was published and I replaced Adam Ingram as Victims Minister last June. I am currently reviewing the Government's strategic approach to the needs of victims in the context of the ongoing political process.
  Also, as part of the Belfast Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was given the responsibility of advising the Secretary of State on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the ECHR which, taken together with the ECHR, could constitute a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The agreement also says that the Bill should reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.
  The Commission consultation document "Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland" indicated that the rights of victims, both those arising from the conflict and more generally, should be included in a Bill of Rights. The Government have drawn no policy conclusions from the consultation document but will give careful consideration to the formal recommendations made by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission which we expect to receive in 2003.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Norther Ireland how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997. [59311]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information requested by the hon. Member is listed in the following table. It is not possible to attribute letters separately to the Minister of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from members of the public. The combined totals have been provided on a separate table.

  Letters received by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since June 1997

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  January

  —

  1,184

  627

  571

  346

  415

  February

  —

  1,053

  724

  1,073

  268

  423

  March

  —

  899

  939

  731

  255

  284

  April

  —

  841

  657

  757

  200

  251

  May

  —

  959

  446

  636

  196

  235

  June

  —

  1,082

  892

  458

  238

  —

  July

  1,143

  1,292

  1,092

  382

  258

  —

  August

  641

  1,118

  740

  265

  388

  —

  September

  1,091

  1,056

  902

  278

  191

  —

  October

  952

  712

  874

  296

  561

  —

  November

  736

  543

  969

  32I

  370

  —

  December

  643

  487

  375

  184

  198

  —

  Letters received by the Minister(s)1 of State for Northern Ireland since June 1997

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  January

  —

  106 + 12

  67 + 15

  56

  45

  60

  February

  —

  107 + 29

  53 + 22

  52

  38

  62

  March

  —

  110 + 28

  102 + 21

  68

  54

  58

  April

  —

  89 + 19

  70+ 19

  38

  39

  55

  May

  —

  102 + 22

  53 + 15

  42

  41

  39

  June

  —

  84 + 14

  88 + 21

  83

  38

  —

  July

  73 + 13

  92 + 24

  71 + 22

  61

  58

  —

  August

  49 + 21

  75 + 10

  56

  52

  43

  —

  September

  48 + 14

  81 + 27

  73

  40

  36

  —

  October

  61 + 21

  72 + 42

  94

  51

  57

  —

  November

  48 + 21

  61 +33

  97

  50

  81

  —

  December

  58 + 14

  57 + 20

  85

  30

  43

  —

  1From July 1997 until July 1999 there were two Ministers of State at the Northern Ireland Office.

  Target

  Level of achievement

  95 per cent. of telephone calls to the FreePhone number answered within 20 seconds

  100 per cent. answered within 20 seconds

  90 per cent. of complaints to be acknowledged by letter within three workings days

  77 per cent. acknowledged within three working days

  90 per cent. of complainants calling at the Office to be seen within 10 minutes of arrival

  100 per cent. seen within 10 minutes

  90 per cent. of complaints to be allocated action within three working days

  74 per cent. allocated action within three working days

  90 per cent. of complaints for fast tracking to he allocated action within one working day

  95 per cent. allocated action within one working day

  1204W

  Letters received by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since August 1999

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  January

  —

  —

  —

  8

  4

  38

  February

  —

  —

  —

  14

  7

  28

  March

  —

  —

  —

  19

  10

  35

  April

  —

  —

  —

  11

  3

  28

  May

  —

  —

  —

  7

  3

  23

  June

  —

  —

  —

  9

  12

  —

  July

  —

  —

  —

  4

  25

  —

  August

  —

  —

  21

  8

  30

  —

  September

  —

  —

  18

  3

  26

  —

  October

  —

  —

  13

  5

  24

  —

  November

  —

  —

  9

  7

  21

  —

  December

  —

  —

  3

  3

  18

  —

  Letters received by the Minister(s) of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from members of the public

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  January

  —

  18

  14

  13

  14

  27

  February

  —

  75

  16

  7

  9

  14

  March

  —

  124

  19

  7

  6

  7

  April

  —

  20

  13

  21

  9

  10

  May

  —

  27

  5

  16

  3

  —

  June

  —

  10

  9

  4

  10

  —

  July

  20

  19

  7

  22

  7

  —

  August

  7

  11

  9

  2

  19

  —

  September

  10

  5

  7

  11

  7

  —

  October

  13

  17

  14

  6

  27

  —

  November

  14

  11

  11

  12

  15

  —

  December

  10

  6

  4

  4

  8

  —

  Police Ombudsman
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets have been drawn up by the police ombudsman for the number of days taken to complete each stage of the complaints process; and what his assessment is of progress made towards meeting these goals. [43891]

  Jane Kennedy
  The police ombudsman advises that the targets for dealing with complaints are contained in the police ombudsman's corporate statement and annual business plan 2001–02. The targets are reproduced in the table and include the current levels of achievement. In a number of categories the process for measuring the level of achievement against target is currently at the development stage and therefore these figures are not yet available.
  1205W

  Target

  Level of achievement

  90 per cent, of complaints to be referred for Informal Resolution within three working days of consent being given

  78 per cent, referred within three working days of consent being given

  90 per cent, of complainants to be kept informed of progress of Informal Resolution within seven weeks

  Target deemed inappropriate—progress of Informal Resolution is within control of the police

  90 per cent, of complainants to be contacted within three working days of complaint being allocated

  Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available

  90 per cent, of statements from complainants to be taken within 21 days of complaint being allocated

  Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available

  95 per cent, of complainants to be kept informed of progress at least every four weeks

  Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available

  95 per cent, of police officers to be kept informed of progress at key stages of the investigation

  Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available

  95 per cent, of emergency incident calls from the police to be responded to 24 hours a day

  70 per cent, of arrivals at emergency incident locations to within three hours at any time (1.5 hours in Greater Belfast)

  70 per cent, of investigations completed by the office not to exceed 110 working days

  Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will break down the number of complaints received by the police ombudsman by(a) perceived community origin, (b) gender and (c) other recorded categories of complainant. [43890]

  Jane Kennedy
  The police ombudsman advises that a monitoring form is issued to all complainants asking a number of questions. The answer provided is based on a return of monitoring forms from 2,731 complainants during 2001–02.

  (a) Community background of complainants

  Community background

  Number

  Total

  Percentage of Those with known community background

  Catholic

  208

  8

  40

  Church of Ireland

  117

  4

  22

  Presbyterian

  118

  4

  22

  Methodist

  26

  1

  5

  Other religion

  40

  1

  8

  No religion

  15

  1

  3

  Unknown

  2,207

  81

  —

  Total

  2,731

  100

  100

  (b) Gender of complainants

  Gender

  Number

  Percentage

  Percentage of those with known gender

  Male Female Unknown

  1,981 694 56

  73 25 2

  74 26

  Total

  2,731

  100

  100

  1206W

  (c) Age of complainants

  Age group

  Number

  Percentage

  Percentage of those with known ages

  16–20

  253

  9

  20

  21–30

  423

  15

  33

  31–40

  328

  12

  25

  41–50

  186

  7

  14

  51–60

  74

  3

  6

  60+

  29

  1

  2

  Unknown

  1,438

  53

  —

  Total

  2,731

  100

  100

  Marital status of complainants 2001–02

  Marital status

  Number

  Percentage

  Percentage of those with known marital status

  Married

  184

  1

  35

  Single

  194

  1

  37

  Separated

  63

  2

  12

  Widowed

  12

  0

  2

  Divorced

  48

  2

  9

  Co-habiting

  26

  1

  5

  Unknown

  2,204

  81

  —

  Total

  2,731

  100

  100

  Occupational status of complainants 2001–02

  Occupational staus

  Numebr

  Percentage

  Percentage of those with known occupational status

  Working full-time

  138

  5

  26

  Working part-time

  37

  1

  7

  Unemployed

  122

  5

  23

  Student

  14

  1

  3

  Self-employed

  60

  2

  11

  Retired

  26

  1

  5

  Other

  7

  0

  1

  1207W

  Occupational status of complainants 2001–02

  Occupational status

  Number

  Percentage of those with known occupational status

  Permanently sick

  85

  3

  16

  Looking after family

  40

  1

  8

  Unknown

  2,202

  81

  —

  Total

  2,731

  100

  100

  Ethnic origin of complainants 2001–02

  Ethnic origin

  Number

  Percentage

  Percentage of those with known ethnic origin

  White

  516

  19

  99

  Indian

  1

  0

  0

  Pakistani

  2

  0

  0

  Mixed

  1

  0

  0

  Other

  5

  0

  1

  Unknown

  2,206

  81

  —

  Total

  2,731

  100

  100

  Disability of complainants 2001–02

  Disability

  Number

  Percentage

  Percentage of those known

  Yes

  159

  6

  19

  No

  678

  25

  81

  Unknown

  1,894

  69

  —

  Total

  2,731

  100

  100

HEALTH

  Patient Records
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of(a) primary care and (b) hospital trusts have implemented electronic patient record systems. [47000]

  Ms Blears
  Currently 98 per cent. of general practitioners' practices are computerised and linked to a national electronic network to support email communications and web browsing. Most of them operate clinical systems as part of their practice computerisation and an electronic patient record (EPR) will be part of the system. The level of detail and functionality varies significantly from practice to practice. In the majority of cases at present it will cover the electronic storage of basic patient and administrative details, medication and recent consultations with the GP.

  At present six trusts have complete hospital wide EPR systems that meet the functionality described under level 3. However many more have some applications in place, for example results reporting and order communications. In addition some trusts have chosen to implement elements of EPR beyond level 3 with functionality around decision support and knowledge management or picture archiving and communications systems to support improved patient care.

