Written Answers of 17 October 2002

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Medicines
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to her letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 15 September, when she will publish the results of the Working Group on Access to Medicines for the Poor. [74447]

  Clare Short
  The High Level Working Group on Access to Medicines brought together Government, foundations, international organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. These stakeholders worked together on the Report to the Prime Minister which will be published shortly.

TRANSPORT

  Road Improvements
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the timetable for each stage until the opening of the A303 (T) Stonehenge improvement scheme, with specific reference to the(a) Countess Road flyover and (b) Chicklade bypass; and if he will make a statement. [72616]

  Mr. Jamieson
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]The proposed timetable for the A303 (T) Stonehenge Improvement scheme is—

  publication of draft orders

  early 2003

  public inquiry

  late autumn 2003

  decision

  2004

  start of works (subject to the above)

  2005

  completion

  2008

  The construction of a flyover at Countess roundabout is part of this scheme and, subject to the completion of statutory procedures, is expected to open in Summer 2006.

  The A303 Chicklade Bottom—Mere Improvement is one of the schemes that were remitted to the London to South West and South Wales Multi-Modal Study (SWARMMS). The study recommended that this improvement should be taken forward to provide, with other improvements to the A303, an improved strategic route into the south west of England, and is supported by the South West Regional Assembly. The representations received on the study are being reviewed and an announcement will be made in due course.

  Aircraft Noise
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent airports have powers to restrict aircraft use by reference to engine noise levels. [74827]
  906W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Restrictions on aircraft use by reference to engine noise levels must be compatible with the recommended standards and resolutions of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and with the relevant directives and regulations of the European Union, in particular Directive 2002/30/EC on rules and procedures relating to operating restrictions at airports. Subject to these constraints, and to the airport's licence conditions, an airport may restrict the access of aircraft on noise grounds, either absolutely or subject to conditions, provided it does so in a non-discriminatory fashion.

  Multi-Modal Studies
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government's Code of Practice on Written Consultation applies to multi-modal studies; and if he will make a statement. [75604]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In certain circumstances Ministers can decide to depart from elements of the Code of Practice on Written Consultation issued by the Cabinet Office in December 2000. We decided in October 2001 that the Multi-Modal Studies should not be bound by the Code's requirement for a 12-week consultation period for their consultation exercises.

  The main reason for departing from the Code is that consultation is not a one-off exercise but an integral part of the Study process. Key stakeholders and the wider public are consulted at various stages during a Study. In addition to specific consultation events, members of the public and key partners are kept informed of progress through tailor made leaflets and newsletters. Most Studies have also established specific websites or have a page within the Government Office website where key documents are posted.

  Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to propose a Harbour Revision Order to reconstitute the Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority; and if he will make a statement. [74549]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We have received an application from the Authority itself for a Harbour Revision Order to reconstitute the Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority. This Order was formally advertised (in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Harbours Act 1964) in May and June of this year. No formal objections were received during the 42 day period for such objections to be made and we hope to be in a position to make this Order in the near future.

  Zero Sulphur Fuels
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to ensure zero sulphur fuels are available within the UK. [72378]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A new European Directive is in the closing stages of agreement that will, subject to final negotiation between the Member States and the European Parliament, require sulphur-free petrol and diesel to be widely available from 1 January 2005, with all petrol and diesel sold for road-use being sulphur-free from 1 January 2009. This Directive is expected to be adopted in the coming months.
  907W
  Two recent initiatives will ensure sulphur free petrol and diesel fuel is increasingly available in the UK over the next few years.

  In his last Budget statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced plans to introduce duty incentives favouring sulphur free fuels in 2003, subject to agreement with the European Commission. This announcement was aimed at providing the oil industry with early notification so that they could plan their investment in the necessary refining technology accordingly.

DEFENCE

  Terrorism
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the reserve forces will continue to support operations as part of the campaign against international terrorism; and if he will make a statement. [76115]

  Dr. Moonie
  With the expiry of the call-out order made last October, a new order has been made to enable reservists to continue to be called out into service to support military operations in Afghanistan and related operations arising as part of the campaign against international terrorism. The new order is effective until 30 September 2003. Over 500 reservists were called out under the order made last October, of whom over half were called out compulsorily. The reservists are providing an invaluable contribution to the operations and we are most grateful for their continuing commitment and their employers' support.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Beryllium
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the agreements and protocols banning the sale of Beryllium to which the United Kingdom is a signatory. [74390]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The United Kingdom is not a signatory to any agreements or protocols banning the sale of Beryllium.

  British Energy
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when she expects to present her proposals for the restructuring of British Energy to the European Commission; [74379]

  (2) When she expects to receive the plans for the restructuring of British Energy required under European Union rules governing state aids. [74380]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Community Guidelines on state aid for rescuing and restructuring firms in difficulty require proof of the repayment of the loan, or termination of the loan guarantee, or the submission of a restructuring or liquidation plan to the Commission within six months of authorisation of the rescue aid measure, subject to 908W
  extension by the Commission. The UK has indicated to the Commission that it will communicate with it within the timescales required by the Guidelines.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards the sale of British Energy's North American assets. [74375]

  Ms Hewitt
  No decisions have been taken and no commitments given on British Energy's long term future at this time.

  Overseas Visits
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the overseas visits made by(a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department since June 2001, stating for each the (i) cost and (ii) purpose. [74591]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have placed in the Libraries of the House details of overseas visits that DTI Ministers have undertaken since June 2001.

  The costs of these overseas visits, attributable to the Ministerial budgets, during this period are as follows:

  Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

  £68,508

  Minister of State for Energy & Construction

  £174,466

  Minister of State for E Commerce and

  Competitiveness

  £56,598

  Minister of State for Employment Relations

  Industry & the Regions

  £37,829

  Minister of State for Trade*

  £68,854

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for

  Competition, Consumers and Markets

  £11,238

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Small

  Business and Export Control

  £40,775

  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Science

  and Innovation

  £46,781

  Note:

  *These charges are shared with the FCO.

  Details of overseas travel undertaken by officials are not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Consultation
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the public consultations undertaken by her Department since 1997, indicating for each consultation(a) if copies were available online, (b) if copies were available in print, (c) the date the time period given for responses opened and (d) the date the time period given for responses closed. [69796]

  Ms Hewitt
  Records relating to consultation documents issued before the introduction of the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultations on 1 January 2001 are riot held centrally. All consultation documents published after 1 January 2001 are available in printed form and are published on the Department's website.

  The list of consultations undertaken by the Department since 1 January 2001, and the dates they were opened and closed, are placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to respond to the letter of 10 July from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North about Mrs. M. Lynch. [74868]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have answered today.

  BNFL
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policy applies to the provision of(a) entertainment and (b) gifts to (i) staff, (ii) ministers and officials and (iii) others by BNFL and its subsidiaries. [73945]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]BNFL's policies on the provision of entertainment and gifts are a matter for the company.

  Ministers and officials if receiving entertainment or gifts from BNFL, or any other company, must maintain standards of propriety in accordance with DTI and Cabinet Office guidance.

  Fuel Stocks
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has held in the last three months with(a) the oil industry, (b) the road haulage industry, (c) UK emergency services and (d) representatives of business organisations about the secure supply of fuels in the event of an oil price spike consequent upon a conflict in Iraq: and if she will make a statement. [74440]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]The Department maintains an ongoing dialogue with the oil industry and other Government Departments who have primary responsibility for the road haulage industry and the UK emergency services. There are agreed procedures in place in case of possible disruption of fuel supplies. We stand ready to discuss issues of the security of oil supplies with other business organisations, should they wish to do so. We shall continue to keep the situation under review.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Hendrick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement concerning fireworks. [76117]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  On 15 October I announced tough new measures to cut the number of firework injuries. The new measures, which will also cut down on the problems of noise and nuisance, include:proposed new regulations banning air bombs;
  a crackdown on illegal markets in fireworks with improved co-ordination of intelligence between Customs and Excise, Health and Safety Executive and Trading Standards Departments; and
  a new drive to encourage local councils to use their powers to curb the problem of noise and nuisance caused by fireworks.
  Also:
  Home Office are piloting fixed penalty notices of £40 in four areas for over 18s caught throwing fireworks in the street.

  910W
  The announcement coincides with the launch of a new hard-hitting national safety campaign including posters and TV to highlight the injuries teenagers have suffered from fireworks misuse.

  European Directives
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the EU directive introduced on reducing further emissions of gases from coal and oil-fired power stations and the implications for electricity prices. [72349]

  Mr. Wilson
  Among its provisions, EC Directive 2001/80/EC, otherwise known as the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD), requires that so called "existing plants" (defined as those for which the original construction or operating licence was granted prior to 1 July 1987) comply with emission limit values (ELVs) for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and dust, by 1 January 2008. Such limits apply to all large combustion plants with a rated thermal input of 50MW or above, not just to power stations.

  As an alternative to meeting ELVs, existing plants may be subject to a National Plan. Such a plan would reduce the total annual emissions of these pollutants to the levels that would have been achieved by applying the ELVs referred to above to the existing plants in operation in the year 2000, on the basis of each plant's operational performance averaged over the last five years of operation up to and including 2000.

  The LCPD leaves it open to Member States to decide whether, instead of pursuing the specified ELV approach, to develop a National Plan approach, which could offer some additional flexibility, while meeting the broad aims of the Directive.

  Existing plants may, however, as a derogation from the LCPD, opt to operate for a maximum of 20,000 hours between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2015 during which time they may operate with less stringent emission limits. At the end of this period, existing plants opting to operate under the 20,000 hour derogation must close.

