Written Answers of 7 April 2003

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Aggregates Levy
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much of the aggregates levy sustainability fund has been spent in relation to(a) the freight facility grant and (b) the transport action clean up programme; what percentages of the fund these payments represent; and if she will make a statement; [105342]

  (2) if she will list the projects (a) approved, (b) rejected and (c) awaiting a decision for funding under the aggregates levy sustainability fund for the stated purpose of (i) supporting cleaner and quieter aggregates lorry transport and (ii) encouraging the use of rail and water transport; what funding has been allocated; when each application was made; and when each decision was made. [105298]

  Mr. Meacher
  [holding answer 27 March 2003]: None of the aggregates levy sustainability fund has been spent so far on promoting environmentally friendly aggregates transportation. The Department for Transport, which is the distributing body for the freight facilities grant and the transport action clean-up programme, is considering their compatibility with state aid provisions. Around £1 million of the 2002–03 allocation for these schemes has therefore been diverted to funding for reducing the local effects of aggregates extraction.

  Agricultural Regulations
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regulations relating to agriculture were extant(a) in 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available. [107270]

  Alun Michael
  This information is not available in the form requested as it would involve looking at all legislation, both EC and UK, introduced by different Government Departments to consider whether it related to agriculture. Such information could only be assembled at disproportionate cost.

  Local Environmental Problems
  Mr. Tim Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will include railway property in future reviews of(a) public litter problems and (b) the effects of degraded environment. [106887]

  Alun Michael
  Railway property is included in our current review of litter and local environmental problems. Defra's consultation document Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities, described 2W
  several options for reforming the legislative framework relating to the local environmental management of private land, including railway property.

  We are currently evaluating responses to that consultation exercise, which closed on 14 February, and will then consider how to take matters forward.

  My officials are meeting representatives of Network Rail to discuss their response in more detail.

  Last year, in conjunction with Defra, ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns) carried out a detailed survey of the state of England called the Local Environmental Quality Survey of England (LEQSE). The survey included elements of a range of land uses including transport facilities. ENCAMS are now building on the LEQSE to carry out a similar survey at district level, by local authority. This potentially would allow both the Government and local authorities to identify elements that require further investigation or remedy.

  Fur Farming
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what measures she proposes to take as a result of the Court of Appeal's recent ruling regarding compensation for fur farmers; and if she will make a statement; [106361]

  (2) if she will ensure that the compensation scheme for fur farmers includes (a) a higher standard payment for female mink than was offered in the original scheme, recognition of the higher value of specialist breeds, (c) compensation for male animals and (d) a specified date for the cessation of fur farming after the end of the consultation period in 2001. [106362]

  Mr. Morley
  On Thursday 13 March 2003 the High Court gave judgment quashing the Fur Farming (Compensation Scheme) (England) Order 2002.

  Application has been made to appeal to the Court of Appeal. If permission to appeal is not granted or the decision of the High court is upheld on appeal the Government will consult interested parties to implement a compensation scheme under the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000.

  There was no suggestion from the ruling that the overall level of compensation was inadequate.

  Mr Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she intends to take as a result of the judicial review into the Government's fur farming compensation scheme; how the Government will ensure that it complies with(a) common law and (b) the European Convention on Human Rights; and if she will make a statement on the judgement. [106854]

  Mr. Morley
  Application has been made to appeal to the Court of Appeal. If permission to appeal is not granted or the decision of the High Court is upheld on appeal the Government will consult interested parties to implement a compensation scheme under the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000.

  IACS
  Mr. LIwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers registered for the purpose of IACS there were in 1997; and what the current corresponding figure is. [107227]

  Alun Michael
  The number of farmers registered for the purpose of IACS for England and Wales is as follows:

  England

  Wales

  1997

  77,829

  19,300

  Current corresponding figure (2002)

  69,535

  16,800

  Landfill Tax Credit Scheme
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many of the stakeholders she consulted over changes to the landfill tax credit scheme recommended(a) no changes, (b) minimal changes, (c) major changes and (d) abandonment of the scheme; [106463]

  (2) if she will make it her policy to ensure that stakeholder opinions are taken into account when deciding upon the successor to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. [106470]

  Mr. Meacher
  The joint Treasury/Defra consultation on the future of the Landfill Tax Credit scheme went to 3,468 individuals or organisations and generated 683 responses. Of these 550 (82 per cent.) opted for keeping the Scheme as it is or with minor modifications, 59 (9 per cent.) opted for a major change and 58 (9 per cent.) did not comment. A clear majority (65 per cent.) were in favour of increased funding for sustainable waste management projects.

  A consistent message also arising from the consultation was the need for a more strategic approach to funding sustainable waste management objectives. The Government fully endorse this view and will set out how they aim to achieve this in their response to the Strategy Unit Report 'Waste Not, Want Not' which will be published shortly. The Government will take into account the opinions of stakeholders in deciding on the new public expenditure programme.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much money she estimates will be lost from the sustainable waste sector as a result of funding formerly distributed through categories C and CC of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme being distributed by a public body and losing the capacity to be used to draw further funds from private sources; [106465]

  (2) what figure she uses to estimate the leverage or gearing ratio between landfill tax credit scheme funding and further funding secured from other sources against it. [1064641

  Mr. Meacher
  The evidence available suggests that the vast majority of levered in funds have been directed at projects in category A—land reclamation, category D—public parks and amenities and category E—building restoration. A survey carried out by Glasgow 4W
  Caledonian University involving 1,053 Environmental Bodies (with a 40 per cent. response rate) indicates that over the period 1997–2002, waste management projects (categories C and CC) levered in 34 per cent. of LTCS expenditure from other sources.

  The Government believes that a public expenditure programme can work well with private sources (e.g. retailers or equipment manufacturers) to achieve a similar or better increase in total resources. Moreover local authorities can benefit from a public expenditure programme. Government will also be better able to direct how and where funds are spent through the public expenditure programme to ensure they are focused on areas which will contribute towards achieving our overall aims on sustainable waste management identified in the Strategy Unit Report "Waste Not, Want Not".

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she will take to guarantee transparency in a successor to the landfill tax credit scheme. [106467]

  Mr. Meacher
  Details of the nature of the new public expenditure programme which will replace some parts of the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme will be made alongside the government's official response to the Strategy Unit report, which is planned for around the time of the budget.

  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations she has held to ascertain the(a) nature and (b) scale of (i) the transitional rump fund and (ii) the successor scheme to replace the landfill tax credit scheme. [106468]

  Mir. Meacher
  Because the transitional rump fund is a short-term measure and had to be put into place very quickly there was no formal consultation. However, discussions with interested parties did take place and their views have been taken into consideration. As indicated in the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report, the proposals in the Strategy Unit report "Waste Not, Want Not" have formed the basis of the consultation for the public expenditure scheme. A large number of stakeholders were involved in the production of that report and, since its publication, we have received a number of written comments.

  National Air Quality Strategy
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about how the National Air Quality Strategy will be applied to coal fired power stations. [107035]

  Alun Michael
  The Government's policies and measures for reducing air pollution from industry, transport and other sources are set out in the 'Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland', published in January 2000 and the Addendum to the Strategy, published in February 2003. The Strategy contains ambient air quality standards for nine key pollutants and the dates between 2003 and 2010 by which they should be met. The Environment Agency is responsible for the regulation of larger power stations and other major industrial processes in England and Wales. The Environment Act 1995 requires that the
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  Agency takes account of the requirements of the Air Quality Strategy in discharging its pollution control functions.

  The larger coal fired power stations are currently regulated by the Environment Agency through the Integrated Pollution Control ("IPC") regime. IPC was established by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and regulates industrial pollution through a system of authorisation. IPC is being superseded by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control ("IPPC") regime, which implements an EC directive of the same name. Power stations that came into operation before 31 October 1999 will be regulated by IPPC from 2006. New installations or those undergoing substantial change are required to apply for an IPPC permit with immediate effect.

  Sulphur dioxide from power stations is controlled by system emission limits that restrict the amount that can be discharged in any given year. Limits are set for individual sites and for companies operating several sites to take account of the potential for local air pollution and long-range pollution. In order that the combined impact of adjacent power stations and other sources will not lead to a breach of the objective, operators are required to develop a local air quality management and monitoring plan which will ensure adherence with the Air Quality Strategy by 2005.

  National Emissions Reduction Scheme
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her proposals for the National Emissions Reduction scheme; and if she will make a statement [106462]

  Alun Michael
  I assume that this question refers to implementation options under the revised Large Combustion Plant Directive (2001/80/EC) for plants that were in existence in 1987. We are currently considering whether to implement the revised Directive for these plants by the emission limits approach or by adopting a National Emissions Reduction scheme and will issue a consultation paper in due course. Measures under the Directive would apply to these plants from 2008.

  Pollution (Buckinghamshire)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many successful prosecutions have been undertaken since 6 February 2002 by the Environment Agency concerning pollution in Buckinghamshire. [106379]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Buckinghamshire constituency is covered by two of the Environment Agency's regions—Thames and Anglian.

  There were five prosecutions successfully concluded during the period. These comprised two cases involving fly-tipping, two cases involving breaches of the producer responsibility regulations—designed to encourage the recycling of waste packaging—and one case involving water pollution.

  Refrigerators
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding her Department has allocated to(a) Buckinghamshire county council and (b) Aylesbury Vale district council to assist with the costs of storing and processing refrigerators and freezers; and what plans she has to make further funds available. [106992]

  Mr. Meacher
  (a) Buckinghamshire County Council received £312,480 from Special Grant Report 109 to assist with the costs of storing and processing refrigerators and freezers in 2002–03. This was in addition to an allocation from the £6 million provided to waste disposal authorities in England for 1 January to 31 March 2002. Spending Review 2002 included future funding within the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block which will be distributed through Formula Standard Shares (FSAs).

  (b) Aylesbury Vale district council received no additional support as funds have been allocated to waste disposal authorities only.

  Rural Businesses
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total subsidies awarded to(a) farms and (b) non-farming rural businesses were in each of the last five years. [106673]

  Alun Michael
  It is not possible to differentiate subsidy payments between farms and non-farming rural business. The total direct aid payments made under the Common Agricultural Policy in England in each of the last five years were:

  Direct Aid Payments

  (£ billion)

  1998

  1.68

  1999

  1.61

  2000

  1.65

  2001

  1.69

  2002

  1.34

  The year in question relates to the EU financial year, which ends in October. The subsidies are payments made under the Guarantee section of the European

  Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Direct aid payments include internal market schemes covering principally fresh fruit and vegetables and milk and milk products.

  Tyre Recycling
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for increasing the proportion of tyres recycled using carbon neutral methods. [104156]

  Mr. Meacher
  Government have supported research and development into a wide variety of projects looking to reuse and recycle tyres.

  Current projects include the use of tyres in coastal and river engineering schemes, improving the economics of granulating tyres by reducing the rubber contamination of the processed steel which should enable this steel to be

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  beneficially used, the processing of tyres into fine rubber crumb by the use of ultra high pressure water, and research looking at the use of rubber crumb in asphalt mixes. There is also a study, developed in collaboration with the Institute of Civil Engineers, and supported by landfill tax credits monies, setting out the many potential civil engineering uses for tyres.

  Union Duties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002. [106733]

  Alun Michael
  In the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies, 353 staff have received paid leave to undertake union duties during the financial year 2002–03. The cost to public funds for this period is not yet available.

  Up to 25 days was available to each union representative to undertake trade union activities although the average claimed was less.

  For information, 378 staff received paid leave to undertake union duties during the financial year 2001–02. The cost to public funds was £540,507.

  In the time available and given the number of NDPBs for which Defra is responsible, it is not possible to confirm the position for all NDPBs at reasonable cost.

  Waste Management
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to set up a strategic waste forum to ensure co-ordination between(a) Government Departments, (b) local authorities, (c) the waste management industry and (d) the environmental sector. [106456]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Government are keen to improve co-ordination with their partners and stakeholders. The Strategy Unit Report, 'Waste Not, Want Not' included recommendations aiming to improve co-ordination between Government, local authorities, and industry, for example to establish an industry forum, and to set up a multi-disciplinary task force to help and provide advice to local authorities.

  We have been considering our response to the Report, and plan to publish this shortly.

DEFENCE

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on the possibility of NATO taking over operations of the ISAF in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [107119]

  Mr. Ingram
  We fully support the decision by Germany and the Netherlands to benefit from NATO assistance in their leadership of the International 8W
  Security Assistance Force (ISAF). We are examining with our NATO partners what scope there may be for the Alliance to widen its involvement with the ISAF.

  Anti-personnel Mines
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the potential use of anti-personnel mines in a conflict with Iraq. [102351]

  Mr. Hoon
  The United Kingdom, as a State Party to the Ottawa Convention, does not possess operational anti-personnel mines and will not use any in Iraq.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002. [106313]

  Dr. Moonie
  With the introduction of Resource Accounting and Budgeting, this information is no longer held centrally in the form requested. Expenditure on commercial and HMSO publications, including newspapers and periodicals, is now reported as one of a number of general administration costs and could only be separated out for financial year 2002–03 at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Grants
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the grants funded by his Department for which individual members of the public and organisations may apply; and if he will make a statement as to(a) the total of such funding in the last financial year, (b) the total number of awards and (c) their administrative costs. [82189]

  Dr. Moonie
  There are no funds available through grants from the Ministry of Defence which individual members of the public or organisations may apply for. Such funding that is available relates mostly to professionally provided welfare, health and social services by charitable organisations such as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association—Forces Help, who provide services at the specific request of the Ministry of Defence. Other organisations which received similar funding in the last financial year included the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and Relate. In financial year 2000–2001 the Ministry of Defence provided almost 18 million in grant funding to such organisations.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the running costs in 2002 were of(a) his Ministers private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) his Department. [105989]

  Dr. Moonie
  The costs of running Ministers' private offices in financial year 2001–02 were as follows:

  (£ Million)

  Total (Including staff costs)

  Staff costs

  2.2

  2.1

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  The net operating cost of the department as a whole, as reported in the 2001–02 Departmental Resource Account, was £32,239 million. This figure is on a resource basis and includes military and civilian personnel costs; property management and equipment support costs; stock consumption; depreciation, impairment of fixed assets and cost of capital charges. Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available but will be published in the forthcoming Departmental Resource Accounts.

  EUFOR
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many interpreters are serving with the EUFOR in Macedonia. [107120]

  Mr. Ingram
  The EU headquarters in Skopje for Operation Concordia has a complement of 12 locally-employed interpreters who will provide Macedonian and/or Albanian language skills.

  Friendly Fire
  Mr. Leigh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral answer of 26 March 2003,Official Report, column 300, what steps he is taking to ensure that procedures to prevent friendly fire incidents work effectively in high intensity warfare. [106843]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our Combat Identification capability is designed to operate at all levels of warfare including high intensity operations. The specific measures we have taken to make our forces comparable to and compatible with those of the United States in Iraq assumed we would be participating in high intensity warfare. We will continue to pursue vigorously the programme of work described to the Public Accounts Committee last year, and learn the lessons from incidents of fratricide in current operations. However, no Combat Identification system is infallible and the possibility of fratricide cannot be entirely eliminated.

  Iraq
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are being made to enable members of the public to send support parcels to troops in the Gulf. [106822]

  Mr. Ingram
  Airmail packets up to 2kg in weight may be sent to named individuals at a subsidised rate equivalent to Royal Mail first class inland postage charges. Due to capacity constraints, there are no parcel services available. I refer the hon. Member also to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 2 April 2003,Official Report, column 912, to my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, North (Mrs. Adams).

  We encourage members of the public who wish to show their support to make use of the internet Bulletin Board at the BFPO website www.bfpo.org.uk or to make contributions to the UK Forces Gulf Fund.

  Tony Baldry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate has been made of the number of troops required to deliver humanitarian relief in Iraq. [106845]
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  Mr. Ingram
  We have made very clear our commitment to the welfare and future of the people of Iraq, and United Kingdom forces will continue to deliver humanitarian relief to the full extent of their capability where it is needed and it is safe for them to do so. This is not, however, the primary role of our forces, which are structured for warfighting. As soon as the security situation stabilises enough for civilian aid agencies to deploy fully, we will hand responsibility for humanitarian assistance over to them.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to enable people in the UK to send parcels to service personnel serving in the Gulf free of charge once the situation becomes more stable. [106848]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 2 April 2003,Official Report, column 912, to my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, North (Mrs. Adams).

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi PoWs are under the jurisdiction of British forces. [107115]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 April 2003,Official Report, column 782W, to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman).

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the extra money announced for the prosecution of war in Iraq will be allocated to(a) mental health services and (b) counselling services for returning servicemen and women. [107169]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence does not maintain financial records to this level of detail. Therefore, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, where such a need is identified and additional funding is necessary, it will be provided.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many coalition services personnel have been injured in operations in Iraq, broken down by country; and if he will make a statement. [107427]

  Mr. Ingram
  As at 3 April, we had sustained 39 United Kingdom battle casualties.

  Injuries sustained by other members of the coalition are a matter for them to comment on.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the status of(a) military and (b) civilian personnel captured by UK forces in the Gulf; and whether they will all enjoy the protection of the Geneva Convention. [107428]

  Mr. Ingram
  Any individuals captured or detained by United Kingdom forces in the Gulf will be afforded the appropriate status and enjoy the protection afforded by the Geneva Convention.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the daily handling capacity of each of the ports in southern Iraq is; what the estimated daily required(a) military supplies and (b) humanitarian supplies are; and if he will make a
  statement. [107495]
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  Mr. Ingram
  There are six ports in southern Iraq. We are currently conducting an assessment of the facilities at one of these, Umm Qasr. Until this assessment is complete, we will not be able to determine its handling capacity. Reliable information on the handling capacity of the other ports in Iraq is not available.

  The requirement for military supplies varies according to the needs of the operation and supplies are provided in accordance with those needs. We have no immediate plans to deliver military supplies through Umm Qasr.

  While combat operations in southern Iraq continue, it will be very difficult to carry out a full assessment of the requirement for humanitarian aid. However, initial assessments suggest a requirement for water, medical supplies and, potentially, food.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of NATO in post-conflict operations in Iraq. [107496]

  Mr. Hoon
  The issue of whether and how NATO may play a role in post-conflict Iraq will need to be considered carefully and in the light of developments in the region and at the United Nations.

  We welcome the positive dialogue on Iraq started at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels on 3 April 2003, but would emphasise that no decisions have yet been taken. It is expected that NATO will take the discussions forward over the next few weeks.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the order of battle for the Iraq theatre of war. [107590]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Order of Battle for the Iraq theatre of operations comprises elements of all three Services, including reserves. On 3 April 2003, around 45,000 personnel were deployed in support of the operation. The maritime force consisted of around one-third of the combined vessels of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The amphibious package comprised Headquarters three Commando Brigade, 40 Commando Royal Marines and 42 Commando Royal Marines with supporting elements. The land force comprised Head Quarters 1(UK) Armoured Division, with support from 7 Armoured Brigade, 16 Air Assault Brigade and 102 Logistics Brigade. And the air package comprised a fixed wing force of around 100 aircraft and a rotary wing force from the Joint Helicopter Command of 77 helicopters.

  I will place a full Order of Battle in the Library of the House.

  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) British military personnel and (b) US military personnel have lost their lives in friendly fire incidents in Iraq; and how many of these personnel were killed involving friendly fire from (i) British personnel and (ii) US personnel. [107700]

  Mr. Ingram
  We cannot confirm numbers of dead until formal identification has taken place. As at 3 April, we believe we have sustained 28 United Kingdom deaths (including battle, accidental and natural causes) since operations began in Iraq. Until investigations are complete we are not able to comment on whether they are the result of friendly fire.
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  Injuries sustained by other coalition members are a matter for them to comment on.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the hazard posed by unexploded cluster munitions to the reconstruction of Iraq following military action there. [102357]

  Mr. Ingram
  At this stage of the conflict in Iraq it is not feasible to make an accurate assessment of the effects of the use of cluster bombs.

  Unexploded cluster bombs, and indeed all unexploded ordnance, are a matter of humanitarian concern. As such, we are committed to working towards the clearance of explosive remnants of war as part of the reconstruction of Iraq.

  Military Activities (Animals)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cetaceans, broken down by species, have been used by the Navy in each of the last 10 years; if he will list the activities carried out by such species; how many cetaceans have been killed while in the service of British forces as a result of military activity in each of the last 10 years; and if he will list the causes of death. [107242]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence has no programme utilising cetaceans to undertake any military activity.

  Operation Fresco
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the recent announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister that troops taking part in Operation Fresco have been stood down, whether these troops are available for alternative deployment overseas. [106995]

  Mr. Ingram
  The announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister made clear that Armed Forces personnel assigned to Operation Fresco were being stood down only until 15 April, at which point they would be held at five days' notice to move. Consequently, they are not available for operations overseas as they continue to be committed to providing essential fire and rescue cover, should there be another strike.

  The Ministry of Defence does, however, keep the operation under constant review to ensure that emergency fire cover is provided effectively and with the minimum impact on the Armed Forces. Based on the experience of the last 15 days of strike action, it has been agreed with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association (CACFOA), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and HM Fire Service Inspectorate (HMFSI) that a reduction in the number of Armed Forces personnel committed to Operation Fresco from some 19,000 to around 16,000 can now be made. This reduction is made possible by revising shift patterns, reducing manning levels on fire appliances and amalgamating a number of Joint Operational Control Centres.
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  There will be no reduction in the effectiveness of the emergency cover arrangements or the total number of vehicles as a result of these changes. Nor will there be any increased risk to the public or the servicemen involved.

  Armed Forces personnel released by these measures will be able to undertake normal military training and other duties. The largest group will be the personnel who make up 20 Armoured Brigade who will deploy to the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada to conduct normal high readiness training.

  Royal Navy
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial resources are allocated to the Royal Navy to patrol the waters between Haiti and Turks and Caicos. [107281]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Royal Navy undertake a regular deployment to the Caribbean under the auspices of the Atlantic Patrol Task (North). The primary task for APT(N) is to provide a tangible United Kingdom presence in the Caribbean region to support our overseas territories and UK interests in the region while also being available to assist in the provision of Emergency Disaster Relief during the hurricane season. APT(N) also undertakes a range of additional tasks including Defence Diplomacy and Counter Drugs operations. These tasks may, from time to time, provide a Royal Navy presence in waters between Haiti and Turks and Caicos. No specific funds are however allocated to that task.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether possible ship losses are taken into account in his Department's policy on the requirement for Royal Navy warship and submarine numbers. [107118]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence's policy on the requirement for Royal Navy warships and submarines is based on a number of factors including the planned level of availability. This does not, however, include assumptions about potential complete losses.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

  Refrigeration
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what coolant is used in the new House of Commons chillery. [106620]

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  The coolant used in the new chillers is HFC 134a. This is a hydrofluorocarbon gas, which has zero Ozone Depletion Potential and low Global Warming Potential, unlike chlorofluorocarbons or hydrochlorofluorocarbons.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  ARBRE
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the latest situation regarding the future of ARBRE. [107036]
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  Mr. Wilson
  Officials are in discussion with the Liquidator, who is speaking further with the preferred bidder. An announcement on the outcome of these discussions is expected soon.

  The Government will work with the successful bidder to build on the early successes of ARBRE and ensure the long-term future of the project. The Government will consider proposals to reduce the technical risk of taking the project through to commercial operation.

  Many lessons have already been learnt as a result of ARBRE that can be applied to future high efficiency biomass plant, which are likely to be required if dedicated biomass plant are to be available in the medium term.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent estimate she has made of the cost of(a) establishing and (b) administering an end-use arms control system. [106074]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government do carry out end-use monitoring. This includes pre-licensing checks where information is obtained from a wide range of sources. Desk Officers have standing instructions to advise overseas posts of any approved arms licence that it is felt should be monitored post-export. Overseas posts have standing instructions to inform the UK of any suspected mis-use, or diversion, of UK arms exports. The Government are committed to carrying out post-export monitoring where this will genuinely add value to our efforts to minimise the risk of misuse and diversion.

  It is not possible to establish the cost of administering the system. A large proportion of end-use monitoring does not uncover mis-use, or diversion, of an export and the monitoring activity is therefore not recorded. In addition there are a high number of officials involved in the process, but they also have other responsibilities.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent estimates her Department has made of the number of deals concluded each year in military and paramilitary equipment by UK nationals outside the UK; which countries were party to these deals; and in which countries these deals were completed. [106083]

  Nigel Griffiths
  None. We are consulting on the proposed secondary legislation to be made under the Export Control Act 2002. A copy of the consultation document is available from the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Ancram
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arms export licences have been approved for the sale of weapons to Ethiopia in the last year. [105621]

  Nigel Griffiths
  [holding answer 31 March 2003]: Between 17 March 2002 and 17 March 2003, no Standard Individual Export Licence and one temporary Open Individual Export Licence had been issued, for the proposed export of items on the Military List to Ethiopia.

  Business Assistance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many individuals and businesses have been assisted in Milton. Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [107154]

  Alan Johnson
  Business Link, the national business advice service provided by the Small Business Service an agency of the Department for Trade and Industry, has assisted the following number of established small and medium enterprises (sole traders or businesses with up to 250 employees) within the Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire areas:

  (a) 2001–02: 7,077;

  (b) 2002–03: 10,000 (estimate as final numbers for Q4 still being collated).

  In addition, they have provided services to the following number of individuals and pre-starts:

  (a)2001–02: 2,300;

  (b)2002–03: 3,200 (estimate as final numbers for Q4 still being collated).

  Credit Agencies
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the licensed money credit agencies in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [101284]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Consumer Credit Act licensing provisions cover a number of credit activities in addition to lending, for example, credit brokerage and debt collection.

  The number of traders in possession of a current licence to lend money under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is 102,476. The total number of current licences is approximately 215,000. (Traders can hold more than one category of licence). Since 1996, traders have been permitted to apply for a licence covering all the six categories licensable activity and, therefore, the figure I have just given will include traders who although licensed to do so, do not actually lend money. In addition, the Consumer Credit Act licensing provisions do not apply to traders who only lend amounts in excess of £25,000.

  Employment Rights Consultation
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2003,Official Report, column 341W, to the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she intends to publish the results of the consultation on employment rights in relation to statutory employment rights, particularly as it affects the right of registration officers to be heard at industrial tribunals when they are unfairly dismissed. [106814]

  Alan Johnson
  The responses to the consultation on employment status in relation to statutory employment rights are being analysed. The DTI plans to publish its response later this year. This will outline any proposed changes, which would be subject to further consultation.

  Entertainment Costs
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and industry when she has entertained Labour hon. Members at public expense in the last 12 months; and at what cost. [106394]

  Ms Hewitt
  There have been no occasions when Labour hon. Members have been entertained at public expense in my Department.

  Export Licences (India)
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria she uses to establish whether replacement component parts for nuclear power stations in India are capable of being diverted to military use; and whether these criteria changed between January 2001 and January 2003. [106183]

  Nigel Griffiths
  All export licence applications for India are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, and in the light of the statement made by my hon. Friend, the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw) the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on 15 March 2002,Official Report, columns 1296–98W. The consolidated criteria include a specific reference to the existence of a risk that the equipment will be diverted within the buyer country or re-exported under undesirable conditions.