  That is why we are taking action by introducing a new national programme and implementation plan for information technology (IT) in the National Health Service. This will significantly step up the pace of getting
  1208W
  modern IT in place to support frontline patient care and also ensure that IT both drives change and gets the best from the extra resources the NHS is now getting.

  The key points from the programme are:
  a new national IT programme director who will be responsible for the implementation of this programme;
  stringent national standards for data and IT in the NHS;
  an improved partnership with the IT industry and healthcare IT suppliers to increase the IT capacity for the NHS;
  a new procurement strategy to accelerate the impact of IT across the NHS
  better central management which will include a ministerial taskforce chaired by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, The Lord Hunt of Kingsheath, to ensure the advice and involvement of key healthcare professional and representative groups.
  The intention has always been to have a first generation of electronic records in use across the NHS from 2005. This will be the starting point from which the NHS can begin to apply the electronic record as a clinical tool in diagnosis, treatment, interventions and healthcare. By 2008, as indicated in "Delivering the NHS Plan", we will expect to see all the advanced applications and functionality of electronic patient records in all primary care trusts and trusts.

  Mount Vernon Hospital
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with the Eastern Region Health Authority and the London NHS Region about the future of services at Mount Vernon Hospital; [48900]

  (2) how many meetings he has had with NHS agencies about services provided at the Mount Vernon Patient Records—Hospital. [48904]

  Mr. Hutton
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has not formally met with National Health Service agencies or regional offices. I have been made aware of the issues at my regular meetings with the director for London's directorate of health and social care. Also my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health has had regular meetings with the director for the midlands and east of England on this issue.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in replying to the letter from the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield to him dated 1 October 2001. [51579]

  Ms Blears
  I regret the delay was due to an administrative oversight.

  Primary Care Premises
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of primary care premises are over 30 years old. [53366]

  Mr. Lammy
  The data held centrally are those from surveys of health centres and general practitioner (GP) premises carried out by district valuers in 1999. These data indicate that some 52 per cent. of premises were originally constructed over 30 years ago.
  1209W
  This proportion will be reduce as new premises are constructed under the NHS Plan.

  Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Standing Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK 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. [55369]

  Mr. Lammy
  The standing committee on medicinal products for human use is a regulatory committee which assists the European Commission (EC) in exercising its powers of implementation and facilitates the adoption of draft measures in the field of medicinal products for human use. It also adopts decisions on centralised marketing authorisation applications and other regulatory actions referred to it by the European medicines evaluation agency (EMEA). It operates mainly by written procedures as set out in legislation. It meets only exceptionally, either on the chairman's initiative or at the reasoned request of the representative of a member state. The committee last met on 23 March 2000. The UK is represented by the chief executive of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) or his deputy and, as MCA is a trading fund of the Department, no cost to public funds is generally incurred in supporting the committee's work.

  Together with member states, the EC is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to
  "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
  As an obligation under this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report of the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Corn (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Pharmaceutical Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK 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. [55371]

  Mr. Lammy
  The pharmaceutical committee fulfils a useful role in that it provides a forum for European Union member states to exchange views and information. Its task 1210W
  is to assist the European Commission (EC) and to examine:
  any question relating to the application of directives on proprietary medicinal products which are brought up by its chairman—either on his initiative or at the request of the representative of a member state;
  any other question in the field of proprietary medicinal products brought up by its chairman—either on his initiative or at the request of the representative of a member state.
  The EC consults the committee when preparing proposals for, or amendments to, directives in the field of proprietary medicinal products. During 2001 the committee met on 5 April, 5 July and 16 November, and in 2002 it met on 14 May. The pharmaceutical committee network on bioterrorism was an ad hoc group which met twice, on 23 January 2002 and 20 February 2002. No further meetings of the network are planned.

  The UK is represented jointly by two senior public health officials from the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Department. The EC reimburses travel and subsistence costs for one delegate from each member state. The annual cost of the committee's work to public funds varies according to the number of meetings held and make-up of the UK representation. The MCA provides the main Government support for the work of the committee and usually represents the UK. As the MCA is a trading fund of the Department, this incurs no cost to public funds. If a Department official attends with the MCA delegation, his/her expenses will be borne out of public funds. This has happened twice in the last 12 months and the amount of travel and subsistence involved was in the region of £860.00.

  Information about associated costs to public funds attributable to the Department, other than travel and subsistence, is not readily available and would incur disproportionate cost to identify.

  The committee considers a wide range of issues relating to medicines regulatory matters and a summary of its discussions is put on the EC's website after each meeting. Further details and documents are available from the EC on request.

  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 the prevention of drug dependence in the framework of the action plans 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. [57479]

  Ms Blears
  The EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence was mandated under Article 5 of Decision 102/97/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (amended under Article 4 of Decision 521/2001/EC). The committee assisted the Commission in taking forward the programme by providing opinions on proposed measures by the Commission. It is due to terminate with the introduction of the new EU action programme on public health.
  1211W
  The committee met once in the last year, in January 2002. The United Kingdom is normally represented by an official from the Department.

  Costs of the committee to public funds are minimal. Meetings last one day and the Commission pays the travel costs of nominated representatives. UK Departments are required to pay subsistence and UK travel costs.

  The financial framework for implementation of the Community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002, is euro 5.38 million.

  The Commission has now decided which projects it will fund. This list will be published on the Department's website.

  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/EC, 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 Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com [2001] 783 Final).

  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/index en.html.

  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 health monitoring 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. [57476]

  Ms Blears
  The EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health monitoring was mandated under Article 5 of Decision 1400/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. The committee assisted the Commission in taking forward the programme by providing opinions on proposed measures by the Commission. It is due to terminate with the introduction of the new EU action programme on public health. The EU health monitoring programme is focused on the establishment of a consistent, permanent and coherent community health monitoring system.

  The committee met on two occasions in the last 12 months. One UK official from the Department attended the October 2001 and February 2002 meetings.

  Domestic travel and subsistence claims paid from public funds were £348. The Commission reimbursed international travel costs.
  1212W
  Full details of the health monitoring work programme—including details of all projects funded between 1998 and 2001—are presented on Europa (the EU on-line website: http://europa.eu.int/index—en.htm).

  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/EC, to
  "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  NHS Dentistry
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions he is making for the future expansion of NHS dentistry. [55574]

  Mr. Lammy
  Over the last 18 months we have spent £100 million on modernising National Health Service dentistry. £10 million of this was for the Dental Care Development Fund and the Dentistry Action Plan Fund to support local plans to improve access. This money enables health authorities to assist dentists seeking to set up new practices and to expand and modernise existing ones.

  During 2001 the Chief Dental Officer led a working group to look at "Options for Change" to modernise NHS dentistry building on the Government's strategy document "Modernising NHS dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan", published in September 2000.

  This group has completed its deliberations and the Government announced on 25 April that we intend to move forward plans to reform NHS dentistry developed by the "Options for Change" group.

  Haemophilia
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will instigate an investigation into the change of treatment for haemophilia patients in the 1970s from a cryoprecipitate treatment originating from a single donor to an unheated treatment derived from large donor pools; [56024]

  (2) what plans he has had to hold a public inquiry into how haemophiliac patients in the 1980s contracted hepatitis C and the HIV virus. [56026]

  Ms Blears
  There are no plans to hold a public inquiry or to investigate haemophilia treatment practices in the 1970s.

  We understand that treatment with cryoprecipitate carried a number of disadvantages compared to pooled clotting factors. It required the patient to be treated in hospital, it could not be given to children, it was unsterilised and carried the risk of a number of side effects.

  Pooled plasma products did not carry these disadvantages and were therefore keenly received by patients and clinicians. It was not until the mid to late

  1213W
  1980s that the risks from hepatitis C were fully understood by which time viral inactivation of pooled plasma products had been introduced.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 14 May 2002 to the hon. Member for Falkirk East (Mr. Connarty),Official Report, column 618W, on haemophilia, if he will make a statement on the length of time the Government are taking to make a decision on whether to make recombinant clotting factors available to all haemophiliacs. [58848]

  Ms Blears
  We have nothing further to add to our earlier response. We are still considering the provision of recombinant clotting factors for all haemophilia patients in England and will make a decision later this year.

  Operating Instruments
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) upon whose recommendation, and for what reasons, disposable instruments were introduced for use in hospital operating theatres in England; what tests were carried out on the new disposable instruments; from which manufacturers the disposable instruments were sourced; what procedures were established to monitor the introduction and use of the instruments; and if he will make a statement; [56502]

  (2) for what reasons deaths and adverse incidents resulting from the use of disposable operating instruments do not have to be reported; how many deaths have been reported and over what period; if complications resulting from use of disposable instruments have been related to specific manufacturers; and if he will make a statement; [56504]

  (3) on what date a surgeon first complained to the authorities about the quality of the newly introduced disposable operating instruments; and how many complaints have been made since then; [56503]

  (4) what steps his Department has taken to identify and contact parents and relatives of patients who have suffered adverse incidents in hospital operating theatres as a result of the use of disposable instruments who were not informed of their use at the time of the operations; and if he will make a statement. [56505]

  Mr. Lammy
  The move to single use instruments for tonsil and adenoid surgery was part of the Department's strategy to reduce the risk of transmitting variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD) through surgical instruments. This was in accordance with advice received from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC).

  When the tenders for the contract were returned, a visual inspection of the instruments offered by all suppliers was undertaken. Once specific suppliers had been short-listed, their products were sent out to randomly selected ear, nose and throat surgeons to be used during operations. After each operation, the surgeons were asked to complete an evaluation form. The results of this evaluation were used during the selection of the successful suppliers.
  1214W
  There are five companies on the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency's framework agreement for single use instruments. They are:

  Meditech Systems Ltd

  B=H Surgical Instrument Makers

  Rocialle Medical Ltd.

