Written Answers of 25 February 2003

TREASURY

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department has assessed of the possible effect on the(a) industry and (b) economy of Gibraltar if the UK were to enter the eurozone. [98913]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government have made clear that a comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the five economic tests will be made within two years of the start of this Parliament.

  Working Tax Credit
  Mr. Steve Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many(a) couples with children, (b) couples with no children and (c) single childless people will be entitled to the new working tax credit. [94024]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Working Tax Credit is expected to benefit 1.35m families with and without children.

  Asbestos
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual cost(a) in each year since its introduction and (b) over the next five years of tax relief on work done to remove asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [98656]

  John Healey
  The legislation is intended to aid the regeneration of sites that are contaminated by harmful substances, not just asbestos. Estimates of the cost for cleaning sites contaminated with asbestos are therefore not available. However, the full cost of the Finance Act 2001 relief for regeneration of sites contaminated by harmful substances was estimated at £50 million in 2001–02, £85 million in 2002–03 and £75 million in 2003–04. Figures for the remaining two years are not available.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the(a) verification and (b) auditing arrangements for claims for tax relief on work done to remove asbestos. [98657]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Claims for land remediation relief under the Finance Act 2001 provisions are subject to the same verification and auditing arrangements as any other entry in a Corporation Tax return.

  Child Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many couples are ineligible for children's tax credit because the income of the highest 382W
  earner is too high, but would be eligible for child tax credit because their joint income is below the upper limit. [94048]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 28 January 2003]: Without FRS data for 2002–03 it is not possible to provide reliable estimates.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates his Department has made of the annual cost to British industry of the climate change levy(a) overall and (b) per sector. [98712]

  John Healey
  The climate change levy is expected to raise about £0.9 billion from business and the public sector in 2002–03. This has been recycled back to these sectors through a 0.3 percentage point cut in employers'national insurance contributions, support for enhanced capital allowances for investments in energy efficiency measures, and spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency, principally through the Carbon Trust.

  The levy package is expected to be broadly revenue neutral between industry and the service sector. It is not possible to determine the impact on individual sectors as this depends on the extent to which they are eligible for discounts for energy-intensive users, their use of levy-exempt renewable energy and combined heat and power, and their take-up of the enhanced capital allowances and support from the Carbon Trust.

  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what measures have been taken to assist sectors that are unable to comply with the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive, and are ineligible for a rebate on the climate change levy, with the cost of the climate change levy; [98714]

  (2) what measures his Department has taken to assist small businesses to meet the cost of the climate change levy. [98713]

  John Healey
  The climate change levy (CCL) was introduced in a package which involves reductions to employer national insurance contributions and support for energy efficiency, which is broadly revenue neutral to business as a whole. As part of the package, the Government supports businesses investing in approved energy-saving technologies through enhanced capital allowances. All businesses can take advantage of the help available from the CCL funded Carbon Trust which supports energy efficiency improvements by business and the development of low carbon technologies. Some of the Carbon Trust schemes, for example their small firms loan scheme, are intended specifically to benefit small firms. In addition, many of the smallest businesses'energy use will be below that at which levy becomes payable, so will not pay any levy at all.

  In recognition of the need to protect the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries subject to international competition, the Government allows an 80 per cent. discount from the levy for businesses in energy-intensive sectors covered by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regime, providing they have entered into climate change agreements with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

  383W
  (DEFRA) to meet two-yearly energy efficiency targets. The Government targets relief from the levy on those sectors covered by the IPPC as it covers the main energy-intensive sectors subject to international competition.

  Finally, in order to give all businesses an incentive to agree to emissions targets, the Government have also launched the UK emissions trading scheme, with an incentive worth £150 million after tax over five years.

  Departmental Staff (Northern Ireland)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the(a) numerical and (b) percentage breakdown by perceived community origin are of (i) Inland Revenue and (ii) Customs and Excise staff employed in Northern Ireland. [97791]

  John Healey
  The information is as follows:HM Customs and Excise

  Out of the total number of 631 the numerical (a) and percentage (b) breakdown by perceived community origin of HM Customs and Excise staff employed in Northern Ireland as at 1 January 2003 is:

  Number

  Percentage

  Protestant

  229

  36

  Roman Catholic

  355

  57

  It has not been possible to determine the community origin of 7 per cent. of staff.

  Inland Revenue

  Out of the total number of 1,703 the numerical (a) and percentage (b) breakdown by perceived community origin of Inland Revenue staff employed in Northern Ireland as at 1 January 2003 is:

  Number

  Percentage

  Protestant

  745

  44

  Roman Catholic

  838

  49

  It has not been possible to determine the community origin of 7 per cent. of staff.

  Liquefied Petroleum Gas
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial aid is available for those petrol stations which wish to supply liquefied petroleum gas. [98899]

  John Healey
  Government policy on encouraging the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has centred on encouraging the use of vehicles through lower rates of excise duty and grants to convert cars to LPG through the powershift programme. This policy has been very successful with over 1,100 stations now selling LPG across the country compared to 150 in 1998.

  Meetings
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether meetings between officials of his Department and representatives of Guernsey are held on Jersey; [98912]
  384W
  (2) how often meetings are held between his Department's officials and representatives from the Isle of Man; and whether meetings are held purely when necessary; [98911]

  (3) what his Department's policy is regarding consultation with representatives of Jersey on economic decisions that could affect Jersey. [98910]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002,Official Report, columns 114–15W.

  Metallgesellschaft Case (Compensation)
  Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much compensation has been paid to claimants by the Inland Revenue following the decision of the ECJ in the case of Metallgesellschaft (C-397/98); and what his estimate is of the total amount that will be paid. [98548]

  Dawn Primarolo
  To date, the Inland Revenue has paid a total of £32,489,711.

  Other claims made on the basis of this decision are still subject to legal proceedings. It is impossible, at this time, to estimate the total amount that might be paid in the future.

  North Sea Tax Regime
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made as to the effect tax changes on North Sea oil and gas companies announced in the Budget statement 2002 are having on the competitiveness of the industry. [99025]

  John Healey
  The Budget 2002 changes to the North Sea taxation regime make new investment in the North Sea more economic for oil and gas companies while extracting a fairer share of revenue for the taxpayer. The reforms are too recent for a comprehensive assessment of their overall economic impact, but the Government are encouraged by early evidence from the UKOOA report of November 2002, which found that
  "total capital expenditure for the period 2001–2010 is forecast to increase by around £1 billion, compared with last year's forecast."

  Tax and Benefits
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) families and (b) individuals have gained from tax and benefit changes since 1997; and on average by how much. [98256]

  Dawn Primarolo
  As a result of tax and benefit changes introduced since 1997, by 2003–04 households with children will be, on average, £1,200 per year better off. Some 6.4 million households with children will be better off.

  By 2003–04, all households will be £740 per year better off on average as a result of measures introduced since 1997. Each adult will be £440 per year better off on average. There are nearly 35 million adults in households that will be better off as a result of measures introduced since 1997.

  Tax Credit Helpline
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what performance targets have been set for the tax credit helpline; and what have been the monthly performance levels against those targets since the helpline was established. [94237]

  Dawn Primarolo
  A helpline was set up in August 2002 to handle detailed inquiries about the two new tax credits—Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. The introduction of these two new tax credits in April 2003 represents a large one-off piece of work for the Inland Revenue. That work includes handling telephone enquiries and processing claims. The helpline has not been set stand-alone performance targets because, as a one-off exercise, call handling and claims processing are effectively being managed as a single stream of work—allowing resources to be allocated across the two in the light of changing workload priorities.

  The underlying aim at the helpline is to ensure that people can get through when they need to. That is monitored in a number of ways, including looking at the volume of calls received and handled. The best available evidence on calls made and calls received indicates that, in each month since August 2002, a high proportion—certainly more than 90 per cent.—of callers have got through on the same day.

  Taxation
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the number of families where the principal earner has a gross income above the higher rate threshold and the gross household income is below £58,175; [93061]

  (2) if he will estimate the number of families entitled to the children's tax credit where the recipient has a gross income of between £34,515 and £42,450 and the gross household income is between £50,000 and £58,175; [93060]

  (3) if he will estimate the number of families entitled to the children's tax credit where the recipient has a gross income of less than £34,515 and the gross household income exceeds £50,000; [93058]

  (4) if he will estimate the number of families entitled to the children's tax credit where the recipient has a gross income of less than £42,450 and the gross household income exceeds £58,175; [93057]

  (5) if he will estimate the number of families entitled to the children's tax credit where the recipient has a gross income of less than £34,515 and the gross household income exceeds £58,175; [93059]

  (6) if he will estimate the number of married or cohabiting couples with children whose combined taxable income exceeds £34,515 but is less than £50,000 in 2003–04; [93063]

  (7) if he will estimate the number of married or cohabiting couples with children whose combined taxable income exceeds £34,515 but is less than £58,175 in 2003–04; [93065]
  386W
  (8) if he will estimate the number of married or cohabiting couples with children whose combined taxable income exceeds £42,450 but is less than £58,175 in 2003–04; [93064]

  (9) if he will estimate the number of married or cohabiting couples with children whose combined taxable income exceeds £42,450 but is less than £50,000 in 2003–04. [93062]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 23 January 2003]: No reliable estimates exist.

  Thermal Insulation
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his answer of 22 January 2003,Official Report, column 42W, on thermal insulation, what the implications are of the European Union Court Case 416/85, EC Commission v. United Kingdom for the possibilities of VAT reduction on the sales and installation of energy saving materials; and if he will make a statement. [98563]

  John Healey
  European Court of Justice case 416/85 concerned the scope of the UK's zero rates. The Court held that zero-rating could only be justified for clearly defined social reasons and for the benefit of the final consumer.

  The long-standing formal agreements with our European partners make entirely separate provision for reduced rates (of no lower than 5 per cent.) and allow relief for the 'supply, construction, renovation and alteration of housing provided as part of a social policy'. Under this provision, the UK has been able to introduce a reduced rate for installations of certain energy-saving materials in homes. Our current policy is to restrict the relief to the installation of materials whose primary purpose is to save energy, and the European Court case has no bearing on this limitation.

  As I explained in my answer of 22 January, we are not able to introduce a reduced rate of VAT for energy-efficient or energy-saving materials sold direct to the public. This is not because of the European Court case, but rather that the reduced rate provision makes clear that goods and materials can only have a reduced rate when they are supplied as part of an overall service.

  UK Listing Authority
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the principal regulatory risks are that the UK Listing Authority is responsible for managing; [99159]

  (2) what progress the UK Listing Authority has made in reviewing the monitoring of continuing compliance with the Listing Rules and in recommending improvements; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the review's results and recommendations; [99161]

  (3) what progress the UK Listing Authority has made in reviewing the requirements for approval and vetting of listing and other documentation, and in making recommendations; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the review's results and recommendations; [99158]
  387W
  (4) what the outcome was of the UK Listing Authority's risk-based review of the sponsor system and recommendations for improvements; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards including such an objective in the authority's objectives for 2002–03. [99160]

  Ruth Kelly
  The United Kingdom Listing Authority (UKLA) is part of the Financial Services Authority, which is independent of the Government. The duties of the FSA in its capacity as the UKLA are set out in section 73 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Following on from these duties, the UKLA formulates and enforces Listing Rules that:
  provide an appropriate level of protection for investors in listed securities;facilitate access to listed markets for a broad range of enterprises;seek to maintain the integrity and competitiveness of UK markets for listed securities.
  The UKLA also has operational objectives, that are more task-specific, which are discussed each year with the Treasury. These objectives can be found on the UKLA section of the FSA website.

  Issues relating to the UKLA's review of the Listings Rules are a matter for the UKLA.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Burma
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the(a) value of imports the UK received from Burma and (b) the nature of these imports in 2002. [88773]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 8 January 2003]: I have been asked to reply.

  According to figures published by HM Customs and Excise, UK imports of goods from Burma in 2002 were as follows:

  £000

  Product

  Value

  Fish, (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic invertebrates and preparations thereof

  8,310

  Vegetables and fruit

  485

  Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, and manufactures thereof

  7

  Oil seeds and oleaginous fruit

  10

  Cork and wood

  979

  Pulp and waste paper

  121

  Cork and wood manufactures (excluding furniture)

  1,302

  Textile yarn, fabrics, made-up articles, nes and related products

  49

  Manufactures of metals, nes

  14

  Power generating machinery and equipment

  1,225

  Machinery specialised for particular industries

  1

  General industrial machinery and equipment, nes and machine parts, nes

  2

  Office machines and automatic data processing machines

  1

  Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, nes and electrical parts thereof (including non-electrical counterparts, nes, of electrical household type equipment)

  2

  Transport equipment other than road vehicles

  29

  388W

  £000

  Product

  Value

  Prefabricated buildings; sanitary, plumbing and lighting fixtures and fittings, nes

  6

  Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, mattresses, supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings

  1,437

  Articles of apparel and clothing accessories

  50,177

  Footwear

  20

  Professional, scientific and controlling instruments and apparatus, nes

  1

  Miscellaneous manufactured articles, nes

  94

  Commodities and transactions not elsewhere classified

  66

  Total

  64,337

  nes = not elsewhere specified

  Note:

  Products are classified according to the Standard International Trade Classification (revision 3).

  Work Placements
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many university students her Department and associated agencies has supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what her policy is on work placements; what plans she has to develop such schemes; and what her policy is on paying their university fees. [98549]

  Clare Short
  My Department has extensive contacts with UK Universities and supports work placements for students on an ad hoc basis.

  DFID is also a corporate sponsor of the Windsor Fellowship. The Windsor Fellowship is a charity whose aim is to identify high achievers from Black and Asian communities and to offer them a development programme. We have provided six Fellows with eight-week placements. DFID also provides up to four placements a year under the Cabinet Office Summer Development Programme for potential applicants to the fast stream from within the ethnic minorities. Attachments last between six to eight weeks.

  It is not our practice to pay university fees of those whose placements we sponsor.

  We do not operate a formal scheme for the placement of university students and have no plans to do so.

  HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

    E-mails
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what type of software is used to filter e-mails in the House. [98279]

    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    A commercially available software package is used to detect and block incoming messages containing viruses and to filter incoming e-mails containing inappropriate material.

    Internet Monitoring
    Mr Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission whether use of the internet within the parliamentary estate is monitored. [98278]
    389W
    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    The Parliamentary Communications Directorate monitors the amount and type of internet traffic in order to manage the network and to inform planning decisions. For staff of the House of Commons, the House Authorities reserve the right to monitor individual use of the internet upon a written request from a departmental establishments officer.

  HOME DEPARTMENT

    Criminal Records Checks
    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people applying for positions within residential care and nursing homes are awaiting clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau in(a) the East Riding of Yorkshire, (b) Hull and (c) England.[Transferred] [97721]

    Hilary Benn
    Data on outstanding applications for specific job types or the areas requested are not available because there are no IT procedures at present to extract this data from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) database. This functionality is expected to be available during subsequent system releases.

    Disclosures are currently taking an average of five weeks to complete. Many of the outstanding applications at any time will be the subject of requests to applicants or Registered bodies for future information. There are 62,327 cases over three weeks old (less than two weeks output), plus a further 82,204 such cases awaiting information from customers.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether civil offences are recorded in disclosures issued as a result of criminal records bureaux checks. [97675]

    Hilary Benn
    At present, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is issuing Standard and Enhanced Disclosures. These show spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings recorded on the Police National Computer. In appropriate cases, the CRB searches a list kept by the Department for Education and Skills of people who are considered unsuitable to work with children. An Enhanced Disclosure would also include other information held in local police records which, in the chief officer's opinion, is relevant to the matter in hand and ought to be included in the Disclosure. It is possible that a Disclosure might include information about a civil offence as a result of such other enquiries.

    Anti-trafficking Budgets
    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the budgets of the(a) police, (b) Customs and (c) intelligence services were to combat (i) drug, (ii) firearm and (iii) people trafficking in (A) 2001, (B) 2002 and (C) 2003. [96907]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    The information is as follows:

    (a) Police Authorities and Chief Officers are responsible for setting budgets and making operational decisions within them. The information sought is not available centrally.

    390W

    (b) Her Majesty's Customs and Excise spent as follows on detecting and deterring the smuggling of illegal drugs and other prohibited and restricted goods: £229 million in 2000/01; and £229.6 million in 2001/02. (source: HMCE Annual Reports)

    (c) It has been the policy of successive Governments not to disclose information concerning the breakdown in the allocation of resources of the Intelligence Agencies or provide information about their activities. However, in April 2001 it was exceptionally announced that the Security and Intelligence Agencies had been awarded additional funding to aid the fight against crime in the areas of drug trafficking and people smuggling. The amounts allocated were:

    £

    2001/02

    2002/03

    2003/04

    (i). drugs trafficking

    5.9m

    6.6m

    7.7m

    (iii). people smuggling

    0.6m

    0.5m

    0.6m

    Anti-war Protest
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms he will use to ensure that the numbers of anti-Gulf War protesters marching to Hyde Park on 15 February 2003 are accurately counted. [97956]

    Mr. Denham
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The Government do not calculate the number of people participating in marches and demonstrations. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), as well as other police forces, use a range of techniques for estimating the numbers involved.

    British Detainees (Switzerland)
    Patrick Mercer
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received from Swiss authorities regarding two Britons detained in Switzerland last year on suspicion of terrorist activities at the Gösgen nuclear power station in Switzerland [98852]

    Mr. Blunkett
    Due to the confidential nature of cases received in respect of Mutual Legal Assistance, I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of letters of request. In any event, we would discuss operational cases where criminal investigations may be on-going.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 4 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Mansoureli Bozorovia. [97086]

    Mr. Blunkett
    I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 24 February 2003.

    Crime (Humberside)
    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people arrested in(a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) the Humberside Police Authority area tested positive for category A or B drugs in each quarter since 1997. [97723]
    391W
    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    At present arrestees throughout England and Wales are not routinely tested for drugs, so it is not possible to provide the level of detail requested.

    However, the New English and Welsh Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (NEW-ADAM) research programme, which involves interviewing and drug testing those arrested by the police at 16 sites throughout England and Wales, does provide some information. Analysis of the data from the first eight sites in the survey, collected during 1999–2000, shows that of those arrestees that provided a urine sample, 65 per cent. tested positive for one or more illegal drugs, while 30 per cent. tested positive for two or more such substance. Indeed, 29 per cent. tested positive for opiates (including heroin) and/or cocaine (including crack).

    Drug test results are also available from three drug-testing pilot sites. The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 gave the police power to drug test arrestees once they are charged with a "trigger offence" (these include property crime, robbery and specified

    Number of defendants1 against at magistrates courts and convicted at all courts2 for certain firearms offences, Humberside, 1997 to 2001

    1997

    1998

    1999

    Offence description

    Statute

    Proceeded against

    Convicted

    Proceeded against

    Convicted

    Proceeded against

    Convicted

    (See footnote3 for definition of Firearm Groups)

    (i) Carrying a loaded firearm in an public place

    Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (Group 1)

    Firearms Act 1968 sec. 19 amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 section 157 sch. 8 Part III

    1

    1

    2

    1

    —

    —

    Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (Group 1)

    Ibid.

    1

    1

    1

    —

    —

    —

    Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (Group III)

    Ibid.

    5

    6

    9

    9

    3

    2

    Total

    7

    8

    12

    10

    3

    3

    (ii) Acquiring a firearm under the age of 17

    Person under 17 acquiring firearm (Group 1)

    Firearms Act 1968 section 22(1)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Person under 17 acquiring firearm (Group II)

    Ibid

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Person under 17 acquiring firearm (Group III)

    Ibid.

    Total

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    (iii) Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or ammunition therefore, (Group III)

    Firearms Act 1968 section 22(4)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    392W
    Class A drug offences). The proportion of police tests, collected during July 2001 to February 2002, where results were positive for cocaine and/or heroin were: Hackney, 63 per cent.; Nottingham, 58 per cent.; Stafford and Cannock, 47 per cent.

    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions were recorded in each year since 1997 in the Humberside police authority areas for (i) carrying a loaded firearm in a public place, (ii) acquiring a firearm under the age of 17. (iii) being a person under 14 possessing an air weapon or ammunition, (iv) being a person under 14 possessing an air weapon in a public place, (v) supplying an air weapon to a person under 14 and (vi) making improper use of an air weapon. [97722]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    The information contained in the table gives the number of defendants proceeded against and convicted of the various firearms offences requested, in the Humberside police force area, 1997 to 2001.

    Statistics for 2002 will be published in the autumn.

    Number of defendants1 proceeded against at magistrates courts and convicted at all courts2 for certain firearms offences, Humberside, 1997 to 2001
    393W

    Number of defendants1 against at magistrates courts and convicted at all courts2 for certain firearms offences, Humberside, 1997 to 2001

    1997

    1998

    1999

    Offence description

    Statute

    Proceeded against

    Convicted

    Proceeded against

    Convicted

    Proceeded against

    Convicted

    (iv) Person under 17 having with him an air weapon in a public place, (Group III)

    Firearms Act 1968 section 22(5)

    —

    —

    1

    1

    1

    1

    (v) Supplying air weapon to person under 14,(Group III)

    Firearms Act 1968, section 24(4)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    1

    1

    (vi) Person under 14 making improper use of air weapon when under supervision,(Group III)

    Firearms Act 1968 section 23(1)(a)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    2000

    2001

    Offence description

    Statute

    Proceeded against

    Convicted

    Proceeded against

    Convicted

    (See footnote3 for definition of Firearm Groups)(i)Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place

    Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (Group 1)

    Firearms Act 1968 sec. 19 amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 section 157 sch. 8 part III

    1

    1

    —

    —

    Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (group II)

    Ibid.

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Carrying loaded firearm in public place etc. (Group III)

    Ibid

    9

    7

    4

    3

    Total

    10

    8

    4

    3

    (ii) Acquiring a firearm under the age of 17

    Person under 17 acquiring firearm (Group 1)

    Firearms Act 1968 section 22(1)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Person under 17 acquiring firearm (Group II)

    Ibid.

    —

    —

    —

    —

    Person under 17 acquiring firearm (Group III)

    Ibid.

    2

    2

    —

    —

    Total

    —

    —

    —

    —

    (iii) Person under 14 having with him an air weapon or a ammunition therefore,(Group III)

    Firearms Act 1968 section 22(4)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    (iv) Person under 17 having with him an air weapon in a public place,(Group III)

    Firearms Act 1968 section 22(5)

    —

    —

    1

    1

    (v) Supplying air weapon to person under 14, (Group III)

    Firearms Act 1968, section 24(4)

    1

    1

    —

    —

    (vi)Person under 14 making improper use of air weapon when under supervision,(Group III)

    Firearms Act 1968 section 23(1)(a)

    —

    —

    —

    —

    1 These data are on the principal offence basis.

    2 Due to the time lag between committal for trial and appearance at the Crown Court, it is possible for number convicted to exceed those proceeded against in a given year.

    3 For the purposes of recording offences. Firearms are divided into three groups as follows:

    Group 1—All firearms etc. other than those described in Group II and III.

    Group II—Shot guns as defined in section 1(3)(a) of the Act.

    Group III—Air weapons as defined in section 1(3)(b) of the Act.

    Criminal Records Bureau
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for Criminal Records Bureau checks processing will be postponed from March 2003 to 2004. [96589]

    Hilary Benn
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 20 January 2003,Official Report, column 176W.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission an evaluation of the impact of the Criminal Records Bureau on volunteering in deprived communities. [96591]

    Hilary Benn
    We are determined that the operation of the Criminal Records Bureau should benefit the voluntary sector. As part of the Bureau's wider consultation arrangements with its customers, a voluntary and community sector working group has been established whose terms of reference specifically include monitoring the implications of the disclosure service for, and considering how the service should best meet the needs of, the voluntary and community sector.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Record Bureau plans to launch an advisory service to employers about the availability of checks in a variety of countries; how much the contract is valued at; when the contract will expire; how many people are employed in the service; how much his Department is investing in the service; and if he will make a statement. [97141]

    Hilary Benn
    The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) launched an overseas information service on 4 December 2002. This provides information, via a fax-back service, on the criminal record checking regimes available in 15 countries. It is expected that the number of countries included in this service will rise during the course of 2003.

    The aim of the service is to provide employers with information that will lead them to sources of information overseas, beyond those capable of being offered by the CRB, to help them make safer recruitment decisions. The only contracted-out element is the fax-back service operated by iTouch (UK) Limited. The amount received by iTouch (UK) Limited over the period of the contract will depend upon the number of inquiries made to the faxback service. The contract is scheduled to run until December 2005, at which time it will be reviewed. All other aspects of the scheme are administered by civil servants employed by the CRB. Two members of staff undertake this work as part of their other duties. The total measurable cost of providing the service during the current financial year has so far been £3,650.00.

    The overseas information service is a non-statutory service provided by the CRB. Part V of the Police Act 1997 under which the CRB was created did not envisage the CRB obtaining overseas criminal records as part of the Disclosure service. Nevertheless, it was recognised that foreign nationals (and UK nationals returning from a period of residence overseas) make up a significant portion of the UK workforce. These individuals often occupy positions of trust, which would normally attract a CRB Standard or Enhanced
    396W
    Disclosure. However a Disclosure would be of limited use for employers seeking to recruit a foreign national, given that it is unlikely that these individuals would feature on the UK data sources accessed as part of the CRB Disclosure service.

    The faxback service provides information regarding the availability of criminal records from overseas, in particular the application procedure involved in obtaining such records from overseas. Calls are charged at premium rate (£1 per minute). The following 15 countries are featured on the faxback service:

    Australia

    Canada

    Denmark

    France

    Germany

    Jamaica

    Malaysia

    Netherlands

    New Zealand

    Philippines

    Poland

    Republic of Ireland

    South Africa

    Spain

    Sweden

    The overseas information service also comprises an email enquiry facility(overseas@crb.gsi.gov.uk) and a National Rate enquiry line (0870 0 100 450).

    The CRB is not involved in any application made to an overseas authority, nor is it responsible for the processes operated by or the nature of the information returned by that overseas authority. The costs incurred in the financial year 2001–02 amount to just over £25,000. The Overseas project was commissioned by the CRB Chief Executive in May 2001 and was concerned with establishing contact with, and benchmarking against, equivalent agencies overseas. This figure includes a number of fact-finding visits to many of the countries covered by the faxback service. The latest visit was undertaken in December 2001.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what date the Carter report has set for the restoration of checks against the Protection of Vulnerable Adults List; [97207]

    (2) if he will list the (a) milestones and (b) targets that have been set by the Carter Inquiry into the postponement of Criminal Record Bureau checks; and when they are expected to be achieved. [97211]

    Hilary Benn
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 20 January 2003,Official Report, column 175W.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of the(a) enhanced, (b) basic disclosure and (c) standard forms and the (i) old and (ii) new explanatory notes for Criminal Records Bureau checks in the Library. [97210]

    Hilary Benn
    Basic Disclosures are not yet available from the Criminal Records Bureau, and as such Basic Disclosure Application Forms do not yet exist. A single application form is used for Standard and Enhanced
    397W
    Disclosure applications and a copy of this form, along with both original and updated guidance notes, has been placed in the Library.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2003,Official Report, column 911W, on the Criminal Records Bureau, how much was paid to each organisation who conducted research for the Department; and if he will place a copy of each of the evaluations in the Library. [97225]

    Hilary Benn
    The following payments were made to each organisation that conducted research for the Department:

    £

    Research Payments

    Accent Marketing and Research

    16,293,26

    Rosslyn Research Limited

    5,710.50

    A copy of these evaluations will be placed in the Library in due course.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects basic disclosures to be issued again by the Criminal Records Bureau; and if he will make a statement. [97690]

    Hilary Benn
    [holding answer 13 February 2003]: Basic disclosures are not yet available from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). In light of the operational difficulties that the CRB experienced in the summer of 2002, following the launch of the Enhanced and Standard Disclosure Services, the CRB decided to postpone the implementation of the Basic Disclosure Service, planned to start one year after the Enhanced/Standard Disclosure service. A revised implementation date has not yet been agreed and this is conditional upon the recommendations made to Ministers by the Independent Review Team.

    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2003,Official Report, column 72W, what the total cost is of the ex-gratia payments that have been made by the CRB. [98836]

    Hilary Benn
    The total cost of ex-gratia payments made by the Criminal Records Bureau, up to 15 February 2003, is £40,160.

    Daedalus Site
    Mr. Viggers
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department was made aware that the Daedalus site at Lee-on-the-Solent might be available for Home Office purposes. [99014]

    Beverley Hughes
    We announced on 11 February 2003 that we had identified HMS Daedalus as a potential site for an Accommodation Centre. We have put this into 398W
    the public domain because, following preliminary work, we consider the site to be a serious prospect for an Accommodation Centre.

    We first became aware in November 2002 that this site might become available for this purpose.

    Mr. Viggers
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra resources the Home Office will provide for Hampshire Constabulary for the policing of the Daedalus site at Lee-on-the-Solent in the event of the possible residential unit for young male asylum seekers being approved. [99015]

    Beverley Hughes
    The site at HMS Daedalus is being considered as a potential suitable site for an accommodation centre for single male asylum seekers. A final decision has not yet been taken. Detailed consultations have not yet begun.

    Domiciliary Carers (Criminal Record Checks)
    Keith Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the decision to allow employment of domiciliary carers for disabled people without them first being cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau from April 2003. [98553]

    Hilary Benn
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 4 November 2002,Official Report, column 100W.

    Since the beginning of October 2002, the Criminal Records Bureau has issued on average over 40,000 Disclosures per week, and has produced in excess of 1 million Disclosures since 11 March 2002.

    The independent review team, which my right hon. Friend announced last September, submitted its conclusions and recommendations at the end of last year. We hope to publish the team's recommendations, together with the Government's response, shortly.