  As part of the rigorous assessment process, specialist advisers in relevant advisory Departments consider all reliable information available at the time an application is submitted, to determine the risk of the items being used or diverted in contravention of the consolidated criteria.

  Nuclear Decommissioning
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the adequacy of resources held by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to carry out its additional responsibilities required by the decommissioning programme planned for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; and what discussions she has had with the Chief Nuclear Inspector on this matter. [107664]

  Mir. Wilson
  Resourcing of the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is a matter for the Health and Safety Commission and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. I understand the Health and Safety Executive is currently considering its resource requirements in the light of proposals for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Health and Safety Executive's Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations on this matter.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which institution will hold the site licence for(a) the Sellafield MOX plant and (b) THORP, when their ownership is transferred to the new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. [107665]
  17W
  Mr. Wilson
  As the White Paper on Managing the Nuclear Legacy (Cm5552) explained, for regulatory and operational reasons Sellafield will remain a single licensed site. As and when the NBA is established, I would expect the licence to remain with BNFL plc.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the policy commitment to transparency in the White Paper on the proposed nuclear liabilities management arrangements will apply to the publication of future contracts negotiated for(a) THORP and (b) the Sellafield Mox plant, once their operation is transferred to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. [107668]

  Mr. Wilson
  The basis on which the commitment to an open and transparent NBA should be implemented is one of the issues on which we will be seeking views from stakeholders prior to the NDA being established. The starting point is that information should be published unless there are good reasons for not doing so. It will be for the NDA to make those judgements and justify them as and when necessary.

  Nuclear Waste Liabilities
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost to store Britain's nuclear waste in sites around the country was in the last year for which figures are available. [105593]

  Mr. Wilson
  Figures are not readily available in all cases but I understand the cost to store the UK's public sector nuclear waste to be of the order of £128 million last year. For some sites the capital cost of new stores and waste processing has been included.

  Post Offices
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices there are in each parliamentary constituency; and how many of them transact more than 40 per cent. of their work from paying benefits and pensions. [107044]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 9 January 2003,Official Report, column 299W.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) post offices and (b) sub-post offices there were in (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) each region in March (A) 1999, (B) 2000, (C) 2001 and (D) 2002. [107045]

  Mr. Timms
  I understand from Post Office Ltd. that the total numbers of post offices in the United Kingdom and each region/country is only available from March 2000 and are as follows:

  Region/Country

  March 2000

  March 2001

  March 2002

  North East

  739

  736

  726

  North West

  1,882

  1,853

  1,848

  Yorkshire and Humber

  1,583

  1,530

  1,509

  West Midlands

  1,479

  1,438

  1,414

  South West

  1,926

  1,880

  1,847

  South East

  2,267

  2,189

  2,153

  London

  1,233

  1,225

  1,209

  East of England

  1,706

  1,632

  1,611

  18W

  Region/Country

  March 2000

  March 2001

  March 2002

  East Midlands

  1,477

  1,420

  1,382

  Northern Ireland

  632

  611

  605

  Scotland

  1,999

  1,933

  1,907

  Wales

  1,470

  1,399

  1,373

  UK Total

  18,393

  17,846

  17,584

  Utility Disconnections
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many households(a) in England and Wales and (b) in the Buckinghamshire constituency have been disconnected by (i) water companies, (ii) electricity companies and (iii) telecommunications companies in each year since 1999. [106986]

  Mr. Wilson
  The number of disconnections by electricity companies in England and Wales was:

  For debt

  For theft

  Total

  1999

  373

  3,219

  3,592

  2000

  300

  3,004

  3,334

  2001

  375

  1,959

  2,334

  2002

  995

  2,494

  3,489

  Note:

  Disconnection data for telecommunications operators other than BT are not available, nor are the data available by regions.

  The total number of BT residential disconnections in the United Kingdom were:

  Number

  1999

  1,000,161

  2000

  1,060,993

  2001

  1,068,416

  2002

  1,034,390

  The net disconnections were:

  Number

  1999

  645,941

  2000

  705,738

  2001

  718,509

  2002

  571,112

  Note:

  Some households were disconnected more than once in a year.

  Information on disconnections on a constituency basis is not available.

  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has responsibility for the water industry. I understand that under the Water Industry Act 1999, water companies do not have the power to disconnect various categories of premises, including private dwellings.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL Parliamentary

  Parliamentary Questions
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Solicitor General when she will reply to the Question from the hon. Member for Cynon
  19W
  Valley of 24 February on a meeting on the prosecution of leading members of the Iraqi regime. [107573]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Attorney General is happy to meet the hon. Member as he always said he was. A meeting was arranged but had to be cancelled and a new one will now be fixed.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Lord Chancellor's Apartments
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much public money has been spent on the acquisition of artefacts for the Lord Chancellor's apartments in each year from 1997 to date. [96419]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Since 1997 to date, £105,317 has been spent on the acquisition of artefacts for the Lord Chancellor's apartments. These include a dining table, eight mirrors, three beds, and a Pugin designed crockery set. This money was spent as part of the refurbishment of the apartments in 1997/98 and forms part of the overall cost of the refurbishment, namely part of £580,000, not £650,000 as often erroneously stated. No public money has been spent on the Lord Chancellor's apartments since this time.

  I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to question no. 96416 for further information.

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff were employed by her Department in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [106975]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 4 April 2003,Official Report, column 891W.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  National Audit Office
  30. Andrew Selous
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what plans he has to increase the budget of the National Audit Office to enable it to examine off-balance sheet Government accounting. [107111]

  Mr. Alan Williams
  The National Audit Office already examines whether financing arrangements and related assets should be on or off-balance sheet where the private sector provides assets or services to Government bodies. The National Audit Office does this as part of its annual audit of accounts. Any cost implications of this work will be reflected in the annual corporate plan submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General in the summer, which the Commission will consider before the Summer Recess.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Rights of Way
  David Taylor
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will make a statement on the implications of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 for church-owned land in England. [107086]

  Mr. Bell
  There have been four applications brought under this Act in connection with land owned by the Church Commissioners. Two of which they have objected to, and two of which they have conceded.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Lottery Funding
  12. Mr. Simon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to introduce a distribution of National Lottery funding aimed at tackling social exclusion and regenerating deprived communities. [107057]

  Mr. Caborn
  Since the introduction of the 1998 Lottery Act and changes to policy directions, distributors have increasingly focussed on areas of social and economic deprivation. Fair Share is one such initiative designed to target funding at those deprived areas which have benefited least from the Lottery.

  Press Complaints Commission
  Mr. Soley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met the Press Complaints Commission to discuss its work. [107060]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met the Press Complaints Commission recently, but she will be meeting Sir Christopher Meyer, the new chairman, on 7 April.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers OFCOM will have over the Press Complaints Commission. [107058]

  Tessa Jowell
  None. The Press Complaints Commission is an independent body overseeing the self-regulation of the newspaper industry. We continue to believe that self-regulation is preferable to any statutory measures.

  Cricket (Disabled People)
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's support for cricket for people with disabilities. [107059]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government funds sport for people with disabilities through the English Federation for Disability Sport (EFDS), which will receive £2 million from Sport England over the next year. The EFDS is presently considering whether to add cricket to its list of priority sports.

  Children's Play Facilities
  Ann Keen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what neighbourhoods will be prioritised in the review of children's play facilities for the New Opportunities Fund. [107061]

  Mr. Caborn
  No decisions have yet been made on this. The review is currently looking at the needs of areas which have inadequate play opportunities and groups of children who have limited access to play. A report with recommendations about priorities for play provision will be published this summer.

  Sport Facilities (Rural Colleges)
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance she is giving to support access to sporting facilities in rural colleges. [107062]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Government are fully committed to improving access to a wide range of sporting opportunities in all areas of the country, including rural areas. A number of initiatives including School Sport Co-ordinators, Spaces for Sport and the Arts and the New Opportunities Fund PE and Sport Programme will help to improve provision in rural areas.

  Entertainment Licences
  Dr. Desmond Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to promote the use of live music in pubs and clubs by reducing the cost of entertainment licences. [107063]

  Dr. Howells
  The Licensing Bill will do away with the current system of separate, annually renewable, public entertainment licences and establish a system under which a pub or club obtaining permission to sell alcohol will not pay anything extra to seek permission to provide live music.

  Tourism
  Mr. David
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and sport how the distinct identities of the Celtic nations will be promoted by the new UK-wide tourist body. [107065]

  Dr. Howells
  VisitBritain will build on the work of the BTA to market vigorously overseas each component part of Britain, ensuring that the strong and distinct brand identities are strengthened and developed in partnership with Britain's national and regional tourist boards.

  Churchill Museum
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will provide support for plans to build a Churchill Museum in the Cabinet War Rooms. [107247]

  Dr. Howells
  The creation of a museum in the Cabinet War Rooms dedicated to the life achievements and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill has been a long-term goal of the Imperial War Museum, which is sponsored by my Department. I fully support the Imperial War 22W
  Museum's aims and objectives for this museum, which will complete the development of the Cabinet War Rooms as a world class Heritage Resource.

  Departmental Annual Report
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the annual report of the Department will be published. [107870]

  Dr. Howells
  The DCMS annual report for the year 2002–03 will be published on 16 May 2003.

  Entertainment Licensing
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she has entertained Labour hon. Members at public expense in the last 12 months; and at what cost. [106400]

  Dr. Howells
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not entertained any Labour hon. Members at public expense in the last 12 months.

  Entertainment Licensing
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her policy that common areas in(a) sheltered accommodation, (b) residential homes and (c) day centres should be subject to licensing when used by a one-person singing entertainer. [107588]

  Dr. Howells
  Under the provisions of the Licensing Bill, performances in sheltered accommodation, residential homes or day centres would not be licensable unless the public were able to attend, or a charge was made to those who attended with a view to do more than cover costs.

  Market Testing
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the estimated level of saving to the Department is from the use of market testing in 2002–03. [107758]

  Dr. Howells
  There have not been any contracts suitable for market testing over the past year.

  Public Libraries
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding was allocated in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03 from the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge. [107102]

  Dr. Howells
  2001–02 was the final year of the DCMS/Wolfson Challenge Fund. With £3 million of funding available, £2.28 million was allocated to reader development projects and £113,000 was allocated towards a British History programme. The Wolfson Foundation carried forward the remaining monies for other purposes.

  Sport (Deprivation and Youth Crime)
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's policies to help tackle deprivation and youth crime through sport. [106815]
  23W
  Mr. Caborn
  The Government believe that sport can play a valuable part in achieving a range of social objectives such as alleviating economic and social deprivation, reducing crime, improving health and tackling social exclusion. This policy was set out in The Government's Plan for Sport and re-iterated in the joint DCMS/Strategy Unit report Game—Plan published in December last year.

  A number of measures to-achieve these objectives are in place. The policy-directions issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State require Sport England, in considering applications for Lottery funding, to have regard to their scope for reducing economic and social deprivation, to promoting access to sport for people from all sections of society and to promoting a knowledge and interest in sport in children and young people. Programmes such as Space for Sport and the Arts, the New Opportunities Fund School PE and Sport funding, the PE, School Sport and Club Links initiative and the Community Club Development programme are all targeted at deprived areas and at under-represented groups such as people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and women.

  Sport England is involved in a range of initiatives and programmes which target deprivation and social inclusion. Its Lottery strategy provides for 50 per cent. of its funding to be directed to areas of greatest need and its Active Communities Development Fund specifically aims to increase participation amongst women and girls, people on low incomes, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. It also works in close partnership with a range of organisations including the Home Office on Positive Futures, a programme which aims to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and drug taking among 10–16 year olds, and the Commission for Racial Equality on the Sporting Equals programme which aims to promote racial equality in sport.

  Staff Union Duties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture., Media and Sport how many staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002. [106771]

  Dr. Howells
  In 2002,14 staff within the Department and agencies received paid leave to undertake union duties; 425 days have been allocated and the estimated cost to public funds was £58,801.

  The timescale for response to this question does not allow for this information to be obtained for non-departmental public bodies.

  Sunset Clauses
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the sunset clauses included in legislation from her Department since 1997. [106941]

  Dr. Howells
  None of the Bills introduced by the Department since 1997 has contained sunset clauses.

  TV Licences
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department will introduce the preserved rights scheme for TV licences in sheltered housing. [107046]

  Dr. Howells
  We have already done so. As announced on 11 March this year Official Report, column 10WS, the necessary amending regulations were laid on that date and came into force on 1 April.

PRIME MINISTER

  British Detainees (Saudi Arabia)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has made to the Saudi Government on behalf of the British citizens imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for alleged terrorist offences; whether he has sought the support of the United States Government on this matter; and what response he has received from the Saudi Government. [106920]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Wednesday 12 March,Official Report, column 319W.

  Cabinet Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Prime Minister whether the start and finish time of each meeting of the full Cabinet is recorded. [107542]

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Document Classification
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each document requested by hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords that have been withheld from public disclosure under the Code of Practice Access to Government Information since the establishment of the Codes, with the relevant section in each case. [107222]

  The Prime Minister
  Requests for information are considered on an individual basis taking account of the requirements of the ministerial code, relevant statutes and the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Therefore no such list is held as the cases are dealt with individually.

  With regard to written parliamentary questions, each year the Public Administration Select Committee publishes an annual report listing the cases where Ministers have withheld information and the justification under the Code of Practice for doing so.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list events at which his Department and each agency and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible have exhibited in each of the past three years, stating for each(a) the purpose of exhibiting, (b) the cost of exhibiting and (c) the number of staff attending for the exhibition. [107611]

  The Prime Minister
  None.

  Iraq
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of whether Iraq has(a) nuclear, (b) chemical and (c) biological weapons. [107194]

  The Prime Minister
  Assessments of whether Iraq has nuclear, chemical and biological weapons are constantly updated in the light of information received. We continue to believe that Iraq has chemical and biological weapons, and that it is seeking to re-establish a nuclear weapons programme. Under UN Security Council Resolution 1441, the onus was placed firmly on Iraq to prove that it did not possess such weapons. It has failed to do so.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 2 April,Official Report, column 918, what the evidential basis was for his statement that the damage done to the holy sites at Najaf were perpetrated by forces of the Iraqi regime and not by the allied air forces of the 1991 Gulf War. [107532]

  The Prime Minister
  There are a number of independent sources which detail Saddam's damage to Shi'a holy sites in 1991. I refer my hon. Friend to the 1992 report of the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iraq (UN reference E/CN.4/1992/31) which is in the House Library.

  Syria/Iran
  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what plans he has to meet the leaders of Syria and Iran; and what issues he plans to discuss; [107192]

  (2) what recent discussions he has had with the US administration regarding the Government's policy towards Syria and Iran; and if he will make a statement. [107191]

  The Prime Minister
  We have ongoing close consultations with the US Administration, including my own with President Bush, about the Middle East region as a whole, including Iran and Syria. With regard to both, the UK remains committed to a policy of constructive and, where necessary, critical engagement, which allows us to support reform while maintaining a robust dialogue on issues of concern. I have no current plans to meet either President Al-Assad or President Khatami.

  Websites
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the(a) cost of and (b) number of visitors to each website operated by his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible in each year since its establishment. [107660]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr Cable) on 30 October 2002,Official Report, column 855W. Visitor numbers for the website for 2000 and 2002 are as follows:
  2000: 1,635,201 visitors who viewed a total of 17,347,966 pages
  2002: 3,312,879 visitors who viewed a total of 18,777,826 pages.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Prime Minister what action he intends to take to address the political problems in Zimbabwe. [106919]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government want to see a democratically elected government in Zimbabwe following sound policies for the benefit of the people. We are deeply concerned at the recent violence in Zimbabwe.

  The Government have played a significant role in ensuring that the European Union have taken a strong position on Zimbabwe. This includes renewing measures targeted at the ZANU-PF elite—travel ban, assets freeze and arms embargo—and the suspension of non-humanitarian aid. The EU has most recently expressed its concern about human rights in Zimbabwe by issuing a strong statement on 28 March. The EU is sponsoring a resolution on Zimbabwe at theUN Commission on Human Rights, which is currently taking place in Geneva.

  The Government also support the Commonwealth Secretary General's decision to continue Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth's Councils, pending discussion at CHOGM in December. We are in close touch with the regional states to encourage them to use their own influence on Zimbabwe. My Noble Friend, Baroness Amos reaffirmed the importance of this in a speech in Pretoria on 31 March.

TREASURY

  Banking Services (Teenagers)
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has(a) conducted and (b) evaluated on the availability of (i) insurance and (ii) banking services to teenagers recovering from cancer. [107703]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury has not conducted or evaluated such research.

  Blood Products
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to bring the level of VAT on recombinant blood products in line with that in other European countries. [107589]

  John Healey
  Along with other EU member states, the UK exempts from VAT human blood, and human blood components and derivatives when these are used for therapeutic purposes. Synthetic 'blood' products, such as those that are genetically engineered, are not exempt from VAT because of long-standing formal agreements with our European partners. Some recombinant blood products are therefore liable to VAT at the standard rate. However, when dispensed to a patient by a pharmacist on the prescription of a medical practitioner, recombinant blood products are zero-rated for VAT.

  The European Commission and member states, including the UK, have considered whether the exemption for human blood products should be extended to cover chemically-produced derivatives and

  27W
  synthetic blood products. The European Commission has not yet brought forward proposals for change in this area.

  Communications Data
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2003,Official Report, column 178W, on data access powers, how many applications for access to communications data there have been by (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Customs and Excise, broken down by each piece of legislation (i) in the last year and (ii) since the enactment of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [101022]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 has not yet come into force in relation to access to communications data by the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.

  In relation to the Data Protection Act 1998, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 17 October 2002, Official Report, column 938W.

  The Inland Revenue do not maintain specific records of access to communications data being sought under other legislation. In the year from 1 April 2002, the number of applications for access to communications data by HM Customs and Excise under other legislation is as follows:

  Legislation

  Number of applications

  VAT Act 1994, s.11

  18

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, s.1

  12

  Drugs Trafficking Act 1994, s.55

  33

  Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, s.118D

  22

  Criminal Justice Act 1988, s.93H

  1

  Customs and Excise
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will meet the wine, spirit and beer sector to discuss the future application of HM Customs and Excise throughput rules for bonded warehouses; [106043]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the impact the bonded warehouse throughput rules will have on small and specialist wine distributors across the UK; [106039]

  (3) if he will require HM Customs and Excise to incorporate risk analysis and discretionary assessments into the decision-making process authorising bonded warehouses; [106041]

  (4) what effect the new guidelines for HM Customs and Excise rules on throughput criteria for bonded warehouses will have on the licensed trades industry; [106038]

  (5) if he will have discussions with the Chief Executive of Customs and Excise concerning the impact of bonded warehouse throughput rules on small and specialist wine distributors across the UK; [106040]

  (6) what representations he has received from wine and beer suppliers regarding Customs and Excise application of bonded warehouse throughput rules; [106044]
  28W
  (7) how many compliant businesses will be affected by HM Customs and Excise requirement to uncouple physically a shop selling duty paid goods from a bond maturing wines held in duty suspense. [106042]

  John Healey
  In line with its wider approach to keeping burdens on business to a minimum, the Government seek to ensure that regulatory requirements on the alcohol trade are fair and proportionate, offering as much flexibility to businesses as possible while preventing unacceptable revenue losses.

  The law endows Customs and Excise with the ability to exercise discretion over approvals of excise warehouses, and requires them to deploy that discretion in a fair, equitable and reasonable way. Customs have a responsibility to businesses to ensure consistency of treatment. To this end, they have developed and published a policy on the types of premises to which they would normally grant approval. One of the conditions for approval under this policy is that businesses must meet laid-down minimum throughput criteria, which have been in place since 1980, and which were converted into the current monetary criteria in 1996. There are, therefore, no new guidelines on throughput criteria for excise warehouses.

  These criteria help ensure that a fair balance is struck between facilitating the trade in allowing traders to store goods in duty suspense, and minimising the cost to the Exchequer of allowing duty to be deferred after production or importation of excise goods, and the cost of controlling these premises. Without throughput criteria, any off-licence, tobacconist or supermarket would be eligible for excise warehouse approval and would be able to store its stock without payment of duty up until the time it was removed to its shop shelves. This would increase costs for Customs in assuring and collecting the duty from such a large number of warehouses, would delay the duty point with a consequent effect on revenue cash-flow, and would potentially provide unacceptably widespread opportunities for alcohol fraud.

  To support this approach, a further condition was introduced which established that premises used for a retail business could not also be an excise warehouse. Details of this were published in the January 1996 edition of Customs' public notice on warehousing and duty suspension.

  As the Minister responsible for Customs and Excise, I have regular meetings with their Chairman and other Senior Managers. Ministers and officials meet representatives of the alcoholic drinks industries on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the sector, including their Budget representations. I have also recently received one letter containing representations about the effect of the throughput criteria on one wine trader.

  Data Protection
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether officials from(a) the Inland Revenue and (b) HM Customs and Excise who have access to records relating to electronic contacts between individuals have access to the content of such contacts; under what powers in (i) the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act

  29W
  2000 and (ii) other legislation access is permitted; how many requests for access were made in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [104521]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Although the Inland Revenue will have access to communications data under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIPA) 2000, that access will not extend to the contents of communications, whether electronic or otherwise. Under the Taxes Management Act 1970, in criminal investigations the courts can issue warrants and make orders that give the Inland Revenue access to evidence which may include the contents of electronic communications. The number of cases in which the contents of electronic communications were made available to the Inland Revenue as part of wider evidence gathered is not known as separate records are not kept on this specific issue.

  HM Customs and Excise, in the 12 months to date, have accessed the 'electronic contacts' of an arrested person by virtue of Production Orders under three pieces of legislation. There have been 12 orders raised against 19 accounts as follows:

  Legislation

  Number of times accessed

  Drugs Traflicking Act 1994, s.55

  10

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1982

  1

  Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, s.118D(1)

  1

  Departmental Pay
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made with the pay review in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if he will make a statement. [106753]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Chancellor's Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies are committed to reviewing their pay systems in response to the Equal Opportunities Commission Task Force "Just Pay" report. Their progress in reviewing pay systems and preparing action plans in line with the guidance issued by the Cabinet Office is as follows:HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue have completed pay reviews.
  The Debt Management Office, the Office of Government Commerce, the Government Actuary's Department, the Royal Mint. National Savings and Investments, and the Valuation Office Agency will complete their pay reviews by the end of April.
  HM Treasury's equal pay review is progressing and the Office for National Statistics expects to report by the end of May.

  Economic Activity
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rates of economic activity were recorded in each of the last five years in(a) the UK and (b) each region, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex. [107430]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Sue Doughty, dated 7 April 2003:
  30W
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about economic activity rates. (107430)

  I am placing in the House of Commons Library, tables which give the information requested based on data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Table 1 shows estimates for the United Kingdom which have been interim reweighted to reflect the results of the 2001 Census. Comparable estimates for countries and regions within the UK will be available on 16 April 2003.

  LFS estimates for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England are available based on population estimates which have not yet been adjusted to reflect the 2001 Census results. These LFS estimates are shown in Tables 2–6.

  Energy Efficiency
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what fiscal measures or instruments he plans to use to encourage(a) registered social landlords, (b) private landlords, (c) local authorities and (d) other public bodies acting as landlords to install the most efficient heating systems in their properties; [106791]

  (2)what plans he has to use (a) enhanced capital allowances and (b) other fiscal measures to assist energy services providers to contribute to the UK's environmental objectives; [106790]

  (3) what fiscal measures and instruments he plans to use to encourage the installation of the most efficient heating systems in domestic properties. [106812]

  John Healey
  The Government have already introduced a range of measures to promote energy efficiency in the home. Budget 2000 reduced the rate of VAT to 5 per cent. on the grant-funded installation of new central heating systems and heating appliances. Budget 2002 extended the reduced rate of VAT to the grant-funded installation of factory-insulated hot water tanks, micro combined heat and power systems, and renewable energy heating systems in the homes of the less well-off.

  Budget 2001 introduced 100 per cent. first-year enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) for designated energy-saving plant and machinery.

  The ECA scheme enables businesses to write-off the whole cost of their investment in designated energy-saving equipment against the taxable profits of the period during which the investment is made. In the commercial sector, energy service companies can claim ECAs on their spending on qualifying equipment. Special rules enable them to claim allowances where, as part of a comprehensive energy services agreement, they provide equipment that becomes a fixture on another person's land in which they have no interest.

  The Government's Affordable Warmth Programme supports the installation of modern energy efficient central heating systems in low-income homes, including registered social landlord homes. The equipment is leased to the landlord and where the equipment is designated energy-saving equipment. Special rules enable the lessor to claim the enhanced capital allowances. The benefit can be passed on in the form of lower rental charges.

  The Government consulted on economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency during 2002 and a summary of responses has been published on the

  31W
  Treasury website. In his pre-Budget report in November 2002 the Chancellor announced that the Government will consult further on specific measures to promote greater energy efficiency by households, once the responses to the initial consultation have been fully considered.

  The Government have also introduced other measures to improve energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty in the domestic sector, including the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) and Warm Front. This commitment requires gas and electricity suppliers to encourage and assist their domestic customers to reduce energy consumption and to meet targets for quantified energy savings. At least 50 per cent. of the benefits from the EEC currently go to households on income and disability related benefits.

  Since its launch in June 2000, the Warm Front Scheme, which provides packages of insulation and heating measures worth up to £2,500 to private sector households in receipt of certain benefits, has assisted over half a million households, helping improve the comfort levels and living conditions of some of the most vulnerable members of society.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002. [106827]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on financial services and tax. Since 17 April 2002, the Treasury has led on the implementation of 10 Directives:directive 2000/46/EC on the taking-up, pursuit of and prudential supervision of the business of electronic money institutions (implementation date: 27 April 2002);
  directive 2000/28/EC, amending Directive 2000/12/EC relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions
  (implementation date: 27 April 2002);
  directive 2001/44/EC, amending Directive 76/308/EEC on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims resulting from operations forming part of the system of financing the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, and of agricultural levies and customs duties and in respect of value added tax and certain excise duties (implementation date: 24 July 2002);
  directive 2000/31/EC on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market ('Directive on electronic commerce') (implemented by the Treasury as regards matters within the scope of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: implementation date: 21 August 2002);
  directive 2000/26/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles and amending Council Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC (Fourth Motor Insurance Directive) (implementation date: 19 January 2003);
  directive 2001/78/EC of 13 September 2001 amending Annex IV to Council Directive 93/36/EEC, Annexes IV, V and VI to Council Directive 93/37/EEC, Annexes III and IV to Council Directive 92/50/EEC, as amended by Directive 97/52/EC, and Annexes XII to XV, XVII and XVIII to Council Directive
  32W
  93/38/EEC, as amended by Directive 98/4/EC (Directive on the use of standard forms in the publication of public contract notices) (implementation date: 4 February 2003);
  directive 2002/38/EC and regulation 792/2002 regarding value added tax arrangements applicable to electronically supplied services and broadcasting;
  directive 2002/10/EC concerning the structure and rates of excise duty applied on manufactured tobacco;
  directive 2001/115/EC with a view to simplifying, modernising and harmonising the conditions laid down for VAT invoicing;
  Commission decision 2001/574, following directive 95/60/EC, establishing a common fiscal marker for gas oils and kerosene.

