Written Answers of 20 May 2002

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  US Farm Subsidies
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to the US Government concerning proposals to increase subsidies to US farmers; and if she will make a statement. [56622]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 15 May 2002]: I have taken several opportunities, most recently during my visit to Washington in April this year, to express my concern at the increase in subsidies for which the new US Farm Bill provides. I have made clear that the Bill runs counter to our shared goal of reducing worldwide subsidies in the World Trade Organisation.

  Fishery Limits
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to ensure the continuation of the six and 12 mile fishing limits after 31 December. [55485]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 10 May 2002]: A decision on the six and 12 mile limits is part of the forthcoming CFP review. Previous discussions in the Council of Ministers have revealed a very strong consensus among member states in favour of renewing the present provisions; the Commission is also known to support them. My Department will be making every effort to get the limits made permanent.

  Waste
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of household waste in the last 12 months, comprised plastic bags. [55484]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 10 May 2002]: My Department has no data on the proportion by volume of plastic bags within household waste. "Waste Strategy 2000" (Part 2, p191) shows estimates of around 6 per cent. dense plastic and 5 per cent. film plastic by weight in household waste. A further national survey to update these figures is planned by the Environment Agency.

  The Municipal Waste Management Survey shows that recycling of household waste plastics increased to 13,000 tonnes in 1999–2000, compared to 8,000 tonnes for the previous year.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters from hon. Members are awaiting a response from her Department; and how many responses are due to 2W
  letters dated more than (a) two weeks, (b) one month, (c) two months, (d) three months and (e) more than three months ago. [42963]

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her most recent estimate is of how many letters have yet to be sent a substantive response by her Department that were received(a) under four weeks ago, (b) between four to six weeks ago, (c) between six weeks and two months ago and (d) over two months ago; and if she will make a statement. [51474]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answers 13 March and 22 April 2002]: The total number of letters from hon. and right hon. Members awaiting a response as at 15 May 2002 stood at 2,125. Of these, 1,699 responses are due to letters dated more than two calendar weeks, 1,295 to letters dated more than one calendar month, 886 to letters dated more than two calendar months and 612 to letters dated more than three calendar months.

  On average, DEFRA receives around 1,160 letters from hon. and right hon. Members each month. The Department's service target is 15 working days from date of receipt. Performance was severely affected last year by the impact of foot and mouth disease, and by IT and other convergence issues following the creation of DEFRA. However, the median response time for all letters is now 15 working days, with 53 per cent. of letters meeting the target. Measures are in place to secure further improvements in the weeks ahead.

  Scrapie
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what practical difficulties have been encountered by her Department's officials in administering boluses to Shetland sheep during testing for scrapie; and if she will make a statement. [56040]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]: A total of 1,315 Shetland sheep have been electronically tagged using a ruminal bolus as part of the genotype testing programme under the National Scrapie Plan. Occasional difficulties have arisen in administering these boluses, and five casualties have arisen in three separate flocks of Shetland sheep. Full compensation is paid to the flock owner for any casualty arising as a result of this procedure.

  Timber
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Department for International Development regarding the procurement of sustainable timber for Government premises; and if she will make a statement. [56043]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]: My Department works closely with the Department for International Development on all matters of common interest to do with forest management and illegal logging including the Government's efforts to purchase its timber and timber products from sustainable sources. Officials from both Departments are members of the Whitehall Forestry Group that addresses international issues and of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Timber

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  Procurement that is monitoring implementation of the timber procurement policy. These same officials are part of the steering group that has commissioned research into the Government's timber purchasing activities and will help supervise the action to be taken following publication of the consultant's report later this summer.

  Sustainable Technologies
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation has been undertaken, and with whom, over the content of Statutory Instrument 843 on TSEs. [56039]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]: My Department consulted more than 700 key stakeholders on draft proposals for the TSE (England) Regulations 2002, representing renderers, slaughterhouses, farmers, knackers, hunt kennels, veterinary, consumer and medical interests and enforcement authorities. That is, the people who are actually affected or need to know. The consultation package was distributed in February 2002. It was posted on the Department's website and a copy placed in the Library of the House. It included a Regulatory Impact Assessment. Parallel legislation is being introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with additional and broadly equivalent consultation there.

  These Regulations implement current Community legislation on TSEs as set out in Council Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001. My Department twice consulted on the Community measures, giving fair warning of likely new arrangements. First, in January 1999 and again in November 2000. Community measures in relation to animal feeding were implemented under the Processed Animal Protein (England) Regulations 2001, introduced last August; there was a separate consultation exercise specifically for this legislation.

  Ozone Depletion
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department had made of the viability of non-ozone depleting drop-in refrigerants. [48075]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 10 April 2002]: I am aware that in certain applications there are drop-in replacements for CFCs and HCFCs. One example is in mobile air-conditioning where HFC-134a is a drop-in replacement for CFC-12, although it should be noted that HFC-134a is also a powerful greenhouse gas with a 100-year Global Warming Potential 1,300 times the warming potential of Carbon Dioxide. There are, however, many other applications where a drop-in replacement is not feasible and the only alternative would either involve costly technical alternations to the refrigeration equipment or replacement of the equipment.

  Rio Earth Summit
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department(a) has taken and (b) plans to take to strengthen the implementation of (i) the Rio Declaration, (ii) Agenda 21 and (iii) other commitments made at (a) Rio in 1992 and (b) the United Nations General Assembly Special Section in 1997. [44350]
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  Mr. Meacher
  On question(a), the UK's sustainable development strategy, "A Better Quality of Life" (1999), sets out the many steps that DEFRA and its predecessors have taken to implement the various Rio agreements and the outcome of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session in 1997. The Department has led the world on the elaboration of sustainable development indicators to assess progress. The Government's first annual review of progress towards sustainable development, "Achieving a Better Quality of Life", was published in January 2001. This is available at www.sustainable-development.gov.uk. We have ratified the conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification, which were products of the Rio process, and we have made particular efforts in the promotion of Local Agenda 21.

  Our future plans, (b), include the publication of a DEFRA sustainable development strategy and implementation of the recently published fuel poverty strategy and waste strategy. We are also implementing the outcomes on fisheries quotas from the December 2001 Fisheries Council, and the recommendations of the Independent Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food. DEFRA's formation itself underlines the Government's commitment to delivering a more sustainable development focused agenda on food, farming and rural communities. "Working for the Essentials of Life", published in March, sets out DEFRA's plans for the future.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's priorities are for the Rio+10 Summit in Johannesburg towards the objectives of(a) poverty eradication and (b) sustainable production and consumption for the UK; and what the priorities of the European Group are. [44426]

  Mr. Meacher
  Poverty eradication through sustainable development will be a top priority for the UK at the summit. We are keen to ensure that WSSD outcomes should assist progress towards achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs). Actions on poverty and effective management of natural resources are often mutually reinforcing.

  De-coupling economic growth from environmental degradation will be central to achieving sustainable production and consumption patterns in both the north and the south, though developed countries have to take the lead. Resource productivity is a concept which underpins actions in particular sectors, such as switching from heavily polluting fossil fuels to cleaner fossil fuels and other low carbon fuel sources, changing demand patterns in favour of environmentally sustainable products and production processes by, for example, raising consumer awareness and promoting certification initiatives and supporting innovation to develop more sustainable technologies.

  The priorities of the European Union are currently under discussion and will develop as the agenda becomes more firm.

  Pollution Inspectorate
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 8 March 2002,Official Report, column 641W,

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  on the Pollution Inspectorate, what the qualifications are to which she refers; which consultants were commissioned in 2000, what the process was through which any contract was awarded, the month in which this took place, and the terms of reference of this work; if she will place in the Library a copy of their report, and other documentation relating to this work; if she will describe the process by which the contract for carrying out a trial methodology was undertaken; which local authorities, process operators and trade associations were involved in the trial; to whom it is planned to issue the trial report for comments; and how these comments will be utilised. [44427]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have placed in the Library a copy of the 1995 guidance note on inspection frequency, which advised on circumstances where the specified normal inspection rate of twice a year might warrant increase or decrease.

  The consultants, Risk and Policy Analysts, were commissioned in June 2000 as a result of competitive tendering. The terms of reference for the study and the trials it reproduced as Annexe 5 to their October 2000 report which is available on the DEFRA website.

  The report was sent to the Department on 26 March and I expect to decide the next steps shortly. As I said in my reply of 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 720W, the report has been placed on the DEFRA website as part of a three-month consultation exercise.

  The trials methodology, including the method of selecting the processes involved and the industry sectors represented, is described in the report. I am grateful to all participants for their contribution to the trials. The list of participating operators could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The local authorities involved in the trials were City of York council, Fylde borough council, Wandsworth borough council, Rochdale metropolitan borough council, mid-Devon district council, Exeter city council, south Tyneside metropolitan borough council, Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council, Mansfield district council, Anglesey county council, Guildford borough council, Rochford district council, and Great Yarmouth port health authority. The two trade associations which submitted comments to the consultants were UK Steel and the Environmental Industries Association.

  Bonfires
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's policy with regard to bonfires, with specific reference to(a) the impact upon climate change and (b) nuisance to neighbours; what discussions she has had recently with (i) the Local Government Association and (ii) individual local authorities on the subject of bonfires; and what recent research her Department has undertaken into the impact of bonfires. [57108]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: Government policy regard to bonfires is:

  (a) The Government does not consider bonfires to be a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

  (b) Garden bonfires are a traditional way of disposing of household and garden rubbish but they can be a nuisance to neighbours and cause air pollution.

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  Local authorities have powers under section 79 of the Environment Protection Act 1990 to stop people creating smoke that amounts to a statutory nuisance. Where an Environmental Health Officer considers a bonfire to be causing a statutory nuisance then he or she must issue an abatement notice against the person responsible or in certain circumstances, the owner or occupier of the property. This notice can require that the activity causing the nuisance stops completely or may restrict it to between certain hours, or can require that remedial action be taken.

  (b) (i) My Department has not had recent discussions with the Local Government Association or individual Local Authorities on this particular issue;

  (b) (ii) National Environmental Technology Centre (NETCEN), on behalf of DEFRA, carry out, and publish the results from, regular monitoring of elevated particulate concentrations at a variety of sites around the UK, particularly on and around the traditional bonfire night celebrations. They work closely with local authorities to assist in the collection of relevant data. The latest research undertaken by this Department is given at www.aeat.co.uk/netcen/airqual.

  Market Towns
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 3 April 2002,Official Report, column 1030W, on the New Deal for Market Towns, which Department the £37 million announced for market towns over three years is coming from; and what her Department's involvement is with the regional development agencies in administering this project. [56126]

  Alun Michael
  The £37 million for the Market Towns Initiative is provided by DEFRA, with £5 million going to the Countryside Agency and £32 million going (via DTI) to the regional development agencies. It is for the agencies to manage the programme. While not having day to day involvement DEFRA takes a close interest in progress and I have discussed implementation with RDA chairs and with the Countryside Agency.

  Refrigerators
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 13 March 2002,Official Report, column 1149W, on refrigerators, when she will announce the further financial assistance to local authorities to meet the additional costs resulting from the implementation of EC regulation 2037/2000 in the financial year 2002–03; and if she will make a statement. [56498]

  Mr. Meacher
  A Government announcement on local authority funding will be made shortly.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the external organisations set up by her as part of the Government's strategy to combat climate change, indicating(a) their remits and (b) their sources of funding. [50446]
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  Mr. Meacher
  I refer the hon. Member to my earlier reply given on 22 April 2002,Official Report, columns 12–13W.

  GM Crops
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library scientific advice received from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment on Field Crop Trials and Other Research for T-25 and Other Genetically Modified Maize. [53814]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 2 May 2002]: I have arranged for the following documents containing advice for the Secretary of State from ACRE on field crop trials and other research for T25 and other GM maize to be placed in the Library:
  Advice on research trials for national listing of T25 GM maize (dated April 1995, March 1996, April 1996, March 1997, and May 1997);
  Advice on T25 in National List trials adjacent to an organic farm in Devon (Guy Watson Judicial Review, dated June 1998);
  Advice on the effect of GM Bt maize on Monarch butterflies (dated June 1999, September 2000 and January 2002);
  Advice on the significance of new research on the effect of Bt toxin on lacewings (July 1998);
  Advice on an article concerning gene flow from GM maize to native maize (landraces) in Mexico (dated March 2002).
  This information is also available on the public register at the DEFRA office in Ashdown House, London.

  End of Life Vehicles Directive
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has received from Rover Cars about their responsibilities under the End of Life Vehicles Directive for the recycling of motor vehicles built prior to 2001 by Leyland, British Leyland, BLMC and other associated companies. [56408]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Department has had a number of meetings with MG Rover, and with other vehicle manufacturers, about the potential impact of the End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive.

  MG Rover addressed the issue of historic vehicle parc liabilities in both a reply to the DTI's consultation document and in evidence given to the Trade and Industry Committee inquiry into the ELV Directive. In these documents, MG Rover asked that legislation should not place it at a competitive disadvantage as a result of a legacy parc of brands owned or produced by its predecessors, and suggested that any financial contributions made by vehicle manufacturers should be based on current market share rather than on the number of a company's vehicles being scrapped. MG Rover has had the opportunity to expand upon these points at a number of subsequent meetings.

  Fluorocarbon
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the role of the fluorocarbon industry in setting international standards regulating the use of ozone-damaging substances. [56042]
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  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]: We are aware of some international standards concerning tire-fighting equipment that uses ozone depleting substances but no representations about the involvement of the fluorocarbon industry in the setting of these standards have been received by DTI or DEFRA since June 2001. Use of ozone depleting substances is controlled by the Montreal Protocol and the EC Regulation 2037/2000 on substances which deplete the ozone layer, which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. DEFRA and DTI received representations from various stakeholders, including from the fluorocarbon and other industries, during the negotiation of the EC Regulation.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Parliamentary Staff
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what arrangements are in place for monitoring pay and positions by ethnicity, gender and disability on the parliamentary estate; and if he will make a statement. [56494]

  Mr. Kirkwood
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The House of Commons Commission is committed to fairness in its employment policies. On its behalf, officials monitor all recruitment exercises by ethnicity, gender, and disability status at both application and appointment stages. In addition, there is regular monitoring of staff across all pay bands, broken down by ethnicity and gender for each department.

  In 1999 and 2001, the Board of Management reviewed the findings of two consultancy studies of all aspects of performance appraisal for senior posts and for two mid-range pay bands. These reviews focused on the fairness and effectiveness of the system in general and in particular on equality aspects.

  There has been a recent programme of further training for reporting officers involved in conducting performance appraisals, with the aim of promoting consistency across the House at all levels in the application of the House's performance review markings and performance pay decisions. Officials are currently reviewing the pay system for the main pay bands, in consultation with the trade unions. The review will include an exercise in equality proofing as carried out in the Civil Service.

DEFENCE

  Optional Protocol
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to remove the Government's Declaration to the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict; and if he will make a statement. [38771]

  Mr. Ingram
  The declaration made on signing the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict was designed to clarify the United Kingdom's understanding of the requirements of the Optional
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  Protocol. It made clear our determination to accord special consideration to members of the armed forces under the age of 18, but also our understanding that the Protocol would not exclude members of our armed forces aged under 18 from taking a direct part in hostilities in certain narrowly defined circumstances (thereby maintaining operational effectiveness). The declaration defined these circumstances as being
  "where there is a genuine military need to deploy a unit or ship or unit to an area in which hostilities are taking place; and by reason of the nature and urgency of the situation:
  it is not practicable to withdraw such persons (ie those under 18) before deployment, or
  to do so would undermine the operational effectiveness of their ship or unit, and thereby put at risk the successful completion of the military mission and/or the safety of other personnel."
  There are no plans to withdraw the declaration.

  New guidelines are being finalised as part of the process leading to the United Kingdom's ratification of the Optional Protocol. These guidelines are designed to ensure adherence to the Optional Protocol while reflecting the practical position set out in the United Kingdom's declaration, thus maintaining operational effectiveness. Officials in both the Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office continue to work actively towards ratification, and we hope to ratify soon. As part of the ratification process, an Explanatory Memorandum will be laid before Parliament to explain the significance of the Optional Protocol.

  Gulf War
  Mr. Tyler
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel he estimates were exposed to dangerous and harmful gases resulting from destroyed Iraqi chemical factories in the Gulf War; and what changes there have been in this number in the last three years. [54580]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any United Kingdom military personnel having being exposed to dangerous and harmful gases resulting from destroyed Iraqi chemical factories during the Gulf conflict. However, on 10 March 1991, US forces demolished Iraqi rockets containing chemical warfare agents near the Khamisiyah Ammunition Depot, Iraq. The MOD's initial assessment of the implications for UK personnel of the demolitions was published in December 1999 in a paper entitled: "Review of Events Concerning 32 Field Hospital and the Release of Nerve Agent Arising from US Demolition of Iraqi Munitions at the Khamisiyah Depot in March 1991". The paper is available in the Library of the House and on the internet at http://www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar/info/khamisiyah.htm. The paper's main conclusion was that up to 9,000 UK troops might theoretically have been exposed to nerve agent following the demolitions but that the level of exposure would have no detectable effect on human health.

  On 25 April 2002, the US released a technical report about the Khamisiyah demolitions based on a revised theoretical model of the plume of nerve agent which may have been released by the demolitions. On 3 May 2002, the US Secretary of Veterans Affairs announced that the death rate for US personnel who were near Khamisiyah is similar to that for other US Gulf veterans. The US report
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  is currently being analysed by MOD officials and the implications for UK personnel will be made public when available but at this stage there is no evidence to link the Khamisiyah demolitions with the range of symptoms of ill health being experienced by some Gulf veterans.

  C17
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the original target flying hours were for the leased Cl7s; what the actual flying hours have been; and if he will make a statement; [55205]

  (2) how many flying hours have been bought under the leasing arrangements for the Cl7s; when he expects these bought hours to have been flown at the current rate of flying hours; and if he will make a statement. [55206]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 May 2002,Official Report, column 640W.

  Afghanistan
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what undertakings were received by Her Majesty's Government from the Afghan Interim Authority on the international human rights standards applicable to captives transferred from United Kingdom authorities to the Afghan Interim Authority. [56278]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Afghan Interim Authority have given us assurances that they will abide by their international obligations in handling detainees who are released by the British forces from detention and taken into custody by the Interim Administration.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he has given to military personnel on the applicability of the provisions of the European convention on human rights to persons captured in Afghanistan by UK forces. [56275]

  Mr. Hoon
  All military personnel are issued with guidance which ensures that their actions are fully in compliance with our international obligations, including where appropriate the ECHR.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tomahawk missiles have been fired in Operation Veritas. [57532]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 December 2001,Official Report, column 743W, to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Hywel Williams).

  Disclosure of Interests
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to his Department. [56450]

  Dr. Moonie
  All advisory and executive non-departmental public bodies are required to adopt a board members' code based on guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, and they should have registers of interests. The definition of interests is ultimately for individual Departments since they are best placed to decide what might be thought to influence members of their bodies.
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  The following table lists the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and indicates whether they have a current Code of Practice.

  Code of Practice

  Executive NDPBs

  Fleet Air Arm Museum

  Yes

  National Army Museum

  Under review

  Oil and Pipelines Agency

  Yes

  RAF Museum

  Yes

  Royal Marines Museum

  Yes

  Royal Navy Museum

  Yes

  RN Submarine Museum

  Yes

  Advisory NDPBs

  Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors

  Yes

  Armed Forces Pay Review Body

  Yes

  Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures

  Under development

  Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

  Under development

  Central Advisory Committee on War Pension

  Dartmoor Steering Group

  Yea

  Defence Nuclear Safety Committee

  Under development

  Defence Scientific Advisory Council

  Yes

  Independent Board of Visitors to the Military Corrective Training Centre

  Under development

  National Employers Liaison Committee

  Yes

  Nuclear Research Advisory Council

  Under development

  Review Board for Government Contracts

  Yes

  Royal Military College of Science Advisory Council

  Under development

  War Pensions Committees (13 bodies)

  Yes

  I will arrange for copies of all current Codes of Practice for NDPBs sponsored by the MOD to be placed in the Library of the House.

  Sick Leave
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days of sick leave were taken in his Department last year; how many related to employees suffering(a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to his Department. [56484]

  Dr. Moonie
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]: The latest published data are in the Cabinet Office annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the civil service" for the year 2000 which shows the average number of working days lost per staff year among non-industrial staff. The figure for Ministry of Defence is 8.8 days. MOD's own records show that during 2000 4.1 per cent. of days lost were due to mental disorders (stress-related) and 6.6 per cent. were due to mental disorders (non-stress related). The overall cost of sick absence was some £22 million. These figures exclude MOD Trading Funds. MOD is committed to improving the health and well being of its civilian staff and has programmes in hand to reduce the number of working days lost through sick absence and work-related injury and illness.

  Gurkhas
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkhas have accompanied postings; what plans he has to expand the Gurkha units; and what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister of Nepal about Gurkha pensions. [57028]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: There are currently 906 Gurkha personnel in accompanied service postings.
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  There is a requirement to recruit 230 Gurkhas per year to maintain present force levels. While there are no plans to increase Gurkha strength, we continue to look at ways to best deploy this manpower.

  The issue of Gurkha pensions was, however, raised briefly by the Nepalese Prime Minister at the end of a meeting I attended with the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for International Development on Monday 13 May.

  Naval Vessels
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if HMS Sheffield will be returned to operational service in 2004; and if she will continue as an operational warship until the end of the decade. [56699]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 March 2002, Official Report, column 874W, to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin). On current plans HMS Sheffield will return to service in September 2004 and will continue in operational service until towards the end of this decade.

  EU-NATO Relations
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards arrangement of EU access to NATO assets and capabilities; and when the arrangements will be finalised. [57791]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 March 2002,Official Report, column 30W.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to assimilate NATO planning structures with the EU. [57790]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 January 2002,Official Report, column 827W.

  Cadets
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many schools have had cadet forces in each year since 1997. [57807]

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

  European Security and Defence Policy
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the European Security and Defence Policy procedures testing top level co-ordination and the decision-making procedures of the ESDP bodies will be exercised. [57793]

  Mr. Hoon
  The EU's first Crisis Management Exercise, under ESDP "CME 02", will run from 22 to 28 May 2002, and is designed to test the EU's structures and decision-making procedures for crisis management. CME 02 is a paper exercise only, involving no forces, and uses a generic scenario. CME 02 should provide valuable lessons for the continuing development of the EU's operational capability.
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  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe plays within the European Security and Defence Policy. [57792]

  Mr. Hoon
  In view of his responsibilities for the European Pillar of NATO, DISACEUR may be invited to meetings of the EU Military Committee, and has been identified as a primary candidate for "operation commander" of EU-led operations. He would also co-ordinate responses to EU requests to NATO for planning support. All these arrangements are subject to finalising agreement on modalities for EU-NATO co-operation.

  Iran
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of Iran's missile development programme; and if he will make a statement. [57535]

  Mr. Hoon
  I refer the hon. Member to the Ministry of Defence's "Supplementary Memorandum to the House of Commons Defence Committee: The Ballistic Missile Threat" of 18 March 2002 which was published by the committee on I May 2002.

  Missile Defence
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representation he has received concerning the future use of(a) Menwith Hill and (b) Fylingdales base for the purpose of anti-missile systems; and if he will make a statement. [57534]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence regularly receives representations and inquiries from right hon. and hon. Members and members of the public about the present and potential future use of RAF Fylingdales and RAF Menwith Hill, and other issues related to missile defence.

  Defence Council
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions were reached at the EU Defence Ministers' meeting on Monday 13 May; and if he will make a statement. [57533]

  Mr. Hoon
  EU Defence Ministers focused primarily on the European Capabilities Action Plan (ECAP) and the Capability Development Mechanism. Ministers concluded that significant progress had been made in these areas, demonstrated by the successful establishment of the ECAP process. Ministers also noted the need to maintain the momentum within the capability improvement process and quickly resolve the remaining issues concerning the Capabilities Development Mechanism. The full conclusions from the General Affairs Council have been placed in the Library of the House.

  European Peacekeeping Force
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will identify the units designated by each participant in the European Peacekeeping Force, with total of possible commitments by each country. [57880]
  14W
  Mr. Hoon
  There is no European Peacekeeping Force. EU member states have declared elements of national forces available to conduct Petersberg Tasks. A summary of member states' offers (the Compendium des Contributions Nationales) has been placed in the Library of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Africa
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the assistance being given to(a) Malawi, (b) Mozambique, (c) Zimbabwe and (d) other African countries affected by the current drought. [56422]

  Clare Short
  The drought has affected several southern African countries. In Malawi my Department has provided £5.1 million in food relief delivered through local non-governmental organisations and £1.12 million has been provided for the purchase of seeds and fertilisers for a winter crop. In Mozambique, together with other donors, we have assisted the Government with agricultural inputs for poor farmers affected by drought. In Zimbabwe we have provided £7.5 million through the UN and through NGOs, largely to feed children and their mothers. We are in contact with national and UN teams assessing the food situation in the region and will consider what further help is required once full details become available.

  Work-related Illness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many employees of her Department retired through work-related ill-health in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was to the Department. [56095]

  Clare Short
  Records are not maintained by my Department which enable ill health retirements to be separately identified as work related. However, for the year 2001–02, we had three members of staff who retired with a medical retirement certificate issued by the civil service pension scheme medical adviser. Benefits provided on medical retirement are as set out in the rules of the principal civil service pension scheme and laid before Parliament, and provide for an immediate payment of an enhanced pension and lump sum. Ill health retirement expenditure is met centrally from the Civil Superannuation Vote. For the year ending March 2002, provisional expenditure met from the Vote was £310 million in respect of all civil service cases for which an ill health pension has been awarded. These cases number approximately 67,000 and include those who have formerly been ill health retired but who have now reached and exceeded the normal retirement age.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many claims for work-related illness were settled by her Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was in compensation. [56094]

  Clare Short
  We have had no claims for work-related illness in 2001.
  15W
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many days of sick leave were taken by employees in her Department in the last year for which records are available; what proportion of those were due to work-related illness or injury; and what the cost was to the Department. [56096]

  Clare Short
  In 2000, my Department recorded a total of 8,399 days sick absence. The other information requested is not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Palestine
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 17 April,Official Report, column 995W, on European Commission assistance to Palestinians, what assessment she has made of the cost of damage as a result of military action during the last 12 months to each of the projects listed. [56122]

  Clare Short
  The European Commission (EC) began assessing damage and destruction to EU-funded development projects since the beginning of the Intifada in March 2002. A detailed list was produced, and a copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The EC is keen to update this initial assessment. This has not been possible since the Israeli re-occupation of the west bank, due to restricted access and the levels of violence.

  Tanzania
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her written answer of 9 May 2002,Official Report, column 285W, on Tanzania, what assessment she has made of the humanitarian consequences of her decision to withhold aid from Tanzania; and when she expects aid to resume. [57005]

  Clare Short
  In October 2001 DFID provided £35 million budget support to Tanzania. Our decision to delay disbursement of the next tranche of £10 million budget support has not affected the £35 million budget support already disbursed, or any of the complementary technical assistance programmes and projects that are currently addressing poverty reduction with Government, private sector and civil society partners.

  A decision on resuming disbursement of this tranche will be made following the Government of Tanzania's response to the review of the country's civil aviation requirements by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), once the ICAO report has been issued.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her answer of 11 March 2002,Official Report, column 685W, on Tanzania, what reports she has received from the (a) IMF and (b) World Bank, with regards to their assessment of the impact on development of Tanzania of the purchase of an air traffic control system; and if she will place copies in the Library. [57787]

  Clare Short
  Neither I nor my Department have received copies of reports from the IMF or the World bank regarding their assessment of the impact on development of Tanzania of the purchase of an air traffic control system. The World bank is still examining value 16W
  for money issues arising from the purchase, and they and the Government of Tanzania are awaiting the impending report from the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

  East Africa
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how her Department is responding to the recent floods in East Africa. [56969]

  Clare Short
  In Kenya, the country worst hit by the recent heavy rains in east Africa, mudslides have killed at least 53 people, and up to 150,000 people have been temporarily displaced by floods. Information from the Kenyan National Disaster Operations Centre suggests that, while the impact in some areas is serious, Government agencies and civil society organisations are coping and are delivering appropriate assistance to those affected. DFID staff are closely monitoring the situation in Kenya and elsewhere in the region.

  World Trade Organisation
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which developing countries are members of the World Trade Organisation; and what progress has been made in streamlining the least-developed countries' accession process to the WTO. [56665]

  Clare Short
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: As of 1 January 2002 there were 111 developing country members of which 301 are least-developed in the WTO. These are listed below with their respective accession dates.

  Albania—8 September 2000

  Angola1—23 November 1996

  Antigua and Barbuda—1 January 1995

  Argentina—1 January 1995

  Bangladesh1—1 January 1995

  Barbados—1 January 1995

  Belize—1 January 1995

  Benin1—22 February 1996

  Bolivia—12 September 1995

  Botswana—31 May 1995

  Brazil—1 January 1995

  Bulgaria—1 December 1996

  Burkina Faso—3 June 1995

  Burundi1—23 July 1995

  Cameroon—13 December 1995

  Central African Republic1—31 May 1995

  Chad1—19 October 1996

  Chile—1 January 1995

  China—11 December 2001

  Colombia—30 April 1995

  Congo1—27 March 1997

  Costa Rica—1 January 1995

  Côte d'Ivoire—1 January 1995

  Croatia—30 November 2000

  Cuba—20 April 1995

  Czech Republic—1 January 1995

  Democratic Republic of the Congo1—1 January 1997

  Djibouti1—31 May 1995

  Dominica—1 January 1995

  Dominican Republic—9 March 1995

  17W

  Ecuador—21 January 1996

  Egypt—30 June 1995

  El Salvador—7 May 1995

  Estonia—13 November 1999

  Fiji—14 January 1999

  Gabon—1 January 1995

  The Gambia1—23 October 1996

  Georgia—14 June 2000

  Ghana—1 January 1995

  Grenada—22 February 1996

  Guatemala—21 July 1995

  Guinea Bissau1—31 may 1995

  Guinea1—25 October 1995

  Guyana—1 January 1995

  Haiti1—30 January 1996

  Honduras—1 January 1995

  Hungary—1 January 1995

  India—1 January 1995

  Indonesia—1 January 1995

  Jamaica—9 March 1995

  Jordan—11 April 2000

  Kenya—1 January 1995

  Korea, Republic of—1 January 1995

  Kuwait—1 January 1995

  Kyrgyz Republic—20 December 1998

  Latvia—10 February 1999

  Lesotho1—31 May 1995

  Lithuania—31 May 2001

  Macao, China—1 January I995

  Madagascar1—17 November 1995

  Malawi1—31 May 1995

  Malaysia—1 January 1995

  Maldives1—31 May 1995

  Mali1—31 May 1995

  Mauritania1—31 May 1995

  Mauritius—1 January 1995

  Mexico—1 January 1995

  Moldova—26 July 2001

  Mongolia—29 January 1997

  Morocco—1 January 1995

  Mozambique1—26 August 1995

  Myanmar1—1 January 1995

  Namibia—1 January 1995

  Nicaragua—3 September 1995

  Niger1—13 December 1996

  Nigeria—1 January 1995

  Oman—9 November 2000

  Pakistan—1 January 1995

  Panama—6 September 1997

  Papua New Guinea—9 June 1996

  Paraguay—1 January 1995

  Peru—1 January 1995

  Philippines—1 January 1995

  Poland—I July 1995

  Qatar—13 January 1996

  Romania—1 January 1995

  Rwanda1—22 May 1996

  Saint Kitts and Nevis—21 February 1996

  Saint Lucia—1 January 1995

  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines—I January 1995

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  Senegal1—1 January 1995

  Sierra Leone1—23 July 1995

  Slovak Republic—1 January 1995

  Slovenia—30 July 1995

  Solomon Islands1—26 July 1996

  South Africa—1 January 1995

  Sri Lanka—1 January 1995

  Suriname—1 January 1995

  Swaziland—1 January 1995

  Switzerland—1 July 1995

  Tanzania1—1 January 1995

  Thailand—1 January 1995

  Togo1—31 May 1995

  Trinidad and Tobago—1 March 1995

  Tunisia—29 March 1995

  Turkey—26 March 1995

  Uganda1—1 January 1995

  Uruguay—I January 1995

  Venezuela—1 January 1995

  Zambia1—1 January 1995

  Zimbabwe—5 March 1995.

  There are major difficulties faced by least-developed countries (LDCs) when attempting to accede to the WTO. The WTO Secretariat, UNCTAD and several donor countries are working to address the issue, but since the inception of the WTO no LDCs have acceded to the organisation. This was recognised in the WTO ministerial declaration at Doha in November 2001 which stated:
  "Accession of LDCs remains a priority for the Membership. We agree to work to facilitate and accelerate negotiations with acceding LDCs. We instruct the Secretariat to reflect the priority we attach to LDCs' accessions in the annual plans for technical assistance."
  The WTO is working to help LDC accession candidates by streamlining the existing process in a number of ways. The aim is to have as few working party meetings as possible, to have clear agendas and work plans on exit, and to move as soon as possible towards the first version of the working party's draft report. However, the WTO would also like to see more action from WTO members, and is encouraging them to be more flexible and realistic in their market access negotiations with LDCs.

  DFID is at the forefront of work on WTO accession, and since 1999 we have been providing assistance (£400,000) to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to support developing and least developed countries accede to the WTO on terms consistent with their respective development needs.

  Technical Assistance
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the outcome of the enhanced integrated framework pilot scheme to improve the efficiency of trade-related technical assistance to developing countries was; and if this will be extended to a wider initiative. [56663]

  Clare Short
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: Three countries (Cambodia, Madagascar and Mauritania) were selected for the pilot phase of the Integrated Framework (IF) on the basis of demonstrating a clear choice and commitment to the mainstreaming of trade into their development plans, through the Poverty Reduction

  19W
  Strategy Paper (PRSP) process. This process helped the three countries to identify and prioritise trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) requirements from infrastructure to human resources within a coherent policy framework. Donors are now in the process of responding to these needs and the final review of the outcome of the pilot phase will be issued in October.

  At the fourth WTO Ministerial Conference held in Doha in November 2001, the IF was endorsed as a model for LDCs trade development. In this context, eleven countries, Lesotho, Malawi, Senegal, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Nepal and Yemen were selected for the next phase of the enhanced IF, and work has already begun. In all 45 countries have been identified.

  We remain convinced that the Integrated Framework is the best approach for mainstreaming trade into national development plans and strategies for poverty reduction, as well as being an effective mechanism for supporting donor coordinated delivery of TRTA.

  Afghanistan
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is being done to prevent violence against Pashtuns in Afghanistan. [56967]

  Clare Short
  The Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) has established an independent commission to investigate reports of ethnically motivated violence. Following a visit to northern Afghanistan in February 2002, the commission made a number of recommendations for improving security in the area, which are currently being considered by the AIA. These include the creation of a collaborative mechanism for addressing complaints, made up of representatives of all ethnic groups in the north, including Pashtuns.

