Written Answers of 17 December 2003

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Service
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will provide figures for 2002 for civil service numbers, in the format of box 2.6 of the White Paper, "Your Region Your Choice", column 5511.[143766]

  Mr. Alexander
  The following table shows the number of permanent civil servants at 1 April 2002 in the format of box 2.6 of the White Paper, "Your Region Your Choice".

  Location of permanent civil service staff in the English regions—

  >2002

  Number

  London

  86,790

  South East

  57,330

  South West

  48,240

  East of England

  28,770

  East Midlands

  20,600

  West Midlands

  31,910

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  35,050

  North West

  57,440

  North East

  29,940

  England total

  396,070

  Note:

  Figures given include non-industrial and industrial staff and are full-time equivalents.

  Cabinet Office, Civil Service Statistics 2002.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evaluation she has made of the European Commission proposal for a Council Directive (Euratom) on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste (COM(2003)32). [142371]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government's views on the European Commission's proposed Directive were set out in Explanatory Memorandum 8990/03, a copy of which is in the Library. We remain opposed to the draft Directive and, jointly with Sweden and Finland, we have tabled an alternative text for a non-legally binding measure on spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management.

  Big Conversation
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what visits(a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in
  900W
  connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if she will make a statement. [143164]

  Margaret Beckett
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 9 December 2003,Official Report, column 355W.

  Chlorofluorocarbons
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of chlorofluorocarbons had been converted into inert substances as of 1 October. [142596]

  Mr. Morley
  Since the implementation of EC Regulation 2037/2000, the total quantity of CFCs converted into inert substances are:

  Tonnes

  2000 (from October)

  38

  2001

  197

  2002

  386

  2003 (to October)

  352

  Total amount converted into inert substances since the implementation of the Regulation is 973 tonnes.

  Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evaluation she has made of the report 0022/2003(CNS) for the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy, dated 24 September, by Alejo Vidal-Quadras Roca MEP; and if she will make a statement on the recent recommendations of that committee on the proposals in so far as they affect United Kingdom policy.[142452]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 16 December 2003]: The report referred to by my hon. Friend is an early draft of the European Parliament's Opinion on a proposed Directive on the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. The final version was issued on 1 December 2003, reference A5–0442/2003.

  The Government shares the European Parliament's opposition to the draft Directive. Our views are set out in Explanatory Memorandum 8990/03, a copy of which is in the Library. Proposals for developing a policy for the long-term management of solid radioactive waste in the UK were consulted on in 2001. The Committee on Radioactive Waste Management has now been established to assess all of the options and to make recommendations to Government.

  Emissions Trading
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and rural Affairs if she will make a statement on schemes for emissions trading which are
  901W
  compliant with EU legislation on emissions trading, with particular reference to the (a) energy and (b) aviation sectors.[143060]

  Mr. Morley
  The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is due to start in 2005 and will cover carbon dioxide emissions from certain industrial activities throughout the EU, including from the power generation sector. The UK is on course to meet the deadline of the end of the year to introduce the Regulations that will implement this scheme in the UK.

  The first phase of the scheme runs from 2005 to 2007. The scheme can be expanded in future phases to include other gases and industrial sectors. The European Commission is required to report to the European Parliament and Council by June 2006 on, inter alia, how and whether the scheme should be expanded to other sectors, including transport.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what studies the Government has made of(a) nitrogen oxides and (b) sulphur oxides trading schemes in those countries where such a scheme is operating. [143280]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government are aware of a number of emissions trading schemes around the world, including those covering nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides such as the US Acid Rain Programme and the RECLAIM programme for nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide emissions in the Los Angeles basin. The consultants that worked on the UK's National Allocation Plan for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme had previously studied these programmes in the US.

  Defra is currently drafting the implementing regulations for the EU ETS and while doing so officials have assessed emissions trading schemes in other countries, including those mentioned above, to find examples of best practice in other schemes.

  Fisheries
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many speeches have been made by each Minister in her Department since 1 January on fisheries, excluding fresh water fishing, and what percentage this represents of the total number of ministerial speeches made by her Department's ministers in that time. [142727]

  Margaret Beckett
  Since 1 January, three formal speeches on fisheries issues have been given by Defra Ministers, and represent just under 3 per cent. of the total number of Ministerial speeches made on the Departments areas of responsibility, which also include: sustainable development; the environment (i.e. all water issues, air quality, local environment including noise, waste, climate change, biodiversity, energy efficiency and fuel poverty); all agriculture, including GM; food and rural affairs.

  Flood Defences
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money was invested in flood defence schemes in the Yorkshire and Humber region in each of the past five years. [143306]
  902W
  Mr. Morley
  Defra provides grant aid to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities to support their capital schemes to reduce flood risk. These projects must meet specified criteria and an appropriate priority score to attract Defra funding but decisions regarding which projects to promote and their timing rest with these authorities. The principal operating authority for flood risk is the Environment Agency (EA) but local authorities (LAs) and, in areas with special drainage needs, internal drainage boards (IDBs) also carry out works on a much smaller scale overall.

  Investment in flood defence schemes in Yorkshire and Humber was as set out in the table. For the Agency, this represents their total capital expenditure; for LAs and IDBs the figures represent grant payments from Defra which form a proportion of the total grant eligible cost (25 per cent. (45 per cent. for tidal or sea defence schemes) up to April 2001 and 45 per cent. thereafter). Local authorities are eligible for further support for their balance of grant costs from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister through its local authority funding mechanism.

  £000s

  Year

  EA

  LAs and IDBs

  1998–99

  8,368

  125

  1999–2000

  8,320

  196

  2000–01

  9,108

  74

  2001–02

  15,482

  733

  2002–03

  23,733

  577

  Note:Maintenance and running costs for existing defences are incurred in addition to the above sums

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance has been given to local authorities in receipt of DEFRA funding for coastal and inland flood protection projects on the use of timber from legal and sustainable sources; and if she will make a statement. [142229]

  Mr. Morley
  On 28 July 2000 the then Environment Minister, the right hon. Michael Meacher, announced the Government's policy that central departments and their agencies will actively seek to procure timber and timber products from sources independently validated as legal and sustainably managed. Mr. Meacher also wrote to all English Local Authorities in 2002 exhorting them to adopt responsible timber procurement policies.

  Concern over the use of tropical hardwoods was identified in the mid 1990s. In 1994 the Chief Engineer of the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, a predecessor of this Department, wrote to Maritime District Councils to encourage them to consider the use of alternative materials and to procure timber from well-managed and sustainable sources.

  The Department's Flood Management Division also organises an annual conference that is well attended by local government representatives. One of the papers in this year's conference was 'Responsible Use of Timber in Coastal and Fluvial Engineering' which covered the selection and procurement of timber and made the government position clear.
  903W

  Food Smuggling
  Mrs. Betty Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce spot fines at all ports of entry against people who smuggle illegal food products into the country.[144585]

  John Healey
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government has no current plans to introduce spot fines for people caught bringing illegal food products into the UK.

  GM Crops
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much genetically-modified maize has been imported to the United Kingdom to be used for(a) livestock feed, (b) poultry feed and (c) other purposes in each of the past five years for which records are available. [143211]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department does not keep records of this information.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what advice her Department has(a) given and (b) received from the Food Standards Agency on a decision regarding the application for use of Bt 11 GM maize in food considered at the EC Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health meeting on 8 December; [143476]

  (2) what discussions her Department has had with the Food Standards Agency regarding the application for use of Bt 11 GM maize in food considered by the EC Standing Committee for Food Chain and Animal Health meeting on 8 December. [143477]

  Mr. Morley
  The application for approval to market Bt 1 1 GM maize as food is subject to collective EU decision-making under EU Regulation 258/97 on novel foods and novel foods ingredients. The Food Standards Agency is the UK competent authority for this legislation and carried out an independent assessment. A UK position with respect to the authorisation of Bt11 maize in foods was agreed by relevant Government Departments, and the Agency represented the UK in the EC Standing Committee on 8 December.

  Mill Lodges
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued to local authorities in respect of(a) the circumstances in which permission may be given to and (b) the procedures to be followed by landowners wishing to drain mill lodges; and if she will make a statement. [141212]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 December 2003]: In the absence of specific details about the area(s) of concern, it is not possible to say what if any guidance has been given to local authorities.

  In terms of drainage, under the Water Resources Act 1991 and the Land Drainage Act 1991, the consent of the relevant operating authority—the Environment Agency in relation to a "main River" or otherwise the local authority or Internal Drainage Board—must be
  904W
  obtained before any work is undertaken which is likely to affect the flow of a watercourse or impede any drainage work.

  Under the Water Resources Act it is an offence to remove deposits in watercourses which have accumulated behind a weir, dam or sluice and allow that deposit to be carried away in suspension without consent from the Agency. An example would be lifting a sluice and letting all the silt flow downstream, which might adversely affect the fauna.

  Other consents or licences that landowners might need include:
  A waste regulation licence, if they intend to backfill the pond;
  A need for a fish rescue consent to transfer fish from the pond; An abstraction licence;
  Under some circumstances an Environmental Impact Assessment may also be required.
  All these would depend on the circumstances. Landowners should therefore consult the relevant operating authority.

  Ozone Layer
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much it had cost to comply with the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation as of 1 October. [142595]

  Mr. Morley
  When the Regulatory Impact Assessment was carried out in 1998 it was estimated that the total cost of compliance would be in the region of £370 million. However the actual costs are not known as most of the compliance is being achieved through industry self-regulation.

  The Government have provided around £46 million to local authorities to assist them to comply with the waste part of the EC Regulation on ozone depleting substances.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what environmental benefits have been achieved through complying with the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation. [142597]

  Mr. Morley
  Through the continued efforts of the member states under EC Regulation 2037/2000 and other Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, there has been a decline in the amount of chlorine in the upper and lower atmosphere. This is a good indicator of when the stratospheric ozone layer will recover. At the present rate the ozone layer is expected to start recovering by the middle of the century.

  If action had not been taken under EC Regulation 2037/2000 and the Montreal Protocol the ozone layer would have continued to be destroyed, resulting in more ultra violet radiation reaching the ground, which would have had a detrimental affect on plant and animal life.

  In the UK, the increase in ultra violet radiation could result in increases in skin cancer and eye cataracts as well a damage to marine life, which also form part of the food chain.
  905W

  Primates (Imports from Israel)
  Mr. Banks
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many primates, broken down by species, were imported from Israel into the UK in(a) 2002 and (b) 2003 to date; and if she will make a statement. [143915]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer given 15 December 2003]130 primates were imported from Israel in 2002 and 115 in 2003 to date. All the specimens in question were Crab-eating macaques (Macaca fascicularis).

  Primates may be imported only by a zoological or scientific institution under strict conditions. These are that the specimens are kept or bred exclusively for the purposes of educational display, conservation of the species or scientific research.

  The specimens referred to have been imported solely for the purpose of scientific research.

  Radioactive waste
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been(a) commissioned and (b) assessed by her Department into the role of the synthesis of the

  Regulation

  Section

  Consultation commenced (not later than)

  Date regulations in force (not later than)

  Regulations regarding mapping of access land and consultation on draft maps

  Section II

  March 2001 [ended June 2001]

  1 November 2001

  Regulations regarding issue of provisional maps, appeals, and issue of conclusive maps

  Section 11

  November 2001 [ended 8 Feb 2002]

  29 July 2002

  Regulations regarding the establishment of Local Access Forums and the appointment of members

  Section 94 (Part V)

  July 2001 [ended October 2001]

  7 August 2002

  Regulations on correcting minor errors and omissions in provisional and conclusive maps

  Section 11(2)(1)

  October 2002 [ended 7 November 2002]

  21 July 2003

  Regulations regarding dedication of land for access

  Section 16

  January 2002 [ended 15 April 2002]

  1 September 2003

  Regulations relating to exclusion or restriction of access under Chapter II, including appeals (but not emergencies)

  Section 32

  December 2001 [ended 22 March 2002]

  17 November 2003

  Regulations on removal or relaxation of restrictions on access land

  Paragraph 7, Schedule 2

  July 2003 [ended October 2003]

  February 2004

  Regulations to exclude access in emergencies

  Section 31

  February 2004

  August 2004

  Regulations on appeals relating to notices

  Section 38

  February 2004

  August 2004

  Regulations on references to public places in existing enactments

  Section 42

  February 2004

  August 2004

  Regulations regarding review of conclusive maps

  Section II

  April 2004

  October 2004

  River Nene
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the pollutant which caused the pollution incident on the River Nene earlier this year has been identified; what levels of the pollutant are still present; how much of the pollutant was discharged; whether the polluter has been identified; and what action is being taken. [143260]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency (the Agency) has not identified the pollutant that caused this incident. Unusually in this case no immediate impact, such as fish mortality, was observed and the effects of the pollutant were identified following routine monitoring of the River Nene by the Agency in May of this year. This makes it likely that considerable time elapsed between 906W
  biologically active genome of bacteriophage phi X174 in the reduction in the toxic impact of radioactive waste.[142922]

  Mr. Morley
  No research has been commissioned or assessed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs into the role of the synthesis of the biologically active genome bacteriophage phi X174 in the reduction of the toxic impact of radioactive waste.

  Rights of Way
  Andrew Bennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the timetable for the implementation of regulations under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. [142945]

  Alun Michael
  The following table records the progress we have already made towards bringing the regulations into force as well as our timetable for completing the process. Since my Answer of 15 September, regulations relating to the exclusions or restriction of access have come into force, on 17 November. We have given priority of time and effort to completing these regulations, and now to working on associated guidance which needs to be in place in order for the exclusions and restrictions system to open for business. As a result of this, the timetable for the remaining regulations has been delayed, but we are firmly committed to ensuring the necessary regulations are made in time to allow the new right of public access under the Act to be rolled out as planned.

  the pollutant being discharged to the river and the environmental impact being observed. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to determine how much pollutant was discharged and to establish a link between a pollutant source and the incident.

  The Agency await a report from its Special Enforcement team on whether it is possible to link evidence obtained from a possible source with the incident. However this may not be possible due to the probable time lapse between the incident and detection.

  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanism there is to pass on to the polluter the cost of work to
  907W
  establish the (a) extent of pollution and (b) effect on biodiversity of the recent pollution incident on the River Nene.[143262]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency vigorously follows the polluter pays principle. However, in this case the polluter has not yet been identified. It has not therefore been possible to initiate action to recover costs.

  Sheep Identification
  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the European Commission's proposals on sheep identification.[139848]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government support the Commission's objective to improve sheep and goat identification but are very concerned that they have failed to take full account of the particular needs and requirements of the UK's stratified and extensive sheep industry.
  We are currently undertaking negotiations in the Council of Ministers and are pressing hard for a satisfactory outcome for the UK industry.

  Tidal and Fluvial Flooding Plan
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the plan for Tidal and Fluvial Flooding in England. [141451]

  Mr. Morley
  It is intended that the Lead Department Plan for Tidal and Fluvial Flooding in England will be made publicly available in the near future on the Department's website.

  Tropical Plywood
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to reduce the amount of tropical plywood used in the United Kingdom.[143221]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government are committed to sustainable forest management and is playing a leading role in international negotiations on forests in a number of fora, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). The Government are also playing a major role internationally to combat illegal logging and its associated trade, in addition to seeking to ensure that the import of endangered timber species is in compliance with CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Water and sewerage companies

  Anglian

  215

  237

  242

  242

  240

  206

  190

  194

  224

  192

  Dwr Cymru

  387

  390

  413

  357

  329

  306

  288

  260

  245

  234

  Northumbrian North

  182

  187

  190

  192

  184

  171

  168

  164

  161

  153

  Northumbrian South

  95

  98

  90

  85

  82

  76

  73

  72

  73

  67

  Severn Trent

  614

  665

  632

  479

  399

  344

  340

  340

  340

  550

  South West

  152

  145

  142

  129

  101

  92

  84

  84

  83

  84

  Southern

  141

  133

  120

  113

  99

  95

  93

  92

  92

  92

  Thames

  930

  1,078

  1,109

  1,080

  906

  770

  662

  688

  865

  925

  908W
  Under EU law, a ban on the import of illegally logged timber can only be imposed at EU level. We are therefore playing an active role within the European Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process. On 13 October the EU Council of Ministers adopted Council Conclusions providing a broad endorsement of the FLEGT Action Plan, which addresses development co-operation, trade in timber, public procurement, private sector initiatives, financing and investment safeguards, money laundering and conflict timber

  The Government are also keen to discourage consumers from purchasing illegally logged timber. For over three years UK central departments and their executive agencies have been required to actively seek to purchase their timber and timber related products from legal and sustainable sources. We believe the UK to be the first country to implement such a policy. The challenge is considerable and implementation has not been without difficulty, but already the effect is being felt in the UK and abroad. The UK Devolved Administrations and many local authorities in England have indicated that they have adopted similar policies or are considering doing so. Additionally, the UK Timber Trade Federation is developing a sustainable timber procurement policy for its members to consider adopting.

  Waste Management
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs if she will list breaches of conditions of waste management licences relating to the Hartlepool Seaton Meadows Landfill (Licences CLE 223 and CLE 403) recorded by the Environment Agency since 1997; what the nature of each breach was; and if she will place copies of the relevant site inspection reports in the Library. [142437]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 8 December 2003]The relevant Regional Office of the Environment Agency is compiling the information, and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Water Leakage
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the leakage rates of each of the water sewerage companies were in each of the last 10 years. [142301]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 8 December 2003]: Water company leakage data are published annually by the Director General of Water Services in the annual "Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water" reports, which are available from the Library of the House. The reported leakage figures for the period 1993–94 to 2002–03 in Megalitres per day were as follows:
  909W

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  United Utilities

  897

  874

  789

  666

  579

  510

  487

  463

  452

  465

  Wessex

  137

  140

  133

  129

  110

  100

  88

  84

  79

  75

  Yorkshire

  525

  546

  495

  430

  377

  342

  317

  304

  297

  296

  Water only companies

  Bournemouth and West Hants

  27

  28

  28

  29

  26

  26

  23

  23

  22

  22

  Bristol

  52

  59

  66

  65

  59

  56

  54

  55

  55

  53

  Cambridge

  16

  15

  16

  16

  14

  13

  13

  13

  14

  14

  Dee Valley

  13

  14

  15

  13

  12

  12

  13

  12

  11

  II

  Folkestone and Dover

  13

  12

  13

  12

  9

  9

  8

  9

  8

  8

  Mid Kent

  43

  40

  40

  38

  36

  30

  29

  29

  29

  28

  Portsmouth

  33

  33

  30

  31

  32

  30

  30

  30

  30

  30

  South East Water

  102

  105

  94

  99

  108

  98

  97

  85

  75

  72

  South Staffordshire

  89

  95

  93

  90

  82

  77

  76

  72

  71

  71

  Sutton and East Surrey

  31

  27

  26

  27

  26

  25

  24

  24

  24

  24

  Tendring Hundred

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  5

  5

  6

  5

  5

  Three Valleys

  190

  187

  200

  199

  172

  158

  145

  140

  157

  152

  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list by water company the water leakage figure on the latest date for which information is available. [142448]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 9 December 2003]: Water company leakage data are published annually by the Director General of Water Services in the annual "Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water" reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The reported total leakage figures in 2002-03 in Megalitres per day were as follows:

  Megalitres

  Water and sewerage companies

  Anglian

  192

  Dwr Cymru

  234

  Northumbrian

  North

  153

  South

  67

  Severn Trent

  550

  South West

  84

  Southern

  92

  Thames

  925

  United Utilities

  465

  Wessex

  75

  Yorkshire

  296

  Water only companies

  Bournemouth and West Hants

  22

  Bristol

  53

  Cambridge

  14

  Dee Valley

  11

  Folkestone and Dover

  8

  Mid Kent

  28

  Portsmouth

  30

  South East

  72

  South Staffordshire

  71

  Sutton and East Surrey

  24

  Tendring Hundred

  5

  Three Valleys

  152

  TREASURY

    Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Census)
    Nick Harvey
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the UK Government treats the 1991 Census of 910W
    Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a reliable source of statistical information; and if he will make a statement. [144477]

    Ruth Kelly
    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

    Letter from Len Cook to Nick Harvey dated 17 December 2003:
    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the 1991 Census of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
    ONS has not used the 1991 Yugoslavia Census of Population, and therefore does not have a view on its reliability. For any information you might wish to contact the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe at: www.unece.org.

    GDP
    Mr. Stephen O'Brien
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of GDP was comprised of(a) manufacturing sector and (b) service sector gross capital formation in each of the last six years; [143434]

    (2) what percentage of GDP was comprised of gross capital formation in each of the last six years; [143435]

    (3) what percentage of GDP was comprised of (a) public sector and (b) private sector gross capital formation in each of the last six years.[143436]

    Ruth Kelly
    [holding answer 11 December 2003]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

    Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Stephen O'Brien, dated 15 December 2003:

    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about economic statistics. I am replying in his absence. (143429,143431,143432,143434,143435,143436)

    The information to derive the estimates that you have requested for the six years 1997 to 2002 is available from published sources accessed by the House of Commons Library. I have assumed that as the first three questions relate to net investment that the following three questions are concerned with gross fixed capital formation, excluding changes in inventories and acquisitions less disposals of valuables. This is consistent with the definition of investment used for the ONS Business Investment publication.

    GDP estimates are available in table 1.1 (both current prices and chained volume measures) of the ONS publication "Blue Book 2003". Estimates for capital consumption are also available

    911W
    for the whole economy in table 1.1, with information on gross fixed capital formation in table 1.2 (at current prices) and 1.3 (at chained volume measures).

    Estimates for gross fixed capital formation by sector are available in table 9.2 (at current prices) and 9.4 (at chained volume measures). Estimates for capital consumption by sector and industry, at current prices and at chained volume measures, are available in tables 3.1.1 to 3.2.2 of the ONS publication "Capital Stocks, Capital Consumption and Non-Financial Balance Sheets", available on the National Statistics website.

    Estimates for gross fixed capital formation for the manufacturing and service sectors are available for the period 1999 to 2002 in tables 1.11 (at chained volume measures) and 1.12 (at current prices) of the most recent ONS publication "Monthly Digest of Statistics". Earlier data for these series can be accessed using the 4 letter identifier (CDID) on PUBL, the ONS published electronic series also accessed by the House of Commons Library. The relevant CDID for each series is shown in the Monthly Digest publication.

    Barnett Formula
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the contribution of Barnett formula consequences as explained in Appendix C to the Statement of Funding Policy to the allocations for(a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) the Northern Ireland Assembly were in each year from 2001–02 to 2003–04 reconciling the provided figures to the entries in Table 2.6 of PESA 2003–04 (Cm 5901) for each of the Devolved Administrations. [144377]

    Mr. Boateng
    Increases in the Departmental Expenditure Limits for 2001–02 to 2003–04 for the Devolved Administrations were announced in the 2000 Spending Review (CM 4807). The basis for the allocation was explained in the Statement of Funding Policy, published in July 2000.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the levels of expenditure in(a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales that is both within the assigned budget and within the scope of the Barnett formula for each year from 1998–99 to 2005–06, in the form provided in the analysis of 2002–03 provision in Annex C of the Third edition of "Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly: A Statement of Funding Policy". [144378]

    Mr. Boateng
    The Departmental Expenditure Limits for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales for 2002–03 to 2005–06 were published in Table B 15 of the 2003 Pre-Budget Report (CM 6042). Figures for earlier years were published in the 2003 Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (CM 5901). Changes in the DELs are determined in accordance with the Statement of Funding Policy.

    Gross Domestic Product
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's estimates were for aggregate revenues in each year from 1996–97 to 2001–02 expressed as(a) totals and (b) percentages of gross domestic product, attributable to (i)Scotland,(ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland, (iv) England and (v) the Government Office Regions of England. [144380]
    912W
    Mr. Boateng
    Government estimates for aggregate revenues by country and region of the UK are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Scottish Executive publishes its own estimates in Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's estimates were for net fiscal balance in each year from 1996–97 to 2001–02 expressed as(a) amounts and (b) percentages of gross domestic product, in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) each of the Government Office Regions of England. [144381]

    Mr. Boateng
    Government estimates of the net fiscal balance of regions and countries of the UK are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Scottish Executive publishes its own estimates in Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland.