  I am not aware of any further directives being implemented since 17 April 2002, but the Department does not keep a central record of this information and it could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.

  EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some Regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some Regulations enact small or technical amendments. As far as we have been able to verify, the number of Regulations implemented by HM Treasury since 17 April 2002 is three:
  regulations (EC) No 1224/2002 and (EC) No 1643/2002, amending regulation (EC) No 310/2002 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe (implementation date: 31 October 2002);
  regulation (EC) No 2560/2001 on cross-border payments in euro (implementation date: 25 March 2003).
  ED directives and Regulations are published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, which can be found at http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/.

  Fair Trade
  Mr. Barry Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exschequer if he will introduce concessions for Fair Trade companies for(a) capacity building activities and (b) capital investment programmes. [107736]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Government are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible and provides significant support to the Fairtrade Foundation's efforts in promoting the supply and marketing of fair trade products. All taxes are kept under review and any proposals for new taxes and tax reliefs will be considered as part of the normal Budget process. Since 1997 the Government have introduced incentives to benefit all companies including, cuts in the rates of corporation tax and permanent 40 per cent. first year allowances.

  Health Insurance
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on low income families of his decision to end the tax exemption of trading surpluses of non-mutual, not-for-profit health cash plan providers; [105851]

  (2) what representations he received from commercial insurers prior to ending the tax exemption of trading surpluses of non-mutual, not-for-profit health cash plan providers in relation to that change; [105850]
  33W
  (3)what tax revenue assumptions he made in deciding to end the tax exemption of trading surpluses of non-mutual, not-for-profit health cash plan providers. [105856]

  John Healey
  There has been no change to the underlying tax rules that are used when determining the mutual trading status of health cash plan providers. Tax exemption continues to apply to providers which meet the requirements for mutual trading or which have amended their constitutions and membership rules in order to comply with them.

  The Inland Revenue reviewed the status of these organisations in 2000, following an inquiry which discovered that the conditions of mutual trading were not being met by some providers. During that review, the Inland Revenue considered whether the necessary legal requirements of mutuality were being met in cases where mutual trading had been claimed.

  No representations were made to Treasury Ministers during the Inland Revenue review. Inland Revenue held discussions with the representative body of these providers, and offered not to apply the changed treatment retrospectively and to allow a grace period for the providers to decide how to operate in future. No assessment can be made of the impact of this review, which will depend on decisions taken by individual providers.

  Higher Rate Tax Payers (Buckingham)
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many higher rate tax payers there were in the Buckingham constituency in(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002–03. [107776]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There were around 10,000 higher rate income taxpayers in the constituency of Buckingham in the 2000–01 tax year. This estimate is based on the Survey of Personal Incomes. I regret that estimates are not available for later years.

  No. 11 Downing Street
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times No. 11 Downing street has been used for charitable causes in the last year; which organisations were involved; and how much was raised. [105661]

  Ruth Kelly
  Nine charitable events have been held at No. 11 in the last year. Events were held for the National Council for One Parent Families, Parentline, Family Services Units, Community Links, Charity Bank, National Deaf Children Society, Maggie's Centres, Streetsmart and the Special Olympics.

  Funds are not raised at charitable events held at No. 11. Fund raising is a matter for the charities concerned.

  Pensioners
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the percentage of pensioners in the population of each parliamentary constituency. [107432]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
  34W
  Letter from Len Cook to Sue Doughty, dated 7 April 2003:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the percentage of pensioners in each parliamentary constituency, (107432)

  The Office for National Statistics does not produce mid-year population estimates on parliamentary constituency boundaries. Results from the 2001 Census have not yet been published at this geographic level.

  The smallest area level for which we produce mid-year population estimates is for local authorities. In view of this, I am placing in the House of Commons Library, a table which shows the percentage of people of pensionable age in each local authority in England and Wales.

  Self-assessment
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total cost of income tax collection in the latest year for which information is available per self-assessment taxpayer. [104758]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In general, the costs of collecting self-assessment tax are minimal because it is sent in voluntarily by the due date by most taxpayers. In relation to tax paid late, the Inland Revenue estimates that the average cost of collecting self-assessment income tax in 2001–02 was £3.58 per self-assessment taxpayer. This figure is based on the total pay costs for the staff and managers concerned.

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed by his Department in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [106980]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the Minister of State, Cabinet Office gave him on 4 April 2003,Official Report, columns 891–92W.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the Tax Credits (Interest Rate) Regulations. [107787]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No representations have been received.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Service (Training)
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will arrange for each member of the civil service to be trained in the provisions and application of the(a) Freedom of Information Act 2000 and (b) Data Protection Act 1998. [107543]

  Mr. Alexander
  The training of civil servants in the provisions and application of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998 is a matter for individual Departments. Further information about the activities by Departments to train civil servants in readiness for the Freedom of Information Act 2000 can be found in section 6 in the
  35W
  most recent annual report by the Lord Chancellor on progress towards implementation of the Act (HC 6 November 2002).

  EU Directives
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002. [1068301

  Mr. Alexander
  The Cabinet Office has not implemented any EU Directives or Regulations since 17 April 2002.

  Staff Union Duties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002. [106737]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Cabinet Office has one full time local union representative.

  Cabinet Office agencies have one officer who spends part of their time undertaking union duties on an ad hoc basis, but does not have time formally allocated to them for this work.

  Cabinet Office non-departmental public bodies have no such staff.

  The total cost to public funds in 2002 was £32,507.

HOME OFFICE

  Asylum Seekers (Bela River)
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to use the former Bela River prison camp, between Milnthorpe and Holme in Cumbria, as a dispersal centre for asylum seekers. [106891]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are currently no plans to use the Bela River prison camp as accommodation for asylum seekers. This should not be taken to mean that we would never use the accommodation in connection with housing for asylum seekers. If the accommodation were to be offered to us we would consider its potential use in the light of our needs at that time.

  Command Paper 5778
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which(a) departments, (b) local authorities and (c) voluntary organisations his Department consulted in drafting Command Paper 5778. [106781]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The White Paper "Respect and Responsibility", published on 12 March, sets out the Government's vision for tackling anti-social behaviour.
  36W
  The White Paper represents a cross-cutting agenda being taken forward by a number of Government Departments. It has been informed by the experience of local authorities, the police, voluntary organisations, and communities up and down the country. We will continue to work closely with local authorities, the police and others to ensure that effective action is taken to deal with anti-social behaviour.

  Entitlement Cards
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many submissions were made to the Entitlement Cards consultation; and if he will place copies in the Library; [106906]

  (2) whether he intends to publish a summary of responses to the Entitlement Cards consultation. [106907]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 4 April 2003]: A final assessment of all responses received during the consultation period is still being undertaken, but the figure is well in excess of 2,000.

  Copies of every response received will not, as a matter of routine, be placed in the Library. It would be disproportionate in cost to provide such a large volume of paper records.

  In accordance with current policy on written public consultation, we will be publishing a summary of the views received and individual contributions will be made available on request, unless the contributor has asked for confidentiality or that such publication would unfairly affect third party interests or privacy.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002. [106842]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The Home Office plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on asylum and immigration. Since 17 April 2002, the Home Office has implemented, on the basis of provisions in existing legislation, Council Directive 2001/51/EC of 28 June 2001 supplementing the provisions of Article 26 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement. Notification to the effect was sent to the Commission on 16 January 2003.

  EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some Regulations may require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. The legislative changes required to implement the EURODAC Regulation were made in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, effective from 11 December 2000, by virtue of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Commencement No. 8 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2000. Implementation was completed when the centralised EURODAC fingerprint database became operational on 15 January 2003.

  Police
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on funding of non-territorial police forces. [107145]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The Home Office has lead responsibility for the police forces covered by the Police Acts 1996 and 1997. Lead responsibility for other police forces resides with the relevant Government Department. However, wherever there are issues, including funding issues, that impact either on the relationship between such non-territorial police forces and the regular police forces in England and Wales, or on policing generally, the Home Office will discuss these issues with the relevant lead Department to endeavour to deliver the best joined-up policing on the ground.

  Police authorities estimated and actual net expenditure 1996–97 to 1998–99

  £ million

  Estimates 1996–97

  Actuals 1996–97

  Difference

  Estimates 1997–98

  Actuals 1997–98

  Dfference

  Estimates 1998–99

  Actuals1998–99

  Difference

  Avon and Somerset

  154.62

  152.09

  -2.53

  160.66

  152.67

  -7.99

  167.42

  162.73

  -4.69

  Bedfordshire

  57.54

  56.63

  -0.91

  59.79

  58.57

  -1.22

  62.32

  61.78

  -0.54

  Cambridgeshire

  66.23

  65.02

  -1.21

  69.29

  68.68

  -0.61

  71.23

  73.43

  2.20

  Cheshire

  97.13

  94,18

  -2.95

  101.79

  104.00

  2.2I

  106.52

  107.09

  0.57

  City of London

  59.69

  57.32

  -2.37

  61.69

  57.89

  -3.80

  60.86

  60.35

  -0.51

  Cleveland

  76.69

  73.12

  -3>57

  78.89

  75.43

  -3.46

  82.28

  81.30

  -0.98

  Cumbria

  58.22

  56.86

  -1.36

  59.99

  61.71

  1.72

  63.00

  62.53

  -0.47

  Derbyshire

  92.04

  90.42

  -1.62

  96.21

  95.64

  -0.57

  100.89

  100.06

  -0.83

  Devon and Cornwall

  153.50

  150.39

  -3.11

  158.01

  155.44

  -2.57

  167.12

  166.33

  -0.79

  Dorset

  68.06

  67.83

  -0.23

  70.04

  69.73

  -0.31

  73.50

  73.12

  -0.38

  Durham

  70.70

  68.04

  -2.66

  73.70

  75.17

  1.47

  78.10

  74.67

  -3.43

  Dyfed-Powys

  48.81

  47.87

  -0.94

  50.48

  50.95

  0.47

  52.61

  50.04

  -2.57

  Essex

  154.98

  151.41

  -3.57

  161.02

  157.49

  -3.53

  168.89

  156.82

  -12.07

  Gloucestershire

  58.62

  58.42

  -0.20

  60.80

  58.63

  -2.17

  63.78

  62.86

  -0.92

  Greater Manchester

  343.71

  341.17

  -2.54

  355.13

  353.32

  -1.81

  371.50

  354.17

  -17.33

  Gwent

  61.85

  57.74

  -4.11

  65.16

  64.60

  -0.56

  67.92

  67.66

  -0.26

  Hampshire

  175.58

  172.85

  -2.73

  182.51

  180.80

  -1.71

  190.92

  186.66

  -4.26

  Hertfordshire

  90.43

  88.86

  -1.57

  93.95

  93.01

  -0.94

  97.86

  95.07

  -2.79

  Humberside

  102.80

  99.72

  -3.08

  107.80

  106.22

  -1.58

  111.59

  112.57

  0.98

  Kent

  164.22

  161.63

  -2.59

  170.63

  174.21

  3.58

  178.92

  175.58

  -3.34

  Lancashire

  164.64

  161.87

  -2.77

  171.34

  169.28

  -2.06

  178.05

  177.31

  -0.74

  Leicestershire

  94.72

  92.85

  -1.87

  97.45

  98.79

  1.34

  102.71

  102.80

  0.09

  Lincolnshire

  63.32

  61.51

  -1.81

  65.78

  66.18

  0.40

  68.32

  66.66

  -1.66

  Merseyside

  225.71

  221.17

  -4.54

  235.03

  224.33

  -10.70

  245.28

  240.27

  -5.01

  Metropolitan Police

  1,685.65

  1,683.18

  -2.47

  1,706.60

  1,676.62

  -29.98

  1,778.00

  1,716.43

  -61.57

  Norfolk

  76.16

  75.55

  -0.61

  80.77

  80.22

  -0.55

  82.34

  80.54

  -1.80

  North Wales

  69.34

  68.27

  -1.07

  72.04

  70.92

  -1.12

  75.08

  72.48

  -2.60

  Northamptonshire

  61.78

  59.25

  -2.53

  64.77

  64.61

  -0.16

  67.13

  67.06

  -0.07

  North Yorkshire

  69.98

  67.04

  -2.94

  73.46

  71.84

  -1.62

  75.64

  75.34

  -0.30

  Northumbria

  188.22

  186.41

  -1.81

  195.29

  195.09

  -0.20

  205.38

  205.27

  -0.11

  Nottinghamshire

  114.83

  113.59

  -1.24

  119.*4

  120.56

  0.88

  124.83

  127.02

  2.19

  South Wales

  151.52

  147.46

  -4.06

  156.80

  159.41

  2.61

  163.43

  160.94

  -2.49

  South Yorkshire

  156.90

  150.95

  -5.95

  162.95

  166.03

  3.08

  168.21

  167.16

  -1.05

  Staffordshire

  110.33

  107.83

  -2.50

  115.25

  110.26

  -4.99

  122.54

  116.23

  -6.31

  Suffolk

  62.44

  60.97

  -1.47

  64.77

  63.68

  -1.09

  65.79

  66.10

  0.31

  Surrey

  87.36

  85.35

  -2.01

  90.74

  90.98

  0.24

  90.74

  91.43

  0.69

  Sussex

  149.95

  150.63

  0.68

  156.39

  157.63

  1.24

  162.66

  161,85

  -0.81

  Thames Valley

  204.39

  201.40

  -2.99

  212.16

  210,33

  -1.83

  221.14

  209.68

  -11.46

  Warwickshire

  49.41

  47.69

  -1.72

  51.45

  51.00

  -0.45

  53.62

  52.02

  -1.60

  West Mercia

  103.59

  102.08

  -1.51

  107.70

  107.79

  0.09

  112.88

  113.76

  0.88

  West Midlands

  345.57

  337.99

  -7.58

  357.17

  360.13

  2.96

  372.30

  368.61

  -3.69

  West Yorkshire

  262.19

  265.23

  3.04

  273.21

  281.75

  8.54

  280.74

  277.99

  -2.75

  Wiltshire

  61.85

  59.99

  -1.86

  65.25

  58.54

  -6.71

  66.67

  68.81

  2.14

  Total

  6,715.28

  6,619.83

  -95.45

  6.933.59

  6,870.13

  -63.46

  7,220.71

  7,070.58

  -150.13

  38W
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) overspend and (b) underspend was for each police authority in England and Wales in each year since 1996–97. [91102]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  [holding answer 16 January 2003]: The table compares initial estimates and actual net expenditure, before movements in reserves, for each police authority from 1996–97 to 2000–01, the most recent year for which actual expenditure has been published.

  Police authorities meet net expenditure from general grants, precepts and reserves. In the light of events during the year, net expenditure will often differ from initial estimates.
  39W

  £million

  Estimates 1999–2000

  Actuals 1999–2000

  Difference

  Estimates2000–01

  Actuals 2000–01

  Difference

  Avon and Somerset

  174.42

  174.34

  -0.08

  181.21

  180.52

  -0.69

  Bedfordshire

  64.03

  63.61

  -0.42

  66.43

  64.90

  -1.53

  Cambridgeshire

  75.36

  75.05

  -0.31

  79.24

  77.89

  -1.35

  Cheshire

  111.09

  113.28

  2.19

  114.58

  115.24

  0.66

  City of London

  58.72

  57.85

  -0.87

  58.95

  57,72

  -1.23

  Cleveland

  85.40

  85.26

  -0.14

  85.60

  86.68

  1.08

  Cumbria

  64.69

  64.79

  0.10

  67.40

  67.25

  -0.15

  Derbyshire

  107.04

  105.59

  -1.45

  110.82

  105.56

  -5.26

  Devon and Cornwall

  173.65

  175.06

  1.41

  182.87

  178.30

  -4.57

  Dorset

  77.75

  76.96

  -0.79

  81.00

  79.71

  -1.29

  Durham

  80.71

  79.66

  -1.05

  85.78

  81.18

  4.60

  Dyfed-Powys

  56.14

  56.00

  -0.14

  59.28

  57.98

  -1.30

  Essex

  171.59

  167.97

  -3.62

  184.49

  181.41

  -3.08

  Gloucestershire

  65.93

  65.76

  -0.17

  68.70

  68.16

  -0.54

  Greater Manchester

  387.26

  374.80

  -12.46

  400.00

  385.75

  -14.25

  Gwent

  71.41

  70.83

  -0.58

  76.14

  75.34

  -0.80

  Hampshire

  196.96

  197.48

  0.52

  202.53

  206.55

  4.02

  Hertfordshire

  102.36

  104.45

  2.09

  120.95

  121.09

  0.14

  Humberside

  114.31

  113.94

  -0.37

  119.90

  116.47

  -3.43

  Kent

  186.23

  186.26

  0.03

  193.13

  195.98

  2.85

  Lancashire

  182.68

  182.00

  -0.68

  190.18

  191.35

  1.17

  Leicestershire

  106.28

  107.26

  0.98

  110.15

  110.80

  0.65

  Lincolnshire

  69.97

  69.38

  -0.59

  72.73

  73.67

  0.94

  Merseyside

  249.52

  248.41

  -1.11

  257.11

  255.59

  -1.52

  Metropolitan Police

  1,840.25

  1,838.89

  -1.36

  1,837.57

  1,890.99

  53.42

  Norfolk

  86.87

  87.18

  0.31

  91.51

  91.69

  0.18

  North Wales

  80.51

  78.70

  -1.81

  84.02

  83.91

  -0.11

  Northamptonshire

  70.43

  69.15

  -1.28

  73.08

  74.63

  1.55

  North Yorkshire

  78.09

  78.18

  0.09

  83.75

  84.17

  0.42

  Northumbria

  213.01

  212.70

  -0.31

  218.39

  214.24

  -4.15

  Nottinghamshire

  130.17

  129.47

  -0,70

  134.30

  133.57

  -0.73

  South Wales

  169.97

  169.91

  -0.06

  179.82

  180.83

  1.02

  South Yorkshire

  173.93

  176.01

  2.08

  181.05

  178.14

  -2.91

  Staffordshire

  127.47

  127.00

  -0.47

  126.96

  125.65

  -1.31

  Suffolk

  70.54

  70.51

  -0.03

  74.06

  72.26

  -1.80

  Surrey

  100.38

  100.09

  -0.29

  120.13

  123.50

  3.37

  Sussex

  165.80

  165.56

  -0.24

  172.51

  173.54

  1.03

  Thames Valley

  232.73

  227.02

  -5.71

  236.95

  232.57

  -4.38

  Warwickshire

  56.16

  55.16

  -1.00

  59.01

  56.12

  -2.89

  West Mercia

  116.49

  111.45

  -5.04

  125.70

  121.30

  -4.40

  West Midlands

  380.97

  381.48

  0.51

  395.10

  385.98

  -9.12

  West Yorkshire

  288.87

  286.09

  -2.78

  304.13

  297.75

  -6.38

  Wiltshire

  69.72

  69.82

  0.10

  71.98

  70.47

  -1.51

  Total

  7,485.86

  7,450.36

  -35.50

  7,739.18

  7,726.40

  -12.78

  Source:

  The chartered institute of public finance and accountancy police statistics 1996–97 to 2000–01 (Actuals).

  Net expenditure is service expenditure less specific income and receipts, before movements in reserves.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efforts the UK Government is making to improve the understanding by overseas governments of the challenge facing the states of Africa in tackling HIV and AIDS. [106763]

  Clare Short
  There are a number of ways in which the UK Government are improving understanding of the challenges faced by African countries in tackling HIV and AIDS. Working at a country level, many of our bilateral programmes are supporting National AIDS Councils to generate knowledge–helping to build capacity in developing strategies that are based on sound evidence, to prevent the spread of HIV, care for those already living with HIV/AIDS, and to mitigate 40W
  against the impact of the disease. At a regional level, the International Partnership against AIDS in Africa (IPAA), a DFID funded initiative, is also helping to build governments' understanding of the epidemic so they can scale up their country responses, and assisting in the sharing of lessons learnt across the region.

  More specifically, in South Africa DFID is co-funding (with USAID and AusAid) a number of research papers into the economic impact of HIV/ AIDS. We plan to undertake similar knowledge generation in Kenya and Malawi.

  My Department is also supporting the UNAIDS' initiative 'AIDS In Africa—Scenarios for the Future'. This innovative project aims to map out the possible impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic on Africa in the next 20 years in order to identify what needs to be done to alter the course of events.
  41W
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to(a) governments and (b) non-governmental organisations in Africa to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS. [106761]

  Clare Short
  My Department recognises that HIV/ AIDS is a terrible human catastrophe and is one of the most important development challenges facing Africa Over £180 million was committed to programmes focusing on HIV/AIDS and sexual health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa last year, with intensive bi-lateral action in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique. Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Over £25 million has been committed to support the International Partnership Against AIDS in Africa (IPAA) initiative—a regional, Africa-led initiative aimed at building Governments' national responses to the AIDS crisis, with a focus on Ethiopia. Rwanda, Burundi, and Ghana. In addition to working with governments, DFID also supports the efforts of non-governmental and civil society organisations in their efforts at preventing the spread of HIV, caring for those already living with the disease, and working to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on people's lives. Support is given through DFID's Challenge Fund and Partnership Programme Agreements, with international NGOs, as well as directly to local NGOs and civil society organisations through our in-country programmes.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to international efforts to overcome the threat of starvation in Zimbabwe.[106764]

  Clare Short
  I have contacted all OECD Development Ministers to ask them to do more to help Zimbabwe and have increased the UK's contribution, which now stands at £51 million since September 2001. As a part of this, DFID has provided £18.3 million in support of the World Food Programme's emergency operation, which is currently feeding almost five million Zimbabweans. My Department has also been active in supporting the wider work of the UN, assisting in their analysis of needs, the design of relief efforts, and helping support UN logistical and management capacity.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to(a) the Government and (b) non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe to combat the threat of mass starvation. [106762]

  Clare Short
  Donors work through the UN and non-governmental channels in Zimbabwe, and do not support the Government's programme which is not operated transparently.

  DFID has provided £3.75m for NGO feeding direct NGO programmes since September 2001, which are currently providing supplementary food to more than 1.5 million vulnerable Zimbabweans per day. We have also provided £5m through NGOs for seeds and fertilizer to help increase food production this year.

  Advertising Campaigns
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's total spending was on advertising and promotional campaigns between April 2002 and March 2003; and what the cost of each campaign was, broken down by costs relating to(a) television, (b) radio and (c) print media. [106437]

  Clare Short
  Between April 2002 and March 2003, DFID spent £292,957 on promotional activity to raise development awareness, and £137,837 on the promotion of initiatives such as DFID's Public Service Agreement and HIV/AIDS Awareness to DFID staff in the UK and overseas. The total spending on advertising in print media relating to recruitment and contract procurement during the same period was £1,146,000.

  These figures are subject to final auditing to take account of any end of year adjustments.

  There was no expenditure on television or radio advertising in this period.

  Afghanistan
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money was pledged by donors in Tokyo for Afghan reconstruction in 2002; how much money has been received for Afghan reconstruction; and how much of this money has been spent on (i) relief and (ii) reconstruction and development. [106917]

  Clare Short
  At the Tokyo conference in January 2002 donors pledged US$4.5 billion for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance over one to five years. As some donors made multi year pledges it is difficult to place a specific figure on how much of this aid was designated for 2002. However, over $1.8 billion was disbursed last year, with many donors providing more than their single year pledges or front-loading multi year pledges.

  It is very difficult to sustain a meaningful distinction between relief and reconstruction and development assistance to Afghanistan. We estimate that up to 50 per cent. of assistance last year was for humanitarian assistance. The trend towards a larger proportion of assistance being directed towards long term development will continue in the next and future years.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the slum areas arising around Kabul, Herat and other Afghan cities, with particular reference to the humanitarian conditions in these slum areas. [106918]

  Clare Short
  Urbanisation is a common phenomenon in developing countries in Asia. The situation is made particularly acute in Afghanistan by a combination of a shortage of shelter, due to the destruction of buildings caused by decades of conflict, and an increase in demand, caused by internal displacement of people to the cities and the return of 1.7 million Afghan refugees in 2002. 1.2 million more are expected to return in 2003. Limited or lack of employment opportunities in the rural areas add to the problem, with many rural inhabitants migrating to the cities.
  43W
  Lack of adequate shelter in informal urban settlements is a major humanitarian concern in Afghanistan. This was particularly serious during the recent winter months. The UN, working with local Afghans as well as international NGOs, have been providing assistance to meet humanitarian needs throughout Afghanistan, including in these urban areas and in particular through their recent successful Winterisation Programme. For example, UNHCR is assisting in the sustainable re-integration of returning refugees. Their assistance includes immediate needs including cash, and shelter kits. UNICEF is also working to provide shelter, water/sanitation, health, nutrition, and education.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the rights of Afghan women outside Kabul. [106923]

  Clare Short
  The rights of Afghan women remain a concern throughout Afghanistan, although we welcome the recent signing on 5 March of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The UK will help Afghanistan to implement CEDAW, with access to services by women and girls being monitored as in those reconstruction programmes that we support. Access to healthcare and education for women and girls in rural areas continues to be a problem, although 1.5 million girls have returned to school as part of the ATA and UNICEF's Back-to School programme.

  Women's rights and access to services often vary between regions and provinces, however. In the north, for example, women hold senior positions in local government ministries and have influence in the local community. About a third of teachers in the north are women, and mixed classes of boys and girls are permitted. Approximately 30 per cent. of the students are girls.

  In other areas of the country, with different ethnic balances and different cultural and religious norms the situation is less advanced. We are concerned about the recent decree from Ishmael Khan in Herat, enforcing strict gender segregation in schools. As there is a shortage of female teachers in Herat, we understand that this may prevent women and girls from receiving an education.

  Burundi
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of(a) political stability and (b) the humanitarian situation in Burundi. [106928]

  Clare Short
  Despite the 2 December 2002 ceasefire agreement with the FDD, fighting continues in Burundi. Moreover the FNL still remain outside the peace process. We welcome President Buyoya's decision to step down on 1 May, thereby honouring the provisions of the Arusha Accord settingup the transitional government. The early deployment of the African mission force is central to achieving a full ceasefire and the smooth transition of power after the 1 May 44W
  handover. The UK is working actively within the UN and with regional leaders to achieve this and we are ready to contribute to the costs involved.

  The humanitarian situation in Burundi is very poor, with very high levels of disease, high rates of malnutrition and, resulting from this, high levels of mortality. There are serious problems of access to some communities. DFID committed £1.9 million to Burundi last financial year, made up of £1 million in humanitarian interventions and £0.9 million for peace building activities. Our humanitarian interventions have focused on nutrition and health support, channelled through international NGOs and UN agencies. The EC provided humanitarian funding totalling US$ 15.7 million (about £10.12 million) in 2002. The 2003 Community budget for humanitarianassistance totals US$ 15 million (about £9.67 million).

  Departmental Pay
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made with the pay review in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if she will make a statement. [106754]

  Clare Short
  The Department has just substantially completed its equal pay audit of staff below the Senior Civil Service, in line with the Government's commitment to review pay systems by April 2003 in response to the Equal Opportunities Commission Task Force "Just Pay" report. So far no significant pay gaps have been found. However, there are some areas requiring further analysis and these are being taken forward in consultation with recognised trade unions.

