Written Answers of 6 March 2002

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the turnover of staff, broken down by type was in each region in each year since the inception of the CPS. [35947]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 14 February 2002]: The available turnover figures are set out in table 1 and table 2.

  Table 1: Crown Prosecution Service—staff turnover

  Turnover rate

  As at now 1 January 2002

  1 April 2001

  1 April 2000

  Avon and Somerset

  3.6

  3.6

  13

  Bedfordshire

  3.9

  6.9

  15.5

  Cambridgeshire

  9.6

  20.5

  5.7

  Cheshire

  5.7

  7.9

  8.2

  Cleveland

  5.9

  6.1

  7.3

  Cumbria

  1—

  1—

  8

  Derbyshire

  12.4

  8.3

  5.3

  Devon and Cornwall

  2.7

  4.1

  5.1

  Table 2: Crown Prosecution Service—staff turnover

  Turnover rate

  31 March 1999

  1 April 1998

  1 April 1997

  1 April 1996

  1 April 1995

  1 April 1994

  Headquarters

  7.4

  22.7

  7.5

  0.7

  1.3

  0.8

  Anglia

  9.7

  8.8

  0.6

  0.9

  0.2

  1.0

  East Midlands

  4.9

  6.5

  0.8

  0.6

  1—

  0.6

  Humber

  6.8

  9.4

  1.1

  1.1

  1.4

  0.8

  London

  10.6

  11.6

  1.6

  0.6

  0.9

  0.4

  Mersey/Lancs

  6.8

  6.7

  0.7

  1—

  0.3

  1—

  Midlands

  7.5

  11.6

  1.8

  0.8

  0.2

  0.3

  North

  5.0

  2.6

  0.6

  1—

  1—

  1—

  North West

  7.9

  6.5

  2.4

  0.5

  0.3

  0.3

  Severn Thames

  9.4

  15.2

  2.2

  0.3

  0.8

  0.9

  South East

  8.5

  15.3

  1.1

  0.5

  0.4

  0.5

  South West

  8.4

  7.6

  0.7

  0.3

  1.4

  0.4

  Wales

  3.4

  5.8

  1.9

  0.4

  0.4

  0.3

  Yorkshire

  9.0

  8.7

  1.3

  0.7

  1.0

  1—

  1 Less than 1 per cent.

  Ms Dari Taylor
  To ask the Solicitor-General what steps are being taken to assess the feasibility of implementing the recommendation made by Sir Robin Auld that the Crown Prosecution Service should take over from the police responsibility for charging defendants at the outset of a prosecution. [41697]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Attorney-General has agreed with the Home Secretary that the Crown Prosecution Service and police should pilot the proposals over a period of six months in five different areas: in Bath, the Medway area, Essex, the Wrexham area and in Halifax. The objective of the pilot is to identify the practical implications of implementing Sir Robin's
  308W

  Table 1: Crown Prosecution Service—staff turnover

  Turnover rate

  As at now 1 January 2002

  1 April 2001

  1 April 2000

  Dorset

  6

  2.4

  1—

  Durham

  2.9

  5.2

  1—

  Dyfed Powys

  5.5

  1—

  17

  Essex

  7.4

  3.1

  11

  Gloucestershire

  1.9

  9.3

  4.7

  Greater Manchester

  7.4

  6.7

  10.5

  Gwent

  1.3

  1—

  4.7

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  8.6

  8.2

  10.4

  Headquarters

  6.4

  10.6

  12

  Hertfordshire

  11.7

  12.1

  11.6

  Humberside

  10.5

  15.3

  9

  Kent

  5

  9.6

  6.1

  Lancashire

  2.8

  5.4

  3.5

  Leicestershire

  7.2

  4.9

  5

  Lincolnshire

  4.1

  12.6

  4.6

  London

  8.4

  12.9

  11.6

  Merseyside

  5.7

  4.1

  3.2

  Norfolk

  8.7

  7

  6.9

  North Wales

  14.8

  8.2

  3

  North Yorkshire

  8.4

  7

  9.9

  Northamptonshire

  1.8

  7.9

  2.1

  Northumbria

  5.8

  4.8

  2.2

  Nottinghamshire

  6.2

  4.8

  1.6

  South Wales

  5.1

  4.7

  4.3

  South Yorks/Admin.

  6.8

  3.9

  8

  Staffordshire

  3.7

  1

  5.1

  Suffolk

  1.4

  5.9

  2.1

  Surrey

  8.5

  12.1

  7

  Sussex

  4.4

  5.2

  13.1

  Thames Valley

  9.9

  8.4

  17.9

  Warwickshire

  9.8

  10.1

  12.6

  West Mercia

  5.5

  7.4

  6.6

  West Midlands

  6.5

  5.1

  9.8

  West Yorkshire

  5.4

  6.4

  6.9

  Wiltshire

  4

  2.4

  9.4

  1 Less than 1 per cent.

  recommendation that the Crown Prosecution Service should determine the charge in all but minor, routine offences or where, because of the circumstances, there is a need for a holding charge before seeking the advice of the Service. Where there may be practical difficulties, the pilot will seek to identify how these can best be overcome. The Crown Prosecution Service and ACPO have been working closely together to set up the pilot which commenced on 18 February 2002. An evaluation report will be produced in autumn 2002.

  Further details of the pilot are contained in a background note, copies of which I have caused to be put in the Libraries of both Houses.
  309W
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Solicitor-General what budget was allocated to each CPS region; and how much of the annual budget was allocated to training, in actual terms and as a percentage of the total budget in each year since its inception. [35943]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 14 February 2002]: The table shows the non-ring-fenced running cost(NRFRC) budget allocated to each Area, the amount of this budget locally allocated by each Area to fund

  Analysis of training budget against non ring fenced running cost budget allocations to areas

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Area

  NRFRC

  Training

  Percentage

  NRFRC

  Training

  Percentage

  NRFRC

  Training

  Percentage

  01 Avon and Somerset

  3,460,000

  20,520

  0.59

  3,782,397

  6,500

  0.17

  4,426,805

  16,500

  0.37

  02 Bedfordshire

  1,464,000

  7,000

  0.48

  1,521,180

  10,000

  0.66

  1,753,584

  6,200

  0.35

  03 Cambridgeshire

  1,849,000

  7,000

  0.38

  1,912,600

  4,870

  0.25

  2,363,320

  23,000

  0.97

  04 Cheshire

  2,859,025

  20,000

  0.70

  2,911,600

  8,806

  0.30

  3,576,900

  20,000

  0.56

  06 Cleveland

  2,046,000

  5,000

  0.24

  2,132,350

  1,000

  0.05

  2,572,056

  3,500

  0.14

  07 Cumbria

  1,787,600

  6,000

  0.34

  1,785,500

  5,000

  0.28

  2,056,160

  9,000

  0.44

  08 Derbyshire

  2,447,663

  13,000

  0.53

  2,578,450

  8,555

  0.33

  3,136,018

  26,800

  0.85

  09 Devon and Cornwall

  3,266,665

  17,900

  0.55

  3,444,300

  9,050

  0.26

  3,964,709

  21,725

  0.55

  10 Dorset

  1,442,000

  10,035

  0.70

  1,502,780

  2,000

  0.13

  1,811,252

  10,400

  0.57

  11 Durham

  1,794,000

  9,000

  0.50

  1,976,204

  12,000

  0.61

  2,302,056

  13,000

  0.56

  12 Dyfed Powys

  1,619,000

  8,000

  0.49

  1,728,500

  11,800

  0.68

  1,973,107

  11,250

  0.57

  13 Essex

  3,362,495

  3,000

  0.09

  3,420,800

  15,250

  0.45

  4,100,900

  13,750

  0.34

  14 Gloucestershire

  1,380,000

  10,000

  0.72

  1,425,418

  5,000

  0.35

  1,624,686

  17,800

  1.10

  15 Greater Manchester

  9,415,075

  20,000

  0.21

  9,752,500

  19,706

  0.20

  11,293,480

  40,378

  0.36

  16 Gwent

  1,967,112

  19,803

  1.01

  2,062,500

  23,200

  1.12

  2,483,882

  20,100

  0.81

  17 Hampshire

  4,324,158

  7,992

  0.18

  4,831,235

  9,000

  0.19

  5,692,740

  20,544

  0.36

  18 Hertfordshire

  2,007,729

  5,000

  0.25

  2,209,060

  2,000

  0.09

  2,731,565

  6,700

  0.25

  19 Humberside

  2,463,000

  17,738

  0.72

  2,508,000

  8,763

  0.35

  2,808,450

  12,716

  0.45

  20 Kent

  3,943,894

  15,444

  0.39

  4,237,750

  6,564

  0.15

  5,016,453

  33,115

  0.66

  21 Lancashire

  5,261,511

  20,000

  0.38

  5,439,141

  28,000

  0.51

  6,323,380

  50,000

  0.79

  22 Leicestershire

  2,415,070

  11,070

  0.46

  2,544,600

  3,227

  0.13

  3,085,080

  10,900

  0.35

  23 Lincolnshire

  1,585,000

  13,085

  0.83

  1,643,960

  17,560

  1.07

  1,832,528

  15,936

  0.87

  24 Merseyside

  5,675,323

  4,200

  0.07

  5,977,367

  20,000

  0.33

  6,957,480

  66,000

  0.95

  25 Metropolitan and City

  27,787,531

  116,000

  0.42

  28,585,703

  130,000

  0.45

  34,940,980

  160,000

  0.46

  26 Norfolk

  1,876,000

  8,000

  0.43

  2,008,210

  4,600

  0.23

  2,407,060

  5,000

  0.21

  27 Northamptonshire

  1,576,430

  9,600

  0.61

  1,710,025

  30,050

  1.76

  1,998,580

  52,100

  2.61

  28 Northumbria

  5,430,400

  17,000

  0.31

  5,762,178

  16,715

  0.29

  6,929,696

  87,500

  1.26

  29 North Wales

  2,140,400

  9,000

  0.42

  2,132,872

  4,500

  0.21

  2,361,101

  5,677

  0.24

  30 North Yorkshire

  1,933,000

  0

  0.00

  2,008,095

  6,000

  0.30

  2,188,262

  5,000

  0.23

  31 Nottinghamshire

  3,926,140

  17,950

  0.46

  4,151,900

  7,000

  0.17

  4,773,597

  8,799

  0.18

  32 South Wales

  4,977,000

  34,329

  0.69

  5,138,183

  9,720

  0.19

  5,961,745

  36,917

  0.62

  33 South Yorkshire

  3,746,000

  7,557

  0.20

  4,004,200

  6,000

  0.15

  4,687,606

  8,782

  0.19

  34 Staffordshire

  2,983,400

  10,000

  0.34

  3,129,200

  8,500

  0.27

  3,569,740

  15,500

  0.43

  35 Suffolk

  1,530,000

  2,000

  0.13

  1,698,422

  0

  0.00

  2,069,760

  4,800

  0.23

  36 Surrey

  1,861,421

  21,367

  1.15

  1,827,633

  19,468

  1.07

  2,130,113

  6,900

  0.32

  37 Sussex

  3,203,300

  44,172

  1.38

  3,306,661

  5,616

  0.17

  3,872,722

  33,012

  0.85

  38 Thames Valley

  4,452,580

  31,174

  0.70

  4,706,700

  22,100

  0.47

  5,229,848

  25,000

  0.48

  39 Warwickshire

  1,003,000

  2,400

  0.24

  1,041,400

  3,319

  0.32

  1,144,080

  500

  0.04

  40 West Mercia

  2,737,116

  13,730

  0.50

  2,831,352

  4,700

  0.17

  3,171,313

  13,000

  0.41

  41 West Midlands

  8,835,565

  46,800

  0.53

  9,770,500

  54,500

  0.56

  11,360,398

  38,100

  0.34

  42 West Yorkshire

  7,315,000

  57,500

  0.79

  7,809,185

  31,419

  0.40

  9,159,749

  54,900

  0.60

  43 Wiltshire

  1,365,000

  9,247

  0.68

  1,405,600

  7,800

  0.55

  1,570,400

  3,160

  0.20

  Total

  156,514,603

  728,613

  0.47

  164,356,211

  609,858

  0.37

  193,413,341

  1,033,961

  0.53

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Solicitor-General what progress has been made in respect of Cm 3960, Summary of the report, paragraph 26, concerning the shift in CPS priorities from involvement in relatively minor cases to serious crime cases in the Crown Court. [35965]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 14 February 2002]: The CPS is making steady progress implementing changes to deliver the reforms recommended by Sir lain Glidewell in his review of the CPS to bring about better justice.

  The CPS has been restructuring its front-line operation, working more closely with the police in the preparation
  310W
  training courses in actual terms and then as a percentage of the NRFRC budget.

  The figures are shown for each year since the establishment of a 42 Area structure in the CPS. They exclude the costs of trainee time attending courses and the associated travel and subsistence costs. These are not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  of magistrates and Crown Court cases, by establishing co-located criminal justice units and trial units, which focus resources towards the more serious cases and better support for victims and witnesses. By the end of March 2002, the CPS will have 51 dedicated trial units in place across 29 areas, focusing efforts on Crown Court cases. These structural changes are enabling early legal advice before charge, to ensure that prosecutions are built on secure ground. The CPS and police are currently piloting the recommendations of Sir Robin Auld that the CPS should take over responsibility from the police for determining the charge from the outset of the case.
  311W
  More Crown Prosecutors are benefiting from greater exposure to Crown Court proceedings and their skills, experience and expertise in dealing with the more serious cases are being developed. The CPS is presently training 100 Crown Prosecutors annually to secure accreditation as Higher Court Advocates with full rights of audience to appear in the Crown Court on a more regular basis. They have gained positive feedback from the judiciary.

  To support Crown Prosecutors, a modern IT infrastructure has been deployed providing a suite of up-to-date electronic legal reference products and a new electronic case management application is planned for 2003. More lawyers, caseworkers and administrative staff have been recruited in the last 12 months, from resources provided by the last spending review.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Criminal Justice Reports
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish draft legislation covering the recommendations of the(a) Halliday and (b) Auld reports and the results of the subsequent consultations. [40005]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: Responses to the public consultation exercise on John Halliday's report "Making Punishments Work" were published on 4 February 2002. Those to Lord Justice Auld's report on the Criminal Courts have been made available on the Criminal Courts Review website.

  The Government are currently considering the recommendations of both reports in the light of those responses, with the intention of setting out its position in a White Paper later this year. Until the legislative programme for next Session has been finalised, it is not clear when there will be an appropriate opportunity to publish legislation in draft.

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the departmental report on the aftercare treatment of victims of miscarriages of justice. [38360]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The report of the independent study has contributed useful material for further development of proposals but it does not stand alone, and was an internal document not designed for wider circulation.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the central unit for the advice for victims of miscarriages of justice. [38363]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The Home Office has established a working group that is considering how best to provide an advice and information service for wrongfully convicted prisoners. Proposals will come forward from the working group shortly but, as yet, no decisions have been taken.

  Taliban/Al-Qaeda
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any persons believed to have fought in Taliban or Al-Qaeda forces are known to have returned to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [39713]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: No such persons are known to have returned to the United Kingdom to date.

  Gun Licences
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many gun licences, and for which type of weapon, are held(a) in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency, (b) in the Teesside area, (c) in each police force area and (d) in the UK. [38249]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The Home Office collects numbers of firearm and shotgun certificates for each police force area in England and Wales. The numbers of certificates, and weapons held on those certificates, are given in the table.

  Firearm certificates cover a range of weapons. From incomplete returns, about 73 per cent. of the weapons held under 'firearms' certificates are rifles, with the remainder including section one shotguns and those handguns that remain legal, such as muzzle loading handguns and humane killers.

  Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.

  Certificates on issue at 31 December 2000, and weapons covered

  Police force area

  Firearm certificates

  Firearms covered by certificates

  Shotgun certificates

  Shotguns covered by certificates

  Avon and Somerset

  4,812

  12,064

  21,230

  47,570

  Bedfordshire

  1,323

  3,305

  6,908

  14,920

  Cambridgeshire

  2,531

  5,598

  14,238

  32,060

  Cheshire

  2,412

  5,525

  12,688

  27,797

  Cleveland

  774

  1,760

  2,503

  5,159

  Cumbria

  3,059

  6,478

  10,427

  21,360

  Derbyshire

  2,441

  5,777

  12,237

  28,855

  Devon and Cornwall

  8,171

  15,181

  34,291

  72,516

  Dorset

  2,682

  5,507

  10,919

  24,241

  Durham

  2,095

  4,795

  6,348

  12,845

  Essex

  3,957

  10,565

  21,291

  46,638

  Gloucestershire

  2,337

  5,436

  11,591

  25,243

  Greater Manchester

  2,013

  4,992

  9,067

  20,039

  Hampshire

  4,419

  11,440

  21,196

  48,485

  Hertfordshire

  1,859

  4,866

  10,754

  24,552

  Humberside

  2,607

  4,938

  10,352

  25,079

  Kent

  3,730

  19,213

  21,731

  145,417

  Lancashire

  2,493

  6,233

  212,054

  27,223

  Leicestershire

  1,704

  3,614

  11,109

  27,244

  Lincolnshire

  3,426

  7,619

  16,100

  39,263

  London, City of

  32

  228

  38

  74

  Merseyside

  1,091

  2,735

  4,027

  7,778

  Metropolitan police

  5,399

  14,265

  28,139

  55,099

  Norfolk

  3,414

  9,076

  21,144

  53,405

  Northamptonshire

  2,156

  5,411

  9,547

  21,619

  Northumbria

  3,396

  7,550

  9,285

  20,662

  North Yorkshire

  5,434

  11,310

  18,760

  38,114

  Nottinghamshire

  1,633

  4,863

  9,299

  22,567

  South Yorkshire

  1,566

  3,705

  8,198

  16,602

  Staffordshire

  2,291

  5,885

  14,256

  31,627

  Suffolk

  3,505

  6,493

  17,591

  40,946

  Surrey

  2,710

  8,245

  13,083

  28,297

  Sussex

  5,443

  15,052

  22,008

  47,962

  Thames Valley

  6,229

  16,794

  28,902

  65,095

  Warwickshire

  1,710

  4,183

  9,069

  19,473

  West Mercia

  5,497

  13,369

  30,311

  65,654

  West Midlands

  1,703

  4,651

  9,998

  21,043

  313W

  Certificates on issue at 31 December 2000, and weapons covered

  Police force area

  Firearm certificate s

  Firearms covered by certificates

  Shotgun certificates

  Shotguns covered by certificates

  West Yorkshire

  2,583

  6,182

  10,993

  23,009

  Wiltshire

  2,633

  6,341

  12,096

  27,762

  Dyfed-Powys

  3,047

  4,855

  18,689

  35,606

  Gwent

  940

  2,481

  6,884

  14,510

  North Wales

  2,326

  14,018

  13,834

  128,083

  South Wales

  1,780

  4,251

  9,348

  19,390

  All forces

  125,363

  296,849

  2602,533

  1,320,883

  1 Estimate

  2 Revised since earlier publication

  Immigration Act Detainees
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Immigration Act 1988 detainees are held in prisons in England and Wales. [38102]

  Angela Eagle
  The latest available information on the number of persons detained under Immigration Act 1988 powers relates to 29 December 2001. The number of detainees held in prisons in England and Wales is given in the table.

  Immigration Act detainees as at 29 December 20011

  Place of detention

  Number

  Dedicated Immigration Service wings2

  330

  Other prison establishments3

  335

  Total3

  665

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest five.

  2 Persons detained at the dedicated Immigration Service wings at Haslar, Lindholme and Rochester

  3 Includes 270 persons detained under dual immigration and other powers.

  The temporary use of spaces in a number of local prisons ended in mid-January 2002, as did the use of the accommodation at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP) Rochester. In addition, the dedicated detention facilities at HMP Haslar and HMP Lindholme were redesignated formally as immigration removal centres on 8 February 2002, thus requiring them to operate under Detention Centre Rules rather than Prison Rules. These changes will be reflected in the quarterly asylum statistics which will be published on 31 May 2002 on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

DEFENCE

  Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the public-private partnership for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. [41452]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made in the House on 24 July 2000,Official Report, columns 77–79 about our decision to implement the Core Competence model for the DERA public-private partnership. Under this approach, on 1 July 2001 around three-quarters of the former DERA organisation was vested with its assets as QinetiQ, a wholly Government
  314W
  owned company. For strategic reasons, the remainder was retained within Ministry of Defence as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to carry out functions that could not appropriately be transferred to the private sector.

  Since the vesting of QinetiQ as a company on 1 July 2001, work has concentrated on preparing the company for sale, options for which were through a flotation or strategic partnership. We have now completed a comprehensive review of the available options for the transaction route and timing in conjunction with specialist advisers and QinetiQ's senior management. Although flotation has always been our preferred route, as we have consistently stated, the priority is to achieve a successful move into the private sector with a transaction that clearly achieves best value for the taxpayer. We believe that a flotation under current market conditions would not realise this, yet delay could lead to a damaging loss of momentum. We have, therefore, decided that the strategic partner route offers the best potential for a transaction within 2002, offers value to the taxpayer and meets our objective of a successful public-private partnership.

  A strategic partner would work closely with QinetiQ and contribute significantly to growing the overall value of its business, from which the taxpayer would benefit through MOD's initial retention of a significant financial interest in the company. MOD will also retain a special share as a means of protecting UK defence and security interests.

  Confidential discussions with potential strategic partners will now begin, and it is expected that a preferred partner will be selected, and agreements signed, later this year.

  Departmental Leave Entitlements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in his Department in each of the last four years. [31739]

  Dr. Moonie
  Within the Ministry of Defence there exist slight differences in annual leave entitlements between members of the Senior Civil Service, non-industrial staff and industrial staff.

  Over the whole period, Senior Civil Servants have received the maximum 30 days on entry, whereas non-industrial staff have received 25 days on entry and then the maximum 30 days after 10 years' reckonable service.

  Industrial staff are divided into two categories, those at Industrial Technician level and those below. In 1998, Industrial Technicians received 26 days on entry, 28 after five years' reckonable service and 29 days after 10 years' reckonable service. In 1999, the maximum entitlement was increased to 30 days after 10 years' reckonable service. Other industrial staff received 24.5 days on entry in 1998, which was increased to 25 days in 1999. In 1998, they received and still do, 26.5 days after five years' reckonable service. In addition, the maximum entitlement, awarded after 10 years' reckonable service, has been increased annually from 27 days in 1998 to 30 days in 2001.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's total expenditure by month in each financial year since 1997–98. [32790]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 4 February 2002,Official Report, column 692W.

  Private Medical Insurance
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees in—(a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have had private medical insurance provided for them in each year since 1997–98; what the total cost is; and if he will make a statement. [32313]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 6 February 2002]: The Civil Service Management Code specifically precludes the provision of private medical insurance as part of any structured remuneration package. Consequently, private medical insurance is not a feature of Ministry of Defence civil service employment. The employees of MOD's non-departmental public bodies are not civil servants although, in practice, their terms and conditions are partially modelled on civil service lines. One of the MOD's non-departmental public bodies—the Oil and Pipelines Agency—does offer private medical insurance to its employees. The numbers of annual costs since 1997–98 are as follows:

  Year

  Number of employees

  Cost pa (£000)

  1997–98

  110

  4.4

  1998–99

  7

  5.0

  1999–2000

  8

  5.9

  2000–01

  8

  5.0

  2001–02

  5

  6.2

  1 Estimate

  The number of staff taking up the option of private medical insurance has diminished over the years because it constitutes a taxable benefit, which many find increasingly unattractive.

  Departmental Website
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost of his Department's website was in real terms in each of the last four years; and how many hits it received in each of those years. [36137]

  Dr. Moonie
  Direct costs for the Ministry of Defence's departmental website http://www.mod.uk are recorded for expenditure on contractual support—web design, maintenance and hosting—and staff costs for the central MOD website team. Total costs for the four-year period from April 1998 to April 2002 are as follows:

  Financial year

  £

  1998–99

  54,000

  1999–2000

  100,000

  2000–01

  153,000

  2001–02

  202,000

  Usage of the MOD website began to be measured on a monthly basis in December 1997. The figures for
  316W
  2000–01 are rounded extrapolations based on data recorded between June 2000—December 2001. Hits for the four-year period from December 1997 to December 2001 are as follows:

  Year

  Number

  December 1997—December 1998

  4,576,859

  December 1998—December 1999

  18,195,760

  December 1999—December 2000

  20,700,000

  December 2000—December 2001

  26,200,000

  Union Duties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in each of the last four years. [36197]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence does not record paid time off for trade union duties by days but by percentage of their overall work time. The following table shows the number of employees who are allowed paid time off for trade union activities, the percentage of their time allowed and the cost for each of the past four years.

  Numbers of TU representatives

  percentage

  0–10

  11–49

  50–99

  100

  Total

  Cost (£)

  1997–98

  Industrial

  478

  64

  11

  21

  574

  788,576

  Non-industrial

  722

  113

  13

  37

  885

  1,858,958

  1998–99

  Industrial

  455

  66

  12

  19

  552

  920,671

  Non-industrial

  824

  105

  17

  35

  981

  2,265,064

  1999–2000

  Industrial

  426

  71

  16

  24

  538

  1,228,087

  Non-industrial

  758

  108

  27

  34

  927

  2,037,451

  2000–01

  Industrial

  360

  89

  17

  21

  487

  1,123,993

  Non-industrial

  700

  106

  21

  36

  863

  2,181,641

  We do not collect the information for trade union representatives in the Service Museums which are non-departmental public bodies.

  Building Works
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of new builds, demolitions, rebuilds and PFI projects in his Department in each of the last 10 years. [39465]

  Dr. Moonie
  Information available on the cost of new builds is contained in UK Defence Statistics 2001 (Table 1.8 page 18). Information on demolitions and rebuilds could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Gender Free Physical Training
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many women have been injured as a result of gender free physical training; [39502]
  317W
  (2) how many claims for compensation have been received from female recruits injured during gender free physical testing; [39503]

  (3) how many person-days have been lost as a result of injuries sustained in gender free physical training; [39504]

  (4) what has been the cost of treating women injured as a result of gender free physical training. [39505]

  Mr. Ingram
  Numbers of women injured since 1 April 1998, when "Gender Free" testing and training was introduced have not been separately identified. Gender distributions have been monitored on the basis of medical discharges rather than on individual injuries received. For completeness, however, the following table shows the numbers of individuals attending a general practitioner at the various Army Training Regiments (ATRs) recorded as having injuries due to training or with other injuries or disease that could be related to training. The data cover both male and female trainees and trainers alike (although the vast majority are trainees) and is expressed as a rate per 1,000 per month:

  Reason

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Injuries due to military training

  204.74

  188.05

  120.70

  Musculo-skeletal diseases

  74.48

  70.70

  63.79

  Knee disorders

  47.41

  50.34

  47.28

  In 1999–2000, the combined rate for female medical discharges due to injury for all Phase 1 training establishments was 4.8 per cent., when the female to male ratio of injuries among trainees was 6:1. In the following year, this combined rate dropped to 3.5 per cent. and the ratio also fell to 3.5:1. This reduction was attributable, at least in part, to changes introduced into the selection and initial training regime, as a result of the recognised higher rate of female injury in the training system.

  Similarly, the number of person-days lost as a result of injuries sustained directly as a result of gender free testing and training cannot be easily identified. The following table shows the number of working days lost as a result of injuries due to training or with other injuries or disease that could be related to training injuries and is again expressed as a rate per 1,000 personnel per month at the ATRs:

  Reason

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Injuries due to military training

  207.55

  211.06

  165.23

  Musculo-skeletal diseases

  108.21

  97.79

  92.43

  Knee disorders

  62.80

  67.73

  63.93

  With regard to compensation claims, the Ministry of Defence does not record separately those cases brought against the Department by female recruits injured during gender free physical training. Again, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Costs associated specifically with treating women injured as a result of gender free physical training cannot be readily identified. The Army training authorities are constantly working to reduce the numbers of individuals injured in training and therefore the costs associated with this, both in actual treatment costs and in respect of the number of training days lost.

  Deployments
  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the mission types for British Forces. [38509]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The broad missions we have identified for the armed forces, as set out in paragraph 29 of Defence Policy 2001, published in February last year, are:

  Peacetime Security

  To provide forces needed in peacetime to ensure the protection and security of the United Kingdom, to assist as required with the evacuation of British nationals overseas, and to afford military aid to the civil authorities in the United Kingdom, including military aid to the civil power, military aid to other Government Departments and military aid to the civil community.

  Security of the Overseas Territories

  To provide forces to meet any challenges to the external security of a British Overseas Territories (including overseas possessions and the sovereign base areas) or to assist the civil authorities in meeting a challenge to internal security.

  Defence Diplomacy

  To provide forces to meet the varied activities undertaken by the Ministry of Defence to dispel hostility, build and maintain trust, and assist in the development of democratically accountable armed forces (thereby making a significant contribution to conflict prevention and resolution).

  Support to Wider British Interests

  To provide forces to conduct activities to promote British interests, influence and standing abroad.

  Peace Support and Humanitarian Assistance Operations

  To contribute forces to operations designed to prevent, contain and resolve conflict, in support of international order and humanitarian principles, and to contribute to efforts to deal with humanitarian crises and disasters.

  Regional Conflict and Crisis

  To contribute forces for a regional conflict (but not an attack on NATO or one of its members) which, if unchecked, could adversely affect European security or which could pose a serious threat to British interests elsewhere, or to international security. Operations are likely to be carried out under the auspices of the UN or relevant regional security organisations.

  Regional Aggression against NATO

  To provide forces needed to respond to a regional crisis or conflict involving a NATO ally which calls for assistance under Article 5 of the Washington treaty.

  Strategic Attack on NATO

  To provide, within the expected warning and readiness preparation times, the forces required to counter a strategic attack against NATO.

  These defence missions form a sound basis for planning, but they can be, and are, adjusted from time to time.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the exercises outside Europe undertaken by the British Armed Forces in 2001 and the unit which took part. [38507]
  319W
  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The exercises that UK Armed Forces took part in outside Europe are listed in the table:

  Exercise

  Location

  Unit

  Atlantic Drive

  Ascension

  64CRE

  Turtle Heritage

  Ascension

  CVHQRE

  Turtle Truss

  Ascension

  71 Engr Regt

  Longlook

  Australia

  Tri-Service Individuals

  Suman Warrior

  Australia

  1 D and D

  Initial Link

  Bahrain

  E3D

  Cygnet Goose

  Belize

  30 Sig Regt

  Native Trail

  Belize

  1 RWF

  Native Trail

  Belize

  7 RHA

  Panther Cub

  Belize

  1 RGBW

  Panther Cub

  Belize

  1 D and D

  Panther Cub

  Belize

  1 D and D

  Panther Cub

  Belize

  2 Para

  Panther Cub

  Belize

  2 Para

  Panther Cub

  Belize

  2 Para

  Sailfish

  Belize

  36 Engr Regt

  Thirsty Panther

  Belize

  521 Stre

  Diamond Cutter

  Botswana

  1 R Irish

  Ulu Rajah

  Brunei

  Cast North

  Bass Rock

  Canada

  22 Regt RA

  Cross Check

  Canada

  C130

  Fingals Cave

  Canada

  KCR

  Maple Flag

  Canada

  10 x JAG, 9 x F3, VC10

  Maple Flag

  Canada

  10 x JAG, 9 x F3, VC10

  Medicine Man

  Canada

  1 Staffords

  Medicine Man

  Canada

  1G

  Medicine Man

  Canada

  KRH

  Medicine Man

  Canada

  RDG

  Pond Jump West

  Canada

  1 RGJ

  Pond Jump West

  Canada

  1 WG

  Snow Shoe

  Canada

  Gren Gds

  Snow Shoe

  Canada

  Gren Gds

  Western Vortex

  Canada

  GR1 Sqns

  Western Vortex

  Canada

  GR1 Sqns

  Western Vortex

  Canada

  GR1 Sqns

  Western Vortex

  Canada

  GR1 Sqns

  Western Vortex

  Canada

  GR1 Sqns

  Western Vortex

  Canada

  GR1 Sqns

  Western Vortex

  Canada

  GR1 Sqns

  Western Vortex

  Canada

  GR1 Sqns, F3 Sqn

  Bell Buoy

  Chile

  NCS Org

  Bright Star

  Egypt

  PJHQ

  Cape Petrel

  Falklands

  CBFFI Forces

  Cape Petrel

  Falklands

  CBFFI Forces

  Falkland Sound

  Falklands

  21 Sig Regt

  Kelp Drive

  Falklands

  12(AS) Engr Bde

  Kelp Drive

  Falklands

  12(AS) Engr Bde

  Kelp Drive

  Falklands

  12(AS) Engr Bde

  Kelp Fire

  Falklands

  12(AS) Engr Bde

  Purple Strike

  Falklands

  CBFFI Forces

  Purple Strike

  Falklands

  CBFFI Forces

  Sea Trout

  Falklands

  29 Regt RA

  Red Stripe

  Jamaica

  1 PWO

  Golden Sands

  Jordan

  1 KORBR

  Saffron Sands

  Jordan

  1 Cheshire

  Crab Apple

  Kenya

  38 Engr Regt

  Grand Prix

  Kenya

  1 LI

  Grand Prix

  Kenya

  1 Para

  Grand Prix

  Kenya

  1 RRF

  Mono Prix

  Kenya

  1 RRW

  Oak Apple

  Kenya

  35 Engr Regt

  Pine Apple

  Kenya

  33 Engr Regt

  Sharp Point

  Kenya

  5 GS Med Regt

  Lucky Sentinel

  Kuwait

  JFHQ, 1 BDE(-)

  Lads Adex

  Malaysia

  HMS Gloucester

  320W

  Exercise

  Location

  Unit

  Stardex

  Malaysia

  HMS Gloucester, FDU,

  Nimrods

  Burning Bush

  Morocco

  Gib Regt

  Himalyan Bluebell

  Nepal

  4 BN REME

  Pacific Kukri

  New Zealand

  1 RGR

  Boron Mercury

  Oman

  JFHQ & SIGS Sqn

  Magic Carpet

  Oman

  Jaguar

  Magic Roundabout

  Oman

  Nimrod

  Magic Roundabout

  Oman

  Nimrod

  Magic Roundabout

  Oman

  Nimrod

  Rocky Lance

  Oman

  1 PWO

  Saif Sareea 2

  Oman

  1(UK), ARMD Div,

  1 Mech Bde, 4 Armd

  Bde, RDG, 4 Regt RA,

  21 Engr Regt, 1 IG 2 CS

  Regt RLC, 1CS Med

  Regt, 1 BN REME, HMS

  Cornwall, HMS

  Monmouth, RFA

  Oakleaf, 11 Sqn RAF,

  12 Sqn RAF, 617 Sqn

  RAF, No 1 ACC

  Saif Sareea Mapex

  Oman

  PJHQ, JFHQ

  Adventure Exchange

  Turkey

  AMF(L) Elements

  Anvil Ghost

  Turkey

  1 RECCE Bde, 1 Arty

  Bde, 7 AD Bde, 29 Engr

  Regt, HQ CSSG, 3 Div

  UAE CPX

  UAE

  PJHQ, JFHQ

  UAE FTX

  UAE

  RM Coy

  Air Warrior

  USA

  GR7

  Blue Flag

  USA

  JFAC HQ

  Civil Bridge

  USA

  CA GRP

  Cope Thunder

  USA

  9 x F3, VC10

  Cope Thunder

  USA

  9 x F3, VC10

  Flying Rose

  USA

  12 Engr Bde

  Flying Rose

  USA

  12 Engr Bde

  Georgian Cormorant

  USA

  JSCSC

  Impact

  USA

  58 FD Sqn

  Initial Look

  USA

  HQ JFAC

  JEFX

  USA

  JFACHQ

  JIATF

  USA

  Nimrod

  JIATF

  USA

  Nimrod

  JIATF

  USA

  Nimrod

  JRTC

  USA

  C130

  JTFEX

  USA

  GR4, FA2, SU

  JTFEX

  USA

  E3D, Nimrod

  JTFEX

  USA

  Nimrod

  Kernel Blitz

  USA

  FDG

  Leapfest

  USA

  ITC Catterick

  Red Flag

  USA

  GR4, F3, JAG, VC10

  Red Flag

  USA

  GR4, F3, JAG, VC10

  Red Flag

  USA

  C130, GR7

  Red Flag

  USA

  GR1/4

  Red Flag

  USA

  GR1/4

  Red Flag

  USA

  GR1/4

  RM COM GP EX

  USA

  RM COY

  Rum Punch

  USA

  Nimrod

  Sea Dragon

  USA

  RM COY

  Stonewall

  USA

  42 CDO

  Stoneyrun/Millrace

  USA

  3 Para

  Torpedo Focus

  USA

  GR 1

  Unified Endeavour

  USA

  JFAC HQ

  Updated information indicates that British forces took part in 33 exercises (including one multinational exercise) in the USA in 2001 as listed in the table, compared with 29 unilateral and bilateral exercises identified in the answer I gave on 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 831W to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin).

  Armed Forces Pensions
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to award armed forces pensions to those who served before 1975; and if he will make a statement. [39486]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have no plans to award armed forces pensions to those who served before 1975 and left before qualifying for benefits.

  Armed Service Pensions were awarded to those who served before 1975 but only to those who completed the necessary qualifying periods of 22 years (from age 18 for other ranks) and 16 years (from age 21 for Officers). Prior to 1975 there was no requirement for pension schemes to preserve benefits for those who left the scheme early. The Armed Forces Pension Scheme is not unique in this respect; the same provisions applied to all pension schemes both in the public and private sector. However, the qualifying periods for the Armed Forces Pension Scheme were less than for most other schemes at that time. In addition, those who left before qualifying for pensions, but had completed nine years (for Officers) 12 years (for other ranks), were paid a gratuity. The provisions were changed in 1975 to meet with the requirements of the Social Security Act 1975 but, in keeping with the policy of successive Governments, the provisions were not made retrospective.