  Trust Sterile Services

  Axis Medical Ltd

  We believe that there are other manufacturers of single use instruments who supplied products direct to NHS trusts, outside the Agency's framework agreement.

  In October 2001, the Department sent a questionnaire to all members of the British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists to ask their opinion of the single use instruments. As a result of the comments made, minor alterations were made to the product specification of some products, such as mouth gags.

  The medical devices regulations require device manufacturers to demonstrate that their devices meet essential safety requirements prior to placing them on the market. The safety and performance of devices in service is monitored by a mandatory vigilance system. Manufacturers are obliged to inform the competent authority (in the UK this is the Medical Devices Agency (MDA)) when an incident has occurred, involving their device, which may have caused a death or serious injury or which has the potential to cause death or serious injury.

  In addition, the MDA also operates a voluntary user reporting system for users to report any adverse incident involving a medical device. The MDA first received an adverse incident report from a user in April 2001. Since then, the MDA has received reports of incidents concerning all the manufacturers listed above. The MDA has identified from its adverse incident database a total of 125 reports in relation to non-powered instruments, (108 prior to December 2001). 24 reports have also been received relating to powered instruments (diathermy). Each incident has been investigated in conjunction with the device manufacturers and appropriate action taken. One death has been formally reported to the MDA. We are aware of a second, which is presently under investigation.

  There are possible risks in all surgical procedures. Therefore, before each operation, the clinician should explain the risks involved and any alternative treatment, to allow the patient or their family to give informed consent to the surgery. Tonsil and adenoid surgery is a relatively low risk operation, but where adverse incidents occur they are treated on a case by case basis by the NHS trust where the operation took place. Patients who have had their tonsils removed with single use instruments should not be concerned of any long-term effects following the surgery.

  Food Allergies
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were recorded as suffering from food allergies in each of the last five years. [56909]

  Ms Blears
  Data are not available for the prevalence of food allergy by individual year. The number of individuals suffering allergic reactions to food in the developed countries of the western world appears to be
  1215W
  on the increase, which is in line with increases seen in other atopic diseases such as hay fever and asthma. In the UK general population, the calculated prevalence of adverse reactions to food (including food allergy) is less than 2 per cent.

  Vaccines
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding the pneumococcal vaccine. [56917]

  Ms Blears
  The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) has identified issues relating to the development of policies for the future use of pneumococcal vaccines, which they are addressing. Studies on the interaction between pneumococcal vaccine and the current childhood immunisation programme are under way. The JCVI will review these when they are complete.

  Brushing for Life Campaign
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 17 April,Official Report, column 1019W, what the cost per tube was of toothpaste distributed; what areas of the country were targeted for the project; and what evaluation of the scheme has taken place. [57091]

  Mr. Lammy
  The total cost of each pack provided under the scheme is less than £1. The exact price is commercially sensitive information.

  £1 million has been set aside for the project. It initially covered the 21 health authorities with the highest levels of dental decay—11 in the North, 5 in Yorkshire and 5 in London—and also all areas not in receipt of fluoridated water where there are Sure Start schemes. However, we have since added 5 more in the North, 3 in Yorkshire and 2 in Devon, bringing the total health authorities benefiting from this scheme to 31.

  The Department has commissioned The Guys, Kings and St. Thomas Dental School to evaluate the scheme, which is due to run for 3 years.

  Bed Blocking
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to address bed blocking in the Hampshire Health Authority; how many cases there have been in 2002; how many were from rural areas of Hampshire; and if he will make a statement. [57346]

  Jacqui Smith
  Health and local authorities are working together to take action to improve the situation. In October 2001, additional funding of £300 million was announced to tackle this problem. In 2002–02, Hampshire received an additional £2.436 million from this money. The allocation for 2002–03 is £5.160 million.

  All information, collected centrally, on delayed discharge in December 2001, quarter 3 of 2002–02, has been placed in the Library. This is the most recent period for which figures are currently available.

  National School Fruit Scheme
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of apples and pears supplied to the pilots for the National School Fruit Scheme in(a) autumn 2000 and (b) autumn 2001 were of UK origin; and if he will list the other countries of origin of the apples and pears. [57167]

  Jacqui Smith
  In Autumn 2000 all apples and pears supplied to the original national school fruit scheme pilots were from UK. In Autumn 2001 almost all apples and most pears supplied to a much larger number of pilot sites were from UK. Detailed information on other countries or origin for this period is not held centrally.

  Clinician Connect
  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS health authorities whose entire computer network(a) supports and (b) does not support Clinician Connect. [58644]

  Mr. Lammy
  Clinician Connect is the programme managed by the National Health Service information authority for the NHS in England to provide all NHS Trust staff in England with email and browser facilities using the NHS national network, NHSnet.

  All health authorities are connected to the NHSnet, and are therefore able to share information with those clinicians in Trusts who have access to facilities on the network. An exercise is currently under way to monitor progress with Clinician Connect; as at 17 May 2002, 61 Trusts had achieved 100 per cent. coverage for their staff.

  Administration of the NHS in Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

  General Practitioners
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average number of patients served by each general practitioner in(a) the Weston Area Health Trust, (b) the Avon Health Authority and (c) England. [58821]

  Ms Blears
  Information on general practitioners is collected and held by primary care trust (or their predecessor primary care groups and health authorities) rather than by National Health Service trust. In 2001 average list sizes were:(a) North Somerset Primary Care Group—1,700; (b) Avon Health Authority—1,705; (c) England—1,841.

  Departmental Policies (Wycombe)
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the activities pursued by his Department that have had a particular impact on the Wycombe constituency since 7 June 2001. [58624]

  Ms Blears
  This information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  The Departmental Report for the Department sets out the aims and objectives for the Department, and describes the main activities which supports them. It covers different business areas for which the Department is responsible: public health, the National Health Service, social care and departmental management. It sets out

  1217W
  resources committed to each, the results that are being achieved and the priorities for the future. The 2001 report can be found on the following website: hhtp:// www.doh.gov.uk/dohreport/report 2001.

  The 2002 Departmental Report will be published shortly.

  Treatment Costs
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost has been of treating a patient(a) in a GP surgery and (b) through NHS Direct in the last 12 months. [58668]

  Mr. Lammy
  NHS Direct does not treat patients. The service provides advice to callers on a range of issues including health scares, appropriate access to healthcare, health information and self care.

  The average cost of a call to NHS Direct in 2001–02 was about £17.92 although this is expected to fall significantly in the future as call volumes rise. The National Audit Office have found that half of callers are directed to forms of care they would not have chosen and that this tends to be care of a lower level and cost of intervention. More than half of NHS Direct costs are saved in this way.

  General practitioners provide a range of services for the treatment of patients. The latest survey estimated data available (2000–01) suggest that a general practitioner consultation costs around £14.

  Teenage Pregnancy
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the media campaign aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy in each year since 2000–01. [58766]

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  South-east region

  131,393

  119,009

  119,422

  111,169

  98,725

  NHS trusts

  Eastbourne and County Healthcare

  3,441

  3,350

  3,559

  2,576

  2,756

  Eastbourne Hospitals

  1,207

  1,067

  1,255

  1,455

  1,290

  Hastings and Rother

  2,426

  2,328

  2,462

  1,608

  2,006

  South Downs Health

  6,726

  6,758

  5,237

  2,270

  2,620

  Source:

  Form KT23, Department of Health, Statistics Division (SD3G)

  Multiple Sclerosis Care
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the centres at which the drugs Avonex, Betaferon, Copaxone and Rebif will be provided to multiple sclerosis (MS) patients; and how many MS patients are waiting to be assessed for treatment with these drugs. [59212]

  Mr. Lammy
  It has been estimated that up to 9,000 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in England and Wales may be eligible to receive treatment under the risk-sharing scheme, which started on 6 May 2002. Some centres have now started prescribing under the scheme, though the guidance in HSC 2002–04 recognises that appropriate national health service infrastructure may not yet be in place in some localities. It may take 18 months or longer before all potentially eligible patients are assessed under
  1218W
  Jacqui Smith
  The teenage pregnancy national media campaign consists of press and radio adverts, underpinned by public relations and partnership work. Expenditure was £2.2 million in 2000–01 and £2.5 million in 2001–02. We expect investment this year to be at least £2.5 million.

  Operating Theatres
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the correlation between operating theatre space and staffing levels in(a) Somerset and (b) Somerset and Dorset strategic health authority. [59353]

  Ms Blears
  The Department does not collect this information.

  Chiropody/Podiatry Services
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many new chiropody/podiatry episodes of care were begun in each of the last five years in(a) the south-east region (b) East Sussex, Brighton and Hove and (c) Eastbourne; [59215]

  (2) how many patients were discharged from NHS chiropody/podiatry lists in Eastbourne in each of the last five years. [59214]

  Ms Blears
  Information about the number of patients discharged from national health service chiropody/ podiatry lists in Eastbourne is not available centrally.

  Information about the number of new chiropody/ podiatry episodes of care for the last five years in the south-east region and for those NHS trusts which provide a chiropody service within the East Sussex, Brighton and Hove health authority, which covers Eastbourne, is shown in the table.

  the scheme. The list of locally agreed prescribing centres is not yet finalised. The scheme co-ordinator, whose appointment will shortly be announced, will collect information on progress and activity under the scheme, but as yet such details are not available centrally.