    International Financing Facility
    Mr. Lazarowicz
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the establishment of an international financing facility. [144696]

    John Healey
    The proposal to double global aid levels by providing an additional US$50 billion a year through an International Finance Facility is being taken forward in partnership with the international community. The Government continue to push for further international agreement to the initiative. The International Finance Facility will be most effective if all major donor countries are involved.

    The Facility received wide support from other countries at the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF in September 2003. The Bank and Fund have been mandated to do further work on financing for development options, including the International Finance Facility, reporting back at the Spring and Annual Meetings in 2004.

    The Annual Meetings also agreed that developing and emerging market countries should be consulted. This process will include a ministerial conference on Financing for Development in spring 2004, chaired by the French Government.

    The UK Government continue to build the support in civil society necessary to make the initiative a reality. In February, the Treasury will be hosting a conference bringing together the President of the World Bank with representatives from faith groups, media, business, Government and non-governmental organisations from across the UK.

    Productivity Growth
    Richard Ottaway
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the productivity growth in the United Kingdom economy for each of the last 10 years. [144590]

    Ruth Kelly
    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
    913W
    Letter from Colin Mowl to Richard Ottaway, dated 17 December 2003:
    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question on productivity growth in the United Kingdom economy for each of the last 10 years. I have been asked to reply in his absence. (144590)
    The table below shows growth of output per job and output per hour for the UK whole economy from 1993 to 2002.

    Annual growth rate (per cent.)

    Year

    Output per job

    Output per hour

    1993

    3.5

    —

    1994

    3.9

    2.9

    1995

    1.8

    1.5

    1996

    1.6

    1.9

    1997

    1.5

    1.4

    1998

    2.1

    2.8

    1999

    1.1

    1.7

    2000

    2.4

    3.7

    2001

    1.1

    0.9

    2002

    1.4

    1.6

    Public Expenditure
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's estimates were for(a) identifiable public expenditure and (b) aggregate public expenditure in each year from 1996–97 to 2001–02 expressed as (i) totals and (ii) percentages of gross domestic product, in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) Northern Ireland, (D) England and (E) the Government Office Regions of England.[144379]

    Mr. Boateng
    Estimates of identifiable public spending on services by country and region were published in the Corrigendum to Chapter 8 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (CM 5901). Estimates of aggregate public expenditure including non-identifiable spending by region and country are not readily available. Estimates of Gross Value Added by country and region were published by the Office for National Statistics in August 2003.

    Public Services (Ethnicity)
    Ms Buck
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of a person's ethnicity on their access to public services.[143570]

    Ruth Kelly
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by hon. Friend the Minister for Race Equality, Community Policy and Civil Renewal gave to her on 15 December 2003,Official Report, column 633W.

    Savings Ratio
    Mr. Clappison
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the savings ratio was in each year since 1979. [144032]

    Ruth Kelly
    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

    Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr Clappison dated 17 December 2003:
    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the saving ratio. I am replying in his absence.
    914W
    The information requested is shown in the table below. The data are presented as annual values for 1979 to 2002.

    Household saving ratio

    Year

    Percentage

    1979

    10.9

    1980

    12.4

    1981

    12.1

    1982

    10.9

    1983

    9.0

    1984

    10.3

    1985

    9.8

    1986

    8.2

    1987

    6.4

    1988

    4.9

    1989

    6.7

    1990

    8.0

    1991

    10.2

    1992

    11.6

    1993

    10.8

    1994

    9.3

    1995

    10.0

    1996

    9.3

    1997

    9.6

    1998

    6.4

    1999

    5.3

    2000

    5.5

    2001

    6.7

    2002

    5.3

    The households' series used for these data are for the combined household and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISH) sectors. The accounts for the household and NPISH sectors are currently combined: separate estimates are not available. The above ratio represents households saving as a percentage of total resources.

    Textile Jobs
    Keith Vaz
    To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many textile jobs there were in(a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [144234]

    Ruth Kelly
    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

    Letter from Len Cook to Keith Vaz dated 17 December 2003:
    As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about jobs in the textile industry.
    The latest available data from the Annual Business Inquiry is for December 2002. At that time, there were 148,000 jobs in industries whose primary activity was the manufacture, wholesale or retail of textiles. The figure for December 2001 was 158,000. I have delayed the answer to your question to allow the inclusion of the above estimate for December 2002, which was released on 17 December 2003.

  INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

    Asbestos
    Mr. Clapham
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what plans he has to ban the use of(a) asbestos and (b) materials containing it in projects supported by his Department.[144412]

    Mr. Gareth Thomas
    Information as follows.
    915W

    1. My Department have had in place a policy for nonuse of asbestos in the UK for over four years.

    2. We have undertaken major refurbishment of both our UK offices during this period and the contracts have explicitly banned the use of any asbestos materials. During the refurbishment works we were able to remove (under controlled conditions) all materials containing asbestos and we are now confident that our UK offices are asbestos free.

    3. Where DFID directly engages in building activities overseas, strict measures are taken in dealing with existing materials containing asbestos; and no new construction contains asbestos products.

    HIV/AIDS
    Mr. Gordon Marsden
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what assistance his Department are giving to programmes to combat HIV/AIDS in the developing world.[144413]

    Hilary Benn
    The UK is the second largest bilateral donor of HIV/AIDS assistance to developing countries. Our bilateral funding has increased seven-fold, from £38 million in 1997-98 to more than £270 million in 2002–03. The UK was instrumental in setting up the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and has committed US$ 280 million over seven years to ensure it has long term stability of funding. The Government published its Call for Action on HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day, which emphasises the UK's commitment to AIDS and highlights the need for stronger political direction; better funding; better donor coordination and better HIV/AIDS programmes.

    James Purnell
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what action his Department are taking to prevent the spread of HIV/ AIDS in Asia. [144420]

    Hilary Benn
    HIV/AIDS in Asia is a critical development issue. With 7.4 million Asians already infected, we are now seeing the epidemic spreading into previously unaffected areas and countries. If current rates of growth continue, there may be as many as 25 million people infected in India and 15 million in China, by 2010. Infections on this scale are of grave concern. If they continue at current rates and meaningful action is not taken, it is likely that by 2020 Asia will overtake Africa as the centre of the epidemic.

    DFID's strategy in Asia is to focus efforts on preventing the further spread of the epidemic. In most countries the epidemic is still concentrated in vulnerable groups, principally sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users, and men who have sex with men. The challenge is to prevent spread into the general population. We have seen some success in Thailand and Cambodia from which it will be important to learn.
    In addition to support through mechanisms such as the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, and to e.g. vaccine research, DFID supports major HIV/AIDS control initiatives in eight countries in Asia. Current commitments are in excess of £260 million. Our focus at country level is on support to the development and implementation of effective national AIDS strategies and plans, in partnership with governments, civil
    916W
    society, the private sector, and other donors DFID also funds regional cross-border initiatives with vulnerable populations in SE Asia, and advocacy work by the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS.

    Land Ownership Rights
    Mr. Gardiner
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what discussions he has had with British companies about the support they could offer his Department in assisting developing countries to reduce the impediments to formalising land ownership rights for poor people in these countries.[144414]

    Mr. Gareth Thomas
    DFID has had contact with a range of British companies and other sources of expertise such as government-owned agencies, research organisations, universities and non-government organisations in the context of its work in Ghana, Guyana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Southern Africa (South Africa and Lesotho). Our contacts range from simple exchange of information to more detailed discussions about implementation of projects. We fully appreciate the skills and expertise that British companies bring to these programmes. We also endeavour to bring in developing country and international experience where appropriate.

    Palestinian Human Rights
    Huw Irranca-Davies
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the security fence on the humanitarian situation of Palestinians.[144415]

    Hilary Benn
    The livelihoods of thousands of Palestinians have been drastically affected by the separation of villages from their agricultural land and water resources. The fence fragments communities and isolates people from vital social support networks. Residents are being cut off from schools, universities and medical care. According to the latest Israeli Government projections approximately 210,000 acres, or 14.5 per cent. of West Bank land, excluding East Jerusalem, will lie between the fence and the Green Line. This land is some of the most fertile in the West Bank and is home to 274,000 people. Of those, some 70,000 do not have Israeli residency permits and, as a consequence, may feel it necessary to move east of the fence in order to retain access to basic services.

    International Finance Facility
    Mr. David Stewart
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what discussions he has had with developing country Ministers about the International Finance Facility. [144416]

    Hilary Benn
    Discussions with Developing country Ministers on the IFF began in January this year when my predecessor Clare Short and the Chancellor wrote jointly to Developing Country Finance Ministers about the IFF proposals. Discussions have continued throughout the year with groups such as NEPAD, African Finance Ministers, and HIPC Finance Ministers.
    917W

    Iraq
    Syd Rapson
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what role his Department have in establishing a civilian government in Iraq by the Iraqi people. [144417]

    Hilary Benn
    The Department are playing an important role, in support of the Coalition Provisional Authority, in preparing for the planned transfer of sovereignty to Iraq's Transitional Authority in July 2004.

    DFID has seconded over 40 advisers to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Basra and Baghdad to support civilian government during the occupation of Iraq. We intend to commit substantial further resources from early 2004 towards strengthening the capacity of Iraqi central government Ministries to manage the country effectively Work to train members of the judiciary will also begin in 2004.

    We will also be prepared to consider support for the conduct of democratic elections in Iraq, and have agreed in principle to support civic education, and other initiatives to ensure that as many Iraqis as possible are equipped to participate in the process of political transition to a democratically elected civilian government.

    Mozambique
    Mr. McWalter
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the support given by British engineers working on behalf of the Department in Mozambique since the 2001 floods; and if he will make a statement. [144418]

    Hilary Benn
    Several British engineering companies are active in Mozambique including for example Roughtons, Scott Wilson, and WSP.

    DFID has assisted the Mozambique Government both through support to the general budget and to specific flood-recovery projects. An example of the latter is a £7.4 million project to repair the main national road crossing the Limpopo valley which was washed away in the floods. Engineering consultants are contracted for post-flood recovery work by the Government of Mozambique under international tenders, and British companies have taken up many of these contracts.

    British companies have also been involved in post-flood recovery projects funded by the EC, to which the UK Government makes a significant financial contribution.

    India
    Dr. Francis
    To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's work towards poverty reduction in India. [144419]

    Hilary Benn
    DFID provided £161 million of bilateral development assistance to India in 2002–3. In the New Delhi Declaration of January 2002 the Prime Minister looked forward to expenditure of over £300 million.
    918W
    Our programme helps Government deliver pro-poor policies and services. We are working closely with four focus states committed to poverty reduction, including on their programmes of fiscal and public sector reform, increasing access to basic health, education, and urban services for the poor and empowerment of the marginalised We also support the efforts of the Union Government and civil society in these areas nationwide.

    Gender Advisers
    Mr. Gummer
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which countries other than Iraq his Department has assigned gender advisers since 1997. [141825]

    Hilary Benn
    Gender equality and the empowerment of women are very important for the elimination of poverty. A large percentage of the poor in developing countries are women.

    All DFID staff have a responsibility to ensure that gender issues are addressed in development programmes. However, social development advisers work as part of teams in all DFID country offices and have special expertise in gender issues. They do this as part of their overall role which covers social issues as they relate to all poor people.

    Rainforest
    Mr. Wyatt
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what changes the Government have made since 1997 to its programme aimed at preserving the rainforests in terms of(a) funding and (b) number of projects; and what the reasons are for such changes. [143220]

    Hilary Benn
    DFID accounts for expenditure on forestry but does not distinguish between different types of forests. The following figures apply to forests in general and not specifically to rainforests. They relate to bilateral expenditure and are exclusive of spending on research under the Forestry Research Programme, which has averaged about £2.5 million per annum since 1997.

    In financial year 1997–98 expenditure was £22.1 million, on 199 projects. In financial year 2002–03 expenditure was £20.6 million, on 99 projects. Expenditure was fairly constant during this six-year period but there was a steady decline in the number of projects. This is a consequence of a focus on a smaller number of larger projects, more directly in support of poverty reduction. In addition, the last six years has seen the closure of a number of smaller programmes, particularly in Latin America.

    £ millions

    Total gross public (bilateral)expenditure (exclusive of research)

    Number of projects

    1997–98

    22.1

    199

    1998–99

    19.7

    173

    1999–2000

    23.1

    129

    2000–01

    20.4

    112

    2001–02

    17.9

    99

    2002–03

    20.6

    99

    919W

    Research Strategy
    Tony Baldry
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research is being undertaken on policies to help prevent failing states. [142646]

    Hilary Benn
    DFID's Policy Division has established a team on 'Poverty Reduction in Difficult Environments'. This team is developing innovative policy options for working more effectively in places where the state is unable or unwilling to take an active role in delivering poverty reduction. This includes states seen as 'weak and failing' as well as most conflict-affected states.

    Through a series of seminars, studies and workshops we are seeking to improve our understanding of the internal and external causes of states that do not focus their policies on poverty reduction. This includes whether it is possible to identify in advance potential problem states, and then use preventative measures.

    This issue is a high priority for the Department for International Development. We are also working closely with the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit to develop cross- Government policy on 'weak and failing' states. The Strategy Unit project seeks to work towards better coordination between different Whitehall Departments, and achieve improved policy coherence across Whitehall when dealing with weak and failing states.

    World Bank (Fast Track Initiative)
    Ms Drown
    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons the UK has made no contribution to the World bank's Fast Track Initiative for countries with serious education needs and strong education plans. [144697]

    Hilary Benn
    The UK Government are committed to playing their full part in helping countries to achieve the Education for All goals. DFID is the fourth largest bilateral donor supporting basic education and the Department's investment is set to increase further over the next five years—to more than £1 billion—including substantial additional funding for FTI countries such as Ethiopia and India.

    At the Fast Track Initiative meeting held in Oslo on 20–21 November 2003 it was agreed that FTI funding will now be extended to all low-income countries that are working towards the EFA goals, and that most additional funding will be secured at country level rather than through a global funding mechanism.

    Accordingly, DFID will continue to channel our growing support to education through our bilateral country programmes in the form of long term, flexible and predictable funding in support of the Government's own development plans. We believe this is the best way to provide flexible financing, improve harmonisation and reduce transaction costs. We will continue to press for closer donor collaboration to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all external education assistance. The FTI has an important role to play in this. DFID will continue to play an active role in the development of the FTI, and will take over chair of the initiative in 2004.
    920W

  TRANSPORT

    Gatwick Airport
    Lady Hermon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons passengers disembarking flights at Gatwick airport are having their photograph taken; what flights are involved; and how long he expects this measure to last. [140808]

    Beverley Hughes
    I have been asked to reply.

    Following the attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001 and consequential heightened security measures the Department for Transport instructed the British Airports Authority (BAA) to bring forward arrangements for the full segregation of arriving and departing passengers at the south terminal, Gatwick airport and other airports where this was not already in place.

    In order to prevent the circumvention of the immigration control under the new arrangements (by passengers arriving on international flights and leaving the airport via the domestic channel without passing through immigration control) the BAA agreed to adopt an IT system whereby barcoded photo-images of all arriving domestic passengers captured on leaving the aircraft were reconciled at the domestic arrivals channel.

    This system has been in operation by Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) since 1 November 2001. There are no plans to change this system while arriving and departing passengers have access to the same secure areas within the airport.

    Hindhead Tunnel
    Virginia Bottomley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when work will begin on the Hindhead Tunnel; and what the time scale for the project is. [143602]

    Dr. Howells
    Subject to the satisfactory completion of the Statutory Procedures and the availability of funds the A3 Hindhead scheme should be in a position to start construction in 2005 and the new road open to traffic in 2009.

    Pay-as-you-drive
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of encouraging pay-as-you-drive car insurance. [144612]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Some companies in the insurance industry are currently studying options for pay-as-youdrive car insurance schemes. At least one insurer plans to launch a trial scheme by spring 2004 and we look forward to hearing about any lessons learnt from their trial.

    Speed Cameras
    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Treasury expects to receive from each English police authority from safety camera fines in the next financial year. [142533]

    Mr. Jamieson
    [holding answer 8 December 2003]: The safety camera partnerships are in the process of compiling their operational cases for inclusion in the

    921W
    2004–05 programme. The deadline for submitting their operational cases is 31 December 2003. The national safety camera programme board will consider the cases early in 2004. The information requested is therefore not yet available.

    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Treasury has received from each English police authority from fines from speed safety cameras in the last 12 months. [142534]

    Mr. Jamieson
    [holding answer 8 December 2003]: Six partnerships trialed the netting off scheme in England between April 2000 and March 2002. A further six areas joined the scheme in October 2001. The surplus amounts passed from these 12 areas to the Treasury are given in the following table.

    Treasury Surplus

    2000–01

    Cleveland

    127,059

    Essex

    13,000

    Lincolnshire

    114,279

    Nottingham

    166,011

    Northants

    465,436

    Thames Valley

    413,481

    2001–02

    Cleveland

    368,589

    Essex

    520,357

    Lincolnshire

    542,862

    Nottingham

    34,104

    Northants

    719,802

    Thames Valley

    2,055,849

    Cambridgeshire

    21,660

    Derbyshire

    198,341

    Lancashire

    436,163

    Norfolk

    1272,960

    Staffordshire

    2,014

    Warwickshire

    1150,768

    1 Shortfall recovered during following year.

    Mr. Damian Green
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed speed cameras there are on the(a) A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, (b) A534 between Farndon and Nantwich, (c) the A682 between Barrowford and Long Preston, (d) the A54 between Congleton and Buxton and (e) A631 between Gainsborough and Glentham. [142918]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The information is as follows:

    (a) None

    (b) One

    (c) None

    (d) One

    (e) None

    These roads are some of those listed in the Euro RAP 2003 British Roads Results Survey as being "Britain's persistently high risk roads". They are single carriageway roads; some are remote Peak District areas. Where accidents and casualties are spread along lengths of rural roads, fixed location cameras will be of less value than mobile cameras or other traffic engineering and enforcement measures appropriate to the problem.

    Mr. Damian Green
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed speed cameras there are on the(a) A134 between Thetford and the A10, (b) M73 between junctions 1 and 3, (c) A682 between the A56
    922W
    and the A646 Burnley, (d) A45 between Ryton on Dunsmore and Stonebridge and (e) A6 between Leicester and Derby. [142919]

    Mr. Jamieson
    This information is as follows:

    (a) None

    (b) None

    (c) One

    (d) Five

    (e) Two

    These roads are some of those listed in the Euro RAP 2003 British Roads Results Survey as being "Britain's most improved roads". They are a mixture of urban and rural roads, single and dual carriageway and one short motorway. Cameras will have been an appropriate casualty reduction technique in some of the cases, combined with other traffic engineering and enforcement measures appropriate to the problem.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what revenue has been received from all safety camera partnerships in each year since the first partnership was set up, net of the funds awarded to those partnerships in each of those years; [142207]

    what funds were awarded to each local Safety Camera Partnership in each year since they were set up. [142264]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Seven partnerships trialed the netting off scheme in England and Wales between April 2000 and March 2002. A further seven areas joined the scheme in October 2001. The amounts passed to these 14 areas and the surplus passed to the Treasury are given in the tables.

    2000–01

    Costs passed to partnerships (£)

    Surplus passed to Treasury

    Cleveland

    771,901

    127,059

    Essex

    1,846,480

    13,000

    Lincolnshire

    512,721

    114,279

    Nottingham

    622,371

    166,011

    Northants

    1,702,404

    465,436

    South Wales

    1,330,277

    236,723

    Thames Valley

    1,825,639

    413,481

    Total

    8,611,793

    1,287,967

    1 Shortfall recovered during following year.

    2001–02

    Costs passed to partnerships (£)

    Surplus passed to Treasury

    Cleveland

    486,891

    368,589

    Essex

    3,003,763

    520,357

    Lincolnshire

    516,818

    542,862

    Nottingham

    778,536

    34,104

    Northants

    2,247,838

    719,802

    South Wales

    1,749,573

    126,667

    Thames Valley

    2,617,031

    2,055,849

    Cambridgeshire

    113,760

    21,660

    Derbyshire

    455,659

    198,341

    Lancashire

    761,017

    436,163

    Norfolk

    433,100

    1272,960

    North Wales

    904,022

    1255,242

    Staffordshire

    629,246

    2,014

    Warwickshire

    355,068

    1150,768

    Total

    15,052,322

    4,347,438

    1 Shortfall recovered during following year.

    923W
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed speed cameras are operating outside Safety Camera Partnerships; and where they are located. [142237]

    Mr. Jamieson
    There are currently five police force areas out of a maximum 51 in Great Britain who are not yet participating in the safety camera netting off scheme. These areas do not recover their camera-related costs from fine income and therefore there is no obligation on them to inform central Government about camera activity or number of cameras in operation in their areas. We expect all but Durham to be part of the netting off programme by July 2004.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were(a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) slightly injured in the location of each fixed speed camera within a Safety Camera Partnership in (i) the year prior to its installation and (ii) each subsequent year. 42265]

    Change in average speed

    Change in 85thpercentile speed

    Mph

    Percentage

    Mph

    Percentage

    Percentage change in vehicles exceeding the speed limit

    Percentage change in vehicles exceeding the spend limit by more than 15 mph

    Lincolnshire

    -2.7

    -6.5

    -9.6

    -18

    -73

    -94

    Nottingham

    -8.0

    -17.4

    -4.0

    -18

    -

    -

    Northamptonshire

    -7.5

    -22.2

    -7.6

    -18

    -81

    -98

    Essex

    -5.7

    -16.3

    -7.0

    -17

    -78

    -92

    Thames Valley

    n/a

    n/a

    -5.7

    -16

    -65

    -98

    South Wales

    -7.9

    -22.7

    -7.1

    -20

    -56

    -97

    Strathclyde

    -3.3

    -10.1

    -2.3

    -6

    -61

    -61

    Average

    -4.5

    -12.2

    -6.8

    -17

    -67

    -96

    Partnership performance for 2003 will be detailed in the next report on the netting off programme which is expected to be published in March 2004.

    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each safety camera partnership the number of those(a) killed and (b) seriously injured in the partnership area (i) in the year to July 2003 and (ii) in the year to July 2002. [142498]

    Mr. Jamieson
    [holding answer 8 December 2003]: The data is not available in the periods requested. The data shown in the table is for the numbers of killed and seriously injured road accident casualties (KSIs) for the latest available calendar year in the eight safety camera partnership areas that were fully operational. For comparison the KSI averages are provided for the three years prior to the start of the netting off trial in March 2000.

    1997–99 average

    2002

    Safety camera partnership area

    Killed

    Serious

    Killed

    Serious

    Cleveland

    20

    239

    19

    234

    Essex

    90

    1,164

    92

    1,210

    Lincolnshire

    88

    680

    91

    645

    Northamptonshire

    64

    680

    62

    478

    Nottinghamshire1

    78

    978

    80

    833

    South Wales

    60

    344

    41

    408

    Strathclyde

    114

    1,780

    92

    1,316

    Thames Valley

    151

    1,143

    157

    1,379

    Total

    665

    7,008

    634

    6,503

    1 Nottinghamshire country joined late in 2002, data includes City of Nottingham.

    924W
    Mr. Jamieson
    The Government published information on 11 February 2003 about the performance of the eight areas that trialed the netting off scheme in the report "A cost recovery system for speed and red-light cameras—two year evaluation report." This showed that there had been a 35 per cent. reduction in those killed or seriously injured at camera sites. Partnership performance for 2003 will be detailed in the next report on the netting off programme to be published in March 2004.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average speed of vehicles was at each fixed speed camera within each Safety Camera Partnership in the year(a) prior to installation and (b) subsequent to installation. [142267]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Government published information on 11 February 2003 about the performance of the eight areas that trialed the netting off scheme in the report "A cost recovery system for speed and red-light cameras—two year evaluation report." This showed speeds were affected in the seven areas where fixed site cameras were used in the following way:

    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the policy of the Government is in relation to the reinvestment by safety camera partnerships of revenue from fines in(a) road safety education and (b) highway engineering improvements to improve road safety. [142499]

    Mr. Jamieson
    [holding answer 8 December 2003]: The rules for netting off allow fine revenue to be used only to fund safety camera activity which includes education about how effective speed management can improve road safety. Other aspects of road safety education and highway engineering improvement are funded separately in the usual way. The rules for netting off were designed to ensure there would be no benefit to the partnership for installing cameras at places where there were no casualty savings.