  We do not yet know which approach to implementing the LCPD would best suit the UK's needs. Such a decision will need to take account of the costs and benefits of each approach, as well as the UK's energy policy objectives. There will be consultations before a decision is taken.

  The implications for electricity prices will not be clearer until consultation and appropriate analysis of future options has been completed.

  EU Committees
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the EU Committee on Electronic Signatures is next due to meet; whether representatives of the Scottish Executive(a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement. [68549]
  911W
  Ms Hewitt
  The Committee last met on 8 July 2002 and there are no further plans to meet. The UK is normally represented by an official from the Department of Trade and Industry. The DTI delegates at this committee represent all of the UK.

  The Scottish Executive is regularly consulted on, and is fully involved in discussions, at official and Minister level, with the Department on the formulation of EU policy which touch on matters which fall within the responsibilities of the Scottish Executive.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if a comprehensive UK-wide assessment has been carried out to identify brownfield sites with sufficiently consistent wind speeds suitable for wind farms. [74514]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government strongly supports the setting up of wind farms on brownfield sites. It is encouraging that a number of projects of this kind are coming forward. We are preparing a UK Wind Speed Database, to be made available on the DTI website, to help developers identify areas of potential opportunity.

  Unsolicited Mail
  Candy Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what information she has collated regarding the effect of the Data Protection Act 1998 on the dissemination of personal details for the distribution of unsolicited mail; [75152]

  (2) if she has plans to make the dissemination of personal details for the distribution of junk mail dependent upon specific permission of an individual. [75153]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mailing Preference Service operated by the Direct Marketing Association helps reduce the amount of unsolicited mail received by individuals who register with the service.

  Under the Data Protection Act 1988, if personal data is being disclosed to a third party for marketing purposes, an individual has the opportunity to opt out. Responsibility for administering and enforcing the Act lies with the Information Commissioner, who is independent of Government.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Consultancies
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list external(a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e)banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by his Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within his Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies. [74686]
  912W
  Mr. MacShane
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Wishart) on 11 June 2002,Official Report, column 1177W, and to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 24 January 2002, Official Report, column 999W.

  In the financial years 2001–2002 and 2002 to date, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has paid a total of £883,027 to two public relations firms for the "Know Before You Go" public awareness campaign. This sum includes design and implementation of the campaign together with management fees. The two firms are: AEA Technology Environment and Biss Lancaster Euro RSCG.

  We have also spent a total of £14,687 on consultancy advice and focus groups related to UK public attitudes towards the European Union. The firms involved were LA Associates/Peter Kellner and ICM Research.

  Providing information on external consultancies other than public relations/communications firms would incur disproportionate costs.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's travel advice on Indonesia. [76174]

  Mr. Straw
  On the night of Saturday 12 October, as soon as we heard of the atrocity in Bali, we recommended against all travel to Bali and all but essential travel to elsewhere in Indonesia.

  In the light of further information and consideration, I have now agreed that we should advise against all travel to Indonesia and recommend that all British citizens should consider leaving Indonesia if their presence is not essential.

  I have also authorised the withdrawal of some dependants and non-essential staff from the British Embassy in Jakarta.

  British citizens who remain should exercise extreme caution especially in public places, including clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship, outdoor recreational venues and other locations frequented by foreigners.

  Baroness Amos, Foreign Office Minister responsible for consular issues, will arrive in Bali this evening, where she will meet with British nationals, their families and friends caught up in this terrible incident. She will also be talking to senior members of the Indonesian Government in Jakarta on Saturday both to discuss the operation in Bali and how to strengthen our co-operation against international terrorism.

  We have a 24 hour operation on the ground in Bali, made up of consular officers, police officers trained in family liaison, and volunteers. We will be reinforcing this team further.

  We are also revising our travel advice for a range of other South East Asian countries to highlight the need for vigilance given the ongoing risk of terrorist activity.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Alcohol and Tobacco
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the rules are governing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco(a) on Court Service premises, (b) in administration areas and (c) by staff on duty outside Court Service premises. [74161]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Staff are expected to use their judgement about alcohol consumption. Any member of staff unfit for work due to the consumption of alcohol could be subject to disciplinary action and dismissed. Members of the public will not be admitted onto court premises whilst significantly under the influence of alcohol, and are forbidden from bringing alcohol onto court premises.

  The smoking policy guidelines aim to provide smoke-free working conditions for those staff who want them, while offering limited facilities for smokers, and help for those who wish to stop smoking. Local arrangements may differ, but in general, those offices and courts with a smoking policy will enforce "no smoking" in staff corridors, toilets, lifts and other common areas, and at meetings and seminars. Before local arrangements are introduced the views of smokers and non-smokers are sought and any differences resolved by agreement. Overall consideration has to be given to the wishes of non-smokers.

  Income Tax
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the Lord Chancellor's proposals are for the amalgamation of divisions of the General Commissioners of Income Tax in Cleveland and North Yorkshire. [76118]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  On 1 October 2002 an Order the Lord Chancellor made came into force, under Section 2(6) of the Taxes Management Act 1970, amalgamating Divisions in both North Yorkshire and Cleveland as follows. The Hartlepool and Stockton Divisions shall be merged into one new Division to be called Hartlepool with Stockton; and the Teeside South and Langbaurgh Divisions shall be merged and into a new Division called Teeside South with Langbaurgh. The amalgamation was made at the request of the General Commissioners in all of the Divisions with the aim of improving the organisational efficiency of the Divisions in the Counties of Cleveland and North Yorkshire. I have placed a copy of the Order amalgamating the Divisions in the Library of this House.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  University Places
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what mechanism she intends to use to guarantee places at universities for students whose exam marks are upgraded as a result of re-marking. [74623]
  914W
  Margaret Hodge
  Universities UK and SCOP, the representative bodies of universities and Higher Education colleges, have already advised all their members to honour the offers they made prior to the publication of A level results in August. If, as a result of the review, a student is now eligible to take up a place, they will be able to do so, either this year or in 2003.

  A-Levels
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what meetings she has held since 1 September with Universities UK and higher education providers to discuss the implications of downgrading of A-levels and the implementation of guaranteed places. [74694]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]: My right hon. Friend met Professor Roderick Floud, President of Universities UK, on 27 September in order to discuss the implications of the A-level grading review.

  Individual Learning Accounts
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money for individual learning accounts has been(a) claimed, (b) paid and (c) withheld or is in dispute in each month since August 2001; and if she will make a statement. [74291]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The amounts claimed, paid, and withheld at the end of each month from August 2001 to end September 2002 are set out in the following table. The amounts in the withheld column relate to those claims from registered Individual Learning Account (ILA) providers which are subject to validation checks and/or investigation. The claims withheld are those which are in dispute.

  At the time of closure on 23 November a total of £19.4 million relating to learning episodes confirmed on the ILA Centre system was awaiting payment and therefore outstanding. Following validation checks payments for eligible learning relating to this amount were subsequently made in December and January.

  ILA programme rules allowed bookings to be made 6 months in advance of the learning episode, so booked learning could be confirmed up to and including 22 May 2002. A paper based claims and payment system was introduced in January 2002 to allow providers to confirm and claim for delivery of this advanced booked learning. Claims, payments and amounts withheld are reflected in the table. In addition an estimated sum of £5.3 million remains unclaimed relating to advance booked learning by providers who cannot be invited to claim until all investigations are complete.

  Month

  Amount claimed (a)

  Amount paid

  Amount withheld/in dispute (c)

  August 2001

  24,672,600

  *26,216,174

  1,580,245

  September 2001

  26,401,842

  25,818,692

  583,150

  October 2001

  39,173,099

  *39,251,249

  0

  November 2001

  51,334,141

  31,789,658

  113,100

  December 2001

  0

  3,495,594

  11,280,502

  January 2002

  0

  *2,241,238

  2,422,450

  February 2002

  559,290

  *507,636

  107,854

  March 2002

  3,299,073

  *1,937,840

  1,365,652

  915W

  Month

  Amount claimed (a)

  Amount paid (b)

  Amount withheld/in dispute (c)

  April 2002

  2,078.824

  *1,555,490

  540,489

  May 2002

  1,048,282

  *928,924

  199,303

  June 2002

  380.898

  *382,371

  68,672

  July 2002

  424,740

  *376,857

  170,918

  August 2002

  20,535

  *20,564

  1,702

  September 2002

  22,069

  *23,671

  0

  Note:

  (Payments marked* include amounts released from earlier claims which had been previously withheld.)

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have been(a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) released without charge, (d) cautioned, (e) prosecuted, (f) acquitted,

  Quarter Ending

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

  (d)

  (e)

  (f)

  (g)

  (h)

  (i)

  (j)

  Dec 01

  27

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Mar 02

  6

  10

  12

  10

  June 02

  2

  Sept 02

  10

  Note:

  698 registered learning providers have been referred to the Department's Compliance Unit.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases of apparent abuse of individual learning accounts by providers have been referred to(a) the Individual Learning Accounts Compliance Unit (b) her Department's Special Investigations Unit and (c) the police; and if she will make a statement. [74290]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Since 23 November 2001, 698 registered Individual Learning Account (ILA) providers have been referred to the ILA Compliance Unit. Of these, 150 have been passed onto to the Department's Special Investigation's Unit (SIU). The Compliance Unit has completed reviews on a further 228 providers. For 70 providers no evidence of irregular claims was found. The remaining 158 providers were sent letters by 1 October setting out the results of the review work and the basis for a settlement. In addition a further 320 providers are awaiting follow-up by the Compliance Unit.

  Of the 150 registered learning providers referred to the SIU, 99 have been referred to the police.

  Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individual learning account providers currently have payments withheld; and if she will make a statement. [74292]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  From commencement of the Individual Learning Account (ILA) programme to the end of September, £16.8 million of claims from 267 registered learning providers has been withheld pending the results of investigations.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when an announcement will he made on a successor scheme to the individual learning account. [74293]
  916W
  (g) convicted, (h) fined, (i) given a community service and (j) jailed in connection with abuse of individual learning accounts, in each quarter since October 2001; how many registered individual learning account providers have been referred to the individual learning accounts compliance unit; and if she will make a statement. [74289]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  In connection with abuse of the Individual Learning Account (ILA) programme, which was closed on 23 November 2001, at the end of September 2002(a) 57 individuals have been arrested (12 individuals were arrested in September 2001), (b) 11 charged, (c) 12 released without charge, (d) 10 cautioned, (e) 1 prosecuted, (f) none acquitted, (g) 1 convicted, (h) none fined, (i) 1 given a community service order and (j) 1 jailed. The table below shows the position by quarter from October 2001.

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The Government is committed to introducing a successor scheme to Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs). The new scheme will build on the best and most successful features of ILAs and take into account the lessons we have learnt from the design and delivery of the programme. It is our intention to make a further announcement later in the autumn.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  British Culture Promotion
  Mr. Mark Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding her Department provides to promote British culture abroad. [73913]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department does not directly fund the promotion of British culture abroad. However, the British Tourist Authority often features aspects of British culture in its programme to attract visitors to this country and many other institutions and events which receive funds from the Department play a significant part in establishing international awareness of British Culture.

  Gambling
  Stephen Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish her response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's report on gambling. [75901]

  Mr. Caborn
  We have today laid before both Houses a Command Paper (no. 5622) setting out the Government's response to the report of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee—"The Government's Proposals For Gambling: Nothing To Lose?"

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies her Department has undertaken to assess the impact of the proposed mid-term CAP review; [72358]

  Mr. Simmons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's discussions with the EU regarding the reform of the CAP. [72360]

  Alun Michael
  Discussions on the mid-term review of the CAP are continuing within the EU. Elements of the package were discussed at the Agriculture Council earlier this week. The Government have submitted evidence to the Select Committee's Inquiry into the reform of the CAP.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement about reforming the Common Agricultural Policy. [72375]

  Alun Michael
  Discussions on the mid-term review of the CAP are continuing within the EU.

  Foot and Mouth Disease
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans exist for dealing with further outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. [72361]

  Mr. Morley
  Contingency plans for a future outbreak of foot and mouth disease are set out in Defra's interim contingency plan, which is available on the Defra website with an electronic mailbox for comments.

  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her assessment of the reports she has received over the last four months on the foot and mouth outbreak. [72373]

  Mr. Morley
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House on 22 July 2002,Official Report, column 669.

  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she next expects to meet representatives of the livestock farming sector to discuss the lessons to he learned from the recent foot and mouth epidemic. [72374]

  Mr. Morley
  I and my ministerial colleagues meet livestock industry representatives on a regular basis. My noble Friend the Minister for Food and Farming chaired a meeting last month with a wide range of interested parties to discuss the Foot and Mouth Disease Inquiry reports.

  Livestock Auction Marts
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what future role she envisages for livestock auction marts. [72363]
  918W
  Mr. Morley
  Livestock auction markets have an important role in the marketing of farm animals between the various stages of production and some markets may be suitable for a range of activities or for more diversified marketing. This issue is of particular importance where large numbers of cross-bred breeding stock and store stock for fattening are sold off the hills to lowland farms such as, for example, in the Northern Uplands. We are in contact with industry interests to help identify and respond to day to day issues as well as to consider together the longer-term marketing framework.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the result of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. [72364]

  Mr. Meacher
  The UK secured good outcomes on many issues including key agreements on:new targets and timetables on access to sanitation, production and use of chemicals, reduction of biodiversity loss, restoration of fish-stocks, creation of marine protected areas, implementation of national strategies for sustainable development;
  urgent actions on access to reliable and affordable energy for all and to increase the share of renewable energy worldwide, illegal logging and fishing. corporate social responsibility, and a framework of programmes to move towards sustainable production and consumption patterns.
  Over 300 multi-stakeholder partnerships to help deliver action on the ground, representing significant additional resources. The UK instigated or supported more than 20, including the Prime Minister's five sectoral initiatives on financial services, water, energy, forestry and tourism.

  Rob Marris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the outcome of the World Summmit on Sustainable Development and its follow up. [76116]

  Margaret Beckett
  The World Summit on Sustainable Development addressed some of the greatest challenges of our times. For over a year I had said the Summit should be about more than just fine words. It should be about a step-change—a move from words to concerted action and implementation. And it was. I also made clear from the beginning that separate fora would take forward discussion on climate change and on trade, including trade in agricultural produce.

  So Johannesburg built on the success of last year's Doha talks on the new trade round, the Marrakech accords on climate change and this year's Monterrey conference on financing for development. It reaffirmed and strengthened the international community's commitment to sustainable development, and reinvigorated the Rio Earth Summit agreements as well as the UN Millennium Development Goals on poverty eradication. There are no silver-bullet solutions, no miracle cures. But what we do have is a new political commitment, momentum and energy for the attainment of a sustainable world.

  As in all negotiations, we were rightly ambitious, given the agenda we had. I judge the final deal reached between the 180 participating countries—for which the UK, led by the Prime Minister, negotiated hard—to he a successful outcome. We went to Johannesburg to

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  make a concrete difference to people's lives. I believe that we succeeded. And, whilst I understand the disappointment of those who pushed us for more, I believe that what was achieved, taken in conjunction with the UN Millennium Development Goals will, if implemented, represent a revolution in the lives of the poorest people on the planet, and the beginnings of a revolution in how we treat the planet itself.

  The Summit agreed an impressive plan of implementation. We agreed a new target to halve by 2015 the proportion of people living without basic sanitation. This will save millions of lives in developing countries, and support existing goals on safe drinking water and health. There are also new targets and timetables on chemicals, biodiversity, marine protection and fish stocks. These and other commitments will galvanise action and set standards for the next 10 years or more.

  The Summit also agreed joint actions on reliable and affordable energy provision for the poor and to urgently and substantially increase the global share of renewable energy sources. The provision of energy is a prerequisite for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Summit did not set a global target for renewables, but even those countries which resisted a global target have nevertheless committed themselves to domestic action. At the Summit the Prime Minister announced that the UK's Export Credit Guarantee Department will make available £50m per year to renewable energy exports to developing countries.

  And on climate change, Johannesburg issued a ringing call for countries to ratify the Kyoto protocol. Three key developing countries—China, India and Brazil—recently ratified. Crucially, in his positive statement at the Summit, the Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov again signalled that Russia is preparing to ratify the Protocol. The Canadian Prime Minister, Chretien, said that Canada will make a decision on ratification later this year. We are hopeful that the Kyoto Protocol might enter into force in early 2003.

  Over 300 new partnerships were also launched at the Summit representing in excess of $235million in resources. We are familiar with the idea of partnerships at home. But this is a bold new idea for the UN. These partnerships will be the unique inheritance of Johannesburg—they are not a substitute for multilateral commitments, but they will provide additional and complementary resources. For example, the EU "Water for Life Initiative" and the UK-led multistakeholder partnership for water and sanitation will support the delivery of the new sanitation target and the existing goals on safe drinking water and health.

  Johannesburg has given the global community a strong mandate for intensified action at global, regional and national levels. More fundamentally, it has forged close links between development and environment policy, in the service of sustainable development. There is now a widespread agreement that development assistance should be directed at helping the poor and that it needs to be sustainable if it is to be of lasting benefit. Sustainable management of natural resources and of the environment are essential for poverty
  920W
  eradication. This now needs to be reflected in the poverty reduction and sustainable development strategies of developing countries.

  We shall work with our partners in the international institutions—the UN, the G8 and the OECD—to ensure that development and environment policy are mutually supportive. We need to ensure that the follow-up to Johannesburg, Monterrey and the Millennium Development Goals is coherent.

  International trade, and climate change issues already have dedicated international processes of their own. On both, the UK Government is taking a lead role.

  The Prime Minister has hammered home the case for trade reform, especially of agricultural subsidies. Developing countries need improved market access, so they can sell their produce fairly, without being hampered by trade-distorting and environmentally-damaging subsidies in the developed countries. This is the single most important issue we need to follow up after Johannesburg. Improved market access and subsidy reform are a joint concern for development and environment policy. Currently OECD countries give around $55billion in overseas aid, but subsidise their agricultural industries by around seven times that amount. CAFOD have suggested that through the CAP the average European dairy cow gets a $2 subsidy a day—the same as the daily income of half the world's population. We will continue to push for reform of agricultural subsidies both within the WTO and, within the EU, on the Common Agricultural Policy.

  On climate change, later this month I shall be in Delhi for the next stage of the UN negotiations on implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

  The implementation of the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy will be a driver for change in Europe. In particular, it will need to reflect the Summit agreement to develop a global ten-year framework of action programmes to accelerate the shift towards sustainable production and consumption. We need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation—to get more from less. The industrialised North has agreed to take the lead on this and it must be central to the EU's Strategy. This means action on a whole range of issues such as energy efficiency, waste minimisation—a real challenge for us in the UK—and integrated product policy.

  But equally important is action we will take at home. We will integrate the Johannesburg agreements and relevant follow-up into UK policy and action, with a sharp focus on the use of technological innovation to deliver sustainable development. If, as a nation, we achieve greater resource efficiency, this will not only help our environment but also improve our competitiveness.