  The UK is working with the Afghan Interim Administration, other donors and international agencies to strengthen the ability of the Afghan authorities to enforce the rule of law. An Afghan-led, internationally supported security sector reform programme is crucial to ensuring the capacity of the Afghan state both to deter further human rights abuses and to bring those responsible for human rights abuses to justice.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the rights of women in Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement. [56966]

  Clare Short
  Important progress has been made in restoring women's rights in Afghanistan. We welcome the involvement of women in the Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) and the Special Commission for the Convening of the Loya Jirga. Women have begun to return to work and girls are going back to school. But it is a slow process and more needs to be done. The UK is working closely with the AIA and the rest of the international community, to ensuring women's full and effective participation in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life throughout Afghanistan.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the extent of violence against Pashtuns in Afghanistan. [56968]
  20W
  Clare Short
  There have been a number of recent reports of abuses against Pashtuns, particularly in northern Afghanistan. These abuses include beatings, extortion, looting and sexual violence. Pashtuns are believed to have been targeted because of associations between their ethnic group and the Taliban regime.

  In February 2002, the Afghan Interim Administration (AIA) authorised a high-level independent commission to investigate reports of ethnically motivated violence in Afghanistan. A three person team from the commission visited northern Afghanistan to meet with local people and commanders to investigate reports of abuses against Pashtuns. Based on their findings, the commission made a series of recommendations which the AIA are now considering. Human Rights Watch has also investigated reports of abuses against Pashtuns. Their report—which can be found on their website (http//www.hrw.org)—is the result of interviews and discussions with local people in Balkh, Faryab, Samangan and Baghlan provinces, representatives of the AIA and humanitarian workers.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many internally displaced people there are in Afghanistan; and what assistance is being provided to them. [56965]

  Clare Short
  In January 2002, the United Nations estimated that there were approximately 1.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Afghanistan. Since then, approximately 160,000 IDPs have returned to their homes with assistance from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). A further 400,000 IDPs are estimated to have returned home spontaneously, without international assistance.

  IDPs, as victims of conflict and the ongoing effects of the drought, are among the most vulnerable people in Afghanistan, and are targeted by UN agencies, the Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance. It is a priority in 2002 for the Afghan Interim Administration and the international community to ensure reintegration of uprooted Afghans who wish to return home. Programmes coordinated by UNHCR and IOM are under way to physically transport returnees back to their places of origin, build the capacity of communities to absorb returning families, and integrate short-term programmes with longer-term strategies to ensure sustainable reintegration of returnees. Since September 2001. my Department has contributed £3 million to UNHCR and £3.6 million to IOM for their programmes in the region.

WALES

  Pensions
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent by his Department on paying pensions to retired employees of his Department in 2001–02; if he will estimate the corresponding amounts to be spent in(a) five years' time, (b) 10 years' time, (c) 20 years' time and (d) 30 years' time; if he will estimate in each case the proportion of such liabilities which will arise from (i) unfunded pension schemes and (ii) pre-funded pension schemes; and in the case of

  21W
  pre-funded schemes, if he will estimate the value of the corresponding pre-funded funds in each of these years. [57365]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The permanent civil servants in my Department are all secondees; pension liabilities remain with their home Departments.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Literacy and Numeracy
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations she has received in relation to the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies. [57722]

  Mr. Timms
  Over the last 12 months, the Secretary of State has been asked 22 Parliamentary Questions and received at lease 400 items of written correspondence, including correspondence via email, related to the National Literacy and Numeracy strategies. The Secretary of State also received a total of 206 responses in response to consultation in the Autumn term 2001 about the national targets at Key Stage 2 in English and mathematics for 2004.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which recent studies of literacy and numeracy standards among primary school children her Department has analysed; and what assessment she has made of these studies. [57721]

  Mr. Timms
  The following reports have been published by Ofsted (about literacy and numeracy in primary schools) in the last 12 months:The National Numeracy Strategy in Special Schools: An evaluation of the first year (14 June 2001)
  Teaching of Phonics: A paper by HMI (29 October 2001)
  Teaching literacy and mathematics in reception classes: A survey by HMI (29 October 2001)
  The National Literacy Strategy: the third year (4 December 2001)
  The National Numeracy Strategy: the second year (4 December 2001)
  Teaching of Calculation in Primary Schools: A report by HMI (15 April 2002)
  Teaching Assistants in Primary Schools: An evaluation of the quality and Impact of their work (16 April 2002).
  The University of Toronto which is independently evaluating the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies produced the following report last year:
  Watching and Learning 2, OISE/UT Evaluation of the Implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies, Second Annual Report, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (September 2001).

  The Department has considered carefully the findings of these studies which have generally been supportive of the strategies and also helped to improve them.

  Work-related Illness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many claims for work-related injury or illness were settled on behalf of(a) teachers in primary and secondary schools and (b) other school staff in the last year for which figures are available; and what the total cost in compensation was. [56057]
  22W
  Mr. Timms
  Claims for work-related injury or illness are matters between individuals and their employers. Teachers and other staff in schools are employed by either the Local Education Authority or the School Governing Body, and consequently such matters are dealt with at a local level. No data are held centrally by the Department about either the number of claims or the cost of compensation payments.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) teachers in primary and secondary schools and (b) other staff in those schools retired through work-related injury or ill health in the last year for which records are available; and what the total cost to the Department was. [56058]

  Mr. Timms
  Entitlement to ill health retirement under the Teachers' Pensions Scheme (TPS) is determined by the severity of a teacher's medical condition. Where the medical evidence demonstrates that the teacher is permanently unfit to teach, irrespective of the cause of the medical condition, retirement benefits become due. Information is not held on whether the medical condition giving rise to ill health retirement is attributable, in whole or in part, to a work-related injury or illness.

  Non-teaching staff in schools are subject to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which is the responsibility of the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

  Consequently, no data are held by my Department about the number of teachers, or other staff in schools, who retired through work-related injury or ill health.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many claims for work-related illness were settled by her Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost in compensation was. [56054]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  During the period April 2001 to March 2002 three cases for work-related illness reached final settlement at a cost of £20,318 including solicitors' fees. During the same period the Department received £3,280 back from a previous case where a claimant lost an appeal.

  Teachers (Lancashire)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many teachers have been in service in primary schools in Lancashire in each year since 1997; [57283]

  (2) how many teachers have been in service in secondary schools in Lancashire in each year since 1997. [57284]

  Mr. Timms
  The full-time equivalent1 numbers of regular teachers in service in maintained nursery/primary and secondary schools in Lancashire in January of each year since 1997 are as follows:

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Nursery/primary schools

  Former Lancashire

  5480

  5460

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  4410

  4390

  4490

  Blackburn with Darwen

  —

  —

  630

  630

  670

  Blackpool

  —

  —

  520

  510

  550

  All Lancashire

  5480

  5460

  5560

  5530

  5710

  23W

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Secondary schools

  Former Lancashire

  5240

  5310

  —

  —

  —

  Lancashire

  —

  —

  4390

  4520

  4570

  Blackburn with Darwen

  —

  —

  570

  570

  490

  Blackpool

  —

  —

  400

  430

  470

  All Lancashire

  5240

  5310

  5360

  5520

  5530

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

  Further Education Colleges
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the changes in real terms in core funding for further education colleges in each year since 1997. [52570]

  Margaret Hodge
  The information is as follows:

  Funding for participation(£)

  Real terms index

  1997–981

  3,070

  98

  1998–991

  3,120

  97

  1999–20001

  3,360

  101

  2000–012

  3,380

  100

  2001–023

  3,500

  101

  1 Actual

  1 Provisional

  3 Planned

  This table shows the estimated participation funding allocated to the LSC in real terms for each full-time equivalent (FTE) student in FE. It includes additional funds derived from employer contributions and other funds made available for widening participation, to support the introduction of Qualifying for Success and for increased provision of basic skills courses. Compared to the Departmental Annual Report 2001 this now gives a complete picture of funding for participation for colleges. It does not represent total funding for further education as it excludes targeted funds such as capital, standards fund and Teachers Pay Initiative (TPI).

  If targeted funds were included then the estimated total funding for each FTE student in FE in real terms increased by 12 per cent. over the same period.

  Exams
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average number of exams sat by a pupil in(a) 1991–92 and (b) 2001–02 was. [54889]

  Title of document

  Date issued

  Brief description

  Quantity issued

  Number of pages

  Reference number

  Planning for Learning

  1 October 2001

  Booklet designed to supplement the curriculum guidance for the foundation stage

  16,352

  21

  QCA/01/799

  Requirements of Nursery Education Grant 2002ߝ03

  30 April 2002

  Guidance to local education authorities and providers on eligibility for and administration of the Nursery Education Grant.

  28,000

  52

  DIES/0358/2002

  24W
  Margaret Hodge
  The information requested for England for 1991–92 is as follows:A 15-year-old pupil sat an average of 8.0 GCSEs in 1991–92.
  A 17-year-old student sat an average of 3.0 GCE A A/AS examinations in 1991–92.
  The figures for 2001–02 are not yet available. The latest figures available are for 2000–01, and these are as follows:
  A 15-year-old pupil sat an average of 8.2 GCSEs in 2000–01.
  A 17-year-old student sat an average of 3.1 GCE A A/AS examinations in 2000–01.
  For GCSE and GCE A/AS exams, schools enter pupils for the appropriate subjects; the number of exam papers will vary according to subject and Awarding Body.

  Vouchers
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department had spent on vouchers for three-year-olds by 31 March. [55085]

  Margaret Hodge
  The nursery education voucher scheme applied to four-year-olds only and it was replaced in September 1997.

  Maladministration
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many findings there have been of maladministration by ombudsmen with responsibility for agencies under the remit of her Department since 1997. [56317]

  Estelle Morris
  Information on the handling of complaints is set out in tabular form by the parliamentary ombudsman each year as an attachment to his Annual Report. For those complaints where there was evidence of maladministration which warranted a full investigation, the table sets out how many complaints were upheld as being fully or partly justified. Copies of the parliamentary ombudsman's Annual Reports for the period 1997–98 to 2000–01 inclusive can be viewed in the House Library. This information is also available on the parliamentary ombudsman's website at www.ombudsman.org.uk/publications.

  Pre-schools (Documents)
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what documents have been sent to pre-schools by her Department since 1 July 2001; and how many pages were contained in each document. [55076]

  Margaret Hodge
  Details of those documents sent directly to pre-schools by my Department since 1 July 2001 are set out in the table.
  25W

  Title of document

  Date issued

  Brief description

  Quantity issued

  Number of pages

  Reference number

  National Standards for Under Eights Day Care—Sessional Care1

  14 July 2001

  National standards for providers of day care for children under 8. Regulations under the Children Act require providers to meet the 14 standards

  45,000

  25

  DfES/0490/2001

  National Standards for Under Eights Day Care—Full Day Care1

  14 July 2001

  National standards for providers of day care for children under 8. Regulations under the Children Act require providers to meet the 14 standards

  30,000

  25

  DfES/0488/2001

  1 Pre-schools would have received either sessional care or full day care depending on the number of hours they were operating.

  Special Educational Needs
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children per 1,000 in Nottinghamshire are issued with a statement of special educational needs; and what the figure is per 1,000 children in England. [55414]

  Mr. Timms
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Pupils with statements of special educational needs1—January 2001

  Number

  Nottinghamshire LEA2

  Total pupils

  123,770

  Pupils with statements of SEN3

  1,340

  Number of pupils per 1,000 with a statement of SEN

  10.8

  England

  Total pupils

  7,733,640

  Pupils with statements of SEN3

  244,269

  Number of pupils per 1,000 with a statement of SEN

  31.6

  1 Includes maintained primary and secondary schools and maintained and non-maintained special schools.

  2 Pupils attending schools within Nottinghamshire LEA.

  3 Estimates have been made at national level for January 2001 because the data for SEN are known to be incomplete. Figures given for Nottinghamshire LEA are as reported by schools in the Nottinghamshire LEA area.

  Nursery Education
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were benefiting from nursery vouchers in 1997. [54887]

  Margaret Hodge
  In April 1997, 576,176 four-year-olds received a free, part-time, early education voucher as a result of the Nursery Voucher scheme. However, this did not necessarily guarantee a place.

  Since September 1998, local education authorities have had a statutory duty to secure a free, part-time, early education place for all four-year-olds.

  Furthermore we have increased the number of free, part-time, early education places for three-year-olds from 34 per cent. in January 1997 to 66 per cent. in March 2002. So in 2001–02, 924,742 number of three and four-year-olds received a part-time, early education place.

  Warrington Collegiate Institute
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions she has had with the Cheshire Learning and Skills Council on how its new funding formula will affect students with special needs at Warrington Collegiate Institute; and if she will make a statement. [56678]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: None. Funding of further education (FE) provision is the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Funding for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in mainstream FE provision consists of two elements: funding for the basic costs of the course, as for other students; and additional learning support tailored to meet the costs of activities to meet the individual's needs.

  The LSC is introducing limited changes to its funding for basic course costs for 2002–03 which include greater emphasis on rewarding retention and achievement. While broadly cost neutral the changes are designed to reward those institutions that raise participation and achievement rates. I believe it is right that funding for retention and achievement for students with special needs in mainstream FE colleges should be on the same basis as for other students. The LSC have safety netting arrangements in place to help those institutions that may see a drop in income solely due to funding methodology changes.

  Additional learning support funding arrangements for the 2002–03 academic year remain unchanged from earlier years. However, the LSC is currently consulting on its proposals to revise the present methodology for funding additional learner needs in post-16 education and training. These new arrangements are intended to ensure a coherent approach, based on common principles, to the funding of special needs regardless of age, mode of study or type of programme.

  Veterinary Science
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) applicants, (b) accepted students and (c) graduates there were in veterinary science in each of the last 10 years. [54990]

  Margaret Hodge
  The available information is shown in the table.
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  Students on undergraduate veterinary science courses

  Year of entry

  Applicants1

  Accepted applicants1

  Academic year in which course was completed

  Graduates

  1991

  3n/a

  430

  1991–92

  370

  1992

  3n/a

  470

  1992–93

  380

  1993

  3n/a

  470

  1993–94

  4400

  1994

  1,350

  510

  1994–95

  470

  1995

  1,520

  540

  1995–96

  460

  1996

  1,530

  570

  1996–97

  520

  1997

  1,730

  530

  1997–98

  490

  1998

  1,790

  620

  1998–99

  530

  1999

  1,800

  630

  1999–2000

  560

  2000

  1,760

  660

  2000–01

  580

  2001

  1.610

  700

  2001–02

  5n/a

  1 Covers home and overseas students applying to full-time and sandwich first degree and undergraduate courses only.

  2 Covers home and overseas students on all full-time and part-time undergraduate courses in HE institutions in the UK.

  3 Not available. In these years, applicant numbers by subject were not published.

  4 Because of a change in data sources between 1993–94 and 1994–95, this has been estimated.

  5 Not available. Figures for 2001–02 will be available in January 2003.

  Note:

  Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

  Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the mandate of the committee on the second general system for the recognition of professional education and training is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56763]

  Margaret Hodge
  The committee on the second general system for the recognition of professional education and training assists the European Commission to consider requests made by member states to revise information relating to Annexes C and D of Directive 92/51/EEC. There has been just one meeting of the committee in the last five years—in November 2001. Travel expenses were met from Commission resources. The subsistence cost incurred by this Department was £114. Amendments to Annex C of Directive 92/51/EEC currently under consideration of the committee are:Germany—change of title from "occupational therapist" to "occupational therapist/ergotherapist"
  Italy—delete the profession of "chiropodist"
  Austria—insert the profession of "bookkeeper"
  UK—insert the profession of "listed veterinary nurse".
  In the interests of improving information to the public and transparency, the Committee agreed at its meeting in November 2001 to amend its Rules of Procedure to conform to the new comitology decision. Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the
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  exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February (Commission Document 5685–02). As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  School Reception Classes
  Mrs. Laing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many primary schools in England and Wales have reception classes for children aged under four years; and what percentage this is of the total number of primary schools. [48218]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 9 April 2002]: Information is not collected on the age of pupils within classes, however we do collect information on the number of pupils by age by school.

  There are 18,069 maintained primary schools in England. Within these 11,844 (65.5 per cent.) have one or more reception classes.

  For information on Welsh primary schools I refer the hon. Member to the National Assembly for Wales.

  Class Sizes
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class sizes were for each age group in each of the past five years. [54894]

  Margaret Hodge
  Information on the average class sizes by age group is not collected, however tables showing this information by year group have been placed in the Library.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by her Department on research funding for universities for each year since 1997. [53678]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) funds the Higher Education Funding Council for England, which then allocates research funding to higher education institutions in England. The following table outlines the allocations made by HEFCE using research criteria per year since 1997. The table includes DfES spending via the Joint Infrastructure Fund (JIF) and the Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF). Over and above this, the Government and the Welcome Trust have made available £750 million via the JIF and £900 million via the SRIF for capital investment in higher education research infrastructure in science and technology. Furthermore Research Council funding for research and development will rise from £1,279 million in 1997–98 to £1,793 million in 2002–03 of which a significant proportion goes to higher education institutions as research grants.
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  Research funding for higher education in England

  £ million

  Outturn

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Plans 2002–03

  Recurrent and special research grants

  720.2

  841.0

  871.7

  884.1

  905.7

  940.0

  Research capital spend

  8.0

  35.9

  44.2

  39.9

  81.9

  264.8

  Note:

  This table covers recurrent research and special research grants (academic years) and research capital infrastructure investment (financial years). Figures for recurrent and special research grants for 1998–99 onwards include London extra costs, and funds for the supervision and tuition of postgraduate students. Figures for research capital include HEFCE funding for the following schemes: Joint Research Equipment Initiative, Joint Infrastructure Fund. Science Research Investment Fund and the Research Laboratories Scheme.

  Source:

  HEFCE Analytical Services Group. Data prepared 26 April 2002.

  Higher Education (Cornwall)
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the postcodes are of low participation neighbourhoods in Cornwall that have been identified by HEFC(E) for their performance indicator purposes. [55807]

  Margaret Hodge
  This is a matter for the Higher Education Funding Council for England. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the Funding Council to reply to your question and to place a copy of his reply in the Commons Library.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefit Sanctions
  Mr. Heath
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent research he has commissioned into the effects of benefit sanctions. [55498]

  Mr. Darling
  It is a fundamental principle that rights are matched with corresponding responsibilities. Where appropriate sanctions are applied where people choose not to meet their responsibilities.

  We have undertaken a range of research into benefit sanctions and have published the results. An important finding has been that those jobseekers subject to longer term sanctions generally increase their efforts to find work, often with success. For some, this is the first time they will have made a serious attempt to find work.

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the rate at which current CSA cases will be transferred to the new assessment formula. [55500]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, to this House on 20 March 2002,Official Report, columns 315–16.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received following his statement on the reform of the CSA; and if he will make a statement. [55505]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Since my right hon. Friend informed the House that the new scheme would not be introduced in April, the Department has received 15 letters from Members of Parliament and 4 from members of the public on this matter. Organisations representing Lone Parent 30W
  Families have supported our priority to ensure the new scheme is introduced effectively, and not to repeat the mistakes of 1993.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his target is for reducing the number of incapacity benefit claimants.[55501]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  We have no targets for reducing the number of people who claim Incapacity Benefit. We are committed to giving all people of working age the help and support they need to find jobs where they are able to do so, and providing security for those who are unable to work.

  Jobcentre Plus will give these opportunities but there is no question of forcing disabled people into work against their will.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when Jobcentre Plus will be extended to cover the whole country. [55502]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  In addition to the 56 integrated Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices which are already open, we intend to introduce around 225 more integrated offices by April next year including a number of offices in my hon. Friend's constituency.

  The work to extend integrated offices to the whole of Great Britain will continue progressively over the next four years. Alongside the programme for the full integration of services and refurbishment of offices, a series of service delivery improvements will be extended to the entire Jobcentre Plus network in advance of the completion of roll-out.

  New Deal
  Mr. Kevan Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect the new deal has had on long-term unemployment in the North-East. [55503]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Since 1997 in the North-East, long-term unemployment has been cut by over 70 per cent.

  The new deals have played an important part in this success. In the North-East, the new deal for Young People and new deal 25 plus have, between them, helped over 34,000 long-term unemployed people off benefits and into work.

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  In addition, Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones have, between them, helped over 6,000 people from the most deprived areas in the North-East into work.

  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received from employers regarding the New Deal. [55523]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Employers have a central role to play in achieving our goal of creating and sustaining employment opportunities for all. DWP Ministers meet with a wide range of employers and their representative organisations and have a planned programme of meetings for the year ahead.

  The National Employment Panel (formerly known as the New Deal Task Force) was formed in 1997 to ensure that employers, and other key customers, have a strong and permanent voice within the Department. The panel is an employer-led body that provides independent advice on the design, delivery and performance of the New Deals and our other welfare to work initiatives, reporting directly to Ministers. The National Employment Panel Employer Coalitions ensure that employers can contribute to services at the regional and local level.

  Annuities
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will revise the annuity rule on pensions held by over-75-year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [55504]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Government have no plans to revise the rule that pension funds must be annuitised by the time the owner reaches 75. We believe that it is a sensible compromise that guarantees pensioners an income for life and allows them some flexibility on the use of their pension fund.

  We are currently considering the responses to the Modernising Annuities consultation paper, which sets out our proposals to help all pension savers achieve better value and make suitable choices when they reach retirement.

  Drug Treatment
  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he is taking to help those recovering from drug treatment to find work. [55506]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  We are committed to helping unemployed people who have decided to kick their drug habit move into work. Getting ex-drug users back into work is good for them and good for society.

  That is why we have introduced progress2work, a £40 million initiative to give unemployed people who are recovering from their drug problem the extra help they need to get into work. 27 progress2work pathfinders are already up and running around the country.

  My hon. Friend's constituency will be covered by the second phase of the initiative which will begin in the autumn.

  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he is taking to help those recovering from drug treatment to find work. [55513]
  32W
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  We are committed to helping unemployed people who have decided to kick their drug habit move into work.

  Our policies and programmes are helping people with drug problems to overcome them and lead healthy and productive lives, a key aim of the Government's anti-drugs strategy.

  Drug mis-users already have early access to programmes like the new deal and Work Based Learning for Adults. We have also introduced progress2work, a £40 million initiative to give unemployed people who are recovering from their drug problem the extra help they need to get into work. Progress2work will provide additional specialist help so recovering drug users can make the best use of our welfare to work initiatives. It will also equip Jobcentre Plus staff with the skills and knowledge they need to identify and help drug mis-users, and will bring more local and national co-ordination to provision in this field.

  Progress2work is already up and running in 27 pathfinder areas and will be rolled out nationally from next year.

  Pension Service
  David Cairns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that the Pension Service can provide a local service to older and housebound pensioners. [55507]

  Mr. McCartney
  A key aim of the Pension Service is to provide an excellent customer service by making use of the advances in new technology. This will be done through our contact centres. Customers can access us easily through a simple range of telephone numbers, and can get their claims and queries dealt with quickly by trained experts who understand state pensions and the needs of their customers.

  We fully recognise that not everyone can access the service using the telephone, post or internet—and for those customers there will be a community-based local service.

  The local service is being introduced on a phased basis from 1 April 2002 and will be in place nationwide by October 2002. It will be made up of two key elements. A direct local service, providing support directly to customers which will include a targeted visiting service both in the home and at third party locations, and a 'drop in' surgery service for outreach and take up activities, and partnership services provided with partners such as local authorities and voluntary sector organisations.

  In the meantime, customers should continue to deal with their local social security office until the national service is in place.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what improvements in service he expects there to be from the new Pension Service. [55511]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Pension Service, formally launched on 1 April 2002, will provide a modern, efficient and customer focused service, dedicated to combating poverty and encouraging saving for both today's and future pensioners.
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  It will comprise centralised pension centres working with an improved local service nationwide which will operate in the community working with local partners to provide face to face contact for pensioners.

  A key aim of The Pension Service is to provide an excellent customer service by making use of the advances in new technology. This will be done through our contact centres. Customers can access us easily through a simple range of telephone numbers, and can get their claims and queries dealt with quickly by trained experts who understand state pensions and the needs of their customers.

  We fully recognise that not everyone can access the service using the telephone, post or internet—and for those customers there will be a community based local service.

  The local service is being introduced on a phased basis from 1 April 2002 and will be in place nationwide by October 2002. It will be made up of two key elements. A direct local service, providing support directly to customers which will include a targeted visiting service both in the home and at third party locations, and a 'drop in' surgery service for outreach and take up activities; and partnership services provided with partners such as local authorities and voluntary sector organisations.

  The new Pension Service sees a key shift in emphasis from processes to people: their needs, what they want and the way they want it delivered. This improved service will be rolled out over the next few years. In the interim, our customers will continue to deal with their existing social security offices until they are contacted in writing about the new arrangements.

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement about the assistance ethnic minority pensioners will receive with their claims through the Pension Service. [55520]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Pension Service will provide a service tailored to the needs of all its customers, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds and people with disabilities.

  As part of our commitment to ensure that we provide the best possible service we have facilities which enable customers to access the Language Line—a telephone interpreting service covering over 150 languages. We also produce leaflets in a wide range of languages. Our services are also available in Welsh.

  The pension centres and local service will also offer a full service to customers with disabilities. For those people with impaired hearing we can offer Typetalk, BT TextDirect and the services of sign language interpreter if required. Many of our written communications are available on request in Braille, audio cassette, e-mail and large print.

  The local service will establish close links with organisations representing different groups to ensure we meet the needs of the community.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are in receipt of minimum income guarantee in(a) England and (b) the north-west. [55509]
  34W
  Mr. McCartney
  Over 2 million pensioners benefit from the minimum income guarantee (MIG). These pensioners are on average £20 a week better off. In the north-west Government office region, nearly 250,000 pensioners were in receipt of the MIG, 3,200 of these live in the Burnley constituency.

  To help meet our aim of tackling pensioner poverty, we have introduced a new Pension Service. It will provide a modern, efficient and customer focused service for both today's and future pensioners.

  It will comprise centralised pension centres working with an improved local service nationwide which will operate in the community working with local partners to provide face to face contact for pensioners.

  This improved service will be rolled out over the next few years. In the interim, our customers will continue to deal with their existing social security offices until they are contacted in writing about the new arrangements.

  Our pension centre in Burnley has been up and running since February 2002 and has created some 300 new job opportunities in the region.

  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of how many eligible pensioners failed to apply for minimum income guarantee in the year to 31 March. [55510]

  Mr. McCartney
  Over two million pensioners benefit from the MIG and are on average £20 per week better off.

  The latest figures for the number of pensioners who may be entitled to but are not claiming the minimum income guarantee are available in the Library1. Estimates for pensioners are subject to greater uncertainty than other published take up estimates; research is under way to improve the precision of take up estimates.

  Around 1,900 pensioners in the north-west Leicestershire constituency are receiving the minimum income guarantee, and around 16,940 winter fuel payments were made last winter.
  1 Income Related Benefits—Estimates of Take Up 1999–2000.

  Labour Market
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on recent trends in the labour market. [55512]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  There are problems in the world economy, but the UK is withstanding these better than other major countries.

  Employment is at a record level of 28.42 million, growing by 172,000 over the last year and by more than 1.5 million since 1997.

  Claimant unemployment is under 953,000, its lowest level since 1975, down by more than 24,000 over the last year and by more than half a million since 1997. For the first time in half a century we have the lowest International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment rate of any of the major industrialised countries.

  Building on the foundation of a strong and stable economy, the Department's policies have played an important part in this success. For example, the New Deals have helped well over 600,000 people off benefits

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  and into work, and Action Teams for Jobs and Employment Zones have, between them, helped over 52,000 people from the country's most deprived areas into jobs.

  Means-tested Pensions
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change has taken place in the number of means-tested pensions since 1997. [55514]

  Mr. McCartney
  For the purposes of this question 'means tested pensions' has been taken to refer to income support and minimum income guarantee. In November 1997 the number of claims to income support was around 1.7 million. In November 2001, the number of claims to income support paid through the minimum income guarantee was around 1.74 million. This benefited over 2 million people.

  In the Leominster constituency, around 2,100 pensioners are receiving the minimum income guarantee, and around 21,080 winter fuel payments were made last winter.
  Source: Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiries, November 1977 and 2001.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his assessment of trends in the value of funded pensions. [55515]

  Mr. McCartney
  Figures showing a rise in pension fund assets of £111 billion from 1997 to 2000 were released by the Office for National Statistics on 16 May 2002. They also show that pension fund assets stood at £776 billion in 2000, the latest year for which figures are available.

  This shows that the value of pension fund assets remain strong. This is supported by figures given in the answer to the questions asked by the hon. Member for Havant, showing increases in contributions to pension funds of £27 billion from 1997 to 2001.

  These figures emphasise that the basic structure of pensions in this country is right. We will continue to build on the changes we've already made, such as the introduction of state second pension, stakeholder pensions and pension Credit which are tackling pensioner poverty and widening pension saving.

  And proposals we will make later this year following three wide-ranging reviews of the pension system will make it easier for people to save more for their retirement.

  Resettled Offenders
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to help resettled offenders to find work. [55516]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  As part of our strategy to combat social exclusion, we are committed to helping resettled offenders overcome the barriers they face in getting work. Ex-offenders who are in work are half as likely to re-offend as those without a job.

  We offer ex-offenders a wide range of help to move into work, including early access to employment programmes such as New Deal and work based learning
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  for adults. Last October we introduced Freshstart, a £3 million initiative to improve the links between prisons and jobcentres and ease the transition from custody into work. In addition, we are also looking to draw resettled offenders who have recovered from drug misuse into our progress2work initiative. Progress2work pathfinders are already up and running in 27 areas and will be rolled out nationally next year.

  This autumn we will be piloting further support for ex-offenders, giving them the specialist help they need to make best use of our welfare to work initiatives such as the New Deals.

  Long-term Unemployed
  Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to help the long-term unemployed into employment in areas of deprivation. [55517]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Our welfare to work initiatives are helping people into work in all parts of the country. The New Deals have already helped well over 600,000 people into jobs.

  We introduced Employment Zones to help long-term unemployed people in deprived areas get and keep work. Up to March 2002, the 15 zones had helped over 22,200 people move into work. We are in the process of extending the contracts of existing Employment Zones up to March 2004.

  Action Teams for Jobs are also helping tackle joblessness in the most employment deprived areas in the country. Up to April 2002, over 30.000 people had moved into work through action teams. The team in my hon. Friend's constituency started work in mid-October 2001 and covers the five most employment-deprived wards in Halton. To the end of April this year, the team had already engaged 392 people and helped 126 of them into work.

  We are building on action teams' success. In the Budget, the Chancellor announced the introduction of a new Transport Projects Fund worth £5 million a year. Action teams can bid for additional money from this fund to support innovative transport projects that will benefit their local community.

  Older People (Discrimination)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce discrimination against older people. [55518]

  Mr. McCartney
  We are committed to reducing discrimination against older people. The Department is responsible for promoting the business case for non-ageist employment practises to all employers and individuals across Great Britain. Through our Age Positive campaign, we are working to challenge ageist employment practices leading up to the implementation of age legislation covering employment, vocational training and guidance in 2006.

  Evaluation of the impact of our Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment indicates that since it was launched in 1999, the number of companies using age criteria in recruitment has halved from 27 per cent. to

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  13 per cent., and the number of companies with policies against employing older people has also halved from 14 per cent. to 7 per cent.

  One of our Public Service Agreement targets is to increase the employment rate of people aged 50 and over, reducing the difference between that rate and the overall employment rate. By tackling discrimination and offering a range of back to work help, including New Deal 50-plus, the employment rate for people aged 50 to state pension age has increased each year for the last four years, faster than the overall rate.

  Pension Entitlements
  Lawrie Quinn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on his information campaigns to promote take-up of pension entitlements by the over-60s. [55519]

  Mr. McCartney
  As part of the Government's commitment to combating poverty and providing security and independence for people aged 60 or over, new measures have been introduced to automatically identify pensioners who might be entitled to Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) and encourage them to claim. These measures build on the successful Take Up campaign which ran from May to November 2000, and contacted 2.4 million potential MIG customers. It generated approximately 1 million responses. Further mail shots in March 2001 coincided with the increase in capital limits from £8,000 to £12,000.

  From April 2002, all customers contacting the RP Teleclaims Centre are offered information on MIG and asked if they would like someone to call them back to provide them with more information and pursue a claim. Those customers who do not wish to claim MIG via the RP Telecentre are sent a MIG information leaflet with their RP claim pack.

  From April 2002, all customers who have claimed RP since November 2000 (the end of the last MIG take-up campaign) who have been identified as having a potential entitlement to MIG are being issued with a mailshot letter and leaflet to encourage them to claim. Around 100,000 pensioners will receive a mailshot over the April-June period.

  Further (Key Life Event) MIG triggers have been introduced. Departmental data matching techniques are now being used to identify other new and existing pensioners with potential entitlement to MIG. These triggers identify customers who have a match with one or more predetermined 'key life events', which may indicate a potential entitlement to MIG, for example, when customers aged 60 and over receive a new award of one or more benefits, such as attendance allowance, industrial injuries benefit or housing benefit. A mailshot comprising a letter explaining the possible entitlement and inviting customers to claim along with a MIG1L leaflet is sent to all customers identified in this way.

  In order to ensure take up of winter fuel payments, an information campaign ran throughout 2001, including advertisements in national and local press, a leaflet and poster made available in a variety of venues, including social security offices, post offices, supermarkets and doctors surgeries, a dedicated winter fuel payment helpline and information on the internet.
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  Through all of the above measures we intend to ensure that as many potentially eligible people over the age of 60 as possible do not miss out on the additional source of income MIG can provide them with.

  Child Benefit
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to adjust the receipt of child benefit in accordance with new requirements. [55522]

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the practicalities of imposing conditions for the receipt of child benefit. [55524]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Government are considering a number of measures to combat truancy. We are therefore looking at ways of ensuring parents meet their responsibilities in bringing up their children.

  Pensioner Income
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on pensioner income. [55525]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Government want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of the country. The Government's first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners.

  The Government introduced the minimum income guarantee and are committed to raising this in line with earnings throughout this Parliament, ensuring that pensioners share in rising prosperity. The Government have introduced winter fuel payments for older people. The winter fuel payment was doubled to £200 a year in winter 2000–01 for qualifying households and will continue to be paid at £200 for the lifetime of this Parliament. The Government have also introduced free TV licences for the over-75s, worth £104. Both the WFP and TV licences are non-means tested and tax-free.

  The Government have made above-inflation increases in the basic state pension in both 2001 and 2002. In April 2002 the basic state pension rose by £3 for single pensioners and £4.80 for couples. In April 2003, it will rise by at least £100 a year for single pensioners and £160 for couples, and in subsequent years by either 2.5 per cent. or by inflation, whichever is highest.

  Around 1.8 million of the poorest pensioner households are now over £1,000 a year better off in real terms as a result of the Government's tax and benefit reforms.

  In the constituency of Altrincham and Sale, West, around 2,400 pensioners are receiving the minimum income guarantee. There were also around 19,000 winter fuel payments made last winter and there are 7,500 pensioner households who could benefit from a free TV licence.

  From 2003 the pension credit will ensure that it pays to have saved, with those entitled standing to gain an average of around £400 a year.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he is taking to prevent fraudulent claims of unemployment benefits. [55526]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Our strategy for combating benefit fraud focuses on getting it right, keeping it right and putting it right: making correct benefit payments in the first place; ensuring payments are adjusted as circumstances change and detecting when payments go wrong and taking prompt action to correct them with appropriate penalties to prevent a recurrence.

  As part of getting it right, front-line staff have been made more aware of the risk of fraud and encouraged to take responsibility for ensuring that claims are correct at the gateway.

  Jobcentre Plus will provide a more comprehensive and integrated service for all benefit claimants. One-to-one interviews will create a personal environment where the full and accurate details of a claim can be established and customers can be reminded of their responsibility to notify us of changes to their circumstances.