    Mr. Damian Green
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will(a) publish and (b) place in the Library the business plans of each camera safety partnership; and if he will make a statement. [142917]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Each safety camera partnership makes available locally for public scrutiny information about its operational case having taken regard to sensitive operational matters such as the speeds at which cameras are triggered to enforce the limit. Operational cases for 2004–05 are to be produced in common format to allow publication without compromising operational sensitivities.
    925W

    Teenage Cycling Safety
    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on the teenage cycling safety campaign in 2003; how much was spent on preparing a television advertisement campaign on cycle helmets; and what plans he has to promote the wearing of cycle helmets by teenagers in 2004. [144544]

    Mr. Jamieson
    [holding answer 16 December 2003]: Expenditure on the teenage cycle safety campaign in 2003 was £123,000. Expenditure in financial year 2003–04 will be £173,000 in total once a TV public information film promoting cycle safety is completed.

    The Department has no plans to make a TV advertisement on cycle helmets separate to the public information film. We are however running advertisements in 40 secondary school homework diaries to promote cycle safety, which will appear until June 2004.

    In 2004, provisional plans include liaison with TV stations to show the public information film when they have a suitable gap between programmes; distribution of posters that promote cycle helmet wearing and the website cyclesense.net to road safety officers in local councils and maintaining the website cyclesense.net.

  CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

    Analogue Broadcasting
    Mr. Carmichael
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households are unable to receive analogue television reception in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [144897]

    Estelle Morris
    According to figures given by the ITC, the percentage of households unable to receive BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4 or S4C via analogue reception are(a) England, 0.4 per cent., (b) Wales, 2.4 per cent., (c) Scotland, 1.9 per cent. and (d) Northern Ireland, 1.5 per cent. Analogue coverage for Five is not available on a per country basis, however, 20 per cent. of UK households do not currently have access to Five.

    Children's Broadcasting
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she is taking to encourage growth of children's broadcasting on radio. [144479]

    Estelle Morris
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 4 December 2003,Official Report, column 163W.

    Give As You Earn Scheme
    John Barrett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what percentage of staff in her Department contribute to a charity through the Give as You Earn scheme; how much money is donated to charity per month by staff in 926W
    her Department through the scheme; and what steps she is taking to encourage greater participation in the scheme by staff in her Department. [143907]

    Mr. Caborn
    The number of staff contributing to charities through the Give as You Earn scheme is 20 which represents 4 per cent. of staff in DCMS. The current contribution is £181.99 per month.

    We are promoting the Give as You Earn scheme through our intranet and will be featuring the scheme in our staff newsletter in order to encourage greater participation.

    National Lottery
    Ms Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what sustainable development objectives are taken into account when lottery distributors consider applications for grants for lottery-funded projects in relation to pleasure piers; and if she will make a statement. [144248]

    Estelle Morris
    The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is the main distributor for lottery-funded projects relating to pleasure piers. HLF does not have separate criteria for assessing pier applications, but has a policy which states that:"in order to maximise its contribution to sustainable development, the environmental, social and economic sustainability of a project will be as central a criterion in the assessment procedure as value for money. To fulfil this, applicants will be encouraged to give full and proper consideration to the contribution of their projects to sustainable development". (November 1998).

  SCOTLAND

    Civil Service
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what dates he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on civil service job dispersal to Scotland since he became Secretary of State for Scotland. [142723]

    Mrs. McGuire
    My right hon. Friend is in regular contact with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of issues, including civil service job dispersal.

    Foundation Hospitals
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what written representations he has received from the British Medical Association (Scotland) on the subject of foundation hospitals. [142732]

    Mrs. McGuire
    In common with all Members from Scottish constituencies, my right hon. Friend and I received representations from the BMA (Scotland) addressed to us as constituency MPs.

    Job Losses
    Mr. Lazarowicz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking in response to the loss of jobs in Scotland as a result of out-sourcing to other countries. [142710]
    927W
    Mrs. McGuire
    The Government consider that the best response to low cost overseas competition is to encourage the development of higher quality, added value services. Our economic policies are creating an environment where this transition can occur.

    The labour market in Scotland is healthier than it has been for decades. Employment is close to a record high and unemployment is around its lowest level since the 1970s. The prospects for the Scottish economy are good.

  TRADE AND INDUSTRY

    Supermarkets
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the Supermarket Code of Practice. [143653]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is currently reviewing the Code of Practice governing supermarkets' relations with their suppliers. They have taken views from supermarkets, individual suppliers and trades associations representing suppliers. Once the OFT have delivered the results of the review to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, she will take whatever action is appropriate.

    Accountancy (Tax Avoidance Schemes)
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information her Department has supplied to the US authorities in connection with investigations into accountancy firms' tax avoidance schemes in the past 12 months. [144184]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Government have not had any requests from the US authorities to supply them with information in connection with investigations into accountancy firms' tax avoidance schemes in the past 12 months.

    Age Discrimination
    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and industry how her Department is working with the(a) EU and (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that all EU member states implement the law against discrimination in employment on the grounds of age. [143928]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 16 December 2003]: The European Employment Directive provides a general framework for combating discrimination in employment and vocational training, and lays down minimum requirements for outlawing discrimination on grounds of age, among other matters. It is for individual member states to decide how to implement the requirements in their own state.

    The Government are committed to introducing legislation to outlaw age discrimination that is clear and workable in the UK. In order to achieve this, we are working with all appropriate stakeholders across Whitehall and wider.
    928W

    Fibrecycle Waste Processing Method
    Mr. Keetch
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what her Department's policy is on the Fibrecycle waste processing method; [144368]

    what discussions her Department has had with Estech Europe Limited on the Fibrecycle waste processing method.[144369]

    Mr. Timms
    I am not aware of any discussions between the Department and Estech Europe Limited. The Department does not have specific policies relating to the Fibrecycle waste processing method.

    Free-fall Height Regulations
    Sir Teddy Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what the purpose is of the free-fall height regulations proposed by the EU; whether they are being considered by majority vote; and what assessment she has made of their impact on manufacturers of(a) rocking horses, (b) trampolines and (c) climbing frames; [143846]

    whether the free-fall height regulations to reduce the falling length for indoor activity toys will apply to (a) items located in domestic premises and (b) new sales of products. [143853]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: The safety of toys is covered by the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 which are supported by European harmonised standards. A new part eight to the BSEN 71 series of toy standards, which introduced a maximum saddle height of 600mm for carousels and rocking activity toys, was recently agreed by the European technical committee which develops the standards. The primary intention of this measurement is to identify which toys need to undergo stability testing and it was not intended as a restriction on the maximum height of rocking horses. It has been accepted that an unintentional oversight has occurred and steps are being taken to rectify the matter. In the meantime, the DTI and LACORS (the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services) have issued advice to local authority enforcement departments and testing laboratories on the current legal situation, emphasising that rocking horses with a saddle height greater than 600mm have not 'become' unsafe as a result of the new standard nor are any already on the market now unsafe for use.

    Although trampolines are not covered by the standard, it does specify safety requirements for toys incorporating crossbars eg climbing frames and swings.

    The BSEN 71 series of standards are a means of meeting the essential safety requirements of the toys safety Regulations. Those Regulations apply to all toys supplied on the UK market for use in play by children under 14 years of age.

    Gross Domestic Product
    Mr. Stephen O'Brien
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what percentage of GDP was comprised of net(a) private and (b) public investment in each of the last six years; [143429]
    929W
    what percentage of GDP was comprised of (a) manufacturing sector and (b) service sector net investment in each of the last six years; [143431]

    what percentage of GDP was comprised of net investment in each of the last six years. [143432]

    Ruth Kelly
    [holding answer 11 December 2003]: I have been asked to reply.

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

    Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Stephen O'Brien, dated 15 December 2003:
    The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about economic statistics. I am replying in his absence. (143429,143431,143432,143434,143435,143436)
    The information to derive the estimates that you have requested for the six years 1997 to 2002 is available from published sources accessed by the House of Commons Library. I have assumed that as the first three questions relate to net investment that the following three questions are concerned with gross fixed capital formation, excluding changes in inventories and acquisitions less disposals of valuables. This is consistent with the definition of investment used for the ONS Business Investment publication.
    GDP estimates are available in table 1.1 (both current prices and chained volume measures) of the ONS publication "Blue Book 2003". Estimates for capital consumption are also available for the whole economy in table 1.1, with information on gross fixed capital formation in table 1.2 (at current prices) and 1.3 (at chained volume measures).
    Estimates for gross fixed capital formation by sector are available in table 9.2 (at current prices) and 9.4 (at chained volume measures). Estimates for capital consumption by sector and industry, at current prices and at chained volume measures, are available in tables 3.1.1 to 3.2.2 of the ONS publication "Capital Stocks, Capital Consumption and Non-Financial Balance Sheets", available on the National Statistics website.
    Estimates for gross fixed capital formation for the manufacturing and service sectors are available for the period 1999 to 2002 in tables 1.11 (at chained volume measures) and 1.12 (at current prices) of the most recent ONS publication "Monthly Digest of Statistics". Earlier data for these series can be accessed using the 4 letter identifier (CDID) on PUBL, the ONS published electronic series also accessed by the House of Commons Library. The relevant CDID for each series is shown in the Monthly Digest publication.

    Industrial Tribunals
    Michael Fabricant
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases concerned with(a) disability, (b) sex and (c) race discrimination have been heard by an industrial tribunal in each of the last five years. [143830]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The following table shows the number of cases concerning disability, sex and race discrimination which were disposed of at hearing by employment tribunals in each of the last five financial years.

    Disability

    Sex

    Race

    1998–99

    415

    1,320

    1,140

    1999–2000

    456

    1,110

    771

    2000–01

    772

    1,258

    1,112

    2001–02

    618

    1,136

    829

    2002–03

    678

    1,121

    725

    930W
    Notes:

    1. The statistical information quoted for the past three years was published in the Employment Tribunals Service Annual Report and Accounts for those years.

    2. The data supplied relate to employment tribunal cases in England, Wales and Scotland (Northern Ireland has its own tribunals).

    Source:

    Employment Tribunals Service

    Norwich Union
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the redundancies declared by the Norwich Union Aviva Group. [142504]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    Although the Government very much share the concerns of those immediately affected by plans to offshore services work, the question of redundancies is a commercial matter for the Norwich Union Aviva Group. Earlier this month, Aviva said that it hopes that the bulk of job cuts will come through natural staff turnover or voluntary redundancies. However, we do nevertheless need to understand better what is happening, and to this end we have launched a consultation document and will hold a round-table seminar in the New Year, to help inform the debate on the impacts of offshoring.

    Photovoltaic Panels
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets were set for the installation of photovoltaic panels in(a) domestic and (b) commercial properties in 2002–03; and how many installations occurred. [143755]

    Mr. Timms
    Under the DTI's £20 million First Phase of the Major Photovoltaic Demonstration Programme, the target for Stream 1 (small-scale individual systems 0.5–5kWp) in 2002–03 was 300 approvals. This was later revised downwards to 200 approvals to reflect expected demand. This was confirmed by the fact that only 210 applications were actually received, of which 190 were approved. There is no annual target for Stream 2 (group housing and medium/large-scale non-residential buildings 5–100kWp), but the target for the three-year first phase is 140 projects, of which 45 were approved in the first year. 71 of the 190 approvals under Stream 1 were installed during 2002–03, but installation tends to lag three to six months behind approval. For Stream 2, no installations were completed in the first year as the time lag here tends to be six to twelve months from approval.

    Post Office Closures
    Richard Burden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assurances have been received from Post Office Ltd. that there will be consultation with local communities on the strategic issues associated with area plans produced under the Network Reinvention programme as well as on individual closure proposals. [140723]

    Mr. Timms
    [holding answer 3 December 2003]: Proposals for closures of sub-post offices under the urban network reinvention programme are put out to public consultation in accordance with the code of

    931W
    practice agreed between Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch. In preparing closure proposals, Post Office Ltd. collect a range of information relevant to the provision of post office services in an area. This includes local authority plans, environmental and transport information, local shopping habits and other local developments and features. Post Office Ltd. is committed to taking full account of this information in preparing an area plan. With the move to area plans, the public consultation period has been extended from four to six weeks during which comments and representations, including new or additional information, can be submitted for consideration by Post Office Ltd. before they reach a final decision.

    Llew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the impact of closing local post offices on the Government's programme to reduce social exclusion and poverty. [143507]

    Mr. Timms
    The Department have made no such study. But the Government regards it as most important that people have good access to postal and Government services and is committed to doing all we can to ensure a viable Post Office network for the future. For the rural network the Post Office has made a firm commitment to maintain the network and prevent avoidable closures. The Government have underpinned that with £450 million of funding. We have also made available an additional £2 million fund to support community post office initiatives.

    The urban reinvention programme is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of that part of the network. In return for Government investment in this programme, the Post Office has guaranteed that at the end of the programme 95 per cent. of people living in urban areas will be within a mile of a post office, and the majority within half a mile. Offices in deprived urban areas can only be closed in exceptional circumstances. In addition special arrangements have been put in place to help post offices in the most deprived wards and where there is no other post office within half a mile. The scheme in England provides grant for capital improvements of up to £50,000. Similar schemes have been set up in Scotland and Wales.

    Royal Mail
    Mr. Bellingham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many items of mail(a) missed their delivery targets and (b) missed their delivery targets as a result of industrial action in each of the last five years. [142137]

    Mr. Timms
    The number of mail items that missed their delivery targets is an operational matter than falls within the day-to-day responsibility of the Royal Mail Board. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

    Research and Development
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total expenditure and share of GDP on(a) civil and (b) defence research and
    932W
    development was in (i) 2000–01, (ii) 2001–02 and (iii) 2002–03; and what the Government share of expenditure was in each year. [144004]

    Jacqui Smith
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: The latest data available for Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D (GERD) are 2001. Data for 2002 will be available in March 2004.

    Expenditure(£ million cash terms)

    Proportion of GDP

    Percentage performed in the Government sector1

    Percentage funded by the Government sector1

    Civil R&D

    2000

    15.018

    1.56

    9

    24

    20012

    16,125

    1.61

    9

    24

    Defence R&D

    2000

    2,526

    0.26

    31

    58

    20012

    2,690

    0.27

    16

    64

    1Government includes the research councils and higher education funding councils.

    2Revised data for 2001 will be made available in March 2004.

    Source:

    ONS.

    Transtec
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Transtec inspectors were appointed; when they submitted their report; when the report was published; what it cost; and what the remuneration was of each inspector. [144186]

    Jacqui Smith
    Hugh Aldous FCA and Roger Kaye QC were appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 20 January 2000 under the provisions of section 432(2) of the Companies Act 1985. They submitted an interim report to the Secretary of State on 22 January 2001, which was published on 22 February 2001 and submitted their final report on 15 January 2003, which was published on 24 October 2003.

    Costs of the inspection (net of VAT) have been as follows:

    £

    Hugh Aldous FCA including support at RSM Robson Rhodes and disbursements

    2,555,873

    Roger Kaye QC including support in Chambers and disbursements

    1,025,183

    Total cost

    3,581,056

    Windscale (Decommissioning)
    Llew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on(a) difficulties encountered and (b) strategies adopted in the decommissioning of the Windscale pile number one at Sellafield; and what the cost of this exercise has been so far. [144506]
    933W
    Mr. Timms
    The Pile One reactor is considered by international experts to be one of the most challenging decommissioning tasks in the nuclear industry. The key challenges include:Limited knowledge of the extent of damage to the fire-affected core;
    Difficult access to some areas of the core;
    Ensuring a fire-free environment throughout the work; and
    Employing suitable remote-controlled machinery to remove hazardous material.

    Strategies have been adopted for two phases of the decommissioning. Phase One of the project, that of clearing up and sealing the air and water ducts, was successfully completed in 1999. This work ensured that the reactor continues to be maintained in a condition acceptable to the nuclear regulators.

    Phase Two, the current phase, involves removal of the hazardous materials and the treatment and packaging of the resulting waste. Problems with the initial design concept led to a rigorous technical review of the options for dismantling. This review is ongoing.
    934W
    Safety is UKAEA's highest priority and any decommissioning strategy must be shown to have addressed all known hazards.

    Phase One decommissioning costs were £14 million. Phase Two costs to date are approximately £30 million.

    Working Time Directive
    Michael Fabricant
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service on the working time directive's opt-out clause; and if she will make a statement. [143829]

    Mr. Sutcliffe
    The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is the first point of contact for all public enquiries relating to employment law. The Department and ACAS are, therefore, in constant contact on all aspects of employment law.

    The European Commission are reviewing the opt out arrangements and intend to issue a preliminary Communication, without formal legislative proposals, shortly. We hope that the Communication will present a range of options on the opt out which can be discussed with UK social partners.
    935W

  HOME DEPARTMENT

    Anti-social Behaviour (Vale of York)
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on anti-social behaviour in the Vale of York. [144483]

    Ms Blears
    Neither myself, nor officials in the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, have received any recent representations about anti-social behaviour in the Vale of York.

    Following the launch of "together. Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour" the Government's Action Plan on the 14 October, the together Academy and together ActionLine will both be available in early 2004, to offer advice and information on all anti-social behaviour related matters. In addition, every CDRP will receive additional funding to tackle anti-social behaviour in 2004–05 and 2005–06. Taken together, existing powers and new powers introduced in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and the Action Plan aim to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of people who are victims of anti-social behaviour.

    Asylum
    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Palestinian people were specifically excluded from his Department's recent one-off exercise to grant indefinite leave to remain to up to 15,000 families who sought asylum, and had children in the United Kingdom, before 2 October 2000; and whether a decision on all Palestinian asylum cases is due to be made. [140512]

    Beverley Hughes
    There are no nationalities excluded from the recently announced one-off exercise for families.

    Decisions on Palestinian cases were put on hold pending a Court of Appeal judgment received in August 2002. Most of those cases have now been decided and all but a handful should be decided by the end of January 2004.

    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional budgetary resources have been redirected and allocated to cover operating costs relating to section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 since 8 January. [141791]

    Beverley Hughes
    The Immigration and Nationality Directorate's (IND) resources cover a wide range of activities including the cost of administering work related to section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. This cost is not separately identifiable within the total IND budget.

    Criminal Records Bureau
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what penalty payments Capita have made since 31 January under the terms of their Criminal Records Bureau contract. [142043]
    936W
    Ms Blears
    The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) contract contains provisions for Capita to pay service credits or liquidated damages for delay or poor performance, with service credits of £1,992,700 calculated as payable by Capita under the terms of the CRB contract from 1 February 2003 onwards.

    Departmental Website
    Mr. Oaten
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the computer games on(a) his Department's website and (b) websites of bodies sponsored by his Department; on what date each was placed on the relevant website; how many times each has been played; and what the cost of producing each game was. [143400]

    Fiona Mactaggart
    The Home Office has used games to promote three of its websites.

    Backchat and Chatroom Chaos were both used as part of the Child Protection on the Internet campaign to encourage young people to visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk to learn about using the internet safely.

    Backchat was launched February 2002 at a cost of £15,000 and has been played 128,853 times. Chatroom Chaos was launched in April 2002 at a cost of £12,000 and has been played 77,905 times.

    Kebabathon and Bargain Boost were both used to promote the website www.good2bsecure to students to encourage them to think about home and personal security. The kebabathon was launched in January 2003 in a mailout to 700,000 NUS members and has been played 40,000 times. The cost was £12,000. Bargain Boost was launched on 7 November 2003. It has been mailed to 5,000 students and played 8,000 times to date. A further mailout to 40,000 students is under way.

    A game was also used on the vehicle crime reduction website, www.secureyourmotor.gov.uk. Car Secured was launched in February 2002 at cost £5,000. It has been played 12,000 times since October 2002 (Statistics for February to September 2002 are not available because problems with the web analytics software used mean the data are not reliable).

    Online games are a cost-effective means to promote websites to hard to reach audiences who would not naturally think of seeking information from Government websites.

    Experience Corps
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which organisations were involved in the consultations on(a) licensing street collections and (b) the setting up of the Experience Corps; what criteria were used to select the consultees; and if he will make a statement; [143369]

    (2) if he will invite Volunteers in Action to take part in consultations on (a) licensing charity street collections and (b) in setting up of the Experience Corps; and if he will make a statement. [143449]
    937W
    Fiona Mactaggart
    The consultation on public charitable collections was a public one which ended on 2 December 2003. To publicise it a series of events was held around the country to which representatives of charities, professional fundraisers, licensing authorities, police and chambers of commerce were invited. The consultation in hard copy was distributed to all those who requested it. It was posted on the Home Office website and sign posted on other relevant websites.

    The National Experience Corps Experts Group reported in February 2001. Although the organisations which make up Volunteers in Action were not members of the Experts Group, the list of people and organisations consulted by the Experts Group included Norman Proctor of Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland, who are members of Volunteers in Action.

    Haslar Removal Centre
    Mr. Viggers
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when indicative plans for the extension of Haslar Removal Centre were first prepared; on whose authority; and at what cost. [141247]

    Beverley Hughes
    The indicative plans for Haslar Removal Centre were first prepared in July 2003 at the request of the senior responsible officer within the Department. The cost of drawing up these plans was £20,000.

    This was part of an exercise to examine the feasibility of increasing the capacity of existing removal centres. As a result of this exercise, there are no plans to increase the capacity at Haslar.

    Justice and Home Affairs Council
    Mr. Jim Marshall
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held on 27 to 28 November was; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [142007]

    Caroline Flint
    My noble Friends (Baroness Scotland) and (Lord Filkin) represented the United Kingdom at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels on 27–28 November.

    A list of 'A' points approved (with the exception of item 34) at the Council has been placed in the Library (Documents PTS A 63 15256/03 and ADD 1).

    The Presidency concluded a general approach on the draft Framework Decision on drug trafficking but noted four Parliamentary Reserves and that the European Parliament will be re-consulted.

    The Presidency also concluded a general approach on the draft Mutual Legal Assistance agreement between the EU and Norway and Iceland and noted two outstanding Parliamentary Reserves. It hoped that the Council Decision authorising the Presidency to sign the Agreement would be adopted on 8 December.
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    Similarly the proposal for a regulation creating a European Enforcement Order for uncontested civil claims was the subject of a general approach. Lord Filkin noted the UK's Parliamentary Reservation on Article 2. Two other member states had other reservations and the Presidency therefore suggested the remaining difficulties should be discussed at a technical meeting. They hoped to be able to adopt a common position by the end of the year to allow consideration by the European Parliament and adoption of the Regulation in this legislature.

    The Presidency noted the conclusions of the last meeting of the Police Chiefs' Task Force and the willingness to make more effective use of liaison officers.

    Draft Council conclusions on strengthening community co-operation in the field of civil protection assistance were adopted and the Commission indicated that in early 2004 it planned to present a Communication building on these.

    Under Any Other Business four member states, including the UK, confirmed they had passed their domestic legislation implementing the European Arrest Warrant. Six member states indicated that they planned to do so by 31 December 2003 deadline but five member states envisaged some slippage.

    Separately, the Presidency proposed the adoption of a charter on the importance of inter-faith dialogue. Following a meeting in the margins of the council the text of a non-binding statement was agreed but will only be adopted when two member states have lifted their reservations.

    The Presidency noted the progress made on the Asylum Procedures Directive: they had inherited a measure with 239 reservations on the text but only 37 now remained. Nonetheless given that these related to contentious issues (safe third countries, safe countries of origin, and appeals), the Presidency concluded that discussion should continue under the Irish Presidency, with a view to concluding by the deadline in the Amsterdam Treaty (1 May 2004).

    The Commission (Vitorino) reported its work on the proposed minimum common list of safe country of origin to be adopted with the Directive. Work would be taken forward to identify which of the 22 countries that member states had proposed could be included in the list.

    One member state was not yet in a position to agree the draft Directive on Minimum Standards for the Qualification and Status of Third-Country Nationals and Stateless Persons as Refugees and so the Presidency noted that discussion would continue under the Irish Presidency, which would aim to agree the Directive before 1 May 2004.

    The Presidency reported on the outcome of the seminar, "Towards more orderly and managed entry in the EU of persons in need of international protection"

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    which had focused on the merits of an EU resettlement programme and EU-level protected entry procedures. The Presidency's document aimed to guide the work of the Commission in preparing its report to the June 2004 European Council on legal means of entry for refugees to the EU and improvements to the protection capacity of refugees' regions of origin.