    Drink-driving Offences
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) drink-driving offences were recorded in each year since 1997 by the police constabulary and (b) successful prosecutions there have been in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [98488]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    Available information on the number of proceedings and convictions for offences of driving whilst impaired by drink or drugs or driving above the specified limit for alcohol in England and Wales is given in the table by police force area. The data cannot be disaggregated between alcohol or drug offences.

    Matters related to Scotland are for the Scottish Executive.
    399W

    Proceedings at Magistrates courts and findings of guilt at all courts for offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs1 by police force area. England and Wales, 1997 to 2001

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    Police force area

    Proceedings

    Findings of guilt

    Proceedings

    Findings of guilt

    Proceedings

    Findings of guilt

    Proceedings

    Findings of guilt

    Proceedings

    Findings of guilt

    Avon and Somerset

    3,114

    2,812

    2,832

    2,566

    2,971

    2,728

    2,719

    2,462

    2,403

    2,197

    Bedfordshire

    1,323

    1,146

    1,167

    1,060

    961

    869

    884

    797

    1,013

    914

    Cambridgeshire

    1,175

    1,092

    1,145

    1,060

    1,022

    941

    882

    793

    880

    813

    Cheshire

    2,165

    1,969

    2,094

    1,903

    2,002

    1,827

    1,899

    1,652

    1,753

    1,529

    Cleveland

    1,029

    926

    947

    870

    912

    811

    858

    777

    973

    887

    Clumbria

    1,017

    931

    927

    856

    925

    871

    874

    806

    810

    761

    Derbyshire

    1,852

    1,612

    1,695

    1,547

    1,613

    1,463

    1,599

    1,417

    1,612

    1,411

    Devon and Cornwall

    2,637

    2,342

    2,531

    2,265

    2,507

    2,277

    2,421

    2,199

    2,594

    2,369

    Dorset

    1,355

    1,214

    1,310

    1,186

    1,223

    1,120

    1,244

    1,115

    1,284

    1,150

    Durham

    1,140

    1,044

    1,134

    1,035

    1,251

    1,137

    1,218

    1,124

    1,181

    1,097

    Essex

    3,010

    2,736

    2776

    2,438

    2,835

    2,528

    2,702

    2,462

    2,717

    2,456

    Gloucestershire

    1,169

    1,067

    1,079

    985

    971

    889

    891

    804

    950

    865

    Greater

    Manchester

    5,235

    4,806

    5,117

    4,715

    5,254

    4,850

    5,186

    4,801

    5,236

    4,715

    Hampshire

    4,099

    3,774

    3,920

    3,597

    4,062

    3,725

    3,812

    3,472

    3,820

    3,464

    Hertfordshire

    1,844

    1,670

    1,835

    1,672

    1,827

    1,679

    1,691

    1,552

    1,826

    1,666

    Humberside

    1,411

    1,274

    1,473

    1,358

    1,410

    1,323

    1,468

    1,371

    1,355

    1,259

    Kent

    2,533

    2,321

    2,853

    2,627

    2,851

    2,633

    2,807

    2,592

    2,861

    2,575

    Lancashire

    3,684

    3,389

    3,204

    2,945

    3,290

    3,010

    2,879

    2,584

    2,570

    2,304

    London, City of

    463

    463

    338

    301

    259

    236

    193

    162

    182

    162

    Merseyside

    3,113

    2,719

    2,760

    2,451

    2,369

    2,137

    2,515

    2,128

    2,513

    2,195

    Metropolitan

    Police

    18,987

    16,165

    16,433

    13,889

    14,720

    12,414

    14,166

    11,801

    13,744

    11,260

    Norfolk

    1,174

    1,116

    1,197

    1,118

    1,070

    1,010

    1,014

    935

    1,293

    1,143

    Northamptonshire

    1,245

    1,107

    1,230

    1,062

    1,228

    1,058

    898

    782

    464

    399

    Northumbria

    2,973

    2,625

    2,786

    2,457

    2,793

    2,463

    2,958

    2,621

    2,850

    2,529

    North

    Yorkshire

    1,481

    1,365

    1,319

    1,205

    1,229

    1,124

    1,160

    1,073

    1,158

    1,066

    Nottinghamshire

    2,270

    2,031

    2,013

    1,804

    2,026

    1,802

    1,951

    1,722

    1,786

    1,598

    South

    Yorkshire

    2,581

    2,296

    2,188

    2,002

    2,076

    1,927

    2,322

    2,122

    2,231

    2,020

    Staffordshire

    2,302

    2,036

    2,163

    1,955

    1,885

    1,711

    2—

    2—

    1,673

    1,513

    Suffolk

    1,156

    1,050

    1,146

    1,042

    1,187

    1,089

    1,002

    902

    1,049

    920

    Surrey

    1,512

    1;380

    1,455

    1,328

    1,538

    1,417

    1,729

    1,539

    2,055

    1,592

    Sussex

    2,658

    2,373

    2,344

    2,113

    2,440

    2,224

    2,327

    2,112

    2,635

    2,358

    Thames Valley

    4,564

    4,070

    4,355

    3,896

    4,192

    3,725

    3,921

    3,496

    3,681

    3,275

    Warwickshire

    908

    837

    855

    784

    927

    856

    855

    786

    955

    880

    West Mercia

    2,093

    1,947

    1,946

    1,794

    1,867

    1,747

    1,741

    1,631

    1,874

    1,740

    West Midlands

    7,185

    6,351

    6,348

    5,582

    5,470

    4,775

    5,212

    4,559

    5,604

    4,914

    West Yorkshire

    4,395

    3,953

    4,100

    3,669

    4,018

    3,597

    3,798

    3,375

    3,739

    3,220

    Wiltshire

    1,120

    1,043

    1,184

    1,108

    1,067

    1,009

    997

    930

    1,127

    1,045

    Total

    England

    104,960

    93,761

    96,888

    86,709

    93,057

    83,567

    89,329

    79,671

    89,172

    78,684

    Dyfed Powys

    1,163

    1,029

    1,102

    995

    1,047

    944

    985

    858

    973

    867

    Gwent

    1,268

    1,166

    1,336

    1,203

    1,226

    1,079

    1,341

    1,211

    1,297

    1,152

    North Wales

    1,496

    1,354

    1,410

    1,306

    1,347

    1,248

    1,430

    1,332

    1,366

    1,227

    South Wales

    3,238

    2,892

    3,309

    2,903

    2,823

    2,526

    3,075

    2,757

    3,175

    2,812

    Total

    Wales

    7,165

    6,441

    7,157

    6,407

    6,443

    5,797

    6,831

    6,158

    6,811

    6,058

    Total

    England and Wales

    112,125

    100,202

    104,045

    93,116

    99,500

    89,364

    96,160

    85,829

    95,983

    84,742

    1Including offences under Road Traffic Act 1988 sec 4(1) and (2); 5(1)(a) and (b); 6(4); 7(6): Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle whilst unfit through drink or drugs (impairment). Driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while having a breath, urine or blood alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit. Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time he/she was driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle. In charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs (impairment). In charge of a motor vehicle while having a breath, urine or blood alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit. In charge of a motor vehicle and failing to provide a specimen for a laboratory test or two specimens for analysis of breath if at the relevant time he/she was driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle. Failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath for a preliminary test. Excluding offences under Road Traffic Act 1988 sec 3A: Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.

    2 Not available (Staffordshire were only able to submit data for a sample of weeks in 2000).

    400W 401W
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has undertaken in relation to drink-driving offences from the sale of alcohol from(a) supermarkets, (b) off-licences and (c) petrol filling station forecourts; and if he will make a statement. [98489]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    No studies have been undertaken on the commission of drink-driving offences relating to alcohol purchased from different retail categories. However, the Home Office has commissioned research that determines where people had been drinking on the most recent occasion they had driven after drinking alcohol: at home; at someone else's home; in a pub/pubs; in a restaurant; in a nightclub/club; outside in a public place (e.g. park, street); or a specified other. The results are currently undergoing analysis.

    The Home Office remains committed to combating drink-driving and shall maintain an emphasis on effective enforcement and publicity. The UK has shown that a combination of rigid enforcement and advertising campaigns has a dramatic effect on reducing the numbers of killed and seriously injured in crashes involving illegal levels of alcohol, although we acknowledge there is still much to do. We are currently looking at the possibilities for helping effective enforcement of drink drive legislation, for example, by introducing roadside evidential testing.

    Drugs
    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number of interventions through the criminal justice system is for a Class A drug misuser before(a) treatment, (b) a drug treatment and testing order and (c) a prison sentence is imposed. [98150]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    Information is not available in the form requested. A range of interventions has been developed at key stages in the criminal justice system which seek to identify and engage drug misusers, particularly those using Class A drugs, in order to access them into drug treatment delivered within a community or custodial setting. Pro-active arrest referral schemes, drug treatment and testing orders, and prison treatment services are available throughout England and Wales. Drug testing under the provisions introduced by the

    Numbers of people proceeded against for drug offences, England and Wales, 1996–2000

    Offence

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    Possession1

    26,927

    33,125

    43,516

    44,603

    40,738

    Dealing2

    2,148

    2,233

    3,875

    3,644

    2,707

    Trafficking3

    4,067

    4,033

    5,561

    5,021

    3,728

    1 The term 'possession' refers to those proceeded against for unlawful possession.

    2 The term 'dealing' refers to those proceeded against for unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful import/export.

    3 The term 'trafficking' refers to those proceeded against for unlawful production, unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply unlawfully and unlawful import/export.

    Source:

    Home Office Research, Development, and Statistics.
    402W
    Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (including testing after charge and pre-sentence) is being piloted and implemented only in certain areas.

    In the Updated Drug Strategy 2002 the Government set out a comprehensive new programme of criminal justice interventions with a view to delivering an integrated "end to end system" aimed at getting drug misusers out of crime into effective treatment.

    Vernon Coaker
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for merging drug action teams and crime reduction partnerships; and if he will make a statement.[98083]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    The Police Reform Act, from 1 April 2003, places a statutory responsibility on local authorities, police and others to formulate and implement a drugs strategy mirroring their responsibility for crime and disorder strategies. Multi-agency partnerships are the most effective way of delivering these strategies, but we currently support separate ones for drugs (149 Drug Action Teams in England) and (376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships in England and Wales). To reduce burdens on partnerships, ensure they are properly resourced and reduce overlaps in the delivery of community safety, this Government believe that partnerships should be brought together, through merger or, where that is truly not feasible, by developing closer working arrangements.

    Many partnerships have merged or will have merged by 1 April 2003. Others, particularly in two tier authorities, are building on already close working relationships, in discussion with Local Strategic Partnerships, where they exist. We expect that, by April 2003, there will have been a complete overhaul in the way partnerships function, and to see improvements in delivery of the National Drug Strategy and local crime and disorder strategies.

    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been through the court system for(a) possession, (b) dealing and (c) trafficking of illegal drugs in each of the last five years. [98178]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    The numbers of people proceeded against for possession, dealing and trafficking in illegal drugs in England and Wales in the last five available years are shown in the table.
    403W
    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been to prison for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these people were from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. [98179]

    Year1

    White

    Black

    South Asian

    Chinese and other

    Unrecorded

    Total

    1998

    6,907

    1.783

    438

    548

    0

    9,676

    1999

    6,823

    2.054

    430

    588

    6

    9,901

    2000

    6,798

    2.189

    456

    607

    5

    10,055

    2001

    6,803

    2.611

    512

    643

    6

    10,575

    2002

    6,860

    3.511

    680

    461

    8

    11,520

    1 June for each year

    Source:

    Prison Population Monthly Brief June 2002

    1Includes all drug offences

    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug treatment and testing orders have been issued to(a) heroin addicts, (b) crack cocaine addicts and (c) poly-drug users since the scheme began. [98148]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    Between 1 October 2000 and 31 December 2002 (which is the latest month for which figures are available) 10,525 orders were made. Information relating to the proportion of Drug Treatment and Testing orders issued to heroin, crack or poly-drug users is not available centrally.

    Iraq
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi citizens he expects to apply for asylum in the United Kingdom in the event of conflict in Iraq. [96164]

    Beverley Hughes
    A number of Iraqi citizens currently seek asylum in the United Kingdom on a weekly basis. It is not clear if the numbers would significantly increase following a conflict in Iraq.

    Home Office officials routinely revise contingency plans to deal with increases in asylum seekers.

    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi refugees the United Kingdom will take in the event of conflict in Iraq. [96166]

    Beverley Hughes
    Home Office officials, in liaison with other Government Departments, routinely revise contingency plans, including those for large influxes of displaced persons.

    There are, at present, no specific plans to take refugees from Iraq.

    Point-of-sale Payment
    Brian Cotter
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from(a) banks and (b) retailers on conversion to microchip and PIN technology for point of sale payment transactions. [99113]

    Mr. Denham
    I met representatives of the Association of Payment and Clearing Services (APACS) on 12 July 2001 and 31 January 2002 to discuss the implementation
    404W
    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    The table shows the prison population in England and Wales under sentence and remand for drug offences1.

    of this technology. Since then I have received regular joint progress reports from APACS and the British Retail Consortium (BRC), as well as from the implementation programme managers.

    The Chief Executive of APACS wrote to me in February and again in October last year to express concern about the possible outcome of an Office of Fair Trading investigation into Mastercard interchange fees. He advised me that a ruling that these fees were uncompetitive would put the implementation of Chip and PIN at risk.

    The programme managers, together with representatives from APACS and the BRC, had a further meeting with Home Office officials on 21 January this year, when they advised that the programme was going well and was on target for implementation in late 2004.

    Police Officers (Brain Injury)
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how frequently serving police officers returning to active duties after traumatic brain injury should be assessed by a clinical psychologist. [98674]

    Mr. Denham
    Police Occupational Health Units in England and Wales will review the case of each officer who has suffered a head injury before they resume duty. Where appropriate, additional psychological tests and treatments are given by either a clinical psychologist or neuropsychologist. The aim of such assessment is to ensure that each force complies with the duty of care described in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

    Prisons
    John McDonnell
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the rights of prison officers to undertake industrial action; and whether the Government plans to review these rights. [97127]

    Hilary Benn
    Section 127 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 makes it unlawful to induce Prison Officers to withhold their services or commit a breach of discipline. For this purpose a breach of discipline means a contravention of Prison Rules or the
    405W
    code of conduct and discipline in the Prison Service. If inducements occur and loss results, the Secretary of State may take legal action against the person or persons so inducing those staff for damages.

    In addition, on the introduction of the Employee Relations Voluntary Agreement in April 2001, the union signatories (Prison Officers' Association (POA) and Prison Governors' Association (PGA)) also agreed not to induce, authorise or support any form of industrial action, which would have the effect of disrupting the operations of the Prison Service. The POA are contractually bound to honour this agreement, which in effect offers protection to the Prison Service against industrial action, in its ability to obtain injunctive relief.

    There are no current plans to review the provisions of the Voluntary Agreement to which the Prison Service remain committed.

    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug misusers under treatment have been(a) arrested and (b) imprisoned since 1 January 2002. [98146]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    Information is not available in the form requested. Emerging evidence from the National Arrest Referral monitoring system provides some data relating to drug misusers who are arrested and voluntarily screened by arrest referral workers.

    Data for October 2000 to September 2001 show that of the 48,810 arrestees screened by an arrest referral worker, 12 per cent. (5,268) were to continue in treatment they were currently receiving. The arrestees concerned are likely to be problematic drug misusers and may not be representative of the wider arrestee population.

    Other research, from the New English and Welsh Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring programme (NEW-ADAM), has shown that of a total sample of arrestees interviewed, 29 per cent. said that they currently had a need for treatment and, of those, nine per cent. said that they were receiving treatment and 29 per cent. said that they were not.

    The numbers of prisoners who have engaged in one or more of the Prison Service's range of drug interventions since 1 January 2002 are shown in the table:

    Drug intervention

    Number of prisoners engaging since 1 January 20021

    Detoxification

    47,811

    CARATs2

    49,675

    Rehabilitation programmes and therapeutic communities

    4,334

    1 The data cover the period 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002

    2 Counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare services—a low-level intervention that provides a gateway assessment, referral and support service to prisoners both within custody and upon their initial release.

    John Mann
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many problematic drug users have been in prison. [98151]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    Records of the actual number of problematic drug-misusing prisoners who pass through custody are not kept centrally by the Prison Service.
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    Data from the Office for National. Statistics show that around 80 per cent. of prisoners have used drugs at some point before coming into prison, with 54 per cent. reporting drug dependency in the year prior to custody. With an annual throughput of approximately 130,000 offenders, an average of 70,000 drug-misusing prisoners may be in custody during the course of a year; with around 39,000 present at any one time.

    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the proportion of(a) the prison population, (b) those going through the court system and (c) those going through the court system charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 whose offending relates to the need to support illegal drug use over the last five years. [98177]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    The numbers of prisoners who have engaged in one or more of the Prison Service's range of drug interventions since 1 January 2002 are shown in the table.

    Prisoners engaging in one or more drug interventions between 1 January and 31 December 2002

    Drug intervention

    Number

    Detoxification

    47,811

    CARATS1

    49,675

    Rehabilitation programmes and therapeutic communities

    4,334

    1 Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare Services—a low-level intervention that provides a gateway assessment, referral and support service to prisoners both within custody and upon their initial release.

    Records of the actual number of problematic drug-misusing prisoners who pass through custody are not kept centrally by the Prison Service. Data from the Office for National Statistics show that around 80 per cent. of prisoners have used drugs at some point before coming into prison, with 54 per cent. reporting drug dependency in the year prior to custody. With an annual throughput of approximately 130,000 offenders, an average of 70,000 drug-misusing prisoners may be in custody over the course of a year.

    The level of detail required about the court system is not collected centrally. However, the NEW-ADAM2 research programme shows that 65 per cent. of arrestees tested positive for one or more illegal drug. 40 per cent. of arrestees reported a connection between their illegal drug use and offending behaviour—and, when those who had committed acquisitive crime were examined, this figure rose to 55 per cent.
    2 New England and Wales Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring programme—a study that collected data from arrestees in police custody during 2000–01.

    Probation Service
    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to(a) increase employment to the Probation Service and (b) ensure that officers have the necessary qualifications, training and experience to manage their caseloads; and if he will make a statement. [98194]
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    Hilary Benn
    Trainee Probation Officers are recruited across England and Wales. This is achieved by an annual recruitment drive and the number of trainee probation officers recruited by this method has increased from 254 in 1998 to 787 in 2002.

    The 2003 recruitment drive will commence on 17 March and will be advertised in the national press. The target number is 1,100, distributed in proportion across the nine regions of England and Wales.

    Trainee probation officers complete the Diploma in Probation Studies over a period of two years. This professional qualification combines work and university based learning.

    Candidates must attain a Community Justice NVQ Level 4 and an undergraduate degree in order to become fully accredited probation officers. The programme is provided in partnership with universities, who work with Regional Training Consortia and the National Probation Directorate.

    The programmes are provided in accordance with the Core Curriculum and Regulatory Framework, administered on behalf of the Home Secretary by the Community Justice National Training Organisation (CJNTO). These documents are reviewed at intervals to ensure that the curriculum is updated to address current best practice. The programmes are subject to regular inspections conducted jointly by the CJNTO and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP).

    In addition, the Probation Service has increased the number of Probation Service Officers and other staff to 8,282 in 2002 from 6,612 in 1998.

    Staff involved in the delivery of Accredited programmes are provided with appropriate training that is subject to rigorous quality assurance as determined by the Joint Accreditation Panel at the point of programme approval.

    Probation areas provide this and other related training via local and regional training units.

    Property Crime
    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the proportion of property crime related to the need of the perpetrator to support illegal drug use in each of the last five years. [98174]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    Recorded crime figures include statistics on drugs offences, such as possession, and on acquisitive crimes, such as burglary, but do not record whether the latter are related to an offender's drug habits.

    However, the New English and Welsh Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (NEW-ADAM) research programme, which involves interviewing and drug testing those arrested by the police, confirms a link between drug misuse and acquisitive crime, including property crimes. Analysis of the data from the first eight sites in the survey, collected during 1999–2000, shows that 65 per cent. of arrestees provided a urine sample that tested positive for one or more illegal drug. The
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    analysis also shows that up to 29 per cent. of arrestees tested positive for opiates (including heroin) and/or cocaine (including crack).

    As a guide to the proportion of crime that is drug-related, analysis of the NEW-ADAM self-report data indicates that while only 21 per cent. of non-drug using arrestees reported having previously offended in the past 12 months, this figure rises to 75 per cent. for those arrestees who use heroin and/or cocaine/crack. Moreover, while users of both heroin and cocaine/crack represented just under one-quarter of all arrestees interviewed, they were responsible for more than three-fifths of all the illegal income reported.

    In support of this, 55 per cent. of arrestees who reported using one or more drugs in the last 12 months and committing one or more acquisitive crimes, acknowledged a link between their drug use and their offending behaviour. This proportion rose to 78 per cent. for arrestees who said they had used heroin and cocaine/crack.

    Recidivism
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the relationship between Class A drug addiction and recidivism among criminal offenders [98138]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    Information is not available in the form requested. However, the New English and Welsh Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring research programme, which involves interviewing and drug testing those arrested by the police at 16 sites throughout England and Wales, currently provides estimates of repeat offending by drug misusing offenders. Repeat offending drug misusing offenders are defined as the proportion of arrestees who are using heroin and/or cocaine and/or crack at least once a week and who have offended at least twice a month in the last 12 months. Analysis of the data from the first eight sites in the survey, collected during 1999–2000, shows the proportion of arrestees falling within the definition of repeat offending drug misusing offenders category was 15 per cent.

    Refuge Provision (Capital Funding)
    Margaret Moran
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what revenue funding will be provided to match the capital funding for new refuge provision announced on 11 December 2002. [98010]

    Mr. McNulty
    I have been asked to reply.

    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 11 December 2002 that it was making available £7 million to the Housing Corporation to increase safe accommodation choices for women and children. This capital funding will be allocated to local authority areas where provision for victims of domestic violence is identified as an unmet need in a homelessness or Supporting People strategy. The Supporting People programme, which will go live on 1 April 2003, will provide revenue funding for housing related support services for vulnerable people, which may include support for victims of domestic violence. In addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be making available £70 million in revenue support for local

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    authorities and voluntary sector organisations in 2003–04 to support their work to tackle and prevent homelessness. These resources can be used to fund support services for victims of domestic violence if this is a priority within a local authority's homelessness strategy.

    Terrorist Attacks
    Gregory Barker
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been taken to ensure the integration of(a) planning and (b) communications between (i) the armed forces, (ii) the emergency services and (iii) volunteer organisations in the event of an NBC terrorist attack in the United Kingdom. [96254]

    Mr. Blunkett
    I chair three Cabinet Committees, which plan the prevention and response to terrorist attack. DOP(IT)(T) which oversees work to strengthen the United Kingdom's defence against terrorism; DOP(IT)(R) which works to build the United Kingdom's resilience and ability to manage the consequences of major emergencies; and the Civil Contingencies Committee which meets in times of crisis to manage the response. Key Government Departments and representatives of the relevant emergency services and agencies, attend these committees. The devolved Administrations are also involved in these committees. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, Crime Reduction and Community Safety, was given the responsibility, on my behalf, for Chemical Biological

    Persons starting probation service supervision by year: community rehabilitation orders1 with drug/alcohol treatment imposed under the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 20002 in England and Wales 1997 to 20013

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    Residential drugs/alcohol treatment

    346

    299

    276

    236

    192

    Non-residential drugs/alcohol treatment

    1,039

    1,394

    1,590

    1,795

    1,133

    Drugs/alcohol treatment by/under qualified medical person

    631

    843

    1,131

    1,101

    793

    Total drug/alcohol treatment

    2,016

    2,536

    2,997

    3,132

    2,118

    1Community rehabilitation order is the new name for a probation order under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.

    2 For 1997 to 2000 this was under the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973.

    3 In compiling probation statistics, each person is counted only once in the total even if several types of additional requirement started in the year. For this reason, the figures quoted above may slightly undercount those undergoing alcohol/drugs treatment.

    Note:

    1. From October 2000, when the Drug Treatment and Testing Order was rolled-out to courts in England and Wales, the power to attach a drug treatment requirement to a community rehabilitation order or community rehabilitation and punishment order was removed. This explains the lower total figures for drug/alcohol treatment requirements in 2001.

    2. It should be noted that these figures represent those starting orders in the respective years, rather than orders made by the courts in each of these years.

    Source:

    Probation Statistics England and Wales, 2001. Table 3.12 (a) and (b).

    Persons starting probation service supervision by year: community rehabilitation and punishment orders1 with drug/alcohol treatment imposed under the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 20002, in England and Wales 1997 to 20013

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    Residential drugs/alcohol treatment

    4

    5

    3

    1

    6

    Non-residential drugs/alcohol treatment

    165

    238

    238

    175

    143

    Drugs/alcohol treatment by/under qualified medical person

    92

    105

    110

    131

    71

    Total drug/alcohol treatment

    261

    348

    351

    307

    220

    1Community rehabilitation and punishment order is the new name for Combination Order under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.

    2 For 1997 to 2000 this was under the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973.

    3 In compiling probation statistics, each person is counted only once in the total, even if several types of additional requirement started in the year. For this reason, the figures quoted above may slightly un dercount those undergoing alcohol/drugs treatment.

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    Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) co-ordination in 2001 and a dedicated team of officials at the Home Office supports him in this work.

    The integration of volunteer organisations in response to civil emergencies of all kinds is co-ordinated through local authority emergency planning officers in accordance with the arrangements set out in the publication "Dealing with Disaster".

    We are continually learning and developing the best way to protect the United Kingdom from terrorism and to manage the consequences of terrorism, in whatever form it comes. However the Government does not give detailed information on CBRN capabilities, as this information could be useful to terrorists.

    Treatment Orders
    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many treatment orders have been given to people with alcoholism in each of the last five years. [98175]

    Mr. Bob Ainsworth
    Powers to impose a drug and/or alcohol treatment requirement, as part of a community rehabilitation order or a community punishment and rehabilitation order, were contained in the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973, now the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. However, statistics for this do not differentiate between alcohol and drugs.

    The table gives figures for the numbers starting community rehabilitation orders and community punishment and rehabilitation orders that contain a drug and/or alcohol element for the years 1997 to 2001.
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    Note:

    1. From October 2000, when the Drug Treatment and Testing Order was rolled-out to courts in England and Wales, the power to attach a drug treatment requirement to a community rehabilitation order or community rehabilitation and punishment order was removed. This explains the lower total figures for drug/alcohol treatment requirements in 2001.

    2. It should be noted that these figures represent those starting orders in the respective years, rather than orders made by the courts in each of these years.

    Source:

    Probation Statistics England and Wales, 2001. Table 3.12 (a) and (b).

    Vulnerable Prisoners
    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women are being held in vulnerable prisoner units in prisons in England and Wales. [96246]

    Hilary Benn
    The number of male prisoners being held in vulnerable prisoner units in prisons in England and Wales was about 3,800 on 31 December 2002. There are no vulnerable prisoner units for women because the number of female prisoners requiring the specialist facilities that such units would provide is minimal and Governors will make specific arrangements for individuals locally.

  MINISTER FOR WOMEN

    Equal Pay
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on the pay gap between women and men. [97717]

    Ms Hewitt
    The pay gap between women and men currently stands at 19 per cent., down from 30 per cent. in 1975 when the Equal Pay Act came into force. The Government are taking action to tackle the complex underlying factors behind the pay gap, including promoting voluntary pay reviews and good practice on equal pay through the Fair Pay Champions and Castle Awards. Denise Kingsmill is chairing a task force "Accounting for People" which is considering human capital reporting by companies and is likely to have significant implications for women in the workplace. The Employment Act 2002 introduces measures to help parents maintain links with the world of work and better balance their work and home lives. These will help women return to the labour market and have a positive impact on the pay gap. The Act also introduces an equal pay questionnaire that will make it easier to tackle pay discrimination in the workplace. All Government Departments are committed to carrying out a pay review by April 2003.

    Equal Opportunities
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Minister for Women what measures she intends to take to encourage the promotion of women into(a) the board of FTSE 100 companies and (b) senior positions in trade unions; and if she will make a statement. [98059]

    Ms Hewitt
    I have welcomed Derek Higgs' proposals on how to widen the pool from which non-executive directors are drawn, which could bring more women into the boardroom. Derek Higgs made proposals for a more rigorous, fair and open appointment process. Subject to consultation on the detailed wording, the Financial Reporting Council intends to put the changes 412W
    to the Combined Code into effect on 1 July. A small group of business leaders and others, led by Professor Laura Tyson of the London Business School, is also being set up to bring to greater prominence candidates, including women, from the non-commercial sector.

    The Women and Equality Unit and TUC held a joint event in November 2002 which aimed at encouraging trade union women to apply for public appointments. This was part of a wider strategy to encourage women to see that they have the skills and confidence necessary to apply for senior positions in public life more generally, including within their own unions.

    I welcome the appointment in January of Frances O'Grady to the position of Deputy General Secretary of the TUC—the first time that a woman has been appointed to this position; and the appointment of Kay Carberry as Assistant General Secretary of the TUC, again the first time a woman has been appointed to this position.

  PRIME MINISTER

    Terrorism
    Mr. Lansley
    To ask the Prime Minister whether he has authorised military aid to the Civil Power in relation to the current terrorist threat to the UK. [98691]

    The Prime Minister
    Following a request from the police, the Government recently authorised a military deployment around Heathrow under the arrangements for providing military aid to the Civil Power. These arrangements have been used on many occasions in the past and will be used again in the future, whenever necessary, to ensure the security of the United Kingdom and its people.

