Written Answers of 13 May 2002

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Listed Buildings
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the work of English Heritage in relation to listed buildings. [53966]

  Dr. Howells
  English Heritage's statutory duty is to secure the preservation of buildings of historical importance. They advise the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about historic buildings meriting statutory protection and advise Government and planning authorities about requests for permission to demolish or alter protected buildings. They also give grant aid for the repair of listed buildings.

  National Stadium
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when a decision will be made regarding the national stadium project. [53973]

  Tessa Jowell
  As I explained to the House in my statement on 7 May I have agreed to the Football Association's request to delay the Government's final decision on support for the national stadium until the current commercial negotiations between the FA and their bankers are concluded. Those discussions continue to make good progress.

  Sport and Leisure Facilities
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions about conducting a national audit of sport and leisure facilities; and if she will make a statement. [53974]

  Mr. Caborn
  I discussed the proposed database of sports facilities in England with a number of my ministerial colleagues, including those from the DfES and the DTLR, at the last meeting of the Inter-departmental Group on Sport in February.

  I have also written to my ministerial colleagues at the DfES and the DTLR, along with those from the Department of Health, Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, seeking their views on the scope and content of the proposed database of sports facilities in England.

  Social Deprivation (Amenities)
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress her Department has made in the use of sports, arts and culture in tackling social deprivation in the poorest communities. [53976]
  410
  Mr. Caborn
  Tackling social deprivation is at the heart of the Department's activity. Our work is focusing on four strategic priorities: promoting lifelong learning and social cohesion by opening up institutions to the wider community; enhancing access to a fuller cultural and sporting life for children and young people; maximising the contribution which creative and leisure industries can make to the economy; and modernising delivery, ensuring that our sponsored bodies put the needs of the customer first.

  Sport (Ethnic Minority Participation)
  Mr. Khabra
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the efforts being made at the grassroots level to increase ethnic minority participation and representation in sport. [53977]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government are anxious to ensure that sport is accessible to all members of society, irrespective of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or socioeconomic status, and remain committed to improving opportunities for those groups which are under-represented in sport, whether as participants, competitors, coaches or administrators.

  There are a number of schemes and programmes aimed at those traditionally under-represented in sport; these include Sport England's Active Communities Programme, which targets ethnic minorities as one of its priority groups, and the Sporting Equals Programme, which receives £180,000 a year from the Government and the Commission for Racial Equality towards promoting sporting opportunities for ethnic minorities.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Tom Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the impact of the Budget on the film industry. [53978]

  Tessa Jowell
  It was announced in the Budget that the film tax relief will be restricted to films intended for the commercial cinema only, and that television production will no longer be able to access the relief. The relief was originally intended to help build a sustainable film industry and there has been a general acceptance that this is a necessary refocussing of the relief.

  Digital Broadcasting
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure choice of access for digital broadcasting services. [53979]

  Dr. Howells
  The draft Communications Bill and associated documents (Cm 5508, published on 7 May), set out a proposed framework for the regulation of communications, which is intended to broaden choice of and access to modern communications technologies, and to make markets work better.

  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definitions of(a) access, (b) availability and (c) affordability the Government will use to determine when analogue switch-off will take place; and if she will make a statement. [54620]
  411W
  Dr. Howells
  One of the key tasks of the Digital Television Action Plan is for Government to conduct a comprehensive review of progress towards digital switchover with particular reference to the accessibility, availability and affordability tests announced in September 1999. The Review will refine the tests and report on how progress towards meeting them is to be measured.

  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many digital television sets were sold in the last financial year; and if she will make a statement. [53982]

  Dr. Howells
  Industry figures indicate that 120,000 integrated digital television sets were sold in the 12 months until the end of March. As part of the Digital Action Plan, the Government will be comprehensively investigating with industry and the European Union the issues surrounding the transition to exclusive sales of integrated digital television sets. Because of our international agreements, the UK alone could not mandate the sale of integrated digital television sets.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of digital switchover on the BBC licence fee. [53987]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government increased the BBC licence fee in 2000 in recognition of the BBC's role in the development of digital broadcasting services. The annual increase is set until 2006 when the charter is due for renewal. The effect of changing media markets on the licence fee will be one of the issues we consider as part of the charter review process.

  Gaming Machines
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the recommendations on gaming machines in the Budd report. [53981]

  Mr. Caborn
  We published a safe bet for success on 26 March. This sets out the Government's decisions on the recommendations for reform of the law on gambling which were made by the Gambling Review Body last summer. We took careful account of all the points made in public consultation on the report before reaching our conclusions.

  Museums (North-East)
  Mr. Kevan Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her support for museums in the north-east of England. [53983]

  Tessa Jowell
  My Department directly provides support to the Tyne and Wear Museums to the sum of £1 million per year. Resource, the Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives will provide funding to the North East Museum, Libraries and Archives Council to the tune of £745,000 in 2002–03.

  Resource has now received bids from each English region, including the North East, to be considered for selection as regional hubs in accordance with the recommendations of the Regional Museums task force as set out in the report Renaissance in the Regions: a new vision for England's museums which was published last
  412
  October. My Department are currently working with Resource to start implementing the task force recommendations with £10 million per annum which was given to Resource in the last spending review.

  We will take the task force's recommendations into account in the current spending review alongside other priorities.

  Tourism
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to promote tourism in the west midlands region. [53984]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department is currently considering options on how to provide stronger co-ordination of the promotion and marketing of England, including a strong regional dimension and we hope to announce our plans shortly.

  Tourism in the west midlands region has recently benefited from £2 million funding from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) regional development agency (RDA). £1.1 million was spent on a recent national marketing campaign "Head to the Heart", promoted by the Heart of England Tourist Board (HETB), which principle aim is to attract more visitors to the region.

  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met representatives from the English Tourism Council to discuss tourism in the south-east. [53991]

  Dr. Howells
  I have been in close contact with the chairman of the English Tourism Council about the proposed merger between the south east and southern tourist boards. They also hold regular meetings to discuss issues of national and regional significance, the most recent being on 29 April. The Minister also met Joan Patten, chair of the south east tourist board, on 11 April.

  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Government funding provided to each region is for tourism marketing. [56023]

  Dr. Howells
  Over half of the £3.8 million obtained last year from the reserve to assist the domestic recovery of tourism from foot and mouth disease was passed via the English Tourism Council (ETC) to the 10 regional tourist boards (RTBs). Much of that money was used for promotional and PR activities.

  Other central Government funding provided to the RTBs via the ETC is for the delivery of the national tourism strategy at regional level—that does not include money for domestic marketing. The RTBs are mainly private companies and use some of their membership fee and commercial income for regional marketing initiatives. In some regions, the Regional Development Agencies have also supported tourism marketing with Government funds and a substantial part of over £90 million spent by local authorities on tourism is also used for promotional activities.

  Football
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the football authorities on the financial position of Nationwide League football clubs. [53985]
  413W
  Mr. Caborn
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have remained in close touch with the Nationwide League and the Football Association since it was announced that ITV Digital was to go into administration, and met the league's management on 17 April. The Government will now work with the working group appointed by the FA's chief executive to consider how affected football clubs might be helped to secure their futures.

  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to football-based schemes levels in the coalfields. [53980]

  Mr. Caborn
  Funding from public sources for football is channelled through the Football Foundation. The Foundation's grass roots, community and education, and stadium safety funding programmes are not geographically targeted. They are designed to address lack of provision in England wherever it exists. However, the Foundation has indicated that it considers local levels of economic deprivation, among other issues, in assessing applications for funding.

  Regional Theatre
  Mr. Mole
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to support theatre in the regions. [53986]

  Tessa Jowell
  This is a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. From 1 April this year the Arts Council is investing an additional £12 million in theatre increasing to £25 million a year from 2003–04, as a result of its extensive review of the needs of regional theatre. Funding for the New Wolsey in Ipswich will increase from £322,750 last year to £492,750 in 2003–04, an increase over two years of 53 per cent.

  Public Libraries
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the role public libraries play within the Government's culture plan. [53988]

  Tessa Jowell
  Two of the key strategic priorities I have set for my Department are developing children and young people and building stronger communities through participation in the arts and culture. Public libraries have a major role to play in both of these and I intend to publish a policy document in the autumn setting out how they will contribute.

  British Grand Prix
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what studies her Department has undertaken to ensure the continuation of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. [53989]

  Mr. Caborn
  I met representatives of Octagon Motorsports, Sir Jackie Stewart, the Motor Sports Association, the British Racing Drivers' Club and other interested parties on 11 December 2001 and 24 January 2002 to discuss proposals for improving arrangements for the 2002 British Grand Prix, as well as wider proposals for the long term development of Silverstone. New access roads are under construction to improve access to and from the Silverstone circuit for future years. My officials 414
  are working closely with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, the Government Office of the East Midlands and the Highways Agency. I am receiving monthly reports on the progress of access improvements to Silverstone.

  I also met Max Mosley, President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, on 12 December 2001 to inform him of the Government's commitment to motor sport and the British Grand Prix.

  Sports Action Zones (Cumbria)
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the performance of sports action zones in west Cumbria. [53990]

  Mr. Caborn
  A Sport Action Zone manager was appointed in September 2000 and a Needs Assessment and Action Plan was compiled in the first year of the Zone's operation, covering the period 2001–2006. This plan was approved at the Sport Lottery panel in October 2001. Approximately £230,000 per annum was ring-fencing over the five year period across the Allerdale, Barrow and Copeland districts. The projects in the Year One action plan have received ring-fenced funding and are in various stages of development, depending on match-funding sources and lead organisations' time scales.

  The Sport Action Zone is being overseen by the six strategic partners including Allerdale Borough Council and Copeland Borough Council.

  The Sport Action Zone partnership is looking into marketing and evaluation reports, which will be publicly available when they are produced.

  Hotel Industry
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make funding available for marketing the English hotel industry. [53975]

  Dr. Howells
  The marketing of hotels is a matter for the industry itself but the announcement today will have a beneficial impacts on all sectors of the industry in England. The English Tourism Council has made considerable progress in extending its quality assurance schemes to all types of accommodation. Hotels and others that commit to the national quality standards benefit since the quality assurance fee entitles them to a free entry in the ETC's 'Where to Stay' guidebooks and entry on the BTA's VisitBritain website.

  Pride of Place
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if it is intended to place on sale copies of Pride of Place; [54998]

  (2) pursuant to the answers of 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1039W, and I May 2002, Official Report, column 785W, what the intended destination is of the copies of Pride of Place that are not being sent out as complimentary copies to award recipients. [55000]

  Dr. Howells
  4,000 copies of Pride of Place will be available for sale through the Arts Council at £12 each.

  Works of Art (Indemnities)
  Sir Patrick Cormack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many indemnity undertakings were given under section 16 of the National Heritage Act 1980 for the six-month period ended 31 March; and what the value was of(a) contingent liabilities in respect of such undertakings given at any time under that section which remained outstanding as at 31 March, (b) non-statutory Government indemnities in respect of loans handled by the Government Art Collection which remained outstanding as at 31 March and (c) non-statutory undertakings of Her Majesty in respect of loans from the Royal Collection which remained outstanding at 31 March. [55027]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 9 May 2002]: The provision for the Government Indemnity Scheme is made by the National Heritage Act 1980. The scheme facilitates public access to loans of works of art and other objects for public display made to museums, galleries and other such institutions by private owners and non-national institutions. It does this by indemnifying lenders against loss or damage to their loan. Loans covered by the scheme must be for public benefit. The scheme also covers loans of such objects for study purposes within borrowing institutions where this would contribute materially to the public's understanding or appreciation of the loan. Examples of this are enhancing interpretation or explanation to the public of objects or bringing into the public domain, the conclusions of any study.

  In the six-month period ended 31 March, the following undertakings to indemnify were given under section 16 by the relevant Departments for objects on loan to national and non-national institutions:

  Number

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  629

  Scottish Executive Education Department

  258

  The National Assembly for Wales

  114

  The value of contingent liabilities in respect of undertakings given at any time under section 16 and which remained outstanding as at 31 March is:

  £

  Department for Culture, Media and Sport

  2,466,655,792

  Scottish Executive Education Department

  467,275,161

  The National Assembly for Wales

  45,990,729

  The value of non-statutory Government indemnities to cover loans handled by the Government Art Collection and which remained outstanding as at 31 March is:

  Value: £5,500,000.

  Payments by scheme for five years—England

  £000

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Countryside stewardship

  15,708

  19,896

  23,359

  28,890

  47,326

  Arable stewardship

  —

  —

  470

  863

  1,500

  Energy crops scheme

  —

  —

  —

  —

  234

  Environmentally sensitive areas

  28,600

  37,600

  39,500

  40,900

  48,300

  Farm woodland premium

  4,700

  5,400

  5,900

  6,000

  7,500

  Hill farm allowance

  —

  —

  —

  —

  42,346

  416
  The value of non-statutory undertakings given to Her Majesty in respect of loans from the Royal Collection and which remained outstanding as at 31 March is:

  Value: £219,601,825.

  Party Conferences
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent organising events at(a) the Labour party's, (b) the Conservative party's and (c) the Liberal Democrat party's (i) autumn and (ii) spring conference in each of the past five years; what the purpose of events organised at party conferences is; what form these events took; and if she will make a statement. [55750]

  Dr. Howells
  No events have been organised by this Department at party conferences.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Illegal Logging (Indonesia)
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2002,Official Report, column 1064W, what the timetable is for negotiations with Indonesia to tackle illegal logging and associated trade; and when agreement will be reached. [53757]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Governments of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Indonesia signed on 18 April 2002 a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation to improve Forest Law Enforcement and Governance and to combat illegal logging and the international trade in illegally logged timber and timber products. We are placing a copy of the Memorandum in the Library of the House.

  Farming
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments were made in each of the last five years broken down by(a) scheme, (b) county and (c) farm size, for (i) the countryside stewardship scheme, (ii) arable stewardship (up to 2000), (iii) the energy crops scheme, (iv) the environmentally sensitive areas, (v) the farm woodland premium scheme, (vi) the hill farm allowance scheme, (vii) the organic farming scheme, (viii) the woodland grant scheme, (ix) the processing and marketing grant, (x) the rural enterprise scheme and (xi) the vocational training scheme. [54476]

  Alun Michael
  The following table shows expenditure on the England Rural Development Programme schemes for the last five years. A further breakdown by county or farm size is not readily available.
  417W

  Payments by scheme for five years—England

  £000

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Organic farming scheme

  700

  1,200

  2,300

  15,400

  26,600

  Woodland grant scheme

  15,723

  18,151

  18,416

  16,957

  16,590

  Processing and marketing grant

  —

  —

  —

  —

  237

  Rural enterprise scheme

  —

  —

  —

  —

  573

  Vocational training scheme

  —

  —

  —

  —

  332

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total area of genetically modified crops to be grown in the farm scale evaluations in England in 2002 is; and how many trials there are for(a) spring oilseed rape, (b) winter oilseed rape, (c) fodder beet, (d) sugar beet and (e) fodder maize. [54477]

  Mr. Meacher
  The total area to be grown with GM crops in the farm scale evaluations in England to date is approximately 400 hectares. In autumn 2001, 30 oilseed rape sites were sown. This year, there are 22 spring oilseed rape sites, 33 maize sites, six fodder beet sites and 12 sugar beet sites. The proposed site locations for the 2002 round of winter oilseed rape will be announced later this year.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the data from the farm-scale evaluations of GM crops will be available for the advisers in ACRE and ACP; and when she will publish the data. [54986]

  Mr. Meacher
  Data from the farm-scale evaluations will be available to this Department, to advisers on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, and the wider public generally, once we have received the advice of the scientific steering committee overseeing the progress and publication of the ecological studies and the results are published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This is anticipated to be in the summer of 2003 for {spring-sown crops (spring-sown oilseed rape, maize and beet) and in summer 2004 for winter-sown oilseed rape.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce her decision on the proposals put forward by the Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology Commission for public debate on the possible commercialisation of GM Crops. [54984]

  Recovery and Recycling 1998–2001

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Paper

  1n/a

  1,894,086

  1,820,732

  1,880,414

  2,030,944

  Glass

  —

  503,800

  582,577

  715,037

  735,594

  Aluminium

  —

  14,517

  15,402

  16,299

  29,030

  Steel

  —

  182,409

  225,216

  238,668

  278,079

  Plastic

  —

  125,539

  198,461

  204,430

  269,962

  Wood

  —

  170,000(1)

  94,000(1)

  296,437

  573,951

  Alt. evidence

  —

  —

  —

  —

  30,741

  Total recycling

  —

  2,890,351

  3,084,296(2)

  3,351,285

  3,917,560

  Percentage

  227

  28

  33·5

  36·5

  42

  EfW

  —

  448,354

  496,269

  500,047

  513,939

  Total recovery

  3,338,705

  3,506,611

  3,851,332

  4,462,240

  Percentage

  230

  33

  38

  42

  48

  Tonnes in waste stream

  —

  10,240.000

  9,189,981

  9,179,981

  9,313,900

  1Breakdown by material not available for 1997

  2Approximate

  416
  Mr. Meacher
  The Government welcome the AEBC's advice on the proposal for a public debate on the possible commercialisation of GM crops. AEBC has provided an important contribution which the Government are considering. We will announce our response as soon as possible.

  Sustainable Environmental Schemes
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to HM Treasury in advance of the Comprehensive Spending Review on funding to assist the transition from direct subsidies to sustainable environmental schemes; and if she will make a statement. [54488]

  Mr. Meacher
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has submitted advice and proposals to my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Andrew Smith), as he is in charge of other spending Departments. The proposals are consistent with the Government's policy of promoting a sustainable, diverse, modern and adaptable farming industry. The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced in Parliament in due course.

  Waste Regulations
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what levels of(a) business packaging waste recovery and (b) business packaging recycling in the United Kingdom were in each year since 1997; what assessment has been made of how the United Kingdom compares with Europe; and if she will make a statement. [54828]

  Mr. Meacher
  Packaging waste recovery and recycling achieved by businesses obligated under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) from 1997 to 2001 was as follows:
  419W
  The UK's current recovery and recycling rates of 48 per cent. and 42 per cent. have been achieved in the four years from 1998 to 2001. Other member states began focusing on packaging waste recovery/recycling in the early 1990s. A number of them have achieved much higher recovery/ recycling rates while others remain close to or just above the UK rate.

  Figures from the European Commission show the following recovery and recycling rates for European Union member states in 1998.

  Recovery and recycling rates in member states 1998

  Percentage

  Recovery rate

  Recycling rate

  Austria

  70

  65

  Belgium

  73

  64

  Denmark

  89

  50

  France

  56

  45

  Germany

  67

  65

  Italy

  35

  28

  Netherlands

  62

  62

  Spain

  37

  34

  Sweden

  68

  61

  UK

  33

  28

  Source:
  European Commission

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps her Department is taking to review the notice period on annual targets under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997; and if she will make a statement; [54802]

  (2) for what reason the targets for packaging and packaging waste for 2002 did not appear until 19 March; when she expects to publish targets for 2003; and if she will make a statement. [54843]

  Mr. Meacher
  We make every effort to publish the annual targets for recovery and recycling of packaging waste as early in the year as possible. Businesses have an opportunity to plan on the basis of the proposals and analysis in the consultation exercise carried out in the previous year. However, where the Government do not have the latest relevant packaging data until the end of a year, this means that it is not always possible to decide on the final targets for the following year to our intended timing.

  It is too early to say when we might publish targets for 2003. However, it is the Government's intention to consult this year on targets for 2003 and 2004.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has received(a) between September and December 2001 and (b) since 1 January regarding the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997; and if she will make a statement. [54841]

  Mr. Meacher
  We liaise regularly with industry and receive a good deal of correspondence relating to the packaging Regulations. The period in question covers the consultation exercise undertaken on proposed packaging waste targets for 2002. The consultation document was 420W
  issued in September 2001 and 66 responses were received to this alone. Since January 2002, we have received about 70 letters relating to packaging waste matters.

  Nitrate-Sensitive Areas
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many nitrate-sensitive areas have been designated. [54859]

  Mr. Meacher
  There are 66 nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) in England, which were designated in 1996.

  In December 2001, in response to a European Court of Justice judgment, we consulted on options for completing implementation of the nitrates directive in England. These would involve either designating additional nitrate vulnerable zones, or applying measures to prevent and control nitrate pollution throughout England.

  We are still considering the responses to this consultation, and will announce a decision in due course.

  Flooding
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to ensure that sustainable urban drainage systems are adopted and maintained by water companies. [54638]

  Mr. Meacher
  A Working Group chaired by the Environment Agency and comprising representatives of this Department and other interested parties has been set up to consider all aspects of the use of sustainable urban drainage systems. Among other things, it will be considering future responsibilities for installation and maintenance of such systems, including the extent of water and sewerage companies' responsibilities.

  Waste Composting
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department plans to allow local authorities to count domestic composting towards their recycling targets; and if she will make a statement. [54599]

  Mr. Meacher
  We have no plans to allow local authorities to count domestic composting towards their recycling targets.

  Local authorities benefit in two main ways from home composting. First, they save on the costs associated with collecting, transporting and composting this waste. Secondly, it increases their recycling rate because the home composted waste is not included in the calculation for the total amount of waste collected. This has the effect of increasing the percentage of household waste sent for recycling.

  There are also real difficulties with the measurement of home composting. Accurate reporting against the statutory performance standards is essential if we are to ensure real efforts are made by local authorities to increase recycling and composting.

  Kyoto Agreement
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what part a
  421W
  reduction in HFC emissions in the UK will play in the United Kingdom's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto agreement. [54626]

  Mr. Meacher
  The UK is on course to meet, and go beyond, its target under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12. This target covers a basket of six greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride); the UK does not have targets under the Kyoto Protocol for the individual gases.

  UK emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 1995—the base year chosen for measuring emissions of these gases for the Kyoto Protocol—were equivalent to 4.1 MtC, contributing about 2 per cent. of the total greenhouse gas emissions in that year.

  Action to reduce fugitive emissions of HFC-23 from HCFC-22 manufacturing plants have meant that total emissions of HFCs have fallen significantly since then. This will be partly offset by an increase in emissions from end use markets such as aerosols, refrigeration and foam blowing as consumption of HFCs increases in response to the phase out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under the Montreal Protocol. However, reduced levels of leakage and increased use of alternative fluids are expected to limit the increase in emissions.

  Overall, annual emissions of HFCs are projected to be equivalent to 2.9 MtC in 2010, a fall of 29 per cent. from 1995 levels. The expected reductions in emissions of the other five greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol mean that the relative contribution of HFCs emissions in 2010 is projected to be the same as in 1995, at about 2 per cent. of the total UK greenhouse gas emissions.