    Given member states differing views on the Council Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of paid and self-employment the Presidency would consider future handling. (The UK has not opted in to this proposal).

    The Mixed Committee reached a general approach on draft Council Conclusions on the European External Borders Agency, and these were subsequently adopted in the Council itself.

    Baroness Scotland stressed our desire to participate as fully as possible in the work of the Agency and the benefits this would bring to all. Two other member states supported. Commissioner Vitorino stressed his desire for the UK and Ireland to participate within the framework of the agency. He stressed that, although there might be institutional consequences, these should not be allowed to undermine the work of the Agency. He also urged member states to reach political agreement on what they wanted from the Agency, stating that only then could the participants' legal positions be addressed.

    A general approach was reached on the Sea Borders Agency Work Programme (which was subsequently adopted by the Council) after one member state withdrew its reservations.

    The Mixed Committee and the Council agreed a general approach on the Regulations laying down a uniform format for visas and residence permits, and adopted the associated Council Conclusions, which dealt with the need for an additional legal instrument to deal with the storage of biometric visa data.

    In the margins of the Council on 28 November Baroness Scotland represented the UK at a meeting with Ministers from the countries of the Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro.

    The UK welcomed the action they are taking or planning to meet their commitments, made at the London Conference and Thessaloniki summit, to fight organised crime and improve border management. Baroness Scotland underlined the need for implementation of these plans and continued cooperation with the EU, with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague and within the region.

    The directors of Europol and Eurojust briefly outlined the work they are doing in the region, although in the latter's case this was at an early stage.

    In relation to borders the Commission welcomed some of the specific action plans that countries in the region had developed but stressed that these were just a beginning that they would need to be improved.
    940W
    The joint conclusions were adopted and the Netherlands noted they would organise a follow-up ministerial conference during their Presidency to assess progress against commitments made today.

    Legislation
    Mr. Redwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pages of(a) primary and (b) secondary legislation his Department put through Parliament in 2002–03. [141120]

    Mr. Blunkett
    The Home Office sponsored five Bills during the 2002–03 Session, which made a total of approximately 868 once enacted (printed versions of some of the Bills are not yet available).

    These Bills included measures to give the police new powers to deal with anti-social behaviour, deliver end to end reform of the criminal justice system in the most significant overhaul in a generation, modernise and streamline extradition to and from the UK, enable faster and more effective co-operation against terrorism and other serious crime and deliver the most radical overhaul of sex offences legislation in 50 years.

    In the case of secondary legislation, the Home Office was responsible for 131 Statutory Instruments which equates to 438 pages of legislation which give effect to measures introduced in previous sessions.

    Full copies of all the legislation, together with page numbers are available in the Library.

    Non-emergency Telephone Line
    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress on setting up a dedicated non-emergency telephone line; and if he will assess 888 as a possibility for the numerical sequence. [142982]

    Ms Blears
    In our consultation paper, "Policing: Building Safer Communities Together", which was published on 4 November, the Home Office sought views on the introduction of a single, three-digit, non-emergency number for accessing local services. This built upon a previous proposal to introduce a single non-emergency number for the police. The closing date for contributions to the consultation is 27 January 2004. Work has begun to look at the possible scope of such a system. There are a number of models worldwide, including the American 311 system. We shall develop the proposal following the consultation feedback and the scoping work.

    Ofcom (Oftel until 29 December 2003), which administers the UK's National Numbering Scheme, has advised us that it may be possible to allocate a three digit number for this service. That will be subject to a public consultation, run by Ofcom, to establish whether the service, which it is intended should be available through all networks and service providers, is objectively justifiable and whether the change required is proportionate to the benefit. That consultation will commence once we are clearer about the scope of the service.

    Due to the availability of local dialling within a code area, Ofcom has also advised that the allocation of "888" is not possible without re-numbering all

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    subscribers whose telephone number, minus area code, begins with "8" or "88". It is likely that the three digit number allocated for use in non-emergency cases will begin with the digit "1". We have yet to make a decision about the three digit number.

    Regulations (Consultation)
    Brian Cotter
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of regulations introduced by the Department have been subject to a consultation period of less than 12 weeks since the introduction of the Code of Practice on Consultations. [142488]

    Fiona Mactaggart
    There is no direct correlation between Government consultations and individual regulations. For example, there has not been nor would there be written consultation prior to a statutory instrument being made designating territories under Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003.
    The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation came into effect on 1 January 2001. In the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002 the Home Office has published 49 consultations covered by the Code, of which 27 were less than 12 weeks.

    Stowaways (Ferries)
    Mr. Carmichael
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government have to introduce penalties for ferry companies who transport stowaways. [140671]

    Beverley Hughes
    The Government have no plans to introduce further legislation since ferry companies are already liable to charges in respect of stowaways.

    Under section 40 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (as amended), where a person arrives in the United Kingdom and fails to produce a valid immigration document satisfactorily establishing his identity and his nationality or citizenship and where, required, a valid visa, the owner of the ship (or aircraft), in which he arrives is liable to a charge of (currently) £2,000 per person. Existing published guidance on carriers' liability charging procedures says that charges in respect of stowaways will be waived where the carrier had done everything possible to ensure that no unauthorised person used the service.

    On 6 October 2003 the Government published a consultation document entitled "Carriers' Liability: Charging Procedures: A Guide for Carriers" setting out proposed amendments to that published guidance. In particular, the document proposes changes to the circumstances in which charges will be waived in respect of stowaways and explains in greater detail what is expected of carriers. Copies of the consultation document can be found in the Library and on the Home Office website www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=4156.

    Unregistered Ships
    Mr. Carmichael
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the number of people trying to gain illegal entry into the United Kingdom on unregistered ships; and what steps are being taken to tackle this. [140673]
    942W
    Beverley Hughes
    There is no official estimate of the number of people trying to enter the United Kingdom illegally but the threat from people trying to gain entry illegally on unregistered shipping is currently regarded as low. However the situation is continually monitored and reviewed.

    The Immigration Service works in close co-operation with the coastguard, HM Customs and Excise and the police to monitor the movements of small boats. This has included two joint operations this year involving the interception of suspect vessels.

  DEFENCE

    Army Attitude Survey
    Angus Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average satisfaction levels of respondents to the last assessed Army Continuous Attitude Survey were with regard to(a) question 26b, (b) question 28, (c) question 29e, (d) question 37a, (e) question 37c, (f) question 37f, (g) question 18aa, (h) question 18ab and (i) question 18ac; what this number represents as a percentage of total responses received; and how many respondents were in the (A) top and (B) bottom categories of satisfaction. [143616]

    Mr. Caplin
    From the latest Army Serving Personnel Continuous Attitude Survey, undertaken in December 2002, only the response options to question 28 were expressed in terms of category of satisfaction. The responses are set out in the following table:

    Question 28. How do you feel your pay compares to that of your civilian counterparts?

    Officers

    Soldiers

    Numbers

    Percentage

    Numbers

    Percentage

    1. Mine is much better

    13

    4.0

    82

    6.0

    2. Mine is better

    45

    13.5

    254

    20.0

    3. About the same

    92

    28.0

    362

    28.5

    4. Mine is worse

    151

    45.5

    392

    31.0

    5. Mine is much worse

    30

    9.0

    184

    14.5

    Army Personnel
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost was of Army personnel removals between garrison towns in the UK in each year since 1990; and how many such removals took place in each year since 1990. [143837]

    Mr. Caplin
    The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Mr. Dodds
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the percentage of(a) female and (b) male soldiers is in (i) the regular army, (ii) the Territorial Army, (iii) the full-time Royal Irish Regiment and (iv) the part-time Royal Irish Regiment. [144019]

    Mr. Caplin
    The percentages of female and male soldiers in the Regular Army, TA, Full Time Royal Irish Regiment and Part-time Royal Irish Regiments are as follows.
    943W

    Percentage

    Male

    Female

    Regular Army

    93.0

    7.0

    Territorial Army

    83.0

    17.0

    Full-time Royal Irish Regiment

    91.0

    9.0

    Part-time Royal Irish Regiment

    91.1

    8.9

    Notes:

    Data for the Regular Army and the Territorial Army are as at 1 October 2003 Data for the Royal Irish Regiments are as at 18 October 2003 Data for Royal Irish Regiment are for trained personnel only.

    Defence Fire Service
    Angus Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF Trade Group 8 firefighters(a) are based in Scotland and (b) there are in total; what the annual personnel costs were for (i) firefighters based in Scotland and (ii) all RAF fire-fighters in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement [143565]

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

    Defence Spending
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of how proposed defence spending changes will affect the ability of the United Kingdom to act unilaterally in any future military action. [144691]

    Mr. Hoon
    The Defence White Paper, Delivering Security in a Changing World, set out our requirement for flexible Armed Forces that are structured and equipped to deliver precise and rapid military effect. The changes the White Paper demands will enhance the UK's ability to conduct limited national operations and to pursue our security objectives when acting alongside allies and coalition partners. As I said in my statement of 11 December (Official Report, 11 December 2003, column 1211), work is currently underway to develop the details of the individual systems and structures appropriate for the policy context set out in the White Paper, and I shall make further announcements on the results of that work next year.

    Depleted Uranium
    Ms Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent assessment he has made of the possible effects of depleted uranium exposure on service men and women; and if he will make a statement; [144107]

    (2) what his policy is on testing of (a) current and (b) former service men and women for side effects associated with depleted uranium; and if he will make a statement. [144106]

    Mr. Caplin
    The scientific literature suggests there are no side effects uniquely associated with exposure to Depleted Uranium.

    The Ministry of Defence's Biological Monitoring Policy (www.mod.uk/issuesidepleted_uranium/du_biomonitoring.htm) is to offer a urine test for uranium to all UK service and civilian personnel on current and future operations where DU has been used. This includes an isotope test
    944W
    (which tests for the presence of DU) for those who may have had high exposures. Other tests will be carried out if clinically indicated.

    Former service personnel are being offered a voluntary DU test under the auspices of the independent Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB). The first tests should begin in early 2004. If DUOB tests reveal detectable DU in the urine, follow-on epidemiological studies will be carried out. Depending on the outcome of these studies, further research may be commissioned.

    Iraq
    Mr. Soames
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British personnel(a) serving and (b) having served in Iraq in 2003 have contracted Leishmaniasis. [144129]

    Mr. Caplin
    At present. there has been one confirmed case, and twelve suspected cases, of Leishmaniasis among Service personnel who have served in Iraq in 2003.

    Mr. Keetch
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the menu is for soldiers serving in Iraq on Christmas Day; and if he will make a statement. [144469]

    Mr. Ingram
    United Kingdom Armed Forces personnel serving in Iraq will, wherever possible, be offered a turkey dinner or a vegetarian option.

    Military Personnel (Psychiatric Treatment)
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel have been treated for mental health problems at the Duchess of Kent Hospital at Catterick in each of the last six years. [144153]

    Mr. Caplin
    The following table represents the total number of Service personnel, both in-patients and outpatients, treated for mental health problems at the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital (DKPH) January 1997-March 2003.

    Year (January-December except where noted)

    Number of military personnel treated at DKPH

    1997 (January-February)

    91

    1997–98 (April to March)

    581

    1998 (April-December)

    351

    1999

    458

    2000

    439

    2001

    451

    2002

    450

    2003 (January to March figures only available)

    101

    Figures are not available for March 1997.

    Network-centric Capabilities
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect he estimates the proposed change of emphasis from frontline platform strength to network-centric capabilities will have on the number of employees within the United Kingdom armed forces. [144689]

    Mr. Hoon
    As I said in my statement of 11 December (Official Report, 11 December 2003, column 1211), the Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking work to develop the details of the individual systems and

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    structures appropriate for the policy context as set out in the Defence White Paper, Delivering Security in a Changing World. I shall make further announcements on the results of that work next year.

    Nuclear Weapons
    Llew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States Administration has provided the United Kingdom with information, with particular reference to information on experiments, on the development of low-yield earth-penetrating nuclear weapons under the provisions of the 1959 Amendment to the 1958 United States-United Kingdom Mutual Defence Agreement on atomic energy matters. [143508]

    Mr. Hoon
    No.

    Priory Group
    Mr. Soames
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether service personnel will be working at the Priory Group's facilities for the treatment of service personnel; and what special provision will be made for military casualties. [144133]

    Mr. Caplin
    The majority of psychiatric referrals will be dealt with by the 16 Defence Community Mental Health (DCMH) teams that are located across the UK. The small number of patients requiring in-patient care will be dealt with by The Priory Group's staff. Each DCMH will make special provisions for Service personnel at the Priory by supplying a trained

    Unit

    Strength

    HQ address

    Royal Navy Reserve (RNR)

    HMS Scotia

    227

    Director Naval Reserves, South Terrace, Portsmouth Naval Base, PO1 3LS

    HMS Dalriada

    137

    Director Naval Reserves, South Terrace, Portsmouth Naval Base, PO1 3LS

    Royal Marine Reserve (RMR)

    RMR Scotland

    153

    Director Royal Marines Reserves, Whale Island, Portsmouth, PO2 8DX

    Territorial Army (TA)

    Royal Artillery (RA)

    105 Regt RA (V)

    415

    Artillery House, 301 Colinton Road, Colinton, Edinburgh, EH13 OLA

    Royal Engineers (RE)

    71 Engr Regt RE (V)

    383

    RAF Leuchars, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 OLX

    Royal Signals (R SIGS)

    2 Sig Sqn (V)

    63

    TAC Newman House, Mid Craigie Road, Dundee, DD4 7RH

    32 Sig Regt (V)

    356

    21 Jardine Street, Glasgow, G20 6JT

    Infantry (INF)

    51 Highland Regt

    591

    Queens Barracks, 131 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PHI 5BT

    52 Lowland Regt

    442

    Walcheren Barracks, 122 Hotspur Street, Glasgow, G20 8LQ

    Royal Logistic Corps (RLC)

    Scottish Tpt Regt RLC (V)

    546

    Bothwell House, Elgin Street, Dunfirmline, Fife, KY12 7SB

    Army Medical Services (AMS)

    225 Fd Amb (V)

    131

    Block 5, Oliver Barracks, Dalkeith Road, Dundee, DD4 7DL

    205 Fd Hosp (V)

    256

    Graham House, 130 Whitefield Road, Glasgow, G51 2YE

    Adjutant Generals Corp (Royal Military Police) (AGC(RMP))

    243 Pro Coy (V)

    52

    TAC Beveridge Square, Livingston, EH54 6QF

    Intelligence Corps (INT)

    23 MI Coy (V)

    51

    TAC, 124 McDonald Road, Edinburgh, Lothian, EH174NQ

    University Officer Training Corps (UOTC)

    Aberdeen

    178

    Roy Strathdee Building, 152 Don Street, Old Aberdeen, AB2 1XQ

    Edinburgh

    268

    Duke of Edinburgh House, 301 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH 13 OLA

    Glasgow and Strathclyde

    198

    95 University Place, Glasgow, G12 8SU

    Tayforth

    264

    TAC, 16 Park Wynd. Dundee, DD1 5HG

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    psychiatric nurse to act as a Service Liaison Officer who will work with The Priory Group on a daily basis and will be on hand to deal with any problems military personnel may encounter. It is anticipated that military casualties will be treated within this system.

    Mr. Soames
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies bid for the contract to run in-patient psychiatric services for his Department; and for what reasons the contract was awarded to the Priory Group. [144134]

    Mr. Caplin
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 December 2003,Official Report, column 571W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson).

    Reserve (Scotland)
    Angus Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the reserve units based in Scotland, (b) their headquarters' location and (c) current strength; what the (i) date and (ii) location of their last deployment was; and if he will make a statement. [144000]

    Mr. Caplin
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: Since the reorganisation of the Reserve Forces under the Strategic Defence Review no Scottish based reserve units have been deployed on operations. However, subunits, composite units and individual reservists from units based in Scotland have been deployed to support operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. The location and strength of Scottish reserve units is set out in the following table:
    947W

    Unit

    Strength

    HQ address

    Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF)

    RauxAF

    No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn

    118

    25 Learmonth Terrace, Edinburgh, EG4 1NZ

    No 612 (County of Aberdeen) Sqn

    56

    RAF Leuchars, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 OJX

    RAuxAF Regt

    No 2622 (Highland) Sqn

    118

    RAF Lossiemouth, Elgin, Morayshire, IV31 6SD

    School Places
    Mr. Foulkes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 3 December 2003,Official Report, column 68W, on school places, in what format his Department holds information on the proportion of funding spent by his Department on school places for service personnel which was spent on the independent sector in each year since 1996; and if he will publish that information. [143871]

    Mr. Caplin
    Expenditure data on Service Education Allowances is only accessible for named individuals. While it is possible to identify what has been spent on any named individual it is not possible to capture cumulative data totals electronically. Manual capture of this data could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Even if this total data were produced it would not identify the proportion spent in the independent sector schools as the same allowance rates are paid irrespective of the type of school and hence independent sector spend could not be isolated.

    Service Medals
    Hugh Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the award of a medal for service in Iraq. [144009]

    Mr. Caplin
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2003, Official Report, columns 768–69W, to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Flook). The case for the award of a campaign medal to recognise service in Iraq is currently with the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals for their deliberation. I expect to make a further announcement in the new year.

    Hugh Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the eligibility criteria are for the award of a medal for service in Afghanistan; and what medal that is. [144011]

    Mr. Caplin
    [holding answer 15 December 20031: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2003, (Official Report, columns 768–9W) to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr Flook). I expect to make a further announcement in the New Year.

    Hugh Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to introduce a medal for service during the Cold War. [144013]

    Mr. Caplin
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: There are no plans to institute any additional medals for service between the end of the Second World War and the break up of the Soviet Empire in the early 1990s, a period generally referred to as the Cold War.

    Territorial Army
    Angus Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the monthly recruitment numbers for each of the Territorial Army's recruitment posts in(a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [143999]

    Mr. Caplin
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: There are no dedicated Territorial Army (TA) recruitment posts. Recruitment into the TA is conducted by individual units, locally for independent units and nationally in the case of specialist units.

    The Army does not differentiate the recruitment of British nationals. The Recruitment figures for the TA as a whole, by month, since 1997 are as follows:

    Date

    Recruitment

    1997

    April

    990

    May

    680

    June

    720

    July

    580

    August

    500

    September

    1,400

    October

    2,000

    November

    420

    December

    490

    1998

    January

    1,190

    February

    810

    March

    1,020

    April

    980

    May

    780

    June

    660

    July

    600

    August

    650

    September

    720

    October

    1,910

    November

    680

    December

    490

    1999

    January

    460

    February

    500

    March

    460

    April

    560

    May

    500

    June

    440

    July

    360

    August

    400

    September

    490

    October

    1,730

    November

    620

    December

    400

    2000

    January

    530

    February

    520

    March

    460

    April

    610

    May

    720

    June

    470

    949W

    July

    440

    August

    460

    September

    420

    October

    1,990

    November

    740

    December

    480

    2001

    January

    480

    February

    470

    March

    460

    April

    720

    May

    780

    June

    580

    July

    500

    August

    320

    September

    480

    October

    1,820

    November

    680

    December

    460

    2002

    January

    440

    February

    590

    March

    520

    April

    560

    May

    510

    June

    580

    July

    550

    August

    490

    September

    430

    October

    1,570

    November

    1,340

    December

    510

    2003

    January

    420

    February

    110

    March

    490

    April

    580

    May

    50

    June

    610

    July

    480

    August

    470

    September

    470

    October

    1,310

  DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

    Barker Report
    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he intends to tackle the rise in planning refusals for residential dwellings identified by the Barker Report.[R] [144200]

    Keith Hill
    The Barker Report suggests that the recent increase in refusals may have resulted from a failure on the part of some housebuilders to respond to the changed policy environment, following recent policy changes, including those set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (Housing) 2000. It is expected that the rate of refusals will decrease over time, as the policy changes are more widely understood and adopted.

    The Barker Report does not identify members' actions to overturn officer recommendations as a key reason for the rise in refusals of housing applications. However, where planning permission for housing is refused by a local planning authority, applicants have a right of appeal to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.
    950W

    Council House Sales
    Jon Trickett
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was generated in capital receipts by council house sales for Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in each financial year since 1997; how much of this finance was available to the council to spend in each year; how much was spent on(a) council housing and (b) items unrelated to council housing by the council in each year; and how much remains unspent. [144128]

    Keith Hill
    The amount of capital receipts received by Wakefield MDC for sales of its council houses since 1997 is tabled as follows:

    Capital receipts (council house sales)

    £000

    1997–98

    7,437

    1998–99

    7,033

    1999–2000

    10,923

    2000–01

    1—

    2001–02

    15,525

    2002–03

    23,948

    1 This information was not collected on the Housing Investment Programme return for 2000–01. However, the ODPMs' P1A return collects similar information on housing capital expenditure and receipts. In this return. Wakefield reported that £11,248 (thousand) was the amount of capital receipts received from council house sales in 2000–01.

    Sources:

    ODPM's Housing Investment Programme returns.

    Under capital finance regulations, 25 per cent. of net capital receipts arising from council house sales (excluding the value of any related local authority mortgages) are classified as usable. Information on how much of this amount was spent on council housing, items unrelated to council housing, and the amount unspent is not collected centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Developers
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce incentives to encourage developers to build on(a) hardcore brownfield sites and (b) polluted sites; and what assessment he has made of the contribution such development could make to increasing housing stock. [144539]

    Keith Hill
    Budget 2001 introduced a 150 per cent. accelerated payable tax credit for owners and investors for the costs they incur in cleaning-up contaminated sites. This year's pre-Budget report announced that the Government are examining the possibility of extending this relief to include remediation of land that is long-term derelict.

    English Partnerships, the Government's expert adviser on brownfield land is currently working to develop a housing gap funding scheme for use by themselves, the regional development agencies and the local authorities. The final guidance on the scheme will be available in the New Year. They have also been invited to develop a Land Remediation Scheme which will enable themselves, regional development agencies and the local authorities to give grants to encourage owners of derelict, contaminated and polluted sites to

    951W
    bring them back into productive use. Both of these measures will help to contribute to the delivery of housing.

    The Government's planning policies expects new housing to be secured in the most sustainable way, by expecting priority to be given to the re-use of urban brownfield land in preference to greenfield development, although these policies do not rule out greenfield development where it is needed.

    Housing
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses have been built outside local plan boundaries in each of the last five years; and how many of these have been built by housing associations. [144540]

    Keith Hill
    Planning Policy Guidance note 3: Housing advises that local plans and Unitary Development Plans should identify sufficient sites on the plan's proposals map to accommodate at least the first five years (or the first two phases) of housing development proposed in the plan. Local planning authorities should be monitoring closely the uptake of plan allocations and windfall provision, and the type of that provision in terms of size, type and affordability, but this information is not collected centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    Local Authority Funding
    Mr. Tyrie
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average revised level of revenue support grant per head is for(a) West Sussex, (b) inner London boroughs, (c) outer London boroughs, (d) Tyne and Wear and (e) England: and what he estimates extra total grant payable would be if West Sussex were to be funded at the same level of revenue support grant per head as (i) inner London boroughs, (ii) outer London boroughs, (iii) Tyne and Wear and (iv) the average for England. [144632]

    Mr. Raynsford
    Provisional revenue support grant (RSG) per head in 2004–05 is tabled as follows:

    Area

    Revenue support grant per head (£)

    West Sussex county council

    262.12

    Inner London boroughs (including City of London)

    913.52

    Outer London Boroughs

    560.79

    Average metropolitan district in the Tyne and Wear area

    625.10

    England

    543.78

    The RSG per head figures in the table are not directly comparable since the services provided by West Sussex county council are not the same as those provided by London boroughs or metropolitan districts. London boroughs and metropolitan districts also provide those services provided by the district council within the West Sussex area; while West Sussex county council received an allocation of grant to cover fire services in 2003—04, that are provided by the Greater London Authority in the London area and by Tyne and Wear Fire and Civil Defence Authority in the Tyne and Wear area. In addition the City of London also provides police
    952W
    services. The total England figure includes both district level and police services; neither of these services are provided by West Sussex county council.