  Pesticide Poisoning
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (I) how many cases have been recorded by the National Poisons Information Service since 1996 of lindane poisoning in children up to 14 years of age; what the level of exposure was in each case; and whether these cases were(a) fatal lindane poisonings, (b) non-fatal, hospitalised lindane poisonings and (c) non-hospitalised lindane poisonings; [59635]
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  (2) if he will produce an annual report of confirmed and suspected pesticide poisonings recorded by regional centres of the National Poisons Information Service, aggregated with those recorded by the (a) Health and Safety Executive's Pesticide Incident Appraisal Panel and (b) Pesticides Safety Directorate; [59636]

  (3) how many inquiries have been received by the National Poisons Information Service since 1996 regarding lindane. [59637]

  Ms Blears
  Since 1996 the national poisons information service (NPIS) has received 376 inquiries from national health service health care professionals about lindane poisoning, of which 178 reported lindane poisoning in children up to 14 years of age. In nearly all cases the individuals were asymptomatic or suffered only mild transient symptoms.

  The NPIS centres only record data related to the inquiries they receive and the extent and format of the data held varies from centre to centre. They do not necessarily receive inquiries in every case and will only rarely be provided with information about the level of exposure. NPIS systems are not designed to follow up poisoning incidents and centres can never be certain whether the condition reported at the time of the inquiry was related to the agent implicated nor whether the clinical condition improved or deteriorated thereafter.

  The annual reports of the Health and Safety Executive's Pesticide Incident Appraisal Panel (PIAP) collate reports made to enforcing authorities (Health and Safety Executive and local authorities) which have been investigated. The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) does not separately record suspected incidents of exposure to pesticides.

  The information available from NPIS and PIAP reflect the different objectives of the schemes and are thus difficult to aggregate. The Advisory Committee on Pesticides is considering approaches to assessing information on pesticide-related ill health.

  Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the Cancer Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood. [59590]

  Ms Blears
  The recommendations of the review steering group were made on 29 May 2002 to the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in its capacity as host health authority for the Mount Vernon Cancer Network. The health authority will consider the Mount Vernon Long-Term Cancer Review Report in the context of its acute services review which is not yet completed.

  The recommendations are:

  The review group's recommendation is that a new integrated cancer centre be established on the site of a new hospital in Hertfordshire. This would include the clinical specification set out in the report (pages 27–32) and an ambulatory radiotherapy unit on the Mount Vernon site. The centre should also have a major research and education facility. This is strongly recommended as the preferred option of the review group.
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  In the interim period before this new hospital is built, it is absolutely essential that there is significant investment on the Mount Vernon site to maintain and develop the excellent services it currently provides. The review group notes that the case for such investment has been accepted by the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire StHA.

  The group accepts that Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire StHA may not be able to commit itself to the creation of a new hospital in Hertfordshire and reluctantly recognises that there has to be a reserve position. In these circumstances it would accept the need for the StHA to consider an integrated cancer centre on either the Watford General, Hemel Hempstead or Queen Elizabeth II DGH sites. This is solely on the condition that the full range of services (pages 27–32) to complement an integrated cancer centre is available on the selected site.

  The steering group is unable to recommend development of the future cancer centre on the Mount Vernon site as it is not consistent with the principles underlying the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire StHA acute services review, nor in line with the cancer and acute service strategies in this part of North West London and runs the risk of destabilising local services. In reaching this recommendation, the group was conscious of the esteem in which Mount Vernon is held and the loyalty of its staff. The group was aware of the impact on research in the interim period.

  Staff and press briefings were held on 29 May 2002 with an MP briefing scheduled for 12 June 2002 following the Whitsun recess.

  Mental Health
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken within primary care trust areas to ensure that sufficient information is given to mental health service users to enable them to make informed choices before drugs are prescribed and throughout treatment. [60565]

  Jacqui Smith
  Empowering patients to take an active role in their care is a key theme in the NHS Plan. We know that people are more likely to take their medicines correctly when they understand and agree with their treatment, and have been active partners in prescribing decisions. The NHS Plan set a target for all primary care trusts to have schemes in place so that people get more help from pharmacists in using their medicines by 2004. We are also investing in medicines management services including through the medicines management collaborative hosted by the national prescribing centre.

  These actions are underscored by standards two and three of the national service framework for mental health and by targets set for those with severe mental illness in the service and financial framework for 2001–02 and the priorities and planning framework for 2002–03; they set out how copies of care plans should be provided for patients. The task force on medicines partnership, established in January 2002, also aims to improve the use of medicines in the National Health Service by involving patients as partners in prescribing decisions and supporting them in medicine-taking.

  In addition, all National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisals and guidance have sections designed for patients themselves to provide up to date

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  information on the management of their conditions to help them make informed choices about their treatment. Information about this is available from the NICE website at: www.nice.org.uk

  Noise
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made as to the impact on(a) children and (b) adults of being chronically exposed to loud noise. [60659]

  Ms Blears
  As part of a joint programme with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Health commissioned a research programme designed to study the non-auditory health effects of noise.

  Five research projects were funded under this programme, three of which concentrated on the non-auditory effects of noise on children at school and in the home, one concentrated on the effects of occupational noise and the fifth concentrated on noise and insomnia.

  The five projects have recently completed and reported, and the results of the research will be discussed with colleagues from other Departments later in the year.

  Full details of the study are available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hef/airpol/ aipolh.htm.

  Strokes
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of extra spending announced for the NHS in the recent Budget will be allocated for treatment of and research into strokes. [60128]

  Jacqui Smith
  As a result of the Budget, the national health service in England will receive an annual average real-terms growth in resources of 7.4 per cent. for the five years from 2003–04 to 2007–08. Decisions about allocation of this increased funding will be announced later this year.

  The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease. The MRC spent £3.4 million on stroke research in 2000–01 and does not anticipate a major change to this level of support.

  Departmental Polices (Hull, North)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact his Department's policies have had on the Kingston upon Hull, North constituency since 1997. [60548]

  Jacqui Smith
  Detailed information on the impact of Department's policies nationally is set out in the Department's annual reports. A copy of the most recent report "Department of Health—Government Expenditure Plans 2001–02" is available in Library and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/ dhreport

  The impact of policies is not examined by constituency.

  Smallpox
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis his Department has undertaken of the risks of passing Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease to recipients of a smallpox vaccine made from bovine cell culture. [44007]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 26 March 2002]: We are not aware that the manufacture of any smallpox vaccine prepared in the past utilised virus culture in bovine cell lines.

  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 minimising the risk of transmitting animal spongiform encephalopathy agents via human and veterinary medicinal products.

  Inventures
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial targets have been set for Inventures. [50805]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 18 April 2002]: The Department sets NHS Estates key tasks and targets on an annual basis. These targets are agreed with Ministers. One of these targets requires the agency (including lnventures) to achieve a cumulative operating surplus on ordinary activities before interest and dividends of at least 0.6 per cent. of the value of sales during the period from 1 April 1999 to March 2003.

  Inventures is essentially a consultancy business employing approximately 270 staff with an annual turnover of approximately £15 million. It provides a wide variety of property services including planning, financing, procuring and managing all aspects of healthcare environment and estates. Its primary customers are the Department of Health and national health service trusts.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of cardiac care units in the NHS operate upper age limits or other restrictions in accessing heart by-pass operations on grounds of age; and what percentage of units have age-related policies for treatment of thrombosis. [55318]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 May 2002]: It is an underlying principle of national health service care that access to services is based on clinical need alone. Cardiac care units have been informed that it is unacceptable to limit access on the basis of age. We are not aware of any NHS cardiac care unit or other NHS cardiac service that currently restricts access to its services on the basis of age.

  Food Supplements
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the incorporation of EU directives on food supplements and herbal medicines into UK law; and what assessment he
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  has made of the impact on the over the counter availability of food supplements and herbal medicines following the incorporation into UK law of the EU directives. [57973]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 22 May 2002]: The food supplements directive must be transposed into UK law by the last day of the month, one year after the date of entry into force of the Directive.

  The Directive will not immediately outlaw any products already on the UK market. Lists of permitted vitamin and mineral sources remain open, pending safety assessments for additional substances. The Government welcomes the amendment to Article 4(6)(b) which was recently adopted by the European Parliament and which extends the time for dossier submission from 18 to 36 months after the Directive comes into force. The Directive gives Member States the opportunity to allow continued sale of products containing vitamin and mineral sources not yet on the permitted list for up to seven years after the Directive comes into force, pending safety assessment of these sources. When implementing the Directive, the Government intends to take full advantage of this flexibility.

  Incorporation into United Kingdom law of the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products will be subject to the outcome of European negotiations. On the basis of the formal proposals published in January 2002 by the European Commission, we anticipate that consumers will have continuing access to a wide range of traditional herbal remedies sold over the counter.

  Features of the proposed Directive which might, in principle, inhibit availability are the requirements relating to safety and quality and the definition of traditional use. However, our assessment is that the introduction of the proposed safety and quality standards is necessary for effective public health protection and the maintenance of public confidence in the sector. This in turn will ultimately affect the strength of public demand for herbal remedies. The proposed standards are ones which are already successfully met by many manufacturers in UK and elsewhere of traditional herbal remedies.

  As to the definition of traditional use, we take the view that a large number of unlicensed herbal remedies currently on the market, and sold legally under Section 12(2) of the Medicines Act, 1968, have a strong basis in tradition and so should be able to satisfy the requirement to demonstrate traditional usage. This assessment is based, for example, on the extensive herbal literature covering various herbal traditions, on the activities of herbalists over many decades in supplying herbal medicinal products to individual patients following consultation, and on the existence of large numbers of long-standing licensed herbal remedies in the UK and elsewhere.