  TRADE AND INDUSTRY

    Arms Exports
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the annual level of export credits for UK arms sales, in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03; and if she will make a statement. [96816]

    Ms Hewitt
    ECGD guarantees in support of exports of defence equipment and services have been provided for the following amounts:—

    Year

    £ million

    1990–91

    778

    1991–92

    534

    1992–93

    1918

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    Year

    £ million

    1993–94

    2112

    1994–95

    756

    1995–96

    893

    1996–97

    394

    1997–98

    727

    1998–99

    1,558

    1999–2000

    1,577

    2000–01

    2,556

    2001–02

    1,030

    2002–031

    1,598

    1To date

    Auditor Liabilities
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she has plans to cap auditor liabilities. [99090]

    Ms Hewitt
    The Government are considering proposals on auditor liability in the Company Law Review and will consult on its own detailed proposals in due course.

    Burma
    Vera Baird
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) which British companies have investments in Burma; [97221]

    (2) what the value of UK investment in Burma, including transfers via dependent territories, was in each of the past two financial years. [97219]

    Ms Hewitt
    HMG has no reliable annual figures on the level of investment from the UK and the dependent territories to Burma. Burmese statistics, which are often inaccurate, suggest total accumulated British investment of about USC1440 million. The most significant British investments are believed to be Premier Oil's, which are currently in the process of being sold, and those of British American Tobacco. We believe that some of the investment identified as being British is actually foreign investment that has been channelled through dependent territories.

    Coal Industry
    Mr. Grogan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the results of the consultation on investment for the coal industry. [98638]

    Mr. Wilson
    I intend to publish shortly a formal response to the consultation on the case for investment aid to the coal industry.

    An outline framework for an investment aid scheme was submitted to the European Commission on 19 December 2002. But a number of important details remain to be finalised, and these are now being worked on in the light of the commitments set out in the Energy Policy White Paper Cm 5761, published on 24 February 2003.

    Electricity
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes in unit payments for 414W
    electricity have resulted from the switch by her Department to purchasing renewable energy which is exempt from the Climate Change Levy. [96485]

    Ms Hewitt
    The actual average price of electricity purchased during 2001–02 was 4.6438 p/KWh compared to the normal price of 4.5978 p/KWh. This is equivalent to an increase of 1 per cent. in the average price paid.

    Entertainment
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the total spending of her Department on entertainment in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if she will make a statement. [92398]

    Ms Hewitt
    The Department of Trade and Industry's total spending on entertainment was as follows;

    £000's

    Year

    Numbers

    1998–99

    704

    1999ߝ2000

    887

    2000–01

    1,089

    2001–02

    1,165

    2002–03

    1,1931

    1 Estimate

    As a result of the implementation of a new accounting system and several Machinery of Government changes, comparable figures are not available prior to 1998–99. This expenditure was incurred primarily in the promotion of British Trade, Science and Innovation, UK Business and Energy.

    Fur (Labelling)
    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research her Department has(a) undertaken and (b) begun to undertake to assess the amount of fur derived from domestic animals labelled in a misleading manner for sale to the public; and if she will make a statement. [98183]

    Ms Hewitt
    The DTI has received professional advice from LGC Ltd. on the possibilities for undertaking DNA testing of products on sale in the UK that are alleged to contain fur of domestic animals. The advice stated that it had not yet been possible to identify a testing method that could reliably determine the specific type of fur that a product contains—i.e. whether such fur has come from a domestic animal or otherwise. I am placing copies of this advice in the Library of the House. We have asked LGC Ltd. to advise us further on the viability and costs of developing such a testing method.

    We are also in discussions with other Governments who are seeking to undertake the same type of testing, to understand the approach they have taken to this problem.

    There are no regulations in place requiring fur from domestic animals to be labelled as such. Where manufacturers choose to label their products, they must provide accurate information and action can be taken to prevent misleading labelling under the Trade Descriptions Act.
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    However, since it is not currently possible to identify products containing specifically domestic animal furs (as explained above), it is also not possible to determine when products have been mislabelled. The Government are working hard to overcome these problems to be able to determine levels of imports of these products, and to identify any labelling problems that may exist.

    Grant Allocations
    Mr. Chaytor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many solar installations have been completed as a result of the grants made available by her Department; what has been the average cost of these installations to(a) her Department and (b) the recipient of the grant; and what carbon dioxide savings are expected as a result of these installations. [98669]

    Mr. Wilson
    By grants for solar installations we assume it is meant the £20 million First Phase of the Major Photovoltaics Demonstration Programme, which was launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 26 March 2002.

    Under Stream 1 of the programme (small individual systems up to 5kWp), 171 applications had been received by the middle of February 2003, of which 45 had been completed. The average cost of these installations to both Government and the recipient is £7,241, as the grants cover 50 per cent. of total costs. Most of the recipients are private homeowners, but there are also a few small businesses, schools and community groups. For the 45 completed installations (average 2kWp), total carbon dioxide savings are expected to be in the region of 29,000 kg a year.

    Under Stream 2 (medium and large-scale installations from 5 to 100kWp), 90 applications have been made, half of which have been supported, but none have so far been completed.

    IT Contracts
    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list IT contracts in her Department above £50 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been. [98999]

    Ms Hewitt
    The core Department has let one IT contract with a lifetime value of more than 50 million in the last 10 years. This is the ELGAR PFI contract for the provision of IT desktop, application support and development, and business re-engineering services.

    The contract was awarded on 27 November 1998 and the initial service became operational on 31 March 1999, as planned. System Acceptance testing of the new desk top service was completed on 30 November 1999, and the system became fully functional on 31 March 2000. Following user acceptance testing, the system was accepted by the Department and the system was fully debugged by 15 July 2000.

    There were no additional costs to the Department for over-runs on this migration.

    Redundancy
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the remedies to UK employees of multinationals who have been made redundant without the required(a) process of consultation, (b) notice, (c) definition of the criteria for selection for redundancy and (d) evidence that the post has become surplus to requirements. [98251]

    Alan Johnson
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: There is legislation in place to protect employees if they are affected by redundancy. Employees can seek redress through the employment tribunals or, in some cases, the civil courts.

    (a) Consultation—Employers in the UK are under a statutory obligation to inform and consult employee representatives about proposed collective redundancies—that is, where they propose to make 20 or more redundancies at one establishment within a 90 day period. The consultation must be conducted in good faith, and must cover ways of avoiding the redundancies, or of reducing their numbers or mitigating their effects. Employee representatives may complain to an employment tribunal where they consider these obligations have not been fulfilled. The tribunal can make a protective award of up to 90 days' pay to each affected employee.

    (b) Notice—depending on length of service both the employer and the employee are entitled to a minimum period of notice. Under the legislation this varies depending on how long the employee has been employed, from one week where he/she has been continuously employed for one month or more but less than two years, up to twelve weeks where continuously employed for 12 years or more. An individual employment contract may specify a longer period of notice. Employees who consider that they have incurred loss because they have not been given the minimum notice to which they are entitled under the legislation or under their contracts of employment, can bring actions for damages in the civil courts, or (if the employment has ended) in the employment tribunals.

    (c) Criteria for selection—In, a collective redundancy case, the employer must disclose to employee representatives certain information in writing including the proposed method of selecting the employees who may be dismissed. Failure to do so is again enforceable through an employment tribunal.

    (d) Redundancy is in principle, a fair reason for dismissal. However, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions, employees can complain of unfair dismissal through an employment tribunal if they believe that they have been unfairly selected for redundancy, that the employer otherwise acted unreasonably in dismissing them or that redundancy was not in fact the genuine reason for dismissal. The remedies available in a case where a tribunal finds in the employee's favour are reinstatement or re-engagement or a monetary award of compensation.

    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her assessment of the relative susceptibility to being made
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    redundant of employees of multinationals operating within the EU of (a) British, (b) Dutch, (c) French and (d) other EU companies. [98252]

    Alan Johnson
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: Job losses due to restructuring or plant closure are reported all over Europe and recent examples of this include Dresdner Bank, Siemens and Mobilcom in Germany, HP-Compaq and Bull in France, Lucent Technologies in the Netherlands, Fiat in Italy, Alcatel in Belgium, and Santander in Spain. In some cases these job losses are part of European or global restructuring programmes, for example, Alcatel, Ericsson and Nokia. UK firms, like those on the Continent, are subject to legislation implementing the EC Directive on Collective Redundancies designed to protect employees affected by redundancies. This requires consultation of employee representatives before collective redundancies can be made. Consultation must be undertaken in good faith with a view to reaching agreement, and must include ways of avoiding the dismissals, reducing the number of employees to be dismissed, and mitigating the consequences of the dismissals. The detailed rules vary from country to country, for example, some EU countries have more lengthy consultation periods than others. The law in the UK provides greater protection in certain respects than that in other Member States. For example, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden do not, unlike the UK, have a statutory requirement for severance pay. And UK law treats workers more equally in the event of redundancy than workers in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy and Luxembourg where blue-collar workers receive lower levels of protection than white-collar workers. The system in the UK is relatively transparent and the costs involved for employers and the length of the process are predictable, unlike in many other EU countries. The Government believes that firms should not face excessive barriers to making redundancies that add to the uncertainty and time involved in what is a painful process. To do so could deter investment, and result in fewer jobs overall, not more.

    Official Visits
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what official visits(a) the Minister for Science and (b) the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government have made in each of the last three years in their scientific role. [98966]

    Ms Hewitt
    My noble Friend the Minister for Science and Innovation and the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister have both undertaken a large number of visits to companies, universities and organisations in this country and overseas.

    The overwhelming majority of these have been in their respective scientific capacities.

    Recruitment Consultants
    Gareth Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the other appointments the recruitment consultants used in the appointment of the Director General of Ofgen have advised her on; and if she will make a statement. [86203]
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    Mr. Wilson
    Price WaterhouseCoopers were one of the firms of recruitment consultants retained by the Department on call-off contracts in 1998, and assisted in this particular recruitment. No central records are held on other appointments on which the firm may have assisted.

    Royal Mail Investigation Branch
    Mr. Swayne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the powers of entry, search and arrest employed by the investigation branch of the Royal Mail. [97787]

    Mr. Timms
    Responsibility for enforcement policy for criminal offences under the Postal Services Act 2000 (the Act) is a matter for the Postal Services Commission (PostComm) who on 10 January 2003 published a decision document and statement of policy on these matters. Under the terms of its policy PostComm would look to Royal Mail to take the necessary enforcement action where offences are committed in relation to its postal services under Sections 83–88 of the Act.

    Royal Mail is recognised by the Home Office as a non-police law enforcement body. They have no special powers to enter or search premises. Royal Mail investigators will only enter and search with the consent of the appropriate parties. Royal Mail investigators have the powers of arrest of a citizen as outlined in S24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984; they have no enhanced rights to effect an arrest.

    Royal Mail Group plc has no plans to seek any changes to the existing powers that apply to its investigators.

  FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

    Middle East
    Claire Ward
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine [98792]

    Mr. Straw
    A settlement of the dispute between the Israelis and the Palestinians would, we believe, enhance global security, including the security of both the immediate region and the United Kingdom. This is why the Prime Minister has led the way, through political and practical support for the Quartet, in working for renewed negotiation towards the realisation through the roadmap towards President Bush's vision of a two state solution in 2005.

    Mr. Brazier
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Government on establishing a Palestinian state; and if he will make a statement. [98802]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    The establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is at the heart of President Bush's vision of a final settlement, as set out in his speech of 24 June 2002. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, FCO officials and I are in constant touch with US colleagues on how to realise
    419W
    that vision. We agree with them that the Quartet and its road map provide the right mechanism, and have given both our full support.

    Martin Linton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will table a resolution under chapter VII of the United Nations charter to impose a duty on Israel to halt and withdraw illegal settlements in the occupied territories. [98805]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    We have no plans to table a UN Resolution on Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465 state that they are illegal. The Government have made it clear that an early settlement freeze is essential to the continuing viability of the two-state solution.

    Our priority for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be the implementation of those Security Council Resolutions already passed; most recently, Resolution 1435, which calls for a complete cessation of violence, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities and action by the Palestinian Authority to bring those responsible for acts of terror to justice. The UK played a leading role in the adoption of this resolution. We remain committed to further Security Council action, wherever this will be useful.

    Mr. Best
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's activities in seeking a Middle East peace settlement. [98414]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    We fully support the efforts of the Quartet to restart a peace process leading via the Roadmap it agreed on 20 December to a realisation in 2005 of President Bush's vision of a two-state solution. That support is both political and practical. We convened the London meeting on Palestinian reform and nation-building in January; it was a British initiative during the hiatus in Quartet activity caused by the Israeli election campaign. From 18–20 February we hosted meetings of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee and Task Force on Reform. We remain ready to do all we can to underpin and complement Quartet activity.

    Dr. Iddon
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.[98798]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier in the House today to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire.

    Syria (Kidnapped Israeli Soldiers)
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with President Assad of Syria regarding kidnapped Israeli soldiers.[98795]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    I raised this issue with the Syrian Foreign Minister during the Syrian President's official visit to the UK on 16 to 18 December 2002.

    Iraq
    Mr. Leigh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iraq. [98796]
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    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier in the House today by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake).

    Zimbabwe
    Mr. Bellingham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa on the search for a peaceful settlement to the Zimbabwe crisis. [98797]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    We have regular contact with the South African Government and have shared with them our view of the problems in Zimbabwe. We have stressed our deep concern about the humanitarian situation. We have made our position clear: we want a return to good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last discussed Zimbabwe with President Mbeki at Chequers on 1 February 2003.

    Cyprus
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Annan plan for Cyprus. [98799]

    Mr. MacShane
    My hon. Friend's timely question enables me to commend to the House this morning's written statement on Cyprus by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. He praised the UN Secretary-General's skilful moves to bring the Cyprus peace process to a head, and explained what Britain is doing to help the UN bring the parties to agreement. A copy of this written statement was placed in the Library of the House on 25 February 2003.

    Mr. Love
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to promote a settlement in Cyprus. [98804]

    Mr. MacShane
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today in the House to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore).

    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department makes available for projects that involve members of the(a) Greek and (b) Turkish communities in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [98093]

    Mr. MacShane
    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides and administers two funds which finance projects in Cyprus.

    In recent years, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's EU Action Plan, with a budget of £100,000 per annum has been used to finance projects such as EU accession seminars and training courses, for both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. These projects have been run in conjunction with the British Council and have been very successful.

    Each year a portion of the Global Conflict Prevention Fund has also been allocated to fund projects such as training courses in both the north and the south of the island.
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    The British High Commission in Nicosia has made a significant contribution to bringing Cypriots of both communities together in a number of bi-communal projects.

    European Security and Defence Policy
    Mr. Swayne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his French and German counterparts to discuss EU foreign and security policy. [98800]

    Mr. MacShane
    My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently met his French and German counterparts to discuss EU Common Foreign and Security Policy on 17 February 2003.

    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the European Security and Defence Policy. [98801]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    The comprehensive agreement between NATO and the EU, reached in December 2002, ensures that the European Security and Defence Policy of the EU will be based on close co-operation with NATO. The Government welcome this strategic partnership in crisis management. The EU and NATO are now finalising the detailed arrangements to give effect to this agreement. The EU has already expressed its willingness to take over from NATO the stabilisation mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

    Iran (Human Rights)
    Mr. Pope
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to raise the issue of human rights with his Iranian counterparts. [98803]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    Her Majesty's Government have an ongoing dialogue with Iran on human rights. I and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary make a point of raising human rights whenever we see our Iranian counterparts and will continue to do so.

    Asset Recycling Programme
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the proceeds to his Department from the asset re-cycling programme agreed with HM Treasury for the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [98440]

    Mr. Rammell
    The FCO achieved £90 million from recycling in the financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02.

    Chemical Weapons Convention
    Harry Cohen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the prohibitions on the use of(a) riot control agents and (b) other disabling chemicals as a method of warfare contained in the Chemical Weapons Convention 1993 would apply to potential conflict in the Gulf. [98166]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    All States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) have undertaken not to use any toxic chemical or its precursor, including riot control agents (RCAs), as a method of warfare. This 422W
    applies in any armed conflict. RCAs are defined in the CWC as any chemical not listed in a Schedule which can produce rapidly in humans sensory irritation or disabling physical effects which disappear within a short time following termination of exposure. (A chemical listed in a Schedule is one identified for the application of verification measures under the CWC.)

    Davinderpal Singh Bhullar
    John McDonnell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of representations to the Indian Government in the case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar. [98452]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    We have made no specific representations to the Government of India over the case of Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar. In conjunction with the EU, we have demarched India about their use of the death penalty most recently in June 2001. We continue to follow Professor Bhullar's case closely, and are in discussions with EU partners over possible courses of action to take. Foreign Office officials met Professor Bhullar's wife on 12 February to discuss the case.

    Defence Exports (India)
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he has made to guidance on export licensing, with particular reference to sales of defence equipment and technology to India, following the India-Iran defence cooperation agreement signed on 19th January. [99076]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    There has been no change to the Government's policy for considering arms export licence applications for India in light of any defence cooperation between India and Iran. We continue to consider all applications on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and the prevailing situation. All export licences will continue to be issued subject to the condition that the stated end-user will not re-export the equipment to a third country or end-user outside the terms of the licence.

    Departmental Consultations
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list consultations his Department has conducted since 1997; and when each consultation(a) opened and (b) closed. [97422]

    Mr. Straw
    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has conducted the following public consultations since 1997:

    1. Panel 2000: Consultation Document. Presented to Parliament on 10 September 1998 and closed on 15 November 1998. The website address is
    http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/panel2000,0.pdf

    2. International Criminal Court: Consultation on draft legislation. Presented to Parliament on 1 August 2000 and closed on 12 October 2000. The website address http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/icc.pdf

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    3. Private Military Companies: Options for Regulation. Presented to Parliament on 12 February 2002 and closed on 12 August 2002. The website address is: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/mercenaries,0.pdf

    4. Strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Countering the Threat from Biological Weapons. Presented to Parliament on 12 February 2002 and closed on 13 September 2002. The website address is:

    http://www.fco.gov.uk/Eiles/kfile/btwc290402.pdf

    Departmental Properties
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the(a) market value and (b) same use value of FCO-owned land and buildings; and if he will make a statement. [98377]

    Mr. Rammell
    The current Existing Use Value of the FCO estate at home and overseas is £1,026 million. The Open Market Value is £914 million.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the(a) same use value and (b) market value of the FCO properties at (i) Buenos Aires, Argentina, (ii) Bridgetown, Barbados, (iii) Santiago, Chile, (iv) Alexandria, Egypt, (v) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, (vi) Helsinki, Finland, (vii) Bordeaux, France, (viii) Lyon, France, (ix) Marseilles, France, (x) Paris, France and (xi) Strasbourg, France; what plans he has to sell these properties; and if he will make a statement. [98381]

    Mr. Rammell
    The existing use values (EUV) and open market values (OMV) of FCO properties in the overseas posts in question is as follows:

    FCO overseas properties: EUV and OMV

    £000

    Post

    EUV

    OMV

    Abuja

    7,400

    7,400

    Accra

    6,572

    7,670

    Addis Ababa

    7,374

    0

    Alexandria

    511

    511

    Ankara

    6,030

    0

    Atlanta

    902

    902

    Bangkok

    6,077

    14,088

    Berlin

    6,521

    5,385

    Bombay

    1,687

    1,687

    Bordeaux

    293

    293

    Boston

    4,087

    4,087

    Bratislava

    2,702

    2,702

    Bridgetown

    3,044

    3,044

    Buenos Aires

    3,427

    3,427

    Calcutta

    1,419

    1,419

    Guatemala City

    3,755

    3,755

    Helsinki

    11,276

    11,276

    Hong Kong

    69,550

    0

    Houston

    1,184

    1,184

    Kaduna

    400

    400

    Kingston

    3,247

    3,247

    Lagos

    20,900

    20,925

    Los Angeles

    2,645

    2,645

    Lyon

    0

    0

    Madras

    893

    2,078

    Marseilles

    362

    362

    Munich

    0

    0

    Muscat

    5,007

    1,325

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    FCO overseas properties: EUV and OMV

    £000

    Post

    EUV

    OMV

    Naples

    0

    0

    New Delhi

    40,820

    7,023

    Paris

    62,497

    62,497

    Riyadh

    4,344

    4,344

    Rome

    41,784

    41,784

    Santiago

    6,308

    6,308

    Seattle

    685

    685

    Singapore

    45,246

    8,103

    Strasbourg

    580

    580

    Tokyo

    55,184

    0

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today, UIN 98441, for details of individual properties at these posts which are in the process of being sold, or which are currently being considered for sale.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the(a) same use value and (b) market value of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office properties at (i) Whitehall/King Charles Street, London, (ii) Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes, (iii) Old Admiralty Building, Whitehall, (iv) 1 Carlton Gardens, London and (v) Lancaster House, London; and what plans he has to sell these properties; and if he will make a statement. [98390]

    Mr. Rammell
    The existing use values (EUV) and realisable open market values (OMV) of the FCO properties in the home estate are as follows:

    (a) London Main Building: EUV £50 million, OMV £50 million

    (b) Hanslope Park: EUV £11.5 million, OMV £11.5 million

    (c) Old Admiralty Building: EUV £25 million, OMV £25 million.

    1 Carlton Gardens and Lancaster House are not owned by the FCO but leased from the Crown Estate.

    The FCO has no plans to sell any of its properties in the home estate.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to sell FCO properties in(a) Hong Kong, (b) Singapore and (c) France; and if he will make a statement. [98439]

    Mr. Rammell
    We are currently selling two staff flats in Paris but have no properties on the market in Hong Kong or Singapore.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which FCO properties his Department is(a) contracted to sell and (b) trying to sell; what sales proceeds are expected in each year to 2005–06; and if he will make a statement. [98441]

    Mr. Rammell
    The FCO has currently outstanding instructions to proceed to the exchange of contracts for the sale of six properties overseas. We have also instructed agents to offer a further 23 properties for sale. I am withholding part of the information requested Under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Third Party's Commercial Confidence), as valuations remain confidential until contracts are exchanged in order to maximise the return from sales.
    425W

    FCO property sales as at 18 February 2003

    Post

    Address

    Sale considered or under way but not yet in contract

    Kuala Lumpur

    432 Jalan Tun Razak

    Nairobi

    2 Kenya Road

    Nairobi

    3 Kenya Road

    Port Louis

    Trent Lodge

    Pretoria

    218 Crown Avenue

    Beirut

    Abey Villa

    Tunis

    Part of Habous Field

    Gothenburg

    Residence Stenkleviden

    Madrid

    Avenida Ahones 9

    Madrid

    Chalet 33 La Moralejo

    Madrid

    Flat 4 floor 5 Cerro de Castanar

    Paris

    Flat 146 34 Marc Chagall

    Paris

    Flat 148 34 Marc Chagall

    Budapest

    Flat 1 Kikelet

    Budapest

    Flat 2 Kikelet

    Budapest

    Flat 3 Kikelet

    Caracas

    Office Torre Las Mercedes

    Guatemala

    Avenida 7ta

    New York

    4 East 66th Street

    Madrid

    Cerro de Valdematin

    Kiev

    Plot Redbouutnaya Street

    Street 9

    Lima

    Plaza Washington

    Washington

    76 Kalorama Drive

    In contract but not yet completed:

    Port of Spain

    36 Elizabeth Street

    Capetown

    91 Parliament Street

    Nairobi

    Maji Mazuri

    Amman

    Mufti House

    Madrid

    Flat 4 floor 4 Cerro de Castanar

    Bridgetown

    DS10 House 4 Square

    The target for the Third Triennium (financial years 2003–04 to 2005–06) is for £100 million of gross sales. The amount realised in each of the three years will depend heavily on market conditions and changing operational requirements.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used to decide whether to possess an embassy or consular building in a particular(a) city and (b) country; and if he will make a statement. [98376]

    Mr. Rammell
    If accommodation is required in a particular city or country, the value for money offered by freehold purchase as opposed to leasing is assessed by comparing the costs and benefits of the two options using the techniques prescribed by the Treasury's guidance on appraisal and evaluation in Central Government (the "Green Book"). A decision to purchase a property freehold or long leasehold will also depend on whether the requirement is permanent, whether foreign governments are permitted to acquire such interests and whether, in practice, they are available on the market, and whether a purchase can be funded from the FCO's budget for capital investment.

    In addition to using Treasury Appraisal techniques when deciding whether or not to purchase property freehold, the FCO monitors the value for money provided by its existing freehold and long leasehold estate using similar criteria to check that the retention of an owned property remains a better option than leasing.
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    EC Accession (Poetry on the Underground)
    Mr. Austin Mitchell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding he has made available to London Underground Limited to display multi-lingual poetry to mark the 30th anniversary of United Kingdom accession to the European Community. [98475]

    Mr. MacShane
    A total of £15,000 was made available to cover: design and production of nine different bilingual posters; 2,000 advertising spaces in carriages for a period of eight weeks, and the design and production of 5,000 booklets containing 25 poems representing all 15 member states.

    E-mail Addresses
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what e-mail address members of the public may contact(a) his and (b) each of the Ministers in his Department; and for each e-mail address if he will state (i) the date it became active, and (ii) the number of e-mails received in each month since activation. [97464]

    Mr. Rammell
    All FCO Ministers may be contacted via a feedback form on the FCO website, www.fco.gov.uk/feedback. This has been the case since 1997. We do not hold statistics for messages received via this means.

    In addition, the Minister for Europe can be contacted on ministereurope@fco.gov.uk This address was activated in December 2000. Figures for E-mails received are:

    December 2000: 8 to February 2002: 124

    January 2001: 9 to March 2002: 100

    February 2001: 11 to April 2002: 116

    Mar 2001:40 to May 2002: 92

    April 2001: 34 to June 2002: 63

    May 2001: 6 to July 2002:91

    June 2001: 3 to August 2002: 55

    July 2001:5 to September 2002: 133

    August 2001: to October 2002: 142

    September 2001: 79 to November 2002:90

    October 2001: 121 to December 2002: 56

    November 2001: 193 to January 2003: 104

    December 2001: 82 to February 2003: 721

    January 2002:82 to February 2003:72

    1So far to 7 February 2003.

    European Constitution
    Mr. Leigh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to ensure that a draft European constitution reflects Europe's religious heritage. [98042]

    Mr. MacShane
    The EU is a multicultural group of States with a large non-Christian population.Britain is itself a multi-cultural and multi-faith society. Any reference in the EU's constitutional Treaty would need to reflect this diversity, which is one of the greatest strengths of both Britain and the EU. That said, it is difficult to see what such a Treaty reference would add.
    427W
    Article 10 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights already states that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

    Intergovernmental Conference
    Stephen Hesford
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Intergovernmental Conference on a Future Treaty of the EU to begin work; and if he will make a statement. [98068]

    Mr. MacShane
    The timing of the next Intergovernmental Conference has not yet been confirmed. The Convention on the Future of Europe is due to present its results at the June 2003 European Council.

    Malcolm Rennie/Brian Peters
    Ann Clwyd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether his Department has made recent representations to the Indonesian Government about the need to co-operate fully with UN officials in connection with the investigation into the deaths of the two British newsmen. [98872]

    (2) when recently released representations were first made by Her Majesty's Government to the Indonesian authorities about the deaths of Brian Peters and Malcolm Rennie; and whether he will list those representations made before June 1996. [98870]

    (3) when his Department was first informed of the circumstances in which the two British newsmen died in Indonesia. [98871]

    Mr. Mike O'Brien
    We cannot provide details of what representations were made by HMG before June 1996 about the deaths of Brian Peters and Malcolm Rennie because of the disproportionate costs involved in researching the answer.

    Our Embassy in Jakarta reported on 24 October 1975 that five journalists from Australia had been killed during an attack on Fretilin forces in Balibo on 16 October 2003, and that the Australian Embassy had confirmed that two of the journalists, Brian Peters and Malcolm Rennie, were British citizens.

    On 30 August 2002, at the UK's instigation, the EU urged the Indonesian Attorney General to co-operate with the UN investigation into the death of Brian Peters and his colleagues. We will continue to raise this issue with the Indonesian authorities.

    Online Sales/Purchases
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by his Department in each of the last five years. [97465]

    Mr. Rammell
    This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The amount of fully online purchasing is limited, but for example we do currently buy some books, publications and technical supplies by this route. More generally we have increased 428W
    the amount of business that is carried out in part by "e-procurement" methods and this will be further expanded when the FCO's new financial management system comes into operation later this year.

    Overseas Students
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many overseas students were awarded FCO scholarships in each of the last five years; what their country of origin was; what the total cost was of the scheme for each year; and if he will make a statement. [98437]

    Mr. MacShane
    In 1998–99 2,196 overseas students were awarded FCO scholarships, at a cost of £39 million. In 1999–2000 2,300 scholarships were awarded at a cost of £40 million. In 2000–01 2,470 scholarships were awarded at a cost of £45 million. In 2001–02 2,510 scholarships were awarded at a cost of –46 million. In 2002–03 we expect to award 2,574 scholarships at a cost of –47 million.

    These figures include scholars studying in the UK under the Chevening programme, the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan, the Marshall scholarships and Atlantic Fellowships. The cost includes contributions from the FCO, other Whitehall Departments and devolved Administrations, the private sector, and the higher education institutions.

    The scholars came from more than 150 countries, territories and regions. I will write to the hon. Member, with further information.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's policy toward awarding scholarships to overseas students. [98438]

    Mr. MacShane
    The FCO scholarships programme consists of Chevening scholarships, a contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan, and Marshall scholarships and Atlantic Fellowships for US citizens. The FCO believes it is in the UK's interest to attract top graduates and young professionals from overseas to study in this country. These individuals will go on to be tomorrow's leaders, opinion formers and decision makers in their own countries.