  Departmental Running Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the running costs in 2002 were of(a) her Ministers' private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) her Department. [106003]

  Clare Short
  DFID's net expenditure on running costs for 2001–02 (the last year for which figures are available) was £81.957 million. Figures for DFID running costs for 2002–03 will be published shortly in the departmental Resource Accounts.

  Figures for the running costs of Ministers' private offices are not recorded separately.

  EU Directives
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by her Department since 17 April 2002. [106828]

  Clare Short
  Since 17 April 2002, the Department for International Development has not implemented any Directives.

  EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the Member States, without the need for further incorporation into national law. However, some Regulations require UK measures to make them

  45W
  workable and enforceable. Some Regulations enact small or technical amendments. As far as we have been able to verify the Department for International Development have not implemented any regulations since 17 April 2002.

  Global Health Fund
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development further to her answer of 13 March,Official Report, column 354W, how her Department will measure the effectiveness of the Global Health Fund. [106916]

  Clare Short
  DFID is actively working with the Global Fund and has provided expertise to assist in the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework which will monitor the impact of the fund at both country and global levels. Progress against key indicators will be reported to the Board of the Fund on which DFID is represented. DFID is also represented on the Monitoring and Evaluation Finance and Audit Committee of the Global Fund which provides more detailed oversight.

  In addition DFID will commission independent studies of the performance of the Fund. The first of these—to be carried out by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine—is currently underway.

  Human Trafficking
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department is doing to tackle(a) human trafficking and (b) trafficking of women. [106926]

  Clare Short
  The trafficking of people is part of a wider set of issues related to the migration of poor people to better their lives, and to their vulnerability to national and international smugglers and traffickers. Trafficking is an international problem requiring coordinated action. DFID's role is to work to eliminate the poverty and social injustice that can lead to such abuse. Through our programmes to promote sustainable development and end poverty, DFID is helping to reduce the circumstances that give rise to this appalling trade, and which make women and children especially vulnerable. With other Government Departments, we are supporting the efforts of Governments and international agencies to strengthen social protection policies and justice systems in line with the international treaty framework covering these issues.

  For example, in SE Asia, we are supporting the International Labour Organisation's work to reduce the trafficking of women in Laos, Thailand, China (Yunnan), Cambodia and Vietnam. It involves a number of interlinked interventions to raise awareness and prevent the trade. In the Balkans we recently supported the International Organisation for Migration in training the various agencies dealing with trafficked people, including police, social workers and the legal profession, in order to create and disseminate models of good practice.

  Iraq
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs regarding humanitarian aid to Iraq(a) during and (b) after the war. [106864]

  Clare Short
  I discuss humanitarian assistance and planning for Iraq regularly with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian aid has been delivered in Iraq. [106865]

  Clare Short
  Stocks have been pre-positioned in country and in surrounding areas and are being utilised as required and in line with the evolving security situation on the ground.

  In the north, UNICEF has brought in limited supplies, the Mines Action Group (MAG) is undertaking mine clearance, the World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered food, and the World Health Organisation is supporting local health providers to assess disease outbreaks.

  In Baghdad controlled Iraq the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is working with local technicians to repair water and power supplies in seven Baghdad hospitals and to provide drinking water.

  In the south the coalition military are discharging their humanitarian obligations under the Geneva Convention and Hague regulations in order to provide relief in the interim in the territory they occupy. UN agencies and NGO's are now beginning to enter. The ICRC has been repairing water and power supplies at the main Basra pumping station and distributing medical supplies. UNICEF has begun to distribute clean water and emergency kits; the International Medical Corps (IMC) has begun to provide assistance to the hospital in Umm Qasr; and Caritas Iraq has sent emergency medical supplies from Baghdad to Basra. The Coalition military has completed a 3.5 km water pipeline from Kuwait to Umm Qasr allowing water to be delivered to surrounding populations.

  This is far from a complete picture. Our daily published reports contain further information on humanitarian assistance in Iraq and are available from the Commons Library.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the United Nations regarding humanitarian aid to Iraq. [106866]

  Clare Short
  I visited New York and Washington on 19–20 March to meet the United Nations Secretary General and others to try to ensure that proper preparations are being made for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Iraq. Since then, I have had discussions with other UN officials including the Executive Directors of the World Food Programme and the United Nations Population Fund. I will be visiting New York again this week for further discussions.
  47W
  My Department is in daily contact with UN humanitarian agencies through the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) based in Cyprus, to which we have seconded two members of staff.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2003,Official Report, column 353W, why officials from her Department were not previously in a position to meet with local Iraqi non-governmental organisations. [106924]

  Clare Short
  DFID officials have not been able to meet local Iraqi NGOs due to the security climate in Iraq. DFID has on-going programmes of support in the North of Iraq, through Save the Children UK; HelpAge International; Christian Aid; Response Relief Resettlement and Rehabilitation (4Rs); A Community Oriented Rehabilitation Network (ACORN) and Care in the Centre/South. All of these work extensively with local Iraqi people and local NGOs to implement their programmes.

  Any new or future support in Iraq will similarly seek to maximise partnerships with local Iraqi organisations.

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff were employed by her Department in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [106974]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to the central answer provided by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 4 April 2003,Official Report, columns 891–92W.

  Staff Union Duties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002. [106736]

  Clare Short
  We have two full time union officials—one in each of our UK offices. Paid leave is also granted to several other union officials at both locations. This totals to approximately the equivalent of one additional full time member of staff. The cost for the 2002–03 financial year was approximately £64,640 (based on the average cost of staff at those grades). We have no agencies or public bodies with staff in this category.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the statutory instruments issued by her Department in the last 12 months, indicating(a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals. [106319]

  Clare Short
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 17 December 2002,Official Report, column 707W, which listed statutory instruments issued by my Department in 2002. Since then the House of Commons has approved two further statutory
  48W
  instruments: the African Development Fund (Ninth Replenishment) Order and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Fifth Replenishment) Order. With the exception of the International Development Act 2002 (Commencement) Order 2002, the purpose of each was to permit a contribution by DFID to a multilateral development bank. No significant costs were occurred from public funds in arranging for implementation of the orders prior to the contributions made under them.

  Contributions made in the last 12 months under these statutory instruments were:
  African Development Fund (Additional Subscriptions) Order 2002—£40 million
  Caribbean Development Bank (Further Payments) Order 2002—£8.748 million
  International Development Association (Thirteenth Replenishment) Order 2003—£300 million.

  There were no costs to (ii) businesses or (iii) individuals.

  UNHCR (Funding)
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of her Department's funding for the UNHCR has been allocated to support(a) Afghan refugees and (b) Iraqi refugees. [106915]

  Clare Short
  My Department provided a total of £5.8 million to UNHCR's Afghanistan Appeal in the 2002–3 financial year. This allocation includes £1.8 million agreed in March 2003 as part of a package of emergency support for Afghan refugees.

  For Iraq, between February and March 2003 we gave £1.75 million towards UNHCR's Supplementary Programme Budget for contingency planning and preparedness., We are in regular contact with UNHCR. They report that there have been no significant arrivals of refugees reported into any of the countries neighbouring Iraq. UNHCR is continuing its border monitoring and preparations in the Iraq region. We are committed to supporting an effective international humanitarian response and remain ready to contribute funds in the event of a refugee outflow. This is in addition to our contribution of £65 million to the UN Flash Appeal launched on 28 March in New York by Louise Frechette, the Deputy Secretary-General.

  TRANSPORT Air

    Passengers
    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers on average(a) arrived and (b) departed from UK airports from (i) North America, (ii) mainland Europe, (iii) the Middle East and (iv) other in (A) 2002, (B) 2003 to date, (C) March 2003 and (D) monthly for the remainder of 2003 (projected). [107370]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The latest available information is as follows. The Department does not forecast monthly passenger movements by air.
    49W

    International arrivals or departures1 at UK airports by area of origin/destination

    Passengers (million)

    2002

    January 2003

    North America

    19.8

    1.3

    Europe

    103.9

    6.4

    Middle East

    3.1

    0.3

    Other

    19.9

    1.6

    All

    146.7

    9.6

    1 Available information does not separate arrivals and departures.

    Air Travel and Health
    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 25 March,Official Report, column 114W, on air travel and health, if he will place a copy of the review in the Library. [107295]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Copies of the report have today been placed in the Libraries of the House.

    Aircraft Noise
    Alan Keen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been undertaken to minimise the effects of aircraft noise on people in the South East region of England. [107011]

    Mr. Jamieson
    All but the smallest civil jet aircraft flying into the UK have (subject to certain exemption provisions) since 1 April 2002 been required to be noise-certificated according to ICAO Chapter 3 standards.

    Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports are designated under s.80 for the purposes of s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. By notices under this section, a range of operational noise controls has been applied. These include night restrictions, departure noise limits, noise preferential departure routes, and noise-minimizing approach procedures.

    Other airports have set their own noise controls, in some cases pursuant to planning obligations, and often similar in kind to the designated airports' controls.

    Alan Keen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in the last year in the number of people affected by aircraft noise in the South East region of England. [107012]

    Mr. Jamieson
    My Department is responsible for the publication of annual daytime noise contours for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. The contours for 2002, showing year-on-year changes, will be published shortly, and details will be made available on our website. Copies of the contour booklets will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

    Information about aircraft noise exposure elsewhere in the South East is a matter for the aerodromes concerned.

    Aston Clinton Bypass
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of the completion date for the Aston Clinton Bypass. [107103]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Highways Agency's latest estimate for completion of the A41 Aston Clinton Bypass is late summer 2003.

    Bicycle Safety
    Keith Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was set aside for maintenance of bicycle lanes in Britain in(a) 1998, (b) 2000 and (c) 2002. [107558]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The provisions for local highway maintenance are through the Highways Maintenance Formula for Standing Spending element of Revenue Support Grant and through the Local Transport Plan capital settlement.

    It is for local authorities to determine their own priorities for highway maintenance spending, and no separate provisions for bicycle lanes are made. As these lanes form part of a vehicular highway, they would normally be maintained in conjunction with the rest of the carriageway, and this makes deriving separate expenditure figures difficult.

    Bridges and Tunnels Regulations
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost implications are of the Trunk Road Charging Scheme (Bridges and Tunnels) (Keeping of Accounts) (England) Regulations. [107793]

    Mr. Jamieson
    These regulations will not impose any costs on business, voluntary groups or charities. They require the Secretary of State to prepare annual audited accounts, which are to be laid before each House of Parliament during the period the net proceeds of a charging scheme are to be made available for transport policies.

    British Transport Police
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional funding the British Transport Police receive for duties undertaken in respect of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; and if he will make a statement. [107122]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 provides officers of the British Transport Police (BTP) with jurisdiction outside the railways in certain, specified circumstances. The number of incidents where BTP officers respond in such circumstances accounts for some 1 per cent. of their activities each year. The costs are absorbed within BTP's budget and are offset by the assistance provided to BTP by local police forces for which BTP are not charged.

    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the funding of the British Transport Police. [107369]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The British Transport Police (BTP) Committee sets the budget for the force and the users of the BTP, such as London Underground, Network Rail and the train operating companies provide the necessary funding.

    Where the BTP contributes to national policing initiatives and wider public benefits are available, the Government accepts that central funding can be justified. Additional Government funding of over £5 million has been provided to allow the BTP to participate fully in the Street Crime Initiative and the new national police radio system.

    Bus Passengers
    Ian Stewart
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many journeys were taken by bus passengers in each passenger transport authority area in each of the last three years. [106452]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Revised bus patronage figures for the year 2001–02 for Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Midlands passenger transport authority areas were published by the Department on Thursday 3 April 2003. Previous estimates were published by the Department in "A Bulletin of Public Transport Statistics GB: 2002 and in Regional Transport Statistics: 2002".

    The revisions follow a National Statistics Quality Review of the Department's bus, coach and light rail statistics and discussions held with staff in the passenger transport authorities about differences in their estimates of bus patronage and those produced by the Department. The full set of figures is as follows:

    Bus passenger journeys

    Million

    Area

    1999–2000

    2000–01

    2001–02

    Tyne and Wear

    151

    146

    141

    West Yorkshire

    180

    189

    181

    South Yorkshire

    130

    131

    128

    Merseyside

    149

    142

    1142

    Greater Manchester

    199

    204

    1205

    West Midlands

    353

    353

    1352

    1 Revised figure

    Car Ringing (Wimbledon)
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received on the arrest of DVLA employees based in Wimbledon in connection with alleged car ringing activities. [107032]

    Mr. Jamieson
    On Thursday 30 January, four members of staff from DVLA's Wimbledon local office were arrested on charges of conspiracy to handle stolen vehicles and conspiracy to defraud.

    The arrests were the result of a joint DVLA and police investigation.

    The individuals concerned have been suspended by the agency, pending further police inquiries.

    Central Line
    Mr. Mark Field
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timescale is for the opening of the remaining stations on the Central Line. [105821]

    Mr. Jamieson
    I am pleased to report that following the reintroduction of a service on the western section of the Central Line between Ealing Broadway and Marble Arch on Monday 24 March, London Underground began running a service from Loughton to Ealing Broadway through central London from 3 April. I expect a service to be running to all stations on the line by Easter.

    Central Railways
    Mr. Hammond
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the 52W
    (a) report and (b) recommendations of the Strategic Rail Authority regarding the proposed Central Railway project. [104146]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Ministers have not yet reached a decision on Central Railway's proposed hybrid Bill. We are considering whether and in what form to make available the SRA's advice, in line with our commitment to open government, bearing in mind that some of the information it contains may be commercially sensitive.

    Chancery Lane Derailment
    Mr. George Osborne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the meetings that have taken place between Ministers in his Department and London Underground Ltd. to discuss the consequences of the derailment at Chancery Lane. [107254]

    Mr. Jamieson
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake) on 17 March 2003,Official Report, column 537W.

    Dartford Tunnel
    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans the Government has to refurbish the Dartford Tunnel; [107587]

    (2) if he will make a statement on the condition of the Dartford Tunnel. [107586]

    Mr. Jamieson
    I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to reply to the hon. Member.

    Letter from David York to Mr. Christopher Chope, dated 7 April 2003:

    Tim Matthews has been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the condition and refurbishment of the Dartford Tunnel. I am replying as Tim is currently away on Highway Agency business.

    The Tunnels at the Dartford Thurrock Crossing were opened in 1963 and 1980 and were constructed to the standards applicable at the time. Standards are constantly reviewed and improvements to the tunnels are carried out where it is considered appropriate and practical to do so, but the Tunnels at Dartford cannot meet all of the latest standards applicable throughout Europe.

    Both the tunnels at the Dartford Thurrock Crossing were recently refurbished. This work included the construction of new road decks. All improvement works identified by the regular inspection regime were carried out to ensure that the tunnels were in very good condition when the Dartford River Crossings concession ended a few days ago.

    The Highways Agency has plans to install an automatic fire detection system this year to supplement the 24-hour CCTV surveillance and manual fire alarm system already in place. Further improvement are being considered.

    If you would like further information about this matter, you may wish to contact Steve Ashley in the Agency's Dorking office on 10306 878254.

    Mersey Tunnel
    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the policing of the Mersey Tunnel, with special reference to the deaths of Darren Franey and Scott Veach. [105691]
    53W
    Mr. Jamieson
    The Government are sorry to learn of the circumstances which led to the death of Darren Franey and Scott Veach.

    Responsibility for the policing of the Mersey Tunnels rests with Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (Merseytravel), under provisions in the County of Merseyside Act 1980.

    We, along with colleagues at the Home Office, will give careful consideration to the reports and recommendations that have been produced following the investigation into this tragic incident by Merseyside police under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority and by the Coroner.

    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on who sets the performance standards for the Mersey Tunnels Police Force; and what relation they have to the Police Complaints Authority. [106028]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Responsibility for the policing of Mersey Tunnel rests with Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (Merseytravel), under provisions in the County of Merseyside Act 1980.

    As Merseytravel is primarily responsible for the safe operation of the Mersey Tunnels, it falls on it to ensure that the law enforcement officers it appoints are trained to a standard that protects both the officers involved and users of the Tunnels and to provide such facilities necessary for the officers to carry out their duties in a safe and proper manner.

    The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has no remit over the Mersey Tunnels Police. As a "non-Home Office" force they fall outside the primary legislation of the Police Act 1996 and no subsequent agreement has been reached to bring them within the PCA's remit. However, the Tunnel police have an agreement with Merseyside police for the investigation of incidents involving Merseyside police vehicles within the jurisdiction of the Tunnel police. Merseyside police do fall within the remit of the PCA; therefore. any investigation undertaken by the Merseyside police can be supervised by the PCA.

    £ million

    Scheme

    SRA funding

    Funding from non-SRA sources

    Hexham-Carlisle: passenger information

    99,000

    29,000

    Heart of Wales additional Sunday services

    68,886

    7,000

    Taff Corridor: additional rolling stock

    575,000

    10

    Brentford: service and station improvements

    1,250,000

    974,000

    Thornaby: improved station facilities

    179,000

    289,000

    Redruth: station improvements

    95,000

    116,000

    Tamar Valley: Sunday services

    72,272

    20,000

    Metro: additional rolling stock (Class 333s)

    Clitheroe—Blackburn services

    244,000

    61,000

    Carmarthen—Milford Haven: additional rolling stock

    216,400

    0

    Liskeard II Revised Bid (original approved bid withdrawn by sponsor and revised bid approved)

    Tees Valley: additional cycle parking

    48,990

    49,000

    Motorways
    Mr. Collins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what risks he has identified in(a) permanent removal and (b) variable removal of a hard shoulder on a motorway; [106894]

    (2) what steps he will take to ensure the safety of motorists on motorways where there is a variable or permanent removal of the hard shoulder; and what estimate he has made of the likely cost. [106893]

    Mr. Jamieson
    I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 March 2003,Official Report, columns 618–19W to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell).

    Rail Freight
    Mr. Lazarowicz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the role of rail freight in the UK freight market. [107026]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Government are committed to increasing rail freight's modal share of the freight market in line with its commitment to sustainable distribution. The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan, published on 30 January, sets out its plans for achieving the increase in rail freight envisaged in the Government's 10 Year Plan for Transport.

    Rail Funding
    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the(a) amount and (b) source of funding (i) paid, (ii) contracted and (iii) agreed to be paid by non Strategic Rail Authority sources, to supplement the Rail Passenger Partnership schemes set out on page 23 of the Strategic Rail Authority Annual Report 2001–02. [104491]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The information is not readily available in precisely the form requested. Information about the total amount of support from non-Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) sources to supplement the Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) schemes set out on page 23 of the SRA's 2001–02 Annual Report is shown in the table below. The non-SRA funding element of RPP schemes often includes sponsorship from more than one source. Typically schemes include support from the local authorities and the relevant train operating company, and other sponsors to date have included (amongst others) Network Rail, the Countryside Agency, Regional Development Agencies, Community Rail Partnerships, the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive.
    55W

    £ million

    Scheme

    SRA funding

    Funding from non-SRA sources

    Swanage: new services

    6,821,000

    9,844

    Southminster Branch Line: additional Sunday services

    85,000

    0

    Sudbury Branch Line: additional Winter Sunday services

    80,000

    0

    Beauly: station re-opening

    99,340

    120,000

    First Great Eastern: additional cycle parking

    34,286

    35,000

    Traintaxi: information database serving all stations ATOC (MML)

    24,000

    24,000

    Saltash: station improvements

    95,000

    11,000

    Willesden—Clapham: additional Sunday services

    65,000

    56,000

    Ludlow: ticket office

    89,000

    11,000

    First North Western: additional rolling stock (Class 142s)

    2,657,000

    0

    Cross City Line (Birmingham): higher frequency of trains

    3,455,000

    1,018

    Truto—Falmouth: all year Sunday service

    64,000

    67,000

    Bromsgrove: station improvements

    180,000

    70,000

    Robin Hood Line (Nottingham): additional train services

    234,000

    70,000

    SmartCard: integrated transport ATOC (Vergin CrossCountry)

    970,000

    1,305,000

    Matlock—Derby: feasibility study

    190,000

    610,000

    Kent station: additional cycle parking

    118,000

    102,000

    Penzance interchange: station improvements

    250,000

    519,000

    Exeter—Barnstaple: additional services

    144,000

    68,000

    Cardiff Valley Lines: service strengthening

    738,000

    0

    Doncaster: station improvements

    Now to be funded through an alternative mechanism

    Royal Welsh Show services

    19,661

    6,000

    1 References to £0 non-SRA sponsorship in this table do not take into account benefits in kind (e.g. in terms of staff resources) provided by the relevant train operating company to enable the scheme to operate.

    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the total level of Rail Passenger Partnership funding to be paid by the Strategic Rail Authority during the financial year 2003–04, with particular reference to the nature of the schemes to which any such funding would be directed. [104493]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Strategic Rail Authority's (SRA's) budget for Rail Passenger Partnership schemes in 2003–04 is £20 million of which £16.3 million is currently committed. Funding is directed to the provision of new or enhanced local and regional rail services that cannot be justified on financial grounds alone but which contribute to the Government's wider objectives for rail, including modal shift and integration with other modes.

    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the(a) amount and (b) source of funding (i) paid, (ii) contracted and (iii) agreed to be paid by non Strategic Rail Authority sources to

    RPP schemes 20020–03

    £ million

    Scheme

    Status of scheme

    SRA funding for approved schemes

    Non-SRA funding for approved schemes

    West Anglia CIS (customer information system)

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Scheme now being funded

    Doncaster

    through alternative mechanism

    Project Cymru

    Approved

    2,471,000

    265,000

    Markinch Interchange

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Coleshill Interchange

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Weardale

    Pre-qualified

    —

    —

    Exeter Gateway (St. Davids)

    Pre-qualified

    —

    —

    Greenhithe

    Pre-qualified

    —

    —

    Dartford

    Pre-qualified

    —

    —

    Cheshunt Bay

    Pre-qualified

    —

    —

    56W
    supplement Rail Passenger Partnership Scheme applications of 2002–03 which have been (A) approved, (B) deferred and (C) cancelled; (104494]

    (2) if he will list the (a) location, (b) nature of the schemes, (c) amount of funding requested and (d) current stage of approval of Rail Passenger Partnership applications made to the Strategic Rail Authority in 2002–03, broken down into those (i) rejected, (ii) which reached pre-qualified status and (iii) which have had funding approved. [104492]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The information cannot readily be provided in precisely the form requested. The table as follows sets out details of RPP scheme applications in 2002–03, their current status and the amount of SRA and non-SRA support involved in the case of schemes that have been approved. The level of funding for schemes prior to approval stage is liable tochange.

    Schemes may be deferred, cancelled or rejected for a number of reasons, such as failure to meet SRA's value for money and affordability criteria, failure to attract adequate sponsorship from non-SRA sources, and withdrawal of the application by the sponsor.
    57W

    RPP schemes 20020–03

    £ million

    Scheme

    Status of scheme

    SRA funding for approved schemes

    Non-SRA funding for approved schemes

    Arriva Trains Northern capacity and reliability

    Approved

    4,102,077

    1,000

    Conwy Valley Line

    Rejected

    —

    —

    West Midland CIS

    Pre-qualified

    —

    —

    Ferensway Interchange

    Pre-qualified

    —

    —

    Hull Royal Infirmary Rail Halt

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Salford Central

    Pre-qualified

    —

    —

    Heart of Wales2, Winter Sundays. (Original approved bid withdrawn by sponsor and re-submitted)

    Decision pending

    —

    —

    Bury St. Edmunds

    Approved

    223,4000

    350,000

    Burnley

    Approved

    259,000

    240,000

    Stansted

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Liskeard II Revised Bid

    Approved

    248,000

    352,000

    Macclesfield

    Approved

    250,000

    535,000

    Chorley

    Approved

    137,000

    130,000

    Plymouth

    Approved

    136,000

    132,000

    Downham Market Access

    Approved

    229,000

    130,000

    Tarka Line (Exeter to Barnstaple)

    Approved

    144,000

    223,000

    Exeter to Exmouth (Phase 1)

    Deferred

    —

    —

    Valley Lines dedicated bus service

    Approved

    41,000

    10

    Bristol services

    Approved

    139,000

    0

    Littleport

    Approved

    77,600

    135,000

    Plus Bus Journey Solutions

    Deferred

    —

    —

    Devon and Cornwall

    Approved

    234,000

    0

    Glasshoughton

    Approved

    250,000

    1,610

    Ramsgate

    Approved

    85,000

    100,000

    Bedford

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Southminster

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Valley Lines

    Rejected

    —

    —

    First Great Eastern Cycle Parking

    Approved

    98,000

    69,000

    Manchester to Clitheroe

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Halesworth

    Rejected

    —

    —

    King's Cross Facade

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Horwich Parkway

    Approved

    100,000

    115k

    Watlington

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Cheshunt Bus/Rail Integration

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Hastings

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Wherry Line

    Rejected

    —

    —

    Thameslink Cycle

    Approved

    54,000

    55k

    Trowbridge

    Approved

    13,000

    10k

    Taunton

    Deferred

    —

    —

    Bristol Temple Meads

    Deferred

    —

    —

    Chippenham Interchange

    Decision pending

    —

    —

    London Crosslink 2 (now Phase 1&2)

    Deferred

    —

    —

    Anglia Locals 2 (Phase 1&2)

    Pre-qualified/Rejected

    —

    —

    Filton Abbey Wood

    Approved

    1,268,000

    0

    Pre-qualified (Scheme now beingfunded by the National Assembly for Wales)

    —

    —

    Ebbw Vale

    —

    —

    Paddington vehicular access

    Pre qualified-Rejected

    —

    —

    Sheffield

    Approved (pre qualified 2001–02)

    163,000

    0

    Matlock Buxton

    Approved (pre qualifed (2001–02)

    190,000

    610,000

    West London Line

    Approved

    18,000

    0

    Probus-Burngullow

    Pre-qualified

    700k

    —

    1 References to £0 non-SRA sponsorship do not take into account benefits in kind (e.g. in terms of staff resources) provided by the relevant train operating company to enable the scheme to operate.

    Rail Schemes
    Mr. Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme applications received by the Strategic Rail Authority in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 classified as (i) medium and (ii) major applications which received pre-qualified status; and what the total funding requested was in each case. [104490]
    58W
    Mr. Jamieson
    Information on the medium (under £5 million) and major (over £5 million) Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) scheme applications in 2000–01 and 2001–02 which received pre-qualification status is set out in the table. Information on the level of SRA funding is shown where the scheme has proceeded to approval. The level of funding for schemes prior to appraisal is liable to change. In January 2002 the SRA introduced a fast track system for approving bids under
    59W
    £250,000. Fast track schemes bypass the pre-qualification stage, and proceed directly either to approval or rejection.