  On energy, we are working towards our 10 per cent. renewable electricity target by 2010. We are making great strides in both energy efficiency and tackling fuel poverty. On climate change we have been leading globally in the Kyoto process. We are on track to meet our Kyoto target of a 12.5 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and have put in place a

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  comprehensive programme of measures to meet our more ambitious domestic goal to reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent.

  The Government will shortly publish an Energy White Paper that addresses how to set the UK on the longer term path to a low carbon economy, as the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and others have recommended. In particular, the Commission has recommended we put ourselves on the path to 60 per cent. reductions in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. We will respond formally to that recommendation at the time of the White Paper, but already it is clear that action on that scale—in the UK and internationally—is what is necessary.

  This Autumn we shall be taking receipt of, and later responding to, the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit's report on how we manage waste, stemming growth, and promoting recycling and re-use.

  Last week I hosted a meeting with leading UK stakeholders, to discuss the follow-up action by government and stakeholders at UK level. This provided a useful forum for us to discuss the proposals developed by stakeholders and within government, and to establish some shared conclusions on the implications of the Summit.

  Our next review of progress toward sustainable development, which will be out early in the new year, will include further details on how we intend to take the Johannesburg outcomes forward. Over the course of the next year, we will also be reviewing the UK Sustainable Development Strategy and meeting our Summit commitments will form a significant part of this.

  Perhaps the most innovative feature of the Summit was the emphasis on partnerships between governments and civil society; particularly NGOs and business. The UK delegation therefore included Members of this House, representatives from the devolved administrations, local government, the UK Sustainable Development Commission, from business and NGOs. And since this was a Summit on the future, 4 youth representatives. Besides the formal government negotiations there was a wealth of other events and initiatives. UK participants were active everywhere and made a huge contribution to the overall outcome. Governments must take the lead in setting the framework for sustainable development, they cannot deliver it alone.

  Johannesburg demonstrated that it is possible to reach agreement on practical steps towards a more sustainable world. We must, and will, keep moving forward. In the words of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan; "This Summit will put us on a path that reduces poverty while protecting the environment, a path that works for all peoples, rich and poor, today and tomorrow. We have to go out and take action. This is not the end. It's the beginning."

  Hunting
  Mr. Goodman
  to ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the outcome of consultations on the future of hunting. [72366]
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  Alun Michael
  I am now in the last stages of the process I announced on 21 March in my statement to the House,Official Report, column 457.

  During this period I have written three times to all Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords, and a wide range of organisations seeking comments and evidence. Last month I held three days of public hearings in Portcullis House when all three main campaign groups joined me to hear and question evidence given by experts.

  This has been an exceptionally open and, as has been acknowledged on all sides, transparent process. I am now carefully examining the evidence I have received both in response to the letters and in the hearings, and I shall shortly bring forward proposals based on the principles and the process set out in my statement to this House on 21 March.

  Mr. Wilshire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the outcome of consultations on the future of hunting. [72380]

  Alun Michael
  I am now in the last stages of the process I announced on 21 March in my statement to the House,Official Report, column 457.

  During the last half year I have written twice to all Members of Parliament, Peers and a wide range of organisations seeking comments and evidence. In addition, last month I held three days of public hearings in Portcullis House when all three main campaign groups joined me to hear and question evidence given by experts.

  This has been an exceptionally open process. I am now carefully examining the evidence I have received both in response to the letters and in the hearings, and I shall shortly bring forward legislative proposals based on the principles of minimising suffering and recognising utility.

  Farmers (Wet Weather Aid)
  Mr. Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Areas if she will give wet weather special aid to farmers. [72368]

  Alun Michael
  We have no plans to make national financial assistance available for the effects of wet weather. However, the Government is fully aware of the problems facing producers in certain areas of the United Kingdom, and through working closely with the European Commission, we have been able to bring forward payments to affected producers, and to secure exemptions for them from certain CAP scheme rules.

  Household Waste
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the proportion of household waste that was recycled in the last year for which figures are available. [72369]

  Mr. Meacher
  The latest data from the Municipal Waste Management Survey 2000–01 show that the total proportion of household waste recycled or composted in
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  England in that period was just over 11 per cent.—an increase of about 1 per cent. over the previous year.

  WEEE Directive
  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provisions have been made to comply with the requirements of the WEEE directive. [72370]

  Mr. Meacher
  The WEEE directive is still in draft. The text should be finalised later this year and this will allow detailed implementation plans to commence. There has already been significant consultation with business and other stakeholders. This will continue.

  Surplus Fruit and Vegetables
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of fruit and vegetables were destroyed by the EU in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what funding was provided for this purpose. [72372]

  Mr. Morley
  Provisional figures for the marketing year 2001–02 indicate that some 0.6 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables were withdrawn from the EU market at a cost of 59 million euros (approximately £36 million).

  Landfill
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the amount of waste going to landfill. [72379]

  Mr. Meacher
  Environment Agency data from 1998–89 indicate that around 57 per cent. of waste produced by households, commerce and industry (including construction and demolition) is landfilled in England and Wales. 2000–01 figures for municipal waste in England show 78 per cent. going to landfill.

  The UK still landfills too great a proportion of its waste; this is neither sensible nor sustainable. However, in view of local authority recycling and composting targets, the forthcoming Landfill Directive targets to reduce the landfill of biodegradable waste and additional targets for the reducing the landfill of industrial and commercial waste, we would expect to see disposal to landfill to begin to decline over the next few years. Following the publication of the Strategy Unit's waste strategy review, the Government will consider what further action it can take to assist in this process.

  Sustainable Farming
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable for implementation of the Curry Report is; and if she will make a statement. [72381]

  Alun Michael
  In November, the Government intends to launch a new Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food in England. This strategy will include a response to all of the Policy Commission's recommendations,924W
  and will be informed by the wide-ranging process of stakeholder engagement that followed publication of their report.

  Waste
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of waste in the last 12 months was incinerated; and if she will make a statement. [72365]

  Mr. Meacher
  A total of 9 per cent. of municipal waste is currently incinerated in England. The latest data for industrial and commercial waste, including construction and demolition waste, indicate that just under 4 per cent. is incinerated.

  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representions she has received on the disposal of hazardous waste by incineration; and if she will make a statement. [72352]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have met representatives of the high temperature incineration industry. We are seeking to address their concerns in working towards a thorough assessment of the options for the disposal of hazardous waste.

  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to(a) receive and (b) respond to the Performance and Innovation Unit's review on waste. [72357]

  Mr. Meacher
  I expect the Strategy Unit to have completed its review of the UK waste strategy by the end of November; and I will look forward to considering its findings then.

  Refrigerators
  Mrs. Gillan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much local authorities have received to defray the costs of storing refrigerators. [72359]

  Mr. Meacher
  In December 2001, we announced a grant of £6 million for local authorities to cover their costs up until March 2002 for the storage and disposal of refrigerators.

  In addition, we announced special grant funding of £40 million for local authorities to cover their costs for this financial year. Additional help for future years was included in the Spending Review announced on 15 July.

  Fish Stocks
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 13 July, Reference MC 172596/am, what information she has submitted to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and its Advisory Council on Ecosystems about the proposal of Dr. David Conover that big fish should be returned to the sea, in the interests of total biomass harvested. [74195]

  Mr. Morley
  We have not drawn ICES' attention to the work of Dr. Conover. Our scientists have considered carefully Dr. Conover's work but have concluded that
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  his conclusions are likely to have limited relevance to fish stocks exploited in the waters around the UK. One of the main reasons for this is that there are relatively few large fish in our waters. The priority in our fisheries is to help overfished stocks to recover by reducing the overall fishing rate on all sizes of fish and to help juvenile fish to survive beyond the age of maturity.

  Carbon Sequestration
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Minister of State (Environment)'s letter 171977/JW of 16 September 2002, what action has been taken to follow up issues about magnesium carbonate and carbon sequestration. [74448]

  Mr. Meacher
  Cement manufacture is a carbon intensive process and carbon dioxide emissions from this source in the UK are about 1 per cent. of our annual total emissions. Magnesium carbonate as an alternative to Portland Cement for use in the buildings and construction industry is claimed by a manufacturer in Australia to reduce the carbon emitted in manufacture and absorb carbon in use.

  The Department of Trade and Industry funds a programme by the Buildings Research Establishment (BRE) that reviews development of low energy cements. Research is needed to prove the structure, durability and performance of magnesium carbonate in the UK context as well as confirming the claims for carbon sequestration and low embodied energy. BRE will he submitting an application for a research project on magnesium carbonate in this year's DTI Partners in Innovation competition round, and if successful the work would start in April 2003.

  CAP
  Mr. David
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the Government's response to the European Commission's mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy. [72350]

  Alun Michael
  Discussions on the mid-term review of the CAP are continuing.

  Flooding (Huntingdon)
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision there is to provide support to(a) home owners, (b) farmers and (c) businesses whose properties have been, or may in the future be, subject to flooding in the Huntingdon constituency. [74223]

  Mr. Morley
  Flooding is a natural phenomenon and whilst it is not possible to eliminate the risk totally, the flood and coastal defence operating authorities have permissive powers to reduce that risk. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to pay compensation to those affected by flooding as it is generally an insurable risk. However, we may be able to assist in reducing Government requirements on those affected, for example by relaxing the eligibility rules for agricultural support schemes or by considering estimation of VAT liabilities where floods have damaged paperwork. Businesses in need of this type of 926W
  help should contact the relevant department if the need arises. Assistance to householders affected by flooding is provided by local authorities in the immediate aftermath of flooding, and in the case of serious hardship help may be available from the Social Fund.