    The FCO is working with other Whitehall Departments and the Devolved Administrations, the private sector, and UK Higher Education Institutions to increase the number of Chevening scholarships as part of the Prime Minister's Initiative to increase the number of overseas students studying in the UK.

    Palestine (EU Aid)
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the European Commission regarding allegations of EU aid to Palestinian territories being directed into funding terrorist activities; and if he will make a statement. [98035]

    Mr. MacShane
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the to the hon. Member for Hertsmere (Mr. Clappison) on 11 February 2003,Official Report, column 726W. The European Commission took part in the London meeting on Palestinian reform on 14

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    January 2003 where issues of financial management were discussed. The European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten, has welcomed the decision of the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF on 5 February 2003 to investigate allegations of misuse of funds donated by the EU in the context of EU budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority.

    UK Companies (Competitiveness)
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the expenditure of his Department, in enhancing the competitiveness of UK companies abroad in the latest year for which information is available; what contribution to this spending was made by the companies which benefited; and if he will make a statement. [98434]

    Mr. Rammell
    Enhanced competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas sales and investment is the objective of Trade Partners UK (TPUK), which is part of British Trade International. The latest available figures for TPUK funding are set out in the table.

    £million

    Budget

    2001–02 TPUK Outturn

    Programme

    Expenditure

    61

    Income

    -2

    Administration costs

    DTI

    28

    FCO1

    136

    Capital

    Category of vehicle

    Number of vehicles

    Percentages replaced on an annual basis

    Petrol

    Diesel

    LPG/Electric

    Cars

    16

    12

    5

    6

    5-LPG

    Light Goods Vans

    14

    15

    —

    13

    1-electric

    Minibuses

    4

    25

    —

    3

    1-LPG

    Heavy Goods

    Replaced between

    Vehicles

    5

    5–7 years

    —

    5

    —

    All UK fleet vehicles meet current government targets for emission levels. 18 per cent. of our fleet is LPG/ Electric. Alternative fuel and improved emission levels are always a factor in decisions on the purchase of new vehicles.

    There is no standard replacement period for vehicles held by FCO's overseas posts. The timing depends on local circumstances and conditions including the availability of adequate maintenance facilities. The type of fuel used by the fleet of some 1400 vehicles is split between petrol (60 per cent.) and diesel (40 per cent.). Around 35 cent. of the fleet is purchased in the UK and good environmental performance was one of the criteria used to decide the award of the relevant contracts. Consequently vehicles supplied under these arrangements meet current government targets on emission levels.
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    £ million

    Budget

    2001-02 TPUK Outturn

    DTI

    5

    FCO

    1

    1 FCO administration costs are shown for the whole of BTI. The figure cannot be broken down between TPUK and Invest UK funding.

    Note:

    FCO admin spend for 2001–02 represents the net operating costs as set out in the FCO Expenditure Allocation Report 2001–02.

    Vehicle Fleets
    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the annual rate is at which his Department and its agencies renew their vehicle fleets, by(a) volume and percentage for each category of vehicle, (b) type of power unit and (c) type of fuel; and what progress has been made on the replacement of vehicles on a lower emissions basis in the last three years. [96558]

    Mr. Rammell
    Reducing vehicle emissions is a key transport issue, which has been agreed as a priority across Government. Against a baseline year of 2002/03, all Departments are aiming by 31 March 2006 to reduce road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions by at least 10 per cent. and requiring at least 10 per cent. of all fleet cars to be alternatively fuelled. Progress against these targets will be reported in "Sustainable Development in Government" annual reports. The first full report against the Framework will be in 2003, reporting against the baseline year of 2002–03.

    In UK the FCO has a rolling replacement programme to renew its fleet vehicles. Details are shown in the following table:

    Our Agency, the Wilton Park Conference Centre, has three vehicles (two diesel and one petrol). Given the size of the fleet there is no formal replacement programme. Alternative fuel and lower emission options will be considered in future purchases.

    Venezuela
    Mr. Borrow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to promote political stability in Venezuela. [98781]

    Mr. MacShane
    We are in regular and extensive contacts with the Venezuelan Government and opposition, with EU partners and members of the Group of Friends supporting the OAS facilitation efforts, we have stressed the importance of respect for the constitution and for democratic principles.

    Visa Fees
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the real level of UK visa fees; and if he will make a statement. [98430]

    Mr. Rammell
    It has been the policy of successive Administrations that visa fees be set at a level to ensure that the full cost of providing the entry clearance service worldwide is met from fee income and that the UK taxpayer does not have to meet any of the costs. This continues to be our aim. There is also a Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) with the Treasury that there will be no increase in the real level of fees against a baseline set in 1997. The increase in fees made in July 2002 kept us within this SDA target.

    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money was collected in visa fees for the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [98473]

    Mr. Rammell
    Income from visa fees in financial year 2001–02 amounted to £77,403,853.

  DEFENCE

    Anti-rabies Tests
    Mr. Peter Duncan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason Dundrennan Range was selected as the base range for anti-rabies tests; what statutory agencies were consulted over the testing; what plans there are for further such testing; and if he will make a statement on anti-rabies testing at Dundrennan Range. [88643]

    Mr. Morley
    I have been asked to reply.

    The trial was authorised by Defra Ministers and the Central Science Laboratory obtained licences from the Home Office for working with foxes; from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) for the use of the experimental poison (T3327) and from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to use means to reduce the risks to resident badgers on the study area. With agreement of MOD, the trial took place at a military training site with very restricted access to the public in Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. Local residents with access rights to the site, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), were informed of the trial, which was carried out between 27 August and 15 September 2002. The poison baits were laid on 4 September and picked up on 7 September. The trial was successful in obtaining data required and there are no plans to repeat such a trial.

    Biological/Chemical Weapons
    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use by HM armed forces of biological and chemical weapons in future conflicts. [98837]

    Mr. Hoon
    The United Kingdom gave up its offensive biological and chemical weapons capabilities in the 1950s. As a state party of both the Chemical Weapons 432W
    Convention (CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), the United Kingdom has renounced the use of such weapons.

    We have played a leading role in the negotiations both of the BTWC of 1975, for which we are a depository Government, and the CWC which entered into force in 1997. We are fully compliant with our obligations under both conventions and continue to press for their full and effective implementation. The Government's policy is to work toward universal adoption of the CWC and BTWC and universal compliance with their obligations. The strength of our political commitment to both conventions is second to none.

    Bullying (Bovington Camp)
    Mr. McNamara
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recommendations have been made to improve protection against bullying at Bovington Camp, Dorset since October 2002; and what compensation has been paid to victims. [97832]

    Dr. Moonie
    So far as I am aware, no recommendations have been made to improve protection against bullying at Bovington Camp, Dorset since October 2002. It is standard practice for each new intake of recruits to be briefed personally by the Commanding Officer within 24 hours of arriving at Bovington on the Army's anti-bullying policy, outlining complaints procedures and welfare support. In addition, on arrival all military instructors must be fully conversant with the Army's zero tolerance stance on bullying and educated to spot the signs of any such behaviour. The Army's policy on harassment or bullying is clear: all incidents and allegations are taken extremely seriously and a thorough investigation is carried out in response to all formal complaints. Furthermore, appropriate action is taken against any individual(s) found guilty of practising or condoning such behaviour.

    Information about compensation paid by the Ministry of Defence could lead to the identification of specific individuals. Accordingly, for reasons of confidentiality and the provisions of the Data Protection Act, it is not Ministry of Defence policy to release such information without the consent of the individuals involved.

    Crichel Down Rules
    Mr. Flook
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times in each of the last 10 years the Crichel Down rules were applied by the Ministry of Defence; when the last occasion was; and in how many cases in each of the last 10 years MOD land subject to the rules reverted to the original owners. [98853]

    Dr. Moonie
    Information concerning the number of cases over the last 10 years where land reverted to the original owners is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The most recent case where the rules were found to apply was to agricultural land at Wroughton and the sale to the former owner completed on 27 January 2003.

    The Ministry of Defence considers the application of the Crichel Down rules for all surplus sites as part of the disposal process. Where it is found that the rules apply,

    433W
    the site is offered back to the former owner at current market value. The land is not offered back to the former owner where, for instance, the use of the land has materially changed or where there are several former owners and a fragmented sale would realise less than a sale of the whole.

    Mr. Flook
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will decide on the application of Crichel Down rules with respect to land which previously formed part of Marlborough at Falmouth, Cornwall and is now known as Swanvale OPA, Navy No. 2 site; and if he will make a statement. [98854]

    Dr. Moonie
    I currently expect that in April the Ministry of Defence will be in a position to write to those parties that have expressed a Former Owner interest, advising them of the application of the Crichel Down rules in this case.

    Defence Estates, an agency of the Ministry of Defence, are responsible for the disposal of the former Oil Fuel Depot (OFD) at Swanvale, Falmouth. They have instructed consultants, Drivers Jonas, to investigate the application of the Crichel Down rules to OFD Swanvale, and prepare a report. DE anticipate that the final Drivers Jonas report will be received in March, after which it will be necessary to take further legal advice before writing to interested parties.

    Daedalus Site
    Mr. Viggers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department had for the Daedalus site at Lee-on-the-Solent in(a) 1990, (b) 1995, (c) 2000 and (d) January 2003; and when the plans changed in each case. [99012]

    Dr. Moonie
    In 1990 HMS Daedalus, an operational Fleet Air Station, had been identified for closure as part of the Royal Navy's rationalisation of its fixed wing flying capability.

    In 1995 the site was in the process of rundown prior to closure, and early disposal planning work had commenced, involving complex legal and planning issues. A development strategy was agreed with the two local planning authorities

    By 2000 the marketing of the site had commenced, but additional planning and other issues delayed marketing. Against that background, and following the publication of "In Trust and On Trust: A Strategy for the Defence Estate" in June2000, a review of all Ministry of Defence establishments commenced. In July 2001, it was confirmed that the site had potential for future MOD reuse and investment. Part of the site has since been included within a private finance iInitiative to provide MOD service family married quarters. In January 2003 it was recognised that some peripheral parts of the site might be capable of disposal without detriment to potential re-use of the remaining core site by MOD. The master planning and marketing strategies to implement this were under consideration prior to the approach by the Home Office on 11 February. Tuesday 25 February 2003.

    Mr. Viggers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to construct housing for MOD personnel at the Daedalus site. [99013]
    434W
    Dr. Moonie
    The Defence Housing Executive, an Agency of the Ministry of Defence, is inviting PFI bidders to tender for the build of 148 houses in the Gosport area, to meet the needs of Service families. Part of the Daedalus site, sufficient to build these houses, will be offered to bidders. Planning permission has however been sought for up to 300 houses in case a further development for Service family occupation is needed at a later date.

    Frigate Decommissioning
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which(a) Type 42 destroyers and (b) Type 23 frigates are to be considered for removal from the fleet. [98233]

    Mr. Ingram
    I refer the hon. Member to the answers my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence gave on 30 April 2002,Official Report, column 745W to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) and on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 458W to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth).

    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there has been an acceleration since the completion of the Strategic Defence Review in the rate at which Type 42 destroyers are expected to be paid off. [98243]

    Mr. Ingram
    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 November 2002,Official Report, column 457W, to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth). The Strategic Defence Review envisaged the progressive replacement of the capability provided by the Type 42 destroyer with a new vessel. The Type 45 destroyer is planned to come into service from 2007. On this basis, there has been no advancement of the Type 42 destroyers'expected pay off dates since the completion of the SDR.

    Gulf Forces
    Mr. Keetch
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether(a) mail, (b) E-blueys, (c) private telephone calls up to 20 minutes per week, (d) E-mail, (e) newspapers, (f) library services, (g) BFBS, (h) combined services entertainment, (i) Expeditionary Forces Institute, (j) operational fitness equipment, (k) rest and recuperation and (l) free laundry are available to all members of all forces deployed to the Gulf; and if he will make a statement. [95907]

    Mr. Ingram
    (holding answer Monday 17 February 2003: All elements of the Operational Welfare Package (OWP) listed are provided to all United Kingdom military personnel already deployed to the Gulf in support of Operations Resinate and Oracle. We are building up the OWP as quickly as possible for UK military personnel deploying overseas in preparation for possible operations against Iraq.

    HMS Sultan
    Mr. Viggers
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the MOD has to develop the use of HMS Sultan. [98625]
    435W
    Dr. Moonie
    I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 25 November 2002,Official Report, column 1–2WS. HMS Sultan was identified by the Defence Training Review as a potential location for the proposed Electro-Mechanical Engineering Defence Training Establishment. A final decision on the future utilisation of HMS Sultan will be made in the light of the options currently being studied in conjunction with industry.

    Imams
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Imams are attached to the three services. [98847]

    Dr. Moonie
    There are currently no Imams attached to the Naval Service, Army or RAF. This is due to the relatively small number of Muslims serving in the armed forces. However, the armed forces have a representative-Religious Adviser from each of the major world religions, including Islam, and are working with the Religious Advisers and the nationally recognised Inter Faith Network to establish a network of local religious contacts for service personnel from those faiths.

    Iraq
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans he has to limit the damage to Iraq's power supply in the event of war. [97482]

    Mr. Hoon
    Any military action would be in conformity with international law, including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. In all our military planning, very careful attention is applied to minimising the risk of damage to civilian infrastructure. I am withholding further information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the feasibility of establishing safe havens in Iraq in the event of war. [97485]

    Mr. Hoon
    In the event of any military operation, we would take very seriously our obligations to the civilian population of Iraq and our contingency planning takes this into account.

    Mr. Keetch
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans have been made for(a) civilian casualties and (b) humanitarian operations in the event of military action in Iraq; what role British forces will play in such operations; whether he has issued formal guidance on (a) and (b); and if he will make a statement. [97772]

    Dr. Moonie
    Unlike Saddam Hussein, the United Kingdom takes very seriously its current and potential responsibilities towards the Iraqi people. In the event of conflict, United Kingdom forces will take the utmost care to minimise the risk to the civilian population through the careful choice of targets and the selection of weapons appropriate to those targets.
    436W
    Although it is to be hoped that Iraq may yet choose to comply fully with UNSCR 1441, detailed contingency planning is underway to take into account the humanitarian consequences of any potential conflict. Formal guidance will be issued in the unfortunate circumstance that it becomes necessary to do so.

    Mr. Bellingham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with(a) the US Administration and (b) others concerning the protection and preservation of Iraq's ancient cities and monuments in the event of military conflict in the Gulf; and if he will make a statement. [97871]

    Mr. Hoon
    Any military action would be in conformity with international law, including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. In all our military planning, very careful attention is applied to minimising the risk of damage to all civilian sites. I am withholding further information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

    Joint UAV Experimentation Project
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) remit, (b) timetable, and (c) proposed expenditure for the Joint UAV Experimentation Project is.[99072]

    Mr. Ingram
    The Joint UAV Experimentation Programme (JUEP) will explore the potential of UAVs to significantly enhance future military capability. A variety of activities will be undertaken, ranging from computer modelling and simulation to hands on experience of complete UAV systems operating as part of multi-national exercises. It is intended to establish an initial JUEP capability in 2003. Costs are yet to be established, but total expenditure is likely to be in the region of £65 million over a three-year period.

    Medical Reservists
    Mr. Jenkin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical regular reserves are(a) serving on operations; and (b) eligible for call up. [91518]

    Dr. Moonie
    [holding answer Monday 20 January 2003]: As at 17 February 2003, there were two medical regular reservists serving on operations.

    As at 1 January 2003, 2,016 medical regular reservists in the Army and Royal Air Force were eligible for call-out. As at 15 January 2003, 445 medical regular reservists in the Royal Navy were eligible for call-out.

    Terrorism
    Mr. Lansley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 the Government have authorised military aid to the Civil Power in relation to the mainland of Great Britain; and by what means in each case Parliament was so informed; [98687]

    (2) when he most recently signed an order authorising military aid to the Civil Power; [98689]
    437W
    (3) what steps he is required to take to inform Parliament that the Government has authorised military aid to the Civil Power; [98688]

    (4) whether he has authorised military aid to the Civil Power in relation to combating current terrorist threats to the United Kingdom. [98690]

    Mr. Ingram
    In common with all armed forces deployments, the provision of Military Aid to the Civil Power (MACP) is authorised by a Minister within the Ministry of Defence, following a request from the police. The legal basis for this is the common law duty of every citizen to provide reasonable support to the police should they request it. The primacy of the police is recognised at all times. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has, of course, overall responsibility for the police and for security in the United Kingdom. There is consequently close and continuous consultation between the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office concerning the provision of this support.

    Support is, for the most part, routine and is linked to active police investigations and operations. By far the largest single category concerns explosive devices. Excluding Northern Ireland, there were 957 occasions in 2001 when experts from the armed forces were asked by the police to provide support in the investigation of improvised explosive devices, and 431 occasions in 2002. The provision of other support, the nature of which varies considerably, is authorised on a case by case basis. On average between 30 and 40 of these requests are authorised each year, a small proportion of which are related to the terrorist threat.

    There is no specific requirement to inform Parliament on each occasion support is authorised, and in view of the sensitivity of many police operations, it would be wrong to make public all the details of the support being provided.

    Ministerial Meetings
    Keith Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last met Mr. Donald Rumsfeld.[98974]

    Mr. Hoon
    I last met Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday 12 February 2003.

    Nimrod/Astute Programmes
    Mr. Bellingham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2003 to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth),Official Report, column 52W, what progress he has made with BAE Systems in resolving the outstanding financial issues arising from the Nimrod and Astute programmes. [98581]

    Mr. Hoon
    As my noble Friend Lord Bach announced in another place on 19 February 2003,Official Report, column WA175–77, the Government have reached agreement with BAE Systems on the way ahead for these two strategically important defence projects. We have agreed a new structure for the two contracts which reduces risk, while placing new incentives on the company to perform. This will, however, involve a rise in the overall expected cost to completion and further delays to the in-service dates of the two projects.
    438W
    For the Nimrod MRA4 project, which was originally won by British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) in open competition in 1996, the company has announced that it will be making a provision of £500 million against the project this year in its preliminary results for 2002. This is in addition to a previous provision of £300 million made in the company's 2000 results. For our part, the Government have agreed to delay the start of series production until we have seen demonstrated performance from the first three aircraft, and to increase our funding of the project by around £270 million, subject to final negotiations. This covers our share of restructuring the programme and will result in the achievement of an in-service date by 2009, defined as delivery of the sixth series production aircraft. As a result of the delay to the start of production, we now have the option of considering an increase in the aircraft's capability to meet the defence requirements of the 21st century. We have already introduced improvements to existing Nimrod MR2 aircraft which use some of the technology planned for the new MRA4 aircraft, thereby both reducing risk in the new programme and increasing existing capability.

    The starting point for the Astute class attack submarine project was different. The original contract was based on a single source supplier, namely GEC-Marconi (which subsequently merged with British Aerospace to form BAE Systems) as the only United Kingdom provider of this unique defence capability. We sought to establish a fair price, given the economic conditions, and agreed joint assumptions on an open book basis at the time of contract signature in March 1997 on how the project would be delivered. These related, in part, to the benefits to be derived from the first comprehensive application of computer aided design (CAD) techniques to United Kingdom submarines. This will deliver significant advantages in the future, but its benefits have proved more difficult to realise on a programme of this complexity than either we, or the company, had assumed. We now know that the introduction of CAD requires more time and effort than either of us had originally anticipated. As a result, the Government have agreed to increase our funding by around £430 million, subject to final negotiations, as against an increased contribution by the company of £250 million which it has announced will be included as a provision in its preliminary results for 2002. These increases reflect the Government's acceptance of a share of the responsibility along with BAE Systems for the underestimate of the required effort and the consequent design delays. They also cover costs incurred through restructuring and other revisions to the project, and will result in the first of class coming into service by 2008. In the light of what we now know about the costs and benefits of CAD, we are confident that the new deal represents a good deal for the taxpayer and will provide outstanding new generation attack submarines for the Royal Navy.

    This agreement has been reached following intensive negotiations, carried out in a constructive and cooperative spirit since the autumn. Both the Government and BAE Systems agree that the priority now is to put these difficulties behind us. We have agreed with the company that we will introduce new methods of project control and reporting on these and other projects. The exact details of the agreement required to establish

    439W
    formally the new financial structure and the revised in-service dates still need to be agreed. This should take several months and the Government will report further to the House when this has been achieved.

    Overall, we expect the additional cost to the Government of these two contracts to be around £700 million, although significant additional Ministry of Defence expenditure will not begin until 2008 and will be spread over the following years. The scale of the financial consequences now announced by the company demonstrates that it accepts responsibility for its share of the serious difficulties that have arisen on these two immensely complex and demanding programmes. It is, however, appropriate, for the reasons that I have set out, that the Government should make these additional contributions to the Nimrod and Astute contracts. The unique military capabilities represented by these two programmes are crucial to Britain's future defences, and there are no alternative systems capable of offering comparable levels of performance at economic costs in any existing projects anywhere in the world. The Government are satisfied that both the Nimrod and the Astute project represent value for money. We now look to the company to deliver.

    Procurement
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the procedure is for emergency procurement in a deployment of the armed forces. [98296]

    Mr. Ingram
    The urgent operational requirements process enables both the acceleration of existing programmes and new procurements against short timescales to equip the armed forces for a specific operational environment, a particular threat faced or an envisaged operational scenario. There are also arrangements to meet surge requirements for stock and consumables. Further information on the urgent operational requirement process can be found at www.mod.uk.

    Reservists
    Mr. Keetch
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) reservists and (b) medical reservists have responded to call-up notices in the last three months; and if he will make a statement. [97771]

    Dr. Moonie
    As at 14 February, 5,495 call-out notices had been issued in support of Operation TELIC. Of these, 513 were issued to medical reservists. On the same date, 1,765 reservists had been accepted for service of which 198 were medical reservists. For all other operations, 140 reservists had been accepted for service between 1 December 2002 and 14 February 2003. Of these, seven were medical reservists.

    Aircraft Carriers
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the proposed pooling of Royal Navy and French aircraft carriers for future European Union military operations will ensure that at least one will always be immediately available to the EU(a) in addition and (b) as an alternative to being available for UK and NATO tasks; [98230]
    440W
    (2) whether Royal Navy aircraft carriers required for (a) UK and (b) NATO tasks when already deployed on EU tasks would be made available for UK and NATO duties. [98231]

    Mr. Hoon
    At the Le Touquet summit, the United Kingdom and France announced that we would "develop the interoperability of [our] aircraft carrier groups, pursuing all areas of co-operation, in particular harmonising activity cycles and training". The aim will be to maximise carrier availability over the activity cycle. Aircraft carriers available on this basis might participate in national, coalition, NATO or EU-led operations, but will remain national assets. Decisions on the deployment of national assets for operations will continue to be for the nation concerned.

    The Government make decisions on the deployment (and redeployment) of UK forces on operations on a case-by-case basis. These judgments are based on factors such as operational need, what forces we and others have to offer and any international treaty obligations that may be relevant, with NATO remaining as the foundation of our collective defence.

    Telephone Helplines
    Mr. Lazarowicz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which, of these helplines are charged at(a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate. [95720]

    Dr. Moonie
    The Ministry of Defence sponsors many telephone helplines, covering a wide variety of subjects. The primary helplines for all general inquiries are the MOD Public Enquiry Office on 0870 607 4455 and the Welsh Language Public Enquiry Office on 01554 821 413. Both of these numbers are charged at the national rate.

    The main helplines which provide advice on specific subjects are:

    Helpline

    Number

    Charged at

    Low Flying Helpdesk

    020 7218 6020

    National rate

    Gulf Veterans Advice Unit

    0800 169 4495

    Freephone

    020 7395 2375

    National rate

    Medical Assessment Programme Helpline

    0800 169 5401

    Freephone

    Porton Down Volunteers Helpline

    0800 783 2521

    Freephone

    Veterans Agency Helpline

    0800 169 2277

    Freephone

    Defence Vetting Agency Helpline

    01904 662 644

    National rate

    Defence Suppliers Service Helpline

    0117 913 2844

    National rate

    0800 282 324

    Freephone

    Royal Navy recruiting helpline

    0845 607 5555

    Local rate

    Army recruiting helpline

    08457 300 111

    Local rate

    RAF recruiting helpline

    0845 605 5555

    Local rate

    TA recruiting helpline

    0845 605 5555

    Local rate

    Meteorological Office helpline

    0845 300 0300

    Local rate

    441W

    Helpline

    Number

    Charged at

    Defence Estates—

    Disposal of MOD Land

    0121 311 2015

    National rate

    SaBRE (Support Britain's Reservists And Employers)

    0800 389 5459

    Freephone

    The above list is not exhaustive and does not include those helplines created specifically for serving military and civilian personnel and their dependants. Nor does it include those helplines that may from time to time be administered by individual units or establishments to provide advice on local or short term issues. Information on this is not held centrally and could be provided only with disproportionate cost.

    Type 23 Frigates
    Dr. Julian Lewis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2003,Official Report, column 68W, on the Type 23 frigate, if he will list the systems being considered to enable attacks by small enemy craft to be dealt with. [98411]

    Mr. Ingram
    Lynx helicopters and close-range guns currently provide anti-ship and close in defence for Type 23 frigates. The project to provide surface vessels, including Type 23 frigates, with an improved capability to deal with the threat presented by small enemy craft is in its very early stages. The concepts currently being assessed include small and medium-calibre guns, rockets and non-lethal means. This assessment phase is expected to complete towards the end of this year.

    Watchkeeper Programme
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to announce the shortlist of selected bidders for the Watchkeeper Programme; what sums were given to the bidders; and whether he is considering splitting the bid. [99073]

    Mr. Ingram
    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 7 February 2003 that the bidders selected for the remainder of the Watchkeeper assessment phase were: Northrop Grumman ISS International and Thales (UK). To date, around £25 million has been spent on the Watchkeeper programme, and the contracts for the remainder of the assessment phase will be worth approximately £9 million to each bidder. We expect to select a single successful contractor for the demonstration and manufacture phase by mid-2004.

  CABINET OFFICE

    Civil Contingencies (South-West)
    Brian Cotter
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what civil contingency plans are in place for the south-west region in the event of a terrorist attack; and if he will make a statement. [99111]

    Mr. Alexander
    The UK has plans in place to maintain national security and protect the public. These classified contingency plans cover a wide range of 442W
    emergencies, including terrorist threats, and are based on established multi-agency local emergency arrangements. They are regularly tested, reviewed and updated as circumstances change.

    In addition, each administration region in England now has its own regional resilience team made up of emergency planning specialists. Through regional resilience forums, these teams will help co-ordinate emergency planning within and across regional boundaries.

    Government Shareholdings
    Mr. Prisk
    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what remit the Shareholder Executive Unit will have; [991141]

    (2) what (a) organisational and (b) employment plans his Department has for managing government shareholdings in (i) the Royal Mail, (ii) the Royal Mint and (iii) British Nuclear Fuels; and what estimates have been made of the cost of such plans. [99143]

    Mr. Alexander
    The remit of the Shareholder Executive will be to work with Government Departments to improve their performance as a shareholder in a range of Government shareholdings in public and private sector companies as well as Government's more commercial trading funds. The Shareholder Executive will meet this remit in a number of ways. It will: scrutinise departmental shareholder resource requirements and assist in improving department's capabilities; help departments define their relationship with each company; set best practice standards and procedures for departments in their role as shareholder; and help departments distinguish and articulate long-term commercial and policy objectives for each shareholding. The Shareholder Executive will also become Government's centre of corporate finance and governance expertise, advising departments on shareholder-related management, corporate governance and finance issues as well as wider corporate finance and other industrial issues that arise from time to time.

    The Cabinet Office is putting in place arrangements to enable the Shareholder Executive to become operational as soon as possible. An open competition is under way for the recruitment of a Chief Executive, who will be accountable directly to Lord Macdonald and the Cabinet Secretary for the performance of the Shareholder Executive. In due course, between 10 and 15 people drawn from Government Departments and the private sector will be recruited to support the Chief Executive in delivering the Shareholder Executive's remit. The costs of running the Shareholder Executive are likely to be modest relative to the potential benefits arising from improved shareholder performance.

  ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

    Food Advertising (EU Funds)
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions
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    she has had with the European Commission regarding the use of EU funds on advertising food products. [98202]

    Mr. Morley
    My officials regularly take part in discussions with the European Commission in meetings of the Management Committee for the Council Regulations concerning the Promotion of Agricultural Products in both Third Countries and the Internal Market. Advertising forms part of the promotional activity permitted under these regulations.

    Agricultural Exports
    Mr. Roger Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what market research has been undertaken by(a) her Department and (b) Food from Britain since 1995 regarding the use of Foods from Britain by agricultural export companies; and if she will place a copy of those findings in the Library. [97869]

    Mr. Morley
    The Department has not undertaken any market research since 1995 into the use of Food From Britain by agricultural export companies. In 2000 research into the usage and attitude of their clients and other exporters was undertaken on behalf of Food From Britain. This was updated in 2002. A copy of the executive summary of the survey will be placed in the Library.

    Mr. Roger Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many companies used the services, by type, of Food from Britain in each of the last 10 years; and how many of those companies were(a) small and medium-sized businesses and (b) less than five years old when they first contacted Food from Britain. [97870]

    Mr. Morley
    During the last 10 years the approximate total number of companies using Food From Britain is as shown below. Of these at least 50 per cent. were small and medium-sized businesses. Food From Britain does not hold information on the age of companies with which it deals.

    Total number of companies using Food From Britain

    Year

    No.