  It will not be possible to predict for some time to come the full extent to which herbal remedies will be sold under this Directive. One important issue is that there are likely to be significant numbers of products with a clear basis in tradition and containing herbal ingredients which, depending on the presentation of the company's specific product, may legally be sold either as medicines or in another regulatory product category such as food, cosmetic or general consumer product. There may
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  therefore be options for companies in relation to many such products as to which regulatory route would be most advantageous.

  The Medicines Control Agency is holding a public consultation on the proposed Directive including its likely regulatory impact. The consultation document (MLX 283) can be viewed on the Agency's website www.mca.gov.uk. The consultation period closes on 21 June 2002.

  Food Standards (Mobile Retailers)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 26 April 2002,Official Report, column 519W, on food standards (mobile retailers), what extra resources the Government are planning to give local authority environmental health inspectors in the enforcement of food hygiene standards of mobile retailers and takeaway establishments. [59547]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 24 May 2002]: Local authorities already receive funding, through the revenue support grant, to enable them to undertake food law enforcement inspections to the full range of food premises, of which mobile retailers form a very small part. It is for individual local authorities to decide specific resource allocations for these purposes.

  Hepatitis
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been carried out into the anticipated incidence of chronic hepatitis B over the(a) next 5 years and (b) next 10 years. [60520]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The public health laboratory service (PHLS) has estimated the current incidence of chronic hepatitis B infection using laboratory reports of acute hepatitis B infection from 1992 to 1996. The estimate is based on reports to the PHLS, the proportion of cases that develop symptoms and the proportion that progress to chronic infection.

  The PHLS estimates that in the United Kingdom, there are an annual average of 311 hepatitis B infections that lead to chronic infection.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) the members of the Steering Group on hepatitis C and (b) the terms of reference of the group. [60406]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The membership of the Hepatitis C strategy steering group is as follows:

  Chairman
  Professor Howard Thomas, Imperial College School of Medicine, London and Chairman, Advisory Group on Hepatitis

  Members
  John Bryce, lay member
  Jim Camp, Needle Exchange Forum
  Hannah Cinamon, Health Promotion England (until November 2001)
  Professor Chris Day, Medical School, Newcastle University
  Manlio Fahrni, Chair of Re-act and vice-chair of the recently launched national forum, the UK Assembly on Hepatitis (from September 2001)

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  Jo Guy, Hepatology Nurse Specialist, Southampton General Hospital
  Dr. Paul Hatton, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, Leeds health authority and member. Advisory Group on Hepatitis
  Lorraine Hewitt, Action on Hepatitis C and member, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
  Nigel Hughes, British Liver Trust
  Professor Will Irving, Department of Microbiology, University of Nottingham and member. Advisory Group on Hepatitis
  Tania Machell, Head of National Hepatitis C Resource Centre, Mainliners (from July 2001)
  Grant McNally, National Drug Users Development Agency
  Dr. Mary Ramsay, Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
  Professor Gerry Stimson, Centre for Research on Drugs and Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, London Professor John Strang, Director of the National Addiction Centre, Maudsley Hospital, London and member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
  Monique Tomlinson, Deputy Director, Mainliners (until July 2001)
  Dr. Martyn Wake, General Practitioner, south west London.

  Its terms of reference are:

  "To oversee development of the Department's strategic approach to hepatitis C by bringing together issues relating to prevention, control and treatment and to produce a document within the year, for consultation with the national health service, professional bodies and the voluntary sector and community sectors".

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been carried out since 1997 to monitor the changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis C infection in England following the introduction of an effective antiviral treatment with interferon and ribavirin; and if he will make a statement. [60526]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: We are not aware of any national studies on the effect of the introduction of treatment for hepatitis C infection with interferon and ribavirin on its epidemiology.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2002,Official Report, column 406W, on hepatitis C, what proportion of those cases identified had persistent viraemia. [60404]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The information requested is not available. However, several studies have shown that persistent viraemia occurs in about 80 per cent. of cases with antibody positive hepatitis C diagnoses.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2002,Official Report, column 406W, on hepatitis C, if the figures given included testing carried out in virology departments of teaching hospitals and private laboratories. [60403]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The information already provided about antibody positive hepatitis C diagnoses does include those reported to the public health laboratory service (PHLS) by laboratories in teaching hospitals and the private sector.

  Most national health service microbiology laboratories (including laboratories in teaching hospitals) and some private microbiology laboratories voluntarily report
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  diagnoses of hepatitis C to the PHLS. Reports from private laboratories form a very small proportion of all reports received.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients have chronic liver diseases in the UK owing to chronic infection with hepatitis C virus. [60522]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The data requested are not available. However, in 2000–01, there were 27,827 finished consultant episodes in national health service hospitals in England with a primary diagnosis of liver disease. Of these, 524 finished consultant episodes had a secondary diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis C.

  Notes:

  1. A finished consultant episode is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.

  2. Occasionally there may be missing records or missing diagnosis/operation codes in the HES records so a scaling factor is applied to allow for this. However these grossing factors have not yet been applied to the 2000–01 data.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with acute hepatitis(a) A, (b) B, (c) C, (d) D, (e) E and (f) G in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [60521]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: The information available is given in the tables.

  Laboratory reports, England and Wales 1990–20011

  Number of people diagnosed

  Hepatitis A infection

  1990

  7,545

  1991

  7,202

  1992

  6,762

  1993

  3,957

  1994

  2,413

  1995

  1,750

  1996

  1,086

  1997

  1,310

  1998

  1,104

  1999

  1,389

  2000

  1,047

  2001

  772

  Acute hepatitis B infection

  1990

  618

  1991

  572

  1992

  531

  1993

  629

  1994

  631

  1995

  614

  1996

  569

  1997

  652

  1998

  843

  1999

  725

  2000

  661

  2001

  534

  1 2001 data are provisional.

  Source:

  Public Health Laboratory Service
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  Laboratory reports, England and Wales 1990–20011

  Number of people diagnosed

  Hepatitis E infection

  1994

  12

  1995

  33

  1996

  52

  1997

  21

  1998

  56

  1999

  30

  2000

  34

  2001

  25

  1 2001 data are provisional

  Source:

  Public Health Laboratory Service

  The majority of cases of acute hepatitis C infection do not result in symptoms. Laboratory reports of antibody to hepatitis C do not distinguish between new and previous infections. Hepatitis D can only occur in people infected with hepatitis B and separate data on hepatitis D infections are not collected routinely. Hepatitis G is not known to cause hepatitis.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the consultation paper on a strategy for hepatitis C. [60405]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) on 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 630W.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what(a) percentage and (b) sums of the budgets of each health authority and primary health trust in England are allocated for the treatment of hepatitis C; [60525]

  (2) if additional funding will be made available to primary health trusts for the use of pegylated interferon for the antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and if he will make a statement. [60523]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: Health authority allocations for 2002–03 increased by £3,704 million, or 9.9 per cent.

  It is for health authorities in partnership with primary care trusts and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

  A key priority for the use of additional funding is the implementation of guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). We have referred pegylated interferons for the treatment of hepatitis C to NICE for inclusion in its work programme.

  Wheelchairs
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much the NHS has spent on the provision of electrically-powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs in each year since 1997; [27351]

  (2) how many people have utilised NHS vouchers as part-payment for powered wheelchairs in each year since 1997; [27350]
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  (3) how many electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs have been made available in each year since 1997. [27348]

  Jacqui Smith
  Pursuant to her reply of 22 January 2002,Official Report, column 763W: I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read:

  Expenditure on electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs) are as follows.

  Expenditure on powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs—England £000

  Amount

  1997–98

  6,428

  1998–99

  8,099

  1999–2000

  6,892

  2000–01

  8,803

  Figures are not collected centrally for numbers of vouchers issued separated into manual wheelchairs and EPIOCs.

  The following table gives the only data available centrally. A number of these figures are incomplete (as annotated):

  England

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Number of powered wheelchairs issued

  4,464

  4,033

  3,388

  3,2792

  Number of vouchers issued for wheelchairs

  5601

  5,0102

  6,305

  6,2502

  1Collection of data was not mandatory

  2Incomplete figure (one return missing)

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Race Relations Act
  Mr. Bailey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make changes to current authorisations under section 19D of the Race Relations Act 1976, as amended. [61371]

  Beverley Hughes
  I have today revoked the authorisation signed by my hon. friend the member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) on 23 April 2001 which permits immigration officers to discriminate in the examination of passengers from certain specified ethnic or national groups. We have kept this authorisation under close review in the light of intelligence assessments from the Immigration Service. After a year's experience of operating the authorisations, the Immigration Service has found it sufficient to rely on the authorisation made on 27 March 2001 which permits it to prioritise certain passengers for additional examination on the basis of their nationality. We will keep under review the possible need for further authorisations permitting discrimination on grounds of ethnic or national origin where necessary in respect of specific targeted operations.

  Community Police Officers
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his answer of 11 April 2002,
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  Official Report, column 565W, how many community police officers there are on the beat, broken down by division. [58344]

  Mr. Denham
  The information in the table has been provided by the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester police (D. Wilmot Esq QPM). The number of officers shown as on the beat comprises those carrying out the role of community beat constable or that of area/community sergeant.

  Division

  Community Police Officers on the beat

  North Manchester Division

  48

  South Manchester Division

  89

  The City of Salford Division

  63

  Tameside Metropolitan Borough Division

  29

  Stockport Metropolitan Borough Division

  42

  Bolton Metropolitan Borough Division

  54

  Wigan Metropolitan Borough Division

  40

  Trafford Metropolitan Borough Division

  27

  Bury Metropolitan Borough Division

  21

  Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Division

  39

  Oldham Metropolitan Borough Division

  31

  Total

  483

  1Figures are for 22 May 2002

  Crime Statistics
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of crime is(a) committed by and (b) committed against young males between the ages of 14 and 24 years; and if he will make a statement. [56224]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 21 May 2002]: Statistics of recorded crime are not collected by age, principally because a part of it is unsolved and therefore details of suspects are not known.