  Airships
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential for airships to contribute to(a) airborne early warning, (b) large cargo carrying, (c) surveillance operations, (d) anti-submarine warfare, (e) landmine removal and (f) naval minesweeping. [39927]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence is monitoring developments in airships and hybrid air vehicle (HAV) technology, as we do other novel concepts. Recent military airship trials and assessments, in the context of a specific surveillance capability requirement, together with commercial progress in this area gives us confidence that the technology is sufficiently mature to contribute to meeting future capability requirements.

  Airships and HAVs have a number of generally common characteristics that need to be considered when assessing their suitability for particular roles. They are relatively cheap compared with manned winged or rotary aircraft; can loiter for sustained periods in suitable weather conditions; and are generally significantly larger and slower than other types of aircraft. Potentially, they could carry significantly more payload than a winged aircraft, although increases in lift capacity increase the overall size dramatically. Recent military trials and assessments have indicated that, while their size makes them relatively easy to visually identify and target, they are relatively difficult to target by other means, and difficult to destroy. Airships are generally expected to have less maintenance and infrastructure requirements than conventional air vehicles, and the challenges in manpower intensive ground handling have been largely overcome.

  For airborne early warning, which is one type of surveillance operation, the potential to loiter for long periods could be a useful characteristic, although the high
  322W
  speed winds at the altitudes required for large-area coverage can limit this ability. The high visibility of airships limit their suitability for some surveillance roles.

  For large cargo carrying, although slower than other aircraft types, the potential carrying capacity of future airships could be attractive, as demonstrated by the commercial interest in developing them in this field. However, we currently plan for the UK's future strategic and tactical airlift requirements to be met from 2010 by a combination of C130 Hercules and A400M aircraft, and have no current endorsed requirement for additional strategic lift.

  For anti-submarine warfare, airships and HAVs could in future provide a potent platform for maritime patrol, through, for example, monitoring dispersed sonar buoys. However, we have no additional endorsed requirement for maritime patrol for some time, given the procurement of the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft.

  Research has been conducted into the possibility of using airships for the detection of minefields. While this research is primarily intended for military use, the possibility of humanitarian mine-clearance has also been addressed. The ability to detect minefields from an airship remains a probability, but it is unlikely that such a system would be able to find all the individual mines, particularly anti-personnel mines, and a complementary land-based location and clearance system will still be needed.

  If HAVs that could land on water and use organic sonars or deploy unmanned underwater vehicles could be developed, their low sonar signature and relatively high speed compared with ships could be expected to have advantages for other types of anti-submarine warfare and naval minesweeping and hunting. Concept work is considering what contribution airships or HAVs might make to the solution for the Future Surface Combatant capability requirements, when the current frigate classes leave service. It is likely that concept work for future minesweeping/hunting requirements will consider what contribution these technologies might offer.

  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational status is of the Skyship 6000 Airship ZH762; and what plans there are for further RAF trials with airships. [39926]

  Mr. Ingram
  Airship ZH762 was sold in 1998 following completion of trials for which it was purchased. There are currently no plans for any further RAF trials with airships.

  War Graves Commission
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the grave sites the War Grave Commission maintains in Egypt; how much money is allocated to their upkeep; and how many are buried there, broken down by military personnel who fought in the(a) Suez Canal zone emergency 1951 to 1954 and (b) Suez crisis 1956. [40457]

  Dr. Moonie
  The graves sites maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Egypt are:

  Abbasiya Indian Cemetery

  Alamein Cremation Memorial

  Alexandra (Chatby) British Protestant Cemetery

  323W

  Alexandria (Chatby) Jewish Cemetery No.3

  Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery

  Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery

  Aswan Bandar British Cemetery

  Cairo New British Protestant Cemetery

  Cairo War Memorial Cemetery

  El Alamein War Cemetery

  Fayid War Cemetery

  Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery

  Heliopolis War Cemetery

  Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery

  Kantara War Memorial Cemetery

  Manara Indian Muhammadan Cemetery

  Moascar War Cemetery

  Old Cairo New Latin Cemetery

  Port Said British Protestant Cemetery

  Port Said Muhammadan Civil Cemetery

  Port Said War Memorial Cemetery

  Suez African and Indian Army War Cemetery

  Suez War Memorial Cemetery

  Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery.

  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission does not keep financial records by country. However, they have advised that their approximate expenditure on maintaining graves in Egypt for 2001 was in the order of £600.000.

  The total number of graves in the twenty four cemeteries is 32,144. This figure includes world war graves, non-world war graves, service dependants, civilians and foreign nationals.

  Detailed figures for the two periods are not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Macedonia
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of the British Armed Forces are stationed in Macedonia; what activities they are involved in; and if he will make a statement; [40611]

  (2) how much longer he expects there to be a UK military presence in Macedonia; and if he will make a statement. [40610]

  Mr. Ingram
  At any one time there are approximately 12 UK Armed Forces personnel working in Macedonia as part of the headquarters of NATO's Task Force Fox and in support of KFOR. Some may be allocated to both. So long as there is a requirement for these or successor forces provided by NATO, we expect to contribute a number of British Armed Forces personnel to them.

  In addition, three UK Armed Forces Personnel are providing advice to the Macedonian Ministry of Defence as part of a bilateral Outreach programme; we expect them to remain until the programme is complete.

  One UK Army officer has been seconded to the British Embassy in Skopje as Defence Attaché

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates he has made as to the total extra cost to 324W
  his Department in relation to Afghanistan in the financial year 2001–02; and from where these funds are being made available. [40422]

  Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 February 2002,Official Report, columns 1133–34W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster). This sum has been made available from the reserve and the conflict prevention budget.

  Secondments
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department have been seconded to jobs in the(a) private and (b) public sector in each of the last four years. [31780]

  Dr. Moonie
  Secondments form a valuable part of the Ministry of Defence's Interchange programme, which promotes the exchange of individuals and best practice between the civil service and other sectors of the economy.

  The information requested is as shown.

  Private sector

  Private sector (DESG)1

  Public

  1997–98

  28

  128

  8

  1998–99

  8

  155

  26

  1999–2000

  22

  130

  16

  2000–01

  13

  104

  6

  1 The MOD's Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG) arranges industrial placements for graduate trainees and students in engineering and science disciplines. These short-term secondments are recorded separately to distinguish them from those longer-term secondments from the Department to the private sector.

  Television Sets
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases. [33238]

  Mr. Moonie
  [holding answer 4 February 2002]: There is no central point within the Ministry of Defence that purchases televisions and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  As with the purchase of all of the Ministry of Defence's goods and services, the normal rules and principles of good public procurement apply. Budget holders must ensure that the purchase represents value for money and is supported by a sound business case.

  Legal Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal costs have been incurred by his Department in each of the last four years. [34284]

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

  Industrial Action
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days have been lost owing to industrial action by staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each of the last four years. [36177]

  Dr. Moonie
  771 man days were lost as a result of strike action in the Ministry of Defence, its agencies and non-departmental bodies in the past four years. This arose from an industrial dispute in July and August 2000 involving Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel who were members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers. Industrial action short of a strike is not recorded in terms of man days lost.

  Keel lay

  Launch

  Delivery to AWSR

  1st vessel—Hurst Point

  21 January 2002

  19 April 2002

  16 August 2002

  2nd vessel—Hartland Point

  8 October 2001

  11 April 2002

  21 October 2002

  3rd vessel—Eddystone

  22 April 2002

  16 August 2002

  1 November 2002

  4th vessel—Anvil Point

  1 March 2002

  23 July 2002

  21 January 2003

  5th vessel—Longstone

  19 August 2002

  8 November 2002

  31 January 2003

  6th vessel—Beachy Head

  31 January 2003

  14 February 2003

  30 April 2003

  Airlift/Sealift Capability
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to improve the(a) airlift and (b) sealift capability of the Armed Forces; and if he will make a statement. [40615]

  Mr. Ingram
  We have already improved our strategic airlift and sealift capabilities in the short term, by leasing four C-17 aircraft, which provide a new outsized airlift capability, and by introducing the provisional strategic sealift service, so that there are now three rather than two ships available for this task. In the medium to longer term, we are in the process of procuring a PFI strategic sealift service (which will ensure that the MOD can call upon six roll on/roll off vessels when required, with four permanently available), and 25 A400M aircraft.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what projects are being scaled back as a result of the transfer from capital to resource DEL announced in the supplementary estimates 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [40423]

  Mr. Ingram
  Budgetary allocations are regularly revised in year to reflect actual progress on capital projects as well as changing priorities and requirements. The transfer from capital to resource DEL is within the Treasury authorised flexibility for the current year. Even after the transfer, there has been an overall net increase to the Ministry of Defence's capital DEL since the main estimates published in April 2001.

  Private Military Companies
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what private military companies have licences in Britain; what work they are involved in; and if he will make a statement. [38799]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  Strategic Lift Transport Ships
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the dates are for(a) lay-down, (b) launch and (c) delivery of each of the strategic lift transport ships. [40316]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: As announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 26 October 2001, Official Report, column 413–14W, the UK's future strategic sealift capability is due to be provided under a PFI contract between the Ministry of Defence and AWSR Shipping Ltd., to come into full effect from June 2003. The lay down, launch and delivery dates for the six vessels involved are as follows:

  Private military companies based in the UK are not at present subject to a licensing regime in respect of the provision of military services. One of the options set out in the FCO's discussion paper "Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation", published on 12 February, is for the introduction of a licensing regime.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Reproductive Health Services
  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to increase women's access to reproductive health services in Africa. [37322]

  Hilary Benn
  Increasing women's access to reproductive health services is a high priority in Africa, where women are affected by poverty, high maternal mortality and, increasingly, by HIV/AIDS. DFID is working with national Governments and other organisations to improve sexual and reproductive health. We invested £150 million on this last year, and expect to invest more this year.

  West Africa
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's programme of development assistance to west Africa. [37323]

  Clare Short
  We maintain a substantial development programme to West Africa, and plan to spend around £130 million and contribute £37 million through the EC over the next three years. We provide further support through the World Bank, Africa Development Bank and UN system.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her European counterparts regarding aid to west Africa. [37341]
  327W
  Clare Short
  I meet my European counterparts regularly, and discuss West African issues with them as appropriate. In particular I have encouraged other European countries to become more deeply engaged in Sierra Leone, both politically and financially. I travelled to Guinea and Sierra Leone with the French Development Minister last May.

  Sudan
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the prospects for peace, justice, improved human rights and development in Sudan. [37324]

  Clare Short
  I believe that 2002 offers a real window of opportunity to bring Africa's longest running conflict to an end. I am convinced that with greater international pressure on the main parties, Sudan can be helped towards a just and lasting peace. The human rights of the people of Sudan can be better protected with peace and a stable social and economic environment in place throughout the country. The same applies to the consideration of Sudan's longer-term development needs. Development partnerships will not be effective without peace and political stability.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to promote peace and development in Sudan. [37330]

  Clare Short
  We are working with the FCO, to increase the international effort to bring about peace in Sudan. Efforts have been stepped up following my visit to the country in January when I was able to discuss the prospects of peace with Sudanese leaders on both sides of the conflict.

  I believe the UK can play a significant role in helping resolve the conflict and that our involvement would be welcomed by both sides. The Prime Minister recently announced the appointment of a UK special Representative for Sudan who will be answerable jointly to myself and the Foreign Secretary and supported by a dedicated team drawn from both Departments. He is working closely with the US and Norway and we will maintain close liaison at official and ministerial level.

  Long-term development of Sudan cannot be achieved without an end to the war. My Department continues to address urgent humanitarian needs arising from conflict and drought and has provided over £40 million of humanitarian assistance since 1997. We are liaising closely with the World Bank and European Commission to try and ensure that their engagement reinforces the search for peace.

  St. Helena
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the construction of an airfield on the island of St. Helena. [37325]

  Clare Short
  A "Comparative Study of Air and Sea Access" was published last July. A copy of the report was placed in the Library of the House. It identified options, which have since been under consideration by the St. Helena Government. As part of that process, the views 328W
  of the islanders have been sought in a referendum. The outcome was a majority preference in favour of air access, as an alternative to replacing St. Helena's dedicated passenger and supply ship. Island representatives are currently visiting the UK to discuss next steps.

  Replenishment Negotiations
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's priorities are for the International Development Association's 13th replenishment negotiations.
  [37326]

  Clare Short
  Our priority for the International Development Association's replenishment (IDA 13) negotiations is to build on the progress achieved under the last replenishment, particularly in consolidating a sharper poverty focus and embedding the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper process as the Lynchpin of the World Bank's engagement in low-income countries.

  The UK has indicated that it is prepared to increase substantially its contribution to IDA 13, depending upon the resolution of policy issues.

  The negotiations are still under way and are facing serious difficulties. We will report to the International Development Committee once the negotiations have been concluded.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the future role of her Department's projects in Zimbabwe. [37327]

  Clare Short
  As I informed the House in April 2001, DFID withdrew from projects with the Zimbabwe Government relating to economic management because these could no longer meet their objectives. This has not impacted on levels of assistance to Zimbabwe, rather it has helped us give greater priority to humanitarian assistance and direct help for the poor.

  We have of course been preparing strategies for the post election situation and will work with others to provide support for any government committed to responsible reform. If there is no such government we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance.

  New Partnership for African Development
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to the New Partnership for African Development. [37328]

  Clare Short
  We strongly support the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) because it is an African owned and led initiative. We are continuing to work within the international community to ensure an appropriate response, including through the G8, which is preparing an Action Plan for Africa to be presented at the Kananaskis Summit.

  We are working closely with the UN Economic Commission for Africa, which has been mandated by NEPAD to develop technical proposals on governance.

  Child Poverty
  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to combat child poverty in developing countries. [37329]

  Clare Short
  We seek to reduce the poverty of children, which causes suffering to today's children and jeopardises the well being of future generations, by working to address the causes of deprivation in their communities. Support for children's rights to basic health care, education, nutrition, shelter, protection from violence and abusive labour, along with sustainable livelihoods for their parents, is central to our work towards the millennium development goals.

  We are working to energise the international system to achieve the goals. The goals include the target of, by 2015, lifting one billion people out of abject poverty, universal primary schooling, and reducing under-five child mortality by two-thirds.

  Senegal
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conclusions she has drawn from Senegal's fight against HIV/AIDS. [37331]

  Clare Short
  Senegal, like Uganda and Thailand has shown that political leadership to fighting the disease is a vital element in slowing the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries have also demonstrated the importance and effectiveness of strategies which promote awareness and behaviour change through information, education and community mobilisation; prevent infection through condom promotion and treatment of sexually transmitted infections; and support and encourage voluntary counselling and testing.

  Sub-Saharan Africa
  Mike Gapes
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's work in sub-Saharan Africa. [37332]

  Clare Short
  Sub-Saharan Africa suffers the deepest and most widespread poverty of any continent and faces the greatest challenges in meeting the Millennium Development Goals. We have significant programmes in many countries, supporting where possible nationally-owned poverty reduction strategies, both in particular sectors such as health or education, but also through direct support for national budgets. This country-level support is complemented by work at the regional and sub-regional level to help address cross-border issues such as conflict and trade. In 2000–01, total UK bilateral development assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa was £757 million, up from £445 million in 1996–97.

  Afghanistan
  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress on the reconstruction of the Afghan economy. [37333]

  Clare Short
  We continue to work with the Afghan Interim Administration (AU) to begin the reconstruction of Afghanistan, while continuing to support immediate 330W
  humanitarian assistance and quick impact recovery and rehabilitation projects. The newly established Assistance Coordination Authority in Afghanistan will be the primary focal point for co-ordination with the AU. The United Nations Development Programme currently administers the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund for the payment of civil service salaries, to which DFID has contributed over £2 million. Later this year the World bank will establish a successor trust fund. We are also participating in missions led by the International Monetary Fund to assess what support could be provided to the Ministry of Finance and the Central bank. At the Tokyo Conference on the reconstruction of Afghanistan in January 2002, I pledged £200 million from DFID's budget over the next five years for both reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.

  Hugh Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. [37336]

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. [37339]

  Clare Short
  The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains fragile and significant needs will remain for some time to come in challenging and volatile operating conditions. Due to severe weather conditions and continuing security concerns in some areas of the country, there are still pockets of un-met need where vulnerable people cannot be reached. With our support, the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies continue to do what they can to overcome these obstacles and deliver life-saving assistance to those in need. Since October 2001, a record 250,000 tonnes of food aid have been distributed to over 6 million people.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the UN Economic and Social Council report "Discrimination against women and children in Afghanistan"; and if she will adopt its recommendations in respect of UK operations in Afghanistan. [38130]

  Clare Short
  We welcome the UN Economic and Social Council's report on discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan and support its recommendations.

  We recognise the need to build the capacity of Afghanistan's women to enable them to take full part in the reconstruction of their society, including the new Interim Administration, and to ensure that legal, constitutional and other provisions are not discriminatory against women. Our funding for support of Afghan women during the recovery and reconstruction of Afghanistan is being channelled through United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations who will work closely with the Interim Administration and who have expressed a commitment to involving Afghan women in the design and implementation of their strategies and programmes.

  To date this includes an allocation of $1 million to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for a programme to support Afghan women's leadership through awareness raising, capacity building and mainstreaming of gender issues in development activities; $0.5 million to the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) for preliminary

  331W
  human rights assistance activities in Afghanistan; as well as local level, quick impact recovery projects supporting women. We are also in discussion with the Afghan Ministry for Women's Affairs on how we can provide support for its establishment and activities.

  Corruption
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures her Department is taking to help developing countries combat corruption, with particular reference to the security sector. [37334]

  Clare Short
  Our partnerships with developing countries increasingly focus on the reduction of corruption through the establishment of Anti—corruption authorities and by the tightening of financial management and budget discipline, including reducing off-budget defence expenditure; the development of procurement systems designed to ensure thorough appraisal of value for money, transparency and probity; the strengthening of parliamentary oversight mechanisms; and acceptance of a role for civil society in such scrutiny. We are also increasing our focus on Security Sector reform and full democratic accountability and transparent management of this sector.

  Medicines
  Phil Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what policies her Department is pursuing to increase access to medicines in developing countries. [37335]

  Clare Short
  We are committed to working with our developing country partners and other international organisations to address the four key factors which are recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as effecting access to medicines. These are sustainable financing, affordable pricing, reliable health and supply systems and the rational selection and use of existing drugs.

  On sustainable financing, we are supporting, with a commitment of $200 million from DFID's budget over five years, the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which will help pay for increased coverage of proven interventions for three diseases and some associated health systems strengthening.

  The Working Group on Access to medicines, which I chair is working to bring about more affordable pricing. The UK is also supporting work undertaken by the WHO, World Trade Organisation and the European Commission on drug pricing.

  We have committed over £1 billion since 1997 to strengthening developing countries' health systems, building their capacity both to deliver medicines to the poor and to make effective choices about the selection and use of drugs.

  Great Lakes Region
  Ann McKechin
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the prospects for peace and long-term development in the Great Lakes region. [37337]
  332W
  Clare Short
  The vital element in achieving peace in the Great Lakes region is the full implementation of the Arusha and Lusaka Peace Accords. The Government continue to press all parties to these agreements to honour their commitments. I was encouraged from my recent visit to the Great Lakes that there is now a window of opportunity for achieving peace, provided the commitments expressed to us by Heads of Government are translated into real action on the ground and the international community and Security Council also focus on the full implementation of Lusaka. Key will be the successful implementation of MONUC deployment into eastern DRC, and a positive outcome to the Sun City talks currently underway. Progress in the peace process will enable the international community, finally, to concentrate on a partnership with governments in the region for the long-term development of their countries—an outcome keenly awaited and much needed by the long suffering population of the region.

  Brazil
  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the UK's aid contribution is for Brazil. [37338]

  Clare Short: DFID's programme for Brazil supports the fight against poverty through promoting social inclusion, addressing inequality and fostering pro-poor, sustainable growth. The current programme is focused on reducing poverty through improved natural resource management, health and good governance, working with government, civil society and other donor partners.

  Our role, as in other Middle Income countries is to support more effective use of Brazil's resources and resources available from the EC and Development Banks for the reduction of poverty. The UK provided £7.5 million in 2001–02 for technical assistance and DFID provided approximately £2 million (in 2000) through the EC programme.

  Sustainable Fishing
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps she is taking to promote the development of a sustainable fishing policy in developing countries. [37340]

  Clare Short
  Fisheries make a vital contribution to the livelihoods and nutrition of poor people in developing countries. We are therefore pressing for improvements in international fisheries policies through the World Summit for Sustainable Development, through the review of the Common Fisheries Policy and through our contributions to the rural development and fisheries development strategies of the European Commission. More directly, we promote sustainable fisheries by helping West African countries implement the internationally agreed Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries which, if properly applied, can secure the health of fish resources and the livelihoods dependent on them.

  DFID also has an explicit objective of achieving coherence between the EU's fisheries and development cooperation policies, especially in the way in which fisheries agreements between Europe and developing countries are implemented. The transfer of excess European capacity through such agreements poses serious

  333W
  risks to fisheries in developing countries, many of whom do not have the necessary management capacity. DFID also funds research to clarify and highlight the impacts of these agreements and is pressing the EU/EC at all levels to introduce measures to safeguard both the short-and long-term interests of poor people in the countries concerned.

  World Trade
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on helping developing countries increase their trade with developed countries. [37342]

  Clare Short
  The agreement reached at the Doha WTO Ministerial defining the work programme under the Doha development agenda provides an important potential source of gains to developing countries through international trade. To ensure these gains are realised will require support for continuous improvement of developing countries' capacity to implement and negotiate various elements of international trade agreements. The UK is committed to building capacity in developing countries to increase their gains from international trading arrangements. I recently announced a package of £20 million for trade related capacity building, of which a third will be used to assist developing countries with the new capacity needs arising from the Doha agenda.

  The UK is at the forefront of efforts to ensure that trade related technical assistance by all donors and multilateral agencies is provided within a coherent policy framework, so as to avoid duplication of effort and maximise impact.

  Kenya
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on initiatives to support and promote the implementation of political reforms in Kenya. [37343]

  Clare Short
  The Kenyan Government have reappointed a Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) to make recommendations on how its constitution might be improved. The international community, including the UK, is supporting the work of the CRC and is also financing initiatives to promote civic education in Kenya. The UK and other donors are also helping to strengthen Parliament, including by building the capacity of Parliamentary committees to hold the executive to account.

  Education
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department is taking to increase the availability of primary education in the poorest countries. [37344]

  Clare Short
  We are working hard to mobilise the international development system to focus more sharply on the delivery of the commitment to universal primary education by 2015. We have made clear in all forums our view that this goal can only be achieved if primary education is free. We are also working in 29 countries to support delivery of this policy and have since 1997 committed £650 million. We will do more.
  334W
  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what recent assessment she has made of the progress being made to achieving the targets set at the World Education Forum at Dakar. [39612]

  (2) what progress is being made in achieving the goal set at the World Education Forum of free universal primary education by 2015. [39613]

  Clare Short
  There are widely different levels of progress against the millennium development goal of achieving universal primary education (UPE) by 2015. In sub-Saharan Africa an additional 88 million children will need to be enrolled in school between 1997 and 2015. This requires a threefold improvement in the rate of expansion achieved from 1990 to 1997. If the current rate of enrolment increase were to be maintained, fewer than half of the 43 countries would achieve even a gross enrolment rate of 100 per cent. by 2015 if this goal is to be achieved. Ten times the previous rate of increase will be needed in countries such as Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia and Somalia. In South and West Asia the rate of enrolment is less challenging; although the overall numbers of children out of school remains high. It is estimated that an additional 40 million children will need to be enrolled to achieve the UPE target and that this will require the same pace of enrolment increase that was achieved from 1990 to 1997.

  Achieving UPE can happen only through reform and action at the country level. But the wider international community, including bilateral and multilateral agencies, have responsibilities and roles in meeting the commitment of the Dakar Framework for Action that
  "no countries seriously committed to education for all will be thwarted in their achievement of this goal by a lack of resources".
  The international response to the Dakar commitment has been slow and has lacked effective co-ordination. At the Education for All High-Level Group meeting convened by UNESCO's Director-General in Paris last October, I presented DFID' s paper "Children out of School" which identifies the different circumstances of children who are not in school and proposes an eight-point plan of action for accelerating progress towards the 2015 target.

  The Government give high priority to addressing this challenge. We believe that UPE can be achieved by 2015 if the lessons of the past are learned and if governments in developing countries put in place the right policies, and receive appropriate external assistance. We have committed over £650 million to support the development of primary education since 1997. We will do more.

  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the proportion of Britain's aid budget which is spent on health and education; and if she will make a statement. [39614]

  Clare Short
  Health and education are key priorities for the UK's development programme. As well as being fundamental human rights, better quality of and access to health and education are essential if poor people are to benefit from globalisation. Since May 1997, DFID has committed about £800 million to support education in developing countries and over £1 billion on strengthening developing countries' health systems to deliver the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
  335W
  agreed by UN Members. Support to health and education has increased steadily as a proportion of the total programme over this period.

  In addition to this bilateral support, and the assistance we are providing to health and education through general budgetary support, DFID provides significant support to wider international efforts to tackle the global health and education dimensions of poverty. For example, we are working to ensure that the international community meets the Dakar Framework commitment that "no countries seriously committed to education for all will be thwarted in the achievement of this goal by a lack of resources". The UK also provides significant support to multilateral agencies tackling the major diseases of poverty. We have taken an active role in establishing the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria (GFATM) and pledged US $200 million over five years.

  A full report of our work on health, education and the rest of our programme can be found in our Departmental Report (the 2002 edition will appear in April). In addition, my department's education strategy paper, "The Challenge of Universally Primary Education", sets out the UK's strategy for delivering the MDG of universal primary education by 2015. Similarly, the UK strategy paper "Better Health for Poor People" details our approach to tackling health issues as part of our wider strategy to eliminate poverty. Both of these papers are available on www.dfid.gov.uk.

  Accountancy Contracts
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will publish the(a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by her Department to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997. [34990]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 896W.

  Debt relief
  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on debt cancellation for HIPC countries by multi-lateral financial institutions. [38087]

  Clare Short
  25 countries have so far qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Ghana reached its Decision Point this week, and up to five more countries could be taken by the Boards of the IMF and world bank by the end of the year. Of the 25 countries, 21 have reached Decision Point and are receiving interim debt relief and four have completed the HIPC process, and are receiving full debt relief. We hope that a further five will reach their Completion Point in the 336W
  next six months. Multilateral financial institutions account for some US$13.7 billion in net present value terms of the HIPC debt relief to these countries. The World Bank is co-ordinating this with the other multilateral financial institutions.

  Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contributions have been made to the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, broken down by country. [38108]

  Clare Short
  Pledges to date amount to over US$1.9 billion. The Department for International Development has pledged £138 million (US$200 million) over five years. Contributions pledged to the GFATM listed by country can be found on the GFATM website at:http://www.globalfundatm.org/contribute.html.

  Governments are now beginning to fulfil their pledges. To date, initial contributions have been received from Italy (US$43.25 million), Belgium (US$4.9 million) and Switzerland (US$3 million). The UK is the process of disbursing its initial contribution of £25 million. Substantial contributions from others should follow shortly. The fund expects to have around US$750 million to disburse in its first year.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the global fund for AIDS, TB and malaria concerning the aptitude of health systems to deliver programmes for the eradication of TB and malaria in developing countries. [38106]

  Clare Short
  My officials are involved in intensive ongoing discussions with the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria (GFATM). These discussions have included the issue of the capacity of health systems to deliver programmes for the eradication of TB and malaria in developing countries.

  The UK Government are strongly committed to health systems strengthening. We also believe that for GFATM to be effective it needs to focus largely on financing the purchase of drugs and commodities in order to add value to other international efforts.

  Broader systems strengthening and multi-sectoral work will continue to require substantial funds which should and will more appropriately come from elsewhere: bilateral and multilateral donors and domestic developing country resources.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her forecast spending is on the UN Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria for each of the next five years. [39468]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development has pledged £138 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria (GFATM) over five years, to be disbursed as follows.
  337W

  £ million

  2001–02

  25

  2002–03

  25

  2003–04

  25

  2004–05

  30

  2005–06

  33

  As the fund gets up and running, we will closely monitor its effectiveness and the value it adds to the international effort against the three diseases, and review our contributions accordingly.

  The Global Fund is an independent entity, which draws on the expertise of the UN specialised agencies and others. It is not a UN fund.

  Capita
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts the Department has with Capita; and how much they are worth. [38376]

  Clare Short
  We have one current contract with Capita RAS, to provide a recruitment service for Pillar IV of UNMIK Administration at a cost of £180,000.

  Advertising
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the publicity and advertising campaigns run by her Department in each of the last four years, specifying the(a) purpose, (b) cost to public funds, (c) number of staff involved and (d)/ method of evaluation in each case. [39095]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID does not run publicity and advertising campaigns.

  Deforestation
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has made to the Government of Brazil regarding the deforestation of the rain forests. [38111]

  Clare Short
  I have not made any direct representations to the Brazilian Government regarding deforestation.

  DFID's approach is to support Brazilian efforts to achieve sustainable development in the rain forest regions. Through our bilateral co-operation programme, including the G7 pilot programme to conserve the Brazilian rain forest, to which we have contributed £16 million to date, we aim to support sustainable development initiatives that respond to the development goals of Brazil and its people, particularly the poorest—and maintain environmental benefits. We do this through strengthening the capacity of Brazilian environment and development agencies, piloting new approaches to resource management and increasing knowledge and awareness of the issues.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will set out for each civil service grade within her(a) Department and (b) Department's executive agencies the (i) total number of staff employed, (ii) number aged (A) 16 to 25, (B) 26 to 35,
  338W
  (C) 36 to 45, (D) 46 to 60 and (E) over the age of 60 years, (iii) number of registered disabled and (iv) number of ethnic minorities. [39175]

  Clare Short
  The information requested is shown in the table and reflects the latest recorded position as at October 2001. Details by age grouping are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  DFID does not have responsibility for executive agencies.

  Civil Service grade

  Number of staff

  Registered disabled1

  Ethnic minorities2

  Senior Civil Service

  57

  0

  3

  Grade 6

  128

  2

  0

  Grade 7

  198

  0

  5

  Senior Executive Officer

  102

  0

  3

  Higher Executive Officer

  251

  1

  6

  Executive Officer

  270

  6

  20

  Administrative Officer

  318

  10

  38

  Administrative Assistant

  104

  3

  8

  Total

  1,428

  22

  83

  1 Based on staff who have recorded a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

  2 Based on information provided to date voluntarily by staff.

  Bolivia
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what requests she has had from the Bolivian Government for help in relation to the floods in La Paz; and what action has been taken. [38409]

  Clare Short
  We have received representations from the Bolivian Government in the aftermath of the flooding, but there was no formal international appeal. We have made an immediate commitment of £10,000 through the British Embassy in La Paz to be directed at assisting and protecting local communities to the south of La Paz which had been the most seriously affected.

  LNM Holdings
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times her Department has supported applications from(a) LNM Holdings and (b) Mr. Lakshmi Mittal for bank loans. [39141]

  Clare Short
  We are aware of four loans approved by those international financial institutions that my Department is responsible for: Ispat-Sidex in Romania (EBRD), Ispat-Karmet in Kazakhstan (EBRD and IFC), and Caribbean Ispat in Trinidad (IFC). The UK supported all these loans.

  Cameroon
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department is taking to combat urban poverty in Cameroon. [39471]

  Clare Short
  My Department does not fund any programmes to combat urban poverty in Cameroon. We contribute to poverty reduction efforts in Cameroon through our support to the forestry sector. This is in recognition of the forestry sector's importance to the Cameroonian economy and the fact that a majority of poor people live in the forest zone.

  Fair Trade
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether fair trade products are sold in her Department. [39836]

  Hilary Benn
  I am pleased to confirm that fair trade products are sold in DFID. All coffee provided for official meetings is fair trade, and fair trade coffee is available to staff from our in-house restaurant. In addition, our caterers are looking into providing additional fair trade products, and are actively promoting fair trade fortnight.

  Rural Development
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of her Department's development spending in(a) sub-Saharan Africa and (b) south-east Asia is provided to the rural sector. [39472]

  Clare Short
  In the last year my Department has committed £374.3 million to projects in support of sustainable rural livelihoods, of which 61 per cent. was in sub-Saharan Africa and 28 per cent. in south Asia.

  In addition, contributions to livelihoods in rural areas were made through funding to global public goods research, contributions to multilateral organisations, funding for national infrastructure, and as contribution to policy in support of poverty reduction, including the role of rural economies and international trade. Much of my Department's spend in areas such as education and health is also in rural areas, which reflects the higher proportion of poor people living in rural areas.

  Given the multi-sectoral, national and international nature of much of the work of my Department, it would take disproportionate time to allocate these costs against rural, regional and other spend, and therefore to present these figures as a proportion of the Department's development spending.

  Africa Private Infrastructure Financing Facility
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds have been allocated to the Africa Private Infrastructure Financing Facility; and when it became operational. [39475]

  Clare Short
  The fund, which is now known as the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), comprises both equity and loan finance. Equity is being contributed by a group of bilateral donors including Holland, Sweden and Switzerland, in addition to the United Kingdom. My Department has committed £71 million over the period to March 2004. A consortium of commercial banks is providing both senior and subordinated debt, at a current level of about £140 million.

  The first meeting of the board of the company took place on 18 December 2001 in The Hague, while the public launch occurred on 30 January 2002 in London.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects being supported by the Africa Private Infrastructure Financing Facility and indicate how much money has been allocated to each project. [39473]
  340W
  Clare Short
  The facility has now been launched as the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund. It is currently investigating a number of possible investment opportunities but, since it has been in existence for a short period of time, the board has not yet taken a decision to commit funds to any specific initiative.

  The amount of funding available for investment presently stands at over £200 million. An investment policy has been agreed with the fund managers which will ensure that the projects selected are socially and environmentally sound, and contribute to pro-poor development.

  Women
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the micro-credit agencies supported by her Department are allocated to empower women. [39470]

  Clare Short
  Most clients of micro-finance institutions are women, who use their community banks to make regular saving deposits or to take out loans to expand their manufacturing or trading micro-enterprises. Research shows that micro-finance services can have a hugely positive social and economic impact on poor and socially marginalised women.

  DFID funds many such institutions worldwide. While we do not possess detailed, disaggregated data, we estimate that 70–80 per cent. of our funding for micro-finance directly support women. Many organisations that we support explicitly target women clients. For example, BRAC in Bangladesh serves 4.3 million members, over 98 per cent. of whom are female. We are also making progress in countries where women have limited rights. Over the last five years, we supported the rapid growth of Kashf Foundation in Pakistan, a micro-finance institution dedicated to empowering women. It is entirely female-owned and managed, and serves 10,000 women.

  Likewise, in several African countries we support FINCA, which provides services almost exclusively to women. We also fund Opportunity International's network of micro-finance institutions in five African countries, serving almost 43,000 women or almost 70 per cent. of its total client base.

  Tanzania
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many letters from the public her Department has received regarding the sale of an air defence system to Tanzania. [39469]

  Clare Short
  DFID has received 94 letters from the public and 23 letters from constituents via their MPs regarding the sale of an air traffic system to Tanzania.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to her Department that have been implemented in each of the last four years, specifying(a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each. [39125]
  341W
  Clare Short
  The information requested is not held centrally and providing it would involve disproportionate cost. Regulatory impact assessments are produced for all proposals, including those originating in European legislation, likely to impose significant costs on businesses in the UK and are generally made available in the Library of the House. We do not hold information on the costs of implementation to public funds or businesses.

  Job Advertisements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the job advertisements placed by her Department in the last 12 months specifying where the advertisements were placed and the cost in each case. [39058]

  Clare Short
  The information requested on job advertisements which are place through an advertising contract, has been placed in the Library of the House. In addition, advertisements for the position of Director General (Programmes) were placed in "The Times" and "The Economist" at a cost of £11,461.

  Catering Services
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of(a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by her Department in each of the last four years. [38931]

  Clare Short
  My Department has spent the following amounts on(a), in-house canteen and (b) catering services since 1 April 1998:

  £

  In-house canteen services (a)

  Catering services (b)

  1998

  51,025.46

  15,118.02

  1999

  85,728.66

  11,242.02

  2000

  130,495.84

  18,177.59

  2001

  109,303.59

  11,363.61

  EBRD Projects
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects her Department has asked officials at the EBRD to support; and what the value of each of these projects was in each of the last five years. [39142]

  Clare Short
  The EBRD exists to help restructure the economies of former communist countries in central and eastern Europe. We support all responsible projects that serve this purpose. During the last five years for which figures are available (1996–2000) EBRD made commitments to 482 projects (total value of euro 11.7 billion).

  Lists of the projects that EBRD Directors have approved in the years 1996–2000 are available in the Annual Reports on the EBRD website www.ebrd.com. I will place a copy of EBRD's Annual Report for 2001 in the Library when it is published.

  Volunteers
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many members of her 342W
  staff in each of the past two years have been granted a day's paid leave to work as a volunteer; and if she will make a statement. [39744]

  Clare Short
  Our formal volunteering strategy was introduced in January 2001. All staff are eligible for one day's paid leave a year to allow them to take part in voluntary activities.

  I cannot provide statistics for the last two years but following the introduction of our strategy, nine staff were granted paid leave during 2001 to undertake volunteering activities. This figure excludes those staff who have used annual leave to enable them to participate in voluntary activities, or who did so out of working hours. For 2002, we have already approved three days paid leave for one individual.

PRIME MINISTER

  Prime Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Ramsbottom [37359]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no immediate plans to do so.

  City of London Corporation
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those functions, engagements and events which he, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997. [35697]

  The Prime Minister
  I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings. Since 1997, I have regularly attended the annual Lord Mayor's Banquet.

  John McDonnell
  To ask the Prime Minister what communications have taken place between himself, his Office and his advisers and the City of London Corporation in relation to the City of London (Ward Elections) Bill since May 1997. [35660]

  The Prime Minister
  I and my advisers have received representations on the importance that the City of London Corporation attach to the City of London (Ward Elections) Bill.

  Volunteers
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 701W, on voluntary work, how many members of his staff in 2001 were granted a day's paid leave to work as a volunteer. [39549]

  The Prime Minister
  Our records show that 15 staff who were part of the 2000 project with a school have continued into 2001. There are another 10 staff who have also carried out different activities, including in their local area in 2001.