    1992/93

    700

    1993/94

    1,200

    1994/95

    1,000

    1995/96

    1,000

    1996/97

    1,000

    1997/98

    1,100

    1998/99

    750

    1999/2000

    800

    2000/01

    800

    2001/02

    800

    Mr. Roger Williams
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for St Ives (Andrew George) of 16 January 2003,Official Report, column 728W, on agricultural exports, how much Food from Britain charges companies by size for use of their services. [97933]
    444W
    Mr. Morley
    Food From Britain does not charge for services by size of the company. Fees are calculated according to a number of factors including complexity of the service offered and staff time. Membership of the Fast Track scheme, which gives access to a range of additional export services, is based on the export turnover of a company as follows:

    Export Turnover(£)

    Fee(£)

    Nil—250

    500

    250–500

    1,000

    500–1 million

    1,500

    1–2million

    2,000

    2–5million

    3,000

    over 5million

    4,500

    Associate member

    1,250

    Andrew George
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 16 January 2003,Official Report, column 728W, on agricultural exports, how many companies used services provided by her Department's (a) agricultural exports promotion service and (b) Food from Britain in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (i) size by annual turnover and (ii) whether they were charged for those services in each of the last 10 years. [98012]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The information is as follows:

    (a) The total number of companies using services provided by the agricultural exports promotion service (e.g. participation in fairs and missions) over the last 10 years was as shown in the following table. The vast majority were small and medium sized enterprises. The companies were not charged for any of the services provided.

    Year

    Number of companies

    1993–94

    270

    1994–95

    230

    1995–96

    380

    1996–97

    190

    1997–98

    660

    1998–99

    400

    1999–2000

    190

    2000–01

    210

    2001–02

    360

    2002–03

    350

    (b) The total number of companies using services provided by Food From Britain over the last 10 years was as shown in the following table. The information is not available broken down by the size of annual turnover of the companies, although more than 50 per cent. were small and medium sized enterprises. Companies will have been charged for most of the services provided.

    Year

    Number of companies

    1992–93

    700

    1993–94

    1,200

    1994–95

    1,000

    1995–96

    1,000

    445W

    Year

    Number of companies

    1996–97

    1,000

    1997–98

    1,100

    1998–99

    750

    1999–2000

    800

    2000–01

    800

    2001–02

    800

    Andrew George
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2003,Official Report, column 728W, on agricultural exports, how much (a) revenue and (b) profit was raised through companies supported by Food from Britain in each of the last 10 years. [98013]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The income (other than grant in aid) which Food From Britain generates from the activities it undertakes is shown in the Annual Report and Accounts. The Accounts are laid before Parliament each year and copies are placed in the Library. The income in each of the last 10 years is as shown in the following table. Food From Britain is a non-profit making organisation.

    £ million

    Income

    1992–93

    1.5

    1993–94

    1.7

    1994–95

    1.6

    1995–96

    2.5

    1996–97

    4.1

    1997–98

    3.8

    1998–99

    4.0

    1999–2000

    3.7

    2000–01

    4.1

    2001–02

    4.6

    Bill of Rights (Animals)
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will introduce a Bill of Rights for Animals; and if she will make a statement. [98101]

    Mr. Morley
    The Government have no plans to introduce a Bill of Rights for Animals. We are undertaking a review of animal welfare law with a view to modernising and consolidating them into an Animal Welfare Bill.

    Bovine Subsidy Scheme
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Rural Payments Agency will complete its review of the case referred by Mr. and Mrs. McCoy of Dartmouth regarding their 2001 bovine subsidy scheme claim. [99069]

    Alun Michael
    The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received a number of representations about the penalties imposed and considered them in consultation with the industry, taking account of the advice and views of the European Commission. As a result, a number of categories were identified where a review of the earlier 446W
    decision was considered to be appropriate. Full details regarding the consultation and the categories affected have been sent to all bovine producers.

    The RPA aims to process cases as quickly as possible but has made a commitment to the industry to complete the exercise by the end of March 2003. Mr and Mrs McCoy's case will be considered under the review provisions and a reply will be sent to them by the deadline.

    The RPA is required under European legislation to cross-check bovine subsidy claims against the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) Cattle Tracing System (CTS) database. Discrepancies were found when checks were carried out on 2001 bovine claims resulting in a significant number of producers having penalties applied and also delays in making the subsidy payments.

    The schemes affected are Beef Special Premium, Suckler Cow Premium, Slaughter Premium (including the Veal Calf Scheme) and Extensification Payments.

    Bovine TB
    Mr. Wiggin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many bovine TB reactors were positive in(a) Herefordshire and (b) Worcestershire in 2002; and how many have been positive in 2003. [97967]

    Mr. Morley
    Reactors to the tuberculin test are slaughtered and examined post-mortem. Infection is confirmed by either the presence of typical, visible lesions of tuberculosis or by the laboratory culture of the causative agent (Mycobacterium bovis) in tissue samples. These post mortem examinations, carried out in abattoirs, are less than 100 per cent. sensitive. Failure to detect visible lesions or failure to culture the organism from a test reactor does not necessarily rule out infection with M. bovis. It would be misleading, therefore, to equate unconfirmed test reactors to "false positives" or "negative" reactors.

    The latest available data for 2002 show there were 892 confirmed reactors in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The information is not available separately for each of the counties.

    Laboratory culture of M. bovis takes several weeks. Consequently data for reactors disclosed so far in 2003 is not yet available.

    Circus Animals
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to change the law relating to the welfare of circus animals; and if she will make a statement. [98100]

    Mr. Morley
    There is currently a review of animal welfare law with a view to modernising and consolidating it into an Animal Welfare Bill. The legislation relating to the welfare of circus animals is part of that review. I am considering a thorough overhaul of the present licensing system for performing animals including the welfare of animals in circuses and circus winter quarters. Officials have held discussions
    447W
    with representatives from the performing animal industry, welfare organisations and other interested parties about the need for better regulation.

    Coastal Erosion
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work has been done by the Environment Agency in Somerset on coastal erosion. [98280]

    Mr. Morley
    Maritime District Councils are empowered to carry out works in the management of coastal erosion by the Coast Protection Act 1949. The Environment Agency does not have responsibility for coastal erosion.

    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding is being made available under the Government's financial statement 2003 for(a) West Somerset District Council and (b) Sedgemoor District Council for coastal erosion. [98281]

    Mr. Morley
    Grant aid is made available by DEFRA to support capital projects carried out by the maritime district councils to manage the risk from coastal erosion, provided they meet specified economic, technical and environmental criteria, are on the Department's forward capital programme and achieve the Department's threshold priority score. The total allocation for all authorities for coastal erosion works in 2003–04 is £35 million. Responsibility for deciding on which projects to promote and their timing rests with the councils. West Somerset District Council has an entry for a study on DEFRA's forward capital programme for 03–04 but Sedgemoor District Council has no entries.

    Laptop Computers
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many laptop computers were used by(a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in her Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if she will make a statement. [97498]

    Alun Michael
    The number of laptop computers used by(a) Ministers and special advisers was six and (b) officials was 1,835, in the 2001–02 financial year. In that year (i) five laptops were lost, and (ii) six were stolen; the total value of these was £18,675. None of the laptop computers lost or stolen was being used by a Minister or special adviser.

    The Department only came into existence June 2001 so the information requested can only be given from that date.

    Drainage Boards
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the powers of drainage boards. [98288]

    Mr. Morley
    The Land Drainage Act 1991 provides the powers and duties of Internal Drainage Boards who exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to drainage of land in their district.
    448W
    The detailed powers are set out in Sections 14, 15, 19–21, 25, 36, 55–57, 62–64 and 66 of the Act. They include powers for the improvement and maintenance of existing works, construction of new works, acquisition and disposal of land, powers of entry and the making of byelaws.

    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the constraints are on the fund-raising powers of drainage hoards. [98289]

    Mr. Morley
    The Land Drainage Act 1991 sets out the financial powers of internal drainage boards (IDBs). Section 36 provides for IDBs to meet their expenses (net of payments to, and receipts from, the Environment Agency (EA)) by drainage rates and special levies. Section 37 sets out how these payments will be apportioned. Sections 38–39 deal with differential drainage charges which are set by sub-dividing the IDB area. Sections 40–54 deal with levying of drainage rates and related provisions. Section 55 provides powers for IDBs to borrow in relation to their functions under the 1991 Act or to discharge other loans. Ministerial consent is required for new borrowing. Section 56 allows IDBs to set navigation tolls. Section 57 allows 1DBs to seek contributions from the EA in relation to water from higher land or dealing with water before it reaches a main river.

    We intend to use the forthcoming Water Bill to restore the power for IDBs to borrow to finance contributions to the Environment Agency, which was inadvertently lost when water legislation was consolidated in 1991.

    Egg Marking
    Mr. Lidington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the individual marking of eggs. [97712]

    Margaret Beckett
    [holding answer 13 February 2003]: In 2001 the EU agreed new rules requiring the compulsory marking of hen eggs. From 1 January 2004 eggs will have to be marked with a code identifying the method and place of production. This will improve consumer information and choice and will assist with traceability and enforcement of EU egg marketing regulations. We will soon be consulting interested parties on the format of the producer code. There is no truth in the rumours that each egg will have to be traceable back to an individual hen.

    Egg marking will only apply to class A eggs most of which are sold at retail level. Some 80 per cent. of eggs produced and sold in the UK are already marked under the industry's Lion assurance scheme. In negotiations, the UK successfully argued for the inclusion of a provision in the new rules to allow the marking of eggs to take place at any approved packing centre as well as on farms. Furthermore, eggs sold by the producer directly to the consumer for their own use (e.g. farm gate sales or at farmers'markets) will not have to be marked, nor will any non-class A eggs or those sold for processing.
    449W

    Equine Cruelty
    Diana Organ
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she collates on the imposition of penalties for equine cruelty on a regional basis; and what plans she has to take further measures on equine cruelty. [98037]

    Mr. Morley
    There are no procedures in place for regularly collating information relating to the imposition of penalties for equine cruelty offences on a regional basis. Annual statistics relate to England and Wales as a whole.

    We are undertaking a review of animal welfare law with a view to modernising and consolidating it into an Animal Welfare Bill. The review includes looking at ways to improve the welfare of captive and domestic animals, including equine species, and to reduce acts of cruelty.

    Diana Organ
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals for an automatic lifetime ban on keeping horses following a conviction for cruelty. [98048]

    Mr. Morley
    The Protection of Animals Act 1911 (as amended) provides that the court may disqualify a person convicted from having custody of any animal for such a period, as it thinks fit. There is no upper limit on the period of disqualification which a court may impose.

    I am undertaking a review of all existing animal welfare legislation—including the 1911 Act—with a view to the introduction of a Bill that will consolidate and modernise these laws in a single Act. This review includes the penalties available to the courts. No decisions have been taken concerning the contents of the Bill which will be issued in draft for public consultation before it is considered by Parliament.

    Fishermen
    Ann Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 6 February, Official Report, column 377W, on fishermen, what proportion of the aid that will be available for measures to support(a) the training of fishermen and (b) the diversification of their activities outside marine fisheries must contribute to a reduction of the fishing effort developed by the beneficiaries if they continue fishing on a part-time basis. [98597]

    Mr. Morley
    Grant is available for the training of fishermen in safety measures, under the fisheries structural fund. Payments are not conditional on reducing fishing effort. Assistance available from regional sources for supporting the diversification of fishermen's activities outside marine fisheries is administered independently of the obligations under the common fisheries policy for the limitation of fishing effort.

    Flooding
    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what EU funding is available for flood defences outside structural fund areas. [98291]
    450W
    Mr. Morley
    No significant financial assistance is made available by the European Union to assist member states in the provision of flood and coastal defences.

    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about how she will deal with future flood alerts. [98065]

    Mr. Morley
    With Defra funding, the Environment Agency has developed a clear national strategy for developing its flood warning capabilities over the next 10 years in order to deliver the highest practicable quality of flood warning service across England and Wales. It is anticipated that in order to achieve defined performance targets for an effective flood warning service to increase both its coverage and the effective action taken by recipients of these warnings that investment will be focussed on the following specific but inter-linked areas of work:

    upgrade and extension of detection and monitoring systems such as telemetry and weather radar to improve the identification of conditions likely to cause flooding;

    the delivery of an enhanced national flood forecasting system to improve prediction of the time, location, likelihood, severity and duration of flooding;

    developing a multi-media warning dissemination system to communicate flood warnings to "at risk" members of the public and to professional partners who need to respond (eg emergency services, local authorities, utilities, media and weather broadcasters);

    targeted public awareness programmes and effective marketing and communication of flood risk, preventative actions and appropriate reactions to warnings to achieve an effective response.

    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the powers of flood defence committees. [98290]

    Mr. Morley
    Flood defence committees, whether regional or local, are executive committees of the Agency.

    Section 106 of the Water Resources Act 1991 requires the Environment Agency to "arrange for all its functions relating to flood defence under the following provisions of this Act and the Land Drainage Act 1991 to be carried out by Regional Flood Defence Committees". The exceptions are issuing of levies, making drainage charges or borrowing money.

    Regional flood defence committees are permitted to arrange for their functions to be carried out:

    (a) by a sub-committee, or an under sub-committee of the committee or an officer of theAgency; or

    (b) by any other regional or, as the case may be, local flood defence committee.

    Statutory local flood defence committees have been established in the Environment Agency's Southern, Wessex and Anglian regions and in Wales.

    Mr. Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial assistance is being given to the Environment Agency to help with flood prevention and relief in the Government's spending assessment for 2003. [98309]
    451W
    Mr. Morley
    The Environment Agency's flood defence function is funded mainly(a) from local authority levies which in turn are supported by funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and (b) from Defra grant for capital projects for new and improved defences, related studies and flood warning. Additionally, Defra makes contributions to support the cost of agency national initiatives such as for the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database and on Catchment Flood Management Plans. Defra provision for 2003–04 is:

    £ million

    Capital projects

    64

    National initiatives

    5

    Game Licences
    Mr. Robathan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many game licences were issued for the 2002–03 season; how much it cost to administer the game licence regime in 2002–03; and what revenue was received. [98551]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The information requested in relation to game licensing during the year 2002–03 will not be available until later this year.

    Genetically Modified Soya
    Mr. Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much(a) processed food and (b) soya milk, containing genetically modified soya grown in the USA, was consumed in the UK in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [98359]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: Official figures on the levels of (a) processed food and (b) soya milk, containing genetically modified soya, grown in the USA and consumed in the UK are not available.

    The following table shows UK imports of (i) unprocessed foods, (ii) lightly processed foods (goods that retain their raw recognisable form, such as meat, cheese and butter, powdered milk, flour, sugar etc.) and (iii) highly processed foods (goods such as confectionery, canned meats, jams, alcoholic drinks, ice cream etc.) from the USA in 2001.

    Degree of processing

    Tonnes

    Unprocessed

    702,978

    Lightly processed

    404,537

    Highly processed

    1,246,311

    Crown Copyright

    Source:

    HM Customs and Excise

    Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, DEFRA

    Grants (Farmers and Landowners)
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for the latest year that figures are available, how many 452W
    grants for farmers and landowners have been given, broken down by (a) greater than £1 million, (b)
    £800,000-£999,999, (c)£500,000-£799,999, (d) £300,000-£499,999, (e) £200,000-£299,000, (f) £100,000-£199,999, (g) £50,000-£99,999, (h)£25,000£49,999, (i)£l2,500-£24,999, (j) £5,000-£12,499, (k)£2,500-£4,999 and (l) less than £2,500. [98608]

    Alun Michael
    The table breaks down the CAP payments made by the RPA in the EAGGF financial year from 16 October 2001 to 15 October 2002.

    Separate lines are shown for the IACS and non-IACS payments. In the latter category the beneficiaries are largely traders rather than farmers and the coverage is wider than England alone.

    It is not possible to show the number of farmers and landowners who received amounts falling within the bands stipulated in the question without disproportionate cost.

    Trader schemes

    IACS schemes

    Total EAGGF

    Nationally/EU partially funded schemes

    (a) Greater than £1,000,000

    29

    3

    32

    179

    (b) £800,000-£999,999

    20

    3

    23

    54

    (c) £500,000-£799,999

    66

    8

    74

    173

    (d) £300,000-£499,999

    107

    38

    145

    359

    (e) £200,000-£299,999

    115

    109

    224

    561

    (f) £100,000-£199,999

    232

    895

    1,127

    2,123

    (g) £50,000-£99,999

    371

    3,202

    3,573

    4,769

    (h) £25,000-£49,999

    563

    6,885

    7,448

    9,392

    (i) £12,500-£24,999

    704

    10,755

    11,459

    15,167

    (j) £5,000-£12,499

    1,456

    24,038

    25,494

    31,048

    (k) £2,500-£4,999

    1,572

    31,839

    33,411

    36,390

    (l) Less than £2,500

    83,757

    489,420

    573,177

    590,135

    Greater London Assembly (Financial Assistance)
    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial assistance her Department gave to the Greater London Assembly in 2002; and for what projects. [95853]
    453W
    Alun Michael
    No financial assistance was given directly to the London Assembly by central Government Departments in 2002–03.

    The London Assembly is part of the Greater London Authority (GLA). It is responsible for scrutinising and reviewing the Mayor's exercise of his statutory functions. It has particular power to investigate, and prepare reports on actions and decisions taken by the Mayor or any member of the Greater London Authority. The London Assembly's specific costs are part of the overall GLA budget which is proposed each year by the Mayor is subject to the Assembly's agreement.

    The GLA grants from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2002–03 as reported on the RA02 form are as follows:

    £million

    GLA Grants

    Revenue Support Grant

    659.641

    Redistributed Non-Domestic

    267.654

    Rate

    General GLA Grant

    27.950

    IT Contracts
    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list IT

    Sailing date

    Total animals certified

    Where consignments were certified

    Animals rejected at certification

    Animals rejected at Dover docks

    Destination

    1 February

    1,260

    England

    0

    0

    Germany

    The sheep on the above sailing were certified within 48 hours of export and were sent to approved slaughterhouses.

    These figures relate to the numbers of sheep certified for export and are subject to revision and change.

    Over 30 Months Scheme
    Mr. Steen
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the requirement to remove vertebral column from Over 30 Month cattle upon farmers rearing cattle in the West Country under the Beef Assurance Scheme; and if she will make a statement. [98357]

    Mr. Morley
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The requirement that vertebral column be removed in licensed cutting plants has created difficulties for members of the Beef Assurance Scheme. I understand that two cutting plants in Devon and Cornwall which may be able to accommodate cattle reared under the scheme have now been licensed by the Food Standards Agency.

    Rural Payments Agency
    Mr. Lidington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 11 February 2003,Official Report, column
    454W
    contracts in her Department and its predecessors above £50 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been. [99008]

    Alun Michael
    Defra has not let any new IT contracts with a whole-life cost above £50 million since it was established as a new Department in June 2001.

    Information covering earlier periods, or for Defra's Executive Agencies and NDPBs, is not readily available and could be constructed retrospectively only at disproportionate cost.

    Live Sheep Exports
    Mr. Prosser
    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many live sheep were exported from Dover to continental Europe on 1 February 2003; when and where health certification was carried out in respect of the sheep; how many of the sheep were rejected as unfit for the intended journey,(a) during inspection for health certification purposes and (b) at Dover docks, and to where those sheep were taken, and what the address was of the final destination given on the route plan for each of the consignments. [98520]

    Mr. Morley
    The information requested is as follows:

    647W, if she will list the main items of property that the Rural Payments Agency lost through theft in 2001–02, together with the value of those items. [98129]

    Margaret Beckett
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The Rural Payments Agency only came into existence on 16 October 2001. Losses through theft from then until end December 2002 are as follows:

    16 October 2001–31 December 2002: Loss of five laptops at £2,000 each and six mobile phones at £50 each, making a total of £10,500.

  DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

    Laptop Computers
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many laptop computers were used by(a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement. [98702]

    Mr. Leslie
    The information requested on the use of laptop computers in each year since 1995 is not available centrally or in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

    Since the establishment of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 29 May 2002 there have been four reported cases of stolen laptop computers, at a total cost of £6,038.
    455W

    Cash Incentive Schemes
    Ms Oona King
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a summary of the responses to the consultation on the removal of the requirement for local authorities to obtain consent to run a cash incentive scheme. [98530]

    Mr. McNulty
    A total of 26 responses, which were generally strongly supportive of the proposal, were received. A summary of the responses will be placed in the library of the House.

    Deprivation
    Mr. Gardiner
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what response his Office has made to the Greater London Enterprise Report on Developing New Approaches to the Measurement of Deprivation. [94522]

    Mrs. Roche
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received parts of the Greater London Enterprise Report on Developing New Approaches to the Measurement of Deprivation as part of the consultation exercise on updating the Indices of Deprivation 2000. This report is currently being considered as part of the updating process.

    Empty Homes
    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty homes his Department had five years ago, by region; if he will establish an empty homes strategy within his Department; and if he will set a target for reduction in empty homes. [92922]

    Mr. Leslie
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002. Therefore, we do not have information on empty homes from five years ago. The Fire Service College, an executive agency of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, currently has one vacant residential property, at the college site in Moreton-in-Marsh, which it envisages will be let shortly. The College's strategy is to ensure that residential property that is not required for staff use is held out for letting on short term tenancies. Its target is to ensure that it has no residential stock vacant for more than three months.

    Housing
    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the ratio of population to(a) housing units and (b) bedspaces in each county of England in each year since 1997. [97407]

    Mr. McNulty
    This information is not available annually. Estimates of population per housing unit for 2001 will be possible later this year when figures on numbers of dwellings are published from the Census.

    Mr. Wray
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of new homes to be built in the UK will be transferred to the private renting sector; and what proportion will be built on brownfield sites. [98462]

    Mr. McNulty
    The information requested on the numbers of new homes available for private renting is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
    456W
    In England, the target for the proportion of new housing on previously-developed land including through conversions of existing buildings is 60 per cent. by 2008. Latest available figures show that the percentage in 2000 was 60 per cent. and in 2001, 61 per cent.

    Housing targets for other parts of the United Kingdom are a matter for the devolved Administration concerned.

    Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
    Mr. Battle
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding Leeds city council has received from the neighbourhood renewal fund; when funds were received; what projects have been funded and by how much; and which organisations are responsible for(a) managing and (b) delivering each project. [96968]

    Mrs. Roche
    Details of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) allocations made to Leeds city council are in the following table.

    The purpose of the NRF is to support the improvement of mainstream service delivery in deprived areas, contributing to the achievement of the Government's floor targets in the five neighbourhood renewal themes of education, health, worklessness, crime reduction, and housing and the environment. In partnership with the Local Strategic Partnership, Leeds city council has allocated NRF across these floor target areas as follows:

    Allocation 2001–02: £4,197,791

    NRF resources spent in 2001–02

    £

    Education

    1,724,472

    Employment

    960,729

    Crime

    366,866

    Health

    0

    Housing and Environment

    383,160

    Other

    41,140

    Total

    3,476,367

    Proposed spend 2002–03: £7,018,111 (including £721,424 carry over from 2001–02)

    NRF resources allocated in 2002–03

    £

    Education

    2,245,690

    Employment

    963,440

    Crime

    1,511,170

    Health

    414,600

    Housing and Environment

    1,307,200

    Other

    701,000

    Total

    17,143,100

    1 Over commitment to allow for slippage

    NRF is paid in fortnightly instalments with the Revenue Support Grant to local authorities. Payments commenced in June 2001.

    However, local authorities account for NRF expenditure through NRF Statements of Use, which are submitted to Government Offices annually in October. Leeds city council's NRF Statement of Use for 2002–03 is available on the LSP's (the Leeds Initiative) website.
    457W
    Details of NRF supported projects and activities for 2002–03, including those organisations responsible for delivery, are as follows:

    Floor Target

    Project

    Burglary Reduction

    Anti-Social Behaviour

    CASAC Target Hardening

    Leeds Watch Local CCTV Initiative

    Neighbourhood Wardens

    New Neighbourhood Schemes

    Youth Diversionary Initiatives

    Cross Cutting

    Community Planning—Locality

    Coordinators

    Data Mapping and Improved Information

    Environment Call Centre

    Leeds Mediation Services

    Neighbourhood Renewal Teams

    Education

    City Learning Centres

    Counselling Scheme

    Ethnic Minority Pupil Achievement (devolved)

    Ethnic Minority Pupil Achievement (retained)

    Getting Started—Nursery Nurses

    Integrated Children's Centres

    IT Access in Libraries

    Leeds Film Festival Children's Workshop

    Pupil Retention Grant (devolved)

    Pupil Retention Grant (retained)

    Study Support National (devolved)

    Study Support National (retained)

    Teaching Assistant Grant

    Teaching Assistant Grant (retained)

    Volunteer Reading Help

    Employment

    Connexions Programme

    Construction and Training Agency (LCATA)

    Job Guarantee Programme

    Leeds Development Agency

    Second Chance School

    South Leeds Family Learning Centre

    Health

    Hamaara Healthy Living Centre

    Increasing Exercise Opportunities—

    Mental Health

    Space for Sport and Arts

    Various Health Schemes

    Social Housing

    Beeston Housing Strategy

    Binyard Improvements

    Code of Standards Development Project

    Dog Fouling Initiatives

    Domestic Noise Nuisance Services (out of hours)

    Enhanced Street Cleansing Services

    Environment Task Force

    Extension of abandoned vehicle pilot

    Flyposting and anti graffiti strategy

    Home Maintenance Project

    Leeds House Condition Survey

    Streetscene

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    Organisation:

    LCC—Community Safety Unit

    LCC—Community Safety Unit

    LCC—Community Safety Unit

    LCC—Housing and Environmental Health Services

    LCC—Social Services

    LCC—Youth Service

    LCC—Community Planning and Regeneration

    Leeds Initiative

    LCC—Community Planning and Regeneration

    Community Mediation Services

    LCC—Community Planning and Regeneration

    Education Leeds

    LCC—Childcare and Early Development Service

    Education Leeds

    Education Leeds

    Education Leeds

    LCC—Childcare and Early Development Service

    LCC—Leisure Services

    LCC—Leisure Services

    Education Leeds

    Education Leeds

    Education Leeds

    Education Leeds

    Education Leeds

    Education Leeds

    Volunteer Reading Help

    LCC—Community Planning and Regeneration

    Leeds Construction and Training Agency

    LCC—Dept. of Training

    Leeds Development Agency

    LCC—Dept. of Training

    LCC—Dept. of Training

    Hamaara Healthy Living Centre

    LCC—Social Services

    Education Leeds

    East Leeds Primary Care Trust

    LCC—Housing and Environmental Health Services

    LCC—Contracting Services

    LCC—Housing and Environmental Health Services

    LCC—Leisure Services

    LCC—Housing and Environmental Health Services

    LCC—Highways and Transportation

    LCC—Community Planning and Regeneration

    LCC—Highways and Transportation

    LCC—Community Planning and Regeneration

    LCC—Housing and Environmental Health Services

    LCC—Housing and Environmental Health Services

    LCC—Contracting Services

    Supporting People Scheme
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the balance between mobile and permanent staff servicing the needs of older people under the Supporting People Scheme. [97784]
    459W
    Mr. McNulty
    Supporting People will enable local authorities to provide user-centred, flexible services designed to meet local need. Local authorities are required to review all services (including those for older people) in their area between 2003 and 2006, to ensure that services meet the needs of users, are of high quality and are cost effective. It is the responsibility of each authority (and each service provider) to ensure that adequate staffing resources are in place to meet local need, and that the balance between the use of mobile and permanent staff is appropriate.

    £ million

    Programmes

    2003–04

    2004–05

    2005–06

    Total

    Housing Defects Grants

    0.4

    0.2

    0.1

    0.7

    Disabled Facilities Grants

    99.0

    99.0

    99.0

    297.0

    Safer Communities Supported Housing

    39.0

    10.0

    10.0

    59.0

    Gypsy Sites

    8.0

    8.0

    8.0

    24.0

    Estate Action

    5.0

    0.0

    0.0

    5.0

    Housing Corporation (Other Programmes)

    227.5

    226.4

    226.4

    680.4

    National Approved Letting Service

    0.1

    0.1

    0.1

    0.2

    Housing Action Trusts

    71.8

    43.8

    17.8

    133.4

    Home Improvement Agencies

    8.9

    10.9

    10.9

    30.7

    Rent Assessment Panels

    10.2

    10.2

    10.2

    30.7

    Housing Mobility Grants

    4.0

    6.7

    12.2

    22.9

    Best Value in Housing

    1.0

    1.0

    1.0

    3.0

    Private Landlords in Low Demand Areas-Pilots

    1.0

    1.0

    1.0

    3.0

    Tenant Participation

    6.1

    5.1

    4.1

    15.3

    Housing Publicity and Publications

    0.8

    0.8

    0.8

    2.4

    Leasehold Enfranchisement Advisory Service

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    1.7

    Valuation Office Agency Right to Buy charges

    1.8

    1.8

    1.8

    5.4

    Tenants Deposit Scheme

    0.2

    0.0

    0.0

    0.2

    Supporting People

    61.5

    63.5

    48.5

    173.5

    Home Buying and Selling

    1.5

    1.5

    1.5

    4.5

    Local Authority Funding of Pilot Lettings Systems

    1.0

    1.0

    1.0

    3.0

    BME RSL transitional funding for rent reform

    15.0

    0.0

    0.0

    15.0

    Total

    564.4

    491.7

    455.0

    1,511.0

    The "Other Housing" line in the table on page 66 covers all of the tabled items except for disabled facilities grants, which are shown separately in that table.

  EDUCATION AND SKILLS

    Class Sizes (Derbyshire)
    Mr. McLoughlin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the class sizes of(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Derbyshire in each of the last five years. [98887]

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

    Maintained primary and secondary schools1; Average class size2, Derbyshire local education authority

    Position in January each year

    Classes taught by one teacher Primary

    Secondary

    1998

    29.4

    22.2

    1999

    28.2

    22.4

    2000

    28.3

    22.5

    2001

    27.3

    22.2

    2002

    27.0

    22.3

    1 Includes middle schools as deemed.

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    Sustainable Communities
    Ms Oona King
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the other housing programmes identified in the table on page 7 of Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future are; and how much will be spent on each of these in(a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06. [98516]

    Mr. McNulty
    Tabled are the "other housing programmes" identified in the table on page 7 "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future", with planned expenditure for the next three years. Note that totals may not sum due to rounding.