  Timber
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002,Official Report, column 272W, on timber, if she will place in the Library the confirmation given by the Brazilian Government that the mahogany shipments in question did not breach CITES regulations. [54644]

  Mr. Meacher
  A copy of the translation of the document issued by the Brazilian Management Authority confirming that the CITES permits for the shipment in question were authentic has been placed in the Library.

  Farm-scale Biodiversity Evaluations
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the time scale was set out in the voluntary agreement with SCIMAC in November 1999 for the Scientific Steering Committee to review the data and provide recommendations on the farm-scale biodiversity evaluations. [54985]

  Mr. Meacher
  The voluntary agreement between SCIMAC and Government made in November 1999 states that:"The final year of crop plantings within the Farm-Scale Biodiversity Evaluations is 2002. Following the Scientific Steering Committee's final year review and recommendations, the
  422W
  work programme of the Committee relating to the current objectives set and agreed will be concluded. No extension to this agreement will take place without
  further negotiation between Government and SCIMAC."
  "The Government will ask and expect the Scientific Steering Committee to review data and provide recommendations/advice on or before end-October in 2002 of the Farm-Scale Biodiversity Evaluations."
  "The Government will ask and expect the Scientific Steering Committee to complete final year analysis and reporting of results for winter oilseed rape in time for autumn 2003 plantings to take place should the null hypothesis be confirmed."

  Refrigerators
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the money allocated to help local authorities deal with the storage and disposal of refrigerators has been distributed. [55077]

  Mr. Meacher
  The £6 million allocated to local authorities for the extra costs they faced from 1 January to end March this year was added to local authorities' general grant for the current financial year. General grant is distributed to councils through standard spending assessments (SSA). The provision for waste disposal is included within the upper tier of the Environmental, Protection and Cultural Services (EPCS) SSA.

  Marine Environment
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what new funds her Department will provide to the statutory nature conservation agencies and Sea Fisheries Committee to allow them to meet their responsibilities to manage, protect and monitor the marine environment and its natural resources. [55768]

  Mr. Meacher
  Officials are currently discussing with English Nature their corporate plan for 2002–05. These discussions will focus on the need for resources to cover important areas of work such as the marine environment and in turn help inform the process for the Departments allocation of funds as part of spending review 2002.

  Sea fisheries committees are committees of local authorities and are funded by local government. The Government have made it clear that no decisions will be taken on funding of sea fisheries committees until the Common Fisheries Policy review is complete. At that stage we will be better placed to assess any changes in our obligations for inshore management, including any additional environmental responsibilities.

  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government's Review of Marine Nature Conservation will report on its findings. [55769]

  Mr. Meacher
  The regional seas pilot scheme in the Irish sea recently announced by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is due to report its findings to Government in the early part of 2004. The pilot scheme's findings will inform the review's final recommendations to Government which we hope to receive by the end of 2004.

  Sellafield
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what actions BNFI has taken to stop the leaks from the sludge storage tanks in Building B24L at Sellafield; and when this work will be complete. [53662]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  BNFL has undertaken a number of projects aimed at improving the integrity of the B241 tanks, reducing the potential for material to leak from the plant and enabling the removal of the inventory from the tanks. This work has been ongoing since 1993. BNFL expects that the work to remove the majority of the active inventory will be completed in approximately 11 years.

  Rainforests
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government have taken to reduce the logging of rainforests and to discuss these matters with mining companies. [53653]

  Clare Short
  I have been asked to reply.

  Logging of rainforests is not necessarily a bad thing. It can bring income and jobs to poor people. If done carefully logging need not threaten the long-term sustainability of these forests or the environmental services they provide.

  Logging should not take place in protected areas or in contravention of other laws and regulations. My Department is working with a number of countries to help improve forest law enforcement and governance and tackle illegal logging and associated trade.

  The Government have not discussed logging of rainforests with mining companies.

  Co-product Feeds
  Mrs. Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the amounts of moist co-product feeds and liquids used as feed materials by livestock farmers in conjunction with home-produced feeds or as complements to bought-in feeds in the last year for which figures are available; and what assessment she has made of the importance of co-product feeds to the UK livestock industry; [42247]

  (2) if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on co-products as feed materials; and what representations she has made to the European Commission to include co-product feeds on the EU's proposed positive list of approved feed materials. [42248]

  Yvette Cooper
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that industry estimates nearly two million tonnes of moist feed and over one million tonnes of liquid feed is fed annually to British livestock. Many materials derived during the manufacture of food and drink are fed by livestock
  424
  farmers, or used by manufacturers for feed sold to farmers. These co-products have a nutritional value and are considered an important range of feed materials for the UK livestock industry.

  The European Commission has commissioned a feasibility study on the possibility of having a positive list of approved feed materials for use in animal feed. If any such list is to be compiled it is likely that it will include co-products.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Christopher Reeves
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement about her Department's handling of the case of Christopher Reeves, Oxford Crown court T2000/022. [51371]

  The Solicitor-General
  Dr. Alfred Christopher Reeves was tried at Oxford Crown court, on a number of allegations of indecent assault. On 22 May 2000, he was acquitted on all charges, part way through the defence case, at the direction of the trial judge, Her Honour Judge Mowatt.

  Following the conclusion of the case, Dr. Reeves and the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions complaining about the CPS handling of the case. These complaints have been investigated thoroughly and the Crown Prosecution Service and the Attorney-General have provided comprehensive responses to both the hon. Member and Dr. Reeves' solicitors.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Young People
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what subjects and on which dates his Department has recently consulted organisations representing young people; and if he will list such organisations. [52508]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The Cabinet Office is committed to the new core principles for the involvement of children and young people published by the Minister for Young People in November 2001. The Cabinet Office will shortly be publishing an action plan setting out for the first time how it will implement these principles to extend the participation of children and young people in the design, provision and evaluation of policies and services that affect them.

  Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption
  425
  was in (a) his Department's Vote 1 budget and (b) his Department's Vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [54700]

  Mr. Leslie
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Buckingham on 29 January 2002,Official Report, column 252W.

  Sustainable Timber
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library certificates showing that timber used for the doors, doorframes and window frames in the refurbishment of Norman Shaw South came from a certified sustainable source. [55261]

  Derek Conway
  I have been asked to reply.

  Wallis Joinery, the manufacturer of the new timber windows, doors and joinery for the Norman Shaw South refurbishment project, operates a Quality Assurance system. This requires their timber suppliers to provide evidence (in the form of import licences and certificates) to show that timber supplied has been legally obtained and is from sustainably managed sources. The contractor is required to provide these licences and certificates to the House. When they are received I will ensure that copies are placed in the Library.

  Balfour Beatty
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what contracts the Government have with Balfour Beatty; which ones are under way; and what the start dates are of ones on which work has not started. [55293]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not held centrally.

DEFENCE

  Sea King AEWs
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to withdraw the Sea King AEW force from service. [49767]

  Mr. Ingram
  On current plans the Sea King Airborne Early Warning force is projected to remain in service until at least 2012.

  Deployments
  Hugh Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2002,Official Report, column 858W, on deployments, if he will reconcile his figure for the number of service personnel serving in the Balkans with the answer given on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 825W. [53823]

  Mr. Ingram
  The answer I gave on 26 March 2002,Official Report, column 858W, showed only UK regular forces deployed on military tasks overseas, including operations. Personnel on NATO commitments and Mobilised Reservists were not included.

  Reconciliation of this answer with the answer given on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 825W, is shown in the following table.
  426W

  Number deployed

  Balkans Tasks

  NATO and Mobilised Reservists

  Balkans total

  Royal Navy

  —

  100

  100

  Army

  3,823

  744

  4,567

  RAF

  233

  —

  233

  Total

  4,056

  850

  4,900

  Note:
  NATO and Mobilised Reservists figures are approximate.

  Cyprus
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British service personnel are deployed in the Republic of Cyprus. [54732]

  Mr. Ingram
  The United Kingdom contributes 414 service personnel to UNFICYP. British forces in the sovereign base areas on Cyprus, and therefore on British territory and not in the Republic of Cyprus, number approximately 3,230.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) men and (b) women from ethnic communities were serving in the British forces on 1 May. [54640]

  Mr. Ingram
  Figures for 1 May 2002 are not yet available. A re-survey of the ethnic origin of armed forces personnel is currently being undertaken using the categories contained in the national census of 2001. The last available figures using the previous ethnic categories are those of 1 October 2001 and are as follows:

  Ethnic minority (EM)

  Number

  EM as a percentage of EM plus non-EM

  Male

  3,173

  1·73

  Female

  314

  1·92

  Total

  3,487

  1·75

  Women
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women are serving in each of the armed forces. [54634]

  Mr. Ingram
  As at 1 April 2002, the number of women serving in the UK regular forces is as follows:

  Number of women serving

  Naval Service

  3,521

  Army

  7,901

  RAF

  5,616

  Total

  17,038

  These figures are taken from TSP1 'UK Regular Forces Strengths and Changes', a monthly publication, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

  Land Mines
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are involved in land mine destruction; and in which countries such personnel are working. [54632]

  Mr. Ingram
  British Service personnel provide technical expertise, management and specialist skills to support mine action programmes worldwide. As at 1 May 2002, personnel were deployed as follows:Senior Technical Adviser to the UN Mine Action Centre in Bosnia.
  Staff Officer within the Humanitarian Demining Training Centre at the US Army's Engineer School.
  Head of Technical Unit at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

  In Bosnia, as part of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR), UK military personnel are involved in the co-ordination and monitoring of mine clearance; emergency disposal of mines and unexploded ordnance as required; and mine awareness training. We also maintain an Explosive Ordnance Disposal detachment in the Falkland Islands. Additionally, UK personnel have provided technical information to the United Nations and to non-governmental organisations on mines that could be found in Afghanistan.

  Gurkhas
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkha troops are serving in Gurkha regiments based in the United Kingdom. [54635]

  Mr. Ingram
  The total number of trained Gurkhas serving in the United Kingdom as at 1 April 2002 is 2,291. There is only one Gurkha Infantry Battalion based in the United Kingdom; however, Gurkha Reinforcement Companies are currently serving with the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, 1 Royal Irish and 1 Highlanders. There are also formed Gurkha units serving with 10 Transport Regiment, 30 Signal Regiment, 36 Engineer Regiment and in training establishments at Sandhurst and Brecon. In addition, there are small numbers of Gurkha servicemen serving as "Attached Arms" within numerous other establishments across the British Army.

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) of 22 November 2001,Official Report, column 373W, what savings accrued from the cancellation of the exercises. [54901]

  Mr. Ingram
  Information on the savings which might have accrued from the cancellation of the 84 exercises listed in the answer given on 22 November 2001 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Savings might have accrued, for example, from the cancellation of chartered transport or from a reduction in fuel consumption. However, other costs such as personnel, equipment and infrastructure costs are fixed and would not have been saved when an exercise was cancelled.

  Navy Vessels
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy is. [54641]

  Mr. Ingram
  The oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy is HMS Victory which was commissioned in 1778. Although HMS Victory is the oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy, she is no longer floating but is set in a dry dock in Portsmouth naval base. The oldest commissioned ship which is still afloat is HMS Fearless which was brought into service in November 1965 and is due to be de-commissioned on 31 October 2002.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the complement is of(a) HMS Cardiff, (b) HMS Edinburgh, (c) HMS York, (d) HMS Nottingham, (e) HMS Glasgow, (f) HMS Exeter, (g) HMS Southampton and (h) HMS Newcastle.[54884]

  Mr. Ingram
  The respective complements are set out in the table:

  Ship

  Complement

  Cardiff

  252

  Edinburgh

  244

  York

  255

  Nottingham

  242

  Glasgow

  251

  Exeter

  241

  Southampton

  243

  Newcastle

  249

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to put into reserve HMS Cornwall, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Chatham and HMS Cumberland in Portsmouth naval base. [55433]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no current plans to put any of the Type 22 (Batch 3) frigates into reserve.

  Defence Logistics Organisation
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operating costs were of the Defence Logistics Organisation in(a) 2002–03 and (b) each year since it was established. [54900]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) was formed on 3 April 2000. The first year of operation (2000–01) was managed under a cash regime. 2001–02 was managed under the new resource accounting system for the first time but the final outturn will not be available until the end of October 2002 which is when the National Audit Office is expected to have completed the audit of the departmental accounts. Operating costs have therefore been provided on a cash basis for consistency as follows:Financial year 2000–01 final outturn: £5·798 billion
  Financial year 2001–02 AP 12: £6·371 billion.

  Under a cash accounting regime, operating costs include expenditure on capital projects and running costs. The outturn for 2000–01 included a transfer of some £600 million from the Defence Procurement Agency to the DLO following the transfer of responsibility for the management of in-service support costs. Financial year

  429W
  2001–02 included a transfer of an additional £400 million for in-service support, taking the annual total transfer of in-service support costs into the DLO to around £1 billion.

  Financial year 2002–03 has only just started and under the new resource accounting regime the DLO has not been given a cash control total equivalent target.

  Split North Port
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was for the use of the Split North Port by British forces between September 1992 and January 2002.[54835]

  Mr. Ingram
  The cost to the Ministry of Defence for the use of Split North Port between September 1992 and January 2002 was £10.14 million.

  Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption was in(a) his Department's Vote 1 budget and (b) his Department's Vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [54703]

  Dr. Moonie
  The reported estimated losses arising from suspected fraud (including theft and corruption) are as follows:

  Year

  £

  1999–2000

  2,037,406

  2000–01

  881,350

  No abatement is made for subsequent recoveries. The figures, which relate entirely to the resource estimates formerly ascribed as Vote 1 attribution, are a combination of suspected and proven frauds and theft with estimated values refined from time to time as investigations, sometimes lasting a year or more, reach a conclusion. A significant element of estimated cost or value can relate to 'at risk' estimates applied to suspected procurement cases, the majority of which have a proven value lower than original estimates with a significant number of cases resolved as 'no crime'.

  Medial Treatment
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the(a) standard of treatment (b) in-patient waiting time, (c) out-patient waiting time and (d) cost of the current medical treatment of armed forces personnel in (i) the private sector and (ii) the NHS. [54135]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 7 May 2002]: We consider that a satisfactory standard of treatment is provided to Service personnel by the NHS and private healthcare providers. The majority of Service patients treated in NHS hospitals are admitted to Ministry of Defence Hospital Units whose host NHS trusts are set targets by the Defence Secondary Care Agency, reflecting its own Key Targets for both in-patient and out-patient waiting times. Overall performance against the key targets is published in the Agency's Annual Report, which is laid before Parliament. The contracts with the NHS trusts are monitored for cost effectiveness. Some Service personnel receive treatment at other NHS hospital trusts with whom
  430
  we have no contractual agreements, where this is more appropriate for them. As entitled patients, they receive such treatment free of charge. Limited use is made of private healthcare providers to enable Service personnel to be treated and returned to deployability more quickly, where this is considered cost effective.

  Army
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average length of service has been for(a) British nationals, (b) Gurkhas and (c) foreign nationals, broken down by country serving in the British Army. [55453]

  Mr. Ingram
  The tables show officer and soldier mean length of service. Nationality at birth before 1997 is not available on strength data so only the last six years have been shown. Totals shown are for untrained and trained personnel, ie officer designates are included in the officer table.

  Calculations have been made using the mean length of service totals as at April 2001 of each year for those personnel on current strength at that date. Figures on mean length of service have only been calculated for populations of 10 or more.

  Average length of service in years—as at April

  Officers

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  (a) British

  11·71

  11·60

  11·75

  11·57

  11·52

  11·36

  (b) Gurkhas

  n/a

  22·99

  22·56

  22·38

  22·18

  22·40

  (c) Foreign1

  Nationality (at birth)

  Australia

  7·69

  8·24

  8·73

  8·12

  7·17

  7·38

  Canada

  10·00

  9·26

  9·35

  10·29

  10·12

  10·95

  India

  9·41

  9·67

  10·36

  10·50

  10·35

  10·57

  Malta GC

  18·22

  17·44

  15·93

  15·04

  16·70

  —

  Nepal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  12·90

  New Zealand

  6·88

  7·21

  7·36

  7·50

  7·23

  7·30

  Republic of Ireland

  10·36

  10·29

  10·98

  11·74

  11·44

  10·33

  Rhodesia

  6·38

  6·38

  7·37

  8·07

  8·31

  8·82

  South Africa

  8·80

  8·82

  9·24

  6·54

  6·81

  5·50

  Zimbabwe

  —

  —

  3·00

  1·95

  2·83

  3·67

  1Those nationalities with a current strength more than 9 as at April 2001

  Average length of service in years—as at April

  Soldiers

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  (a) British

  8·21

  8·19

  8·14

  8·16

  8·23

  8·26

  (b) Gurkhas

  n/a

  9·09

  8·97

  9·01

  9·16

  9·10

  (c) Foreign1

  Nationality (at birth)

  America

  8·25

  7·43

  7·08

  8·68

  7·61

  8·17

  Australia

  6·14

  6·79

  6·61

  6·38

  6·48

  7·20

  Belize

  —

  —

  —

  3·00

  3·20

  —

  Canada

  8·20

  7·84

  7·09

  7·02

  7·62

  7·20

  Fiji

  —

  —

  1·64

  0·60

  1·13

  1·37

  France

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  9·60

  Gambia

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·85

  Germany

  8·85

  7·34

  6·88

  5·99

  4·85

  5·47

  Ghana

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3·45

  1·32

  Grenada (Windward Islands)

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·00

  India

  14·61

  13·17

  11·59

  12·20

  10·67

  8·43

  Jamaica

  15·01

  15·31

  11·89

  8·09

  4·57

  1·94

  Kenya

  —

  —

  11·50

  8·50

  2·67

  2·31

  New Zealand

  7·09

  6·89

  5·98

  6·68

  6·95

  8·41

  New Zealand Islands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·94

  Nigeria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1·44

  Pakistan

  9·92

  8·83

  9·63

  10·63

  9·90

  6·71

  Republic of Ireland

  8·24

  7·66

  7·84

  7·79

  8·30

  9·20

  Rhodesia

  6·60

  6·85

  5·90

  5·80

  6·31

  7·89

  South Africa

  4·88

  4·32

  3·81

  2·79

  2·48

  2·17

  St· Helena

  —

  —

  0·42

  0·66

  1·07

  2·09

  431W

  Average length of service in years—as at April

  Soldiers

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  St. Lucia Island

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·89

  St. Vincent Island

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0·49

  1·46

  Trinidad and Tobago

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4·41

  3·33

  Zimbabwe

  —

  5·50

  3·25

  2·85

  2·20

  1·35

  1Those nationalities with a current strength more than 9 as at April 2001

  Glencorse Barracks
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of Glencorse Barracks. [55170]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 9 May 2002]: The Ministry of Defence is currently examining the options for the future use of Glencorse Barracks, but I can confirm that the Recruit Selection Centre will remain at the site, maintaining a dedicated recruit selection facility in Scotland. In addition, it is intended that there will be a further Army presence at Glencorse, although the extent of this has not yet been decided.

  Submarine Service
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) manning requirement and (b) strength is of the submarine service. [54882]

  Mr. Ingram
  The manning requirement for the Submarine Arm of the Royal Navy is 710 officers and 3,154 ratings.

  The trained strength of the Submarine Arm, including personnel filling staff appointments and undergoing training, is 806 officers and 3,004 ratings.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the submarine service has sufficient manpower to crew all operational submarines; and if he will make a statement. [54883]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Submarine Arm of the Royal Navy has sufficient manpower to man the submarines currently in the normal seagoing operational cycle to 100 per cent. of their complement.

  Israel
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the supply of arms to Israel. [54731]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 15 April 2002, Official Report, columns 722–23W.

TREASURY

  Aggregates Levy
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to the Treasury will be(a) at the outset of its introduction and (b) projected in the next three years of moneys redirected from the Aggregates Levy to the Sustainability Fund in England. [53719]
  432W
  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund is a public expenditure programme of £29·3 million a year in England for the two years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Decisions on the size of the fund in future years have yet to be made.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on VAT revenues of the 1 per cent. rise in employers' national insurance contributions from April 2003; whether this impact is included in the revenue estimates published in Table A.1 of the Red Book; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public sector of higher VAT charges resulting from the rise in employers' national insurance contributions; and whether the impact on public sector VAT bills of a higher rate of employers' national insurance has been included in his estimate of the total cost to the public sector of the increase in employers' national insurance contributions. [53627]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The net Exchequer effect of a Budget measure is generally calculated as the difference between applying the pre-Budget and post-Budget tax and benefit regimes to the levels of total income and spending at factor cost expected after the Budget. Separate estimates of the impact of individual measures on overall levels of income and spending are not available; any such effects will, however, be taken into account in the forecasts of the economy and public finances as set out in chapters B and C of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

  English GDP
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contributions to English GDP were made in 2001–02 by the(a) farming, (b) tourism and (c) manufacturing industries (i) gross and (ii) net of subsidies and compensation. [54463]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 13 May 2002:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on estimating the contributions to English GDP in 2001–02 of a number of industries net and gross of subsidies and compensation. (54463)
  The latest Gross Value Added (GVA) estimates for the constituent countries of the United Kingdom by industry are available up to 1998 only, and were published as an ONS News Release on 27 February 2001 (data up to 1999 will be published later this month). The Standard Industrial Classification breakdown identifies 'Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing' and 'Manufacturing' but does not separately identify 'Tourism'. However, estimates of the contribution from 'Tourism' have been supplied by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, defined from the activities of tourists rather than by the conventional industry classification. For this reason, there will be some double counting for estimates in this category against estimates for the agricultural and manufacturing industries.

  433W

  Table 1: Gross Value Added, England, 1998

  £million

  Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing

  7,313

  Manufacturing

  127,027

  Tourism1

  34,700

  Total

  743,318

  1GVA for tourism will include a small element from agricultural and manufacturing industries.

