Written Answers of 14 March 2002

DEFENCE

  Depleted Uranium
  Clive Efford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for further research into depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement. [44012]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence has funded extensive research into DU munitions over many years. This work has been complemented by studies on the health and environmental consequences of the testing, development and battlefield use of DU munitions carried out by a range of governmental and non-governmental bodies in the UK and overseas. These studies, and the Royal Society's report, all indicate that the health risks associated with the battlefield use of DU are minimal, other than in a small number of very specific circumstances.

  Nevertheless, there are a number of areas where we believe that further research is desirable to enhance the database on which to make judgments weighing the potential loss of life arising from not using DU munitions in battle against any potential longer term impact on human health and the environment resulting from its use. Some research will aid MOD in any future test-range decommissioning.

  We therefore propose to carry out a programme of further research, which has been reviewed by the Royal Society, the Medical Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council. We have given veterans' representatives early sight of the programme. The full details of our proposals have been placed in the Library of the House. They have also been published on the MOD's website.

  Much of the work is in line with the recommendations of the Royal Society's report. In particular, we propose to conduct an epidemiological study to identify any links between exposure to DU and ill health, and a critical review of literature relating to the effects of DU inhalation on the pulmonary lymph nodes. We also intend to study the ways in which DU is transported from the point of introduction into the environment to the point at which it has the potential to affect the health of plant, animal or human life. Furthermore, we have already begun research into the corrosion and dissolution rates of DU in typical corrosion environments and in controlled laboratory studies. We intend to consider a range of soil types and profiles and marine environments in this work.

  In addition, we propose to carry out research into the operational role of DU munitions and consider alternative penetrator materials. We aim to conduct a radiochemical analysis of DU rounds and examine contamination in the barrels used to fire DU round. Further to this, we aim to review and address work being conducted by others on biokinetic modelling related to uranic materials.
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  These research activities are in addition to work that MOD is already undertaking. We have set up the independent Depleted Uranium Oversight Board, which includes independent members of the scientific community and veterans' representatives as well as MOD staff and is now overseeing the programme of work to devise a valid test for uranium isotopes in urine and a methodology for a voluntary DU screening programme for Balkans and Gulf veterans. We are developing our policy of biological monitoring for DU for troops on operations. We are also collecting data on the levels of DU in environmental samples in Kosovo. Annual surveys are already in progress at UK ranges where DU has been fired.

  It will be necessary to set priorities for funding each of the proposals, and re-assess their relevance and content as the research progresses.

  Ministerial Transport
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the cost of(a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last four years. [27914]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 30 January 2002,Official Report, columns 405–06W.

  A contract for a departmental taxi service for departmental staff has been in place since November 2001. No contract was in place before this. Expenditure against this contract for the current financial year to 13 February is £2,036. An additional £597 has also been spent outwith this contract.

  The figures exclude any amounts spent on taxi hire outside of this contract and reclaimed by officials as travel and expenditure. That information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [39936]

  Dr. Moonie
  The number of people employed in a press or public relations function in the central corporate communications organisation of the Ministry of Defence is shown in the following table:

  Date

  Number of staff

  1 January 1998

  33

  1 January 1999

  34

  1 January 2000

  47

  1 January 2001

  45

  1 January 2002

  54

  Note:

  the figure for 1 January 1997 is no longer available.

  The permanent joint headquarters, the single services, agencies and regional defence press offices also employ personnel in the press and public relations function, many in a secondary role to their main task. Accurate figures for these could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [40030]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence press office issues all press releases on defence policy matters. The information is shown in the following table:

  Press releases issued

  1 May to 31 December 1997

  161

  1998

  202

  1999

  276

  2000

  238

  2001

  150

  The single services, agencies and regional defence press offices issue their own press releases. They also re-issue some defence policy press releases for local distribution. Accurate figures, which take account of any "duplicate" releases, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  HMS Sheffield
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if all the evidence held by his Department at the time of the inquiry into HMS Sheffield was put before the inquiry; [R] [42609]

  (2) how many representations he has received in the last three years regarding the re-opening of the inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will make a statement; [R] [42611]

  (3) what evaluation he has made of the evidence gathered in the last 12 months into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will set up a new inquiry; [R] [42610]

  (4) if all the statements taken from the crew were later presented to the Board of Inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield; and if he will make a statement. [R] [42607]

  Mr. Ingram
  As I informed the hon. Member in my reply of 9 July 2001,Official Report, column 365W, the Board of Inquiry into the sad loss of HMS Sheffield was conducted to the highest professional standards. It was the responsibility of the Board of Inquiry to ensure that it had all the information it needed to reach its conclusions about the loss of HMS Sheffield and to support its report and recommendations. This included interviews with 98 members of Sheffield's company. The Board had access to all available information and considered all the evidence that it believed to be relevant. As I informed the hon. Member previously, much of the information put before the Board of Inquiry remains classified. I am satisfied that the Board of Inquiry was conducted in a professional and proper manner and that no useful purpose would be served by re-opening this tragic incident. I am not aware of any representations other than those made by the hon. Member regarding the re-opening of the inquiry into the sinking of HMS Sheffield but this information would not be held centrally.

  Departmental Expenditure Limit
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2002,Official Report, column 1133W on departmental expenditure limits, if the change in the capital element of the defence
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  departmental expenditure limit will be affected by the decision not to proceed with PPP for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; and what effect the decision not to proceed with the PPP for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency will have on his Department's budget. [43391]

  Dr. Moonie
  We are proceeding with the DERA PPP as announced in the House on 6 March 2002,Official Report, columns 313–14W. Therefore, the change in the Ministry of Defence's Departmental Expenditure Limit in anticipation of a successful PPP is unaffected.

  Persian Gulf
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces are serving in the Gulf; and what has been the figure in each of the last four quarters. [41853]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of United Kingdom armed forces personnel serving in the Persian Gulf region fluctuates. Operational Detachments, Defence Attaches, Liaison Officers, Staff College students, training advisory teams and other service personnel are deployed, and their numbers are kept under review. In addition assets are regularly deployed and/or recovered for a variety of reasons; for example in September and October 2001 23,000 men and women were deployed to Oman for exercise Saif Sareea II.

  The number of Service personnel in the Gulf region at the beginning of March is approximately 2,100.

  Information relating to earlier periods is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are based in Kuwait; and how this figure has changed in the last three months. [41855]

  Mr. Ingram
  As at 12 March there are 494 Service personnel based in Kuwait. On 4 January this year there were 496.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans he has in place to reinforce British troop deployments in the Gulf to support a United States strategy of pursuing military action in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [41856]

  Mr. Ingram
  We share the concerns of all responsible Governments about Iraq's relationship with terrorism as well as its development of weapons of mass destruction and the potential threat the Iraqi regime poses to the international community. We are conducting a range of contingency planning, to keep all of our options open. There has been no decision to pursue military action in Iraq.

  Interoperability
  Mr. Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the campaigns in Bosnia and Kosovo in terms of lessons for interoperability of equipment and personnel. [42950]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence constantly monitors the performance of our armed forces, including the interoperability of equipment and personnel. The
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  process for collecting and analysing the lessons learned from operations is well proven. The results of our most recent analysis of operations in Kosovo can be found in the MOD publication "Kosovo: Lessons from the Crisis". This has already been placed in the Library of the House.

  We are alert to the need to fine-tune our procurement priorities to take account of operational lessons learned. This is done in co-operation and consultation as necessary with our allies and likely partners.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Post Office
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure banking services are made available through the Post Office network; and if she will make a statement. [41916]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: All the major banks have agreed to make their own basic bank accounts accessible at post offices. This agreement is now subject to detailed commercial negotiations between Post Office Ltd. and the individual institutions. The Post Office is also in discussion with the banks about wider access to their other bank accounts. These 'network' banking arrangements are strictly a commercial matter between the banks and the Post Office.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to enable sub-postmasters to diversify the range of services available in their post offices; and if she will make a statement. [41915]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: Post Office Limited continually seeks opportunities to widen the network's client base in order to develop new products and services which will benefit customers and to ensure a viable future for the post office network. The Horizon automated platform, in which the Government invested £480 million, and which computerised the whole of the post office network should help this expansion.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advertising budget will be made available for marketing the proposed Universal Bank Account. [41929]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: The delivery of the Post Office Card Account (POCA) is a commercial matter for Post Office Ltd. Accordingly, the Department of Trade and Industry will not be making any financial provision for its marketing or advertising.

  Gender Pay Gap
  Mr. Frank Cook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what the average gap between men's and women's pay is in the Stockton, North constituency; [42395]

  (2) what plans the Government have to collate statistics on the gender pay gap in the Stockton, North constituency. [42396]

  Alan Johnson
  The Office for National Statistics publishes data on men and women's pay in the New Earnings Survey (NES). However, in the case of Stockton,1184W
  North constituency, the data are not sufficiently reliable for publication. Data are available for the north-east Government Office Region (GOR).

  According to the 2001 NES, average hourly pay for full-time employees, excluding overtime, in the north-east GOR, was £10.08 for men and £8.48 for women, a pay gap of £1.60 per hour.

  Current trends in women's individual incomes have been explored in two studies, published last year, by the Women and Equality Unit (WEU). Copies of these reports are available on the WEU website http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/research/publications/researchandpublications.htm.

  WEU Gender Briefing, which provides statistical briefing on the position of women compared with men in the labour market, is also available on the website http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/research/genderbriefing/home.htm.

  There are no plans to commission further research into the gap between men and women's pay in the north-east GOR.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans the Government have to commission data on the gender pay gap at regional and national levels; [41468]

  (2) how the average gap between men and women's pay at regional and national levels is calculated. [41467]

  Alan Johnson
  Estimates of earnings by gender, region, and country of the UK are available from the annual New Earnings Survey (NES). Comparisons of gender pay differences are calculated by comparing estimates of average hourly earnings excluding overtime for full-time employees, for those employees whose pay was not affected by absence.

  Current trends in women's individual incomes have been explored in two studies, published last year, by the Women and Equality Unit (WEU). Copies of these reports are available on the WEU website: http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/research/publications/researchandpublications.htm.

  WEU Gender Briefing, which provides statistical briefing on the position of women compared with men in the labour market, is also available on the website: http://www/womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/research/genderbriefing/hom.htm.

  There are no plans to commission further research into the gap between men and women's pay at regional and national levels.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to commission research into the gap between men's and women's pay in the Warrington, North constituency; and what the average gap is. [41441]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: The Office for National Statistics publishes data on men and women's pay in the New Earnings Survey. However, in the case of Warrington North constituency, the data is not sufficiently reliable for publication. Data are available for the Warrington unitary authority.
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  According to the 2001 New Earnings Survey (NES), average hourly earnings for full-time employees, excluding overtime, in the Warrington unitary authority was £11.78 for men and £9.14 for women, a pay gap of £2.64 per hour.

  Current trends in women's individual incomes have been explored in two studies, published last year, by the Women and Equality Unit (WEU). Copies of these reports are available on the WEU website: http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/research/publications/researchandpublications.htm.

  WEU Gender Briefing, which provides statistical briefing on the position of women compared with men in the labour market, is also available on the website: http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/research/genderbriefing/home.htm.

  There are no plans to commission further research into the gap between men and women's pay in Warrington.

  Helen Southworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the pay gap between men and women in(a) Warrington, South and (b) the north-west region; and if she will commission research into the gender gap between men's and women's pay in these areas. [42691]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: The Office for National Statistics publishes data on men and women's pay in the New Earnings Survey (NES). However, in the case of Warrington, South constituency, the data are not sufficiently reliable for publication. Data are available for Warrington Unitary Authority (UA) and the north-west Government Office Region (GOR).

  (a) According to the 2001 NES, average hourly pay for full-time employees, excluding overtime, in Warrington UA, was £11.78 for men and £9.14 for women, a pay gap of £2.64.

  (b) Average hourly pay for full-time employees, excluding overtime, in the north-west GOR, was £10.93 for men and £9.01 for women, a pay gap of £1.92.

  Current trends in women's individual incomes have been explored in two studies, published last year, by the Women and Equality Unit (WEU). Copies of these reports are available on the WEU website. http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/research/publications/researchandpublications.htm.

  WEU Gender Briefing, which provides statistical briefing on the position of women compared with men in the labour market, is also available on the website http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/research/genderbriefing/home.htm.

  There are no plans to commission further research into the gap between men and women's pay in Warrington UA or the north-west GOR.

  Broadband
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of rural-based businesses have broadband internet access; and what her expectation is for change in that percentage over the next five years. [42002]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: The Government have not made an assessment of the number of rural-based businesses with broadband access. A map showing availability of broadband services in the UK was
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  contained in the UK Online annual report and has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The report states that satellite and leased-line services are universally available and offer one of the solutions to the issue of rural provision.

  Fixed Wireless Licences
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she plans to take to dispose of fixed wireless broadband local loop licences unsold at the end of the recent auction round. [41907]

  Mr. Alexander
  An award process was opened on 15 October 2001 to give companies the opportunity to obtain the remaining fixed wireless licences in the 28GHz band when they consider that the time is right. Applications can be submitted at any time up until 14 October 2002.

  Coalfields (Small Business Service)
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many small business service headquarters are situated in coalfield constituencies; [41820]

  (2) how many small business services have sub-offices in coalfield constituencies. [41819]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The SBS provides business support through contracts with Business Link Operators, five of which are situated in or have sub-offices in coalfield constituencies, as defined by 1991 ward boundaries:

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  Derbyshire

  South Yorkshire

  Staffordshire

  Chamber Business Services (Wigan).

  In total, 16 Business Link Operators cover the coalfield constituencies. These are:

  County Durham

  Coventry and Warwickshire

  Derbyshire

  Gloucestershire

  Greater Manchester

  Kent

  Leicestershire

  North Yorkshire

  Nottinghamshire

  Chamber Business Enterprises (Salford)

  South Yorkshire

  Staffordshire

  Tyne and Wear

  Tyneside

  West Yorkshire

  Chamber Business Services (Wigan).

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry further to her answer of 1 February 2002,Official Report, column 615W, on miners' compensation, what policy has been agreed for handling claims for loss of earnings from former mineworkers who are claiming for both respiratory disease and Vibration White Finger. [41969]
  1187W
  Mr. Wilson
  Where a former mineworker makes a claim for both respiratory disease and Vibration White Finger, VWF, and is entitled to loss of earnings or services, there may be overlap between the claims, which could result in double compensation. Discussions are currently taking place between the Department and the Claimants' Solicitors Group as to how to process these claims. The general damages element of these dual claims can be dealt with while discussions are in progress.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Child Exploitation
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she intends to take to prevent the future exploitation of children by aid workers in Africa. [40245]

  Clare Short
  UNHCR has undertaken to increase security in the camps, improve aid distribution, introduce a code of conduct and improve reporting procedures. A full investigation is underway by the UN Office of Investigation and Oversight Services. The UN Secretary General and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have declared a policy of "zero tolerance" for this kind of abuse. We shall monitor closely UNHCR's implementation and development of the Framework for Action it has adopted to ensure that the exploitation of children exposed in their recent report is stopped. We shall encourage all implicated organisations urgently to review their policies and to ensure that they have appropriate procedures in place to prevent the recruitment of individuals who might exploit their positions of power and trust, and to detect and remove any individuals found doing so.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidelines her Department issues to aid organisations working with children regarding sexual exploitation. [40241]

  Clare Short
  We do not issue specific guidelines to partners on the conduct of their staff. It is the responsibility to each agency to set and monitor its own code of conduct. We shall encourage those implicated in the recent UNHCR/Save the Children-UK report urgently to review their policies and procedures for the detection and prevention of any exploitation by their staff of their positions of power and trust.