  The available information relates to persons convicted or cautioned for notifiable offences in England and Wales in 2000, 41 per cent. of whom were males aged 14 to 24 years.

  The 2000 British Crime Survey estimates that 25 per cent. of all personal crime (wounding, assault, robbery, theft from the person and other personal theft) reported to the survey was committed against males between the ages of 16 and 24.

  Lay Visitors Scheme
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints have been made about the operation of the police station cells lay visitors scheme in each constabulary in each of the last three years for which records exist; [53927]

  (2) how many visits have been made in each police authority under the lay visitors scheme and its successor in each of the last three years for which records are available; [53928]

  (3) what the cost was of running the lay visitors scheme for each police authority in each of the last three years for which records exist; [53924]
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  (4) if he will list the police authorities and other bodies that have made representations to him calling for changes to the custody visitors schemes, indicating the changes requested. [53923]

  Mr. Denham
  During the most recent review of the Home Office guidance to the police on lay/custody visiting, representations were received from the following bodies:

  Police Authority

  Cheshire

  Derbyshire

  Dorset

  Greater Manchester

  Metropolitan

  Norfolk

  North Yorkshire

  North Wales

  Nottinghamshire

  West Yorkshire

  Wiltshire

  Police Force

  Derbyshire

  Greater Manchester

  Lancashire

  South Yorkshire

  Surrey

  Sussex

  Other Body

  Association of Police Authorities

  Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary

  Independent Custody Visitoring Association

  Police Complaints Authority

  Police Federation

  Superintendents' Association.

  The most common issues raised were the organisation, recruitment and conditions of service of lay/custody visitors, as well as the administrative support provided by police authorities. There were also concerns about the level of training provided and procedures for carrying out visits, such as frequency and visiting in pairs.

  Records of numbers of visits, the costs of running schemes and the number of complaints received are not kept centrally and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Police Reform Bill before Parliament includes provisions for placing independent custody visiting on a statutory basis. Custody visiting schemes in each police authority will then be mandatory and a supporting code of practice will provide for consistent standards across England and Wales.

  Asylum Seekers
  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Centrex site at High Ercall has been proposed as a site for an asylum seeker accommodation centre. [52353]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 25 April 2002]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) gave on 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 597W, when she

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  announced that the Home Office would shortly be submitting planning notifications for accommodation centres at three sites. My hon. Friend also announced that a further three sites required further work before a decision could be taken as to whether to proceed to planning notifications.

  Alongside the competition for the design, build and operation of accommodation centres the private sector were invited to submit their own proposals. All of these will be given due consideration across a range of criteria.

  On 18 April 2002, my hon. Friend told the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson), Official Report, column 1168W, that the site at High Ercall had not been proposed to the Home Office. Since that time a proposal has come forward. This does not necessarily mean that the site has become a serious prospect; nor will we be in a position to know whether it has until a full evaluation has taken place.

  However, the general position remains that we will not be putting details of potential new sites into the public domain unless and until they are considered to be a serious prospect for the siting of an accommodation centre.

  Linda Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what travel allowances will be paid to enable asylum seekers to comply with reporting requirements. [59995]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill contains a provision which if introduced will allow the Secretary of State to meet the travel costs of asylum seekers required to report. The Bill does not provide that travel expenses will be met in all cases. It is intended to meet the reasonable costs of travel where appropriate.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the possible use of Sully hospital in Cardiff to house asylum seekers. [58837]

  Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) on 14 May 2002,Official Report, column 597W.

  Mr. Tom Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have successfully applied for asylum in the past two years; [58874]

  (2) how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have applied for, and been refused, asylum in the last two years; [58873]

  (3) how many asylum seekers living in Glasgow, Cathcart constituency are awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications; [58872]

  (4) how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have been removed from the UK following their failure to he granted asylum in the past two years. [58875]
  1232W
  Beverley Hughes
  Asylum applications data are not available at regional level except by port (for those applications made at port—these accounted for 36 per cent. of applications in 2001).

  Corresponding information on initial decision outcomes, cases outstanding and removals relating to persons in particular areas of the United Kingdom is also unavailable. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.

  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the purpose is of the new asylum registration cards; and what statutory limits will be placed on their use. [57996]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Application Registration Card (ARC) is being issued to asylum seekers and their dependants as an acknowledgement of their application for asylum. It replaces the Standard Acknowledgement Letter (SAL) that has been widely forged.

  The card will be used to obtain access to the services and benefits to which many asylum seekers are entitled including support payment in cash from National Asylum Support Service (NASS)-enabled Post Offices. Asylum seekers will be expected to produce their ARC when reporting to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, as a means of identification.

  Clause 117 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill introduces offences in relation to the fraudulent use or production of application registration cards.

  Asylum Accommodation Centres
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is negotiating on behalf of the Government with Severn Waste Services for the purchase of land necessary to construct an access road to the Throckmorton site for a possible asylum accommodation centre; and if he will make a statement. [57113]

  Beverley Hughes
  I understand that dialogue is continuing between the site owner, QinetiQ, and Severn Waste. The proposal for an access road has its origins in QinetiQ's plan to establish a science park at Throckmorton airfield, which are well known and which pre-date our proposal for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 March 2002,Official Report, column 7I8W, on asylum accommodation centres, what evaluation has taken place of bids to develop and operate asylum accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement. [59369]

  Beverley Hughes
  No bids have yet been invited to develop and operate accommodation centres.

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Defence Estates organisation about its planned disposals of land and the suitability of such land for use as an asylum accommodation centre. [59070]

  Beverley Hughes
  We are working very closely with the Defence Estates organisation on the accommodation centres programme. In relation to discussions on the Throckmorton site, we are conducting these with QinetiQ.
  1233W
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received supporting the establishment of an asylum accommodation centre at Throckmorton, Worcestershire. [59086]

  Beverley Hughes
  A planning notification has not yet been submitted in respect of the proposed accommodation centre at Throckmorton.

  The consultation period of the planning process has therefore not yet begun.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet residents of the Buckingham constituency who will be affected if plans proceed for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Piddington. [57653]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Home Office will shortly be taking part in public consultation as part of the planning process. We are discussing with Cherwel district council the exact nature that the consultation will take.

  Juvenile Sex Abusers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department takes to address the needs of children and young people who sexually abuse; and if he will make a statement. [57197]

  Hilary Benn
  Dealing with children and young people who sexually abuse requires contributions from different agencies, covering youth justice, child welfare, and education and health, including child and adolescent mental health agencies.

  Specific Home Office measures include the Home Office sponsored Youth Justice Board's funding of £60,000 for six projects that work with this group of young people, and a grant of £87,442 to a project developing and piloting new assessment methods. The Board are also working with the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to develop good practice and guidance for youth offending teams, and within the juvenile secure estate.

  The National Probation Service, jointly with the Prison Service and Youth Justice Board, are funding a pilot young sex offenders project for young people aged between 15 and 21, offering specialist assessments and interventions both in custody and in the community.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings he has had with ministerial colleagues with regard to children and young people who sexually abuse in the last two years. [57199]

  Hilary Benn
  I have had no formal meetings with ministerial colleagues specifically regarding children and young people who sexually abuse.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of children and young people who are required to register in accordance with the Sex Offenders Act 1997 received treatment for sexually abusive behaviour in(a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001. [57176]
  1234W
  Hilary Benn
  The Sex Offenders Act 1997 requires offenders cautioned, convicted, or found not guilty by reason of insanity in respect of an offence specified in Schedule One to the Act to provide certain details to the police. There is no centralised "register" of sex offenders, as such. It is not, therefore, possible to disaggregate the number of young people from adults subject to the Act's requirements.

  Neither the Home Office nor the Youth Justice Board holds statistics on the number of young offenders who are required as a condition of their sentence to undertake treatment to address sexually abusive behaviour.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations made as a result of the consultation, 'Setting the Boundaries: Reforming the Law on Sex Offences'. [57188]

  Hilary Benn
  We are currently considering how to update existing legislation on sex offences in the light of the recommendations contained in 'Setting the Boundaries' and more than 700 responses that were received during the consultation period. We intend to bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the regulations by which schedule 1 status is applied to juveniles. [57177]

  Hilary Benn
  Schedule 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is a list of violent and sexual offences against children. This list has been used by various agencies as a way of identifying those who may pose a risk to children. There are currently no regulations that deal specifically with juveniles who commit a schedule 1 offence.

  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding was available for programmes which addressed the needs of children and young people who sexually abuse in(a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001. [57321]

  Hilary Benn
  Full information is not held centrally. Specific related programme funding includes the Home Office sponsored Youth Justice Board's funding of six projects between 1999 and 2002, which totalled £600,000. The board are also providing funding totalling £87,442 between October 2001 and December 2003 to a project developing and piloting new assessment methods, and funding totalling £14,921 between November 2001 and March 2003 to a project examining the national provision of services.

  The National Probation Service is funding a pilot young sex offenders project designed to provide a specialist assessment and intervention service for young people aged between 15 and 21. The pilot received grant funding of £243,000 in 2001–02 and has a budget of £331,000 for 2002–03.

  Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will proscribe the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine under the Terrorism Act 2001; and if he will make a statement. [59006]
  1235W
  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 24 May 2002]: The list of proscribed organisations is kept under review and decisions to proscribe or deproscribe are taken after careful consideration of all relevant aspects.