  Source:
  Office for National Statistics, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
  No sub-UK breakdowns of subsidies or compensation payments consistent with these data are currently available.
  Data on subsidies for the whole of the UK are available by industrial sector up to 1999, as outlined in the release 'United Kingdom Input-Output Analysis 2001', but National Accounting conventions limit these to include subsidies on production only, excluding subsidies on product. Using these National Accounts definitions, the 'Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing' industry received £370m subsidies on production in 1999 across the UK, while the 'Manufacturing' industry received none (and, as before 'Tourism' is not classed as an industry under the Standard Industrial Classification).
  Separately, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publication 'Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2001' shows that subsidies on product for that industry for the UK totalled £2,405m in 1999 and £1,943m in 2001. No estimates on subsidies on product are available for the Manufacturing industry. No estimates on Tourism as an industry are available from any source, though the Department for Culture, Media and Sport made a statement recently about Government support for tourism, which I enclose.
  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publication also shows a breakdown by country for these data on agricultural subsidies. The latest report was published on 3rd May 2002, and is available through their web site at http:// www.defra.gov.uk or through the House of Commons library.
  The ONS releases referred to in this answer are available in the House of Commons Library and on the web at htt://www.statistics.gov.uk

  Advisory Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Economic Policy Committee: Working Party and Reduced Compositions is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55351]

  Ruth Kelly
  The responsibilities of the Economic Policy Committee are set out in articles 272 and 209 of the EC treaty, and in its statute as adopted in European Council decision 2000/604 of 29 September 2000. Article 1·2 of the statute requests this committee to "contribute to the preparation of the work of the Council by providing economic analyses, opinions on methodologies and draft formulations for policy recommendations, particularly on structural policies for improving growth potential and employment in the Community".

  The Economic Policy Committee met 11 times over the 12 months from the beginning of May 2001, and the UK representation consists of three officials from HM
  434W
  Treasury and one from the Bank of England. In addition there are eight working groups dealing with specific topics, which met up to six times over the last 12 months.

  To disaggregate the costs of the Economic Policy Committee from the UK's total contribution to the EU budget would involve disproportionate costs.

  The reports of work under consideration by the Economic Policy Committee are available on the committee's website. Any reports that are subsequently considered by the ECOFIN Council are subject to normal parliamentary scrutiny.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Economic and Financial Committee (including alternates and working party) Working Party and Reduced Compositions is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55352]

  Ruth Kelly
  The role and responsibilities of the Economic and Financial Committee are set out in Article 114(2) (ex 109c(2)) of the EU treaty and in the statutes of the Economic and Financial Committee, which were adopted by the ECOFIN Council on 31 December 1998.

  Since the start of May 2001, the Economic and Financial Committee has met on 12 occasions. In accordance with Article 114(2) of the EU treaty, member states each appoint two members of the committee; the UK is represented by one official from HM Treasury and one official from the Bank of England. Each of these representatives has one alternate.

  The information regarding the annual cost of the committee's work to public funds can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

  The items currently under consideration by the Economic and Financial Committee are those to be discussed in the coming months by the ECOFIN Council. Accountability and transparency to Parliament are ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process: documents agreed by the ECOFIN Council are submitted to Parliament along with explanatory memoranda and are examined by the Scrutiny Committee.

  ECOFIN
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 7 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [55301]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I attended the ECOFIN Council on 7 May.

  ECOFIN held an orientation discussion on the draft Commission proposals for the 2002 Broad Economic Policy Guidelines. After further preparatory work in the Economic and Financial Committee, the draft guidelines will be agreed at ECOFIN in June and submitted to the Seville European Council.
  435
  Political agreement was reached on the draft directive for financial conglomerates and on the articles of the draft directive on market abuse. After clarification of the recitals, the market abuse directive will return at the 4 June ECOFIN for political agreement on the text as a whole.

  ECOFIN discussed a Presidency key issues paper on energy taxation. It was agreed that further preparatory work should be undertaken, with a view to reaching political agreement at the 4 June ECOFIN.

  The Commission gave an oral update on progress with third countries on the savings tax directive. Ministers updated the Council on progress with dependent territories.

  The Commission introduced the Preliminary Draft Budget for 2003. Along with colleagues, I stressed the importance of respecting the Berlin Financial Perspective ceilings. I also welcomed the Commission's proposals to target a greater proportion of external aid at the poorest countries, and called for further progress towards meeting the EU's November 2000 Development Strategy. The draft budget for 2003 will he agreed at the Budget Council in July.

  ECOFIN discussed the Council's proposal for a revised Financial Regulation. Italy maintained its reserve on the article allowing delegation of aid delivery to member state agencies. Ministers requested further discussion of this by EU Ambassadors in COREPER to enable the regulation to be agreed at the 4 June ECOFIN.

  Under Any Other Business, the Swedish Finance Minister emphasised the need to keep track of member states' progress in meeting the development aid target agreed at the recent Monterrey Conference. It was agreed that ECOFIN would consider the issue at a later date.

  Following discussion over lunch, ministers also adopted texts on the economic and financial aspects of the EU-Latin America summit and on further work on arrangements for financial supervision and stability.

  No votes were taken at the meeting.

  Bingo
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue was raised from the bingo sector in the latest year for which figures are available; and what his projections are for such revenue in each of the next five years. [55258]

  Mr. Boateng
  Duty receipts from bingo can be found in the HM Customs and Excise statistical bulletin "Receipts from Betting, Gaming and Lottery Duties", a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library. Details of the amount of VAT received from the bingo industry are not readily available.

  Projections for total revenue from duty on betting and gaming, including bingo, were published on 17 April in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2002. Revenue projections for bingo are not made separately.

  Home Energy Efficiency
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase investment in home energy efficiency to meet the improvement target proposed in the Energy Review. [55275]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Performance and Innovation Unit's Energy Review is a report to the Government and was published in February 2002. The Government are currently considering the issues raised by the PIU, including its recommendations on energy efficiency. A consultation paper to inform the Government's response will be issued shortly. Decisions on public expenditure for home energy efficiency measures will be taken in the context of the current Spending Review.

  Beer Duty
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Treasury of extending the reduced rate of duty on beer from small breweries to those local breweries that produce between 30,000 hectolitres and 200,000 hectolitres, using the brewery rate formula published in the Finance Bill. [55599]

  Mr. Boateng
  Extending the relief for small breweries to breweries producing up to 200,000 hectolitres would raise the cost in 2002–03 from £10 million to £15 million by bringing around 25 additional brewers with turnovers up to £25 million within the scope of the relief.

  Orphan Assets
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of orphan assets held in the life assurance sector in the UK. [55640]

  Ruth Kelly
  A precise figure is not available. Any estimate would be subject to a wide margin of error.

  Sustainable Development
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to assess the impact of the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review on sustainable development; and if he will make a statement.[55689]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  Improving quality of life and promoting sustainable development is an overarching aim of SR2002. The Treasury has for the first time in this spending review provided Departments with specific guidance on how to consider sustainable development systematically. This guidance has been made publicly available. Ministers are currently considering all aspects of departmental proposals to the Spending Review, including their implications for sustainable development. A statement on the outcome of the review will be made in due course.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the numbers of families and persons receiving(a) the working families tax credit, (b) the child care tax credit supplement to WFTC and (c) the disabled persons tax credit. [55791]
  437W
  Dawn Primarolo
  The latest figures appear in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. November 2001", a copy of which is in the Library.

  Christian Groups (Annuities)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with Christian groups on alternative provision of annuities for those who are not able to purchase an annuity because of Christian conscience; [55618]

  (2) what proposals he has considered as alternatives to a life annuity for those groups that cannot take out such a policy because of Christian conscience. [55619]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury and the Inland Revenue have had several meetings with a Christian group to discuss their concerns about annuities and alternative approaches to retirement income consistent with their beliefs.

  Royal Family (Tax Status)
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the principles of the arrangement made between the Government and the monarchy for the payment by the royal family of(a) income tax, (b) inheritance tax and (c) capital gains tax. [56421]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  The arrangements are set out in full in the Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC 464) published on 11 February 1993.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure inheritance tax is paid on the estate of the Her late Majesty the Queen Mother. [55825]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  Inheritance tax is payable in accordance with the normal rules and paragraph 21(b) of the 1993 Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC 464).

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  London Underground
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the(a) total passenger capacity and (b) the theoretical maximum capacity of London Underground was at peak periods in 1996–97 and 2001–02; and what changes in capacity resulted from (i) new lines, (ii) new trains, (iii) signal upgrades, (iv) speed restrictions, (v) signal failures, (vi) supply failures, (vii) line failure and (viii) structural problems. [54264]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is an operational matter for London Underground (LU).

  (a) LU advise me that they do not measure, as part of their regular monitoring, the number of passengers which they are able to carry on the tube network as a whole. Instead, they have information which shows that in 1996–97 and 2001–02, during peak hours, the busiest short sections of the underground's lines carried totals of 133,450 and 142,401 passengers per hour respectively.

  438W

  (b) LU have figures for the design capacity of their rolling stock. This is the number of customers the rolling stock can physically carry and is defined by the manufacturer without taking into account the quality of the journey. An assessment can be made of the design capacity of trains scheduled per hour, at peak times on the same busiest short sections of each line. This gives figures of 308,278 for 1996–97 and 315,514 for 2001–02.

  (i) to (viii) LU inform me that this information does not form part of their regular monitoring and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the application of the phrase "minimum ambiguity" to deciding who is responsible for tube assets under the PPP. [54287]

  Mr. Jamieson
  London Underground is responsible for development of the PPP plans for the modernisation of the underground's infrastructure. I understand that when London Underground was restructured into an operating company and three infrastructure companies in April 2000, that restructuring was effected by an asset transfer scheme. It is correct to say that the requirement of "minimum ambiguity" as to the responsibility for asset maintenance within the underground has been a guiding principle for the development of the PPP Service Contracts with the infrastructure companies following the asset transfer scheme. During the period of shadow running since April 2000 there has been considerable work carried out to develop detailed asset information, with clear allocation principles to be incorporated in the contract documents, the application of which will enable responsibility for maintenance and renewal of underground assets to be determined.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the results of the recent consultation regarding the proposed Private Public Partnership for the London Underground; and if he will place a full report of it in the Library. [55809]

  Mr. Jamieson
  London Underground Ltd. has addressed London Regional Transport's consultation with the Mayor of London and Transport for London in its "Update to Final Assessment Report". This document is available on London Underground Ltd.'s website.

  Network Rail
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress made by Network Rail to raise sufficient funds to acquire Railtrack's assets. [55779]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is a matter for Network Rail.

  Network Railcard
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his response is to ATOC's proposals further to limit the validity of the Network Railcard. [55079]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Since privatisation in 1993 the SouthEast Network Railcard has been an regulated fare. As a result its implementation and conditions are a matter for train operators.

  Airports
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans he has to(a) enforce and (b) improve the code which controls the distances between aircraft and customs that incoming and outgoing passengers are required to walk at UK airports; [54996]

  (2) which body has the authority to enforce standards and rules on the maximum distances which incoming and outgoing passengers are required to walk between aircraft and customs at UK airports. [54995]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We are not aware of the existence of any such standards, rules or code governing these matters.

  Annex 9 to the Chicago Convention contains the recommended practice that: "Particular attention should be given to passenger routes involving long distances to be covered on foot and the possibility should be studied of facilitating travel over these routes by mechanical systems."

  My Department has commended this guidance to the industry, but it is for airport operators to decide how to apply it at individual airports, taking into account any relevant customer service standards.

  Special arrangements for elderly and disabled people are the subject of a Code of Practice currently being developed between my Department and representatives of the aviation industry and the various disability organisations; it is hoped to finalise the text shortly.

  Al
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many(a) cars, motorbikes and vans, (b) lorries and (c) camper-vans and caravans use the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh each day. [54607]

  Mr. Byers
  The average numbers of vehicles per day on the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh in 2000, are given in the following table.

  Vehicle type

  Number

  Cars

  11,621

  Motorcycles

  80

  LGV (vans)

  1,468

  HGV (lorries)

  1,543

  Road Pricing
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if there is(a) current and (b) proposed European Union guidance on the implementation of (i) congestion charging, (ii) road pricing and (iii) workplace parking charging. [55268]

  Mr. Byers
  I am informed that there is no current or proposed EU guidance of this nature.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if his Department produces guidance to local authorities on the recommended daily rates for(a) congestion charging and (b) workplace parking charging; and if he will make a statement. [55267]
  440W
  Mr. Byers
  My Department has issued no guidance. It is for local authorities to decide, after local consultation, on the structure and level of any road user or workplace parking levy charges.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated revenue is from(a) workplace parking charges and (b) congestion charging in each year of his Department's 10-year transport plan. [55266]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 15 April 2002,Official Report, column 741W

  Traffic Disruption
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what restrictions govern the movement of slow moving wide loads on public highways in England and Wales; and what steps he has taken to keep traffic disruption caused thereby to a minimum.[55795]

  Mr. Spellar
  The movement of slow moving and wide loads is regulated by the requirements laid down in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended and the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1979, also as amended. Under these regulations there is a requirement on the haulier to inform the police about the movement of such loads. The police have the powers to vary the time or date of the move on the grounds of road safety and congestion to suit local conditions.

  Road Safety (Children)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce a telephone hotline for members of the public who witness the carriage of children without seat belts. [56144]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department has no plans for such a hotline for reports about unrestrained children carried in vehicles. It is the responsibility of the police to enforce road traffic legislation including that relating to the use of child restraints. It is always open for members of the public to make specific complaints directly to the police.

  Roadside surveys indicate that the wearing rate for child restraints/seat belts by children in the rear seats of cars is over 90 per cent. The Department will nevertheless continue with its publicity and information campaigns to encourage even greater use of restraints by adults and children.

  10-Year Transport Plan
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to revise the 10-year transport plan to incorporate rural proofing. [55921]

  Mr. Byers
  I will be publishing a first year report detailing progress on delivery of the 10-year transport plan in July. Rural transport concerns were fully incorporated when the 10-year plan was published in 2000.

  Infrastructure Projects
  Jon Cruddas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to streamline the inquiry procedures for major infrastructure projects. [56518]

  Ms Keeble
  My right hon. Friend has today laid before Parliament a Statutory Instrument: The Town and Country Planning (Major Infrastructure Project Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2002. A Departmental Circular (DTLR Circular 02/2002) is also being issued today to accompany the new Statutory Instrument. This Circular explains the new procedures for handling inquiries into those major infrastructure projects in England, as defined in the schedule to the Rules. Copies of the Statutory Instrument and the Circular have been placed in the House Libraries.

  The new arrangements for major infrastructure project inquiries, which are due to come into force on 7 June, are part of the package of measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 20 July 2001, to streamline the planning procedures for major infrastructure projects. The Department has also consulted on a key part of that package which is the proposed introduction of new procedures to enable Parliament to make a decision in principle on applications for major projects before the detail of the application is considered at a public inquiry.

  The new Rules build on the improvements already made to inquiry procedure rules more generally in August 2000.

  The key changes are
  the introduction of round table sessions will allow parties to discuss areas of concern with each other. Experience at other inquiries has shown that these can be a very effective mans of agreeing facts, and narrowing areas of disagreement, both before and during the inquiry.
  the introduction of a technical adviser, who will be tasked with assessing the technical evidence of all parties and will produce his own independent report on the technical issues.
  the introduction of mediation into inquiry proceedings which will help to narrow the issues before and during the inquiry.
  A date for the delivery of the Inspector's report will be announced at the end of the inquiry. This will give certainty to the parties about the length of time.
  the provision to limit cross examination where the inquiry timetable is put at risk has been introduced so that a situation should not arise where people at the beginning of an inquiry are not allowed to encroach into cross examination time allocated to those at the end of the inquiry.

  All these measures, included in the Rules, will help to improve the inquiry system for major infrastructure projects.

  Rural Affairs
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to include rural areas in the(a) National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal and (b) Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. [55917]

  Mr. Byers
  The Government's policy is to tackle deprivation wherever it lies. It is not limited to urban areas but is concerned with removing social exclusion wherever it exists.
  442
  The National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal is a new long-term initiative designed to address the underlying causes of deprivation. Delivering the National Strategy will require changes to the way key services are delivered in all deprived areas—urban or rural. The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund aims to supplement this by enabling the 88 most deprived authorities to improve the services they provide. At least 16 of these 88 areas contain substantial rural areas.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with the Countryside Agency on the application of rural proofing to the work of his Department. [55918]

  Mr. Byers
  Both the Minister for Housing, Planning and Regeneration and I have met the chairman of the Countryside Agency to discuss a range of rural issues. Officials from my Department have regular contact with their counterparts at the Countryside Agency about rural proofing and other matters.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase rural proofing in his Department in line with the Countryside Agency's report, "Rural Proofing in 2001–02". [55919]

  Mr. Byers
  My Department is taking a number of measures to further enhance its rural proofing activity. Those measures include:

  (i) nomination of a ministerial "rural champion": Lord Falconer will assume overall responsibility for the co-ordination of rural issues within the Department;

  (ii) the introduction of an integrated policy appraisal tool that guides policy makers towards assessment of the full range of policy impacts, including specifically those on rural areas;

  (iii) staff awareness raising activity: a number of actions are envisaged, including articles in internal DTLR journals, presentations to staff on integrated policy appraisal and rural issues, etc.;

  (iv) enhanced role for the DTLR official level rural "focal point": the focal point will be taking a more pro-active role in co-ordinating DTLR's activity as it impacts on rural areas, and will liaise regularly with the Countryside Agency.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he has issued to the Strategic Rail Authority on the application of rural proofing to its work. [55920]

  Mr. Byers
  Paragraph 8.6 of the Directions and Guidance I gave to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on 11 April requires the authority to use their published planning criteria in appraising rail schemes. These criteria requires costs and benefits relating to environment, accessibility, integration, safety and economy to be taken into account, many of which could identify specific rural impacts.

  Financial assistance is provided to rural rail services as part of the Rail Passenger Partnership programme (RPP). RPP funding contributes to the provision of new or enhanced local and regional rail services or facilities. Projects cover both urban and rural networks, but have so far included increased services to rural areas, new stations and schemes to improve accessibility.
  443W
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what account is being taken of rural proofing in the Department's review of the Standard Spending Assessment formula for local authorities. [55922]

  Mr. Byers
  We are working to develop options for a fairer and more intelligible grant distribution system. Representatives of rural authorities are members of the technical working groups my Department is running. We will consult on options over the summer and will consider the responses, including those on factors that relate to rural areas, when we come to take decisions.

  National Land Use Database
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement in respect of each of the English regions on(a) how many local authorities provided the necessary information on the review of the national land use database and (b) what action he plans to take to ensure that those regions who have not reported satisfactorily do so. [55615]

  Ms Keeble
  The number of local authorities providing returns for the 2001 update of the national land use database of previously developed land is shown in the following table. My Department is working with local authorities, English Partnerships, the Government Offices and other regional bodies to improve response rates for the 2002 update.

  Government office

  Number of authorities in region

  Number of authorities returning in 2001

  Percentage of authorities returning in 2001

  North-East

  24

  13

  54

  North-West

  44

  36

  82

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  24

  17

  71

  West Midlands

  34

  23

  68

  East Midlands

  40

  23

  58

  East of England

  49

  24

  49

  South-West

  47

  23

  49

  South-East

  67

  43

  64

  London

  33

  23

  70

  England

  362

  225

  62

  Firefighters' Pensions
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's advice to local authorities on whether they will permit widows and widowers of firefighters to retain their pensions on remarriage. [55614]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Under the current rules of the firefighters' pension scheme, the surviving spouse of a firefighter who remarries will lose the rights to a widow's/widower's pension. There are no proposals at present to amend the scheme in this respect and therefore we could not advise local authorities to permit surviving spouses to retain their pensions on remarriage. We continue to discuss amendments to the current scheme with the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council which includes representatives of the Scottish Executive, the Northern Ireland Administration, fire service employers and unions and staff associations.

  Registered Social Landlords
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the comparative costs of(a) loans entered into by registered social landlords for capital developments and (b) the equivalent cost to local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [55626]

  Ms Keeble
  Information to make a direct comparison of the cost of loans to registered social landlords (RSLs) and local authorities for housing investment is not held by my Department.

  RSLs are private sector organisations who borrow directly from banks, building societies and other financial institutions. Loan costs will vary according to the RSL taking the loan, the type of loan and when it is taken out.

  Borrowing for housing investment by local authorities is generally from the Public Works Loans Board. Loan costs will also vary due to the type of loan, when it is taken out and the local authority involved. The cost of servicing the loans is met through housing revenue account subsidy.

  Emergency Services (Radio Communications)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans he has to provide inter-operability between emergency services and their radio communications systems; [55468]

  (2) which organisations from industry are advising Ministers on the procurement details for the fire and ambulance services for the replacement of their radio communications systems;[55469]

  (3) which Department has responsibility for taking decisions on the replacement of radio communication systems for fire and ambulance services; [55466]

  (4) what consultations he has had to determine the procurement process for the fire and ambulance service for the replacement of their radio communications systems. [55467]

  Dr. Whitehead
  [holding answer 10 May 2002]: DTLR has policy responsibility for fire services in England and Wales and the Department of Health for ambulance services.

  The requirements for inter-operability reflect identified needs following the attack on the World Trade Centre. The Presidents of the associations representing the Chief Officers of the emergency services have now agreed a new and enhanced requirement for the inter-operability of radio systems between the services.

  On 7 May 2002 I made an announcement about the procurement of a national radio communications system for the Fire Service in England and Wales. DTLR will now be discussing with fire authorities how best to implement the new national strategy. A new specification reflecting this enhanced requirement is being prepared. There will be competitive procurement for the fire services in accordance with EU procurement legislation.

  Right to Buy
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what
  445W
  proportion of tenants have bought their homes through right to buy schemes in rural areas in the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement. [55332]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 10 May 2002]: In the 15 years to 31 March 2001, 23 per cent. of local authority dwellings in rural areas have been sold under the right to buy scheme.

  When selling properties under the right to buy scheme, landlords may impose restrictions on their resale if they are located in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, or certain rural areas designated for this purpose. An owner may be required to offer the property back to the landlord (if they wish to resell within ten years) or to people who have lived or worked locally for three years. The intention is to try to ensure that more of the existing housing in rural areas is available to local people. There are currently 24 designated rural areas, and our November 2000 Rural White Paper "Our Countryside: The Future" encouraged other local authorities to consider seeking designation.

  Empty Homes (South-west)
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many empty homes there are in the south-west region. [56025]

  Ms Keeble
  The number of empty homes in the south-west region on 1 April 2001 (latest available data) was 68,200.

  Notes: figure rounded to the nearest 100

  Sources: DTLR's 2001 Housing Strategy statistical appendix return and Housing Corporation's 2001 Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR).

  Mobile Phone Masts
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department has taken to monitor the incidence of mast sharing by mobile phone operators. [55207]

  Ms Keeble
  The Government's policy is firmly to encourage mast and site sharing where that is the optimum environmental solution. Planning Policy Guidance Note 8, "Telecommunications" provides guidance on this.

  In addition, as part of the mobile phone industry's 10 commitments to improve the handling of telecommunications development, operators have pledged to publish clear, transparent and accountable criteria and cross-industry agreement on site sharing.