    The calculation of RSG takes account of a range of factors other than the numbers of service recipients. It includes top-ups for deprivation, pay costs, and other factors such as population sparsity that drive the costs of service delivery in different areas, as well as the relative ability of councils to raise council tax in their areas. Simple per capita comparisons will not therefore be meaningful comparisons of all the factors that drive grant distribution.

    If West Sussex county council received £913.52 per head of RSG then it would have received £690,488,660, an additional £492,366,039; at £560.79 per head of RSG then it would have received £423,875,925, an additional £225,753,304; at £625.10 per head of RSG then it would have received £472,484,961, an £411,018,832,163,260, an additional £212,896,211.

    Local Government Finance
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister why information on the 2004–05 Local Government Finance Settlement was released after local authorities had agreed their budgets; and how he expects councils to take account of the settlement. [145008]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The provisional local government finance settlement for 2004–05 was announced on 19 November 2003, and we expect the final settlement to be debated at around the end of January or the beginning of February 2004, in line with the normal settlement timetable.

    The statutory deadlines by which local authorities must set their budgets fall some time after the expected approval of the final settlement. The deadlines are; for levying bodies, 15 February; for major preceptors, 1 March; and for billing authorities, 11 March.

    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how he expects local councils in North Yorkshire to make up the shortfall they are facing following the 2004–05 local government finance settlement; and if he will make a statement. [145009]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The provisional local government finance settlement for 2004–05 gives all local authorities in North Yorkshire an above inflation increase in formula grant. Councils in the Yorkshire and the Humber region receive an average grant increase of 5.0 per cent.

    Ministerial Visit
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has held with the Minister without Portfolio regarding that Minister's visit to the tri-Service Emergency Centre in Gloucester earlier in 2003. [144927]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The Minister without Portfolio and I discussed his visit to the tri-Service Emergency Centre on 5 December 2003.
    953W

    Planning
    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost is of setting up the new tariff system in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill as the alternative to the section 106 (Town and Country Planning Act 1990); and whether the section 106 procedure will change under the Bill. [144204]

    Keith Hill
    The issue of the cost of establishing and operating the optional planning charge system is addressed in the partial Regulatory Impact Assessment which accompanies the Government's consultation document "Contributing Sustainable Communities—a new approach to planning obligations", published on 6 November 2003.

    Nothing in the Bill precludes the negotiated route being the same in character as the way s106 operates now. The Government's consultation document proposes some improvements to the way in which planning obligations are negotiated, mainly by promoting good practice, where the developer opts for the negotiated route rather than pay the optional planning charge. We will await the results of the consultation before deciding whether any changes to the negotiated procedure are appropriate.

    West Sussex County Council
    Mr. Tyrie
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will estimate what the level of grant increase to West Sussex County Council in 2004–05 would be if calculated on the basis of increase in population; [143861]

    (2) what the level of grant increase would be to West Sussex County Council in 2004–05 if calculated on the basis of increase in population; and by how much this would differ from the revised level of settlement following the announcement in the Pre-Budget Report. [144631]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The increase in formula grant (i.e. Revenue Support Grant plus Redistributed Business Rates plus Police Grant) for West Sussex County Council would be £7,581,434.

    This has been calculated as follows:

    Total grant for England in 2004–05 minus total grant in 2003–04 on a like for like basis i.e. £46,116,848.766— f43,705,512,675—£2,411,336,091;

    Mid-2002 population estimate minus mid-2001 population estimate for West Sussex County Council i.e. 755,855754,254 = 1,602;

    The result of (b) multiplied by the Share of Assumed National Council Tax given in Annex B of the draft Local Government Finance Report (England) 2004–05 i.e. 1,602 * 0.740845 = 1,186.833690

    The result of (c) is then divided by the sum of (c) for all authorities i.e. 1,186.833690 / 377,482.000000 0.003144

    The result of (d) multiplied by the result of (a) i.e. 0.003144 * 2,411,336,091=7,581,434

    Please note that the mid-2001 population estimate used was that published by the Office for National Statistics on 10 October 2002, since these were the population estimates used in the calculation of the 2003–04 Formula Spending Shares. Following the approval by Parliament of the 2003–04 Local Government Finance Settlement, the mid-2001
    954W
    population estimates were revised. An Amending Report for 2003–04 to reflect the revised mid-year estimates will be submitted to the House for approval in due course.

    Since in all areas of England council services are supplied by more than one type of authority the change in population in an area has to be divided between the authorities supplying services in an area. For the purpose of the above calculation we have used the share of assumed national council tax given in Annex B of the draft Local Government Finance Report (England) 2004–05 to split the change in population between types of authority.

    The proposed increase in grant for West Sussex in 2004—05 is £17,132,188, this is an increase of 4.5per cent. on the 2003–04 formula grant on a like-for-like basis.

  EDUCATION AND SKILLS

    Enterprise Advisers
    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many enterprise advisers for schools will be publicly funded in(a) England and (b) the Eastern Region. [143504]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

    Academies
    Mr. Chaytor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the required admissions policies of Academies; and which academies do not comply with the requirements. [142740]

    Mr. Miliband
    All Academies are required, by their funding agreements with the Secretary of State, to comply with the Admissions Code of Practice and with the law on admissions as it applies to maintained schools. I am not aware of any Academy which has admission arrangements that do not meet this requirement.

    Big Conversation
    Mr. Heald
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what visits(a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement. [143165]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Leader of the House on 9 December 2003,Official Report, column 355W.

    Boys' Literacy
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the decrease in the percentage of boys achieving level two and above
    955W
    in writing tests at Key Stage 1 between 2002 and 2003, referred to in the Ofsted report on National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. [144376]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The following table shows the percentage of pupils achieving level 2 or above in the Key Stage 1 attainment tests since 1998, (split into girls, boys and all pupils):

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    All

    Reading

    80

    82

    83

    84

    84

    84

    Writing

    81

    83

    84

    86

    86

    81

    Spelling

    66

    71

    72

    75

    78

    —

    Maths

    84

    87

    90

    91

    90

    90

    Boys

    Reading

    75

    78

    79

    80

    81

    80

    Writing

    76

    78

    80

    82

    82

    76

    Spelling

    60

    66

    67

    70

    73

    —

    Maths

    83

    85

    89

    90

    89

    89

    Girls

    Reading

    85

    86

    88

    88

    88

    88

    Writing

    86

    88

    89

    90

    90

    87

    Spelling

    72

    77

    77

    80

    83

    —

    Maths

    86

    88

    91

    92

    92

    91

    In 2003 significant changes were introduced to the assessment of writing at KS I. For the first time marks for spelling contributed to the pupils' overall writing level instead of separate level for spelling being reported. In addition there were changes to the format of the writing test and a new mark scheme was introduced. These new testing arrangements have produced a different distribution of marks and it is difficult to draw conclusions through comparisons with previous years' results. For example a larger proportion of pupils secured the higher levels in writing than in previous years. The percentage of all pupils achieving Level 2B or above in writing rose from 60 per cent. in 2002 to 62 per cent. in 2003; the percentage of boys achieving that level rose from 52 per cent. to 54 per cent. The percentage of all pupils at Level 3 rose from 9 per cent. in 2002 to 16 per cent. in 2003; the percentage of boys achieving that level rose from 7 per cent. to 11 per cent.

    It remains a point of concern that boys' achievement in writing at K Sl, as at all Key Stages, lags behind that of girls, and the Primary Strategy will continue to support teachers in raising standards further. In spring 2004 new support materials will be offered on improving boys' writing. We will also be piloting the development and delivery of a specialist support package for early years practitioners so that they can begin to tackle the challenges faced by disadvantaged children as soon as they enter the Foundation Stage. A particular focus for the specialists will be to improve the speaking, listening and communication skills of these children.

    Class Sizes
    Helen Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children aged between five and seven in Warrington North(a) were taught in classes of more than 30 in 1997 and (b) are currently in classes of more than 30. [143457]
    956W
    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The requested information is given in the table.

    Maintained primary schools1: Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher

    Warrington North2 Key Stage 1 Classes3,4

    Position in January each year 1997 and 2003

    1997

    20035

    Average class size

    27.5

    24.7

    Number of pupils

    4,239

    3,728

    Number of pupils in classes with over 30 pupils

    1,445

    0

    Percentage of pupils in classes with over 30 pupils

    34.1

    0.0

    Number of classes

    154

    151

    Number of classes with over 30 pupils

    44

    0

    Percentage of classes with over 30 pupils

    28.6

    0.0

    1Includes middle deemed schools.

    2The boundaries for each area are for the year in question. Figures have not been adjusted to take into account of any boundary changes.

    3Classes as taught by one teacher.

    4Classes as taught during one selected period in each school on the day of the Census in January.

    5Includes Reception classes to produce a coverage as close as possible to previous years.

    Source:

    Annual Schools' Census

    English Ability
    Ms Buck
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in London lacked fluency in English on their entry to(a) primary and (b) secondary schooling in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) constituency and (ii) local education authority. [143579]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The available information collected centrally relates to pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English. This information has been placed in the House of Commons library.

    "First Language" is the language to which the child was initially exposed during early development. If the child was exposed to more than one language and these include English, then English has been taken to be their first language. If a child acquires English subsequent to early development, then English has not been recorded as their first language no matter how proficient in it they have become.

    Information on first language is not necessarily a robust indicator of fluency.

    Enterprise Advisers (Schools)
    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what date all schools in(a) England and (b) the Eastern Region will have access to an enterprise adviser. [143505]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
    957W

    Environmental Awareness
    Dr. Pugh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken to encourage awareness of environmental issues in schools. [144212]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which includes environmental awareness, is a statutory part of the programmes of study for Science, Geography, Design and Technology and Citizenship within the National Curriculum. The Department and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) also encourage schools to consider sustainable development issues within the teaching of all subjects. Since 2001, the Department has funded QCA to provide on-line guidance for teachers.

    In September, the Secretary of State issued the "Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills", which is organised around four key objectives:

    1. education for sustainable development;

    2. the environmental impact of the Department and its partner bodies;

    3. the environmental impact of the education estate; and

    4. local and global partnership activity.

    Further Education
    Mr. Mahmood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has(a)conducted and (b) is planning to conduct regarding the proportion of students from (i) further education colleges and (ii) schools who receive offers from research-intensive universities; and if he will make a statement. [[143641]

    Alan Johnson
    The Government are considering the need for such a study.

    Higher Education
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list(a) current and (b) proposed government grants available to universities for improving and widening social access to higher education. [143073]

    Alan Johnson
    Excluding student support, the relevant schemes and initiatives are as follows:

    Aimhigher (previously called Excellence Challenge) provides grants mainly to schools and colleges to raise the aspirations and attainment levels of young people. The Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) Partnerships for Progression provides funds to universities for outreach. The White Paper "The future of higher education" announced that these two initiatives would be merged to form a new Aimhigher programme. Expenditure on these initiatives to 2005–06 is given in the tables.

    In addition, HEFCE uses part of its teaching grant to provide a widening participation premium to universities to assist them with the additional costs of recruiting and retaining students from non-traditional backgrounds. The amount for this is £255 million in 2003–04, which includes £10 million from the Department's Aimhigher/Excellence challenge budget. HEFCE's disability allocation (£10 million in 2003–04)
    958W
    provides additional funding to universities to support recruitment and retention of disabled students. Plans for expenditure after 2005–06 will be determined during the next spending review.

    £ million

    Expenditure:

    2003–04

    2004–05 plans

    2005–06 plans

    Excellence Challenge/Aimhigher

    100

    —

    —

    Partnerships for Progression

    20

    —

    —

    The new Aimhigher

    126

    128

    Total non-student support

    120

    126

    128

    Helen Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which higher education institutions in the North West operate Knowledge Transfer Partnerships; and what steps he is taking to encourage other institutions to participate in this scheme. [143454]

    Alan Johnson
    A total of nine higher education institutions in the North West received funding for knowledge transfer activities during the first round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). The increase in HEIF funding from £60 million in 2003–2004 to £100 million by 2005–06 will broaden the reach of knowledge transfer activities, including partnerships, through support for less research intensive groups and departments.

    Language Study
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils took(a) Japanese and (b) Latin at (i) GCSE and (ii) A level in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [144489]

    Mr. Miliband
    The information requested is as follows:

    (i) The number of schools who took Japanese and Latin at GCSE level is:

    Academic year

    Japanese

    Latin

    1995

    129

    814

    1996

    141

    812

    1997

    145

    771

    1998

    149

    740

    1999

    162

    728

    2000

    174

    732

    2001

    165

    707

    2002

    165

    682

    20031

    202

    700

    1Figures are provisional

    (ii) The number of schools who took Japanese and Latin at A/AS level is:

    Academic year

    Japanese

    Latin

    1995

    147

    429

    1996

    149

    429

    1997

    143

    425

    1998

    155

    401

    1999

    154

    369

    2000

    161

    364

    959W

    2001

    165

    416

    2002

    178

    415

    20031

    201

    416

    1Figures are provisional

    Learning and Skills Council
    Mr. Hoban
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the status of the Learning and Skills Council reorganisation plans in(a) Carlisle and (b) Haringey. [144065]

    Alan Johnson
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: Section 113A of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 gives the Learning and Skills Council powers to propose establishing, closing or altering school sixth-form provision. Regulations require local Learning and Skills Councils to consult on preliminary proposals before deciding whether to publish formal proposals, which are decided by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

    Cumbria Learning and Skills Council is currently consulting on preliminary proposals to close school sixth forms in the Carlisle area and replace them with a sixth-form college. The consultation is due to end in January 2004.

    London North Learning and Skills Council has consulted on preliminary proposals to close school sixth forms in Haringey and replace them with either a 16-19 school or a sixth-form college. The LSC is now considering responses to consultation before deciding whether to proceed with formal proposals.

    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many staff have been made redundant at the Learning and Skills Council since its inception in 2001: [144622]

    (2) what the proposed target for workforce reduction is at the Learning and Skills Council; and what criteria are used to formulate the redundancy programme. [144623]

    Alan Johnson
    These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

    Legislation
    Mr. Redwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of(a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department in 2002–03 was introduced to implement EU requirements. [141134]

    Alan Johnson
    In 2002 and to date in 2003, the percentage of(a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills introduced to implement EU requirements is as follows:

    (a) per cent. Primary legislation

    (b) 1.2 per cent. Secondary legislation.

    Literacy and Numeracy
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his assessment is of the likely effects of the teaching methods recommended by the recent 960W
    Ofsted report National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies and the Primary Curriculum which encourage collaborative rather than passive learning on the disparity in achievement between boys and girls in the Key Stage Two literacy tests. [144578]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    Ofsted's report confirms that the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies have brought about an overall improvement in the quality of teaching of literacy and mathematics, and have successfully introduced teachers to a broader range of teaching approaches designed to motivate and engage pupils. Our new Primary Strategy will continue to support teachers in ensuring that their teaching reflects an appropriate balance of approaches, including both direct teaching and opportunities for collaborative learning, and is appropriate to the needs of their individual pupils. For example, all primary schools have recently received new guidance on strategies for improving pupils' speaking and listening skills, which was a need highlighted by Ofsted's report, and we will be making available in spring 2004 new support on improving boys' writing.

    National Healthy School Scheme
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost to public funds of the National Healthy School scheme has been. [144563]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The table shows the level of direct financial support for the National Healthy Schools Standard (NHSS) from central Government sources since its launch in 1999-2000. Information on any additional support from the local NHSS or from local education authorities is not held centrally.

    £ million

    Year(allocations)

    From the Department of Health

    From the Department for Education and Skills

    1999–2000

    2

    4

    2000–01

    6

    2

    8

    2001–02

    5.8

    2

    7.8

    2002–03

    5.5

    2

    7.5

    2003–04

    5.5

    2

    7.5

    National Literacy Strategy
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what revisions to the National Literacy Strategy he is undertaking to ensure primary schools meet the Government's targets for reading; and if he will make a statement on the prevalence of synthetic phonics teaching in schools. [144490]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The National Literacy Strategy (NLS) has dramatically increased the Key Stage 2 reading results. Since 1998 there has been a 10 percentage point increase in the percentage of pupils achieving the expected level for their age in the Key Stage 2 English tests, with an increase of 10 percentage points in reading. There have also been increases in reading results at Key Stage I, with a 7 percentage point increase in the percentage of pupils achieving level 2B or above in the Key Stage 1 Reading tests since 1998. The work
    961W
    of the NLS is now being taken forward within the wider context of our Primary Strategy. as set out in "Excellence and Enjoyment".

    The emphasis that the Primary Strategy places on phonics in teaching children to read has had a direct impact on the reading results at both Key Stage I and Key Stage 2. The Primary Strategy adopts the `Searchlights' model of reading, which advocates that children should be taught to read using synthetic and analytic phonics as well as other strategies such as knowledge of grammar and context. We will continue to

    Number of schools and total finding for financial year 2003–04 by EAZ

    LEA No.

    Zone

    Number of schools within the zone

    Funding for 2003–04

    330

    Aston & Nechells

    19

    826,000.00

    330

    Kitts Green and Shard End

    15

    810,843.07

    846

    East Brighton

    8

    683,459.66

    881

    East Basildon

    28

    888,500.00

    381

    Halifax

    28

    724,000.00

    810

    Kingston upon Hull

    18

    676,791.67

    892

    Nottingham

    9

    591,500.00

    879

    Plymouth

    21

    731,633.00

    373

    North East Sheffield

    21

    655,000.00

    391

    South Tyneside

    16

    732,266.00

    210

    Southwark

    16

    657,000.00

    926

    Thetford

    10

    650,492.00

    359

    Leigh

    26

    742,200.00

    820

    Bedford

    20

    896,000.00

    830

    North East Derbyshire Coalfields

    19

    967,532.00

    882

    Southend

    20

    876,000.00

    204

    Hackney

    16

    862,000.00

    928

    Challenge for Corby

    28

    837,366.00

    209

    Downham and Bellingham

    24

    950,000.00

    203

    Greenwich (Time to Succeed)

    15

    817,000.00

    206

    North Islington (Widening Horizons)

    19

    1,317,000.00

    929

    Ashington

    20

    969,157.00

    909

    Barrow (Community Learning Group)

    18

    912,000.00

    341

    Dingle, Granby and Toxteth

    17

    1,195,066.00

    840

    Peterlee (Partners in Learning)

    15

    1,009,266.00

    875

    Ellesmere Port—Epicentre LEAP

    23

    956,000.00

    807

    East Cleveland

    18

    671,000.00

    350

    Bolton (Breightmet and Tonge)

    19

    893,000.00

    840

    Easington and Seaham

    20

    1,097,000.00

    352

    East Manchester

    17

    804,633.00

    341

    Speke Garston

    16

    1,121,240.00

    352

    Wythenshawe

    18

    1,024,000.00

    931

    Hamilton Oxford (Schools Partnership)

    14

    909,000.00

    845

    Hastings and St. Leonards

    26

    855,250.00

    886

    Kent Somerset (Virtual Education Improvement Zone)

    29

    966,000.00

    933

    Kent Somerset (Virtual Education Improvement Zone)

    6

    See above

    850

    Leigh Park (Education Action Zone)

    15

    906.000.00

    887

    Gillingham

    16

    930,479.00

    871

    Heart of Slough

    22

    1,015,000.00

    881

    South East England Virtual

    7

    796,000.00

    305

    South East England Virtual

    7

    See above

    933

    Bridgwater

    16

    910,008.00

    801

    Bristol

    16

    902,896.00

    908

    Camborne, Pool and Redruth (Success Zone)

    30

    945,633.00

    332

    Dudley (Partnership for Achievement)

    20

    856,000.00

    893

    North West Shropshire (Meeting the Rural Challenge)

    20

    784,000.00

    333

    Wednesbury

    17

    630,495.00

    336

    Wolverhampton

    16

    884,805.00

    380

    South Bradford (Community Learning Partnership)

    19

    850,000.00

    373

    South East Sheffield

    21

    1,067.216.00

    384

    Wakefield (Community Learning Partnership)

    16

    1,048,062.00

    811

    Withernsea and Southern Holderness (Rural Achievement)

    13

    891,658,67

    808

    North Stockton

    19

    750,000.00

    394

    Sunderland

    19

    764,848.00

    916

    Gloucester

    23

    848,000.00

    331

    Coventry

    18

    857,633.00

    962W
    support the teaching of phonics, and will be producing a supplement to "Progression in Phonics" next spring through the Primary Strategy.

    Parliamentary Questions
    Mr. Luff
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2003,Official Report, column 185W, if he will provide the information requested in questions 141460, 141424 and 141425 in the form used to answer 141426. [143373]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Please see attached tables, as per request.
    963W

    881

    Clacton and Harwich

    23

    863,000.00

    861

    Stoke on Trent (Rainbow)

    17

    896,216.00

    926

    Greater Yarmouth

    25

    899,000.00

    213

    Westminster

    33

    525,000.00

    894

    Telford and Wrek in

    32

    1,104,000.00

    831

    Derby

    25

    1,071,000.00

    Number of schools and total funding for financial year 2003–04 by Cluster

    LEA No.

    Cluster

    Number of schools within the Cluster

    Funding for 2003–04

    306

    Croydon

    10

    950,500.00

    382

    Dewsbury and Batley

    17

    1,172,000.00

    888

    East Lancashire

    13

    919,500.00

    886

    Shepway

    6

    920,500.00

    851

    Portsmouth

    20

    1,130,500.00

    335

    Walsall

    20

    1,538,500.00

    909

    West Cumbria

    18

    771,000.00

    331

    Coventry

    14

    1,040,000.00

    382

    Huddersfield

    18

    1,121,000.00

    888

    West Lancashire

    11

    676,500.00

    357

    Tameside

    19

    917,000.00

    883

    Tilbury and Chadwell

    14

    825,560.00

    302

    Barnet

    22

    1,528,500.00

    840

    Bishop Auckland

    12

    660,000.00

    875

    Crewe

    24

    914,500.00

    831

    Derby

    16

    1,214,000.00

    825

    High Wycombe

    11

    678,000.00

    312

    Hillingdon

    25

    1,484,000.00

    888

    Lancaster

    10

    660,000.00

    826

    Milton Keynes

    17

    1,144,000.00

    926

    Norwich

    13

    660,000.00

    874

    Peterborough

    15

    696,250.00

    356

    Stockport

    13

    979,500.00

    359

    Wigan

    15

    776,500.00

    886

    Ashford

    15

    581,478.00

    303

    Bexley

    17

    840,549.00

    925

    Boston

    14

    454,733.00

    830

    Chesterfield

    24

    542,991.00

    925

    Grantham

    15

    384,999.00

    886

    Gravesham

    13

    536,650.00

    881

    Harlow

    16

    458,814.00

    311

    Havering

    15

    582,318.00

    886

    Maidstone

    14

    519,100.00

    928

    Northampton

    34

    969,441.00

    813

    Scunthorpe

    19

    579,097.00

    334

    Solihull

    20

    864,700.00

    925

    Spalding

    14

    385,000.00

    866

    Swindon

    9

    563,838.00

    870

    Reading

    10

    165,001.00

    Post-16 Education
    Mr. Hoban
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received concerning the reorganisation of post-16 education in(a) Haringey and (b) Carlisle. [144062]

    Alan Johnson
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Schools has met with Haringey councillors, headteachers and representatives of London North Learning and Skills Council to hear their views on proposals to reorganise sixth form provision in Haringey.
    964W
    Ministers have received a number of letters and e-mails about Cumbria Learning and Skills Council's proposals to reorganise sixth form provision in Carlisle. (David Hart, National Association of Headteachers, and John Dunford, Secondary Heads Association, and Eric Martlew, constituency MP for Carlisle, have been invited to meet Alan Johnson and Ivan Lewis at separate meetings to be arranged for the New Year.)

    Mr. Hoban
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used when the Learning and Skills Council formulate post-16 education reorganisation plans. [144063]

    Alan Johnson
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: In its strategic area reviews of all post-16 provision the LSC's criteria include that the pattern of provision should:
    meet learner, employment and community needs;
    improve choice of provision, ways of delivery and learner experience including, where appropriate, developing more distinct provision for 16 to 19-year-olds;
    raise standards and participation;
    enhance responsiveness of the infrastructure and employers' involvement; and
    strengthen collaboration and progression in the 14–19 phase, the post-19 phase and with HE including supporting the development of foundation degrees.