    RPP schemes in 2000–01 and 2001–02

    SRA support for approved schemes (£)

    Pre-qualified applications over £5 million 2000–01

    Anglia Service Improvement

    10,041,163

    Leamside Line

    —

    Allerton Interchange

    —

    South Notts Rail Network

    —

    Sheffield Station

    12,800,000

    Keswick to Penrith1

    —

    Stratford Station

    —

    2001–02

    Sheffield—Barnsley Leeds1

    —

    Braintree Branch Line

    —

    Windermere Branch Line Upgrade1

    —

    Newcastle Central Station—Interchange1

    —

    Truro—Falmouth2 Branch Line

    —

    Anglia Locals2 (Phase 1 & 2)

    —

    Probus—Burngullow

    —

    Pre-qualified applications under £5 million 2000–01

    Thornaby

    —

    Leeds to Windermere

    —

    Barry Island

    —

    Ashington, Blythe & Tyne

    —

    Ilkeston

    —

    Taff Corridor

    —

    Brentford Station

    —

    Birmingham-Stratford on Avon Semi-Fast

    —

    Durham Coast Line—Phase 2

    —

    Camberwell Station

    —

    Tyne-Tees Express

    —

    Wrexham—Bidston

    —

    Bristol Area Line Frequency

    —

    Finsbury Park Central Area Project

    —

    Larkhall to Milngavie (RPP bid withdrawn by sponsor)

    —

    2001–02

    Sheffield—Barnsley Leeds1

    —

    Braintree Branch Line

    —

    Windermere Branch Line Upgrade1

    —

    Newcastle Central Station—Interchange1

    —

    Truro—Falmouth2 Branch Line

    —

    Anglia Locals2 (Phase 1 & 2)

    —

    Probus—Burngullow

    Pre-qualified applications under £5 million 2000–01

    Thornaby

    —

    Leeds to Windermere

    —

    Barry Island

    —

    Ashington, Blythe & Tyne

    —

    Ilkeston

    —

    Taff Corridor

    —

    Brentford Station

    —

    Birmingham-Stratford on Avon Semi-Fast

    —

    Durham Coast Line—Phase 2

    —

    Camberwell Station

    —

    Tyne-Tees Express

    —

    Wrexham—Bidston

    —

    Bristol Area Line Frequency

    —

    Finsbury Park Central Area Project

    —

    Larkhall to Milngavie (RPP bid withdrawn by sponsor)

    —

    2001–02

    Coast to Coast Sleeper Services1

    —

    Capacity Enhancements 142's (First North Western)

    2,657,000

    Metrotrain/Additional Class 333 Vehicles (Arriva Trains Northern)

    2,859,200

    Carmarthen—Milford Haven

    216,400

    MK. 11 Trains for Special Events (Wales & Borders)

    Clyst Hayes Station1

    —

    Diss Station Interchange

    —

    Airdrie—Bathgate Rail-Bus Link

    —

    Frankley Extension

    —

    Cumbria Coast Line

    —

    60W

    RPP schemes in 2000–01 and 2001–02

    SRA support for approved schemes (£)

    Real Time Train Information (Virgin/Midland Main Line)

    2,013,000

    Cross City Line (Central Trains)

    2,328,231

    Walsall & Stourbridge

    —

    Coventry to Wolverhampton

    —

    Smartcard—ATOC

    970,000

    Kempston Station

    —

    Valley Lines Strengthening

    738,000

    South Hants Crossrail (Chandlers Ford)

    3,341,023

    Edinburgh Park Station

    1,962,000

    Cardiff-Aberdare

    1,236,000

    Great Northern Customer Information System

    Sheffield Station Feasibility Study

    163,000

    Matlock—Buxton

    190,000

    1 Bids rejected.

    Railways
    Mr. Collins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the proposal submitted to him by London Regional Metro for an east-west rail link for London; and if he will make a statement. [106890]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Department is continuing to discuss these proposals with London Regional Metro.

    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway lines have had ETCS installed in the last 10 years. [107297]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Within the UK there is no operational railway line where the European Train Control System (ETCS) has been installed.

    River Crossings
    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether income from the M25 Dartford river crossings will be used to fund(a) the refurbishment of the (i) Blackwall and (ii) Rotherhithe tunnels and (b) a new Thames river crossing. [107579]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Dartford net income forms part of the funding included in our 10-year transport plan. It is too early to be able to identify projects which will illustrate the benefits this additional source of funding has helped deliver.

    Road Safety
    Mr. Collins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on accepting road safety research conducted overseas as being valid for the United Kingdom; and whether this policy is applied uniformly throughout his Department. [106892]

    Mr. Jamieson
    I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 March 2003,Official Report, column 359W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell).

    Seafarers
    Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what pay safeguards UK seafarers have on UK registered ships outside UK waters. [106858]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Subject to the provisions of the National Minimum Wage, rates of pay are matters for negotiation between employers and employees.
    61W
    The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 provides that mariners employed on a UK registered ship are covered by the Act unless their employment is wholly outside the UK, or they are not ordinarily resident in the UK.

    Staff Numbers
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are employed by his Department. [106291]

    Mr. Jamieson
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 3 April 2003,Official Report, column 780W.

    Telecommunication Masts
    Mr. Lidington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has given to Network Rail about the erection of telecommunication masts on railway land in areas of outstanding natural beauty. [107795]

    Mr. Jamieson
    None. As a railway undertaker, Network Rail has permitted development rights for the erection of telecommunication masts on its operational land, required in connection with the movement of traffic by rail.

    Transport 2000 Speech
    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place a copy of the speech made by the Minister to Transport 2000 on 27 March in the Library. [107365]

    Mr. Jamieson
    A speech text is not available. I spoke from notes.

    Staff Union Duties
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002. [106772]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The number of staff in my Department and Agencies who receive paid leave to undertake union duties (excluding health and safety duties) are as follows:However, the majority are part-time representatives: 285.
    The amount of days allocated in 2002: 5307.5.
    The cost to public funds in 2002: £492,732.22

    Walking
    Andrew Bennett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the National Walking Strategy for England; and what timetable he has set for its(a) public consultation and (b) publication. [106996]

    Mr. Jamieson
    We hope to consult on a strategy to encourage walking in the next few months.

  FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

    Convention on the Future of Europe
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from ministerial colleagues on areas of concern to their Departments in respect of the Convention on the Future of Europe. [105952]

    Mr. MacShane
    My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is working closely with all his ministerial colleagues in co-ordinating the UK Government's approach on all aspects on the convention.

    Departmental Running Costs
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the running costs in 2002 were of(a) his Ministers private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) his Department. [105991]

    Mr. Straw
    As of 27 March, the cost in cash terms of running the six ministerial private offices for the 2002–03 financial year, amounted to £3,132,178. This is made up of £2,189,178 in running cost, and £943,000 in salary.

    The final total for this financial year will increase slightly once the data from all of our posts overseas have been entered on to our Financial Management System.

    The figures for the FCO in total will be available in the Departmental Report, which will be issued later in the year.

    European Working Groups
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with achieving transparency in respect of the European working groups for which his Department is responsible. [105740]

    Mr. MacShane
    The Government have long been committed to greater openness in the EU institutions. This was a key theme of the UK Presidencies in 1992 and 1998. Making it easier to gain access to non-sensitive documents is crucial to this. The Government welcome Regulation 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents. As a result, more documents are released to the public, while genuinely sensitive documents are given the protection they need.

    Much of the council's work takes place in preparatory bodies, including working groups.

    Accountability and transparency of council business to Parliament are ensured by the scrutiny process, to which the Government are also firmly committed.

    We strongly supported the measures agreed at the Seville European Council to make the council more open when in legislating mode. We remain committed to increasing transparency. The Future of Europe Convention is also looking at ways to make the EU more open.

    Gibraltar
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions there have been between his Department and the Ministry of Defence regarding the commemoration of 300 years of British sovereignty in Gibraltar in 2004. [106026]

    Mr. MacShane
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 12 March 2003,Official Report, column 291W.

    Ivory Coast
    Norman Lamb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the recruitment by Northbridge Services Group of mercenaries to operate in the Ivory Coast; and if he will make a statement on the activities of this company in connection with the Ivory Coast. [107530]

    Mr. Rammell
    I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on the Northbridge Services Group on 1 April 2003,Official Report, column 52WS.

    Latin America
    Mr. Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Governments of Latin American countries about the problems experienced by street children; and what responses he has received. [105886]

    Mr. Rammell
    The rights of children worldwide are a central part of our human rights policy. The UK ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. We support its full implementation by all governments. We regularly raise our concerns about street children bilaterally and with our EU Partners. We are backing a number of practical projects in the region to improve respect for and protection of children's rights.

    PFI Schemes
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement

    (a) UN Security Council Resolutions vetoed by the United States

    Information

    2002

    20 December

    Killing by Israeli forces of UN employees in Occupied Palestinian Territories

    30 June

    Renewal of UN peacekeeping mission in Bosnia, acting under Ch. VII

    2001

    14 December

    Israeli forces withdrawal from Palestinian-controlled territory and condemning acts of terror against civilians

    27 March

    Establishment of UN observer force to protect Palestinian civilians

    1997

    21 March

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    7 March

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1995

    17 May

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1990

    31 May

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    17 January

    Violation of Diplomatic immunities of Nicaraguan ambassador's residence in Panama

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    on the expected saving to public funds from the private finance initiative schemes due to become operational in 2003. [105726]

    Mr. Rammell
    The FCO has no private finance initiative schemes coming into operation in 2003.

    Seal Population
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what progress has been made since representations by his Department in February 1999 to the Canadian Government in ensuring that the numbers of seals killed each year does not threaten the sustainability of the species; [107678]

    (2) what assessment he has made of the impact of the annual Canadian slaughter of seal pups on the wild population; whether he has raised this issue with the Canadian authorities; and if he will make a statement. [107681]

    Mr. Rammell
    No formal representations have been made since February 1999 but the FCO has been monitoring the situation and has made the Canadian Government aware of our concerns. Any seal cull should be sustainable and based on the precautionary approach. The Canadian Government has recently announced their Seal Management Plan for 2003–2005 where quotas have been increased compared to previous years. The plan will be available to the public and government officials will assess the data on which the new quotas are based. After such an assessment has been carried out the FCO will review the situation.

    Security Council Resolutions
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Security Council resolutions(a) which have been vetoed by the United States in the last 30 years and (b) regarding Israel and the Occupied Territories which were supported by Her Majesty's Government but vetoed by the United States; and if he will make a statement. [103856]

    Mr. Rammell
    The information requested is as follows:
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    (a) UN Security Council Resolutions vetoed by the United States

    Information

    1989

    23 December

    Invasion of Panama

    7 November

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    9 June

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    17 February

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    11 January

    Shooting down of Libyan aircraft

    1988

    14 December

    Israeli raid on Lebanon

    10 May

    Israeli invasion of Southern Lebanon

    15 April

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    8 March

    Sanctions against South Africa, acting under Ch. VII

    1 February

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    18 January

    Israeli occupation of Lebanon

    1987

    9 April

    Question of Namibia, acting under Ch. VII

    20 February

    South Africa, acting under Ch. VII

    1986

    28 October

    Nicaragua and ICJ judgment

    31 July

    Nicaragua and ICJ judgment

    18 June

    South African attacks on Angola

    23 May

    South African raids into Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe

    21 April

    US raid on Libya

    6 February

    Israeli interception and detention of Libyan civilian aircraft

    30 January

    Provocative acts in relation to Al-Aqsa Mosque

    17 January

    Israeli occupation of Lebanon

    1985

    15 November

    Question of Namibia, acting under Ch. VII

    13 September

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    26 July

    Question of South Africa, acting under Ch. VII

    10 May

    Economic sanctions against Nicaragua

    10 May

    Economic sanctions against Nicaragua

    10 May

    Economic sanctions against Nicaragua

    12 March

    Israeli occupation of Lebanon

    1984

    6 September

    Israeli occupation of Lebanon

    4 April

    Mining of Nicaraguan ports

    1983

    27 October

    US invasion of Grenada

    2 August

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1982

    6 August

    Israeli invasion of Lebanon

    26 June

    Israeli invasion of Lebanon

    8 June

    Israeli invasion of Lebanon

    4 June

    Falklands Question

    20 April

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    2 April

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    2 April

    Nicaragua: US military exercises with Honduras

    20 January

    Israeli annexation of the Golan Heights, acting under Ch. VII

    1981

    31 August

    South African incursion into Angola., acting under Ch. VII

    30 April

    Question of Namibia, acting under Ch. VII

    30 April

    Question of Namibia, acting under Ch. VII

    30 April

    Question of Namibia, acting under Ch. VII

    30 April

    Question of Namibia, acting under Ch. VII

    1980

    30 April

    Question of exercise by Palestinian people of their inalienable rights

    1977

    31 October

    Question of South Africa

    31 October

    Question of South Africa, acting under Ch. VII

    31 October

    Question of South Africa, acting under Ch. VII

    66W 67W

    (a) UN Security Council Resolutions vetoed by the United States

    Information

    1976

    15 November

    Application for membership for Socialist Republic of Vietnam

    19 October

    Situation in Namibia, acting under Ch. VII

    29 June

    Question of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people

    23 June

    Application for membership for Angola

    25 March

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    25 January

    Middle East including Palestine question

    1975

    8 December

    Situation in the Middle East

    30 September

    Application for membership for Democratic Republic of Vietnam

    30 September

    Application for membership for Republic of South Vietnam

    11 August

    Application for membership for Democratic Republic of Vietnam

    11 August

    Application for membership for Republic of South Vietnam

    6 June

    Situation in Namibia, acting under Ch. VII

    1974

    30 October

    Relationship between UN and South Africa

    1973

    26 July

    Middle East

    22 May

    Rhodesia

    21 March

    Panama Canal

    1972

    10 September

    Middle East

    1970

    17 March

    Rhodesia, acting under Ch. VII

    (b) US vetoed Resolutions on Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories which were supported by the UK

    Information

    2002

    20 December

    Killing by Israeli forces of UN employees in Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1997

    21 March

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    7 March

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1995

    17 May

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1990

    31 May

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    7 November

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    9 June

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    17 February

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1988

    15 April

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1 February

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1986

    30 January

    Provocative acts in relation to Al-Aqsa Mosque

    1983

    2 August

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1982

    20 April

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    2 April

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    25 March

    Occupied Palestinian Territories

    1975

    8 December

    Situation in the Middle East

    1973

    26 July

    Middle East

    1972

    10 September

    Middle East

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    The Government believes that the veto should be used with restraint, and in a manner consistent with the principles of the UN Charter.

    Sudan
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will carry out an urgent investigation into cases of torture in the Sudan. [105775]

    Mr. Rammell
    We are concerned about torture in Sudan. We part-fund the work of the Sudanese Organisation Against Torture (SOAT) which monitors incidences. SOAT'S annual report states that incidences of torture have decreased across the population as a whole but that the practice continues to be used against the people of Darfur, and in particular students.

    The Sudanese government has signed the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Our Embassy in Khartoum regularly lobbies the Government of Sudan to ratify the Convention.

    Tasmania
    Mr. Kilfoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to mark Tasmania's bicentenary. [105956]

    Mr. Rammell
    I discussed UK involvement in the celebrations of Tasmania's bicentenary with the Premier of Tasmania, Jim Bacon, during his visit to the UK in January this year. We have taken no decision at this stage on marking the bicentenary in 2004.

    Tel Aviv Airport
    Richard Burden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning allegations of intrusive searches and harassment of UK citizens at Tel Aviv airport. [106077]
    70W
    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    We have not received formal representations about the treatment of British citizens at Tel Aviv airport. But British officials visiting Israel on official business have been subjected to stringent security checks on arrival at Tel Aviv; and our embassy in Tel Aviv is aware of British citizens, including at least one Member of Parliament, who have been detained at the airport for detailed questioning.

  EDUCATION AND SKILLS

    Referred Workers
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people are listed on the Department's List 99 of referred workers. [106605]

    Mr. Miliband
    There are currently 3,139 people on the list of people whose employment is barred or restricted by the Secretary of State for Employment and Skills (List 99).

    Award Schemes
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the award schemes in(a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time. [102078]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The information requested has been placed in the Library.

    Degrees
    Paul Farrelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the completion rate for degrees was in each academic year since 1997; [104703]

    (2) what the completion rate was for students from (a) I Professional, (b) II Intermediate, (c) IIIN Skilled Non-Manual, (d) IIIM Skilled Manual, (e) IV Semiskilled Manual, (f) V Unskilled and (g) unknown socio-economic backgrounds at universities in England in each academic year since 1997; [104708]

    (3) what the (a) initial entry rate, (b) drop-out rate and (c) participation rate for higher education institutions in England was in each academic year since 1997. [104707]

    Margaret Hodge
    Information on completion and non-completion rates of HE students is published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in "Performance Indicators in Higher Education (HE)". The latest available data are shown in the first table as follows. HEFCE do not calculate these figures by social class. Figures published in 2002 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed that the UK as a whole has one of the lowest non-completion rates among OECD countries.

    The second table as follows shows the latest available figures for the Initial Entry Rate (IER) and Age Participation Index (API). Historically, the API has been the standard measure of participation in HE; the IER has been developed recently to monitor progress towards the Government's goal of 50 per cent. participation in HE by 2010. The IER differs from the API in both coverage and method of calculation. The API calculates the proportion of UK domiciled students who enter full-time HE by the age of 20: the IER calculates the proportion of English domiciled students
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    who enter full or part-time HE courses, lasting at least one year, by the age of 30. The API is expressed as a percentage of the averaged 18 to 19-year-old population; the IER sums the percentages of each single year of the 18–30 age group.

    Projected learning outcomes—full-time students starting first degree courses in HE institutions in the UK

    Percentage

    Projected outcomes1

    Students starting in:

    Obtained degree

    Obtained no qualification

    Other2

    1996–97

    80

    18

    2

    1997–98

    81

    17

    2

    1998–99

    81

    17

    2

    1999–2000

    81

    17

    2

    1 The projected outcomes are calculated on the assumption that the progression paths of new entrants will be the same as those for students currently in the system.

    2 Includes students who obtain undergraduate qualifications other than a degree (eg an HND).

    The Age Participation Index (API) and Initial Entry Rate (IER)

    Percentage

    API1

    IER2

    Actual

    1997–98

    33

    n/a

    1998–99

    31

    n/a

    1999–2000

    32

    41

    2000–01

    33

    42

    Estimated

    2001–02

    34–36

    43

    1 The API is defined as the number of young (under 21) UK domiciled initial entrants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses, expressed as a percentage of the averaged 18 to 19-year-old population.

    2 The IER is the number of English domiciled initial entrants who enter full or part-time HE courses, lasting at least one year, by the age of 30, expressed as a percentage of the relevant 18–30 age group.

    Departmental Expenditure
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002. [106298]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

    Education Maintenance Allowance
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the outcome was of the evaluation of the Education Maintenance Allowance pilot scheme. [107173]

    Margaret Hodge
    An independent evaluation of EMA's has been taking place since 1999. The evaluation has tested the effectiveness of the scheme in increasing participation. Evidence from the second year of the pilots, which was published in July 2002, shows that EMAs have increased the number of eligible young people in full time education in year 12 in pilot areas by
    73W
    5.9 percentage points compared to the local authority areas without EMAs. The EMA scheme will be available from September 2004 across the whole of England. The evaluation is continuing. Reports on implementation and on vulnerable young people were published in March 2003. Forthcoming reports include a qualitative report to be published later this month and the 3rd year quantitative report due in the autumn.

    Higher Education
    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cash value is of loans granted to higher education students by the Student Loans Company in each year since 1997. [105938]

    Margaret Hodge
    The number and value of loans paid to higher education students by the Student Loans Company in each academic year since 1996–97 are shown in the table:

    Student support provision: academic year 1996–97 to 2001–02 (provisional)1

    Student loans (United Kingdom)2

    Academic year

    Number of loans Value of loans (thousand)3

    Value of loans (£ million)

    1996–97

    589.6

    877.2

    1997–98

    615.1

    941.0

    1998–99 of which:

    659.5

    1,233.5

    Student Support Scheme Students4

    275.9

    557.3

    Mandatory Scheme Students5

    443.6

    676.2

    1999–2000 of which:

    699.7

    1,795.4

    Student Support Scheme Students4

    456.5

    7,439.2

    Mandatory Scheme Students5

    243.2

    356.3

    2000–01 of which:

    759.9

    2,203.7

    Student Support Scheme Students4

    666.4

    2,068.4

    Mandatory Scheme Students5

    93.5

    735.3

    2001–02 (provisional) of which:

    809.3

    2,485.2

    Student Support Scheme Students4

    786.0

    2,450.7

    Mandatory Scheme Students5

    23.4

    35.0

    1 New student support arrangements were introduced from academic year 1998–99. New students in 1998–99 (apart from certain specified exceptions) received support for maintenance expenditure through means-tested grants (comprising about a quarter of the support available) and non income-assessed student loans (comprising about three quarters of the support available). From 1999–2000 students who entered higher education after 1998–99 received support for maintenance expenditure through loans, of which approximately three quarters of the value was non income-assessed. Loans made under these arrangements are repayable on an income contingent basis. The ratio of support for mandatory award holders, i.e. those who entered higher education up to 1997–98, was roughly 50 per cent. means-tested grant and 50 per cent. non means-tested loan repayable on a mortgage style basis.

    2 Student loans are available to eligible students normally domiciled in the United Kingdom on full-time undergraduate HE courses (and students on full-time and part-time postgraduate course of initial teacher training).

    3 Refers to loans advanced in the target year only, which include those to students in their first, second, third and any subsequent year of their course. Excludes hardship loans and 5,700 (2000–01) and an estimated 7,700 (2001–02) fixed rate loans of £500 for part-time students introduced in September 2000.

    4 Students starting their course from September 1998 under the new arrangements.

    5 Students who entered higher education up to 1997–98 and those who entered in 1998–99 under the existing arrangements.

    Source:

    The Student Loans Company
    74W
    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his latest estimate is of(a) the annual cost to public funds of increasing participation in higher education to 50 per cent. over the next five years and (b) the cost of the higher education system in 2002–03; and what assumptions he has made in drawing up these estimates. [105940]

    Margaret Hodge
    The Spending review settlement for higher education in England for the years 2002–03 to 2005–06 is set out in the table on page 19 of the White Paper 'The future of higher education' (Cm 5735). That table shows a 31per cent. increase in expenditure between those two years, an element of which accounts for the increase in student numbers over that period. The increase in participation towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18–30, will come mainly through two-year work-focussed foundation degrees.

    The cost of higher education per student varies according to the subject, type and length of their course. The overall costs of increasing student numbers beyond 2005–06 will therefore depend on their pattern of study.

    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his latest estimate is of the capital value of the higher education estate; and what proportion he estimates was paid for by public funds. [105941]

    Margaret Hodge
    Recent studies have estimated the insurance value of the higher education estate to be some £31 billion. The estimated value of the equipment and other contents of the buildings are estimated to be a further £8 billion. Producing an estimate of the proportion of the estate that has been purchased from public funds could be done only at disproportionate cost.

    League Tables
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will assess the value of league tables for GCSE and A level results. [106651]

    Mr. Miliband
    Performance tables provide an accessible source of information on the performance of schools. They form part of the accountability framework for schools and colleges. They help focus the debate on standards through the provision of hard information on achievements, thus strengthening the accountability of schools, colleges and LEAs.

    Parents and the wider community have a right to see the information published in the tables and challenge their schools accordingly.

    Literacy/Numeracy
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults are studying(a) basic literacy and (b) basic numeracy in further education colleges; and what proportion this represents of the total studying these subjects. [105138]
    75W
    Margaret Hodge
    [holding answer 27 March 2003]: Information on the number of literacy and numeracy learning opportunities being undertaken by adults on LSC-funded further education provision is presented in the table as follows. For the purposes of basic skills and the Skills for Life Strategy, we define adults as those

    Literacy and numeracy learning opportunities being undertaken by adults on LSC-funded further education provision1,2,3 1 April 2001 to 31 July 2002

    1 April 2001 to 31 July 2001

    1 August 2001 to 31 July 2002

    Total—1 April 2001 to 31 July 2002

    16 to 18

    19+

    16 to 18

    19+

    16 to 18

    19+

    Total

    (a) Literacy

    Basic Skills: Literacy

    11,700

    75,900

    12,200

    107,900

    23,900

    183,900

    207,700

    Key Skills: Communication

    102,600

    15,900

    125,100

    16,800

    227,700

    32,700

    260,400

    GCSE English

    25,200

    11,400

    30,500

    13,800

    55,700

    25,200

    80,900

    Total4

    139,500

    103,500

    167,800

    138,500

    307,300

    241,700

    549,000

    (b) Numeracy

    Basic Skills: Numeracy

    14,100

    31,100

    24,100

    60,500

    38,200

    91,600

    129,800

    Key Skills: Application of Number

    107,200

    15,600

    130,700

    17,600

    237,900

    33,200

    271,100

    GCSE Maths

    29,900

    16,300

    35,600

    19,500

    65,500

    35,800

    101,300

    Total4

    151,200

    63,000

    190,400

    97,600

    341,600

    160,600

    502,200

    1 These figures are estimates based on the LSC's individualised Student Records data.

    2 Only covers LSD funded provision, this detailed enrolment profile is not available for other types of provision.

    3 Adults enrolled on both literacy and numeracy learning opportunities will be counted under both categories. There may be some double counting where an adult has enrolled on more than one basic literacy or numeracy course in this period.

    4 Excludes those learning opportunities not assigned to specific subjects.

    Ministerial Office Costs
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the running costs in 2002 were of(a) his Ministers' private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff, and (b) his Department. [105998]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    Expenditure for the financial year 2001–02 is set out in the following table.

    £ million

    2001–02

    (a) Ministers' private offices

    Total

    2.1

    Of which:

    Staff

    1.3

    (b) Department

    218.9

    Note:

    The figure at (b) reflects net administrative outturn including Sure Start and Children's Fund.

    Expenditure figures for Departmental running costs for 2002–03 will be published shortly in the Department's Appropriation and Resource Accounts.

    Neighbourhood Renewal
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is in 2002–03 of the implications of recommendations in the Social Exclusion Unit's report on neighbourhood renewal. [106011]

    Margaret Hodge
    DfES is the lead Department for 16 of the commitments under the Government's National Strategy Action Plan for neighbourhood renewal. In addition to these commitments, the implications of the neighbourhood renewal strategy have an impact across a wide range of the Department's programmes, which are increasingly geared towards closing the gap between the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest, in terms 76W
    aged 16 and over. The information below accounts for the majority of publicly-funded literacy and numeracy provision. It is not possible to say what proportion this represents of all literacy and numeracy provision as this level of detail is not available for learners funded through other routes.

    of educational achievement and skills. This means that, of the £23 billion total planned programme spend in 2002–03, progressively more than before is being spent on deprived neighbourhoods.

    Private Finance Initiative
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many bids were received under the recent PFI Capital bid. [107375]

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 4 Apri12003]: Fifty-six bids were submitted by Local Education Authorities with a total value in excess of £4 billion. Details of the projects prioritised can be found in the Press Notice 2003/0055 issued by the Department on 31 March, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

    Pupils (Leeds)
    Colin Burgon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount spent per pupil in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Leeds was in each year since 1996. [105984]

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 1 April 2003] The information requested is contained in the following table:

    Leeds Local Education Authority—Average expenditure per pupil

    £

    Year

    Pre-primary/primary

    Secondary

    1995–96

    2,000

    2,650

    1996–97

    2,020

    2,630

    1997–98

    1,870

    2,600

    1998–99

    2,070

    2,670

    1999–2000

    2,250

    2,750

    2000–01

    2,050

    2,560

    2001–02

    2,620

    3,300

    77W
    Notes:

    1. Net Institutional Expenditure (NIE) includes all school-recurrent funding, including teaching staff and non-teaching staff salaries, school premises costs, equipment and supplies, and unspent balances held by schools at the year end. Excludes spending on special schools, central administration and support services such as transport and school meals as well as capital expenditure.