  Angola
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much humanitarian aid the UK has sent to Angola in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement on(a) the humanitarian situation in Angola and (b) international efforts to alleviate the situation. [42521]

  Clare Short
  The UK has spent 595,000 in 1992–93; 13,240,000 in 1993–94; 8,158,000 in 1994–95; 11,101,000 in 1995–96; 5,898,000 in 1996–97; 1,500,000 in 1997–98; 2,500,000 in 1998–99; 3,236,000 in 1999–2000; 2,240,000 in 2000–01. The final figure for the current financial year is not yet available, but is likely to be similar to last year. The humanitarian situation in Angola remains dire. The UN estimates that over 1188W
  4 million have been displaced from their homes due to the conflict there. Repeated international attempts to gain access to those most affected by the war were thwarted by the military actions of both sides. The recent death of the UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi provides an opportunity to find a lasting peace. The Government and UNITA must seize this chance to bring an end to the suffering of the Angolan people.

  Cameroon
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to achieve the target of universal primary education in Cameroon. [42766]

  Clare Short
  None. Our direct support to poverty reduction efforts in Cameroon is focused on the forestry sector and we have no plans to expand into other areas.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money her Department has provided to the Government of Cameroon(a) bilaterally and (b) multilaterally in each of the last five years. [42763]

  Clare Short
  We do not currently provide any budgetary support to the Government of Cameroon. Our direct assistance to Cameroon has been in the form of project-related support working with both Government and non-Government partners, mainly in the forestry sector.

  Bilateral expenditure in Cameroon over the last five years is as follows:

  £ million

  Financial year

  Total DFID programme1

  1996–97

  2.2

  1997–98

  2.1

  1998–99

  1.9

  1999–2000

  2.4

  2000–01

  3.1

  1 These figures do not include non-DFID debt relief

  The UK's imputed share of multilateral assistance' given to Cameroon during 1995–99 (the latest year for which figures are available) is as follows:

  $ million

  Calendar year

  EC

  UN

  World Bank

  1995

  4.4

  1.7

  0.6

  1996

  4.4

  2.7

  0.0

  1997

  2.4

  1.8

  0.6

  1998

  3.2

  4.9

  0.0

  1999

  5.7

  5.3

  0.0

  1 Based on DAC figures

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions her Department is taking to combat Government corruption in Cameroon. [42762]

  Clare Short
  We are actively engaged in the preparation of a Forest and Environment Sector Programme, which will include measures aimed at combating corruption in the forestry sector. We also currently fund an independent monitor of illegal logging. This support recognises the importance of the forestry sector for the Cameroonian economy and for poverty
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  reduction, but that corruption in this sector is a major problem. More generally my Department has supported the inclusion of benchmarks on good governance, as part of the assessment of Cameroon's eligibility for debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries initiative, and will encourage full implementation of the poverty reduction strategy.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department is taking to bring good governance to Cameroon. [42761]

  Clare Short
  Our programme of support to Cameroon is focused on the forestry sector, which is acknowledged by Cameroon's interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper as being important for poverty reduction. We are actively engaged in the preparation of a Forest and Environment Sector Programme, which will include measures aimed at improving governance in the sector, and currently fund an Independent Monitor of illegal logging. We continue to play an active part in international community discussion of the Poverty Reduction Strategy process, which includes benchmarks on good governance.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the level of Government corruption in Cameroon. [42764]

  Clare Short
  We have done no independent assessment of the level of government corruption in Cameroon. However, it has long been recognised by the international community that steps need to be taken to reduce the high levels of corruption that have hampered Cameroon's development. The Poverty Reduction Growth Facility (PRGF) and the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy paper linked to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, include commitments by the Government of Cameroon to tackle corruption and improve governance.

  Afghanistan
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of United Kingdom funds for reconstruction in Afghanistan have been allocated to micro-credit agencies. [42760]

  Clare Short
  At present, no United Kingdom funds for reconstruction in Afghanistan have been allocated to micro-credit agencies.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on mortality rates in refugee camps in Afghanistan in the last six months. [42765]

  Clare Short
  Comprehensive data on mortality rates in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Afghanistan are not available. However, as access has improved in Afghanistan, agencies have been able to provide better-targeted assistance and to monitor the situation more effectively. For example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported a significant decrease in mortality rates at Maslakh camp outside Herat. An estimated 180,000 displaced persons, mostly from Ghor and Badghis provinces, have been living in Maslakh camp since September 2000. By December 2001, the crude mortality rate was 0.47 per 10,000 people: a death rate of approximately 50 persons per week. This figure has now halved to approximately 0.2 per 10,000.
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  The Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People, prepared by the UN in consultation with the Afghan Interim Authority, sets out priorities and objectives for the population of Afghanistan in the period up to December 2002. One of the key activities in the health sector is to strengthen the population and health statistical data system in Afghanistan. This will help build national capacity to collect and compile urgently needed data on the health needs of the Afghan population, and monitor mortality rates across the country.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the potential security concerns for refugees returning to Afghanistan. [42757]

  Clare Short
  The volatile situation remains a serious concern for refugees returning to Afghanistan. Sporadic fighting in some areas, continuing lawlessness, as well as the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance, continue to prevent unhindered access to parts of Afghanistan. Because of the precarious security situation in some parts of Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is cautioning Afghans against spontaneously returning to certain areas. Provinces and areas on UNHCR's 'caution' list include: Paktia, Khost, Zabul, Uruzgan, Nimroz, Helmand, Farah, bra Bora and Sholgara.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what provision is being made for the safety of refugees returning to Afghanistan. [42758]

  Clare Short
  The Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) and the international community are committed to improving the protection of at-risk civilians. This includes creating conditions conducive to the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in safety and dignity to their places of origin. Our support to agencies such as UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) will help contribute to this important objective.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action is being taken to improve provision of public health clinics in Afghanistan. [42756]

  Clare Short
  At the Tokyo conference, the Afghanistan Interim Administration (AIA) identified the restoration of basic services, through an urban reconstruction programme to restore utilities and support municipal authorities, as one of their main priorities. In line with this, the United Nations (UN) Country Team for Afghanistan has prepared the Immediate and Transitional Assistance Programme for the Afghan People 2002 (ITAP) which prioritises the health sector as a key focus within Afghanistan. This includes activities to improve the provision of public health clinics.

  My Department is continuing to channel support through the Red Cross movement and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who are focusing on the rehabilitation of hospitals and health care clinics in order to provide essential, primary health care. We have recently provided an additional £2 million to the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) for the provision of technical and material support to the Ministry of Public Health.
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  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate she has made of the number of refugees who have returned to Afghanistan in each of the last six months. [42759]

  Clare Short
  Since October 2001, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimate that approximately 330,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries. There were no major returns in October 2001; approximately 65,000 Afghans returned during November and December 2001; over 100,000 in January 2002; approximately the same number in February 2002; and almost 65,000 people returned to Afghanistan from 1 to 10 March 2002.

  Child Poverty
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the progress made in achieving the international development targets, with particular reference to ending child poverty by(a) the UK and (b) the international community. [42674]

  Clare Short
  There are two child specific Millennium Development Goals, reducing the under five mortality rate and ensuring that children of both sexes will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. However all the MDGs clearly have significant impacts on child poverty.

  The contribution of the UK to making progress towards these targets is outlined in DFID's public service agreement. The results of our efforts so far will be published next month in our departmental report.

  Global progress towards the goals is set out in the joint UN and World Bank report 'A Better World For All.' The report indicates that significant progress has been made towards halving the proportion of people whose income is less than a dollar a day, a target that will greatly impact on child poverty. Progress has also been made on a more limited basis, on reducing child mortality rates and increasing in the numbers of boys and girls enrolled in primary school.

  The UN General Assembly has agreed to produce annual reports on progress in reaching the MDGs. This information should serve to motivate the international community and strengthen and better target the efforts made to support progress towards the MDGs. We are currently working with other donor partners, the UN, World Bank and Development Assistance Committee to increase the capacity of developing countries to monitor statistics on a country basis, to support international monitoring of the MDGs, and to enable developing countries to develop national strategies for poverty reduction and sustainable development on the basis of accurate and current information.

  Flexible Working
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what proportion of the staff of her Department are(a) job sharing, (b) term working and (c) engaged in another form of flexible working. [42425]
  1192W
  Clare Short
  Details of DFID's job sharers, and part time workers engaged in flexible working are contained in the following table. There is no central record of full time staff engaged in flexible working. We have no staff who are term working.

  Figure

  Total number of staff in DFID headquarters1

  1,597

  Numbers of job share staff

  18

  Percentage of total job share staff

  1.1

  Numbers of staff engaged in other flexible working patterns

  105

  Percentage of total staff engaged in other flexible working patterns

  6.6

  1 London and East Kilbride

  Humanitarian Aid (Central Asia)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much humanitarian aid has been given to(a) Iran and (b) the northern border states of Afghanistan formerly part of the Soviet Union in the last 12 months. [42954]

  Clare Short
  In the last 12 months, my Department has provided over £1.7 million of humanitarian assistance to Iran, primarily for the benefit of Afghan and Iraqi refugees. Our support, which has been channelled through UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has focused on emergency food assistance, and improvement of health care and education services for Afghan and Iraqi refugees.

  In the same period, we have provided £2.2 million of drought relief assistance to Tajikistan. This has been channelled through UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs for food assistance, water and sanitation improvement, and livelihood and agricultural support.

  In addition, the £60 million that we have disbursed in response to the crisis in Afghanistan since September 2001 includes a number of regional grants to humanitarian agencies. A proportion of this amount has therefore been spent in countries neighbouring Afghanistan, including Iran and the northern border states of Afghanistan.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  European Union
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March 2002, ref. 40849,Official Report, column 395W, if he will conduct an internal analysis on the future of the various recurring annual direct and indirect (a) costs and (b) benefits arising from UK membership of the European Union. [42608]

  Peter Hain
  No.

  General Affairs Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 18–19 February; what the Government's stance was on each issue discussed, including its voting and record; and if he will make a statement. [42704]
  1193W
  Peter Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I represented the UK at the Council. The GAC adopted the "A" points listed in document 6220/02. It also noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament listed in document 5079/02 PE-RE 5. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. No formal votes were taken. Conclusions were reached by consensus on a number of issues, as follows.

  Zimbabwe

  The Council heard a report from the head of the EU election observation mission, whom the Government of Zimbabwe had refused to accredit. Ambassador Schori's report confirmed that the conditions did not exist for the EU to mount a credible mission. On 28 January, the Council had agreed that the consultations with Zimbabwe under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement would be closed and targeted sanctions implemented if the Government of Zimbabwe prevented the deployment of an EU election observation mission, or if it prevented the mission from operating effectively, or prevented the international media from having free access to cover the election, or if there was a serious deterioration in the situation on the ground, or if the election was assessed as not being free and fair.

  At the February GAC, the Council concluded that the principles enshrined in Article 9 of the Cotonou Agreement had not been respected despite all efforts made by the European Union through Article 8 dialogue and later, Article 96 consultations. Consequently, and in the light of its January agreement, the Council decided to close Article 96 consultations and take appropriate measures. Furthermore, the Council decided to implement targeted sanctions in the form of an embargo on the sale, supply or transfer of arms and technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities and an embargo on the sale or supply of equipment which could be used for internal repression in Zimbabwe, as well as a travel ban on persons who engage in serious violations of human rights and of the freedom of opinion, of association and of peaceful assembly in Zimbabwe and a freezing of their funds, other financial assets or economic resources. The Council also decided to withdraw without delay all EU electoral observers still present in Zimbabwe.

  Work in other Council formations

  The Council took stock of a presidency report on work on the most important issues currently under discussion in other Council configurations, including topics being considered in the ECOFIN, Agriculture, Justice and Home Affairs and Education Councils. The Council noted that a number of these issues were of particular relevance in the run-up to the spring European Council in Barcelona. The Council also agreed to monitor the work of the Convention on the future of the European Union.
  1194W
  Barcelona European Council

  The presidency outlined plans for practical organisation of the Barcelona European Council, noting that the GAC on 11–12 March would focus on substantive preparations. The Council agreed that the Barcelona European Council should take a number of concrete steps on priority actions to be taken to ensure delivery of the EU's economic reform strategy set at the Lisbon European Council in 2000.

  The Council noted that separate meetings with Heads of State or Government, Foreign Ministers and Finance Ministers from the candidate countries would be held during the Barcelona Council. The Council was informed that a summit with social partners would take place on 14 March with the participation of the President of the European Council, the President of the Commission, the Prime Ministers of Denmark and Greece, as well as their respective Employment Ministers.

  Enlargement

  The Council noted a Commission presentation on financial aspects of the enlargement negotiations, following recent discussions by Foreign and Finance Ministers. The Council invited the Commission to submit draft common positions for the negotiating chapters on Financial and Budgetary Provisions, Agriculture and Regional Policy and Co-ordination of Structural Instruments as soon as possible, taking into account the Council's deliberations. The Council recalled that timely production of these draft common positions was essential in order to keep to the road map laid down by the Nice European Council and the timetable for concluding negotiations agreed by the European Councils in Goteborg and Laeken. The Council reaffirmed that the negotiations will be based on the present acquis and on the financial framework ceilings decided by the European Council in Berlin in 1999.

  Economic and social cohesion report

  The Council heard a Commission presentation of the update to the second report on economic and social cohesion. The report updates the data presented in January 2001, analyses potential disparities in a Union of 25 and summarises the debate on future cohesion policy after enlargement. The Council instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee to examine this report with a view to further work by the Council in due course.

  Debate on the effectiveness of the EU's external actions

  The Council held a policy debate on ways for the Union to achieve more effective and comprehensive external action on the basis of a presidency paper and report by the Commission. Ministers addressed the relationship between development and foreign policy objectives; the need for improved flexibility and responsiveness; and the need for speedy delivery of external assistance and the quality of such assistance. The presidency suggested in particular that the Secretary-General/High Representative and the Commission looked further at specific areas of work for improving effectiveness, including the use of case studies, improved co-ordination in the field, better use of decentralisation and improving inter-pillar co-ordination. The outcome of this work should be submitted to the May GAC, at which an initial review could be undertaken with a possible further review in the autumn.
  1195W
  Middle East Peace Process

  The Foreign Secretary and the German Foreign Minister both briefed partners on their visits to the middle east. The GAC reaffirmed the EU's view, as set out in the Laeken European Council declaration, that a political perspective must be established if there is to be sustained progress. It was accepted that an improved security situation was an essential first step and this required determined action by the Palestinian Authority. The importance of close EU-US co-ordination was stressed. High Representative Solana was asked to return to the region.

  UN Financing for Development conference

  The Commission presented proposals for increasing the quantity and quality of official development assistance (ODA). The Council invited the Permanent Representatives Committee to examine the Commission's proposals before the March General Affairs Council so that the Union can make an important contribution to the success of the UN conference, to be held that month in Mexico, through the adoption of positive initiatives.

  Western Balkans

  High Representative Solana briefed Ministers on developments in Montenegro. On Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), High Representative Petritsch outlined the recent achievements and the likely future challenges. He confirmed that he would step down by the end of May, to be succeeded by Lord Ashdown. The Council expressed its willingness to appoint Lord Ashdown as the EU Special Representative in BiH (EUSR) when he becomes High Representative. The Council announced the EU's readiness to ensure the follow-on to the UN International Police Task Force (IPTF) in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2003.