    Where such proposals require reorganisation, there is a national framework of criteria for all reorganisation proposals requiring them to extend participation, improve achievement and standards and be affordable. Proposals also have to show that adequate consultation has taken place and that proper consideration has been given to alternatives.

    When considering proposals for 16-19 reorganisation the LSC will also have regard to the five key principles that should underpin the organisation of 16–19 provision agreed by Ministers in September. These are:
    underpinning all consideration of 16–19 provision should be a requirement that all provision for all learners should be high quality, whatever their chosen pathway;
    distinct 16–19 provision to meet the particular pastoral, management and learning needs for this age group will be the norm, wherever they learn. All young people should be attached to a 16–19 base, including those in work-based training when attending college. Popular and successful sixth-form provision—whether in schools, sixth-form colleges or new distinct sixth-form centres in FE colleges—will be an important part of the pattern of provision and should be encouraged, particularly where there is little or no such provision;
    there should be diversity to ensure curriculum breadth. Together, providers need to support a wide curriculum offer for all 16–19 learners in an area. Well-managed collaboration can

    965W
    enable popular and successful small providers, including sixth forms, to remain viable and to share and build on their particular areas of expertise;
    the pattern for 16–19 provision should respect learner choice. Learning provision for 16 to 19-year-olds will normally be in one or more of the following settings: school sixth forms, sixth-form colleges, distinct sixth-form centres in FE colleges, private or voluntary sector training providers and work-based learning providers;
    plans should offer value for money. Any net costs should be commensurate to the expected improvement in learning opportunities.

    The LSC has published detailed guidance on these matters and I have asked the LSC to forward to you copies of the relevant circulars, 02/09: Provider Reorganisations, 03/06: Strategic Area Reviews and 03/07: School Sixth Form Reviews. I am also arranging to send you a copy of the Department's document on the key principles for 16–19 organisation.

    Mr. Hoban
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance has been given to the Learning and Skills Council concerning the maintenance of post-16 education in voluntary-aided schools. [144064]

    Alan Johnson
    [holding answer 15 December 2003.]: The Department's statutory guidance makes clear that local Learning and Skills councils should fully involve local diocesan authorities in proposals for the reorganisation of post-16 provision.

    In addition Ministers published in September five key principles that should underpin the organisation of all 16–19 provision. The principles are:
    underpinning all consideration of 16–19 provision should be a requirement that all provision for all learners should be high quality, whatever their chosen pathway;
    distinct 16–19 provision to meet the particular pastoral, management and learning needs for this age group will be the norm, wherever they learn. All young people should be attached to a 16–19 base including those in work based training, when attending college. Popular and successful sixth form provision—whether in schools, sixth form colleges or new distinct sixth form centres in FE colleges—will be an important part of the pattern of provision and should be encouraged, particularly where there is little or no such provision;
    there should be diversity to ensure curriculum breadth. Together, providers need to support a wide curriculum offer for all 16–19 learners in an area. Well-managed collaboration can enable popular and successful small providers, including sixth forms, to remain viable and to share and build on their particular areas of expertise;
    the pattern for 16–19 provision should respect learner choice. Learning provision for 16–19 year olds will normally be in one or more of the following settings: school sixth forms, sixth form colleges, distinct sixth form centres in FE colleges, private or voluntary sector training providers and work based learning providers;
    plans should offer value for money. Any net costs should be commensurate to the expected improvement in learning opportunities.

    Strategic Area Reviews by the Learning and Skills Council will be based on the principles, which will also provide a benchmark against which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will assess reorganisation proposals that come to him.
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    Programme for International Student Assessment
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the(a) intrinsic value and (b) relative value of the Programme for International Student Assessment 2000 education survey compared to other recent studies. [143982]

    Alan Johnson
    International comparisons of pupil attainment such as the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) offer insights into how the outcomes of our education system compare with those of other countries. PISA, which in 2000 focused on "reading literacy" of 15-year-olds, allows us to compare pupils at the end of compulsory schooling. Together with PISA, other international comparisons studies, such as the IEA's Progress in International Literacy Study (PIRLS) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), with their different age cohorts and subject content, help give us an objective picture of performance across the primary and secondary sectors in relation to our world partners and competitors, complementing the data coming out of our own national assessments. It seems clear that we are not alone in finding these studies valuable, given the large number of countries routinely taking part in them.

    Regulations (Consultation)
    Brian Cotter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of regulations introduced by the Department have been subject to a consultation period of less than 12 weeks since the introduction of the Code of Practice on Consultations. [142487]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation came into effect on 1 January 2001. In the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002, the Department for Education and Skills has published 110 consultations covered by the Code, of which 24 were less than 12 weeks.

    There is not always a direct correlation between Government consultations and individual regulations. For example, there would not be a public consultation prior to the making of statutory instruments designating bodies as eligible to be funded by the Teacher Training Agency.

    School Placement Appeals
    Mr. Hoban
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of parents appealed against decisions concerning which school their child should attend for(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each local education authority in the last year for which figures are available; and what proportion of these appeals was successful. [144351]

    Mr. Miliband
    The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

    SATs
    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost, including setting of examinations, printing, postage, marking and publishing SATs at Key Stage 2 was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [144625]
    967W
    Mr. Miliband
    The costs of setting the exam, printing, postage, marking and publishing of the Key Stage 2 tests are as follows:

    £ million

    Key Stage 2

    Amount

    Test development, pre-testing and level setting

    1.25

    Test printing

    0.65

    Test distribution

    0.55

    Marking

    10.43

    National data collection

    0.85

    Results publication

    0.9

    Total

    14.63

    Note:

    The costs relate to the 2003 Key Stage 2 tests with the exception of results publication which are for the 2002 tests. Publication figures for 2003 will not be available until the cycle has finished.

    The figures relate to the test cycle and not a financial year.

    Schools White Paper
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to produce a White Paper following the publication of the Green Paper, Schools: Building on Success in 2001. [144493]

    Mr. Stephen Twigg
    The White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success" was published on 5 September 2001.

    Scientific Innovation
    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken to inform(a)schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities of the Altran Foundation for Innovation's award for 2004 on the theme of Discovery, Understanding and Enjoying Science through innovation. [144501]

    Alan Johnson
    My Department has not been involved directly with the Altran Foundation for Innovation's award. I have asked my officials to explore the potential for schools, colleges and universities to participate in this initiative in future years.

    Specialist Colleges
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in how many specialist(a) technology,
    (b) sports, (c) arts and (d) languages colleges the proportion of selective admissions exceeds 10 per cent. of their pupil intake. [141795]

    Mr. Miliband
    The information requested is set out in the following table:

    Specialism

    Grammar schools

    Selection exceeds 10 per cent.(Non-Grammar)

    Total

    (a) Arts

    5

    1

    6

    (b) Language

    24

    —

    24

    (c) Sports

    6

    —

    6

    (d) Technology

    18

    5

    23

    Total

    53

    6

    59

    Our figures suggest that 40 specialist schools selected by aptitude in 2001. Most of these specialist schools which select by aptitude were selecting by aptitude prior to the 1998 Act, therefore some schools select more than 10 per cent. of their pupils on this basis.
    968W

    Specialist Schools
    Ms Drown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many specialist schools have been in special measures during their time as specialist schools. [144605]

    Mr. Miliband
    The answer is as follows: 16 specialist schools have been in special measures during their time as specialist schools.

    Ms Drown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students in specialist schools were entitled to free school meals in each of the last three years. [144606]

    Mr. Miliband
    The answer is in the following table.

    Percentage of pupils eligible to receive a free school meal (FSM)in specialist schools1

    2001

    2002

    2003

    FSM percentage for specialist schools

    15.2

    14.9

    14.1

    Number of specialist schools

    528

    676

    982

    National average FSM percentage(covers all maintained secondary schools in England)

    15.8

    14.9

    14.5

    1Source: Annual Schools Census as at January 2001, 2002, 2003.

    Notes:

    1. Figures cover specialist schools which were operational at the time of data collection.

    2. Figures exclude special specialist schools.

    Student Grant
    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the value was of the full student grant in today's prices in(a) 1973, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 2003. [143670]

    Alan Johnson
    [holding answer 11 December 2003.]: The available information is shown in the table.

    Rates of standard maintenance grant payable under a mandatory award for the academic years shown, uprated to 2003/04 prices2

    Academic year

    Rate of grant

    1975/763

    1980/81

    1990/914

    2003/045,6

    Parental home rate

    2,840

    2,950

    2,610

    1,670

    London rate

    4,040

    4,450

    4,130

    2,510

    Elsewhere rate7

    3,690

    3,750

    3,290

    2,040

    Board and lodging8

    1,570

    1,560

    9—

    9—

    1The rate of maintenance grant, before income assessment, applicable to students normally domiciled in England and Wales and studying in the UK.

    2In 2003/04 prices based on the September Retail Price Index (RPI), excluding mortgage interest payments, at the beginning of the academic year. Data rounded to nearest £10.

    3The convention, when showing current values, is to apply the relevant factor of the RPI (excluding mortgage interest payments) to the year in question; however, this factor is not available prior to 1975/76 and so the table shows this as the earliest academic year. The cash values for academic year 1973/74 were £390, £520
    and £485 for the parental home, London and elsewhere rates respectively. Those in 1975/76 were £570, £810 and £740
    respectively.

    4Student loans were introduced in academic year 1990/91 to provide extra resources. The 'elsewhere' rate of loan in that year was £420 (£610 in current values).

    5The rate of grant in academic year 2003/04 applicable to mandatory award holders only i.e. mostly those who entered higher education prior to 1998/99. Those who entered from 1998/99 under the new arrangements receive support solely through

    969W
    loans; grants/allowances are available only for students in particular circumstances e.g. students with disabilities, students with dependents and single parent students.

    6The values shown relate to maintenance grants only; student loans are also available to mandatory award holders at the (full year) parental home, London and elsewhere rates of £1,500, £2,420, £1,960, giving total support of £3,165, £4,930 and £4,000 respectively.

    7The 'elsewhere' rate of grant is applicable to students living away from home and studying outside London.

    8Special grant arrangements applied to students provided with free board and lodging by their college.

    9 not applicable

    Source:

    Department for Education and Skills, Office of National Statistics

    Student Loans
    Mr. Alan Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the threshold for commencement of repayment of a student loan(a) was at the time of introduction of student loans and (b) is now; and what the threshold would be now if it had risen in line with the retail price index. [143177]

    Alan Johnson
    The threshold for repayment of a student loan was £10,000 on the introduction of the income contingent student loan scheme. The threshold is still £10,000. The first point at which borrowers could be required to repay income contingent loans was April 2000. The Retail Price Index figures used to maintain the value of student loans in real terms were 2.6 per cent., 2.3 per cent. and 1.3 per cent. for academic years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 respectively. Had the threshold been raised in the same way it would now be £10,630.

    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the Government of the increase in the income threshold for student loan borrowers after 2005; [144570]

    (2) what additional annual provision he plans to make to cover the cost of the income threshold for repaying income-contingent student loans after 2005. [144571]

    Alan Johnson
    We plan to publish a Regulatory Impact Assessment early in the new year which will set out the impact of this change alongside the financial implications of the other policies announced in the Higher Education White Paper.

    Mr. Willis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the interest rate on student loans has been in each year since they were introduced; for what reasons the rates have fluctuated; and if he will make a statement. [144624]

    Alan Johnson
    The interest rate on student loans in each year since their introduction is set out in the following table:

    Interest rates applied to student loans—September 1990 to August 2004

    Academic rear

    Percentage

    Academic year

    Percentage

    1990/91

    9.80

    1997/98

    2.60

    1991/92

    5.80

    1998/99

    3.50

    1992/93

    3.90

    1999/2000

    2.10

    1993/94

    1.20

    2000/01

    2.60

    970W

    Interest rates applied to student loans—September 1990 to August 2004

    1994/95

    2.30

    2001

    2.30

    1995/96

    3.50

    2002/03

    1.30

    1996/97

    2.70

    2003/04

    3.10

    Interest applied to student loans is set at the Retail Price Index (RPI) for the financial year ending in the previous March. As an annual measure of inflation, reflecting the change to prices of goods and services in the economy, this ensures that borrowers repay in real terms the value of the loan they take out.

    Teacher Vacancies
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 4 December 2003,Official Report, column 191W, on teacher vacancies, what recent assessment he has made of the number of secondary school teachers in Portsmouth; what steps he is taking to increase numbers; and if he will make a statement. [143963]

    Mr. Miliband
    The number of full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained secondary schools in Portsmouth local education authority in January of each year was as follows:

    Number

    2000

    600

    2001

    650

    2002

    640

    2003

    620

    Source:

    DfES annual 618G survey.

    A number of incentives have been introduced aimed at encouraging teacher supply and retention. Students on Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses, for example, receive a £6,000 training bursary as well as having their tuition fees paid by the Government. Those who qualify in priority subjects also receive a £4,000 Golden Hello after induction. The Government will continue to take such measures as it believes appropriate to ensure that teacher supply meets demand.

    Teachers
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of teachers working in English schools and colleges were trained in the United Kingdom. [144282]

    Mr. Miliband
    The information is not available in the form requested. In January 2003, there were 408,400 full-time equivalent regular teachers in the maintained schools sector in England with qualified teacher status (QTS).

    Qualified Teacher Status is normally obtained either by successfully completing an accredited course of initial teacher training in England, or under mutual recognition of qualifications arrangements with other countries.
    971W
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teacher training places have been provided in(a) higher education and (b) further education institutions in each of the past five years; and what estimate he has made of the number in each of the next five years. [144283]

    Allocated places

    1999/2000

    2000/01

    2001/02

    2002/03

    2003/04

    Higher education institutions

    25,955

    27,353

    28,275

    30,183

    33,259

    Further education institutions

    222

    231

    233

    233

    313

    Source:

    Teacher Training Agency

    We expect the final numbers of places for 2004/05 and indicative numbers of places in 2005/06 and 2006/07 to be announced later this month.

    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of teachers who have been recruited by schools from further education colleges in the past three years. [144285]

    Mr. Miliband
    The following table shows the number of regular teachers in full or part-time' service in the maintained school sector in England in March of each year shown, who were in full-time service in further education in England in the preceding March.

    Year moved to schools sector

    Number moving

    2000

    210

    2001

    300

    2002

    540

    Source:

    Database of teacher records.

    1Around 10 to 20 per cent. of part-timers may not be included.

    University Students
    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many university students there were in the UK in(a) 1973, (b) 1980 and (c) 1990; and how many there are currently; [143696]

    (2) how many students from the Bassetlaw constituency entered university in (a) 1973, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) 2003. [143694]

    Alan Johnson
    [holding answer 11 December 2003]: Figures for the number of students who enter higher education are not collated centrally by constituency. The total number of students in HE for these years is shown in the table.

    Higher education students1 in the UK

    Academic year

    Students (thousands)

    1973/74

    682

    1980/81

    827

    1990/91

    1,175

    2001/02

    2,163

    1Covers all students from the UK and overseas on postgraduate or undergraduate courses.

    972W
    Alan Johnson
    The table shows the number of places on courses of initial teacher training allocated by the Teacher Training Agency to higher and further education institutions in England in each of the last five years. The data do not include places allocated to other sorts of training providers, or places on employment-based training routes.

    Voluntary Aided Schools
    Mr. Hoban
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the bodies representing voluntary aided schools about their contribution to capital expenditure arising from departmental initiatives. [144067]

    Mr. Miliband
    Officials in my Department have regular discussions with the Church of England Board of Education and the Catholic Education Service in connection with the funding of work at Voluntary Aided schools.

    Mr. Hoban
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the contribution that the sponsors of Voluntary Aided Schools have to make to capital projects when(a) the project is initiated by the school and (b) the project is initiated by the Department. [144073]

    Mr. Miliband
    Voluntary Aided Schools must usually contribute at least 10 per cent. towards the cost of capital work at their schools and for which they receive grant support for the remaining 90 per cent. from my Department. Legislation allows grant to be paid at a rate of up to 100 per cent. in exceptional circumstances, although those circumstances are not defined in the relevant legislation. Our published guidance indicates that such an example might be where Ministers have initiated a specific policy programme which also applies to Voluntary Aided Schools.

    West Sussex County Council
    Mr. Tyrie
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how much of the schools damping grant allocated to West Sussex county council for 2003–04 is as a direct result of the education funding changes in 2003–04; [143866]

    (2)if he will list the local education authorities that have had an increase in (a) schools damping grant and (b) local education authority damping grant for 2003–04; [143867]

    (3)for how many years he will continue to provide schools damping for West Sussex county council at the 2003–04 rate. [143872]

    Mr. Miliband
    The Government introduced a new funding system for local authorities in 2003–04, replacing Standard Spending Assessments with Formula Spending Shares. In order to phase in the
    973W
    distributional changes implied by the Education Formula Spending Shares, the Government introduced floors and ceilings arrangements for both the school and LEA funding blocks. All of the "damping" amounts within the school and LEA Formula Spending Shares are therefore attributable to the education funding changes in 2003–04. 2003–04 was the first year of this system within the Schools and LEA Formula Spending Shares and it is not therefore possible to calculate an increase in damping amount for 2003–04 over previous years.

    These arrangements will continue for as long as necessary. The actual amount allocated will be determined year-on-year and announced at the provisional local government finance settlement.

    Work-related Stress
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards the creation of a central register for cases of work-related stress in the Department. [141691]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    My Department is committed to protect the physical and mental health of its employees by providing a safe and healthy working environment. This includes providing occupational health and employee assistance services that offer professional advice to individuals, and to line managers, to help identify and address stress related issues.

    My Department is currently developing a written strategy to help reduce stress-related illnesses and absences building on the guidance in the HSE publication "Real Solutions, Real People: A Managers' Guide to Tackling Work Related Stress" My Department has no plans to create a central register for cases of work-related stress.

  FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

    Biological Weapons Convention
    Tony Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries he deems in contravention of the Biological Weapons Convention. [143493]

    Mr. MacShane
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: The UK routinely monitors the compliance of all States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC).

    The UK is a Depositary Government of the BTWC, which entered into force in 1975, and currently numbers 151 countries.

    We continue to view the issue of compliance with the Convention as being of central importance and made specific reference to this point in our statement to the BTWC Review Conference in November 2002.

    However, it is not our policy to list or name those individual countries we judge to be in contravention with their obligations.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply 974W
    to the letter to him dated 6 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to A. K. Akhand and Nuzmol Mahmud. [144333]

    Mr. Mullin
    I apologise to my right hon. Friend for an administrative error which led to his letter being mistakenly sent to UK visas for advice rather than to the Consular Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Staff in the Consular Directorate are now making enquiries in connection with the case and that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will write to him on completion of these inquiries.

    Ethiopia/Eritrea
    Mr. Chidgey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with his counterparts in the(a) United Nations, (b) European Union and (c) United States Administration with regard to the resolution of the border conflict within Ethiopia and Eritrea. [142639]

    Mr. Mullin
    [holding answer 16 December 2003]: We are in regular contact with the United Nations, the European Union and the US Administration and are working closely with all three on resolving the border issue.

    Mr. Chidgey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the action that has to be taken with regard to the resolution of the dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea over their border. [142640]

    Mr. Mullin
    [holding answer 16 December 2003]: The UK and other members of the international community will continue to take every opportunity to emphasise to both parties that the Boundary Commission's decision is final and binding and that dialogue is essential for the normalisation of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. I hope to visit Ethiopia and Eritrea in January to continue to press this message.

    Mr. Chidgey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the UN Border Commission in The Hague was acting within its remit in granting the border town of Badme to the Eritrean Government. [142641]

    Mr. Mullin
    [holding answer 16 December 2003]: We are not aware of any evidence suggesting that the Boundary Commission exceeded its remit.

    Mr. Best
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. [144328]

    Mr. Mullin
    There has been only very limited contact between the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea since 1998. We believe that dialogue between the two is essential. We are actively encouraging this, to supplement the final and binding decisions of the Boundary Commission which was established as part of the Algiers Agreement in December 2000.

    Guantanamo Bay
    Llew Smith
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have been(a) planned, (b) held and (c) cancelled with Mr. Azmat Begg in respect of the detention by the United States

    975W
    authorities of Mr. Moazzam Begg at Guantanamo Bay; and if he will provide the reasons for cancellation in each case. [143510]

    Mr. Mullin
    No meetings arranged between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Mr. Begg have been cancelled by the FCO. A postponed meeting between my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and the Muslim Parliament, with a delegation including Mr. Begg, was held on 16 December. This follows an earlier meeting with the Muslim Parliament and relatives of some of the British nationals detained at Guantanamo on 14 October, though Mr. Begg was not among those who attended.

    Liberia
    Tony Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support the continuation of UN sanctions on Liberia, including timber; and if he will make a statement. [143494]

    Mr. Mullin
    [holding answer 16 December 2003]: Measured and targeted sanctions remain on Liberia, as the security situation is a threat to the stability of the sub-region. Like other members of the UN Security Council, we believe that sanctions should remain until Liberia has put in place a diamond certification scheme, and reformed the timber sector to ensure that these natural resources cannot be used to further conflict. The arms embargo and travel ban should remain until the security situation is no longer a threat to the region.

    Tony Lloyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy that the reform of the forest sector in Liberia should be a precondition to the lifting of UN sanctions on timber from Liberia. [143495]

    Mr. Mullin
    We believe that timber sanctions should remain until Liberia has reformed the timber sector to ensure that this natural resource cannot be used to further conflict.

    The Liberian Government must establish authority and control over timber producing areas; oversight mechanisms enabling responsible and environmentally sustainable business practices, and transparent accounting and auditing mechanisms. This should ensure that timber industry revenues are used for legitimate social, humanitarian and development purposes for the benefit of the Liberian people.

    Sudan
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss with the Sudanese authorities acts of flogging under their penal code, with particular reference to the case of Intisar Bakri Abdulgadir. [144155]

    Mr. Mullin
    [holding answer 16 December 2003]: The promotion of human rights is one of the British Government's priorities in Sudan and we raise human rights issues on a regular basis, both bilaterally and as part of the EU-Sudan Dialogue. I discussed the implementation of the penal code in Sudan with the Sudanese ambassador on 2 December. More recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for
    976W
    International Development (Hilary Benn), discussed the human rights situation in Sudan in general with the President of Sudan in Khartoum on 10 December.

    Our embassy in Khartoum has already raised the case of Intisar Bakri Abdulgadir with the Government of Sudan and will be discussing it further with them. The embassy continues to monitor the human rights situation and to lobby the Government of Sudan.

    Uganda
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in Northern Uganda. [143649]

    Mr. Mullin
    We are seriously concerned about the situation in northern Uganda and the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army. Attempts by the Government of Uganda to defeat the rebels militarily have been unsuccessful. There is a growing humanitarian crisis, with 1.3 million living in refugee camps.

    The UK is working with other donors to try and resolve the situation. We are urging the Ugandan Government to pursue a negotiated settlement. At the same time we are providing help to the population in the affected region.

    Zimbabwe
    Mr. Best
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions he plans to have with African Commonwealth countries about the future of Zimbabwe. [144329]

    Mr. Mullin
    I met with a number of African Commonwealth leaders at CHOGM several of whom shared our view of the need to maintain Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth. I intend to remain in close touch with African Commonwealth countries over Zimbabwe.

  CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

    Asylum Appeals
    Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average time taken is for delivery of decisions by an adjudicator in asylum appeals; what the maximum time that may be taken is; and how many decisions have been reserved for more than three months in the past year. [144559]

    Mr. Lammy
    The average time taken for delivery of asylum appeal decisions by an adjudicator, in asylum cases promulgated between 1 October 2002 and 30 September 2003, was 17 working days. There are no statutory limits for the service set on asylum appeal decisions, other than for those cases heard in accordance with the Immigration and Asylum Appeals (Fast Track Procedure) Rules 2003, where a time limit of one working day applies. Information relating to the number of decisions which have been reserved for more than three months in the past year is not available without incurring disproportionate costs.
    977W

    Lord Chancellor
    Mr. Heath
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Lord Chancellor will transfer his powers in relation to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to the Minister for Children. [143023]

    Mr. Leslie
    The Privy Council considered and made the draft Transfer of Functions (Children, Young People and Families) Order 2003 at their meeting on 10 December. The Order includes the Lord Chancellor's powers in respect of CAFCASS. The Order will be implemented early in 2004.