  National Asylum Support Services
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when NASS subcontracted its telephone inquiries function to an outside source; to which organisation it has been subcontracted, and for what period; for what reason the decision to subcontract the work was taken; what assessment he has made of the quality of information given out; and if he will make a statement. [58529]

  Beverley Hughes
  The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has not subcontracted its telephone inquiries function.

  The Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau (INEB), part of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, is responsible for handling inquiries about subsistence payments, and where it is believed support has been terminated erroneously, INEB takes these inquiries to enable NASS caseworkers to resolve queries more efficiently and in a shorter timescale.

  All other telephone inquiries are handled by NASS staff.

  Mortuaries
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who has responsibility for providing public mortuaries; [59440]

  (2) if he will list public mortuaries in England, indicating who is responsible for running them. [59439]

  Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 24 May 2002]: Under the Public Health Act 1936, local authorities have the power to provide public mortuaries and post-mortem rooms. In practice, I understand that most coroners and local authorities rely on the national health service facilities for mortuary provision.

  Following a recent survey carried out by the Home Office, we are aware that the following local authorities in England provide a public mortuary service:

  London borough of Barnet

  London borough of Brent

  London borough of Bromley

  London borough of Croydon

  London borough of Greenwich

  London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

  London borough of Hillingdon

  London borough of Lewisham

  London borough of Newham

  London borough of Westminster

  Birmingham city council

  Bracknell Forest council

  Bradford metropolitan district council

  1236W

  Brighton and Hove city council

  Bournemouth borough council

  Cannock Chase district council

  High Peak borough council

  Kingston upon Hull city council

  Liverpool city council

  Pendle borough council

  Rossendale borough council

  Sheffield city council

  Stoke-on-Trent city council

  Wolverhampton city council.

  Prisoners
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of prisoners who have(a) drug and (b) alcohol problems; and what services are available to them. [59625]

  Hilary Benn
  Every prisoner on reception receives a health examination and during that assessment a prisoner will be encouraged to disclose any drug or alcohol misuse problem. Figures on those with substance misuse problems are not kept centrally. Epidemiological surveys show that around 80 per cent. of prisoners had used drugs prior to prison, with 54 per cent. admitting dependency. Random mandatory drug testing figures show that, nationally, 11.6 per cent. of prisoners tested positive for drugs in 2001–02.

  An integrated range of drug treatment and support services is available to prisoners comprising:
  detoxification services available in all local and remand prisons;
  counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare (CARATs) available in all prisons;
  50 intensive treatment programmes; and
  voluntary drug testing programmes are available throughout the prison estate.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what percentage of prisoners had no fixed accommodation upon release from prison in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what services are available to find accommodation; [59626]

  (2) how many prisoners left prison and went directly into employment in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what services are available to prisoners to find employment upon release from prison. [59624]

  Hilary Benn
  The Prison Service undertook a large-scale survey in November and December 2001 of sentenced prisoners nearing release. 33 per cent. said they did not have accommodation arranged on release. 24 per cent. said they had a job to go to on release and six per cent. a training place.

  By comparison, in a prisoner resettlement survey conducted by the National Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) in 1992,48 per cent. said they needed help with long-term housing and 89 per cent. were likely to face unemployment on release.

  Many establishments provide services to help prisoners find accommodation and employment on release, often in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, the National Probation Service or voluntary sector organisations. These include housing advice centres, jobsearch training and support,

  1237W
  and the piloting in eight prisons from summer 2002 of new technology giving access to Jobcentre Plus information on employment vacancies across the country. The Prison Service Custody to Work programme, with £30 million earmarked over 2001–04, is geared towards increasing the number of prisoners getting jobs or training places after release through the development of such resettlement activity.

  Further impetus to improving the accommodation and employment services available to prisoners has been provided by the thematic review of resettlement published by the Inspectorates of Prisons and Probation in October 2001, and by the Social Exclusion Unit's current study on reducing re-offending by released prisoners, which is expected to report later in the year.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place for prisoners held in the high secure unit at HMP Belmarsh to take regular daily exercise; and how much fluid is available to each prisoner per day. [59867]

  Hilary Benn
  All prisoners in the High Secure Unit are able to have one hour of exercise in the open air each day. In addition they are also able, subject to staff availability, to attend the gymnasium three times each week. Each residential spur has either an exercise bike, rowing machine or step exerciser available for use by prisoners.

  Every cell contains a cold water tap providing drinking water. Each residential spur also has a water heater to provide prisoners with hot drinks. To cover those periods when prisoners are locked in their cells, each person is provided with a vacuum flask so as to enable them to make hot drinks, for which purpose they each receive a weekly allowance of tea, coffee and powdered milk. Every day each prisoner will also receive one 200m1 carton of milk.

  All prisoners are allowed to purchase items from the prison shop. Among items that are available are canned and bottled carbonated drinks as well as still drinks. Additional quantities of tea, coffee and hot drinks are also available for purchase.

  Television Licences
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) male and (b) female prisoners are in prison in connection with non-payment of television licences. [58638]

  Hilary Benn
  The latest provisional data (representing 30 April 2002) show that there were no people in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for using a television without a licence at that time.

  Prisoner Suicides
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) attempted suicides and (b) suicides there were in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 20 years; and what percentage of the prison population this represents; [58634]

  (2) how many (a) attempted suicides and (b) suicides there were in each prison in the UK in the last 20 years; and what percentage of the prison population in each prison this represents. [58633]
  1238W
  Hilary Benn
  The available information is set out in tables, which have been placed in the Library. Figures for "attempted suicide" (for which there is no separate definition) are subsumed within those for self-harm, which cover all acts of self-injury, however non-serious. The definition of self-harm and recording practices are under review. Information relating to prisons in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the Scottish Executive and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Dr. John Reid) respectively.

  HMP Belmarsh
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and for what reasons the special secure unit at HMP Belmarsh was redesignated a high secure unit; and what the principal differences in prison regime are. [59866]

  Hilary Benn
  The high security unit at Belmarsh is a four spur, 48 cell facility holding both 'high' and 'standard' risk category A prisoners. In the event of a category A prisoner being received at Belmarsh with an 'exceptional' risk classification, then one spur of the unit will become a special secure unit. When this situation arises, the facility operates as a special secure unit.

  There are no principal differences in the regime offered to prisoners caused by change of designation. The main difference arising from the change of designation would be in respect of general security measures taken by staff.

  Hezb-e Tahrir
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has classified Hezb-e Tahrir as a terrorist organization; what changes have been made in its classification since January 1999; and if he will make a statement. [59685]

  Mr. Blunkett
  This organisation is not on the proscribed list of organisations contained in schedule 2 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

  The list of proscribed organisations is kept under review and decisions to proscribe or deproscribe are taken after careful consideration of all relevant aspects.

  Animal Rights Protests
  Martin Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions of animal rights activists have occurred since the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 came into force; and what sentences were handed down. [57014]

  Hilary Benn
  Information on prosecutions under the provisions of the 2001 Act relating to intimidatory assemblies and malicious communications will be published for the first time in 2003, although this will not distinguish between prosecutions of animal rights extremists and other people since the characteristics of court defendants are not collected centrally.

  Damilola Taylor
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2002,Official Report, column 700W, on Damilola Taylor,

  1239W
  if he will define vulnerable or intimidated witnesses; what his criteria are for this definition; and which agents and agencies he consulted on this definition. [60080]

  Hilary Benn
  Sections 16 and 17 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 define vulnerable and intimidated witnesses in terms of their eligibility for assistance from special measures to achieve best evidence.

  Vulnerable witnesses are those (other than the defendant) who are eligible for assistance because they are under 17 at the time of the hearing or because the court considers that the quality of their evidence is likely to be diminished for reasons of physical disability, physical or mental disorder or a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning.

  Intimidated witnesses are those who are eligible for assistance because the court is satisfied that the quality of their evidence is likely to be diminished by fear or distress about testifying. The court has to take into account the nature and alleged circumstances of the offence, the age of the witness and any views expressed by him or her, and any behaviour towards the witness on the part of the accused, members of the family or associates of the accused or any other person who is likely to be an accused or witness in the proceedings.

  Where relevant, the court must also take into account the witness's social and cultural background and ethnic origin, domestic and employment circumstances and religious beliefs or political opinions.

  A complainant in respect of a sexual offence who is a witness in proceedings relating to that offence is also eligible for assistance unless the witness has informed the court that he or she does not wish to be eligible.

  The definitions in sections 16 and 17 of the 1999 Act were based on the recommendations of 'Speaking Up for Justice', the report of the inter-departmental working group which is available in the Library and to which I referred in my earlier answer. This contains a literature review and a summary of representations received from organisations and individuals.

  Data Protection
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the draft codes of practice which relate to the use and retention of communications data as defined in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; if he has revised his estimates on the costs to industry of the retention of such data; and if he will make a statement as to why the draft code of practice which relates to retention of communications data has not yet been issued. [59265]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The codes of practice relating to the access and retention of communications data are being developed in consultation with communications providers, the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies and the Interception and Information Commissioners respectively. A draft of the access code will be laid before Parliament shortly, and a retention code will be issued for public consultation. Discussions with communications providers are forming the basis of the Government's assessment of the cost of retention.

  Youth Offending
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to tackle persistent youth offending. [57064]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 10 June 2002]: We have given the courts new secure remand and tagging powers for 12 to 16-year-olds who repeatedly offend on bail. Both started in the 10 street crime priority areas on 22 April. Tagging started in the rest of the country on I June 2002, and secure remands will start on 16 September 2002.