  Relations with third countries on combating terrorism

  There was a brief discussion on the basis of a presidency paper on options for including counter-terrorism co-operation in future EU/third country agreements. Officials were invited to continue work, on the basis that there should be rapid progress to incorporate the EU's commitment to counter-terrorism into future agreements.

  Meetings of EU Defence Ministers

  The Council endorsed a presidency proposal that Defence Ministers should be able to meet under the aegis of the GAC, for discussion of military/capabilities aspects of ESDP.

  Nepal
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on human rights abuses in Nepal. [42602]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have not received any formal representations about human rights abuses in Nepal, although my officials are in contact with human rights NGOs and regularly discuss the situation with them.

  We are very concerned about reports of human rights abuses committee by the Maoists. NGOs estimate that they may be responsible for the summary execution of 400 civilians.

  We are aware of allegations in the Nepalese media of human rights abuses by the Royal Nepalese Army. We are concerned about this, and have made our views clear to the Government of Nepal: I myself did so during my
  1196W
  visit to Kathmandu last month. Prime Minister Deuba has repeatedly stressed that abuses will not be tolerated. The Nepalese authorities have professed the need for improvement, and have undertaken to co-operate with the international community to achieve this.

  The British embassy's human rights adviser in Kathmandu is monitoring the human rights situation closely and developing strategies to assist the Nepalese Government and civil society in tackling human rights issues.

  People's Front
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of 4 March 2002,Official Report, column 130, by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, if he will make a statement on the status of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine. [43561]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) is not an organisation proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000. The group is none the less a terrorist entity which, for example, claimed responsibility for the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Ze'evy in October 2001. The Bank of England froze the assets of the PFLP in 2001 as a result of its involvement in terrorism.

  Hawk Aircraft
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Hawk aircraft have been exported to India in the last six months. [42767]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  None.

PRIME MINISTER

  Air Travel
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Government have taken a decision on future provision for long-range royal and ministerial air travel. [44087]

  The Prime Minister
  After 36 years' service the VC I Os were withdrawn from their ministerial transport role at the end of 2001. The royal family had ceased using the VC10 nine years ago. The Government considered a number of options for future long-range royal and ministerial air travel. These included chartering commercial aircraft, adapting an existing RAF aircraft, and procuring a new aircraft.

  The Government have decided that when a dedicated aircraft is needed it will charter a commercial aircraft. In line with current practice, any accompanying business-people or press will usually be asked to pay their share of costs. Where there are security concerns RAF planes will be used. We assess that this approach is likely to be the most cost-effective. In many cases a dedicated aircraft is not necessary and Ministers and members of the royal family will continue to travel on scheduled flights.
  1197W
  For the longer-term the Ministry of Defence will consider whether cost-effective provision of royal and ministerial air transport might be incorporated within the contract for the RAF's future strategic tanker aircraft, due to enter service towards the end of this decade.

  Social Services Spending
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 6 March 2002,Official Report, column 280, regarding social services spending, how much funding has been provided by (a) central Government and (b) local authorities through council tax in the last five years. [42636]

  Prime Minister
  Social services funding is increasing by around 20.4 per cent. in real terms between 1996–97 and 2002–03; an average of 3.1 per cent. each year, compared with an average of 0.1 per cent. annual real terms growth between 1992–93 and 1996–97.

  Local government's social service responsibilities are funded through general grant as part of the local government finance settlement, ring-fenced grants provided by the Department of Health and local authorities through council tax. Decisions on the budgets local authorities allocate to particular services are for local authorities to make bearing in mind their statutory responsibilities, their priorities and the wishes of their electorate. It is not therefore possible to say how much funding for social services has been provided through council tax or general grant.

  General grant is distributed through standard spending assessments (SSA) formulae. The figures in the following table comprise personal social services SSA, which includes an assumed element for council tax, and ring-fenced grants paid by the Department of Health for social services in England. The figures exclude grants paid for social services by other Government Departments.

  £ million

  1997–98

  7,911.8

  1998–99

  8,479.8

  1999–2000

  8,862.9

  2000–01

  9,307.0

  2001–02

  9,957.2

  Downing Street (Charity Receptions)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will set out the procedure by which charities apply for receptions at 10 Downing street; [43306]

  (2) if he will list the charities for whom receptions have been given at 10 Downing street since May 1997. [43305]

  The Prime Minister
  The programme of events at No. 10 is designed to give access to as many people as possible. Events cover a very wide spectrum of charities including NSPCC, Barnados, Sargent Cancer Care for Children, Shelter, Help the Aged, and smaller charities such as Kids, Saving Faces and Contact a Family.

  As has always been the practice, it is open to all charities to contact 10 Downing street to apply to hold a reception which is then considered. The guests lists are drawn up by the charity, which also funds the event.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Official Visits
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (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; [38151]

  (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. [38187]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Since 1999 this Government have published an annual list of all overseas visits 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 since 1 March 2001 will be published 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.

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

  Spring Supply Estimates
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the additional grants from the Scottish Executive in item lxxxi on page 8 of the Spring Supply Estimates. [40236]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The transfer of £1,293,000 to the Scottish Executive, reported at item lxxxi on page 8 of the Spring Supplementary Estimates, is in respect of rail freight facilities grant which, under section 211(4) of the Transport Act 2000, must be paid by the Scottish Executive.

  Gender Pay Gap
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent of the gender pay gap among staff in his Department. [40997]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Government have committed Departments and agencies to review their pay systems by April 2003 and prepare action plans to close any equal pay gaps. The Cabinet Office issued comprehensive guidance in January 2002 to assist in these reviews.

  In advance of the Cabinet Office guidance and in conjunction with the local trade union side an equal pay review was instigated in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Central) during the

  1199W
  2001 pay round, following guidelines contained in the Equal Opportunities Commission's code of practice. The outcome of this review is subject to the Governments commitment to review pay systems by April 2003.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many special advisers were employed by him and his predecessor(a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive; and what the total amount spent on special advisers by the Department was in each of those years. [41256]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions employed a total of six special advisers between 1 May and 31 December 1997 at a total salary cost of £77,470. In 1998 a total of seven special advisers were employed (of whom no more than six were in post at any one time) at a total salary cost of £142,152. In 1999 a total of seven special advisers were employed (of whom no more than five were in post at any one time) at a total salary cost of £158,400. In 2000 a total of five special advisers were employed at a total salary cost of £197,092. In 2001 a total of eight special advisers were employed (of whom no more than five were employed at any one time) at a total salary cost of £132,278.

  Departmental Staff
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whom he has recruited to replace Jo Moore. [41677]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 12 March 2002,Official Report, column 908W.

  Jo Moore
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he consulted the Prime Minister on the future of Jo Moore after 11 September. [41283]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 7 March 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff) on 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1165.

  Heathrow
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what projection he has made of the number of flights at Heathrow Airport in each of the next five years. [41888]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Secretary of State has imposed a condition on the planning consent for Heathrow Terminal 5, requiring that from the date the Core Terminal 1200W
  Building opens for public use, the number of occasions on which aircraft may take-off or land at Heathrow shall not exceed 480,000 during any period of one year.

  Airports
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of airport capacity in the south-east of England over the medium and longer terms. [41945]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study (SERAS) has evaluated a wide range of airport development options, providing different levels of capacity. A full public consultation on the short-listed options is scheduled for spring 2002. Decisions made following the consultation will feed into an aviation White Paper which we plan to publish later this year.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the sites that are being considered for new airports within the south-east of England. [41963]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) on 12 March 2002,Official Report, column 922W.

  Shoreham Harbour
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has collated on the breakdown of harbour traffic throughput in Shoreham in the last year. [42325]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: In 2000, the latest year for which information is available, 1.8 million tonnes of traffic passed through the port of Shoreham. Of this, approximately 1.0 million tonnes were imports, 150 thousand tonnes exports and 0.6 million tonnes domestic traffic.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has received from Shoreham Port Authority about their(a) debt levels and (b) bulk cargo levels for export and import. [42314]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: Information on debt levels at ports is not collected by my Department. In 2000, the latest year for which information is available, 0.7 million tonnes of bulk cargo were imported and 0.1 million tonnes of bulk cargo were exported.

  Disabled Facilities Grants
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how much money has been allocated to disabled facilities grants in this financial year; [42544]

  (2) how many disabled facilities grants have been processed for children in the last 12 months; [42542]

  (3) how many disabled facilities grants have been processed for (a) adults and (b) children in the last two years. [42543]
  1201W
  Ms Keeble
  The Government have allocated £87 million towards the expenditure by local authorities in England on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) for 2001–02. This meets 60 per cent. of the total cost of such grants, the remaining 40 per cent. being met from elsewhere in local authorities' budgets. The latest estimate on the number of DFGs made in England is 28,097 for 2001–02. The Government do not collect data separately on the number of grants paid to adults or children.

  Scheme

  Allocation (£ million)

  Purpose

  Avon/Somerset/Gloucestershire

  16.900

  Joint training centre

  Cornwall

  12,257

  Estate management and replacement of fire stations

  Greater Manchester

  4.790

  Fire station/divisional headquarters

  London

  45.000

  Management and maintenance of vehicles and operational equipment

  North Yorkshire

  6.360

  Fire station/training centre

  Revenue support based on the level of PFI credits is paid once the scheme has come into operation.

  £560,000 in total was paid in grant in 1997–98 to meet the development costs for fire service pathfinder schemes, including the ones listed in the table.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2002,Official Report, column 1370W, on fire authority funding, if he will list the recipients of the extra £53 million announced for emergency planning, stating in each case (a) the name of the fire authority, (b) the amount awarded and (c) the intended use of the money in each case. [42943]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The additional resources will be used to procure new equipment, including decontamination facilities and personal protective equipment for firefighters, and to meet training and other revenue costs. Decisions on the deployment of the equipment and allocation of the funding will be taken in the course of procurement. The equipment will include:

  Large volume decontamination shelters and showers

  Water management equipment

  Ancillary equipment eg to provide power, heat and light

  Radiation survey meters

  Personal dosimeters

  Protective clothing

  Masks and filters for respiratory protection

  Transport facilities

  Communications and IT support.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people are employed in the fire service(a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) age, (ii) gender and (iii) ethnic background. [42925]

  Dr. Whitehead
  At 31 March 2001 there were 49,685 uniformed staff and 6,703 non-uniformed staff employed in the fire services of England and Wales. There were 1,866 women employed in the uniformed sector and 4,032 women employed in the non-uniformed sector. There were 613 minority ethnic uniformed staff and 293 minority ethnic non-uniformed staff.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the recipients of money within the Fire Service under the private finance initiative, stating in each case(a) the amount awarded and (b) the purpose of the award. [42924]

  Dr. Whitehead
  PFI credits have been allocated to the following fire service schemes:

  All fire services in England and Wales are required to provide annually to Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate statistical information about personnel employed, analysed by gender and ethnic origin. Data on the composition of the work force broken down by age are not held centrally.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what extra training has been provided for fire fighters since 11 September 2001, broken down by each fire authority. [42926]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Fire service personnel already receive training for dealing with terrorist and major incidents. Since 11 September fire authorities have been issued with guidance on mass decontamination methods. Additional funding is being provided and fire authorities are being encouraged to undertake training with other services and agencies. Details of specific training carried out by each fire authority are not held centrally.

  Housing Association Properties
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many housing association properties have been sold under the Right to Acquire provisions in each London borough in each year since the provisions came into force. [42968]

  Ms Keeble
  The Right to Acquire came into force on 1 April 1997. It gives eligible tenants of registered social landlords the right to purchase their rented home with the benefit of a discount. There have been 53 completed Right to Acquire sales in total from 1 April 1997 to the end of February 2002. 12 of these were in London boroughs, as follows:

  Completions

  1999–2000

  Redbridge

  1

  2000–01

  Bexley

  2

  Croydon

  1

  Haringey

  1

  Newham

  1

  Waltham Forest

  1

  1203W

  Completions

  2001–021

  Bexley

  1

  Ealing

  1

  Newham

  2

  Sutton

  1

  111 months only

  Council Properties
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council properties have been sold under the right-to-buy provisions in each London borough in each of the last 10 years. [43946]

  Ms Keeble
  The information requested is included in the summary table referred to in my answer of 7 March 2002 to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney),Official Report, column 554W, which is available in the Libraries of the House.

  Flight Paths (Walthamstow)
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes in flight paths into Heathrow have taken place within the last year that have affected flight paths above Walthamstow; and whether they are permanent. [42945]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Civil Aviation Authority has advised that apart from a short period following the terrorist attacks in New York on 11 September 2001 when there may have been a slight increase in the proportion of flights which overflew Walthamstow, there have been no changes to the flight paths into Heathrow in the past year.

  Regulatory Impact Unit
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many Members his Department employs in its Regulatory Impact Unit; and if he will make a statement. [42933]

  Dr. Whitehead
  DTLR's new Regulatory Impact Unit was established in October 2001 and consists of four officials, two full time and two on a job-share basis.

  This is more staff than in previous years and the unit is now a dedicated resource that covers better/regulation/regulatory reform issues only.

  Correspondence
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Warrington, North, dated 21 November 2001. [43131]

  Ms Keeble
  I have written to my hon. Friend today and I apologise for the delay in replying.

  A36
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury of 25 February 2001,Official Report, column 817W, for what reasons de-trunking negotiations on the A36(T) have been put on hold until early 2003. [43304]
  1204W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The Secretary of State confirmed in February 2002 that following placement of an objection to de-trunking of the A46/A36 by the South West Regional Assembly a further study into the management of the route and the traffic problems related to the route in Bath would be commissioned shortly. Formal appointment of a consultant to undertake the work is progressing with interviews of those firms shortlisted taking place soon. Not until this study had been completed, December 2002 in the current programme, would Bath and North East Somerset Council agree to continue with de-trunking negotiations.

  There are four other local authorities involved in taking over sections of the route on satisfactory completion of de-trunking negotiations. No serious obstacles to completing negotiations successfully with these remaining four authorities have been identified. Although this might suggest that a piecemeal de-trunking of the route is possible this would not be in the public interest nor would this course of action answer the Regional Assembly's objection.

  Freight Industry (Illegal Migrants)
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on the freight industry of the actions of people attempting to enter the United Kingdom illegally; and if he will make a statement. [43033]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government recognise that the current disruption to channel tunnel rail freight services caused by would-be illegal immigrants attempting to board these trains on the continent is causing severe hardship to many businesses in this country which depend on these services. We are pressing the French Government at the highest levels to ensure that sufficient police resources are applied to address the problem so that normal freight services can resume as soon as possible.

  There is no evidence to date that the actions of people attempting to enter the United Kingdom illegally have had any significant impact on UK road freight operations.

  Electronic Voting
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2002,Official Report, column 1371W, on electronic voting, whether he undertook an assessment of the relative ability of different age groups to access electronic voting before introducing the pilot schemes. [43352]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The Electoral Commission's evaluation of the electronic voting pilots will include an assessment of the impact of electronic voting on different age groups within the electorate. The traditional voting arrangements will remain available on 2 May for all voters in the areas where electronic voting is being trialed.

  Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning applications for developments in areas of outstanding natural beauty have been called in since 1997; and how many of those were approved. [43390]
  1205W
  Ms Keeble
  We estimate that about 30 planning applications for developments in areas of outstanding natural beauty have been called in since 1997 and that, of those, around one-fifth have been approved.