  WORK AND PENSIONS

    Access to Work Scheme
    Malcolm Bruce
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training in deaf-blind awareness staff assessing deaf-blind applicants for the Access to Work scheme have had; and if he will publish the guidelines under which Access to Work advisers work. [140514]

    Maria Eagle
    Access to Work staff can commission the services of specialist assessors, who have the necessary qualifications and proven experience to provide a thorough assessment of applicants needs.

    We will shortly be consulting organisations of and for the deaf-blind, about developing open learning material for Jobcentre Plus staff on the employment of deaf-blind people.

    In common with other Jobcentre Plus guidance for staff, Access to Work guidance is produced in electronic form for staff to access and read on-line through the Department's intranet. Leaflets describing the Access to Work programme are available for individuals and employers. Relevant extracts from the guidance can be made available to individuals or organisations in response to specific inquiries.

    Art Acquisition
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on(a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 has been; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of works of art has been since 1997. [142359]

    Maria Eagle
    The Department for Work and Pensions has not acquired any works of art since 1997 or raised any revenue through sales of works of art in the same period.

    Benefit Payment Arrangements
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the evidence he used to derive the statement that the Post Office Card 978W
    Account costs public funds at least 30 times more than direct payments into a bank account for clients of Job Centre Plus; and if he will publish the evidence. [144395]

    Mr. Pond
    I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Clark) on 15 December 2003,Official Report, column 685–86W.

    The actual costs remain Commercial in Confidence. Information that is held on a commercial in confidence basis is withheld in line with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, paragraph 13.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what discussions he has had with(a) the Department for Trade and Industry and (b) the Royal Mail on the advice that he is offering to Job Centre Plus clients about moving to direct payments; [144396]

    (2) what the basis is for the Department's advice to Job Centre Plus clients that the Post Office Card Account is not the best option for direct payment; [144397]

    (3) if he will publish the targets and benchmarks for the Department regarding the number of Job Centre Plus clients whom they wish to move to direct payment, broken down by (a) current accounts, (b) basic bank accounts and (c) Post Office Card Accounts. [144398]

    Mr. Pond
    All Department for Work and Pensions information on Direct Payment account options is based on the Government policy in this area which was set out by my hon. Friend the former Minister of State for the Department for Trade and Industry on 17 December 2001,Official Report, column 119–120W.

    Jobcentre Plus staff have recently been reminded of the need to ensure that new customers are paid by Direct Payment (including the Post office card account) from the outset of their claim. This advice was intended to equip staff with the factual information they need to provide to customers in order for customers themselves to choose the account which best meets their needs and circumstances. The Post Office card account will not be the best option for them as it cannot receive payments of wages. Post Office Ltd. have also had the opportunity to comment on DWP information material for our customers, including leaflets.

    Customers are being provided with all the information they need on all of their account options, including those accounts, which can be used at Post Office branches. It will be up to the customers themselves to decide which type of account they wish to have their money paid into.

    The Department has a published Public Service Agreement (PSA) target that, by 2005, 85 per cent. of customers will have their benefits paid by Direct Payment. There are no targets for the number of customers paid directly into a standard current account, basic hank account and Post Office card account.

    John Barrett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who is eligible for the direct payment exceptions service. [142837]

    Mr. Pond
    We have always recognised that there will he a small number of people who we cannot pay directly into an account. Our plan is to design an exceptions method of payment to properly meet the needs of
    979W
    customers in these circumstances. It is anticipated that it will be a cheque-based solution. Payment outlets will include Post Office branches. We are in the process of discussing the design of the exceptions method of payment with the representative bodies most directly affected.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Chope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the hon. Member for Christchurch will receive a response to his letter of 31 October relating to the disability living allowance claim of Mr. Harvey. [145000]

    Maria Eagle
    I regret we have no record of having received the hon. Member's letter. If he would forward a copy I will arrange for it to be considered urgently.

    Council Tax
    Mr. Gordon Marsden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has collated about the impact of council tax on older peoples' incomes. [142231]

    Mr. Pond
    The Department holds information about the impact of council tax on older peoples' incomes from a variety of sources.

    The Family Resources Survey is a large-scale annual survey of private households run by the department which collects detailed information about income and about certain expenses, including council tax.

    Regularly published information from this survey includes estimates of pensionersl net incomes after the deduction of taxes, including council tax payments. The Pensioners' Income Series 2001–02 shows that between 1996–97 and 2001–02 the average net income of pensioners before the deduction of housing costs increased by 17 per cent. in real terms, while after housing costs it increased by 23 per cent.

    Data from administrative sources shows the number of pensioners receiving council tax benefit. In 2002, 2.4 million families over 60 received council tax benefit.

    The Department also publishes estimates of the level of take-up of council tax benefit, in the annual publication income related benefits: Estimates of take-up.

    The Department further estimates that with the introduction of pension credit almost 1.9 million pensioner households will be eligible for more help, or help for the first time, with council tax or rent payments.

    The Department also carries out calculations to establish the level of income at which pensioners are eligible for help with their council tax. From October 2003, a single person over 65 with no entitlement to disability benefits and an income of £116 could be eligible for maximum council tax benefit.

    The Department also regularly receives research from other organisations.

    Departmental Staff
    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in 980W
    reducing sickness and absence in his Department; what the principal causes of sickness and absence are in his Department; and what remedial work his Department has under way or is proposing. [140649]

    Maria Eagle
    The Department for Work and Pensions has targets set by Cabinet Office to help contribute to a reduction in public sector sickness absence. These involve an average working days lost figure of eight days by March 2006, and an interim target of 10 days by March 2004. The cumulative average working days lost figure for the period April to October 2003 was 12.3.

    Ministers and senior managers in the Department fully recognise the importance of good attendance. The Department's Executive Team, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, reviews sickness absence on a monthly basis.

    The remedial work we have in place includes the following:

    A new Departmental attendance management policy was implemented in February 2003. This aims to encourage good attendance and provide support to enable people to return to work as quickly as possible following an illness. Formal unsatisfactory attendance action can be considered when an absence reaches eight days in a rolling 12 month period. To measure the effectiveness of the policy, an evaluation exercise will start shortly.

    Each of the businesses within the Department has initiatives in place aimed at getting sickness absence levels down. Jobcentre Plus has an 'Improving Attendance' task force in operation. Its emphasis is on reducing long-term absences (i.e. those over 28 days duration), by either facilitating a return to work, or effecting a termination of an individual's contract. The Department is also participating in the 'Well-being at work' pilots that are being run by the Health and Safety Executive. This initiative is intended to combat workplace stress. In addition, the Department is committed to discharging its responsibilities to disabled people by making reasonable adjustments to the workplace to facilitate an individual's return to work, or to avoid people going off in the first place. A pilot will also commence in January that will involve the early intervention of occupational health nurses in addressing, quickly, those absences that have the potential to become long-term.

    Jobcentre Plus Premises
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will list the(a) number, (b) location and (c) size of Jobcentre Plus premises due to be disposed of; and what (i) costs and (ii) savings he expects from the disposal over the life of the disposal contract; [141198]

    (2) if he will place the terms of reference of the external benchmarking exercise carried out on the disposal of Jobcentre Plus premises in the Library. [142183]

    Mr. Browne
    The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to my hon. Friend.
    981W
    Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 15 December 2003:
    As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the disposal of Jobcentre Plus premises. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

    Region

    District

    Address

    Metres2

    Total saving per annum (£)

    East of England

    Hertford

    Hitchin Crown House

    175

    22,581

    East of England

    Suffolk

    Sudbury PCO The Old bakery King St

    81

    57,205

    East of England

    Suffolk

    Bury St Edmonds The Cornhill

    647

    171,007

    East of England

    Suffolk

    Ipswich Jobshop Museum Street

    86

    12,892

    East Midlands

    Greater Nottingham

    Carlton Rd Jobshop

    744

    0

    East Midlands

    Leicestershire

    Leicester 90 Highcross Street

    851

    27,079

    London

    Brent

    Burnt Oak 93–95 Burnt Oak Broadway

    325

    62,968

    London

    Brent

    Cricklewood Broadway

    1634

    356,217

    London

    Central London

    Holbom JC Celco House 289/293 High Holborn

    503

    116,344

    London

    NE London

    Stoke Newington

    919

    311,036

    London

    NE London

    Leyton Grosvenor Park

    723

    64,617

    North East

    Newcastle

    Roxborough House Whitley Bay PCO

    76

    36,564

    North West

    East Lancs

    Barnoldswick PCO

    62

    26,775

    North West

    Salford & Traff

    Washington House Salford

    204

    41,228

    Scotland

    Dumfries

    Annan High Street

    107

    6,470

    Scotland

    Fife

    St Andrews CSP 43 South Street

    88

    44,586

    Scotland

    Lanarkshire

    Larkhall 27 Union Street

    118

    15,485

    South East

    Hampshire

    Havant 33 East Street

    790

    125,703

    South East

    Hampshire

    Romsey 3–4 Duke Mill Centre

    118

    21,264

    South East

    Hampshire

    Eastlight 42/50 High Street

    250

    32,138

    South West

    Cornwall

    Isles of Scilly Caller Off Buzza St

    41

    14,980

    South West

    Devon

    Barnstable 4 Maxham Court

    90

    6,155

    South West

    Dorset

    Bournemouth Garage 9

    14

    3,284

    South West

    Gloucestershire

    Coleford JC Lords Hill

    134

    7,401

    South West

    Somerset

    Frome North Parade PCO

    264

    56,746

    South West

    Somerset

    Street The Cross

    423

    23,369

    South West

    West of Eng

    Bristol Hartcliff Symes Avenue

    56

    5,493

    Wales

    Nth West Wales

    Pwllheli Penlan Street

    26

    24,555

    Wales

    Nth West Wales

    Swansea Ystradgnynlais PCO

    41

    16,373

    Wales

    Swansea Bay

    Pontardawe 25 High Street PCO

    17

    11,028

    Wales

    West Wales

    Neyland 36 High Street

    30

    2,679

    Wales

    Wrexham & NW

    Mold St Davids Lane

    65

    2,401

    Wales

    Wrexham & NW

    Llandudno Chapel Street

    53

    1,988

    Wales

    Wrexham & NW

    Brecon Canal Bank

    80

    3,944

    Wales

    Wrexham & NW

    Denbigh PCO

    61

    30,776

    Wales

    Wrexham & NW

    Shotton PCO

    76

    25,804

    Wales

    Wrexham & NW

    Holywell PCO

    63

    31,283

    Wales

    Wrexham & NW

    Llangollen PCO

    15

    6,831

    West Midlands

    Coventry

    Kenilworth 7 Abbey Court

    135

    23,763

    West Midlands

    Coventry

    Coventry Park Court

    1455

    188,343

    West Midlands

    Shropshire

    Ludlow Jobcentre

    168

    8,920

    Yorkshire & the Humber

    Sheffield

    Sheffield Rockingham Court

    2221

    480,470

    Yorkshire & the Humber

    Sheffield

    Sheffield Peel House 1 West Bar

    1461

    245,442

    North West

    Liverpool

    58 Brackfield Road South, Liverpool 6

    2559

    486,725

    North West

    Lancashire West

    Maxford House Blackpool

    3271

    1,041,420

    North East

    Tees Valley

    Tees Building

    3142

    561,777

    West Midlands

    Birmingham & Solihull

    2140 Coventry Road, Sheldon, Birmingham B26 3JQ

    3041

    684,273

    East of England

    Norfolk

    Baltic House, Mountergate, Norwich

    3045

    701,037

    Strategic, high-level planning has been undertaken for the remaining two years of the programme, 2004–2006, but I am not yet able to provide firm details of premises disposals or surrenders due for that period. Similarly, information on costs and savings from future disposals is unavailable.
    We have not carried out an external benchmarking exercise on the disposal of Jobcentre Plus premises. Because of the diversity of the districts, service delivery planning for Jobcentre Plus is a locally-driven activity. In undertaking such exercises local managers have to take account of a wide range of factors relevant to the local community before any changes are made to the premises available to them.
    I hope this is helpful.
    982W
    Rollout of the Jobcentre Plus service across the country is a four year programme, planned for completion in March 2006. We are not yet halfway through the implementation of the Jobcentre Plus service and detailed information on disposals for the whole programme is not yet available. However from the information currently available I can tell you that so far we have disposed of 48 sites, totalling 30,548 square metres and a saving to Jobcentre Plus of £6,249,418 per annum. Those sites are listed in the table:

    Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals
    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to centralise(a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) labour market appeals; and what the implications of the plans are for (i) appellants and (ii) staff. [142983]

    Mr. Browne
    The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
    983W
    Letter from David Anderson to Dr. Jones, dated 17 December 2003:
    As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question on what plans he has to centralise (a) Jobseekers Allowance and (b) Labour Market Appeals; and what the implications of the plans are for (i) appellants and (ii) staff. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
    Jobcentre Plus was formed in 2002 from the Working Age elements of the former Benefits Agency and the Employment Service. Since that time, the organisation has undergone an unprecedented rollout programme, bringing together both parts of the formerly separate operations.
    An internal review recommended that appeals would be delivered more efficiently through teams of appeals staff covering all Jobcentre Plus benefits, and also for appeals teams to be organised on a district basis and accountable to the District Manager. This work is now underway and is being led by the Deputy field Director of East of England, supported by district, regional and national tiers throughout Jobcentre Plus.
    Improvements to Jobcentre Plus decision making and appeals processes are to be further supplemented following recommendations from the recent National Audit Office report "Getting It Right, Putting It Right-Improving Decision Making and Appeals In Social Security Benefits". It was their view that the centralisation of appeals work, reconsiderations and complex decision making, would achieve financial savings for the organisation and lead to improved standards, better communications and better customer service.
    Pressures on staff to achieve demanding targets will be relieved as more resource is freed when these plans are implemented. Centralisation and a more defined management, training apd communications structure will also lead to improved skills of and support to those staff employed to process complex decisions, handle reconsiderations and write appeals. This will provide a better service for Jobcentre Plus customers.
    I hope this is helpful.

    Pension Credit
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of pensioners who are not receiving pension credit but are receiving housing benefit and council tax benefit. [144701]

    Mr. Pond
    Our latest estimate for the number of pensioner households who are not receiving Pension Credit but are receiving Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit is around £900,000.

    Households claiming Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) of 9 December 2003,Official Report, columns 416–17W, on Pension Credit, how many pensioner households in each Government Office region he estimates are eligible for Pension Credit. [144702]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The number of pensioner households eligible for Pension Credit at the end of November 2003 by region is set out in the following table.984W

    Government office region

    Estimated number of households eligible for Pension Credit

    North East

    250,000

    North West and Merseyside

    500,000

    Yorkshire and Humber

    350,000

    East Midlands

    300,000

    West Midlands

    350,000

    Eastern

    300,000

    London

    450,000

    South East

    350,000

    South West

    300,000

    Wales

    250,000

    Scotland

    400,000

    Total (GB)

    3,800,000

    Notes:

    1. Estimates are done on a benefit unit basis (single pensioner or pensioner couple).

    2. Figures do not include care home cases.

    3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 50,000.

    Source:

    Policy simulation model 2003–04, based on data from the Family

    Resources Survey 2000–01.

    Post Offices
    Mr. Jenkins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements he will put in place to pay benefits in urban areas where the Royal Mail has closed post office outlets and no services are available within two miles of claimants' homes. [144175]

    Mr. Pond
    The Government are committed to doing all they can to ensure a viable Post Office network for the future. We are investing very substantial sums in supporting the transformation of the network—some £2 billion in total over the next five years. The Post Office in turn has guaranteed that, even after the urban reinvention programme, 95 per cent. of people living in urban areas will be within a mile of a Post Office, the majority within half a mile.

    Direct Payment and the introduction of universal banking services has provided customers with a choice of options as to how they can access their money including, cash machines, via the cashback facilities offered by some retailers, over the counter at banks and building societies and through Post Office branches.

    Small Businesses
    Brian Cotter
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department uses a database of individual small businesses for consultation purposes.[142474]

    Mr. Browne
    When conducting public consultation exercises governed by the Cabinet Office Code of Practice, the Department for Work and Pensions draws on a variety of sources to ensure consultations are targeted as effectively as possible including small businesses as appropriate. The Department has access to the Small Business Service to help identify appropriate small businesses.

    Remploy
    Adam Price
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Remploy employees have subsequently taken up jobs in the open labour market in each of the last 10 years. [143228]
    985W
    Maria Eagle
    Each year Remploy helps disabled people, where appropriate, to progress to unsupported employment with a mainstream employer. Since the implementation of the company's modernisation strategy this has become a key element in its programme to support disabled people.

    Progressions to open employment

    1994–95

    118

    1995–96

    177

    1996–97

    182

    1997–98

    225

    1998–99

    347

    1999–2000

    536

    2000–01

    537

    2001–02

    1,243

    2002–03

    1,610

    2003–04

    1,650 (target)

    Note:

    Figures for 1994-98 include people moving from Remploy Factories to supported employment with a mainstream employer.

    From 1998-99 onwards, figures relate only to the number of people working in the open labour market.

    Source:

    Remploy Audited Accounts

    Adam Price
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the investment by Remploy in maintaining and upgrading exisiting sites, as specified in the Remploy 21 agreement.[143229]

    Maria Eagle
    Remploy 21 is the company's modernisation strategy to establish itself in businesses that mirror growth sectors of the economy. Since 2000, Remploy has moved from 36 disparate businesses mainly in traditional manufacturing to 10 competitive national businesses with an increasing focus on the service sector. To support this programme it has invested £4 million in the maintenance and upgrading of existing sites.

    Remploy is in the process of surveying all sites as part of this activity; the expectation is that at least £1 million annually will be allocated to further site improvements.

    Adam Price
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the strategic decision by Remploy management to close owned factories and to move to leased units. [143230]

    Maria Eagle
    Remploy owns a significant majority of its factory sites and this will continue to be the case following the modernisation plans the Company currently considers necessary over the next few years. In the long-term, if Remploy were to carry out all potential relocation plans, they would have a total of 50 sites owned and 31 leased. In every case Remploy will consider upgrading the existing site, purchasing or building at a new site or leasing a site. Remploy has only entered into agreements to lease factory sites where it has made business sense.

    Leased premises tend to be acquired for a minimum of 15 years and occasionally for longer periods. This is normal commercial practice and recognises that, because business requirements evolve over time, there must therefore be a corresponding ability to evolve the estates strategy to ensure that the facilities match business and learning objectives.
    986W
    The Company's approach to providing better and more modern facilities in Remploy locations is primarily to improve business opportunities that will in turn lead to more opportunities for growth in employment levels.

    Since 2000, Remploy has invested in new or improved sites in Acton, Barnsley, Bradford, Gateshead, Lanarkshire, and North Staffordshire. There are also plans, some of which are already under way to replace existing facilities in Abertillery, Bristol, Holloway, Preston and St. Helens. All these sites are leased.

    The above sites produced proceeds of sale of £5.7 million. At the same time, the Company invested £5.9 million on fitting out the replacement sites; consequently that has been a net outflow of investment. The majority of the sales proceeds arose from the sales of Acton and Bristol (£3.5 million of the £5.7 million) where there were opportunities to take advantage of site development potential. In other cases, the proceeds were very modest, reflecting the individual constraints of the existing site.

    The Company's growth and investment plans are discussed with the Government on a regular basis. It should be noted that Remploy cannot sell a factory without securing the Government's approval. The Government will only agree to the sale where a case is presented which demonstrates the business sense of the proposal.

    Standard Housing Allowance
    Mr. Coleman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received regarding the introduction of a standard housing allowance; and if he will make a statement. [143835]

    Mr. Pond
    We consulted both formally and informally on the Government's proposals for a Local Housing Allowance.

    The formal consultation exercise was conducted through the Social Security Advisory Committee. The Committee received 73 responses from both individuals and organisations with an interest in the Local Housing Allowance reforms. Our response is set out on the Command Paper 5955 which was presented to Parliament on 24 September 2003; a copy is in the Library.

  HEALTH

    Bed Blocking
    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department has given to social services departments to prepare for the commencement of fines for bed blocking.[144384]

    Dr. Ladyman
    In 2003–04 the Delayed Discharges Grant of £50.8 million means that social service departments will retain a proportion of the grant provided they improve the performance compared to levels of delay in March 2003. Additionally the Department has provided guidance, a dedicated website (www.doh.gov.uk/reimbursement) and an implementation team to support social services and national health service partners in preparing for charging for delayed discharges.
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    Care Homes
    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those areas in which(a) there is a shortage of places in care homes at the price the local council wants to pay and (b) there are so many spare places available that a council can buy all the places it needs at a rate lower than the rate at which many providers wish to trade. [142968]

    Dr. Ladyman
    [holding answer 9 December 2003]: I made this general statement based upon conversations my officials have had with some councils and independent providers. However, I would not be surprised if every council felt there was a shortage of places at the price they wanted to pay. And I would not be surprised if in every council area there are some providers who feel they are faced with a price that is below the level at which they wish to trade. Our aim must be to create a market place that is felt to be fair by commissioners and providers of services alike.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many self-funding residents were in(a) residential care homes and (b) nursing homes on the last date for which figures are available. [144292]

    Dr. Ladyman
    There were 42,000 self-funders receiving national health service-funded nursing care in nursing homes in England in December 2002. Further details can be found on the Department's website at: www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/nhsfundednursingcare Information regarding the number of self-funders in residential care homes is not kept centrally.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average weekly cost to self-funding residents in residential care and nursing homes was in the last period for which figures are available. [144293]

    Dr. Ladyman
    Information regarding the average weekly cost to self-funding residents in residential and nursing homes is not kept centrally. Fees levels for self-funders are a matter negotiated between the care home and the individual requiring care, or their representive.

    Chemotherapy-induced Anaemia
    Mr. Havard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has drawn up a list of stakeholders for the technology appraisal of erythropoietin in chemotherapy-induced anaemia; and if he will publish this list; [144472]

    (2) what the scope of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence technology appraisal of erythropoietin for chemotherapy-induced anaemia will be; and when consultation will begin; [144473]

    (3) if he will ensure that NHS trusts and primary care trusts do not limit funding for erythropoietin as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced anaemia during the National Institute for Clinical Excellence technology appraisal into its greater use. [144474]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The use of erythropoetin (EPO) for treating chemotherapy-induced anaemia has been referred to the National Institute for Clinical 988W
    Excellence (NICE) as part of its "ninth wave" work programme. The ninth wave was referred to NICE in October 2003.

    All information relating to the NICE appraisal of EPO will be on its website at: www.nice.org.uk on 23 December 2003. This information will include a planned date for when the final scope and list of stakeholders for the appraisal will be published. Detailed questions about the process and timetable for technology appraisal are matters for the chief executive of NICE.

    Health Service Circular 1999/176 asks national health service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from NICE is not available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all the available evidence. Funding for such treatments should not be withheld simply because of an absence of guidance from NICE.

    Choice and Plurality Policies
    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information will be provided to enable patients to choose health care providers under the Choice and Plurality policies. [140619]

    Mr. Hutton
    Patients will require information on waiting times, convenience, patient experience and clinical quality to support their choice of hospital for elective surgery. nhs.uk already provides information on waiting times and star ratings. We will develop this site to provide a wider range of information to support choice. Primary care trusts will be asked to ensure that appropriate information is also made available in hard copies and in forms which are accessible by individuals with sensory impairments.

    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the possible impact of institutional resistance on the implementation of the Choice and Plurality policies. [140621]

    Mr. Hutton
    Increasing patient choice will require a change in culture for national health service staff and indeed, for patients. Staff and patients are broadly supportive of the principle of extending patient choice. However, we need to work closely with staff and patients on the detailed implementation of our patient choice policies to ensure that we retain that support. The new financial framework, Payment by Results, will provide new incentives to providers to attract patients. Our plurality policies will help secure the capacity needed to deliver the improved waiting times patients expect, and will allow a greater range of choices for patients. The biggest safeguard against any institutional resistance, however, is likely to be the attitude of the patients themselves. The experience from London and other choice pilots is that once offered choice over where and when their treatment is provided, many patients exercise these new opportunities.