  From last month, new powers in the Fraud Act 2001 became available for putting it right, by making it easier to catch fraudsters and give greater punishments to those who persistently abuse the system. Benefit fraud investigators can now require organisations like banks, insurance companies and utility companies to provide information about customers where fraud is suspected. Under the "two strikes" provisions, a person convicted of one or more benefit offences in two separate sets of proceedings within a three-year period may be disqualified from receiving benefit.

  We know that our strategy is working. By March last year we had reduced fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance by 18 per cent—nearly double our first milestone of a 10 per cent. reduction, a year ahead of schedule.

  Work-related Illnesses
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many claims for work-related illness were settled by his Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was in compensation;. [56090]

  (2) how many employees of his Department retired through work-related ill-health in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was to the Department;. [56091]

  (3) how many days of sick leave were taken by employees in his Department in the last year for which records are available; what proportion of those were due to work-related illness or injury; and what the cost was to the Department. [56092]

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days of sick leave were taken in his Department last year; how many related to employees suffering(a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to his Department. [56487]
  40W
  Mr. McCartney
  The information requested is not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available can be found in "Cabinet Office—Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service—calendar year 2000", which is available in the Library.

  Mesothelioma
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he has received from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the question of dual diagnosis in mesothelioma cases. [56093]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  From March 2002, the Department's Chief Medical Adviser has advised Medical Services doctors that the diagnosis and assessment of mesothelioma should, in the majority of cases, be based solely on the documentary evidence of the sufferer's consultant. This change in procedure was not referred formally to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council for advice. However, the council has given its full support to the change.

  Retirement Income
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out the basis for the estimate in the Pensions Green Paper of the proportions of retirement income coming from state and from private sources; and what his latest estimate is of those proportions. [57511]

  Mr. McCartney
  The 1998 Green Paper contained estimates of the proportions of retirement income coming from the state and private sources for the year 1998 and also projections of the same proportions for the future years, 2025 and 2050.

  The estimates of the proportions for 1998 were made by using data from the Government Actuary's Department (GAD) and DWP data on state spending on pensioners and Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates of the size of private pensions in payment.

  The projections of the proportions for future years were made using GAD projected expenditure for national insurance benefits, i.e. the basic state pension and state second pension, and DWP projections of income-related benefits. The projections for income from private sources were based on figures from ONS for current pensions in payment. These were updated by PENSIM estimates of the growth in private pensions in payment until 2025 and then by estimates of GDP growth thereafter. PENSIM estimates are based on data from three different surveys conducted in 1988. These were the Social Change and Economic Life Initiative, the Retirement Survey and the Family Expenditure Survey.

  Since the 1998 projections were made, private pension income has increased and we remain committed to promoting saving for retirement. The introduction of secure, value for money stakeholder pensions last year and other measures we are taking mean that we are on track to achieve this.

  We do not have more recent projections for future years because, as highlighted in the Performance and Innovation Report on modeling in Government Adding it Up (2000)

  41W
  there are numerous problems with PENSIM. Therefore, the Department is currently developing an entirely new dynamic micro-simulation model, Pensim2.

  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the retirement incomes of women who are married compared to the retirement incomes of women who are cohabiting; and if he will make a statement on the equal treatment implications of the research. [55326]

  Mr. McCartney
  [holding answer 10 May 2002]: There are a number of studies that seek to compare pensioners' incomes. These include the Pensioners' Income Series (1999–2000) which is produced by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office's Individual Income (1996–97 to 1999–2000). Both draw on data from the Family Resources Survey.

  Tables 4.2 to 4.4. of the latter contain data on weekly individual income by marital status and family type for all women. The sample size is not sufficient to enable comparison of the incomes of married women who are in a pensioner couple with the incomes of cohabiting women in a pensioner couple.

  Beyond this, we have not commissioned any specific research to compare the incomes of women that are married against those that are cohabiting.

  Jobcentres
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve the physical environment of jobcentres. [55496]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The first 56 Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices, which are already open, embody an entirely new physical environment. They are predominantly open plan, with substantially improved facilities and technology, providing a much more accessible and personalised service for customers.

  We intend to extend this environment progressively to cover the whole of Great Britain over the next four years, starting with a further 225 offices in 2002–03.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase the level of personal advice available to unemployed people at jobcentres. [55521]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  Jobcentres now form part of the newly established Jobcentre Plus agency. Jobcentre Plus was launched as a national organisation on 1 April, replacing the Employment Service and the working age functions of the Benefits Agency, and providing services to around five million people. Jobcentre Plus aims to deliver further improvements in customer service throughout its entire network of jobcentres and social security offices.

  56 Jobcentre Plus pathfinder offices are already providing the integrated and work-focused service which we will, over time, offer right across the country. We plan to open around 225 more integrated offices by April 2003. As part of this upgrade to the service, everyone of working age who is making a new or repeat claim for
  42W
  benefit in these offices will participate in a work-focused interview with a personal adviser and be offered their continuing support.

  Social Fund (Funerals)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how much has been spent on contributions towards funeral costs from the social fund in each of the past five years; what was the average payment; and how much it would cost to reimburse clergymen for the fees in addition to other current costs; [44090]

  (2) how many grants towards funeral expenses have been paid from the social fund in each of the past five years; and how many have subsequently been reclaimed. [44096]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The numbers of social fund funeral payments awarded, annual expenditure and the average payments for the last five years are in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's Annual Reports on the Social Fund 1996–97 to 2000–01. Copies of the reports are in the Library.

  Information on the number of awards recovered is not held, but the amounts recovered each year are also in the reports.

  Funeral payments cover the cost of specified items, which include the fees levied by the burial authorities and crematoria, where payable. In addition, £600 is available for the person arranging the funeral to select any extra items or services they consider appropriate. Not everyone uses or has to pay for the services of a minister of religion. However, any fee or donation in respect of such services may be met from within this additional £600. We have no estimate of how much it would cost to reimburse clergymen for their fees.

  Pensions Increments
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) for what reason increments to the basic state pension were up-rated by a lower percentage than the rest of the basic pension in April 2001; and for what reason the increments will be up-rated by the same percentage as the rest of the basic state pension in April 2002; [44088]

  (2) if the commitment to raise the state pension by at least 2.5 per cent. even when inflation is lower than this covers (a) basic pension increments, (b) the graduated pension and (c) SERPS. [44094]

  Mr. McCartney
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is required each year by section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to review the level of benefits in light of movements in RPI. As part of this consideration the Government had announced that the basic state pension will rise in the future by at least 2.5 per cent. or the rate of increase in the RPI if that is greater.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the number and expected cost to his Department of special advisers in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [43282]
  43W
  Mr. McCartney
  At 13 March, there are three special advisers in the Department. On cost, I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to him on 20 March 2002,Official Report, column 325W.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to ensure that the receipt of linked benefits does not make jobseeker's allowance claimants better off out of work than in work. [43245]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We are taking a single approach to work and benefits to make work pay, make work possible and to support those who cannot work. This service will be delivered through Jobcentre Plus—a personal service with one goal: helping people of working age to live independent lives.

  People receiving working families tax credit or disabled person's tax credit with net income of around £11,740 a year or less are eligible for a tax credit national health service exemption certificate. This entitles them to free national health service prescriptions, dental treatment, wigs, fabric supports, sight tests, full value optical vouchers and help with the cost of travel to hospital for national health service treatment. For those with a child under one year old baby food is available at a reduced price.

  In addition, anybody in work who has a low income can claim help with the cost of national health service treatment provided they have savings of less than £8,000 (£12,000 if aged 60 or over; or £19,000 if they live permanently in a residential care or nursing home). Depending on their income people may be eligible for either a full (HC2) or partial (HC3) Department of Health exemption certificate. The HC2 certificate entitles the person to free NHS services; the HC3 certificate entitles the person to some help towards NHS charges.

  People receiving working families tax credit or disabled person's tax credit (where the amount of tax credit is paid in full or reduced by £70 or less) and who have a close relative, or partner, in prison can get help with the cost of travel to visit them. Help is also available in these circumstances for people who hold a Department of Health HC2 or HC3 certificate.

  Housing benefit and council tax benefit are available to people in work to help pay their rent and council tax. Part of their income is disregarded when assessing the amount of benefit payable to guarantee that a person is better off in work than out of work.

  Sure Start maternity grants are available if a person or their partner is in receipt of working families tax credit or disabled person's tax credit. And help with funeral payments is available through the social fund for the person who is responsible for the funeral if they are receiving working families tax credit, disabled person's tax credit, housing benefit, or council tax benefit.

  From April 2003 we will introduce two new tax credits. The child tax credit will offer a single, seamless system of support for families with children, while the working tax credit will help to improve the financial gains to work.
  44W
  The working tax credit will, for the first time, extend in-work support through tax credits to people without children.

  Benefit Fraud
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the cost of benefit fraud in Wales has been in each year since 1997; [50633]

  (2) what the cost of benefit fraud has been in each year since 1997 in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West. [50639]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Our most recent estimate is that £2 billion is lost annually through benefit fraud in Great Britain. This estimate cannot be broken down by country or region.

  We have set firm targets for reducing the amount of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance and we have already achieved a reduction of 18 per cent., nearly double our first milestone, a year ahead of schedule.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the removal of social fund applications and their processing from local benefits offices. [34426]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Procedures for the handling of Social Fund applications are being considered following the launch of our two new agencies, Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the total savings to public funds of the Private Finance Initiative contract for the Private Sector Resource Initiative for management of the estate by comparison with a non-Private Finance Initiative alternative. [49660]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him on 8 January 2002,Official Report, column 697W.

  Sunset Clauses
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Bills introduced by his Department in the last five years have contained sunset clauses; and what plans he has for the future use of such clauses. [49614]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Since it came into being in June 2001, the Department for Work and Pensions has not introduced a Bill containing a sunset clause. The Department would include such provisions in future Bills in circumstances where this appeared appropriate.

  Benefits
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of means-tested benefits or tax credits, by region, as(a) a percentage of population and (b) a total number, in descending order according to percentage figures in 2000. [30610]
  45W
  Malcolm Wicks
  [holding answer 30 January 2002]: The information on recipients of income-related benefits is in the table. Tax credits are the responsibility of the Inland Revenue.

  Recipients of income-related benefits by Government office region—May 2000

  Region

  Recipients (Thousand)

  Percentage of the regional population1

  England (north-east)

  400

  19

  Scotland

  740

  18

  England (north-west)

  940

  17

  England (London)

  940

  16

  Wales

  370

  16

  England (Yorkshire and Humberside)

  620

  15

  England (west midlands)

  630

  15

  England (east midlands)

  430

  13

  England (south-west)

  470

  12

  England (east)

  470

  11

  England (south east)

  620

  10

  1 Percentage of the regional population aged over 16.

  Notes:

  1. Key income related benefits are jobseeker's allowance, income support, minimum income guarantee, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

  2. The data refers to recipients of income-related benefits which may be a single person, a member of a couple or a member of a family.

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10,000.

  Source:

  Client Group Analysis of DWP Information Centre 5 per cent. statistical samples—May 2000, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample taken in May 2000. Population figures are provided by Office for National Statistics, Population Estimates Unit.

  Benefit Decisions
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many decisions on benefits taken by decision makers were reversed by(a) Ministers and (b) officials in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2001; and if he will make a statement. [55828]

  Maria Eagle
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]: Ministers do not reverse or change decisions of decision makers. The number of decisions which have been revised by decision makers are shown in the table.

  Benefit

  2000

  Approximate caseload

  2001

  Approximate caseload

  IS

  14,424

  3,800,000

  17,157

  3,900,000

  JSA

  23,774

  1,100,000

  21,741

  1,000,000

  IB, MA and SDA

  27,536

  2,700,000

  26,214

  2,700,000

  LTB (RP, WB and BB)

  1,699

  11,300,000

  1,684

  11,300,000

  IIDB

  2,479

  280,000

  2,276

  n/a

  ICA

  828

  406,000

  1,264

  376,200

  AA

  11,282

  1,200,000

  9,718

  1,200,000

  DLA

  33,979

  2,160,000

  32,444

  2,200,000

  CHB

  3,363

  6,900,000

  4,492

  6,900,000

  Child Benefit
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidelines his Department issues on the timescale for switching over to the other parent, as the children's primary carer, as the new recipient of child benefit in cases of marital breakdown or spousal desertion. [53777]
  46W
  Malcolm Wicks
  The rules governing the transfer of child benefit from one person to another are statutory, and are contained in the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. Generally, child benefit cannot be transferred from one person to another in any circumstances until three weeks after the week in which a competing claim is received, for example following a marital breakdown or spousal desertion.

  However, where someone has been receiving child benefit on the basis that a child has been living with them, absences from one another are disregarded for up to eight weeks in any 16-week period. Following a separation therefore, both parties will continue to meet the "living with" condition for a short period, and in default of an agreement between them it falls to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in his discretion to determine which of them is entitled for this period.

  Minimum Wage
  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last met the Low Pay Commission to discuss the minimum wage. [55208]

  Maria Eagle
  My right hon. Friend has not met the Low Pay Commission. The minimum wage is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  Criminal Offences
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many criminal offences have been(a) created and (b) abolished by his Department since 1997. [55426]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Nine offences have been created since 1997 and four have been abolished.

  The offences created in the Social Security (Fraud) Act 1997 were modified by the Social Security Fraud Act 2001. The modification involved repeal and redraft of four of the offences.

  Benefit Tribunals (Doctors)
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has given concerning the independence of doctors serving on benefit tribunals since 2000. [55305]

  Maria Eagle
  It is not appropriate for my right hon. Friend to issue guidance to the panel members who are appointed by the Lord Chancellor to sit on appeal tribunals within the Appeals Service. The panel members, and the tribunal decisions they make, are independent of the Department for Work and Pensions. Guidance for panel members is a matter for the president of appeal tribunals.

  Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of non-resident parents who have had their driving licences removed by the courts since April 2001 as a result of the provisions introduced under the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act. [54514]
  47W
  Malcolm Wicks
  In the period from April 2001 to 18 March 2002, the agency made 58 applications to the court for committal/withdrawal of a driving licence.

  In 21 cases the non-resident parent is now paying. Two non-resident parents provided information to the agency that resulted in them being assessed to pay nothing. One non-resident parent has had his licence withdrawn and three non-resident parents have a suspended disqualification from driving order. In a further 22 cases the magistrates imposed a suspended committal sentence. The rest of the cases are still with the courts, with three non-resident parents the subject of tracing action by the agency.

  Carers
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of carers(a) entitled to and (b) being credited into the state second pension. [54517]

  Mr. McCartney
  We estimate that up to 2 million carers could benefit from the state second pension. However, as entitlement to state second pension is based on complete qualifying years, the first of which is 2002–03 tax-year, we have no figures currently for the number of people who are entitled in respect of that year.

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answers of 24 April 2002 to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Brown),Official Report, columns 343–44W. on backdated winter fuel payments, what information the Government collect on people who are entitled to winter fuel payments but who do not receive the money automatically. [56448]

  Mr. McCartney
  Most people who are entitled to a winter fuel payment receive their payments automatically. However, others have to make a claim. From winter 2000–01, the claim details recorded are used to make further payments automatically, unless the individual's circumstances change. This procedure ensures that people do not have to provide their details more than once.

  Publicity aims to ensure that the people who need to claim are aware of the position. It is then up to the individual to choose whether or not to claim.

  Adult Disadvantage
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2002,Official Report, column 528W, on the age positive campaign, what budget his Department has allocated for the age positive campaign in each of the next three years. [47590]

  Maria Eagle
  The current planned budget for 2002–03 and 2003–04 is £900,000 per annum. As with all departmental programmes, budgets for 2003–04, and the subsequent two years, will be reviewed as part of the Spending Review 2002 process, the settlement of which will be received in July 2002. In addition, in line with financial management regimes, all budgets are reviewed internally during the course of the financial year.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  BT Lines
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of BT's lines have been handed over to competitors as a result of local loop unbundling. [44779]

  Ms Hewitt
  Currently more than 300 local loops have been unbundled. Operators are able to place orders with BT for unbundled local loops on a 'business as usual' basis.

  Universal Bank
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress in establishing the Universal bank. [54023]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Department of Work and Pensions, together with the Inland Revenue and the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency, have agreed contractual terms with Post Office Ltd. for the provision of the Card Account and are working on implementation. A lot of detailed work is being carried out on implementing universal banking services and the plan remains to deliver in advance of the migration of benefit payment to ACT from 2003.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when and for what reasons the Universal bank has been renamed the New Direct bank; whether all benefit claimants will have access to the New Direct bank; when she expects the New Direct bank to be established; if she will list the(a) banks and (b) building societies that have agreed to deliver the New Direct bank services; and with which company a contract has been signed for the benefit payment card account. [54510]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Government's plan for universal banking services continues to be based on two key elements: post office access to the banks own basic bank accounts (which have a variety of operating brand names); and a simple Card Account which will allow benefits claimants without bank accounts to access their benefits in cash at post offices using a Post Office account instead of an order book or giro. We have no plans to rebrand any of this as "the New Direct bank".

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she will take to find other sites for offshore wind farms should any of the present sites be rejected on grounds of possible interference with military radar. [55576]

  Mr. Wilson
  The sites in the first round of offshore windfarm developments were selected by developers who then made applications for site leases to the Crown Estate, as landlord of the seabed within territorial waters. Of the 18 projects there are no Ministry of Defence objections to 13. The Ministry of Defence are in dialogue with the remaining five developers and would hope to bring the matter to a successful conclusion.

  The Department is working closely with a wide range of organisations to develop a strategic framework for the next stage of windfarm development and hope to issue a

  49W
  consultation document in the autumn. Part of the programme of work will seek to identify potential areas of the sea for further windfarm developments, taking into account a range of factors, although ultimate site selection must be a commercial decision for the developer. Each windfarm development would be subject to the usual consenting process.

  We are also working actively with the Ministry of Defence on several collaborative projects which are designed to address the specific problem of wind turbines on radar, and siting issues more generally.

  High Active Liquor Storage
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the security implications of sensitive sites in nuclear installations, with special reference to high active liquor storage, being identified on non-secure websites. [55325]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 10 May 2002]: The Government's policy of openness stresses the importance of providing as much information as possible of legitimate public interest. It is balanced by non-disclosure of sensitive information. The protection of sensitive information in the civil nuclear industry is one aspect of required security arrangements at civil nuclear installations kept under continuing review by the Director of Civil Nuclear Security, the security regulator. I am satisfied that stringent security measures apply at all civil nuclear sites in respect of both the sites and the materials held within the sites.

  Ofgem
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met Ofgem to discuss the introduction of competition into electricity services connection. [56135]

  Mr. Wilson
  Callum McCarthy and I meet on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues. Competition in electricity connections is a matter for Ofgem. I understand that it is making progress on this issue.

  Export Licences
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will respond to export licence application number 32368 made on 7 March by Pultrex Limited of Colchester. [55716]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]: Licences to export arms and other items whose export is controlled for strategic reasons are issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry acting through the Export Control Organisation (ECO).

  The company regrettably failed to provide complete end user documentation. This has now been obtained and a decision will be taken as quickly as possible consistent with the need to give full consideration to the issues involved.

  End of Life Vehicle Directive
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department took to make people aware of the implications of the End of Life Vehicle Directive. [56420]
  50W
  Mr. Wilson
  DTI published a consultation document on the end of life vehicles (ELV) directive in August last year, issuing 2,000 copies initially, and a further 500 copies during the three-month consultation period. This document was also made available on UK online and on the DTI website, where a summary of the replies received by the Department is now available. Further information on the implementation of the ELV directive will be made available in the same way, when decisions are taken.

  Small Businesses
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to help small businesses with increased insurance costs following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. [56181]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Government provides a range of assistance of small firms experiencing difficulties, for whatever reason:The SBS launched its Company Rescue Pilot scheme in September 2001, and has so far helped 37 businesses (as at 8 May 2002);
  The Business Link network provides advice and support for businesses suffering as a result of a recent crisis including advising on a range of disaster management issues;
  The National Business Debtline is in place to help Micro Businesses in England and Wales facing debt problems to obtain free, confidential and impartial advice. It handles an average of 1,500 queries a quarter; and
  The recently established Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) will provide improved anticipation, preparation, prevention and resolution to improve the UK's resilience to disruptive challenges at every level in future.

  Miners' Compensation
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been paid in fees to solicitors representing miners in(a) Wales and (b) the United Kingdom who are suffering from respiratory disease and vibration white finger in the last three years. [56446]

  Mr. Wilson
  In the last three financial years the Department has made payments broken down as follows to solicitors representing miners in Wales and United Kingdom:

  £ million

  Wales

  United Kingdom

  Respiratory Disease

  April 1999 to March 2000

  0.4

  2.0

  April 2000 to March 2001

  3.4

  16.5

  April 2001 to March 2002

  9.1

  32.4

  VWF

  April 1999 to March 2000

  1.3

  6.6

  April 2000 to March 2001

  1.4

  11.1

  April 2001 to March 2002

  3.3

  28.2

  Respiratory Disability
  Rachel Squire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value is of offers made by her claim handlers AON IRISC Claims Management, following the medical assessment procedure examination where COPD respiratory disability has been diagnosed; how many such offers were made in(a) England,

  51W
  (b) Wales and (c) Scotland; how many such offers were accepted and what was their total value in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland; what the total value is of such offers paid out by the Department (a) in England, (b) in Wales and (c) in Scotland on a full and final basis and how many cases are involved; what the value of the interim payments made in such cases is; and how many cases are involved in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland. [56410]

  Mr. Wilson
  An analysis of full and final offers and acceptances broken down by region is as follows:

  England

  Scotland

  Wales

  Total

  Offers made:

  Number

  7,080

  624

  3,321

  11,025

  Value (£ million)

  113.8

  10.0

  53.3

  177.1

  Offers accepted and paid:

  Number

  1,505

  129

  1,075

  2,709

  Value (£ million)

  20.2

  2.2

  22.9

  45.3

  In the time available it is not possible to distinguish offers accepted but not yet paid. Offers accepted would be slightly higher than in the table.

  The Department does make interim payments in the course of assessing a claim. However, when a full and final offer has been made no further interim payments are offered because we consider it is for the claimants' solicitors and our claims handlers to agree a final settlement. Although, in deserving cases, such as those with a short life expectancy, the Department has made such interim payments and will consider doing so on a case by case basis.

  P.W. Pains Wessex Defence
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences have been granted to P.W. Pains Wessex Defence in the past two years; and for what products they were issued. [56571]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Such information is not normally released because of commercial confidentiality. However I have asked the company if they will waive this. I will write to the hon. Member in the light of its response, and will place a copy of that letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Dounreay Nuclear Plant
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will support the introduction of a community fund levy on new contracts awarded for the decommissioning and site restoration work at the Dounreay nuclear plant in Caithness; and if she will make a statement. [56585]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 15 May 2002]: The decommissioning of Dounreay is expected to generate large economic as well as environmental benefits for the local region, and I have asked UKAEA to maximise the potential for these benefits where it is cost effective to do so. I do not believe that an additional levy on new contracts is justified.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the UKAEA regarding(a) disposal and (b) transport of nuclear waste from Dounreay. [56880]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: None.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) of 8 March, regarding US tariffs on imports of menswear from the United Kingdom. [56852]

  Mr. Alexander
  I have replied today.

  Selby Coalfield
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to undertake a study of the(a) economic and (b) geological prospects of the Selby coalfield. [56687]

  Mr. Wilson
  IMC Group Consulting Limited has been commissioned by the Department to undertake a review of the Selby Mine Complex. This will consider both the economic and geological prospects of the complex. The review is scheduled to be completed by mid June, and its findings will be published.

  Anglo-Italian Meetings
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions in the last six months members of her Department have met their Italian counterparts; and what subjects were discussed. [56884]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: DTI Ministers are regularly in touch with the Italian Government bilaterally and in EU and other multilateral fora on a range of issues. For example, my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business visited Rome in November 2001 where he had meetings with, among others, his Italian opposite number. DTI Ministers meet their Italian counterparts at EU Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Councils four times a year and at Industry and Energy Councils, Research Councils, Employment Councils and Telecomms Councils twice a year. Officials are frequently in touch with their Italian counterparts at all levels, on a wide range of subjects.

  Confectionery (Safety)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 19 April 2002,Official Report, column 1202W, whether her Department's research considered the incidence of domestic episodes not notified to doctors involving children placing in their mouths small parts from toys embedded in confectionery. [57269]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The research analysed non-fatal and fatal choking cases over a ten-year period (1986–1996) involving children under four years of age who were seen in an A&E department of a hospital participating in my Department's Home Accident Surveillance System. The research also analysed data
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  from the Home Accident Death database. It would not be feasible to collect data about every single incident in the UK that does not result in a visit to a hospital A&E department.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 19 April 2002,Official Report, column 1202W, what evidence her Department has collated on the impact embedding a toy within chocolate products has on its odour; and if she will make a statement. [57310]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The manufacturer of the leading brand has provided the Department with research which confirms that the smell of the chocolate does not migrate to the toy because of the capsule contained within the egg.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 19 April 2002,Official Report, column 1203W, what action she intends to take in cases where manufacturers breach DTI safety labelling guidelines. [57309]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Day-to-day enforcement of safety legislation is undertaken by trading standards officers who have the appropriate powers to take action if the necessary labelling is not present.

  Energy Review
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received as part of the consultation process on the Government's Performance and Innovation Unit energy review, published on 14 February. [57325]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government launched the consultation on energy policy on 14 May, following the publication of the energy review earlier this year. No representations have been received since the launch of the consultation but as work proceeds we shall be posting any replies we receive (unless otherwise requested) and notes of key meetings on the DTI's and DEFRA's websites.

  Consignia
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her objectives will be when entering discussions with Consignia and the Post Office Ltd. to determine the future of support branches of the Post Office in rural communities. [55287]

  Mr. Alexander
  Advice from the Postal Services Commission will inform future discussion on support for the rural post office network. The Government are currently considering that advice on transitional financial assistance.

  Employment Regulations
  Mr. Alan Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make an announcement on the Fixed Term Employees' (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002. [58082]

  Alan Johnson
  The Fixed Term Employees' (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 will not be coming into force on the 10 July 2002, as intended, since the Employment Bill (which contains the regulation-making power) has not yet received Royal 54W
  Assent. We intend to lay the regulations once the Bill has received Royal Assent and aim to bring them into force on 1 October. This will give businesses and employees ample time to prepare for these new regulations, in line with the Government's better regulation guidelines.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the annual additional employment costs of work-related regulations introduced since 1997. [55508]

  Alan Johnson
  Costs and benefits of employment legislation are estimated and published in regulatory impact assessments, which are available in the Libraries of the House. The annual costs to business of employment legislation implemented by the Department since 1997 are estimated to be approximately £5 billion per year. The vast majority of these costs arise through the provision of enhanced terms and conditions of employment.

  Websites
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the savings which will arise for each Government Department as a result of the website www.ukonline.gov.uk. [51514]

  Mr. Leslie
  I have been asked to reply.

  Ukonline.gov.uk is an architecture on which multiple Government websites can be built and deployed quickly and cheaply without incurring separate hosting costs.

  When ukonline.gov.uk was refreshed in January 2002, it was built in a modular way so that its components can be offered to Departments and local authorities. To this end, the architecture that supports ukonline.gov.uk is now being offered to Departments and local authorities so that they can deploy their web presences more rapidly at reduced cost.

  Estimated cost savings are £5 for every £1 spent by each Department using the UK online infrastructure.

  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been carried out to assess the level of(a) awareness in the population analysed by socio-economic group, (b) usage by the population analysed by socio-economic group, (c) repeat usage by the population and (d) satisfaction of users with respect to the website www.ukonline.gov.uk; and what the findings were. [51559]

  Mr. Leslie
  I have been asked to reply.

  (a) There is no specific piece of research that measures awareness of the website www.ukonline.gov.uk. However, the Office of the e-Envoy commissions an annual tracking study to measure the progress of the overall UK online campaign. These results showed that the overall awareness of UK online increased from 33 per cent. to 45 per cent. between January 2001 and February 2002. These results are also available by socio-economic group.

  (b) A new statistical analysis solution for ukonline.gov.uk was implemented in January 2002. This shows that usage of www.ukonline.gov.uk has risen from 14,000 unique users per week in January peaking at over 80,000 in April. Visits (a series of page views) have likewise increased from 50,000 in January peaking at over 170,000 in April. We do not have this data broken down by socio-economic group.

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  (c) The statistical analysis does not cover session cookies, therefore repeat usage figures are not available. However, we closely monitor customer feedback via our customer management programme. A dedicated team has been set up to handle customer queries in real-time and to analyse the feedback from members of the public.

PRIME MINISTER

  Data Protection Act
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister 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. [53390]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office today.

  Gurkhas
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Prime Minister of Nepal during his visit to the UK concerning(a) the future of the Gurkhas in the British Army, and (b) the case made by the Gurkha Army Ex-Serviceman's Organisation for pay and pension equality for Gurkhas who are serving or who have served in the British Army. [57809]

  The Prime Minister
  I met the Nepalese Prime Minister on Monday 13 May along with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for International Development and the Minister of State for the Armed Forces. The main focus of our discussions was internal issues in Nepal, and what the UK could do to help. The issue of Gurkha pensions was raised briefly by the Nepalese Prime Minister at the end of the meeting. The Brigade of Gurkhas remains an integral and much valued part of the British Army and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

  Policy Seminars
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether the No. 10 policy seminar on criminal justice addressed by the Director General of the Prison Service was an official function; and if he will make a statement; [57544]

  (2) what policy seminars attended by persons outside Government have been held at No. 10 Downing Street since Christmas; and by whom each was attended. [57545]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 15 May 2002,Official Report, columns 712–14W.

SCOTLAND

  Concessionary Fares
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to her answer of 13 December 2001,Official Report, column 990W, what the outcome of the
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  discussions between the Government and the devolved Administrations was regarding the provision of half-price fares to older and disabled passengers on scheduled long-distance coach journeys across Britain. [56123]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Discussions are continuing between the Government and the devolved Administrations, as are discussions with the industry.

  Press Releases
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many press releases were issued by her Department(a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive. [40038]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Since then, the following number of press releases have been issued:

  Press releases

  19991

  98

  2000

  317

  2001

  265

  1 1 July to 31 December

  Press and Public Relations
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual budget for communications activities, including press, public relations, marketing and internal communications, was for her Department for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2001–02. [39912]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. Since that date expenditure on communications activities has been as follows.

  Year

  £

  1999–20001

  70,939

  2000–01

  422,134

  2001–02

  336,579

  1 Part year

  This includes expenditure on electoral registration and voter publicity of £26,861 in 1999–2000, £270,494 in 2000–01; and £186,564 in 2001–02.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Criminal Offences
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many criminal offences have been(a) created and (b) abolished by his Department since 1997. [55423]

  Jane Kennedy
  A comprehensive and exhaustive list of new and abolished offences could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We can, however, provide the
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  following information about the following Northern Ireland Office measures which have been enacted since 1 May 1997.
  Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998: two new offences (obstructing Ombudsman's staff and disclosure of information).
  Criminal Justice (NI) Order 1998: one new offence (breach of sex offender order).
  Criminal Justice (Children) (NI) Order 1998: three new offences (harbouring or concealing child, assisting escape of child, and obstructing inspection of attendance centres and juvenile centres).
  Criminal Evidence (NI) Order 1999: two new offences (making false statements and giving false evidence).

  Police Ombudsman
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been made against the Police Ombudsman's Office by(a) members and (b) ex-members of the RUC/PSNI: how many legal actions are outstanding against her or her investigators; in how many cases she has carried out a successful prosecution; how many times she has had to pay out compensation and the amount paid out; and how many cases she has undertaken relating to matters for which the Director of Public Prosecutions or Attorney General has directed that there be no prosecution. [48854]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Police Ombudsman advises that since the opening of the Police Ombudsman's Office on 6 November 2000 until 3 May 2002:1(a) Eight serving members of the police force have made complaints against the Police Ombudsman's Office.
  1(b) No ex-members of the police force have made complaints against the Police Ombudsman's Office.
  There are currently 11 legal actions outstanding against the Police Ombudsman or her investigators:
  Industrial/Fair Employment—7
  Judicial Reviews—4
  The Police Ombudsman does not prosecute cases; the Director of Public Prosecutions is responsible for deciding on prosecutions.
  No orders for compensation have been made against the Police Ombudsman by the courts.
  To date the Ombudsman's Office has referred 93 case files to the Director of Public Prosecutions. In two cases where the Ombudsman's Office has recommended prosecutions the DPP has directed no prosecution, and 33 files are awaiting the DPP's direction.

  Prisons
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the(a) condition and (b) use of the premises of the former HMP Maze is. [56125]

  Jane Kennedy
  The information is as follows:

  (a) Since its closure in 2000, parts of Maze prison, comprising three accommodation blocks and a number of ancillary premises, have been maintained in warm storage and are in very good condition.

  A small number of other buildings are still in use on the site, but these are mainly portable type accommodation and, while in good repair, are nearing the end of their lifespan. The condition of the remaining buildings on the site, including those on the adjacent Maze compound site, range from fair to derelict.
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  The mechanical and electrical services are in fair condition but have reached the stage where a substantial capital investment would be required to upgrade these to meet current regulations.

  (b) The section of the Maze which is being maintained in warm storage will serve as emergency accommodation should the need arise. Other premises on the site are being used for control and restraint training and to accommodate the Prison Escort Group and its vehicle fleet. The firing range is also used occasionally for training.

  However, the Government have recently given a commitment to hand the site to the Northern Ireland Executive. The timescale has yet to be agreed but the Northern Ireland prison service is actively looking for alternative ways to accommodate the functions listed above.

  Sick Leave
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days of sick leave were taken in his Department last year; how many related to employees suffering(a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to his Department. [56476]

  Jane Kennedy
  The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report entitled "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". The most recently published figures are for the calendar year 2000. For home civil servants (HCS) in the Northern Ireland Office the working days absence per staff year were as follows:

  Certified sick absence—7.5

  Self-certified—1.8

  Total—9.3

  Figures are not held in a comparable format for the Northern Ireland civil servants (NICS).

  The number of days relating to stress and other mental health problems and the cost could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Northern Ireland Office is committed to the effective management of sick absence and our current service delivery agreement (SDA) sets out our proposal to reduce sickness absence rates over the planning period for HCS staff. It will seek similar reductions for the NICS group in the Department in conjunction with other Northern Ireland Departments.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Gibraltar
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which the Government would enter into agreements regarding Gibraltar, without the agreement of the Government of Gibraltar. [53952]

  Peter Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in response to a question from the hon. Member for North Dorset (Mr. Bob Walter) on 16 April 2002,Official Report, column 451.
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  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made of the growth potential for Gibraltar's airport; [57467]

  (2) what plans he has to increase the capacity of (a) passenger flights and (b) freight in and out of the airport in Gibraltar. [57466]

  Peter Hain
  The Government agrees that development of the airport would be of great economic and commercial benefit to the people of Gibraltar and the neighbouring regions of Spain, and agrees with the noble Lord Howe's comments in another place on 12 December 2001,Official Report, column 1393, that it is unfortunate that the implementation of the 1987 Airport agreement was blocked by the reluctance of the Gibraltar legislature to see it through.