  A400M
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make representations to Airbus to ensure that a British team(a) leads the planning and (b) provides the powershaft for the A400M heavy lift transport for the RAF. [40563]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government of course hope that the UK defence industry will be involved as much as possible in this project and recognise the considerable expertise that industry could bring to this project. Ultimately, Airbus Military is free to select its own suppliers on the grounds of performance and cost.

  Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Prime Minister what his objectives are for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Coolum, Australia; and if he will make a statement. [39520]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the House today.

  Fort William to London Sleeper Service
  Mr. Alan Reid
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on departmental responsibility for financial assistance for the Fort William to London sleeper service. [40083]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: The current arrangement is for the Scottish Executive to fund the franchise payments made by the Strategic Rail Authority to ScotRail, the train operating company which holds the franchise to run this service. For that purpose, the Executive receives a matching transfer of funds, under interim arrangements, from the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

  Romania
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2002,Official Report, column 1450W ref 39039, (1) whether information on the number of occasions in the past two years he has written to the Prime Minister of Romania about the award of contracts to companies with British interests is available; [40634]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2002, ref 39032, for what reason disclosure of the number of occasions in the past two years that he has written to foreign Governments about the award of contracts to companies with British interests would harm the conduct of international relations or affairs; [40636]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2002, ref 39032, whether information on the number of occasions in the past two years he has written to foreign Governments about the award of contracts to companies is available; [40635]

  (4) pursuant to his answer, of 28 February 2002, ref 39039, for what reason the disclosure of the number of occasions he has written to the Prime Minister of Romania would harm the conduct of international relations or affairs. [40637]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 February.

  British Companies
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2002,Official Report, column 1268w ref 38395, on British companies, what his criteria are for deciding whether to support British companies seeking contracts abroad. [40718]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to my previous answer.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 28 November 2002,Official Report, column 966, what discussions he has had with President Bush in relation to Iraq and the pursuit of international terrorism in all its forms. [37657]

  The Prime Minister
  I regularly discuss all aspects of Iraq policy and the campaign against terrorism with President Bush. We share the concerns of all responsible Governments about Iraq's relationship with terrorism and its development weapons of mass destruction.

  Engagements
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official engagements between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm on Tuesday 26 February. [39805]

  The Prime Minister
  As has already been made public I was meeting the heads of all the Regional Development Agencies.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Departmental Staff
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people her Department employed in each of the past seven years; how many of those employees worked on(a) a part-time basis and (b) a full-time basis; and if she will make a statement. [38132]

  Dr. Howells
  The information is set out in the table.

  Average staff in post

  Full-time

  Part-time

  1995

  363

  354

  9

  1996

  350

  339

  11

  1997

  344

  331

  13

  1998

  364

  339

  15

  1999

  375

  358

  17

  2000

  405

  382

  23

  2001

  456

  433

  23

  My Department supports a range of work patterns, including part-time, intended to help staff better manage their work and other responsibilities.

  Volunteers
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many members of her staff in each of the past two years have been granted a day's paid leave to work as a volunteer; and if she will make a statement. [39747]
  345W
  Dr. Howells
  My Department does not have a central record of the number of staff who have been granted a day's paid leave to work as a volunteer over the past two years. The Department supports voluntary public service and encourages its staff and managers to take advantage of the extra day's paid annual leave, and other special leave arrangements, which are in place for those who wish to undertake such work.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will answer the question tabled on 22 January Ref. 279, in regard to the New Year's festivities at the Millennium Dome; and if she will make a statement. [39393]

  Dr. Howells
  This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. The hon. Gentleman's original question (29586) was transferred to his Department and I understand that he will be replying today.

  Aldeburgh Festival
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the work of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival Trust; and what financial assistance and support her Department is giving to the festival. [39543]

  Dr. Howells
  The funding of arts festivals is a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. I understand that East England Arts is working closely with the Aldeburgh Poetry Trust to bring about sustainable growth in its activities. The Trust is in the first year of a three year funding agreement with East England Arts which will provide investment of £41,388 over the three years 2001–04.

  Gambling
  Mr. MacDougall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what(a) economic and (b) other evaluation has been made of the impact of the independent review of the gambling controls in Great Britain on holiday resorts. [40505]

  Mr. Caborn
  We intend, when announcing our conclusions on the report of the Gambling Review Body, to publish a partial regulatory assessment which will provide an overall assessment of the benefits and costs of the recommendations in the report for the gambling industry and the economy as a whole.

  Mr. MacDougall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed in the manufacture of gaming machines in Great Britain. [40506]

  Mr. Caborn
  Evidence submitted by the industry to the Gambling Review Body indicated that about 1,800 people are directly employed in the manufacture of gaming machines in Great Britain.
  346W
  Mr. MacDougall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the number of jobs created by the gaming industry in each of the last three years. [40524]

  Mr. Caborn
  This information is not collected. The available information indicates that about 95,000 are currently employed in the gambling industry as a whole.

  Mr. MacDougall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the framework used in the independent review of the gambling controls in Great Britain. [40544]

  Mr. Caborn
  We hope to be able to announce our conclusions on the report of the Gambling Review Body within the next few weeks.

  Lottery Funds
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Department has to ensure that unused Lottery money is allocated in the next six months. [40633]

  Mr. Caborn
  All the income received by the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) is allocated to the distributing bodies. At the end of December 2001, commitments by the distributing bodies to projects totalled approximately £3.82 billion, some £290 million more than the NLDF balance at the same date.

  The Government are working with the distributing bodies to ensure not only that Lottery funds are committed to projects, but that this money is paid over to project operators as quickly as reasonably possible so that good causes derive the greatest possible benefit from the funds raised by the Lottery. We will set out our proposals in more detail in due course.

  Rail Journeys (Staff)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy that rail journeys undertaken by staff in her Department should ordinarily be on standard class tickets. [40436]

  Dr. Howells
  DCMS travel and subsistence rules encourage staff to use Standard Class travel wherever possible. To obtain best value for money management of the policy is delegated to line management who are responsible for authorisation and economical management of all official travel. While first class travel is permitted for some grades many of them travel at standard class unless, for example, they need extra space or comfort to work during travel.

  Capita
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list all contracts awarded by her Department to Capita since 1997, including(a) start and finish date of contract, (b) value of contract, (c) description of work to be carried out, (d) evaluation mechanism for successful delivery of contract, (e) penalty charges for failure to deliver and (f) if penalty charges have been incurred; and if she will make a statement. [40488]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The information is as follows.
  347W

  Capita

  £

  Year

  1998–99 (January-April 1998)

  Recruitment of Chairman and Members—New Opportunities Fund

  14,000

  1998–99 (January-April 1998)

  Recruitment of Chairman and Trustees—National Endowment for Science and Technology (NESTA)

  13,000

  1998–99

  Recruitment for BBC Appointments

  12,000

  2001–02 (October-November 2001)

  Training for Recruitment Scheme—Middle and Senior Managers

  17,000

  2001–02 (February-March 2002)

  Providing and Marking Standard Civil Service Written Tests

  1,000

  2001–02 (November 2001-February 2002)

  Civil Service Junior Manager Recruitment Scheme

  8,000

  Total

  65,000

  Note:

  Includes Royal Parks (nil return)

  For each contract, DCMS appoints a "Performance Monitoring Officer". His/her satisfaction is the benchmark for success.

  There have been no "penalty charges"—but failure to deliver might lead to the contract being determined, moneys being withheld from the contractor, or the employment of a replacement contractor at the outgoing contractors expense.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Building Research Establishment
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports she has received from the Building Research Establishment on the disposal of the Building Research Establishment library stock. [36478]

  Mr. Wilson
  This is a matter for the Building Research Establishment. However I have asked them to write to my hon. Friend and I have received no formal reports from BRE on the disposal of its library stock.

  Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the membership of the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network; and what its terms of reference are. [37747]

  Mr. Wilson
  The membership of the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network (AFEN) varies over time. The most recent list of members is:Agip (UK) Ltd., Amerada Hess, British Gas E&P Ltd., BP Amoco, Chevron UK Ltd., Conoco (UK) Ltd., Department of Trade and Industry, Enterprise Oil plc, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Phillips Petroleum Company UK Ltd., Scottish Executive—Environment and Rural Affairs Department (Fisheries Research Services), Shell UK Exploration and Production, Statoil and Texaco North Sea UK.

  AFEN has a Mission Statement rather than "Terms of Reference". AFEN's Mission Statement is:
  "The Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network will co-operatively work as an industry to understand the key aspects of the Atlantic Frontier region environment and implement
  348W
  monitoring programmes and protection measures necessary to minimise or eliminate adverse impact. The strategy will be implemented by:
  Reviewing, investigating and understanding the natural and physical environment of the Atlantic Margin including:

  Seabed sediments and topography

  Hydrographic phenomena

  Benthic Fauna

  Fishing and associated resources

  Sea mammals, particularly large cetaceans Seabirds.

  Identifying parts of the environment vulnerable to routine Exploration and Production operations and planning pollution prevention or minimisation strategies. Operations would include:

  Seismic

  Drilling

  Production

  Decommissioning

  Assessing the risks and possible impacts of unplanned or emergency pollution incidents and implementing response plans.
  Developing a wider dialogue and consensus with local communities and parties with a legitimate interest in the offshore environment of the Atlantic Margin."

  Development
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often the Department has applied the special urgency provisions in paragraph 22 of Circular 18/84 (Development by Government Departments) to a development by the Department; and if she will make a statement. [38708]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department has not applied the special urgency provisions of DOE Circular 18/84 since it took over overall responsibility for the property management of its estate in April 1996. The DTI does not hold centralised property records prior to 1996.

  Electricity
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role she or her officials will play in the DTI study into the electricity transmission and distribution system's resilience; if it will be an independent study; and when and to whom the consultants will report. [39196]

  Mr. Wilson
  The study has been commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry. It is being carried out by the independent consultants British Power International (BPI), who were appointed following a competitive tender exercise. They are managed by a
  349W
  project management team consisting of officials from the Department's Energy Group and a representative from Ofgem. BPI will produce a report for DTI ministers in April 2002. Ministers' role will be to decide on what follow-up action is appropriate.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received concerning extending the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme to retail businesses; and if she will make a statement. [39814]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have received representations from a variety of bodies over a period of time about the reintroduction of retailing as an eligible business activity under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme.

  The Scheme is currently being considered as part of the DTI's wider review of business support.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the role of her Department in the operations of small business/Europe, with respect to(a) policy formation, (b) lobbying and (c) personnel. [39645]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Small Business Service of the Department of Trade and Industry manages the contract under which small business/europe operates. Small business/europe is, however, a private company that determines its own policy formation and lobbying strategy through consultation with other UK SME representative organisations, trade associations and small and medium sized businesses themselves. The Director of small business/Europe, Ben Butters, is responsible for personnel for the organisation.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on planned funding arrangements for small business/Europe over the medium term. [39659]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Small business/europe has full Government funding for the first two years of operation and thereafter must find an increasing proportion of its funding from private sources as the funding from the Small Business Service of the Department of Trade and Industry is reduced.

  LNM Holdings
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions took place between her Department and other Government Departments on the takeover of Sidex Steel by LNM Holdings. [38850]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Discussions took place between Trade PartnersUK and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what employer recruitment subsidies have been put in place to support those made redundant from Corns in(a) Wales and (b) the UK as a whole. [39811]
  350W
  Ms Hewitt
  None. Redundant Corus workers, in Wales and the UK as a whole, were offered help to find new employment through the Job Transition Service (now called the Rapid Response Service) which is designed to match worker's skills to local job vacancies. In some circumstances, where the eligibility criteria are met, newly redundant workers have early entry to the national new deal programme that offers a wide range of options, including employer subsidies—designed to encourage the employment of the long term unemployed.

  Correspondence
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 22 January regarding the construction industry. [38456]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The reply in question has been signed by myself and forwarded to my hon. Friend prior to the tabling of his question.

  Volunteers
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of her staff in each of the past two years have been granted a day's paid leave to work as a volunteer; and if she will make a statement. [39745]

  Ms Hewitt
  All members of staff in my Department have the right to one day's special leave with pay per year to undertake voluntary activity for the benefit of the wider community.

  The granting of paid time off for voluntary activity is delegated to line management level and figures are not held centrally.

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to locate a respiratory specialist in Merseyside to assist with medical assessments of former miners seeking compensation. [38347]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: There are now almost 1,560 claims in respect of living miners registered in Merseyside. Centres have been positioned geographically in areas of high concentration of claimants and where respiratory specialists are available to staff the centres. Claimants are usually invited to attend a test centre within a 25-mile radius from their residence. The centres Merseyside claimants will be directed to are Wrexham, Wigan and Manchester. These are considered to be adequately close to service the needs of Merseyside claimants. However, claimants are given the option to attend a different centre if a more suitable time is available. For those claimants who are not able to travel to a centre, and have a letter from their doctor, Healthcall, the company contracted to undertake the Medical Assessment Process, MAP, can carry out home visits. Where there are pockets of claimants outside the 25 mile radius of a test centre, but insufficient numbers to set up a permanent centre, one of the mobile testing units will be used to assess these claimants.
  351W
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in processing miners' compensation claims in(a) the UK, (b) the north-east, (c) south Tyneside and (d) the Jarrow constituency. [39617]

  Mr. Wilson
  IRISC, the Department's claims handlers, have made the following interim and full and final settlements to date:

  Region

  Number of interim payments

  Number of full and final payments

  Damages paid (£ million)

  Respiratory disease

  (a) UK

  31,163

  12,920

  172.6

  (b) North-east

  5,929

  1,627

  36.6

  (c) South Tyneside

  499

  184

  2.8

  (d) Jarrow

  121

  55

  0.7

  Vibration White Finger

  (a) UK

  41,883

  22,577

  396.2

  (b) North-east

  9,171

  5,167

  97.4

  (c) South Tyneside

  982

  305

  9.2

  (d) Jarrow

  249

  102

  2.5

  There has been some good progress lately, particularly in relation to respiratory disease. In January alone, over 2,800 full and final offers, excluding expedited offers, were made worth £21.1 million in relation to respiratory disease. With regards to Vibration White Finger, 3,200 offers have been made in January, worth £29.5 million.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many outstanding claims for miners' compensation there are in(a) the UK, (b) the north-east,(c) south Tyneside and (d) the Jarrow constituency. [39616]

  Mr. Wilson
  IRISC, the Department's claims handlers have registered the following number of claims and made the following settlements:

  Region

  Number of claims

  Number of full and final payments

  Number of denied/withdrawn claims

  Number of outstanding claims

  Respiratory disease

  (a) UK

  131,731

  12,920

  3,584

  115,227

  (b) North-east

  26,635

  1,627

  572

  24,436

  (c) South Tyneside

  2,368

  184

  40

  2,144

  (d) Jarrow

  607

  55

  9

  543

  Vibration White Finger

  (a) UK

  111,644

  22,577

  4,510

  84,557

  (b) North-east

  20,677

  5,167

  931

  14,579

  (c) South Tyneside

  1,916

  305

  67

  1,544

  (d) Jarrow

  519

  102

  17

  400

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates have been made about the future potential of CHP in sectors of the economy, with particular reference to industry, in the Department's report, Long-Term Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the UK, from the Inter-departmental Analysts Group chaired by the Department. [39383]

  Mr. Wilson
  The report by the Inter-departmental Analysts Group makes a number of references to the future potential for CHP and micro CHP in all sectors of 352W
  the economy to contribute to savings in greenhouse gas emissions. For the industry and services sectors this (technical) potential is incorporated within the estimates for potential savings from improved energy efficiency. That potential has been considered on the basis of a scenario approach to 2050, explained within the energy efficiency sections of the paper prepared by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and specifically in annexes C and D. Overall, the report suggests potential for CHP to provide up to 25 per cent. of electricity generation for industry and services by 2050. The full report is found at http://www2.dti.gov.uk/energy/greenhousesgas/index.htm.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will revise the sustainable development guidelines to reflect the Government's target to double the UK use of combined heat and power by 2010. [39980]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department has not issued any guidelines on sustainable development. However the DTI's Sustainable Development Strategy was published in October 2000 and is available on the DTI website. The Government remain committed to supporting CHP and my Department is working with colleagues in DEFRA and industry to improve the economic conditions for CHP and we are actively contributing to the development of the Government's CHP strategy.

  E-mail
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the common position on Directive COM2000/0385, with particular reference to the compromise agreed on Article 13 regarding unsolicited e-mail marketing; [39458]

  (2) if she will include an opt-in system for e-mail marketing in the Government's transposition of the E-commerce Directive. [39457]

  Mr. Alexander
  At the Telecoms Council on 6 December last year, member states and the Commission reached political agreement on the draft Communications Data Protection Directive, including the provisions on unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) in Article 13, where the issue has been whether UCE should be subject to opt-in rules, under which it could only be sent with the prior consent of the addressee, or member states should have discretion to apply opt-out rules, under which UCE can be sent unless the addressee has objected, either to e-mails from a particular sender or on a blanket basis by registering on a central opt-out list.

  The Commission's original proposals produced a very divided response, and at the council, a compromise was agreed. Under this, the general principle would be opt-in, but with an opt-out exception for e-mail sent in the context of an existing customer relationship provided, among other things, that the sender has obtained the addressee's contact details in accordance with existing data protection rules. The UK supported this compromise wording at the council, and we believe it offers a sensible and workable regulatory approach. The draft Directive is now going through second reading procedures in the European Parliament.
  353W
  The Government will shortly be publicly consulting on draft Regulations implementing the E-Commerce Directive.

  Regulatory Impact Unit
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of staff her Department employs in its regulatory impact unit; and if she will make a statement. [39976]

  Ms Hewitt
  Two members of staff currently work in the departmental regulatory impact unit (DRIU). Of the two staff, one member works full-time and the other member spends three days of the week with the DRIU team. A new full-time member of staff will be heading the DRIU team from Wednesday 20 March. In addition there are 11 members of staff who work in the Small Business Service on better regulation for small business across Government.

  Export Promotion
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the level of support provided for UK export promotion by the Government; and what information she has collated on the level of support provided by other members of the European Union. [40257]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Government funding for trade development and promotion is the responsibility of Trade Partners UK, an arm of British Trade International which is a joint operation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Trade and Industry. Programme funding for 2001–02 is £68 million. For a more detailed breakdown of Government support for trade development and promotion, please refer to the Expenditure Plans Reports of British Trade International (Cm 5123), the Department of Trade and Industry (Cm 5112), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Cm 5110) and British Trade International's Resource Accounts for 2000–01 (HC 526).

  The export support provided by members of the European Union is broadly similar to that provided by Trade Partners UK. However, member states use different management systems and structures to provide their export promotion services, which make direct comparisons between individual countries very difficult.

  Gas Supplies
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish a list of the priority end users under the network gas supply emergency procedure. [40051]

  Mr. Wilson
  DTI does not hold copies of these lists. As the procedures to which my hon. Friend refers state, these lists are held and maintained by Transco Local Distribution Zones. The lists are kept up to date locally with advice from gas shippers and suppliers to ensure that the details are as accurate as possible.

  The prioritisation process was agreed after an extensive public consultation period. As the Network Gas Supply Procedures make clear, the first priority is to maintain domestic supply. If it is possible and necessary to
  354W
  implement the priority gas consumer arrangements, generally speaking, hospitals and those caring for the sick will receive priority.

  I have placed copies of the categorisation of priorities in the Libraries of the House.

  Credit Union
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has commissioned to(a) assess the potential contribution of the credit union movement to financial inclusion for disadvantaged households and (b) assess the role credit unions might have in progress towards meeting the objectives of the Government's fuel poverty strategy. [40070]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department has not commissioned research on credit unions. Officials have participated in the steering group of a research project commissioned by Ofgem under its Social Action Plan, and sponsored by Innogy, which includes a study of the feasibility of promoting credit unions as part of a wider strategy to tackle fuel poverty. The report on this work, "Ending Financial Exclusion and Fuel Poverty—A Factor 4 Approach" was published by Ofgem on 5 March.

  Parliamentary Question
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will reply to the question from the hon. Member for Cynon Valley of 15 October 2001 (Ref 6545). [40380]

  Nigel Griffiths
  My response of 15 October 2001,Official Report, columns 981–82W said:
  "Inquiries are being made and I shall respond to my hon. Friend as soon as possible".

  I am now in a position to respond and apologise for the delay in doing so. Details of all export licensing decisions taken between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 2000 were set out in the Government's 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 annual reports on strategic export controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Libraries of the House.

  Components and associated equipment for armoured vehicles are controlled under entries ML 1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6, ML11, ML13, ML 15 and ML17 in Part 3 of Schedule I to the Export of Goods (Control) Order, commonly known as the Military List. From 1 January 2001 to 24 January 2002, 69 SIELs and no OIEL were issued covering the export of items with the relevant ratings. During that same period one SEIL and one OIEL application were refused. In addition 22 SIEL and one OIEL applications were still awaiting a decision as of 24 January 2002.

  In addition, goods on the Military List may have been exported to Indonesia since May 1997 under certain open general export licences; copies of all open general export licences are placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Information relating to licences for components and associated equipment for specific armoured vehicles is confidential information, which is exempt from disclosure under Part 2, sections 1, 13 and 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  EU Delegations (Scottish Ministers)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a Scottish Executive Minister will be a member of the UK delegation to the forthcoming Research European Union Council of Ministers meeting on 11 March; and what information is being provided by her Department to guarantee effective pre-council scrutiny by the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament. [40320]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: My noble Friend the Minister for Science normally attends Research European Union Council of Ministers meetings for the UK. A Scottish Executive Minister will not be a member of the UK delegation to the Research Council meeting on 11 March. It is the responsibility of the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament to scrutinise the Scottish Executive's involvement in preparations for EU Council meetings. These arrangements are a matter for the Committee and the Scottish Executive. My Department provides information to Scottish Executive officials as part of that process. In developing the UK Government's position on European research issues, the Office of Science and Technology regularly consults the devolved administrations.

  Owner

  Name

  Location

  Distillation capacity1

  Shell UK Ltd

  Stanlow

  Ellesmere Port, South Wirral

  11.5

  Esso Petroleum Co. Ltd

  Fawley

  Southampton

  15.6

  BP Ltd.

  Coryton

  Stanford-le-Hope, Essex

  9.6

  Grangemouth

  Grangemouth, Stirlingshire

  10.1

  TotalFinaElf Ltd.

  Lindsey

  Killingholme, North Lincolnshire

  10.0

  TotalFinaElf Ltd./Murco Ltd.

  Milford Haven

  Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire

  5.3

  Conoco Ltd.

  Killingholme

  Killingholm, North Lincolnshire

  9.4

  Texaco Refining Co. Ltd.

  Pembroke

  Pembroke, Pembrokeshire

  10.1

  Petroplus International Ltd.

  North Tees

  Port Clarence, Cleveland

  5.0

  Three smaller specialist refineries at Harwich, Eastham and Dundee do not directly produce road transport fuels, and have a combined distillation capacity of 2.3 million tonnes per annum.

  The output of refined road transport fuels at each location is commercially sensitive, but some information is available on the UK Petroleum Industry Association website www.ukpia.com.

  For the UK as a whole, provisional data for 2001 was made available on the DTI Internet site at the end of February 2002. This indicates that total intake to petroleum refineries in 2001 was 82,323 thousand tonnes, from which a total production of Motor Spirit (petrol) of 21,455 thousand tonnes and Gas diesel oil of 26,564 thousand tonnes was obtained, of which 15,045 thousand tonnes was road diesel (DERV).

  According to the Annual Business Inquiry for 2000 carried out by the Office for National Statistics, a total of 13,799 people are employed in the oil refining sector in Great Britain. This survey does not identify employment at individual refinery level for confidentiality reasons, and we have not been able, in the time available, to identify publicly available data at individual refinery level on employment numbers.

  Rail Journeys (Staff)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy that rail journeys undertaken by staff in her Department should ordinarily be on standard class tickets. [40430]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department's policy on travel is set out in its staff handbook "The Guide" which states:Need for economy (minimum expenses rule)
  Staff travelling on official business must take advantage of any cheap facilities which may be available (e.g. special offers, day returns or season tickets) wherever practical. Line managers and staff should keep total expenses to the minimum, consistent with efficiency.

  Road Transport Fuels
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the(a) names, (b) locations, (c) owners, (d) total output of refined road transport fuels and (e) number of employees of each of the oil refineries in UK. [39853]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The following table is taken from the 2001 Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics, published by the DTI in July 2001.

  Information and Consultation
  Linda Perham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government intends to implement the European Directive on Information and Consultation. [40975]

  Alan Johnson
  The directive will be formally adopted in the coming weeks. Each member state will then have three years to bring into force the necessary implementing legislation. We will be consulting in due course on how best to implement it in the UK.

  Sellafield
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the incident involving rods being taken out of the reactor core at Sellafield on 8 February. [40077]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: The four reactors at BNFL's Calder Hall power station have been shut down for a prolonged period while BNFL undertakes work to review the safety of defuelling activities at the station. This follows the incident that occurred at the Chapelcross power station (which is similar in design to Calder Hall) where the grab on the hoist inside the defuelling machine failed causing the basket to detach

  357W
  from the hoist and some fuel rods to fall down the discharge well into a water filled fuel transport flask at the bottom of the well.

  In accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII), BNFL is currently carrying out work to recommission the fuel discharge route for the four reactors at the Calder Hall power station. This is part of the planned return to service of the reactors. The recommissioning process provides for particularly careful oversight of these operations in order to ensure that no problems arise as a result of any plant modifications that may have been made during the shutdown.

  With NII's agreement, BNFL started to carry out some defuelling of Reactor I at Calder Hall as part of that recommissioning process. On 8 February 2002, the first 24 fuel rods had been safely removed from the reactor and were in a fuel basket inside the defuelling machine. The fuel basket was about to be lowered in the normal way when it unexpectedly descended partway down the discharge well before stopping. The basket remained attached to the hoist and all the fuel remained inside the basket within the containment of the fuel discharge route.

  BNFL reported the event to the NII on 8 February. The NII observed the subsequent operation to recover the basket by manually lowering it down the discharge well into the flask. This operation was completed on 10 February and the fuel was removed in the normal way. There was no health risk either to members of the public or to personnel on site at any stage.

  Defuelling at Calder Hall has been suspended until BNFL reports the outcome of its internal investigation and completes any requirements for remedial action to the satisfaction of the NII.

  Fuels Market
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to introduce a regulator for the UK downstream fuels market; and if she will make a statement. [39854]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The Government have no such plans.

  Post Office
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the external financing limit target of the Post Office was in(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01; whether it was met; and what proportion of post tax profit the external financing limit represented in each year. [40555]

  Mr. Alexander
  As set out in the White Paper: "Post Office Reform: A World Class Service for the 21st Century", the Government replaced the setting of external financing limits with a new regime based on commercial dividends. No external financing limit was therefore set in respect of the years 1999–2000 and 2000–01.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the external financing limit target of the Post Office is in(a) financial year and (b) 2002–03;and whether expects those targets to be met. (40556)
  358W
  Mr. Alexander
  As set out in the White Paper: "Post Office Reform: A World Class Service for the 21st Century", the Government replaced the setting of external financing limits with a new regime based on commercial dividends. No external financing limit was therefore set for the current financial year or will be set for 2002–03.

  Postal Services
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she will make to the Postal Services Commission in order to ensure the continued availability of postal services in rural areas. [38674]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is in regular contact with the Postal Services Commission. The Government have enshrined the universal postal service in legislation. The Postal Services Commission therefore has a primary statutory duty to ensure provision of a universal postal service. It also has a duty to have regard to the interests of individuals residing in rural areas. In exercising its functions Postcomm must act in accordance with all its statutory duties. These duties provide for continued provision of postal services in rural areas.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Incinerators
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the waste-burning incinerators that are being used in the Greater London area. [37263]

  Mr. Meacher
  The table details the waste incinerators currently regulated by the Environment Agency in the Greater London area.

  Company

  Location

  Incinerator type

  Johnson Matthey

  Enfield

  Chemical waste

  Clinical Energy

  Hillingdon

  Clinical waste

  London Waste Ltd.

  Edmonton

  Municipal waste

  Thames Water

  Beckton

  Sewage sludge

  SELCHP

  Deptford

  Municipal waste

  Thames Water

  Crossness

  Sewage sludge

  Reichhold (UK) Ltd.

  Mitcham

  Process water from polymerisation process

  Smaller facilities are regulated by local authorities. Each year my Department surveys the 32 London boroughs and the Corporation of London seeking information on the number of incinerators they regulate. 27 authorities responded this year. In total, these 27 authorities regulated 20 crematoria and five other waste incinerators. Rounded up to the 33 authorities, this relates to 23 crematoria and six other incinerators.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to(a) monitor and (b) reduce harmful emissions from municipal incinerators. [39212]
  359W
  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Emission standards apply throughout the EU to municipal solid waste incineration facilities (MSWI's), both old and new. Enforcement action will be considered where monitoring reveals breaches of these standards.

  MSWI's are required to operate in accordance with best available techniques (BAT). The Environment Agency provides guidance to operators on how to achieve this. This identifies requirements for incinerators' design and operation. To ensure effective destruction of pollutants; residence time, temperature and turbulence are strictly controlled. The Agency is currently updating this guidance and I understand that an early consultation draft has also been placed on the Agency's website.

  Additionally the Environment Agency has recently varied the authorisations for existing MSWI's to reduce the dioxin emission limit to 0.1 ng/m3.

  We are currently transposing the new waste incineration directive, which will further tighten emissions standards. The older generation of incinerators has now been replaced with newer, cleaner technology, and most municipal waste incinerators in this country already meet the tough standards that will be introduced with the new directive. Incinerator emissions of all air pollutants are now less than 1.5 per cent. of total UK emissions.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the frequency and methodology of sampling for dioxin emissions at the SELCHP incinerator. [38829]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Dioxin emissions from SELCHP are regularly monitored by the operators on a six-monthly basis to check compliance with the EU-wide emission standards.

  Additionally, the Environment Agency carries out independent check monitoring at a minimum frequency of once per year. All monitoring results, including those carried out by the operators, are available on public registers held at the offices listed.

  The emissions monitoring methodology is based on US Environmental Protection Agency Method 23. This requires samples to be taken over a period of six to eight hours, at a variety of locations in the stack. Samples are then removed for laboratory analysis using sophisticated and time consuming techniques.

  Public registers containing monitoring results for SELCHP are available at:

  London Borough of Lewisham Laurence House

  1 Catford Road

  Catford

  and

  The Environment Agency Swift House

  Frimley Business Park Frimley

  Surrey.

  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the level of dioxin emissions from the SELCHP incinerator. [38826]
  360W
  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Dioxin emissions have been regularly monitored at SELCHP for the last eight years, both by the operator and by the Environment Agency, to check compliance with EU-wide emission standards. Level of dioxins monitored at SELCHP over the last four years are given in the table:

  Reporting period

  Dioxin level at stack 1 ng/m 3

  Dioxin level at stack 2 ng/m3

  Monitoring body

  November 2001

  0.031

  0.008

  EA

  September 2001

  0.003

  0.008

  SELCHP

  April 2001

  0.015

  0.012

  SELCHP

  January 2001

  0.06

  0.14

  SELCHP

  November 2000

  0.01

  0.0098

  EA

  September 2000

  0.025

  0.034

  SELCHP

  March 2000

  0.008

  0.009

  SELCHP

  September 1999

  less than 0.01

  less than 0.01

  SELCHP

  April 1999

  0.005

  0.005

  SELCHP

  October 1998

  0.005

  0.005

  SELCHP

  September 1998

  0.007

  less than 0.01

  SELCHP

  March 1998

  0.0

  0.01

  SELCHP

  December 1997

  0.01

  0.02

  EA

  September 1997

  0.02

  0.01

  SELCHP

  The dioxin emission limit for SELCHP was reduced from 1.0 ng/m3 to 0.1 ng/m3 in October 2000.

  The result recorded for Stack 2 for January 2001 is numerically above this limit, although the inherent uncertainty of measurement at these very low levels is such that the true concentration cannot confidently be said to be above the limit. Nevertheless, in view of this uncharacteristic result, the Environment Agency required further monitoring which was carried out in April 2001 as shown in the table above. A note was placed on the public register stating, for the January 2001 results:
  "The reported results for dioxins on stream two are shown to be slightly in excess of the recently reduced limit of 0.1 ng/m3. In view of the uncertainty reported for this result, the exceedance is not considered as a breach of emission limits. Retests are being carried out this will be discussed with the operator."

  Public registers containing monitoring results for SELCHP are available at:

  London Borough of Lewisham

  Laurence House

  1 Catford Road

  Catford

  and

  The Environment Agency

  Swift House

  Frimley Business Park

  Frimley

  Surrey.

  Fuel Poverty
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the most recent available information is on the extent of fuel poverty in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; what sources have been used to calculate latest statistics; and what progress has been made in reaching a common agreed definition of fuel poverty that can be used on a UK-wide basis. [38212]
  361W
  Mr. Meacher
  The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy was published in November last year. Copies have been placed in the Library.

  It is estimated that in 2000 there were 2.8 million households in fuel poverty in England, when fuel poverty is defined as occurring when a household needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income on all fuel use to achieve a satisfactory heating regime (where income includes housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest). Using the alternative definition of income (excluding housing benefit and income support for mortgage interest) it is estimated that there were 3.9 million households in fuel poverty. These estimates are based on the 1998 Energy Follow Up Survey taking account of changes in income and energy prices between 1998 and 2000. The method and data sources used to produce these figures are set out in "Fuel Poverty in England in 1999 and 2000" available at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/fuelpoverty/index.htm which can be accessed via www.defra.gov.u1c/environment/energy/fuelpov/index.htm.

  Fuel poverty is a devolved issue and it is for the Devolved Administrations to comment on their most recent available information, an agreed single definition of fuel poverty is not possible until Wales and Scotland have completed a consultation exercise. However, it is the Government's intention to move to a UK-wide definition in the medium term.

  Agriculture Council
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a Scottish Executive Minister will be a Member of the UK delegation to the Agriculture European Union Council of Ministers meeting on 18 February; and what information is being provided by her Department to permit pre-council scrutiny by the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament. [38037]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 27 February 2002]: Scottish Executive Ministers did not attend the February Agriculture Council as there was nothing on the agenda of specific interest to Scotland. On the second point, the Department does not provide pre-council briefing direct to the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

  End user emissions from transport by gas, MtC

  Gases

  Base year

  2000

  2005

  2010

  2015

  2020

  Carbon dioxide

  39.1

  40.0

  42.9

  45.4

  47.7

  50.1

  Methane

  0.2

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  0.1

  Nitrous oxide

  0.4

  1.3

  1.8

  2.0

  2.1

  2.3

  HFCs

  0.0

  0.1

  0.2

  0.4

  0.4

  0.5

  Total GHGs

  39.7

  41.6

  44.9

  47.8

  50.4

  53.0

  Change from 1990 levels (percentage)

  —

  5

  13

  20

  27

  33

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will investigate the use of the enhanced capital allowance scheme to encourage greater take-up of energy efficiency equipment and methods for(a) retail/commercial, (b) individual and (c) domestic applications. [39379]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Carbon Trust will soon take over the management and promotion of the Government's
  362W

  Composting
  Andrew Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects a national composting standard to be put in place. [38402]

  Mr. Meacher
  Comprehensive standards for compost are a top priority for developing markets for organic waste derived products. They will be vital in achieving both local authority statutory targets for recycling and composting and our obligations under the landfill directive to reduce the landfill of biodegradable municipal waste.

  The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) are currently working with the Composting Association to develop the existing industry standard for compost, launched in 2000, to achieve British Standards Institute (BSI) accreditation. The first stage is the development of a BSI Publicly Available Specification (PAS) which WRAP anticipates will be available in autumn 2002.

  Traffic Emissions
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what predicted levels of emissions from traffic the Government are using over(a) five (b) 10 and (c) 20 years periods to meet the Kyoto and successor protocols. [39840]

  Mr. Meacher
  The latest set of projections was published in the UK's Third National Communication on Climate Change in October 2001. The table provides details of end user emissions from the transport sector. The end user classification re-allocates emissions from the energy supply sector so that a more complete picture is given of transport's contribution to the UK's greenhouse gas emissions. Road transport accounts for over 90 per cent. of the total level of carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector.

  The projections include the effect of the fuel duty escalator to 1999, but they do not include the estimated carbon savings from the EU-level voluntary agreements with car manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars by 2008–09 or from the 10-Year Plan for Transport. We estimate that the voluntary agreements will save 4 MtC and that the 10-Year Plan will save 1.6 MtC in 2010.

  enhanced capital allowance scheme for energy saving technologies. As part of its responsibilities, the Carbon Trust plan to carry out surveys and stakeholder investigations to assess the impact of the scheme. The retail and commercial sector will be among those which will be invited to participate.

  Enhanced capital allowances relieve business expenditure against profits for tax and do not apply to private and domestic expenditure.
  363W
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives exist for installation of energy efficiency equipment to enable the introduction of measures to control plant more efficiently and effectively. [39380]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government are committed to encouraging the installation of energy efficiency equipment through the enhanced capital allowance scheme. The scheme was set up in April last year and provides a fiscal incentive for business to purchase and install energy saving technologies. The Carbon Trust will soon take over the management of the enhanced capital allowance scheme and the Government's energy efficiency best practice programme—that offers businesses advice regarding energy efficient and low carbon technologies.

  In addition the Energy Saving Trust provides advice and information to the domestic sector.

  Flooding
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government plan to increase the amount of flood defence funds for coastal communities this year; and if she will make a statement. [39401]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government are committed to sustaining flood and coastal defences and have increased spending plans in both of their spending reviews and again following the severe flooding in autumn 2000. Recognising the severity of the 2000 floods the Government announced a further £51 million over the period to 2003–04.

  DEFRA's funding is set to increase from an outturn of £66 million in 2000–01 to £106 million in 2002–03 and £114 million in 2003£04. The amounts allocated to coastal and tidal river defences within these totals will depend on decisions by the operating authorities (Environment Agency and local authorities) on priorities for reduction of risk from flooding and coastal erosion and timing of works.