    2 Classes as taught during the one selected period in each school on the day of the census.

    Source:

    Annual Schools' Census

    Classroom Replacement (Somerset)
    Mr Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many condemned temporary classrooms there are in Somerset; and how many temporary classrooms were replaced in Somerset in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [98277]

    Mr. Miliband
    The Department for Education and Skills does not hold information on numbers of replacement temporary classrooms.

    Mr Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines the Government has issued on classroom replacement in Somerset. [98283]

    Mr. Miliband
    The Department for Education and Skills has not issued guidelines for replacement classrooms. Somerset, in common with other Local Education Authorities, determines priorities for its capital budgets, on the basis of its Asset Management Plan, which should take Government priorities into account.
    461W

    Construction Industry Training Board
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to review the operation of the Construction Industry Training Board levy. [97911]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    The CITB's levy arrangements are subject to annual approval by Parliament. They continue to have the support of all the main employer organisations within the construction industry as a way of ensuring that the costs of training the workforce are shared by the whole industry. Also, as a non-departmental public body, the CITB is subject to quinquennial reviews of its function and performance. A review is currently underway.

    Drugs
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schoolchildren were excluded from schools for drug misuse in(a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in the last year for which figures are available. [98225]

    Mr. Miliband
    I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) on 14 January, columns 573–74W.

    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is given to(a) schools and (b) pupils to tackle drug use. [98226]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    The DfES provides considerable support to schools to fulfil their statutory obligation to educate young people about drugs. In 2002–03, £15.5m has been made available via the Standards Fund to improve the extent and quality of drug education. Of this, £1.3m has been set aside under the drug, alcohol and tobacco education training package to support teachers' continuing professional development. We are currently revising and consolidating our guidance to schools to make clear the statutory responsibilities and outline good practice in drug education and incident management. This guidance along with the curriculum materials produced by the QCA and the learning and development website for PSHE will further help schools in this area. Additionally, through the National Healthy School Standard and local programmes support is given to schools in meeting national criteria in drug education.

    Through schools' pastoral support systems, pupils vulnerable to drug misuse should be identified to ensure that those who need extra help either receive it in school or through access to external specialist help. Connexions advisers, which all young people should have access to, also play an important role in identifying and addressing pupils' needs.

    Electronic Registration (Secondary Schools)
    Jim Dowd
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 188W, what benefits were envisaged when the tender process was undertaken; whether this benefit was lost by its discontinuance; whether the cessation of the tender was in accordance with EC regulations covering these matters; how many suppliers were short-listed; how many of these were unable to accept the terms and 462W
    conditions and if he will name them; how many were able to accept the terms and conditions and if he will name them; what principal reason was given for being unable to meet the terms and conditions; whether issues relating to patents were cited; whether the short-listed suppliers were informed of the reasons for the discontinuance; and what ratification procedure will be used to assess applications from schools. [99110]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    The tendering process was aimed at reducing burdens on schools through establishing framework contracts with a range of suitable suppliers of electronic registration solutions to offerschools choice and a simple way of contracting with their preferred supplier. The decision to abandon the procurement exercise was taken because too few of the short-listed suppliers could meet the terms and conditions of the framework contracts, thus severely restricting the choice for schools. Information about these contracts and short-listed suppliers is commercially confidential.

    Tendering was stopped in accordance with all appropriate regulations and the schools included in the electronic registration project are now free to buy systems on the open market subject to ratification by the Department. Guidance on purchasing systems has been made available to schools and this, together with information on the process for the approval of systems is available to view on the TeacherNet website:http:// www.teachernet.gov.uk/Management/tools/ict/IMS/Electronic_Registration/

    Graduate Tax
    Mr. McNamara
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish his costings that underlie his estimate that the administration costs for a graduate tax would be in the region of £1 billion. [96671]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The estimate of up to £1 billion was not for administration costs, but for the additional upfront cash costs of implementing a graduate tax over and above the cost of variable fees and loans, as proposed in the White Paper "The future of higher education". The costs of a graduate tax system are greater for several reasons:The graduate tax would need to support both maintenance and tuition costs, and the upfront costs of non-means tested maintenance grants for all, to be funded by the tax, are considerably more than the cash costs of means-tested loans;
    Under a graduate tax there is no possible mechanism for early additional repayments. With our existing loans, graduates are making additional repayments to clear their debts faster, and this reduces Government's costs. In addition, some students may choose not to take out a loan, but to pay up-front, which also reduces costs; and
    The rate of repayment is slower for a graduate tax than for loans, and so it takes longer for the Government to reach 'break even' point.

    Higher Education
    Mr. Andrew Turner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his statement of 22 January,Official Report, column 303, on higher education, what the evidential basis was for his

    463W
    description of universities having offered great research accompanied by shoddy teaching; and to which courses at which universities he was referring. [93943]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    I was highlighting the new measures announced in "The Future for Higher Education" which are aimed at ensuring that teaching is of a universally high standard. These new arrangements will mean that reputation for research excellence will no longer be assumed to be a proxy for high quality teaching. Concerns about the quality of teaching were raised by students with Ministers during their visits to universities, and reflected in some reports by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. The White Paper on Higher Education also identified a number of shortcomings in the way that University teaching was recognised, supported and awarded.

    Mr. Stephen O'Brien
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien), of 6 February 2003,Official Report, column 396W, on higher education, what research the Department for Education and Skills commissioned to conclude that the proposals included in the White Paper would have a positive impact on the economy; and if he will publish the research. [99128]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    We are confident that the proposals in the White Paper will have a positive benefit on the economy and more widely on the quality of life.

    Accepted applicants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses by area of home residence1

    Year of entry

    Students from:

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    2002

    Lancashire

    7,750

    6,266

    6,660

    6,314

    6,670

    6,792

    Blackburn with Darwen

    2—

    591

    802

    847

    801

    869

    Blackpool

    2

    502

    554

    566

    616

    574

    The North West3

    26,385

    26,291

    27,253

    27,081

    28,332

    29,144

    1As a result of local government reorganisation, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool which were previously part of Lancashire, became separate LEAs in 1998.

    2 Not applicable.

    3 Includes Lancashire Blackburn, Blackpool, Cheshire, Warrington, Halton, Cumbria and Greater Manchester.

    Source:

    Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the planned increase in higher education funding is(a) tied to particular schemes and (b) for specified purposes. [98505]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The table on page 19 of the White Paper "The future of higher education" (Cm 5735) includes details of higher education funding in England from 2002–03 to 2005–06.

    Based on that table, the analysis in the following table shows how each of the spending categories contributes to the total increase of funding between 2002–03 and 2005–06 of £2.3 billion.

    £million

    2002–03

    2005–06

    Increase of 2005–06 over 2002–03

    $of total increase in funding

    Research

    1,910

    2,633

    723

    31

    Knowledge transfer

    62

    114

    52

    2

    464W
    The proposals were informed by a range of research that has been published by the Department, by academics and by other organisations including:
    other Government Departments including the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI),
    the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE),
    the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),
    Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS),
    Universities UK,
    Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI); and
    the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IPS).

    In many cases, references to the underpinning research are made in footnotes to the White Paper; and the research itself can be found in these organisations'publicly available websites. The Department's own research publications are at http:// www.dfes.gov.uk/research/and http://www.skillsbase.dfes.gov.uk.

    Higher Education
    Mr. Evans
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people entered higher education from(a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England in 1997 and each subsequent year. [94131]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The latest available information is shown in the table.

    £million

    2002–03

    2005–06

    Increase of 2005–06 over 2002–03

    $of total increase in funding

    Teaching and learning, of which:

    3,943

    4,963

    1,020

    44

    Centres of Teaching Excellence

    0

    35

    35

    2

    Expansion1

    —

    32

    32

    1

    Access and widening participation

    86

    132

    46

    2

    Management, Leadership and strategic development

    15

    34

    19

    1

    Student support

    1,578

    1,996

    418

    18

    Other

    2

    14

    12

    1

    Total

    7,596

    9,918

    2,322

    100

    1 Foundation degree development and incentives

    465W
    As shown in the table above, the funding allocated to 'teaching and learning' will increase by £1,020 million between 2002–03 and 2005–06. Of that increase, £287 million will be for capital and £733 million for recurrent expenditure, made up of funding to cover increased costs and the anticipated increase in student numbers. The recurrent increase also includes additional funding for human resources and pay differentiation for those who teach well (which will be consolidated into all institutions' block grants and allocated by formula once they develop satisfactory human resources strategies) and Centres of Teaching Excellence. The funding allocated for the Centres of Teaching Excellence, and other smaller initiatives that will not be allocated to all institutions by formula, will make up around 6 per cent. of the total recurrent increase in teaching and learning.

    IT Contracts
    Mr. Sayeed
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list IT contracts in his Department and its predecessors above £50 million in each of the last 10 years; what the inception date for each system was; when it became fully functional; when it became fully debugged; and what the cost of over-runs has been. [98995]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    We have no IT contracts in my Department or its predecessors for systems costing £50 million or more in the last ten years.

    IT Staff (Higher Education)
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what studies he has carried out into the shortage of IT staff in higher education since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [98693]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    No such studies have been made by the Government itself; but the Universities and Colleges Employers Association has undertaken surveys of university staff in general. The findings indicate recruitment and retention is an issue in certain disciplines only, including some aspects of information technology. In 2000, the Government announced funding of £50 million, £110 million and £170 million in England for the years 2001–02 to 2003–04 to underpin human resource strategies in each higher education institution to address recruitment and retention among other things. The Government have recently announced further funding of £50 million in 2004–05 and £117 million in 2005–06 for the same purpose.

    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many IT teaching posts in higher education were unfilled in each year since 1997. [98694]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The information is not held centrally. Individual universities and higher education colleges, as employers, are responsible for monitoring their own vacancies.
    466W

    IT Teaching (Core Curriculum)
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills why IT is no longer part of the core curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [98696]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is currently a National Curriculum foundation subject at all four key stages of compulsory education. The 14–19 strategy document "14–19: opportunity and excellence", published on 21 January 2003, confirmed that ICT will remain compulsory during Key Stage 4, recognising the importance that ICT plays in preparing young people to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly dependent on access to, and skilful use of, technology.

    We expect that, in time, pupils will increasingly develop their ICT skills through other subjects and ICT may no longer need to be discretely specified as a statutory required National Curriculum subject.

    Maintenance Grants
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills at what level maintenance grants will be introduced for university students from households where the income is between £10,000 and £20,000; and what criteria will be used to assess eligibility. [98447]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The level of grant available for students from households with income between –10,000 and 20,000 will depend on the threshold below which the full grant will be paid. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham Selly Oak (Mrs. Lynne Jones) on 6 February 2003,Official Report, column 359W. Precise details on the eligibility criteria will be announced in due course.

    Lynne Jones
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of medical students are from families whose family income is(a) less than £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £15,000, (c) £15,001 to £20,000 and (d) over £20,001, using the definition of income that he proposes to use in assessing eligibility for a maintenance grant. [98316]

    Margaret Hodge
    My Department collects data from Local Education Authorities on the assessed contributions by students to fees, grants and loans for all students eligible to apply for student support. This includes medical students. The latest data are for 2000/ 1 and relates to the definition of residual income1 that applied in that year. It is not possible to estimate the income1 distribution of medical students (adjusted to account for changes in definition proposed for the new maintenance grant) separately from this survey because separate data by course subject are not collected.

    In respect of estimates of residual incomes under the proposed definition for maintenance grant for all students, I refer to my reply to the hon. Friend's previous question.
    1Residual Income is gross income less the allowances detailed in my Department's guidance, "Financial Support for Higher Education Students".
    467W

    National Curriculum Alternatives
    Paul Holmes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the flexibility of Section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000 to take account of the needs of further education colleges who are working in partnership with local schools to provide alternatives to the National Curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [98980]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    Any external qualification which meets the published principles for approval can be approved under Section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000. The qualifications are approved for specific age groups; pre-16; 16–18 or over 18 but under 19. Approvals are independent of delivery arrangements.

    There are already 271 partnerships between schools, further education colleges and others as part of the Increased Flexibility for 14–16 Year Olds' Programme delivering vocational and work-related learning opportunities to 14–16 year olds.

    National Insurance
    Mr. Boswell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual cost will be of the forthcoming uplift of National Insurance Contributions for(a) higher and (b) further education institutions. [98672]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The additional cost in employers'national insurance contributions in 2003–04 for all Higher Education institutions in England is estimated to be around £60 million and for all Further Education institutions in England the estimate is £25 million. Higher and Further Education institutions receive funding for staff costs from a variety of sources, both public and private, so the element of the increase to be covered from public sources will be only a proportion of this. The actual cost in National Insurance contributions will depend on the number of staff employed and their pay level. These are matters for the institutions to determine.

    In the 2002 Spending Review, Higher and Further Education received generous increases in total funding, averaging 6 per cent. in real terms in each of the three years to 2005–06. As a result of these increases, publicly planned funding per full-time equivalent student will rise by 7 per cent. in real terms between 2002–03 and 2005–06 in both Higher and Further Education. This will put Further and Higher Education institutions in a good position to meet these costs.

    Post-16 Staying-on Rate
    Mr. Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the post-16 staying on rate was in each region and nation of the UK in(a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2002. [98449]

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The table gives the percentage of 16-year-olds participating in post-compulsory education in each region and nation of the UK in 1992–93,1997–98 and 2000–01, the latest year for which figures are available.
    468W

    Percentages1

    16-year-olds participating in post-compulsory education2—time series

    Region of Study

    1992–933

    1997–98

    2000–014

    United Kingdom

    78

    77

    78

    North East

    70

    68

    74

    North West

    75

    74

    74

    Yorkshire and the Humber

    74

    74

    76

    East Midlands

    75

    74

    75

    West Midlands

    76

    75

    76

    East

    80

    79

    80

    London

    80

    79

    81

    South East

    83

    80

    78

    South West

    82

    79

    79

    England

    78

    76

    77

    Wales

    75

    75

    79

    Scotland5

    77

    92

    90

    Northern Ireland6

    88

    73

    76

    Notes:

    1 As a percentage of the 16-year-old population.

    2 At school or in further education. Includes a small element of students in higher education institutions.

    3 Excludes evening only students. There is a slight discontinuity with data shown for later years due to the use of different data sources in England and Wales.

    4 Data for Scotland refer to 1999–2000.

    5 The estimates of 16-year-olds at school exclude those pupils who leave school in the winter term at the minimum statutory school-leaving age.

    6 Figures for 1997–98 and 2000–01 exclude students in part-time further education (17.8 per cent. and 15.1 per cent. respectively), which should not be aggregated with full-time further education or schools activity due to the unquantifiable overlap of these activities.

    Source:

    Department for Education and Skills; National Assembly for Wales; Scottish Executive; Northern Ireland Department of Education.

    Probation Service Centre (Chippenham)
    Mr. Gray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003,Official Report, columns 694–95W, whether it is in accordance with his Department's guidelines for a probation service centre to be opened adjacent to Ivy Lane School in Chippenham, Wiltshire. [98523]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The location of probation service centres is a matter for the Home Office. My Department's published guidance on school security, as set out in my previous reply, does not specifically cover questions of the opening of such centres near existing schools.

    School Maintenance
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his latest estimate is of the repair and maintenance backlog cost for schools in(a) England and (b) each local education authority; and if he will make a statement. [98375]

    Mr. Miliband
    School premises condition costs for local education authorities were summarised in the answer to parliamentary question 32896 on 13 February 2002. In that response, a table detailed the cost of repair
    469W
    and renewal needs for each local education authority, broken down into three orders of priority. The DfES has not received any more recent data.

    Authorities have been asked to supply new data in April-May this year and we plan to publish analysis following appraisal of the data.

    Science Research Investment Fund
    Ms Dari Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the formula used to calculate shares of the Science Research Investment Fund 2004–06 takes account of universities engaged in applied scientific research. [98810]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The Science Research Investment Fund in England is allocated to institutions according to a formula based on institutions'total research income and on the amount of quality-related research income that they receive from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Both of these factors take account of applied scientific research.

    Skill Shortages
    Mr. Evans
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the skill shortages experienced by employers in England; [96728]

    (2) what assessment he has made of the skill shortages experienced by employers of (a) mechanics, (b) plumbers, (c) electricians and (d) builders in England[96769]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    My Department has funded a number of surveys of employers to assess their current and future skill needs, and also monitors a number of external measures of skills shortages such as those coming from the CBI's Quarterly Industrial Trends Survey.

    The Employers Skill Survey, funded by my Department, interviewed 27,000 employers across England in 1999 and in 2001, and was carried out on a smaller scale in 2002. The survey results provide evidence on trends in skill shortages, including headline measures for broad industries and occupations.

    Our own surveys, and the CBI measures, indicate that skills shortages are relatively low and stable given the historically high levels of employment we are experiencing. However, the Employers Skill Survey results do show that skilled craft trades are among the occupations most affected by skill shortage vacancies, and also that the construction industry experiences one of the highest levels of skill shortage vacancies relative to its employment levels.

    The Skills in England report, published earlier this month by the Learning and Skills Council, also stresses that the construction sector has the most severe skills shortages (as a percentage of employment). The health and social care sector also suffers from a disproportionately high share of skill shortage vacancies. Occupationally associate professionals and skilled trades have the greatest share of skill shortages.
    470W
    Detailed information on specific occupations is not collected by the Department. It is the role of the Skills for Business network (the Sector Skills Development Agency and the Sector Skills Councils) and the two Industry Training Boards to assess detailed skill needs within their particular industries.

    Skills Sector Councils
    Mr. Gardiner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills why he has established skills sector councils to improve skills in the hospitality and leisure sector. [95861]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    The Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) has been established to fund, support and champion a new UK-wide network of influential employer-led Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). SSCs have been charged to lead the skills and productivity drive in industry or business sectors recognised by employers. They bring together employers, trade unions and professional bodies to work with government to develop the skills that UK business needs.

    A proposal to set up a Sector Skills Council for Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism, is now in the development stage. The prospective SSC is receiving support from the SSDA to prepare a detailed Labour Market Assessment and Business Proposition. Their final proposal will be judged against the criteria set out in the published SSC standard. If successful, the SSDA Board will recommend that the Secretary of State issues a five year licence to operate as a Sector Skills Council.

    Special Educational Needs
    Dr. Tonge
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken to identify the special educational needs of children born to(a) crack cocaine and (b) cocaine-addicted mothers. [94214]

    Mr. Miliband
    The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has a statutory duty to advise the Government on drug misuse. Its Prevention Working Group has carried out an in-depth inquiry into the needs of children of problem drug users and is due to report to Government in summer 2003. The report will include policy and practice recommendations for Government on how they can ensure the needs of these children are met, including the role of health, social care, education, criminal justice and other services.

    Children's special educational needs are assessed on an individual basis regardless of their family or social circumstances. The Government recognise the importance of early identification and intervention for all children with SEN and will include our plans to strengthen action in this area in a new SEN action programme to be launched later this year.

    Specialist Schools Programme
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2003,Official Report, column 697W, on specialist state schools, what percentage of schools participating in the specialist schools programme are languages colleges. [98905]
    471W
    Mr. Miliband
    16 per cent. of operational specialist schools are language colleges.

    Study Support Schemes
    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth action groups have been established with funding through partnerships of study support schemes.[98184]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    The Partners for Study Support grant scheme, which finished in March 2002, encouraged schools to work with voluntary, private and public sector organisations to develop innovative and sustainable study support partnerships. One of the 134 projects funded through the scheme enabled Crime Concern to work with St Helen's Crime and Disorder Reduction Task group and other local organisations to develop a youth action group at local schools in the St Helen's area. Outside the study support scheme, my Department is also funding other school-based projects to prevent crime. For example, we have set up 100 Safer School Partnerships where a police officer works in a school to reduce crime locally, make the school a safer place for learning, help keep young people in education, and re-engage them with their community.

    January each year

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    2002

    Teachers in post1

    Secondary

    2,600

    2,630

    2,670

    2,730

    2,810

    Nursery/primary

    2,520

    2,600

    2,670

    2,690

    2,700

    Vacancies2

    Secondary

    13

    13

    11

    19

    21

    Nursery/primary

    25

    11

    25

    24

    13

    Teaching Assistants3

    Secondary

    150

    170

    230

    280

    320

    Nursery/primary

    660

    690

    790

    1,030

    1,180

    1Full-time equivalent teachers in post in the maintained schools sector.

    2 Advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term's duration) in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools. Includes vacancies being filled on a temporary basis.

    3 Includes full-time equivalent nursery assistants, special needs support staff, minority ethnic pupil support staff and non-teaching assistants.

    Source:

    DfES annual 618G survey and Annual School Census.

    Diana Organ
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools made errors on form TPP-S concerning the number of teachers who had gone through Round 1 on Teachers Performance Pay; and how many errors related to teachers in Gloucestershire. [98117]

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: LEAs checked the accuracy of school returns in the autumn. The DfES further challenged apparently inaccurate survey returns in early January in 1,000 cases. 12 of these inaccuracies related to returns made by schools in Gloucestershire.
    472W

    Sustainable Communities Plan (Ashford)
    Mr. Damian Green
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provisions he has made in his departmental budget for the spending entailed in the Sustainable Communities plan on schools in Ashford; and if he will make a statement. [98636]

    Mr. Miliband
    The Department provides capital funding for new pupil places as part of its annual capital round, but at this stage it is too early to say what the costs will be for new provision in Ashford. Most of the revenue funding for new pupil places would be provided through Kent LEA's Education Formula Spending Share. Education Formula Spending Share, and most DfES revenue grants, are primarily provided on a per pupil basis; new pupil places created as a result of the Sustainable Communities plan in Ashford would receive their share of national revenue funding totals accordingly.

    Teacher
    Mr. McLoughlin
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) secondary school teachers, (b) primary school teachers and (c) classroom assistants are employed in Derbyshire; and how many teacher vacancies there were in each year since 1997. [98884]
    Mr. Miliband: The following table provides information for Derbyshire since re-organisation in April 1997.

    January each year

    Diana Organ
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers in Gloucestershire went through Round 1 on the Teachers Performance Pay Scheme; and what percentage this is of teachers in Gloucestershire. [981181]

    Mr. Miliband
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: It is too early to say how many teachers who passed the threshold in Gloucestershire will be advanced by their schools to upper pay scale point two.

    Diana Organ
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the closing date was for accepting errors on form TPP-S for rectification. [98681]

    Mr. Miliband
    Local education authorities were asked to comment on the data returned on form TPP-S by their schools by 20 December 2002. The Department also contacted some schools whose data still appeared
    473W
    obviously inaccurate during the week commencing 6 January and allowed them to amend returns until 10 January.

    Temporary Classrooms
    Mr Liddell-Grainger
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many temporary classrooms there are in England. [98285]

    Mr. Miliband
    As part of the data collected through the appraisal of Asset Management Plans, the Department for Education and Skills has some information on the overall area of temporary accommodation at schools, but it is not possible from these data to identify with any precision the actual number of temporary classrooms.

    Training Costs
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the average cost to the public purse of(a) training a plumber, (b) training an electrician, (c) training a plasterer and (d) a degree course, broken down by further education colleges, universities and higher education institutions, for each parliamentary constituency and each local education authority area. [94703]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    Publicly funded training of plumbers, electricians, plasterers and other craft occupations is usually provided through Modern Apprenticeships for young people or through programmes provided by further education institutions. Reporting on the costs of this learning is the operational responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council. I have asked John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Member providing the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

    Figures for degree courses broken down in the way requested are not held centrally. For higher education in England, the Government allocates funding via the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The HEFCE provide teaching grants on the basis that similar courses are funded at similar rates irrespective of the type of institution providing the education. The detailed allocations are calculated according to the numbers and types of students in the institutions, and the courses they are taking. Different courses are weighted at different levels to reflect, for example, the higher costs of providing laboratory-based and medical courses. There are also adjustments made to the calculations to reflect London weighting, the additional costs of teaching students from disadvantaged backgrounds and mature and part-time students. The cost to the public purse of a degree course will therefore reflect these weightings and adjustments.

    Tuition Fees
    Mr. Edwards
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the 474W
    proportion of full-time students who (a) are exempt from paying the full tuition fee of £1,100, (b) pay a proportion of the tuition fee and (c) pay the full tuition fee. [98448]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    In Academic Year 2000/01 (the latest year for which data are available):

    (a) 42 per cent. of students in England and Wales who were eligible to be assessed for student support were not required to make a payment to the fee contribution of £1,050, and

    (b) 19 per cent. paid a proportion of the fee contribution, and

    (c) 39 per cent. paid the full tuition fee contribution.

    These figures are based on provisional 2000/01 data (published on 30 April 2002).

    University Applications
    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students applied to attend university in each of the last three years in(a) Lancashire and (b) the UK. [97411]

    Mr. Charles Clarke
    The latest available information is shown in the table.

    Applicants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses by area of home residence

    Year of entry

    Students from:

    2000

    2001

    2002

    Lancashire

    7,781

    8,091

    8,134

    UK

    389,091

    399,645

    401,854

    Source:

    Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

    Vocational Skills
    Paul Holmes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on developing a suite of qualifications which provide a progression route from entry level through to level three and which accredit vocationally related skills; and if she will make a statement. [98981]

    Mr. Miliband
    There are 129 entry level qualifications which provide progression to a variety of qualifications at level one. In addition there are 617 vocationally related qualifications at levels one to three currently accredited. Many of these qualifications form coherent and progressive suites covering all three levels. This position changes as new qualifications are accredited to meet the needs identified by sectors for workforce development.

    Working Age Population (Qualifications)
    Mr. Jim Cousins
    To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the working age population had(a) no qualification and (b) no qualification above NVQ Level 2 in each region and nation of the UK in (i) 1992, 1997 and (iii) 2002. [98451]

    Margaret Hodge
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The information requested is presented in the following table:
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    Table 1: The Level of Highest Qualification held by People of Working Age1 in the UK and UK Countries and by Government Office Region (GOR). Labour Force Survey 1992, 1997 and 2002

    Percentage

    Above level 22

    Level 23

    Below level 24

    No qualifications

    No qualifications above level 2

    Autumn 2002

    UK

    44.4

    21.9

    19.2

    14.5

    55.6

    NE

    39.3

    22.6

    20.3

    17.8

    60.7

    NW

    42.2

    22.5

    18.5

    16.8

    57.8

    Y&H

    42.0

    21.5

    20.3

    16.1

    58.0

    EM

    41.9

    22.3

    20.2

    15.6

    58.1

    WM

    40.3

    22.3

    19.7

    17.7

    59.7

    EE

    41.3

    23.9

    21.3

    13.5

    58.7

    LN

    47.5

    20.3

    19.4

    12.8

    52.5

    SE

    48.8

    21.9

    19.1

    10.1

    51.2

    SW

    46.8

    21.7

    21.6

    10.0

    53.2

    ENG

    44.1

    22.0

    19.9

    14.1

    55.9

    WAL

    42.5

    23.1

    17.2

    17.2

    57.5

    SCO

    50.2

    19.7

    15.8

    14.4

    49.8

    NIR

    41.2

    23.4

    12.0

    23.4

    58.7

    Autumn 1997

    UK

    38.7

    22.3

    21.6

    17.4

    61.3

    NE

    32.7

    22.3

    22.8

    22.2

    67.3

    NW

    38.0

    22.3

    21.6

    18.1

    62.0

    Y&H

    36.3

    21.5

    23.3

    19.0

    63.7

    EM

    36.3

    21.8

    22.6

    19.3

    63.7

    WM

    34.3

    22.0

    22.4

    21.3

    65.7

    EE

    36.2

    24.7

    23.7

    15.5

    63.8

    LN

    43.2

    20.7

    20.9

    15.2

    56.8

    SE

    42.0

    22.9

    22.1

    13.0

    58.0

    SW

    40.9

    23.2

    21.7

    14.2

    59.1

    ENG

    38.5

    22.3

    22.2

    16.9

    61.5

    WAL

    36.5

    22.3

    19.5

    21.8

    63.6

    SCO

    43.5

    21.5

    18.3

    16.6

    56.5

    NIR

    34.4

    23.0

    15.7

    26.9

    65.6

    Autumn 1992

    UK

    30.7

    22.0

    21.2

    26.1

    69.3

    NE

    25.7

    22.0

    22.2

    30.1

    74.3

    NW

    28.2

    22.3

    21.4

    28.1

    71.8

    Y&H

    27.3

    22.5

    22.1

    28.2

    72.7

    EM

    26.1

    21.6

    21.8

    30.5

    73.9

    WM

    26.1

    20.9

    22.5

    30.5

    73.9

    EE

    29.4

    23.8

    23.7

    23.1

    70.6

    LN

    35.6

    20.4

    19.8

    24.1

    64.4

    SE

    33.8

    23.1

    22.4

    20.6

    66.2

    SW

    31.6

    23.3

    23.1

    22.0

    68.4

    ENG

    30.0

    22.2

    22.0

    25.8

    70.0

    WAL

    26.7

    22.1

    21.4

    29.7

    73.3

    SCO

    39.3

    20.4

    13.6

    26.7

    60.7

    NIR

    —

    —

    —

    —

    —

    1Working Age is defined as males aged 16–64 and females aged 16–59.

    2Qualifications above level 2 are as follows:

    Level 5 includes Higher degrees and other qualifications at Level 5. Level 4 includes First degree. Other degree and sub-degree higher education qualifications such as teaching and nursing certificates HNC/HNDs, other HE diplomas and other qualifications at level 4.