  Apart from aviation safety and security, the operation of the civil airport terminal is a defined domestic matter for the Government of Gibraltar, but the airport has excess capacity, and could handle an increase in flights if the commercial demand arises. The agreement we are seeking with Spain under the Brussels Process would, if implemented, remove all the obstacles which currently prevent the full development of the airport.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will deposit in the Library the current draft proposals under discussion with Spain on the future of Gibraltar. [57886]

  Peter Hain
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in response to a question from the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Mr. Mark Francois) on 12 March 2002,Official Report, column 865W.

  Middle East
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of allegations of control by the Palestinian Authority of suicide bombers in Israel. [55431]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have seen the Israeli dossier alleging President Arafat's involvement in terrorism, but cannot verify its authenticity. The EU Commissioner for External Affairs, Chris Patten, has made it clear that he has seen no hard evidence corroborating its claims about the misuse of EU funds. The Palestinian Authority has denied its allegations.

  President Arafat must make all possible efforts to prevent terrorist attacks. Both sides have a responsibility to end the cycle of violence and engage in a political process which offers their people a peaceful way forward.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the EU the allegations by the Israeli Government that sums contributed by the EU to the Palestinian authorities have been directed to funding members of Fatah and of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. [57031]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The allegations made by the Israeli Government about the misuse of European development funds relate to budgetary support provided by the European Commission (EC). The EU Commissioner for External Affairs, Chris Pattern, has made it clear that he has seen no hard evidence corroborating claims about the 60W
  misuse of EU funds. The EC attach strict conditionality to the direct budgetary assistance provided to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The conditions mainly reinforce the need for transparency on the PA's public finances, strengthening the prudent management of the budget, and encouraging progress on overall financial and administrative reform. We are satisfied that the EC, with the assistance of the IMF, is ensuring the conditions are met.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money the EU has provided to the Palestinian authorities in each of the past three years; what measures are taken by the EU to ensure that the money is spent on the issues to which they are directed; and if he will make a statement. [57030]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Between 1994–2001 (figures most recently available), EC aid to the Palestinian Authority and to Palestinian refugees totalled euro 1.466 billion. The UK share of this is an estimated euro 245 million.

  The EC attach strict conditionality to the direct budgetary assistance provided to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The conditions mainly reinforce the need for transparency in the PA's public finances, prudent management of the budget and progress on overall financial and administrative reform. We are satisfied that the EC, with the assistance of the IMF, is ensuring the conditions are met.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the meetings held between(a) UK diplomatic staff in the middle east and (b) staff from his Department with representatives of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine since 1 September 2000; and if he will make a statement. [55995]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  British diplomats in Damascus, Beirut and Jerusalem meet DFLP representatives on an occasional basis, including at diplomatic receptions. They have had no contact with the DFLP this year.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the military objectives that Israeli armed forces have achieved by their siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. [56576]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Israel's stated military objective was to root out terrorists. But neither side can achieve lasting security through force. Actions by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have contributed to the crisis. Israel must withdraw from Palestinian controlled areas and act in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions including SCR 1402 and international humanitarian law. The Palestinian Authority must do everything in its power to stop the violence against Israelis.

  European Community
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what precedents and rules have been adopted by institutions of the European Community in coming to a decision as to whether actions are better achieved by national or Community action, with reference to Article 5 TEC. [56633]
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  Peter Hain
  The treaty of Amsterdam annexed to the treaty establishing the European Community a Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality to define more precisely the criteria for applying them and to ensure their strict observance and consistent implementation by all institutions. Legislative proposals must be explicitly justified in terms of subsidiarity. The choice of legal instrument employed is also subject to the subsidiarity test.

  The Government welcome the opportunity, afforded by the Convention on the Future of Europe, to examine the question of subsidiarity and the delimitation of competencies between the Union and the member states. We support the Amsterdam Protocol., but will be seeking ways to embed this principle more robustly within the EU's system of institutions, and to consider mechanisms that will monitor—and enforcs—eubsidiarity and proportionality more effectively.

  General Affairs Council
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 13 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [57003]

  Peter Hain
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I represented the UK at the General Affairs Council (GAC) in Brussels on 11 May. Conclusions were agreed by consensus and no formal votes were taken.

  Preparation of the Johannesburg Summit on sustainable development
  The Council noted progress made in preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which will take place in Johannesburg on 26 August to 4 September 2002. The Council instructed relevant Council bodies to prepare a substantive contribution on the EU's role in the WSSD process, to be approved at the GAC on 17 June and endorsed at the Seville European Council.

  Annual Policy Strategy 2003
  The Council endorsed the Commission's three main priorities for 2003: achieving enlargement successfully, continuing to ensure security for EU citizens, and developing a sustainable and inclusive economy. The Council agreed that the Commission's suggested budgetary allocations would be studied in the framework of the Preliminary Draft Budget examination for 2003. The Council recommended that future versions of the Annual Policy Strategy should be presented as early in the year as possible to improve the coherence of the budgetary process.

  Effectiveness of the Union's external action
  The Council noted work in hand and heard presentations on improving cross-pillar cooperation, strengthening the EU's role in international organisations, budgetary issues, development aid and the EU decision-making process. Commissioner Patten briefed Ministers on pilot studies aimed at improving the impact of EU external assistance and on the process of evolution of responsibilities to Commission delegations.

  Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with ACP countries
  The Council welcomed the Commission's proposal for a mandate to negotiate EPAs with the ACP countries, recalling that the ultimate purpose of the negotiations was poverty eradication and integration of ACPs into the world economy. It also addressed questions of ACP market access and WTO compatibility. The discussion will continue in the Permanent Representatives' Committee, with a view to adopting the mandate at the June GAC.
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  Renewal of mandates and financing of EU Special Representatives (EUSRs)
  Recalling the essential role played by EUSRs, the Council agreed to extend the functions and funding for FYROM and Afghanistan EUSRs and asked the relevant bodies to study financial formulae to make this possible.

  Middle East
  The Council discussed the possibility of convening an international conference and welcomed the end of the Church of the Nativity crisis in Bethlehem. It thanked the Cypriot Government for its assistance and thanked member states for provisionally offering the 13 Palestinians involved temporary residence on humanitarian grounds.

  European Security and Defence Policy
  The Council welcomed the participation of Defence Ministers, meeting as the GAC for the first time, and noted progress towards establishing the Capability Development Mechanism (CDM). It also acknowledged recent advances made in European military capabilities and discussed possible means of resolving current shortfalls with a view to meeting the headline goal.

  Western Balkans
  The Council conducted its annual review of the stabilisation and association process for south-eastern Europe (SAP), endorsed the conclusions of the Commission's first annual report on SAP, and confirmed the SAP countries' status as potential candidates for EU membership. The Council called on the SAP countries to devote adequate attention and resources to implementation of EU recommendations, with particular reference to strengthening the rule of law and judicial systems and visa and entry policies. The Council invited the Commission to assess progress made at its next annual review in March 2003. The Council proposed to establish a new ministerial-level political forum, linking the EU with the SAP countries. It also highlighted the need for a greater EU public information effort to foster greater understanding of the SAP. Crisis management in the Balkans, including the future EU police mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a possible mission in Macedonia, was also discussed.

  Iran
  The Council noted that broad agreement had been reached on substance and objectives for developing EU relations with Iran. In addition to commercial matters, it was felt important that this include dialogue on terrorism, proliferation and regional stability. It instructed officials to pursue discussions with a view to a decision at the next GAC on a negotiating mandate for a Trade and Cooperation Agreement with Iran.

  Angola
  The Council welcomed recent encouraging developments in Angola, including the signing of an MOU by the Angolan Armed and Unita forces culminating in a ceasefire. The Council, while expressing support for positive initiatives undertaken by the Angolan Government, called on the authorities to allocate the necessary resources to; reintegrating Unita and Angola armed soldiers into the armed forces, police and civil society; demining; and reconstruction of social and civil infrastructure. It also requested that the Angolan Government do its utmost the assist humanitarian needs.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other EU states bordering the Mediterranean on additional steps to take to control the illegal entry of asylum seekers into the EU. [56912]

  Peter Hain
  The Government take very seriously the need to control the illegal entry of asylum seekers into the EU. At the request of Italy, the General Affairs Council of 15 April discussed the issue of illegal immigration, and adopted conclusions which have been placed in the Library of the House. In particular, Foreign Ministers
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  considered how to deal more effectively with problems arising from illegal immigration particularly at sea borders, including by using all the instruments available in the framework of the Union's external relations to encourage countries of origin and transit to take action. Foreign Ministers also called for rapid implementation of the comprehensive action plan to combat illegal immigration and trafficking of human beings adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28 February.

  Pakistan
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2002,Official Report, columns 649–50W, what response has been received from the Pakistan authorities. [57443]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have not received a substantive response to our requests for information from the Pakistani authorities. Senior officials at the British high commission are continuing to pursue this with their Pakistani counterparts.

  EU Unemployment
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made since the European Council's meeting at Lisbon towards the target to halve unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds by 2010 throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [57258]

  Peter Hain
  The Lisbon European Council set the objective of halving the number of 18 to 24-year-olds not in further education and training by 2010. In March 2000 the figure was 18.7 per cent., in March 2002 it was 17.7 per cent.

  Law Enforcement Agencies
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities designated with legislation there are within the responsibility of his Department; and what complaints procedure is available for each. [57126]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: None.

  Anglo-Italian Meetings
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the last six months(a) he and (b) his officials have met their Italian counterparts; and what subjects were discussed. [56888]

  Peter Hain
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: FCO Ministers are regularly in touch with the Italian Government bilaterally and in EU and other multilateral fora on a range of issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I meet our Italian counterparts at EU European Councils every six months and at General Affairs councils (GAC) on average once a month. We last met Prime (and Foreign) Minister Berlusconi at the Brussels GAC on Monday 13 May. In addition, the Prime Minister and I attended a bilateral summit on 15 February in Rome with Prime Minister Berlusconi and my Italian counterpart,
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  Minister Antonione. Officials are frequently in touch with their Italian counterparts at all levels on a wide range of subjects.

  Overseas Hotels
  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many overseas hotel rooms have been booked on behalf of other Government Departments in the last two years; what the total cost was; and how many were not occupied. [57832]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office book a large number of overseas hotel rooms on behalf of other Government Departments, who also make large numbers of overseas hotel bookings directly. In some cases the Foreign and Commonwealth Office meets the costs and then passes the charges onto the Department concerned. In other cases, other Government Departments meet their own costs directly. No central records are held of bookings made, costs or occupancy rates. The answer to this question can therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Work-related Illness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees of his Department retired through work-related ill health in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost to the Department was. [56073]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There were five ill-health retirements from the FCO in 2001. None of them were through work-related ill health.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many claims for work-related illness were settled by his Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost in compensation was. [56072]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In the period April 2001 to April 2002, six claims for work-related injuries were settled and £44,777.00 paid out in compensation by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes the issue of health and safety seriously; its commitment to ensuring the health and safety of its staff goes beyond simply complying with legislative requirements. We aim to embed our approach to managing health and safety in all we do. We continue to work towards targets for reducing the number of working days lost to work-related illness and injury set by the revitalising health and safety strategy of June 2000 and, in 2001, exceeded agreed targets for general sickness.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days of sick leave were taken by employees in his Department in the last year for which records are available; what proportion of those were due to work-related illness or injury; and what the cost to the Department was. [56074]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  An average of 5.9 days of sickness absence was taken by members of staff in this Department in 2001. Information on the proportion that were due to work-related illness or injury and the cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. The Foreign and Commonwealth
  65W
  Office is committed to reducing sickness absence, as set out in our service delivery agreement. We have recently streamlined procedures for recording and monitoring sickness absence and pursued more active case management.

  Lockerbie
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the matter of Professor Hans Koechler's report on the appeal proceedings at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands in the United Nations General Assembly. [57130]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 May 2002,Official Report, column 547W, on Lockerbie, whether the UN Secretary General sent (a) Professor Hans Koechler and (b) other representatives of the Internal Progress Organisation to observe the Scottish Court in the Netherlands. [57497]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No. The United Nations Secretary General advised a number of non-governmental organisations of the opportunity to observe the appeal hearings. The International Progress Organisation took advantage of this opportunity. But its participation was neither requested nor funded by the United Nations. The United Nations did not ask Professor Koechler or any other members of the International Progress Organisation to report back.

  Bangladesh Murder
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Bangladesh regarding the case of Surat Miah, a former constituent, beaten to death in Dhaka's international airport after refusing to pay a bribe; and if he will ask them(a) when and (b) why those arrested in connection with the murder were released. [57277]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Our High Commission in Dhaka have raised the case of Surat Miah with the Bangladeshi authorities many times, most recently on 23 April 2002. The four suspects arrested in connection with the murder were released on 23 October 2001. We understand they were acquitted because of a lack of evidence. As Surat Miah was not a British national we are unable to make consular representations to the Bangladesh Government. However, our High Commission have continued to make known the widespread concern in Britain over the case.

  Europe Day
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list Europe Day activities that were arranged by his Department; and what the objective was of each. [57911]

  Peter Hain
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office held an open day on 9 May to mark Europe Day.

  The Europe Day event was a part of the Government's EU information campaign, aiming to raise awareness of the work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, British membership of the EU, current and future
  66W
  countries of the EU, and to provide an opportunity for the public to view the Foreign arid Commonwealth Office's historic buildings.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter dated 13 March from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. [56677]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I replied on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 9 May. As I said in my letter, I apologise for the delay in responding, which is due to the very heavy volume of correspondence this subject generates.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Solicitor-General 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. [54699]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 8 May 2002]: The Crown Prosecution Service is funded by a single vote. There were no losses to fraud and corruption in 1999–2000. Losses in 2000–01 totalled £1,088.75.

  No other losses were recorded from the budgets of the Law Officers' departments.

  Ministerial Training
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General how much has been spent by her Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52714]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 26 April 2002]: Nothing has been spent by my Department on training in leadership skills for Ministers.

  In relation to those departments for which the Attorney-General is responsible, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and Serious Fraud Office only have figures for the last three years. The figures are as follows:

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  £

  Year

  1999

  3,240

  2000

  1,175

  2001

  2,150

  Serious Fraud Office

  £

  Year

  1999–2000

  2,775

  2000–01

  24,975

  2001–02

  7,100

  67W
  Crown Prosecution Service

  Leadership training undertaken by the senior management team in the Crown Prosecution Service has been carried out in two areas. Training in a one-to-one coaching programme began in March 2000 and finished in September 2000, the cost of this initiative was £30,000. A Chief Crown Prosecutors Management and Leadership programme began in September 2001 and finished in February 2002, the cost of this programme was £211,000.

  While officials at HMCPS Inspectorate have received leadership training, this has not resulted in any cost to the Department.

  IT Contracts
  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Solicitor-General what has been the total expenditure of his Department on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date; how many IT contracts have been let in each of those years; of the other main contracting party in each of those contracts, how many have been(a) companies whose registered office is in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland and (b) foreign companies; and what are the names of the companies falling within category (a). [33692]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 7 February 2002J: The total expenditure of the CPS on IT systems and support from May 1997 to date was:

  £million

  1997–98

  4.28

  1998–99

  9.83

  1999–2000

  7.36

  2000–01

  21.74

  2001–02

  21.82

  Records show that a total of 40 contracts were let during this period, as follows:

  Number of contracts

  1997–98

  9

  1998–99

  10

  1999–2000

  9

  2000–01

  6

  2001–02

  6

  The 34 businesses that are the main contracting parties in each of the contracts, all have their registered offices in England and Wales. None of the main contracting parties have their registered office in Scotland, Northern Ireland or foreign countries.

  The names of the companies that are within category (a) are:

  ACG Computer Consultants

  Action Computers Ltd.

  Admiral Computing Ltd.

  Anite Group Ltd.

  Bull Information Systems Ltd.

  68W

  Cable and Wireless

  CMG UK Ltd.

  Computacenter plc

  Computer People Ltd.

  Cornwell Affiliates plc

  CSI

  DBI Consulting Ltd.

  DCS Computers Ltd.

  Elan Computing Ltd.

  Equanet Ltd.

  Ericsson Mobile Communications (UK) Ltd.

  Ernst and Young Ltd.

  Global Crossing Communications Ltd.

  Hedra Ltd.

  Integris Ltd.

  Kermon Ltd. (Xansa)

  Kudos Partnership

  Logica UK Ltd.

  Lorien plc

  Macline Ltd.

  Network Designers Ltd.

  Oakley Computer Ltd.

  P and P Corporate Systems

  Parity Resources Ltd.

  Pentos Systems plc

  Sema Group Ltd.

  Simdell Ltd.

  Vantagepoint Hardware Services Ltd.

  Yale Data Management Consultants Ltd.

  The Serious Fraud Office's total expenditure on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date was as follows:

  £

  1997–98

  807,000

  1998–99

  988,000

  1999–2000

  1,090,000

  2000–01

  1,920,000

  2001–02

  1,930,000

  The number of IT contracts let in each of those years was:

  IT contracts let

  1997

  —

  1998

  1

  1999

  —

  2000

  —

  2001

  1

  2002

  —

  These contracts were signed with companies registered in England and Wales. One of them was negotiated with IBM (UK) plc, the other was with Cedar Group plc.

  Although the Serious Fraud Office negotiated other contracts for IT services, these were small and the costs of researching the details of the companies involved would be disproportionate.Since May 1997 the Treasury Solicitor's Department's expenditure on IT systems including telecoms has been as follows.
  69W

  £

  IT Systems

  Telecoms

  Total

  1997–98

  475,531

  124,740

  600,271

  1998–99

  647,711

  147,707

  795,418

  1999–2000

  523,361

  140,600

  663,961

  2000–01

  1,052,515

  160,380

  1,212,895

  2001–02

  924,267

  130,829

  11,055,096

  1 Year to date.

  In addition the Department incurred the following paybill expenditure on staff to support and develop IT systems.

  £

  1997–98

  248,468

  1998–99

  326,400

  1999–2000

  449,200

  2000–01

  558,852

  2001–02

  1497,681

  1 Year to date.

  The Department has used framework contracts under the aegis of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC): GCat for the supply of IT goods; and S-CAT for the supply of IT services. The Department routinely sources hardware, software and IT services under these contracts and such purchases do not constitute separate contracts in their own right.

  Purchases of equipment, software and services have been made from a variety of suppliers under both framework contracts, the main ones being:

  Compaq Computer Ltd.

  Dell Computer Corporation Ltd.

  Specialist Computer Centres Ltd.

  Computacenter (UK) Ltd.

  PC World Business Direct

  Cedar Group plc

  Cathedral Consortium (HEDRA) Ltd.

  Elan Computing Ltd.

  Insight Consulting

  Methods Application Ltd.

  Parity Solutions Ltd.

  Yale Data Management Consultants Ltd.

  In addition to its use of the OGC framework contracts, the Treasury Solicitor's Department has let IT contracts to the following companies, all of whose registered offices are in England and Wales:

  1998—Sirsi Ltd.

  1999—Grant Thornton Ltd.

  2002—TSL Ltd.

  The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers total expenditure on IT systems and support in each year from May 1997 to date was as follows:

  £

  1997–98

  92,625

  1998–99

  35,992

  1999–2000

  30,492

  2000–01

  37,576

  2001–02

  40,387

  70W
  The number of IT contracts let in each of those years was:

  Number of contracts

  1997

  —

  1998

  1

  1999

  —

  2000

  1

  2001

  —

  2001

  —

  These contracts were signed with companies registered in England and Wales. One of them was negotiated with 4Front Networks and the other with Selection Services.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Disclosure of Interests
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to the Lord Chancellor's Department. [56454]

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

  Information on the executive NDPBs sponsored by this Department is as follows:
  The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, which was set up last year, has a Code of Best Practice and a register of interests.
  The Information Commissioner makes a statement as set out in FRS 8 in her annual accounts confirming that she had no personal or business interests which conflict with her responsibilities. The Commissioner's accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
  The Legal Services Commission has a Code of Best Practice for LSC members with rules of conduct to report conflicts of interest. The commission also maintains a register of members' financial, business and other interests which is available for public inspection through the commission's secretariat department and is published in its annual report.

  The Department's advisory NDPBs also have codes and registers.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  New Wembley Stadium
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many seats will be available to the general public in the proposed new Wembley stadium; who made the decision to change the number of seats available to the public; what her policy is on a reduction in seats available to the general public; and what impact a reduction in seats has on the Lottery agreement. [53785]
  71W
  Tessa Jowell
  The current Lottery Funding Agreement requires Wembley National Stadium Ltd. (WNSL) to make available 75,000 seats to the general public. Any change to that agreement to reflect the current project is a matter for Sport England, the FA and WNSL.

  I understand that following the publication of the English National Stadium Review's interim report on 19 December 2001 [HC 479], WNSL asked Sport England to consider the need to change the balance between general public and premium seats in order to support efforts to secure financing for the project. The request was supported by a revised business plan and by thorough market research carried out by WNSL. The Council of Sport England has considered the revised business plan presented by WNSL and following discussions with WNSL has agreed to reduce the number of general public seats which WNSL must make available to 71,200. This 71,200 figure compares with approximately 73,000 seats available to the general public at the current stadium.

  The change to the number of general public seats will be incorporated as an amendment to the Lottery Funding Agreement.

  Disclosure of Interests
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to her Department. [56449]

  Dr. Howells
  All advisory and executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are required to adopt a board members' code, based on guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, and they should have registers of interests. All DCMS NDPBs have such codes and registers.

  Film Industry
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what bilateral discussions she has had with(a) the Foreign Secretary and (b) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding raising the profile of the British film industry overseas; and if she will make a statement. [56607]

  Dr. Howells
  None, but officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Trade Partners UK and the British Council in posts overseas and at home have worked closely with DCMS officials and the Film Council, for example in the development of the British Film Office in Los Angeles.

  Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the mandate of the Committee on the export of cultural goods is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56788]

  Dr. Howells
  The terms of reference of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, which is an advisory non-departmental public body, are to advise the 72W
  Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the principles which should govern the control of export of works of art, antiques etc.; to consider all cases where refusal of an export licence for a work of art or antique is suggested on grounds of national importance; to advise in cases where a special Exchequer grant is needed towards the purchase of an object that would otherwise be exported; and to supervise the operation of the export control system generally.

  The committee has met on 11 occasions in the last 12 months. It has eight members, drawn from across the UK, who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport provides the committee with an annual budget of £20,000–£23,000. The cost of departmental staff support is approximately £75,000 per annum. The committee's current business arises from its terms of reference and includes consideration of cases where the deferral of a decision upon granting an export licence for an object is suggested on grounds of national importance (39 cases in the last 12 months), related policy issues and the preparation of an annual report.

  The committee has adopted the Model Code of Practice for Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies, issued by the Cabinet Office, and its annual report is presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. According to Cabinet Office requirements, DCMS is currently undertaking a quinquennial review of the committee's operation.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding has been granted to Sport England from the National Lottery in each of the last three years, broken down by the sports which have received funding. [56599]

  Mr. Caborn
  I have arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Sport England
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding has been granted by Sport England in each of the last three years to(a) local authorities for sports facilities and (b) independent sports clubs. [56598]

  Mr. Caborn
  The information requested is set out below:

  £ million

  Local authorities

  Sports clubs

  1999–2000

  26.99

  26.93

  2000–01

  44.82

  45.46

  2001–02

  37.57

  24.76

  Departmental Staff (Scotland)
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what percentage of(a) Civil Service, (b) executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public body jobs under the

  73W
  remit of her Department are located in Scotland; and how many of each have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997. [56318]

  Dr. Howells
  There are no civil service or executive agency staff under the Department's remit in Scotland. There are currently 67 non-departmental public body jobs in Scotland; this is less than a per cent. of all jobs in non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Department. No staff have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Deportation Powers
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from(a) police (i) forces and (ii) organisations, (b) organisations with a reporting line to his Department and (c) official body concerned with immigration about further powers which may be required in relation to deporting those who pose a security threat to the UK. [52550]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 26 April 2002]: I have received no recent representation on this matter.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 30 January 2002 from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford on behalf of Mr. Taylor of Chelmsford; and if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying the time taken. [55833]

  Asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (pass) as at end December 2001

  Site for accommodation centre

  Region

  In receipt of accomodation only

  Supported in NASS accommodation

  Total

  Percent of NASS supported asylum seekers (percentage)

  Royal Air Force (RAF) Hemswell, Lincolnshire

  East Midlands

  500

  3,220

  3,720

  6

  RAF Newtonm, Nottinghamshire1

  East Midlands

  500

  3,220

  3,720

  6

  Air West Edinburgh, Edinburgh1

  Scotland

  240

  4,750

  4,990

  8

  Defence Storage and Distribution Centre Bicester, Oxfordshire

  South Central

  3,150

  800

  3,950

  6

  Sully Hospital, South Glamorgan

  Wales

  140

  700

  840

  1

  Qinetiq, Pershore, Worcestershire1

  West Midlands

  520

  6,930

  7,450

  11

  1 It was confirmed on 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 597W that planning notifications would be submitted in respect of these sites.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 May 2002,Official Report, column 898W, on asylum seekers, who the experts referred to were. [56539]

  Angela Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) on 15 May 2002,Official Report, column 705W.

  Asylum Accommodation Centres
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the legal status will be of public
  74W
  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]: A reply to the hon. Member was sent on 13 May 2002. The delay was caused by an error in the checking system. New procedures have now been put in place to ensure this situation does not re-occur.

  Sir Brian Mawhinney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 19 March 2002 from the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire on behalf of Miss Huta. [56013]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 17 May 2002. I am sorry he did not receive an earlier reply.

  Asylum Seekers
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have committed offences and received custodial sentences of more than two years in each of the last five years. [53739]

  Angela Eagle
  In 2000 there were 677 court recommendations for deportation. Of these 514 (76 per cent.) related to sentences of two years or more. The records do not show whether convicted foreign nationals who were also immigration offenders were asylum seekers or not. This information will be available in the future.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers being supported by NASS live within a 20 mile radius of each of the sites under consideration for the proposed asylum accommodation centres; and what proportion of the total of asylum seekers so supported this represents. [56574]

  Angela Eagle
  Information is not available in the form requested.

  The table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) who were living in the same region as the proposed locations for the accommodation centres as at the end of December 2001.

  inquiries that his Department will arrange to examine the proposed asylum accommodation centres; and who will conduct those inquiries. [54034]

  Angela Eagle
  If a local authority were to object to a notification, the procedure for considering that objection would be a matter for My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Mr. Byers).

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has decided which sites should be taken forward to public inquiry as possible sites for asylum accommodation centres. [57114]
  75W
  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: I announced on 14 May 2002 the sites at which we will be submitting planning notifications, including one in the hon. Member's constituency. Once such a notification is submitted, it is a matter for the local planning authority. If a local authority were to object to such a notification, the procedure for considering that objection would be a matter for My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Mr. Byers).

  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the sites that were considered as possible locations for asylum accommodation centres in preparing the short-list of sites, along with the reasons for the rejection of each site. [57333]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]: As yet there has been no formal evaluation of the education provision for children at Harmondsworth. The provision has only needed to be in operation since towards the end of last year. The performance of the centre's operator, UKDS, is monitored closely by on-site Home Office officials. I am confident that the dedicated team of UKDS education staff at Harmondsworth provides an excellent and very professional service, which takes account of the academic and emotional needs of the children who stay at the centre.

  Asylum and Immigration
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with EU partners on ensuring that the asylum and immigration process ensures equivalent standards of reception and accommodation throughout the European Union. [55577]

  Angela Eagle
  The European Commission presented a proposal for a Council Directive laying down minimum standards in the reception of applicants for asylum in member states in May of last year. The Directive imposes equivalent standards for accommodation, access to health care, employment and education. Following detailed negotiations a general approach agreement was achieved at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 24–25 April 2002. Political agreement is expected by June 2002. European Union member states are to adopt this and other minimum standards measures on Asylum Procedures, Refugee Qualification and a mechanism for establishing which member state is responsible for an asylum claim by 2004.

  National Asylum Support Service
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators were set for the National Asylum Support Service in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and how NASS performed against such performance indicators in each year. [54102]

  Angela Eagle
  In 2000–01 the published performance indicator for the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) was to "process asylum support claims within agreed time scales (from date of receipt)—70 per cent. within two days and 100 per cent. within seven days". In 2001–02 the published performance indicator was to "reduce by 20 per cent. the average time taken to decide applications for support from destitute asylum seekers".
  76W
  In 2000–01, 15 per cent. of applications were decided in two days and 30 per cent. in seven days. Figures for actual performance in 2001–02 are not yet available.

  The performance of NASS in 2000–01 was unacceptable. In 2001 NASS reviewed and refined its procedures with the intention of speeding up response times and improving the quality of decision making.

  Yalcin Kaya
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to take a decision on the application for naturalisation as a British citizen of Yalcin Kaya (Home Office ref: K1020805). [56523]

  Angela Eagle
  A decision in Yalcin Kaya's case will be taken as soon as possible. Inquiries have to be made in all applications for British citizenship, to ensure that the statutory requirements specified in the British Nationality Act 1981 are met. The length of time taken to complete these inquiries can vary considerably and they are still under way in Mr. Kaya's case.

  Sick Leave
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days of sick leave were taken in his Department last year; how many related to employees suffering(a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to his Department. [56480]

  Angela Eagle
  Information on sickness absence can be found in the annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. The most recently published figures are for the calendar year 2000 and show that the average number of lost working days per person in the Home Office was 11.2 days.

  Information on sickness absence and compensation payments for stress and other mental health problems is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Prisoner Numbers
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women under the age of 20 years were serving a prison sentence in England and Wales as of 1 May. [55198]

  Beverley Hughes
  Provisional information shows that on 31 March 2002 (the latest available data) there were 5,355 males and 294 females under the age of 20 who had been sentenced to detention in a young offenders institution or were serving a detention and training order in a prison service establishment in England and Wales.

  Child Passports
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to cancel the passport of a child in circumstances where one parent of an estranged couple refuses to transfer it to the parent with sole custody of that child; and if he will make a statement. [55700]
  77W
  Angela Eagle
  The resolution of such issues is a matter for the family courts. The United Kingdom Passport Service advises parents in such circumstances to seek legal advice with a view to obtaining a court order to transfer the passport.

  Sentencing (Manslaughter)
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the range of sentence lengths is and what was the average sentence for(a) women and (b) male prisoners convicted of manslaughter. [55279]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information requested, relating to persons sentenced for manslaughter in England and Wales in 2000, is contained in the table.

  Statistics for 2001 will be published in the autumn.

  Persons sentenced to immediate custody for manslaughter by gender and sentence length, England and Wales, 2000

  Length of sentence

  Males1

  Females1

  Total1

  Four months or under

  1

  —

  1

  Over four months up to six months

  —

  —

  —

  Over six months less than a year

  1

  —

  1

  Total under one year

  2

  —

  2

  One year

  3

  1

  4

  Over one year up to 18 months

  4

  1

  5

  Over 18 months up to two years

  7

  2

  9

  Over two years up to three years

  26

  7

  33

  Over three years less than four years

  7

  1

  8

  Total one year and under four years

  47

  12

  59

  Four years

  28

  5

  33

  Over four years up to five years

  30

  1

  31

  Over five years up to seven years

  48

  1

  49

  Over seven years up to 10 years

  21

  2

  23

  Over 10 years

  4

  —

  4

  Life

  16

  1

  17

  Total four years or over

  147

  10

  157

  Grand total

  196

  22

  218

  Average sentence length in months

  61.9

  46.3

  60.2

  1 Number of persons sentenced

  "Secure Borders, Safe Haven"
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he has conformed to Criterion 6 of Cabinet Office guidelines on written consultations in relation to his consultation on the White Paper, "Secure Borders, Safe Haven"; and if he will make a statement. [55401]

  Angela Eagle
  Responses from organisations to the White Paper 'Secure Borders, Safe Haven' have been placed in the Library. We are acknowledging all responses and welcome the many constructive arid detailed comments received. The Government are setting out clearly their decisions on those areas which require legislative change through the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill which is currently before Parliament. Comments on issues which do not require legislative change are being considered as part of policy development in those areas.

  Exclusion Orders
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons individuals are subject to exclusion orders. [55483]

  Angela Eagle
  The Secretary of State can personally direct that a person is excluded from the United Kingdom if it is deemed that their presence here is not conducive to the public good. This will usually be on the grounds of national security, public order or foreign relations with another country, although there is no restriction on that power.

  Linguistic Tests
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what linguistic tests are made of those claiming asylum to verify their country of origin; and if he will make a statement. [55443]

  Angela Eagle
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard) on 30 October 2001,Official Report, column 617W.

  Yarl's Wood
  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether(a) he, (b) a Minister and (c) an official from his Department will attend the select committee inquiry of the Bedfordshire county council into the Yarl's Wood fire; and if he will make a statement. [55983]

  Angela Eagle
  I can confirm that a senior Home Office official will attend the Bedfordshire county council inquiry.

  Alistair Burt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department's inquiry into the incident at Yarl's Wood will convene; what its terms of reference will be; whether it will be held in public; and if he will make a statement. [55978]

  Angela Eagle
  The inquiry being conducted by Stephen Moore into the events at Yarl's Wood convened in February 2002 and is ongoing. The terms of reference for the inquiry are to inquire into the events at Yarl's Wood removal centre on the night of 14–15 February 2002 and their causes and to make recommendations designed to minimise the risk of recurrence on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate custodial estate in relation to contracts and agreements with service providers, the operation of removal centres, building design and construction, and any other matters considered relevant.

  The inquiry will take full account of the inquiries being undertaken by Bedfordshire police, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Group 4, and will be conducted in a way which does not impede any criminal investigation. In addition, the inquiry will have available expert advice from Her Majesty's Prison Service on matters to do with the above matters.

  Although not a public inquiry, observations and concerns may be expressed direct to Stephen Moore. The findings of the inquiry will, however, be published.

  Experience Corps
  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the consents he has given to the Experience Corps under the terms of Paragraph 17 of the Financial Agreement. [56337]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The number of consents given under Paragraph 17 in the Financial Agreement will be covered in the Experience Corps Company's annual report, which it is obliged to produce and publish no later than 30 September of each financial year.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new volunteers were recruited by the Experience Corps in the year to 31 March. [56339]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The Experience Corps Company is obliged to produce and publish an annual report, which includes audited accounts, no later than 30 September of each financial year.

  The report will give a description of the past year's activities assessed against the objectives and targets in Annexe 2 of the Financial Agreement and the annual business plan along with any other supporting material to substantiate the assessment.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the Experience Corp's annual business plan for 2001–02. [56341]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The Experience Corps business plan for 2001–02 will be discussed and commented against in its annual report.

  The Experience Corps Company is obliged to produce and publish an annual report, which includes audited accounts, no later than 30 September of each financial year.

  A copy of the report will be placed in the Library on publication.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalent animators were recruited by the Experience Corps by 31 March. [56338]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The Experience Corps Company is obliged to produce and publish an annual report, which includes audited accounts, no later than 30 September of each financial year.

  The report will give a description of the past year's activities assessed against the objectives and targets in Annexe 2 of the Financial Agreement and the annual business plan along with any other supporting material to substantiate the assessment.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to publish the statement of actual expenditure incurred by the Experience Corps. [56340]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: Any statement of expenditure, whether for a company or charity, only becomes a matter of public record once it has been audited.
  80W
  The Experience Corps Company is obliged to produce and publish an annual report, which includes audited accounts, no later than 30 September of each financial year.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department agreed with the Experience Corps its annual business plan for 2002–03; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [56342]

  Angela Eagle
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The annual business plan for 2002–03 was agreed with the Home Office in March 2002.