  EU Vessels
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs further to his answer 364W
  of 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 271W, on EU vessels, how many vessels, operating under non-EU flags of convenience but owned by Community companies, receive Community financial support for activity other than modernisation grants. [39754]

  Mr. Morley
  This information is not available.

  Aquatic Pursuits
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date each Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee of the Environment Agency last discussed improving access to water for non-powered craft. [39477]

  Alun Michael
  The dates that each of the Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees of the Environment Agency last discussed improving access to water for non-powered craft are as listed.

  North—23 January 2002

  Anglian—12 January 2000

  Thames—28 January 2000

  Southern—27 January 2000

  South west—21 January 2000

  Midlands—18 January 2000

  North West—21 January 2000

  Wales—27 January 2000.

  Ancient Woodland
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what planning proposals she has to protect ancient woodland. [40353]

  Ms Keeble
  I have been asked to reply.

  The review of Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 9 on Nature Conservation will present an opportunity to consider guidance on trees and ancient woodlands, including areas of ancient woodland that are not designated as sites of special scientific interest.

  My Department will also provide any planning advice that is required in respect of the proposed best practice guidance on forestry and woodlands, and in the updating of Circular 36/78 on Trees and Forestry.

WALES

  Cynon Valley
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last discussed the future development of the former phurnacite plant site in the Cynon Valley with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales; and what conclusions were reached. [40529]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet regularly with the First Minister when we discuss a range of issues affecting Wales.

  The former Phurnacite plant at Abercwmboi is presently the subject of a mediation process led by the Environment Council. The process is trying to establish whether it is possible for interested parties to reach agreement on how remediation of this site, and the adjoining Ancit plant site, might be taken forward. No decisions on the future use of the site will be taken until the mediation process is completed later this year.

  Fair Trade
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether fair trade products are sold in his Department. [39839]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  No. My Department has no shops or other outlets where such products could be sold.

  External Contracts
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with his Department(a) won new contracts at the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) won new contracts after a period of inactivity with his Department in each of the past five years. [38721]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: There have been no such cases since the creation of the Wales Office in July 1999. For the former Welsh Office, the information requested is not readily available and the question can be answered only at disproportionate cost.

  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by his Department from(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date, indicating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed. [38722]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: For the former Welsh Office (covering the period until June 1999) the information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Since its creation in July 1999 the Wales Office has continued these contracts which it inherited from the former Welsh Office:

  Cleaning by Appointment (office cleaning)

  Securicor Guarding (out-of-hours security)

  Government Car and Despatch Service (Ministerial cars)

  Sykes and Sons (flying of flags).

  366W
  It has also had a contract with The Bridge to provide counselling services in connection with the North Wales Child Abuse Tribunal.

  The value of these contracts is commercially confidential.

  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations have won new contracts with(a) his Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years. [38720]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: For the former Welsh Office the information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The Wales Office, since its creation in July 1999, has only continued existing contracts inherited from the Welsh Office.

  Sports
  Dr. Francis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the development of centres of sports excellence in Wales. [34844]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with the First Secretary and his Cabinet colleagues to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales.

  Wales already has 42 Centres of Regional Excellence and over 170 Centres of Local Development. I understand that the Sports Council for Wales has developed a set of criteria for prioritising the specialist facilities needed by governing bodies of sport.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters were received by(a) the Secretary of State for Wales and (b) the Under-Secretary of State for Wales in each month since July 1999. [30626]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information is contained in the table:

  Letters received by:

  Secretary of State

  Under-Secretary State of State

  Inter- departmentals

  July 1999

  21

  7

  360

  August 1999

  206

  68

  327

  September 1999

  174

  58

  559

  October 1999

  173

  57

  636

  November 1999

  138

  46

  981

  December 1999

  115

  38

  602

  January 2000

  75

  26

  870

  February 2000

  106

  35

  720

  March 2000

  102

  34

  925

  April 2000

  70

  24

  592

  May 2000

  84

  28

  587

  June 2000

  72

  24

  625

  July 2000

  65

  22

  620

  August 2000

  64

  22

  506

  September 2000

  49

  17

  389

  October 2000

  39

  13

  540

  November 2000

  52

  17

  759

  December 2000

  13

  5

  469

  January 2001

  2

  —

  405

  February 2001

  29

  4

  454

  March 2001

  34

  10

  703

  April 2001

  16

  10

  368

  May 2001

  17

  4

  326

  June 2001

  11

  —

  183

  367W

  Letters received by:

  Secretary of State

  Under-Secretary of State

  Inter-departmentals

  July 2001

  19

  2

  546

  August 2001

  28

  1

  346

  September 2001

  25

  1

  306

  October 2001

  30

  5

  581

  November 2001

  33

  2

  620

  December 2001

  13

  6

  439

  January 2002

  35

  2

  340

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Millennium Dome
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total(a) costs and (b) revenue were of the (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 new year's eve functions held at the Millennium Dome; how the events were planned; how the contracts were negotiated; with whom contacts were entered into; if similar events are planned at the Millennium Dome in the future; what the costs for maintaining the Dome and the surrounding site were for each of the past 24 months; and if he will make a statement. [29586]

  Ms Keeble
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) was responsible for the Dome up to the end of June 2001. English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001.

  The new year's eve events in 2000 and 2001 were both held by the Ministry of Sound.

  NMEC received £90,900 from the Ministry of Sound in connection with the new year's eve 2000 event which included payments to cover incremental costs totalling £40,900. NMEC bore costs of £11,000 directly related to the event and the Ministry of Sound met additional costs itself. The event was carefully planned by staff at the Dome and representatives of the Ministry of Sound over a period of several weeks, resulting in an agreement between NMEC and the Ministry of Sound. The event took place in the "Skyscape" building situated on land adjacent to the Dome.

  For the 2001 new year's eve event in the Dome, English Partnerships received a total payment of £219,125 from Ministry of Sound—£75,000 as a basic hire charge and the remainder as a share of ticket revenue. In addition, Ministry of Sound paid for all the costs of organising the event.

  The records of NMEC show that maintenance costs for the Dome and site (in £000s) as borne by NMEC were as follows (calculated on a cash paid basis):

  £000

  2000

  January

  2,078

  February

  1,897

  March

  2,013

  April

  1,868

  May

  1,956

  June

  1,802

  July

  1,937

  August

  1,705

  September

  1,306

  October

  1,492

  368W

  £000

  November

  1,388

  December

  1,543

  2001

  January

  280

  February

  352

  March

  357

  April

  662

  May

  773

  June

  -630

  July

  59

  August

  121

  September

  -498

  October

  82

  November

  28

  December

  14

  The figures for 2000 include insurance. The available figures for 2001 do not include insurance. It is estimated that the element of NMEC's insurance for 2001 which related to the Dome and site was approximately £700,000. It is not possible to apportion this to individual months. The figures for the last six months in 2001 relate to outstanding invoices and rebates for the first half of the year.

  Since English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001, their total running cost1 expenditure incurred (in £000s) in relation to the Dome, broken down by month and calculated on an accruals basis, has been2

  £000

  July

  223

  August

  238

  September

  220

  October

  229

  November

  275

  December

  266

  All these costs will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.

  As regards the future use of the Dome, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Stewart) on 18 December 2001, Official Report, columns 220–21W.

  English Partnerships have been asked to explore further short-term events at the Dome and have received a number of approaches for events during 2002, on which discussions are continuing.
  1 Includes rates, utilities, security and maintenance, and EP staff costs on management and maintenance of the Dome.
  2 Subject to any reassessments by the relevant authorities, of rates or other charges included in the cost of managing and maintaining the Dome.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will provide a breakdown of the monthly costs of maintaining the Millennium Dome until the contract with Meridian Delta has been completed, including(a) the cost of staff, advisers and details of their responsibilities, (b) maintenance and (c) other costs. [32805]
  369W
  Ms Keeble
  Since English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001, their total running cost1 expenditure incurred in relation to the Dome, broken down by month and calculated on an accruals basis, has been2

  £000

  July

  223

  August

  238

  September

  220

  October

  229

  November

  275

  December

  266

  During 2001 English Partnerships also incurred £6.1 million on decommissioning the Dome contents in preparation for a future use and £2.2 million in relation to the current sale process. The cost of the previous competition to find a long-term use for the Dome, which began in March 1999 and ended at the beginning of 2001, was £6.7 million.

  All these costs will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.

  I will be pleased to write to the hon. Member informing him of monthly running costs figures in arrears, until the proposed deal with Meridian Delta Ltd is concluded.
  1 Includes rates, utilities, security and maintenance, and EP staff costs on management and maintenance of the Dome.
  2 Subject to any reassessments, by the relevant authorities, of rates or other charges included in the cost of managing and maintaining the Dome.

  Strategic Rail Authority Strategic Plan
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional private investment is expected under the Strategic Rail Authority Plan between 2001–02 and 2011–12 in addition to the £16 billion in infrastructure enhancement and £7 billion in new trains, referred to on page 25 of the Strategic Rail Authority Strategic Plan. [37523]

  Mr. Jamieson: The strategic plan states that the total amount of private sector investment leveraged by this plan is expected to be very similar to that envisaged in the 10-Year Plan.

  This investment will cover enhancements to the network, new rolling stock, infrastructure renewals, additional freight infrastructure and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

  Railtrack
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects Railtrack to complete its asset register. [37243]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In April 2001 the Rail Regulator amended Railtrack's network licence to require the company to create a complete and accurate register of the condition, capacity and capability of its assets. Railtrack is required to produce regular plans detailing how the company expects to ensure it has access to and knowledge 370W
  of its assets. The next set of plans is due to be submitted to the regulator in April 2002, covering development of the register over the next two years.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2002,Official Report, column 376W, on Railtrack, how much public lending is being made available to remunerate these professional advisers. [39418]

  Mr. Jamieson
  No public lending is being made available.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 783W, on Railtrack, if he will provide an updated schedule of the financial support given to the Railtrack administrator. [39424]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Approximately £1.8 billion has been made available under the commercial loan agreement.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2002,Official Report, column 1188W, on Railtrack, what assessment of those examples of companies limited by guarantee listed was carried out by his Department; and if he will place all related documentation in the Library. [40269]

  Mr. Jamieson: The outline proposal for a company limited by guarantee (CLG) as a possible successor to Railtrack was developed with regard to the model used for Glas Cymru and a variety of other organisations. No assessment of these organisations was carried out because the model needed to be developed to apply to the particular circumstances of the rail network operator, as outlined in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 23 October 2001, Official Report, columns 195–97W.

  Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 783W, from which budgets or revenue sources additional finance could be granted to Railtrack in an interim review. [40290]

  Mr. Jamieson: Neither the outcome of any interim review nor the appropriate budget sources can be anticipated in advance.

  London Underground
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the increase in 2000 prices for fares in the London Underground in each of the last 10 years. [37229]

  Mr. Spellar
  London Underground advise that data covering the complete range of individual ticket types available can be provided only at disproportionate cost. It has, however, produced the following table, which gives the increase in fares, in year 2000 prices, based upon revenue per passenger journey.
  371W

  Revenue per passenger journey at 2000 prices (£)

  Percentage change from previous year

  1990–91

  0.911

  —

  1991–92

  0.945

  3.80

  1992–93

  0.996

  5.40

  1993–94

  1.05

  5.40

  1994–95

  1.108

  5.60

  1995–96

  1.114

  0.60

  1996–97

  1.151

  3.30

  1997–98

  1.165

  1.30

  1998–99

  1.18

  1.20

  1999–2000

  1.175

  -0.40

  2000–01

  1.164

  -0.90

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the safety case which the Health and Safety Executive is required to produce for the London Underground PPP when the London Underground is transferred to Transport for London and the Greater London Assembly. [40342]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Health and Safety Executive (HSE) assesses and considers safety cases for acceptance. It is for London Underground Ltd. to submit to HSE any material revision to its railway safety case that may arise from the transfer of the underground to Transport for London. The HSE has not yet received any revision to this effect.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the terms of reference of the original contract relating to the value for money assessment on the PPP carried out for his Department by Ernst and Young; and whether the contract allowed the specification of the final report to be altered by(a) his Department and (b) Ernst and Young (i) before and (ii) after it was written. [40341]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 23 November 2001,Official Report, column 493W. The terms of reference referred to in that answer were final and did not change, with the single exception of the deadline by which Ernst and Young were to report. This was necessarily tied to London Underground's own timing on its evaluation of bids.

  Housing Benefit
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it his policy to pay housing benefit for council tenants on the same basis as for tenants of registered social landlords; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the current arrangements in this regard. [38092]

  Ms Keeble: The differences between the financial arrangements for local authorities and registered social landlords are largely a reflection of the fact that council housing finance regime is operated as a national system which seeks to share out the available resources as fairly as possible. We have no plans to change that.

  M11 Link Road
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what applications for compensation arising from the building of 372W
  the M11 Link Road were received by the Highways Agency; how much has been allocated for payment of such compensation; and if he will make a statement; [38997]

  (2) how much was allocated to Transport for London to cover compensation commitments of the Highways Agency arising from the building of the M11 Link Road; and if he will make a statement. [38998]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Papers relating to this scheme have been passed to Transport for London. However, it is unlikely that any claims for compensation for injurious effect by business or residents were received by the Highways Agency, since these must be made between one and six years after completion of the scheme.

  The Agency made provision of £19.8 million, over the period 2000–01 to 2004–05, for compensation claims in relation to road schemes transferring to Transport for London. The bulk of this amount related to the Hackney/M11 Link Road.

  These estimates were taken into account by Ministers in determining and making provision for GLA transport grant, which is a block grant paid for the purposes of Transport for London.

  Traffic
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what predicted traffic rates over the next(a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years the multi-modal studies are using. [39841]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The multi-model studies do not use a pre-determined rate of traffic growth. Each study makes its own estimate of how traffic will grow in its study area over the study period. In each case, account is taken of study-specific factors such as changes in the numbers and location of households and workers, the level of current and future congestion, the availability of alternative modes of transport and the implementation of local demand restraint measures.

  Bridges (Somerset)
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what grants have been made available to North Somerset council for bridge strengthening and related works in each of the last three years. [38459]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The Government are committed to halting the deterioration in local road conditions by 2004 and to eliminating the backlogs in carriageway, footway, bridge and street lighting maintenance by 2010. Over £30 billion for local road maintenance will be provided over the next 10 years, an extra £9 billion (41 per cent.) above the funding levels in the previous 10 years—an increase of 23 per cent. in real terms. This extra money will allow us to tackle the substantial backlog in local road maintenance due to past under-investment.

  North Somerset council have received the following grant allocations for highway maintenance and bridge strengthening works over the last three years. The figures for the financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02 have been allocated under the Local Transport Plan process. However

  373W
  the allocation given for the preceding year 1999–2000 was administered under the previous Transport Policies and Programmes process.

  Highway maintenance and bridge strengthening

  Allocation

  £000

  1999–2000

  686

  2000–01

  895

  2001–02

  3,173

  Railway Industry
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 791W, on the railway industry, up to what total amount the Government will guarantee these loan facilities. [39423]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The guarantee will be sufficient, within the limits of the state aid clearance, to cover principal, interest and other fees and expenses under the facility.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2002,Official Report, column 589W, on railway policy, what non-public consultation took place on the change of structure in his Department. [40271]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This was an internal management matter of re-allocation of resources in response to changes in demand. No other consultations took place.

  Shoreham Port Authority
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the occasions on which he has declined to reappoint members of the board of Shoreham port authority or declined to confirm candidates nominated. [39241]

  Mr. Spellar
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Airport Security
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many people were employed in the UK to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports in each year since 1990; [40260]

  (2) what investigations are made into the background of potential staff employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports; [40263]

  (3) what recent assessment the Government have made of the pay levels for people employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports; [40259]

  (4) what recent discussions he has had with companies in the air transport industry regarding the pay associated with those employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports; [40264]
  374W
  (5) what recent estimate the Government have made of (a) the turnover of staff employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports; and (b) the impact this has on the security of airport baggage; [40261]

  (6) what training is required for staff employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports. [40262]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department is responsible for prescribing the security measures required at UK airports and for monitoring compliance. Our measures are implemented by the aviation industry, under the requirements of legally binding directions.

  Directions have been issued to all UK airports and airlines operating in the UK relating to, among other things, the recruitment and training of staff involved in specified security duties. The specified duties include the screening of baggage. In respect of recruitment, the criteria for security staff require a five year employment record check and a counter terrorist check. Our training directions require staff to undergo appropriate training modules applicable to the security functions they will be undertaking. These requirements apply regardless of whether the airports/airlines use directly employed security staff, or those of private security companies who they have engaged as agents.

  Airports, airlines, and security firms are private companies and staffing matters, including pay issues, numbers of staff engaged, and staff turnover, are entirely management issues for those companies. We therefore do not collate figures on total staff numbers or turnover.

  Motor Vehicles
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February, 2002 Official Report, column 871W, on motor vehicles, why data have not been included for the (a) Craigleith, (b) Moredun and (c) Newington wards. [40023]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The answer of 25 February said that the vehicle data were available for analysis only by pre-1996 definitions of Scottish wards. Edinburgh constituencies did not include Craigleith, Moredun or Newington wards under this definition.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many motor vehicles are licensed for use on Britain's roads. [40210]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The number of motor vehicles licensed in Great Britain in September 2001, the latest data available, was 29,676,258.

  Pilots
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the(a) years and (b) pilotage areas of serious pilotage errors since 1980; and how many inquiries have been (a) instituted, (b) completed and (c) published. [40200]

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

  Airports
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which consultants have been commissioned in the SERAS study of the economic and environmental impacts of airport expansion; and which studies have been commissioned that are independent of the aviation industry and the Government. [40074]

  Mr. Jamieson
  At various stages of the SERAS technical work the following consultants have been commissioned to support the core economic and environmental appraisal of a wide range of options:

  Halcrow Group Ltd (also acting as the managing consultants of the SERAS study), Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Co Ltd, CAA Environmental Research and Consultancy Department, AEA Technology Environment and Qinetiq (formerly DERA).

  The SERAS study has been undertaken for the Government alone, advised by a reference group comprising a wide range of external representatives, including regional and local government, environmental organisations and airport consultative committees, as well as aviation industry interests.

  I am unaware of the details of other independent studies.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how the SERAS study of the environmental impact of airport expansion reflects criticisms of Leq as a noise measure by the Terminal Five Inquiry report; and how the study will incorporate noise disturbance above the World Health Organisation target level (50dB Leq) but below the primary measure of 57dBLeq. [40071]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The SERAS study uses Leq as the primary measure for daytime aircraft noise as, on the basis of available evidence, it is the most appropriate single index of the overall noise climate. The study will include information about noise impacts down to the 54 Leq level, as stated in the appraisal framework published in November 2000.

  Further research has been commissioned to reassess attitudes to aircraft noise. This was announced in May last year and underlines the Government's commitment to underpin our policy on aircraft noise by substantial research.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what account is being taken in the SERAS study of the environmental impact of airport expansion of(a) ozone emissions, (b) sulphur dioxide emissions and (c) carbon dioxide. [40072]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Appraisal Framework for Airports in the South East and Eastern Regions of England published in November 2000 following widespread consultation, sets out the indicators used for assessing impacts of airport development options in the SERAS study.
  376W
  The study has included an assessment of the impact on carbon dioxide emissions under a range of future scenarios. Ozone and sulphur dioxide emissions were not assessed.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what methodology is being employed in the SERAS study of the employment effects of airport expansion to capture the impact of(a) labour scarcity, (b) housing scarcity in the South East of England and (c) employment in the regions. [40073]

  Mr. Jamieson
  An appraisal of the employment impacts arising from a wide range of airport development options has been undertaken in SERAS. The objective has been to identify demands on the local labour and housing markets and to assess any resulting urbanisation pressures. The broad appraisal methodology is set down in The Appraisal Framework for Airports in the South East and Eastern Regions of England published in November 2000. The regional airport studies have assessed the effects on employment in the regions of a range of scenarios relating to airport capacity in the South East.

  Departmental Expenditure Limits
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to amend his departmental expenditure Limits and running cost limits for 2001–02. [40185]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Departmental expenditure limits and the administration costs limit are amended throughout the year according to need and the parliamentary timetable for Supplementary Estimates. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions announced changes for 2001–02 in written answers on 22 June 2001,Official Report, columns 12–13W, 28 November 2001, Official Report, columns 948–52W and 13 February 2002, Official Report, columns 398–401W. There are no plans for further changes until the end of the financial year.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the allocations of capital housing expenditure for each year since 1992 for each London borough broken down into(a) repairs to local authority property, (b) repairs to regulated social landlord property, (c) new local authority build and (d) new regulated social landlord property. [40181]

  Ms Keeble
  The total allocations made by central Government to London boroughs to support their housing capital programmes in the years since 1992–93 are given in the table. Apart from the major repairs allowance (MRA), which was introduced in 2001–02 to provide resources to meet the on-going capital costs of maintaining the council housing stock, the resources are not generally allocated for particular types of expenditure. Details of the MRA allocations are available in the Library.
  377W

  Housing capital allocations to London boroughs, 1992–93 to 2002–03

  £000

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  London total

  539,255

  529,146

  422,485

  410,295

  391,598

  326,985

  390,237

  399,263

  613,482

  730,034

  736,701

  Barking and Dagenham

  7,675

  6,832

  5,470

  5,558

  6,091

  6,294

  9,741

  9,550

  15,720

  20,053

  20,738

  Barnet

  10,245

  11,687

  10,742

  9,033

  9,367

  6,602

  7,380

  6,957

  10,186

  14,323

  15,354

  Bexley

  5,250

  4,767

  3,626

  3,659

  3,157

  3,525

  4,456

  3,113

  2,665

  2,494

  2,607

  Brent

  20,543

  16,379

  14,875

  16,656

  16,286

  14,159

  14,656

  13,877

  21,309

  25,514

  24,322

  Bromley

  10,599

  8,163

  5,454

  5,053

  4,124

  3,137

  2,931

  2,911

  3,342

  2,678

  3,074

  Camden

  25,100

  24,495

  18,700

  18,019

  16,977

  13,428

  18,072

  19,450

  32,394

  41,010

  39,817

  City of London

  705

  862

  697

  836

  632

  548

  620

  597

  1,050

  2,015

  2,060

  Croydon

  20,395

  23,105

  19,088

  17,542

  16,975

  11,362

  9,088

  10,082

  13,900

  17,001

  17,802

  Ealing

  20,191

  16,610

  13,278

  14,077

  11,882

  10,556

  12,352

  12,504

  19,406

  24,045

  23,634

  Enfield

  19,480

  15,989

  11,620

  10,630

  9,876

  8,009

  8,336

  7,801

  10,368

  14,563

  15,890

  Greenwich

  15,973

  22,136

  18,706

  18,615

  16,770

  13,430

  14,393

  16,952

  28,142

  31,907

  31,652

  Hackney

  29,834

  29,700

  23,538

  26,531

  25,960

  20,256

  22,370

  25,166

  37,481

  40,199

  42,735

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  18,007

  16,817

  13,442

  14,296

  14,144

  11,914

  13,572

  15,782

  23,844

  26,134

  24,887

  Haringey

  27,894

  23,661

  19,749

  18,404

  15,777

  13,928

  15,887

  15,809

  28,199

  32,667

  34,258

  Harrow

  7,440

  7,600

  5,933

  5,750

  5,137

  4,031

  4,011

  3,878

  6,430

  8,407

  8,648

  Havering

  6,926

  6,053

  4,878

  4,372

  3,716

  3,371

  4,400

  4,507

  6,548

  11,309

  11,707

  Hillingdon

  14,445

  16,924

  13,042

  12,439

  11,383

  7,854

  7,464

  7,798

  11,481

  14,127

  13,923

  Hounslow

  15,825

  13,919

  11,819

  11,628

  10,717

  7,757

  8,252

  7,685

  11,098

  15,531

  15,673

  Islington

  27,161

  24,166

  20,970

  19,651

  16,629

  15,084

  18,862

  18,150

  28,557

  38,297

  40,237

  Kensington and Chelsea

  12,445

  11,325

  9,296

  10,142

  10,504

  8,053

  9,899

  10,625

  16,395

  18,727

  17,829

  Kingston upon Thames

  5,282

  4,305

  3,842

  4,730

  4,417

  3,166

  3,399

  3,238

  4,428

  5,903

  6,351

  Lambeth

  30,781

  32,885

  22,841

  20,167

  20,578

  17,849

  24,073

  23,762

  37,832

  46,329

  45,168

  Lewisham

  16,180

  18,376

  14,728

  14,499

  15,062

  14,298

  19,574

  22,135

  32,410

  36,837

  35,394

  Merton

  7,602

  7,734

  6,149

  6,287

  5,671

  4,474

  5,014

  5,282

  6,492

  7,728

  8,163

  Newham

  22,534

  30,483

  26,452

  23,266

  24,459

  19,876

  22,536

  20,441

  36,127

  39,475

  41,826

  Redbridge

  9,695

  9,271

  8,216

  7,201

  6,631

  5,317

  5,875

  5,643

  6,593

  8,490

  8,539

  Richmond upon Thames

  9,715

  7,493

  6,883

  6,896

  6,674

  4,857

  5,020

  4,287

  5,697

  2,930

  3,243

  Southwark

  24,596

  25,370

  17,484

  18,859

  19,414

  20,129

  27,752

  29,229

  45,946

  52,921

  54,739

  Sutton

  5,475

  5,273

  4,981

  4,973

  5,093

  4,145

  4,662

  5,281

  6,063

  8,646

  8,847

  Tower Hamlets

  20,674

  21,623

  16,620

  15,083

  14,056

  13,611

  21,211

  21,907

  34,594

  37,844

  39,244

  Waltham Forest

  20,365

  14,134

  9,726

  9,995

  9,949

  8,749

  11,557

  12,933

  22,418

  24,834

  23,666

  Wandsworth

  28,186

  25,809

  19,022

  17,024

  16,252

  13,874

  18,006

  16,330

  20,832

  27,896

  26,937

  Westminster

  22,038

  25,196

  20,620

  18,424

  17,238

  13,342

  14,816

  15,601

  25,535

  29,197

  27,737

  Note:

  Excluding funding for Estate Action, which is now part of the Single Regeneration Budget, and Arms Length Management Organisations.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the value was of the Government's local government financial settlement for Cities of London and Westminster for each year from 1978–79 to 2001–02; and what the percentage increase was in each year. [40186]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Information on allocations to individual authorities in years before 1990 is no longer held centrally. The table gives figures for Standard Spending Assessments (SSA) for the two authorities from 1990–91 to 2001–02, and the percentage increase in each year after adjusting for changes in function or funding responsibilities:

  SSA £ million

  Increase per cent.

  City of London

  1990–91

  41.6

  —

  1991–92

  42.7

  2.5

  1992–93

  44.5

  4.2

  1993–94

  48.3

  10.2

  1994–95

  69.9

  44.6

  1995–96

  65.9

  -6.3

  1996–97

  62.1

  -5.9

  1997–98

  63.0

  1.2

  1998–99

  46.3

  -26.6

  1999–2000

  48.2

  4.2

  2000–01

  49.2

  3.1

  2001–02

  50.8

  3.4

  2002–03

  54.6

  9.0

  378W

  SSA £ million

  Increase per cent.

  Westminster

  1990–91

  172.2

  —

  1991–92

  210.3

  22.1

  1992–93

  228.0

  8.4

  1993–94

  221.4

  1.3

  1994–95

  220.3

  -1.6

  1995–96

  241.8

  2.4

  1996–97

  241.3

  -1.8

  1997–98

  249.4

  2.0

  1998–99

  232.6

  -8.0

  1999–2000

  244.8

  5.2

  2000–01

  257.1

  5.4

  2001–02

  275.3

  7.2

  2002–03

  290.3

  8.4

  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the increase in(a) standard spending assessment and (b) council tax between the previous and current financial years was for the Cities of (i) London (ii) Westminster. [40179]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The table shows the increases in standard spending assessments (SSA) after adjusting for changes in function or funding responsibilities and own band D Council Tax between the previous (2000–01) and current (2001–02) financial years.
  379W

  Authority

  2000–01 £

  2001–02 £

  Percentage increase

  City of London

  SSA

  49.1221

  50.7791

  3.4

  Own band D council

  525

  548

  4.4

  Tax

  —

  —

  —

  Westminster

  SSA

  256.8271

  275.2851

  7.2

  Own band D council

  235

  259

  10.2

  Tax

  —

  —

  —

  1 £ million.

  Rail Punctuality
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason(a) his Department and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority do not (i) hold centrally, (ii) collate, (iii) make publicly available and (iv) place in the Library the monthly figures on the punctuality of train operating companies as published at mainline stations. [40272]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The punctuality of the train operating companies and the rail network is measured using the Public Performance Measure (PPM). PPM data are published quarterly by the SRA, are placed in the Library and on the SRA website. The next publication on 18 March will include information on individual train operating companies. The information on train punctuality and reliability published by train operating companies at mainline stations is Passenger Charter data.

  PPM replaced the Passenger's Charter as the means of measuring passenger train performance in June 2000 to provide better information on the actual performance of Britain's passenger rail. It combines figures for punctuality and reliability into a single performance measure. It covers all scheduled services, seven days a week. It measures the performance of individual trains against their planned timetable.

  Passenger Charter forms the basis of season ticket refunds. It only covers some trains, broadly defined as weekday am and pm peak services in the south-east and all day Monday to Saturday elsewhere. There are some variations between train operating companies.

  Railway Investment
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total public sector investment in the railways was in 1995–96; and what it will be in 2010–11 in real terms based on 2001 prices. [40204]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Total investment in rail in 1995–96 was around £1.25 billion in 2000–01 prices which, within a mainly public sector rail industry, was all classified as public sector investment. Through the 10-year Plan, total investment in rail in 2010–11 is projected to be £3.6 billion in 2000–01 prices, of which £0.95 billion is estimated to directly funded public sector investment.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if his Department has conducted a sensitivity analysis on the impact of changes to the rate of return required by private sector investment in the 10-year plan. [40231]
  380W
  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department has not carried out such an analysis.

  Rail Safety
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much his Department has spent on rail-related safety issues in each of the last three years. [40226]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Total rail safety expenditure by Government and the rail industry is not recorded in a manner to allow spending on safety to be identified separately. Much transport expenditure simultaneously delivers improvements in safety as well as other benefits.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the ratio between total rail safety spending in the United Kingdom and the number of passenger and freight journeys each year. [40228]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None.

  Road Network
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he plans to privatise the main road network. [40286]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Private companies have had an important role in road building and maintenance for many years and the 10-year plan assumes that around 25 per cent. of new investment by value will be funded by the private sector. However there are no plans to transfer ownership of the road network to the private sector.

  Spring Supply Estimates
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what purpose item lxxiv on page 8 of the Spring Supply Estimates is being transferred. [40235]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The purpose for which item lxxiv on page 8 of the Spring Supplementary Estimates 2001–02 is being transferred is explained in item lxxxii on page 9 of those estimates.

  Western Region Trains
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the Passengers Charter measuring points are for train(a) punctuality and (b) performance on the Western Region franchise. [40306]

  Mr. Jamieson
  First Great Western single, return and weekly season ticket holders are compensated for journeys that are delayed by one hour or more. The threshold for compensating other season ticket holders is below 88 per cent. for punctuality and 98.2 per cent. for reliability.

  Traffic Management
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department makes of the impact of traffic management schemes in London on overall traffic flows. [39977]
  381W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Assessment of the impact of traffic management schemes in London is the responsibility of Transport for London and the boroughs.

  The Department makes forecasts of overall traffic flows, using the National Transport Model, and outputs from TfL's London Transportation Studies model. These are strategic models and do not represent every investment in the transport network in detail. In general, individual traffic management schemes are too small to be represented in either model and their impacts are modelled by the Department in aggregate.

  High Hedges
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken on legislation to control the nuisance caused by Leylandii and other high hedges. [40258]

  Ms Keeble
  The Government will introduce legislation giving local authorities the power to deal with complaints about high hedges as soon as there is space in the parliamentary timetable. We supported the Private Member's Bill on this issue introduced by the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor) in the last session of Parliament and were disappointed that the Bill failed to complete all its stages before the election.

  Guidelines commissioned by my Department, which provide an objective method for assessing whether high hedges block out too much light to adjoining properties, were published on our website in December. These guidelines are likely to be a factor for local authorities to take into account when determining complaints under a future statutory scheme. In the meantime, we want to encourage people to apply the guidelines and use the results to settle disputes with their neighbours amicably. We are preparing a leaflet specifically designed for this purpose, which we expect to launch in the spring.

  Road Accidents
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the annual cost of road crashes including those crashes not reported to the police. [40549]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The value of prevention of injury accidents reported to the police in 2000 is estimated to be £12,170 million. A further £4,790 million is attributed to damage only accidents which are generally not reported to the police.

  Electoral Register
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will provide advice to local authorities on the supply of copies of electoral registers following the judgment in the Robertson case; and if he will make a statement. [40367]

  Dr. Whitehead
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: The Robertson case raises complex and difficult legal and policy issues in relation to the sale of electoral registers which we and the Electoral Commission are currently considering very carefully. It is for the Electoral
  382W
  Commission to issue advice to local authorities in this matter and it has already posted interim advice on its website.

  Traffic Congestion
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how the Galileo navigation system may be deployed to tackle road traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement. [40309]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: How and when Galileo could be deployed to help tackle road traffic congestion will depend on timing and technical decisions yet to be taken.

  Satellite navigation is used as an embedded technology in many intelligent transport systems (ITS) such as in-car navigation, passenger and traffic information, vehicle tracking and fleet management systems. It has the potential to he used in road user charging.

  At present ITS use data from the US Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. The European Commission has proposed that Galileo be developed as an independent satellite navigation system but inter-operable with GPS. The Transport Council on 26 March is expected to take decisions on the development and validation phase (2002–05) of Galileo. Subject to this work, further decisions would be required to proceed to deploy Galileo and begin operation in 2008. In principle, therefore, Galileo and GPS could jointly provide a navigation service from that date.

  School Bus Schemes
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to implement fully the provisions of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations in respect of yellow school bus schemes; and if he will make a statement on reasons for which the pilot schemes were exempted from the regulations. [40769]

  Ms Keeble
  The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations apply to new vehicles used on local or scheduled services where passengers are carried at separate fares. The key features of the yellow bus scheme are that it is only open to children and non-fare paying adults, that each child has a designated seat, and that the scheme is being monitored by my Department. Exemptions were given from two provisions of the regulations dealing with route and destination information, and improved seat dimensions. The exemptions will be reviewed in the light of the results of the monitoring. The vehicles comply with all other aspects of the regulations.

  Structure Plan (Gloucestershire)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Third Review of the Structure Plan in Gloucestershire. [40708]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: Gloucestershire county council have started the process of reviewing their structure plan, following the adoption in November 1999 of Gloucestershire Structure Plan 2nd Review to 2011. The county put out an Issues Paper for consultation, between 12 February and 30 March

  383W
  2001. Responses to the Issues Paper were considered by the county in July 2001. A Draft Deposit Plan is due to be published during winter 2002. Further details for the structure plan timetable are yet to be confirmed.

  Private Finance (Merseyside)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of local private sector participation in the Merseyside Objective 1 1994–99 programme with reference to the role outlined in the Single Programming Document. [38365]

  Ms Keeble: The involvement of the private sector was positively encouraged as part of the partnership implementing of the 1994–99 Merseyside Objective 1 programme, and a representative from the Liverpool chamber of commerce was appointed as the private sector co-ordinator to the programme. The financial tables in the programme also included a private sector contribution and we expect this to be fully delivered.

  Congestion Charging
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will approve the general plan for the spending of the net proceeds from the proposed London congestion charging scheme. [41286]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today approved the general plan.

  In deciding to approve the plan, my right hon. Friend has had regard to the relevant statutory requirements. In particular, paragraph 16(1) of Schedule 23 to the GLA Act 1999 provides that "the net proceeds of the scheme shall, during the scheme's initial period 10 years beginning with the coming into force of the scheme be available only for application for relevant transport purposes". And "relevant transport purpose" is defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 23 as "any purpose which directly or indirectly facilitates the implementation of any policies or proposals set out in the Mayor's transport strategy". Paragraph 16(5) of Schedule 23 provides that "the net proceeds of charging schemes may only be applied for purposes which provide value for money".

  My right hon. Friend has had regard to all the representations to Ministers about the general plan including those set out in the letter of 2 November 2001 from Councillor Kit Malthouse of the City of Westminster to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also had regard to those representations about the general plan submitted to Transport for London (TfL), to TfL's report which they submitted to the Mayor on 8 February about those representations, and to the Mayor's comments on them set out in his letter of 18 February to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is satisfied that the general plan is consistent with the Mayor's transport strategy (which he has considered previously). He is also satisfied that the general plan enables the net proceeds to be applied for purposes which provide value for money. In this regard, my right hon. Friend considers that the general plan and the transport strategy are consistent with the Government's 10-year transport plan.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Entertainment Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by(a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if she will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if she will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case. [34387]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 14 February 2002,Official Report, column 560W.

  Focus Groups
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many focus groups her Department has convened since June 2001; and if she will list the topics discussed; [36579]

  (2) if she will place a copy of the discussions held with focus groups convened by her Department since June 2001 in the Library. [36580]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Department commissions research involving focus groups for two main purposes: to help develop and evaluate publicity campaigns; and to understand the attitudes to education and skills issues of key groups, like teachers, parents, students and others affected by the Department's policies.

  Research projects involving focus groups convened since June 2001 covered: adult basic skills; higher education; modern apprenticeships; science year; Connexions; young persons' communications; information, advice and guidance branding; matriculation diploma; dads and sons booklet; child care recruitment; foundation degrees; and the money to learn booklet.

  I have placed a copy of the report of research into attitudes of key groups to modern apprenticeships in the House of Commons Library. I will place in the Library the report of research into attitudes to various higher education issues in due course when the research and report are completed. All those other research projects which have been completed and which involve focus groups are commercial in confidence as they tested creative work commissioned from advertising agencies as part of the development of advertising campaigns.