  The industry sends site sharing statistics to the Department on a quarterly basis as part of this commitment. Latest figures show that, out of the current 10,416 sites that are capable of some form of mast/tower share, 3,669 sites have at least one sharer present. In addition, 2,713 applications for site share are pending.

  St. Thomas' Hospital
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the Government Office for London has provided him with a brief on the site at St Thomas' Hospital known as Block 9. [55410]
  446W
  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government Office for London provides Ministers with a wide range of briefs but it is not the practice to disclose details of internal discussion and advice.

  Planning
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what new planning guidelines will be introduced on the role of regional assemblies in planning applications. [55196]

  Ms Keeble
  We are not proposing to introduce any new planning guidance in relation to the existing role of regional assemblies in planning applications.

  Regional planning bodies already offer advice to local planning authorities and give evidence at an appeal where the planning application raises regional or sub-regional issues relevant to the delivery of regional planning guidance.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 7 May 2002,Official Report, column 24W, if he will place a copy of the analysis by Smith and Williamson of responses to the Planning Green Paper in the Library. [56005]

  Mr. Byers
  I have placed a copy of the consultation analysis in the Library of the House. As Smith and Williamson make clear in their report:"It should be emphasised that this report represents only a partial analysis of the responses to the Green Paper. Many of the standard responses that have been quantitatively analysed have been initiated and influenced by organised campaigns. We suggest that in order to gain a more complete picture of opinions and suggestions regarding the Green Paper's proposals, it will be necessary to consider in more detail the many suggestions and qualifying comments on the standard forms and also the large number of more detailed responses, which it has not been possible to code and quantify, submitted by a wide variety of organisations, groups and individuals."

  I have also therefore placed in the Library a copy of the memorandum provided to the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee which attempts to provide this more qualitative analysis of the detailed responses.

  Housing
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to relax the limitations on local authorities' borrowing against their assets for housing improvements or construction. [55613]

  Ms Keeble
  A change is to be made allow authorities to borrow without Government consent where they can afford to service the debt from available revenue resources. This change requires primary legislation and will be made as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of the likely number of new dwellings that would be required in(a) London and (b) the south-east in order to satisfy predicted housing demand in the next 10 years. [55616]
  447W
  Ms Keeble
  Regional Planning Guidance for London and the south-east (RPG9) provides that 23,000 additional dwellings should be provided in London and 39,000 in the rest of the south-east (including, for these purposes, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex) each year on average until such time as the figures are reviewed.

  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what recent assessment he has made of the costs of building(a) prefabricated houses and flats and (b) non-pre-fabricated permanent houses and flats; [56003]

  (2) what recent discussions he has held with the house building industry on the merits of pre-fabricated housing. [56004]

  Mr. Byers
  It is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

  The Government do not hold benchmark costings on the difference between modular and traditional build. The Peabody Trust have said that their pioneering modular development at Murray Grove was slightly more expensive than a similar sized traditional build development. Costs could be expected to fall with greater volume in further developments.

  Parishes
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many parish councils in England have a population of(a) under 3,000, (b) 3,000 to 10,000, (c) 10,001 to 20,000, (d) 20,001 to 30,000 and (e) over 30,000. [55724]

  Dr. Whitehead
  My Department does not hold current statistics on the populations of all parish councils in England. A survey1 was carried out in 1997 by the Aston Business School, from which the following data have been drawn:

  Population size band

  Councils in England

  Percentage

  Less than 500

  3,252

  40

  500–999

  1,734

  21

  1,000–2,499

  1,591

  20

  2,500–4,999

  760

  9

  5,000–9,999

  487

  6

  10,000–19,999

  251

  3

  20,000 and above

  64

  1

  Total

  8,139

  100

  1DETR 1998 "Local Councils' Use of Section 137: A financial review of parish and town councils in England and their discretion to spend under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972"; ISBN 1 85112 118 8.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many parishes are exempt from the right to buy as a consequence of their population. [55725]

  Ms Keeble
  No parishes are exempt from the right to buy.

  However, when selling properties under the right to buy scheme, landlords may impose restrictions on their resale if they are located in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, or certain rural areas designated for this
  448W
  purpose. An owner may be required to offer the property back to the landlord (if they wish to resell within ten years) or to people who have lived or worked locally for three years. The intention is to try to ensure that more of the existing housing in rural areas is available to local people. There are currently 24 designated rural areas, and our November 2000 Rural White Paper "Our Countryside: The Future" encouraged other local authorities to consider seeking designation.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many parishes are able to claim business rates relief on village shops as a consequence of their population. [55726]

  Dr. Whitehead
  This information is not available.

  To be eligible for rate relief under the village shop scheme, the business must be located in a qualifying rural settlement. Qualifying rural settlements must have a population of no more than 3,000, and be wholly or partly in a rural area that has been designated by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. However, it is the responsibility of the local authority to determine which settlements in its area meet the criteria for the scheme, to identify their boundaries and to place them on its local rural settlement list. Information on their number is not held centrally.

  Local Authority Services
  Miss Kirkbride
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how he will ensure that the new finance system for local authorities will provide an effective framework within which councils can initiate innovative ways of delivering customer-focused services. [54800]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Our comprehensive agenda for reform of the local government finance system was set out in last December's White Paper "Strong Local leadership—Quality Public Services". Our finance reforms will give councils more space to innovate and respond in ways that are appropriate to local circumstances by providing local authorities with greater freedom to borrow, invest, trade, charge and set spending priorities. Our White Paper implementation plan is available on the DTLR website at http://www.dtlr.igov.uk/local-regions/sll/implement/plan/index.htm.

  Electoral Register Sales
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to allow local authorities to sell electoral registers to third parties. [54590]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We have today published a policy paper and draft regulations setting out the Government's intentions for regulations making provision about access to and sale and supply of electoral registers.

  The approach we are adopting strikes a balance between the individual elector's right to privacy and the needs of others to receive the data to carry out their functions. There will be two versions of the register, the

  449W
  data in which will have been compulsorily obtained—a full one, and an edited one containing particulars about only those electors who have not requested that their details be removed from the edited register.

  The full register will be available for electoral purposes, for law enforcement and crime prevention and for other purposes where there is a strong public interest in preserving availability. These include checking identity for credit purposes. The edited register will be available for sale to anyone for any purpose.

  Both the policy statement and the draft regulations have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and on the internet for public comment on the regulations. Our aim, subject to parliamentary approval, is to make the regulations to have effect from the 2002 canvass.

  Special Advisers
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the names and responsibilities of(a) his special advisers and (b)special advisers of his Ministers.[55977]

  Mr. Byers
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 March 2002 Official Report, column 908W.

  Letters of Comfort
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on how many occasions his Department has issued letters of comfort to a private sector contractor. [54285]

  Dr. Whitehead
  As there is no central list of "letters of comfort", this information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Data Protection Act
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of each version of the internal guidance which have been drawn up by his Department since 1 January 1999 to assist staff in his Department to answer subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998. [53375]

  Dr. Whitehead
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Stephen McCabe) on Thursday 25 April 2002,Official Report, column 446W.

  Aga Khan
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings he has had with(a) the Aga Khan and (b) his staff in the last 12 months. [55411]

  Mr. Raynsford
  It is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Developing Countries (Electricity)
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects she has financed in the last three years to improve electricity supply in developing countries, indicating the cost of each and which use renewable technologies. [54614]

  Clare Short
  We are all increasingly providing financial assistance to our partner countries via payments through their central budgets in collaboration with other donors. Under these circumstances it is not possible to separate out the contributions of any one donor to any particular sector.

  We do, however, still have a number of ongoing specific energy projects in some countries. Brief details of our major country projects, together with details of our research projects in this sector and a full list of our activities in the energy sector over the past three years will be placed in the Library of the House.

  We are also contributors to the multi-donor technical co-operation facilities (ESMAP and PPIAF) which have activities in the energy sector, some of which include renewables. Brief details of this work are also available in the Library of the House.

  Fraud and Corruption
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption was in(a) her Department's Vote 1 budget and (b) her Department's Vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [54720]

  Clare Short
  Losses in DFID's Vote 1 and Vote 2 accounts were disclosed separately in the Losses Statement of the Appropriation Accounts 1999–2000 and the Accountability Notes of the Resource Accounts 2000–01.

  The estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption in DFID's Vote 1 budget in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 was £21,000 and £13,000 respectively. Of these amounts, £11,000 and £8,000 can be attributed to the theft of assets, which, in line with Treasury guidance, has been classified as involving departmental staff either directly or through collusion.

  There was no loss in DFID's Vote 2 budget in 1999–2000, but a loss of £0.2,000 was recorded in 2000–01.

  Details of suspected or proven fraud are provided to the Treasury on an annual basis. The annual report that the Treasury prepares on fraud is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Refurbishment
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she was informed that sapele timber had been used in the refurbishment of 1 Palace Street. [56044]
  451W
  Clare Short
  Standard DFID procedures were followed for this refurbishment project. These do not require me to be advised.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Israel
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 29 April 2002,Official Report, column 668, on Israel, what risk assessment has been made regarding the protection of the deployed supervisory wardens from radical groups in the west bank. [54622]

  Mr. Straw
  An assessment has been made of the monitors' security situation in Jericho. I judge this to be satisfactory in the circumstances, though it is plainly not possible to eliminate all risk. Measures have been put in place to enhance the level of protection afforded to the team. They are kept under constant review.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 29 April 2002,Official Report, column 668,on Israel, what contingency plans are in place to ensure the evacuation of the British personnel deployed as supervisory wardens. [54621]

  Mr. Straw
  Contingency plans are in place for the evacuation of personnel deployed as monitors in Jericho, as they are for staff at our consulate-general in Jerusalem. They are kept under constant review.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with(a) the UN and (b) other Governments on a role for international forces in peacekeeping between Israelis and Palestinians. [55575]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  My right hon. the Foreign Secretary is in constant contact with his US and European counterparts about the middle east peace process. He also has regular contact with the UN Secretary General and the parties. These discussions cover the full range of issues including the role of the international community in helping Israel and the Palestinian Authority achieve a ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations.

  There is broad international consensus that an international peacekeeping operation cannot work without the agreement of both parties; a ceasefire to maintain; and a parallel political process. These do not now exist, so the immediate priority must be to help rebuild confidence and create such conditions for progress.

  Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption was in(a) his Department's Vote 1 budget and (b) his Department's Vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01. [54710]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows.452W

  Losses to fraud and corruption

  £

  April 1999 to March 2000

  April 2000 to March 2001

  Vote 1 budget

  FCO fraud

  11,183

  16,326

  Sum recovered

  11,183

  15,553

  Net loss

  0

  773

  Vote 2 budget

  Nil

  Middle East
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the International Criminal Court regarding human rights abuses as a result of the on-going conflict in the middle east; and if he will make a statement. [54989]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court will enter into force on 1 July 2002. The Court, which will formally come into existence on that date, will have no powers to investigate crimes retrospectively.

  Belarus
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Belarusian Government about the Iraqi military delegation visit to Minsk in October 2001; what reports he has received about(a) the aim and (b) the outcome of the visit; and if he will make a statement. [55154]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are aware of press reports from October 2001 that an Iraqi delegation visited Belarus to receive military training and purchase arms. We view any report of actual or proposed transfers of weapons or weapons-related materials to Iraq—by any country—with serious concern. We have no doubt about Iraq's desire to acquire sophisticated weapons systems. We have expressed our concern about the October 2001 reports to the Belarusian Government and raised our concerns at the United Nations Iraq Sanctions Committee. We made clear in both instances our expectation that the Belarusian Government will continue to take all possible steps to ensure that arms sales and other transactions that violate UN Security Council resolutions will not take place.

  Ministerial Accommodation
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what publicly owned accommodation is made available to him in his official role; how many nights he has been in residence at each of these properties in the last 12 months; and what the total cost was of maintaining each of these properties in the last 12 months. [55093]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 9 May. 2002]: The official London residence of the Foreign Secretary is at 1 Carlton Gardens. I use the day rooms on the ground and first floors for meetings, receptions and entertaining. There is a self-contained residential apartment on the upper floor, which I have never occupied. This was occupied by my.
  453W
  right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) when he was Foreign Secretary, and continues to be occupied by him, as President of the Council. As Foreign Secretary he was 35 nights in residence between 1 April 2001 and 7 June 2001. Total maintenance costs during this period were £2,790.68. From 8 June 2001 the costs of the residential apartment are to he met by the Privy Council Office. I do have both official and private use of Chevening House, Sevenoaks. This is owned by a private trust.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances(a) British nationals and (b) British passport holders would receive official help to leave Zimbabwe. [55597]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are approximately 26,000 British nationals registered with the British High Commission in Harare. The British High Commission in Harare stands ready to offer what assistance they can to British nationals of all categories who seek their help to leave Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has drawn up contingency plans to help UK citizens and UK passport holders evacuate Zimbabwe in the event of a breakdown of law and order there. [55596]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have a Civil Contingency Plan in place for Zimbabwe, as we do for many other countries. This is under constant review. Any evacuation would be a last resort and by whatever means available at that time.

  Madagascar
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are resident in Madagascar; and what relationships are established between Madagascar and the United Kingdom in the(a) economic, (b) political and (c) cultural fields. [55204]

  Mr. MacShane
  Our embassy in Antananarivo estimates that there are some 160 British citizens in Madagascar.

  Bilateral links between Madagascar and the UK are strong. We have been working hard to maintain these, despite the difficult political and economic situation that has developed since the disputed presidential election in December 2001. We continue to support the efforts of the Organisation of African Unity to broker an agreement between the parties which will break the political impasse.

  The UK supports a number of small scale projects in Madagascar, particularly in the area of penal reform, and a number of British environmental NGOs are active there. Cultural links are growing: the BBC World Service rebroadcasts locally on FM, and there is increasing interest in learning English.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the political agreement reached on 22 April by the rival presidential contenders in Madagascar; and what steps he will take to seek the investigation of human 454W
  rights violations and the establishment of a permanent mechanism for the protection of human rights for all sections of the population. [55203]

  Mr. MacShane
  We welcomed the signature of the Dakar Accord by Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka on 18 April. We regret that the parties have not, since then, been able to take the necessary steps to break the political deadlock. We continue to believe that the Dakar Accord provides the best basis for a settlement, and therefore support President Wade of Senegal's initiative for a second round of talks in Dakar on 14–15 May.

  We, with our EU partners, the US, the OAU and UN will continue to encourage the two parties to work together to find a peaceful solution to the impasse, including the need to respect the human rights of all the Malagasy people.

  Visitor Visas
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people were refused visitors' visas by British high commission offices in(a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Sri Lanka in the last 12 months. [55197]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The total number of visitor visa applications (including family visit applications) refused between April 2001 to March 2002 is as follows:

  Pakistan: 32,133

  India: 23,891

  Sri Lanka: 4,199

  Statistics for April 2002 are not yet available.

  British Indian Ocean Territory
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to enable Ilois people to be able to visit the Chagos Islands; and if he will make a statement. [55604]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 10 April 2002,Official Report, column 56W.

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from environmental organisations concerning the protection of the British Indian Ocean Territories; and if he will make a statement. [55605]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The BIOT Government receives representations from various environmental organisations such as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum and the Friends of Chagos on environmental matters in BIOT. The BIOT Government invests considerable time and effort on environmental and ecological issues.

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental impact assessments he holds concerning the effects of US military activity on Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement. [55623]
  455
  Mr. Bradshaw
  The BIOT Government employ a Conservation Consultant who makes annual visits to the territory to assess the state of the environment and report to the Commissioner. The last such visit was in February/March 2002.

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what income has been received from the USA for the use of Diego Garcia as a military base since its establishment; when the lease expires; and if he will make a statement. [55606]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The United States pays no rent or makes any similar payment in respect of its right to use the British Indian Ocean Territory, including Diego Garcia, for defence purposes. However, in 1965, when it became clear that the costs of setting up the territory as a separate dependency would exceed original estimates, the US Government agreed to contribute £5 million towards these costs.

  No part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, including Diego Garcia, has been leased to the United States. Under the 1966 Agreement between the UK and USA Governments, the islands will remain available to meet the defence needs of both Governments until 2016, and then for a further period of 20 years, unless either side has previously given notice of termination.

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his officials have had on the licensing of fishing for commercial purposes within the British Indian Ocean Territories. [55607]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The BIOT Government regularly holds talks with their fisheries consultants who are responsible for negotiating commercial fishing rights within BIOT waters. The fishing licences themselves are issued by the BIOT Government in London.

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations have been made by his Department for the receipt of passport applications by Ilois people living in(a) Mauritius, (b) Seychelles and (c) elsewhere. [55608]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Chagossians living in Mauritius and Seychelles apply for British passports to the British high commissions in those countries. They should continue to do so when section 3 of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 comes into force on 21 May 2002. Arrangements have been made so that, in the event of a large number of applications being received, the British high commission in Pretoria, which has a large passport issuing section, will issue their passports. Chagossians living elsewhere should apply to their nearest British passport issuing office.

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to authorise the processing of British passport applications from Ilois people within the terms of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002.[55624]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs signed a Commencement Order on 1 May which will bring the citizenship provisions of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 into force on 21 May 2002.
  456W
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive and publish a report on the possibility of resettlement of the Chagos Islands; and if he will make a statement. [55609]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The results of Phase 2B of a study investigating the feasibility of resettlement on some of the outer islands of the Chagos Archipelago are expected to be available by mid 2002.

  India
  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made with the Government of India regarding bilateral training initiatives in counter terrorism. [54096]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In January 2002 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee agreed to enhance significantly our bilateral co-operation in counter-terrorism, including training. This commitment was soon followed by a visit to India by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's counter terrorism adviser to discuss areas where we could deepen existing bilateral counter-terrorism co-operation. We subsequently held a successful aviation security course in New Delhi for officials from India and the region. On 25 April, the UK/India Joint Working on Terrorism met in London to discuss international terrorism as well as opportunities for further co-operation on training.

  British Prisoners Overseas
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many(a) men and (b) women of British nationality are serving a prison sentence in an overseas country; and in which country the sentence is being served in each case. [54246]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  On 30 April 2002 we were aware of 2,030 British nationals serving custodial sentences in prisons overseas. Of these 1,753 are men and 277 are women. The table gives details of how many prisoners are in each country. The statistics represent only those prisoners who have asked the local authorities to inform the British consulate of their arrest and sentence.

  Country

  Number of prisoners

  Albania

  0

  Algeria

  0

  Angola

  0

  Antigua

  1

  Argentina

  3

  Armenia

  0

  Australia

  101

  Austria

  11

  Azerbaijan

  0

  Bahamas

  0

  Bahrain

  1

  Bangladesh

  3

  Barbados

  24

  Belarus

  0

  Belgium

  31

  Belize

  0

  Bolivia

  1

  Bosnia and Herzegovina

  0

  Brazil

  7

  Brunei

  0

  Bulgaria

  0

  457

  Country

  Number of prisoners

  Burma

  0

  Burundi

  0

  Cambodia

  1

  Cameroon

  0

  Canada

  51

  Chile

  1

  China

  1

  Colombia

  5

  Costa Rica

  4

  Croatia

  0

  Cuba

  5

  Cyprus

  7

  Czech Republic

  0

  Denmark

  10

  Dominica

  1

  Dominican Republic

  1

  Ecuador

  6

  Egypt

  2

  El Salvador

  0

  Estonia

  1

  Ethiopia

  1

  Finland

  3

  France

  163

  Georgia

  0

  Germany

  130

  Ghana

  0

  Grand Cayman

  0

  Greece

  8

  Grenada

  13

  Guatemala

  0

  Guyana

  2

  Haiti

  0

  Honduras

  0

  Hong Kong

  8

  Hungary

  1

  India

  23

  Indonesia

  6

  Iran

  0

  Ireland

  104

  Israel

  6

  Italy

  23

  Jamaica

  110

  Japan

  52

  Jordan

  0

  Kazakhstan

  0

  Kenya

  2

  Kuwait

  1

  Latvia

  0

  Lebanon

  1

  Lithuania

  0

  Madagascar

  0

  Malawi

  1

  Malaysia

  2

  Mali

  0

  Malta

  6

  Mauritius

  2

  Mexico

  1

  Mongolia

  0

  Monteserrat

  0

  Morocco

  13

  Mozambique

  0

  Namibia

  0

  Nepal

  1

  New Zealand

  7

  Nicaragua

  0

  Nigeria

  0

  Norway

  2

  Oman

  2

  Pakistan

  2

  Panama

  5

  Papua New Guinea

  0

  Peru

  8

  Philippines

  14

  Portugal

  10

  458w

  Country

  Number of prisoners

  Qatar

  2

  Romania

  2

  Russian Federation

  2

  Rwanda

  0

  Saudi Arabia

  16

  Senegal

  0

  Seychelles

  0

  Sierra Leone

  1

  Singapore

  10

  Slovakia

  0

  Slovenia

  0

  Solomon Islands

  0

  South Africa

  29

  South Korea

  1

  Spain

  221

  Sri Lanka

  0

  St Lucia

  6

  St. Vincent and Grenadines

  5

  Surinam

  1

  Swaziland

  0

  Sweden

  34

  Switzerland

  2

  Syria

  1

  Tanzania

  0

  Thailand

  31

  The Gambia

  1

  The Netherlands

  48

  Togo

  0

  Tonga

  0

  Trinidad and Tobago

  13

  Tunisia

  0

  Turkey

  7

  Turkmenistan

  0

  Ukraine

  0

  United Arab Emirates

  22

  United States of America

  537

  Uzbekistan

  0

  Uruguay

  0

  Vanuatu

  0

  Venezuela

  25

  Vietnam

  1

  Yugoslavia

  0

  Zambia

  0

  Zimbabwe

  0

  Total

  2,030

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Gibraltar. [55858]

  Peter Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) on 7 May 2002,Official Report, columns 151–2W.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had regarding(a) shared sovereignty and (b) the Spanish claim to full sovereignty of Gibraltar with the Spanish Foreign Minister during the talks in Valencia. [55861]

  Peter Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 24 April 2002,Official Report, columns 294–95W.