  The Experience Corps business plan for 2002–03 will be discussed and commented against in its annual report. The Experience Corps Company is obliged to produce and publish an annual report, which includes audited accounts, no later than 30 September of each financial year.

  A copy of the report will be placed in the Library on publication.

  Hepatitis C
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence he collates as to the incidence of Hepatitis C and treatment programmes for that condition within the prison population. [56334]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: Among health care data regularly submitted by Prison Service establishments to the Prison Health Policy Unit are the number of new cases of Hepatitis C diagnosed each month and the number of prisoners known to be suffering from Hepatitis C at the end of each month. The Prison Health Policy Unit has recently entered into a new contract with the Prison Health Laboratory Service for a communicable disease data collection and monitoring service.

  Information about the number of prisoners receiving treatment for hepatitis C is not collated centrally. However, unless their time in custody is so short as to make it impractical, prisoners who are diagnosed with Hepatitis C are referred to national health service specialists for further assessment and treatment, as clinically appropriate.

  Women Prisoners
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women with young children were serving a prison sentence in England and Wales and had their child with them on 1 May. [56297]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Prison Service provides accommodation for babies to remain with their mothers in four prisons: Askham Grange, Holloway, New Hall and Styal. There are 68 places in total and occupancy figures are collected each Monday. On 29 April 2002, 60 of these places were in use.

  Departmental Staff (Scotland)
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of(a) Civil Service, (b) executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public body jobs under the remit of his Department are located in Scotland; and how many of each have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997. [56301]
  81W
  Angela Eagle
  Home Office staff figures in each region and nation of the United Kingdom are published in "Civil Services Statistics" year on year and placed in the Library.

  As at 14 May 2002 the numbers and percentage of Home Office staff in Scotland are set out in the table:

  Area

  Staff in Scotland

  All

  Proportion1

  (a) Core Home Office

  144

  18,542

  0.77

  (b) Executive Agencies2

  281

  3,138

  8.9

  (c) NDPBs3

  46

  243

  18.9

  1 Percentage

  2 United Kingdom Passport and Criminal Agency

  3 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority; Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel

  Maladministration
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many findings there have been of maladministration by ombudsmen with responsibility for agencies under the remit of his Department since 1997. [56302]

  Angela Eagle
  Information on the handling of complaints is set out in tabular form by the Parliamentary Ombudsman each year as an attachment to his Annual Report. For those complaints where there was evidence of maladministration which warranted a full investigation, the table sets out how many complaints were upheld as being fully or partially justified. Copies of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen's Annual Report for the period 1997–98 to 2000–01 inclusive can be viewed in the Library, or on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website at www.ombudsman.org.uk/publications.

  Rural Awareness
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will have rural proofing embedded in policy-making procedures as set out in the Countryside Agency's report, "Rural Proofing in 2001–02". [54431]

  Angela Eagle
  The Government has made a firm commitment to rural proof all relevant policies and for performance to be monitored independently by the Countryside Agency. This innovative approach—described as "courageous" by the Agency's Chairman Ewen Cameron, when his first report was published on 11 April this year—applies across Government and to agencies and other Government bodies.

  The first report concludes that a great deal has been achieved since this approach was proposed in the Rural White Paper in November 2000, but that much more needs to be done to make rural proofing fully effective. The report sets out details of the checklist devised by the Countryside Agency as an appendix.

  Following the decision to implement the strong rural agenda set out in the White Paper, a number of other changes have taken place. In June 2001, the new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) came into being. For the first time, there is a Minister of State for Rural Affairs and a Director General within DEFRA backed by a team with a clear focus on rural social and economic issues and on implementation
  82W
  of the Rural White Paper. A Cabinet Sub-Committee, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for DEFRA (Mr. Meacher) has a specific focus on rural affairs. My right hon. Friend has met Ministerial colleagues across Government to discuss the challenges of delivering services in rural areas.

  The Rural Services Standard, as set out in the Rural White Paper (Our Countryside: the future (Cm4909)) sets targets for the individual services delivered by Government. It is monitored for DEFRA by the Countryside Agency, and its content is currently being reviewed.

  The Home Office reports regularly on the targets in the Rural White Paper for which it is responsible. It is currently reviewing and updating its policymakers checklist to include guidance to all staff on best practice and on cross-cutting issues to address in formulating policy on rural matters. Discussions are being held with the Countryside Agency on how they can assist the Department to develop training to support the guidance.

  Racial Equality
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2002,Official Report, column 229W, what proportion of consultees on the CRE's draft code of practice on the duty to promote racial equality responded to the consultation broken down by the major categories of consultee; and which public and voluntary sector organisations (a) were invited to and (b) participated in the CRE's promotional and consultative conferences. [56182]

  Angela Eagle
  The following table sets out the breakdown of the responses (by major category) as a proportion of the total consulted:

  Major categories

  Number of response

  Proportion of total consulted

  Central Government

  15

  0.03

  Local government

  218

  0.48

  Health

  55

  0.12

  Police/criminal justice

  24

  0.05

  Schools

  403

  0.89

  Further/higher education

  70

  0.15

  Non-departmental public bodies

  27

  0.06

  Voluntary sector

  18

  0.04

  Trade unions

  8

  0.01

  Other

  23

  0.05

  Unclassified

  113

  0.25

  With regard to the number of public and voluntary sector organisations invited to, and participating in, conferences, the exact figures are not available as the individual conference organisers retain delegate lists.

  However, I understand the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) has worked in partnership with a range of event organisers to put on over 20 conferences since December 2001, some of which were national and some of which were regional. A number of the conferences targeted all public sector organisations while others were sectoral in focus, for example health sector, criminal justice sector, education sector, local government, and police. Attendance at the conferences has varied from 50 to 200 delegates. The highest levels of participation were by representatives from the local government, health, police, criminal justice and education sectors.
  83W
  With regard to the voluntary sector, the CRE has commissioned the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and the Council for Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO) to run 26 half-day seminars on issues for the voluntary sector. The seminars target both mainstream voluntary sector organisations and ethnic minority voluntary organisations. I understand the seminars will run until June 2002.

  Dangerous Driving
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been given custodial sentences for dangerous driving in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average length of sentence given was. [56268]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information for 2000 (latest available) is given in the table.

  Number of persons given custodial sentences1 for the offence of dangerous driving2 by type of court, England and Wales, 2000

  Type of court

  Total immediate custody

  Average custodial sentence length (months)

  Magistrates court3

  675

  4.5

  Crown court

  1,063

  9.7

  All courts

  1,738

  7.7

  1 Includes unsuspended imprisonment, secure training orders, detention in a young offender institution, detention and training orders (from April 2000) and at the Crown court secs 90–92 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (PCC(S)A00) (sec 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 was repealed on 23 August 2000 and its provisions were transferred to secs 90–92 of PCC(S)A00).

  2 An offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 sec 2 as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 sec 2. Only persons for which the principal offence falls into this category are counted.

  3 Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. These data are robust enough to be included in the table.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate administrative arrangements put into place by the Criminal Records Bureau in respect of its pilot schemes affecting Stoke on Trent, including variations on date of commencement; what guidance was issued; and what compensation is available to those whose business is affected by delays in processing. [53331]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  [holding answer 2 May 2002]: Organisations which took part in the Criminal Record Bureau's (CRB) pilot phase did so on a voluntary basis. These included Stoke city council which along with others received written briefing and an informal presentation at CRB headquarters in Liverpool.

  The organisations taking part in the pilot phase were supplied with application forms to be completed whenever a police check under the (then) current arrangements was required. Police forces agreed to use these to undertake checks and then to pass them to CRB. The forms were produced especially for the pilot phase and it was made clear in all briefing that they could not be used after commencement of the live Disclosure Service.
  84W
  The pilot phase continued until the commencement of the Disclosure Service on 11 March 2002. This was an extension to the original timescale of 1 March 2002. Any person who agreed to take part in the pilot by completing a Disclosure application form supplied for that purpose would not have been able to submit it after the pilot phase had ended, but were able to continue to submit them to be received by 10 March 2002.

  CRB will consider any claims for compensation for loss of earnings caused by any delays as a result of proven errors by the CRB.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer from the Foreign Secretary of 15 January 2002,Official Report, column 129W, what progress has been made in the investigation initiated by his Department in conjunction with UK officials in Harare into the treatment of Mr. Gerald Mutekiwe. [31702]

  Angle Eagle
  I wrote to the right hon. Memeber on 18 February 2002. I apologise for the delay in responding.

  Work-related Illness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days of sick leave were taken by employees in his Department in the last year for which records are available; what proportion of those were due to work-related illness or injury; and what the cost to the Department was. [56062]

  Angela Eagle
  Information on sickness absence can be found in the annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. The most recently published figures are for the calendar year 2000 and reports that the average number of lost working days per person in the Home Office was 11.2 days.

  Information on sickness absence and compensation payments for work-related illness or injury is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  The Department has introduced new guidelines, policies and procedures with a view to meeting its target to reducing sickness absence, published in its service delivery agreements for April 2001 to March 2004.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims for work-related injury or illness were settled on behalf of the(a) police force, (b) fire service and (c) prison service in the last year for which figures are available; and what the total cost in compensation was. [56063]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information in respect of the police service and fire service is not collected centrally. For the prison service, 255 staff compensation claims for work-related injury or illness were resolved in 2000–01 at a total cost of £2,257,666.

  Better Quality Services Initiative
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the services of his
  85W
  Department have not been reviewed under the Better Quality Services initiative; and when they will be reviewed. [49471]

  Angela Eagle
  The Better Quality Services (BQS) programme was launched in 1998 and adopted by the Cabinet Office in the Modernising Government White Paper of 1999 as a means of delivering continuous improvements in the quality and effectiveness of Government activities and services. It required all Government Departments to review every activity and service over a five-year period starting in October 1999.

  The scheme covered all activities in Departments, agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies, and is similar in remit to the Best Value programme in local government. Reviews of the departmental activities and services under the scheme started in April 2000 and have covered the following areas: Information Technology Systems, National Probation Service Estates, and the Prison Service (Security Group. Prison Shops, Prison Industry and Farms Group, Sentencing Management Group and six prisons).

  Within the Department's service delivery agreement, we have a target to review 60 per cent. of its business by March 2003 and to review 100 per cent. by March 2004. We will use BQs and other management tools to conduct the reviews.

  Prison Service
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to address discontent within the Prison Service in(a) Boston and Skegness and (b) the rest of England and Wales. [56200]

  Beverley Hughes
  I have not been informed of discontent among the Prison Service in Boston and Skegness. If the hon. Member can be more specific about any complaint, I will be pleased to answer him as fully as possible.

  Airguns
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions the Government have reached with regard to the report from the Firearms Consultative Committee which it received earlier this year with particular reference to airguns. [56105]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The Government welcome the Firearms Consultative Committee's advice on how the misuse of air weapons might be dealt with, and in particular their proposals for a programme of education on the safe and responsible handling of these weapons. We will be considering their recommendations in conjunction with any other approaches which may be helpful in tackling this problem, including possible use of antisocial behaviour orders to prevent use of airguns by unsuitable persons.

  HMP Albany
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2002,Official Report, column 239W, when the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight was notified of proposals for additional places of prison accommodation at HMP Albany. [56242]
  86W
  Beverley Hughes
  The Director General of the Prison Service wrote to the hon. Member about these proposals on 14 May 2002. (His letter explains the need for additional places at Albany and gives details of the accommodation to be provided.)

  Police Complaints Authority
  Jim Dobbin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further appointments he has made to the Police Complaints Authority. [58072]

  Mr. Denham
  I have recently appointed Mrs. Wendy Towers to the position of second deputy chair of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). Her appointment took effect on 1 May 2002.

  Wendy Towers has served as a member of the PCA since 2000, with responsibility for both supervision and misconduct aspects of the PCA's work. She was previously a full-time member of the Parole Board for six years, and prior to that worked in the private sector as a human resources consultant and personnel director.

  Passports
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken was between(a) approval of visa applications and (b) the subsequent issue of a decision and the return of passports to applicants by the ICD in (i) April 2001 and (ii) April 2002; and if he will make a statement. [57123]

  Angela Eagle
  Once an application has been granted, it is normally despatched by first class recorded delivery. Depending on Post Office delivery it should normally take one to two days after despatch to be received. The other requested information is not centrally recorded.

TREASURY

  EU Nationals (Employment)
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of EU nationals (excluding UK passport holders) who are permanently employed in the UK. [57302]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Peter Duncan, dated 20 May 2002:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the number of EU nationals who are permanently employed in the UK.
  In the three month period ending February 2002, there were an estimated 441,000 non-UK EU Nationals, with both a place of residence and a place of work in the UK, who were either self-employed or employed in permanent jobs.
  This estimate is from the Labour Force Survey and is not seasonally adjusted.

  Entertainment Costs
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list for each of the last five years the total
  87W
  amount of money spent by Ministers in his Department on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for official entertainment purposes; [47211]

  (2) how much was spent by departmental special advisers on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for entertainment purposes in each of the last five years. [46837]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answers 10 April 2002]: The information is not held in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Gold Sales
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much gold has been sold by the Bank of England since he directed the bank to sell gold; on what dates it was sold: and what price was secured for each transaction. [57032]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government has sold 395 tonnes of gold as part of the restructuring of the United Kingdom's foreign currency reserves announced in May 1999. The gold sales programme was completed following the last auction in March 2002.

  The date of, the amount of gold sold and the allotment price at each of the 17 gold auctions is set out in the table.

  Date

  Amount sold (Ounces)

  Allotment price ($/Ounce)

  6 July 1999

  804,000

  261.20

  21 September 1999

  804,000

  255.75

  29 November 1999

  804,000

  293.50

  25 January 2000

  804,400

  289.50

  21 March 2000

  804,400

  285.25

  23 May 2000

  803,600

  275.25

  12 July 2000

  804,000

  279.75

  19 September 2000

  803,600

  270.60

  7 November 2000

  803,600

  264.30

  23 January 2001

  803,600

  268.00

  14 March 2001

  803,600

  266.00

  15 May 2001

  644,400

  268.00

  11 July 2001

  643,600

  267.25

  12 September 2001

  644,400

  280.00

  27 November 2001

  644,400

  273.50

  16 January 2002

  643,600

  283.50

  5 March 2002

  644,400

  296.50

  Total/average price

  12,707,600

  274.95

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the key operating divisions of HM Customs and Excise are; and how many full-time equivalent staff are engaged in each. [57542]

  Mr. Boateng
  The key operating divisions of HM Customs and Excise are their three businesses:

  Business Services and Taxes
  Full-time equivalent staff in post—10,979 on 1 May 2002

  Law Enforcement
  Full-time equivalent staff in post—7,531 on 1 May 2002

  Support Services
  Full-time equivalent staff in post—3,776 on I May 2002.
  88W
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the responsibilities(a) added to and (b) removed from HM Customs and Excise since 1997. [57541]

  Mr. Boateng
  (a) Responsibilities added:
  Money Laundering Regulations—responsibility as regulators for Money Service Businesses (MSBs).
  Climate Change Levy—administration 1 April 2001.
  Aggregates Levy—administration 1 April 2002.

  (b) Responsibilities removed:

  None.

  Work-related Illness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for work-related illness were settled by his Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was in compensation. [56087]

  Ruth Kelly
  No claims were made for work-related illness in 2001. The Treasury has a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for all employees and is committed to minimising the number of working days lost generally due to work-related injuries and illness.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days of sick leave were taken by employees in his Department in the last year for which records are available; what proportion of those were due to work-related illness or injury; and what the cost was to the Department. [56089]

  Ruth Kelly
  The latest published information on sick absence covering 2000 is contained in the annual report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" published by the Cabinet Office. That report shows an average number of working days sickness absence per staff year of 9.9 days for non-industrial civil servants. The Treasury figure was 3.9 days per staff year. Information on the extent to which those figures are purely work-related and on costs are not held and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. The Treasury has a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for all employees and is committed to minimising the number of working days lost generally due to work-related injuries and illness.

  Vehicle Excise Duty
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from(a) motorists and (b) motoring organisations in relation to motorists who did not qualify for VED rebate because their VED was purchased before the qualifying date of 1 November 2000. [57275]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government extended the reduced rate of VED following consultation with motoring organisations who were generally supportive of the move.

  Following its introduction the Government have received representations from motorists on a wide range of issues including the extension of this scheme, which ensured that an additional five million cars attracted the reduced rate of VED.

  Emissions
  Mr. Peter Ainsworth
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of reductions in emissions of(a) carbon dioxide, (b) methane, (c) nitrous oxide, (d) hydrofluorocarbons, (e) perfluorocarbons and (f) sulphur hexafluoride which are attributable to the climate change levy. [57446]

  Mr. Boateng
  The most recent estimate of the carbon emission savings attributable to the Climate Change Levy is published in EFSR 2002 (Table 7.2, page 142). These emission savings related solely to carbon dioxide. No estimate has been made of reductions in the other five greenhouse gases.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on the promotion of credit unions in(a) Scotland and (b) England and Wales by (i) central and (ii) local government since 1979. [57166]

  Ruth Kelly
  This information is not readily available. However, research by Liverpool John Moores University in 1999 estimated that total public investment in credit unions in Britain could be in the range of £15–20 million per annum.

  Customs Officers
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been made about the behaviour of customs officers in each of the last five years; how many have been(a) upheld and (b) referred to the independent adjudicator; and what proportion of referrals have been upheld by the adjudicator. [49773]

  Mr. Boateng
  Figures for the total number of complaints against HM Customs and Excise for the financial years 1997–98 to 1999–2000 are contained in the Department's annual reports for those years. The total number of complaints against HM Customs and Excise in 2000–01 was 10,092. The complaints upheld for the financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01 is as follows:

  Year

  Percentage

  1997–98

  45

  1998–99

  48

  1999–2000

  51

  2000–01

  70

  Note

  Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

  Figures for the number of complaints against HM Customs and Excise received by the Adjudicator and the number upheld are published in the Adjudicator's annual report.

  Maladministration
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many findings there have been of maladministration by ombudsmen with responsibility for agencies under the remit of his Department since 1997. [56300]

  Ruth Kelly
  Information on the handling of complaints is set out in tabular form by the parliamentary ombudsman each year as an attachment to his annual report. For 90W
  those complaints where there was evidence of maladministration which warranted a full investigation, the table sets out how many complaints were upheld as being fully or partially justified. Copies of the parliamentary ombudsman's annual reports for the period 1997–98 to 2000–01 inclusive can be viewed in the House Library, or on the parliamentary ombudsman's website at www.dbmudsman.org.uk.

  Global New Deal
  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the Treasury will publish annual projections of market borrowing in relation to global economic growth under the Global New Deal; [56401]

  (2) when the Government expect to reach 0.4 per cent. ODA/GNI as proposed in the Global New Deal; [56395]

  (3) what the relationship will be between the Global New Deal and the usual channels of ODA; [56396]

  (4) what, under the Global New Deal, will be the lending conditions; when these will be published; and what representations he has made to DAC donors on the lending conditions in particular to the US and Japan; [56402]

  (5) what role the (a) Bretton Woods Institutions and (b) UN Statistical Office take on assessing progress towards the MDGS in relation to the Global New Deal; [56405]

  (6) if the Global Health Deal will focus on specific MDGs; [56398]

  (7) if the Global New Deal will focus resources on those developing countries struggling most to meet the MDGs; [56399]

  (8) how ODA flows will be controlled after 2015 for sub-Saharan African countries once the Global New Deal fund expires; [56400]

  (9) what the accountability will be of the Global New Deal's dispersal of the ODA in respect of (a) developed countries' institutions and (b) developing countries' Governments in receipt of financial aid; [56403]

  (10) if the Global New Deal will propose that ODA from all DAC donors below 0.4 per cent. ODA/GNI will be used to finance the fund. [56397]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government remain focused on its long-term goal of helping to tackle global poverty and achieve the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These include halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty, providing universal access to primary education, reducing child and maternal mortality and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other fatal diseases.

  To advance these goals the Government are promoting a significant increase in development aid from all donor countries and international institutions to build capacity and address the long-term causes of poverty in the poorest countries. To tackle global poverty the Chancellor has proposed a Global New Deal as a modern Marshall plan for the developing world. As part of the Global New Deal the Government have proposed an international development trust fund to pool contributions and build on the work of the World bank, IMF and the Regional Development banks.
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  However, creating new channels for distributing aid would impose unnecessary costs and burdens on developing countries. We therefore believe that any additional aid from the international development trust fund should be distributed in a balanced way through existing bilateral, multilateral and civil society mechanisms used in supporting poverty reduction strategies in developing countries.

  No specific target for ratio of overseas development assistance (ODA) to gross national income (GNI) has been proposed as part of the Global New Deal. However, the UK is committed to the target of raising ODA to 0.7 per cent. of national income, and has increased the budget for the Department for International Development by 45 per cent. in real terms between 1997–98 and 2003–04. Moreover, we have made clear that we will significantly raise the amount of our aid, and raise its share of national income, in our next spending round covering the years up to 2005–06.

  There are no plans to propose that ODA from all Development Assistance Committee (DAC) donors below 0.4 per cent. of GNI is used to finance an international development trust fund. However, at the meeting of European Finance Ministers on 5 March 2002 the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed that the European Union (EU) should commit to reach an ODA/GNI ratio of 0.39 per cent. by 2006. At the EU Council Meeting in Barcelona on 15–16 March 2002, just before the United Nations conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, EU members committed to increase their collective ODA to 0.39 per cent. of GNI by 2006 as a step towards the 0.7 per cent. target. Within this, all member states would strive to attain at least 0.33 per cent. by 2006, with other member states above that ratio maintaining or improving their levels of aid.

  Clearly the international community will need to debate how any additional aid flows are used to greatest effect in order to help developing countries tackle global poverty and achieve the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To that end the UK has consistently argued that resources should be focused on the poorest countries.

  In terms of the prospective accountability of developing countries receiving assistance from such a fund a major step forward has been the establishment of the poverty reduction strategy process. It includes consulting widely with civil society and producing a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) as a framework for IMF, World bank and other donor support. These PRSP's must be clearly linked to the MDGs and provide a budgetary framework to allocate Government revenue, aid and debt relief so that the impact on poverty reduction is maximised.

  The Government believe that any lending conditions must be set so that we never return to a situation where countries build up unsustainable burdens of debt. So the very poorest and most vulnerable countries should receive investment help primarily in the form of grants to partner their soft IDA loans and all other low-income countries should be offered interest-free loans. Assistance to middle-income countries should be given via interest-reduced loans conditional upon implementing agreed poverty reduction strategies and engaging civil society.
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  The extent to which an international development trust fund might have to leverage funds from international financial markets would depend on a wide range of factors, including donor contributions, interest rates, the total amount disbursed and the proportions and terms of any grants and loans within that total. If such a fund were to cease dispensing ODA in 2015 the total volume of ODA would then depend on other bilateral and multilateral ODA flows at that time.

  The Government have not proposed a separate Global Health Deal but regards achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals in all developing countries as essential to combating global poverty.

  Following the 2000 United Nations Millennium Summit, the United Nations is charged with the task of reporting on progress towards the millennium development goals at the global and country levels, coordinated by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat and UNDP, respectively. Reporting is based on two principles:

  1. Close consultation and collaboration with all relevant institutions, including the United Nations Development Group (including WHO and UNCTAD), other United Nations departments, funds, programmes and specialized agencies, the World bank, IMF and OECD, and regional groupings and experts; and

  2. The use of nationally owned poverty reduction strategies, as reported in poverty reduction strategy papers, United Nations common country assessments and national human development reports, which emphasise a consultative process among the development partners.

  An annual report is to be submitted by the UN that will chart progress, made or not made, in fulfilling the Millennium commitments, and highlight particular themes of special significance for that year. Every five years a comprehensive progress report will be submitted.

  Beer Duty
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his statement of 17 April 2002,Official Report, column 584, on the decrease in beer duty for smaller brewers, what plans he has to monitor the effect on consumer prices. [56506]

  Mr. Boateng
  The impact of all Budget measures is closely monitored.

  European Union
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1997,(a) contributions and (b) receipts between each member state and the European Community, and figures relating thereto, as were published in (i) the Official Report, 19 February 1997, columns 573–76W and (ii) those of 17 December 1998, Official Report, columns 757–60W. [56635]

  Ruth Kelly
  Updated versions of the tables provided on 17 December 1998 are as follows. Information relating to UK gross contributions to, abatement and public sector receipts from the EC Budget from 1996 to 2000, broken down by the various elements asked for on 19 February 1997, in current prices, can be found in Table 3 of the White Paper, European Community Finances (Cm 5173).
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  Table 1—Net contributions by member states 1997–2000

  euro million

  Member state

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Belgium1

  1,427.5

  1,275.5

  1,457.1

  Denmark

  192.3

  144.6

  87.8

  Germany

  10,465.7

  11,359.0

  11,708.4

  Greece

  -4,566.3

  -3,640.9

  -4,145.2

  Spain

  -6,482.6

  -6,656.1

  -4,315.1

  France

  1,718.3

  1,164.4

  2,407.6

  Ireland

  -2,134.8

  -1,822.6

  -1,524.2

  Italy

  2,110.6

  1,751.7

  289.7

  Luxembourg1

  133.7

  114.0

  105.4

  Netherlands

  3,046.6

  3,358.0

  3,303.1

  Austria

  822.4

  836.0

  721.7

  Portugal

  -2,824.4

  -2,677.4

  -1,934.6

  Finland

  228.6

  310.1

  -137.9

  Sweden

  1,122.5

  1,226.9

  1,469.1

  UK

  5,659.0

  5,290.0

  6,181.2

  1 A negative figure indicates the member state is a net recipient. The table above has been compiled from the annual reports of the European Court of Auditors and the European Commission's publication, Allocation of 2000 EU Operating Expenditure by Member State. These reports do not attribute all EC spending between members states and do not provide a full picture of net contributions. In particular, the effects of administration spending are understated. Most EC administration spending is disbursed in Belgium and Luxembourg. The figures for these countries must therefore be treated with considerable caution.

  Source:

  Court of Auditors Reports and European Commission publication, Allocation of 2000 Operating Expenditure by Member State.

  Table 2–Percentage of member states GDP accounted for by the net contribution or receipt

  Member state

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Belgium*

  0.64

  0.55

  0.59

  Denmark

  0.12

  0.09

  0.05

  Germany

  0.54

  0.57

  0.58

  Greece

  -4.21

  -3.11

  -3.41

  Spain

  -1.24

  -1.18

  -0.71

  France

  0.13

  0.09

  0.17

  Ireland

  -2.77

  -2.08

  -1.48

  Italy

  0.20

  0.16

  0.02

  Luxembourg*

  0.82

  0.63

  0.51

  Netherlands

  0.87

  0.90

  0.82

  Austria

  0.44

  0.42

  0.35

  Portugal

  -2.83

  -2.50

  -1.70

  Finland

  0.20

  0.26

  -0.10

  Sweden

  0.53

  0.54

  0.60

  UK

  0.45

  0.39

  0.40

  * See note in Table 1 regarding Belgium and Luxembourg net contribution.

  Note:

  A negative figure indicates the member state is a net recipient.

  Source:

  GDP figures taken from European Commission publication:

  European Economy No. 72 (2002).

  Net contributions as in Table 1.

  Table 3—Net contribution per capita by member state

  £ sterling

  Member state

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Belgium*

  93.9

  82.1

  86.6

  Denmark

  24.4

  17.9

  10.0

  Germany

  85.7

  91.1

  86.9

  Greece

  -291.5

  -227.6

  -239.6

  Spain

  -110.5

  -111.2

  -66.6

  France

  19.1

  12.6

  24.1

  Ireland

  -386.8

  -320.3

  -245.3

  Italy

  24.6

  20.0

  3.1

  Luxembourg*

  210.4

  173.5

  146.3

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  Table 3—Net contribution per capita by member state

  £sterling

  Member state

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Netherlands

  130.2

  139.8

  126.5

  Austria

  68.3

  68.0

  54.2

  Portugal

  -190.2

  -176.4

  -117.8

  Finland

  29.8

  39.5

  -16.2

  Sweden

  85.1

  91.2

  100.9

  UK

  64.1

  58.5

  63.1

  * See note in Table 1 regarding Belgium and Luxembourg net contribution.

  Note:

  A negative figure indicates the member state is a net recipient.

  Source:

  Population figures taken from European Commission publication:

  European Economy No. 72 (2002).

  Conversion to £ sterling using the annual average £/€exchange rate.

  Net contributions as in Table 1.

  Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the European Securities Committee is; 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. [56765]

  Ruth Kelly
  The role and responsibilities of the European Securities Committee are set out in the resolution of the European Council on more effective securities market regulation in the European Union of 23 March 2001 and Commission Decision COM 2001/1493.

  Since the start of May 2001 the European Securities Committee has met five times. Each member state has appointed a representative and alternate to the Committee. Officials from HM Treasury represent the UK.

  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 European Securities Committee include: implementing the Lamfalussy process; post-Enron issues; and the activities of the Committee of European Securities Regulators.

  The regular EU scrutiny process ensures transparency to Parliament; where the Commission issues a depositable text as a result of the Committee's work, the document along with an Explanatory Memorandum are examined by the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on value added tax 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. [56792]

  Mr. Boateng
  The legal base of the Advisory Committee on value added tax is set out in Article 29 of the Sixth VAT Directive (EC Directive 77/388). The Committee has a mandate to discuss any questions relating to the application of the Directive.
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  Since the beginning of May 2001 the Committee has met on three occasions.

  The UK is normally represented by one or two officials from HM Customs and Excise.

  Travel expenses for one official are reimbursed by the Commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 217.95 euro (£134.70).

  Items under consideration concern any questions on the application of the Community provisions on value added tax.

  Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process.

  Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of the committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (COM (2001)783) Final.

  As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agenda and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Committee on Excise Duties 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. [56716]

  Mr. Boateng
  The legal base of the Excise Committee is set out in Article 24 of Council directive 92/12/EEC on the general arrangements for products subject to excise duty and on the holding, movement and monitoring of such products.

  The committee has met twice since May 2001.

  The UK is normally represented by two officials of HM Customs and Excise.

  Travel expenses for one official are reimbursed by the Commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 217.95 euro (£134.70).

  Items under consideration concern interpretation and application of the EC provisions on excise duties and procedures.

  Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process.

  Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line
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  with Council decision 1999/468/EEC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of the committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com(2001)783 Final).

  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Customs 2002 Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [56789]

  Mr. Boateng
  The legal base for the Customs 2002 committee is set out in Council decision 105/2000/EC. It has a mandate to manage the application of the Customs 2002 programme.

  The committee has met twice in the last 12 months.

  Representation is normally two officials from HM Customs and Excise.

  Travel expenses for one official are reimbursed by the Commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 217.95 euro (£134.70).

  Items under consideration at present are the evaluation of the current programme, which ends in December this year, and the establishment on a replacement Customs 2007 programme.

  Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process.

  Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of the committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (COM(2001)783) Final.

  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agenda and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the mandate of the committee on administrative co-operation in the field of indirect taxation, including the Fiscalis programme (SCAC), and considering anti-fraud (SCAF) measures is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what
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  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; [56794]

  (2) what the mandate of the committee on administrative co-operation in the field of indirect taxation, including the Fiscalis programme (SCAC), and considering information technology, 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; [56715]

  (3) what the mandate of the committee on administrative co-operation in the field of indirect taxation, including the Fiscalis programme (SCACF), and considering training measures, 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. [56714]

  Mr. Boateng
  The legal base for the Standing Committee on Administrative Co-operation (SCAC) is set out in Article 10 of Regulation 218/93. It also operates as the committee referred to in Article 9 of Council Directive 77/799/EEC and in Article 11 of Decision 888/98/EC.

  The committee has the authority to establish sub-committees and working parties to assist it with its work. Three sub-committees have been established:
  SCAT, which deals with training issues such as developing standards for indirect tax audits and computer audits;
  SCAF, which discusses and develops anti-fraud measures; and
  SCIT, which advises on technical issues in respect of EU information exchange in the indirect tax area.
  The main committee has met twice since the end of May 2001 and each of the subcommittees between one and three occasions.

  Depending on the agenda, the UK is represented by either one or two officials from HM Customs and Excise.

  Travel expenses for one official are reimbursed by the commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 217.95 euro (£134.70).

  Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process.

  Together with member states, the commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this decision, the commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of the committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (COM(2001)783) Final.
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  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agenda and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Contact Committee on certain schemes for collective investment in securities 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. [56764]

  Ruth Kelly
  The role and responsibilities of the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) Contact Committee are set out in Article 53 of Council Directive 85/611/EEC.

  Since the start of May 2001, the UCITS Contact Committee has met on two occasions. In accordance with Article 53 of Council Directive 85/611/EEC, member states each appoint representatives to the Committee; the UK is represented by officials from HM Treasury and the Financial Services Authority.

  The information regarding the annual cost of the Committee's work to public finds can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The items currently under consideration by the UCITS Contact Committee are harmonised implementation of Directives 2001/107/EC and 2001/108/EC amending Directive 85/611/EEC.

  The regular EU scrutiny process ensures transparency to Parliament; where the Commission issues a depositable text as a result of the Committee's work the document along with an Explanatory Memorandum are examined by the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Insurance Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [56750]

  Ruth Kelly
  The role and responsibilities of the Insurance Committee are set out in Council Directive 91/675/EEC. While the Committee has comitology powers these have never been used to date.

  Since the start of May 2001, the Insurance Committee has met on two occasions. In accordance with Article 1 of Council Directive 91/675/EEC, member states each appoint representatives to the Committee: the UK is represented by an official from HM Treasury and an official from the Financial Services Authority.

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

  The items considered at the last meeting of the Insurance Committee in April 2002 included reinsurance supervision; issues relating to financial conglomerates, insurance groups and credit risks; terrorism; environmental liability; and enlargement. The Committee also considered its own rules of procedure, and the

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  application of the new rules on public access to documents under Regulation (EC) 1049/2001. The regular EU scrutiny process ensures transparency to Parliament; where the Commission issues a depositable text as a result of the Committee's work, the document along with an Explanatory Memoranda are examined by the Scrutiny Committees.

  Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final).

  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Committee on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims 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. [56793]

  Mr. Boateng
  The legal base for the Committee on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims is set out in Article 20 of Directive 76/308 as amended by Directive 2001/44 EC. The committee may examine any matter concerning the application of this directive.

  The committee has met three times since May 2001.

  The UK is typically represented by two officials of the Revenue Departments.

  Travel expenses for two officials are reimbursed by the Commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 217.95 euro (£134.70).

  The main item under discussion is the implementation of the revised Mutual Assistance for the Recovery of Debts Directive.

  Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process.

  Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February (Com(2001)783 Final).
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  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with customs valuation 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; [56773]

  (2) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with customs procedures with economic impact 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; [56775]

  (3) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with duty free arrangements 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; [56783]

  (4) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee on the recovery of claims 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; [56786]

  (5) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with recovery of claims 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; [56772]

  (6) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with customs warehouses and free zones 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; [56774]

  (7) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with general customs rules 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; [56771]
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  (8) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with counterfeit and pirated goods 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; [56776]

  (9) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with tariff and statistical nomenclature 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; [56784]

  (10) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with the movement of air or sea passengers' baggage (technical problems) 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; [56779]

  (11) what the mandate of the Customs Code Committee dealing with transit 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. [56780]

  Mr. Boateng
  The legal basis for all sections of the Customs Code Committee is set out in Article 247 of the Community Customs Code (Council Regulation EEC 2913/92). The mandate of the committee is to examine any questions relating to the implementation of this regulation.