    2. Real Terms figures are adjusted to 2001–02 levels using March 2003 GDP deflators.

    3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

    4. 1995–96 to 1998–99 data were drawn from the education Revenue Outturn statements submitted to the Department of Transport, outturn statements which LEAs submitted to the DfES.

    5. Pupil data were drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

    PQ 106511: Comparison of rates of improvement for specialist schools by year of entry into the Specialist Schools Programme—percentage 5 + A*-C grades at GCSE

    1994 (%)

    1995 (%)

    1996 (%)

    1997 (%)

    1998 (%)

    1999 (%)

    2000 (%)

    2001 (%)

    2002 (%)

    Gain versus base year

    Class of 1994 (50 schools)

    40

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    65

    + 25

    All other comprehensives and moderns (2,948 schools)

    Est. 36

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    48

    + 12

    Class of 1995 (41 schools)

    —

    44

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    59

    + 15

    All other comprehensives and moderns (2,907 schools)

    —

    37

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    48

    + 11

    Class of 1996 (62 schools)

    —

    —

    50

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    59

    + 9

    All other comprehensives and moderns (2,845 schools)

    —

    —

    38

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    48

    + 10

    Class of 1997 (72 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    49

    —

    —

    —

    —

    57

    + 8

    All other comprehensives and moderns (2,773 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    39

    —

    —

    —

    —

    48

    + 9

    Class of 1998 (82 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    45

    —

    —

    —

    53

    + 8

    All other comprehensives and moderns (2,691 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    42

    —

    —

    —

    47

    + 5

    Class of 1999 (76 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    47

    —

    —

    52

    + 5

    All other comprehensives and moderns (2,615 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    44

    —

    —

    47

    + 3

    Class of 2000 (127 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    47

    —

    52

    + 5

    All other comprehensives and moderns (2,488 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    44

    —

    47

    + 3

    Class of 2001 (146 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    46

    49

    + 3

    All other comprehensives and moderns (2,342 schools)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    45

    47

    + 2

    All 656 non-selective schools designated by September 2001

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    54

    —

    All non-specialist comprehensives and moderns (2,342)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    47

    —

    Notes:

    1. Examination figures are taken from DfES national performance data and Ofsted PANDA Annex.

    2. The results include those of the 15 City Technology Colleges.

    3. The results exclude grammar schools and special schools.

    Source:

    "Educational outcomes and value added by specialist schools—2002 analysis" Professor David Jesson, April 2003.

    Staff Travel
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was of travel by train by staff in his Department in 2002. [106336]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The cost of travel by train by staff within my Department in 2002 was approximately £5 million. Departmental staff have a responsibility to give due consideration to cost when planning any official travel and extensive guidance is provided on how to get the best out of official travel. This guidance covers items such as method of travel, environmental impact and effective use of time.

    Standards Fund
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) local education authorities and (b) schools were in receipt of the maximum entitlement under the standards fund in 2002–03. [107219]

    Specialist Schools
    Mr. Jenkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what effect he estimates specialist schools have had on the increase in secondary school students receiving five GCSE passes or more over the last five years. [106511]

    Mr. Miliband
    Research carried out by Professor David Jesson (University of York) shows that the performance of each cohort of specialist schools and City Technology Colleges (from 1994–2001) has improved more than non-specialist schools at the time, with the exception of the 1996 and 1997 cohorts, as in the following table. This research excluded grammar schools, which, however, form a very similar percentage of both specialist schools and non-specialist schools.

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 4 April 2003]: The Standards Fund is a programme of Government grants to local education authorities to support a range of national education priorities, such as the national literacy and numeracy strategies, support for Specialist Schools, measures to raise the level of achievement of pupils from ethnic minorities, the Excellence in Cities initiative and capital projects. The grant is paid to local education authorities and most is then devolved to schools. Funding is distributed according to the requirements of each grant and there is no maximum entitlement. A local education authority will not necessarily receive an allocation for every Standards Fund priority. For example, not all authorities are part of the Excellence in Cities initiative, which is designed to raise performance through a targeted programme addressing the educational problems of our major cities.

    The following table gives the total grant allocated to the London education authorities for the 2002–03 Standards Fund programme, showing the split between recurrent and capital grant.
    79W

    2002–03 standards fund grant allocated to London education authorities

    £

    Local education authority

    Revenue grant

    Capital grant

    Total grant

    Barking

    9,139,219

    11,320,167

    20,459,386

    Barnet

    9,831,950

    6,364,646

    16,196,596

    Bexley

    6,548,557

    5,478,844

    12,027,401

    Brent

    12,254,901

    5,297,419

    17,552,320

    Bromley

    7,970,161

    6,288,876

    14,259,037

    Camden

    11,769,858

    3,366,083

    15,135,941

    Corporation of London

    232,638

    140,495

    373,132

    Croydon

    11,031,930

    6,064,810

    17,096,740

    Baling

    12,836,244

    6,432,633

    19,268,877

    Enfield

    13,355,641

    9,230,884

    22,586,526

    Greenwich

    15,794,953

    9,663,911

    25,458,865

    Hackney

    14,427,947

    7,860,657

    22,288,604

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    9,697,678

    2,866,870

    12,564,548

    Haringey

    15,745,570

    6,815,522

    22,561,093

    Harrow

    5,715,266

    4,130,761

    9,846,028

    Havering

    6,109.974

    5,692,216

    11,802,190

    Hillingdon

    8,218,097

    7,255,036

    15,473,133

    Hounslow

    11,152,515

    5,923,770

    17,076,285

    Islington

    13,058,206

    3,751,636

    16,809,841

    Kensington and Chelsea

    6,797,691

    1,670,060

    8,467,751

    Kingston Upon Thames

    4,375,605

    5,614,948

    9,990,553

    Lambeth

    13,553,014

    5,366,334

    18,919,348

    Lewisham

    15,825,426

    7,361,924

    23,187,349

    Merton

    5,263,909

    3,703,518

    8,967,428

    Newham

    20,916,362

    7,799,005

    28,715,367

    Redbridge

    8,351,069

    5,623,887

    13,974,956

    Richmond Upon Thames

    3,688,102

    2,872,799

    6,560,901

    Southwark

    16,514,403

    5,101,928

    21,616,331

    Sutton

    5,100,801

    4,418,675

    9,519,476

    Tower Hamlets

    22,441.941

    7,394,838

    29,836,779

    Waltham Forest

    14,274,858

    7,977,398

    22,252,256

    Wandsworth

    11,198,485

    5,374,328

    16,572,812

    Westminster

    8,835,215

    2,560,950

    11,396,165

    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to review the proposed changes to the Standards Fund for 2004–05 in the light of this year's experience. [107220]

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 4 April 2003]: The Government have announced that over the spending review period the proportion of funding provided to local education authorities and schools through ring-fenced grants will be reduced. The particular arrangements for Standards Fund are reviewed annually in the light of experience.

    Students
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the time needed to repay a student loan after 2006 on the assumptions of(a) a top-up fee of £3,000 a year, (b) average earnings through the repayment period and (c) current levels of income taxation and inflation. [105304]

    Margaret Hodge
    The repayments on student loans vary according to the income of the individual borrower. The time taken by an individual to repay a student loan will depend upon many factors such as: the amount borrowed; their salary and the rate of growth of their earnings each year as they progress through their career; and whether they take a career break or experience spells of unemployment (when no repayments would be made because their income would be too low), it will also depend on whether they make any additional voluntary repayments from their own resources or from their employer.
    80W
    Mr. Love
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many BEd students were in their fourth year of studies in each of the last five years. [97937]

    Margaret Hodge
    The latest available data are shown in the following table. We are unable to provide data on the number of undergraduate students who were in the fourth year of a four-year BEd course for 1998–99.

    1999–2000a

    2000–01a

    2001–02b

    2002–03b

    Number of trainees

    4,703

    4,621

    4,293

    3,455

    Notes:

    1. Trainees in England only.

    2. Due to the lack of a complete time series from one data source for the number of fourth year BEd students we have used two different data sources for the table.

    a Source of data for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is from the TTA's performance profiles.

    b Source of data for the 2001–02 and 2002–03 is the TTA ITT Census.

    In recent years, there has been a shift away from four-year undergraduate courses of initial teacher training towards three-year courses. In 1998–99, 70 per cent. of new undergraduate trainees started four-year courses and 23 per cent. three-year courses. By 2002–03, only 53 per cent. of new undergraduates were starting four-year courses and 43 per cent. three-year courses. Between 4–8 per cent. of undergraduate entrants have begun courses of other lengths each year since 1998–99. There has also been a progressive shift from undergraduate teacher training to the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) route. In the five years up to 2002–03, the number of students on PGCE courses rose by 34 per cent., from 17,415 to 23,324. Together, these factors have more than compensated for the fall in the numbers of trainees starting four-year undergraduate courses.

    Telephone Helplines
    Mr. Lazarowicz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 6 February 2003,Official Report, column 360W, on telephone helplines, how many calls were made to each helpline charged at national rate in the last year for which records are available; and what the average duration was of these calls. [105897]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The number of telephone calls made to each of the three helplines charged at national rate and the average duration of these calls for the period 1 March 2002 to 28 February 2003 were as follows:

    Helpline

    Number of calls

    Average length of call (minutes seconds)

    Department's Public Enquiry Point (PEU)

    165,380

    02.45

    Laptops for Teachers

    2,316

    01.48

    Curriculum On Line (this helpline began in November 2002. These figures cover 1 November 2002 to 28 February 2003).

    2,022

    03.18

    Tuition Fees
    Paul Farrelly
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish the evidence his Department has collated from(a) the United States, (b) Australia, (c) Canada and (d) New Zealand on the impact of differential tuition fees on access to university for students from different socio-economic backgrounds. [104666]

    Margaret Hodge
    [holding answer 31 March 2003]Our new policy has been informed by evidence from many countries as to how best to balance the burdens of funding higher education. We are confident that the approach set out in the White Paper, which balances additional fees with grants, a higher repayment threshold, enhanced outreach work by universities, clearer information on the costs of HE; and the creation of the access regulator will all ensure that we will widen access for students from less advantaged backgrounds while we expand towards 50 per cent.

    Mr. Wray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much student university tuition fees have been in each year since 1998; and if he will make a statement. [106084]

    Margaret Hodge
    The maximum contribution to tuition fees for full-time undergraduates in England and Wales attending courses at publicly-funded institutions of higher education has been uprated annually since 1998 on the basis of price inflation. The relevant figures are:

    £

    Contribution

    1998–99

    1,000

    1999–2000

    1,025

    2000–01

    1,050

    2001–02

    1,075

    2002–03

    1,100

    Only those who can afford to do so are asked to make a contribution to their tuition fees. Latest available figures, for the academic year 2000–01, show that some 61 per cent. of students were assessed to make either a nil or partial contribution to their fees.

    University Admissions Policy
    Paul Holmes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how he will ensure that universities will accept as entry criteria qualifications achieved through the Government's proposals "14–19: Opportunity for Excellence"; and if he will make a statement; [105084]

    (2) how many universities accept as entry criteria key skills achieved through Curriculum 2000; and if he will make a statement; [105085]

    (3) what assessment he has made of the impact of Curriculum 2000 on university admissions policies; and if he will make a statement. [105086]

    Margaret Hodge
    Universities are responsible for their own admissions criteria. Many universities have responded to the flexibilities introduced by Curriculum 2000 to modify their entry requirements. Around 70 per cent. of universities have course admissions 82W
    requirements which explicitly refer to AS levels. The corresponding figure for key skills is around 50 per cent. My right hon. Friend has asked Mike Tomlinson to chair a group to consider future strategy on 14–19 qualifications.

  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Homelessness
    Mr. Donaldson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to tackle the growing levels of homelessness in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [107438]

    Mr. Browne
    Both the Department for Social Development and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive recognise that the numbers of those presenting as homeless are increasing. However, homelessness is not just about bricks and mortar and many of the causes leading to homelessness are not within the control of either the Department or the Housing Executive.

    The Secretary of State's Plans and Priorities indicate our commitment to help those unfortunate enough to become homeless. The Government are committed to:
    investing £5 million to provide 75 new accommodation units specifically to assist homeless people;
    implementing new arrangements for providing housing support services to over 9,000 vulnerable people living in the community, helping to sustain and improve the existing support services provided to the homeless; and
    drawing up an interim report from an inter-departmental, cross sectoral Promoting Social Inclusion Review Group which is being set up to consider the causes of homelessness and the needs of homeless people.

    In addition the Housing Executive works with a wide variety of statutory and voluntary organisations to help deal with homeless issues.

    Learning Disabilities
    Mr. Donaldson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by the inter-departmental working group to develop a strategy for the support of people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland. [107439]

    Jane Kennedy
    The Inter Department Group on the transition of young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) into the world of employment, training or further education has met on two occasions and examined a number of key areas, including:options open to school leavers with SEN and associated gaps in provision,
    barriers that exist in terms of the benefits available to disabled school leavers on entering employment or training,
    difficulties in the Statutory Transition planning process and
    voluntary sector involvement.
    83W
    The Working Group will meet again shortly. Individual Departments have progressed work as follows:
    The Department of Education has met with and subsequently invited several voluntary groups to contribute to the Inter Departmental Group's work in order to develop a model of best practice.
    The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has met parents and carers to listen first hand to their experiences and concerns at meetings facilitated through a number of voluntary organisations.
    The Department for Employment and Learning has collated information to help inform the group and assist them to consider how to tackle the key issues of transition and provision for leavers of Special Schools.

    Mr. Donaldson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in bringing forward new legislation on special educational needs and disability in Northern Ireland. [107440]

    Jane Kennedy
    The consultation process on proposals for legislation which will enhance the educational opportunities of children and young people in Northern Ireland with special educational needs and disabilities has been completed. Consideration is currently being given to the content of such legislation in light of the responses to the consultative document and views expressed at consultation meetings. It is expected that draft legislation will be issued before the Summer and this will be the subject of further consultation. It is intended to introduce an Order in Council at Westminster or a Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly towards the end of 2003, with a view to beginning implementation of the legislation in September 2004.

    New Homes
    Mr. Donaldson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of new homes being built by the public sector in Northern Ireland. [107437]

    Mr. Browne
    A Needs and Effectiveness Review of Housing last year questioned the accuracy of the Net Stock Model which is the means for determining the level of new build social housing. Accordingly, the Department for Social Development commissioned research through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive with the aim of developing a more robust model, one that would identify housing need and demand over a 10-year period. The research, which will review and analyse the most recent demographic trends emerging from the 2001 census as well as the most up to date economic and social trends, will be available later this year. Clearly, the results of this work will be essential in helping inform decisions about the future level of new build social housing.

    Omagh Bombing
    Mr. Donaldson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Irish Government about the decision of the Garda Commissioner to refuse permission to the Police Service of Northern Ireland to question two senior Garda officers concerning the investigation into the Omagh bombing. [107436]
    84W
    Jane Kennedy
    The PSN I have advised that they have not made any request to date to interview senior Garda officers in connection with the Omagh Investigation, and any press reports to the contrary are untrue.

  WORK AND PENSIONS

    Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilots
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how much has been spent so far on the job retention and rehabilitation pilots; if he will list the pilots and their(a) costs and (b) locations; and how many pilots, in which locations, are planned for 2003–04; [104719]

    (2) how much has been spent so far on the job retention and rehabilitation pilots; if he will list the pilots and their (a) costs and (b) locations; and how many pilots, in which locations, are planned for 2003–04. [104720]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot will run from April 2003 for up to two years. It will test the effectiveness of different intervention strategies in helping people return to work, and will be delivered in six sites: Birmingham, Greater Glasgow, Sheffield, Tyneside, Teesside and West Kent. The total cost of the pilot is anticipated to be £17.75 million of which £1,580,197 has been spent to date.

    Age Diversity
    Dr. Evan Harris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department completed its diagnostic review for compliance with the Government's Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment; and what changes his Department plans to make following the review. [99419]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The Department is committed to ensuring that there is no unfair discrimination on basis of age within its policies and their implementation.

    The Department took steps to embed the provision of Government's Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment when age was integrated into our equal opportunity policies in accordance with the Performance and Innovation Unit's (PIU's) report "Winning the Generation Game".

    The former Department for Social Security and Department for Education and Employment were lead partners associated in developing the report. They considered all recommendations of the PIU's report and implemented new policies where necessary, e.g. to allow staff to stay on up to the age of 65, (which was implemented before the report was issued).

    The Department has now implemented the recommendations of PIU's report.

    British Sign Language
    Ms Atherton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which organisations in Cornwall will
    85W
    receive part of the funding recently allocated for raising awareness of British Sign Language; and if he will make a statement. [107395]

    Maria Eagle
    I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 18 March 2003,Official Report, column 41WS, in which he announced a discrete programme of initiatives to support the statement. We will be consulting organisations of and for deaf people about how the additional funding of £1 million should be allocated.

    Departmental Pay
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made with the pay review in his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if he will make a statement. [106741]

    Maria Eagle
    The DWP is committed to fair pay across the Department and all of its component parts. Equal pay audits have been completed across all parts of the Department in the last 18 months. The main findings were that our policies are not discriminatory and no significant issues were identified in terms of their application. We will continue to ensure our policies arid processes are designed to promote equality.

    Departmental Staff
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff are employed by his Department. [106293]

    Maria Eagle
    Staffing figures for civil service Departments and agencies are available in the Library. The latest information, for October 2002, was published in February this year. The figures are also made available on the internet at http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/documents/pdf/staffing_03.pdf.

    EU Directives
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the EU Directives and Regulations which have been implemented by his Department since 17 April 2002. [106840]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The Department for Work and Pensions plays a leading role in the UK's EU policy on employment, social protection and health and safety at work. Since 17 April 2002, the following six EU health and safety Directives have been implemented:Commission Directive 2001/58/EC of 27 July 2001 amending for the second time Directive 91/155/EEC defining and laying down the detailed arrangements for the system of specific information relating to dangerous preparations in implementation of Article 14 of European Parliament and Council Directive 1999/45/EC and relating to dangerous substances in implementation of Article 27 of Council Directive 67/548/EEC (safety data sheets)
    Commission Directive 2001/59/EC of 6 August 2001 adapting to technical progress for the 28th time Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances
    86W
    Commission Directive 2001/60/EC of 7 August 2001 adapting to technical progress Directive 1999/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous Preparations
    Directive 1999/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 1999 concerning the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations
    Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (14th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)
    Directive 1999/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1999 on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres (15th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC).

    EC Regulations are, in general, directly applicable in the member states, without the need for further incorporation international law. However, some Regulations require UK measures to make them workable and enforceable. Some Regulations enact small or technical amendments. As far as we have been able to verify, the number of Regulations implemented by the Department for Work and Pensions since 17 April 2002 is two:
    Commission Regulation (EC) No 1687/2002 of 25 September 2002 on an additional period for notification of certain active substances already on the market for biocidal use as established in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1896/2000
    Council Regulation (EEC) No 304/2003 of 28 January 2003 concerning the export and import of certain dangerous chemicals.

    Exhibitions
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list events at which his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible have exhibited in each of the last three years, stating for each(a) the purpose of exhibiting, (b) the cost of exhibiting and (c) the number of staff attending for the exhibition. [107617]

    Maria Eagle
    The Department and its agencies exhibits at many events each year. These include commercial trade exhibitions; local outreach events for The Pension Service, job fairs organised by Jobcentre Plus; and a host of other events aimed at the general public and other stakeholders—ranging from Green Paper consultations to forums aimed at the pensions industry.

    The details requested are not held centrally for these many types of event. As a result the answer can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    External Consultants
    Mr. Heald
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2003,Official Report, column 598W, on external consultants, what the total cost of external consultants

    87W
    was to his Department and its predecessors in each of the last four financial years for which figures are available; [107433]

    (2) pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2003. Official Report, column 598W, on external consultants, if he will list the 10 contracts with the largest value awarded to external consultants by his Department since it was established, giving the (a) value of the contract and (b) firm in each case; [107434]

    (3) pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2003, Official Report, column 598W, on external consultants, what his estimate is of the cost involved in answering the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire's question; how this was arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the time it took to reach the conclusion that answering the question would incur significant disproportionate cost. [107435]

    Maria Eagle
    The accounting systems that record payments to organisations that supply consultancy and other professional services to DWP are not able to provide disaggregated figures in the level of detail required, without encountering significant disproportionate cost. Such information is as follows:

    The total cost to DWP of the use of external consultants and professional services in the 2001–02 financial year was £169.494 million. DWP accounting systems do not currently allow us to reliably disaggregate expenditure by contract under this heading, so this figure does not solely reflect expenditure on consultancy. The Department is in the process of introducing systems which should rectify this problem (a legacy of the creation of the Department in 2001 and of the Department of Social Security and Employment Service Accounting Systems) and allow us to record this data more accurately in future.

    The former DSS spend, prior to creation of DWP in 2001, on external consultancy and professional services was:
    1998–99 £72.34 million: (£79.30 million at present 2002–03 value)
    1999–2000 £83.00 million: (£88.83 million at present 2002–03 value)
    2000–01 £104.73 million: (£109.66 million at present 2002–03 value)

    The increase in expenditure in this area is due to the widespread modernisation programme currently underway in DWP. Figures are not available for the spend under former ES and could be obtained only at significant disproportionate cost.

    In attempting to provide information in response to the hon. Member's previous question, Official Report, column 598W, it emerged that there may be potential inaccuracies with the way in which the figures are recorded on the accounting systems. This was due, we believe, to the inability of DWPs current accounting system to disaggregate expenditure on consultancy and professional services by contract. Significant cost had already been incurred up to this stage and it was determined that further significant disproportionate cost would be incurred in attempting to provide the information requested by a manual reckoning of the input data.

    We estimated that the cost of answering the hon. Members previous question will be in the region of £3,000–£5,000.

    Minimum Income Guarantee
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were in receipt of the minimum income guarantee(a) in total and (b) in each parliamentary constituency for each of the last six years for which figures are available. [107431]

    Maria Eagle
    The information has been placed in the Library.

    Pensioners
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Yeovil, of 13 February 2003,Official Report, column 967W, what his estimate is of the gross annual cost of increasing the basic state pension by average earnings growth for each of the next 10 years; what offsetting savings there would be on the benefits; and what the net cost would be. [106120]

    Maria Eagle
    The information requested is set out in the table.

    Table 1: Estimated cost of increasing the basic State Pension by average earnings from April 2003

    Gross cost

    Net cost

    Income related benefit savings

    2003–04

    £510 million

    £340 million

    £180 million

    2004–05

    £1.4 billion

    £900 million

    £500 million

    2005–06

    £2.2 billion

    £1.4 billion

    £800 million

    2006–07

    £2.9 billion

    £1.9 billion

    £1 billion

    2007–08

    £3.8 billion

    £2.5 billion

    £1.3 billion

    2008–09

    £4.7 billion

    £3.1 billion

    £1.6 billion

    2009–10

    £5.7 billion

    £3.7 billion

    £2 billion

    2010–11

    £6.7 billion

    £4.4 billion

    £2.3 billion

    2011–12

    £7.7 billion

    £5 billion

    £2.7 billion

    2012–13

    £8.8 billion

    £5.7 billion

    £3 billion

    Notes:

    1. Figures are in 2002–03 price terms rounded to the nearest £100 million, except 2003–04 which is rounded to the nearest £10 million. The gross cost may not sum due to rounding.

    2. Gross costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department.

    3. Income related benefit offsets are calculated using the DWP policy simulation model.

    Estimates are consistent with figures provided on 13 February 2003, Official Report, column 967W.

    The difference between the gross and net costs represents estimated savings in income related benefits as a result of increasing the basic State Pension by average earnings.

    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether legislation arising from the consultation process on the recent Pensions Green Paper, Cm 5677, will include a commitment to protect the pension rights of people who worked in Australia before the termination of the Anglo-Australian Social Security Agreement. [106196]

    Maria Eagle
    I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by the Minister for Pensions on 23 July 2002,Official Report, column 1031.

    Dr. Iddon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners aged 80 or over are in receipt of the 25p per week pension supplement; and what the cost is of administration of this scheme. [106252]
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    Malcolm Wicks
    The latest available information is that there are around 2.6 million pensioners in receipt of the 25p age addition.

    Information on the cost of administering the age addition is not currently available in the format requested. In accordance with the requirements of Resource Accounting and Budgeting, the Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements, and by individual Requests for Resources, as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.

    Notes:

    1. Information on recipients is based on September 2002 State Pension administration data.

    2. This figure has been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.

    3. This figure includes all pensioners aged 80 or over living in the UK and overseas receiving a State Pension.

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his letter to hon. Members of 17 March on the Pension Service and the Pensions Credit, how many personal direct mail packs his Department is sending to pensioner households; and if he will place a copy of a pack in the Library. [106878]

    Maria Eagle
    The Pension Service will be writing to all pensioner households to explain Pension Credit and invite applications. Between April 2003 and June 2004, all 6.8 million pensioner households will be issued with a direct mail pack. This systematic approach will be supported by regional and national advertising.

    Copies of the direct mail packs will be placed in the Library after the Easter recess.

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for how many pensioner households he holds verified address information; and if he will make a statement. [106879]

    Maria Eagle
    There are about 8.1 million pensioner households in Great Britain. All customers are asked to give their address when they claim their pension. They are asked to let the Department know if they move to a different address.

    Note:

    The number of pensioner households is based on Winter Fuel Payment figures for 2001–02.

    Mr. Wray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures have been taken to reduce pensioner poverty since 1997; and what proposals he has to ensure that these measures are fully implemented. [106093]

    Malcolm Wicks
    We are taking action to tackle pensioner poverty and ensure that all pensioners share in the nation's prosperity. This is why our first priority has been to help the poorest pensioners and why it is right to target more money on them through the Minimum Income Guarantee (M1G): from April 2003 no pensioner will have to get by on less than £102.10 (£155.80 for couples). Rates will be linked to earnings throughout this Parliament.

    We know that there is no single measure of pensioner poverty which is a complex, multi-dimensional issue, affecting many aspects of pensioners' lives. But providing a decent income is key. So we will be spending
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    around £7½ billion extra on pensioners in 2003–04 as a result of the measures introduced since 1997. This includes around £3½ billion on the poorest third of pensioners—the very people who need help most, and is almost six times as much as an earnings link to the basic state pension since 1998 would have given them.

    When Pension Credit replaces the MIG in October 2003, pensioners will, for the first time, be rewarded, not penalised, for saving. Pension Credit is radically different from MIG in that pound for pound deductions will be scrapped. Pension Credit will reward those with weekly incomes up to £139.08 for single pensioners, and £203.80 for couples. At the same time, further increases are proposed—above inflation—to the Pensioners' Tax Allowances.

    Other measures have also been introduced to help tackle pensioner poverty. For example, in September 1997 the level of VAT on fuel was cut from 8 per cent. to 5 per cent., reducing a typical customer's fuel bill by around £16 a year, at a cost to the Government of £450 million a year. Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) will be £200 for each eligible household for the remainder of this Parliament—around 7.9 million households and 11.3 million individuals will benefit from WFPs in 2002–03.