  Harbour Boards (Isle of Wight)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions by what means nominations were sought for places on harbour boards on the Isle of Wight; how many appointments he has made to such bodies since 1997; who the appointees were; and what were their terms of office. [43353]

  Ms Keeble
  The Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is not aware of any "labour boards" on the Isle of Wight. There are a number of bodies responsible for local economic and work force development activities on the Isle of Wight, but none has national appointment processes, all being locally developed in response to the local need.

  London Underground
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to sign documents for the public private partnership with London Underground. [41292]

  Mr. Jamieson
  If a final decision is taken to proceed, PPP contracts for the modernisation of London Underground will be signed by London Underground, not the Secretary of State.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of changes to the contracts to operate train lines under the proposed PPP scheme since 7 February; [42813]

  (2) who is responsible for determining (a) whether there have been material changes in the contracts to operate train lines under the proposed PPP scheme since 7 February and (b) whether material changes to the contracts to operate trains under the proposed PPP scheme for the London Underground require a re-evaluation of the value for money survey carried out by (i) London Underground and (ii) Ernst and Young; [42815]

  (3) under what circumstances changes to the contract to operate trains under the proposed PPP scheme for the London Underground will require a re-evaluation of the value for money survey carried out by (a) London Underground and (b) Ernst and Young. [42814]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: The proposed PPP contracts are for the modernisation of the Underground's infrastructure. London Underground will continue to operate the entire tube network, including trains.

  London Underground is responsible for the contracts. London Underground has confirmed that it intends to take a final decision, including in relation to value for money, following completion of consultation with the Mayor and Transport for London.

  I and my officials have been kept informed throughout development of the contracts. In taking any decisions that fall to me in my capacity as Secretary of State I will take into account all the relevant factors. I will, in particular,
  1206W
  consider whether any changes to the contracts will affect my three key principles: that there is no privatisation, that safety is not compromised and that the contracts offer value for money.

  10-Year Plan
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the required investment in the railway network for(a) safety and (b) repairs over the life of the Government's 10-year plan. [41304]

  Mr. Spellar
  All of the rail investment contained in the 10-year plan and SRA strategic plan contributes in some way to achieving our objectives of a better, safer and more reliable railway. It is not possible to provide a specific estimate for these categories.

  National Rail Academy
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what requirement will be placed on(a) the train operating companies and (b) the successor company to Railtrack to employ people with qualifications from the National Rail Academy. [42810]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: The issue of qualifications will in part be addressed through the 'Framework for Skills' 18-Point Action Plan. It is likely that the National Rail Academy will have a key role to play in relation to standards and qualifications. However, its precise role and the relationship with the Rail Industry Training Council, the existing National Training Organisation and the prospective Sector Skills Council have yet to be determined.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) when the proposed National Rail Academy will be brought into operation; [42808]

  (2) how much money has been allocated for (a) the development of and (b) the operation of a National Rail Academy; and if this money forms part of the funding proposed under the Ten Year Plan. [42807]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: The Government have made available £33.5 billion to improve the railways of which £500,000 is being allocated by the Strategic Rail Authority to develop a number of training initiatives during this year. There is currently no fixed establishment date for the National Rail Academy and it is likely that it will evolve progressively from a number of current initiatives.

  Rail Industry (Skills)
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the skills shortage in the rail industry in terms of(a) numbers of people and (b) skill areas. [42809]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: The progress report on the delivery of the Framework for Skills for the Rail Industry provides at Annexe 4 an analysis of the occupations in which there are skill shortages. The report is available on the Department for Education and Skills website—www.dfes.gov.uk/railindustry.

  Special Purpose Vehicles
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he has issued to the SRA in respect of the creation of special purpose vehicles for rail projects; and if he will place it in the Library. [42838]

  Mr. Byers
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: On 29 June 2001 I issued draft Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). These would direct the SRA to consider the use of Special Purpose Vehicles to undertake rail infrastructure works (section 8.2) and require the SRA to detail in its strategy how and by when such projects will be introduced (section 7.4). A copy was placed in the House Library at the time of their publication.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Video and Data Network
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what measures he is taking to improve remote access to PDVN for hon. Members' constituency staff; and what recent assessment he has made of the reliability of access to the network. [43127]

  Michael Fabricant
  I fully recognise the need to improve the reliability of remote access services for hon. Members' constituency staff. As a short-term measure, the Parliamentary Communications Directorate has tested an upgrade to the existing remote access software (Citrix) and plans to make it available shortly to all hon. Members.

  Statutory instrument

  Power transferred

  2000–01

  S.I. 2000/1563

  The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers, etc.) Order 2000

  S.I. 2000/3251

  The Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities)(Adaptation of Functions etc.)(No. 2) Order 2000

  S.I. 2000/3253

  The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers, etc.)(No. 2) Order 2000

  S.I. 2001/954

  The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers, etc.) Order 2001

  2001–02

  S.I. 2001/3504

  The Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers, etc.)(No. 2) Order 2001

  Scotland Act
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to amend the Scotland Act 1998. [41418]

  Mrs. Liddell
  At present, I have no plans to amend the Scotland Act.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last discussed the future of the Scotland Act 1998 with the Scottish Executive. [41417]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I discuss a range of issues with the First Minister at our regular meetings.

  A76
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations she has received on 1208W
  It is expected that this upgrade will improve the performance of the remote access service, within the limitations of the Citrix product.

  The question of remote access for constituency staff is a matter for the President of the Council and is being pursued in the context of the changes to hon. Members' allowances which were agreed by the House on 5 July 2001. I understand that the House is in the final stages of placing a contract to provide Members with improved access to the Internet and to the Parliamentary Data and Video Network (PDVN) via a commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP). Once the necessary administrative, financial and technical elements are in place, Members' constituency offices will be able to connect directly to the PDVN using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which will allow broadband access (such as ADSL where available) as well as ISDN and dial-up services. It is hoped that a pilot of the new service will take place in July 2002, and I am optimistic that this long-term solution will provide considerable benefits for hon. Members and their staff.

SCOTLAND

  Devolution
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list powers transferred by her Department to the Scottish Executive under provisions of the Scotland Act in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [39330]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Powers transferred to the Scottish Executive between the specified dates are set out in the following statutory instruments:

  vehicle speed limits on the A76 trunk road for (a) passenger cars and (b) heavy goods vehicles. [41414]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I have received no representations on this matter.

  Nuclear Power Stations
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on Government policy on the future for nuclear power stations in Scotland. [41593]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The future role of all forms of power will be considered in the Energy White Paper which was referred to by the Prime Minister in his foreword to the Cabinet Office Energy Review publication.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations she has had with representatives of the Scottish Executive regarding a public inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreaks in Scotland. [41470]

  Mrs. Liddell
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced two independent inquiries into the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001. The "Lessons Learned" inquiry has been asked to make recommendations on the handling of any future major animal disease outbreak. The Royal Society has been asked to investigate the transmission, prevention and control of epidemic outbreaks of infectious disease in livestock, and to make recommendations. The "Lessons Learned" inquiry and the Royal Society inquiry both extend to Scotland, and the Scottish Executive has presented views to both inquiries. The inquiries will report to Ministers in the Scottish Executive as well as to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations she has had with Scottish Executive Ministers and European Union officials on a public inquiry into the foot and mouth outbreaks in Scotland. [41416]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger).

  The European Commission will be kept in touch with the progress of these inquiries.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Relocation Expenses
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the payment of relocation expenses to staff in his Department. [41018]

  Students from England aged 18 accepted for entry to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK by previous educational institution

  Academic year of entry to higher education

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Maintained schools

  17-year-olds in previous year studying in maintained schools1

  131,700

  132,500

  137,100

  18-year-olds accepted for entry from maintained schools2,3

  64,100

  64,900

  68,200

  Percentage proceeding to HE from maintained schools

  49

  49

  50

  Independent schools

  17-year-olds in previous year studying in independent schools1

  36,000

  35,000

  35,200

  18-year-olds accepted for entry from independent schools2

  19,100

  18,300

  18,800

  Percentage proceeding to HE from independent schools

  53

  52

  53

  FE colleges

  17-year-olds in previous year studying in FE colleges1

  183,700

  183,100

  184,900

  18-year-olds accepted for entry from FE colleges2

  37,700

  38,100

  40,800

  Percentage proceeding to HE from FE colleges

  21

  21

  22

  1 Age as at August 31

  2 Age as at September 30

  3 Including city technology colleges and sixth form centres

  Examination Boards
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will replace the boards responsible for setting examinations in schools by a single board. [40730]
  1210W
  Mr. Leslie
  Cabinet Office policy is to reimburse approved costs that are necessarily and unavoidably incurred as a result of relocation. Levels of reimbursement are agreed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the availability of funding in the management unit to which an individual is attached.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Higher Education
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress the Government have made towards their target of 50 per cent. of young people entering higher education. [40728]

  Margaret Hodge
  We are making excellent progress towards meeting our ambitious but realistic target of participation in HE. The target is informed by our analysis of labour market needs over the next decade and by our determination to ensure opportunity for all throughout the education system.

  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the proportion of students from secondary modern schools who went on to higher education in each of the last three years. [40740]

  Margaret Hodge
  Information on the number of pupils from secondary modern schools who go on to HE is not held centrally.

  The available information, showing the previous type of educational institution of students accepted for entry to full-time undergraduate courses, is shown in the table. However, not all students who enter HE do so directly after they have left full-time education at 18; some spend a period in employment before returning to study, and others take a gap year to broaden their experience. Around a third of young people enter full-time higher education by the age of 20, including those who enter at ages 18, 19, and 20.

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We have no plans to replace the current structure in England with a single board.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the operation of exam boards. [40736]
  1211W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Millions of examination papers are taken by students in England and Wales each year. It is a massive and complex task to set and manage this number of exams—and a task that the awarding bodies generally perform to a high standard.

  Engineering
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to promote engineering as a career; and if she will make a statement. [40731]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Government recognise the importance of engineering to the success of our economy.

  To this end we have just launched a new science and engineering ambassadors programme as part of Science Year.

  In addition, we have recently announced a new campaign to promote modern apprenticeships to young people and employers. Currently the engineering manufacturing sector has the largest number of young people undertaking advanced modern apprenticeship training.

  Further Education Colleges
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the results of the recent inspections of further education colleges. [40732]

  Margaret Hodge
  Of the 64 college inspections carried out to date under the new regime, results have been published for 29 colleges. It is early days and conclusions so far are tentative. There have been some good results but there is still some way to go to achieve consistent quality.

  Teachers' Pay
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received from teaching unions about devolving teachers' pay and conditions to the National Assembly for Wales. [40733]

  Mr. Timms
  My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers are expected to progress up the post-threshold pay spine this academic year. [40748]

  Mr. Timms
  Progress on the upper pay scale is by performance points awarded by individual schools. Teachers on point one of the upper pay scale since September 2000 become eligible to move to point two from September 2002. The number moving to point two will be determined by the number of performance points schools decide to award.

  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent research she has commissioned into the effect of performance-related pay on teachers' morale. [40750]
  1212W
  Mr. Timms
  The Department's evaluation of the first round of performance threshold assessment included a MORI survey of teachers in a sample of schools. The results were summarised in the written evidence submitted by the Department to the School Teachers' Review Body in September. This is available on the DFES website: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/Teachers_Pay_Evidence_STRB_2001 and http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/Teachers_Pay_STRB_Supplementary_Evidence.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will issue guidance to schools on the advancement of teachers on the upper pay scale. [40749]

  Mr. Timms
  Progression on the upper pay scale is by performance points awarded by individual schools. Guidance on awarding such points was included in the Department's guidance on teachers' pay and conditions sent to all schools in September.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent meetings she has had with the National Association of Head Teachers to discuss performance-related pay. [40737]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) and my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, on 14 March 2002,Official Report, column 1003.

  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the cost in 2002–03 of continued funding of performance-related pay for teachers in the county of Leicestershire; and if she will make a statement. [40739]

  Mr. Timms
  The cost of threshold pay will depend on the number of teachers in Leicestershire assessed as meeting the threshold standards, including applicants currently being assessed. The cost of performance pay points will depend on the number of points Leicestershire schools decide to award.

  Further Education
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the system of maintenance support available for young people in further education. [40734]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We are breaking down the financial barriers which prevent young people from succeeding in further education in a number of ways. We are piloting education maintenance allowances for young people in 56 local authority areas. We have increased the existing learner support funds from £6 million in 1997 to £51 million in 2001–02. And we are introducing the Connexions Card which will make a range of discounts and rewards available to young people who participate in learning.

  Foreign Languages
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what preparations are under way to develop foreign language teaching in primary schools. [40738]
  1213W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Languages National Steering Group, chaired by my ministerial colleague Baroness Ashton, is developing a national strategy for languages which we plan to publish in the autumn. Our recently published pamphlet, "Language Learning", sets out our aspirations for language learning and teaching and invites comments from key stakeholders. One of those aspirations is to widen the opportunities for language learning in the primary sector.

  Learning and Skills Councils
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure that learning and skills councils co-ordinate their activities with those of the regional development agencies. [40741]

  John Healey
  The Learning and Skills Act 2000 requires that each of the 47 local learning and skills councils (LSCs) must, in preparing a plan for each financial year, have regard to the strategy of and consult any relevant regional development agency. The national council must consult any relevant regional development agency on whether such plans should be approved; and both national and local councils include a RDA nominee.

  Local LSCs must have regard to RDA regional economic strategies and include in their plans a statement setting out how their learning and skills responsibilities will contribute to economic regeneration activities.

  The Secretary of State, in her 2002–03 grant letter to the LSC, also asked that the council work closely with key partners in each region, including Government offices and RDAs, to help produce frameworks for regional employment and skills action. These frameworks will ensure a coherent approach to employment, skills and economic development.

  Schools Funding
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received on the funding of post-16 pupils in 11 to 18 schools in Derbyshire. [40742]

  Mr. Timms
  Derbyshire county council and a number of the schools which it maintains have made representations to the Department on this subject. A letter issued by the Department on 18 February 2002 to all local education authorities set out guidance on the treatment of allocations from the Learning and Skills Council for sixth forms in schools, so as to ensure a minimum gain for schools with allocations above their real-terms guarantee level.

  Teacher Recruitment
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance she is giving to local education authorities experiencing difficulties in recruiting teachers. [40743]

  Mr. Timms
  In 2001–02 we established a new recruitment and retention fund of £33 million targeted on local education authorities, to pass to schools in areas of greatest difficulty. The feedback we have received has been positive and we have made a further £44 million available in 2002–03. In addition, the Teacher Training 1214W
  Agency fund recruitment strategy managers in 97 LEAs to help provide a co-ordinated local approach to vacancy filling.

  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have enrolled for teacher training in the last three years; and how many teacher trained graduates remained in the profession for a year or more in each of the last three years. [40744]

  Mr. Timms
  The numbers of students enroling on initial teacher training courses in England in the last three years were as follows:

  Number

  1999–2000

  25,967

  2000–01

  27,715

  2001–02

  29,045

  Notes:

  1. Includes universities and other higher education institutions, school-centred initial teacher training and the Open University. Does not include trainees employed in schools under the graduate and registered teacher programmes.

  2. Recruitment figures include forecast registrations ITT providers expect later in the academic year.

  3. 2001–02 recruitment figures exclude the 110 entrants on the fast-track teaching route, attending ITT as part of the programme.