  The following table shows the frequency of meetings for all sections of the Customs Code Committee.

  Name of section1

  Meetings in last year

  Tariff Quotas

  3

  Customs Warehouses and Free Zones

  12

  Duty Free Arrangements

  1

  Customs Valuation

  7

  Customs Procedures with Economic Impact

  7

  General Rules

  2

  Counterfeit and Pirating

  4

  Tariff and Statistical

  24

  Transit

  12

  Movements of Air and Sea passengers

  2—

  1 There is no such section of the Custom Code Committee dealing with recovery of claims.

  2 No meetings.

  The UK is normally represented by one official from HM Customs and Excise.Travel expenses for one official are reimbursed by the Commission. The usual cost of overnight accommodation and subsistence per day per official is 217.95 euro (£134.70).

  Items considered by the sections of the committee all relate to the implementation, interpretation and application of Community Customs Code.
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  Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU process. EC documents which fall within the Scrutiny Terms of Reference are deposited with Parliament along with an Explanatory Memorandum for examination by the Scrutiny Committees.

  Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com(2001)783 Final).

  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Banking Advisory Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56748]

  Ruth Kelly
  The role and responsibilities of the Banking Advisory Committee are set out in Title VI of Council Directive 2000/12/EC. While the Committee does have comitology powers these have not been exercised for some years.

  Since the start of May 2001 the Banking Advisory Committee has met on four occasions. In accordance with Article 57 of Council Directive 2000/12/EC, member states each appoint representatives to the Committee: the UK is represented by an official from HM Treasury and two officials from the Financial Services Authority.

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

  The items considered at the last meeting of the Banking Advisory Committee in March 2002 included issues relating to the work of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision; Bank accounting and auditing; accession countries (enlargement) and financial stability. The Committee also considered its own internal rules including the application of the new regulation on public access to documents under Regulation (EC) 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001, and the comitology function of the Committee.

  The regular EU Scrutiny process ensures transparency to Parliament; where the Commission issues a depositable text as a result of the Committee's work, the document along with an Explanatory Memorandum are examined by the Scrutiny Committees.

  Together with members states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line

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  with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com(2001) 783 Final. As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Gender Pay Gap
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average gap between men's and women's pay is in Bolton. [57170]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Brian Iddon, dated 20 May 2002:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the average gap between men's and women's pay in Bolton. (57170)
  The New Earnings Survey (NES) provides earnings data for Great Britain for full-time employees on adult rates of pay. In April 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, the average hourly earnings in Bolton were £9.36 for men and £8.98 for women.

  Taxation (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the estimated amounts of tax revenue attributed to Northern Ireland in each of the last 20 years, broken down by each principal category of(a) income tax, (b) corporation tax, (c) value added tax, (d) national insurance, (e) excise duties, (f) inheritance tax and (g) other. [57153]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conventions and methods are used for calculating the Northern Ireland attributed share of UK taxes. [57152]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  With the advent of devolution in Northern Ireland in December 999, Northern Ireland's attributed share of United Kingdom taxes is no longer calculated for the purposes of determining Exchequer funding to the Northern Ireland Consolidated Fund. Instead, the Northern Ireland Executive receives block grants in accordance with Section 58 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

  Finance Bill
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if statutory instruments under clause 19 of the Finance Bill will be subject to the affirmative procedure. [57339]
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  Mr. Boateng
  Clause 19 provides that Schedule 5 to the Bill shall have effect. Under the provisions of Schedule 5, affirmative resolutions will be required where regulations are to be made:requiring a supplement to be payable (where not otherwise payable) when a licence expires and is not renewed before the end of a specified period;
  as to the time at which a supplement is payable (where payable earlier than it would otherwise be payable) and by whom it is payable (where payable by a person who would not otherwise have to pay it);
  to increase the amount of a supplement (which may vary according to the period between expiry of a licence and renewal of payment of the supplement.

  Rural Policy
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason no information relating to the banking regulations was passed to the Countryside Agency for its Rural Proofing report; and if he will make a statement. [57460]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury was happy to work with the Countryside Agency to produce its Rural Proofing report, and provided relevant information on how the Treasury had considered the rural dimension on new policies, where that did not pre-empt policy in the process of development. The Treasury takes Rural Proofing very seriously and has appointed a full-time secondee from the Countryside Agency to rural proof the 2002 Spending Review. That commitment is well demonstrated in the area of banking, where the "Universal Bank", a project on which the Treasury has been closely involved, is planned to make bank accounts accessible to all at post office counters by April 2003. This will be of particular benefit to those living in rural areas, where post offices are far more numerous thank bank branches: 93.5 per cent. of households in rural England live within 2 km of a post office.

  Yaba
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what weight of the drug yaba was seized by Government officials last year in the UK; [57688]

  (2) what steps he is taking to tackle illegal imports of the drug yaba into the UK. [57689]

  Mr. Boateng
  HM Customs and Excise is responsible for combating illegal importations of controlled drugs. Customs undertake enforcement action at the UK frontier by seizing all prohibited drugs found. They also prosecute offenders through the courts.

  Yaba is a street term of methyl-amphetamine, a Class B synthetic drug. 34 kilos of methyl-amphetamine were seized by UK police and Customs during the calendar year 2001.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has asked his officials to conduct assessments on the five economic tests for membership of the euro. [57852]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 330W.
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  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the economic models through which the five economic tests will be assessed. [57885]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 7 February 2002,Official Report, column 1144W.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those(a) advisers and (b) departments within the Treasury, that will be responsible for analysing the five economic tests on the Euro; what outside experts will be consulted; and if he will make a statement. [57857]

  Ruth Kelly
  The assessment has not yet started, but the necessary preliminary analysis—technical work that is necessary to allow us to undertake the assessment within two years as promised—is under way. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor) on 25 March 2002,Official Report, column 755W.

  European Council Decisions
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying Council Regulation 134/2002, on minimum reserves of the European central bank. [57909]

  Ruth Kelly
  Council Regulation (EC) 134/2002 amends Council Regulation (EC) 2351/98, on the application of minimum reserves by the European central bank, by increasing the period available to the ECB Governing Council to review decisions by the ECB executive board to impose sanctions for non-compliance with minimum reserve requirements.

  Neither Regulation 134/2002, nor Regulation 2351/98, applies to the United Kingdom.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) amount and (b) proportion of the estimated total revenue to be raised in 2003–04 from the increases in national insurance contributions on (i) employees and (ii) the self-employed announced in the Budget he estimates will be raised from individuals who have salaries below the upper earnings/profit limit. [56470]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]: The NIC changes announced in the Budget are shown in table A.1 of the April 2002 Financial Statement and Budget Report (page 154), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  The proportions of the additional NIC revenue split between those with incomes below and above the upper thresholds are estimated in the following table.

  Percentage

  Class 1 primary

  Class 4

  From individuals with earnings/profits below the UEL/UPL

  56

  40

  From individuals with earnings/profits above the UEL/UPL

  44

  60

  Taxation
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 1 May 2002,Official Report, column 880W, on taxation, what the annual income to the Inland Revenue from forward contracts was for each year since 1988; and whether those who have benefited from forward contract arrangements which have ended are paying taxation in the normal way. [55478]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 15 May 2002]: The number of cases in which agreements of this sort have applied is small. In some instances the identities of the taxpayers involved are or might in the future become public, for example in the course of court proceedings. In these circumstances, it would not be right to give details of the amounts involved, because of taxpayers' entitlement to confidentiality about levels of income and tax.

  When agreements end, tax is paid in the normal way.

  Corporation Tax
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend the reduction in corporation tax, extended to incorporated companies in the last Budget, to unincorporated businesses. [57232]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We have no plans to extend the reduction in corporation tax to unincorporated businesses. In appropriate cases the Government have introduced specific incentives which apply to all businesses. But the profits of unincorporated businesses are liable to income tax, as part of the income of their proprietor, rather than to corporation tax, and in general unincorporated businesses and companies are not directly comparable. Companies are distinct legal entities, separate from their owners, and are subject to the obligations laid down in the Companies Act. It is right that there is a system of taxation specific to them.

  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer following implementation of the Budget, what corporation tax will be payable by(a) an incorporated and (b) an unincorporated company with turnover of £99,000 and with taxable profits of £40,000. [57233]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The corporation tax payable by a company with profits of £40,000 for an accounting period ending 31 March 2003 would be £7,125 (assuming it is entitled to marginal relief from the small companies' rate but no further reliefs such as double taxation relief). Unincorporated businesses are not taxed separately from their proprietors and it is not possible to give a figure for the income tax payable as that will depend on the allowances and reliefs to which the proprietor is entitled and the extent of any other income.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) individuals and (b) enterprises have negotiated forward payment contracts with the Inland Revenue for income and corporation tax in each year since 1996. [53476]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Since 1988 the Inland Revenue have entered into arrangements of this sort in a small number of cases. Typically, these arrangements were made on the basis that they were sensible practical solutions that gave
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  a broadly accurate measure of the tax due where there would otherwise be particular difficulties in establishing an exact figure.

  In the years since 1996, seven such agreements were made in cases concerning individuals, one in each of the years 1996 and 1999, three in 1997 and two in 2000. In three of these cases the agreements were renewal agreements where the original was entered into prior to 1996. All such agreements have concerned individuals, though some have included corporate aspects as a secondary matter.

  These numbers differ from those in my answer of 1 May 2002, Official Report, column 880W because that question and the response to it concerned forward contracts involving fixed regular payments only.

  National Insurance Records
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many records of individuals stored in the national insurance record system were removed because the identities concerned were found to be bogus in 2000–01. [54724]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Records of individuals with bogus identities are not removed from the National Insurance Recording System. The process is to flag the accounts via the Department of Work and Pensions National Identity Fraud Unit so that activity on the accounts can be monitored.

  Working Families Tax Credit
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent in each year for which figures are available on administering payments of the working families tax credit, broken down by(a) costs associated with direct payment of the working families tax credit and (b) costs associated with payment via employers. [56419]

  Dawn Primarolo
  During the 12 months to March 2001 the cost to the Inland Revenue of administering working families' tax credit was £133.8 million. In the previous six months the cost was £36.1 million.

  The Department does not record separately the costs of payment directly to the recipient and payment via the employer.

  Government Statistics (Longevity)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to revise Government statistics to take account of recent research into human longevity. [56913]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 20 May 2002
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what steps are being taken to revise government statistics to take account of recent research into human longevity. (56913)
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  The Office for National Statistics keeps abreast of international research into shifts in aging, and is able to increase the analytical understanding we have through publishing measures of healthy life expectancy. We are also a significant contributor to the major UK social research programme into influences on aging.
  Population projections for the United Kingdom and its constituent countries are prepared by the Government Actuary's Department at the request of the Registrars General of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The assumptions used for these are agreed in consultation with the statistical offices of the four constituent countries. A range of projections are then published, based on agreed variations in the assumptions made about mortality, fertility and migration.
  The Government Actuary's Department last year carried out a review of the methodology for projecting mortality in these projections as part of the National Statistics Quality Assurance review programme.
  The review report, published in December 2001 (available of the National Statistics website at www.statistics.gov.ukimethodsquality/quality—review/population) compares the performance of several methods of projecting future mortality and concludes that the method currently used outperformed the other methods assessed in terms of accuracy. However, several recommendations were made to improve the current methodology. The Government Actuary's Department will take the recommendations of the review and the findings of all relevant recent research into account when setting the assumptions for future population projections.

  Children's Credit
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on developing payment systems to ensure that the main carer of a child, even if she or he does not have a bank account, can be paid children's credit from April 2003 onwards. [57206]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue will provide advice in the tax credits application pack on what types of bank accounts can be used for Child Tax Credit payments. The options are current accounts, basic bank accounts or the card account that the Post Office is currently developing and which should be available from April 2003. The Inland Revenue are also making it clear in the material they issue that main carers who do not wish to use an existing joint or sole account to receive payments of their Child Tax Credit can open another account for those payments if they wish.

  Tax Returns
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what help is available for(a) people and (b) people over the age of 75 who experience difficulties in completing their tax returns; and if he will make a statement. [57172]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are five main ways in which the Inland Revenue provides help for people who experience difficulties in completing their Tax Returns.

  1. The Tax Return Guide, issued to tax advisers annually, or with the Tax Return to people who do not have a tax adviser.

  2. The national Self Assessment Telephone Helpline 0845 9000 444 is open seven days a week. This line has a MINICOM facility.

  3. The Inland Revenue website www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk has a specific area for Self Assessment and provides on-line help and guidance notes.

  4. People can telephone any tax office or contact centre for information.

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  5. People can visit any Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres (IREC) across the UK—most of these are open from 8.30am to 5pm weekdays.

  How to get this help is shown on the front page of each Tax Return and help is available when people need it and not just during office hours. While we do not have help aimed specifically at people aged over 75, local offices will arrange home visits, on request, to help anyone complete their tax return who has difficulty going to a tax office, such as pensioners, the elderly, the sick or disabled.

  We also have a range of leaflets that are available to customers on request form the IRECs and we provide separate specialist telephone Helplines for subjects such as Disabled Persons Tax Credit or Trusts.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to simplify(a) the tax system and (b) tax returns; and if he will make a statement. [57171]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Budget 2002 contained a number of measures to simplify tax including measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business and implementing the recommendations of the Carter Review of Payroll Services.

  Poverty
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his definition of poverty is; and what plans he has to alter his definition. [57190]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There is no single definition of poverty as it is a complex and multi-dimensional problem. The Government's annual "Opportunity for all" publication sets out the strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and monitors progress against a range of indicators.

  On 18 April 2002, the Department for Work and Pensions published a consultation document on child poverty measurement looking at how best to build on the Government's existing indicators for the measurement of child poverty in the long-term, seeking views on a range of approaches proposed by academics and poverty experts from the UK and overseas. The consultation period ends on 10 July 2002.

  Commonwealth Education Fund
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he expects to announce the details of the scope and distribution of the Commonwealth Education Fund; [38816]

  (2) what calculations he has made (a) inclusive of tax relief and (b) exclusive of tax relief of the cost of the Commonwealth Education Fund; [56394]

  (3) if the Commonwealth Education Fund will be applied to a fund separate from DFID's budget; [56438]

  (4) what representations to United Kingdom industry the Treasury has made in relation to the Commonwealth Education Fund; [56391]

  (5) who the trustees of the proposed Commonwealth Education Fund will be; [56392]
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  (6) for how long the Treasury expects the Commonwealth Education Fund to be operational. [56393]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Government launched the Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF) on 12 March to mark Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee year. The CEF will help Commonwealth developing countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in education, so that by 2015 every child will be able to enrol in and complete primary school, and by 2005 gender equity in enrolments can be reached.

  At present 75 million primary school-age children in the Commonwealth do not attend school.

  Since 1997 the Government have committed over £650 million to support the development of sustainable, quality primary education systems, mainly in Commonwealth sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia.

  Under the chairmanship of Sir Edward George, the Governor of the Bank of England, the CEF will raise resources from business and individuals to support this objective. The Governor is currently working with the administering NGOs to establish the formal umbrella board of the fund, determine trustees, and will make a number of representations to UK industry over the course of this year.

  The CEF will have three financing windows:
  (i) A strategic fund that will be administered jointly by ActionAid, Oxfam and Save the Children. This will be the largest element of the CEF.
  The strategic fund will strengthen the capacity of low-income Commonwealth countries to ensure that the poorest and most marginalised children are able to enrol in and complete good quality primary education. Activities will cover three broad areas:
  Strengthening civil society participation in the design and implementation of national and local education plans and frameworks. Particular priority will be given to supporting initiatives that can accelerate progress towards gender equity in education;
  Enabling local communities to monitor Government spending on education, both at the national and local levels;
  Supporting innovative ways for civil society to ensure that all children, especially girls and the most vulnerable and disadvantaged (including street children, former child soldiers and nomadic children) are able to access quality education.
  The Government will provide a grant of £10 million to kick-start the fund. In addition moneys raised in 2002 by business for the CEF will be matched by the Government pound for pound (including tax relief). Funding from the CEF will commence from mid-2002 and be made available over three and a half financial years, ending in December 2005 (coinciding with the gender equity Millennium Development Goal).
  The strategic fund will concentrate on low-income Commonwealth countries identified by ActionAid, Oxfam and Save the Children as being seriously under-resourced in relation to education provision, and in which one or more of them has existing capacity to provide support to local organisations and to monitor and evaluate outcomes and impact. The potential 17 countries are: Bangladesh, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
  (ii) The Government will also match, pound for pound (including tax relief) funds raised for primary education in Commonwealth developing countries through Comic Relief's

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  'Sport Relief'. Comic Relief will manage these funds independently, and they will disburse funds via UK based NGOs.
  The Government will expand its work to develop links between schools in Commonwealth developing countries and the UK. to raise awareness and understanding of international development issues and strengthen the global dimension in the life and work of schools.

  The CEF will be separately administered by the three NGOs according to a framework agreed with Government. The Government's £10 million endowment and matching funds will be channelled as a grant to the NGOs through DFID, whose existing budget will be increased accordingly. The precise cost of the matching funds will not be known until the end of 2002. Tax relief can be claimed by corporate donors and Comic Relief (in respect of donations from private individuals) at the appropriate tax rate.

  Employees' Accommodation
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the tax implications for an employee of a company which makes accommodation available for key workers recruited from a different part of the country and working away from their normal home base. [57268]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Where an employee is supplied with free or cheap living accommodation by reason of his or her employment a tax charge can arise under section 145 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act (ICTA), subject to the exemptions from charge of that section. But for an employee who is sent away from their normal work place to work at a temporary work place for a period not expected to last more than two years, the cost of accommodation at or near the new work place is exempt under the employee travel rules in section 198 ICTA.

  Pensioners
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the(a) number and
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  (b) percentage of (i) pensioners and (ii) pensioner households (A) paying income tax and (B) entitled to the minimum income guarantee. [57201]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It is estimated that there will be some 4.9 million taxpayers over state retirement pension age in 2002–03 and this is some 45 per cent. of the 10.9 million pensioners. The taxpayer estimates are based on the survey or personal incomes and are consistent with the April 2002 Budget. The population estimates were provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

  Based on the family resources survey it is estimated that there are some eight million families where at least one person is over pension age, 4.2 million of these families contain a taxpayer in 2002–03.

  Estimates for those entitled to the minimum income guarantee are not available in the format requested. Estimates for the number of single pensioners and pensioner couples in receipt of MIG and those entitled to but not in receipt of MIG are presented in "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 1999–2000". A copy of the publication is available in the Library of the House.

  Federation of Small Businesses
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Federation of Small Businesses regarding the implications of the Budget for small firms. [58121]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government have received a number of representations from a variety of organisations regarding the Budget.

  Unincorporated Small Businesses
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implication of the Budget for unincorporated small businesses. [58120]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Unincorporated small businesses benefit from a number of Budget 2002 measures including measures to ease the impact of VAT on small business and implementing the recommendations of the Carter review of payroll services.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

  Planning (North-West)
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he intends to publish his response to the recommendations of the panel that conducted the Public Examination of Draft Regional Planning Guidance for the North-West; and if he will make a statement, [58148]

  Ms Keeble
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is today publishing for public consultation proposed changes to the Draft Regional Planning Guidance for the North-West (RPG13). They are based on the recommendations of the independent panel that held a Public Examination into Draft RPG13 in February and March 2001.

  Draft RPG was prepared and published by the North-West Regional Assembly (NWRA). Its overall strategy is to establish a broad framework for the preparation of development plans by the North-West's local planning authorities up to 2016. It aims to achieve greater economic competitiveness and growth with associated regional progress; to secure an urban renaissance in the cities and towns of the North-West; to sustain the region's smaller rural and coastal communities; to create an accessible region; to assure the prudent management of the region's environmental and cultural assets; and to secure environmental quality. We support this and, as recommended by the panel, we are proposing changes to ensure that the strategy is more clearly expressed and relates clearly to the policy chapters. It is important that the implications for development plans and other strategies are clear and unambiguous in order to make a real difference on the ground.

  A key issue for the region is to bring about the renaissance of the urban areas by encouraging economic growth and regeneration in a sustainable way. To achieve this we are promoting the renewal of the region's urban areas by concentrating resources upon the selective refurbishment, conversion and redevelopment of outworn building stock, and the comprehensive improvement of older and unpopular neighbourhoods. At the same time, we are proposing to include a reduction in the annual rate of provision of totally new housing (unrelated to clearance) by 15 per cent., and increase the proportion of housing provided on previously used (brownfield) land from 65 per cent. to 70 per cent. The proposed changes give added weight to avoiding any premature release of greenfield land which would undermine attempts to promote the use of recycled land and the redevelopment of existing housing areas.

  The proposed changes set out projected annual housing provision rates in Table 5.1 and policy on housing provision in Policy UR7. We expect RPG to bring forward an integrated approach to housing renewal at regional and sub-regional level, recognising that the development of sub-regional strategies should look beyond purely housing considerations, and allow for holistic approaches, which include economic, environmental and social elements and mechanisms. We also expect that in developing and
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  implementing sub-regional strategies there will also be a need to have respect for local area/neighbourhood diversity.

  Tackling low demand and abandonment lies at the heart of the revised strategy. In underlining the importance of these proposed changes I also wish to draw to attention to the pathfinder initiative "Action to Tackle Housing Abandonment" announced by the Secretary of State on 6 April 2002. Pathfinders will be formed in Greater Manchester (Manchester—Salford, Oldham—Rochdale), Merseyside (Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral), East Lancashire (Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle). The role of the Regional Assembly, the North-West Development Agency and local planning authorities working with housing and other partners is to pursue a fully integrated response to these issues of low demand, high vacancy rates, falling housing numbers and abandonment, wherever they are to be found. We would welcome views on whether the proposed changes provide an adequate planning framework for tackling low demand and on the sub-regional approach to housing renewal set out by Policy UR6. In particular, we welcome views on whether the proposed changes are sufficient to prevent the unnecessary release of greenfield land for housing. Alternatively, we need to consider whether there should be further changes to reflect the recommendation made by the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Committee that no new planning permissions should be granted for greenfield sites.

  The panel recommended the merging of the original Core Strategy/ Development Principles and Spatial Development Framework chapters. After careful study we have decided that it would be better to keep the two chapters apart but re-draft them. In so doing I believe that we have kept true to the spirit of what the original draft intended but added a Core Development Principle (on economic competitiveness with social progress), and expressed the Spatial Development Framework with greater clarity. I would particularly welcome views on the proposed priority for urban renaissance resources (set out in Policy SD1) as suggested in the panel's report (R5.6a).

  The panel recommended the development of Table 11.1 in Chapter 11 on Monitoring, Implementation and Review. While attempting to set out targets and indicators in the form suggested by the panel there is a need to develop these further and views on this would be particularly welcome. To help progress this in line with the panel's recommendations, there will be a seminar for stakeholders during the consultation period and assistance from the assembly will be invaluable in this matter. As part of that deliberation an action plan will be considered in line with the panel's recommendation (R13.2).

  During the Public Examination it was acknowledged that there is a considerable amount of further work that needs to be done and a range of issues that will require an early review of both RPG and the Regional Transport Strategy by the NWRA. Specifically, guidance will need to take into account the findings of a number of studies including those on Air Service; Multi-Modal Transport Studies; Public Transport Accessibility Profiling; Regional Freight; Regional Park and Ride Sites; Renewable Energy Resources; Transport Demand Management; Regional Park Resources; Regional Waste Facility Requirements; Regional Derelict Land Survey; Assessment of distribution and effectiveness of a variety

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  of Waste Minimisation Initiatives across the Region; Review of Urban Potential Studies; and the implications of reviews of PPG 25, MPG6 and the Proposed Policy Guidance on the Extraction of Minerals from the Seabed.

  In considering these proposed changes and carrying out future review of RPG13 it is important that account is taken of the principles set out in the Planning Green Paper1, in particular the need to make RPG shorter and more strategic; more regionally specific; and more integrated and coordinated with other regional strategies; the increasing importance of introducing sub-regional policies within RPGs will also need to be addressed; and ensuring that the RPG process does not avoid making difficult decisions. Such a review is intended to help develop RPG13 and I am sure that the NWRA will continue to embrace the challenge of helping to implement and develop the Guidance. Consequently, while the proposed changes to the policies in this Draft RPG should be the focus of attention, views are also invited on the changes to the supporting text, including on the extent to which there is any scope for it to be shorter, clearer, and more regionally focused. We intend to revisit this issue following the period of consultation.

  There will now be a 13-week consultation period on the proposed changes which will end on Friday 16 August. Copies of the relevant documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House and provided to all of the region's MPs.
  1 Planning: delivering a fundamental change. Published February 2002.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have for housing development in Lancashire in the next 10 years. [57280]

  Ms Keeble
  The Secretary of State's Proposed Changes to draft Regional Planning Guidance for the North West indicate that the annual average rate of housing provision for Lancashire, net of clearance, should be 2,690 dwellings.

  Social Housing
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council houses have been transferred to RSLs and other private bodies since 1997. [57271]

  Ms Keeble
  In the five years since January 1997, it is estimated that approximately 365,000 council houses in England have been transferred to RSLs and other private bodies.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many council houses have been(a) built and (b) sold in each local authority since 1997. [57270]

  Ms Keeble
  The number of council dwellings built has been falling for many years. Of the 354 local authorities, only 48 reported completing any council dwellings since April 1997. These are given in the following table. These figures are based on monthly numbers reported by local authorities and have not been adjusted for incomplete returns. Figures for the number of dwellings completed each year are published in the Department's Local Housing Statistics.
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  Tables showing reported information on council houses sold by each local authority in England, along with national and regional summaries, for each year since 1979–80 are available in the Library.

  New council dwellings built between April 1997 and March 2002

  Local authority

  Council dwellings built

  Ashford

  9

  Bedford

  8

  Bristol

  17

  Broadland

  6

  Bromsgrove

  21

  Canterbury

  11

  Cotswold

  54

  Derwentside

  6

  Derby

  1

  Durham

  3

  Eastbourne

  8

  East Hampshire

  26

  East Hertfordshire

  4

  East Lindsey

  1

  Eden

  1

  Erewash

  12

  Hackney

  34

  Hertsmere

  1

  Hillingdon

  37

  Islington

  5

  Kennet

  11

  Leeds

  17

  Leicester

  130

  Litchfield

  21

  Mansfield

  10

  Milton Keynes

  7

  Mole Valley

  12

  North Hertfordshire

  1

  Nottingham

  15

  Reigate and Banstead

  2

  Rotherham

  4

  Rushcliffe

  17

  Sandwell

  33

  Selby

  3

  Sevenoaks

  1

  Shepway

  2

  South Bucks

  29

  South Cambridgeshire

  55

  South Hams

  24

  South Kesteven

  8

  South Northamptonshire

  1

  South Tyneside

  11

  Stroud

  46

  Teignbridge

  4

  Waltham Forrest

  282

  Waveney

  1

  West Oxfordshire

  3

  Worcester

  27

  Supported Housing
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what safeguards have been put in place to ensure that tenants in supported housing, whose support costs are met in full by housing benefits, will continue to have these costs met in full from April 2003 under the provisions of Supporting People. [57209]

  Ms Keeble
  Local authorities administering Supporting People from April 2003 are being instructed to pay Supporting People grants where housing benefit is
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  currently covering support costs and are auditing the preparation to make this change. People on housing benefit at 31 March 2003 will see no change.

  Affordable Housing
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many affordable

  Table 1: Number of LA and RSL empty homes in England which are in rural areas by region

  Region

  1 April: 2001

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  19931

  1992

  North-east

  3,500

  3,000

  2,800

  2,600

  2,200

  2,200

  2,100

  1,900

  1,700

  2,000

  North-west

  2,400

  2,200

  2,000

  1,700

  1,600

  1,400

  1,200

  1,000

  1,100

  1,000

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  1,100

  1,400

  1,100

  1,000

  800

  600

  600

  600

  700

  600

  East Midlands

  1,100

  1,300

  1,200

  1,200

  1,200

  1,200

  900

  800

  800

  600

  West Midlands

  700

  900

  700

  800

  700

  700

  600

  600

  500

  500

  East of England

  1,300

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  1,500

  1,600

  1,200

  1,300

  1,700

  1,200

  London

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  South-east

  1,300

  1,500

  1,900

  1,700

  1,700

  1,400

  1,300

  1,300

  1,800

  1,200

  South-west

  1,300

  1,600

  1,500

  1,400

  1,600

  1,500

  1,300

  1,300

  1,400

  1,000

  England

  12,700

  13,400

  12,700

  11,900

  11,300

  10,600

  9,200

  8,800

  9,700

  8,100

  1 Figures for 1993 are unusually high due to many dwellings bought by RSLs towards the end of the financial year (1992–93) under the Housing Market Package.

  Table 2: Total number of LA and RSL empty homes in England by region

  Region

  1 April: 2001

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  19931

  1992

  North-east

  12,100

  12,100

  11,400

  11,100

  10,100

  9,400

  8,500

  7,600

  7,700

  8,500

  North-west

  31,500

  30,100

  26,500

  24,500

  21,100

  19,100

  17,100

  16,300

  19,400

  20,500

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  17,500

  17,800

  16,600

  15,300

  14,200

  11,800

  10,000

  10,100

  9,900

  9,200

  East Midlands

  8,600

  8,700

  7,600

  7,100

  7,300

  7,300

  5,700

  5,300

  5,700

  4,800

  West Midlands

  16,100

  17,200

  14,200

  13,200

  11,900

  10,900

  9,600

  9,000

  9,400

  8,800

  East of England

  5,600

  5,900

  5,900

  5,600

  6,000

  5,800

  5,300

  5,400

  6,500

  4,800

  London

  18,800

  20,200

  21,700

  22,100

  25,100

  27,300

  26,300

  26,600

  27,100

  23,700

  South-east

  6,800

  7,200

  7,600

  7,300

  7,700

  7,200

  6,200

  6,400

  8,000

  5,800

  South-west

  4,600

  5,500

  5,100

  4,700

  4,500

  4,300

  3,900

  3,800

  3,800

  3,500

  England

  121,600

  124,700

  116,600

  110,900

  107,900

  103,100

  92,600

  90,500

  97,500

  89,600

  1 Figures for 1993 are unusually high due to many dwellings bought by RSLs towards the end of the financial year (1992–93) under the Housing Market Package.

  Note:

  Figures rounded to the nearest 100

  Sources:

  For Table 1 and Table 2: DTLR's annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns and the Housing Corporation's annual HAR 10 and Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR)

  Housing Stock Transfers
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the local housing authorities who have transferred their council house stock to date to alternative landlords and give in each case(a) the grant from Government to write off debt, (b) the total cost to the local authority in professional fees, (c) other relevant costs of the transfer and (d) the capital receipt. [56695]

  Ms Keeble
  I have placed in the Libraries of the House lists which show all large scale voluntary transfers completed to date. The details include the four Government one-off payments in transfers where the capital receipt was insufficient to pay off the authority's
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  empty homes there were in (a) rural areas by region and (b) England by region in each of the last 10 years. [56974]

  Ms Keeble
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The number of local authority (LA) and registered social landlord (RSL) empty homes in (a) rural areas by region and (b) England by region in each of the last ten years are set out in the following tables:

  housing debt, the set up cost for transfer and the capital receipt. Costs to local authorities for professional fees are not held centrally.

  Lighting Maintenance
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been included in the Single Capital Pot for road, bridge and street lighting maintenance as part of this year's LTP settlement. [57266]

  Ms Keeble
  All of the block allocation for highway maintenance in the 2002–03 LTP settlement has been included in the Single Capital Pot. The total allocation
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  was £545 million made up of indicative amounts of £189 million for principal roads, £243 million for non-principal roads, and £113 million for bridges. There was no indicative allocation for street lighting. In addition £10 million was allocated for major maintenance schemes greater than £5 million: this sum is not included in the Single Capital Pot.

  It is for local authorities to decide how much capital resource from the Single Capital Pot they will spend on highway maintenance in the light of their priorities for this and the other services they provide.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether an allowance for street lighting will be included in the LTP settlement for 2003–04. [57267]

  Ms Keeble
  A decision on whether to include an indicative amount for street lighting in the LTP highway maintenance settlement for 2003–04 has not yet been taken. It would depend upon the total resources available and the progress made in other areas of maintenance. The first targets in the 10 Year Plan for Transport are to stop carriageway deterioration by 2004 and to complete bridge strengthening to carry 40 tonne lorries where necessary.

  Provision for street lighting replacement is already made within the Highways Maintenance Standard Spending Assessment for Revenue Support Grant. Local authorities are also free to fund street lighting replacement from the Single Capital Pot which has been introduced in 2002–03.

  Work-related Illness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many claims for work-related injury illness were settled on behalf of workers in local government in the last year for which figures are available; and what the total cost was in compensation. [56069]

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

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many employees in local government retired through work-related illness or injury in the last year for which records are available; and what the total cost was to the Department. [56070]

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

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many claims for work-related illness were settled by his Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was in compensation. [56066]

  Dr. Whitehead
  In 2001–02, this Department settled 15 cases of work-related illness and injury. 13 of these claims were long standing cases relating to ex-PSA staff, mostly for asbestos related disease, amounting to £402,305 in compensation costs. There were two claims for DTLR staff amounting to £8,500.
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  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many employees of his Department retired through work-related ill health in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was to the Department. [56067]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Records are not maintained by DTLR which enable ill health retirements to be separately identified as work-related. The number of staff retired in DTLR (including its executive agencies) with a medical retirement certificate issued by the civil service pension scheme medical adviser in the year 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was 56. Benefits provided on medical retirement are as set out in the rules of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme and laid before Parliament. This provides for an immediate payment of an enhanced pension and lump sum. Ill health retirement expenditure is met centrally from the Civil Superannuation Vote and it is not possible to separate out the cost for cases in this Department.

  Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the committee on application of the legislation on application of tonnage measurement of ballast spaces in segregated ballast of oil tankers 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. [56834]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The committee was set up under Article 7 of regulation (EC) 2978/94/EC on the implementation of IMO resolution A.747(18) on the application of tonnage measurements of segregated ballast tanks in oil tankers. The committee is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission with a remit to assist the European Commission with the application of the regulation. My Department is not aware of any committee meetings in the past 12 months and has incurred no travel or subsistence costs in relation to it.

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

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Implementation Committee on minimum requirements for vessels bound for or leaving Community ports and carrying dangerous or polluting goods 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
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  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. [56835]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Minimum Requirements for Vessels Bound for or leaving Community Ports and Carrying Dangerous or Polluting Goods Committee was established under Article 12 of Council directive 93/75/EEC. The committee is composed of representatives of the member states and is chaired by a representative of the Commission. The remit of the Committee is to consider amendments to the Council directive and vote on them accordingly. This committee has not met in the last 12 months and therefore there has been no cost to the public funds.

  Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  As an obligation to this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Corn (2001) 783 Final).

  As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Committee for the establishment of conditions for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system 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. [55679]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A regulatory committee, comprised of member states' representatives and chaired by the Commission, was set up under Article 21 of Directive 96/48/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system. The remit of the Committee has now been extended to include conventional rail in accordance with Directive 2001/16/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system. The "Article 21 Committee" approves technical specifications for interoperability-TSIs—and considers various issues arising from the implementation of interoperability (including the cost-benefit analysis to support the draft TSIs and applications to the Commission for derogations from the TSIs).

  The Committee has met four times over the last 12 months—there have also been a number of subordinate working group meetings. The UK is now represented by the Strategic Rail Authority, although officials from DTLR and 1-IM Inspectorate of Railways have also attended. Over the last 12 months, the cost of the main committee's work to public funds has been approximately £7,000.
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  The Article 21 Committee is currently completing the formal adoption of TSIs for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system and establishing ground-rules for the preparation of TSIs for the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system.

  Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both houses on 26 February (Commission Document 5685–02). As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the development of the community railways 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. [55682]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Developing European Railways Committee was established under the provisions of Directive 2001/12/EC. The Committee is composed of representatives of member states and is chaired by the European Commission. The remit of the Committee is to facilitate the implementation of Directives 2001/12/EC, 2001/13/EC and 2001/14/EC, commonly referred to as the 'Railway Infrastructure Package Directives'. The Committee has met twice in the last 12 months. The UK is represented by officials from my Department and the Office of the Rail Regulator. The annual cost of its work to public funds is about £2,500.

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

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee for the application of legislation on the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road passenger transport services within a member state 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;
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  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. [55685]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Advisory Committee is established under the provisions of Article 10 of the road passenger transport cabotage regulation (Council Regulation (EC) 12–98). The Committee is composed of representatives of the member states and chaired by the European Commission. The remit of the Committee is to advise the Commission on measures intended to resolve a serious disturbance of the internal transport market due to cabotage. As no member state has ever reported such a disturbance to the Commission, the Committee has not been convened.

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

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the mandate of the Advisory Committee on measures to be taken in the event of a crisis in the market in the carriage of goods by road and for laying down the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road haulage services within a member state 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. [55686]

  NDPB

  Code of practice

  Availability

  Advisory Panel on Standards in the Planning Inspectorate

  Does not yet have a code of practice

  Audit Commission

  The Code of Conduct for Commissioners, which is part of The Commissioners' Handbook.

  By appointment at the Audit Commission, 1 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PN

  Building Regulations Advisory Committee

  Members' handbook and register of interests

  By appointment at Zone 3/C2, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU

  Commission for Integrated Transport

  Uses the Cabinet Office's standard code of practice

  The register of interests is published in CflT's annual report and is available on request.

  Community Forum

  This body was established in January 2002, the code of conduct has not yet been finalised. A register of members' interests will be included in the annual report.

  When agreed it will be published on the Community Forum website www.neighbourhood.gov.uk or available from the Community Forum Secretariat, Zone 3/A5, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU.

  Civil Aviation Authority

  Although the CAA has no formal register of interests, under Paragraph 10, schedule 1 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, board members are obliged to disclose their interests, and provide this information when requested. The Secretary of State must satisfy himself that members have no prejudicial interests.

  Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee

  Code of practice for members in existence. Register of interests being developed.

  Available on request

  English Partnerships

  Code of practice

  www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/pdf/codesofpractice.pdf

  124W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The Advisory Committee is established under the provisions of Article 7 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3118–93 and Article 5 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3916–90. The Committee is composed of representatives of member states and chaired by the Commission. The remit of the Committee is to advise the Commission on measures proposed to deal with a serious disturbance of the national transport market due to either international haulage or cabotage. As no member state has ever reported such a disturbance to the Commission, the Committee has not been convened.

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

  Disclosure of Interests
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to his Department. [56455]

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

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

  Code of practice

  Availability

  Health and Safety Commission

  Code of practice, including conflicts of interest for board members.

  Available on request from the Commission

  Housing Action Trusts

  Code of conduct and register of board members' interests.

  Available on request from the Trusts

  Housing Corporation

  Code of best practice for board members of the Housing Corporation.

  www.housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk

  Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England

  Code of practice

  www.statistics.gov.uk./pbc

  Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Wales

  Code of practice currently not available as the Commission are moving their website.

  From 1 July, the website will be hosted by the National Assembly for Wales, where the code of practice will be available for viewing.

  Property Advisory Group

  Code of practice and public register of interests

  On request via the Secretariat, Zone 3/G10, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU.

  Northern Lighthouse Board

  Code of best practice for board members which includes a commitment to the Principles of Standards of Public Life.

  On request from Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Lighthouse Board, 84 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3DA.

  Rent Assessment Panels

  Guidance to members on conflicts of interest and a register of interest.

  Available on request from RAPCU, Whittington House, 19–30 Alfred Place, London, WC1E 7LR. Parties to cases being dealt with by RAPs are advised of the existence of the register and how it may be inspected.

  Standards Board for England

  Code of conduct

  www.standardsboard.co.uk/board/membersCodeOfConduct

  Strategic Rail Authority

  Code of conduct currently being prepared, to be formally in place this summer. A register of interests is maintained.

  On request from SRA, 55 Victoria Street, London, SW1E OEU

  Traffic Area Networks

  No code of conduct or register of interests maintained.

  Trinity House Lighthouse Service

  Code of best practice for board members which includes a commitment to the Principles of Standards of Public Life.

  On request from Director of Administration, Trinity House Lighthouse Service, Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4DH

  Sick Leave
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many days of sick leave were taken by employees in local government in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was. [56071]

  Dr. Whitehead
  Findings from research carried out by the Employers' Organisation research indicates that the number of days' sick leave taken by local government employees in England for the year April 2000 until March 2001 was approximately 15.9 million—an average of 9.6 days per employee.

  The total number of employees in English local authorities (excluding teachers) was estimated in 2001 by the Employers' Organisation as being 1,654,925. A CBI/PPP healthcare survey also for 2001 suggested that sick absence costs the public sector an average £518 per employee per annum. From these surveys the total cost of sick leave taken by employees in local government can be estimated at approximately £857 million.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many days of sick leave were taken by employees in his Department in the last year for which records are available; what proportion of those were due to work-related illness or injury; and what the cost was to the Department. [56068]

  Dr. Whitehead
  The most recent figures published in the Cabinet Office "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" are for the calendar year 2000. For the "Environment and Transport Group", the average working days' absence per staff-year was 9.0 days compared with a civil service average of 9.9 days. The total number of days lost were 142,853. DTLR is committed to meeting 126W
  the target for reducing the number of working days lost due to sick absence in its service delivery agreement by 30 per cent. based on a 1998 baseline by the end of 2003. The Department does not have details of the days lost and associated costs for work-related illness and injury.

  Coastguard (Lyme Bay)
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for the coastguard helicopter serving Lyme Bay in Dorset; and if he will make a statement. [57234]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is currently in discussions with contractors and other organisations about the future helicopter provision for the Lyme Bay area. No firm decisions have yet been taken.

  Rural Transport (Cumbria)
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what improvements have been made to rural transport in Cumbria to increase access to health services. [57000]

  Ms Keeble
  Government funding has enabled Cumbria county council to increase the frequency of many rural bus routes facilitating access to health services. Recent community transport enhancements include:Wigton town service
  Cumbria Plusbus (Kirkby Stephen area)
  Rural fells project (Caldbeck)
  Community buses (brokerage schemes)
  Voluntary social car schemes
  Rural wheels—an innovative demand responsive service. Pilot being developed in South Cumbria using smartcard technology.

  127W
  Enhancements to conventional bus services include:
  Service X35 (Kendal—Barrow) provides access to both Westmorland hospital in Kendal and Furness general in Barrow.
  Service 59 (West Cumbria to West Cumberland hospital) dial-a-ride service for evening visiting.
  Service 58 (Maryport—Cockermouth) will be extended shortly to serve the health centre in Maryport; already serves Cockermouth hospital.
  Service X12 (Coniston—Ulverston) will extend on request to the hospital/health centre in Ulverston.

  Train Traffic (Scotland)
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what percentage of the train traffic on the(a) Kilmarnock to Dumfries and (b) Dumfries to Carlisle railway lines was (i) passenger and (ii) freight in the last 12 months; [54819]

  (2) what percentage level of capacity the Kilmarnock to Dumfries railway line has operated in the last 12 months. [54821]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I understand that current weekday train traffic in each direction is as follows:

  Rail line

  Passenger trains

  Freight trains

  Kilmarnock to Dumfries

  10

  10

  Dumfries to Carlisle

  13

  10

  Over the last year, according to demand, up to 15 or 20 freight services per weekday have operated in each direction over each line. When the maximum number of freight services operate, the Kilmarnock to Dumfries line is operating to its maximum practical capacity.

  Rail Franchises
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the rail franchise renewal process; [55770]

  (2) if he will list the bidders who have pre-qualified for rail franchise applications. [55771]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan, published on 14 January, includes a report on its franchising programme. A new Chiltern franchise was signed on 18 February. The table lists the parties currently pre-qualified for franchises.

  Franchise/Pre-qualified parties
  Merseyrail Electrics

  Arriva Trains Ltd.

  Connex Transport UK Ltd.

  Serco Ltd.

  Transdev plc jointly with RATP International

  NS/Dutch Railways

  Keolis SA

  Northern

  Arriva Trains Ltd.

  FirstGroup plc jointly with Keolis SA

  National Express Group plc

  Connex Transport UK Ltd.

  GB Railways Group plc

  Serco Ltd.

  128W
  Wales and Borders

  Arriva Trains Ltd.

  Connex Transport UK Ltd.

  FirstGroup plc

  GB Railways Group plc

  National Express Group plc

  NS/Dutch Railways

  Serco Ltd.

  Keolis SA

  TransPennine Express (best and final offers stage)

  Arriva Trains Ltd.

  Connex Transport UK Ltd.

  Keolis SA with First Group plc.

  Network Rail
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who the shareholders are in Network Rail; and what obligations it has to report to the Strategic Rail Authority. [57292]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Network Rail was incorporated on 22 March 2002 as a private company limited by guarantee. As such, it has no shareholders. At present, Network Rail is a bidder to succeed Railtrack plc as network operator and has no obligations to report to the Strategic Rail Authority.

  London Underground
  Mr. Gareth R. Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action is being taken to reduce the number of working days lost through the absence of London Underground staff on medical grounds. [56426]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Improving attendance is a key part of London Underground's work to improve the reliability of services. Improved staff attendance means fewer cancellations, and a better service for passengers.

  LU have taken a number of steps to improve staff attendance. Over the past year, these have resulted in a 2 percentage point increase in station staff attendance, and a 1 percentage point increase in the attendance of train and signalling staff.

  Road Bridges (Railways)
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when Railtrack will complete repairs on the road bridge over the railway at Easter Road, Edinburgh to enable it to carry heavy traffic again. [55709]

  Mr. Jamieson
  As part of the national programme of assessment and strengthening to ensure that road bridges within specified categories can carry loads of up to 40 tonnes, I understand that city of Edinburgh council has carried out an initial assessment of the load-bearing capacity of the bridge; and that Railtrack is awaiting receipt of the council's assessment report.

  Blackwall Tunnel
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent reports he has received regarding the safety of
  129W
  the Blackwall tunnel in London; what concerns have been expressed about emergency lanes and escape routes; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement. [55847]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is not a matter for the Government; it is a matter for Transport for London (TfL) which is the highway authority for the Blackwall tunnels.

  I understand that TfL have recently awarded a £15.5 million contract for extensive refurbishment of the southbound tunnel. They are also planning to undertake a review of the northbound tunnel, which was extensively refurbished in 1992, to identify the need for any further works on that tunnel.

  Further information can be obtained from Peter Heather, Director of Operations, TfL—Street Management.

  Off-road Motorcycling
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to change controls on the use of land for off-road motorcycling. [57323]

  Ms Keeble
  My Department published research on 12 September 2001 on the impact of provisions relating to the temporary use of land, including for off-road motorcycling. It addressed matters such as impact on local amenity and the environment, for example in terms of litter, noise and relationships with other land uses in the area.

  On 24 January 2002 a consultation paper was issued on possible options for change to the current temporary use provisions. The paper put forward six options for change as well as inviting proposals for alternative options. The closing date for responses was 24 April 2002. The views of all those who responded will be considered before any decisions are made on the future composition of the Use Classes Order and the temporary use provisions, including controls on the use of land for off-road motorcycling.

  Coaches
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the use of coaches for long-distance public transport. [57329]

  Ms Keeble
  Coaches play an important role in the provision of inter-city and commuter transport. They are commercially self-supporting and demand has remained buoyant over the last decade. I am keen to encourage their use. Officials are regularly in touch with coach industry representatives.

  The Government are in discussion with the coach industry about proposals to pay bus service operators' grant (formerly called "fuel duty rebate") for scheduled coach services which offer concessionary fares.

  Bus Lanes
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has received from Transport for London and the Highways Agency on allowing coaches to use bus lanes. [57330]
  130W
  Ms Keeble
  Coaches are permitted in a large number of existing bus lanes including the vast majority of those in London. Transport for London have powers to make traffic regulation orders on GLA roads and would not need to submit any plans to the Department.

  Road Accidents
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his strategy is towards eliminating fatalities in road crashes. [57121]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]: The Government's current road safety strategy, "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone", aims to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 40 per cent. by 2010 compared with the average for 1994 to 1998.

  Mobile Phones (Drivers)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what road safety campaigns his Department has supported on the issue of driving while talking on mobile phones. [57537]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Highway Code has, for many years, included advice to drivers not to use a mobile phone while driving. In March 1998, newspaper advertising alerted readers to the dangers of killing or injuring yourself or another road user. Leaflets and posters have been made widely available since then. In January 2000, television advertising reminded of the possible tragic consequences of using a mobile phone. We launched new radio advertising this month to demonstrate the distracting effect of using a mobile phone while driving. A public information film for use by TV stations has also been produced, as have new posters, and further publicity is being prepared. We continue to support local campaigns by police forces and local authorities.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he is planning to introduce a bill prohibiting the use of mobile phones by car drivers. [57293]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government recognise the dangers of using mobile phones while driving. If drivers cannot be persuaded not to use mobile phones while driving, the Government accept that new legislation may be necessary.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the cost is to public funds of(a) hotel expenses and (b) flights for overseas visits made by his Department since 1 June 2001; [57843]

  (2) how many overseas visits he has made since 1 June 2001; to where; for what purposes; and at what cost to public funds; [57844]

  (3) how many international flights he and his officials have taken since June 2001. [57845]

  The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
  All travel arrangements for Ministers and officials are made in accordance with rules set out in the
  131W
  Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House, and the Civil Service Management Code.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 6 March Official Report column 421W.

  Mr. Barker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) officials, (b) ministers and (c) special advisers from his Department will be travelling to Bali at public cost. [57841]

  The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
  It is planned that two officials from the Deputy Prime Minister's Central Policy Group and two from the Performance and Innovation Unit will attend.

  Work-related Illness
  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many claims for work-related illness were settled by his Department in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was in compensation. [56084]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Cabinet Office, including Government Car Despatch Agency, did not settle any claims for work-related illness in year 2001.

  This information requested for the Central Office of Information and the Regional Co-ordination Unit is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The Cabinet Office is aware of its legal obligations to provide a safe and healthy working environment. It is committed to reducing the number of working days lost through work-related injuries and illness. The Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative is being used as a supporting framework to achieve this goal.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many employees of his Department retired through work-related ill-health in the last year for which records are available; and what the cost was to the Department. [56085]

  Mr. Leslie
  Records are not maintained by Cabinet Office that enable ill health retirements to be separately identified as work related. The number of staff retired with a medical retirement certificate issued by the civil service pension scheme medical adviser for year 2001 is as follows:

  Number of medical retirements 2001

  Cabinet Office

  6

  COI

  1

  GCDA

  0

  RCU

  2

  Benefits provided on medical retirement are as set out in the rules of the principal civil service pension scheme and laid before Parliament. They provide for an immediate payment of an enhanced pension and lump sum. Ill health retirement expenditure is met centrally from the Civil Superannuation Vote. For the year ending March 2002, provisional expenditure met from the Vote was £310 million in respect of all civil service cases for which an ill health pension has been awarded. These cases
  132W
  number approximately 67,000 and include those who have formerly been ill health retired but who have now reached and exceeded the normal retirement age.

  Mr. Clapham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many days of sick leave were taken by employees in his Department in the last year for which records are available; what proportion of those were due to work-related illness or injury; and what the cost was to the Department. [56086]

  Mr. Leslie
  Cabinet Office publishes an analysis of sickness absence in the civil service each year. The most recently published figures (available on the Cabinet Office website) are for calendar year 2000. Cabinet Office Departments (which included in that year GCDA and COI but not RCU) had an average of 4.6 working days absence per staff year.

  The report estimates the overall cost of sickness absence within the civil service but does not provide a breakdown by Department.

  Information relating specifically to absence caused by work-related illness or injury is not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

  The Cabinet Office is committed to improving levels of attendance to meet agreed targets and to minimising the number of days absence caused by work-related injury or illness.

  Electronic Voting
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research projects have been commissioned by his Department into electronic voting since June 2000, stating in each case(a) the organisation or consortium members carrying out the research, (b) the cost, (c) the purpose and title, (d) the date on which the research was or is due to be delivered to his Department and (e) the date or expected date of publication of the results. [54137]

  Mr. Leslie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Dr. Whitehead), on 14 May 2002,Official Report, column 515W.

  Public Bodies
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the public bodies which are required to report to Parliament. [54244]

  Mr. Leslie
  Where a public body is under a statutory obligation to report to Parliament, this is set out in the relevant statute.

  As set out in "Quangos: Opening the Doors", the Government believe that all advisory and executive non-departmental public bodies should produce and make publicly available annual reports. However, in the case of the small advisory bodies, these need only be short reports with costs of producing them kept to a minimum. The intention is that the next edition of the annual public bodies publication should include, for the first time, summary information on the arrangements that each body has in place for ensuring greater transparency in their work.

  Aga Khan Development Network
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions the Government Office for London has had with the Aga Khan Development Network about sites in London suitable for purchase by it. [55412]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Government Office for London regularly has meetings with potential site developers in London but it is not the practice to provide details of such meetings in line with exemption 7 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Data Protection Act
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [53389]

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

HEALTH

  External Contracts
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by his Department from(a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date, indicating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed. [38746]

  Mr. Hutton
  I apologise to the hon. Member for the time taken to answer his question. Despite considerable research through our records, the information is unfortunately not held centrally in the format requested.

  Speech Therapy
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average annual salaries for NHS(a) speech therapists, (b) pharmacists and (c) clinical psychologists were for each of the past 10 years for (i) males and (ii) females; and if he will make a statement; [46584]

  (2) how much money the NHS awarded to female speech therapists in the case against the MSF Union for Speech and Language Therapy; and if he will make a statement; [46582]

  (3) how the formula to ascertain the amounts of monetary awards given to female speech therapists in the NHS case against the MSF Union for Speech and Language Therapy was determined; and if he will make a statement; [46579]

  (4) how many women originally submitted equal pay claims in the NHS case against the MSF Union for Speech and Language Therapy; and if he will make a statement; [46581]
  134W
  (5) of the women who received monetary awards from the NHS case against the MSF Union for Speech and Language Therapy, how many were awarded (a) £2,500–£5,000, (b) £5,000–£10,000, (c) £10,000–£20,000, (d) £20,000–00,000, (e) £30,000–£40,000, (f) £40,000–£50,000, (g) £50,000–£70,000 and (h) £70,000 or more; and if he will make a statement; [46580]

  (6) how much the NHS spent on the case against the MSF Union for Speech and Language Therapy each from 1986 to 2000; and if he will make a statement; [46583]

  (7) how much money the NHS spent employing (a) lawyers and (b) researchers working on the case against the MSF Union for Speech and Language Therapy each year from 1986 to 2000; and if he will make a statement; [46578]

  (8) how many (a) lawyers and (b) researchers were employed by the NHS to work on the case against the MSF Union for Speech and Language Therapy in each year from 1986 to 2000; and if he will make a statement. [46577]

  Mr. Hutton
  Some 1,800 speech and language therapists in the United Kingdom lodged equal pay claims from around 1985 onwards. Following decisions of the employment tribunal and subsequent out of court negotiations between the Department and Manufacturing and Services Federation, the settlement provided for 370 speech and language therapists to receive retrospective payments totalling £5.8 million1 broken down as follows:

  Amount awarded from NHS £1

  Number of women receiving payment1

  <2,500

  14

  (a) 2,500–5,000

  49

  (b) 5,000–10,000

  112

  (c) 10,000–20,000

  68

  (d) 20,000–30,000

  48

  (e) 30,000–40,000

  22

  (f) 40,000–50,000

  7

  (g) 50,000–70,000

  26

  (h) 70,000 or more

  0

  1 All figures are net (less tax, national insurance and pension contributions) and include interest. There may be a personal tax liability on the interest. All figures exclude 24 claims lodged in Scotland in 1980s and receiving payments.

  The retrospective payments were based on (i) the decisions of the employment tribunal and findings of independent experts (this applies to the 1980s cases only), (ii) an assessment of the job weight carried out by work assessment experts, (iii) a formula agreed by negotiators to provide a reasonable and fair payment and (iv) the length of relevant claim.

  Employers and the Secretary of State were both named as Respondents and the claims were defended centrally on behalf of employers and Secretary of State to minimise costs. The following table shows the estimated total costs to the national health service involved in defending the cases, including legal and research costs (which it is not possible to identify separately). These are the best available estimates but should be treated with caution. A very few employers sought and paid for separate legal and other advice locally.
  135W

  £000

  Year

  Cost

  1986–97

  760

  1997–98

  440

  1998–99

  192

  1999–2000

  9

  Two barristers and their juniors were retained by the Treasury Solicitor to represent employers and the Secretary of State to provide legal services as necessary over the lifetime of the cases. It is not possible to pinpoint their input for each year from 1986 to 2000. Three researchers were engaged for several days in 1995 at a total cost of approximately £4,000. A firm of consultants was engaged to assess the work in the 20 lead cases and several analysts shared the assessments.

  Average salary and total earnings by sex in 1998. 1999 and 2000 for clinical psychologists, pharmacists, and speech and language therapists

  £

  1998

  1999

  2000

  Staff group

  Average salary

  Average earnings

  Average salary

  Average earnings

  Average salary

  Average earnings

  Speech and language therapists

  Male

  19,800

  20,600

  20,100

  20,800

  21,400

  22,100

  Female

  19,800

  20,400

  20,200

  20,900

  21,200

  21,900

  Clinical psychologists

  Male

  31,200

  31,700

  31,700

  32,400

  33,800

  34,500

  Female

  23,800

  24,400

  24,100

  24,800

  26,100

  26,800

  Pharmacists

  Male

  27,600

  28,500

  27,800

  28,600

  29,100

  31,400

  Female

  23,600

  24,300

  24,000

  25,000

  25,800

  27,900

  Note:

  All figures are rounded to the nearest £100.

  Source:

  Department of Health's August 1998, 1999 and 2000 Earnings Surveys.

  The Earnings Survey

  The earnings survey is based on payroll data for August of the appropriate year. It covers about half of the NHS trusts in England. It is taken for NHS organisations which use the standard payroll system (SPS), and as such the sample may change from year to year. There is some unevenness in the geographical spread of the organisations included in the survey, but the overall results are broadly representative of all regions and different types of staff. Health authority staff were included for the first time in 2000. Independent contractors (including GPs and their staff) were not included in any of the surveys.

  Gross earnings data, i.e. before any deductions, were collected from payroll records. Annual basic salary was read directly from payroll records, and annual equivalent total earnings were calculated using all payments made during August, including e.g. overtime, London weighting, special duty enhancements and other leads/ allowances, and multiplying by 12. Average pay figures were calculated by dividing total salaries/earnings by total whole time equivalents.

  Health Community/Economy
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his definition is of (a) a health community and(b) health economy. [47833]
  136W
  Estimated total average earnings for speech and language therapists, clinical psychologists and healthcare pharmacists taken from the Department's August 1998, 1999 and 2000 survey are shown in the following table. Similar information for earlier years is not available centrally but advance letters issued to the NHS containing information about the national pay rates for these staff from 1991 to 1997 have been placed in the Library together with the gender breakdown information available for the three professions for the same years. As part of the negotiated settlement of their equal pay claims, a new improved pay and grade structure for speech and language therapists was introduced in May 2000 to take effect from 1 April 2000. The regradings are not likely to have been in place by August 2000 and will not be reflected in the figures in the table.

  Mr. Hutton
  The terms "health economy" and "health community" can be used to describe all statutory and voluntary organisations in one area with an interest in local health service delivery and tackling health inequalities.

  The term "health economy" can be used to refer to financial relationships between local health service providers and other key stakeholders. The term "health community" encompasses all local groups and individuals with an interest in all aspects of the health of a local community, including the wider determinants of health. This may include patient groups, carers, primary care trusts, local authorities, voluntary and community groups and the private sector.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those medical interventions which would allow an elderly person in need of nursing care to be treated free of charge in an NHS setting. [50851]

  Jacqui Smith
  If a person's continuing health care needs are of a nature, complexity, intensity or unpredictability that requires regular supervision by a member of the national health service multidisciplinary team then they would be able to receive continuing NHS health care in a hospital, care home, hospice or domiciliary setting. All nursing care provided by the NHS is free of charge.

  Polio
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a risk analysis of infants vaccinated against polio who(a) do not travel outside the UK and (b) travel outside the UK. [51604]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 22 April 2002]: I am advised that children who are vaccinated against polio and who do not travel outside of the United Kingdom face extremely small risks from polio, and would only be vulnerable if the vaccine had failed to protect and they were exposed to wild polio virus from a recently arrived infected visitor from an endemic country. Children who have been immunised against polio and who travel abroad are at similarly low risk if visiting another non-endemic country. The risks will increase progressively according to the extent of endemicity of countries visited.

  Experts advise that the risk of vaccine associated polio is approximately one in every million doses administered and this will not be affected by travel.

  NHS
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated, and what the underlying costs to the NHS were, as a result of(a) accidents incurred and (b) diseases contracted abroad in each of the last 10 years. [52693]

  Yvette Cooper
  Information on the number of patients treated in the national health service after suffering an accident or contracting an illness while abroad, and the associated costs, is not held centrally.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people were waiting more than eight months to have heart by-pass surgery in Lancashire in each year since 1997; [53106]

  (2) how many people were waiting more than eight months to have brain tumour surgery in Lancashire in each year since 1997. [53109]

  Jacqui Smith
  This information is not available on the basis requested. Waiting list data are collected down to specialty level, but not by specific procedure. Figures are recorded in three-month time bands, so it is not possible to identify people waiting more than eight months.

  Breastfeeding
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to promote the benefits of breastfeeding in the UK; how many and what percentage of women in the UK breastfed their child in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [53521]

  Area of measurement

  Current status

  Fraud measured

  Completion date

  Pharmaceutical patient fraud

  Two full measurement exercises completed

  1998–99: £117 million 1999–2000: £69 million A reduction of 41 per cent.

  December 2000

  Pharmaceutical contractor fraud

  First full measurement exercise nearing completion

  Data currently with statisticians for analysis

  —

  138W
  Yvette Cooper
  The Government are fully committed to the promotion of breastfeeding, which is accepted as the best form of nutrition for infants. Action includes the development and dissemination of the evidence base on good practice, embedding messages into national health service practice and other policies, and ensuring effective monitoring of infant feeding practices.

  A total of 79 'best breastfeeding practice' projects have been funded across all regions. The aim is to increase the rates of breastfeeding, both initiation and duration. This is a goal shared by all sure start initiatives and several health action zone programmes. Many of the 'best breastfeeding practice' projects have now obtained mainstream funding from sure start initiatives.

  Other related Department activities include support for an annual national breastfeeding awareness week, four main voluntary organisations involved in the promotion of breastfeeding, research into breastfeeding through quinquennial infant feeding surveys, and maintaining close links with United Nations Children's Fund's baby friendly initiative. The forthcoming national service framework for children will cover maternity services and we are considering how best to include breastfeeding within this framework.

  The results of the infant feeding survey 2000 showed an increase in the breastfeeding rates between 1995 and 2000: 71 per cent. of the mothers in England and Wales breastfed their infants as compared to 68 per cent. in 1995. In social class V there has been a significant increase in the incidence of breastfeeding from 50 per cent. in 1995 to 59 per cent. in 2000.

  Healthcare Audit and Inspection
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department intends to introduce legislation and guidance on the respective division of responsibilities between the Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the new Commission for Social Care Inspection. [53768]

  Jacqui Smith
  Primary legislation will be required for the establishment and functions of the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care Inspection. We hope to introduce the necessary legislation as early as possible.

  Fraud
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [54721]

  Ms Blears
  A number of risk measurement exercises have been carried out since the inception of the national health service counter fraud service in 1998. The purpose of these exercises is to show the actual figures for losses to fraud and corruption, and figures for the sums at risk in each area of the NHS (the vote 1 budget). The status and results of these exercises are set out in the table.
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  Area of measurement

  Current status

  Fraud measured

  Completion date

  Dental patient fraud

  Two full measurement exercises completed

  1999–2000: £40.3 million 2000–01: £30 million A reduction of 25 per cent.

  January 2002

  Dental contractor fraud

  First baseline measurement exercise completed

  Sums found to be 'at risk' 1999–2000: £59.7 million

  January 2002

  Optical patient fraud

  First full measurement exercise completed

  1999–2000: £13.25 million

  January 2002

  Optical contractor fraud

  Baseline measurement exercise completed

  Sums found to be 'at risk' 1999–2000: £20.9 million

  February 2002

  GMS fraud

  Baseline measurement exercise nearing completion

  Data currently with statisticians for analysis

  —

  Health authorities and NHS trusts

  Initial work commenced

  —

  —

  The estimated levels of losses to fraud and corruption in the Departments vote 2 budget are as follows:

  £

  1999–2000

  48,148.81

  2000–01

  56,831.99

  Department of Health: Information collections on gender, race, disability or age since August 19971

  Title

  Information collected2

  Collection period

  Population surveys3

  ONS omnibus survey (Sun exposure 1997, ultraviolet monitor 1999, physical punishment of Children 1998)

  Age, gender, ethnicity

  Survey is annual, but elements vary—these items may not be included every year

  National survey of patient experience

  Age, gender, ethnicity, disability (limited information)

  Annual

  Mental health of children and adolescents in Great Britain 1999

  Age, gender, ethnicity, special learning difficulties

  Every five years

  Adult psychiatric morbidity among adults 16–74 in Great Britain 2000

  Age, gender, ethnicity

  Period varies, but every few years

  Ethnic minority psychiatric illness rates in the community

  Age, gender, ethnicity, disability (limited information)

  Every 5 years

  Mental health of carers

  Age, gender, ethnicity, disability (limited information)

  Period varies, but every few years

  Mental health of children looked after in Great Britain

  Age, gender, ethnicity, disability

  New survey—likely to be every 5 years

  Learning difficulties survey 2003

  Age, gender, ethnicity, disability

  Feasibility commissioned

  Health survey for England—ethnic minority Groups 1999

  Age, gender, ethnicity

  Annual, but elements vary

  Health survey for England—health of older people 2000

  Age, gender, ethnicity, disability

  Annual, but elements vary

  Health care

  Smoking cessation services return

  Age, gender, ethnicity

  Annual

  NHS written complaints

  Ethnicity

  Annual

  NHS performance indicators

  Age, gender

  Annual

  Mixed sex hospital accommodation

  Gender

  Annual

  Social care

  Children looked after by local authorities

  Age, gender, ethnicity

  Annual

  Children in need census

  Age, gender, ethnicity, disability (limited information)

  Biannual

  Children on child protection registers

  Age, gender, ethnicity

  Annual

  Referrals, assessments and packages of care

  Age (limited), ethnicity

  Annual

  Social services staffing return

  Gender, ethnicity

  Annual

  1 Includes only those collections which started after August 1997, or those previously existing collections that changed after August 1997 to include gender, race, disability or age. "One off" surveys are also not included.

  2 For some collections, the types of information shown have been built up over time; e.g. data on ethnic origin may not have been collected for as long as those for age.

  3 The population surveys listed are commissioned by the Department but carried out by others (eg ONS).

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  From 2002 work to counter fraud and corruption in the Department of Health vote 2 budget will be the responsibility of the NHS counter fraud service.

  Data
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new data series separated by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by his Department since August 1997. [54832]

  Ms Blears
  The readily available information on new or revised statistical data collections is shown in the table.
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  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to maintain the continuity of medical, epidemiological, financial and other data series in respect of(a) the former Isle of Wight health authority, (b) the former Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire health authority, (c) other health authorities which have been abolished since 1997 and (d) other health authorities which may be abolished; what his policy is on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [55082]

  Ms Blears
  Throughout all changes to the structure of the national health service, whether the merger of two health authorities or the major restructuring of the NHS that took place in April this year, the need to maintain sound data systems has been paramount. Throughout the changes, the Department's officials involved in the collation and publication of data have and continue to take action to ensure the continuity of key data streams is maintained.

  Since 1 April, primary care trusts have taken on the majority of functions previously carried out by health authorities and will be the focal point locally for improving the health of the community, securing high quality services and integrating health and social care locally. They will become the unit of collection for many data systems.

  Horton Hospital Site
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the future of the original Horton hospital site and corrugated iron buildings in Horton Lane, Epsom. [54899]

  Ms Blears
  Apart from a small area within the site that will continue in national health service use, Horton hospital is surplus to requirements and is programmed to be sold during 2002–03.

  The corrugated iron buildings situated at the Old Moat Country Centre are in the ownership of Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust. Departmental officials have been advised that the buildings are mainly empty and the trust proposes they be demolished and the site reused for a use to be finalised.

  Foot Care
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the provision of chiropody and podiatry services in the south-east of England in(a) 1997 and (b) 2000. [54808]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Government are aware that chiropody and podiatry services play a vital role in helping to maintain people's independence. For older people especially, we see these services as having a strong preventative role in helping them maintain their mobility and may enable them to stay in their homes rather than move prematurely to a residential care or nursing home. Chiropodists and podiatrists have been involved in developing the national service frameworks for older people and diabetes to ensure adequate standards for these services.

  The Government recognise that, in common with the rest of the country, the south-east needs more chiropodists and podiatrists. We are committed to recruiting more allied health professionals, which includes chiropodists/
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  podiatrists, through the NHS Plan targets and will build on the 6,500 extra allied health professionals as announced in the 2002 Budget. £3 million was allocated in 2001–02 to modernise allied health professionals education and training programmes. Chiropody and podiatry were among the first group of specialities to be addressed.

  Obesity
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department have to increase awareness regarding the dangers of obesity and the need for exercise; how many cases of obesity have been diagnosed in each year since 1997 in(a) children and (b) adults; what the cost has been of treating obesity since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [54793]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government have made policy commitments through the NHS Plan, the Cancer Plan, the coronary heart disease national service framework and the diabetes national service framework to tackle the rising trend in obesity. As required by the coronary hear disease national service framework, local programmes of effective policies on promoting healthy eating and physical activity and reducing overweight and obesity are under way.

  We have put in place major cross-Government work. Specifically, this includes a national school fruit scheme and a wider five-a-day programme to increase access to and consumption of fruit and vegetables, supported by £52 million from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF). Also, work is under way with industry to improve the overall balance of diet including salt, fat and sugar in food.

  Among children, there has been significant investment in primary physical education and sports facilities, including £581 million from the NOF for a physical education and sports programme.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has provided guidance on the use of the anti-obesity drugs orlistat and sibutramine.

  Information on how many cases of obesity have been diagnosed each year is not held. However, the Department's hospital episode statistics for in-patient admissions in England showed a rise in children (0 to 16-years-old) from 152 in 1996–97 to 240 in 2000–01 and a rise in adults (over 16) from 630 in 1996–97 to 828 in 2000–01.

  The National Audit Office report "Tackling Obesity in England", published in February 2001, estimated that in 1998 the direct cost to the NHS was at least £0.5 billion a year, or about 1.5 per cent. of NHS expenditure. It has also estimated a direct cost of £2 billion a year to the wider economy.