  Capita
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what information concerning individual learning account holders has been deleted from electronic databases held by Capita; [36942]

  (2) when Capita took the decision to delete information relating to individual learning account holders; whether she was informed of such action; and if she will make a statement. [36943]
  385W
  John Healey
  The only information concerning individual learning account holders deleted from the individual learning account centre system has been that resulting from regular housekeeping such as to remove inaccurate information, duplicated entries or data input in error.

  Rural Schools
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funds the rural school grant scheme has to distribute in 2001–02; and by what means these will be distributed. [37627]

  John Healey
  The Department does not fund a rural schools grant scheme. However, rural schools can benefit from a number of programmes, including those that aim to help small schools. The school standards grant of £7,000 for 2001–02 is paid via local education authorities (LEAs) to schools with 100 pupils or less. There is also the small schools fund worth a total of £80 million a year, guaranteed until 2004. It is allocated to LEAs according to the number of primary and special schools with 200 pupils or less and secondary schools with 600 pupils or less. LEAs have to devolve at least 95 per cent. of the money to schools, either using the Department's threshold for small schools or by setting their own, lower thresholds. The funding is particularly intended to support collaborative projects, such as shared bursars or pooled

  Table 2: DfEE communications with all primary or secondary schools 1 April to 6 June 2001

  Page number

  April 2001

  The National Numeracy Strategy: Professional Development Pack: 3 and 4

  811

  Parent governor representatives on local authority committees dealing with education: notification of guidance

  1

  Policy and Consultation Note on Formula Allocation

  16

  The School Organisation Proposals by the Learning and Skills Council for England Regulations 2001

  15

  Key Stage 1–3 Regulations

  3

  School Teachers' Pay 2001–02. (Confirmation of pay settlement)

  7

  May 2001

  Key Stage 3 National Strategy: Framework for Teaching English: Years 7, 8 and 9—Management Summary

  13

  Response to the Consultation on School Governing Bodies (letter from Jacqui Smith)

  2

  Briefing note on organising teacher training

  2

  Developing Early Writing—The National Literacy Strategy (booklet and CD)

  169

  Spectrum 42

  12

  Survey of Absences in Schools

  5

  Table 3: Secondary

  Page number

  April 2001:

  Parent governor representatives on local authority committees dealing with education: notification of guidance

  1

  Policy and Consultation Note on Formula Allocation

  16

  The School Organisation Proposals by the learning and Skills Council for England Regulations 2001

  15

  Key Stage 1–3 Regulations

  3

  School Teachers Pay' 2001–02 (confirmation of pay settlement)

  7

  Key Stage 3 National Strategy—Publication Summary

  1

  Key Stage 3 National Strategy—Letter from Secretary of State

  2

  May 2001

  Key Stage 3 National Strategy: Framework for Teaching English: Years 7, 8 and 9—Management Summary

  13

  Response to the Consultation on School Governing Bodies (letter from Jacqui Smith)

  2

  Child Protection: Handling Allegations against Teachers and Other Staff: appointment of Coordinators

  2

  Briefing note on organising teacher training

  2

  Key stage 3 National Strategy: Framework for teaching English: Years 7, 8 and 9

  75

  Spectrum 42

  12

  Survey of Absences in Schools

  5

  Key Stage 3 National Strategy: Framework for Teaching Mathematics: Years 7, 8 and 9 Management Summary

  11

  386W
  administrative staff. An element of it can be spent on extending hours of existing administrative staff, buying in staff cover or investing in ICT equipment.

  Circulars
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the circular documents that were sent by the Department for Education and Employment to(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools between 1 May 1997 and 6 June 2001; and how many pages each document contained. [38802]

  Mr. Timms
  The following table 1 shows the total number of documents sent to schools between 1 May 1997 and 6 June 2001. The full lists of titles are contained in tables 2 and 3, updating the list placed in conjunction with a parliamentary answer given to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 6 April 2001,Official Report, column 313W.

  Table 1: Mailings to all primary or all secondary schools by school year

  Items Primary

  Items Secondary

  1997–981

  86

  85

  1998–99

  96

  115

  1999–2000

  146

  164

  2000–012

  64

  63

  1 From 1 May 1997

  2 Up to 6 June 2001

  School Federations
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations her Department has received from schools wishing to form federations of schools; and if she will list the schools which would be included in each federation. [38856]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: No official representations have been received. As arrangements for the establishment of federations of schools will be governed by regulations under clauses 23 and 24 of the Education Bill, which have yet to be made, there is no statutory mechanism for considering federation proposals.

  PFI
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if her Department maintains a list of PFI-funded projects. [39539]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My Department maintains a list of projects, available on the DfES internet website www.dfes.gov.uk/ppppfi, procured under the public-private partnerships/private finance initiative (PPP/PFI).

  Design Champion
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what is the role of the design champion in her Department. [39540]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The DfES designated design champion is the Director of Strategy and Communications, whose responsibilities include promoting best practice design principles in the work of the Department. The design champion role involved raising awareness across the Department of the benefits to policy making and service delivery of good design management. In fulfilling this role, the Director of Strategy and Communications worked with the Design Council and other Departments on a series of best practice procedures that were subsequently incorporated into departmental guidance on, and prominence given to, project management. He also helped the Design Council produce a handbook of case studies in which good design had led to better outcomes. This included the creation of the Westminster suite at Caxton house, the learning journey handbook for parents and improved organisation and colour coding, etc. of materials being sent into schools.

  Volunteers
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many members of her staff in each of the past two years have been granted a day's paid leave to work as a volunteer; and if she will make a statement. [39746]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Department does not keep central records of paid leave which staff have been granted to work as volunteers. The DfES fully supports voluntary public service and offers staff paid leave for some voluntary activities.

  Schools (Commercial Activities)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on her Department's388W
  policy with regard to the control of commercial activity within maintained schools by companies wishing to sell goods to pupils. [39893]

  Mr. Timms
  While we welcome business support for education, it is for schools themselves to decide whether to accept business sponsorship of educational activities or the sale of goods to pupils. We issued guidelines entitled "Best Practice Principles: Commercial Activities in Schools" last year to help schools make informed and sensible decisions about the nature of business involvement. The guidelines make clear that schools should satisfy themselves that the educational benefits of the commercial activity outweigh the potential disbenefits; that explicit sales messages should be avoided wherever possible; and that the level of any branding should be appropriate to the activity.

  Examination Papers
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she will take to ensure that all examination papers for A-levels will arrive on time. [40670]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  In its review of Curriculum 2000: Report on Phase Two, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has stated that it will set challenging targets and performance indicators for the awarding bodies. The Joint Council for General Qualifications—the umbrella organisation for the awarding bodies—will expedite further work that it is undertaking on common labels for question paper packets.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she will take to ensure that no exam scripts are lost after being returned to the examination board. [40671]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The awarding bodies, which are independent non-profit making enterprises, are responsible for their own arrangements for the storage of scripts.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she will take to ensure that examination boards inform schools and colleges about re-mark grades before students move on to further and higher education. [40672]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Since 1999, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has set targets for the awarding bodies to meet all requests for remarking and appeals. The agreed targets for the two stages of the awarding bodies' appeals process are:Inquiry stage
  where requests are received within seven days of the publication of results. Remarking should be completed within 30 calendar days. This service is a priority service available only to A and AS level candidates whose higher education places may be dependent on a remark.
  where requests are received after the seven days of the publication of results but before 20 September, they should be completed within 40 calendar days. This service is available for all candidates.
  second stage
  The second or formal appeal stage should be completed by 14 February.
  389W
  Data for awarding bodies' performance in 2001 against these targets will be published by QCA later in the month. In 2000 95 per cent of A/AS level inquiries and 93 per cent. of GCSE inquiries where completed within the target time.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the loss of psychology examination scripts from Runshaw College by Edexcel. [40673]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Runshaw College requested the return of 84 psychology scripts, 78 scripts were sent back to the college. Of the six that were missing, two had been transferred to Edexcel's script archive before the college requested the scripts. These are being returned to the college. Four scripts have been mislaid. Edexcel will continue to search for them urgently.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement(a) on the failure of AQA to re-mark scripts from Runshaw College before 17 October 2001 and (b) on its provision only of provisional marks. [40674]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Inquiries about A level results received within one week of the publication of results are treated as priority cases. The response time laid down by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is 30 days from receipt of the inquiry. Inquiries received after one week of publication of results have a target response time of 40 days from receipt. On 17 October there were four inquiries that were unresolved for Runshaw College. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) received these inquiries on 19 September, one day before the closing date for inquiries. They were completed by 29 October.

  All Statements of Results are printed as "Provisional". These results can be subject to amendment and are confirmed by the issue of a Certificate some four weeks after the publication of results.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she will take to ensure that there is a consistency of marking throughout examination boards. [40675]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority as regulator of the public examination system is responsible for the maintenance of standards. They operate a range of mechanisms to check the examination process, and police and monitor a code of practice, which all awarding bodies must adhere to. The code of practice—which is a public document—is designed to promote quality and consistency in the examining process across all awarding bodies. It helps to ensure that grading standards are constant in each subject across different awarding bodies and different syllabuses from year to year.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking with respect to the examination boards who have failed to provide the service required in order to ensure that the errors and faults that occurred last year do not occur again. [40676]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), as the regulatory body, is responsible for monitoring the performance of the awarding bodies. QCA has recently published audit reports on two 390W
  awarding bodies, Edexcel and the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance, which made a number of recommendations for improvements to the delivery of services. QCA is monitoring the implementation of the recommendations to ensure that they improve their performance in coming months and are able to deliver the examinations in summer 2002 and beyond efficiently.

  Specialist Schools
  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of applications for specialist school status were successful in 2001. [40715]

  Mr. Timms
  A total of 423 applications for specialist school status were received in 2001 of which 218, or 51.5 per cent., were successful.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Government have to replace the individual learning account. [40627]

  John Healey
  There will be a replacement ILA-type scheme building on the strengths of the ILA and taking into account the findings of the current stakeholder consultation exercise, which are due in early April.

  Modern Apprenticeship Schemes
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what Government initiatives are in place to attract capable young people to advanced modern apprenticeship schemes. [39710]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: Last November, at the launch of the new generation of modern apprenticeships, the Secretary of State announced a £16 million marketing campaign, to be run over three years in England, to promote apprenticeships and boost participation. That campaign, led jointly by the Department and the Learning and Skills Council, started on 4 March. A new television advertisement, aimed at young people, will run throughout March from today.

  We have also now agreed with the Learning and Skills Council a detailed implementation plan for the strengthening and expansion of new generation modern apprenticeships, in line with the recommendations of the MA Advisory Committee chaired by Sir John Cassels. From the spring, a range of marketing measures will be introduced to reach not only young people, but also key influencers and employers. At the local level, Learning and Skills Councils, Connexions Partnerships, careers services and other partners will work together to raise awareness of, and foster support for, modern apprenticeships; and to provide young people with essential information and advice on the opportunities available in their communities. This action supports the Government's aims for stronger vocational and work-based learning for young people, as announced in our Green Paper published recently.

  Ministerial Meetings
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what meetings Ministers in her Department have held with the Minister for Children and Young
  391W
  People since June 2001; what the date of each meeting was; which Ministers were present; and what subjects were discussed. [40477]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: In accordance with Part II of the Open Government Code of Practice, it is not the practice to disclose details of such internal discussions.

  Public Appointments (Warrington, North)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people from Warrington, North she has appointed to non-departmental public bodies since 1997. [39448]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: Nobody with a home address in the parliamentary constituency of Warrington, North has been appointed to a non-departmental public body sponsored by my Department since 1997.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Romania
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the official diaries of the British Ambassador to Romania, covering meetings with businessmen from Britain over the period June and July2001, are available. [39512]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: As is the normal practice, the Ambassador's diaries covering the period are held in the British Embassy Bucharest. It is not our policy to release internal diaries.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department invited the Romanian Government to visit Britain in November 2001. [39053]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The Romanian Prime Minister was invited by the CBI in June 2001 to speak at their annual conference on 6 November. On the advice of the FCO, the Prime Minister agreed to a meeting with Mr. Nastase during this visit.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department(a) made and (b) received regarding Romania's accession to the EU following the successful acquisition of the SIDEX steel plant by LNM/Ispat International. [39016]

  Peter Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 14 February 2002,Official Report, columns 611–12W.

  Non-governmental Organisations
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list nongovernmental organisations operating in the South West Region that receive public funds from his Department; and what amount of annual funding they received in the most recent year for which figures are available. [39187]

  Mr. Straw
  The information is not available in the format requested and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.
  392W

  Angola
  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for peace in Angola; and if he will make a statement. [39725]

  Mr. MacShane
  The recent death of UNITA leader, Jonas Savimbi, offers Angola a unique opportunity to move the peace process forwards, after nearly three decades of civil war. We look to the Government of Angola to take the initiative in building dialogue. We call on the Angolans to respond positively.

  This is also a chance for the Government of Angola to turn their full attention to addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis and the rebuilding of Angola's infrastructure.

  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to hold discussions with the Angolan Government. [39611]

  Mr. MacShane
  We have invited Foreign Minister Miranda of Angola to visit the UK at the end of March. During his visit he will hold substantive bilateral discussions with UK Ministers.

  Non-Refoulement
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EU on the compliance of national states which receive aid from the EU in respect of non-refoulement; and if he will make a statement; [39870]

  (2) which countries in receipt of British or EU bilateral or multi-lateral aid are suspected of breaking international law on human rights, with particular reference to non-refoulement. [39871]

  Mr. MacShane
  We have not had any specific discussions on aid dispersion in respect of non-refoulement with EU Governments.

  However, when considering overseas aid the UK Government and the EU take into account the human rights record of the receiving country.

  We are committed to the principle of non-refoulement and support UNHCR's efforts to ensure that states are aware of, and act on, their obligations to protect refugees and persons seeking asylum.

  Foreign Investment (Government Assistance)
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many companies employing under 150 people in the UK seeking to invest in a particular country, have been(a) granted access to the ambassador, (b) granted ministerial attention and (c) recommended to the Prime Minister for endorsement during the last three years. [39714]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: Ministers and ambassadors lobby frequently in support of UK commercial interests in overseas markets. I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Members for East

  393W
  Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) and for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 610–11W.

  The information requested by the right hon. Gentleman is subject to commercial confidentiality (exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies).

  Far East Prisoners of War
  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held in the last six months with the US Government about the position of Allied POWs held in Japanese prisoner of war camps during World War II. [40613]

  Mr. MacShane
  None.

  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations in the last six months he has received about the status of the 1951 San Francisco treaty with Japan. [40616]

  Mr. MacShane
  I held a meeting with former far east prisoners of war on 15 January to hear their views on this issue. I have also been in correspondence with members of a former far east prisoner of war group on the subject.

  Montenegro
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the holding of a referendum on independence in Montenegro by the end of this year; and if he has received representations from the Montenegran Government on the issue. [40638]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The future of Montenegro is ultimately in the hands of the people of Montenegro. But we and our EU partners have made clear our belief that Montenegro's interests, and those of the wider region, will best be served by a negotiated outcome between Belgrade and Podgorica which leaves intact a single internationally-recognised state. The EU High Representative, Javier Solana, has been working with the parties on this issue since November 2001. We strongly

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  March 2002

  1

  Brussels

  Justice and Home Affairs Council (evening)

  1

  Brussels

  Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council

  4

  Brussels

  Eurogroup (evening)

  4

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  5

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  7

  Brussels

  Employment and Social Affairs Council

  11

  Brussels

  Research Council

  11–12

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  15–16

  Barcelona

  European Council

  18

  Toledo

  Meeting of Trade Ministers (Ministerial Informal)

  18–19

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  19

  Toledo

  Euromed Trade Ministers Meeting

  23–24

  Brussels

  Defence Minister's Meeting (Ministerial Informal)

  25–26

  Brussels

  Transport and Telecom Council

  27–28

  Monterry, Mexico

  Financing and Development Conference

  The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 April and August 2002 (certain relevant events
  394W
  support his efforts and have advised the parties against any abrupt or unilateral moves in this delicate situation. All those concerned, including President Djukanovic of Montenegro, have engaged constructively in this process.

  We maintain regular contact with the Montenegrin authorities, and with President Djukanovic personally, on this and on other issues.

  Europe Day
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to celebrate Europe day in 2002. [41288]

  Peter Hain
  The FCO today launched a new website, www.europeday.gov.uk, to raise awareness of Europe day and of Britain's role in Europe. It is hoped that the website format and the style of the content will primarily appeal to teenagers and young adults. It will feature information about Europe day and the European Union, details of Europe day celebrations and a quiz to promote an interest in European affairs.

  Hong Kong
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish the next report to Parliament on Hong Kong and the Sino-British Joint Declaration. [41289]

  Mr. MacShane
  The tenth report in this series, covering the period July-December 2001, was laid before the House yesterday. A copy of the report is also available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, www.fco.gov.uk. The report includes a foreword by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. I commend the report to the House.

  European Union
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March and also the major European Union events for the period between 31 March and August. [41290]

  Peter Hain
  The information is as follows.

  are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue).
  395W

  Date

  Venue

  Event

  April

  5–6

  Luxembourg

  Migrations Council (ASEM Ministerial Informal)

  8

  Luxembourg

  Fisheries Council

  13–14

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal)

  15–16

  Luxembourg

  General Affairs Council

  22–23

  Valencia

  Euromed Conference

  22–23

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council

  25–26

  Luxembourg

  Justice and Home Affairs Council

  27–30

  Luxembourg

  Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal)

  May

  3–4

  Brussels

  Tourism Council (Ministerial Informal)

  6

  Brussels

  Eurogroup

  7

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  9

  —

  Europe Day

  13

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council and Defence Ministers Meeting

  17–18

  Madrid

  EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit

  21

  Brussels

  Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council

  23

  Brussels

  Culture and Audio-visual Council

  24–26

  Brussels

  Environment Council (Ministerial Informal)

  27–28

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  30

  Brussels

  Development Council

  30

  Brussels

  Education and Youth Council

  31–1 June

  Brussels

  Transport Council (Ministerial Informal)

  June

  3

  Brussels

  Employment and Social Affairs Council

  3

  Brussels

  Eurogroup

  4

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN

  6–8

  Brussels

  Foreign Affairs Council (ASEM Ministers)

  6–7

  Brussels

  Industry and Energy Council

  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 Telecoms Council

  17–18

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  21–22

  Seville

  European Council

  24

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council (Evening)

  24–25

  Brussels

  Environment Council

  25

  Luxembourg

  ECOFIN

  26

  Brussels

  Health Council

  July

  6

  Copenhagen

  ASEM Ministers for Finance

  12

  Brussels

  ECOFIN

  12–13

  Kolding

  Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers (Informal)

  15–16

  Brussels

  Agriculture Council

  19

  Brussels

  Budget Meeting

  19–21

  Arhus

  Environment Ministers Meeting (Informal)

  22–23

  Brussels

  General Affairs Council

  August

  31–1

  Elsinore

  Gymnich (Ministerial Informal)

  European Union
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2002, Ref 38404, if his Department has conducted an internal analysis of the recurring annual direct and indirect(a) costs and (b) benefits arising from UK membership of the European Union. [40849]

  Peter Hain
  No.

  Laeken Declaration
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a396W
  statement on paragraph 1 of the Laeken conclusions, with particular reference to the inclusion of the concept of irreversibility. [39631]

  Peter Hain
  The opening paragraph of the Laeken conclusions refers to three of the EU' s main projects—the introduction of the single currency, enlargement and the Future of Europe debate. The Gothenburg European Council in June 2001 noted the impressive progress in the enlargement negotiations and observed that"The enlargement process is irreversible".

  At Laeken, in December, the European Council confirmed the continued good progress of the negotiations and reiterated the irreversible nature of the process. The

  397W
  Government remain committed to the timetable for enlargement agreed at Gothenburg and reinforced at Laeken.

TREASURY

  Tax Evasion
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Treasury estimates has been lost each year since 1997 through(a) income tax evasion, (b) VAT evasion, (c) non-payment of national insurance contributions and (d) benefit fraud. [36075]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There is no reliable measure of the total income tax and national insurance contributions lost to evasion. In his report, published in March 2002, Lord Grabiner QC commented on the scale of the hidden economy and said:"By its nature, the size of the informal economy is hard to measure. Most estimates are based on analysing high-level economic aggregates, such as labour market statistics or income and expenditure surveys, and calculate the result as a percentage of GDP. However there is research which suggests that these estimates tend to be exaggerated."
  "It would be impractical to arrive at a precise and meaningful figure as to the scale of the problem without a considerable investment of time and resources."

  There are no revenue estimates for all VAT evasion since 1997. However, estimates for VAT Missing Trader Fraud have been published and I refer the hon. Gentleman to page 19 of the Customs and Excise paper "Measuring Indirect Tax Fraud" that was published on 27 November 2001 a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This gives estimates for this type of VAT fraud for 1999–2000 and 2000–01. There are no estimates for any earlier years. The most recent estimate of the annual loss to benefit fraud is £2 billion.

  New Enterprise Support Initiative Helpline
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of usage of the New Enterprise Support initiative helpline. [38513]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The NESI helpline opened for business in April 1999 and is on target to receive half a million calls from employers and prospective employers this year.

  Debt (Customs and Excise)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the outstanding debt to HM Customs and Excise at(a) 31 March 2000, (b) 31 March 2001 and (c) the most recent date for which information is available was in respect of (i) assessments being challenged by business, (ii) fraud-related debts where recovery action has been suspended and (iii) debt placed under civil recovery action through the courts; [38601]

  (2) what was the total outstanding debt to HM Customs and Excise at (a) 31 March 1996, (b) 31 March 1997, (c) 31 March 1998, (d) 31 March 1999, (e) 31 March 2000 and (f) 31 March 2001. [38602]
  398W
  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: Relevant statistical information concerning debt owed by HM Customs and Excise is published on a routine basis in their Departmental Annual Report.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department since July 2001 have yet to receive substantive replies. [40012]

  Mr. Boateng
  3,162 of the 3,291 written questions tabled to the Treasury in the present parliamentary session have already been answered substantively. The dates by which answers are due have not yet been reached in the case of 68 of the remaining 129 questions.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of(a) ordinary written questions and (b) named day questions have been answered by his Department (i) within a week of tabling and (ii) on the named day since June 2001. [40014]

  Mr. Boateng
  1,714 of the 2,236 ordinary written questions (76.7 per cent.) tabled in the present parliamentary session were answered within a week, and 780 of the 1,055 named day questions (73.9 per cent.) were answered on the nominated day.

  Brownfield Sites
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal incentives he provides to encourage the development of brownfield sites. [40421]

  Mr. Boateng
  Budget 2001 introduced a 150 per cent. accelerated tax credit for the costs of cleaning up contaminated land. It allows companies to claim an enhanced tax deduction for the costs that they incur in cleaning up contaminated sites acquired as part of their trade or schedule A business, and applies to expenditure on or after 11 May 2001.

  Construction Industry
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what taxation and regulatory measures he has applied to the construction industry to encourage environmentally friendly building practices. [40420]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government have introduced a number of taxation measures which are intended to have positive environmental impacts, including encouraging environmentally-friendly building practices. These include the following.

  The aggregates levy will encourage a shift in demand away from virgin aggregate towards recycled construction and demolition waste, and will promote greater resource efficiency in the construction industry. The aggregates levy-funded sustainability fund in England will include projects to promote more sustainable construction and demolition practices.

  Increases in the landfill tax encourage the recycling of construction and demolition wastes, and create incentives to minimise waste.
  399W
  The 150 per cent. accelerated tax credit for cleaning up contaminated land encourages urban regeneration and reduces pressure on greenfield sites.

  The reduced rate of VAT on the installation of energy saving materials supports the introduction of energy efficiency measures in the domestic sector, particularly through Government-funded programmes such as the home energy efficiency scheme.

  Regulations on the construction industry are a matter for other Government Departments.

  Regulatory Impact Unit
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members her Department employs in its regulatory impact unit; and if she will make a statement. [38265]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Treasury, Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise each have separate departmental regulatory impact units in which two, five and three people respectively co-ordinate work on regulatory impact.

  The staff in each unit works closely with the officials responsible for developing policies within their department and the regulatory impact within the Cabinet Office. They focus on those regulations which impact on business, charities, and the voluntary sector.

  Export Licences
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expected time limit is on decisions for export licence applications. [40256]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Export Control Organisation (ECO) sets out the Government's commitment to exporters in a Service and Performance Code (available on its website www.dti.gov.uk/export.control). Where, as in almost all cases, it is necessary for a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) application to be circulated to other Government Departments the aim is to provide a response to 70 per cent. of cases within 20 working days, except in special circumstances. Details of performance in processing SIEL applications against the target are published in the Government's annual reports on strategic export controls, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  While there is no time limit placed on decisions for export licences, the Government are committed to processing all export licence applications as quickly as possible, consistent with our determination to manage the transfer of all goods and technology controlled for strategic reasons in a responsible manner.

  Financial Questionnaire
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the criteria used to determine which companies are required to answer the Annual Business Inquiry-Part II for 2001 Financial Questionnaire from the Office for National Statistics; for what reasons this is compulsory; what the timescale is in which companies are required to answer; what proportion have responded to previous 400W
  annual inquiries since 1997; how long it will take to process the information for this inquiry; and for what purposes the information will be used. [39959]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Adrian Flook, dated 6 March 2002:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question regarding the criteria used to determine which companies are required to answer the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) - Part II for 2001 Financial Questionnaire from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). I am replying in his absence. (39959)
  The ABI is a vital source of information about the structure of UK industry and the economy. It is used to compile the input/output tables, which underpin the United Kingdom National Accounts, including estimates of GDP, and is increasingly being used as a source of regional economic data.
  ONS compiles a register of businesses classified by size, as defined by the number of employees, and by the nature of their business activity. It is important for ONS to ensure representative results from its business inquiries, including the ABI. Representative results have to be based on representative survey samples and, as such, data has to be collected from businesses of all sizes and all sectors of the economy. ONS therefore approaches small, medium and large sized companies. However, ONS is conscious of the need to lighten the form-filling burden for businesses wherever possible, and particularly for smaller businesses, without compromising survey results. Companies with fewer than 10 employees are selected and are subject to a guarantee that they will only be expected to complete one business inquiry form, at most, every 3 years. Small to medium sized businesses are usually included in the sample for 2 consecutive years and are then replaced by another similar sized business in their industry. The largest companies will inevitably always be selected. In 2001, 72,000 UK businesses, out of a total of just under 2 million businesses, received the ABI Part II form.
  The ABI is a statutory inquiry conducted under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. Its statutory nature reflects the importance of the information collected for the monitoring of UK economic trends by the Government. A voluntary inquiry would have to approach a much larger number of businesses in order to ensure a similar level of response, and even then response would be biased towards those companies that were inclined to be co-operative with such business inquiries.
  Companies are required to submit data by 31 March or within 2 months of their business year-end. If no figures are available for calendar year 2001, a return may cover a business year ending on any date between 6 April 2001 and 5 April 2002. Contributors to the inquiry are welcome to telephone the ONS contact named on the inquiry form for assistance in making their return.
  The proportions of companies responding to Annual Business Inquiries over the three years since it was implemented in 1998 are 85% in 1998, 86% in 1999 and 85% in 2000.
  For the 2001 inquiry provisional results will be made available in a First Release in December 2002 with final results in June 2003.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations have made representations to the Treasury since 7 June 2001 concerning the structure of capital gains tax taper relief; and if he will make a statement. [39901]
  401W
  Ruth Kelly
  As is normal in the run up to the Budget, the Government have received a number of representations from a variety of organisations. The pre-Budget report said:"The Government are considering the various proposals it has received in response to the consultation launched in June 2001 on value for money options to simplify CGT within the existing policy framework. It is also considering whether there is any case for changes to the CGT regime for non-business assets."

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which organisations made representations concerning capital gains tax taper relief between 1 May 1997 and 1 April 1999; and if he will make a statement. [39902]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's reform of capital gains tax generated a large number of representations, some in response to the consultation announced by the Chancellor in his Budget on 2 July 1997, some outside that consultation. A comprehensive list of all the parties concerned could be produced only at disproportionate cost. We are grateful to the many individuals and organisations who took the trouble to let us know their views. Their ideas fed into the reforms that the Government made to capital gains tax in 1998 and subsequently.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many press releases were issued by his Department(a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive. [40042]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information is as follows:

  Number

  1 May-31 December 1997

  129

  1998

  239

  1999

  283

  2000

  151

  2001

  154

  Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in a press or public relations function in his Department on 1 January in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002. [39931]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 328W.

  Relocation Expenses
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the payment of relocation expenses to staff in his Department. [40976]

  Ruth Kelly
  Treasury policy on the payment of relocation expenses is that assistance can only be given in the form of reimbursement of reasonable vouched expenses actually and necessarily incurred.

  Email Mailing List
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of 402W
  days that the Treasury's email mailing list system has been operational since 1 January 2001; and if he will make a statement. [40813]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury's email mailing list system was set up more than seven years ago and has historically proven very reliable. Since January 2001, the system has encountered some technical difficulties and become difficult to maintain. Over the last 14 months the service has been out of operation for approximately four to six weeks. Where possible, the Treasury Internet team have informed subscribers when the service is not available.

  The Treasury's Information Services team are currently evaluating alternative systems that should prove more reliable. In the meantime, Members interested in seeing lists of recent Treasury press notices can find them on the Treasury's website at http://www.treasury.gov.uk/Newsroom_and_Speeches/.

  Intrastat System
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what use is made by the Government of the statistical information obtained from Intrastat returns. [40836]

  Ruth Kelly
  HM Customs and Excise collect statistics for intra Community trade via the Intrastat system. Statistical data are supplied to other Government Departments to enable them to carry out their economic and strategic obligations.

  Data from Intrastat returns are a necessary component of the Office for National Statistics' (ONS) monthly trade first release and is a significant part of the Quarterly Balance of Payments (BOP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data. The data appear in three economic indicators that are widely used across Government, in particular in HM Treasury and the Bank of England, to assess the economic performance of the UK.

  A number of other Government Departments and devolved Administrations with policy interests in overseas trade, such as the DTI and the Welsh Assembly Government use the data for their own needs. It is used to evaluate global markets and in the development of regional international trade strategies.

  The Defence Analytical Services Agency uses the data for reporting the export and import of defence equipment and the defence balance of payments for trade in services and for estimating UK employment dependent on defence equipment exports.

  The Defence Export Services Organisation uses the information for the reporting of statistics on exports of military equipment, published in the annual report on Strategic Export Controls.

  Customs supply data to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for, among other uses, compiling Government reports, e.g. BSE and foot and mouth.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to simplify the classification system used to identify products under the Intrastat system. [40837]
  403W
  Ruth Kelly
  HM Customs and Excise collect statistics for intra-Community trade via the Intrastat Supplementary Declaration. Declarations can be submitted on paper or electronically.

  Intrastat, including the classification system used to identify products, is governed by European legislation. There are currently no plans to simplify the classification system.

  Insurance Cover (Overseas Treatment)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the availability of insurance cover for medical treatment overseas for injuries received from terrorist activities. [41189]

  Ruth Kelly
  We receive a great many representations from both industry and individuals.

  Insurance cover for medical treatment overseas, including for injuries received from terrorist activities, continues to be available in the UK marketplace.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Publicity Expenditure
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council what assessment he has made of the total real terms expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity in each of the years(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole of the present year; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (A) advertising and (B) press and public relations. [36169]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  No expenditure has been incurred by my Department on publicity.

  Union Duties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council how many staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in each of the last four years. [36199]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  No staff in my Department have received paid leave to undertake union duties.

  Entertainment Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council if he will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately-provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if he will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case. [34377]
  404W
  Mr. Robin Cook
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 14 February 2002,Official Report, columns 559–60W.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how much was spent on entertainment by the Lord Chancellor's Department in each year from 1997 to date. [40067]

  Mr. Wills
  Estimated expenditure by both officials and Ministers on entertainment for the financial year 2000–01 was £60,768, in 1999–2000 was £71,166 and in 1998–99 was £45,087. Information for 1997–98 is not readily available.

  These figures differ from those previously provided by the Department in an earlier answer in the previous Parliament on 8 May 2001, Official Report, column 55W. The reason for the discrepancy is that a significant amount of expenditure that should not have been included in the total for entertainment had been miscoded as such by officials. The majority of the miscoded amount was for working lunches for panel members conducting interviews of candidates for judicial office. The effect was to overstate the true figure by approximately 20 per cent. for each of the three years covered above in the 8 May 2001 answer.

  I apologise to the House for this mistake. The errors resulted from an incomplete understanding of existing guidance by staff and the Department has drawn the attention of budget management staff to the correct procedures to be followed. Comprehensive guidance is to be re-issued before the end of the financial year.

  Legal Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the President of the Council what legal costs have been incurred by his Department in each of the last four years. [34289]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  My Department has incurred no legal costs during the period mentioned.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Marriage and Relationship Support
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what grants she will make towards marriage and relationship support in the financial year 2002–03. [41698]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  During the next financial year (2002–03), the Lord Chancellor's Department will spend £5 million on marriage and relationship support, an increase of £0.5 million on the funding for the financial year 2001–02.

  This is the first financial year in which the marriage and relationship support fund has been allocated using the new grant programme launched in September 2001. The new programme introduced openly published criteria, which have been used to evaluate all applications received for this round of allocations. The aim of the Department is that the marriage and relationship support grant should be targeted on improving existing service delivery, as well as developing research, innovative projects, and the

  405W
  dissemination of better links and good practice among a wider and more diverse range of service providers than in previous years.

  The funding has been allocated as set out in the tables:

  Core funding

  Funding allocated (£)

  Parentline Plus

  62,000

  Relate

  2,104,000

  Marriage Care

  300,000

  Family Welfare Association

  30,000

  One Plus One

  242,000

  London Marriage Guidance Council

  103,000

  Tavistock Marital Studies Institute

  464,000

  Jewish Marriage Council

  44,000

  Asian Family Counselling Service

  50,000

  Research and development funding

  Project title

  Amount allocated (£)

  University of Exeter, School of Psychology

  Money management and marital commitment in new couples: An evaluation of the efficacy of the FOCCUS inventory

  43,000

  Relate

  Accessibility (follow-on bid)

  32,000

  Relate

  Domestic Violence (follow-on bid)

  40,000

  Care for the Family

  Asian Family Matters

  19,000

  Relate

  Quality Assurance (follow-on bid)

  30,000

  2as 1

  Development and Adaptation of Relate Training Material

  66,000

  London Marriage Guidance Council

  Community Development

  71,000

  The Minster Centre

  Aracas Project (domestic violence)

  72,000

  Tavistock Marital Studies Institute

  Brief Psychotherapy

  32,000

  2as 1

  Partnership project (Relate)—Awareness campaign to promote MARS to the Black African and Afro-Caribbean communities

  120,000

  Sussex Family Mediation Service

  One Stop Shop

  26,000

  The Church of England

  Marriage Preparation and Support in the South East

  54,000

  Brook in Birmingham

  Counselling for Young Couples

  39,000

  Marriage Care

  Emotional Literacy: Foundations for a Good Life: Phase 2

  30,000

  The Richmond Centre

  Videos are Valuable

  38,000

  One Plus One

  Investigation of Use and Value of Helpline Services

  39,000

  One Plus One

  Investigation of Relationship Support

  46,000

  Jewish Marriage Council,

  Starting Marriage on the Right Foot

  40,000

  Talking Matters1

  Infrastructure for Marriage Preparation in the Orthodox Jewish Community

  24,000

  Total

  861,000

  1 Moved from core to R&D

  Rail Journeys (Staff)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if she will make it her policy that rail journeys undertaken by staff in her Department should ordinarily be on standard class tickets. [40434]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Paragraph 8.2.1 of the Civil Service Management Code requires Departments and agencies to ensure that staff use the most efficient and economic means of travel in the circumstances, taking into account any management benefit or the needs of staff with disabilities. In the headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department (including associated offices), the Court Service and the Public Guardianship Office, staff at or above the equivalent of senior executive officer level who travel on official business by train may travel first class. Staff at more junior levels may also do so if there is a business need for them to accompany staff who are permitted to travel first class. There are no present plans to change this policy.

  Magistrates Pilot (Bristol)
  Jean Corston
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will make a
  406W

  Core funding

  Funding allocated (£)

  2as 1

  150,000

  Totnes Family Partnership

  58,000

  Somerset Family Partnership

  50,000

  Family Matters York

  50,000

  The Lesbian and Gay Foundation

  48,000

  Muslim Women's Helpline

  20,000

  The Salvation Arm

  40,000

  Aquila Care Trust

  88,000

  Project for Advocacy, Counselling and Education

  46,000

  Basic For Life

  34,000

  The Cogwheel Trust

  4,000

  Poole Community Family Trust

  50,000

  CFP Guildford

  40,000

  Bristol Community Family Trust

  50,000

  Total

  4,139,000

  statement on the success of the scheme run in conjunction with Operation Black Vote and piloted in Bristol, East which enables members of the ethnic minority community to spend time shadowing magistrates on the Bristol and Northavon circuit. [40351]

  Mr. Wills
  Bristol is one of seven areas piloting the magistrates shadowing scheme that my Department is running in conjunction with Operation Black Vote. The other areas are Birmingham, Bradford, Cardiff, Inner London, Middlesex and Oldham. It is a little too soon for me to be able to make a general statement on the success of the scheme. A full evaluation of the pilots is due to take place in the summer once all the pilots have been completed. The Lord Chancellor and I have been struck by the enthusiasm of the participants in Bristol and other pilot areas. I hope that participants will go out into their communities and explain and promote the role of magistrates, and so encourage more people from ethnic communities to put themselves forward for appointment.

  Court Closures
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which magistrates courts have closed since 1 May 1997. [39376]
  407W
  Mr. Wills
  The courthouses that have closed since 1 May 1997 are listed in the table.

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

  It is the Government's policy that decisions concerning the number, location and future of magistrates courts are for each magistrates courts committee to determine, in consultation with its local paying authority or authorities.