    Level 3 includes Vocational qualifications include those with RSA Advanced Diploma. BTEC Nationals. ONC/ONDs. City and Guilds Advanced Craft or trade apprenticeships and other professional or vocational qualifications at Level 3. Academic qualifications include those with Advanced GNVQs. more than one GCE A level or SCE Highers/Scottish Certificates of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS) at Level 3.

    3 Vocational qualifications include those with BTEC general certificates YT certificates, other RSA qualifications, other City and Guilds or other professional or vocational qualifications at Level 1 Academic qualifications include those with one or more GCSE grade G or equivalent (but less than five at grades A-C).

    4 Vocational qualifications include those with BTEC general certificates, YT certificates, other RSA qualifications, other City and Guilds or other professional or vocational qualifications at Level 1 Academic qualifications include those with one or more GCSE grade G or equivalent (but less than five at grades A⋆-C)

    Note:

    The Labour Force Survey was not conducted in Northern Ireland in Autumn 1992

    Source:

    Labour Force Survey (LFS): Autumn quarters 1992, 1997 and 2002

  LORD CHANCELLOR

    Bow Street Magistrates Court
    Mr. Malins
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department pursuant to her answer of 16 December 2002,Official Report, column 644W,
    476W
    concerning Bow Street Magistrates Court and night sittings, when she expects to be able to write to the hon. Member for Woking. [98648]

    Yvette Cooper
    The Final Evaluation Report for the Extended Court Sitting Hours pilot was published on 27 January 2003. I am writing to the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Malins) with a copy of that report.
    477W
    In regard to the questions raised in his previous question, I can now inform him that:

    (1) the night sessions at Bow Street Magistrates Court, which ran between the dates of 17 May 2002 and 28 September 2002, from 6pm until midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings, operated for a total of 200 hours; (a) during the course of the pilot 155 (42 per cent.) of cases were disposed of at first hearing; and (b) 213 (58 per cent.) of cases were remanded over until a later date;

    (2) the total cost for all agencies concerned in the pilot operation of the night session at Bow Street Magistrates Court was £1,198,669.

    Laptop Computers
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many laptop computers were used by(a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i)lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement. [98704]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    Prior to 1999 the figures for laptops supplied for use in my Department cannot be produced without incurring disproportionate cost. The figures for the years from 1999 onwards are as follows:

    Laptops supplied

    (a) Ministers and special advisers

    (b)Officials

    1999

    2

    674

    2000

    2

    693

    2001

    2

    689

    2002

    2

    706

    The figures for (i) lost and (ii) stolen laptops are as follows:

    Laptops lost and stolen

    (i)Lost

    (ii)Stolen

    Cost(£)

    1995

    —

    9

    —

    1996

    —

    12

    —

    1997

    —

    2

    —

    1998

    —

    4

    4,300

    1999

    —

    2

    1,200

    2000

    —

    3

    2,500

    2001

    1

    15

    22,500

    2002

    —

    14

    19,600

    Note:

    Only officials'laptops have been lost or stolen; we do not have any figures for costs before 1998.

    The Department is actively promoting guidance on the security of IT equipment, increasing staff awareness in this area.

    Legal Services Commission
    Mr. Malins
    To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage salary increase was awarded to the staff of the Legal Services Commission, broken down by grade, in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [98645]

    Ms Rosie Winterton
    I shall write to the hon. Member as soon
    as possible.
    478W

  TRANSPORT

    Heavy Goods Vehicles (Northern Ireland)
    Mr. Beggs
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the number of additional HGVs which will be required on roads in Northern Ireland if the working time directive is applied. [99124]

    Mr. Jamieson
    My officials are discussing the likely impact of the directive on the UK as a whole, with representatives from both sides of industry. Much will depend on current vehicle usage, the amount of working time drivers currently perform and whether existing operations and shift patterns need to be revised.

    A regulatory impact assessment will be published later this year, alongside a consultation document on how the directive could be transposed into UK law.

    Airports (Police Services)
    Andrew Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list those airports whose operators are not charged for police services and presence; and for what reason charges are not made; [98564]

    (2) if he will list those airports which are designated for police purposes, and for which the airport operators are charged for police services. [98565]

    Mr. Jamieson
    I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 February 2003,Official Report, column 34W, which explained the current situation with regard to the designation of airports for uniformed policing purposes. There are presently nine designated airports, the listing of which would be inappropriate on security grounds.

    Departmental Spending (Ashford)
    Mr. Damian Green
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions he has made in his departmental budget for the spending entailed in the Sustainable Communities plan in and around Ashford; and if he will make a statement. [98637]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Highways Agency is promoting improvements to the existing junction 10 of the M20 with the costs fully covered by the developers. Further planned growth at Ashford will be facilitated by a new junction to the south of the existing junction 10 and the and the Secretary of State has asked the Highways Agency to investigate the feasibility of its provision.

    In addition some £5.2 billion of public and private investment is already being made available to complete the channel tunnel rail link which will greatly improve the accessibility of Ashford.

    Freight Traffic
    Mr. Lansley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect on planned growth in freight traffic between 2000–01 and 2010–11 he expects to result from the deferred schemes of(a) the Trans Pennine/ South Humberside freight capacity works, (b) Felixstowe to Nuneaton Phase 2, (c) the de-scoped East Coast Main Line and (d) reviewed Phase 1 of Felixstowe to Nuneaton. [98968]
    479W
    Mr. Jamieson
    The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) confirmed in its revised Strategic Plan (issued at the end of January 2003—copies in the House Library) its objectives for freight. These and other objectives will be reviewed as the 10 Year Plan is rolled forward.

    Portland Helicopter
    Mr. Swire
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be making an announcement on the future of the Bristow helicopter operation at Portland. [98650]

    Mr. Jamieson
    This Government is committed to ensuring the continued provision of appropriate civilian maritime search and rescue services for our coasts. We have listened very carefully to all the arguments for and against moving the helicopter based at Portland and announced last week that the Coastguard helicopter will continue to fly from there. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is now in a position to let a new contract for the continued provision of a helicopter based at Portland for beyond May 2003, when the current contract expires.

    Public Transport (Overcrowding)
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what definition he uses for overcrowding on different forms of public transport. [98612]

    Mr. Jamieson
    There is no definition for overcrowding on public transport. However all rail operators are required to provide a frequency of service and adequate capacity to prevent excessive crowding

    Injuries to railway employees

    Year

    Major1

    Minor1

    Injuries to passengers requiring hospital treatment

    Other members of the public requiring hospital treatment Injuries to trespassers and attempted suicides requiring hospital treatment

    2001–02

    351

    2,023

    2,401

    92

    179

    2000–01

    300

    2,135

    2,795

    84

    177

    1999–2000

    340

    2,065

    2,742

    85

    144

    1998–99

    376

    2,070

    2,671

    101

    149

    1997–98

    351

    2,088

    2,747

    127

    136

    1These figures will include some injuries that required hospital treatment.

    Note:

    The figures refer to injuries occurring on all railways (including tramways and underground systems.

    Rail Passenger Partnership Fund
    Mr. Lansley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of funding under the Rail Passenger Partnership Fund is identified for transfer to regional assemblies in England. [98883]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The level of funding for Rail Passenger Partnership schemes that will transfer to elected regional assemblies in England has not been determined yet.

    Rail Services (Scotland)
    Mrs. Lait
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what responsibility the Strategic Rail Authority has for rail services in Scotland. [98383]
    480W
    and to have in place strategies for dealing with regular systematic crowding when it occurs. On buses and coaches, regulations are also in place to prohibit the carriage of more than the authorised number of passengers.

    Rail Injuries
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the non-fatal injuries that occurred on the rail network required hospital treatment in each year since 1997; and what definitions his Department uses for the different categories of injury incurred by passengers on the rail network. [98589]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The recording of information on injuries occurring on the railway network are a requirement of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), 1995. It is a RIDDOR requirement that HSE is informed of the following injuries:

    (a) Fatalities;

    (b) Major injuries to railway employees;

    (c) Minor injuries to railway employees resulting in an absence from their normal range of work duties for more than three consecutive days;

    (d) Injuries to members of the public resulting in the injured person being removed from the site of the accident and taken to hospital for treatment.

    Information provided by the HSE on the numbers in each year since 1997 of non-fatal injuries that occurred on the rail network is shown in the following table:

    Mr. Jamieson
    The Strategic Rail Authority's responsibilities and its relationship with the Scottish Government are set out in the Transport Act 2000. The SRA has overall responsibility for the strategic development of the national passenger and freight railway network serving Scotland, England and Wales.

    The SRA must have regard to directions and guidance from the Scottish Ministers in respect of ScotRail services, provided these are not inconsistent with its directions and guidance from the Secretary of State or its financial framework. It also takes into account non-binding advice from the Scottish Ministers in respect of cross-border passenger services provided by non-Scottish franchises.
    481W
    The SRA is working closely with the Scottish Executive on the replacement process for the current ScotRail franchise, which ends in 2004. The SRA must seek the consent of the Scottish Ministers before awarding the franchise.

    Railway Standards and Safety Board
    Mr. Don Foster
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisation is managing the recruitment of the senior staff for the Railway Standards and Safety Board; and who is chairing the selection committee. [98340]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Network Rail is managing the recruitment process for the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Rail Safety and Standards Board on behalf of the industry. The selection committee will decide who its chair will be.

    Speed Limits
    Mr. Maples
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the proposed new national guidance on speed limits to be published. [99051]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Guidance on the setting of speed limits already exists in the form of Circular Roads 1/93. This remains good advice but we recognise the need to update it. Work currently under way which will feed into a review, is planned for the latter part of this year.

    Strategic Rail Authority
    Mrs. Dunwoody
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultants the SRA employs; and what specialities they cover. [98403]

    Mr. Jamieson
    Since 1 April 2002 the Strategic Rail Authority has employed the services of 95 consultancy firms with expenditure valued above £25,000. The work procured covers a wide range of subjects, including legal, financial, technical and IT services. Information regarding the work procured valued at under £25,000 is not readily available.

    Traffic Lights
    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to introduce traffic lights based on light emitting diodes. [98028]

    Mr. Jamieson
    It is widely recognised that light emitting diode (LED) traffic signals potentially offer good optical performance combined with high reliability and good energy efficiency. A number of LED traffic signals are available for local authorities to purchase and install. Some authorities are installing them, in spite of the significantly higher prices of these signals over conventional filament lamp types. Energy cost savings go some way to offsetting the price difference but there is still a major financial commitment if LED signals are used.

    LED traffic signals are still relatively new and we expect there to be improvements in their specifications generally, including reliability and power consumption, and lower prices as product designs improve. As a result,
    482W
    authorities may, not unreasonably, be waiting to see these demonstrated before committing to large-scale purchase.

    As there is a competitive market for light emitting diode signals, with at least five manufacturers supplying them, and in view of the above, I do not believe specific incentives are required to encourage their use.

    Transport 10-year Plan
    Jon Cruddas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the terms of reference of the review of his 10 year transport plan referred to in the Sustainable Communities Plan. [98619]

    Mr. Jamieson
    The 10 year plan for transport published in 2000 set out the intention to review the plan periodically "to ensure that the Plan continues to provide the most cost-effective and efficient means of delivering our transport strategy and that it takes account of new pressures and developments". The report on progress towards delivery of the Government's 10 year plan for transport, published last December, confirmed that we will be conducting such a review to consider with Spending Review 2004. That review will take account of the progress made so far and the challenges that have to be met in the period up to 2015 and beyond.

  WORK AND PENSIONS

    Asbestos
    Mr. Heald
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what level of interference with asbestos is required to meet the definition that a person has disturbed asbestos for the purposes of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; and if he will make a statement. [98665]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    Asbestos has been disturbed if asbestos fibres have been released. The types of work that would do this include, for example, drilling holes with power tools and sawing or sanding material. Working near asbestos-containing material may disturb it if it is in poor condition for instance knocking against the material. To assess whether asbestos will be disturbed the type of material, location, extent, accessibility, amount of damage and deterioration (and if it is sealed in) all need to be considered.

    Mr. Heald
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is the Government's policy that asbestos should be removed only as a last resort; what assessment he has made of whether the availability of 150 per cent.tax relief on the removal of asbestos has led to asbestos being removed unnecessarily; and if he will make a statement. [98686]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The Government's policy is that asbestos in good condition that will not be disturbed is safe to leave in place providing it is properly managed. HSE has no evidence that 150 per cent. tax relief, which applies only to the regeneration of derelict buildings to remove asbestos, is an inducement. The Government will keep the position regarding tax relief under review.
    483W

    ASW
    Mr. Heald
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what inquiries he has instituted into(a) the collapse of ASW and (b) the effect of the collapse upon the pension schemes of the Company's employees; and if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the situation. [94897]

    Mr. McCartney
    [holding answer 31 January 2003]: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, stated in a written answer given to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 7 January 2003, Official Report, columns 144–45W, the Minister of State for Employment Relations, Industry and the Regions looked at ASW's difficulties in July last year when he tried to find a way to resolve them and enable the company to continue to trade.

    Ministers have also met members of the Allied Steel and Wire (ASW) Action Groups' and their constituency MPs, to discuss the Groups' concerns about the Cardiff and Sheerness pension schemes.

    On 15 October 2002, the Minister for Pensions and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury met with hon. Members for Sittingbourne and Sheppey and Cardiff, West, and members of the ASW Pensions Action Group. A number of practical ways forward were identified, including an undertaking by the Minister for Pensions to discuss the issues raised with colleagues across Government. Also, a number of technical pension issues were raised on the process of winding up, which the Minister subsequently resolved with the group.

    Following an adjournment debate about ASW on 16 October, the Minister for Pensions arranged a meeting between the hon. Members for Sittingbourne and Sheppey and Cardiff West, the Occupational Regulatory Authority (Opra) and one of his officials to discuss the MPs' concerns about the length of time it can take to wind up a pension scheme and other pensions issues.

    Benefit Claims
    Adam Price
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are claiming(a) unemployment related and (b) sickness related benefits in each (i) local authority and (ii) parliamentary constituency in Wales. [96271]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The information is in the tables.

    Unitary authority

    Number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance August 20021

    Number of people of working age Claiming sickness related benefits August 2002

    Total Wales

    46,900

    218,700

    Anglesey

    1,500

    4,300

    Blaenau Gwent

    1,800

    8,100

    Bridgend

    1,800

    11,500

    Caerphily

    2,900

    17,500

    Cardiff

    5,700

    18,500

    Carmarthenshire

    2,600

    14,100

    Ceredigion

    900

    4,400

    Conwy

    1,500

    6,900

    Denbighshire

    1,100

    5,900

    Flintshire

    1,800

    7,400

    484W

    Unitary authority

    Number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance August 20021

    Number of people of working age Claiming sickness related benefits August 2002

    Gwynedd, Isle of

    2,100

    5,800

    Merthyr Tydfil

    1,200

    7,600

    Monmouthshire

    800

    3,600

    Neath Port Talbot

    2,300

    14,300

    Newport

    2,800

    9,300

    Pembrokeshire

    2,100

    7,100

    Powys

    1,300

    6,600

    Rhondda, Cynon,

    3,500

    24,800

    Taff

    Swansea

    3,900

    17,900

    The Vale of Glamorgan

    1,900

    6,200

    Torfaen

    1,400

    8,400

    Wrexham

    1,700

    8,300

    Parliamentary constituency

    Number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance August 20021

    Number of people of working age Claiming sickness related benefits August 2002

    Total Wales

    46,900

    218,700

    Aberavon

    1,000

    7,200

    Alyn and Deeside

    1,100

    3,500

    Blaenau Gwent

    1,800

    1,800

    Brecon and Radnorshire

    800

    3,900

    Bridgend

    1,100

    5,300

    Caernarfon

    1,000

    3,400

    Caerphilly

    1,500

    9,000

    Cardiff, Central

    1,600

    4,400

    Cardiff, North

    700

    2,400

    Cardiff, South and Penarth

    2,000

    6,700

    Cardiff, West

    1,700

    6,200

    East Carmarthen and Dinefwr

    800

    5,300

    West Carmarthen and South Pembrokeshire

    1,200

    4,200

    Ceredigion

    900

    4,400

    Clwyd, South

    900

    4,600

    Clwyd, West

    900

    4,000

    Conwy

    1,300

    4,100

    Cynon Valley

    1,000

    6,200

    Delyn

    800

    3,900

    Gower

    900

    5,100

    Islwyn

    1,000

    6,200

    Llanelli

    1,400

    7,200

    Meirionnydd Nant Conwy

    600

    1,700

    Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

    1,500

    9,800

    Monmouth

    800

    3,600

    Montgomeryshire

    500

    2,500

    Neath

    1,300

    4,600

    Newport, East

    1,300

    4,600

    Newport, West

    1,700

    5,300

    Ogmore

    1,000

    7,800

    Pontypridd

    1,200

    6,800

    Preseli

    1,300

    4,400

    Pembrokeshire

    Rhondda

    1,200

    9,600

    Swansea, East

    1,500

    6,900

    Swansea, West

    1,500

    5,900

    Torfaen

    1,300

    7,900

    Vale of Clwyd

    900

    5,100

    Vale of Glamorgan

    1,500

    4,900

    Wrexham

    1,000

    4,200

    Ynys Môn

    1,500

    4,300

    485W
    1Later information is available for unemployment benefits, but August 2002 data have been provided in order to give figures comparable with the latest figures available for sickness related benefits.

    Notes:

    1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

    2. Sickness related benefits are Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support with a Disability Premium.

    3. Sickness related benefit figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

    Sources:

    Unemployment benefits: Count of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobcentre Plus computer systems.

    Sickness related benefits: Client Group Analysis of DWP Information Centre 5 per cent. statistical samples.

    Benefit Uprating
    Malcolm Bruce
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent research has been conducted into benefit uprating methods; and what conclusions were drawn from recent reviews of uprating methods. [97684]

    Mr. McCartney
    [holding answer 13 February 2003]: We meet our statutory obligation by uprating benefits by the retail prices index (RPI) or Rossi (RPI less housing costs) to maintain their value in real terms.

    RPI is a reliable measure of the impact of inflation on family budgets. Over 120,000 prices are collected every month, for a basket of goods and services covering the full range of consumers'expenditure. The basket is reviewed and updated annually to take account of changes in the pattern of expenditure. In addition, there is a programme of research into the methodology used in the RPI.

    Benefits
    Kevin Brennan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has issued to officials regarding(a) family birthday and (b) Christmas expenditure when calculating normal household expenditure for the purpose of assessing ability to repay overpayment of benefit. [98557]

    Malcolm Wicks
    No guidance has been issued specifically regarding family birthday or Christmas expenditure when calculating normal household expenditure for the purpose of assessing ability to repay overpayment of benefit.

    If someone feels that the recovery rate of their overpayment is excessive, consideration can be given to their weekly outgoings to decide if recovery should be made at a lower rate. Basic necessities such as food, clothing or fuel costs are always taken into account when considering this.

    Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance
    Mr. Gibb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance Review. [98596]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I gave on 12 December 2002,Official Report, columns 23–24W.
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    Employment Development Fund
    Mr. David Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department plans to spend on the Employment Development Fund in each year from 2002–03 to 2004–05; what the purpose is of this fund; and if he will make a statement. [97350]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The Employment Development Fund (EOF) was established to fund the delivery of employment policies, including the set up of Jobcentre Plus. As part of the 2002 Spending Review, the Department's settlement for the three year period from 2003–04 to 2005–06 subsumed the resources previously in the EDF.

    The current expenditure plans of the Department for Work and Pensions are contained in Tables 1–11 of the 'Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Report—The Government's expenditure plans 2002–03 and 2003–04' (Command 5424), which is in the Library.

    Independent Schools (Health and Safety)
    Mr. Burnett
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many prosecutions of independent schools have been made by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last 10 years; and of the independent schools that have been prosecuted, what the results have been. [94382]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    A table showing prosecutions taken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of schools which are not under local authority control, for the years 1996–2002, is given as follows. Data earlier than 1996–97 are not readily available.

    Year

    Name of defendant

    Comments

    Result

    Fine incurred£

    1996–97

    Bradfield House School

    Failure to with two Improvement Notices in relation to electrical safety

    Guilty

    2,000

    1996–97

    St. Edmund's Catholic School

    Pupils suffered serious burns from explosion during a chemistry demonstration

    Guilty

    7,000

    1997–98

    Whitgift Foundation

    Fall of employee working on roof

    Guilty

    5,000

    1998–99

    William Edwards Schools

    Employee injured using a circular sawing machine

    Guilty

    500

    1998–99

    Queen Katherine School

    Pupil injured at drilling machine

    Guilty

    6,250

    2000–01

    None

    —

    —

    —

    487W

    Year

    Name of defendant

    Comments

    Result

    Fine incurred£

    2001–02

    King Harold School

    Pupil injured at woodworking machine

    Guilty

    10,000

    2001–02

    Mr. K. Boulter

    Failure to ensure the safety of children, staff and visitors during major construction work

    Guilty

    17,000

    2001–02

    King Edward VI College

    Fall of employee from a ladder

    Guilty

    5,000

    Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has for an invest to save bid to the Treasury for the computerisation of industrial injuries disablement benefit records; and if he will make a statement; [95513]

    (2) if he will estimate the cost of checking, and where necessary amending, industrial injuries disablement benefit records manually in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement; [95515]

    (3) what estimate he has made of the likely costs of computerising industrial injuries disablement benefit records; and if he will make a statement; [95514]

    (4) what plans he has to computerise industrial injuries disablement benefit claim records; and if he will make a statement. [95516]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The Industrial Injuries Computer System holds personal information and payment details for around 342,000 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit customers. It allows users to register new awards, record clerical payments, and generate ongoing benefit payments.

    Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit already has a high degree of assessment accuracy and requires little in the way of maintenance of customer records. We have no current plans to develop the system further and have no recent estimate of the cost of doing so.

    Information on the cost of checking and amending records manually is not available.

    Injury Benefits
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for injury benefits have been received pursuant to the NHS (Scotland) (Injury Benefits) Regulations 1998 (as amended) in each full year of their entry into force; and of those, what percentage have been successful upon(a) first application, (b) review and (c) appeal. [97914]
    488W
    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    [holding answer 13 February 2003]: This scheme is administered by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, an agency of the Scottish Executive.

    Jobcentre Plus
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he intends to make to Jobcentre Plus regulations as a result of the evaluations of the ONE Programme. [99054]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    We have no plans to change the Jobcentre Plus regulations. The ONE evaluation has provided valuable information that we will use in the ongoing development of the Jobcentre Plus service.

    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects a new Jobcentre Plus office to be opened in Portsmouth; where it will be; how many staff it will employ; what its hours of operation will be; and if he will make a statement. [98095]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    We are progressively extending the new integrated Jobcentre Plus office network across the country over the next four years. These offices provide an active and responsive service to help people find jobs, and give advice on the full range of help and support available.

    Plans are currently being developed to roll out the new integrated Jobcentre Plus service in Portsmouth. Partners and stakeholders were consulted about these plans in June and September 2002. Their comments are being taken into consideration in reaching final decisions, which will be announced in due course.

    Medical Services
    Kevin Brennan
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what proportion of targeted audits carried out by medical services have been categorised as grade C; [98423]

    (2) how many targeted audits have been carried out on medical service reports in the last five years; [98424]

    (3) what plans he has to reform the assessment procedures of targeted audits on medical assessments of claimants by Medical Services; and if he will make a statement. [98425]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    A total of 122,205 cases have been randomly audited since 1 September 1998, of which 5,134 were found to be C Grades, a proportion of 4.2 per cent.

    The medical quality audit process has been shown to be robust and reliable, and there are no plans to change it. The Department is working with Medical Services to ensure that timely and robust remedial action is taken with doctors who fail to meet the required standards.

    ONE Pilot Schemes
    Mr. Heald
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people, broken down by client group, participated in the 'ONE' pilot schemes; and how many people in each client group obtained employment as a result. [91642]
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    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    [holding answer 20 January 2003: Participation in ONE became mandatory from April 2000. During the period from April 2000 to April 2002, 457,976 jobseekers, 128,537 sick or disabled clients, 49,909 lone parents and 55,077 clients in other categories entered ONE.

    Survey evidence from the ONE evaluation found that 41 per cent. of jobseekers, 25 per cent. of sick or disabled clients and 14 per cent. of lone parents, had moved into work of over 16 hours a week, four to five months after having begun their claim.

    These figures correct those provided on lone parents in a previous reply to the hon. Member on 7 January which were taken from the ONE Management Information System which is less robust than the longer-term formal evaluation of ONE.

    Further information on the employment effects of ONE has been published in DWP Research Report No 156 and DWP In-house Report No 88, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. Final results from the ONE evaluation will be published on 31 January.

    The majority of ONE offices will become fully integrated Jobcentre Plus offices by March 2003. The remaining offices will continue to provide an integrated service until they transfer as part of the Jobcentre Plus national roll out.

    Mr. MacDougall
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of lone parents participating in the ONE programme have gained employment in(a) Scotland and (b) Fife. [93562]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The only ONE pilot in Scotland was a Basic Model pilot in Clyde Coast and Renfrew, and so lone parents in Fife did not participate in the ONE programme.

    The ONE evaluation found that 20 per cent. of lone parents in the Basic Model of ONE had moved into work of over sixteen hours a week when they were interviewed between ten and eleven months after having begun their claim.

    Evaluation findings are not available for individual ONE pilot areas so we cannot provide separate figures for the Scottish pilot.

    Final results from the ONE evaluation, including the employment effects of ONE, were published on 31 January 2003 as DWP Research Report No 183, copies of

    which are in the House of Commons Library.

    Pension Schemes
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the cost to employers of following the full buy-out option contained in paragraph G33 of "Simplicity security and choice" technical paper published on 17 December 2002, if all pension schemes were to wind up. [96608]

    Mr. McCartney
    Within the Green Paper, "Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5677), we are seeking views on two options for strengthening protection for members 490W
    whose solvent employer decides to wind up their pension scheme. These are the "full buy-out" option and the "partial buy-out" option.

    The Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment in "Simplicity, security and choice" technical paper contains the latest estimate of costs for these options, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

    Pensioners Abroad
    Mr. Willetts
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason British pensioners living abroad are facing a delay in receiving their state retirement pension. [99070]

    Mr. McCartney
    This is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of The Pension Service to reply. She will write to the hon. Member.

    Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. David Willetts, dated 24 February 2003:
    The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for what reason British pensioners living abroad are facing a delay in receiving their state retirement pension.
    The Department for Work and Pensions sent over 115 million items of mail in 2002 to overseas destinations.
    Whilst every effort is made to ensure items destined for overseas customers arrive at their destination within the designated timescales, (5 calendar days for Europe and 10 calendar days for rest of the world destinations) unfortunately, sometimes delays are experienced.
    The most common causes of delay to overseas customers'payments are problems within foreign postal authorities. For example strikes and adverse weather conditions, which affect the transportation of mail. Also national holidays in the receiving country can add delay,
    Delays reported by customers are taken very seriously and every effort is made to ascertain the reason for the delay, although we are reliant on foreign postal authorities communicating delays or problems within their delivery network.
    Overseas customers now have the option to have their Pension paid directly into their bank account. There are currently 30 overseas destinations which will accept direct payments, with a further 7 countries coming on board over forthcoming months. This method of payment eliminates payment delays caused by postal difficulties.
    If you require further information about a specific case I will be happy to investigate further if you let me have details of the customer, country and the period of delay in non-receipt.

    Pneumoconiosis Benefit
    Adam Price
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for pneumoconiosis benefit have been received in Wales in the last two years; and how many are outstanding. [96264]

    Mr Nicholas Brown
    The latest available information is in the table.

    Estimated number of claims for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit from pneumoconiosis sufferers in Wales

    2000–01

    900

    2001–01

    1,100

    Notes:

    1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and may be subject to a degree of sampling variation.
    491W
    2. Information is not currently available on the number of claims outstanding.

    Source:

    10 per cent. sample of annual statistical returns from Disablement Benefit offices taken in March 2001 and March 2002.

    State Pension
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer, net of savings in means-tested benefits and of additional income tax revenue, of an increase of £5 per week in the basic state pension together with the introduction of age additions of £5 per week at age 75–79 and £10 per week at age 80 years and over, on the basis that the age additions for those aged 75 to 79 and 80 years and over are paid in full, regardless of contribution record. [92156]

    Mr. McCartney
    Our priority is to target help on those current pensioners who have the lowest incomes. While it is true that older pensioners tend to be poorer on average, income inequality is far more pronounced across the whole pensioner population than between pensioners of different ages. For example, the median net income of the richest fifth of pensioner couples is around four times that of the poorest fifth.

    Age additions are not the most effective way to target those pensioners with the lowest incomes. For example, just under half of all minimum income guarantee claimants are aged under 75.

    As a result of the minimum income guarantee, no pensioner need live on less than £102.10 a week and a couple on less than £155.80 per week from April 2003. All pensioners receiving MIG will be at least 21 per cent. better off in real terms as a result of MIG rises compared to 1997, with the youngest households gaining as much as one third. Following the introduction of pension credit, the average pensioner household will be over £1,150 per year better off due to Government measures introduced since 1997 and the poorest third of pensioners will be over £1,500 per year better off.

    In addition to extra help for the poorest pensioners, the Government is committed to providing support for all pensioners throughout retirement. From April 2003 the full basic state pension will increase to £77.45 a week—an increase of 7 per cent. in real terms since 1997. Since 1997 the Government has also doubled winter fuel payments to £200, guaranteeing this for the rest of this Parliament, and has introduced free TV licences for those aged 75 and over. Both of these measures are helping pensioners regardless of their income.