  4. Recruitment figures for 2001–02 are provisional and are subject to change.

  Source:

  Teacher Training Agency initial teacher training trainee numbers census

  Physical Education
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made to ensure that pupils receive a minimum two hours physical education per week within the curriculum. [40745]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The White Paper: "Schools: achieving success" sets out our commitment to physical education and school sport. We have pledged that all children will be entitled to two hours of high quality PE and school sport a week, within and beyond the curriculum.

  To help deliver this, we have a School Sport Co-ordinator programme—494 co-ordinators are already in place and are working to increase the quality and quantity of after school sport and inter-school competition and to enhance links between local schools and their communities.

  £130 million has been committed to rebuild primary school sport and arts facilities through the Space for Sports and Arts programme. A further £541 million from the New Opportunities Fund will be used to improve both primary and secondary schools sports facilities in every local education authority.

  We are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and other partners, to expand the current programmes to assist schools in meeting the PE and school sport entitlement.

  Science Students
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to encourage(a) boys and (b) girls to study science. [40746]
  1215W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The National Curriculum is gender-free, requiring equality of opportunity for girls and boys between the ages of five and 16. Pupils study an equal balance of biology, physics and chemistry together with aspects of earth science and astronomy. Results in primary science are excellent; in 2001, 87 per cent. of pupils achieved level 4, the standard expected for their age, or above, a 25 per cent. increase since 1996. Building on the achievements at primary level, we are piloting a science strategy designed to raise standards for all 11 to 14-year-olds and a national programme will be introduced in all schools in September. In recognition of its importance in preparing young people for adult and working life, we are proposing the retention of science as a core subject for 14 to 16-year-olds in our consultation document: "14–19 extending opportunities, raising standards".

  In January, we launched the science and engineering ambassadors scheme as part of Science Year. One of its main purposes is to encourage both boys and girls to continue their study of science beyond the age of 16.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will introduce a replacement scheme for individual learners. [40747]

  John Healey
  There will be a replacement ILA-style 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. We will announce our plans in due course.

  Research
  Dr. Naysmith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on her plans for funding research in universities; and if she will make a statement. [40751]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Department's policy is to strengthen research excellence and support world-class research. The Higher Education Funding Council for England implements this policy by providing funding selectively to higher education institutions, taking into account the quality of their research in each subject as measured by the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The purpose of the RAE is to distribute funding, not to determine the amount of funding that should be made available. However, in the light of the improvement in quality shown in the 2001 RAE, my Department has made available an extra £30 million in 2002–03 to allow the Higher Education Funding Council for England better to support high quality research in higher education. Future research funding is being considered as part of the current spending review.

  Standard Spending Assessment
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will extend the area cost adjustment element of the education SSA to Wiltshire. [40752]

  Mr. Timms
  We are currently working up proposals for a reformed system of school and LEA funding for introduction in 2003–04. We are taking a fresh and objective look at what provision is needed for area costs in education and have no presumptions that current 1216W
  funding in any particular area is too high or indeed too low. We expect to consult on proposals for the new system in the summer, after the spending review is complete.

  Classroom Assistants
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many unqualified adults are working as classroom assistants in England; and if she will make a statement. [40753]

  Mr. Timms
  There were 95,815 full-time equivalent teaching assistants in England in January 2001. No data are held centrally on their qualifications.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff left the service of her Department and its agencies in the year ended 31 March 2001; how many left before attaining the formal retirement age of 60 years; and in respect of how many her Department and its agencies assumed responsibilities for making payments until retirement age. [37554]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  For information on staff that have left the Department during the year ended 31 March 2001, and on how many left before the age of 60, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office today. This Department has assumed responsibility for making payments until retirement age for 143 staff who left the DfEE and its agencies in the year ended 31 March 2001.

  Official Visits
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if she will list the official visits within the UK outside London made by each Minister in her 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 her Department on choice of mode of travel for official visits; [38180]

  (2) if she will list the official visits to (a) Paris and (b) Brussels made by each Minister in her Department in 2001 and the mode of travel used; and what guidance is provided to Ministers in her Department on the choice of mode of travel for such visits. [38144]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 6 March 2002,Official Report, column 421W.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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) 16–25, (B) 26–35, (C) 36–45, (D) 46–60 and (E) over the age of 60 years, (iii) number of registered disabled and (iv) number of ethnic minorities. [39173]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office.

  Non-Governmental Organisations
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [39189]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Autism
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many autistic pupils there were in each year since 1997 in(a) South Tyneside, (b) the north-east and (c) the UK; [39619]

  (2) how many schools there are in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the north-east and (c) the UK which specialise in the treatment of autism; and what plans there are to increase this number. [39620]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The information requested is not available.

  Educational Attainment
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the educational attainment of schoolchildren in(a) current and former coalfield areas and (b) England; and what improvement there has been since 1997. [41796]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  In January 2001, we jointly commissioned research with the Coalfield Communities Campaign that looked into patterns of educational achievement in the coalfields. Former and current coalfield areas are benefiting from the literacy and numeracy strategies at primary level.

  Percentage attainment indicators for boys

  England

  Coalfields

  Key stage 1

  1998

  2000

  1998

  2000

  Level 2+ reading (comprehension test)

  75

  77

  73

  79

  Level 2+ maths

  83

  89

  82

  88

  The same trend applied to girls. Beyond Key Stage 1, performance in coalfield areas did improve but remained below the national average. The full research report is available on the Department's internet site www.dfes.gov.uk (DFES research report 314) and in the House of Commons Library.

  We recognise that more still needs to be done which is why we published the Schools White Paper—Schools: Achieving Success. It is a significant package for the reform of secondary education and also sets out our vision for education for the years ahead. The full consultation paper is available on the Department's internet site.

  Post-16 Education
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the staying on rate post-16 education is in(a) coalfield areas and (b) England. [41797]
  1218W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Reliable data on the percentage of students continuing in post-compulsory education at age 16 for coalfield areas cannot be produced at present. Participation rates by LEA and by local LSC area for 16 and 17-year-olds are published in Statistical Bulletin 11/00: Participation in education and training by young people aged 16 and 17 in each local area and region, England, 1995–96 to 1999–00.

  The percentage of 16-year-olds participating in full-time and part-time education in England was 78.5 per cent. (provisional) in 2000–01.

  Pay and Conditions
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with trade unions about(a) pay and conditions and (b) training of (i) teaching and classroom assistants and (ii) nursery nurses. [42089]

  Mr. Timms
  Last December my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met a representative from the GMB and school support staff including teaching assistants and nursery nurses to hear their views about the pay and conditions of service of school support staff.

  Departmental officials are currently discussing in a working party with representatives of teachers, employers and support staff, a range of options for developing the role, career structure and training of support staff in schools.

  Academic Qualifications
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children left school with no academic qualifications in(a) coalfield areas and (b) England in each of the last 10 years. [41800]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The proportion of 15-year-olds that achieved no GCSE or GNVQ equivalent passes by 2000–01 was 5.5 per cent. for England as a whole. This information is not available for coalfield areas.

  Drug Education
  Gillian Merron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirements there are for drug education and awareness in(a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities. [42552]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Drug education in maintained schools is a statutory part of the National Curriculum. DfES Circular 4/95 sets out the statutory position on drug education in schools and was supplemented by the guidance "Protecting Young People" (1998) which gives detailed advice on how to deliver drug education effectively.

  There are no requirements for drug education and awareness work to take place in colleges and universities. However the universities' own representative body, Universities UK, has produced guidelines on drug and alcohol policies for higher education institutions.

  Standards Fund
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 11 March 2002,Official Report, columns 770–72W, if she will list

  1219W
  Standards Fund grants which are not allocated to LEAs on a formula basis; what additional education funding is not allocated through (a) the Standards Fund and (b) special grants; and which additional educational funding schools are expected to apply for. [43351]

  Mr. Timms
  All Standards Fund grants are allocated to local education authorities on a formula basis, except for grants supporting grammar school/non-selective school partnerships and the training school initiative, which are based on individual agreements between the Department and the partnership or school. The grants funding Welcome Back bonuses and Golden Hellos for teachers require applications from schools but are allocated by a formula on receipt of the application. Schools may also apply to become part of the Specialist Schools programme, funded through the Standards Fund, and if successful the resulting additional funding is allocated by a formula.

  The following initiatives involve additional funding allocated by formula to local education authorities outside the Standards Fund or Special Grant mechanisms:

  Nursery education grant;

  Special educational needs co-ordinators (early years);

  Early years training;

  Child care grant;

  Neighbourhood nursery initiative (primarily a child care grant);

  Grant maintained school transitional grant for insurance; and

  Capital funding for voluntary aided schools.

  The last two initiatives listed will require applications from schools, with funding allocated by formula on receipt of the application. The Teachers' Threshold Grant and Teachers' Performance Pay Progression Grant, paid via Special Grants, are also allocated in this way.

  Specialist Teachers
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on special needs teaching in Somerset, with special reference to the number of specialist teachers available. [40735]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Office for Standards in Education inspections of the Local Education Authority and schools indicate that overall the Local Education Authority's strategy for special educational needs is sound. There is a higher than average proportion of good provision for special educational needs pupils in mainstream schools. The number of statements maintained by the Local Education Authority has been declining each year since 1996 and the number of pupils in special schools has decreased to 1 per cent. The national average is 1.3 per cent.

  Schools (Repairs)
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the schools requiring substantial repairs are expected to have had 1220W
  these repairs completed by 1 April; and what financial resources will be needed to complete such repairs between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2004. [43023]

  John Healey
  In 1996–97, when this Government came to office, capital spending on school buildings was £683 million. This has risen to £2.2 billion for 2001–02, and will rise further to an annual rate of £3.5 billion by 2003–04. Between April 2002 and April 2004, over £6.4 billion will be available for investment in school buildings. Local education authorities and schools can use this greatly increased funding to address the backlog of repairs that had built up over years of under funding by the previous Administration. They can also start to modernise the schools estate to meet the teaching and learning needs of the 21st century.

  The Department has an investment strategy target of having addressed the most urgent repairs in 7,000 schools by 2004. Investment decisions are best made at the local level, and the bulk of the funding we provide is allocated to local education authorities and to schools by formula to enable them to address the priority needs of their school buildings. The funding that is available from 2001–02 until 2003–04 includes £1.25 billion of NDS devolved formula capital which goes directly to all maintained schools in England to enable them to invest in their buildings. To reduce the bureaucratic burden, we are not at present requesting details of this investment, but the funding we are making available will enable this target to be met.

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many of the schools requiring rebuilding or re-modelling work will have(a) commenced and (b) been completed by 1 April; and what financial resources will be needed to complete this work between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2004. [43022]

  John Healey
  In 1996–97, when this Government came to office, capital spending on school buildings was £683 million. This has risen to £2.2 billion for 2001–02, and will rise further to an annual rate of £3.5 billion by 2003–04. Between April 2002 and April 2004, over £6.4 billion will be available for investment in school buildings. Local education authorities and schools are able to use this greatly increased funding to address the backlog of repairs that had built up over years of under-funding by the previous Administration. They can also start to modernise the schools estate to meet the teaching and learning needs of the 21st century.

  The Department has an investment strategy target of having replacement or refurbishment completed or under way in 650 schools by 2004. Investment decisions are best made at the local level, and the bulk of the funding we provide is allocated to local education authorities and to schools by formula to enable them to address the priority needs of their school buildings. To reduce the bureaucratic burden, we are not at present requesting details of this investment, but the funding we are making available will enable this target to be met.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Miscarriages of Justice
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been released in each of the past 10 years as a result of miscarriages of justice who have had their original convictions quashed(a) on appeal and (b) otherwise. [38364]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The information requested is not readily available. However, the table sets out the outcome of appeals heard by the full Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in each of the last 10 years:

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  Number of re-trials ordered

  1992

  299

  370

  12

  1993

  402

  524

  20

  1994

  351

  577

  51

  1995

  253

  521

  52

  1996

  250

  469

  53

  19971

  236

  367

  33

  1998

  290

  403

  73

  1999

  171

  380

  70

  2000

  150

  333

  72

  2001

  135

  313

  n/a

  1 From 1997, figures relate to applications rather than appellants.

  It is not possible to tell from these figures exactly how many prisoners were released from prison in each of the last 10 years as a result of their convictions being quashed. This is because not all of those who have successfully appealed against conviction will be in custody at the time their convictions are overturned; the outcome of the re-trials ordered is not available; and the table does not take any account of summary convictions quashed by the Crown court, or of convictions quashed by the House of Lords (figures for which are not available). In addition, the table's figures for appeal outcomes from 1997 onward are for the number of applications heard (each of which could have involved more than one appellant). As to (b), it is only appellate courts which have the power to quash a conviction.

  Air Conditioning
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which consultant was used to advise on the installation of air conditioning during the recent refurbishment of 50 Queen Anne's Gate; [41160]

  (2) what measures were taken to ensure that the consultant advising on the installation of air conditioning during the recent refurbishment of 50 Queen Anne's Gate was aware of the Government's policy on the use of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants in air-conditioning; and if he will make a statement on the measures taken by the consultant to source practical and safe alternatives to hydrofluorocarbon-based air-conditioning; [41161]
  1222W
  (3) whether an installer capable of installing not-in-kind air conditioning was invited to quote for the recent refurbishment contract for 50 Queen Anne's Gate. [41159]

  Angela Eagle
  The air conditioning central chiller plant in 50 Queen Anne's Gate was replaced last year, because the old plant contained Chlorofluorocarbons, which were banned from 31 December 2000. This project did not form part of a larger refurbishment.

  The procurement of the replacement chillers was handled using the standard procurement procedures for works contracts below the value of £3.6 million. Consultant engineers, Torpy Management (now known as Halcrow) and the Facilities Management Contractors, Johnson Controls, were asked to select five firms established in this particular field to tender. Another firm chaired by the right hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal (Mr. Gummer) offering an innovative environmentally friendly solution approached our consultants. This firm was seriously considered, but was not invited to tender, because our consultants considered that the alternative offered would have increased the cost and project risk unacceptably. The building work required in an occupied building would have been more extensive. In making this decision, the consultants took advice from the then Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (now part of the Office of Government Commerce) and experts within their own organisation.

  The consultants were aware of the Home Office's Greening Operations Policy, which advised that environmentally friendly alternatives to Hydrofluorocarbons should be used where feasible. It was their view that a safe, technically feasible and cost-effective environmentally preferable solution did not exist in this particular case, taking into account that the building is in need of a major overall refurbishment and the Department's plans to relocate to 2 Marsham Street in three to four years' time. However, the firms that were asked to tender were invited to offer environmentally innovative solutions—none did so and the contract was awarded in October 2000 to a firm using a standard environmentally compliant refrigerant containing Hydrofluorocarbons.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Bell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to hear from his Advisory Committee in relation to proposals to reclassify cannabis as a Class C drug; and if he will make a statement. [40198]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I have now received the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which I am currently considering.

  Holocaust Memorial Day
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government
  1223W
  have to include the Armenian massacres by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 in the remembrance commemorated by National Holocaust Memorial Day. [39951]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government recognise the strength of feeling in the Armenian community about the massacres of 1915–16. It was an appalling episode in twentieth century history, condemned by the British Government of the day and now.

  The Government continue to extend its sympathies to the descendants of the victims, along with an assurance that the massacres will never be forgotten.

  The Government believe that Holocaust Memorial Day should focus on learning the lessons of the Holocaust and other more recent atrocities that raise similar issues.

  A particular focus on events around the period 1939–45 and thereafter should not be seen as failing to acknowledge, sympathise with and respect the deep concerns about earlier events like the massacre of Armenians in 1915–16.