  We have also delivered the youth justice pledge by halving the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders; funding the Youth Justice Board's intensive supervision and surveillance programmes for the most prolific offenders; and we have introduced the detention and training order for persistent and more serious young offenders.

  Devolution
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of his Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from his Department to the Scotland Office; [59513]

  (2) how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his Department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive Department, (b) subject and (c) date; [59514]

  (3) how many times his office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Department approached, (b) subject and (c) date. [59515]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 24 May 2002,Official Report, column 600W.

  Yarl's Wood
  Mr. Patrick Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) of those detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14 February and who had been removed from Britain as of Tuesday 21 May, how many were due to be questioned by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood but were not questioned before removal; [59218]

  (2) of those detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14 February and who had been removed from Britain as of Tuesday 21 May, how many had been questioned by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood. [59250]

  Beverley Hughes
  The questioning of detainees by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood is a matter for Bedfordshire police.

  Information about subsequent removals is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by an examination of individual case files.

  Haslar Detention Centre
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the road signs directing the public to Haslar Detention Centre have been replaced by signs reading Immigration Removal Centre Haslar; and whether these changes reflect a change of purpose for the establishment. [60398]

  Beverley Hughes
  We announced our intention to redesignate existing detention centres as "Removal Centres" in the recent White Paper, Secure Borders, Safe Haven: Integration with diversity in modern Britain. There is provision in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill currently before Parliament to amend references to detention centres in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and elsewhere so as to formally reflect their change of name to removal centres.

  This change will reinforce the key part these centres play in the removal of failed asylum seekers and others. There are no substantive changes to the provisions relating to the purpose and operation of these centres.

  Prison Service
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the fines imposed on private sector contractors within the Prison Service for not meeting targets have been(a) paid and (b) overturned on appeal in each of the last three years. [58389]

  Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 23 May 2002]: The number of fines imposed in the last three years is as follows:
  1999–2000: 11
  2000–01: 7
  2001–02: 3.
  All of the fines have been paid and none have been overturned on appeal.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the Prison Service in each of the last five years. [58391]

  Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 23 May 2002]: The information is contained the table:

  Prison Service staff in post

  31 March 1997

  39,629

  31 March 1998

  41,056

  31 March 1999

  42,683

  31 March 2000

  43,683

  31 March 2001

  43,800

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have left the service within(a) one year and (b) two years of starting in each of the last five years. [58390]

  Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 23 May 2002]: The information is contained the table. Reliable leavers information including date of recruitment is not available before June 1998.
  1242W

  Left within one year of recruitment

  Left within up to two years of recruitment

  1998–991

  41

  65

  1999–2000

  61

  98

  2000–01

  46

  93

  2001–02

  32

  107

  1June 1998 to March 1999 only.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff(a) were recruited to and (b) left the Prison Service in each of the last five years. [58392]

  Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 23 May 2002]: The information, which includes casual staff, is contained in the table.

  Recruits

  Leavers

  1997–98

  4,732

  1—

  1998–99

  4,144

  2,817

  1999–2000

  4,419

  3,316

  2000–01

  3,466

  3,812

  2001–02

  4,337

  4,211

  1Reliable information on leavers during 1997–98 is not available.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is given to ease of access for family visits in placing prisoners. [58843]

  Hilary Benn
  All prison establishments are required to consider a number of factors when placing a prisoner, one of which is the home area of prisoners and their visitors.

  The Prison Service places great importance on prisoners having regular and productive visits in order to maintain close and meaningful ties with their families as part of their effective rehabilitation.

  However, high population levels throughout the prison estate can lead to prisoners being transferred from their home area to prison establishments with a greater number of vacancies to create capacity for remand prisoners within those prisons that serve the courts.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners in each prison are(a) married or in long-term relationships, (b) have children under 18 and (c) both. [58842]

  Hilary Benn
  On reception into prison all prisoners are asked about their marital status. They cannot be required to provide this information. As of 24 May, 10,786 male prisoners and 571 female prisoners described themselves as married or cohabiting. This amounts to 16 per cent. of the prison population. The information is not available by individual establishment. Information about prisoners with children is not collated. However, surveys suggest that about 60 per cent. of prisoners have children of whom about half have dependent children.

  Wolds Prison
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the officially designated maximum prisoner capacity is for HMP Wolds. [57587]

  Hilary Benn
  Wolds prison has an operational capacity of 410.
  1243W
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities are available at HMP Wolds for prisoners with mental health problems. [57588]

  Hilary Benn
  Prisoners with mental health problems can be cared for in the health care centre at Wolds prison, which provides for up to 16 in-patients. A number of the nurses caring for these patients are specifically qualified to work with mentally ill prisoners. A psychiatrist visits the prison on a weekly basis to provide psychological and counsellor support to those within the health care centre and on normal location. Wolds prison also works very closely with agencies to provide secure hospital accommodation and mental health community support for those prisoners being discharged.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many positive drug tests were recorded at HMP Wolds in the past three years. [57586]

  Hilary Benn
  For the year ending 31 March 2000, 58 drug tests at Wolds prison were recorded as positive. The figures were 38 and 16 for the years ending 31 March 2001 and 2002 respectively.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on staff there were at HMP Wolds in the last three years. [57585]

  Hilary Benn
  For the year ending 31 March 2000, there were 14 assaults by prisoners on staff. The figures were 16 and nine for the years ending 31 March 2001 and 2002 respectively.

  Coroners
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress of the review of the coroners' system. [57698]

  Hilary Benn
  The review has so far involved a number of regional visits to coroners and meetings with the public, as well as with the Department for Health, the Retained Organs Commission, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Judicial Studies Board and other relevant organisations. Time has also been spent in Northern Ireland, and review team members have attended Home Office-run coroner training events. The review team hope to issue a consultation on document shortly.

  Brixton Prison
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff employed in Brixton prison in each year since 1996 have formerly been members of the security services in Northern Ireland. [58280]

  Hilary Benn
  Information on the earlier careers of prison staff is not held in the form required and would necessitate examining around 1,300 files, and interviewing several hundred staff, many of whom no longer work for the Prison Service. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to ensure that the sabotage of cell bell alarm systems identified by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in his inspection of HMP Brixton on 26 to 29 June 2000 is not repeated. [58277]
  1244W
  Hilary Benn
  New procedures were put in place following the inspection to ensure the cell call bells remain in working order. The cell call system is checked daily by wing staff and night orderlies. No reports of a failure of the system have been reported since the new procedure was introduced.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action has been taken against those involved in the sabotage of cell bell alarm systems identified in the inspection by the Chief Inspector of Prisons of HMP Brixton on 26 to 29 June 2000. [58276]

  Hilary Benn
  Despite investigation, no member of staff has been identified as being responsible for sabotaging the cell call bell system at Brixton prison. It has not, therefore been possible to take any disciplinary action.

  The Prison Service takes a very serious view of such matters and, should information come to light which is strong enough to support taking disciplinary action, this will be done.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the deaths of Irish citizens in Brixton prison since 1996. [58332]

  Hilary Benn
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend Minister of State, Home Office (Beverley Hughes) gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 21 May 2002,Official Report, column 268W, which explained that a review is to be conducted into the deaths of Irish prisoners at Brixton since 1998. There were no such deaths between 1996 and 1998.

  Prison Staff Deployment
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the deployment of prison staff now in charge of Irish prisoners who have served in the security forces in Northern Ireland. [58279]

  Hilary Benn
  None. Detailed information about earlier careers of members of staff is not collated and to do so would involve disproportionate cost.

  Irish Prisoners
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in the last six months from the Irish Government, Irish community organisations and individuals on the deaths of Irish prisoners in British prisons; and what action he has taken as a result. [58275]

  Hilary Benn
  Correspondence has been received from the Irish in Britain Representation Group. A reply will be sent shortly.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to include an Irish category based on CRE guidelines in the system for ethnic monitoring in Her Majesty's prisons. [58278]
  1245W
  Hilary Senn
  The Commission for Race Equality's (CRE) "Ethnic Monitoring—A Guide for Public Authorities" recommends adopting the ethnic categories used in the 2001 Census and this incorporates the use of an Irish category. All civil service Departments were required by the Cabinet Office to undertake an ethnicity re-classification exercise. The format for the classifications was provided to reflect the latest census classification. The Prison Service are in the process of adopting the Census 2001 categories.

  An ethnicity re-classification exercise of all Prison Service staff was undertaken in October 2001. Every member of staff was asked to complete a questionnaire which allowed their ethnic origin to be recorded in a category as provided for in the 2001 Census. Arrangements are also being made to update.

  Court Adjournments
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the trend in the number of court cases that are adjourned one or more times, and the effect that these adjournments have on other parts of the court service. [58858]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.
  1246W
  Sample surveys of magistrates court cases show that the proportion of defendants whose cases were adjourned in these courts fell from 50 per cent. in 1997 to 44 per cent. in 2001. In the magistrates courts a joint monitoring scheme with the Crown Prosecution Service and other criminal justice agencies began on 1 April 2002, to collect data for all adjourned trials, including the number of previous adjournments. The first quarterly figures will be published in July 2002. The Crown court also has a national monitoring scheme for adjourned trials. Data from both sources will inform a research project, planned to start later this year, into the effect of trial adjournments.

  Youth Justice
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of cases in magistrates courts involving young people as a defendant(a) went ahead at the first hearing, (b) were adjourned once before the case is heard and (c) were adjourned more than once before the case is heard in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [58859]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  During last year, 26 per cent. of young defendants had their cases completed at the first listing, 23 per cent. had one adjournment and 51 per cent. were adjourned more than once. These figures are taken from sample surveys, so total numbers are not available.

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