  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Government of Gibraltar prior to announcing his intention to visit Gibraltar. [55063]
  459
  Peter Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) on 7 May 2002,Official Report, column 152W.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the recent findings by the European Commission of breaches by Spain of EU law which affect Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [54574]

  Peter Hain
  To answer this question would incur disproportionate cost. It would be necessary to identify and review every case in the European Court of Justice between the European Commission and Spain, since Spain's accession to the EU in 1986, to ascertain whether a breach of EU law was found, and consider whether the judgment had any affect on Gibraltar's law. The judgments of the European Court of Justice are published in Reports of Cases before the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance, which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

  Any judgment of the ECJ against a member state potentially has implications for the law of another member state. The UK Government look to the Commission to ensure that all EU member states, including Spain, abide by their EU obligations.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for each of the last five years, how much financial support and what percentage of the whole allocation her Department allocated for research and development as sources of energy of(a) wind, (b) wave, (c) biomass, (d) solar, (e) hydrogen, (f) nuclear, (g) coal and (h) gas; and in each case what percentage this represented of the whole sum spent on such matters by her. [53825]

  Mr. Wilson
  Over the last five years, the Department of Trade and Industry has spent the following amounts on energy research and development, covering renewable

  DTI expenditure on energy R and D1

  (£ million)

  1997–98 (Percentage)

  (£ million)

  1998–99 (Percentage)

  (£ million)

  1999–2000 (Percentage)

  (£ million)

  2000–01 (Percentage)

  (£ million)

  2001–02 (Percentage)

  Sustainable energy

  DTI programme

  13.0

  35.3

  11.3

  36.9

  12.5

  38.6

  13.1

  39.7

  12.2

  34.4

  Research Councils

  2.9

  7.9

  3.1

  10.1

  2.4

  7.4

  2.8

  8.5

  5.0

  14.1

  Total

  15.9

  43.2

  14.4

  47.1

  14.9

  46.0

  15.9

  48.2

  17.2

  48.6

  Nuclear fusion

  16.6

  45.1

  12.6

  41.2

  14.4

  44.4

  14.3

  43.3

  14.3

  40.4

  Coal2

  4.1

  11.1

  3.4

  11.1

  2.9

  9.0

  2.6

  7.9

  3.7

  10.5

  Oil and gas

  0.2

  0.5

  0.2

  0.7

  0.2

  0.6

  0.2

  0.6

  0.2

  0.6

  Total

  36.8

  100

  30.6

  100

  32.4

  100

  33.0

  100

  35.4

  100

  1£ million and percentage of total DTI energy R and D spend for the year.

  2Cleaner Coal programme.

  Notes:

  1. The DTI Sustainable Energy Programme supports work on export promotion and technology transfer as well as projects relating to specific renewable energy technologies. Figures include programme management costs.

  2. The figures for oil and gas relate to the SHARP programme covering improved oil recovery and gas research.

  3. There may also be some Research Council supported R and D relating to coal, oil and gas.

  4.2001–02 figures are subject to revision.

  460
  (including wind, wave, biomass, solar and hydrogen); nuclear (where DTI spending has been confined to research on fusion); coal; and oil and gas. The table gives the percentages spent in each of these categories.

  The DTI supports research and development on sustainable energy technologies both through its Sustainable Energy Programme and through the Research Councils. Over the last five years, expenditure through the programme on wind energy has been in the range £1.2 million to £1.7 million per year; on wave energy, in the range £0 to £0.9 million per year; on biomass, in the range £1.8 million to £2.2 million per year; on solar, in the range £1.4 to £2 million per year; and on fuel cells (including some expenditure on hydrogen), in the range £1.2 million to £1.8 million per year. Relevant work supported through the Research Councils would be additional to these figures. The Sustainable Energy Programme also supports cross-technology work in the areas of technology transfer, export promotion and policy support.

  Provision for research and development through the Sustainable Energy Programme increases to £19 million for 2002–03 and through the Research Councils to £5.6 million. Additionally, the DTI has been assigned a further £5 million over three years for wave and tidal demonstration projects and a further £4 million for net metering, storage and control demonstration projects.

  The Government have also set up capital grants programmes in the following areas to bring forward new renewable energy technologies:
  £74 million for offshore wind (including £10 million from the New Opportunities Fund);£69 million for bioenergy (including £36 million from the new opportunities Fund and £3 million for biomass heating);£20 million for photovoltaics (PV).
  The R and D and capital grants programmes supplement the substantial boost for renewable energy being provided by the Renewables Obligation. Estimated maximum payments available under the Renewables Obligation for England and Wales and the corresponding Renewables Obligation (Scotland) for 2002–03 are £282 million. The level of the Obligation is set to rise each year to 2010-11, when maximum payments for the year are estimated to reach £1 billion.
  461

  Alternative Fuels
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions her Department has held with companies regarding the conversion of fleet vehicles to alternative fuels. [51966]

  Mr. Wilson
  I refer to my answer given to the hon. Member previously on 23 April 2002,Official Report, column 298W.

  Sellafield

  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Health and Safety Executive were first informed that the sludge storage tanks in building B241 at Sellafield were leaking. [53632]

  Mr. Wilson
  BNFL staff first discussed a suspected leak to ground from sludge tank number 4 in B241 with the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear inspectors at a meeting in October 1993.

  British Aerospace

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial assistance she granted to British Aerospace, and what the purpose was of each element, in each of the last five years. [53826]

  Alan Johnson
  In March 2000 HMG committed £530 million to BAE SYSTEMS in launch investment towards the design and development costs of the wings for the Airbus A380 "superjumbo". This commitment was subsequently novated to Airbus UK in anticipation of the restructuring of Airbus from a consortium to a single integrated company, which took effect in July 2001.

  In the past 5 years British Aerospace / BAE SYSTEMS received the following funding for a number of projects under the DTI's civil aeronautics research programme:

  £million

  Year

  1997–98

  2.8

  1998–99

  2.1

  1999–2000

  3.4

  2000–01

  2.0

  2001–02

  1.5

  Following the restructuring of Airbus, a number of the civil aeronautics research projects-which had a value of £1.1 million in 2001–02—were novated to Airbus UK.

  The company has also participated in a number of LINK collaborative projects, part-funded by DTI.

  Rural Awareness
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when her Department will have rural proofing embedded in policy-making procedures as set out in the Countryside Agency's report, "Rural Proofing in 2001–02"; [54432]

  (2) when her Department will establish rural targets and monitoring as part of overall rural proofing measures as set out in the Countryside Agency's report, "Rural Proofing in 2001–02"; [54411]
  462W
  (3)when her Department will introduce measures to raise rural awareness through staff (a) training, (b) development and (c) secondments as part of overall rural proofing measures set out in the Countryside Agency's report "Rural Proofing in 2001–02". [54421]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to this question by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 May 2002,Official Report, columns 273–74W.

  Refrigerants
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received concerning the equity of international standards-setting guidelines for refrigerants; and if she will make a statement. [54628]

  Mr. Wilson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received several representations from manufacturers of hydrocarbon refrigerants.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made concerning United Kingdom Government policy on HFCs to the international standards-setting body responsible for refrigeration standards. [54627]

  Mr. Wilson
  None. The standardisation process is independent of governments: representation is made through national standards bodies which, for the UK, is the British Standards Institution.

  Milk
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will refer the matter of the sale of milk to the competition authorities. [54222]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 7 May 2002]: Under UK competition legislation the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets and investigating allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. Any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour should be sent directly to the Office of Fair Trading.

  Directory Inquiries
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the market for directory inquiries services will be open to new entrants. [54823]

  Mr. Alexander
  The opening of the market for Directory enquiries is a matter for Oftel. New Codes facilitating the introduction of competition in this area will be introduced from October 2002.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what method directory inquiry calls will be routed after the market is opened to new entrants. [54820]

  Mr. Alexander
  The regulation of the market for directory inquiries services is a matter for the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel). The Director General of Telecommunications will write to the hon. Member with details of how directory inquiry calls will be routed after the market is opened to new entrants.
  463W

  Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema Claims
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out the policy issues which need to be resolved to enable final settlements to be made to chronic bronchitis and emphysema claims. [55004]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Department has now agreed a revised version of Schedule 10 of the Claims Handling Agreement (CHA) with the claimants' solicitors. Schedule 10 determines the level of special damages to which a claimant is entitled. In addition, small cohorts of claimants are affected by on-going negotiations on surface dust and coal-mining related co-defendants.

  Consignia
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 1 May 2002,Official Report, column 792W, what discussions between Consignia and parties other than the Dutch post office regarding a possible sale of, merger with, or equity investment in, Consignia have taken place in the last 12 months. [55012]

  Mr. Alexander
  Apart from the negotiations with TPG about a possible merger as set out in my answer on 1 May 2002,Official Report, column 792W, the Department have not been notified, during the last 12 months, about any discussions between Consignia and other parties regarding a possible sale of equity, merger or equity investment.

  Universal Bank
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry What progress has been made with discussions with the European Commission on the EU rules which forbid the Government of member state from subsiding banks in relation to the proposed universal bank project. [55005]

  Mr. Alexander
  The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to universal banking services. It informed the Government in February 2002 that it considers the measures notified to it to be compatible with the common market.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of state for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by the administration section of the Export Credits Guarantee Department under code B4 (Grant and transfers: current) in the appropriation accounts on IT expenditure in the last five financial years; how much was paid to each IT company; What the nature of the project was; and if she will make a statement. [54361]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 8 May 2002]: Details of amounts of money paid to individual companies are commercially confidential. I have listed ECGD's total spend on IT for each financial year 1997–98 to 2001–01 and broken the total down into five areas of expenditure. Copies are available in the Library. Also provided are the names of the companies employed by ECGD to provide IT services in those years and an outline of the services provided. I have not included figures for 2001–02 as these have yet to be audited.
  464
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by the administration section of the Export Credits Guarantee Department under code B4 (Grant and transfers: current) in the appropriation accounts on consultancy fees in the last five financial years; how much was paid to each consultancy company; what the nature was of the project in each year; and if she will make a statement. [54358]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 8 May 2002]: Details of amounts of money paid to individual companies are commercially confidential. I have listed ECGD's total spend on consultancy for each of the financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01, the names of the companies or individuals employed by ECGD as consultants in those years and an outline of the service provided. Figures for 2001–02 have not been included as these have yet to be audited.

  Year 1997–98: Consultancy spend £146,501.71

  Company or individual

  Service provided

  C.O.I.

  Publications

  CDR International

  Training

  Coda plc

  Accountancy

  Doyle Clutton Associates

  Accountancy

  Four Acre Accountants Ltd.

  Accountancy

  French Thornton

  Change Management Consultancy

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  Recruitment

  Idon Ltd.

  Training

  KPMG CHAPS

  Recruitment

  Marketing Improvements Group plc

  Customer Survey

  Pricewaterhouse Coopers

  Review of Aircraft Finance Practice

  Record Currency Management Ltd.

  Training

  Standard and Poors NY

  Corporate Risk Consultancy

  Year 1998–99: Consultancy spend £331,821.49

  Company or individual

  Service provided

  David Parker

  Translation

  Emslie Phelps

  Training

  Environmental Resources Management

  Environment Policy Consultancy

  French Thornton

  Change Management Consultancy

  IBM UK Ltd.

  IT Services

  KPMG

  Internal Audit Consultancy

  Lavant Consulting Ltd.

  Business Adviser

  Marketing Improvements Group

  Customer Survey

  Rimell Associates

  IT Services

  Standard and Poor's Rating Group

  Risk Management Consultancy

  Standard and Poor's NY

  Risk Management Consultancy

  Year 1999–2000: Consultancy spend £514,649.98

  Company or individual

  Service provided

  CMG (UK) Ltd.

  IT Services

  David Parker

  Translation

  Deloitte and Touche

  Accountancy

  Emslie Phelps

  Training

  Ernst and Young

  Risk Management

  Jean Caines

  Press and public Relations Consultancy

  KPMG

  Risk Management Review

  National Economic Research Assocs

  Economic Rationale Review

  Record Currency Management Ltd.

  Financial Risk Management

  Standard and Poors Rating Group

  Training

  Year 2000–01: Consultancy spend £757,681.14

  Company or individual

  Service provided

  Alan Brown

  Risk Management

  Atalink Ltd.

  Publications

  Berry Palmer and Lyle Ltd.

  Active Portfolio Management Project

  C.O.I.

  Publications

  CMG (UK) Ltd.

  IT Services

  465W

  Year 2000–01: Consultancy spend £757,681.14

  Company or individual

  Service provided

  Coda Group Holdings Ltd.

  Financial

  Deloitte and Touche

  Accountancy

  Dion Durrell and Associates Ltd.

  Active Portfolio Management Project

  Hays Accountancy Personnel

  Recruitment

  National Economic Research Assocs.

  Economic Rationale Review

  Record Currency Management Ltd.

  Financial Risk Management

  Risk Control Ltd.

  Risk Management

  Small Computer Company

  Training

  Cold Calling
  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to regulate the practice of cold calling. [55181]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Protection is provided by the Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987, the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000, the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999 and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

  Business Grants
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the grants and other help that she administers that are available to industrial and commercial businesses located in(a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Pendle. [55428]

  Alan Johnson
  DTI does not administer any grants or funding for businesses in Scotland or Wales with the exception of the Coal Operating Scheme. Other grants and funding are covered by the relevant devolved Administrations.

  Grants and business support services for small companies can be accessed via the local business link which is administered by the Small Business Service. The Small Business Service itself covers the whole UK but in Scotland and Wales the arrangements for business support delivery are again a matter for the devolved Administrations.

  In addition, small and medium sized enterprises in Pendle can apply for the Enterprise Grant Scheme, most of Pendle is covered by transitional Objective 2 of the European Structural Funds until 2005, and the North West Development Agency aims to promote business development in the region.

  The DTI publication 'Financing your Business' describes the various types of business finance available and lists sources of further information.

  Postal Deliveries
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many derogations there are for addresses in(a) Aberdeenshire and (b) Banffshire where Royal Mail are not obliged to provide a delivery service direct to the door; and if she will make a statement. [55164]

  Mr. Alexander
  [holding answer 9 May 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Mr. Brown) on 25 February 2002, Official Report, columns 847–48W.
  466W
  Since I gave that answer Postcomm issued a third interim Direction (which is still in force) on 26 March 2002 and I am placing a copy of that Direction in the Libraries of the House.

  CASIM Project
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in the assessment and location of the CASIM project. [55482]

  Ms Hewitt
  Peer review assessments of both elements of the project, CASIM 4GLS and CASIM SIRIUS were considered by the Director General of Research Councils and the Research Councils' chief executives at a meeting on 16 April 2002. It was agreed that 4GLS should proceed to the next stage of the Office of Government Commerce Gateway review process. In the case of SIRIUS it was recommended that further discussions between the Office of Science and Technology and the Department of Health, the two main prospective funders, should take place before any decision was taken on project viability or location.

  Edmonton B Power Station
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will decide on the development of the Edmonton B power station. [55349]

  Mr. Wilson
  A decision will be announced shortly.

  Unfair Trading
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been received by the Competition Commission in respect of unfair trading in each year since its formation. [55812]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Complaints of unfair trading are received by the Office of Fair Trading. Relevant statistics can be found in the OFT's annual report, a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House.

  Electricity Regulation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to update the electricity safety, quality and continuity regulations; and if she will make a statement. [56139]

  Mr. Wilson
  The proposed Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations will replace the existing Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 (as amended). The main objective of the proposed Regulations is to improve safety standards in the new electricity market while preserving important public safety, power quality and supply continuity requirements in the existing Regulations. The draft Regulations will be finalised shortly following the public consultation exercise carried out last year and further discussions with interested parties since then. Allowing time for the approval process and publication of detailed Guidance Notes 12 weeks in advance of the introduction of regulations in accordance with Government guidelines, it is anticipated the new regulations will commence in November 2002.

  In addition to the Guidance Notes, the Government's response to the comments received during the public consultation exercise will be published in due course.
  467W

  Energy Review
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as a result of the recent energy review, what discussions she is having with energy providers to ensure that account is taken of local security of supply. [55617]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have requested a study into the resilience of the electricity supply networks in an emergency, in order to obtain reassurance that we have the best possible systems in place to avoid or minimise supply failure, together with examples of good practice in emergency preparedness. Our consultants, British Power International (BPI), visited all the electricity transmission and distribution licence-holding companies in mainland Britain during March, and will be reporting shortly.

  DTI's Engineering Inspectorate has been dealing with a small number of cases in which consumers in rural areas are complaining about frequent interruptions to their electricity supply, and Ofgem has taken important steps to strengthen the incentives on distribution companies to provide a good quality of service to consumers. From 1 April 2002 a new Guaranteed Standard of Performance was introduced which will mean that consumers that suffer more than three interruptions of more than three hours duration over the course of the year will receive a compensation payment of £50. This protection is directly aimed at 'worst-served' consumers. Ofgem has also introduced an incentive scheme for distribution companies that focuses on key areas quality of service—the number of interruptions to supply, the duration of interruptions to supply and the quality of telephone response provided by distribution companies. Taken together these mechanisms provide significant additional protection to consumers in respect of the quality of service they receive from distribution companies.

  The introduction of widespread distributed generation in electricity networks will certainly raise some technical issues not previously faced by electricity distributors. Close monitoring of developments in embedded generation is necessary by all those involved to ensure the emerging security of supply issues are identified and managed. Following on from the report of the joint DTI-Ofgem Embedded Generation Working Group (EGWG) in June 2001 www.dti.gov.uk/energy/egwg/index.htm, the Government has recently established a Co-ordinating Group, jointly led by the DTI and Ofgem, to monitor the implementation of the EGWG recommendations and to advise Ministers of potential problems.

PRIME MINISTER

  Royal Family
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the agreement in force between the Government and the Royal Family on the payment of death duties by members of the Royal Family. [55572]

  The Prime Minister
  The inheritance tax arrangements are set out in paragraphs 20 to 23 of the Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC 464) published on 11 February 1993.
  468W
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure the will of the Her late Majesty the Queen Mother is published. [55826]

  The Prime Minister
  In line with a long standing convention for dealing with the wills of senior members of the Royal Family, an order has been made by the High Court for the sealing up of the will of the late Queen Mother, which means that the will cannot be inspected or published. Therefore, I do not intend to take any steps to ensure publication of the will.

  European Commission
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy towards the direct election of the President of the European Commission. [55692]

  The Prime Minister
  It is not our policy.

  Annual Government Report
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will reconsider publishing an annual Government report. [56277]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 12 July 2001,Official Report, column 638W.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Prime Minister if the work of Professor Michael Barber contributed to his recently announced initiative to reduce child benefit payments to the mothers of persistent young offenders; and if he will make a statement. [56006]

  The Prime Minister
  No. This is one of a range of proposals which the responsible Departments are looking at.

  Civil Servants
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Prime Minister how many Ministers have concluded contractual agreements with civil servants which include a clause restricting the ability of parties to the agreement to make public statements since 1 May 1997. [55923]

  The Prime Minister
  All civil servants are employed under terms and conditions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. Responsibility for personnel matters within individual Departments is delegated by the Minister to the Permanent Head of the Department.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Criminal Justice
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many construction projects are planned for use of agencies or organisations associated with the criminal justice system; for each project, what his estimate is of(a) completion date and (b) total cost to completion; what the involvement of the private sector is;

  469W
  and what provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems and other symbols on the exterior and interior of buildings within each project. [34127]

  Mr. Browne
  I am sorry for the delay in answering.

  Two construction projects are planned for the use of the Juvenile Justice Board (scheduled to become the Youth Justice Agency with effect from April 2003). The projects relate to the rationalisation of the Juvenile Justice Estate and were announced in Parliament by the then Northern Ireland Minister of State, Adam Ingram on 29 November 2000.

  The first project, phase I, involves upgrading security and refurbishing the accommodation on the existing Rathgael site in Bangor, to facilitate the closure of Lisnevin. The construction project is scheduled to be completed by autumn 2002. The contract was awarded as a design and build project at a tender cost of £2.8 million. Private sector involvement in phase I relates to the appointment of a design team and main building contractor. No provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems and other symbols on the exterior and interior of buildings within this project.

  The second project, phase 2, is the provision of a new, purpose designed centre, also to be located on land at Rathgael. When fully commissioned, the new centre will replace the phase I facility. Planning the phase 2 project is at a very early stage. It is estimated to take about four to five years to complete the project. It is not possible to give an accurate estimated cost, but based on similar facilities, it is anticipated that the cost should be in the region of £12 million to £15 million. In keeping with Government policy, we will be examining various procurement methods including PFI/PPP. It is intended to utilise various expertise from the private sector to establish the most cost-effective method of procuring this facility. The extent of their involvement will become clearer once the project has been properly scoped and all the issues addressed as part of the outline business case.

  As in phase 1, no provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems and other symbols on the exterior and interior of buildings within this project.

  The Northern Ireland Prison Service has three construction projects planned at present, a new inmates kitchen at HMP Maghaberry, at a cost of £1.9 million which will be completed in October 2003. New programmes village at HMP Magilligan at a cost of £1 million which will be completed in December 2002 and a new visitors reception at HM YOC Hydebank at a cost of £800,000 which is due for completion in January 2003.

  A private sector contractor will be involved in the design and construction of the inmates kitchen at HMP Maghaberry. The remaining projects will involve the private sector in the construction phase only. No provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems, and other symbols on the exterior or interior of the buildings.

  The Northern Ireland Court Service is at the very early stage of plans to build new courthouses in Lisburn and North Down with anticipated completion dates of 2005 and 2006 respectively. Public private partnership is the preferred funding route and, in this event, the only costs incurred at completion would be consultancy from the
  470W
  private sector estimated at £500,000. All construction work will be carried out by the private sector. Construction work for a courthouse in Dungannon is already under way and is due for completion in November this year, at an approximate cost of £11 million. This is not a public private partnership project. Provision for the display of flags, emblems or other symbols at these venues will be in accordance with Government policy as articulated in the Criminal Justice Review Implementation Plan and the Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill. The practical steps to give effect to this policy would be taken at the appropriate stage in the construction project.

  The Northern Ireland Office has entered into an agreement with the Northern Ireland Bar to rent a new headquarters building for the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The building is currently being constructed by Bar Library Services Ltd. and is due to be completed by 31 December 2002.

  As part of the Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland the DPP will be undertaking an exercise to consider the development of offices outside Belfast. The extent and number of such have not yet been identified.

  The Government's policy on the display of flags at Government buildings is set out in the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. The display of emblems and other symbols is in accordance with the Belfast Agreement which acknowledged the sensitivity of the use of symbols for public purposes, and the need to ensure that such symbols are used in a manner which promotes mutual respect rather than division.

  De Chastelain Process
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the de Chastelain process is responsible for monitoring terrorists groups' acquisitions of new weapons. [54825]

  Jane Kennedy
  No. General de Chastelain's remit is to facilitate the decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons as set out in August 1997 in the Agreement between this Government and the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

  Castlereagh Police Station
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the report into the break-in at Castlereagh Police Station on 17 March will be completed. [55016]

  Jane Kennedy
  Sir John Chilcot is currently conducting his review into the national security implications of the break-in at Castlereagh police station which is running in parallel with the criminal investigation. Both the review and the investigation must be allowed to take their course and I have not set a deadline for Sir John to complete his work.

  Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether the Belfast International Airport Constabulary will be brought within the remit of the new Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice; [55829]
  471W
  (2) what progress has been made since 19 April to produce a comprehensive list of organisations to come within the remit of the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice. [55722]

  Mr. Browne
  During the passage of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill through the House of Commons, I undertook to review the list of organisations within the remit of the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice. I have written to initiate consultations with 19 organisations and I am awaiting final responses from a number of these. It is important that there is proper consultation with these organisations before final decisions are taken. As part of the consultation process, and to assist in identifying functions within these organisations which it might be appropriate to bring within the inspectorate's remit, a number of useful exploratory meetings have taken place. The Belfast International Airport Authority is one of the bodies with whom consultations are progressing.

  Departmental Spending
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately-provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if he will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case. [34378]

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

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by(a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by his Department and how much reclaimed. [34453]

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

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Pensions
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what the annual financial effect was on the Church of England's pension arrangements of the removal of the payable tax credit was in the last 12 months. [54003]

  Mr. Bell
  The removal of the tax credit has reduced the Church Commissioners' investment returns and cut the amount of money available to support the Church by £7 million p.a. It has also increased the cost of pension 472W
  contributions over the last 12 months by £3 million. Both these sums have had to be raised by dioceses and parishes from their congregations.

  Church Repairs
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what the cost was to the Church Commissioners of church repairs in the last financial year. [54005]

  Mr. Bell
  The cost of church repairs is borne by the individual church congregations and figures are not held centrally. However, as the House will already know from previous answers, following a survey the estimated cost of repairs to and maintenance of Anglican Churches in 1999 was £120 million. No more recent survey has been undertaken.

  These figures do not include the huge hidden subsidy of voluntary support within parishes or of the expert guidance within the faculty jurisdiction system.

  The Commissioners have some small liabilities for the chancels of around 800 parish churches. In 2000, this cost almost £700,000.

  Franks Allotments, Walcote
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the proposal by the Diocese of Leicester to sell the Franks allotments in Walcote. [54006]

  Mr. Bell
  No, Sir. The land in question belongs to the Leicester Diocesan Board of Education and the Church Commissioners have no connection with any proposals to sell it.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Accommodation Centres
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislation is required to permit the construction of the proposed asylum accommodation centres; what powers his Department has to prepare for their construction before such legislation has received Royal Assent; and if he will make a statement. [35641]

  Angela Eagle
  I am sorry the hon. Member has not received an earlier reply, this was due to an administrative error.

  There are existing powers in part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 which permit the Home Secretary to acquire property for the purposes of providing accommodation for destitute asylum seekers and their dependants.

  New powers in relation to accommodation centres are in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill which was published on 12 April 2002.

  Asylum and Immigration Legislation
  Mr. Coleman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a bill on asylum and immigration; and if he will make a statement. [43238]
  473W
  Angela Eagle
  I am very sorry for the delay in replying to my hon. Friend; this was due to an administrative error. The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill was published on 12 April 2002.

  Asylum Seekers
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is planned that monetary support for asylum seekers through the ARC card system will be provided in cash only; and if he will make a statement. [44442]

  Angela Eagle
  All financial support for asylum seekers is being provided in cash using existing systems. Later in the year it is envisaged that asylum seekers will use their Application Registration Care (ARC)—which will provide a useful way of verifying their identity—to access their financial support which will be provided in cash.

  Mr. W. R. Glenie
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Immigration Office to return the passport belonging to Mr. W. R. Glenie of Kingsbridge, Devon, lodged on 14 December 2001, by 21 March; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in processing it. [43836]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 18 March 2002]: I am very sorry for the delay in replying to the hon. Member this was due to an administrative error. Mr. Glenie's documents were returned to him on 18 March 2002 following completion of his fiancée's application for leave to remain.

  Unpaid Advisers
  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of the unpaid advisers appointed by him and his predecessor since June 1997, stating in each case(a) the date of their appointment, (b) the duration of their appointment and (c) the project or projects on which they have been engaged. [43382]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 25 March 2002]: Since the period June 1997, the Home Office has not appointed any unpaid advisers in line with the requirements of paragraph 51 of the Ministerial Code.

  For details of unpaid appointments made by the Home Office to task forces, review groups and other ad hoc advisory groups, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. friend for Shipley (Christopher Leslie) on 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 958W.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new initiatives his Department has taken in 2001–02 to assist in achieving its public service agreement targets. [47411]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Information about progress on Public Service Agreement targets will be published in the Home Office's 2002 Departmental Report.
  474W

  UK Citizenship
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revoke the UK citizenship of a person whose name has been communicated to him; and if he will make a statement. [53083]

  Mr. Blunkett
  There are no present plans to deprive the person in question of British citizenship, but we will keep this under review.

  Robert Brown
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to initiate the rehabilitation of Robert Brown. [53755]

  Beverley Hughes
  Mr. Brown has been offered a range of offending behaviour work and non offence-related courses, including for example, anger management, reasoning and rehabilitation and a pre-release course. He has declined most of these but this should not inhibit him from progressing towards his release. In addition, he has been offered the opportunity for escorted town visits to aid his reintegration into the community but has declined to participate. He has also been encouraged to engage in the sentence planning process and has been assisted to address his use of drugs in prison successfully. His suitability for transfer to a resettlement regime in an open prison will shortly be considered by the parole board.

  Inter-country Adoption
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries from which young children up to the age of five years were allowed entry into the UK for legal adoption in the last 12 months. [53869]

  Angela Eagle
  Information on the number of children admitted to the United Kingdom from overseas countries for adoption is not currently available.
  The information that is available covers the number of children up to the age of five years given indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom (UK) on the basis of adoption. This number excludes those children given limited leave to remain and who are subsequently adopted through the UK courts, becoming British citizens on the date that the final adoption order is made.

  A total of around 20 adopted children up to the age of five were given indefinite leave to remain in 2000, the latest information available. The nationalities of the children were:

  Chile

  China

  Guatemala

  India

  Jamaica

  Lebanon

  Nigeria

  Pakistan

  St. Lucia

  Trinidad and Tobago

  Ukraine

  United States of America

  Vietnam

  Zimbabwe.
  475W
  We aim to publish 2001 data in July/August 2002.

  National Asylum Support Service
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many supported asylum seekers received a £50 additional single payment from the National Asylum Support Service under regulation 11(1) of the Asylum Support Regulations 2000 in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and what the total amount paid out in the form of such payments by NASS is since 3 April 2000. [54103]

  Angela Eagle
  The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) does not keep central statistics in respect of the number and total value of single additional payments it makes to supported asylum seekers.

  Payment of a single additional payment (SAP) is achieved by increasing one of the regular weekly subsistence payments by the required £50. The value of all regular weekly payments is stored within each individual's computer record, together with associated explanation. NASS can, therefore, confirm the payment of a SAP to an individual and could ultimately obtain the requested statistics, but the cost in doing so would be disproportionate.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 9 January concerning Hazir Ymeri. [54241]

  Angela Eagle
  My right hon. and noble Friend Lord Rooker wrote to the hon. Member on 8 May 2002. I apologise for the delay.

  MI5
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sought to obtain agreement from the Director General of MI5 to allow them to begin paid employment outside the service in each year from 1 May 1997. [54670]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 8 May 2002]: Since 1 May 1997 three people of Director grade or above sought the Director General's agreement before accepting employment, or establishing or engaging in consultancies, within two years of retirement or resignation. In each case the applications were approved unconditionally.

  Any member of staff, irrespective of grade is required to seek approval from the Director of Establishments for the Service before taking up employment with a business or organisation with which they have had direct or indirect dealings within the last two years of service. No central record is kept of such requests or authorisations.

  Illegal Meat Imports
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with other Government Departments on the(a) level of illegal meat imports to the UK and (b) effectiveness of port controls and enforcement measures to tackle illegal meat imports in respect of his responsibilities for border control and immigration. [19545]
  476W
  Angela Eagle
  I am extremely sorry for the delay in replying to the hon. Member. This was due to an administrative error.

  Home Office Ministers regularly have discussions with ministerial colleagues and officials in many parts of Government. In line with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information details of such confidential discussions are not normally disclosed.

  Department officials have met colleagues in other Government Departments to assist in co-ordinating action across Government to ensure that rules on imports of all products are enforced effectively. The Immigration Service has instructed its officers at ports of arrival to be vigilant and where appropriate, to refuse entry to the United Kingdom to those offenders identified as being engaged in the illegal importation of meat and meat products.

  Building Projects
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the building projects under construction; and what coolant will be used for the building services water chilling system for such projects. [52047]

  Angela Eagle
  A list covering the projects in construction for the Home Office, including Prison Service, but excluding maintenance works and non-departmental public bodies has been placed in the Library. Most of the projects listed. do not involve the use of cooling systems. Records are not held centrally of the type of cooling systems or the coolants used and to provide this information would be at disproportionate cost. Where coolants are to be used on non-prison projects, these are currently planned to be either R407(a), R407(c) or R134(a) although these could be subject to change in the course of the works.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Departmental Functions
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the functions of his Department that have been(a) market tested and (b) outsourced in each of the last five years, specifying the (i) money saving and (ii) percentage saving in each case. [42994]

  Mr. Wills
  The Lord Chancellor's Department has not market-tested any functions over the last five years. It has outsourced the following functions during this period:

  December 1997: ARAMIS, a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract for the provision of accounting, financial, payroll and Management Information Services—a money saving of £122.41 million over 9 years three months at 1998 prices;

  July 1999: Probate Records Centre, a PFI contract for the design, build, financing and operation of central probate records store for England and Wales—a money saving of £16.4 million over 25 years at 1999 prices;

  September 2001: Pensions administration—a money saving of £260,759 over three years at today's prices.

  The answer does not provide money saving and percentage saving because the combination of the two would allow contractual payments to contractors to be

  477W
  identified. This information is commercially confidential and is withheld under exemption 13 of the Code of Practice On Access to Government Information.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  PCS Union Strike
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if it is his policy that participation of staff in the PCS Union strike action be taken into account in future decisions on promotion. [30431]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  No.

  Departmental Publications
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the publications issued by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the(a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was. [34189]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To keep people aware of their rights, responsibilities and eligibility for benefit the Department issues many hundreds of publications each year. To list each title, its circulation, cost and purpose would be at disproportionate cost.

  Housing Payment Scheme
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the budget for the discretionary housing payment scheme is broken down by local authority; [41487]

  (2) what the budget was for the exceptional hardship payment scheme in (a) cash and (b) real terms since 1997, broken down by local authority; [41488]

  (3) what the reasons were for changing from the exceptional hardship payment scheme to the discretionary housing payment scheme; and how the change was announced. [41489]

  Malcolm Wicks
  From 2 July 2001 we replaced the exceptional hardship and exceptional circumstances schemes with improved arrangements that are broader in scope than the old regulatory provisions. Subject to certain conditions, local authorities are now able to give additional payments to any person whose housing benefit or council tax benefit is restricted where they are satisfied the person is in need of further financial assistance with housing costs or council tax liability. Unlike the old scheme there are no prescribed definitions of either "exceptional hardship" or "exceptional circumstances". The new measures give local authorities and incentive to direct funds to helping those people most in need.

  The introduction of the discretionary housing payments scheme was announced in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck) on 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 638W. Implementation of the scheme was deferred until July 2001 in response to representations from local authorities.
  478W
  The discretionary housing payments scheme budget for 2002–03 by local authority is in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular A/2002, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  The available details of the budget by local authority for the exceptional hardship scheme since 1997 (and for the discretionary housing payments scheme between July 2001 and March 2002) in both cash and real terms have been placed in the Library.

  E-business
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the percentage of business transactions that are capable of being carried out electronically by his Department. [43360]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  [holding answer 14 March 2002]: Currently our customers can easily access electronic information on all our benefits and services via the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website or through the life episodes on UKonline. People looking for work can access the worktrain website and Job Bank to interactively search for job opportunities—this is one of the most used Government sites.

  In addition, almost 70 of our benefits have claim forms available on the internet which customers can access, fill out, print out and submit back to us. Electronic payments can also be made directly into customers' bank accounts.

  But, in line with the cross-Government target of electronically e-enabling all services by 2005, and also rising trends in our customer base to use interactive media, we are undertaking a programme of radical change to our IT systems which will allow full e-enablement.

  Criminal Damage
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been of criminal damage to his Department's buildings in each of the last four years. [44848]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Under the terms of the Prime contract, responsibility for meeting the costs of repairing damage to former DSS buildings falls to Trillium. Accordingly, no central records are kept and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what have been the total salary costs of each of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible in each of the last five years. [50300]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information requested is not available for the period before April 2000. Such information that is available is in the following table. The costs given in the table are the total fees paid to members of each of the non-departmental bodies for the year stated.

  The amount paid out in fees is mainly dependant upon the number of referrals made by the Department to the three advisory councils. Increased activity required of the advisory councils in 2001–02 has therefore resulted in an overall increase in the amount of fees paid.
  479W

  Fees for non-departmental public bodies

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Number of members claiming fees

  Number of claims for fees

  Total amount of fees paid (£)

  Number of members claiming fees

  Number of claims for fees

  Total amount of fees paid(£)

  Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board

  21

  119

  27,248·60

  20

  130

  35,192·33

  Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

  15

  77

  8,097·16

  15

  85

  9,110·72

  Pensions Compensation Board

  2

  4

  684·00

  2

  6

  1,056·00

  Social Security Advisory Committee

  13

  96

  23,067·24

  16

  113

  29,283·27

  Total

  51

  296

  59,097·00

  53

  334

  74,642·32

  Mr. W. J. Baber
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Leominster dated 27 February on behalf of Mr. W. J. Baber concerning non-payment of incapacity benefit in the first three days of illness. [50630]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  I replied to the hon. Member on 18 April.

  Autism
  Dr. Ladyman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training employment advisers are given in respect of the needs of people with autistic spectrum disorders who are seeking work. [51205]

  Maria Eagle
  The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Dr. Stephen Ladyman, dated 13 May 2002:
  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the training employment advisers are given in respect of the needs of people with autistic spectrum disorders who are seeking work.Disability awareness open learning materials are available to all advisers, and are an important pre-requisite for attendance on all disability training courses. The open learning materials contain information provided by the National Autistic Society and its associated 'Prospects' employment programme to support people with Asperger syndrome. The topics covered are;
  What is autism?

  What causes autism?

  What is Asperger syndrome?

  What causes Asperger syndrome?

  Tips for advisers

  Useful techniques for interviewing

  Potential benefits of employing people with autism/Aspergers syndrome

  Difficulties that may occur in the work place

  Employment Support

  Where to go for more help

  In addition, advisers have access to a Special Needs External Organisations Directory which includes information on autism and Asperger syndrome.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Long-stay Patient Benefit
  Mr. Laxton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in the United Kingdom are in receipt of long-stay patients' benefit; [51541]
  480W
  (2) how many people in the United Kingdom are in receipt of long- stay patient benefit. [51544]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:

  As at 30 September 2001 there were 10,000 retirement pensioners whose pension had been reduced because they had been in hospital for more than 52 weeks.

  As at 30 November 2001 there were 13,000 incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance recipients whose benefit was reduced due to them being in hospital for more than 52 weeks.

  As at 30 November 2001 there were 3,000 income support recipients who had their benefit reduced due to being in hospital for more than 52 weeks.

  The hospital downrating rules prevents double provision from public funds as the publicly funded NHS maintains people while they stay in hospital as well as providing free treatment. Social security maintenance benefits are also paid from state funds. They are therefore not paid in full indefinitely where a person is in a NHS hospital and having their day to day living expenses met through the NHS.

  The double provision principle is a key cornerstone of the system of national insurance introduced over 50 years ago.

  Recruitment
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many net additional staff his Department has recruited in each month since June 2001 at(a) executive officer level and (b) administrative level. [52431]

  Maria Eagle
  Data on staffing levels in the civil service are collected by the Cabinet Office twice yearly, with figures being reported as at 1 April and 1 October. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Those for October 2001 were published on 21 February 2002 and are available in the Library. Figures are not collected centrally on a month to month basis.

  Digital Equipment
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many digital radios are owned by his Department for use in departmental buildings from which Ministers work; and what the(a) cost and (b) date of purchase of each radio was. [52859]

  Maria Eagle
  [holding answer 26 April 2002]: None.
  481W

  Access to Work Scheme
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications have been received monthly since the creation of Access to Work; and what proportion of those applications have been(a) accepted and (b) rejected broken down by grounds for rejection. [53042]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  From the start of the Access to Work programme in June 1994 to 31 March 2001, 54,481 applications have been supported, an average of 262 new applications a month. Eligibility is discussed prior to any application being made, so applications are made only by those eligible for help through Access to Work.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

  Electoral Process (Participation)
  Martin Linton
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will ask the Electoral Commission to report on measures to increase participation in elections following the turnout in the local elections. [54000]

  Mr. Beith
  In accordance with its statutory obligations, the Electoral Commission will be evaluating the pilot schemes implemented by 30 local authorities across England at the May 2002 local elections. These pilot schemes were aimed at increasing turnout and modernising the electoral process. The Commission will submit its evaluation reports to the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions by 2 August, and the reports will be published.

  Misleading Election Material
  Fiona Mactaggart
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the effect on turnout of the distribution of deliberately wrong information in election material. [54001]

  Mr. Beith
  I understand from the Chairman that the Commission has made no assessment of the effect on turnout of the distribution of deliberately wrong information in election material. The publication of false statements of fact in relation to a candidate may amount to an illegal practice under section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and should be reported to the police.

  Local Elections (Administration)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission when the Electoral Commission will assess the operations of the local elections of 2 May; and if he will make a statement. [54002]

  Mr. Beith
  The commission has a statutory duty to report on the conduct of a range of elections, including Parliamentary general elections, European Parliament elections, and elections to the Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly and National Assembly 482W
  for Wales. There is no statutory obligation for the commission to report on the operation of local elections, but the commission will be evaluating the electoral pilot schemes held in 30 local authority areas in May 2002. The commission's evaluation is expected to be published in August 2002.

  Public Bodies (Scrutiny)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what extra resources the commission will provide to enable the National Audit Office to carry out more examinations of executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [54004]

  Mr. Alan Williams
  Following the commission's consideration in March of the National Audit Office's Estimate for 2002–03, I wrote the Comptroller and Auditor General asking him how the NAO, through further Value for Money Studies (on top of the 50 or so a year at present), could expand the scope of scrutiny—and thus the perceived risk of scrutiny—among accountable bodies, in particular executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The commission will consider any proposals in this direction from the Comptroller and Auditor General when they review the National Audit Office's Corporate Plan for 2003 to 2006 in the summer.

  Proportional Representation (Scotland)
  John Robertson
  To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent discussions the Commission has had with the Scottish Executive regarding proportional representation in Scotland. [53997]

  Mr. Beith
  I understand from the Chairman of the Commission that Commissioners and staff meet regularly with members and staff of the Scottish Executive. However, no discussions regarding proportional representation have taken place with the Scottish Executive. The Commission has no statutory responsibilities in respect of local elections in Scotland and so does not intend to comment on the Executive's current consultation exercise about the possible extension of proportional representation to local government elections.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Pre-school Funding
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2002,Official Report, column 711W, on pre-school funding, when the Ofsted and QCA files referred to will be placed in the Library. [39422]

  Margaret Hodge
  Following further investigation into the matter with staff operating in the area at the time, we have established that the decision was reached on the basis of verbal discussions between the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and the Department for Education and Employment, in 1997. No records of those discussions have been traced.
  483W
  Given that the guidelines have been in place for a significant time I will keep the situation under review.

  Criminal Damage
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost has been of criminal damage to her Department's buildings in each of the last four years. [44834]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The cost of criminal damages against the Department's buildings where the police were involved was approximately £5,000 in 2001. During the previous three years no costs were incurred.

  Further Education Colleges
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of the outcomes of imposing efficiency targets on further education colleges since 1997. [52565]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Government has sought to improve the efficiency of further education since 1997 and colleges have delivered real improvements in value for money. Since 1996–97 the participation funding for each full-time equivalent (FTE) student has remained constant in real terms, while total funding for each FTE student has increased by 12 per cent. in real terms (reflecting the additional funds targeted on much needed capital developments, standards and teachers pay). Over the same period colleges have widened participation among learners, broadened programmes of study for 16–19- year-olds and increased basic skills provision. Qualification success rates for long (24 weeks or over) qualifications have increased from 51 per cent. in 1996–97 to 56 per cent. in 1999–2000 (the latest year available). When shorter courses are also taken into account, qualification success rates have increased from 56 per cent. in 1996–97 to 60 per cent. in 1999–2000. The Government recognises that investment is important for raising standards further and will set out future funding plans for colleges as part of the Spending Review outcome.

  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirements have been(a) placed on and (b) removed from further education and sixth form colleges in the last year for which information is available. [54436]

  Margaret Hodge
  The following major requirements were placed upon further education colleges and sixth from colleges in England during the financial year 2001–02.
  A requirement for all new teachers entering further education from 1 September 2001 to hold, or acquire within two to four years, an FE teaching qualification or schools equivalent.Colleges have been made subject to inspection by Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate by virtue of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.A requirement for colleges to follow replacement Instrument and Articles of Government for all colleges in the FE sector effective from 1 April 2001.484W
  The requirement to meet the terms of the previous Instrument and Articles of Government was removed.

  In addition, the Learning and Skills Council is responsible for funding further education and sixth form colleges, and also places requirements on colleges. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the LSC, John Harwood, to write to you directly on this matter.

  Work-based Learning
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of whether there are sufficient resources in the Standards Fund for 2002–03 to improve the provider infrastructure for work-based learning. [53097]

  Margaret Hodge
  We have increased standards funding from £160 million in 2001–02 to £185 million in 2002–03. We have also ensured that work-based learning providers have access to the new Learning and Skills Standards Fund from April 2002. Local LSCs will allocate standards funding to providers based on individual need and national and local priorities and targets. An evaluation of the impact of the new Fund's operation, including provision for work-based learning, is planned to start in the Autumn of 2002.

  Teachers' Salaries
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will award additional resources to the Learning and Skills Council to cover salary increases for(a) sixth form staff and (b) general FE staff agreed as part of their central negotiation structure. [53121]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 29 April 2002]: The investments we are making via the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to support both school sixth forms and further education colleges should ensure that staff receive appropriate salary increases this year. The real terms guarantee (RTG) for schools with sixth forms means that their funding will be protected at least at 2000–01 levels, providing pupil numbers are maintained. Indeed in 2002–03 around two thirds of sixth forms will benefit with higher funding from the LSC's formula funding and the remaining third will be funded at their RTG level.