  Waste Disposal
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what guidelines the Environment Agency monitors dioxin emissions from Waste Disposal incinerators; to whom the Environment Agency is accountable in this respect; and if she will make a statement. [73481]

  Mr. Meacher
  As set out in the Waste Incineration Directive (WID), the Environment Agency requires operators to measure emissions from municipal waste incinerators at least every 3 months during the first 12 months of a new installation. In subsequent years operators must take at least two measurements per year.

  Dioxins in England and Wales can be measured using two validated methods; a European standard BS EN 1948 and the USEPA Method 23. Historically, USEPA method 23 has been used and is considered an acceptable standard for dioxin emission limit values of lng/m3 and above. However, WID will impose a limit of 0.1ng/m3 from 28 December 2005 and, as the Agency has already started moving towards this new limit, European Standard EN 1948 is being used in the majority of cases for regulatory compliance monitoring of municipal waste incinerators. EN 1948 has been validated on a large number of European incinerators, the measurement uncertainty has been determined and the appropriate quality assurance/quality control measures have been introduced. Both methods require samples to be taken over a period of six to eight hours. Samples are then removed for laboratory analysis using sophisticated and time consuming techniques.

  The analysis of dioxin levels is a difficult and expensive process which only a few laboratories in the UK are able to carry out. The laboratories are independent, with a broad client base including Government agencies as well as various sectors of industry. The laboratories are subject to quality assurance schemes (such as UKAS) and are fully open to individual and Government scrutiny.

  The Agency is currently researching other ways of sampling incinerator emissions of dioxins. A research programme is in place investigating the performance of continuous dioxin sampling systems that have recently been employed in some European countries.

  The Agency is accountable for its activities in England to the Secretary of State. Regulation of the incineration industry by the Agency and its predecessors has been very effective. Over the past eleven years there has been a very significant decrease in the discharge of dioxins from municipal waste incinerators. In 1990 they released 605.26g ITEQ, but by 1999 this figure had fallen to 1.05g ITEQ. In 2001 the sector released 0.81g ITEQ.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many waste disposal incinerators she expects to be required in the United Kingdom for the implementation of the Government's Waste Disposal Strategy 2000. [73487]
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  Mr. Meacher
  The Government has no plans that local authorities should provide any particular number of incinerators.

  They are required to take account of the policy framework set out in Waste Strategy 2000 (Cm4693–2), including achieving targets set for recycling and recovery and the need to progressively divert increasing amounts of waste from landfill.

  With the growth in municipal waste of 3–4 per cent. per annum in recent years, fulfilling our obligations through minimisation and recycling, although desirable, may not be feasible alone. In that case there is a range of technologies, in addition to conventional incineration, available for treating and disposing of waste. This includes those advanced conversion technologies which qualify as sources of renewable energy under the Renewables Obligation Order 2002.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what proportion of dioxins emitted from waste disposal incinerators she estimates enters the food chain; [73488]

  (2) what assessment she has made of what happens to dioxins emitted from waste disposal incinerators which do not enter the food chain. [73489]

  Mr. Meacher
  Concentrations of dioxins in food are controlled by the levels in the surrounding environment, the critical factor for which is the concentration in air. Air concentrations are controlled by emissions from primary sources and by complex exchanges/recycling of dioxins with water, soil and vegetation. Dioxins may subsequently enter the food chain through vegetation and the diet of animals.

  It is not possible to estimate what proportion of dioxins emitted from municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators enters the food chain but, because they contribute less than 1 per cent. of total dioxins emissions, we can say that they make only a minor contribution to levels in food.

  Dioxins which do not enter the food chain remain in the environment and low levels of dioxins can be detected in all environmental media. In the UK the mean levels are currently approximately:
  Air (ambient rural) 10 femtograms per cubic metre
  Air (ambient urban) 100 femtograms per cubic metre
  Soil (rural) 5 nanograms per kilogram
  Soil (urban) 30 nanograms per kilogram
  River sediments 20 nanograms per kilogram,
  where one femtogram is one thousandth of a millionth of a millionth of a gram (10-15 g) and one nanogram is one thousandth of a millionth of a gram (10-9 g).

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take measures to ensure that dioxin emissions from waste disposal incinerators are monitored more frequently. [73483]

  Mr. Meacher
  Municipal solid waste incinerators are regularly monitored by operators on a six monthly basis to check compliance with the EU wide emission standards. It is a breach of operators' authorisation conditions not to carry out this monitoring.
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  Additionally, the Environment Agency carries out independent check monitoring at a minimum frequency of once per year. All monitoring results, including those carried out by the operators, are available on public registers.

  This monitoring frequency is in excess of the bi-annual monitoring required as a minimum by the new Waste Incineration Directive. It is open to the Environment Agency to require or perform more frequent monitoring if that is considered necessary.

  In tightening this year the authorisations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 of existing municipal solid waste incinerators, the Environment Agency has applied a condition requiring the operators to report on a review of techniques for continuous dioxin monitoring, including cost, availability, accuracy, detection limits etc by 1 January 2003.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will further limit the acceptable amount of dioxin which may be emitted from waste disposal incinerators. [73484]

  Mr. Meacher
  Dioxin emissions from municipal solid waste incinerators are limited by authorisation conditions issued under the Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) regime. This regulatory regime is being subsumed into the even more exacting Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC). Existing installations will have to apply for IPPC permits by 31 August 2005.

  Additionally, we are currently transposing the new Waste Incineration Directive (WID), which will further tighten dioxin emissions standards tenfold to 0.1 ng/m3—the level considered technically achievable when the Directive was finalised in 2000. This will apply to all new incinerators within its scope by 28 December 2002, and to existing plant by 28 December 2005.

  The Environment Agency has also recently varied the authorisations for existing municipal solid waste incinerators to reduce the dioxin emission limit to that required by the WID ahead of the required timescale. The IPPC Directive requires that permit conditions for these incinerations be set on the basis of best available techniques (BAT) for incinerator design and operation, and that those conditions be reconsidered in the event that future substantial changes in BAT make it possible to reduce emissions significantly below the WID standard without imposing excessive costs.

  Landfill
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which landfill site operators have submitted site conditioning plans; in each case(a) what classification they are seeking for their site, (b) for what capacity and (c) what substances; and which operators have not submitted plans. [73723]

  Mr. Meacher
  To comply with the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002, landfill operators had to submit a conditioning plan to the Environment Agency (EA), for each individual landfill site, by 16 July 2002.
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  As part of that plan, operators have to state which of the three types of landfill they wish the site to be classed as—hazardous; non-hazardous or inert.

  The latest information indicates that conditioning plans have been submitted for over 940 landfill sites, with some 228 seeking to operate as hazardous waste landfills. The total number submitted represents approximately 90 per cent. of the plans that were expected by the EA. The Agency are currently checking the plans that have been received and are actively chasing-up the remainder.

  Details of conditioning plans have to be placed on the Agency's public registers, however operators can apply for information concerning individual sites to be witheld if it is commercially confidential. Pending resolution of any such claims the information cannot be made public.

  Nevertheless by early September the EA expects to be in a position to publish a complete list of landfills for which conditioning plans have been received and will indicate on that list which sites have been classified as landfills for hazardous waste.

  Public Buildings
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 3 July 2002,Official Report, column 376W, on public buildings, if she will name the projects sponsored; and if she will make a statement on the Design Champion's personal input in respect of each. [73641]

  Mr. Morley
  As Design Champion for Defra I am sponsoring the building projects at Old Rectory Farm in Surrey and at Drayton in Warwickshire for the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) programme. I have received briefings on them and commented on design issues.

  Countryside Access
  Mr. Tredinnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason parliamentarians are not included in the Schedule on page 27 of the Access to the Countryside (Provisional and Conclusive Maps) (England) Regulations 2002 (S1 1710); and if she will make a statement. [73415]

  Alun Michael
  The Regulations provide for provisional reduced scale maps to be made widely available for inspection, both in the locality to which they relate, and on the internet, at www.countryside.gov.uk/access/mapping. They will also to be sent to a similar range of organisations as receive draft maps, including land manager and user representative bodies, as well as parish councils and local access forums. The maps are costly to produce and bulky to store: in view of their availability on the internet and in Members' constituencies, I believe it would be unwelcome and unnecessary to supply paper copies to all Members. However, the Countryside Agency has agreed to supply reduced scale draft, provisional or conclusive maps showing Members' constituencies to any Member on request.

  Meat Imports
  Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what controls on meat imports are in place to guard against foot and mouth and other diseases. [73654]

  Mr. Morley
  All legally presented consignments of fresh meat imported into the UK from other EU Member States must have been produced in accordance with Community rules laid down in Council Directive 64/433/EEC. Imports from third countries must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those in the Directive. The European Commission's Food and Veterinary office is responsible for carrying out inspections in third countries from which fresh meat is imported into the community.

  In respect of the importation of meat into the United Kingdom and the risk posed by FMD, European Community legislation permits us to import meat from certain countries where FMD is present but only where the disease is restricted to specific areas. Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of meat from all, or parts of that country.

  All imported meat in to the United Kingdom from third countries must enter at a designated Border Inspection Post where it is subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These checks ensure that import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport.

  The Government accepts more needs to be done to tackle illicit trade. An Action plan was published at the end of March which contains a range of measures. A progress report was issued on 8 July. A copy can be viewed on the Defra Illegal Imports website (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/illegali).