  Alcohol
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of attendances at accident and emergency departments were alcohol-related in each of the last five years. [54991]

  Ms Blears
  The data are not available centrally. The Health Education Authority carried out a survey in 1998, which was published in the journal "Alcohol and Alcoholism", which indicated that one in six people
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  attending accident and emergency departments for treatment had alcohol-related injuries or problems, rising to eight out of I0 at peak times.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much central Government funding was allocated to preventative work in relation to alcohol misuse in each of the last five years, [54992]

  Ms Blears
  Most of the work on the prevention of alcohol misuse is undertaken at local level by national health service health promotion units and primary health care professionals such as general practitioners and practice nurses. It is not possible to separately identify the funds devoted to this alcohol misuse prevention work.

  Details of the central funding allocated by the Department to health promotion work on alcohol misuse during each of the last five years are as follows:

  £

  1997–98

  868,000

  1998–99

  582,000

  1999–2000

  500,000

  2000–01

  500,000

  200–02

  400,000

  The figures for 1997–98 and 1998–99 also include an element towards the running costs of the health education authority. This element does not appear in the figures for subsequent years.

  The Department for Education and Skills provides substance misuse education in schools. Substance misuse education covers alcohol, tobacco and drugs. The Department for Education and Skills has allocated an additional £29.5 million to substance misuse education over the last three years.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of teenagers who(a) drink alcohol once a week and (b) drink more than the recommended benchmarks for alcohol in (i) each NHS region and (ii) England. [54993]

  Ms Blears
  The information available is given in the tables. The sample sizes for the 16 to 19 age group are too small to provide reliable results at NHS regional level.

  Table 1: Percentage of pupils aged 11 to 15 usually drinking at least once a week, England 2000

  Government office region

  Percentage

  Base

  North-east

  22

  425

  North-west/Merseyside

  18

  997

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  19

  578

  East midlands

  17

  686

  West midlands

  16

  928

  Eastern

  22

  817

  London

  11

  564

  South-east

  19

  1,318

  South-west

  18

  721

  England

  18

  7,034

  Source:

  Department of Health school survey, published as "Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2000".
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  Table 2: Drinking behaviour among adults aged 16 to 19, by gender, England, 2000

  Percentage

  Usually drink at least once a week

  Drank more than 3–4 units on at least one day last week

  Base

  Men

  64

  48

  316

  Women

  51

  34

  312

  Note:

  Current Department of Health advice is that regular consumption of between three and four units a day for men (between two and three for women) will not accrue significant health risk. Regular drinking above these levels is not recommended because of the progressive health risk this carries.

  Source:

  Taken from the Office for National Statistics General Household Survey, published as "Living in Britain—Results from the 2000 General Household Survey". The percentages have been calculated using weighted data—the bases given are unweighted.

  Folic Acid
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce folic acid supplements into flour following the UK Health Department and Food Standards Agency meeting on 18 March. [54999]

  Yvette Cooper
  A report of the joint stakeholders meeting held on 18 March is posted on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website: http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/ yourviews/foliacid/folicacidmeetingreport

  The FSA Board discussed the issue of folic acid fortification at an open meeting on 9 May 2002. The board took into account the comments made at the stakeholders meeting and from the consultation exercise carried out in 2000. The board paper and a summary of the discussion have been posted on the FSA website: http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/FSA02-05-02.pdf; http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/news/ newsarchive/62488

  Health Ministers will consider options for action, taking into account any advice from the FSA and the Health Departments.

  Ward Matrons
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if all hospitals in England(a) had in 2001–02 and (b) have for 2002–03 in place senior sisters or modern matrons with a ward environment budget of over £5,000. [55269]

  Mr. Hutton
  Ward environment budgets were introduced on 1 October 2000. In 2001–02 each budget was to be worth be worth a minimum of £5,000 and placed under the direct control of a ward sister or charge nurse. The budget can be spent on whatever the ward sisters and charge nurses that manage the ward consider will best enhance and humanise patient care.

  It is the responsibility of each trust to allocate ward environment budgets, worth a minimum of £5,000. Trusts also have the freedom to create larger budgets for some or all of their wards.

  Primary Care Premises
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer, of 2 May 2002,Official Report, column 1003W, on primary care premises, how many separate premises were improved since March 1999. [55406]

  Mr. Hutton
  Data on refurbished premises only has been collected since April 2000 and 640 were reported in health authority returns up to December 2001.

  Department of health vacancies survey vacancies in the specified trusts, for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff three month vacancy rates1,2 and numbers3

  1999

  2000

  2001

  3 month vacancy rates (percentage)

  3 month vacancies

  3 month vacancy rates (percentage)

  3 month vacancies

  3 month vacancy rates (percentage)

  3 month vacancies

  Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5.1

  70

  Qualified

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5.6

  70

  Unqualified

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0.0

  0

  Kent and Sussex Weald NHS Trust

  0.0

  0

  3.1

  20

  —

  —

  Qualified

  0.0

  0

  3.3

  20

  —

  —

  Unqualified

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  —

  —

  Mid Kent Healthcare NHS Trust

  0.0

  0

  4.9

  40

  —

  —

  Qualified

  0.0

  0

  5.5

  40

  —

  —

  Unqualified

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  —

  —

  Notes:

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

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

  3. Vacancy numbers are rounded to the nearest ten.

  4. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

  5. Totals may not equal sum of component parts due to rounding.

  6. Kent & Sussex Weald NHS Trust and Mid Kent Healthcare NHS Trust merged in April 2000 to become Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

  7. Not applicable

  Source:

  Department of Health Vacancies Survey

  Department of Health non-medical workforce census

  As stated above Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells National Health Service Trust was formed from the merger of Kent and Sussex Weald and Mid Kent Healthcare NHS Trusts in April 2000. For 1999 Mid Kent Healthcare reported a sickness absence rate of 4.68 per cent. Kent and Sussex Weald did not return data. In 2000 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells reported a sickness absence rate of 5.3 per cent. for the calendar year. Figures for 2001 are not yet available.

  NHS Staff (Religion)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collect statistics on the religious affiliation of staff employed in the NHS with special reference to Muslim women in the work force; and if he will make a statement. [55439]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not collect these data centrally and there are no plans to do so. Ministers are, however, concerned about the treatment of staff as a result of their religion or belief and through the "Positively Diverse" programme are engaged in a service-wide initiative to look at how local employers can best ensure that their work force reflects the communities they serve.

  Nurses (Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells)
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) nurse vacancies there were in and (b) nurses left the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in each of the last three years; and what was the average level of absenteeism in each of these years. [55178]

  Ms Blears
  Figures on vacancy rates are only available centrally up to 2001. Information for the years 1999–2001 is given as follows:

  Progress is being supported by local target setting to increase the representation of people from black and minority ethnic communities, in those sections of the work force were they are currently under-represented.

  Arthritis
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further plans he has to help sufferers of arthritis. [55273]

  Ms Blears
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued its guidance on 22 March 2002 which recommended the use of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and etanercept and infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

  On 5 December 2001, the Government announced that they would meet their manifesto commitment to ensure that patients receive drugs and treatments recommended by NICE on the national health service if deemed appropriate by their clinicians. Directions have been issued obliging health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for recommended treatments.

  People with arthritis will benefit from the emerging expert patients programme which will see the NHS provide training in self-management skills for people with

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  long term chronic conditions. The first pilot phase has recently begun in selected primary care trust sites, with activity to take place both on a generic and a disease-specific basis. Also, the Medical Research Council and the Department's policy research programme is funding major research projects into arthritis.

  Orthopaedic Surgery
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting times for operations for people in need of orthopaedic surgery. [55272]

  Mr. Hutton
  The NHS Plan sets out the progress we want to make on waiting over the coming years. Each year maximum waiting times will fall so that, by the end of 2005, the maximum in-patient waiting time will be cut to six months and the maximum out-patient waiting time for a first outpatient appointment will be cut to three months. Urgent cases will continue to be treated much faster. All patients will benefit from shorter waiting times as maximum waiting times reduce in the years leading up to 2005.

  As a step towards achieving the NHS Plan targets from 1 April 2002 the maximum waiting time for in-patients has been cut from 18 to 15 months and a new maximum waiting time of six months has been established for patients waiting for their first out-patient appointments with a consultant.

  The "Action On" programmes have been established by the Government as part of the modernisation of the NHS. They are led by the National Patients' Access Team (NPAT). Their aim is to significantly encourage and disseminate best practice, improve access to care and to reduce variations in waiting times in the four areas with the longest waiting times: cataracts; orthopaedics; ear, nose and throat; and dermatology. Local services are helped to identify their constraints and to find effective solutions.

  Mental Health
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new proposals and additional resources he plans to allocate to deal with mental ill health and(a) drug use, (b) ethnic minority communities and (c) children and youth; and if he will make a statement. [55804]

  Jacqui Smith
  The mental health national service framework (NSF), published 1999, is a 10-year programme which sets out national standards for mental health. The NHS Plan built on the NSF and provided over £329 million by 2004 to fast forward the NSF and deliver our NHS Plan commitments. Plans for mental ill health are:

  (a) drug use—include every health authority area having received a 30 per cent. increase in funding for the drug treatment pool budget for 2002–03 for drug treatment. The national treatment agency for substance misuse are working to reduce drug treatment waiting times around the country to ensure that all drug users who need access to treatment services will receive it. A good practice guide has also been published on dual diagnosis;

  (b) ethnic minority communities—a strategy on black and minority ethnic mental health is currently being prepared and will be sent out for consultation later this year; and

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  (c) children and youth—a strategy for the development of child and adolescent mental health services is on-going with the aim of improving the overall quality and accessibility of local services for children and young people with mental health problems. £85 million has been invested over the last three years across the NHS and local authorities, with each agency receiving funding. A further £20 million is being allocated to local authorities this year.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the increased spending earmarked for mental health has been allocated in the current year. [55628]

  Jacqui Smith
  The increased funding of £75 million allocated to health authorities in 2002–03, earmarked for mental health, was allocated with baseline health authority allocations. A detailed description how health authority allocations are calculated can be found in the health service circular ref: HSC 2001–024 Health Authority Revenue resource 2002–03.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 29 April 2002,Official Report, column 622W, on mental health, if he will make a statement on the range of initiatives being introduced to address issues of inequalities in access to mental health services for people from Asian, black and minority ethnic groups with special reference to how such initiatives are being developed and implemented; and where and when professionals and members of the public can learn more. [55999]

  Jacqui Smith
  Addressing inequalities in access for minority ethnic groups is recognised as a crucial issue for mental health services. Consultation documents on the black and minority ethnic mental health and women's mental health strategies will be published later this year.

  Following publication of these documents, the Department will be consulting with a wide range of key stakeholders, including service users and carers and representative organisations, to develop final implementation strategies.

  The strategies will be placed on the Department's website when published.

  Also, to assist implementation of mental health policy the National Institute for Mental Health for England (NIMHE) will develop targeted programmes aimed at assisting change within service and improving access to services. NIMHE will disseminate good practice and create and share developing evidence through its research development centres.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the primary care mental health workers he intends to recruit will work in children's and adolescents' services; and if he will make a statement setting out his plans for the recruitment of extra primary care mental health workers for children and adolescents [56323]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]The NHS Plan said that by 2004 "one thousand new graduate primary care mental health workers trained in brief therapy techniques of proven effectiveness will be employed to help general practitioners manage and treat common mental health problems in all age groups, including children". Additional financial resources for their appointment are planned for next year. This year we are concentrating on the establishment of training programmes to support them.
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  Last year the NHS Modernisation Fund allocated million of targeted funding to improve child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) at primary care level (which could include the recruitment of primary care mental health workers) in accordance with the national CAMHS development strategy. Preliminary results from Departmentally-commissioned research into CAMHS in Primary Care indicate that one third of provider trusts have already developed primary mental health worker posts and one quarter had plans to do so.

  Human Rights and Biomedicine Convention
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government intend to sign and ratify the European Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine 1997. [55632]

  Ms Blears
  The convention covers a wide range of complex ethical and legal issues, many of which have been, and remain, actively under debate in the United Kingdom over recent years. The Government wish to consider the conclusions of these debates before reaching a final view on signature and ratification of the convention.

  Care Homes (Lancashire)
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet union representatives from Lancashire care homes to discuss the proposed closure of care homes by Lancashire county council. [55787]

  Jacqui Smith
  I recently met the leaders of Lancashire county council and some hon. Members representing constituencies in the county to discuss the provision of care services for older people in Lancashire. I have previously met the Lancashire care association.

  I should be happy to meet union representatives from Lancashire care homes to discuss their concerns about the council's plans.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the availability of residential care home places in Lancashire; [57286]

  (2) the proposed closure of the Galloway's Home for the Blind, Penwortham, near Preston. [56692]

  Jacqui Smith
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (David Borrow) on 7 May 2002,Official Report, columns 17 and 18.

  Patient Information Advisory Group
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken towards setting up the Patient Information Advisory Group; and when it is expected to be operational. [55871]

  Ms Blears
  The Patient Information Advisory Group has been established and met on 10 December 2001 and 8 March 2002. The membership of the advisory group is as follows:Chairman
  Professor Joan Higgins Members
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  Mumbers

  Dr. Michael Catchpole

  Professor Sir Cyril Chantler

  Dr. Tricia Cresswell

  Mrs. Helen Darracott

  Professor Andrew Haines

  Mr. Michael Hake

  Ms Barbara Meredith

  Ms Helen Miller

  Ms Julia Palca

  Professor Sir Denis Pereira

  Mrs. Shahwar Sadeque

  Ms Karen Thomson Dr.

  Michael Wilks.

  NHS Appointments (Non-attendance)
  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he plans to take to reduce the number of failed appointments in the NHS due to non attendance. [55790]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government have a number of actions in place that will contribute to reducing the number of failed appointments in the national health service due to non-attendance:Booked appointments (including in-patient and out-patient visits) have been shown to reduce the number of failed appointments due to non-attendance. By the end of 2005, all out-patient appointments and in-patient elective admissions will be pre-booked;
  Alongside this, electronic booking systems are being implemented. They will make booking more convenient for patients and clinicians, allow bookings to be easily changed to take account of changing circumstances and over time they will also enable appointment reminders to be issued via phone, email and other technologies;
  All acute hospital trusts now have booking systems in place in at least two specialities/high volume procedures and more than five million patients have now benefited from booked appointments. A fourth wave of the national booking programme, 'moving to mainstream', began in September 2001 and will shift booking to mainstream NHS activity.
  The Modernisation Agency's Theatre Project have issued interim guidance which includes a checklist of actions for addressing patient cancellations, including validating lists and telephoning patients near the date of admission to confirm attendance. Pre-operative assessment is being rolled out as part of operating theatres and pre-operative assessment programme and should reduce non-attendance and last minute patient cancellations;
  Use of partial booking systems support reducing the level of non-attendance by ensuring patients are contacted before their appointment so that they can agree a convenient date and time.

  These initiatives are already starting to make an impact. As the level of booking increases and the guidance from the theatre project is spread across the NHS we will see a reduction in number of failed appointment due to non-attendance.

  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of appointments at GPs' surgeries were not kept by patients in(a) England, (b) Bedfordshire and (c) Luton in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [55756]
  151W
  (2) what the level of failed GP appointments as a result of non-attendance was in each PCT in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [55757]

  Mr. Hutton
  These data are not collected or held centrally.

  Consultants (Suspensions)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical consultants(a) are suspended and (b) have been suspended in each of the last five years. [55691]

  Mr. Hutton
  National Health Service trusts report suspensions lasting six months or longer to the Department. As at 31 December 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, of the 29 hospital and community medical and dental staff who have been suspended for more than six months, 23 are consultants.

  The number of consultants suspended for more than six months in each the last five years is as follows:

  Year

  Numbers

  19971

  4

  1998

  16

  1999

  14

  2000

  19

  2001

  18

  1 This information is unlikely to be accurate due to the data collection methods used at the time.

  Botulinum Toxin Injections
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding for botulinum toxin injections is available to patients in Fordingbridge; and if he will make a statement. [55901]

  Ms Blears
  The information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about(a) the effectiveness and (b) the availability on the NHS of botulinum toxin injections; and if he will make a statement. [55900]

  Jacqui Smith
  For several years, botulinum toxin in very carefully timed and measured doses has been used to treat overactive muscles in adults, particularly around the eyes and in the neck. More recently, it has been used as part of the management of spasticity and dystonia sufferers. It is also useful for people with cerebral palsy. It helps relax muscles so they become less stiff—and this helps walking and movement. Botulinum toxin is usually most effective if the condition affects only a limited group of muscles.

  A decision on whether botulinum toxin treatment should be given to a particular patient would be made by the clinician at the National Health Service trust to whom the patient was referred. The injections are available in certain neurology, ophthalmology, and ear, nose and throat clinics.

  Departmental Staff (Scotland)
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of(a) Civil Service, (b) executive agencies and (c) non-departmental
  152W
  public body jobs under the remit of his Department are located in Scotland; and how many of each have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997. [56308]

  Ms Blears
  The Department has no offices in Scotland and no staff located in Scotland or relocated to Scotland since May 1997.

  The National Radiological Protection Board has 26 staff in Scotland. This represents 8.7 per cent. of its total staff. None have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997.

  Children in Care
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children are in care. [56152]

  Jacqui Smith
  The number of children who were looked after by local councils in England at 31 March 2001 was 58,900.

  This figure excludes children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.

  Source:
  DH Annual publication—Children Looked After by Local Authorities, year ending 31 March 2001, England

  Homeless People
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the percentage of homeless people who have presented themselves at accident and emergency departments where the visit was inappropriate in the last 12 months. [56568]

  Ms Blears
  Information is not collected on the number of patients who are homeless at the time they attend accident and emergency.

  Electrophysiologists
  Martin Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant electrophysiologists are employed in the NHS in each of the past five years; and how many are employed in the London region. [56541]

  Mr. Hutton
  Electrophysiology is not a recognised medical specialty.

  Information about consultant clinical scientists working in electrophysiology is not collected centrally.

  Cancelled Operations (Eastbourne)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled at Eastbourne district general hospital in each of the last 36 months. [56583]

  Ms Blears
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 14 February at column 676W which provided information on cancelled operations at Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust in the proceeding 60 months. Since then, figures for Quarter 3 of 2001–02 have been published. The number of last minute cancellations for non-clinical reasons at the Trust, in this quarter, was 90.

  Health Protection Agency
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Health Protection Agency to be operational; what funds will be available to the agency above the aggregated budgets of its component bodies; and if he will make a statement. [57682]

  Yvette Cooper
  We aim to establish the Health Protection Agency by 1 April 2003, by means of a Regulatory Reform Order. Decisions on budgets for 2003–04 have not yet been announced.

  Parliamentary Question
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the question from the hon. Member for Reading, East tabled for answer on 19 July 2001, on the use of bed strap restraints in nursing homes, ref 5538. [57640]

  Jacqui Smith
  I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on the 11 September 2001. A copy of this letter was placed in the Library, and I have forwarded a further copy to my hon. Friend.

  Epilepsy
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what efforts are being made by his Department to raise awareness of epilepsy as a life threatening condition. [56497]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department has already undertaken a range of initiatives to raise awareness of epilepsy. For example, we have:Supported the epilepsy advisory board to produce "Epilepsy Care—Making it Happen", a tool-kit and source of information designed to improve epilepsy services.
  Commended the clinical standards advisory group (CSAG) report "Services for patients with epilepsy" to the NHS.
  Provided government funding to the joint epilepsy council (JEC) to undertake a project to draw upon the good practice advice in the CSAG report and other recent epilepsy initiatives. The JEC launched its "National Statement of Good Practice for the Treatment and Care of People who have Epilepsy" in May 2002.
  Supported the national sentinel audit into epilepsy related death which is being published in May 2002.
  Published the chief medical officer's (CMG) Annual Report 2001, on the state of the public health, which included a chapter on epilepsy, "Epilepsy—death in the shadows". The report makes a commitment to putting in place an action plan to lower the number of preventable deaths from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy within three months of publication of the sudden unexpected death in epilepsy audit.

  We will continue to raise awareness of epilepsy and are working with the NHS Modernisation Agency to see how its programmes of work could help with this.

  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is developing a clinical guideline for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy to help address widespread variations in clinical practice and contribute to the improvement of services. This will be supported by an appraisal of the clinical and cost effectiveness of new anti-epileptic drugs in children and adults, to help promote appropriate uptake and equitable access.
  154W
  People with epilepsy will also benefit from the expert patients programme, which aims to provide training in self-management skills for people with long term chronic conditions. The first pilot phase in selected primary care group and trust sites will include people with epilepsy.

  These initiatives will contribute to raising awareness of epilepsy and specific trigger factors.

  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the action plan on Epilepsy Death recommended in the Chief Medical Officer's report 2001. [56669]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department will consider the findings of the national sentinel audit of epilepsy related death, which is being published on 20 May 2002. We expect to develop and put in place an action plan to reduce the number of avoidable deaths from epilepsy within three months of publication of the audit report.

  Mr. Barrie Such
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 151W, at the undertaking given in the Adjournment debate on 7 December 2000, Official Report, column 246, if he will make a statement on the progress of the case of Mr. Barrie Such. [572761

  Jacqui Smith
  Mr. Barrie Such is currently an in-patient at Evesham Community Hospital. A discharge package for 24-hour care for Mr. Such has been agreed between local health and social services and will be put in place when Mr. Such is discharged from hospital.

  The discharge plan includes provision for a family property specially adapted to be built with a separate unit to house Mr. Such and carer. Planning permission has now been approved for this property with building completion expected in about four months.

  Smallpox
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 February 2002,Official Report, column 985W, to the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr. Jackson), what the outcome was of the safety and quality control tests performed on vaccine stocks. [440081

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 26 March 2002]Since 1979, vaccine batches have been tested on a rolling basis for maintenance of potency.

  A three month project of vaccine testing in accordance with the original World Health Organisation recommendations for smallpox vaccine manufacture applicable at the time of production for this vaccine, commenced at the beginning of January 2002.

  As the vaccine is a live, biological material, its potency would be expected to decrease over time. Expert advice in September 2001 was that the current stocks of vaccine could still be used. The result of the recent testing show all the current vaccine has a potency at least equivalent to that found in a recent American study to induce adequate clinical and immunological reaction. Further expert advice has confirmed that the findings of the American study can be applied to the United Kingdom's vaccine.

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact the 2002 Budget allocation to the NHS will have on NHS dentistry; and if he will make a statement. [55464]

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

  In the mean time the Government have announced that demonstration sites will be established to test the ideas developed by the options for change group. These sites will look at ways of improving access and oral health.

  TB-infected Meat
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to control the entry of TB-infected meat into the human food chain. [56011]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 13 May 2002]I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that all carcases are inspected after slaughter for signs of bovine TB by Meat Hygiene Service Inspectors, in accordance with the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 (as amended). Those Regulations require the carcases of animals with evidence of generalised tuberculosis to be condemned as unfit for human consumption. Where there is evidence of localised disease the Regulations require the affected parts to be condemned.

  In September 2000 the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food reviewed the measures in place to protect the food chain from risks associated with "M.bovis" and concluded that the risk, if any, from the consumption of meat following assessment and action by the NHS staff in UK abattoirs is very low. The committee made recommendations to the Agency to reduce any residual risk still further. These measures included some changes to inspection procedures in slaughterhouses, and a change to national legislation bringing it fully into line with EU requirements. Copies of the ACMSF report were placed in the Library on 1 February 2002. The Board of the Food Standards Agency has accepted the recommendations and they will be taken forward as appropriate.

  Prescribed Drugs
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent studies he has commissioned in respect of the number of persons suffering side effects from prescribed drugs; and if he will make a statement; [56015]

  (2) how many persons died in the last year for which figures are available from the side-effects of prescribed drugs. [56022]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]A recent pilot study conducted in Liverpool has investigated the frequency of adverse drug reaction-related hospital admissions. The findings of this study suggest that the proportion of such reactions has not altered significantly in the last decade; that is, around 5.5 per cent. of all hospital admissions are due to adverse drug reactions 156W
  (ADRs). A follow-up study is anticipated which should identify areas in which prescribing issues and practices should be addressed in order to reduce the incidence of ADRs in the United Kingdom.

  The ADRs observed during the pilot study were subsequently submitted via the Yellow Card Scheme to the Medicines Control Agency, which is responsible for monitoring the safety of all marketed medicines to ensure that medicines meet acceptable standards of safety and efficacy. Spontaneous reporting schemes, such as the UK's Yellow Card Scheme which has been in operation since 1964, are one of the primary tools used in monitoring drug safety and provide an 'early warning' of previously unrecognised drug safety hazards in association with medicines.

  The Committee on Safety of Medicines/Medicines Control Agency receive reports of suspected ADRs from doctors, dentists, pharmacists and coroners and there is a legal requirement for companies to report suspected ADRs to their drugs. Approximately 18,000–19,000 suspected ADR reports are received each year via this scheme. The number of reports received via the Yellow Card Scheme does not directly equate to the number of people who suffer adverse reactions to drugs for a number of reasons, as this scheme is associated with an unknown level of under reporting. It is important to note that the reporting of a reaction does not necessarily mean it was caused by the drug and may relate to other factors such as the patient's underlying illness or other medicines taken concurrently.

  Over the last 20 years, suspected ADRs submitted via the Yellow Card Scheme with a fatal outcome account for less than 3 per cent. of these reports. The Office for National Statistics also collates data on deaths certified by doctors and coroners as due to adverse effects of drugs in therapeutic use. The quality of these data may be inconsistent as many thousands of doctors write certificates with a wide variation in knowledge, training and practice. In 2000 a total of 159 deaths were certified as due to adverse effects of drugs in therapeutic use.

  Pesticides
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent studies he has commissioned relating to the health dangers from chronic low-level exposure to a mixture of pesticides; and if he will make a statement. [56020]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]The Food Standards Agency asked the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) to critically review the science of mixtures of pesticides and veterinary medicines and consider the implications for the risk assessment process.

  Part of the COT's consideration of this issue has been the compilation and review of information covering a wide number of areas, including scientific data on exposure to mixtures of pesticides. These are considered in detail in the report which will be published in July.

  Mid Essex Hospital Trust
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of delayed discharges in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area was for the most recent period for which figures are available. [55740]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]Information on delayed discharges is collected centrally at health authority level. Service and financial framework

  Department of Health vacancies survey, March 2001. Vacancies in NHS trusts by specific NHS trust, specified staff groups—3 month vacancy rates1,2 and numbers3

  3 month vacancy rates (percentage)

  3 month vacancies

  Staff in post (wte)

  Staff in post (hc)

  All medical and dental staff

  1.5

  0

  130

  160

  All nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff

  1.5

  20

  1,330

  1,730

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

  2 Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies pluss staff in post from the September 2000 medical and dental and non-medical workforce censuses (whole time equivalents).

  3 Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to nearest 10.

  Notes:

  1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.

  2. Medical and dental figures exclude staff in training.

  3. Due to rounding calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal actual vacancy rates.

  Source:

  Department of Health Vacancies Survey 2001

  Department of Health non-medical workforce census 2000

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census 2000

  Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest calculation of the average waiting time at the accident and emergency department at Broomfield hospital, Chelmsford is: and what the equivalent figure was 12 months before. [55733]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]The average waiting time in accident and emergency departments is not collected.

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each prescription drug and medical appliance subject to multiple prescription charges; and if he will make a statement. [54366]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]Tights supplied by hospitals (they are not prescribable by general practitioners) and pairs of elastic hosiery attract a double prescription charge. Otherwise one charge is payable for each type of appliance and each quantity of a drug supplied. This rule applies regardless of whether the different drugs or appliances are supplied in one pack or more. Examples of combination packs where more than one charge is payable are included in Part XVI of the Drug Tariff.

  Children's Services
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names and positions of the senior members of staff who from 1 April have responsibility for children's services in each strategic health authority, PCT and NHS trust. [56160]
  158W
  data for delayed discharges in north Essex health authority for Quarter 3 2001–02 are in the Library.

  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area for(a) nurses and (b) doctors. [55739]

  Yvette Cooper
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]The information requested is shown in the table.

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]This information is not collected centrally. Strategic health authorities are responsible for ensuring that primary care and acute trusts have in place mechanisms to assure high quality service provision, such as those recommended as part of national documents or standards. Directors of health and social care have a role in overseeing the activities of strategic health authorities.

  Sick Leave
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many days of sick leave were taken in his Department last year; how many related to employees suffering(a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to his Department. [56481]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 14 May 2002]: The latest annual report published by Cabinet Office "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service—2000" shows that, in 2000, the Department's unadjusted average working day absence per staff year was 5.5, down from 6.6 in 1999. Figures for 2001 or later years are not yet published.

  While the Department collects data on sickness absence, which includes stress, it is not possible to identify if the cause of the recorded 'stress related illness' was work related, or due to other work related mental health problems. It is not possible, therefore, to identify these costs.

  The Department is committed to meeting its public sector agreement (PSA) target on reducing sickness absence as agreed with the Cabinet Office and Treasury,

  159W
  and has a number of procedures in place to help managers and staff to be aware of and to reduce work-related stress. The Department has:
  issued guidance for managers and staff in line with health & safety legislation on 'Working Time Regulations'.
  has a mental health policy that recognises that stress at work is a significant contributor to mental health problems.
  issued guidance to managers and staff on the causes of stress and how to reduce this
  provides staff with a free confidential counselling service, "Care First", and
  encourages its staff to attend relevant training or discuss any concerns with their line managers.

  Hepatitis C
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received liver transplants under the NHS for conditions related to infection with Hepatitis C in each of the last five years; and what the unit cost of such operations was compared with drug therapies. [56335]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]Liver transplants are only performed on people with Hepatitis C if they have liver failure which is normally due to the development of post hepatitis liver cirrhosis. Each liver transplant cost the National Health Service approximately £66.000 and there is no alternative drug therapy. The number of liver transplant performed in England for Hepatitis C cirrhosis in the last five years is:

  Number

  1997

  54

  1998

  60

  1999

  69

  2000

  56

  2001

  59

  International Recruitment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2002,Official Report, column 1025W, on international recruitment, what the website address listing will be where those agencies who comply with the Code of Practice on International Recruitment will be published; [56627]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2002, Official Report, column 1025W, on international recruitment, which (a) international recruitment agencies, (b) their representative bodies and (c) other stakeholders have been asked to establish arrangements whereby agencies can register their agreement to comply with the Code of Practice on international recruitment; [56628]

  (3) pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2002, Official Report, column 1025W, on international recruitment, what steps he is taking to ensure that overseas nurses will receive information relating to the compliance of international nurse recruitment agencies to the Code of Practice; [56629]

  (4) pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2002, Official Report, column 1025W, on international recruitment, how many of his officials have been assigned to implement the Code of Practice on international nurse recruitment. [56630]
  160W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 16 May 2002]The Department of Health is working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Work Permits UK, Independent Healthcare Association, Recruitment and Employment Confederation, Registered Nursing Homes Association, UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing and other professional bodies to ensure that all potential recruits have access to comprehensive information and to identify commercial agencies who are recruiting healthcare professionals from abroad.

  To date the following agencies have been identified:

  Areo Allied

  BMB International

  Cathy Hardy Associates Ltd.

  D. P. Healthcare

  Drake International

  ETI Recruitment

  Farochilen Nurses Placement

  First Gateway Recruitment Ltd.

  First Call Care Ltd.

  Geneva Health International

  Global Nurses Ltd.

  Global Recruitment Associates Ltd.

  Health Connections

  Health Professionals

  Interchange

  Jenrick Medical

  Kate Cowhig International Recruitment Ltd.

  Medic International

  Nestor Healthcare Group

  Nightingale Nursing

  Norman Broadbent International Executive Search

  O'Grady Peyton Europe

  Prime Time Healthcare

  ProCare Ltd.

  Professional Connections (UK) Ltd.

  Pulse

  Recruitment and Employment Confederation

  RGN Ltd.

  Rutledge Recruitment

  Scotnursing Ltd.

  Search Medical

  Seven Sisters Hospital Services

  St. Georges Ltd.

  Strand Nurses Bureau

  Sugarman Medical Ltd.

  WYMAS International Recruitment department

  Worldwide Healthcare Exchange

  Yorkshire Medical Services.

  The final list of agencies who comply will appear on the Department of Health's website at http:// www.doh.gov.uk/international-recruitment

  The Department of Health has an international recruitment team of six officials and a network of 12 national health service based international recruitment co-ordinators and advisors working to implement the Code of Practice.
  161W
  Workforce Development Confederations are working with NHS employers to ensure collaborative and ethical international recruitment, including compliance to the Code of Practice, in their area

  Advisory Committee Mandates
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Standing Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products 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. [55364]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply

  The Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) was originally established under Article 16 of Directive 81/851/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to veterinary medicinal products.

  Under Article 27 of Regulation (EEC) No 2309–93 laying down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA), the CVMP is responsible for formulating the opinion of the EMEA on any question concerning the admissibility of the files submitted in accordance with the centralised procedure, the granting, variation, suspension or withdrawal of an authorisation to place a veterinary medicinal product on the market arising in accordance with the provisions Title III of Regulation (EEC) No 2309/93.

  The CVMP met on 11 occasions during 2001 and has met five times so far this year.

  There are two UK members on the CVMP. Currently the committee is also chaired by the UK.
  162W
  The cost of its work is met by the EMEA. There are no direct costs to public funds although the salaries of officials representing the UK and preparing for meetings are met from public funds. Details of its work can be found on the EMEA website and in press releases issued by the EMEA.

  As an agency established by Community legislation the CVMP is accountable to the EMEA and ultimately to the European Parliament.

  Coolants
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the climate change impact is of using(a) HFC 134a and (b) 407. [56388]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  Total UK greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 664.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2000. HFC134a and HFC407c contributed respectively 2.61 million tonnes and 0.35 million tonnes to these emissions. Together, they represented about 0.5 per cent. of the total.

  PFI Projects
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the PFI-funded hospital projects started or under construction since 1 May 1997; and what financial assessment has been made relating to the(a) saving and (b) cost to the public purse in each case. [56104]

  Mr. Hutton
  A list of all major private finance initiative contracts which have reached financial close since May 1997. showing net present costs of public sector comparator versus private finance option (at the time of signing contracts), has been placed in the Library; as has a table of unitary payments for the same schemes for each of the next 15 years, ie the amount each trust will be paying to its private sector partner.

  Camp X-Ray: UK Detainees
  Camp X-Ray: UK Detainees
  Poor Countries: Debt Relief
  Poor Countries: Debt Relief
  Immigration Removal Centres Insurance
  Immigration Removal Centres Insurance
  Northern Ireland: Illegal Importation of Fuel
  Northern Ireland: Illegal Importation of Fuel
  Northern Ireland: Illegal Distilling of Liquor
  Northern Ireland: Illegal Distilling of Liquor
  Sex Discrimination Act 1975
  Sex Discrimination Act 1975
  Turkey
  Turkey
  Gibraltar
  Gibraltar
  Iraq
  Iraq
  WTO: Dispute Settlement Understanding
  WTO: Dispute Settlement Understanding
  Broadband Services
  Broadband Services
  Furniture Fire Safety Regulations: Manchester
  Furniture Fire Safety Regulations: Manchester
  Animal Health Bill
  Animal Health Bill
  Illegal Meat Imports
  Illegal Meat Imports
  Hunting with Dogs
  Hunting with Dogs
  Private Abortion Clinics: Advertising
  Private Abortion Clinics: Advertising
  Strategic Health Authorities
  Strategic Health Authorities
  National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group
  National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group