  We are also investing significant funding in the FE sector. In 2001–02, £527 million extra was planned for FE—a 12 per cent. real terms increase, with a further 3 per cent. increase this year. By 2003–04, annual funding for FE will have increased by £1.4 billion compared with 1997–98, a real terms increase of 26 per cent. It is for each college to agree annual pay rises and conditions of employment with its staff in the context of the overall resources available to them. Within the total funds for FE, the Teaching Pay Initiative (TPI) budget is £311 million over the period 2001–04. This is to reward excellent teaching and is over and above any general pay rise.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to ensure parity of pay scales between teachers working in further education and teachers working in schools. [54625]
  485W
  Margaret Hodge
  Teachers in maintained schools are subject to national school teachers' pay and conditions. Further education sector colleges are run by independent corporations established under the Further Education and Higher Education Act 1992 and there is no national pay structure in place. Colleges are free to establish pay scales that meet their needs and can be agreed with their staff. This Government have acknowledged the historic funding gap between schools and FE and we have pledged to bring up levels of funding and ensure upward convergence over time. The Teaching Pay Initiative (TPI) budget is £31 1 million over the period 2001–04. This is to reward excellent teaching and is over and above any general pay rise. The additional investment we are making in the FE sector should help support the pay aspirations of their staff.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent improvements the Government have made to buildings and teaching facilities in higher education. [53629]

  Margaret Hodge
  In 1999–2000 the Government made available £35 million in England for higher education capital funding. In the succeeding years, the amounts made available were £50 million, £100 million, £145 million. and in 2003–04 £194 million, to support the teaching infrastructure, modernise and improve the estates and build new medical schools. Of this, £56 million over two years to 2003–04 is to help institutions meet the cost of the statutory changes relating to the access parts of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.

  To this, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) adds funding which it finds from its own resources to promote capital investment, often with contributions from others. For example, between 1998–99 and 2002–03 the HEFCE Poor Estates Initiative has invested £291 million in the sector, supporting 149 projects at 80 institutions with a total value of £950 million.

  Alongside this, the Government, in partnership with the Welcome Trust, have plans to invest some £1.75 billion in research infrastructure in universities and elsewhere over the four years to 2003–04.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much more investment has been put into higher education in the current spending review than in the previous year. [53630]

  Margaret Hodge
  Since 1998, the total additional funding for institutions is £1.7 billion, an increase of 37 per cent. in cash terms or 18 per cent. in real terms over the six years to 2003–04. Publicly planned funding for higher education in England in 2001–02 is £.396 million more than in 2000–01, so that for the first time in over a decade funding per student will rise in real terms, and further expansion of student places will be fully funded in the following two years. In addition the sector will benefit from £1 billion joint Welcome Trust and Government investment in research and technology infrastructure between 2002 and 2004, plus further 486W
  funding of £250 million over the three years to 2003–04 through the Office of Science and Technology for priority research in areas such as e-science and genomics.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's definition is of higher education in the context of her Department's target for 50 per cent. of all 18 to 30-year-olds to experience higher education by 2010; and if she will make a statement. [55060]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Government are committed to increasing and widening participation in higher education so that more young people benefit from the opportunities that higher education brings in terms of employability, earnings and quality of life. At the same time, we want to ensure that we meet the UK's needs for a highly skilled, competitive work force.

  We measure participation in higher education by means of the Initial Entry Rate (IER). The IER includes all courses of one year or more, above A-level and its equivalents, which lead to a qualification awarded by higher education institutions or widely recognised national awarding bodies (eg. the Institute of Management).

  We are also currently seeking advice from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority regarding a very small number of professional qualifications of less than one year's duration, for example in nursing, law, business and management. The QCA will advise us whether the nature and content of these qualifications could appropriately be classified as being of higher education standard.

  Child Care
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's places there were in(a) Southwark, (b) London and (c) England in (i) May 1997, (ii) May 2001 and (iii) April 2002; and if she will make a statement. [52033]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 2 May 2002]: The information is not available in the form requested. The available information, which was provided by local authorities, is shown in the table.

  Latest figures on day care facilities in England were published by my Department in the Statistical Bulletin "Children's Day Care facilities at 31 March 2001 (08/01)" in October 2001, a copy of which is available from the Library. An electronic copy of this publication is also available on my Department's website (www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics).

  From 1998 to 2001 Southwark has received £837,370 of child care and European Social Fund supported grant funding. In 2001–02 £240,765 of European Social Fund money and £2,961,854 of child care funding was available for Southwark's early years development. Of this £2,301,424 is funding from the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative (NNI), which hopes to create 45,000 child care places in Neighbourhood Nursery Centres in disadvantaged areas over the period 2001–04. In 2002–03 Southwark will receive £754,430 of child care and European Social Fund supported grant funding.
  487W

  Day care places for children under 8 in 1997 and 2001—Southwark, London and England (position at March 31 each year)

  Day nurseries

  Childminders

  Playgroups

  Out of school clubs

  Holiday schemes1

  1997

  2001

  1997

  2001

  1997

  2001

  1997

  2001

  1997

  2001

  Southwark

  1,650

  1,906

  1,048

  1,081

  1,111

  904

  2,077

  3,113

  2,305

  4,940

  Greater London

  27,650

  44,834

  47,562

  38,504

  41,534

  31,111

  13,731

  32,207

  45,574

  140,261

  Inner London2

  15,052

  22,751

  13,106

  10,639

  9,899

  8,405

  8,180

  20,422

  19,210

  63,180

  Outer London2

  12,598

  22,083

  34,456

  27,865

  31,635

  22,706

  5,551

  11,785

  26,364

  77,081

  England

  193,800

  285,100

  365,200

  304,600

  383,700

  330,200

  78,700

  152,800

  209,000

  598,000

  1Holiday schemes cannot be directly compared due to changes in instructions given to data providers.

  2The 2001 definition of inner and outer London is used.

  Engineering Qualifications
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations she has received in respect of new vocational qualifications in engineering; if she will make it her policy to extend funding approval for existing qualifications pending further consultation on the curriculum design of the new qualifications; and if she will make a statement. [53827]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I have received representations from the National Forum for Engineering in Colleges. I am aware of the importance of existing qualifications to the continued running of Modern Apprenticeships and have consequently asked the Learning and Skills Council to identify which are essential until new accredited qualifications can replace them. The LSC is working closely with relevant sector bodies, including EMTA for engineering, to that end. Once the qualifications are identified and following consultation with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, I will take action to approve them. Outside the Modern Apprenticeship context, approvals will be limited to qualifications accredited by the QCA. Persons over 19 should have no problem in accessing existing courses, as LSC funding for them is not dependent on there being an approved qualification.

  Engineering Course
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment she has made of whether the new AVCE engineering course has been introduced as intended; and if she will make a statement on the opportunity the course gives students to achieve grades that will enable them to follow their chosen career paths; [54543]

  (2) what action she is taking to ensure that students undertaking the AVCE engineering course will attain grades appropriate to their achievement in their course of study; [54544]

  (3) what discussions she has had with the Chief Inspector on the examination of the AVCE course in engineering; [54545]

  (4) what action she has taken to ensure high quality assessment of students undertaking the AVCE course; [54546]

  (5) what discussions she has had with further education colleges on the AVCE engineering course examinations assessment; [54547]
  488W
  (6) what action she is taking to ensure that examination boards for the AVCE course in engineering are able to evaluate the course content that students have studied. [54548]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is monitoring all new AVCE qualifications, including engineering, as part of its remit to review the performance of the awarding bodies in delivering qualifications. AVCE courses give students suitable opportunities to achieve grades to enable them to follow their chosen career paths, including progression to employment, higher education or further training such as modern apprenticeships.

  QCA's work in monitoring the work of awarding bodies includes ensuring that qualifications are suitable for purpose and that students have the opportunity to achieve grades which reflect their achievement.

  The Secretary of State has not had discussions with the Chief Inspector on the subject in question. However, Ofsted Inspectors have programme of visits and inspections of schools and colleges to enable them to inspect standards. QCA held a two-day conference for awarding body chief examiners in November 2001.

  AVCE qualifications have been designed to ensure that they are fully comparable with GCE A levels. QCA is charged with the task of maintaining standards of assessment and ensuring that it is consistent across all awarding bodies.

  QCA and departmental officials have visited FE colleges to discuss the AVCE engineering course assessment.

  Awarding bodies provide training and guidance to examiners on assessment. QCA is working with the awarding bodies to ensure that this training and guidance is appropriate and effective and that assessment gives a fair appraisal of students' achievement.

  Special Needs
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent in total by local education authorities on transport for special needs pupils in the latest year for which figures are available. [54865]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Provisional figures for 2000–01, the latest year for which figures are available, show that £245.2 million was spent by local education authorities on transport for pupils with special education needs.
  489
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding allocations for special educational needs(a) in the east midlands and (b) in Nottinghamshire are in 2002–03; and what the average is in England. [55416]

  Mr. Timms
  Local education authorities' budget statements contain information about the notional allocations made to schools for pupils with special educational needs and the funding retained centrally by the authority. The Department is in the process of collecting data relating to the 2002–03 financial year. I shall write to my hon. Friend when the information is to hand.

  London Weighting
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to equalise the London weighting allowance for staff working in further education and tertiary colleges. [54595]

  Margaret Hodge
  General further education colleges and sixth form colleges are independent corporations and determine their own staff pay and allowance policies. The allowances will, therefore, vary from college to college and the Government have no plans to change this.

  Playground Safety
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she has introduced to improve the safety of playgrounds at(a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [54795]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department's publication "School Grounds, A Guide to Good Practice", contains detailed advice on design and management. This includes guidance on safety issues in school playgrounds.

  While there is not any specific funding for upgrading playgrounds, the Government's capital investment in schools in England has risen from £683 million in 1997–98 to £3 billion in the current year (2002–03), and will rise to £3.5 billion next year (2003–04). Local education authorities and schools may draw on this funding for projects which improve playground safety.

  Nursery Education
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are in maintained nursery education. [54888]

  Margaret Hodge
  The available information on the number of three and four-year-old children in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools is shown in the table.

  The figures for three and four-year-olds in schools and private and voluntary providers were published in Statistical Bulletin 11/01 "Provision for children under five years of age in England-January 2001" which is available at www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/ and from the Library.
  490W

  Number and percentage of three and four-year-olds1,2 in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools: England—1997—2001

  Position in January each year

  Number3

  Percentage

  1997

  367,400

  29

  1998

  368,400

  29

  1999

  366,900

  30

  2000

  362,700

  30

  20014

  —

  —

  1Head count of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest 100.

  2Numbers of three and four-year-olds may include some two-year-olds.

  3Number attending provider expressed as a percentage of three and four-year-old population.

  4This information is not available for 2001 due to the transition to new methods of data collection.

  Information and Communication Technology
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the recent Ofsted report on ICT in schools. [54890]

  Mr. Timms
  We welcome the report, it shows that National Grid for Learning (NGfL) and New Opportunities Fund (NOF) initiatives along with sustained standards fund spending is making a real impact on both standards of teaching and the willingness of teachers to embrace ICT. We particularly welcome the report's confirmation that Government funding of ICT resources through the NGfL continues to make an important contribution to the development of the ICT curriculum and the use of new technologies in schools, and the recognition that this is beginning to impact on teaching and learning.

  The report acknowledges that the existence of the NOF programme has raised the profile of ICT training in many schools and it has helped teachers to improve their ICT skills significantly. However, we recognise that the report also raises concerns that this has not had as widespread an effect on classroom practice as intended, or as might reasonably be expected at this stage of the programme. We will be working with NOF and the Teacher Training Agency to ensure that the concerns are addressed and that we establish the most effective support for teachers who are crucial to the successful implementation of the overall programme. We also note, however, that the report recognises the excellent take up of this training and we look forward to increased evidence of impact as more schools complete their training.

  The report highlights personal access as one of the strongest influences toward successful training and classroom usage. We have provided over 50,000 teachers with PCs through various Government initiatives over the past few years, of which around 32,000 have been supplied via the Computers for Teachers Scheme. The current £100 million Laptops for Teachers scheme will supply a further 100,000 teachers with computers from September 2002. Our Curriculum Online project will enable online access to digital learning materials that are easily accessible to teachers and which they can use to support the teaching across the curriculum.
  491W

  Protection Rackets (Schools)
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information she has collated about the presence of protection rackets in secondary schools involving teenage pupils. [54892]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We do not specifically collect any information about the presence of protection rackets in secondary schools involving teenage pupils.

  Teacher Numbers (Worcestershire)
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were in service in Worcestershire in(a) January 2001 and (b) January 2002. [54979]

  Mr. Timms
  There were 4,430 full-time equivalent teachers in service in the maintained schools sector in Worcestershire in January 2001.

  Data for January 2002 are not yet available at local education authority level.

  Information on teachers in service in January 2002 by local education authority will be published in the Teachers in England statistical volume in December 2002.

  Part-time teachers have been converted to an estimate of their full-time equivalence and added to full-time numbers.

  Teachers' Pensions
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual percentage increase in teachers' pensions is in the next financial year. [54981]

  Mr. Timms
  Teachers' pensions, in common with all other public service pensions, are increased in line with the retail prices index. Increases are confirmed in the annual Pensions (Increase) Review Orders: the increase for the financial year 2002–03, as specified in the 2002 order, is 1.7 per cent. The order confirming the increase for 2003–04 will be published next spring.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers applied for medically-supported retirement for the Teachers' Pension Scheme in each of the last three years; and what the average time to reach a decision on these applications was. [55706]

  Mr. Timms
  The numbers of applications for ill health retirement by members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (which covers schools, FE and some HE and independent establishments) in each of the last three years were:

  Number

  1999–2000

  4,394

  2000–01

  4,388

  2001–02

  4,270

  The scheme administrator and the contracted medical advisers work to agreed service levels for actioning cases at the different stages in the process. The target is to process applications within 25 working days (cumulative). Current performance reports show that the target is
  492W
  achieved in 98 per cent. of cases. Periods during which cases are in abeyance pending receipt of additional information to enable a decision to be reached (most frequently further medical reports) are not included in the 25 day target.

  University Requirements
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirements have been(a) placed on and (b) removed from universities in the last year for which information is available. [55083]

  Margaret Hodge
  Universities in England comply with statutory and Regulatory requirements approved by Parliament as well as conditions of grant set by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and requirements placed on them by a number of professional bodies.

  During 2001–02 no additional statutory requirements were placed on higher education institutions by this Department. The Student Support Regulations for 2001–02 replaced those for 2000–01, but these have not appreciably changed the burden on institutions.

  The Secretary of State's priorities for the higher education sector are disseminated annually through her grant letter to HEFCE each November. Some of these priorities, when implemented by the Funding Council, will result in requirements being placed on higher education institutions.

  During this same period, consultations on a new method of quality review in institutions were undertaken and new arrangements will be in place from 2002. This represents a significant reduction in review activity carried out at institutions.

  Key Stage 2
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will review the revised targets for Key Stage 2 national tests for 2004. [55567]

  Mr. Timms
  Primary school standards have improved considerably since 1997, and we are committed to raising standards further. We have set challenging targets for 2004, that 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds should achieve the expected standard, level 4, and that 35 per cent. should achieve level 5. We are confident that we will see further improvements in the Key Stage 2 results this year, which will provide a good platform for achieving the 2004 targets.

  Teachers
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local authorities operate their own schemes to supply teaching staff to schools; and if she will list the authorities which do not operate schemes to provide teaching staff to schools. [55180]

  Mr. Timms
  This information is not collected centrally. However, most local education authorities support schools in a variety of ways to find supply cover, and to recruit teachers. This includes traditional supply
  493W
  lists, preferred agency suppliers, and full agency-type operations. The Quality Mark for supply teacher agencies announced on 2 May will assist LEAs in identifying options for their schools. 97 recruitment strategy managers are attached to LEAs, co-ordinating recruitment and retention strategies.

  School Governors
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what new requirements have(a) been removed from and (b) been placed on school governors in the last year for which information is available. [55184]

  Mr. Timms
  We have recently introduced a gatekeeping system to help assess and manage proposals for giving new responsibilities to governing bodies. The information in the form requested will not be available until the gatekeeping system has bedded in.

  Correspondence
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter of 12 March from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding St. Thomas More School, Willenhall. [55924]

  Mr. Timms
  The hon. Member's letter of 12 March was not received in the Department until 19 April. I replied on 9 May.

  National Curriculum
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 14 year old(a) boys and (b) girls reached level 5 in national curriculum tests in (i) English, (b) mathematics and (c) science in each of the past five years. [55418]

  Mr. Timms
  The table shows the percentage of pupils who achieved level 5 or above in the Key Stage 3 tests in England in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  20011

  English

  Boys

  48

  56

  55

  55

  56

  Girls

  67

  73

  73

  73

  73

  All

  57

  65

  64

  64

  64

  Mathematics

  Boys

  60

  60

  62

  64

  65

  Girls

  60

  59

  62

  65

  67

  All

  60

  59

  62

  65

  66

  Specialist schools capital and recurrent allocations expressed as £ per pupil

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  LEA

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Barking and Dagenham

  —

  100

  —

  109

  —

  111

  27

  100

  —

  113

  Barnet

  —

  105

  30

  95

  —

  109

  —

  109

  23

  103

  Barnsley

  —

  —

  118

  72

  —

  121

  —

  123

  —

  123

  Bath and north-east Somerset

  —

  110

  50

  85

  20

  106

  —

  116

  20

  111

  Bedfordshire

  —

  —

  77

  47

  —

  96

  —

  107

  56

  84

  Bexley

  —

  110

  —

  112

  —

  122

  —

  123

  44

  85

  Birmingham

  —

  105

  36

  84

  45

  87

  36

  113

  4

  135

  Blackburn and Darwen

  —

  —

  70

  151

  —

  91

  —

  127

  —

  130

  Blackpool

  —

  100

  48

  92

  —

  116

  —

  112

  29

  94

  Bolton

  —

  45

  99

  71

  55

  83

  19

  99

  —

  112

  Bournemouth

  —

  100

  —

  75

  83

  68

  —

  97

  —

  110

  494W

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  20011

  Science

  Boys

  61

  57

  55

  61

  66

  Girls

  60

  55

  55

  58

  66

  All

  60

  56

  55

  59

  66

  12001 data are provisional.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of(a) boys and (b) girls reached level 4 in national curriculum tests in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science in each of the past five years. [55419]

  Mr. Timms
  The table shows the percentage of pupils who achieved level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 tests in England in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  20011

  English

  Boys

  57

  57

  65

  70

  70

  Girls

  70

  73

  76

  79

  80

  All

  63

  65

  71

  75

  75

  Mathematics

  Boys

  63

  59

  69

  72

  71

  Girls

  61

  58

  69

  71

  70

  All

  62

  59

  69

  72

  71

  Science

  Boys

  68

  70

  79

  84

  87

  Girls

  69

  69

  78

  85

  88

  All

  69

  69

  78

  85

  87

  1 2001 data are provisional.

  Pupil Funding
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount of(a) capital and (b) revenue spending was for (i) primary school pupils and (ii) secondary school pupils in each LEA in England in each of the past five years. [55420]

  Mr. Timms
  The information requested is contained in the tables, which have been placed in the Library.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount of(a) capital and (b) revenue spending per pupil was in specialist schools in England in each of the past five years. [55421]

  Mr. Timms
  Information on all capital and recurrent spending in specialist schools is not held centrally. The following table details the additional funding per pupil allocated to schools as a result of their designation as a specialist school:
  495W

  Specialist schools capital and recurrent allocations expressed as £ per pupil

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  LEA

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Bracknell Forest

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bradford

  —

  99

  28

  87

  29

  100

  26

  108

  —

  128

  Brent

  —

  110

  —

  112

  —

  122

  26

  102

  21

  108

  Brighton and Hove

  100

  60

  —

  105

  36

  82

  —

  106

  34

  85

  Bristol

  —

  49

  —

  112

  47

  91

  32

  100

  38

  93

  Bromley

  —

  110

  —

  103

  —

  106

  16

  98

  13

  99

  Buckinghamshire

  23

  100

  —

  105

  19

  104

  43

  95

  9

  105

  Bury

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Calderdale

  —

  110

  —

  109

  —

  79

  74

  63

  42

  91

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  94

  48

  77

  —

  106

  34

  119

  —

  134

  Camden

  —

  100

  30

  94

  22

  97

  —

  108

  —

  108

  Cheshire

  32

  92

  22

  100

  19

  104

  18

  112

  40

  97

  City of London

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Cornwall

  38

  97

  —

  103

  9

  105

  22

  101

  —

  111

  Coventry

  22

  90

  —

  43

  17

  102

  —

  102

  —

  111

  Croydon

  112

  62

  —

  106

  —

  116

  —

  114

  82

  86

  Cumbria

  38

  61

  —

  95

  19

  106

  35

  99

  10

  110

  Darlington

  —

  52

  52

  156

  46

  116

  30

  112

  —

  123

  Derby, City of

  —

  76

  —

  98

  44

  81

  27

  95

  —

  108

  Derbyshire

  23

  98

  —

  111

  20

  102

  43

  86

  —

  112

  Devon

  11

  85

  —

  93

  —

  97

  —

  108

  17

  97

  Doncaster

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  45

  65

  Dorset

  —

  101

  50

  87

  37

  104

  13

  106

  12

  113

  Dudley

  —

  100

  —

  110

  —

  120

  —

  123

  73

  79

  Durham

  133

  121

  30

  79

  17

  98

  9

  119

  8

  120

  Ealing

  —

  78

  39

  71

  28

  95

  32

  92

  13

  102

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  39

  88

  —

  106

  34

  88

  14

  103

  12

  106

  East Sussex

  35

  84

  —

  104

  38

  91

  35

  94

  34

  93

  Enfield

  —

  45

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Essex

  8

  92

  15

  95

  20

  99

  16

  100

  11

  106

  Gateshead

  39

  75

  36

  71

  —

  99

  14

  98

  —

  105

  Gloucestershire

  18

  101

  37

  94

  17

  103

  15

  106

  27

  105

  Greenwich

  36

  82

  —

  76

  18

  78

  —

  160

  25

  147

  Hackney

  61

  79

  61

  91

  —

  120

  23

  110

  —

  121

  Halton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  90

  67

  58

  95

  —

  117

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100

  74

  —

  107

  —

  107

  Hampshire

  —

  105

  —

  104

  43

  65

  16

  123

  46

  94

  Haringey

  —

  100

  —

  104

  —

  107

  —

  107

  82

  127

  Harrow

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  304

  205

  Hartlepool

  121

  60

  —

  112

  51

  86

  —

  113

  27

  96

  Havering

  —

  53

  —

  112

  —

  122

  48

  95

  30

  98

  Herefordshire

  —

  100

  52

  95

  —

  115

  —

  112

  —

  112

  Hertfordshire

  38

  87

  19

  96

  26

  104

  28

  102

  27

  103

  Hillingdon

  46

  91

  31

  93

  —

  109

  —

  109

  —

  109

  Hounslow

  49

  78

  —

  104

  —

  106

  —

  104

  27

  90

  Isle of Wight

  —

  50

  —

  112

  46

  90

  29

  72

  —

  106

  Isles of Scilly

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Islington

  —

  —

  —

  —

  111

  68

  —

  113

  —

  113

  Kensington and Chelsea

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kent

  —

  108

  22

  94

  9

  107

  22

  106

  23

  103

  Kingston-upon-Hull

  —

  —

  61

  44

  49

  94

  —

  80

  —

  106

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Kirklees

  24

  111

  17

  101

  —

  114

  —

  114

  —

  114

  Knowsley

  142

  60

  —

  112

  60

  97

  32

  96

  —

  115

  Lambeth

  78

  88

  —

  112

  42

  103

  —

  109

  —

  123

  Lancashire

  7

  104

  7

  105

  12

  108

  13

  113

  16

  109

  Leeds

  43

  73

  27

  81

  46

  89

  26

  122

  18

  115

  Leicester City

  —

  —

  95

  60

  31

  95

  18

  93

  —

  111

  Leicestershire

  28

  102

  17

  89

  —

  103

  15

  107

  7

  107

  Lewisham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Lincolnshire

  17

  85

  83

  433

  43

  91

  43

  94

  20

  115

  Liverpool

  19

  94

  —

  98

  15

  95

  31

  93

  17

  101

  Luton

  —

  110

  35

  67

  —

  105

  —

  107

  —

  77

  Manchester

  23

  90

  —

  109

  38

  95

  —

  114

  11

  108

  Medway

  —

  61

  —

  93

  31

  96

  23

  104

  —

  115

  Merton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Middlesbrough

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94

  70

  —

  116

  Milton Keynes

  69

  66

  —

  79

  —

  100

  —

  110

  —

  110

  North-east Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  61

  53

  —

  196

  —

  94

  Newcastle

  22

  108

  —

  88

  31

  84

  —

  108

  —

  108

  Newham

  45

  124

  —

  83

  —

  100

  30

  92

  —

  108

  496W 497W

  Specialist schools capital and recurrent allocations expressed as £ per pupil

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  LEA

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Cap.