SCOTLAND

  Minimum Wage
  Mrs. Irene Adams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken against employers in Paisley North who have failed to pay the national minimum wage. [73680]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, Inland Revenue has specialist enforcement teams based in Aberdeen and East Kilbride who are responsible for enforcing the national minimum wage in Scotland. The teams follow up complaints made by workers and third parties about non-compliance and use other Revenue risk based data to identify employers for enquiry. Since April 1999, the teams have conducted 1,910 inspections and recovered over £660,000 in wage arrears for low paid workers in Scotland.

  Electoral Register
  Mrs. Lait
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she expects to publish proposals under section 12 of the Scotland Act 1998 to ensure MSPs are entitled to a free copy of the electoral register. [73721]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The draft of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2002, which contains provisions enabling the supply of free copies of the full version of the electoral register to MSPs, was laid before Parliament on 16 October. Subject to parliamentary approval by both Houses, the Order will come into force 14 days after it is made.

  Rail Freight Services
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to ensure that rail freight services between Scotland and the continent via the Channel Tunnel will recommence their operation. [73730]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Government has ensured, through close co-operation with the French authorities, that initial physical security measures at Fréthun are almost complete and are proving effective. We will continue to work to ensure completion of the agreed measures later this year.

  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the French Minister for the Interior met on 26 September at Calais and reaffirmed their commitment to the measures set out in their communiqué of 12 July. On the specific issue of rail freight services, they announced that security considerations were no longer a constraint on rail freight service levels. France is committed to increasing the levels of security at the site, including gendarme presence, as the rail traffic increases.

  At present the Channel Tunnel is fully operational for freight operators, including services between Scotland and the Continent, between the hours of 14h00 and 03h00. The SRA, EWS and SNCF are discussing the progressive restoration of a full and reliable 24-hour service.

  Fuel Poverty
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to help eliminate fuel poverty in Scotland. [73729]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Government is working in partnership with the Scottish Executive to tackle fuel poverty. Measures the Government have taken include the £200 Winter Fuel Payments for people aged 60 and over; the cold weather payments for people on Income Support and some other benefits; and reducing VAT on domestic fuel to 5 per cent.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Director General for Criminal Justice System Information Technology
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Director General for Criminal Justice System Information Technology was appointed. [73227]

  Hilary Benn
  The Director General for Criminal Justice System Information Technology was appointed on 12 December 2001.

  Criminal Justice
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will respond to the widespread public belief found in "Improving Public Attitudes to the Criminal Justice System", Home Office Research Study 245, that prison was the most effective sentence for reducing crime. [73783]

  Hilary Benn
  There is no doubt that, for some offenders, prison is both an appropriate punishment and a factor in reducing crime. The same Home Office study also shows that the general public sees prison combined with supervision in the community as a sentence, which is effective in reducing crime. 72 per cent. of the general public in the study thought that a sentence of three months followed by three months supervision was more constructive than six months imprisonment. That system of combining custody with supervision is proposed in our Custody Plus scheme outlined in the white paper "Justice for All".

  Other disposals such as restorative justice schemes and drug treatment schemes also received high ratings from the public in this report. The Government does believe that the public should be given better information about the alternatives to custody that exist and their effectiveness in reducing crime and re-offending.

  Sentences are not just about reducing crime, however; there may be many reasons for imposing a particular sentence including protecting the public, punishing the offender or rehabilitating the offender. We need therefore to retain a range of different types of sentence appropriate for different offenders and different crimes.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take in response to the finding in "Improving Public Attitudes to the Criminal Justice System", Home Office Research Study 245, that the provision of simple factual information about crime and sentencing had an impact on confidence in the criminal justice system. [73784]

  Hilary Benn
  In the Criminal Justice White Paper "Justice for All" it was proposed to create a Sentencing Guidelines Council (para 5.15). One of the functions of the Council will be to publish Guidelines "in a way that is easily accessible to the public as well as to the judiciary and other legal practitioners" (para 5.16) and sentencers will be required to take those guidelines into account both in their decisions and in framing the reasons for their decisions. This is designed to provide a common point of reference for the public and to enable greater consistency in sentencing across the country.

  Consultancies
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list external(a) public relations/communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by his Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within his Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/ companies.[74685]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Home Department is unable to provide a full answer with the level of detailed information sought on external consultants and companies that provide public relations, communications advertising, marketing, accountancy, and banking services for the period in question. Records are not held centrally and therefore to provide a full response for the Home Office and its Agencies would incur disproportionate costs. We are, however able to provide a total expenditure figure for external consultants and other companies listed from June 2001 to date which is £41,671,404.94.

  Murder Convictions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those convicted for murder since 1972 have subsequently reoffended on release; and if he will make a statement on the nature of the crimes committed on reoffending. [74547]

  Hilary Benn
  Since 1972, eight per cent. of persons released from prison following a conviction for murder were reconvicted for a standard list offence within two years of release. The most common offences on reconviction were theft and handling (45 per cent. of those reconvicted), violence against the person (22 per cent.) and burglary (13 per cent.). Around one per cent. of those released were reconvicted within two years for an indictable crime with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment; these crimes include homicide, serious wounding, rape, robbery, and arson endangering life.

  Asylum Seekers
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 23 July, Ref 56636, if there is a backlog in the National Asylum Support Agency dealing with correspondence; and what the average deviation is from the last three and ten working day targets. [73929]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]The Operations Section of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is currently receiving an average of 1,800 letters per week which have a target of three days for completion. These are requests for payment of the additional single payment and replacement certificates to enable supported asylum seekers to receive free prescriptions etc. Officials are meeting the three day target for processing these applications.

  In addition the Operations Section is receiving an average of 1,400 items of correspondence relating to more complex issues such as requests to be relocated.
  934W
  Currently there are 2,000 cases which have not been finally resolved. But all have received action within the 10 day target and cannot be finally resolved because of the need to obtain additional information.

  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made for the return to Afghanistan of those not in need of international protection. [75902]

  Beverley Hughes
  A Tripartite Agreement by the Government, the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was signed on Saturday 12 October 2002 in Kabul following the successful conclusion of negotiations. The Agreement provides for return to Afghanistan in a managed and phased manner of those who have been established to have no protection needs. The United Kingdom is fully committed to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. As part of this it is important that return to Afghanistan is sustainable and the Agreement commits the United Kingdom Government to providing support to those returning, in Afghanistan, to ensure they are able to reestablish themselves in their homeland.

  Jonathan Shaw
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how pregnant women who are seeking asylum are informed of their eligibilty for the maternity grant; and how many claimed the grant in the last 12 months; [73973]

  (2) how asylum seekers are informed how to claim the £50 one-off payment to which they are entitled after six months; and what proportion claimed this in the last 12 months. [73972]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information on eligibility for all support payments including the £50 additional single payment and the £300 maternity payment is given to asylum seekers by voluntary organisations grant funded by the Home Office. This information will also form an integral part of the briefing given to all asylum seekers whilst they are going through the Induction Centre process.

  Information on maternity payments can also be found on the Home Office web-site.

  Information is not held centrally on the number of applications made for additional single payments or payment of maternity grant. Information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 12 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Sard Aram Aziz. [74568]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 8 October 2002.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 22 July from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Ifra Raja. [74565]
  935W
  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 3 October 2002.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 25 July from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Kourosh Jahanshahi. [74564]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 2 October 2002.

  Immigration
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many clandestine entrants into the United Kingdom were detected(a) on entry and (b) in the country in each month since March 2001. [73982]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]Provisional information on the number of clandestine entrants detected and served with illegal entry papers in the period April to December 2001 is given in the table.

  Clandestines detected and served with illegal entry papers

  Month

  On-entry

  In-country

  Total

  April 2001

  60

  3,460

  3,525

  May 2001

  335

  2,865

  3,205

  June 2001

  70

  2,530

  2,600

  July 2001

  130

  2,820

  2,950

  August 2001

  150

  2,870

  3,020

  September 2001

  115

  2,600

  2,715

  October 2001

  75

  2,950

  3,025

  November 2001

  80

  2,835

  2,915

  December 2001

  80

  2,345

  2,425

  Note:

  Provisional data, subject to possible change.

  Figures rounded to the nearest five, and may not sum due to rounding.

  It should be noted that the figures relate to the date on which the illegal entry notice was served. In-country detections could relate to an individual who entered the United Kingdom in an earlier period.

  More recent information is not yet available. Figures on illegal entry papers served are published annually in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom", the 2001 edition of which was published on 26 September 2002. Figures for 2002 will be published in the second half of 2003. Early indications are, however, that the use of technology to detect claudestine entrants is increasing detection rates.

  Euro
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his latest estimate is of the cost to his Department of changeover to the euro; and if he will make a statement. [73694]

  Mr. Blunkett
  It is not yet possible to estimate how much it would cost the Home Office to change to the euro. The department is taking action to ensure that it would be ready to implement any decision by the Government. The cost would depend on a number of decisions yet to be taken including timing and the details of conversion policies.

  Charter Airlines
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposals for charter airline operators to provide mass data on all passengers carried on their planes. [71421]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]: Paragraph 17 of Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (as amended by section 119 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001) gives the power to an examining officer to make a written request to an air or sea carrier for information relating to passengers and goods on all air and sea journey to and from within the United Kingdom. This is an important measure to help us fight terrorism.

  The Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (Information) Order 2002 is the enabling power for this provision. The Order was approved by Parliament on 22 July and came into force on 22 August.

  Discussions are continuing, which include carriers from all sectors of the industry, including charter airline operators, on the detailed implementation of the Order, and I have assured the industry that the powers will not be used, except in an emergency, until our consultation is complete.