  Indeed, the particular focus of Holocaust Memorial Day does not prevent recollection by the Armenian community in the United Kingdom of the appalling events of 1915–16. Others may also seek to highlight other atrocities.

  UK Detention Services
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when contracts with UK Detention Services Ltd. will be signed for new prisons at(a) Ashford and (b) Peterborough. [40060]

  Beverley Hughes
  The contracts for the prisons at Ashford and Peterborough are due to be signed at the end of March 2002 and the middle of April 2002 respectively.

  Prisons
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Rye Hill; what the prisoner population is at HMP Rye Hill; and what plans there are to deal with overcrowding at HMP Rye Hill. [40063]

  Beverley Hughes
  The number of certificated staff at Rye Hill prison is 164 and that of support staff including sub-contractors is 78. As at 28 February 2002 the prison held 618 prisoners. The certified normal accommodation is 600. The contractually approved operational capacity is 660.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Dovegate; what the prisoner population is; when HMP Dovegate is expected to reach full capacity; what plans there are to deal with overcrowding; what research is being commissioned by the contractor into the outcomes at HMP Dovegate; which organisation is carrying out the research; and if he will make a statement. [40062]

  Beverley Hughes
  The staffing levels at Dovegate prison are shown in the table.
  1224W

  Main prison

  Therapeutic community

  Managerial

  91

  25

  Prisoner custody officer

  150

  61

  Support

  83

  9

  Total

  324

  95

  The main prison's population was 594 on 28 February 2002. The certified normal capacity is 600. Discussions on increasing this capacity within the contractual limits for overcrowding are under way. There are currently 81 participants in the therapeutic community and it is planned to reach the operational capacity of 200 by July 2002.

  The contractor is in the process of letting a six-year research contract to Surrey university during which three topics in respect of the therapeutic community will be studied: the mechanism of individual change in relation to the therapeutic process, the behaviour of residents when they return to the prison system and the reconviction and re-offending rates of residents when they are released into the general community.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Blakenhurst; how staffing levels have changed since the Prison Service assumed management of the prison; what changes to the regime have occurred since the Prison Service assumed management of the prison; and if he will make a statement. [40065]

  Beverley Hughes
  The current staffing levels at Blakenhurst prison are 14 managers, 208 operational grades, 64 other directly employed staff and 24 catering and educational staff, a total of 310. This is comparable to the planned complement of approximately 322 employees (including contracted out personnel) of the former contractor, United Kingdom Detention Services (UKDS) before the change in management.

  Major changes in regime under Prison Service management include: a revision of the prison's daily visits timetable and the introduction of a booked visits scheme; the introduction of a Personal Officer Scheme; the revision of the prison's incentives and earned privileges scheme and of the anti-bullying strategy; the refocusing of education on the acquisition of basic skills and employment skills; the introduction of a new pre-release course addressing resettlement issues; an increase in domestic work for prisoners; the redevelopment of prison workshops with the opening in March of two new workshops providing work for 60 prisoners; and the introduction of an industrial cleaning course for 15 prisoners.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels were for each category of staff at HMP Doncaster immediately prior to the commencement of the latest contract with Premier Custodial Group Ltd; what the staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Doncaster; and what the prisoner population is at HMP Doncaster. [40064]

  Beverley Hughes
  The number of staff at Doncaster prison immediately before, and after, the new contract is shown in the table.
  1225W

  Old contract

  New contract

  Managerial

  58

  67

  Prisoner custody officer

  320

  273

  Support

  256

  279

  Total

  634

  619

  The population at Doncaster as at 1 March 2002 was 1,003.

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the present staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Wandsworth; and what vacancies exist in each category. [40513]

  Beverley Hughes
  The figures are given in the table.

  Grade category

  Staff in post on 28 February 2002

  Vacancies on 28 February 2002

  Accountant

  1

  —

  Administrative

  59

  6

  Chaplaincy

  3.5

  1

  Healthcare

  33.5

  3.5

  Industrial

  25.5

  —

  Non industrial

  28

  6

  Operational support grade

  103

  —

  Psychology

  8

  1

  Officer grades

  391.5

  31.5

  Governor grades

  12

  —

  Grand Total

  666

  49

  Offenders (Electronic Monitoring)
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders are being electronically monitored in the Greater London area. [40512]

  Beverley Hughes
  On 28 February 2002, a total of 528 persons were being electronically monitored in the Greater London area.

  Design Champion
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the role is of the Design Champion in his Department. [40528]

  Angela Eagle
  I am the Ministerial Design Champion for the Home Office. I will review the Department's capital works programme, the design quality aspects of that programme in relation to the Government's wider objectives, and in particular the prevention of crime. I aim to sponsor at least two projects within the Department's remit, and to oversee a departmental action plan to improve design quality across the Department and sponsored bodies. It is important to encourage a commitment to better public building and to ensure that high-quality design is part of an efficient and effective procurement process.

  Sex Offenders
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people are on the Sex Offenders Register in each constituency in Essex, broken down by type of offence; [39497]
  1226W
  (2) how many people are on the Sex Offenders Register in Essex, broken down by (a) gender, (b) ethnic group, (c) original nationality at birth and (d) age, broken down by those aged (i) below 40, (ii) 40 to 59 and (iii) 60 years and above. [39495]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Sex Offenders Act 1997 requires offenders cautioned for, convicted of, or found not guilty by reason of insanity of an offence specified in Schedule One to the Act to provide certain details to the police. There is, however, no "register" of sex offenders, as such; nor are sex offenders subject to the requirements of the Act separately identified as such in criminal statistics.

  Until recently, data on the number of sex offenders subject to the requirements of the Act were collated biannually on a national basis from the police national computer. However, this arrangement has been overtaken following guidance issued by the Home Office in respect of the provisions in section 67 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. The guidance requires information about the number of sex offenders subject to the Act's requirements in each police area to be published on an annual basis starting in 2002 and local systems are being put in place to deliver this. Until these systems are in place information on numbers of sex offenders subject to the Act's requirements could be obtained only by a specific exercise by the particular police force concerned. We have no plans to require publication by constituency or to break down published figures further.

  Prison Education
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prison workers receive an environmental allowance; whether prison education workers receive such an allowance; whether the money paid to those contracted to deliver prison education includes an element to pay environmental allowances; and if he will review these prison education contracts to ensure that the conditions under which prison education lecturers operate are taken into account. [40654]

  Beverley Hughes
  Prison environmental allowances are paid only to nursing and pharmacy grades employed under national health service Whitley terms and conditions. No other directly employed Prison Service staff receive an environmental allowance. Those contracted through a third party to deliver education do not qualify for an environmental allowance from the Prison Service. The composition of pay rates for staff employed by third party contractors is a matter for the contractor. What the Prison Service is buying is the provision of a range of education services to a particular standard and volume.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms exist for prison education workers to appeal against the decision of prison governors to exclude them on the grounds of a breach of prison rules and regulations; and what plans the Government and Prison Service have concerning such mechanisms. [40413]

  Beverley Hughes
  Prison governors have a statutory right to exclude any representative of the education contractor from their establishment on the grounds of maintaining good order and discipline or security. The
  1227W
  contractor is required to co-operate with any investigation relating to security and to make any staff available to be interviewed as part of such an investigation. Education workers have the right to representation either by the contractor or by a third party acceptable to both the contractor and establishment.

  Police Service
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on maternity leave, maternity support leave, parental leave and adoption leave in the Police Service. [44041]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has approved an agreement reached in the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) granting improved maternity leave to policewomen in England and Wales. The PNB Agreement also creates new rights for police officers to maternity support leave, adoption leave and to time off to care for dependants. The full details of the agreement are set out in Home Office Circular hoc 12–2002 that has been placed in the Library.

  The changes include:
  enabling policewomen to take split periods of maternity leave before and after childbirth;
  giving police officers with responsibility for a child an entitlement to 13 weeks leave in respect of each child up to the age of five, with an entitlement to buy back, for pension purposes, reckonable service for any period taken as parental leave;
  replacing the current two day paternity leave provision with an entitlement to five days paid maternity support leave for the child's father or partner or nominated carer of the expectant mother;
  giving police officers five days adoption leave at or around the time of adoption; and
  giving police officers an entitlement to paid leave, normally one or two days, to cope with short-term difficulties.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary approved the PNB Agreement in order to give police officers the same rights enjoyed by other workers under employment rights legislation.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirements he sets for the conspicuity of speed cameras. [42510]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  New visibility rules for those areas participating in the safety camera netting off scheme were announced on 3 December 2001. These state that fixed site camera housings should be clearly signed and made visible by being painted or marked in yellow. Mobile enforcement units should also be clearly marked and visible to drivers. Areas currently outside the netting off scheme would need to comply with all the visibility requirements as a condition of joining.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [40035]
  1228W
  Angela Eagle
  The number of press releases issued by the Department was:

  19971

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Home Office

  271

  512

  450

  422

  336

  Prison service

  672

  75

  78

  93

  91

  Probation inspectorate

  2

  3

  —

  11

  14

  Prisons inspectorate

  —

  7

  39

  38

  59

  Police inspectorate

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  Fire inspectorate

  1

  —

  —

  —

  3

  1 May to 31 December 1997

  2 Figure is for the full year.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance he gives to the funeral costs of asylum seekers; and how those funeral costs are met. [40565]

  Angela Eagle
  The Home Office does not give any assistance towards meeting the funeral costs of asylum seekers.

TREASURY

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net saving in public expenditure that will be made in 2001–02 due to the public sector's reduced liability for national insurance contributions following the rebates associated with the climate change levy. [41828]

  Mr. Boateng
  The levy package is expected to lead to little change to the overall public finances in 2001–02. An estimate of the impact of the climate change levy package on the public finances was published by HM Customs and Excise in the Regulatory Impact Assessment for the levy in April 2000 including national insurance implications for public sector employees. Subsequently in Budget 2001 the Government revised the estimate of the cost of the enhanced capital allowances for investments in energy-saving measures from its previous figure of £100 million per year to £70 million for 2001–02 and £130 million for 2002–03.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what annual tax revenues resulted from receipts under the I-E formula in(a) 1997 and (b) each subsequent financial year to date. [42494]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Companies' corporation tax liabilities are based on their whole profits less any tax reliefs and deductions. Receipts are not attributed to specific parts of the tax calculation. Therefore, no reliable figures are available on the tax revenues generated by the I-E formula.

  Capital Assets
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 December 2001,Official Report, column 889W, on capital assets, on what occasions since 1997 the accounting treatment of a PPP

  1229W
  in the departmental accounts has differed from the accounting treatment in the national accounts; and if he will make a statement. [42499]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Matthew Taylor, dated 14 March 2002:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on capital assets. (42499)

  There have been no differences because, as explained in my earlier reply, national accounts follow the treatment decided by departments on the basis of generally accepted accounting practice.

  Earnings
  Mr. Rooney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of 60 per cent. of median earnings(a) in cash terms and (b) at December 2001 prices in each year from 1985. [42623]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 12 March 2002]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 14 March 2002:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question requesting the value of 60 per cent of median earnings in cash terms and at December 2001 prices. (42623)

  The New Earnings Survey (NES) provides earnings data for Great Britain for full-time employees on adult rates of pay. In the attached table, figures are provided for 60 per cent of median earnings for April of each year from 1986 to 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, given in cash terms and at December 2001 prices.

  60 per cent. median earnings

  Great Britain, not seasonally adjusted

  60 per cent. Median Earnings (£)

  At December 2001 Prices (£)

  April 1986

  98.20

  174.30

  April 1987

  105.03

  178.90

  April 1988

  114.85

  188.24

  April 1989

  125.55

  190.47

  April 1990

  135.33

  186.19

  April 1991

  148.21

  193.09

  April 1992

  158.84

  198.43

  April 1993

  164.11

  202.39

  April 1994

  168.63

  202.78

  April 1995

  174.56

  203.14

  April 1996

  180.60

  205.22

  April 1997

  188.92

  209.58

  April 1998

  196.35

  209.39

  April 1999

  203.63

  213.74

  April 2000

  211.90

  216.01

  April 2001

  222.08

  222.46

  Note:

  1. Earnings are for full-time employees on adult rates whose pay is unaffected by absence.

  Source:

  New Earnings Survey, Retail Price Index.

  Double Taxation
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the schedule to a draft Order in Council ratifying the new double taxation convention between the United 1230W
  Kingdom and the United States of America will be laid before Parliament; for what reason a draft Order in Council has not been laid before Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [42601]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We are considering a number of matters relating to the application of the double taxation convention. The intention is to submit the convention to Parliament on completion of these considerations.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with(a) the European Commission and (b) other EU member states on the terms of the new double taxation convention agreed between the UK and USA, signed on 24 July 2001; and if he will make a statement. [43085]

  Dawn Primarolo
  None.

  Community Investment Tax Credit
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which projects under the community investment tax credit initiative are ineligible for EC state aid; and if he will make a statement. [43490]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government are currently in discussions with the European Commission to assess the compatibility of the community investment tax credit with the state aids rules. These discussions have not yet been concluded.

  Government Finance
  Ian Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will outline the Government's financing plans for 2002–03. [43888]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's preliminary financing plans for 2002–03 can be found in the "Debt and Reserves Management Report 2002–03". In order to comply with the requirement outlined in "The Code for Fiscal Stability" that a debt management report be published every financial year, the "Debt and Reserves Management Report 2002–03" has been published today. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library. Additionally, it is also available on HM Treasury and the Debt Management Office websites www.hm-treasury.gov.uk and www.dmo.gov.uk, respectively. An update of the financing plans will be published in this year's Budget papers on 17 April.

  Pensions
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what reports his Department publishes on public sector pension schemes; [43347]

  (2) what reports were published by Government Departments from their agencies dealing primarily with public sector pension schemes in the last five years. [43346]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Responsibility for administering individual public sector pension schemes and accounting for them rests with the bodies responsible for the schemes, not the Treasury, which does not keep lists of all related publications. Reports on individual schemes, on matters such as actuarial valuations and scheme accounts, are
  1231W
  published by the body responsible for the scheme or, in the case of NHS and teachers pension scheme valuations, the Government Actuary's department. In July 2000 the Treasury published the report of the Government review of ill-health retirement in the public sector, which was a Treasury-chaired review.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Theatres
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many theatres there are in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) coalfield constituencies. [41325]

  Dr. Howells
  We have contacted the Arts Council of England to request the information required, and my noble Friend the Minister for the Arts will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available, placing copies of her letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Cinema Screens
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many cinema screens there are in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) coalfield constituencies. [41810]

  Dr. Howells
  I understand from the Cinema Exhibitors Association that there are 2,954 cinema screens in the UK. Figures are not kept by coalfield constituency.

  Public Libraries
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many functioning public libraries there were, broken down by local authority, in England in each year since 1997. [42238]

  Dr. Howells
  This information is not readily available. However, we can extract and then represent the required data from the 149 English Library Authorities from existing reference sources. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as this has been done, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Ministerial Design Champions Group
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Ministerial Design Champions Group will publish an annual report; and if she will make a statement. [41965]

  Dr. Howells
  The Ministerial Design Champions Group will not publish an annual report. However, each Ministerial Design Champion is committed to producing an Action Plan about what his or her Department is doing to promote better public buildings. My noble Friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton, Chair of the Design Champions Group, has asked Departments to report progress on their Action Plans at the next ministerial meeting in May.