  Magistrates courthouse

  Closure date

  Bromsgrove

  31 May 1997

  Ledbury

  31 May 1997

  Hebburn

  5 June 1997

  South Shields (Kepple street)

  5 June 1997

  Bargoed

  30 June 1997

  Chippenham (Market place)

  30 June 1997

  Monmouth

  30 June 1997

  Pontlottyn

  30 June 1997

  Pontypool

  30 June 1997

  Ashton under Lyne (Manchester road)

  31 August 1997

  Duckinsfield

  31 August 1997

  Thorne

  31 August 1997

  Braintree

  31 December 1997

  Clacton on Sea

  31 December 1997

  Saffron Walden

  31 December 1997

  Stokesley

  31 December 1997

  Malton

  6 February 1998

  Appleby

  31 March 1998

  Bishop's Stortford

  31 March 1998

  Chertsey

  31 March 1998

  Farnham

  31 March 1998

  Hatfield

  31 March 1998

  Hitchin

  31 March 1998

  Market Rasen

  31 March 1998

  Marlborough street

  31 March 1998

  Oxted

  31 March 1998

  Lutterworth

  31 July 1998

  Ripon

  1 August 1998

  Barnard Castle

  31 December 1998

  Clerkenwell

  31 December 1998

  Corwen

  31 December 1998

  Diss

  31 December 1998

  Felixstowe

  31 December 1998

  Haverhill

  31 December 1998

  Lytham

  31 December 1998

  Newmarket

  31 December 1998

  Saxmundham

  31 December 1998

  Sheerness

  31 December 1998

  Stowmarket

  31 December 1998

  West Mailing

  31 December 1998

  Abingdon

  31 March 1999

  Christchurch

  31 March 1999

  Henley on Thames

  31 March 1999

  Morley

  31 March 1999

  Pudsey

  31 March 1999

  Windsor

  31 March 1999

  Stow on the Wold

  30 June 1999

  March

  31 December 1999

  Ampthill

  1 January 2000

  Biggleswade

  1 January 2000

  Dunstable

  1 January 2000

  Leighton Buzzard

  1 January 2000

  Lichfield

  31 March 2000

  Keighley

  1 April 2000

  Keswick

  30 April 2000

  Appleby

  31 May 2000

  Windermere

  31 May 2000

  Wigton

  31 May 2000

  Gravesend

  9 June 2000

  Wootton Bassett

  2 October 2000

  408W

  Magistrates courthouse

  Closure date

  Abergele

  31 December 2000

  Alfreton

  1 January 2001

  Ashbourne

  1 January 2001

  Bakewell

  1 January 2001

  Matlock

  1 January 2001

  Leigh

  31 March 2001

  Middleton

  31 March 2001

  Leek

  31 March 2001

  Worcester

  31 March 2001

  Macclesfield Park Green

  1 April 2001

  Warrington Patten Hall

  1 April 2001

  Bideford

  30 April 2001

  Exmouth

  30 April 2001

  Kingsbridge

  30 April 2001

  South Molton

  30 April 2001

  Teignmouth

  30 April 2001

  Tavistock

  30 April 2001

  Axminster

  4 May 2001

  Tiverton

  4 May 2001

  Newquay

  30 June 2001

  Womborne

  31 August 2001

  Southampton (Commercial road)

  31 August 2001

  Gillingham

  30 September 2001

  Bridlington

  9 November 2001

  Brough

  9 November 2001

  Driffield

  9 November 2001

  Hull (Guildhall)

  9 November 2001

  Hull (Lowgate)

  9 November 2001

  Pocklington

  0 November 2001

  Withernsea

  9 November 2001

  Magistrates
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people from the Warrington, North constituency have been appointed to the magistracy in each year since 1997. [39453]

  Mr. Wills
  The figures sought are set out in the table. This year the Advisory Committee is looking to recommend five new appointments but no decisions have yet been made about who will be recommended. The Advisory Committee normally submits its recommendations in June or July.

  Warrington, North

  Warrington, South

  1997

  1

  1

  1998

  4

  1

  1999

  3

  0

  2000

  5

  5

  2001

  2

  2

  Non-Governmental Organisations
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list non-governmental organisations operating in the south-west region that receive public funds from her Department; and what amount of annual funding they received in the most recent year for which figures are available. [39182]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Details of grants in aid funding provided directly to non-governmental organisations (i.e. those organisations operating in the charity/voluntary sector) are contained in my Department's annual appropriation accounts. The most recent accounts, those for the financial year 2000–01, were published on 20 February 2002 (HMSO). Overall grants in aid funding
  409W
  totalled £5,673,020, though as funding is often to the national office of the organisation concerned for distribution locally, details of funds received by those in the south-west region could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Funding is also provided to non-governmental organisations through NDPBs sponsored by my Department.

  Special Urgency Provisions
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how often the Department has applied the special urgency provisions in paragraph 22 of Circular 18/84 (Development by Government Departments) to a development by the Department; and if he will make a statement. [38717]

  Mr. Wills
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has never made an application to use the special urgency provisions in paragraph 22 of Circular 18/84 (Development by Government Departments).

  Auld Report
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received from and on behalf of magistrates(a) nationally and (b) by region regarding the Auld report; and if he will make a statement on the areas on which most comments focus. [38254]

  Mr. Wills
  We have received over 400 responses. On behalf of magistrates:(a) nationally, we have received responses from: Central Council of Magistrates Courts Committees, HM Council of District Judges (Magistrates Courts) and the Magistrates Association; (b) by region, we have received representations from magistrates in 37 of the 42 Magistrates Courts Committee areas. These focus on the establishment of a unified criminal court, and the proposal for an intermediate tier. Representations on all the recommendations in Sir Robin Auld's report are now being carefully considered and analysed in detail. The Government will announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper in the spring.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been done to explain the implications of the Auld report's recommendations to magistrates in the Teesside area. [38255]

  Mr. Wills
  In October 2001 copies of the Auld report were sent to all Justices Chief Executives, to distribute to chairmen of magistrates benches in their Magistrates Courts Committee (MCC) areas. The representative organisations for district judges (Magistrates Courts) and lay magistrates also received copies. On 28 November 2001, a ministerial "roadshow" was held in Newcastle and magistrates from the Cleveland MCC area, which covers Teesside, attended. Written representations have been received from the Cleveland MCC and the Teesside Magistrates' Bench.

  Retrospective Legislation
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the introduction of retrospective legislation. [38121]

  The Solicitor-General
  I have been asked to reply.
  410W
  The Government's policy before introducing a legislative provision having retrospective effect is to balance the conflicting public interests and to consider whether the general public interest in the law not being changed retrospectively may be outweighed by any competing public interest. In making this assessment the Government will have regard to relevant international standards including those of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms which was incorporated into United Kingdom law by the Human Rights Act 1998.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefits (Epsom and Ewell)
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the Epsom and Ewell constituency receive housing benefit. [23430]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The available information is in the table.

  Housing benefit recipients in August 2001

  Number

  Epsom and Ewell borough council

  1,790

  Mole Valley borough council

  2,540

  Notes:

  1. The data refer to households which may be a family, a couple, or a single person.

  2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 cases.

  3. Epsom and Ewell parliamentary constituency is covered in part by Epsom and Ewell and Mole Valley local authority areas. Figures are not therefore representative of the constituency area.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload count—August 2001.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate by how much it would be possible to raise the basic state pension for the over-75s, on a revenue neutral basis, and taking account of offsetting savings in expenditure on means-tested benefits and enhanced income tax revenue, if he were not to introduce the pension credit and were instead to spend the money on the state pension for the over-75s. [27687]

  Mr. McCartney
  Diverting £2 billion away from the state pension credit to increasing the basic state pension (BSP) for the over-75s would mean standard rate BSP could rise from £72.50 to £87.55 per week for the over-75s. Approximately 75 per cent. of pensioners aged 75 and over who were previously entitled to the minimum income guarantee would remain on the means tested benefits (MIG) if BSP was increased to £87.55 and because this is lower than the current MIG level they would be no better off.

  Also, millions of pensioners living on low or moderate incomes, who struggled to put money aside for their retirement, would find themselves little or no better off than people who had saved nothing. Over 4 million pensioners would no longer receive a reward for any savings that lifted their incomes above the minimum income guarantee. In addition, the upper capital limit of £12,000 and the assumed rate of return of £1 in every

  411W
  £250 would be retained. By introducing pension credit we will tackle poverty among today's pensioners, while not discouraging future pensioners from saving.

  Benefits (Yorkshire)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed incapacity benefit in the York and North Yorkshire area in(a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001. [28197]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The available information is in the table.

  Number of people claiming incapacity benefit in York and North Yorkshire local authority areas

  York

  North Yorkshire1

  31 August 1997

  4,700

  14,300

  31 August 1999

  4,500

  14,000

  31 August 2000

  4,800

  13,900

  31 August 2001

  4,800

  14,700

  1 North Yorkshire includes Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby.

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

  Source:

  Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the incapacity benefit computer system and exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

  Fraud
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the basis was for the reference in his Department's recent Targeting Fraud advertisements to the number caught by fraud investigators; and if he will estimate how many of that number were successfully prosecuted. [30372]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The figures in the Targeting Fraud advertisements were derived from successful prosecutions data. Since the advertisements were made we have improved the data sources used to compile this information. Over 9,000 people were successfully prosecuted in 19992000 and over 11,000 in 2002–02. We shall amend the radio advertisements in the final stage of the campaign in March to reflect the new figures.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of benefit fraud were recorded in each of the past five years in(a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland. [32270]

  Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what powers the Child Support Agency has to obtain child support from a self-employed absent parent who has not contributed maintenance to a parent with care; and how these powers have been used in the case of Elaine Lanchbury, a constituent. [31116]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to my hon. Friend.
  412W
  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Huw Edwards, dated 4 March 2002:
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
  You have asked firstly what powers the Child Support Agency has to obtain child support from a self-employed non-resident parent who has not contributed maintenance to a parent with care and secondly how these powers have been used in the case of Elaine Lanchbury a constituent.
  There are a number of options available which can be considered when the Agency is trying to obtain maintenance payments from a non-compliant, self-employed non-resident parent.

  Those options include:

  County Court Judgement—entering a Liability Order on the register which is passed to Credit Reference Agencies,

  referring a case to Bailiffs,

  a garnishee order—which allows recovery from money held in a bank account,

  a charging order—which enables the payment of debts to be secured by a charge on land or property and

  referral of a case to court for it to consider committal to prison or withdrawal or holding of a driving licence.

  Individual cases are a confidential matter and I have written to you separately regarding Ms Lanchbury.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people who have had their driving licences removed by the courts since April 2001 as a result of the provisions introduced under the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000. [33342]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 4 March 2002:
  The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply by me.
  You ask two questions of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Firstly, if he will estimate the number of people who have had their driving licences removed by the courts since April 2001 as a result of the provisions introduced under the Child Support Pensions and Social Security Act 2000. Secondly, how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted; and what was the average sentence from that conviction under the criminal offence of non-co-operation with the CSA.
  No driving licences have been removed by the Courts from non-resident parents. In two cases the Courts ordered a non-resident parent to be disqualified from holding a driving licence but the order was suspended. They are both now making regular payments.
  There have been no prosecutions and therefore no convictions made under the criminal offence of non-co-operation with the Child Support Agency. The deterrent effect of a criminal sanction for failing to provide information when requested is an important element of the new system. We strongly encourage parents to co-operate voluntarily with requests for information before referring the case for consideration of prosecution under the new legislation.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average payment is made in child support maintenance by the non-resident parent under the CSA system for(a) one child, (b) two children and (c) three children. [33266]
  413W
  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table.

  The average maintenance paid in the current child support scheme

  Number of qualifying children

  Average per week (£)

  1

  7.98

  2

  10.65

  3

  10.23

  Note:

  Includes nil assessments.

  Source:

  5 per cent. scan of the Child Support Computer System August 2001.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the(a) percentage and (b) number of non-resident parents who would see a reduction in their CSA child support maintenance liability under the April 2002 scheme. [33264]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Based on an assessment made in 1998, had all cases transferred to the new child support scheme at that time, around 65 per cent. of non-resident parents in work would have seen a reduction in their child support liability. This amounts to approximately 425,000 cases. However, it is not possible to make a firm estimate of the impact on non-resident parents for 2003, five years later, given earnings growth and changes in family circumstances.

  Note:

  New scheme maintenance modelled on 5 per cent. scan of the child support computer system August 1998.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff have been(a) redeployed and (b) retrained as a result of the introduction of Jobcentre Plus; and what his estimate is of the costs incurred by his Department in undertaking retraining programmes. [33507]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Approximately 4.000 staff are employed in the 56 Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices that have opened since October 2001. The majority of these staff were perviously employed by either the Employment Service or the Benefits Agency. All have received some Jobcentre Plus specific training. The amount of training delivered to individual members of staff was largely dependent on their background and experience. The estimated cost of designing, implementing and delivering Jobcentre Plus training for all Jobcentre Plus pathfinder staff is £5 million.

  Automated Credit Transfer
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual saving in handling costs is anticipated when benefits payments are changed to automated credit transfer. [33068]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 5 February 2002]: The movement to payment direct into bank and building society accounts assures a safe, convenient, more modern and efficient way of paying benefits and pensions and will bring very substantial savings. Against this, we will incur some additional costs which cannot yet be quantified, including payments to Post Office Ltd. which will depend
  414W
  on the outcome of the current contract negotiations between the Government and the Post Office, and on the number of Post Office Card Accounts.

  Universal Bank
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what level of investment the Government have committed themselves to providing for the universal bank project. [34794]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Department, together with the Inland Revenue and the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency, are close to finalising contractual terms with the Post Office for universal banking services. The amounts involved will be commercially confidential to the parties.

  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Government have reached an agreement with the high street banks as to the level of funding that they will invest in the universal bank project. [34792]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for E-Commerce and Competitiveness on 30 October 2001,Official Report, columns 589–90W.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases were the subject of rolling reviews in each of the last five years in determining the level of fraud in jobseeker's allowance and income support. [36254]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The total number of sample cases has been around 30,000 since the start of the area benefit review programme. The number for each reporting period is in the table.

  The smaller sample size for 2001–02 was introduced as part of the move to a common sample for determining levels of fraud and customer error, and official error. The smaller sample size for 2002–03 is a result of the Department restructuring from 13 areas to 11 Government office regions. Neither of these reductions in sample size will result in a reduction in the confidence levels of the reported results.

  Income support/jobseeker's allowance review

  Reporting period

  Sample Size

  October 1997 to September 1998

  31,200

  April 1998 to March 1999

  31,200

  April 1999 to March 2000

  31,200

  April 2000 to March 2001

  31,200

  April 2001 to March 2002

  27,333

  April 2002 to March 2003

  26,900

  Source:

  Area benefit reviews

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of the minimum income guarantee in 2050 in today's prices if it is raised in line with earnings and if the basic state pension is raised in line with prices. [35844]
  415W
  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 12 February 2002]: The estimated cost of uprating the MIG in line with earnings is approximately £12 billion in today's prices in 2050.

  Debt Recovery
  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the locations of debt recovery centres within his Department and those after the planned reductions. [37018]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Debt Management Services, a unit within the Department, currently has responsibility for Swansea approximately 1,800 staff based in 127 sites across the country. These sites are generally co-located with existing Benefits Agency offices. The plan is to consolidate these units into 10 debt centres over the period ending March 2005. Departmental staff outside Debt Management Services also process overpayment work for the benefits administered centrally, such as Retirement Pension. This work is carried out at a further three sites, and is currently under review.

  Details of the current and planned future sites are in the following list.

  Current locations for debt processing work

  Barking

  Twickenham

  Hackney

  Bedford

  Norwich

  Slough

  New Forest

  Chichester

  Weymouth

  Plymouth

  Derby

  Nottingham

  Perry Barr

  Hereford

  Wolverhampton

  Wrexham

  Porth

  Barrow

  Warrington

  Crewe

  Salford

  Hull

  Mexborough

  Hemsworth

  Gateshead

  Sunderland

  Glasgow City

  Newlands

  Irvine

  Falkirk

  Bathgate

  Balham

  Hounslow

  Glasgow (for Ealing and Euston)

  Watford

  High Wycombe

  Bury St. Edmonds

  416W

  Peterborough

  Isle of Wight

  Bath

  Gloucester

  Chippenham

  Skegness

  Lincoln

  Halesowen

  Shrewsbury

  Cwmbran

  Newtown

  Swansea

  Toxteth

  Whitehaven

  Skelmersdale

  Keighley

  Leeds

  Sheffield

  Durham

  Stockton

  Annisland

  Bridgeton

  Stornoway

  Dumfries

  Peterhead

  Dundee

  Poplar

  Stratford

  Belfast (for Neasden and South Circular)

  Wood Green

  Stevenage

  Corby

  Bexley

  Hastings

  St. Austell

  Bristol

  Lichfield

  Loughborough

  Edgbaston

  Smethwick

  Walsall

  Cardiff

  Caernarfon

  Blackpool

  Breckfield

  Preston

  Birkenhead

  Bradford

  York

  Doncaster

  Newcastle

  Middlesbrough

  Greenock

  Springburn

  Ayr

  Galashiels

  Motherwell

  Perth

  Harlow

  Ilford

  417W

  Ashton in Makerfield (for Palace)

  Edgware

  Clacton

  Oxford

  Lewes

  Portsmouth

  Barnstaple

  Taunton

  Worksop

  Sutton in Ashfield

  Sparkhill

  Coventry

  Nuneaton

  Merthyr

  Pembroke Dock

  Kirkby

  Widnes

  Southport

  Chorlton

  Dewsbury

  Rotherham

  Barnsley

  Hexham

  Hartlepool

  Renfrew

  Cranstonhill

  Stranraer

  Cowdenbeath

  Bellshill.

  Sites where benefits are currently administered centrally:
  Blackpool, Washington and Newcastle.

  Proposed locations for debt centres:
  Chorlton, Porth, Stornoway, Nuneaton, Ashton in Makerfield, Corby, Dearne Valley, Bradford, Glasgow and Salford.

  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to revise the number of centres for debt recovery in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [37017]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Western Isles (Mr. MacDonald) on 31 January 2002,Official Report, column 544W.

  Vibration White Finger
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many former mineworkers applied for an award for vibration white finger; and how many were rejected by the Benefits Agency in the last year for which figures are available; [35236]

  (2) if he will advise the Benefits Agency to use the test developed to diagnose vibration white finger in former mineworkers by the Department of Trade and Industry, [35237]

  (3) how many former mineworkers who applied for vibration white finger were rejected for an award because they had neurological damage in the last year for which figures are available. [35238]
  418W
  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 25 February 2002]: The information is not available in the format requested.

  There is no simple, reliable and universally accepted test for vibration white finger. The test used by the Department of Trade and Industry for the settlement of compensation claims against British Coal fulfils the civil burden of proof in finding that former mineworkers have contracted vibration white finger as a result of their employer's negligence. This process involves litigation in individual cases and as such can be lengthy, detailed and expensive.

  The test used for the industrial injuries scheme is simple, straightforward to administer and consistent nationally. We have no plans to adopt the tests being used by the Department of Trade and Industry.

  Pension Service
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to launch the Pension Service; and if he will list the locations of the proposed 26 pension centres and their catchment areas. [37520]

  Mr. McCartney
  The pension service will be launched on 1 April 2002. Pension centres, which will roll out in stages over the next two years, will process work as set out in the table.

  Government office region

  Pension centre locations

  East Midlands

  Derby, Leicester, Nottingham

  Eastern

  Norwich (2 sites)

  London

  Glasgow, Newcastle (Tyneview Park), Dundee (initially)

  North East

  Stockport, Seaham

  North West

  Burnley, Stockport, Warrington

  Scotland

  Motherwell, Dundee

  South East

  Blackpool, Cwmbran, Liverpool, Wrexham

  South West

  Bath, Plymouth

  Wales

  Swansea

  West Midlands

  Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  Dearne Valley, Seaham, York

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new entrants to the civil service were employed in his Department in each of the last five years; and how many in each year were aged 50 and over. [36498]

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 25 February 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Cabinet Office on 27 February 2002, Official Report, columns 875-80W.

  Capita
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many contracts the Department has with Capita; and how much they are worth; [38375]

  (2) if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Department. [39345]
  419W
  Mr. McCartney
  The Department for Work and Pensions currently has 12 contracts with Capita, with a total value of £134.1 million.

  DWP Accommodation and Office Service—North-west and Greater Manchester

  DWP Accommodation and Office Services—Tyne Tees and Yorkshire

  DWP Accommodation and Office Services—West Midlands and Mercia

  Working Age Specification Framework

  Consultancy support to Pension Credit Project Central Design Authority

  Winter Fuels Payments Project

  Recruitment Services

  Private Sector Led New Deal—Solihull

  Employment Services Estates Corporate Supply

  New Deal Next Phase (progress2work)—Birmingham North

  New Deal Next Phase (progress2work)—Birmingham South

  Disability Marketing in North-west.

  HIV
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to extend the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to give protection to people with HIV from the point of their diagnosis. [38474]

  Maria Eagle
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer given to the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley) on 12 December 2001,Official Report, column 904W.

  Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the ability of parents of children who are suffering from attention deficit hyperactive disorder to access disability living allowance. [39434]

  Maria Eagle
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can claim disability living allowance (DLA) and have their child's entitlement assessed in the normal way. The claimant's medical condition is not, necessarily, the key factor in qualifying for DLA because entitlement to the allowance is based on walking difficulties and/or the need for personal care or supervision which arise from severe disability. For children under age 16, these needs must be substantially in excess of the normal requirements of a child of the same age who is in normal health.

  The guidance to decision makers in the disability handbook contains a chapter on behavioural disorders including the likely care, supervision or mobility needs arising from ADHD. Currently, DLA is received by some 42,500 children whose primary disability is recorded as being a "behavioural disorder".

  Notes

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. Figures are at 31 August 2001.

  Source:

  ASD Information centre: 5 per cent data.

  Foster Carers
  James Purnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if foster carers who give up work to care for foster children will be entitled to the Second State Pension; and if he will make a statement. [40335]

  Mr. McCartney
  Foster carers cannot qualify for state second pension simply because they are fostering a child. This is because they are not entitled to child benefit in respect of foster children.

  They may, however, qualify for state second pension in respect of any child under the age of six for whom they receive child benefit. They will also qualify for state second pension where, throughout a complete tax year, they are entitled to invalid care allowance, or qualify for home responsibilities protection because they are caring for a disabled child, whether or not that child is a foster child.

  James Purnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend home responsibilities protection to foster carers; and whether it will cover the entire length of time they have been fostering. [40336]

  Mr. McCartney
  Foster carers whose allowance contains a reward element may be liable for national insurance contributions on a self-employed basis. Where there is no liability, they may choose to pay voluntary contributions to assist in qualifying for state retirement pension. Foster carers who receive child benefit for their own children aged under 16 will be eligible for home responsibilities protection. We will keep these arrangements under review as we do with all rules relating to benefits.

  James Purnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of extending home responsibilities protection to foster carers(a) caring for foster children and (b) to cover the entire length of time they have been fostering. [40337]

  Mr. McCartney
  We cannot calculate the cost of extending home responsibilities protection to foster carers whose retirement pension entitlement is not already protected since this is dependent upon the individual's circumstances at pension age.

  Compulsory Retirement
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Government will take against companies who enforce retirement on male employees at 60 instead of 65. [37427]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government are currently undertaking a public consultation exercise on implementation of the European employment directive. The directive provides a framework for member states to introduce legislation outlawing unfair discrimination at work on the grounds of age, sexual orientation, religion, and disability. Among the age issues on which we are seeking general views is whether employers should be able to require people to retire at a certain age and, if so, whether legal limits should be placed on their right to do so. We shall carry

  421W
  out a further consultation on specific age proposals later this year, developed in the light of responses to this consultation.

  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Pensions replied on 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 781 W, explaining that the Government actively encourage employers to value the contribution of older workers and to adopt flexible approaches to retirement.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Rail Journeys (Staff)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that rail journeys undertaken by staff in his Department should ordinarily be on standard class tickets. [40443]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Civil Service Management Code requires all Government Departments and agencies to ensure that employees use the most efficient and economic means of travel in the circumstances, taking into account any management benefit and the needs of staff with disabilities.

  Although entitlement to first class rail travel is an agreed condition of service at Band B2 level and above, Cabinet Office policy encourages use of standard class travel for all rail journeys outside the rush hours and for journeys of two hours or less.

  First class travel for other journeys recognises the level of work which may need to be carried out by staff in grades B2 and above while travelling by train.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will list the official visits to(a) Paris and (b) Brussels made by each Minister in his Department in 2001 and the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on the choice of mode of travel for such visits; [38158]

  (2) if he will list the official visits within the UK outside London made by each Minister in his Department in 2001, giving for each (a) the origin and destination and (b) the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in his Department on choice of mode of travel for official visits. [38192]

  Mr. Leslie
  Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 will be published in a similar form to previous years as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.

  All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
  422W
  The additional information requested in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Global Crossing
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the dates on which Ministers in his Department have received hospitality in their ministerial capacities since 1 January 1999 from Global Crossing; and if he will make a statement. [37685]

  Mr. Leslie
  Offers of hospitality which are accepted must be registered in line with the requirements of paragraph 139 of the Ministerial Code.

  City of London Corporation
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those functions, engagements and events which Ministers, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997. [35709]

  Mr. Leslie
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Secondments
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the written agreements and protocols with the Whitehall and Industry Group governing their secondments to Government; and if he will list all the secondments placed under the auspices of the group since June 2001. [40561]

  Mr. Leslie
  A memorandum of understanding between the Cabinet Office, as sponsors of the Whitehall and Industry Group (WIG), and WIG is currently under negotiation. Copies of the agreement will be placed in the Libraries of the House in due course. It is open to any organisation to become a member of the Whitehall and Industry Group and some 45 Government Departments and agencies have joined. Copies of the information pack that organisations receive when they join WIG have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Currently two senior civil servants act as non-executive directors of the Whitehall and Industry Group.

  Since June 2001 five secondments (lasting three months or more) have been arranged through WIG into Government Departments, comprising:
  three into the Lord Chancellor's Department;
  one into the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; and
  one into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

HEALTH

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been reported in his Department under paragraph 11 of the Civil Service Code since 13 May 1999; and how many of them related to special advisers. [25335]
  423W
  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 9 January 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

  The procedures for making complaints under the civil service code are set out in the Department's staff handbook. Civil servants are encouraged, in the first instance, to raise complaints made under paragraph 11 of the "civil service code" with their line manager. If for any reason this is not felt to be possible, perhaps because the line manager is part of the complaint, individuals may take their complaint to a nominated official (or officials). It is not possible to provide a comprehensive figure for the number of complaints made within this Department under paragraph 11 of the code as there is no requirement for managers to report to the centre details of complaints made under the civil service code which are resolved within the management line.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to seek information from the chief executive of each NHS trust about possible inappropriate adjustments to in-patient waiting lists. [25489]

  Mr. Hutton
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  Following publication of the National Audit Office report we commissioned the Audit Commission to initiate a system of spot-checks on waiting list statistics hospital-by-hospital.

  The Government believe that this approach is the best way to ensure that such inappropriate adjustments do not happen again.

  In addition, the Government are identifying a series of measures which will help identify at an early stage any trusts where there appears to be a problem in managing their waiting lists.

  Data in waiting lists returns will continue to be routinely validated by the Government statistical service. Any discrepancies will be resolved directly with the trusts prior to finalising the figures for publication.

  In future, any manager found to have deliberately distorted waiting figures will face dismissal on grounds of gross misconduct. This will be supported by a new code of conduct for NHS managers. Anyone who breaches that code of conduct will not be re-employed as a manager anywhere in the NHS.

  GPs
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of general practitioners are connected to NHSnet. [27473]
  424W
  Mr. Hutton
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  The latest figures available as at 28 February 2002 show that over 98 per cent. of general practitioners in England have NHSnet connections in their practices.

  Ambulance Services
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost per head of(a) emergency and (b) non-emergency ambulance services in (i) Shropshire, (ii) Wiltshire and (iii) the Isle of Wight in the last financial year. [28228]

  Ms Blears
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Expenditure per head of population

  £

  Ambulance trust

  Non-emergency services

  Emergency services

  Shropshire's community and mental health services NHS trust

  0.99

  14.88

  Wiltshire ambulance service NHS trust

  2.44

  12.40

  Isle of Wight health care NHS trust

  3.42

  11.45

  Source:

  Annual financial returns of NHS trusts 2000–01

  Weighted population estimates 2000–01

  Arthritis
  Mr. Havard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each regional health authority area are being prescribed anti-TNF drugs for arthritis. [28502]

  Jacqui Smith
  I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is conducting an appraisal of these treatments. Guidance to the national health service is expected in April 2002. We expect health authorities and primary care trusts to fund treatments from their unified allocations which are increasing on average next year by 7.2 per cent. in real terms. We do not hold information centrally about current usage of these drugs.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to provide funding for the increased supply of the drugs Infliximal and Etanercept; [28617]
  425W
  (2) what percentage of sufferers of inflammatory arthritis in the UK have been prescribed the drugs Infliximal and Etanercept; and if he will give a breakdown by health authority area of the numbers of people who have been prescribed these drugs; [28619]

  (3) what assessment has been made of the cost of prescribing the drugs Infliximal and Etanercept for treatment of inflammatory arthritis (a) in total and (b) per sufferer of this condition; and what evidence he has assessed on the long-term effectiveness of these drugs compared to other available forms of treatment. [28616]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 18 January 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March, Official Report, column 192W.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is conducting an appraisal of these treatments. Guidance to the national health service is expected in April 2002. We expect health authorities and primary care trusts to fund treatments from their unified allocations which are increasing on average next year by 7.2 per cent. in real terms. We do not hold information centrally about current usage of these drugs.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the new strategic health authorities from April 2002 take responsibility for patients in nursing homes for whom the present health authority is paying part only. [31153]

  Jacqui Smith
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  Responsibility for funding services for patients will pass to the relevant primary care trust (PCT) in April 2002. Care and funding are provided on the basis of assessed need, so the PCT will take on the same responsibility as the health authority, except where the needs have changed.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the average length of stay of a resident in(a) a local authority nursing home and (b) a privately owned nursing home; and if he will make a statement. [39171]

  Jacqui Smith
  The information requested on average length of stay in privately owned nursing homes is not collected centrally.

  Local authorities do not own or run nursing homes.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in care homes there were in Kent in(a) 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [39459]
  426W
  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the number of residential places and registered nursing beds in Kent, at 31 March each year, is shown in the table.

  Residential and nursing care beds in Kent, 1997 and 2001, as at 31 March

  (a)19974

  (b) 20015

  Number of residential care homes1

  16,009

  15,928

  Number of beds in nursing homes2,3

  4,712

  4,868

  1 Excludes places in childrens' homes.

  2 Private nursing homes, hospitals and clinics.

  3 Information is presented for East Kent and West Kent health authorities.

  4 Figures for registered nursing beds relates to registered beds during the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997.

  5 Information is presented for the county of Kent prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1998. Figures for 2001 therefore relate to the area corresponding to the unitary authority of Medway Towns and the county area of Kent.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average length of time it takes to set up a(a) residential home and (b) nursing home from the time of its original planning application. [39442]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Correspondence
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Romsey, on orthopaedic waiting lists and the Lord Mayor Treloar hospital in Alton, Hampshire. [31340]

  Ms Blears
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer her to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  A reply was sent on 16 February.

  Bolton South East Primary Care Group
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Wigan and Bolton health authority has used its increase in Government funding for the financial year 2002–03 to move the Bolton South East Primary Care Group closer to its target funding. [31233]

  Jacqui Smith
  I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  For 2002–03, the allocations received by the new Bolton Primary Care Trust will increase by 10.14 per cent. in comparison to the funding received in 2001–02 by the two Bolton primary care groups.

  This is an above average settlement which will help to bring Bolton closer to target by almost 1 per cent. This rate of change is considered to be significant and is one which will not threaten the stability of other areas of the local health service.

  Enron
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings(a) he and (b) his senior departmental officials have had with Enron and its subsidiaries in the last two years. [32429]

  Ms Blears
  I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, The Civil Service Code and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality, it is not the normal practice for Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

  NHS (Directors' Secondments)
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2002,Official Report, column 955W, on NHS directors' secondments, if he will list the organisation to which the (a) chief executive and (b) executive directors listed in the table were seconded as at 1 December 2001. [31804]

  Region

  Chief executives

  Executive directors

  Total

  West Midlands

  2 to the Department of Health

  2 to West Midlands Regional Office

  1 to the Workforce Development Council

  5

  Trent

  2 to the Department of Health

  4 to NHS Trent Regional Office

  1 to NHS Trent Regional Office

  1 to the NHS Modernisation Agency

  1 to NHS Estates

  1 to a University Health Research Department (SCHARR)

  South West

  1 to the NHS Leadership Centre

  1 to South West Regional Office

  1 to Education Purchasing Consortium

  1 to the National Shared Services Project

  1 to National Police Training Service

  1 to the NHS Leadership Centre

  1 to NHS Estates

  7

  Northern and Yorkshire

  1 to Northern and Yorkshire Regional Office

  1 to Northern and Yorkshire Workforce Confederation

  2 to Northern and Yorkshire Regional Office

  1 West Yorkshire Financial Shared Services Project

  1 to Tyne and Wear Health Action Zone

  6

  South West

  1 to Commission for Health Improvement

  1 to the NHS Modernisation Agency

  2 to Department of Health

  3 to South East Regional Office

  7

  North West

  1 to NHS North West Regional Office

  9 to NHS North West Regional Office

  1 to the Department of Health

  1 to the Department of Health

  12

  Eastern

  4 to Eastern Regional Office

  6 to Eastern Regional Office

  10

  London

  1to Project Role with Prison Service

  7 to London Regional Office

  1 to London Health Observatory

  1 to the NHS Modernisation Agency

  1 to NHS Estates

  11

  Total

  19

  49

  68

  428W
  Mr. Hutton
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  My previous answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 955W, referred to the secondment of executive directors of national health service trusts and health authorities to other organisations excluding secondments within the NHS. The figures provided included secondments within the NHS.

  The number of executive directors and chief executives of NHS trusts and health authorities who were on secondment to other organisations as at 1 December 2001 is shown in the table.

  Region

  Chief executives

  Executive directors

  Total

  West Midlands

  0

  5

  5

  Trent

  3

  7

  10

  South West

  2

  5

  7

  Northern and Yorkshire

  1

  5

  6

  South East

  6

  1

  7

  North West

  2

  10

  12

  Eastern

  4

  6

  10

  London

  1

  10

  11

  Total

  19

  49

  68

  The organisations to which the (a) chief executive and (b) executive directors were seconded as at 1 December 2001 is shown in the table.

  PFI/PPPs
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts and what fees in each financial year since 1997–98(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, (c) KPMG, (d) PA Consulting, (e) WS Atkins, (f) Accenture, (g) Deloitte & Touche, (h) McKinsey, (i) Capita, (j) AEA Technology, (k) Xansa Group, (l) Sema Group, (m) CMG Admiral, (n) ICL Group and (o) Logica received for advising his Department on PFI and PPP contracts; and if he will make a statement. [32504]

  Mr. Hutton
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  1997–98

  No fees were paid to any of the companies listed in the question.

  1998–99
  No fees were paid to any of the companies listed in the question.

  1999–2000
  Cap Gemini Ernst & Young: 3 contracts, £58,603.03

  2000–01
  PricewaterhouseCoopers: I contract, £13,325
  Cap Gemini Ernst & Young: 5 contracts, £40,282.16
  Deloitte & Touche: 1 contract, £5,010

  2001–02
  KPMG: 2 contracts, £50,000
  PricewaterhouseCoopers: one contract, £23,818.19.

  NHS Walk-in Centres
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by centre, the number of people accessing NHS walk-in centres each month since opening. [35862]

  Mr. Hutton
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

  The 42 NHS walk-in centres are being piloted as a new initiative to offer convenient access to primary care services.

  The Department commissioned an independent evaluation of all NHS walk-in centres. This has been led by Dr. Chris Salisbury at the University of Bristol. The national evaluation final report, including figures on the number of people accessing walk-in centres, is due for publication in the summer 2002.

  Estimates show, however, that overall more than 1.3 million people have visited walk-in centres since opening.

  Fire Injuries
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received injuries in the south-west 430W
  region relating to (a) an open fire, (b) an electrical heating system and (c) a gas central heating system, in the last three years. [35474]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 12 February 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2000, Official Report, column 192W.

  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in reviewing methods of recording calls to NHS Direct about mental health-related matters so as to align them closely with the clinical assessment system. [35509]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 12 February 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

  All calls to NHS Direct are logged and recorded; this includes mental health calls. Nurse advisers use decision support systems (algorithms) as part of the national health service clinical assessment system (CAS) to enable them to identify the nature of the call and assess the needs of the caller. Mental health is seen as an integral part of the CAS and mental health callers will be assessed and advised using the CAS through the use of mental health algorithms developed by mental health clinicians. As CAS is available across England, the information available on all calls will become even more robust and will provide a credible data source supporting mental health service development.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 679W, what the timetable is for selection and implementation of instrumentation for the measurement of clinical outcomes in the mental health services. [39845]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: The selection and implementation of instrumentation for the measurement of clinical outcomes in mental health services is developing as planned.

  The instruments to be used were selected in January 2002.
  They will consider aspects of morbidity, patient satisfaction and quality of life.
  Piloting the instruments is currently in hand.
  Data are expected to be flowing from the pilot sites by September 2002.
  Routine measurement of outcomes is expected from April 2003.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of people, broken down by age, were(a) admitted and (b) discharged from hospital in each of the last five years where the main diagnosis was mental illness. [40577]
  431W
  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The tables show the estimated numbers of Finished Consultant Episodes and Discharges with a primary diagnosis of

  Finished consultant episodes with a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99), England, 1996–97 to 2000–01

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Under 16

  20,210

  25,150

  20,010

  18,170

  14,580

  16–24

  33,880

  36,540

  31,500

  27,870

  22,220

  25–44

  103,540

  109,640

  106,350

  98,890

  79,560

  45–64

  54,390

  56,190

  56,010

  54,550

  45,850

  65–74

  26,090

  25,520

  24,700

  23,720

  18,840

  75–84

  32,310

  32,920

  33,300

  31,560

  24,210

  85+

  18,460

  19,180

  17,820

  17,510

  15,060

  Not known

  2,400

  470

  730

  250

  420

  All ages

  291,280

  305,610

  290,420

  272,520

  220,740

  Psychiatric diagnosis as a percentage of all diagnoses

  2.7

  2.7

  2.5

  2.3

  1.9

  Notes:

  1. Data for 2001–01 have not been grossed for coverage and have a provisional status.

  2. Figures may not add up due to rounding.

  3. Codes have been taken from the 'International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems' Tenth Revision (1CD-10).