  Rev.

  Norfolk

  31

  102

  22

  98

  43

  84

  15

  104

  13

  105

  North Lincolnshire

  —

  —

  —

  112

  54

  98

  34

  103

  29

  113

  North Somerset

  102

  60

  43

  78

  41

  84

  17

  103

  13

  101

  North Tyneside

  64

  132

  —

  112

  —

  122

  28

  111

  —

  123

  North Yorkshire

  93

  86

  —

  74

  35

  89

  30

  125

  12

  130

  Northamptonshire

  13

  110

  17

  97

  14

  101

  —

  107

  6

  105

  Northumberland

  35

  114

  —

  99

  43

  99

  12

  110

  —

  116

  Nottingham, City of

  —

  42

  —

  112

  —

  118

  —

  116

  24

  92

  Nottinghamshire

  40

  68

  —

  83

  —

  99

  17

  98

  57

  91

  Oldham

  —

  —

  —

  —

  85

  68

  —

  113

  44

  91

  Oxfordshire

  22

  106

  13

  83

  11

  97

  16

  89

  —

  110

  Peterborough, City of

  —

  —

  —

  112

  —

  118

  39

  86

  25

  94

  Plymouth

  —

  100

  27

  56

  30

  64

  —

  88

  23

  160

  Poole

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  86

  68

  36

  106

  Portsmouth

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  79

  62

  41

  84

  Reading

  —

  —

  —

  111

  —

  108

  —

  98

  —

  109

  Redbridge

  —

  100

  —

  98

  26

  90

  32

  91

  —

  107

  Redcar and Cleveland

  —

  91

  —

  96

  —

  102

  —

  103

  37

  82

  Richmond

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  101

  73

  Rochdale

  30

  72

  —

  94

  —

  110

  22

  104

  —

  115

  Rotherham

  49

  82

  —

  107

  —

  114

  41

  87

  —

  113

  Rutland

  —

  110

  —

  112

  —

  121

  —

  123

  59

  97

  Salford

  —

  —

  184

  72

  55

  86

  —

  111

  —

  111

  Sandwell

  68

  63

  —

  97

  —

  111

  —

  115

  —

  115

  Sefton

  42

  85

  —

  97

  26

  91

  —

  110

  43

  103

  Sheffield

  22

  79

  —

  92

  —

  104

  44

  88

  17

  102

  Shropshire

  —

  106

  —

  94

  —

  105

  74

  79

  47

  95

  Slough

  —

  —

  —

  112

  —

  122

  130

  235

  53

  165

  Solihull

  —

  93

  —

  97

  —

  104

  —

  106

  27

  91

  Somerset

  64

  85

  24

  103

  36

  111

  14

  113

  30

  104

  South Gloucestershire

  35

  555

  24

  70

  —

  98

  —

  107

  —

  107

  South Tyneside

  —

  100

  —

  97

  —

  99

  —

  105

  —

  105

  Southampton

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  96

  71

  Southend on Sea

  —

  —

  83

  60

  —

  100

  70

  88

  27

  104

  Southwark

  —

  100

  —

  40

  —

  —

  112

  74

  55

  98

  St. Helens

  —

  —

  —

  —

  79

  67

  24

  96

  —

  110

  Staffordshire

  31

  70

  —

  106

  —

  109

  37

  84

  35

  94

  Stockport

  —

  —

  —

  93

  —

  102

  —

  105

  —

  105

  Stockton

  —

  —

  122

  86

  —

  113

  —

  111

  —

  112

  Stoke on Trent

  —

  —

  —

  —

  127

  74

  76

  84

  —

  115

  Suffolk

  60

  103

  21

  110

  26

  101

  32

  99

  —

  115

  Sunderland

  —

  111

  58

  79

  —

  111

  21

  98

  —

  110

  Surrey

  19

  92

  —

  98

  8

  103

  13

  102

  17

  104

  Sutton

  —

  110

  —

  102

  —

  107

  —

  108

  —

  108

  Swindon

  —

  —

  103

  70

  —

  114

  —

  108

  —

  108

  Tameside

  —

  55

  —

  112

  44

  88

  —

  110

  —

  110

  Telford and Wrekin

  —

  —

  —

  110

  —

  120

  —

  123

  —

  123

  Thurrock

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100

  74

  45

  89

  Torbay

  —

  —

  —

  112

  —

  120

  —

  121

  44

  89

  Tower Hamlets

  60

  77

  —

  112

  39

  107

  25

  102

  —

  101

  Trafford

  58

  142

  —

  106

  —

  110

  40

  97

  17

  90

  Wakefield

  —

  90

  —

  86

  25

  87

  15

  90

  20

  95

  Walsall

  —

  110

  54

  80

  —

  108

  29

  90

  24

  103

  Waltham Forest

  —

  110

  —

  109

  43

  94

  33

  103

  —

  113

  Wandsworth

  —

  100

  —

  91

  16

  79

  —

  146

  —

  148

  Warrington

  37

  122

  —

  79

  25

  90

  —

  111

  19

  104

  Warwickshire

  63

  90

  34

  85

  44

  95

  —

  115

  34

  95

  West Berkshire

  —

  110

  23

  115

  —

  99

  28

  103

  —

  109

  West Sussex

  42

  104

  —

  91

  9

  98

  —

  108

  20

  98

  Westminster

  156

  60

  —

  112

  —

  122

  56

  96

  —

  123

  Wigan

  23

  112

  15

  97

  13

  109

  —

  111

  —

  111

  Wiltshire

  50

  83

  —

  102

  43

  87

  10

  107

  —

  112

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  92

  68

  Wirral

  41

  84

  —

  97

  28

  94

  34

  93

  14

  100

  Wokingham

  —

  —

  85

  61

  —

  101

  46

  90

  —

  112

  Wolverhampton

  —

  101

  —

  96

  42

  103

  —

  129

  —

  129

  Worcestershire

  —

  44

  65

  68

  16

  98

  26

  104

  21

  105

  York, City of

  38

  78

  —

  101

  21

  75

  —

  88

  —

  89

  498W 499W
  Notes

  1. Specialist schools receive a one-off grant of £100,000 in their first year of designation for a capital project to support their specialist schools development plan. This matches the minimum £50,000 sponsorship which they are required to raise from the private sector when they apply for specialist school designation.

  2. In addition, an annual grant is available for the four years of specialist school designation to support the costs of implementing the development plan. Assuming schools are successful in meeting the targets they set out in their initial application they can apply for re-designation for a further three years.

  3. The annual grant is currently calculated at a rate of £123 per pupil up to 1,000 and over 1,200 pupils (special schools designated as specialist schools are funded at five times this rate). Funding in 1998–99 was calculated at the rate of £100 per pupil up to 1,000 pupils and this was increased to £120 per pupil in September 1999 to allow schools to develop the community element of their development plans. A further rise of £3 per pupil was implemented in September 2000.

  4. The 2002–03 figures do not include schools that are currently being considered in the March 2002 competition.

HEALTH

  Christmas Trees
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of potential risks to health caused by the chemical treatment of trees used as Christmas trees. [26702]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department has made no assessment to the potential risks.

  Locum Doctors
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his strategy is to boost the numbers of locum doctors available in(a) primary and (b) secondary care; and if he will make a statement. [48060]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and NHS trusts to identify their own need for locum doctors in the primary and secondary care sectors respectively. It is accepted that locum doctors are an essential part of the NHS workforce.

  However, the focus of our plans to increase the size of the medical workforce is to increase the number of permanent doctors. Following the spending review settlement announced by the Chancellor in the Budget we have committed ourselves in "Delivering the NHS Plan" to increasing the medical workforce by at least 15,000 more consultants and GPs by 2008. This is on top of the 9,550 increase in doctors in the NHS since 1997.

  Food Standards Agency
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the programme to improve business efficiency, referred to on page 41 of the 2001 report of the Food Standards Agency. [49229]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to develop ways of improving organisational performance through a co-ordinated programme of activity designed to improve business efficiency.

  A major programme of staff training and development to ensure staff have the knowledge and skills to deliver a higher level of performance in meeting the FSA's business needs commenced in 2001. This provides the basis for the successful delivery of the other strands of the efficiency programme.

  The programme to improve business efficiency also encompasses the implementation of an effective procurement strategy, development and implementation of an e-strategy including the launch of a new 'user-friendly'
  500W
  website, and a critical appraisal of research programmes and management systems. A comprehensive information technology/information systems strategy has been developed leading to the re-letting of the FSA's IT system support contract.

  Dental Therapists
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when restrictions on dental therapists' rights to work throughout the dentistry sector are due to be lifted; [52061]

  (2) what efforts are being made to recruit and retain dental therapists in the NHS. [52062]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Dental Auxiliaries Regulations 1986 need to be amended by affirmative resolution to permit dental therapists to work in all fields of dentistry. We have now laid amending regulations before Parliament and they are to be debated during May. A much wider range of employment opportunities will become available to dental therapists once the restriction is removed which will make careers in dental therapy more attractive. In planning training commissions in the future we would expect workforce development confederations to take account of the contribution that dental therapists can make to dental services.

  Speech Therapists
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reasons why some NHS trusts listed in the answer of 18 April 2002,Official Report, column 1185W, on speech therapists, are omitted from the list of NHS trusts deposited in the Library following the answer of 2 May 2002, Official Report, column 991W. [55916]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information placed in the Library lists all trusts who employ speech and language therapists.

  The vacancy rates for Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust and Tower Hamlets Healthcare NHS trust were not included because of doubts about data quality. Both trusts recently indicated that their vacancies as at 31 March 2001 were considerably lower than they had originally reported to the Department. Rates for a number of other trusts are not given where the sum of staff in post and vacancies is less than 10.

  Delegated Legislation
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Retained Organs Commission Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53855]
  501W
  (2) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Treatment Agency Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53861]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service Appointments Commission Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54052]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 2 (England) and Transitional Provisions) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53840]

  (5) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Special Trustees for the Former United Birmingham Hospitals (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53838]

  (6) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Special Trustees for Newcastle University Hospitals (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53834]

  (7) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54047]

  (8) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Special Trustees for St. George's Hospital (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53833]

  (9) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Isles of Scilly (Primary Care) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53849]

  (10) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Restriction on Pithing (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53852]

  (11) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Special Trustees for the Former United Birmingham Hospitals (Transfer of Trust Property) Revocation Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54054]

  (12) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Medicines for Human Use and Medical Devices (Fees and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54050]

  (13) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53839]

  (14) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Special Trustees for the Former United Birmingham Hospitals (Transfer of Trust Property) No. 2 Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54053]

  (15) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53829]
  502W
  (16) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health Act 1999 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53836]

  (17) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Functions of Health Authorities and Administration Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53856]

  (18) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53854]

  (19) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54051]

  (20) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Isles of Scilly (Health) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53851]

  (21) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Disabled Children (Direct Payments) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53845]

  (22) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Trustees for the North and East Devon Health Authority (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53865]

  (23) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Care Standards Commission (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54048]

  (24) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53850]

  (25) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Special Trustees for St. Bartholomew's Hospital (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53863]

  (26) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54049]

  (27) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54044]

  (28) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53848]

  (29) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Dental Charges) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53846]
  503W
  (30) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54055]

  (31) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53843]

  (32) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Trustees for the Central Sheffield University Hospitals National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53831]

  (33) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Avon and Western Wiltshire Mental Health Care National Health Service Trust (Change of Name) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53837]

  (34) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53857]

  (35) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 3) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53860]

  (36) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54046]

  (37) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Birmingham Children's Hospital National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53842]

  (38) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53859]

  (39) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53847]

  (40) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) (No. 3) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54045]

  (41) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the University Hospital Birmingham National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53841]

  (42) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Carers (Services) and Direct Payments (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53844]

  (43) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Special Trustees for the Royal London Hospital (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53864]
  504W
  (44) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Trustees for the Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53862]

  (45) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 4) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54043]

  (46) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Charges) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53853]

  (47) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54056]

  (48) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Special Trustees for King's College Hospital (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53832]

  (49) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Trustees for the Northern General Hospital National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53835]

  (50) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Primary Care Trusts (Functions) (England) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [53858]

  (51) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Pensions Scheme and Additional Voluntary Contributions) (Pension Sharing) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54309]

  (52) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the South Tees Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust Change of Name and (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54307]

  (53) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the North Mersey Community National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54302]

  (54) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 6) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54308]

  (55) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Adoption of Children from Overseas Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54311]

  (56) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Lowestoft Primary Care Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54306]

  (57) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Gelatine (Intra-Community Trade) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54305]
  505W
  (58) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Southampton East Healthcare Primary Care Trust Change of Name and (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54303]

  (59) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Adoption (Inter-Country Aspects) Act 1999 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54310]

  (60) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Southern Derbyshire Mental Health National Health Service Trust Change of Name and (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54304]

  (61) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 3) Regulation 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54301]

  (62) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54530]

  (63) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Blood Authority (Establishment and Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2001: and if he will make a statement; [54529]

  (64) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Patient Safety Agency Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54526]

  (65) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54536]

  (66) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Retained Organs Commission (Establishment and Constitution) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54531]

  (67) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Southampton Community Health Services National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54537]

  (68) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health Act 1999 (Commencement No. 11) Order 2001; and if he Will make a statement; [54540]

  (69) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Residential Accommodation (Relevant Premises Ordinary Residence and Exemptions) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54533]

  (70) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Chiropractors Act 1994 (Commencement Order No. 5 and Transitional Provision) 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54541]

  (71) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the General Social Care Council (Appointments and Procedure) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54527]
  506W
  (72) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Daventry and South Northamptonshire Primary Care Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54538]

  (73) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Medicines (Aristolochia and Mu Tong etc.) (Prohibition) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54532]

  (74) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Uttlesford Primary Care Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54539]

  (75) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Functions of Health Authorities) (General Dental Services Incentive Scheme) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54525]

  (76) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Rotherham Priority Health Services National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54535]

  (77) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the North Sefton and West Lancashire Community National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54534]

  (78) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54970]

  (79) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54962]

  (80) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54972]

  (81) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Assistance (Residential Accommodation) (Disregarding of Resources) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54946]

  (82) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54956]

  (83) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Homes Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54922]

  (84) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 7) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54920]
  507W
  (85) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Preserved Rights (Transfer of Responsibilities to Local Authorities) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54971]

  (86) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (No. 3) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54928]

  (87) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54965]

  (88) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 8) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54953]

  (89) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Abolition of the NHS Tribunal (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54967]

  (90) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54958]

  (91) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 3) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54952]

  (92) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Electronic Communications) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54939]

  (93) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Lowestoft Primary Care Trust Change of Name and (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54933]

  (94) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Care Standards Commission (Registration) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54925]

  (95) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 7) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54935]

  (96) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Treatment Agency (Amendment) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54930]

  (97) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services and Misuse of Drugs) (Electronic Communications) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54940]

  (98) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Electronic Communications) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54942]
  508W
  (99) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 10 (England) and Transitional Savings and Amendment Provisions) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54936]

  (100) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Medicines (Sale or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54917]

  (101) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54969]

  (102) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54923]

  (103) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Trusts (Applications and Consultation) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54974]

  (104) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority (Procedure) Rules 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54968]

  (105) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Data Protection (Subject Access) (Fees and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54951]

  (106) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Feeding Stuffs and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54955]

  (107) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No 2) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54949]

  (108) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Children (Leaving Care) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54937]

  (109) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment (No 3) Order 200]; and if he will make a statement; [54954]

  (110) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 6) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54964]

  (111) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54926]

  (112) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Private and Voluntary Health Care (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54924]

  (113) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Southern Norfolk Primary Care Trust (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54934]
  509W
  (114) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Medicines (Products Other than Veterinary Drugs) (General Sales List) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54932]

  (115) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Primary Care Trusts (Membership, Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Amendment (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54973]

  (116) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 6) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54961]

  (117) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54919]

  (118) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority (Primary Care Act) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54966]

  (119) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Mental Health Act 1983 (Remedial) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54960]

  (120) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Assistance (Residential Accommodation) (Additional Payments) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54947]

  (121) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Prescription only Medicines (Human Use) (Electronic Communications) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54941]

  (122) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service Trusts (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54929]

  (123) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Foster Placement (Children) and Adoption Agencies Amendment (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54943]

  (124) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 (Commencement No 1) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54938]

  (125) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Assistance (Residential Accommodation) (Relevant Contributions) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54948]

  (126) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Southampton Community Health Services National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment (No 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54950]

  (127) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54944]
  510W
  (128) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Medicines (Pharmacies) (Applications for Registration and Fees) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54921]

  (129) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54931]

  (130) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54927]

  (131) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 9 (England) and Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement. [54918]

  (132) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health Service Medicines (Information on the Prices of Specified Generic Medicines) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54916]

  (133) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54945]

  (134) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 4) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54959]

  (135) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services Supplementary List) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement. [54963]

  136 what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Assistance (Residential Accommodation) (Additional Payments and Assessment of Resources)(Amendment)(England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [54957]

  (137) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Specified Risk Material (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [55760]

  (138) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the North Middlesex Hospital National Health Service Trust (Change of Name) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [55761]

  (139) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [55762]

  (140) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 1) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement; [55759]

  (141) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 5) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [55766]
  511W
  (142) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Primary Care Trusts (Membership, Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Amendment (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [55763]

  (143) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service (Dental Charges) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [55758]

  (144) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Health Service Trusts(Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement; [55765]
  512W
  (145) what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Health Authorities(Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement. [55764]

  Ms Blears
  Costs associated with regulatory proposals are considered at the policy development stage. A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is completed for regulatory proposals unless there are no or negligible costs, and sets out the impact, in terms of costs, benefits and risks of the proposed regulation which could affect businesses, charities or the voluntary sector. RIAs are available from the Library.

  Tribunals and Courts: Awards of Costs
  Tribunals and Courts: Awards of Costs
  House of Lords Appointments: Applicants
  House of Lords Appointments: Applicants
  Castlereagh Police Complex: Security
  Castlereagh Police Complex: Security
  Privy Council Office: Heritage Assets
  Privy Council Office: Heritage Assets
  Provisional IRA
  Provisional IRA
  Northern Ireland: Linguistic Diversity
  Northern Ireland: Linguistic Diversity
  Peers' Expenses Scheme: Motor Mileage and Bicycle Allowances
  Peers' Expenses Scheme: Motor Mileage and Bicycle Allowances
  Labour Party Manifesto Commitments 2001
  Labour Party Manifesto Commitments 2001
  Middle East
  Middle East
  FCO Antiques Register
  FCO Antiques Register
  Zimbabwe: Former British Nationals
  Zimbabwe: Former British Nationals
  Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: Consultation
  Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: Consultation
  Internet "Cookies"
  Internet "Cookies"
  Consignia
  Consignia
  3G Spectrum Licences
  3G Spectrum Licences
  Employment Tribunal Membership: Freemasonry Question
  Employment Tribunal Membership: Freemasonry Question
  Mandatory Labelling Schemes
  Mandatory Labelling Schemes
  Strata Florida: Proposed Windfarm
  Strata Florida: Proposed Windfarm
  Women Offenders
  Women Offenders
  Terrorism and International Terrorism: Definitions
  Terrorism and International Terrorism: Definitions
  Brigadier Stephen Saunders
  Brigadier Stephen Saunders
  Russian Federation: Religious Freedom
  Russian Federation: Religious Freedom
  Gibraltar
  Gibraltar
  Abortion
  Abortion
  Birth Defects
  Birth Defects
  Food Imports
  Food Imports
  NHS: Workforce Information
  NHS: Workforce Information
  Smallpox Vaccine
  Smallpox Vaccine
  Specified Risk Material
  Specified Risk Material
  National Insurance Contributions: Charities
  National Insurance Contributions: Charities
  Smoking: Public Transport
  Smoking: Public Transport
  State Retirement Pension: Postponement of Receipt
  State Retirement Pension: Postponement of Receipt
  Child Benefit
  Child Benefit