  Energy Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on energy costs incurred by her Department in each of the last 10 years. [42433]
  1232W
  Dr. Howells
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not have figures going back 10 years. The costs for the last eight years are:

  Financial year

  Energy cost (£)

  1994–95

  114,428

  1995–96

  114,847

  1996–97

  117,437

  1997–98

  121,916

  1998–99

  106,634

  1999–2000

  1132,908

  2000–01

  1134,527

  2001–02

  2132,825

  1 Includes part year occupation of a building.

  2 Figures for 2001–02 are costs to date.

  Parental Leave Directive
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the(a) financial costs and (b) benefits to her Department of the parental leave directive. [42485]

  Dr. Howells
  To date no staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have taken parental leave. We estimate future costs to be minimal as parental leave is currently unpaid. The Department already offers paid and unpaid maternity leave, paid paternity leave, career breaks, paid and unpaid special leave and a range of flexible working patterns, so we do not envisage the current parental leave arrangements to be of significant benefit to the Department.

  Age Discrimination
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is towards age discrimination. [42582]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is committed to providing a working environment where no one is disadvantaged. Our policy is not to discriminate against staff or eligible applicants for posts on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation. Staff are treated equally and fairly and decisions are based solely on objective and job related criteria.

  Verulamium
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will withdraw consent for ploughing on the archaeological site of Verulamium in Hertfordshire until an agreement on compensation is reached. [41840]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 11 March 2002]: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State is aware of the concerns that have been expressed about the impact of ploughing at Verulamium. Officials are currently exploring with English Heritage a number of issues relating to this site including possible compensation.

  Ethiopian Artefacts
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Ethiopian artefacts that remain in British possession from the raid on Mogdala in 1868. [42723]

  Dr. Howells
  There have been no requests for return from the Ethiopian Government for any of the objects in question. With regard to the manuscripts in the British Library, microfilm copies have been deposited in Addis Ababa, and scholars have access to the originals at the Library. We understand that the Ethiopian Government are content with these arrangements.

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  Thousand tonnes

  Percentage

  Thousand tonnes

  Percentage

  Thousand tonnes

  Percentage

  Thousand tonnes

  Percentage

  Landfilled

  21,969

  85

  23,110

  85

  23,005

  82

  23,714

  81

  Incinerated

  2,060

  8

  1,690

  6

  2,163

  8

  2,285

  8

  Composted and recycled1

  1,803

  7

  2,127

  8

  2,601

  9

  3,218

  11

  Other disposal methods

  147

  1

  238

  1

  143

  1

  115

  0

  Total municipal waste

  25,979

  100

  27,166

  100

  27,912

  100

  29,332

  100

  1 Separate figures for composted and recycled waste not available.

  Data for earlier years are not available. 2000–01 data are currently being collected from local authorities. Totals and percentages may not add, due to rounding. Municipal waste in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

  The Government's vision for sustainable waste management and their plan of action for achieving that vision are set out in its waste strategy for England and Wales, 'Waste Strategy 2000'. The strategy sets out the Government's targets for dealing with household waste: to recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005, 30 per cent. by 2010 and 33 per cent. by 2015. To ensure that all local authorities contribute to achieving the Government's targets, local authorities have been set challenging individual statutory performance standards for recycling and composting.

  The Government have also set out the 'waste hierarchy' for municipal waste, whereby minimising the amount of waste produced is the preferred option wherever possible, with re-use, recycling and composting as preferable to incineration and landfill.

  Abandoned Vehicles
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the operation in respect of abandoned vehicles in Medway; what proposals she is considering for its extension to other local authorities; and if she will make a statement. [42559]

  Mr. Meacher
  Kent police piloted a "blitz" approach on abandoned vehicles in the Medway area (Operation Cubit) in co-operation with Kent county council, Medway council, DVLA and the Kent fire brigade for eight weeks in early 2001. To inform any decision on Cubit's expansion, the Home Office commissioned a detailed evaluation of the pilot. This is in progress but initial

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Municipal Waste
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much, and what proportion, of municipal waste has been(a) landfilled, (b) incinerated, (c) composted and (d) re-cycled in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990; and if she will make a statement. [42562]

  Mr. Meacher
  Data on municipal waste are available from the Department's Municipal Waste Management Survey 1999–2000. The results for England and Wales are as follows:

  findings are that Cubit was highly effective at removing vehicles from the streets but that since Cubit ceased operations abandoned and untaxed vehicles have been returning to the areas originally targeted.

  Since the original pilot in Medway, further operations have taken place and are shown in the table.

  Operation Cubit

  Date

  Swanley

  June 2001

  Dartford

  October 2001

  Gravesend

  October 2001

  Maidstone

  January 2002

  Swale

  January 2002

  Hastings

  February 2002

  Brighton

  February 2002

  Liverpool

  March 2002

  To date the operations have removed almost 3,000 abandoned unlicensed vehicles from the streets of Kent and Hastings. We will be making an announcement very shortly about the extension of Operation Cubit to other local authorities.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures or statistics are collated to quantify the number of abandoned cars dumped by local authority area. [42242]

  Mr. Meacher
  Information on the number of abandoned vehicles removed by local authorities was collected for the first time in the Department's 2000–01 Municipal Waste Management Survey which should be published in July 2002.

  The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) now ask local authorities in England and Wales to include in their waste collection statistics figures on the number of abandoned and surrendered vehicles. The first figures requested cover the period 1 April 1999 to 31 march 2000. This information

  1235W
  is published in the CIPFA waste collection and disposal statistics and summary tables are available at www.ipf.co.uk/sis. CIPFA will be requesting this information in future years.

  Although the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 does not require local authorities to keep records of the numbers of abandoned vehicles that they deal with, we would expect them to do so because the numbers involved are on the increase and this has implications for their budgets.

  Air Conditioning
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether an installer capable of installing not-in-kind air conditioning was invited to quote for the recent contract for the new departmental building in Temple Quay, Bristol; and if she will make a statement. [41180]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I have been asked to reply.

  Temple Quay house is a leased building and as such contracting for individual elements was not a matter for Government. However, WSP South Ltd. have designed the environmental services to provide a comfortable environment with minimal use of comfort cooling ie air-conditioning by adopting a mixed mode strategy. Full comfort cooling is provided only in areas where this strategy is impractical due to high heat gains eg computer rooms, printing rooms etc.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which consultant was used to advise on the installation of air conditioning during the recent equipping of a new departmental building, Temple Quay, Bristol. [41178]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I have been asked to reply.

  WSP South Ltd. and their agents advised on the design and installation of the air conditioning units.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Northern Ireland
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will outline her rights and responsibilities that(a) exist and (b) are proposed in relation to Northern Ireland. [40754]

  The Solicitor-General
  I can exercise any of the powers of the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland. Following devolution of justice functions to Northern Ireland, I will have the power to exercise all the functions of the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.

  Immunity
  Derek Twigg
  To ask the Solicitor-General what criteria are adopted by the law officers in granting immunity from prosecution. [40761]

  The Solicitor-General
  An immunity will be granted only if justified in the public interest, and generally where an assessment is made that it is more important to obtain information and assistance from the suspected person than to prosecute that individual.

  Crown Prosecution Service
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Solicitor-General what steps she takes to monitor the consistency of decisions to prosecute made by the Crown Prosecution Service. [40762]

  The Solicitor-General
  Prosecution decisions made by the Crown Prosecution Service are taken in accordance with the principles set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors so that it can make fair and consistent casework decisions.

  The application of the Code is underpinned by training and by line-management monitoring. In addition, casework performance data are collected and published each year in the Crown Prosecution Service's Annual Report to the Attorney-General and presented to Parliament.

  The work of the Crown Prosecution Service is also subject to inspection by HM CPS Inspectorate, an independent statutory body established in 2000. The Chief Inspector is appointed by, and reports to, the Attorney-General on the quality of casework undertaken by the CPS.

  Fraud Prosecutions
  Mr. Bryant
  To ask the Solicitor-General what assessment her Department has made of the obstacles to securing prosecutions for major fraud. [40763]

  The Solicitor-General
  Since its inception, the Serious Fraud Office has identified some common obstacles to securing prosecutions of major fraud cases and these can arise at either the investigative stage or during the trial. During the investigation these can include:Dearth of police resource and expertise. This is addressed in the recent report of the Interdepartmental Working Party, chaired by the SFO, which has recommended the establishment of a national Police Fraud Squad or increased resources for the SFO to enable them to use more civilian investigators.
  Sheer weight of documentary and computer-generated material which has to be sifted, analysed and organised often under constraints of time.
  Most cases of major fraud have an international association as either the evidence, the witnesses or defendants are outside the jurisdiction of the courts.

  Obstacles at the trial stage include:
  Lack of a single substantive offence of "fraud", which obliges the prosecutor to charge theft or deception offences.
  Demonstrating where dishonesty lies in unfamiliar commercial and financial transactions where the forum is unfamiliar with the context or the financial instruments involved.
  Attempting to simplify what are, in many cases, essentially very complex commercial transactions in specialist financial markets can detract from the ability to demonstrate the "whole picture".
  Availability of trained judges with experience of serious fraud cases. This is an issue currently being addressed by the senior presiding judge.

  Money Laundering
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Solicitor-General what contribution the Serious Fraud Office is making to the Government's objective of reducing money laundering. [40760]
  1237W
  The Solicitor-General
  The Serious Fraud Office investigates and prosecutes offences involving serious or complex fraud. It also pursues related laundering offences. It is investigating or has prosecuted seven cases involving money laundering offences (under the Criminal Justice Act 1988) in the last five years. The Serious Fraud Office also assists foreign competent judicial authorities with requests for information and the gathering of evidence via the UK Central Authority thus serving as an important part of the global deterrent against money laundering.

  In many cases, financial gains are illusory or have long since been dissipated but whenever it is appropriate and practicable, the SFO will pursue proceeds during the investigation and these may be confiscated by the trial judge for distribution to creditors and investors. In addition, liquidators or administrative receivers can pursue recovery through civil proceedings.

WALES

  Public Appointments
  Mr. Forth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the appointments made by his Department since 1 May 1997 of chairmen of(a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) commissions, (c) inquiries, (d) agencies and (e) task forces; and if he will list their (i) term of office, (ii) salary and (iii) known political affiliation (A) past and (B) present. [33890]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Information on the number, remit and membership of task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews has been published by the Cabinet Office on a regular basis. The first report was published on 11 January 2000 and gives information for the period from 1 May 1997 to 31 October 1999. A second report was published on 27 July 2000, and covered the period 1 November 1999 to 30 April 2000. A third report was published on 13 December 2000 covering the period 1 May 2000 to 31 October 2000. The most recent report: "Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews", was issued in October 2001, and covers the period of the financial year 2000–01. Copies of these reports are placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Information on political affiliations is sought at appointment stage but is not collected centrally. Membership and voting behaviour is a matter on which all citizens have the right to privacy.

  The list of appointments made by my Department since 1 May 1997 has been placed in the Library.

  National Assembly for Wales
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings there have been between Ministers in his Department and the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales and his Cabinet in each of the past 12 months; and if he will list the(a) date and (b) subject of each meeting. [40507]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I meet the First Minister of the National Assembly nearly every week and other Ministers of the Assembly as the need arises. In addition my hon.1238W
  Friend the Under-Secretary has regular meetings with Assembly Ministers. At these meetings we discuss a wide range of issues.

  Wales Office
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to increase the number of staff in the Wales Office. [43229]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I told the House on 23 January 2002, that I had commissioned an external study of the Wales Office staffing level,Official Report, column 873. I am considering the findings of that report and I will, as promised, write to the Select Committee on Welsh Affairs when I have decided what changes I might make.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to move the location of the Wales Office in London. [43222]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I have no such plans.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special advisers were employed by him(a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive; and what the total amount spent on special advisers by the Department was in each of those years. [41262]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Since becoming Secretary of State for Wales in August 1999 I have been supported by two special adviser posts.

  They are paid in accordance with the Cabinet Office pay scales for special advisers: these are currently under review.

  Public-private Partnerships (Consultants)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total external spending by his Department was on public-private partnership consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PPP consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement. [43194]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 February 2002 in respect of the Private Finance Initiative,Official Report, column 573W.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Free Television Licences
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list(a) the amount budgeted and (b) the total spent on the free television licence for the over-75s in each financial year since its introduction. [43366]

  Maria Eagle
  Annually Managed Expenditure is not cash limited.
  1239W
  We made payments on behalf of DCMS as follows:

  Paid to the BBC (£)

  Television licence revenue forgone

  BBC administration costs

  2000–01

  1305,503,000

  17,061,000

  2001–02

  356,296,000

  4,575,000

  1 Includes payment of £7.165 million made in 2001–02 in respect of 2000–01.

  Note:

  Any under/overpayment as of 31 March in a given year is settled by way of adjustment to the final payment in the subsequent financial year.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of people entitled to a non-automatic winter fuel payment for the 2001–02 winter; and of that number how many have yet to make a claim. [43356]

  Maria Eagle
  This winter, 2001–02, an estimated 500,000 people became newly entitled to a winter fuel payment. At least 255,000 of these people have been paid automatically.

  Exact numbers of people who need to claim are not available; however, up to 8 March, over 217,000 claim forms had been received. Eligible people who need to submit a claim have until 30 March 2002 to do so and it is up to the individual to choose whether to claim.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the national baseline targets for the total weekly benefit savings to be achieved by local authorities in each year since the introduction of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on(a) the basis on which the level of these targets were determined and (b) the performance of local authorities in meeting these targets in each year. [25732]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Tables showing individual threshold figures and the individual performance against the thresholds for each local authority, from the introduction of the weekly benefit savings anti-fraud incentive scheme in April 1993 to March 2001, have been placed in the Library.

  The level of the threshold targets was determined according to local authority housing benefit and council tax benefit (HB/CTB) expenditure and by weighted case load to reflect estimates of relative risks of different types of cases using available data, such as the housing benefit accuracy reviews.

  The weekly benefit savings scheme is being replaced over two years from April 2001 with a new, more comprehensive scheme to reduce fraud and error in HB/CTB covering prevention, detection, sanctions and prosecutions.

  Economic Statistics
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list for(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland, (e) each English region and (f) each local authority in the United Kingdom
  1240W
  (i) income support claimants as a percentage of the population over 16, (ii) employment rates as a percentage of the working age population, (iii) economic activity rates as a percentage of the working population and (iv) unemployment rates. [34306]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The available information has been placed in the Library. Information on Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

  Employment
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications for the UK following the adoption by the European Commission of an action plan to remove obstacles to EU workers' mobility; and if he will make a statement. [37493]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Department is currently considering the Commission's Action Plan on Skills and Mobility and the implications for this Department.

  The Action Plan contains a number of proposals which fall within the policy responsibility of other Government Departments, principally the Department for Education and Skills. We will work with those Departments to agree the UK's position.

  Benefits
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the current benefits system; and when the last review was carried out. [37952]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The benefits system is constantly under review.

  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current rates of benefit are; when they were set; and what criteria were used to establish the level of benefit. [37953]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Laxton) on 28 November 2001,Official Report, column 895W.

  Rates of benefit are reviewed each year taking into consideration the change in the general level of prices in the September prior to the April in which the new rates are to come into force. Generally, contributory and non-contributory benefits are uprated by the Retail Prices Index and income-related benefits by the Rossi index (RPI less housing costs). However, there is discretion to increase rates other than in line with the rate of inflation, for example, the minimum income guarantee was increased by more than inflation to help combat pensioner poverty.