    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures will be put in place to extend choice of health care provider to patients who live in isolated rural communities. [140623]
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    Mr. Hutton
    We recognise that patients in isolated rural communities may find it more difficult to access the same range of choices as others. We are exploring options for primary care trusts to provide greater support for patients living in more isolated rural communities. These could include peripatetic patient care advisers, the use of mobile service, for example, the mobile cataract surgery service being introduced in many areas from the spring of 2004. We will be including rural representatives of patients, patient groups and local authorities in these discussions, so that they are able to influence the Department's final policy guidance on choice at referral.

    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage occupancy rate of in-patient care which would need to be maintained to provide the capacity to enable patients to choose a health care provider. [140625]

    Mr. Hutton
    We are investing in substantial and sustainable increases in national health service capacity to improve quality and allow us to deliver the shorter waiting times patients expect. Choice of hospital for patients requiring elective surgery will be introduced alongside this additional capacity. By December 2005, patients will choose at the point of general practitioner referral, so patient choice will not be directly dependent on the inpatient occupancy rate.

    Community Health Councils
    Rob Marris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were made redundant as a result of the closure of community health councils. [144448]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    An estimated 470 staff were made redundant as a result of the closure of community health councils. The final numbers will be confirmed in January.

    Coronary Care
    Mr. Pickles
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to take to prevent people of all ages from dying from fatal cardiac arhythmias. [143978]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The focus of this work is on early diagnosis for this group of patients. The Department is investing in diagnosis, investigation and treatment of cardiac related problems. In November 2001, the Department announced £65 million from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and £60 million from the Department of Health to enable the rapid expansion of facilities for angiography, to fund 89 new or replacement catheterisation laboratories. 24 sets of equipment have already been delivered.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter to him dated 4 November 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Alan Ryan, forwarded to him by the Department for Work and Pensions. [144641]

    Dr. John Reid
    A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 16 December 2003.
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    Departmental Downsizing
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans for downsizing his Department. [141208]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    By October 2004, the size of the core Department will be reduced by 1,400—from over 3,600 to 2,245–a 38 per cent. reduction. Half the posts will be transferred to other national bodies, which are themselves being renewed and the remaining reduction will be achieved through changing the way we work as a Department.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the rationale underlying the proposed reduction in size of his Department. [143706]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The Department is changing to reflect the environment in which it works, particularly:The reform of the national health service and local government to meet the public's expectations for better health and social care services.
    The government's drive to shift the balance of power from Whitehall to staff in frontline hospitals, general practitioner surgeries, care homes, social services and the community.
    The creation of new independent bodies.

    The Department will work closely with a number of important partners to deliver better health and social care services. It will employ a much lighter touch on performance management, enabling the 28 strategic health authorities to operate as the local headquarters for the NHS. The Department will also work with the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care Inspection, which will independently inspect NHS and social care services.

    The Department's Change Programme will help shift the balance of power to the frontline and reduce bureaucracy at the centre.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reduction in staff numbers in his Department he expects to have been achieved by the end of 2004. [143056]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The change programme currently under way in the Department will reduce its size by 1,400 posts. This is a 38 per cent. reduction in posts and will be achieved by October 2004. Some of the posts will be transferred to other national bodies, which are themselves being reviewed and efficiency savings will achieve the remaining reductions.

    Diabetes
    Nick Harvey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provisions are in place to provide healthcare professionals with extensive and accurate information about diabetes; and if he will make a statement; [143737]

    (2) what provisions there are for education on mild diabetes; and if he will make a statement. [143740]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The diabetes national service framework (NSF) states that 'the NHS will need to ensure that all health professionals involved in the
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    diagnosis and care of people with diabetes receive continuing training to ensure that they are appropriately skilled in the diagnosis and management of diabetes' (page 29 of the "Diabetes National Service Framework for Diabetes: Standards document"). Curriculum content for pre-registration education and training programmes for healthcare professionals is determined by individual higher education institutions (HEIs) in the light of recommendations from the relevant regulatory bodies. Post registration training needs for all national health service healthcare staff is determined locally through skills auditing of teams against priority local needs and through the appraisal process. In addition there are a number of central initiatives to increase healthcare professionals' access to knowledge, such as the development of the National Electronic Library for Health's specialist 'branch' library for diabetes and 'Diabetes NSF Zone' and the Department of Health's commitment to establishing a National Knowledge Service.

    Structured patient education is an integral part of the diabetes NSF and its provision is a key intervention for Standard 3 of the NSF that is concerned with patient empowerment. All people with diabetes will receive a service that encourages partnership in decision-making and supports them in managing their diabetes. This is reflected in the "Planning and Priorities Framework for the NHS 2003–06", that includes targets for the diabetes NSF. One such target states the need for primary care trusts to update practice-based registers for people with diabetes by March 2006. This will help to ensure that they receive systematic treatment regimens and advice, including the provision of information, education and psychological support, to help them in managing their own condition.

    Early Retirement Packages
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what early retirement packages are available for staff in his Department and what additions to those packages have been made available in the last year. [143052]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The early retirement packages available to staff in the Department are those under the terms of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. The Department has not made available any additions to these packages in the last year.

    Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of staff in his Department have taken early retirement packages in each of the last six years. [143053]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The information requested is shown in the table.

    The number of staff who have taken early retirement for the financial years 1997 to 2002

    Number of staff

    1997–98

    127

    1998–99

    117

    1999–2000

    15

    2000–01

    17

    2001–02

    13

    2002–03

    277

    992W
    1For the financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99, figures are not available for any members of staff who retired within two years of pension age.

    2Includes 66 staff based in the Department's former regional offices, which were closed as a direct result of the "Shifting the Balance of Power" programme.

    Electronic Magnifiers
    Mr. Oaten
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects electronic magnifiers to be made available on the NHS.[R] [144189]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: Electronic magnifiers are considered to be aids to daily living and as such, their provision is the responsibility of social services departments as they are considered to be aids to daily living. They can be given if it is felt that their provision is warranted. However, hand-held, stand and spectacle-mounted magnifiers are generally considered to be easier to use, more widely available, more accessible and more cost effective.

    The Hospital Eye Service is responsible for providing optical devices and loans low vision aids, such as high-powered reading lenses, hand-held and stand magnifiers and telescopes to people with visual impairment. In addition, some primary care trusts have local arrangements for the provision of low vision aids through community based opticians.

    Epilepsy
    Mr. Baron
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provisions in the National Service Framework for long-term conditions will address the needs of longterm epilepsy sufferers; [144703]

    (2) what progress he has made in addressing the concerns raised in the National Sentinel Clinical Audit of Epilepsy-related Death, published in May 2002. [144704]

    Dr. Ladyman
    In February 2003, we published an action plan for epilepsy services which addresses the key recommendations in the National Clinical Audit of Epilepsy Related Deaths audit and the Chief Medical Officer's 2001 Annual Report on epilepsy. This will be complemented by two key initiatives, which are planned for publication next year. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is developing a clinical guideline for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy, which it plans to publish next July. It is also looking at the clinical and cost effectiveness of new anti-epilepsy drugs in children and adults and plans to publish an appraisal in the new year. These will help address any variations in clinical practice and contribute to the improvement of services. We are developing the national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions, which will focus on improving the standard of general neurology care across England for people with conditions such as epilepsy. The NSF will address a range of key issues, for example: the need for equitable access to a range of services; good quality information and support, for patients and carers; the ability to see a specialist and get the right investigations and diagnosis as quickly as possible; and, maintaining independence and quality of life. We currently plan to publish the NSF late next year for implementation over 10 years from 2005.
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    Mr. Baron
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change the level of funding available for services for long-term epilepsy sufferers at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. [144705]

    Dr. Ladyman
    Primary care trusts (PCTs) in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other local stakeholders determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

    The pan-Birmingham epilepsy group, including representatives from the acute national health service trusts and PCTs within Birmingham is currently reviewing the provision of epilepsy services across the city.

    Over the three years from 2002–03 to the end of 2005–06 the total allocation to PCTs will increase in cash terms by £12.7 billion or 30.8 per cent. That is a significant level of investment and should deliver real benefits and results. The allocation includes resources to finance the cost of pay reform, new drugs and treatments and additional capacity.

    Mr. Baron
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what(a) in-patient, (b) out-patient and (c) long-term provision is available for epilepsy sufferers in Birmingham. [144706]

    Dr. Ladyman
    All of the acute hospitals in Birmingham provide some degree of epilepsy services as part of their neurology services.

    University Hospital Birmingham National Health Service Trust has 32 dedicated in-patient neurology beds which are used by epilepsy patients. There are currently no in-patient beds within Birmingham specifically designated for epilepsy. Patients requiring such beds are referred to the National Society for Epilepsy in London.

    Out-patient services are provided for the whole of the West Midlands region at the Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital for around 1,500 patients a year. Around 40 per cent. of patients are referred from Birmingham. There is an active electro encephalography department, with overnight monitoring for people with difficult-to-control epilepsy or in cases of diagnostic difficulty.

    The Birmingham Women's Hospital also provides a clinic for pregnant women with epilepsy.

    Generic Drugs
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that general practitioner prescribing computer systems do not prevent pharmacists dispensing generic brands of the same drug with a different formulation; and if he will make a statement. [142062]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    There are a number of commercially available computer systems that general practitioners may decide on their own initiative to use in assisting their choice of what medicine to prescribe for a patient. Any system used by a GP must meet a core set of Requirements for Accreditation (RFA). RFA was 994W
    introduced in April 1993 to ensure general medical practice computer systems provided an agreed level of core functionality and conformed to national standards.

    All generic medicines licensed for national health service use must meet the strict requirements of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and must be equivalent to, and have the same therapeutic effect as, the branded formulation. Some manufacturers of generic medicines may choose to market their product by using a brand name. In other instances, for example in the case of modified release generic medicines, the MHRA may require that these medicines are prescribed by a brand name so as to avoid any problems concerning bio-availability. However these products must also be licensed by the MHRA.

    On receiving a script from a patient, a pharmacist is obliged to dispense the branded product if one has been specified by a GP. If, however, a GP has prescribed a generic medicine then a pharmacist is free to chose from amongst a range of licensed generic medicines.

    When officials recently became aware that a major pharmaceutical company ad sought to change GP databases to default to their formulation of a medicine, action was taken to ensure that GPs were aware and prepared to over-ride their systems to select their preferred medicine.

    These arrangements should be sufficient to prevent a pharmacist from dispensing any NHS generic medicine that has a different formulation from that prescribed by a GP—whether or not a GP used a computer system in making that decision. The forthcoming renegotiations of the 1999 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme will be used to consider the need for even stronger controls in this area.

    Genetically Modified Food
    Joan Ruddock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the full dossier submitted in relation to the Bt11 sweetcorn application. [144699]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The application for authorisation of Bt 11 sweet maize as a novel food was made to the Netherlands in 1999, under Regulation (EC) No. 258/97. A further European Commission Regulation, Commission Regulation 1852/2001, lays down detailed rules on the making of information relating to such applications available to the public. These rules are concerned with striking the right balance as between the protection of information submitted by applicants and the public interest in the disclosure of that information. They provide for the Commission to publish a summary of the dossier on Bt11 sweet maize and the initial assessment of that dossier by the member state to which the application was made. It is not, therefore, for the United Kingdom authority to publish such information.

    Joan Ruddock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the requirements for a post approval safety monitoring plan specified in the new food and feed regulations for GM foods will be applied to Bt11 sweetcorn. [144700]
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    Miss Melanie Johnson
    Regulation 1829/2003 on genetically modified food and feed comes into effect on 18 April 2004. This regulation does not impose a requirement for the post marketing monitoring of all genetically modified foods, although monitoring may be required in specific cases based on the outcome of the risk assessment. The authorisation of Btll sweetcorn is currently being considered under the novel food legislation (regulation 258/97) and does not include a requirement for post-market monitoring.

    Head Lice
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will put in place a strategy for tackling head lice similar to the one in place in Scotland. [143031]

    Dr. Ladyman
    No. Primary care trusts are best placed to develop strategies for dealing with head louse infestation within their area. This will take into account local circumstances.

    Our policy, which is shared by the Department for Education and Skills, is to encourage a "whole school approach" to the detection and treatment of head lice. This entails encouraging parents to check their children and other family members for head lice as need arises, and arranging treatment—either through a combing regime or insecticides—where necessary with such
    advice and support from the local primary health care team (general practitioner, health visitor, school nurse or local pharmacist) as they may require. If this exercise is successfully undertaken at the same time by all parents of children within a school, then the spread of head lice will be arrested.

    Healthcare Cartels
    Mr. Blizzard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he will put in place to avoid the risk of health care providers forming cartels under the policy of giving more choice to patients. [140618]

    Mr. Hutton
    By December 2005, primary care trusts (PCTs) will offer, at the point of general practitioner referral, a menu of four to five choices for patients who may require elective surgery. To do this, PCTs will commission services from an appropriate range of providers to secure real choices for their local populations; avoiding any potential for `cartels' being formed. The new national tariff will strengthen PCTs' position, making it easier for them to move activity and funding between providers.

    Hip Braces
    Mr. Gale
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the National Health Service was of hip braces imported from the United States of America in each of the last five years. [143805]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    (holding answer 16 December 2003]: This information is not held centrally.

    Mr. Gale
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons hip braces are not purchased from United Kingdom manufacturers. [143806]
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    Dr. Ladyman
    [holding answer 16 December 2003]: The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has a national framework agreement for the supply of orthoses, which includes hip braces. This agreement is available to all national health service trusts and health authorities in England, although it is not mandatory. There are 59 suppliers on the agreement, all of which are based in the United Kingdom.

    Mental Health Services
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has met its most recent target to deliver assertive outreach for severe mental illness; and if he will make a statement. [143708]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The Department has met the NHS Plan target to establish a total of 220 assertive outreach teams for patients with severe mental illness and complex problems who regularly disengage from services. We are encouraged by the progress made so far and we will be reviewing the level of need for assertive outreach services by the end of the financial year.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child and adolescent mental health services inpatient beds were provided in each year since 1997(a) in total, (b) in England and (c) in each local authority; how many are planned to be provided in the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [143709]

    Dr. Ladyman
    The information is not collected in the form requested. The table shows the average daily number of beds available in the national health service classified as 'Mental Illness: Children'.

    In the three years to March 2006, we will be investing an additional £250 million in child and adolescent mental health services provided by the national health service and local authorities for them to further develop their services.

    Average daily number of available beds by ward classification, England, 1997–98 to 2002–03

    Department of Health form KHO3

    Mental illness:Children

    Learning disabilities:Children

    1997–98

    522

    380

    1 998–99

    538

    363

    1999–00

    482

    376

    2000–01

    531

    376

    2001–02

    484

    274

    2002–03

    504

    409

    Notes:

    1999–2000 and 2001–02 incomplete data.

    There is not a separate ward classification in the data collection for adolescent beds. NHS Trusts providing services specifically for adolescents may record the beds as "Children's" or as "Other ages"—the latter includes all the adult provision.

    Source:

    Department of Health form KHO3

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health(a) how much and (b) what proportion of mental health expenditure has been spent on child and adolescent services in each of the last five years. [143710]

    Dr. Ladyman
    This information is not available centrally. However our estimate for likely mental health expenditure in 2002–03 and the proportion spent on child and adolescent services is shown in the table.
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    We recognise that much still needs to be done to improve child and adolescent mental health. The work of the child and adolescent mental health module of the children's national service framework will do much to inform future plans.

    Estimated mental health expenditure 2002–03

    Child and adolescent mantal health services

    Adult mantal health

    Elderly

    Total

    Hospital community health service (millions)

    331

    3,476

    248

    4,055

    Percentage

    8

    86

    6

    100

    Personal social services(millions)

    281

    739

    418

    1,438

    Percentage

    20

    51

    29

    100

    Total (millions)

    612

    4,216

    666

    5,494

    Percentage

    11

    77

    12

    100

    Notes:

    1. The table above is based on estimated projections of expenditure, not actual expenditure. HCHS figures, for instance, are only available up to 2000–01 and PSS figures are only available up to 2001–02. Relevant figures are taken from this year's Departmental Report (Chapter 6) and have been used to update the projections given previously. The actual figures for 2000–01 HCHS spend on mental health were higher than had been previously projected.

    2. CAMHS costs are based on estimates from 2002 projected forward in line with increases in overall expenditure. They may underestimate CAMHS expenditure, as they do not account for any new policy developments.

    3. HCHS costs exclude the cost of drugs. PSS costs include children's social services where relevant

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings in the Wanless Report of April 2002 relating to the spending increases required to implement the National Service Framework for mental health by 2010–11. [143716]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    Following the Wanless final report, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his 2002 Budget, announced the biggest ever-sustained real terms growth in history of national health service, to create a world-class health system. Health spending is to grow on average by 7.2 per cent. per annum in the United Kingdom in real terms over next five years—from £68.1 billion to £109.4 billion in 2007–08.

    In line with "Shifting the Balance of Power", primary care trusts have not been given allocations specifically for mental health but have received a block allocation with which to provide the services as set out in the NHS Plan, the national service frameworks and to meet local need. A proportion of the increases for total health spend will relate to mental health service and the Department will be monitoring the increase through annual financial mapping exercises.

    Memory Clinics
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition the Department uses of a memory clinic; and how many memory clinics have been set up(a) in total in England and Wales and (b) in each strategic health authority. [142959]

    Dr. Ladyman
    There is considerable variation in the way in which memory clinics are run, in order to meet the needs of different localities. However, in general 998W
    they are used to help diagnose whether a person has dementia and to help people with dementia access the treatment, care and support they need.

    Information on the number of memory clinics is not collected centrally.

    Midwifery Units
    Mr. John Baron
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many closures of midwifery-led units since 1997 were due to a shortage of staff; and what the other reasons for closure were; [144658]

    (2) whether consultant-led midwifery units have had higher vacancy rates than midwife-led maternity units in each of the last six years; and what the average difference was for each year. [144661]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answers 16 December 2003]: The information requested is not collected centrally.

    Northwick Park Hospital
    Keith Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints he has received concerning Northwick Park Hospital. [142630]

    Mr. Hutton
    Figures for the number of complaints received about individual hospitals are not collected centrally. Figures for the number of complaints relating to North West London Hospitals National Health Service Trust are available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/ hospitalactivity/.

    Operations (Cancellations)
    Simon Hughes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled at London hospitals in each of the last 16 quarters for which figures are available; what percentage of the cancelled operations were consequently carried out within four weeks; and if he will make a statement. [143997]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 15 December 2003]: Information is not available for cancellations at individual hospital sites. Information on the number of operations cancelled at the last minute and the number not treated within 28 days of a last minute cancellation for each national health service trust is published at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/ Copies of the published information are available in the Library.

    Orthopists
    Mr. Oaten
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the pathfinder project in orthotic services. [R][144191]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 15 December]: The report of the orthotics pathfinder project will be published in January 2004 after which any policy implications will be considered.

    Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
    Nick Harvey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of providing the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to (a) all children between two months and two years of
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    age and (b) only those children at risk between two months and two years of age; and if he will make a statement. [144108]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    The cost of providing pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to all children under two years of age will depend on the negotiated price of the vaccine.

    The number of children at risk is not known and therefore the cost cannot be estimated. The recommendation to immunise at-risk children under two years is consistent with United Kingdom policy for those aged over two years.

    Nick Harvey
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many at-risk children are entitled to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; what proportion of those children have been given the vaccine; and if he will make a statement. [144109]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    This information is not held centrally.

    Premature Babies
    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many premature babies were born in each region of the UK for each of the last five years. [143679]

    Dr. Ladyman
    The information requested is not collected centrally.

    Prisoners
    Julie Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to promote effective inter-agency arrangements for dealing with mentally disordered offenders. [144072]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The Government are committed both to providing better services for people with mental health problems and to protecting the public from crime and the fear of crime. A number of initiatives to support these aims are underway, involving a number of Government departments to tackle the issues raised by mentally disordered offenders.

    The Department of Health, the Home Office and the Prison Service are developing new assessment and treatment facilities for dangerous people with severe personality disorder. This will result in 300 new places becoming available in high secure care with the development of an infrastructure at lower levels of security to allow a safe transition for those whose risk is reduced.

    Multi-agency public protection arrangements exist in every part of the country and bring together health, police, probation and other agencies to plan the management of people who pose a risk in the community, many of whom are mentally disordered offenders.

    Closer working between social services departments and mental health trusts, often leading to single management, has benefited all mental health services, including mentally disordered offenders by removing the traditional boundaries between health and social care.
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    Court liaison and diversion schemes are widespread and act to ensure that mentally ill people who come into contact with the Criminal Justice System receive mental health care whenever possible.

    A number of strands of work are underway with the National Probation Service to ensure that they are supported by mental health services while managing people with mental health problems in hostels and the community.

    Julie Morgan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken to ensure that the use of medication for women in prison complies with the best practice guidance of the NHS. [144520]

    Dr. Ladyman
    All prison establishments are expected, in conjunction with their local primary care trust, to be covered by a drugs and therapeutic committee or its equivalent. Drawing on specialist advice, this committee should be responsible for the development of an evidence-based local formulary, disease management guidelines and medicine-related policies and procedures. All establishments are expected to take account of relevant guidelines issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

    Rheumatoid Arthritis
    Andy King
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trust, collaborative commissioning groups are providing funding for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. [144548]

    Dr. Ladyman
    The information requested is not collected centrally. Only the small amount of rheumatoid arthritis services that are specialised would be commissioned by a group of primary care trusts acting in a collaborative commissioning group. We do not know how many of these groups separately identify and fund rheumatoid arthritis services.

    Targets
    Ms Munn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the outcome of the consultation exercise on clinical exceptions to the four hour emergency care target. [144888]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    The target for accident and emergency departments is that, by December 2004, all patients should be discharged, admitted or transferred within four hours of arrival. However, front line emergency care staff have told us that in a small proportion of cases it may not be clinically appropriate to move patients within that time frame—for example when they are undergoing active resuscitation.

    Responses to the consultation exercise that we announced in September confirmed that. We have listened to the advice we received and have now reached a consensus with the British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine, the Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine and the Royal College of Nursing Emergency Care Association on the type of cases that can be regarded as clinical exceptions to the target. The

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    agreement is available on the Department of Health website at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/emergencycare/ clinical-exceptions. htm

    Other than in these exceptional cases the target remains in place, and National Health Service trusts must still do everything they can to avoid any breaches of the target that are not clinically necessary.

    Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
    Bob Russell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the funding of treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction; and if he will make a statement. [1442751

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    Cases of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, which are suitable for treatment by a general dental practitioner, can be funded through the general dental services. More complex cases, for example requiring surgery, will be referred to hospital and funded as with other hospital services.

    Top-up Fees
    Dr. Murrison
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the bodies that have made representations on the impact of top-up fees on NHS professionals. [144393]

    Mr. Hutton
    A wide range of bodies have made formal written representations on variable fees in the consultation exercise on the White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" (column 5735), which was coordinated by the Department for Education and Skills. Department of Health Ministers and officials are of course in regular contact with the full range of stakeholders involved in the training of the future health professional workforce.
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    University of Leicester Hospital Trust
    Keith Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to visit the University of Leicester Hospital Trust. [142933]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    There are no current plans in my right hon. Friend's official diary to undertake a visit to the University of Leicester Hospital Trust. Should a request to do so be received in the Department, it will be given full consideration.

    Waiting Lists/Times
    Ms Walley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for an MRI scan for a patient in(a) England and (b) North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement. [144104]

    Miss Melanie Johnson
    Data are not collected centrally on waiting times for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The length of time that a patient may have to wait for any scan is dependent on their clinical condition. Emergency cases need to be seen immediately. Other cases will be carried out as quickly as possible, dependent on the clinical priority of all patients waiting to be scanned.

    Where a MRI scan forms part of the diagnostic process for a patient urgently referred with suspected cancer, this will be covered by the target of a maximum two month wait from urgent referral to first treatment, which is currently in place for breast cancer patients, and will be in place for all cancers by the end of 2005.

    To increase capacity of diagnostic services, funding has been made available for the provision of new and replacement scanners. To date, new and replacement equipment provided through central programmes includes, as of 15 December 2003, 51 new MRI scanners, 69 linear accelerators, 148 computed tomography scanners and over 600 items of breast screening equipment, all delivered since April 2000.

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