  Mandatory Life Sentences
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedural changes are being made following the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 28 May in the case of Stafford concerning the release of mandatory life sentence prisoners. [75903]

  Hilary Benn
  Mandatory life sentence prisoners who have served the minimum period necessary to satisfy the requirements of retribution and deterrence, have their cases reviewed periodically by the Parole Board. A t present responsibility for their release rests with the Secretary of State. This responsibility cannot be conferred on the Parole Board or any other body without primary legislation.

  As an interim measure, the Home Secretary has decided to change the administrative arrangements for the review and release of mandatory life sentence prisoners. These administrative arrangements will apply to all such prisoners whose next Parole Board review begins on or after 1 January 2003. The changes will mean that in most instances these prisoners' cases will be heard initially, as now, by the Parole Board on the papers which will make a provisional recommendation. If prisoners wish to make representations about provisional recommendations it will then be open to them to request an oral hearing before the Parole Board at which they may have legal representation. They will normally receive full disclosure of all material relevant to the question of whether they should be released. They will also be able to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Similarly the Secretary of State may also require an oral hearing of the Board in cases where he believes further examination of the evidence is required.
  937W
  If, at the end of the review process, the Parole Board favours the release of a mandatory life sentence prisoner once the minimum period has been served the Home Secretary will normally accept such a recommendation.

  The Stafford judgment affects only the process by which the decision is made on whether to release mandatory life sentence prisoners. It does not relate to the period of detention which such prisoners must serve to satisfy the requirements of retribution and deterrence, or Parole Board reviews that take place before the end of that period. There will usually be no change to the dates set for Parole Board reviews of prisoners who have served that period. Those prisoners serving whole life tariffs do not have their cases referred to the Parole Board.

TREASURY

  Tax Avoidance
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department is undertaking of tax avoidance by captive insurance companies based in UK overseas dependent territories; and if he will make a statement. [74798]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue regularly monitors the effectiveness of measures to prevent tax avoidance by captive insurance companies.

  Inland Revenue Special Investigation Section
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenues have been recovered by the Inland Revenue's special investigation section in each of the last five fiscal years; and if he will make a statement. [74799]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Special Investigations Section ("SIS") is the Inland Revenue's specialist unit that seeks to tackle tax avoidance. The nature of the compliance work undertaken by SIS is such that the yield can vary significantly from one year to the next. The yield for the last 5 years is as follows;

  Year ended 31 March 1998

  £109.3 million

  Year ended 31 March 1999

  £171.5 million

  Year ended 31 March 2000

  £111.7 million

  Year ended 31 March 2001

  £66 million

  Year ended 31 March 2002

  £90.4 million

  The yield for the first 6 months of the current year is already greater than that achieved for last year.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the components of the line labelled Tax Credits in table A10 in the Comprehensive Spending Review document, Command Paper 5570; whether it includes all personal tax credit expenditure that is classified as negative taxation; and if he will make a statement on the reduction in the figure between 2002–03 and 2003–04. [74709]
  938W
  Dawn Primarolo
  The tax credits line in Table A 10 of the 2002 Spending Review white paper (Command Paper 5570) covers spending on tax credits which is classified as expenditure by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the National Accounts but as negative taxation on the basis of OECD revenue statistics rules. Spending on tax credits classified as expenditure under both ONS and OECD guidelines is included in Table A2 of the 2002 Spending Review white paper.

  The tax credit figure in Table A10 falls between 2002–03 and 2003–04 because of changes in personal tax credits. Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) is classified partly as expenditure and partly as negative taxation under OECD guidelines but entirely as expenditure in National Accounts, so the Table A10 tax credit figure for 2002–03 includes the proportion of WFTC scored as negative taxation under OECD rules. However from April 2003 WFTC is being replaced by two new tax credits, the Working Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and the ONS have announced that these new tax credits will be classified in line with OECD classification rules in the National Accounts. Therefore no expenditure under these new tax credits scores in the tax credits line in Table A10 for 2003–04 onwards and the total falls considerably from 2002–03.

  Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in relation to communications data as defined in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, how many officials from(a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Customs and Excise he estimates will be authorised to seek access to communications data; and how many times officials have sought access to such data from communications providers such as Internet service providers under the Data Protection Act 1998 in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [74477]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In relation to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, Customs and Excise estimate that the number of authorised officials will be about 200. The Inland Revenue are not yet in a position to estimate a figure, but in any event authorised officials in the Inland Revenue will be restricted to the grades equivalent to Senior Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer. In the last year, Customs and Excise officials have sought access to such data approximately 35,500 times and Inland Revenue officials approximately 11,700 times.

  Consultancies
  David Davis
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list external(a) public relations/ communications companies, (b) advertising and marketing companies, (c) management consultancies, (d) accountancy companies, (e) banking firms, (f) individual consultants and (g) other specialist consultancies used by his Department since June 2001; what actions those consultancies/companies have performed within his Department; and what costs have been incurred through use of these consultancies/companies. [74688]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Pensions
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the 2/3 limit on pensions received by employees earning less than £25,000 per annum and belonging to final salary schemes with an accrual rate of 1/60 per year; and if he will make a statement. [74548]

  Ruth Kelly
  On 15 March 2001 the Government announced a review aimed at developing an administrative simplification of the pension tax rules. This is, amongst other things, looking at limits on pensions. The Government has said that it will consult on the recommendations arising from this review later this year.

  Departmental Staff
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff have moved out of employment of HM Treasury owing to reorganisation of the machinery of Government as a result of the creation of, and changing of functions of(a) the Office of Government Commerce, (b) the Debt Management Office and (c) other Chancellor's departments and agencies since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [74797]

  Mr. Boateng
  The number of people transferred permanently or on loan as a result of the creation of the following organisations were:

  (a) the Office of Government Commerce—25

  (b) the Debt Management Office—11

  In addition, 94 staff transferred to the Treasury from DTI before transferring to the Financial Services Authority when it was established.

CABINET OFFICE

  Emergency Planning
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to ensure that the emergency services have sufficient resources needed to deal effectively with the consequences of a substantial disaster. [73773]

  Mr. Alexander
  Since September 2001, all three emergency services have increased their holdings of personal protective equipment that will enable their personnel to work in hazardous environments after any incident involving chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents. In addition, the fire and ambulance services have purchased extra equipment with which to decontaminate and treat persons who have exposed to any of these agents.

  Purchases of extra search and rescue equipment for use by fire brigades are also planned.

  In addition, a nation-wide programme has been instituted for the joint training and exercising of senior officers from all three emergency services for such disasters.

  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what new methods are planned to ensure effective communication between the emergency services in the event of a substantial disaster. [73762]
  940W
  Mr. Alexander
  The police service have already begun to roll out a national radio network that will allow intraoperability between all forces if, and when, officers from different forces need to talk to one another.

  The current radio systems of the fire and ambulance services are now due for renewal.

  The Cabinet Office has ensured that the specifications include the requirement that the replacement systems are capable of interoperability with the systems of the other emergency services as well as intraoperability within their own service.

  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government are taking to establish a review on local authority spending in the area of emegency planning. [73761]

  Mr. Alexander
  Local authority spending is being reviewed in the context of the work on a Civil Contingencies Bill. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 July 2002,Official Report, column 727W, which sets out further details of this work.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent measures have been taken to(a) modernise the Child Support Agency and (b) make it more efficient. [74416]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer my hon. Friend to the letter sent to Members on 19 September 2002 by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place a copy of the new Child Support Agency Charter in the Library. [74718]

  Malcolm Wicks
  A copy was placed in the Library on 9 October.

  New Deal
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on recent developments in the New Deal for Disabled People, with particular reference to(a) client participants and (b) recruitment and continuity of providers. [74671]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]: Since the national extension of the New Deal for Disabled People programme began, it has helped over 5,000 people into jobs and more than 25,000 have registered with Job Brokers to actively pursue employment.

HEALTH

  Parliamentary Questions
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) parliamentary questions and (b) letters to him from hon. Members remain unanswered; broken down by those which are (i) one

  941W
  month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old. [73918]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 15 October 20021: The table shows the number of outstanding parliamentary questions in the Department on 16 October 2002, which are over one month old.

  Month Tabled

  Number of Parliamentary Questions Outstanding

  May

  1

  July

  13

  The table shows the number of letters in the Department which had not received an answer at 15 October 2002.

  With a Received Date Between

  Number

  1 & 2 months

  601

  2 & 3 months

  385

  3 & 4 months

  201

  4 & 6 months

  367

  greater than 6 months

  474

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what capacity his special advisers are involved in drafting answers to parliamentary questions tabled by hon. Members. [73921]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 15 October 2002]: Officials with responsibility for the policy take the lead in drafting answers to parliamentary questions, which are then cleared by Ministers before a final reply is sent. There is no formal role for special advisers in this process, but they may from time to time be consulted by Ministers and/or officials about draft replies.

  NHS Foundation Trusts
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether borrowing by NHS foundation trusts will be backed up by Treasury guarantees. [74550]

  Mr. Hutton
  Details of the financial regime for National Health Service foundation trusts are currently being developed.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS foundation trusts will have other income streams in addition to standard NHS funding from the Treasury. [74551]

  Mr. Hutton
  National Health Service foundation trusts may have limited access to other income streams, in a similar way to existing NHS trusts, in addition to standard NHS funding from Her Majesty's Treasury. Their prime purpose will be to treat NHS patients.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS foundation trusts will be able to develop services for private patients in addition to existing pay beds in their particular hospitals or clinics. [74552]

  Mr. Hutton
  Provision of clinical services to National Health Service patients will remain the principal objective for NHS foundation trusts. However, as is the case for existing NHS trusts, the new organisations will 942W
  be able to treat private patients including foreign nationals who may live in the United Kingdom but are not eligible for NHS treatment.