  Means-tested Benefit
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of children under 16 live in households where families claim means tested benefit in(a) St. Helens, South, (b) Merseyside, (c) the North West and (d) England. [38269]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Information is not available at constituency level for means-tested benefits.
  1241W
  As at May 2000, in England there were 2,310 thousand (22.9 per cent.) children under age 16 in families on means-tested benefits, and in the North West (including Merseyside) there were 390 thousand (27.2 per cent.) children under age 16 in families on means-tested benefits.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many retirement pensioners are receiving the minimum income guarantee in(a) Great Britain, (b) each region of Great Britain and (c) each parliamentary constituency; and what the percentage change in the number of claimants in each category has been from the previous year. [39546]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Poverty
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what proportion of children were living in poverty defined as living below 50 per cent. mean income after housing costs, expressed as an average for the period(a) 1992 to 1997 and (b) 1997 to 2001; [40294]

  (2) what proportion of the population was living in poverty, defined as living below 50 per cent. mean income after housing costs, expressed as an average for the period (a) 1992 to 1997 and (b) 1997 to 2001. [40296]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Such information on low incomes as is available can be found in the publication Households Below Average Income 1994–95 to 1999–2000, a copy of which can be found in the Library. Data for the financial year 2000–01 will be published on 11 April 2002.

  Employment and Social Policy Council (Scottish Representation)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a Scottish Executive Minister will be a member of the UK delegation to the Employment and Social Policy European Union Council of Ministers meeting on 7 March; and what information is being provided by his Department to guarantee effective pre-council scrutiny by the European Committee of the Scottish Parliament. [40321]

  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 4 March 2002]: No Scottish Executive Minister attended the Employment and Social Policy Council Meeting on 7 March 2002.

  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. The Department provides information to Scottish Executive officials as part of that process.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will estimate the monetary value of Child Support Agency maintenance assessments for 2000–01 that have been(a) collected and arranged and (b) classified as outstanding debt; [33341]
  1242W
  (2) how many child support assessments the CSA processed in 2000–01 in (a) less than 20 weeks, (b) between 20 and 52 weeks and (c) over 52 weeks; [33344]

  (3) if he will estimate the (a) number and (b) value of compensation payments awarded by the CSA in 2000–01. [33345]

  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 13 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 from me.

  You ask three questions of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: one, if he will estimate the monetary value of Child support Agency maintenance assessments for year ending March 2001 that have been (a) collected and arranged and (b) classified as outstanding debt. Two, how many child support assessments the CSA processed in 2000 in (a) less than 20 weeks (b) between 20 and 52 weeks and (c) over 52 weeks. Three, if he will estimate the (a) number and (b) value of compensation payments awarded by the CSA in 2000–01.

  Some of the information you have requested is not available in the format you have requested.

  The total amount of maintenance that was collected and arranged as at March 2001 was £757.53 million, this is compared to £712.24 million for year ending March 2000 and £635.67 million for year ending March 1999. The amount of maintenance that was owed as at year ending March 2001 is £527.80 million. This amount has been accruing since the inception of the Agency in April 1993. It is not possible to show how much of this figure relates to any specific year.

  Table 1 on the attached annex shows the number of Full Maintenance Assessment and Interim Maintenance Assessment Cases cleared in the year ending March 2001 and number of weeks it took to process them.

  In the period ending March 2001 we have paid out £7.9 million in compensation on an estimated 12,696 cases. This figure includes over £1.1 million in Advance Payments of maintenance. These are lump sum payments of arrears paid to a parent with care when the Agency has delayed actioning a case. The arrears are however recovered from the non-resident parent over a period of time.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Annex 1: Table 1

  Number of cases processed in year ending March 2001

  Maintenance assessment

  Time taken to process claims

  Full

  Interim

  Under 20 weeks

  53,287

  1,139

  Between 20 to 52 weeks

  26,846

  1,246

  Over 52 weeks

  20,623

  1,390

  Total cases processed

  100,756

  3,775

  Source:

  Strategic assurance team

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Public Appointments
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appointments to public bodies have been made through
  1243W
  her Department (a) from April 2000 to March 2001 and (b) since 31 March 2001; and how many of these were (i) men and (ii) women. [42155]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  143 new non-judicial appointments were made to the Lord Chancellor's non-departmental public bodies from April 2000 to March 2001. Of these, 86 were men and 57 were women. Since 31 March 2001, 252 new appointments have been made: 151 men and 101 women.

  Golden Jubilee
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will announce the results of the civic honours competitions held to mark Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee. [44196]

  Mr. Wills
  I am pleased to announce that Her Majesty has commanded that city status should be granted to Preston, Newport, Stirling, Lisburn and Newry and that Exeter should be honoured with the grant of a Lord Mayoralty, to mark the Golden Jubilee.

  Before advising Her Majesty, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor consulted my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, and the Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on the applications relevant to their Departments.

  On the advice of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Lord Chancellor exceptionally recommended, and Her Majesty agreed, that two towns in Northern Ireland should be granted city status on this occasion.

  I know that the unsuccessful applicants will be very disappointed not to have been honoured on such an important occasion. I can, however, assure them that the standard of all the applications was impressive and some were outstanding. The winners were particularly so and all deserve congratulations. The competitions have demonstrated a very positive attitude to Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee among towns and cities across the United Kingdom.

  Electoral Roll
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the constituencies which have marked registers missing from the 2001 general election. [30104]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  It is the responsibility of returning officers to ensure that marked registers are despatched to the Clerk of the Crown in good order and complete.

  The Guidance to Acting Returning Officers in England and Wales was revised and reissued by the Home Office prior to the general election in 2001 and, at the request of this Department, specifically sought to remind them of previous concerns about incomplete and missing registers.
  1244W
  Given that context, the list is of constituencies in England and Wales where, to date, some marked registers, or part of them, are or appear to be missing is as follows:

  Aylesbury

  Bassetlaw

  Battersea

  Blackburn

  Blackpool, North and Fleetwood

  Carlisle

  Chesterfield

  Chipping Barnet

  City of Chester

  Don Valley

  Doncaster, North

  East Surrey

  East Yorkshire

  Eastleigh

  Ellesmere Port

  Enfield, North

  Greenwich and Woolwich

  Halifax

  Harborough

  Hastings and Rye

  Hazel Grove Hereford

  Hexham

  Kettering

  Kingswood

  Milton Keynes, South-West

  Mole Valley

  Newark

  North Wiltshire

  Northampton, South

  Oxford, East

  Oxford, West and Abingdon

  Peterborough

  Portsmouth, South

  Reading, East

  Romsey

  Selby

  Sittingbourne

  Sleaford and North Hykeham

  South Dorset

  South Staffordshire

  Torridge and West Devon

  Twickenham

  Warwick

  Waveney.

  Refurbishment
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 January 2002,Official Report, column 972W, what the cost of refurbishing each ministerial private office was in each year since May 1997. [37897]

  Mr. Wills
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has not carried out any refurbishment of Ministers' private offices during the period specified. However, two additional
  1245W
  ministerial appointments have been made during this period and offices in Selborne house have been adapted for them. The work was carried out under a measured term maintenance contract and was not invoiced separately from other maintenance and repair work. It is not possible, therefore, to identify specific costs, but these are estimated to be less than £20,000 over the period.

  Juries (Ethnic Minorities)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received on the proposals that courts ensure ethnic minority representation on juries in cases where the parties identify the possibility of race being an issue. [38256]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  I have been asked to reply.

  To date, we have recorded 53 responses to Sir Robin Auld's recommendation on this issue. All the representations on Sir Robin's review of the criminal courts are being carefully considered and analysed in detail.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  Al Yamamah Report
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 402W, who holds copies of the report. [35029]

  Mr. Alan Williams
  Copies of the 1992 National Audit Office Report on the Saudi Arabian Airforce Project—known as Project Al Yamamah—are held by the National Audit Office and the Ministry of Defence.

HEALTH

  Child Protection
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many case reviews following serious or fatal abuse under the Working Together to Safeguard Children Guidance have been held in each of the last five years; how many involved(a) child deaths, (b) serious physical assaults and (c) serious sexual abuse in each year; and what the ages and sex were of the children concerned. [39172]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information is not collected centrally on the numbers or types of serious case reviews that have been carried out in accordance with Chapter 8 of "Working Together to Safeguard Children" (1999).

  Taken together, the findings of serious case reviews are an important source of information to inform national policy and practice. The Department of Health is responsible for identifying and disseminating common themes and trends across review reports, and acting on lessons for policy and practice. We will shortly be publishing an overview report drawing out the key findings of a selection of case reviews from the last two years, and their implications for policy and practice. At the same time, we are developing a comprehensive database of all serious case reviews.

  NHS Professionals
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) of 11 December 2001,Official Report, column 699, if he will make a statement on the records maintained by NHS Professionals concerning the identity, history, training and qualifications of its temporary staff. [39782]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: Health Service Circular 2001–02 and the guidance NHS Professionals—"A co-ordinated, NHS-led approach to temporary staffing", sets out national standards for good employment practice. This includes, record keeping and using the best of modern information technology and call centre technology within agreed national frameworks for terms and conditions of service, delivering high quality patient care through clinical governance.

  The software used by NHS Professionals captures information on the identity, history, training and development and qualifications of its temporary staff helping to ensure the quality and accuracy of records relating to staff recruited through NHS Professionals.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training in clinical matters the staff at NHS Professionals call centres have received. [39678]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: All call centre staff receive appropriate training and induction to ensure quality service and clinical governance.

  Clinical specialists are used at the recruitment stage to ensure quality of temporary staff used by NHS Professionals.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the pensions costs of NHS professionals staff are charged out to its clients. [39680]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: Pensions costs are included in the management fee added on top of the hourly rate, currently at a maximum of 7.5 per cent.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what margins are added to the costs charged by NHS Professionals to its clients. [39679]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: The management fee aims to recoup operating costs and is currently set at a maximum of 7.5 per cent.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent on the set-up costs of NHS Professionals. [39677]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: National Health Service Professionals has been allocated £4 million to support the start up, as outlined in the Health Service Circular 2001–02, with £3 million this financial year to support the schemes extension. The service will be self-sustaining in the long-term and recoup costs directly from the NHS organisations using NHS Professionals.

  Press and Public Relations
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence was used by his Director of Communications as the basis for his claims at a
  1247W
  conference of NHS trust and health authority chairmen as to (a) the public view of the NHS and (b) the media's responsibility for that public view. [39842]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 1 March 2002]: The information presented to national health service trust and health authority chairman was drawn from the British Social Attitudes Survey and on studies conducted by MORI and Test Research. Copies of these studies have been placed in the Library.

  Nurses
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions have been taken by the Weston Area NHS trust to recruit nursing staff from the Philippines; what the total cost of such recruitment has been; and whether additional resources have been made available to meet these costs. [40494]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 7 March 2002]: Weston Area national health service trust has not actively recruited nursing staff from overseas.

  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) nursing staff are employed and (b) nursing vacancies there are for (i) the Avon health authority and (ii) the Weston area NHS trust. [40493]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 7 March 2002]: The information requested is shown in the table.

  Nursing staff in post (September 2000) and three month vacancy rate (March 2001)—Avon health authority and Weston area health trust

  Avon health authority

  Weston area health NHS trust

  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  Three month vacancy rate per cent.

  4.0

  0.0

  Three month vacancies (wte)

  250

  0

  Staff in post (wte)

  5,900

  340

  Notes:

  1. Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).

  2. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the September 2000 medical and dental and non-medical work force census (whole time equivalent).

  3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.

  4. Percentages rounded to one decimal place.

  Source:

  NHS Vacancy Survey, March 2001 and NHS Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2000.

  Ambulance Service (Diabetics)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about his policy in relation to the recruitment and retention of people with diabetes in the ambulance service. [40639]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 7 March 2002]: There is no bar to the recruitment and retention of people with diabetes in the ambulance service. Decisions on fitness for work are made on an individual basis depending upon the overall status of the applicant and their ability to perform their duties without risk to themselves or others.

  NHS Cleaners
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of cleaning staff employed by the NHS. [40645]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 13 March 2002]: We recognise that the standard of cleanliness in our hospitals is important to patients, their relatives, staff and the public. The investment we have made since the publication of the NHS Plan has seen standards raised across the board. The implementation of the Patient Environment Action Team programme has ensured that this issue remains high on trusts' agendas and a further round of unannounced inspections is currently under way to ensure that the progress made has been maintained and, where necessary, built upon.

  As announced in the NHS Plan, there is now a national standard of cleanliness for the NHS which all trusts with in-patient beds are required to report against as part of the performance assessment framework. This means that for the first time there is a comprehensive standard for the whole NHS which is outcome-based and measures what is, or is not, clean. NHS trusts will need to employ sufficient staff to ensure that these standards are met, or to adjust cleaning contracts accordingly.

  The responsibility for ensuring wards are clean has been restored to ward sisters, with the support of modern matrons, and they have also been given the authority to withhold payment where the required standards are not met.

  The NHS Plan also set a target for ward-housekeepers to be in place in 50 per cent. of hospitals by 2004. The duties of the ward house-keeper will include working alongside cleaning staff, who may be directly or indirectly employed, to ensure that ward environments are clean, tidy and well maintained and they will report to ward sisters. Already 41 per cent. of trusts have started to introduce ward-housekeepers.

  Attracting staff to work in the NHS requires there to be career opportunities and pathways which are attractive and flexible. The introduction of the ward-housekeeper role provides a further pathway for staff, who may enter the NHS as cleaners, to develop their skills and continue their career in the NHS.

  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cleaners are employed by private contractors providing services to the NHS. [40643]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 13 March 2002]: The information requested is not collected centrally.

  "The National Standards of Cleanliness for the National Health Service" was published in April 2001, and all trusts are required to ensure that these standards are implemented from this year. NHS trusts will need to ensure that cleaning contracts are adjusted to take account of these standards.

  The national standards have been developed to ensure that all trusts with in-patient beds apply the same standards of cleanliness regardless of who provides the cleaning services.

  Cleaners
  Mr. Hopkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cleaners were employed by the NHS in each of the past 20 years. [40644]
  1250W
  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 13 March 2002]: The information requested is not available. The statistics collected in this area by the Department relate to all ancillary staffs and it is not possible to distinguish the numbers of cleaning staff.

  Golden Jubilee: Civic Honours
  Golden Jubilee: Civic Honours
  Sterling Exchange Rate
  Sterling Exchange Rate
  Government Departments: Entertainment
  Government Departments: Entertainment
  Charities: Dividend Tax Credits
  Charities: Dividend Tax Credits
  Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Bill: Human Rights Act Statement
  Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Bill: Human Rights Act Statement
  Turkey: European Court of Human Rights
  Turkey: European Court of Human Rights
  European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
  European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
  Europe Day
  Europe Day
  Laeken European Council: Presidential Conclusions and Appendices
  Laeken European Council: Presidential Conclusions and Appendices
  Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
  Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
  Slaughterhouses: Brazil and Thailand
  Slaughterhouses: Brazil and Thailand
  Foot and Mouth: Public Inquiry
  Foot and Mouth: Public Inquiry
  Bushmeat
  Bushmeat
  Hospitality and Tourism: SSC Interest
  Hospitality and Tourism: SSC Interest
  Prisoners: Basic Skills Screening
  Prisoners: Basic Skills Screening
  Secondary Schools: Value Added Pilot
  Secondary Schools: Value Added Pilot
  Historic Ships
  Historic Ships
  Ports of Entry: Security
  Ports of Entry: Security
  Northern Ireland Police Service
  Northern Ireland Police Service
  Republic of Ireland President: Police Escort
  Republic of Ireland President: Police Escort
  House of Lords: Access
  House of Lords: Access