    We have introduced various measures to ensure that the initiatives we have introduced are fully implemented. For example, we have undertaken a take-up campaign to encourage those pensioners who are entitled to it to claim the MIG. This has put an average £20 a week extra in the pockets of 149,000 people who would not have received it otherwise. We have also reduced the MIG claim form from 40 pages to 10 and introduced a claim line for the MIG, which enables customers to contact the claim line by using a freephone number. The line has dealt with over one million inquiries.

    Our commitment to encourage pensioners to claim Pension Credit can be seen in the fact that the Spending Review 2002 introduced a Public Service Agreement target to pay Pension Credit to at least three million pensioner households by 2006. We have introduced a comprehensive strategy to achieve this. Measures, include:
    Transferring existing MIG recipients to Pension Credit ready for payments to be made from October 2003
    Running mass advertising (TV and Press) from September 2003 to launch Pension Credit and advise pensioners and their friends and family of how The Pension Service and partner organisations can support them to consider and take-up entitlement
    Writing to all pensioners not already receiving MIG over the take-on period (through to October 2004) to help them consider any entitlement to Pension Credit and encourage those likely to be eligible to apply
    Working with local partners to help support the communications to pensioners, and tailoring marketing and communications activity accordingly
    Reviewing the take-up position during autumn 2004 and taking any further action that may be necessary.

    The Households Below Average Income (HBAI) figures published on 13 March 2003 suggest that our strategy is succeeding. The figures continue to show large falls in the number of pensioners on absolute low income

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    (before and after housing costs) since 1997. The absolute low income figures numbers are down from 2.7 million (1996–07) to 1.1 million pensioners (2001–02), a decline of over 60 per cent. on the after housing costs measure.

    Also, there has been a reduction of 0.4 million pensioners living in relative low-income households (after housing costs). This has been achieved even at a time of rapid growth in general prosperity that we've seen since 1997. Pensioners are therefore sharing in the country's rising prosperity. In fact on one measure, pensioners have more than kept pace with rising incomes overall—the number of pensioners below 60 per cent. of median income (after housing costs) is down by around 15 per cent. since 1996–97 (2.7 to 2.2 million pensioners).

    SERPS
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are being taken to inform British people living abroad of the reduction in inherited SERPS, including the transitional arrangements and the compensation procedures. [106192]

    Malcolm Wicks
    For those customers living overseas and affected by the reduction in Inherited SERPS, The Pension Service wrote to embassies, expat organisations, including website editors with full details of the transitional arrangements. As part of a concerted advertising campaign on-line banner adverts on websites were introduced which were only accessible overseas. These adverts were directly linked to the SERPS information pages on The Pension Service website. Press adverts appeared in the national press and TV listings during the advertising campaign, these publications are widely read overseas, latest figures show around 800,000 a day.

    The Pension Service wrote to everyone who made inquiries about compensation. The majority of people who complained they had not been told about the original changes were either over pension age already or would reach pension age before October 2002. As a result they were not affected by the revised arrangements. The availability of compensation is signposted in The Pension Service complaints leaflets and full details of the scheme are publicly available on the internet. No specific action was taken to target British people living abroad with information about the compensation procedures when executing the advertising campaign, because it would not have been effective.

    There is absolutely no requirement for people, other than those receiving benefits, to report changes of address to the Department. As a result the addresses held on Departmental systems, particularly those for people of working age, are not reliable. Addresses for people abroad are even less reliable than those of people living in the UK. This meant that direct mailing to people abroad would not have been effective. The local rate call telephone number was not available to people abroad, nor was the freepost return envelope service, so any direct mailing to people abroad would have been far more complicated to run operationally We therefore considered that other channels of communication, particularly advertising and internet, would be more productive.

    Social Exclusion
    Mr. Wray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are in place to reduce social exclusion among older people and to enable them to take a fuller part in society. [106094]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The Government are committed to putting in place policies that will help older people play their full part in our society. A wide range of measures have already been introduced to tackle social exclusion among older people, a multi-dimensional problem, requiring a multi-agency response. Initiatives so far have included targeted service improvements as well as targeted benefit improvements.

    One of our key measures in reducing social exclusion among older people is tackling pensioner poverty.

    The Government will be spending around £7.5 billion extra on pensioners in 2003–04 as a result of the measures introduced since 1997. This includes around £3.5 billion on the poorest third of pensioners—the very people who need help most. This is almost six times as much as an earnings link to the basic state pension since 1998 would have given them. From April 2003, basic state pension will be £77.45 for singles—(£123.80 for couples). An increase of £100 a year for single people and £160 a year for couples. In future years the basic state pension will increase by 2.5 per cent. or the level of the September RPI, whichever is higher. Nearly four million households with someone aged 75 or over will benefit from free TV licences, worth around £116 per year.

    We also recognised that we have to do something for the poorest pensioners; that is why we introduced the minimum income guarantee (MIG). As a result, nearly two million people are benefiting from MIG and the take up campaign has put an average £20 a week extra in the pockets of around 149,000 people who would not have received it otherwise.

    We are now going a step further and introducing pension credit from October 2003 which will reward not penalise saving. It will be easy to apply for and will remove the indignity of the intrusive and bureaucratic weekly means test.

    As a consequence of this change, those pensioners in receipt of pension credit will receive an average extra income of £400 a year—and at last the savings of those who are just above the MIG level are being recognised.

    Following the Spending Review 2002, a Public Service Agreement target is now in place to pay pension credit to at least three million pensioner households by 2006. We have carefully devised a strategy to ensure maximum take-up of pension credit.

    Winter fuel payments (WFP) are an important strand of the Fuel Poverty Strategy. Around 7.9 million households and 11.3 million individuals have benefited from the £200 WFP to each eligible household in 2002–03. The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme will have helped around 480,000 vulnerable pensioner households, by 2004. Further measures include a reduced level of VAT on fuel and on the installation of energy saving materials so that people can more easily afford to keep warm.
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    But social exclusion is not just about tackling poverty, we are also actively promoting more engagement and participation of older people in public life and the community through our support for the Better Government for Older People Network. This has established partnerships across Government and is contributing to improvements in the delivery of services for older people at a local level. In addition, the Older People Advisory Group is becoming established at a basis for national, regional and local engagement with older people.

    In the health and social care field we have introduced a National Service Framework for Older People setting clear national standards to ensure that older people receive the care, priority and attention that they should, root out age discrimination and promote health and active living among older people. In public transport, we have introduced for pensioners a free bus pass with a minimum half fare on local bus services. Recognising it plays a vital role in helping them remain active members of our communities, as well as keeping them in touch with friends and relatives.

    In combating crime we are targeting crime against older people. The Distraction Burglary Task Force has brought together a wide range of organisations including the police, voluntary organisations, the utility companies, banks and local authorities, to gather data, publicise good practice, raise awareness and provide guidance for victims and those at risk of this type of burglary.

    Providing opportunities to work are also key to tackling social exclusion. We have launched the Age Positive campaign aimed at employers and individuals to raise awareness of best practice and the business benefits of an age diverse workforce, using the Code of Practice on Age Diversity. The Experience Corps is aimed at encouraging older people to become involved in their communities through volunteering. The Learning and Skills Council is helping to increase participation of older people in adult and further education and the UK online centres are improving access to the Internet and new technologies—the over 55s make up almost one quarter of the total learners in these centres.

    Sunset Clauses
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the sunset clauses included in legislation from his Department since 1997. [106951]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The Department has not included a sunset clause in any Bill since coming into being in June 2001.

  HEALTH

    AAT Deficiency
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to speed up the time it takes to identify people with AAT Deficiency. [106608]

    Jacqui Smith
    The considerable extra investment that this Government has made, and continues to make, in national health service funding will improve services for 94W
    all NHS patients, including those with anti-antitrypsin deficiency. However, we have no plans centrally to take specific steps to speed up the time it takes to identify people with this condition.

    Agency Social Workers
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the(a) Association of Directors of Social Services and (b) local authorities regarding the cost to them of the need to employ agency social workers. [106548]

    Jacqui Smith
    I have regular discussions with representatives from local authorities and the Association of Direct ors of Social Services on a range of finance related issues, however it is for local councils to decide what staff to employ taking account of local circumstances.

    Alzheimer's Disease
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incidence of Alzheimer's disease in each of the last 10 years. [107161]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Department of Health does not routinely collect information about the incidence of Alzheimer's disease but it is estimated that about 5 per cent. of people over 65 have dementia, and that Alzheimer's disease causes up to 60 per cent. of cases of dementia. While there are different estimates available, in 2001 the national service framework for older people reported that approximately 600,000 people in the United Kingdom had dementia.

    Asthma
    Helen Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to improve services for people with asthma; and if he will make a statement; [102663]

    (2) what the average amount spent in 2002–03 on asthma care by primary care trusts in (a) the north-west region and (b) England is. [102661]

    Jacqui Smith
    That information is not held centrally. However we estimate that the net ingredient cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community for the treatment of asthma, in England for 2001–02 is 574 million. Patients with asthma are able to access the full range of National Health Service support services in both primary and secondary care settings.

    People with asthma will benefit from the emerging expert patients programme which will, via the NHS, provide training in self-management skills for people with long term chronic conditions. We have now commenced on a fourth wave pilot phase for the remaining selected primary care trusts, with activity taking place on a generic basis.

    The previous pilots have been well received by the course participants.

    The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on asthma inhalers for children. In September 2000 it issued guidance on the use of inhalers for children under five. NICE also published guidance on inhaler devices for older children, age range five to 15, on 11 April 2002.
    95W
    Dr. Kumar
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that people with asthma have their inhaling technique monitored on a regular basis; and if he will make a statement. [106803]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 3 Apri12003]: We do not have specific plans to ensure that inhaling techniques are monitored on a regular basis. However the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) produced guidance on inhaler devices for older children (age range five to 15) on 11 April 2002, which mentions the importance of considering the monitoring of effective inhaler techniques. Additionally on 8 September 2000 NICE issued guidance on the use of inhalers for children under five. This guidance states that general practitioners/community health carers have an essential role in providing support and guidance to aid the management of a child's condition, and advice on general management may result in additional improvements in clinical effectiveness.

    Additionally people with asthma will benefit from the emerging expert patients programme which will. via the national health service, provide training in self-management skills for people with long term chronic conditions.

    Expert groups such as the British Thoracic Society have also developed clinical guidelines for the management of asthma.

    A new general medical services contract agreement was launched on Friday 21 February 2003, which if accepted by the profession, will lead to an unprecedented level of new investment in general practice to deliver a wider range of high quality services with better clinical outcomes for all patients.

    Care Assistants
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to encourage people to take up jobs as care assistants caring for(a) elderly and (b) disabled people. [106545]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Department is conducting a national recruitment campaign for social care to support employers. The campaign includes actions to encourage the recruitment of social carers. This aspect of the campaign, to undertake more work on the recruitment of social careworkers which includes care assistants for disabled and older people, will be stepped up during this year.

    The Government is funding a new human resource development specific grant to local Councils, worth £9.5 million, in 2003–04. One of the central purposes of this grant is to enable social care employers across the statutory, private and voluntary sectors to tackle problems of recruitment and retention.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with(a) local authorities and (b) care agency companies regarding shortages of care assistants. [106546]

    Jacqui Smith
    While we have not directly had discussions with care agency companies, local authorities and independent sector service providers are represented on a number of groups that advise the Department on recruitment policy.

    Care Homes
    Mr. Paul Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2003,Official Report, column 963W, on care homes, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of writing to care home providers on passing on the free nursing care contribution to residents. [105883]

    Jacqui Smith
    As a result of this exchange of correspondence an announcement of a package of measures to address this was made in a press release on 11 March 2002, 2002/0124. A copy of which has been placed in the Library.

    Child Abandonment
    Mr. Wray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is available to families(a) in difficulty and (b) with a child with disability to prevent potential abandonment. [105936]

    Jacqui Smith
    In England and Wales, section 17 of the Children Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need and, so far as is consistent with that duty, to promote the upbringing of such children by their parents. Councils can meet that duty by providing services to families, where this is the best way to meet the needs of the child. The criteria in the Children Act, which defines those are in need, includes all disabled children.

    Children in Care
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into the wraparound model for caring for looked after children. [106784]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Department of Health recognises that some looked after children displaying severe levels of challenging or anti-social behaviour require a specialised approach. The care planning process used for all looked after children seeks to ensure that the most appropriate carers, services and supports are available to meet the child's identified developmental needs. For some children, a specialised multi-agency approach, that will address the child's individual needs by providing specific therapeutic and behavioural management, will be required. The Department is therefore funding a Treatment Foster Care Intervention to provide structured support to the child, his/her foster carers and birth or adoptive families that addresses all the child's needs simultaneously. The model being used has been extensively evaluated in the United States and the Department of Health is commissioning evaluation of the English model.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 March 2003,Official Report, columns 39–40WS, on children in care, what the outcomes are for 11-year-old looked-after children in (a) English and (b) maths in each of the last five years; and what results will be measured for 11-year-old looked-after children under the new PSA target. [107002]
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    Jacqui Smith
    Data were first collected for the year ending 30 September 2000. This data and the data from 2001, are shown in the table. Data for year ending September 2002 will be available at the end of June 2003.

    Eligibility and performance of looked-after children1 in Key Stage tasks and tests, compared with all children, school years ending 30 September 2000 and 2001: England

    Looked-after children

    All children

    Number

    Percentage

    Percentage

    Year 6

    2000

    2001

    2000

    2001

    2000

    2001

    Number eligible to sit Key Stage 2 tasks and tests

    2,700

    2,800

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Number who attained at least Level 42 in the following:

    English

    860

    940

    32.3

    33.3

    74

    74

    Mathematics

    810

    820

    30.4

    29.1

    71

    70

    1 Children who had been looked after continuously for at least 12 months at 30 September

    2 Target level for age group

    Sources:

    1. For 'all children': DfES statistical bulletin 'National curriculum assessments of 7, 11 and 14-year-olds in England—2001'.

    2. For 'looked after children': OC2 return. Annual publication: 'Outcome Indicators for Looked after Children, year ending 30 September 2001, England'.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 31 March 2003,Official Report, columns 39–40WS, on children in care, what targets will be set for looked-after children who undergo less than one year of continuous care. [107003]

    Jacqui Smith
    The attainment of children who spend shorter times in care is important. We will, therefore, be consulting stakeholders on how best to achieve the introduction of individual education targets for all children in care. The Government will also put in place arrangements to analyse data from the new pupil level annual school census, in order to improve our understanding of outcomes for those young people who have spent any time in care. The results of this analysis will be used to inform the development of future policy.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 31 March, on children in care, whether a child who has entered a period of foster care is classified as a child in continuous looked-after child care. [107005]

    Jacqui Smith
    Yes. If a local council provides foster care for a child, under the Children Act 1989, that child is regarded as being looked after by the council.

    Community Pharmacies
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community pharmacies in the Buckinghamshire health authority(a) closed and (b) opened in 2001–02. [106954]

    Mr. Lammy
    In the year ending 31 March 2002, two community pharmacies in contract with the national health service to dispense prescriptions opened in Buckinghamshire health authority and two closed.

    Consultants
    Dr. Evan Harris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on the(a) minimum and (b) optimum number of consultants needed to staff an accident and emergency department; and if he will make a statement. [106174]
    98W
    The revised target measures the relative proportions of children in care achieving level 4 in English and Maths at Key Stage 2 compared with the proportions of all 11-year-olds achieving that level.

    Mr. Lammy
    The Department has not issued any specific guidance on the number of consultants needed to staff an accident and emergency department.

    Dentists
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what levels of professional indemnity cover(a) dentists from EU countries practising in England and (b) dentists trained in England receive. [106885]

    Mr. Hutton
    All dentists working in the United Kingdom must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). The GDC's guidance to dentists states that:"a dentist involved in advising or treating patients must … be indemnified against claims for professional negligence. … A lack of adequate indemnity cover … would almost certainly lead to a charge of serious professional misconduct."

    The GDC makes no distinction in this about where a dentist was trained.

    Departmental Budget
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the internal departments, agencies and other public sector organisations which receive funding from his departmental budget. [106622]

    Mr. Hutton
    At 1 April 2003, in addition to the main Department itself, the departmental budget funds the following statutory bodies in whole or in part.

    Executive Agencies:

    Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency

    NHS Estates

    NHS Pensions Agency

    NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency

    Strategic Health Authorities.

    Primary Care Trusts.

    Special Health Authorities:

    Counter Fraud and Security Management Service

    Dental Vocational Training Authority

    Family Health Services Appeal Authority (Special Health Authority)

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    Health Development Agency

    Health Protection Agency

    Mental Health Act Commission

    National Blood Authority

    National Clinical Assessment Authority

    National Institute for Clinical Excellence

    National Patient Safety Agency

    National Treatment Agency

    NHS Appointments Commission

    NHS Information Authority

    NHS Litigation Authority

    NHS Logistics Authority

    Prescription Pricing Authority

    Retained Organs Commission

    UK Transplant

    Dental Practice Board.

    NHS Trusts.

    Executive and Tribunal Non Departmental Public Bodies:

    Care Standards Tribunal

    Commission for Health Improvement

    Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health

    Council for the Regulation of Health Care Professionals

    Family Health Services Appeal Authority

    General Social Care Council

    Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

    Mental Health Review Tribunal

    National Biological Standards Board

    National Care Standards Commission

    National Radiological Protection Board

    NHS Tribunal

    Pharmaceutical Price Control Tribunal

    Public Health Laboratory Service

    Local Authorities responsible for social services.

    Certain Statutory Inquiries:

    Ayling Inquiry

    Climbie Inquiry

    Kerr/Haslam Inquiry

    Neale Inquiry

    Shipman Inquiry

    Toft Inquiry

    In addition, funding support is provided towards the transitional costs of establishing the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health Professions Council (self-funding independent statutory bodies established in April 2002), to a number of advisory non-departmental public bodies and to statutory Inquiries run by NHS bodies.

    The information above excludes cases where payments are made to other statutory bodies in respect of goods or services provided.

    Departmental Expenditure
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002. [106308]
    100W
    Mr. Lammy
    The estimate of expenditure on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002–03 was £419,680.

    The expenditure covers central purchasing through the Departments library and direct purchasing by individual units. The figures do not include expenditure by agencies or official publications which are published weekly, monthly or quarterly by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

    E-prescriptions
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what model his Department intends to roll out for e-prescriptions; what timetable has been set for the roll out; and what the budget was in each of the last three years. [106789]

    Mr. Lammy
    To take forward the Government's commitments to electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) made in "Information for Health, Pharmacy in the Future—Implementing the NHS Plan and Delivering 21st Century FT Support for the NHS", three pilots were initiated in June 2002. While the three pilots are currently working on different technical solutions in respect of information flows, lessons already learnt from the pilots are contributing to the development of a national model for ETP. This means that appropriate technical standards are being developed covering such areas as the format and content of the electronic prescribing message and security standards. In January 2003 the Department authorised a six-month extension to the pilots to further explore the issues associated with the development of a national model.

    "Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS" called for a phased implementation of e-prescribing. The plan envisages that 50 per cent. coverage will be achieved by the end of December 2005, with national coverage being achieved by December 2007, with full clinician and patient functionality.

    The Department's contribution to the pilots has largely involved funding the costs of pharmacy connections to the NHSnet, the independent evaluation, and the re-engineering of the Prescription Pricing Authority. The costs of setting up and running the pilot has been met fully by the consortia themselves, based on business justification.

    General Practitioners
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that GP practices have systems for reviewing medicines prescribed to older people; and what assessment he has made of the implications on the over medication of older people in(a) their own homes and (b) care homes. [106073]

    Jacqui Smith
    A number of steps have been taken nationally and locally, to support general practitioner practices in reviewing the medicines prescribed to older people. For example the National Collaborative for Medicines Management is introducing medication reviews as part of its programme.
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    Information is not routinely collected on the over-medication of older people. We are aware of the concerns about inappropriate use of medications among older people, within care homes in particular. Medication reviews will play an important part in preventing inappropriate use of the medication.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what policies are in place to encourage GP surgeries to open for longer hours and at weekends. [106565]

    Mr. Hutton
    The NHS Plan and Planning and Priorities Framework 2003–06 makes it clear that development of fast, convenient and responsive primary care services is a key priority for primary care trusts (PCTs). It is, however, for PCTs, working with their local practices and other providers to decide how to achieve this whether through general practice or by promoting alternative service models including use of personal medical services, salaried doctors, NHS walk-in centres or local walk-in services.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance he has issued to primary care trusts on longer opening hours for GP surgeries. [106566]

    Mr. Hutton
    None.

    Gulf War
    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact the deployment of NHS professionals to the Gulf has had on the provision of services in accident and emergency departments. [106636]

    Mr. Hutton
    So far, the impact on the provision of services in accident and emergency departments across the National Health Service as a whole resulting from the deployment of NHS professionals to the Gulf has been minimal. The Department is working closely with the Ministry of Defence and the NHS to ensure this continues to be the case.

    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he expects the deployment of NHS staff to the Gulf to affect levels of NHS activity. [106637]

    Mr. Hutton
    The Department has worked with the Ministry of Defence and the National Health Service to put in place contingency arrangements designed to minimise the impact of the deployment of NHS staff to the Gulf. It is expected that levels of NHS activity will be maintained.

    Health Care (Somerset)
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many disabled people are registered in England; how many have learning difficulties; how many NHS registered wheelchair users there are; and how many have hearing loss. [107326]

    Jacqui Smith
    Figures on how many disabled people are registered in England are not collected centrally, except for figures relating to sensory impaired disabled people. However, each local authority is required by law to maintain a register of disabled people living within its area, for the purposes of planning and providing 102W
    appropriate social services. Registration, though, is entirely voluntary, and is not required as a condition of receiving services from local authorities.

    The White Paper "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (CM 5086), published in March 2001, estimated that there were around 210,000 people with severe and profound learning disabilities in England and a prevalence rate of around 25 per 1,000 population, or up to 1.2 million people, for mild/moderate learning disabilities.

    The Audit Commission estimates that there are at least 640,000 long-term wheelchair users in the United Kingdom, about 70 per cent. of whom are over 60 years. The current total number of manual wheelchairs within the national health service in England is estimated to be approximately 1.2 million with some 200,000 issued each year. In addition to the manual wheelchairs, there are approximately 25,000 powered wheelchairs, mainly electrically powered indoor and outdoor chairs (EPIOCs), with some 6,000 new EPIOCs issued each year.

    On 31 March 2001, the last date for which we have data, 194,840 people in England were registered with local authorities as deaf or hard of hearing. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf estimates that as many as one in seven of the population has a hearing impairment.

    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what help is given to local authorities to help place elderly people in care homes. [107334]

    Jacqui Smith
    Councils with social services responsibilities have considerable experience in placing older people and other vulnerable adults in care homes. Since 1993 they have had responsibilities for placements in both their own homes and independent sector homes where residents need financial support or do not have care and attention otherwise available to them.

    To assist councils, the Department of Health has published guidance on the way in which older people's needs should be assessed; information that councils should make available to prospective residents; the choices that individuals may make; and the rules for determining financial and care management responsibility for out-of-area placements. Regulations and associated guidance provide councils with a national framework for determining how much individual residents should contribute to care home fees.

    Much of this information is brought together in the 1996 publication "Moving into a care home" that can be used as source material by prospective residents, actual residents, councils and other interested parties. An updated version of this publication will be available later in 2003.

    Health Services (Deaf People)
    Mr. Levitt
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to make additional resources available to implement the recommendations of the review Sign of the Times; and how his Department will ensure that these resources are channelled directly to this purpose; [100348]
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    (2) when his Department will announce the results of the consultation into mental health services for deaf people entitled Sign of the Times; and when the recommendations will be implemented; [100347]

    (3) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that there are better linkages between specialist and local health services for deaf people with mental health problems; [100346]

    (4) what his Department is doing to ensure that the National Service Framework for mental health services applies to British sign language users; and if he will make a statement on the process that will be followed to achieve this. [100349]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Department of Health published a consultation document entitled Sign of the Times in July of last year specifically to address this issue. The consultation period extended to November to allow time for voluntary groups to respond. The Department is now working with an expert group to distil the many responses received and intends to publish its response in the spring.

    Additional resources will be made available to assist implementation of the final guidance.

    A key issue will be the relationship between local and specialist services and this will be addressed in the final response.

    Health Vacancies
    Dr. Evan Harris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the vacancy rate was for(a) radiographers and (b) biomedical scientists in the NHS in (i) England, (ii) each NHS region and (iii) each NHS trust in each of the last six years. [106596]

    Mr. Hutton
    The National Health Service vacancy survey, first collected in March 1999, collects information on the number of posts which trusts are actively trying to fill which havebeen vacant for three months or more. Vacancy information in March 1999 was only collected for the overall radiographer group and pathology staff and has only beenseparately collected as diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers and biomedical scientists from March 2000. The available information has been placed in the Library.

    Home Helps
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many home helps were employed in each local authority in England in the last year for which figures are available. [106943]

    Jacqui Smith
    Information on the whole-time equivalent number of home helps employed by each local authority in England as at 30 September 2001 (the latest date for which data are available) has been placed in the Library.

    Hospital Standards
    Mr. Jenkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives are proposed so as to increase standards for the worst performing hospitals. [106508]
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    Mr. Hutton
    The Modernisation Agency runs programmes to turn around poorly performing national health service trusts with an average value of £250,000 per zero star trust. Their performance improvement team addresses failures around access targets, while the clinical governance team assists trusts who received an adverse clinical governance review. This support aims to enable NHS trusts to improve their performance rating so that they have the opportunity to benefit from a range of earned autonomy freedoms, and to apply for foundation trust status. This is part of the Government's Plan to raise standards across the whole NHS, as set out in the Department of Health publication, "Raising Standards Across the NHS—A Programme of Rewards and Support for all NHS Trusts", in December 2002.

    Hypothyroidism
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of a possible link between ADD/ADHD and hypothyroidism: and if he will make a statement. [106595]

    Jacqui Smith
    While congenital hypothyroidism can cause deficits in attention no significant associations between abnormal thyroid hormone levels and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been found. Routine screening of thyroid function is not recommended as part of the diagnostic assessment of ADHD.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of children who fail to recover from ADD/ADHD by the time they reach adulthood. [106653]

    Jacqui Smith
    Research indications are that some of the symptoms of attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood can persist into adulthood in 30 to 70 per cent. of people. The wide percentage variation reflects the differing criteria and definitions used in the available research studies.

    Malpractice
    David Wright
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the health service budget is used to settle cases of malpractice. [106849]

    Mr. Lammy
    Information on the amounts used to settle claims for malpractice is not collected centrally.

    According to the National Audit Office summarised accounts 2001–02, for the National Health Service (England), expenditure for claims and associated costs for clinical negligence was £446 million.

    The proportion of health service budget used to settle clinical negligence cases is 0.9 per cent.