  The governance and regulatory framework that we are developing for NHS foundation trusts will ensure that appropriate controls are put in place to prevent these organisations from developing private business at the expense of developing services for NHS patients.

  Foundation Trust Consultative Group
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the Foundation Trust Consultative Group. [74553]

  Mr. Hutton
  To develop the policy on National Health Service foundation trusts, the Department has sought a wide range of specialist advice. In particular, since December 2001 Chief Executive Officers from NHS trusts that have achieved three stars in the NHS performance ratings have been consulted on a range of issues. Key topics for discussion have been development of new freedoms and policy development on NHS foundation trusts. We expect these arrangements to continue.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there to award,(a) Northamptonshire and (b) Norfolk and Norwich NHS trusts foundation trust status. [74554]

  Mr. Hutton
  On 25 July, the Department published NHS Foundation Trusts: Eligibility Criteria and Timetable. Amongst other criteria, applicant National Health Service trusts need to hold and retain three star status in the NHS performance ratings. Northamptonshire and Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trusts will not be eligible to apply for NHS foundation trust status this autumn because they did not achieve three star status in the NHS performance ratings announced in July 2002.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of his departmental officials are involved in work on foundation status for NHS trusts. [74555]

  Mr. Hutton
  At present, there are nine Departmental staff working full time on National Health Service foundation trusts. However, as policy on NHS foundation trusts embraces a wide range of issues a number of other staff are also contributing to the policy development as and when required.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Countryside Protection
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to finalise the details of the service delivery agreement in respect of protection of valuable countryside around towns and cities; and if he will make a statement. [74794]

  Mr. McNulty
  A service delivery agreement relating to all of the Office's public service agreements will be published later this year.

  Housing
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 16 May 2002 Official Report, column 800W, what information his Department has collated on the levels of under-occupancy in social housing in each borough in London; if he will list the financial compensation package and cash incentives available from each local authority in London to encourage tenants to move from an underoccupied property to more suitably sized accommodation; what assessment he has made of the impact in London of the good practice guidance on managing underoccupation published by his Department in April 2001; and what further action he plans to encourage local authorities in areas of high demand to develop a strategy for addressing underoccupancy. [74155]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information requested is not held centrally, and would only be provided at disproportionate cost; the information on financial compensation package and cash incentives available from each local authority in London to encourage tenants to move from an underoccupied property to more suitably sized accommodation will be available from the House of Commons library; the ODPM has not made an assessment of the impact in London of the good practice guidance on managing under-occupation; the ODPM has no firm plans to take further action to encourage local authorities in areas of high demand to develop a strategy for addressing underoccupancy.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total expenditure by his Department was on each estate action programme in the borough of Tower Hamlets since 1985; and what this was as a percentage of the total cost of each programme. [74146]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The records of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets show the total expenditure for each of the estate action projects in Tower Hamlets since 1985, and the Department's contribution as a percentage of the total cost of each project are:

  Estate Action Schemes

  Total Cost of Project £m

  Departmental contribution as % of Total cost

  Aberfeldy Estate

  0.764

  50

  All Estates on Isle of Dogs

  14.1

  100

  Anglsey House

  0.378

  100

  Ashpark House

  0.32

  100

  Bancroft

  9.556

  46

  Barken tine

  42.46

  92

  Barkentine 3

  22.034

  98

  Barley Mow Estate

  4.466

  54

  Bazely Estate

  0.392

  55

  Bengal House

  5.122

  61

  Berner Estate

  1.766

  100

  Bethnal Green Estate

  3.414

  36

  Birchfield House

  1.301

  62

  Boundary Estate

  1.964

  63

  Bow Bridge

  0.16

  100

  Brinsley House Tarling East

  0.88

  100

  British Street

  2.295

  12

  Brownfield Estate

  2.593

  7

  Brune House Complex

  1.938

  61

  Burley House

  0.6

  100

  Burnham Estate

  0.971

  68

  Channel House-Ocean Estate

  2.265

  67

  Chicksand Estate

  2.418

  77

  Christenurch

  0.511

  45

  944W

  Estate Action Schemes

  Total Cost of Project £m

  Departmental contribution as % of Total Cost

  Cleveland Estate

  0.796

  69

  Coventry Cross East

  0.23

  100

  Coventry Cross West

  0.28

  100

  Cranbrook Estate

  4.19

  24

  Cranford Cottages

  0.12

  100

  Crossways

  0.15

  100

  Cubitt Town-Thermopylae Gate

  1.042

  32

  Digby Greenways

  10.57

  63

  Dorian Estate all blocks in

  Stepney

  0.307

  100

  Galleon House

  4.192

  78

  Holland

  0.712

  97

  Isle of Dogs

  3.5

  100

  Jefferson Estate.Madison & 50

  2.754

  John Scurr

  4.807

  46

  Lefevre Walk

  9.769

  85

  Leobold Building

  9.544

  43

  Limehouse Fields

  1.347

  85

  Limehouse Fields

  0.705

  71

  Lincoln Estate

  1.3

  100

  Locton

  1.959

  52

  Maddocks House Tarling West

  0.87

  100

  Malmesbury

  0.5

  100

  Manchester Estate

  2.685

  98

  Mansford

  1.83

  8

  Martinu Estate

  0.886

  100

  Mercers, mountmorres,

  0.2

  100

  Midhurst House

  0.32

  100

  Minerva

  2.67

  100

  Monteith Estate

  8.583

  52

  Newdieate House

  0.304

  100

  Ocean

  2.594

  73

  Ocean (Bothnia, Malaka, Tunis)

  1.7

  76

  Ocean (Play Area)

  0.44

  9

  Ocean Estate Security Works

  0.219

  100

  Ocean(Muslim Prayer facilities)

  0.44

  9

  Parkview/Crankbrook

  0.66

  100

  Perring Estate

  1.484

  50

  Ranwell East

  0.356

  100

  Ranwell West

  1.09

  69

  Ring House-Martineau Estate

  2

  100

  Riverside Estate

  0.343

  100

  Robin Hood Gardens

  1.516

  77

  Robin Hood Gardens 2

  0.52

  100

  Roche Estate

  3.003

  81

  Rogers Estate

  2.78

  64

  Roman Road North

  0.677

  83

  Samuda Estate

  2.395

  45

  Samuda Estate phase 2

  0.094

  0

  Samuda Estate. Hedley House

  0.665

  79

  Samuda Housing Office

  1.6

  100

  Sandhurst House

  0.14

  100

  St Georges Estate

  2.428

  70

  St John

  1.844

  85

  St Peters

  0.081

  100

  St Vincent

  0.804

  100

  Studland House

  0.5

  100

  Teviot Estate

  1.07

  49

  Tredegar Road

  0.45

  100

  Vaugham Estate

  1.033

  100

  Wapping Estate

  0

  0

  Watney market

  19.027

  85

  Wellington

  13.997

  86

  Winterton.

  19.948

  86

  Total/Average

  285.688

  76

  Scottish Executive
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many formal and official inter-ministerial meetings
  945W
  his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date. [72715]

  Mr. Leslie
  Information is not available in the form requested. Ministers from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have frequent meetings with Ministers from the Scottish Executive, both formal and informal, covering a broad range of topics.

  Flooding
  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to address problems with flooding in areas of new housing development. [72362]

  Mr. McNulty
  In July 2001 the Government published Planning policy guidance note (PPG) 25 Development and flood risk. This introduces a risk-based approach to planning for new development that gives priority to lower risk areas. Within high-risk areas priority is given to those areas that are already developed. Built development should be wholly exceptional within the functional flood plains that are essentially unobstructed by defences and existing development.

  Those proposing new development are advised to carry out a flood-risk assessment. This should assess the risks of flooding to the development, its impact on flooding elsewhere (including the impact of increased
  946W
  run-off due to development) and identify any mitigation measures that may be required. Where flood defences or other mitigation is required because of a new development, its provision and future maintenance should be fully funded by the developer as part of the development.

  In February 2002, DTLR published Preparing for floods. This contains interim guidance for improving the flood resistance of domestic and small business properties. It provides practical advice for existing property owners whose properties are at risk of flooding and for all those involved with construction of new properties or renovation of existing buildings in areas of flood risk. The Environment Agency, together with the Construction Industry Research and Information Association, has also produced guidance on temporary measures to protect against flooding (such as flood boards) and on what to do after a flood.

  Green Belt
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on development on green belt land. [72377]

  Mr. McNulty
  Government policy on the Green Belt remains as set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 2, which states that protecting the countryside from encroachment is one of the main purposes of including land in the Green Belt. Since 1997 approximately 30,000 hectares of land have been earmarked for addition to the Green Belt.

  General Commissioners of Income Tax: Cleveland and North Yorkshire Division
  General Commissioners of Income Tax: Cleveland and North Yorkshire Division
  Extradition
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  Zimbabwe: EU Sanctions Policy
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  Commonwealth: Member States' Constitutions
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  Mandatory Life Sentence Prisoners: ECHR Judgment
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  Afghanistan: Asylum Seekers
  Afghanistan: Asylum Seekers
  Reserve Forces
  Reserve Forces
  EU Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Funding
  EU Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Funding
  3G Services
  3G Services
  The Ridgeway
  The Ridgeway
  Brixham Marina
  Brixham Marina
  European Year of Disabled People 2003
  European Year of Disabled People 2003
  Gambling Reform
  Gambling Reform
  Questions for Written Answer
  Questions for Written Answer