  Discharges with a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99), England, 1996–97 to 2000–01

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  Under 16

  20,000

  24,950

  19,620

  18,050

  14,270

  16–24

  32,170

  35,130

  29,940

  25,970

  20,400

  25–44

  97,330

  104,070

  100,000

  90,360

  72,230

  45–64

  50,550

  52,780

  51,990

  49,480

  40,970

  65–74

  24,000

  23,670

  22,740

  21,190

  16,630

  75–84

  29,330

  30,310

  30,250

  27,800

  20,940

  85+

  16,660

  17,540

  16,010

  15,230

  12,740

  Not known

  2,350

  450

  690

  230

  410

  All ages

  272,390

  288,890

  271,230

  248,300

  198,580

  Psychiatric diagnosis as a percentage of all diagnoses

  2.7

  2.8

  2.5

  2.2

  1.9

  Notes:

  1. Data for 2001–01 have not been grossed for coverage and have a provisional status.

  2. Figures may not add up due to rounding.

  3. Codes have been taken from the 'International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems1 Tenth Revision (ICD–10).

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring of compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 in psychiatric units his Department has undertaken in the last three years; and what resources have been made available for this. [38367]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Mental Health Act Commission's role is to routinely visit all hospitals and registered nursing homes with detained patients to monitor the operation of the Mental Health Act and interview detained patients in private. It is also their role to monitor complaints made by detained patients through the NHS complaints procedures and monitor the operation of the consent to treatment safeguards and the Mental Health Act Code of Practice. New legislation following the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 will fully comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a substantive reply will be given to Dr. R. D. Fouracre's letter of 1 August 2001, concerning continence management services. [36840]

  Jacqui Smith
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to the question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave
  432W
  mental and behavioural disorders, in England, for 1996–97 to 2001–01. The figures for 2000–01 are provisional, as no adjustments have yet been made for shortfalls in data.

  my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

  The Department has no record of receiving this correspondence. The hon. Member's office have been asked to supply a duplicate.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average response time was for responding to departmental correspondence; what percentage of letters took longer than one month for a response; and what percentage took longer than three months for a response in each of the last five years. [37441]

  Ms Blears
  The available information is in the table, which shows the percentage of letters replied to within the Department's service first targets of 20 working days.

  Year

  Volume of letters

  Percentage increase

  Percentage of replies sent on target

  1998

  10,648

  —

  61.0

  1999

  18,346

  Up 72.0

  47.0

  2000

  18,621

  Up 1.5

  50.0

  2001

  19,665

  Up 5.6

  60.0

  Health Action Zones
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what independent evaluation has been made of the work of health action zones. [37382]

  Ms Blears
  The national independent evaluation of health action zones (HAZ) is due to be completed by December 2002 and is being conducted by a consortium led by Professor Ken Judge of the University of Glasgow. In addition, each HAZ is carrying out a local evaluation. Some reports have already been published and are available locally and at www.Haznet.org.uk.

  Social Work Training
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidance to social services departments to ensure that care workers will not be charged when undertaking their training for the NVQ level II as set out in the domiciliary care standards. [37694]

  Jacqui Smith
  There is no intention either implied or stated in the draft National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care to levy a charge on home care workers for their NVQ training.

  Foot Health Care
  Barbara Follett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many chiropodists/podiatrists were employed in the NHS in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [38214]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Qualified staff employed in chiropody/podiatry in England as at 30 September each year

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Headcount

  3,290

  3,320

  3,370

  3,470

  3,560

  Whole-time equivalents

  2,730

  2,750

  2,770

  2,850

  2,890

  Notes:

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.

  2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Herbal Medicines
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what basis the decision was made to require 30 years' continuous usage to be demonstrated before a licence could be obtained for herbal medicinal products as specified in the EU traditional herbal medicinal products directive; and if he will make a statement; [38287]

  (2) on what basis the decision was made to apply the same testing and manufacturing standards to herbal medicinal products as active pharmaceuticals as specified in the EU traditional herbal medicinal products directive; and if he will make a statement. [38286]

  Ms Blears
  The recent proposal by the European Commission for a directive of the European Parliament and Council on traditional herbal medicinal products will be subject to the normal processes of scrutiny and negotiation applicable to proposals for European legislation.
  434W
  The proposed directive would not affect the existing arrangements whereby a marketing authorisation may be obtained for a herbal medicine, based on evidence of safety, quality and efficacy. The directive would, however, put in place an additional route to the market for traditional herbal medicines under which evidence of traditional use would replace the requirement to demonstrate efficacy and, in many cases, also allow a simplified safety assessment. Any figure for a stipulated period of use, such as 30 years, which may be agreed during negotiations is likely to be one which is generally recognised by European Union member states as indicating that a herbal medicine can reasonably be accepted as having genuinely traditional usage.

  Herbal medicines with a marketing authorisation and those with a traditional use registration would typically be likely to share similar product characteristics. The proposed quality standards are already successfully met by the many companies, both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the European Union, which hold marketing authorisations in relation to herbal medicines. Existing European regulatory guidelines on herbal medicines are intended to be applied in a way that is appropriate to the product under consideration and we envisage that this would continue to be the case under a traditional use registration scheme.

  Equipment Leasing
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the equipment leasing arrangements entered into by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the cost is to public funds in each case. [39079]

  Ms Blears
  The only equipment directly leased by the Department (excluding agencies) for its own use is post room equipment at an approximate cost of £76,000 per annum.

  Emergency Readmissions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the emergency readmission figures for Q3 2001–02 in the Library. [39165]

  Ms Blears
  Emergency readmission figures for quarter 3, 2001–02 have been placed in the Library.

  Domiciliary Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has taken to address the issues identified in the 10 Annual report of the Chief Inspector of Social Services 2000–01 paragraph 3.71 regarding domiciliary care. [39167]

  Jacqui Smith
  We expect that the National Minimum Standards for domiciliary care will be implemented from July 2002. Quality issues such as reliability of domiciliary care are addressed in the draft National Minimum Standards, which we published in October 2001. Decisions about registration of domiciliary care agencies by the National Care Standards Commission will take account of compliance with the Standards.

  NHS Estate (Repair and Maintenance)
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of(a) essential, (b) non-essential

  435W
  and (c) all buildings in the NHS estate in England are classified as being in Estatecode condition (i) A, (ii) B, (iii) C and (iv) D. [39140]

  Ms Blears
  Information in respect of the percentage of 'essential' and 'non-essential' buildings in the National Health Service Estate which are classified as being in Estatecode condition A, B, C, D, is not collected centrally. Similarly, information that is collected centrally in respect of the percentage of 'all buildings' relates to NHS trusts and is not broken down into the A, B, C, D classifications.

  A figure which is available is the average percentage of the occupied floor area of all NHS trust buildings that is in physical condition C and D (ie. below conditions A and B).

  The latest available figure for 2000–01 indicates this figure to be 18 per cent. In comparison with the previous year when the figure was 24 per cent, this indicates a general reduction in the percentage of the estate in which 'all buildings' are below physical conditions A and B.

  Please note that these figures exclude empty NHS trust buildings, premises or facilities which may be awaiting disposal.

  Alcohol and Drug Misuse
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths were attributable to alcohol misuse in each of the last five years. [38653]

  Yvette Cooper
  Information collected centrally about the cause of deaths does not systematically record whether a death is attributable to alcohol misuse. A number of health and lifestyle factors can contribute to diseases such as cancer, stroke and coronary heart disease, and it can be difficult to isolate alcohol consumption as the most important of these factors.

  A research review commissioned by the Department in 1997 concluded that between 5,000 and 40,000 deaths are attributable to alcohol misuse each year in England and Wales.

  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in his Department work on measures specifically to tackle(a) alcohol misuse and (b) drugs misuse. [38652]

  Ms Blears
  Within the Sexual Health & Substance Misuse branch, there are 20 staff members working on drug treatment, drug prevention and alcohol issues. Within the wider Department, staff from other branches work alongside the dedicated substance misuse team e.g. statisticians and finance experts. It is not possible to quantify numbers as they work in a wide range of policy areas.

  Private Hospital Treatment
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the private hospitals which have carried out operations on behalf of the NHS since 1997; what has been the total cost incurred to the NHS in respect of each private hospital which has carried out operations on behalf of the NHS over that time; and what the total cost of all operations carried out in private hospitals in the UK and abroad on behalf of the NHS has been since 1997. [38469]
  436W
  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested in respect of individual private hospitals is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  For information on the total cost of all operations carried out in private hospitals in the United Kingdom and abroad, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) on 15 November 2001, Official Report, column 855W.

  Cystic Fibrosis
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce or amend regulations in order to provide free NHS prescriptions for medication required to treat cystic fibrosis. [38657]

  Ms Blears
  Our policy for national health service prescriptions dispensed in England is that, with the exception of contraceptives, exemption applies to a person rather than to the type of medication prescribed. Further, our policy is to give priority to helping people who may have difficulty in paying charges, rather than extending the exemption arrangements to people with other medical conditions including cystic fibrosis. Arrangements for NHS prescriptions dispensed in Wales are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times in accident and emergency units were in each(a) constituency and (b) health authority in England since 1992; and what the most recent 12 month figures are. [38341]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The average waiting time in accident and emergency units is not collected.

  However, the NHS Plan set a new target for Accident and Emergency: reduce the maximum wait in Accident and Emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours by 2004.

  With the following interim milestones;
  75 per cent. of patients attending Accident and Emergency to wait 4 hours or less from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge by March 2002.

  90 per cent. of patients attending Accident and Emergency to wait 4 hours or less from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge by March 2003.

  In line with this, from August 2001, the Department has collected data on total time in Accident and Emergency from arrival to transfer, admission or discharge. Information suggests that the national health service is on track to meet the March 2002 milestone. Currently 77 per cent. of all Accident and Emergency attenders spend four hours or less in Accident and Emergency.

  Information on the number of patients waiting from admission from an accident and emergency department is also collected and the latest information is available on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which procedures he guarantees six-month maximum waiting time. [40695]
  437W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: At present, no procedures are guaranteed a six-month maximum waiting time. However, from 1 April 2002, all patients waiting for their first out-patient appointment will be guaranteed to be seen within six months. This is in line with the targets set out in the NHS Plan.

  The NHS Plan sets out this Government's targets for improving NHS waiting times. By the end of March 2005, the maximum waiting time for all in-patients will have been cut from 18 now down to 15,12, nine and eventually to six months and the maximum waiting time for initial out-patient appointments will be cut to three months. Urgent cases will continue to be treated in preference and in accordance with clinical need.

  Detailed waiting time data are available in the Library.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if health purchasing authorities set minimum waiting times in contracts with NHS and independent providers; and if he has offered guidance on securing minimum waiting times. [40692]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: Maximum waiting times for first out-patient appointments from GP referral and for in-patient appointments are set out in the NHS Plan. From 1 April 2002, the maximum waiting time from GP referral to a first outpatient appointment will be six months and the maximum waiting time for an in-patient appointment will be 15 months. Maximum waiting times will fall on a staged basis each year up to 2005, when the maximum waiting time for a first out-patient appointment will be three months and the maximum waiting time for an in-patient appointment will be six months.

  Primary care organisations and strategic health authorities are expected to purchase adequate care from NHS and independent health care providers in order to ensure patients are treated within the maximum waiting times standards.

  There are no minimum waiting times standards set nationally.

  NHS Procurement
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the objectives of the NHS procurement initiative ProCure21. [38688]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The information is as follows:
  NHS ProCure21—objectives
  NHS ProCure21 aims to improve capital procurement in the national health service through improving design, strengthening the performance of the NHS as a client, benchmarking and promoting better performance, and establishing partnering frameworks to deliver capital schemes. Its objectives are to deliver better facilities, faster and at greater value for money for the NHS, thus delivering significant benefits for patients, staff and visitors. Further details are set out in "Sold On Health", published May 2000, and on the NHS ProCure21 website www.nhs-procure21.gov.uk.
  The National Audit Office uses NHS ProCure21 as a case study in its report "Modernising Construction" (January 2001). Details can be found at www.nao.gov.uk/publications.
  438W
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procurement methods are available to NHS organisations for projects over the threshold of?1 million in capital value, subject to the approval of the ProCure21 steering group; and what the criteria are for successful application of the alternative methods. [38691]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 28 March 2002]: HM Treasury's "Constructing a Better Government Client—Achieving Excellence" identifies the procurement methods available to the national health service. In May 2000 we published "Sold on Health" jointly with HM Treasury and the Public Services Productivity Panel, which set out our proposals for improving capital procurement in the NHS, NHS ProCure 21, and includes details for the piloting of partnering in the north west and west midlands areas.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who the principal supply chain partner is in each of the regions where the NHS pilot procurement initiative ProCure21 is in place; who the core suppliers are; and what the selection criteria are for those core suppliers for each of these regions where the initiative is in place. [38690]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: We are currently undertaking the selection process to identify principal supply chain partners for the two pilot areas for the partnering element of NHS ProCure21. The selections reflect the European Community works directive and include technical and commercial criteria as well as commitment to working closely with the national health service, delivering continuous improvement and innovation, and the ability to deliver high quality facilities for the NHS.

  Three Star Hospitals
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research the performance management unit has conducted into three star hospitals; and how many of them have been found to be failing. [38461]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: No research has been done on the performance of three star national health service trusts since the performance ratings were published last September. Their performance will be re-assessed as part of the next national annual rating exercise.

  Autism (West Sussex)
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what facilities are available in the West Sussex health authority area for children with autism disorders. [39232]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Children with autism will benefit from a range of initiatives we are taking to improve services for disabled children. As part of the quality protects programme, we set new national objectives for children's services which for the first time set out clear outcomes for children and, in some instances, give precise targets which local authorities are expected to achieve. These were updated in "Valuing People".

  Disabled children have been made a priority area in quality protects. The last spending review made substantial additional funding available for the children's services grant which now totals £180 million in 2001–02,

  439W
  £220 million in 2002–03 and £290 million in 2003–04. Of this, £60 million has been earmarked for services for disabled children and their families—£15 million in 2001–02 and 2002–03 and £30 million in 2003–04.

  Currently in West Sussex, there are a number of specific provisions for children with autism. For example, in the Mid Sussex NHS Trust area, a recently developed Joint Assessment Team to diagnose children with these needs. This includes, a consultant paediatrician, a clinical psychologist, a speech therapist and a diagnostic services. Treatment is usually given in conjunction with education and there are special schools in the area where this joint approach can be implemented effectively.

  Another example comes from the Sussex Weald and Downs NHS Trust area, where the Community Paediatric Service runs a child development centre for autistic children who are under five, and work is undertaken with schools who have pupils with these needs. The over fives are dealt with by CAMHS. The trust also works with the Autistic Society to ensure that all treatment is suitable for each individual's needs.

  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions on the designation of

  Table 1: Expenditure per financial year on social care of the elderly per resident aged 65 or over for each council with social services responsibilities

  £

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Avon

  516

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Barking and Dagenham

  631

  702

  766

  831

  933

  Barnet

  633

  669

  730

  789

  848

  Barnsley

  505

  543

  542

  569

  616

  Bath and North East Somerset UA

  —

  421

  544

  557

  594

  Bedfordshire (old)

  541

  592

  —

  —

  —

  Bedfordshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  610

  615

  643

  Berkshire

  534

  555

  720

  —

  —

  Bexley

  551

  662

  714

  722

  760

  Birmingham

  628

  695

  781

  842

  915

  Blackburn with Darwen UA

  —

  —

  —

  890

  971

  Blackpool UA

  —

  —

  —

  723

  755

  Bolton

  552

  642

  750

  755

  809

  Bournemouth UA

  —

  —

  606

  602

  595

  Bracknell Forest UA

  —

  —

  —

  650

  681

  Bradford

  564

  614

  840

  894

  942

  Brent

  756

  798

  881

  847

  880

  Brighton and Hove UA

  —

  —

  672

  730

  795

  Bristol UA

  —

  741

  712

  859

  943

  Bromley

  434

  474

  504

  657

  719

  Buckinghamshire (old)

  514

  540

  —

  —

  —

  Buckinghamshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  592

  621

  671

  Bury

  689

  838

  740

  806

  864

  Calderdale

  735

  801

  858

  924

  963

  Cambridgeshire (old)

  409

  372

  434

  —

  —

  Cambridgeshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  —

  511

  558

  Camden

  1,148

  1,254

  1,317

  1,589

  1,599

  Cheshire (old)

  459

  601

  653

  —

  —

  Cheshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  —

  691

  747

  City of London

  2,102

  2,241

  2,216

  2,227

  2,167

  Cleveland

  452

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  348

  458

  543

  569

  548

  Coventry

  525

  594

  611

  670

  737

  Croydon

  590

  730

  775

  787

  814

  440W
  the cases of children who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as eligible for disability living allowance. [39386]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have had no such discussions but understand that parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can claim disability living allowance and have their child's entitlement assessed in the normal way.

  Elderly Care
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the spending on care of the elderly per resident of pensionable age in each social service authority was in England and Wales(a) this year and (b) in each of the previous five years; what the average of the spending on care of the elderly per resident of pensionable age in (i) England, (ii) Wales, and (iii) the north-west of England was (A) this year and (B) in each of the previous five years. [39456]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on spending on social care for the elderly per resident of pensionable age is not available centrally. Table 1 shows spending per financial year on social care of the elderly per resident aged 65 or over for each council with social services responsibilities in England from 1995–96 to 1999–2000 (the latest year for which data are available). As a result of local government reorganisation, there are differences in the councils in existence during this period. Table 2 shows the average spend on care of the elderly per resident aged 65 or over for England and north-west England. Data for Wales are the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.
  441W

  Table 1: Expenditure per financial year on social care of the elderly per resident aged 65 or over for each council with social services responsibilities

  £

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Cumbria

  427

  509

  541

  556

  597

  Darlington UA

  —

  —

  435

  398

  695

  Derby UA

  —

  —

  698

  747

  792

  Derbyshire (old)

  558

  633

  —

  —

  —

  Derbyshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  671

  481

  673

  Devon (old)

  465

  539

  585

  —

  —

  Devon (remaining)

  —

  —

  —

  566

  629

  Doncaster

  654

  769

  817

  857

  908

  Dorset (old)

  349

  409

  —

  —

  —

  Dorset (remaining)

  —

  —

  435

  413

  437

  Dudley

  526

  541

  642

  699

  719

  Durham (old)

  479

  539

  —

  —

  —

  Durham (remaining)

  —

  —

  597

  630

  849

  Ealing

  627

  668

  800

  744

  1,024

  East Riding of Yorkshire UA

  —

  477

  591

  612

  774

  East Sussex (old)

  377

  491

  —

  —

  —

  East Sussex (remaining)

  —

  —

  462

  505

  536

  Enfield

  608

  697

  787

  723

  705

  Essex (old)

  453

  507

  516

  —

  —

  Essex (remaining)

  —

  —

  —

  519

  580

  Gateshead

  613

  694

  855

  890

  963

  Gloucestershire

  297

  343

  340

  474

  478

  Greenwich

  742

  784

  941

  1,004

  1,055

  Hackney

  1,386

  1,399

  1,439

  1,501

  1,542

  Halton UA

  —

  —

  —

  790

  855

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,105

  1,166

  1,325

  1,454

  1,831

  Hampshire (old)

  433

  502

  —

  —

  —

  Hampshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  478

  479

  488

  Haringey

  1,027

  1,060

  1,108

  1,160

  1,158

  Harrow

  600

  602

  627

  715

  765

  Hartlepool UA

  —

  638

  696

  625

  663

  Havering

  500

  581

  631

  634

  627

  Hereford and Worcester

  414

  457

  447

  —

  —

  Herefordshire UA

  —

  —

  —

  350

  502

  Hertfordshire

  494

  535

  570

  595

  659

  Hillingdon

  602

  624

  636

  653

  708

  Hounslow

  639

  685

  717

  844

  929

  Humberside

  523

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Isle of Wight UA

  383

  504

  521

  558

  605

  Isles of Scilly

  549

  540

  577

  718

  844

  Islington

  1,279

  1,439

  1,597

  1,417

  1,577

  Kensington and Chelsea

  930

  944

  1,014

  1,013

  1,067

  Kent (old)

  504

  567

  548

  —

  —

  Kent (remaining)

  —

  —

  —

  580

  625

  Kingston upon Hull UA

  —

  675

  646

  875

  1,005

  Kingston upon Thames

  606

  691

  718

  808

  858

  Kirklees

  616

  684

  698

  761

  822

  Knowsley

  472

  466

  531

  593

  522

  Lambeth

  973

  1,037

  1,132

  1,119

  1,068

  Lancashire (old)

  527

  613

  691

  —

  —

  Lancashire (remaining)

  —

  —

  —

  707

  734

  Leeds

  571

  602

  650

  664

  701

  Leicester UA

  —

  —

  482

  782

  761

  Leicestershire (old)

  499

  530

  —

  —

  —

  Leicestershire (remaining)

  —

  —

  514

  525

  547

  Lewisham

  887

  955

  1,000

  1,056

  1,125

  Lincolnshire

  344

  357

  390

  534

  556

  Liverpool

  827

  876

  825

  937

  1,005

  Luton UA

  —

  —

  700

  759

  802

  Manchester

  802

  905

  905

  1,014

  1,138

  Medway Towns UA

  —

  —

  —

  641

  734

  Merton

  554

  636

  670

  777

  900

  Middlesbrough UA

  —

  561

  603

  658

  851

  Milton Keynes UA

  —

  —

  672

  703

  781

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  533

  568

  680

  709

  779

  Newham

  1,160

  1,138

  1,167

  1,139

  1,172

  Norfolk

  448

  527

  568

  618

  647

  North East Lincolnshire UA

  —

  533

  542

  615

  727

  North Lincolnshire

  —

  691

  709

  692

  744

  North Somerset UA

  —

  453

  503

  536

  561

  North Tyneside

  350

  385

  551

  586

  621

  North Yorkshire (old)

  453

  —

  —

  —

  —

  North Yorkshire (remaining)

  —

  510

  547

  581

  636

  442W 443W

  Table 1: Expenditure per financial year on social care of the elderly per resident aged 65 or over for each council with social services responsibilities

  £

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Northamptonshire

  486

  533

  544

  597

  609

  Northumberland

  505

  661

  781

  811

  869

  Nottingham UA

  —

  —

  —

  798

  934

  Nottinghamshire (old)

  630

  705

  733

  —

  —

  Nottinghamshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  —

  734

  743

  Oldham

  676

  746

  816

  831

  920

  Oxfordshire

  438

  480

  538

  568

  613

  Peterborough UA

  —

  —

  —

  477

  615

  Plymouth UA

  —

  —

  —

  740

  754

  Poole UA

  —

  —

  458

  488

  503

  Portsmouth UA

  —

  —

  766

  808

  867

  Reading UA

  —

  —

  —

  612

  793

  Redbridge

  517

  575

  631

  672

  723

  Redcar and Cleveland UA

  —

  584

  613

  659

  682

  Richmond upon Thames

  622

  707

  763

  762

  792

  Rochdale

  635

  675

  721

  769

  830

  Rotherham

  575

  615

  756

  807

  895

  Rutland UA

  —

  —

  488

  512

  554

  Salford

  605

  815

  873

  946

  1,029

  Sandwell

  609

  725

  828

  887

  956

  Sefton

  531

  595

  624

  715

  767

  Sheffield

  641

  701

  716

  783

  820

  Shropshire (old)

  443

  521

  582

  —

  —

  Shropshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  —

  580

  620

  Slough UA

  —

  —

  —

  867

  935

  Solihull

  402

  422

  425

  442

  470

  Somerset

  306

  320

  333

  347

  466

  South Gloucestershire UA

  —

  403

  420

  461

  502

  South Tyneside

  587

  653

  705

  721

  767

  Southampton UA

  —

  —

  638

  689

  772

  Southend UA

  —

  —

  —

  546

  554

  Southwark

  1,194

  1,227

  1,290

  1,756

  1,503

  St. Helens

  594

  659

  698

  833

  992

  Staffordshire (old)

  505

  555

  —

  —

  —

  Staffordshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  538

  582

  654

  Stockport

  598

  683

  676

  749

  788

  Stockton on Tees UA

  —

  623

  634

  775

  830

  Stoke-on-Trent

  —

  —

  755

  815

  894

  Suffolk

  466

  547

  568

  596

  641

  Sunderland

  563

  628

  652

  856

  963

  Surrey

  442

  485

  493

  565

  570

  Sutton

  606

  658

  693

  772

  841

  Swindon UA

  —

  —

  551

  453

  551

  Thameside

  560

  672

  741

  773

  864

  Telford and Wrekin UA

  —

  —

  —

  732

  815

  Thurrock UA

  —

  —

  —

  657

  688

  Torbay UA

  —

  —

  —

  642

  713

  Tower Hamlets

  1,203

  1,294

  1,338

  1,318

  1,483

  Trafford

  417

  556

  609

  651

  728

  Wakefield

  499

  560

  561

  609

  671

  Walsall

  508

  610

  670

  724

  884

  Waltham Forest

  679

  750

  890

  996

  1,037

  Wandsworth

  922

  1,021

  1,090

  1,133

  1,184

  Warrington UA

  —

  —

  —

  718

  799

  Warwickshire

  421

  477

  507

  527

  550

  West Berkshire UA

  —

  —

  —

  672

  711

  West Sussex

  432

  490

  529

  514

  523

  Westminster

  1,009

  1,049

  1,144

  1,148

  1,206

  Wigan

  520

  580

  626

  692

  743

  Wiltshire (old)

  382

  482

  —

  —

  —

  Wiltshire (remaining)

  —

  —

  474

  472

  631

  Windsor and Maidenhead UA

  —

  —

  —

  555

  616

  Wirral

  555

  590

  656

  662

  770

  Wokingham UA

  —

  —

  —

  454

  562

  Wolverhampton

  688

  791

  843

  879

  938

  Worcestershire

  —

  —

  —

  490

  550

  York UA

  —

  516

  545

  575

  617

  UA = Unitary Authority

  Sources:

  1. Population data—Office for National Statistics

  2. Expenditure data—form RO3
  444W 445W

  Table 2: Expenditure per financial year on social care of the elderly per resident aged 65 or over for England and north-west England

  £

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  North-west

  544

  647

  695–

  740

  —

  Merseyside

  631

  675

  693

  770

  —

  North-west (new)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  806

  England

  526

  590

  633

  671

  725

  Sources:

  1. Population data—Office for National Statistics

  2. Expenditure data-form RO3

  Gynaecologists
  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) female and (b) male gynaecologists are employed by each local health authority in England. [39515]

  Number of hospital medical staff, of which consultants within the obstetrics and gynaecology specialty by gender and health authority1, as at 30 September 2001

  All staff

  Consultants

  All

  Male

  Female

  All

  Male

  Female

  England

  4,150

  2,170

  1,980

  1,220

  930

  290

  Health authority

  Avon

  QD8

  100

  40

  60

  20

  20

  10

  Barking and Havering

  QAP

  50

  20

  30

  20

  10

  10

  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey

  QEW

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Barnsley

  QCG

  20

  10

  10

  0

  0

  2—

  Bedfordshire

  QA6

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Berkshire

  QA7

  70

  30

  40

  10

  10

  0

  Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich

  QEY

  60

  40

  30

  20

  20

  0

  Birmingham

  QD9

  I30

  70

  60

  40

  40

  10

  Bradford

  QDD

  50

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Brent and Harrow

  QAR

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Buckinghamshire

  QA8

  60

  30

  30

  10

  10

  0

  Bury and Rochdale

  QCT

  30

  10

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  QDT

  50

  20

  30

  10

  10

  0

  Cambridge

  QER

  70

  40

  30

  20

  20

  0

  Camden and Islington

  QAT

  120

  50

  70

  40

  20

  20

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  QDV

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  County Durham

  QDE

  40

  30

  10

  20

  10

  0

  Coventry

  QEA

  30

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  Croydon

  QAD

  20

  10

  0

  10

  0

  0

  Doncaster

  QCK

  30

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Dorset

  QDW

  50

  30

  20

  10

  10

  2—

  Dudley

  QEC

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  QAV

  110

  50

  60

  30

  20

  10

  East Kent

  QAE

  50

  40

  10

  20

  20

  0

  East Lancashire

  QCX

  40

  20

  20

  20

  10

  10

  East London and The City

  QAW

  100

  50

  50

  40

  30

  10

  East Riding

  QDF

  40

  30

  20

  10

  10

  0

  East Surrey

  QAK

  30

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  East Sussex

  QAM

  50

  30

  20

  20

  10

  0

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  QDG

  50

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Gloucestershire

  QDY

  30

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Herefordshire

  QED

  10

  10

  0

  0

  0

  2—

  Hertfordshire

  QEX

  70

  40

  30

  20

  20

  0

  Hillingdon

  QA2

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  QEV

  50

  30

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  QA3

  80

  40

  40

  30

  20

  10

  Kingston and Richmond

  QAG

  30

  10

  20

  10

  0

  0

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  QAH

  180

  80

  100

  30

  20

  10

  Leeds

  QDH

  80

  40

  40

  20

  20

  0

  Leicestershire

  QCL

  80

  40

  40

  20

  20

  0

  Lincolnshire

  QCM

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  2—

  Liverpool

  QC2

  70

  40

  40

  20

  20

  10

  Manchester

  QC3

  80

  30

  50

  20

  10

  10

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  QAJ

  60

  30

  30

  20

  10

  10

  Morecambe Bay

  QC4

  30

  20

  10

  0

  0

  2—

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  QDJ

  50

  30

  30

  10

  10

  0

  Norfolk

  QET

  60

  40

  20

  20

  10

  0

  North and East Devon

  QDX

  30

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  North and Mid Hampshire

  QD1

  30

  20

  10

  10

  0

  0

  North Cheshire

  QCV

  20

  10

  10

  10

  10

  0

  North Cumbria

  QDK

  20

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  North Derbyshire

  QCH

  20

  10

  10

  0

  0

  0

  North Essex

  QAX

  60

  30

  20

  10

  10

  0

  North Nottinghamshire

  QCN

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  446W
  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  There has been a 42 per cent. increase in female obstetric and gynaecology consultants since 1997.
  447W

  Number of hospital medical staff, of which consultants within the obstetrics and gynaecology specialty by gender and health authority1, as at 30 September 2001

  All staff

  Consultants

  All

  Male

  Female

  All

  Male

  Female

  North Staffordshire

  QEH

  30

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  North West Lancashire

  QCY

  50

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  North Yorkshire

  QDR

  60

  40

  30

  20

  10

  0

  Northamptonshire

  QCC

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Northumberland

  QDM

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Nottingham

  QCP

  70

  30

  40

  20

  10

  10

  Oxfordshire

  QCE

  60

  30

  30

  20

  20

  0

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  QA5

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Rotherham

  QCQ

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Salford and Trafford

  QC6

  30

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Sandwell

  QEE

  20

  10

  10

  0

  0

  2—

  Sefton

  QC7

  40

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  Sheffield

  QCR

  50

  20

  30

  20

  20

  10

  Shropshire

  QEF

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Somerset

  QD5

  30

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  South and West Devon

  QD6

  50

  30

  20

  10

  10

  0

  South Cheshire

  QCW

  60

  30

  30

  20

  10

  0

  South Derbyshire

  QCJ

  30

  10

  20

  10

  10

  0

  South Essex

  QAY

  30

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  South Humber

  QDL

  30

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  South Lancashire

  QCI

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2—

  South Staffordshire

  QEJ

  30

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  QD3

  50

  20

  30

  20

  10

  0

  St. Helens and Knowsley

  QC5

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Stockport

  QC8

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  0

  Suffolk

  QCF

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Sunderland

  QDN

  30

  10

  20

  10

  0

  0

  Tees

  QDP

  50

  30

  20

  20

  10

  10

  Wakefield

  QDQ

  20

  10

  10

  10

  10

  2—

  Walsall

  QEK

  20

  10

  10

  0

  0

  0

  Warwickshire

  QEL

  30

  10

  10

  10

  10

  0

  West Kent

  QAF

  60

  40

  30

  20

  20

  0

  West Pennine

  QC9

  30

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  West Surrey

  QAL

  70

  30

  40

  20

  10

  10

  West Sussex

  QAN

  60

  30

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Wigan and Bolton

  QDA

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  Wiltshire

  QD7

  30

  20

  20

  10

  10

  2—

  Wirral

  QDC

  30

  20

  10

  10

  10

  0

  Wolverhampton

  QEM

  20

  10

  10

  10

  10

  0

  Worcester

  QEN

  40

  20

  20

  10

  10

  0

  1 Staff holding appointments in more than one HA are included separately in each HA. The sum of HA totals therefore differ slightly from the England total and a direct comparison between England total and HA totals is not advised.

  2 Denotes zero

  Notes:

  1.0 denotes 5 or less

  2. Figures rounded to the nearest 10

  Source:

  Department of Health 2001 medical and dental workforce census

  Compensation
  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total amount of compensation paid in out of court settlements for patients in each local health authority area in each of the last 10 years. [39516]

  Ms Blears
  The Department does not hold figures for all aspects of litigation made against the national health service and therefore the information requested is not held centrally.

  Dentists
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in England were trained at dental schools in(a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland; and what proportion each represents of the total. [39818]

  Ms Blears
  The number of General Dental Service (GDS) dentists in England trained at dental schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the percentage of the total number of dentists is shown in the table.
  448W
  The total number of dentists covers principals on a HA list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners.

  Area of qualification

  Scotland

  Wales

  Northern Ireland

  Dentists working in England

  Principals

  Number

  1,099

  444

  91

  16,124

  Percentage of principals

  7

  3

  I

  —

  Assistants

  Number

  43

  4

  3

  1,214

  Percentage of assistants

  4

  0

  0

  —

  VDPs Number

  25

  15

  7

  599

  Percentage of VDPs

  4

  3

  1

  —

  Total

  Number

  1,167

  463

  101

  17,937

  Percentage of total dentists

  —

  —

  —

  —

  449W
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in England were trained at dental schools outside the United Kingdom; and what proportion they represent of the total. [39817]

  Ms Blears
  The number of General Dental Service (GDS) dentists in England trained at dental schools outside the UK and the percentage of the total number of dentists in England at 31 December 2001 is shown in the table. The figures exclude dentists whose title of registration is shown as Statutory Exams and dentists awaiting entry.

  The total number of dentists covers principals on a HA list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners.

  General Dental Service: Number of dentists trained at dental schools outside the UK and the percentage of the total number of dentists in England at 31 December 2001

  Dentists qualified overseas

  Dentists working in England

  Percentage of dentists who work in England qualified overseas

  Principals

  2,094

  16,124

  13

  Assistants

  717

  1,214

  59

  VDPs

  1

  599

  0

  Total

  2,812

  17,937

  16

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce in which health authorities his Christmas Eve announcement on hearing aids will be implemented; and what criteria will determine his choice of health authority. [39815]

  Jacqui Smith
  We have invited expressions of interest by 8 March 2002 from all health communities not yet involved in the modernising hearing aid services project. Decisions will be made shortly thereafter, based on a

  Number of admissions to NHS Hospitals in England where the main diagnosis was asthma1 by health authority of treatment, (London health authorities); finished episodes; children aged 0–14, 1996–97 to 2000–01.

  Health authority of treatment

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  All 5 years

  QA2 Hillingdon

  426

  384

  351

  162

  126

  1,449

  QA3 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster

  523

  480

  357

  196

  255

  1,811

  QA4 Enfield and Haringey

  403

  292

  273

  257

  224

  1,449

  QA5 Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  509

  395

  286

  226

  222

  1,638

  QAA Bexley and Greenwich

  395

  306

  288

  211

  204

  1,404

  QAC Bromley

  173

  166

  120

  142

  122

  723

  QAD Croydon

  252

  271

  215

  154

  173

  1,065

  QAG Kingston and Richmond

  0

  0

  0

  135

  122

  257

  QAH Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  967

  796

  722

  645

  552

  3,682

  QAJ Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  775

  539

  553

  473

  378

  2,718

  QAP Barking and Havering

  244

  195

  179

  149

  136

  903

  QAQ Barnet

  175

  220

  224

  232

  206

  1,057

  QAR Brent and Harrow

  272

  219

  198

  213

  125

  1,027

  QAT Camden and Islington

  452

  401

  311

  297

  325

  1,786

  QAV Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  395

  423

  532

  428

  398

  2,176

  QAW East London and The City

  579

  588

  678

  655

  508

  3,008

  Total

  6,540

  5,675

  5,287

  4,575

  4,076

  26,153

  1 Asthma (ICD-10: 'J45' thru 'J46X'

  Notes:

  1. Admissions are defined as the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  2. The main diagnosis is the first of seven diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics data set, and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.

  3. Figures have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health
  450W
  number of criteria including geographical distribution, preparedness, and the support of the whole local health community.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in the Isle of Wight were trained at each Scottish dental school; and what proportion they represent of the total. [39816]

  Ms Blears
  Out of a total of 40 General Dental Service (GDS) dentists working in the Isle of Wight at the end of January 2002, 7 or 18 per cent. were trained in Scotland.

  Of the seven dentists who were trained in Scotland, four were trained in Dundee, two in Glasgow, and one in Edinburgh.

  Dentists include principals on an HA list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners.