    Meningitis C Vaccine
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being conducted into meningitis; and what support is available from the Department of Health to encourage it. [105901]

    Ms Blears
    [holding answer 1 April 2003]: Over the last five years, a total of approximately £4 million has been provided to the Centre for Applied Microbiology and

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    Research (CAMR) for meningococcal research. A total of approximately £2 million has been provided to the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) over the last three years for meningococcal research. In 2001, the Chief Medical Officer commissioned an audit, of £120,000 over two years, of the hospital care of adults with meningococcal disease.

    The Department of Health has recently provided £6.1 million over three years to the Vaccine Evaluation Consortium for further vaccine research, some of which relates to meningococcal research. Research into vaccine against Group B meningococcal disease continues as part of the work undertaken by PHLS and CAMR, now the Health Protection Agency.

    Mental Health Services (Children and Adolescents)
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total number of people who required access to Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services in each of the last three years. [106190]

    Jacqui Smith
    Information is not available in the form requested.

    Ministerial Transport
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of(a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department was in 2002. [101539]

    Mr. Lammy
    Responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. Part(a) of this question will be addressed in a letter from Nick Matheson, Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member. Information about the cost of taxis is available in the Department's central accounting system for the main Department, the Medical Devices Agency, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and the NHS Pensions Agency. No discrete information relating to expenditure on taxis is available for the Department's other agencies. Accounts are produced for financial years ending 31 March and the cost of taxis in the current financial year up to February 2003 and in the 2001–2002 financial year was as follows:

    Financial Year

    Amount (£)

    2001–02

    312,226

    2002–03 (to February 2003)

    329,267

    The Department ensures that all business travel is made by the most economic means, taking into account any management benefit and the needs of staff with disabilities.

    National Service Framework for Older People
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many structures identifying nursing leaders with responsibility for older people have been developed as part of the milestones set out on page 172 of the National Service Framework for Older People. [106124]
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    Jacqui Smith
    This information is not held centrally. However, a monitoring exercise conducted at the end of 2002 through the strategic health authorities suggested that 83 per cent. of hospitals have developed structures for identifying nurse leaders with responsibility for older people.

    Neonatal Services
    Ms Drown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the report of the review of neonatal intensive care provision will be published. [106813]

    Jacqui Smith
    I am considering the report following from a national review of neonatal intensive care and expect to determine the next steps in this process very shortly.

    NHS Dentists
    Mr. Grogan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were registered with national health service dentists in each of the last 10 years in the area covered by the York and Selby Primary Care Trust. [107034]

    Jacqui Smith
    At 30 September 2002, 150,000 patients were registered with a general dental service dentist in Selby and York Primary Care Trust.

    General Dental Service: Number of patients registered with a dentist, 1993 to 2002 North Yorkshire health authority

    Thousand

    At 30 September

    Number of patients registered

    1993

    457

    1994

    448

    1995

    434

    1996

    430

    19971

    429

    19981

    392

    19991

    392

    20001

    399

    20011

    400

    20021

    390

    1 Registration data for these years in not comparable with earlier years due to the change in the registration period. 2002 data are for 31 August.

    Source:

    Department of Health

    NHS Recruitment
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on(a) TV and (b) press advertising to publicise the "Join the team, make a difference" NHS recruitment campaign. [106557]

    Mr. Hutton
    The breakdown of television and press advertising expenditure on the "Join the team, make a difference" NHS recruitment campaign, since commencement in February 2000, is shown in the table.

    (£)

    Year

    Television

    Press

    1999–2000

    2,217,880

    892,615

    2000–01

    1,800,000

    1,009,115

    2001–02

    1,850,000

    923,056

    2002–03

    1,986,618

    1,399,476

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    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have taken up jobs within the NHS as a direct result of the "Join the team, make a difference" NHS recruitment campaign. [106558]

    Mr. Hutton
    The "Join the team, make a difference" national health service recruitment campaign is part of an overall recruitment, retention and return strategy aimed at increasing the size of the NHS workforce. This strategy has contributed to the increase in the NHS workforce of 70,336 between September 1999 and September 20011.

    1 Source:

    Department of Health Workforce Censuses.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) calls the NHS Careers Hotline and (b) hits the NHS Careers website have received since the recruitment campaign, 'Join the team and make a difference', was launched. [106556]

    Mr. Hutton
    The breakdown of calls to the National Health Service Careers response line during the main "Join the team, make a difference" NHS recruitment campaigns, since commencement in February 2000, are shown in table 1.

    Table 1

    Telephone calls

    Other contacts1

    1999–2000

    51,448

    1,865

    2000–01

    108,893

    21,351

    2001–02

    102,823

    28,701

    2002–03

    121,025

    73,838

    Total

    384,189

    125,755

    1 Other contacts includes responses received by NHS Careers from e-mails, faxes, white mail and returner pro-formas.

    The breakdown of hits to the NHS Careers website are shown in table 2.

    Table 2

    Hits to NHS Careers website

    2000–01

    6,366,242

    2001–02

    16,840,899

    2002–03

    37,016,447

    Total

    60,223,588

    Data were not recorded before April 2000.

    Nursing
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many self-funders there are in each registered nursing care band; [106075]

    (2) how many self-funders have been subject to a review of their entitlement to a registered nursing care contribution, broken clown by (a) band in which they were placed at the time of the initial determination and (b) bands in which they were placed at the first review. [106076]

    Live/Cadaveric organs donated for transplant, United Kingdom, 1999–2003, by financial year

    Living donor kidneys

    Cadaveric kidneys

    Hearts1

    Lungs

    Livers

    Pancreata

    Corneas

    1999–2000

    302

    1,460

    269

    265

    675

    33

    3,637

    2000–01

    343

    1,440

    221

    230

    657

    48

    3,803

    2001–02

    373

    1,395

    187

    226

    641

    67

    3,277

    2002–032

    358

    1,441

    163

    234

    672

    83

    3,358

    1 Includes 'domino' hearts.

    2 To 23 March 2003.

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    Jacqui Smith
    This information is not collected centrally and is therefore not available in the form requested. Of those whose needs had been determined at 31 December 2001, around 19 per cent. had been allocated to the low band; 58 per cent. to the middle band; and 22 per cent. to the high band. There are just under 42,000 self funders in England in total.

    Anyone eligible for national health service funded nursing care should have their needs reviewed regularly, at three months and 12 months. Their needs may also be reviewed at other times if there is a sustained change in their condition.

    Older People
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) specialist multi-disciplinary teams and (b) interfaces for care for older people throughout hospitals have been identified as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People; how many strategic and operational plans, including initial action to address identified age discrimination, he (i) has received and (ii) expects to receive as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People; how many of the intermediate care joint investment plans have been agreed, as set out in the National Service Framework for Older People milestones; and which general hospitals have (A) submitted and (B) not submitted plans to introduce a specialised stroke unit by 2004 as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People. [106224]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 2 April 2003]: This information is not collected centrally. However, a monitoring exercise conducted at the end of 2002 through the strategic health authorities suggested that:
    73 per cent. of hospitals have developed identified specialist multidisciplinary teams and agreed interfaces for the care of older people throughout hospitals;
    91 per cent. of national health service organisations, strategic and operational plans include action to address identified age discrimination; and
    83 per cent. of hospitals that care for people who have had a stroke will have plans in place to introduce a specialised stroke service from 2004.

    On the intermediate care joint investment plans, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 March 2002, Official Report, column 1037W.

    Organ Donation
    Dr. Kumar
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the supply of(a) kidneys and (b) other donor organs within the NHS. [106100]

    Mr. Lammy
    The figures are shown in the table.

    Osteoporosis
    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the awareness amongst women and girls of the risks of osteoporosis. [106634]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Department works closely with and provides funding through the Section 64 General Scheme to the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS). NOS is the leading body in this field and produces a range of information leaflets and offers an advice helpline. For the majority of the population, preventative measures of a balanced diet, exercise, ceasing smoking and reducing alcohol intake prove sufficient. The Government has tackled increasing awareness and the importance of adopting these public health measures in a wide variety of ways in recent years.

    Overseas Medical/Dental Staff
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria dentists from(a) countries about to join the EU and (b) EU countries have to meet before being able to practise in England. [106902]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 3 Apri1 2003]: All doctors and dentists wishing to practise in the United Kingdom must be registered with the General Medical Council and General Dental Council respectively. European Union nationals holding specified medical or dental qualifications awarded by other member states are entitled to automatic recognition in the UK on the basis of agreed minimum training requirements. Once ratified, the Accession Treaty will provide for the recognition of medical and dental qualifications awarded by the new member states on the same basis. Qualifications awarded following training begun after accession will comply with the minimum community requirements and be automatically recognised. In other cases, evidence of recent and substantial experience in the member state concerned may be required.

    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what checks there are to ensure that dentists from abroad wishing to practise in England have appropriate language skills to enable them to do so. [106903]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 3 April 2003]: Overseas qualified dentists wishing to practise in the United Kingdom have to satisfy the General Dental Council that they have the necessary knowledge of English. Nationals of other European Economic Area States are exempt from this requirement and assessing their language skills is a matter for employers.

    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria doctors from(a) EU countries and (b) those countries about to join the EU have to meet before being able to practise in England. [106904]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 3 Apri1 2003]: All doctors and dentists wishing to practise in the United Kingdom must be registered with the General Medical Council and General Dental Council respectively. European Union nationals holding specified medical or dental qualifications awarded by other member states are entitled to automatic recognition in the UK on the basis of agreed minimum training requirements. Once ratified, the Accession Treaty will provide for the
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    recognition of medical and dental qualifications awarded by the new member states on the same basis. Qualifications awarded following training begun after accession will comply with the minimum Community requirements and be automatically recognised. In other cases, evidence of recent and substantial experience in the member state concerned may be required.

    Prison Health Care
    Mr. Paul Marsden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of hospital officers in prison health care facilities. [107205]

    Jacqui Smith
    The role and responsibility of health care officers were considered in a report on 'Nursing in Prisons', and published in October 2000. It is available at: www.doh.gov.uk/prisonhealth

    As a result of the recommendations in that report, National Occupational Standards have been developed for custodial health care. They include clinical and custodial competencies, and apply to all health care staff including health care officers.

    Prisons
    Mr. Paul Marsden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the practice of automatic detoxification within prisons of patients previously stabilised in the community on substitute prescriptions has been discontinued. [106592]

    Jacqui Smith
    On first reception into custody, each prisoner has a general health examination/assessment, which aims to identify any current or previous drug usage and engagement with community drugs services. The decision whether, in the light of this information, to proceed with either detoxification or substitute prescribing, as a prelude to a broader based drug treatment programme, is a matter for the clinical judgement of the practitioner concerned.

    The prison service's standard for clinical services for substance misusers requires all prisons which receive prisoners from court to have detoxification guidelines in place for at least one of Methadone, Lofexidine, and Dihydrocodeine. It also requires establishments to have evidence-based guidelines for maintenance prescription that are consistent with current Department of Health guidance and provides advice about the particular categories of prisoners for whom maintenance prescription is likely to be suitable.

    Respiratory Diseases (Emergency Admissions)
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency admissions to acute hospitals in(a) the West Midlands (South) Strategic Health Authority area and (b) the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust related to respiratory diseases in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available. [106493]

    Mr. Lammy
    The information is shown in the following table.

    The table shows the number of emergency admissions where the primary diagnosis was respiratory diseases for the year 2001–02 for all acute trusts within the West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority geographical area.
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    Acute Trust

    In Year Admission Episodes

    South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust

    1,618

    University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

    3,353

    Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust

    1,303

    George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

    1,387

    Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

    4,286

    Source:

    Hospital Episode Statistics

    Social Services/NHS Use
    Mr. Paul Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) over 65 year olds, (b) under 18 year olds and (c) 18–65 year olds used (i) social services and (ii) the NHS each day in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [106087]

    Jacqui Smith
    The information requested is not centrally available. Information on key measures of National Health Service activity is available in the Chief Executive's Report to the NHS Statistical Supplement which is available on the Department of Health website at the following address: www.doh.gov.uk/nhsreport/statisticalsupplement.pdf

    South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with(a) the West Midlands (South) Strategic Health Authority and (b) the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust on the strategies the trust will adopt to address its deficit; and if he will make a statement. [106492]

    Mr. Lammy
    I have had no discussions about the strategies South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust will adopt to address its deficit. It is for local strategic health authorities to monitor the strategies of the individual primary care trusts within their area.

    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust to(a) bring its annual expenditure into balance and (b) eradicate its cumulated deficit; what the latest date is which he will accept for both; and if he will make a statement. [106589]

    Mr. Lammy
    [holding answer 1 April 2003]: This is a matter for West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority (StHA). I expect South Worcester Primary Care Trust (PCT) to bring its annual expenditure into balance. The StHA is currently agreeing a date with the PCT, by which time its cumulated deficit will be eradicated.

    Student Location
    Mr. Jenkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to maintain students at the best performing hospitals within the present NHS structure. [106509]

    Mr. Hutton
    Student placements are a vital component of our strategy for training the future national health service work force. NHS organisations and their partners in the education sector will continue 112W
    to work together with work force development confederations to maintain the availability and quality of practice placements at all hospitals.

    Travel Costs
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of travel by train by staff in his Department in 2002. [106346]

    Mr. Lammy
    Information about the costs of rail travel is available in the Department's central accounting system which holds details for the main Department, the Medical Devices Agency and the Purchasing and Supply Agency. Accounts are not produced on a calendar basis but for a financial year ending 31 March. The amounts spent on travel by train in the current financial year up to February 2003 and in the previous financial year were as follows:

    Financial year

    Amount (£)

    2001–02

    3,744,913

    2002–031

    3,465,786

    1 To February 2003.

    As well as including expenditure for all staff these amounts also comprise rail expenses Incurred by other travellers authorised to undertake business on behalf of the Department such as consultants and members of departmental committees.

    The Department ensures that all business travel is made by the most economic means, taking into account any management benefit and the needs of staff with disabilities.

    Treatment Guidelines
    Mr. Amess
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the guidelines for doctors issued by the British Medical Association and the General Medical Council on withdrawing tube feeding and hydration from patients who are not dying. [106539]

    Mr. Lammy
    Artificial nutrition and hydration are a form of medical treatment and are subject to the same principles as those governing medical treatment. There is no lawful justification for giving or continuing treatment that is not in the best interests of a patient who is unable to consent. The guidance from the British Medical Association and the General Medical Council is in line with this legal position.

    Type 2 Diabetes
    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Type 2 diabetes were recorded in school children in each year since 1997. [107728]

    Mr. Lammy
    An estimated 3.2 per cent. of the adult population in England (around 1.3 million people) have diagnosed diabetes. Approximately 15 per cent. of people with diabetes have Type 1 and 85 per cent. have Type 2. Information on the number of school children with Type 2 diabetes is not collected centrally.

    Waiting Lists
    Ms Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources are being made available to reduce waiting lists for knee operations; and if he will make a statement on waiting times in North Staffordshire. [106203]

    Mr. Lammy
    Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for decisions about what healthcare to commission for their local population using available resources and each PCT's budget will grow by a minimum of 28.08 per cent. over the next three years.

    The Government are aware that orthopaedics is a particularly challenged speciality in terms of waiting times. We are working with a group of 43 of the most challenged trusts in this speciality to support them in analysing the size of the problem that they face. Through this work, we will help them to create an action plan to enable them to meet the waiting times targets for 2005 for their orthopaedic patients.

    The Government are also actively working with the British Orthopaedic Association to look actively at the supporting issues in orthopaedics, e.g. workforce and epidemiology and benchmarking of services.

    Significant headway has been made on the key Government targets of waiting times for inpatient and outpatient appointments within the Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority (StHA) area. I understand from the StHA that it expects to meet the key waiting list targets and currently has no English person waiting more than 12 months for an inpatient appointment or more than 21 weeks for an outpatient appointment.

    Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 27 March 2003, ref 104986, what the latest date is which he will accept for the eradication of the cumulated deficit of the Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust. [106588]

    Mr. Lammy
    [holding answer 1 April 2003]: This is a matter for West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority (StHA). The StHA is currently agreeing a date by which the cumulated deficit of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust will be eradicated.

  DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

    Council Tax
    Mr. Bercow
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the level of council taxes in England for the 2003–04 financial year. [106016]

    Mr. Leslie
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister for Local Government and the Regions, the right hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford) to the hon. Member on 2 April 2003,Official Report, column 901W.

    Bob Russell
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average rate of council tax increase was in each financial year since 1996–97. [107031]
    114W
    Mr. Leslie
    The table sets out the average council tax increase and change in increase in average council tax on the previous year (in percentage points) for each year.

    Increase in average council tax (percentage)

    Change in increase in average council tax on previous year (percentage points)

    1996–97

    6.1

    1.1

    1997–98

    6.5

    0.4

    1998–99

    8.6

    2.1

    1999–2000

    6.8

    -1.7

    2000–01

    6.1

    -0.7

    2001–02

    6.4

    0.2

    2002–03

    8.2

    1.9

    2003–04

    12.9

    4.7

    Crime
    Mr. Pickles
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is taking to combat the fear of crime among(a) women, (b) men, (c) the elderly and (d) young people. [106818]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    I have been asked to reply.

    The latest statistics from the British Crime Survey (BCS) report that levels of fear of crime in the key categories of burglary, vehicle and violent crime have fallen compared to 2001–02. 15 per cent. of adults had high levels of worry about burglary (compared with 16 per cent.), 17 per cent. had high levels of fear about car crime (compared with 19 per cent.) and 21 per cent. had high levels of fear of violence (compared with 22 per cent.).

    We are addressing misperceptions about crime by promoting the facts about crime levels and common sense precautions which individuals can take to prevent becoming a victim of crime. In order to do this, we are working with Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs), other Government Departments and organisations representing vulnerable groups including women, young people and the elderly.

    A Fear of Crime Toolkit will be published on the Home Office Crime Reduction website in May 2003 to aid the further dissemination of this message, as well as provide best practice to all practitioners who are working towards reducing fear of crime within communities and vulnerable groups.

    Grants
    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 18 March 2003,Official Report, columns 743–8, how much has been provided each year, in aggregate, for grants aimed at (a) ethnic minorities and (b) asylum seekers; and what value of the aggregate rate support grant is directed to local authorities in accordance with criteria based on those factors. [105004]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The information is as follows:

    Specific Grants:

    The following table shows the amount in millions provided to local authorities by central Government in specific grants for ethnic minorities and asylum seekers.
    115W

    Ethnic minorities

    Asylum seekers

    Race equality1

    Education1

    Total

    Education

    Race equality

    Adults and families2

    UASC3

    Total

    1997–98

    70

    —

    70

    —

    —

    70

    —

    70

    1998–99

    105

    —

    105

    —

    —

    190

    —

    190

    1999–2000

    —

    91

    91

    —

    36

    217

    —

    253

    2000–01

    —

    94

    94

    —

    6

    557

    18

    581

    2001–02

    7

    90

    97

    2

    —

    415

    110

    527

    2002–03

    —

    89

    89

    4

    —

    4

    4

    4

    1 The figures given represent the amount provided by central government, elements of this money required matched funding from local authorities.

    2 As central Government accounting practice changed in 2001–02, until that year figures for adults and families and UASC are on a cash basis and after they are given on an accruals basis.

    3 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children.

    4 Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available for Adults and Families or UASC.

    Revenue Support Grant(RSG):

    Revenue Support Grant and redistributed business rates are distributed through Formula Spending Shares (FSS). The Education, Personal Social Services, and Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block all use indicators which relate to ethnic minorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not distinguish asylum seekers in any of the formulae.

    Since 2001–02, following the FSS calculation of grant, floors and ceilings have been applied to ensure that all authorities receive at least a certain level of grant. For example in 2003–04 authorities with education responsibilities receive at least a 3.5 per cent. increase in general grant. As a result it is not possible to calculate the amount of Revenue Support Grant that is paid out to local authorities as a result of the inclusion of ethnicity indicators in the FSS formulae.

    Aggregates
    Mr. Rendel
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) when he will publish the review of the draft national and regional guidelines for aggregates provision in England 2001–16; [107382]

    (2) if he will publish the review of the draft national and regional guidelines for aggregates provision in England 2001–16 on or before 18 April. [107384]

    Mr. McNulty
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes to publish the final guidelines within the next couple of months, but the remaining work to be done means that they will not be published before 18 April.

    Inspectorates
    Mr. Norman
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) staff and (b) staff engaged in inspection work have been employed by (i) the Single Housing Inspectorate and (ii) the Planning Inspectorate in each year since 1997. [105871]

    Mr. McNulty
    Housing inspection between 1997 and March 2003 was carried out by the Audit Commission (for local authorities) and the Housing Corporation (for registered social landlords). Both functions will be carried out by a single housing inspectorate within the Audit Commission as from 1 April 2003. The figures are shown in table 1.
    116W

    Table 1

    Total staff employed by the Audit Commission on inspection

    Estimated number of staff in Inspection Directorate engaged in housing inspection work (full-time equivalents)

    Total staff employed by the Housing Corporation on inspection

    1997–98

    4

    1

    —

    1998–99

    18

    3

    —

    1999–2000

    73

    11

    —

    2000–01

    324

    59

    —

    2001–02

    438

    66

    43

    Notes:

    1. The Audit Commission's financial year runs from 1 November to 31 October.

    2. The Housing Corporation's financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March: figures in column 4 therefore refer to 2002–03

    The Audit Commission is responsible for carrying out inspections of local authority planning functions. The Planning Inspectorate deals with appeals and other casework under planning, housing, highways and allied legislation: the figures in shown in table 2, the Planning Inspectorate are not therefore directly comparable with those in table 1.

    Table 2

    Full-time equivalents

    Total stuff employed

    Number of inspectors

    1997–98

    828

    410

    1998–99

    766

    373

    1999–2000

    803.8

    378

    2000–01

    780.8

    346.3

    2001–02

    783.2

    344.4

    2002–03 (as at 3 March 2003)

    876.9

    429.2

    Note:

    The Planning Inspectorate's financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

    Local Authority Finance
    Mr. Hammond
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to adjust formula spending share of local authorities to reflect different costs and savings incurred in modernisation of the Fire Service. [106994]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aware that the costs and savings incurred as a result of the modernisation of the Fire Service may have a varying impact on individual Fire Authorities.
    117W
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will work with the relevant stakeholders to establish a clearer understanding of these effects. It will be considered whether and how the results of this work needs to be reflected in due course.

    Millennium Dome
    Mr. Redwood
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what contamination there is under the Dome site; [105923]

    (2) what remedial action has been undertaken to clear the land of the Dome site; [105921]

    (3) what the cost is of land reclamation at the Dome site; [105930]

    (4) what works have to be done to clean the ground at the Dome site to make it suitable for houses; [105924]

    (5) how long it will take and how much it will cost to decontaminate the Dome site sufficiently for it to take deep foundation housing. [105929]

    Mr. McNulty
    Remediation of the Dome site and Greenwich Peninsula, comprising some 121.4 hectares, was carried out in two stages. British Gas, as the original landowner, carried out statutory remediation. The second phase was carried out by English Partnerships (EP) to make the site fit for purpose as per the masterplan for the site.

    British Gas and EP employed WS Atkins as remediation consultants, who secured agreement from the Environment Agency and the Environmental Health Department of the London Borough of Greenwich for the adopted remediation solutions. This has involved either the removal of any remaining contaminated material or works to contain and isolate remaining traces of contaminants such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons and petroleum hydrocarbons, which were tar by-products from the site's original use as a gasworks.

    The depth to which materials were removed and treated varies across the site. In some areas material was removed to a depth of 14 metres. The containment of any residual contamination after treatment involved the construction of surface and vertical barriers. Such barriers vary according to the end use but in landscaped areas, for example, they are typically about 1.5 metres thick. Works were undertaken toachieve remediation fit for purpose as per the masterplan.

    The cost to EP for the purchase and remediation, servicing and landscaping of the Greenwich Peninsula site was £185 million. The requirement for any future remediation will depend partly upon whether there is a change of use from that proposed under the existing masterplan to a use proposed under the masterplan that
    118W
    is currently the subject of a planning application to Greenwich Council. In any case, as with any brownfield site, further development will need to be done in such a way as to preserve the integrity of the capping layer, for which there are standard construction processes. Therefore, further remediation may not necessarily be required.

    The land under the Dome itself will not be used for housing. A planning application was submitted to the London Borough of Greenwich, by Meridian Delta Ltd. jointly with Anschutz Entertainment Group, Quintain Estates and Development and English Partnerships, on 23 December 2002. The plan proposes a new 26,000 capacity arena in side the Dome and surrounding facilities in the Dome for various leisure, sporting, entertainment, exhibition, retail and community uses. It also outlines development over a 20-year period for: over 10,000 homes on the Peninsula with associated community facilities and public open space; and 3.5m sq. ft of commercial development on the Peninsula. The application covers some 76.9 hectares, and is currently being considered by Greenwich Council under the normal planning procedures.

    It should also be noted that the delivery of housing on the Peninsula is already well underway, with the construction of the Millennium Village.

    Mineral Land Banks
    Mr. Rendel
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to reduce the required mineral land bank for Berkshire for the period between 2001 and 2016. [107383]

    Mr. McNulty
    This is a matter for the unitary district authorities responsible for minerals planning in Berkshire to consider. In doing so they will need to take into account their revised individual apportionments within the regional guidelines for aggregates provision, which are to be issued shortly. The apportionments for individual authorities will be recommended by the South East Regional Aggregates Working Party, on which minerals planning authorities in the region are represented, in consultation with the Regional Planning Body for the South East. This will follow a process of testing the proposed regional apportionments against local environmental and economic circumstances, to be carried out in the months following their publication.

    Tuberculosis (Homeless People)
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless people in London who have had health checks last year were found to be suffering from tuberculosis. [106573]

    Mr. Hutton
    I have been asked to reply.

    This information is not held centrally.

  Human Rights Obligations
  Human Rights Obligations
  Northern Ireland: Queen's Counsel
  Northern Ireland: Queen's Counsel
  Northern Ireland: Barristers
  Northern Ireland: Barristers
  Lord Chancellor's Pension
  Lord Chancellor's Pension
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  Northern Ireland: Sexual Offences
  Northern Ireland: Sexual Offences
  Northern Ireland Implementation Bodies: Business Plans
  Northern Ireland Implementation Bodies: Business Plans
  Questions for Written Answer: Northern Ireland Office
  Questions for Written Answer: Northern Ireland Office
  Pensions: Local Authority Members
  Pensions: Local Authority Members
  Satellite Terminals: Planning Regulations
  Satellite Terminals: Planning Regulations
  Fire Authorities: Risk Management
  Fire Authorities: Risk Management
  Prison Service Budget: Young Offenders
  Prison Service Budget: Young Offenders
  Destitute Asylum Seekers: Support
  Destitute Asylum Seekers: Support
  Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
  Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002
  Asylum Induction Centres
  Asylum Induction Centres
  Life Satisfaction
  Life Satisfaction
  Motorway Driving
  Motorway Driving
  Leeds to Glasgow Railway Service
  Leeds to Glasgow Railway Service
  EU: Forthcoming Business
  EU: Forthcoming Business
  Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary: Visit to United States
  Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary: Visit to United States
  Electronic Communications
  Electronic Communications
  Educational Recording Agency
  Educational Recording Agency
  Workplace Smoking
  Workplace Smoking
  Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
  Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
  Asthma
  Asthma
  Iraq: Humanitarian Relief
  Iraq: Humanitarian Relief