  Health Expenditure
  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of expenditure on health was spent in the last 12 months of patients' lives in the latest year for which figures are available. [39626]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Asthma
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been treated for asthma in each London borough, in each of the last five years. [39966]

  Mr. Hutton
  The figures shown represent the number of admissions to national health service trusts within the London health authorities, where the main diagnosis was asthma' in the last five years. Figures represent children aged up to 14 years.
  451W

  NHS Catering
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the applicants for the national franchise for NHS catering; and if he will name the successful applicant. [39776]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: The initial exercise to examine his proposal identified that further work was required to fully explore the significant and complex issues which a franchise option raises. This work is continuing and, as previously noted any franchise arrangements will be subject to European Union regulations on open competition within the community. Since we have not yet reached this stage there are no applicants.

  Quality Protects
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each local authority responsible for implementing the Quality Protects programme under LAC(98)28 and subsequent circulars budgeted to spend in 2001–02; and what the(a) actual and (b) budgeted spend was in the previous two years. [39311]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: The tables set out the quality protects grant allocations made to local authorities with social services functions for 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02, together with the actual amounts spent by each authority on implementing the programme in the first three years.

  Quality Protects—1998–99

  £

  Grunt allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  Barking and Dagenham

  31,000.00

  38,214.00

  Barnet

  32,500.00

  25,347.00

  Barnsley

  32,500.00

  35,296.00

  Bath and North East Somerset

  32,500.00

  40,299.00

  Bedfordshire

  32,500.00

  32,674.41

  Bexley

  32,500.00

  32,848.00

  Birmingham

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Blackburn with Darwen

  32,500.00

  33,897.00

  Blackpool

  32,500.00

  31,637.00

  Bolton

  32,500.00

  32,691.41

  Bournemouth

  32,500.00

  14,154.00

  Bracknell Forest

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Bradford

  32,500.00

  31,790.00

  Brent

  32,500.00

  34,466.75

  Brighton and Hove

  32,500.00

  32,943.00

  Bristol

  32,500.00

  34,494.12

  Bromley

  32,500.00

  32,747.00

  Buckinghamshire

  32,500.00

  45,153.00

  Bury

  32,500.00

  49.807.00

  Calderdale

  32,500.00

  32,934.38

  Cambridgeshire

  32,500.00

  35,680.00

  Camden

  32,500.00

  34,825.00

  Cheshire

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  City of London

  3,000.00

  5,000.00

  Cornwall

  32,500.00

  45,563.00

  Coventry

  32,500.00

  33,213.00

  Croydon

  32,500.00

  34,973.00

  Cumbria

  32,500.00

  33,110.00

  Darlington

  32,500.00

  34,242.00

  Derby

  32,500.00

  32,980.00

  Derbyshire

  32,500.00

  32,816.00

  Devon

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Doncaster

  32,500.00

  25,544.89

  Dorset

  32,500.00

  34,502.00

  452W

  Quality Protects—1998–99

  £

  Grunt allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  Dudley

  32,500.00

  34,544.00

  Durham

  32,500.00

  34,542.42

  Ealing

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  32,500.00

  35,820.00

  East Sussex

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Enfield

  32,500.00

  32,979.00

  Essex

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Gateshead

  32,500.00

  31,731.00

  Gloucestershire

  32,500.00

  32,100.00

  Greenwich

  32,500.00

  32,756.00

  Hackney

  32,500.00

  34,369.22

  Halton

  32,500.00

  35,696.82

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  32,500.00

  32,831.37

  Hampshire

  32,141.00

  33,035.18

  Haringey

  32,500.00

  37,046.00

  Harrow

  32,500.00

  32,584.00

  Hartlepool

  32,500.00

  24,801.00

  Havering

  32,500.00

  32,774.00

  Herefordshire

  32,500.00

  37,345.14

  Hertfordshire

  32,500.00

  49,257.00

  Hillingdon

  32,500.00

  9,531.95

  Hounslow

  32,500.00

  48,093.00

  Isle of Wight

  32,500.00

  32,510.00

  Isles of Scilly

  3,000.00

  3,000.00

  Islington

  32,500.00

  30,435.00

  Kensington and Chelsea

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Kent

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Kingston upon Hull

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Kingston upon Thames

  32,500.00

  32,633.62

  Kirklees

  32,500.00

  30,062.64

  Knowsley

  32,500.00

  28,347.00

  Lambeth

  32,500.00

  32,885.00

  Lancashire

  32,500.00

  39,783.00

  Leeds

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Leicester City

  32,500.00

  34,424.00

  Leicestershire

  32,500.00

  33,871.57

  Lewisham

  32,500.00

  33,754.00

  Lincolnshire

  32,500.00

  32,653.16

  Liverpool

  32,500.00

  34,541.00

  Luton

  32,500.00

  32,561.72

  Manchester

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Medway

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Merton

  32,500.00

  28,252.00

  Middlesbrough

  32,500.00

  32,753.00

  Milton Keynes

  32,500.00

  33,221.00

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  32,500.00

  33,812.36

  Newham

  32,500.00

  32,804.00

  Norfolk

  32,500.00

  42,691.00

  North East Lincolnshire

  32,500.00

  31,225.14

  North Lincolnshire

  32,500.00

  35,322.31

  North Somerset

  32,500.00

  32,544.00

  North Tyneside

  32,500.00

  33,095.00

  North Yorkshire

  32,500.00

  27,199.00

  Northamptonshire

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Northumberland

  32,500.00

  34,072.00

  Nottingham

  32,500.00

  38,107.00

  Nottinghamshire

  32,500.00

  38,123.00

  Oldham

  32,500.00

  38,652.00

  Oxfordshire

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Peterborough

  32,500.00

  32,464.00

  Plymouth

  32,500.00

  32,160.00

  Poole

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Portsmouth

  32,500.00

  29,616.00

  Reading

  32,500.00

  35,109.00

  Redbridge

  32,500.00

  32,717.43

  Redcar and Cleveland

  32,500.00

  32,613.09

  Richmond upon Thames

  32,500.00

  33,316.00

  Rochdale

  32,400.00

  32,508.00

  453W

  Quality Protects—1998–99

  £

  Grant allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  Rotherham

  32,500.00

  32,529.00

  Rutland

  32,500.00

  33,195.00

  Salford

  32,500.00

  23,827.00

  Sandwell

  32,500.00

  32,266.00

  Sefton

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Sheffield

  32,500.00

  25,662.47

  Shropshire

  32,500.00

  29,299.77

  Slough

  32,500.00

  16,867.27

  Solihull

  32,500.00

  34,505.00

  Somerset

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  South Gloucestershire

  32,500.00

  34,734.00

  South Tyneside

  32,500.00

  23,052.00

  Southampton

  32,500.00

  33,189.39

  Southend-on-Sea

  32,500.00

  40,515.00

  Southwark

  32,500.00

  34,360.00

  St. Helens

  32,500.00

  30,968.00

  Staffordshire

  32,500.00

  34,085.00

  Stockport

  32,500.00

  34,713.00

  Stockton-on-Tees

  32,500.00

  35,342.00

  Stoke-on-Trent

  32,500.00

  35,677.67

  Suffolk

  32,500.00

  38,950.89

  Sunderland

  32,500.00

  30,181.00

  Surrey

  32,500.00

  54,612.00

  Sutton

  32,500.00

  32,752.00

  Swindon

  32,500.00

  32,503.00

  Tameside

  32,500.00

  36,302.00

  Telford and the Wrekin

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  Thurrock

  32,500.00

  34,860.00

  Torbay

  32,500.00

  32,613.00

  Tower Hamlets

  32,500.00

  42,513.71

  Trafford

  32,500.00

  32,934.00

  Wakefield

  32,500.00

  33,535.00

  Walsall

  32,500.00

  32,185.00

  Waltham Forest

  32,500.00

  47,143.00

  Wandsworth

  32,500.00

  50,533.00

  Warrington

  32,500.00

  34,160.00

  Warwickshire

  32,500.00

  32,178.06

  West Berkshire

  32,500.00

  34,500.00

  West Sussex

  32,500.00

  33,210.00

  Westminster

  32,500.00

  28,139.00

  Wigan

  32,500.00

  32,841.00

  Wiltshire

  32,500.00

  33,783.00

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  32,500.00

  34,324.00

  Wirral

  32,500.00

  35,055.00

  Wokingham

  32,500.00

  34,954.00

  Wolverhampton

  32,500.00

  20,200.00

  Worcestershire

  32,500.00

  32,500.00

  York

  32,500.00

  32,508.00

  Quality Protects—1999–2000

  £

  Grant allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  Barking and Dagenham

  378,953.00

  379,302.00

  Barnet

  540,110.00

  504,748.00

  Barnsley

  278,096.00

  278,096.00

  Bath and North East Somerset

  154,973.00

  184,663.00

  Bedfordshire

  356,687.00

  366,929.00

  Bexley

  280,521.00

  291,000.00

  Birmingham

  2,591,786.00

  2,898,652.28

  Blackburn with Darwen

  273,182.00

  262,138.00

  Blackpool

  236,835.00

  238,381.00

  Bolton

  396,975.00

  397,000.00

  Bournemouth

  229,845.00

  231,331.00

  Bracknell Forest

  117,522.00

  132,308.00

  Bradford

  884,401.00

  900,285.62

  454W

  Quality Protects—1999–2000

  £

  Grant allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  Brent

  976,211.00

  985,653.00

  Brighton and Hove

  429,491.00

  429,470.00

  Bristol

  713,666.00

  719,140.39

  Bromley

  358,039.00

  358,851.00

  Buckinghamshire

  387,837.00

  388,279.00

  Bury

  219,510.00

  232,419.00

  Calderdale

  259,611.00

  276,897.00

  Cambridgeshire

  455,000.00

  455,000.00

  Camden

  876,424.00

  879,962.00

  Cheshire

  592,040.00

  592,040.00

  City of London

  16,286.00

  11,130.00

  Cornwall

  488,072.00

  488,000.00

  Coventry

  541,941.00

  542,000.00

  Croydon

  717,253.00

  812,613.00

  Cumbria

  444,301.00

  464,002.00

  Darlington

  132,436.00

  140,870.00

  Derby

  386,441.00

  386,838.00

  Derbyshire

  604,045.00

  735,009.00

  Devon

  624,424.00

  624,423.00

  Doncaster

  395,605.00

  408,032.91

  Dorset

  302,431.00

  302,777.00

  Dudley

  324,165.00

  350,641.00

  Durham

  599,079.00

  413,704.00

  Ealing

  838,296.00

  939,685.00

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  215,630.00

  202,183.00

  East Sussex

  540,272.00

  540,360.00

  Enfield

  522,279.00

  522,718.00

  Essex

  1,268,060.00

  1,281,958.00

  Gateshead

  297,693.00

  305,222.00

  Gloucestershire

  523,690.00

  422,352.00

  Greenwich

  760,609.00

  1,111,456.00

  Hackney

  1,227,189.00

  1,187,987.47

  Halton

  226,711.00

  226,711.00

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  698,515.00

  713,096.63

  Hampshire

  1,075,112.00

  1,399,134.00

  Haringey

  987,351.00

  935,986.00

  Harrow

  305,314.00

  313,712.00

  Hartlepool

  147,244.00

  147,261.00

  Havering

  252,220.00

  253,926.50

  Herefordshire

  153,445.00

  154,712.08

  Hertfordshire

  1,066,840.00

  1,096,700.00

  Hillingdon

  380,758.00

  459,984.00

  Hounslow

  514,769.00

  529,483.00

  Isle of Wight

  150,553.00

  146,269.00

  Isles of Scilly

  12,261.00

  13,160.00

  Islington

  1,023,002.00

  1,043,385.00

  Kensington and Chelsea

  560,122.00

  560,122.00

  Kent

  1,458,706.00

  1,458,706.00

  Kingston upon Hull

  499,512.00

  502,223.00

  Kingston upon Thames

  174,194.00

  174,194.00

  Kirklees

  547,178.00

  551,729.00

  Knowsley

  422,471.00

  432,643.00

  Lambeth

  1,573,817.00

  1,590,658.00

  Lancashire

  1,365,835.00

  1,474,651.00

  Leeds

  1,048,900.00

  1,276,450.00

  Leicester City

  686,801.00

  688,298.00

  Leicestershire

  411,678.00

  461,898.00

  Lewisham

  1,111,262.00

  1,111,262.00

  Lincolnshire

  565,509.00

  579,047.00

  Liverpool

  1,149,943.00

  1,150,061.00

  Luton

  359,059.00

  380,737.35

  Manchester

  1,394,058.00

  1,394,058.00

  Medway

  299,593.00

  300,103.00

  Merton

  323,737.00

  324,354.00

  Middlesbrough

  313,474.00

  317,586.00

  Milton Keynes

  293,645.00

  186,105.82

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  539,359.00

  793,068.00

  Newham

  1,070,696.00

  1,072,986.00

  Norfolk

  722,580.00

  760,075.72

  North East Lincolnshire

  224,251.00

  225,105.00

  455W

  Quality Protects—1999–2000

  £

  Grant allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  North Lincolnshire

  158,955.00

  166,489.81

  North Somerset

  151,981.00

  158,211.00

  North Tyneside

  278,868.00

  278,868.00

  North Yorkshire

  438,571.00

  439,000.00

  Northamptonshire

  659,698.00

  660,000.00

  Northumberland

  296,640.00

  262,759.00

  Nottingham

  701,493.00

  703,983.00

  Nottinghamshire

  712,558.00

  713,150.00

  Oldham

  374,513.00

  375,010.00

  Oxfordshire

  586,043.00

  544,518.94

  Peterborough

  246,202.00

  248,789.00

  Plymouth

  438,917.00

  436,756.00

  Poole

  140,267.00

  141,318.00

  Portsmouth

  345,827.00

  345,827.00

  Reading

  254,616.00

  249,277.00

  Redbridge

  375,752.00

  258,973.00

  Redcar and Cleveland

  222,123.00

  223,894.91

  Richmond upon Thames

  199,650.00

  192,684.00

  Rochdale

  371,504.00

  391,712.00

  Rotherham

  327,544.00

  346,518.00

  Rutland

  32,573.00

  33,178.00

  Salford

  425,589.00

  417,187.00

  Sandwell

  544;269.00

  544,035.00

  Sefton

  411,861.00

  394,443.00

  Sheffield

  761,467.00

  811,922.00

  Shropshire

  209,125.00

  209,125.00

  Slough

  250,111.00

  250,168.00

  Solihull

  223,969.00

  212,642.00

  Somerset

  436,982.00

  446,236.00

  South Gloucestershire

  178,281.00

  186,677.00

  South Tyneside

  275,020.00

  275,020.00

  Southampton

  411,525.00

  439,783.00

  Southend-on-Sea

  259,093.00

  260,576.00

  Southwark

  1,269,129.00

  1,244,778.00

  St. Helens

  233,469.00

  244,736.00

  Staffordshire

  674,749.00

  695,807.00

  Stockport

  294,530.00

  294,530.00

  Stockton-on-Tees

  267,578.00

  267,578.00

  Stoke-on-Trent

  347,894.00

  357,048.00

  Suffolk

  602,421.00

  614,941.00

  Sunderland

  497,704.00

  588,099.00

  Surrey

  868,583.00

  956,223.00

  Sutton

  249,730.00

  249,730.00

  Swindon

  201,610.00

  200,214.00

  Tameside

  314,349.00

  319,189.00

  Telford and the Wrekin

  206,945.00

  208,529.02

  Thurrock

  194,469.00

  196,586.84

  Torbay

  174,772.00

  174,648.00

  Tower Hamlets

  1,034,484.00

  1,008,313.81

  Trafford

  289,088.00

  289,088.00

  Wakefield

  367,119.00

  367,119.00

  Walsall

  462,560.00

  462,560.00

  Waltham Forest

  669,924.00

  770,139.00

  Wandsworth

  866,095.00

  1,115,666.00

  Warrington

  194,551.00

  250,672.65

  Warwickshire

  426,028.00

  475,478.00

  West Berkshire

  112,417.00

  116,624.00

  West Sussex

  676,043.00

  737,735.00

  Westminster

  755,373.00

  752,691.00

  Wigan

  360,316.00

  337,962.00

  Wiltshire

  357,641.00

  362,613.00

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  123,163.00

  130,990.00

  Wirral

  542,273.00

  716,388.00

  Wokingham

  85,864.00

  85,864.00

  Wolverhampton

  470,718.00

  510,181.00

  Worcestershire

  493,543.00

  493,543.00

  York

  164,894.00

  165,715.00

  456W

  Quality Protects—2000–01

  £

  Grant allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  Barking and Dagenham

  608,000.00

  611,455.00

  Barnet

  861,000.00

  893,098.00

  Barnsley

  440,000.00

  440,000.00

  Bath and North East Somerset

  243,000.00

  280,140.00

  Bedfordshire

  560,000.00

  560,990.02

  Bexley

  443,000.00

  453,000.00

  Birmingham

  4,097,000.00

  5,218,092.00

  Blackburn with Darwen

  430,000.00

  430,000.00

  Blackpool

  379,000.00

  385,893.00

  Bolton

  625,000.00

  643,729.00

  Bournemouth

  365,000.00

  367,974.00

  Bracknell Forest

  182,000.00

  181,975.00

  Bradford

  1,398,000.00

  1,433,280.00

  Brent

  1,540,000.00

  1,915,281.00

  Brighton and Hove

  684,979.00

  693,342.00

  Bristol

  1,134,000.00

  1,260,884.00

  Bromley

  563,000.00

  563,313.00

  Buckinghamshire

  609,000.00

  609,033.00

  Bury

  351,000.00

  364,262.00

  Calderdale

  410,000.00

  417,905.00

  Cambridgeshire

  718,000.00

  766,472.00

  Camden

  1,404,000.00

  1,406,438.00

  Cheshire

  930,000.00

  950,552.00

  City of London

  26,000.00

  29,143.17

  Cornwall

  764,000.00

  942,122.00

  Coventry

  853,000.00

  972,269.00

  Croydon

  1,140,000.00

  1,147,234.00

  Cumbria

  706,000.00

  922,012.00

  Darlington

  212,000.00

  219,974.00

  Derby

  612,000.00

  612,937.00

  Derbyshire

  957,000.00

  1,673,176.00

  Devon

  986,000.00

  985,999.00

  Doncaster

  618,000.00

  623,050.55

  Dorset

  479,000.00

  492,973.00

  Dudley

  507,000.00

  507,000.00

  Durham

  951,000.00

  1,057,617.00

  Ealing

  1,334,000.00

  1,334,000.00

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  344,000.00

  333,481.00

  East Sussex

  857,000.00

  864,520.00

  Enfield

  822,000.00

  822,650.00

  Essex

  1,990,000.00

  2,116,430.00

  Gateshead

  470,000.00

  496,699.00

  Gloucestershire

  821,000.00

  821,000.00

  Greenwich

  1,211,000.00

  1,211,000.00

  Hackney

  1,954,000.00

  1,955,166.00

  Halton

  357,000.00

  359,638.00

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,124,000.00

  1,142,347.00

  Hampshire

  1,687,000.00

  2,042,846.49

  Haringey

  1,572,000.00

  1,582,662.00

  Harrow

  485,000.00

  486,752.00

  Hartlepool

  234,000.00

  235,458.00

  Havering

  395,000.00

  396,171.90

  Herefordshire

  244,000.00

  247.263.23

  Hertfordshire

  1,674,000.00

  1,676,854.00

  Hillingdon

  605,000.00

  646,175.00

  Hounslow

  815,000.00

  815,000.00

  Isle of Wight

  241,000.00

  244,593.00

  Isles of Scilly

  14,000.00

  34,838.00

  Islington

  1,648,000.00

  1,647,993.00

  Kensington and Chelsea

  916,000.00

  916,000.00

  Kent

  2,302,000.00

  2,764,100.00

  Kingston upon Hull

  795,000.00

  796,810.00

  Kingston upon Thames

  277,000.00

  277,000.00

  Kirklees

  861,000.00

  901,324.26

  Knowsley

  669,000.00

  699,825.00

  Lambeth

  2,525,000.00

  2,601,897.00

  Lancashire

  2,167,000.00

  2,642,885.00

  Leeds

  1,661,000.00

  1,679,286.00

  Leicester City

  1,082,000.00

  1,082,000.00

  Leicestershire

  646,000.00

  710,468.00

  457W

  Quality Protects—2000–01

  £

  Grant allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  Lewisham

  1,768,000.00

  1,768,000.00

  Lincolnshire

  890,000.00

  930,627.00

  Liverpool

  1,834,000.00

  1,914,036.00

  Luton,,

  561,000.00

  567,250.00

  Manchester

  2,221,000.00

  2,221,000.00

  Medway

  470,000.00

  470,000.00

  Merton

  512,000.00

  502,405.00

  Middlesbrough

  495,000.00

  502,598.00

  Milton Keynes

  457,000.00

  456,173.42

  Newcastle upon Tyne.,

  854,000.00

  996,393.06

  Newham

  1,701,000.00

  1,843,266.00

  Norfolk

  1,149,000.00

  1,180,423.57

  North East Lincolnshire

  356,000.00

  355,976.00

  North Lincolnshire

  250,000.00

  251,764.09

  North Somerset

  238,000.00

  238,981.00

  North Tyneside

  443,000.00

  443,000.00

  North Yorkshire

  700,000.00

  707,999.00

  Northamptonshire

  1,035,000.00

  1,035,000.00

  Northumberland

  467,000.00

  467,220.00

  Nottingham

  1,108,000.00

  1,108,000.00

  Nottinghamshire

  1,128,000.00

  2,901,208.00

  Oldham

  588,000.00

  601,020.00

  Oxfordshire

  925,000.00

  939,298.21

  Peterborough

  387,000.00

  388,193.00

  Plymouth

  694,179.00

  694,179.00

  Poole

  218,000.00

  218,000.00

  Portsmouth

  544,000.00

  592,575.00

  Reading

  403,000.00

  417,917.00

  Redbridge

  593,000.00

  758,776.00

  Redcar and Cleveland

  346,000.00

  346,247.50

  Richmond upon Thames

  319,000.00

  319,838.00

  Rochdale

  589,000.00

  588,976.00

  Rotherham

  512,000.00

  512,294.00

  Rutland

  45,000.00

  45,723.00

  Salford

  669,000.00

  680,518.00

  Sandwell

  849,000.00

  849,000.00

  Sefton

  654,000.00

  670,780.00

  Sheffield

  1,207,000.00

  1,225,668.00

  Shropshire

  328,000.00

  333,060.00

  Slough

  389,000.00

  389,000.00

  Solihull

  350,000.00

  347,096.00

  Somerset

  688,000.00

  759,562.00

  South Gloucestershire

  278,000.00

  303,963.00

  South Tyneside

  435,000.00

  435,000.00

  Southampton

  651,000.00

  663,079.00

  Southend-on-Sea

  411,000.00

  412,465.00

  Southwark

  2,025,000.00

  2,066,349.00

  St. Helens

  369,000.00

  391,049.00

  Staffordshire

  1,059,000.00

  1,189,904.00

  Stockport

  467,000.00

  524,336.00

  Stockton-on-Tees

  423,000.00

  469,565.00

  Stoke-on-Trent

  555,000.00

  560,646.83

  Suffolk

  951,000.00

  961,689.00

  Sunderland

  779,000.00

  862,870.00

  Surrey

  1,358,000.00

  1,371,619.00

  Sutton

  392,000.00

  392,000.00

  Swindon

  319,045.00

  374,704.00

  Tameside

  498,000.00

  602,510.00

  Telford and the Wrekin

  329,000.00

  329,023.00

  Thurrock

  309,000.00

  307,426.09

  Torbay

  278,000.00

  282,249.00

  Tower Hamlets

  1,633,000.00

  1,631,601.00

  Trafford

  455,000.00

  473,152.00

  Wakefield

  581,000.00

  581,304.00

  Walsall

  726,000.00

  734,203.00

  Waltham Forest

  1,056,000.00

  1,093,252.00

  Wandsworth

  1,374,000.00

  1,783,815.00

  Warrington

  306,000.00

  377,608.84

  Warwickshire

  669,000.00

  727,910.00

  West Berkshire

  176,000.00

  176,003.00

  458W

  Quality Protects-2000–01

  £

  Grant allocation

  Expenditure incurred

  West Sussex

  1,062,000.00

  1,501,822.00

  Westminster

  1,234,000.00

  1,237,813.00

  Wigan

  566,000.00

  612,741.00

  Wiltshire

  564,000.00

  610,375.00

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  193,000.00

  209,907.00

  Wirral

  858,000.00

  857,313.67

  Wokingham

  133,000.00

  137,081.00

  Wolverhampton

  737,000.00

  845,092.00

  Worcestershire

  779,000.00

  779,000.00

  York

  261,000.00

  267,779.00

  Quality Protects—2001–02

  £

  Grant allocation

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,632,988.00

  Barnet

  2,057,315.00

  Barnsley

  1,142,954.00

  Bath and North East Somerset

  593,912.00

  Bedfordshire

  1,430,673.00

  Bexley

  1,198,185.00

  Birmingham

  9,655,311.00

  Blackburn with Darwen

  1,065,518.00

  Blackpool

  978,614.00

  Bolton

  1,535,893.00

  Bournemouth

  904,237.00

  Bracknell Forest

  455,457.00

  Bradford

  3,363,661.00

  Brent

  3,430,645.00

  Brighton and Hove

  1,677,490.00

  Bristol

  2,777,929.00

  Bromley

  1,470,905.00

  Buckinghamshire

  1,502,091.00

  Bury

  907,997.00

  Calderdale

  1,025,748.00

  Cambridgeshire

  1,761,439.00

  Camden

  3,356,252.00

  Cheshire

  2,304,651.00

  City of London

  82,563.00

  Cornwall

  1,917,024.00

  Coventry

  2,069,504.00

  Croydon

  2,767,307.00

  Cumbria

  1,781,595.00

  Darlington

  514,503.00

  Derby

  1,521,252.00

  Derbyshire

  2,475,919.00

  Devon

  2,470,550.00

  Doncaster

  1,566,459.00

  Dorset

  1,190,383.00

  Dudley

  1,295,132.00

  Durham

  2,426,324.00

  Ealing

  3,215,189.00

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  863,087.00

  East Sussex

  2,169,433.00

  Enfield

  2,087,477.00

  Essex

  5,023,904.00

  Gateshead

  1,226,995.00

  Gloucestershire

  2,043,753.00

  Greenwich

  3,017,843.00

  Hackney

  4,503,350.00

  Halton

  889,886.00

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  2,864,562.00

  Hampshire

  4,180,823.00

  Haringey

  3,705,070.00

  Harrow

  1,156,863.00

  Hartlepool

  580,453.00

  Havering

  1,008,188.00

  459W

  Quality Protects—2001–02

  £

  Grant allocation

  Herefordshire

  605,137.00

  Hertfordshire

  4,090,242.00

  Hillingdon

  1,609,311.00

  Hounslow

  1,943,464.00

  Isle of Wight

  631,612.00

  Isles of Scilly

  16,703.00

  Islington

  3,992,342.00

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,379,035.00

  Kent

  5,974,305.00

  Kingston upon Hull

  1,980,321.00

  Kingston upon Thames

  763,996.00

  Kirklees

  2,061,623.00

  Knowsley

  1,664,574.00

  Lambeth

  6,005,303.00

  Lancashire

  5,433,080.00

  Leeds

  4,152,471.00

  Leicester City

  2,475,945.00

  Leicestershire

  1,605,199.00

  Lewisham

  4,196,109.00

  Lincolnshire

  2,162,767.00

  Liverpool

  4,573,026.00

  Luton

  1,356,539.00

  Manchester

  5,280,917.00

  Medway

  1,221,478.00

  Merton

  1,293,921.00

  Middlesbrough

  1,190,012.00

  Milton Keynes

  1,178,019.00

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  2,154,096.00

  Newham

  3,931,866.00

  Norfolk

  2,924,401.00

  North East Lincolnshire

  902,525.00

  North Lincolnshire

  644,589.00

  North Somerset

  611,398.00

  North Tyneside

  1,163,286.00

  North Yorkshire

  1,702,211.00

  Northamptonshire

  2,624,204.00

  Northumberland.

  1,232,552.00

  Nottingham

  2,657,610.00

  Nottinghamshire

  2,768,099.00

  Oldham

  1,479,374.00

  Oxfordshire

  2,225,509.00

  Peterborough

  997,387.00

  Plymouth

  1,679,210.00

  Poole

  574,483.00

  Portsmouth

  1,342,536.00

  Reading

  980,588.00

  Redbridge

  1,427,212.00

  Redcar and Cleveland

  833,365.00

  Richmond upon Thames

  799,982.00

  Rochdale

  1,450,451.00

  Rotherham

  1,315,989.00

  Rutland

  93,367.00

  Salford

  1,721,616.00

  Sandwell

  2,117,629.00

  Sefton

  1,629,565.00

  Sheffield

  2,998,839.00

  Shropshire

  805,546.00

  Slough

  945,849.00

  Solihull

  905,895.00

  Somerset

  1,721,509.00

  South Gloucestershire

  738,464.00

  South Tyneside

  1,130,676.00

  Southampton

  1,598,346.00

  Southend-on-Sea

  1,098,103.00

  Southwark

  5,071,690.00

  St. Helens

  968,376.00

  Staffordshire

  2,680,547.00

  Stockport

  1,206,047.00

  Stockton-on-Tees

  1,048,730.00

  Stoke-on-Trent

  1,501,346.00

  460W

  Quality Protects—2001–02

  £

  Grant allocation

  Suffolk

  2,318,876.00

  Sunderland

  1,924,230.00

  Surrey

  3,409,520.00

  Sutton

  978,215.00

  Swindon

  826,353.00

  Tameside

  1,253,245.00

  Telford and the Wrekin

  836,362.00

  Thurrock

  812,839.00

  Torbay

  740,053.00

  Tower Hamlets

  3,937,273.00

  Trafford

  1,085,639.00

  Wakefield

  1,564,260.00

  Walsall

  1,710,437.00

  Waltham Forest

  2,548,677.00

  Wandsworth

  3,354,460.00

  Warrington

  766,475.00

  Warwickshire

  1,699,102.00

  West Berkshire

  412,229.00

  West Sussex

  2,681,810.00

  Westminster

  3,201,093.00

  Wigan

  1,437,294.00

  Wiltshire.

  1,394,412.00

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  494,625.00

  Wirral

  2,141,008.00

  Wokingham

  332,082.00

  Wolverhampton

  1,815,910.00

  Worcestershire

  1,975,395.00

  York

  630,353.00

  Note:

  The figures for expenditure for each local authority for the years 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are wholly based on audit forms provided by the authority's chief finance officer and an auditor appointed by the Audit Commission. The figures for 2000–01 include a small number of figures from pre-audit certificates and may therefore be subject to change.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what arrangements(a) his Department and (b) local authorities have made to publicise the reporting and referral system established in line with the quality protects programme under LAC(98)28 and subsequent circulars; [39310]

  (2) how many local authorities (a) have full compliant policies and procedures, (b) have draft policies and procedures and (c) are not compliant with the protection of children guidance, quality protects programme under LAC(98)28 and subsequent circulars. [39309]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: Local Authority Circular (98)28 gave councils and their partners details of" the quality protects programme. It explained that the Department would be publishing further guidance covering issues such as reporting and referral systems and child protection procedures.

  The Department published the "Framework for Assessment of Children in Need and their Families" in April 2000. It has undertaken an extensive programme of dissemination at local, regional and national levels. The quality protects regional development workers have played a key role in ensuring agencies know about and are implementing the assessment framework. The Department has worked with local councils and consulted software suppliers to develop and publish "Core Information Requirements" for children's social services to help improve councils' capability in managing information.
  461W
  The Department held a series of regional roadshows in the autumn of 1999 on the final draft version of the "Working Together to Safeguard Children" guidance, following which 100,000 copies of the revised guidance were distributed to child protection professionals through the area child protection committee network. The social services inspectorate is currently participating, together with other statutory inspectorates, in a series of themed inspections looking at the effectiveness of safeguards for children across all relevant statutory agencies.

  Developments and best practice under quality protects are publicised in a number of ways, including the quality protects newsletter and website www.doh.gov.uk/qualityprotects.

  Local authorities' progress in implementing quality protects is monitored through a number of mechanisms, including inspections, position statements and annual management action plans. In their autumn position statements, 83 per cent. of councils stated that they had implemented the assessment framework by 30 September 2001. A further 13 per cent. expect to have done so by 1 April 2002 at the latest. The remaining six authorities expect to implement during 2002–03.

  Local authorities submitted their fourth quality protects management action plans in January 2002. These set out their progress in and plans for delivering the quality protects programme. The social services inspectorate is currently assessing these plans. We will be publishing an overview report of the plans and their evaluation later in the year. Copies of the national overview reports for the previous three years' management action plans are available in the Library.

  Strategic Health Authorities
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued concerning public consultation over the proposed locations of the headquarters of the new strategic health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [36750]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: The location of new health authority headquarters is regarded as a matter for the chairman (designate) and chief executive (designate) of those authorities to determine. As part of the consultation on health authority boundaries held last autumn, the Department advised that option appraisals should be conducted for appropriate national health service and Government Office for the regions accommodation available within the area. Decisions will have been made in the light of these appraisals.

  Community Health Councils
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 8 February 2002,Official Report, column 1238W, on community health councils, if
  462W
  he will list the CHCs in England which submitted representations supporting their abolition. [36822]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: The listening exercise did not ask stakeholders whether community health councils should be abolished. The information requested is not available centrally.

  Free Nursing Care
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people who were receiving nursing care on (1) October 2001 are waiting to be assessed for free nursing care; [38351]

  (2) what the average time for an individual to be assessed for free nursing care has been in the last three years; [38353]

  (3) how many people were receiving nursing care on 1 October 2001. [38352]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The likely number of those self funders eligible for national health service funded nursing care at any one time is based on the results of a survey carried out in June 2001. The total number of self funders identified through the survey was 42,700.

  At 31 December 2001 around 80 per cent. of determinations had been competed. Around 95 per cent. had been completed by the end of February. These figures would include those in a home on 1 October 2001, when NHS funded care was introduced, as well as those who had entered a home after that date.

  Determinations for NHS funded nursing care were only introduced with effect from I October 2001.

  Heart Services
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many purchasing health authorities regularly purchase heart services from(a) private providers and (b) the King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst. [40691]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The Department has recently conducted a survey of national health service bodies on the levels of activity being commissioned in the independent sector and the accompanying cost. Findings from the survey will be published shortly. The published results are likely to include details on the number of NHS organisations within the returning sample that commissioned specific heart procedures during the survey period. It is not our intention to publish information in respect of individual hospitals, since it was not collected for that purpose.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the capacity is for tertiary heart surgery in the south-east region; and what the average waiting times were at each centre in the last 12 month period. [40696]
  463W
  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: Our aim is that in time the national health service should be able to offer all heart patients fair access to the surgical and other specialist services they need in a local unit and within an acceptable time. This is why we have developed a national strategy to expand the capacity to perform heart operations. The capital investment programme means that we are investing £230 million in 12 schemes to provide new and bigger heart surgery facilities.

  Currently, cardiac surgery is carried out in Brighton, Southampton and Oxford. Capacity is flexible as it depends on a number of factors, including availability of staff, Intensive Treatment Unit beds and hours of theatre usage. Approximately half of the tertiary cardiac procedures for South-east residents are carried out in London centres.

  Average waiting times, by month, for south-east centres over the last 12 months are shown in the table.

  Datayear 2000–01—Mean waiting time (days)—Revascualisations by operation type

  CABG

  RGU Brighton health care NHS Trust1

  RHM Southampton University hospital

  RTH Oxford Radcliffe hospital NHS

  Month of admission

  April

  60

  319

  157

  May

  63

  292

  102

  June

  96

  282

  152

  July

  112

  258

  163

  August

  101

  221

  131

  September

  128

  282

  113

  November

  91

  147

  161

  October

  143

  205

  113

  December

  82

  177

  123

  464W

  Datayear 2000–01—Mean waiting time (days)—Revascualisations by operation type

  CABG

  RGU Brighton health care NHS Trust1

  RHM Southampton University hospital

  RTH Oxford Radcliffe hospital NHS

  January

  126

  219

  146

  February

  118

  156

  141

  March

  140

  171

  241

  1 Activity was building up from April 2000

  Source:

  HES

  Television Sets
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) analogue and (b) integrated digital television sets his Department has purchased in each of the last 24 months; and if he will make a statement. [38171]

  Ms Blears
  The Department does not record centrally or separately the numbers of televisions, analogue or integrated digital, that it purchases for use within the Department. Specific guidance on the purchase of televisions is not published or disseminated to officials, but buyers are required to follow normal departmental procurement guidance and procedures whenever purchasing such goods.

  Capita
  Mr. Boris Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts the Department has with Capita; and how much they are worth. [38374]

  Ms Blears
  Since April 2001, five separate business areas within the Department have commissioned work from Capita Business Services and Capita SHG Resourcing, to a total value of £271,700.

  Payments to Witnesses and Pre-trial Publicity
  Payments to Witnesses and Pre-trial Publicity
  Marriage and Relationship Support
  Marriage and Relationship Support
  Curling: Lottery Funding
  Curling: Lottery Funding
  Defence Exports
  Defence Exports
  Seat Belts
  Seat Belts
  Local Bus Services
  Local Bus Services
  Lower Air Space Radar Service
  Lower Air Space Radar Service
  Mode S Transponders: Swanwick Centre
  Mode S Transponders: Swanwick Centre
  National Private Pilots Licences
  National Private Pilots Licences
  National Air Traffic Services
  National Air Traffic Services
  A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme
  A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme
  A11 Trunk Road: Litter Clearing
  A11 Trunk Road: Litter Clearing
  Housing: One-person Households
  Housing: One-person Households
  Battle of Trafalgar Bicentenary
  Battle of Trafalgar Bicentenary
  BSE
  BSE
  Food Poisoning
  Food Poisoning
  Care Standards
  Care Standards
  NHS: Patient Records
  NHS: Patient Records
  NHS: Access
  NHS: Access
  Negative and Affirmative Instruments
  Negative and Affirmative Instruments
  Northern Ireland: Republican Terrorist Murders
  Northern Ireland: Republican Terrorist Murders
  Police Service of Northern Ireland
  Police Service of Northern Ireland