    If the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension was increased by £5 per week and weekly age additions of £5 were introduced for people aged 75–79 and £10 for people aged 80 and over in 2003–04, we estimate that the increase in public expenditure could be around £2.6 billion. This is calculated on the generous assumption that consequent savings in other benefits and any additional tax yield are channelled back into the basic state pension.
    492W
    Notes:

    1. Estimates are in cash terms for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest £100 million.

    2. The estimate takes account of offsetting savings in income related benefits and additional tax yield. Income related benefit offsets are calculated using the Department for Work and Pensions Policy Simulation Model for 2003–04. Additional tax yield is calculated by the Inland Revenue based upon the Survey of Personal Incomes 2000–01, projected to 2003–04.

    3. Calculations assume the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension is increased by £5 per week and all other payments proportionately and that age additions of £5 per week are paid to all those aged 75–79 and £10 per week to those aged 80 and over.

    4. For modelling purposes, pension credit is assumed to be in place throughout 2003–04. In fact, pension credit will begin in October 2003.

    Source:

    Department for Work and Pensions calculations.

    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate by how much it would be possible to raise the basic State Pension for the over-75s on a revenue neutral basis, and taking account of offsetting savings in expenditure on means-tested benefits and enhanced income tax revenue, if he were not to introduce the pension credit and were instead to spend the money on the state pension for the over-75s. [92153]

    Mr. McCartney
    Increasing the basic State Pension for those aged 75 and over would not target resources on those who are most in need. While it is true that older pensioners tend to be poorer on average, income inequality is far more pronounced across the whole pensioner population than between pensioners of different ages. For example, the median net income of the richest fifth of pensioner couples is around four times that of the poorest fifth.

    If Pension Credit was not introduced and expenditure re-directed into the basic State Pension for those aged 75 and over in 2004–05, the maximum rate payable of the basic State Pension for those aged 75 and over could be increased from around £79 per week to around £98 per week and all other payments increased proportionately. This increase would only be possible on the generous assumption that savings from other benefits and any additional tax yield were channelled back into the basic State Pension for those aged 75 and over.

    We estimate that the poorest third of pensioners could be around £130 a year better off under Pension Credit than if the maximum rate payable of the basic State Pension was increased to £98 per week for those aged 75 and over and Pension Credit abolished in 2004–05.

    In this scenario, the only gainers from increasing the maximum rate payable of the basic State Pension and abolishing Pension Credit would be pensioners aged 75 and over. Among those aged 75 and over, the biggest gainers would be those higher up the income distribution.

    Pension Credit has been designed to be simpler, fairer and less intrusive for pensioners than the Minimum Income Guarantee. We are designing the application process to be simpler including the use of the telephone for most applications. The capital rules excluding pensioners with savings of £12,000 or more from any

    493W
    help have been removed. Pensioners will have to report fewer changes to their circumstances and most will have their Pension Credit award fixed for five years.

    Notes:

    1. Figures are for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest £1.

    2. The Basic State Pension is assumed to rise by 2.5 per cent. in April 2004, reflecting the commitment given by the Government to increase the Basic State Pension by 2.5 per cent. or the September Retail Prices Index, whichever is higher.

    3. The estimate takes account of offsetting savings in income related benefits and additional tax yield. Income related benefit offsets are calculated using the Department for Work and Pensions Policy Simulation Model for 2004–05. Additional tax yield is calculated by the Inland Revenue based on the Survey of Personal Incomes 2000–01, projected to 2004–05.

    4. The estimate has been produced for 2004–05, the first full financial year of Pension Credit.

    5. Projections of distributional consequences for 2004–05 are subject to a variety of assumptions and should be treated with caution.

    Source:

    Department for Work and Pensions calculations

    Regional Agencies (Eastern Region)
    Andrew Selous
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the locations of the offices of regional bodies and agencies in the Eastern region; by county, for which his Department is responsible. [95058]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The answer is in the tables.

    Offices in East of England Government Office Region

    Bedfordshire

    Bedfordshire District Manager

    Dunstable Jobcentre

    Location and District Office, Dunstable

    Bedford Social Security Office

    Leighton Buzzard Jobcentre

    Bedford Jobcentre

    Luton Social Security Office

    Biggleswade Jobcentre

    Luton Jobcentre

    Cambridgeshire

    Cambridge Social Security Office

    Peterborough Social Security Office

    Cambridge Jobcentre

    Peterborough Jobcentre

    Ely Jobcentre

    St Neots Jobcentre

    Huntingdon Jobcentre

    Wisbech Jobcentre

    March Jobcentre

    Essex

    Essex District Manager

    Grays Jobcentre

    Location and District Office, Chelmsford

    Basildon Social Security Office

    Harlow Social Security Office

    Basildon Jobcentre

    Harlow Jobcentre

    Braintree Social Security Office

    Harwich Jobcentre

    Brentwood Jobcentre

    Loughton Jobcentre

    Canvey Island Jobcentre

    Maldon Jobcentre Plus

    Chelmsford Jobcentre Plus

    Rayleigh Jobcentre Plus

    Clacton Social Security Office

    Southend Social Security Office

    Clacton Jobcentre

    Southend Jobcentre Plus

    Colchester Social Security Office

    Stansted Airport Jobcentre

    Colchester High Street Jobcentre

    Tilbury Jobcentre

    Colchester Southway House Jobcentre

    Witham Jobcentre

    Grays Social Security Office

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    Offices in East of England Government Office Region

    Hertfordshire

    Bishop Stortford Jobcentre

    St Albans Jobcentre

    Borehamwood Jobcentre

    St Albans Social Security Office

    Hatfield Jobcentre

    Stevenage Social Security

    Herriel Hempstead Social Security Office

    Stevenage Jobcentre

    Hemel Hempstead Jobcentre

    Waltham Cross Jobcentre

    Herford Jobcentre

    Watford Social Security Office

    Hitchin Jobcentre

    Watford Jobcentre

    Letchworh Jobcentre

    Welwyn Garden City Jobcentre

    Norfolk Cromer Jobcentre

    Kings Lynn Jobcentre

    Dereham Jobcentre

    North Waltham Jobcentre

    Diss Social Security Office

    Norwich Chantry Social Security Office

    Diss Jobcentre

    Norwich Kiln House Jobcentre

    Downham Market Jobcentre

    Norwich Mountergate Social ecurity Office/Pensions Centre

    Fakenham Jobcentre

    Norwich Theatre Street Jobcentre

    Great Yarmouth Social Security Office

    Swaffham Jobcentre

    Great Yarmouth Jobcentre

    Thetford

    Hunstanton Jobcentre

    Wymondham Jobcentre

    Kings Lynn Social Security Office

    Suffolk

    Suffolk District Manager

    Leiston Jobcentre

    Location & District Office, Ipswich

    Beccles Jobcentre

    Lowestoft Social Security Office

    Bury St Edmunds Social Security Office

    Lowestoft Jobcentre

    Bury St Edmunds Jobcentre

    Mildenhall Jobcentre

    Felixstowe Jobcentre

    Newmarket Jobcentre

    Haverhill Jobcentre

    Stowmarket Jobcentre

    Ipswich Social Security Office

    Sudbury Jobcentre

    Ipswich Jobcentre

    Woodbridge Jobcentre

    Offices outside the East of England Government Office region that serve the people within it

    Wembley Disability Benefits Centre

    Notts Local Service Branch (CSA)

    Disability Benefits Unit, Blackpool

    North West Yorkshire Local Service Branch (CSA)

    Invalid Care Allowance Unit, Preston

    South East Yorkshire Local Service Branch (CSA)

    Barnsley Satellite Processing Centre (CSA)

    Western Local Service Branch (CSA)

    Nottingham Satellite Processing Centre (CSA)

    Hull Caller Centre (CSA)

    Norwich Satellite Processing

    Pensions Direct, National

    Centre (CSA)

    Pension Centre, Tyne View Park, Newcastle.

    Sheffield Satellite Processing Centre (CSA)

    Child Benefit Centre, Washington1

    Central Local Service Branch (CSA)

    Notes:

    1Responsibility for Child Benefit will transfer to the Inland Revenue in April 2003, when Child Benefit Centre will become the Child Benefit Office of then Revenue.

    495W
    The following offices based outside Bedfordshire serve the population of Bedfordshire, Norwich Mountergate Social Pensions Centre; Wembley Disability Benefits Centre; Disability Benefits Unit, Blackpool; Invalid Care Allowance Unit; Preston, Hull Caller Centre, Tyne View Park, Newcastle; Child Benefit Centre, Washington and Western Local Services Branch (CSA)

    Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to recognise impingement syndrome of the shoulder as a prescribed disease for the purpose of industrial injuries disablement benefit. [98598]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    Representations concerning impingement syndrome of the shoulder were brought to the attention of the research working group of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) at its meeting on 13 February 2003. Work related upper limb disorders are part of IIAC's programme of work for 2003–04 and the Council will consider the scientific evidence on Impingement Syndrome in its review.

    Information is not collected centrally on the number of people affected by Impingement Syndrome of the shoulder. We have received no representations from the Department of Health on this issue.

    Transco
    Mr. Gardiner
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Health and Safety Executive's review of Transco's data handling will be completed; and whether the findings will be published. [94638]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    HSE received a final copy of Transco's consultants'report reviewing Transco's data handling arrangements on Tuesday 4 February. HSE is now awaiting Transco's formal action plan in response to the report and will consider both documents to determine whether any further action is necessary.

    It is HSE's intention that the health and safety findings of the report will be made public.

    Trillium Group
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many buildings were sold to the Trillium Group Ltd. under the Private Sector Resource Initiative for Management of the Estate; what the market value was of these buildings at the time of the sale; if he will list
    the buildings involved; and if he will make a statement. [98389]

    Malcolm Wicks
    On 1 April 1998 the then Department of Social Security transferred almost all of its estate through the Private Sector Resource Initiative for Management of the Estate (PRIME) to the private sector consortium now called LandSecurities Trillium. At that time the Department occupied approximately 700 buildings. Of these, only the 212 freehold and long lease buildings had a capital value and these are listed in the table. As part of the PRIME contract the Department received a cash consideration of £250 million for assets transferred. At the time of the transfer the Departments' property advisers estimated the value of the Estate to be over £300 million. The excess value of the estate is being recovered through reduced facilities payments.
    496W
    The National Audit Office report entitled "The PRIME project: The transfer of The Department of Social Security Estate to the private sector" was published in April 1999. The report was positive and concluded that PRIME is likely to provide better Value for Money than continuing with the existing arrangements.

    Freehold and long lease buildings (i.e. those with a capital value) transferred to Trillium from the Department of Social Security in April 1998. Modern leasehold properties are not listed.

    Property name

    Freehold or Leasehold

    Aberdare Crown Building

    F

    Aberdeen Greyfriars House

    F

    Abertillery Crown Buildings

    F

    Aberystwyth Crown Buildings

    L

    Aberystwyth Old Welsh

    L

    Bromley Westmorland Road

    F

    Burton-upon-Trent Crown Building

    F

    Caerphilly Crown Buildings

    F

    Campbeltown Hall Street

    F

    Cannock Beecroft Road

    F

    Canterbury Nutwood House

    F

    Cardiff Government Buildings

    F

    Carmarthan Danybank Road

    F

    Castleford Wheldon Road

    F

    Chatham The Brook

    F

    Chelmsford Beeches Road

    F

    Cheltenham Rivershill House

    F

    ChesterLeStreet Station Road

    F

    Chippenham St. Pauls House

    F

    Chorley St. Marys Walk

    F

    Clitheroe Primrose Mill

    F

    Clydebank Radnor House

    L

    Coatbridge South Circular Road

    F

    Colchester Crown Building

    F

    Coventry Cofa Court

    F

    Cowdenbeath Factory Road

    F

    Crawley The Boulevard

    F

    Dartford Crown Buildings

    L

    Derby Forester House

    F

    Derby St. Andrews House

    F

    Dewsbury Rishworth Road

    F

    Diss Dominion House

    F

    Dumfries Irish Street

    F

    Dumfries Tormore

    F

    Dundee Magdalene Yard Road

    F

    Edinburgh Argyle House

    L

    Edinburgh Haymarket House

    F

    Edinburgh High Street- Portobello

    F

    Elgin Trinity Road

    F

    Ellesmere Port Whitby Road

    F

    Exeter Melrose House Unit 1

    L

    Falkirk Antonine House

    F

    Falkirk Callendar Park

    F

    Falkirk Callendar Park

    F

    Falkirk Heron House

    F

    Falkirk Heron House (PAU)

    F

    Fareham Crown Office

    L

    Folkestone Palting House

    F

    Frome Northover House

    F

    Galashiels Market Street

    F

    Garston Cressington House

    F

    Glasgow Atlas Road

    F

    Glasgow Coustonholm Road

    F

    Glasgow Crosshill Road

    F

    Glasgow Minerva Street

    F

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    Property name

    Freehold or Leasehold

    Glasgow Muslin Street

    F

    Glasgow Nitshill Road

    F

    Glasgow Northgate

    F

    Goole Burlington House

    F

    Grantham Crown House

    F

    Great Yarmouth Yarmouth way

    F

    Grimsby Cleethorpes Road

    F

    Grimsby Crown House

    L

    Halifax Crossfield House

    F

    Hamilton Douglas Street

    F

    Harlow Beaufort House

    F

    Hartlepool Crown Building

    F

    Hartlepool Crown House

    F

    Hastings Ashdown House

    F

    Havant Elmleigh Road

    F

    Haywards Heath Oaklands

    L

    Hexham St. Andrews House

    F

    Hinchley Wood

    KingstonByPass

    Houghton LeSpring Broadway

    F

    House

    Hull Government Buildings

    F

    Hyde Beech House

    L

    Ilkeston Crown Buildings

    F

    Newcastle Saxon House

    F

    Newton Abbott Ilford Park

    F

    Newton Stewart Victoria Street

    F

    Newtown Afon House

    F

    Northallerton Elder House

    F

    Northampton Gladstone Road

    L

    East Northshields Unicorn House

    F

    Northwich Hartford House

    F

    Nottingham David Lane

    F

    Ormskirk Moorgate

    F

    Orpington The Walnuts

    F

    Oxford Harcourt House

    F

    Paisley Lonend

    L

    Penrith Voreda House

    F

    Penzance Branwell House

    F

    Peterhead Government Buildings

    F

    Peterlee Hatfield House

    F

    Plymouth Crownhill Court

    F

    Pontefract Newgate

    F

    Pontllanfraith Ennisclare

    F

    Poole Park Road

    F

    Port Glasgow Scarlow Street

    F

    Preston Albert Edward House

    L

    Preston Cop Lane

    F

    Preston Diadem House

    L

    Redcar Dawson House

    F

    Redhill London Road

    F

    Rochdale Newgate House

    L

    Change in claimant unemployment in the Jarrow constituency 1997 to 2003

    As at January

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    Total unemployment

    3,428

    3,130

    3,170

    2,879

    2,592

    2,598

    2,334

    Change from previous year

    —

    –298

    40

    –291

    –287

    6

    –264

    (Percentage)

    —

    (–8.7%)

    (1.3%)

    (–9.2%)

    (–10.0%)

    (0.2%)

    (–10.2%)

    Change from 1997

    —

    –298

    –258

    –549

    –836

    –830

    –1,094

    (Percentage)

    —

    (–8.7%)

    (–7.5%)

    (–16.0%)

    (–24.4%)

    (–24.2%)

    (–31.9%)

    Latest figure available is for January 2003. Information is provided for January of preceding years as figures are seasonally unadjusted.
    498W

    Property name

    Freehold or Leasehold

    Romford Crown House

    F

    Rossendale Hurstdale House

    F

    Salisbury Crown Buildings

    F

    Scunthorpe Crown Buildings

    F

    Selby Abbey House

    F

    Sheffield Eastern Avenue

    L

    Shipley Woolcombers Hall

    F

    Shotts Dyfrig Street

    F

    Shrewsbury Whitehall

    F

    Skegness Government Buildings

    F

    Skipton Cavendish House

    F

    Smethwick Church Hill Street

    F

    Southend Prittlewell Chase

    L

    Southend Victoria House

    F

    St. Albans Beauver House

    F

    St. Helens Manor House

    F

    Stanley Towneley House

    F

    St. Austell Carlyon House

    F

    Stevenage Danestrate

    F

    Stirling St. Ninian's Road

    F

    Stornoway Castle Street

    F

    Stranraer Ashwood Drive

    F

    Sutton-in-Ashfield Crown Building

    F

    Swindon Spring Gardens House

    F

    Torbay Cotswold House

    F

    Trowbridge Homefield House

    F

    Twickenham Crown Buildings

    F

    Uxbridge Colham House

    F

    Wakefield Crown House

    L

    Walsall Lower Hall Lane

    L

    Welling High Street (30–40)

    F

    Whitehaven Mark House

    F

    Wick Girnigoe Street

    F

    Wigan Griffin House

    L

    Wigan Mesnes House

    L

    Wishaw Alexander Street

    L

    Worthing Crown Building

    F

    Wrexham Hightown Barracks

    F

    Unemployment
    Mr. Hepburn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the change in the level of unemployment has been in the Jarrow constituency in each year since 1997; [96358]

    (2) what action the Government have taken to help reduce unemployment in the Jarrow constituency since 1997. [96375]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    Information on the change in the level of unemployment in Jarrow is in the table.

    Our policies have created a strong economy geared to delivering stability, low inflation and sound public finances. Building on this foundation, our labour

    499W
    market policies have helped to deliver record levels of employment across the country, and unemployment at its lowest level since the 1970s.

    As the table shows, my hon. Friend's constituency has shared in this success. As well as the reductions in claimant unemployment in Jarrow since 1997, long-term unemployment (over 12 months) has been cut by over 70 per cent. The local Jobcentre has played an important part in these achievements, helping their clients move into work and working closely with employers to fill their vacancies. It is not only unemployed people that have been helped, across the New Deals in Jarrow over 2,000 people have been helped into work.

    We have also introduced Action Teams for Jobs to help disadvantaged people in the most employment deprived areas move into jobs. Be the end of 2002, the Action Team operating in my hon. Friend's constituency had helped 820 people move into work. The Team has developed innovative ways to help jobless people overcome the barriers to work they may face. For example, they have secured funding from the Transport Projects Fund we introduced last year to provide a bus service from South Shields to the Metro Centre and Team Valley, running through Jarrow, to help their clients overcome their transport barriers to work. The Team are also taking their services into the communities they help in Jarrow using a Mobile Unit.

    We are building on the services we provide in Jarrow. The new Jobcentre Plus office in Jarrow will open later this year, delivering a single, integrated service to benefit claimants of working age, with a clear focus on work. Jarrow will also be part of a progress2work-LinkUP pilot starting in the autumn. This new initiative will provide further support for those facing the greatest disadvantages in the labour market, including ex-offenders, homeless people and recovering alcohol misusers.

    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of trends in the rate of unemployment in Portsmouth; and if he will make a statement. [98346]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    The Government's policies have created a strong economy geared to delivering stability, low inflation and have helped deliver a high and stable level of employment benefiting every part of the country. Alongside this, through Jobcentre Plus and programmes such as the New Deal, our labour market policies are helping more people move into work.

    The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Portsmouth has fallen by over 60 per cent. since 1997. Between January 2001 and January 2002 the number of claimant unemployed people in Portsmouth, as a percentage of the resident population of working age, fell from 2.7 per cent. to 2.4 per cent. However, in the last 12 months unemployment has levelled out and is 2.4 per cent. in January 2003. But, with unemployment at levels not seen since the 1970s and inflation and interest rates low, we believe that the UK is better placed than for many years to weather the current uncertainties in the world economy.

    War Pensions
    Mr. Clapham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many war pensioners with a diagnosed relevant psychiatric disorder have had their Incapacity Benefit terminated in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many had benefit restored on appeal. [96951]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    Information on appeals is temporarily unavailable. I will write to my hon. Friend when the data requested become available and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

    The available information is in the table.

    Incapacity Benefit (IB) claims ceasing for people also claiming War Pension because of a psychiatric disorder

    1 September 1999 to 31 August 2000

    200

    1 September 2000 to 31 August 2001

    100

    1 September 2001 to 31 August 2002

    200

    Notes:

    1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

    2. Figures exclude a small number of cases held clerically.

    3. Numbers are based on a very few sample cases and are therefore subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only.

    4. Figures exclude IB claims ceasing due to award of Retirement Pension.

    Source:

    Merges of 5 per cent. samples of the Incapacity Benefit and War Pensions computer systems.

  HEALTH

    Home Care
    Keith Vaz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many domiciliary carers seeking employment in(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 were found to have a criminal record preventing them from work. [98552]

    Jacqui Smith
    The information requested is not available.

    Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of how many people suffer from Impingement Syndrome of the shoulder; and what representations he has made to his Department about the recognition of the syndrome as a prescribed disease for the purpose of industrial injuries disablement benefit. [98599]

    Mr. Nicholas Brown
    I have been asked to reply.

    Representations concerning Impingement Syndrome of the shoulder were brought to the attention of the research working group of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) at its meeting on 13 February 2003. Work related upper limb disorders are part of IIAC's programme of work for 2003–04 and the Council will consider the scientific evidence on Impingement Syndrome in its review.

    Information is not collected centrally on the number of people affected by Impingement Syndrome of the shoulder. We have received no representations from the Department of Health on this issue.
    501W

    999 Calls
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average time it took an ambulance to reach an emergency after the initial 999 call was made in(a) England and (b) Greater London over the last 12 months. [97817]

    Mr. Lammy
    Information about the average time it takes an ambulance to reach an emergency after the initial 999 call is not available. The latest information about the proportion of emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response times for the London Ambulance National Health Service Trust, and all other ambulance trusts in England, is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2001–02". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and available at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0213.htm.

    Mr.Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many 999 calls were made to the Greater London Ambulance Service between 20 December 2002 and 3 January 2003 for which it was decided an ambulance was not necessary; and what proportion of calls over this period such calls represented. [97834]

    Mr. Hutton
    The London Ambulance Service received 36,114 emergency calls between 20 December 2002 and 3 January 2003. After receiving clinical telephone advice, 699, or 1.9 per cent. of callers, did not subsequently require an ambulance.

    Accident and Emergency Services
    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients admitted to accident and emergency departments waited more than 12 hours before being treated in each of the last two quarters for which figures are available; and what the national average waiting time is for patients waiting more than 12 hours. [97737]

    Mr. Lammy
    The NHS Plan set a new target for accident and emergency (A&E), to reduce the maximum wait in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours by 2004.

    In line with this target from August 2001, the Department has collected data on total time spent in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. In Quarter 2, 2002–03, 3,095,650, or 77 per cent. of, patients spent less than four hours total time in A&E.

    In addition, the Department collects data on waiting times in A&E post decision to admit patients to a hospital ward. In Quarter 2, 2002–03, 56,581, or 10 per cent. of, patients were not placed in a bed in a ward within four hours of a decision to admit. In Quarter 1, 2002–03, 54,546, or 9.7 per cent. of, patients were not placed in a bed in a ward within four hours of a decision to admit.

    The Department does not collect information on how long patients wait in A&E before being treated or the average waiting time for patients in A&E.

    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of accident and emergency clinical staff, by category, which will need to be recruited to achieve the four hour waiting time target by the end of 2004. [97704]
    502W
    Mr. Lammy
    The NHS Plan set a new target for accident and emergency (A&E), to reduce the maximum wait in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours by 2004.

    The Reforming Emergency Strategy was launched in October 2001 to help achieve the NHS Plan target. The NHS Plan included a commitment to increase the numbers of National Health Service consultants. For A&E, as set out in the strategy, this will result in the recruitment of an additional 183 A&E consultants by 2004.

    In addition, new investment of 40 million was made available to recruit 600 additional A&E nurses to help to deliver the streaming system in A&E. At 31 December 2002, 692 additional A&E nurses had been recruited and were in post.

    Acute Trusts
    Mr. Lyons
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people from outside the UK were treated in acute trusts in 2001–02. [97985]

    Mr. Hutton
    The information requested is not collected centrally.

    Food Advertising
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the advertising of fatty and other foods carrying health risks to the under-fives. [96829]

    Ms Blears
    The Food Standards Agency has met with consumers, enforcement authorities and industry to discuss the development of best practice guidance on the promotion, including advertising, of foods to children. It has also commissioned a review of research into the effects of promotional activity on children's eating behaviour, and will decide how best to take this matter forward when the results are available.

    Current Government action to tackle children's diets and ensure that they have the opportunity to develop healthy lifestyles includes the National School Fruit Scheme, which will provide all four to six-year-olds with a free piece of fruit each school day. There is also considerable work in schools to help children develop healthy lifestyles.

    Agenda for Change
    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the new NHS foundation trusts will set their pay within the limits spelt out in Agenda for Change. [97304]

    Ms Blears
    [Holding answer 13 February 2003]: The Government will ensure National Health Service foundation trusts are implementing Agenda for Change, if agreed, on establishment. Once established, they will be able to continue to benefit from wider agreements but will also have the additional flexibility and freedom to ensure the necessary mix of skills to provide the best standards of care to patients.
    503W

    Arnica
    Mr. Evans
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of arnica as a natural herbal remedy. [97517]

    Ms Blears
    There is a wide variety of remedies containing arnica which have either a marketing authorisation, or a homoeopathic registration or a product licence of right in the United Kingdom. In addition, remedies containing arnica may be sold as unlicensed herbal remedies under section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968. The products with a marketing authorisation are indicated for external use for the relief of bruising, muscle pain, muscle stiffness and sprains. Where the homoeopathic products have an indication this is generally for bruising and trauma.

    Barnet Hospital
    Mr. Dismore
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to reduce(a) waiting times and (b) cancelled operations for elective surgery at Barnet Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [98935]

    Mr. Hutton
    The National Health Service is working to reduce waiting times so that by the end of March 2003, the maximum waiting time for an inpatient appointment will be cut to 12 months.

    Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital NHS Trust is working with the Modernisation Agency to reduce cancelled operations by improving theatre utilisation, planning and scheduling.

    Behavioural Difficulties
    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children with educational and behavioural difficulties in(a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) England. [93842]

    Mr. Ivan Lewis
    I have been asked to reply.

    The information requested is currently not collected centrally.

    There is currently no requirement for schools to submit information in the Annual Schools' Census on the nature of such pupils'disability or learning difficulty. However, in June 2001, the Department carried out pilot study involving a sample of 200 mainstream and special schools to assess whether it would be possible to collect data from schools on a broad range of types of Special Educational Needs (SEN). From January 2004 the Department is planning to ask schools and local education authorities to provide this information.

    The available information on the total number of pupils with SEN in Haltemprice and Howden parliamentary constituency and in England is shown in the table.
    504W

    Maintained schools: Number of pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN)—as at January 2002

    England

    Haltemprice and Howden1

    Pupils with statements of SEN

    Primary

    70,729

    106

    Secondary

    78,606

    132

    Special2

    85,803

    182

    Total

    235,138

    420

    SEN pupils without statement

    Primary

    834,413

    738

    Secondary

    519,116

    711

    Special2,3

    2,407

    5

    Total

    1,355,936

    1,454

    1Parliamentary constituency.

    2 Maintained special schools. Excludes dually registered pupils.

    3 Excludes General Hospital Schools. Data for pupils with SEN without statement are not collected from these schools.

    Source:

    Annual Schools'Census

    Beta Interferon
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on increasing the availability of beta interferon for MS sufferers in York and North Yorkshire. [95200]

    Jacqui Smith
    The York multiple sclerosis service has begun implementing the beta interferon risk sharing scheme within the existing neurology facilities. To date four patients have been assessed and three have been accepted onto the scheme.

    Plans are also in place for the recruitment of an additional consultant neurologist for this service which will enable the York service to be able to fully implement the scheme.

    Blood Donations
    Mr. Havard
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department will announce the results of its inquiry into whether recipients of blood are to be prevented from donating blood tissue or organs for transplant. [95571]

    Ms Blears
    The Government's Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues (MSBT) has considered whether all blood transfusion recipients should be excluded from donating blood and has advised that this policy would have a damaging impact on blood supplies. There are therefore no plans to introduce this measure although we will continue to keep it under review. MSBT is continuing to consider possible further measures to reduce the theoretical risk of vCJD through blood transfusion.

    In October 2001, the CJD Incidents Panel recommended in its consultation paper "Management of possible exposure to CJD through medical procedures" (www.doh.gov.uk/cjd/consultation) that people who received blood from donors with vCJD should be informed of their potential exposure and advised not to give blood or donate organs and tissues and that special precautions might be needed if they

    505W
    require surgery. The panel recommended that no one should be given this information until proper counselling and back-up facilities were made available.

    A decision on whether to implement the Incidents Panel's recommendations has not been made. The issue is currently with the four United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers to agree a common approach.

    Cancelled Operations
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many operations were cancelled less than two days before the due date, broken down by strategic health authority, in each of the last 12 months; [97828]

    (2) how many operations were (a) cancelled and (b) delayed in each of the last 12 months in each strategic health authority area in England. [97833]

    Mr. Hutton
    Quarterly data are collected on the number of operations cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons at the last minute (i.e. on the day patients are due to arrive or after arrival in hospital or on the day of their operation) and on the day of surgery. These data are available at strategic health authority level in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/data requests.htm. Data from strategic health authorities were first collected from Quarter 1 of 2002–03.

    Cancer
    Sir Nicholas Winterton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that teenagers diagnosed with cancer gain appropriate access to medical treatment and care; and if he will make a statement on the number of hospitals which provide dedicated care facilities for teenagers suffering from cancer. [96943]

    Ms Blears
    We are taking action to meet the specific needs of teenagers with cancer. We are providing funding through the national cancer research network to enable more teenage cancer patients to enter trials of the latest treatments. In addition we are looking at how teenagers can participate in the design of health services centred around their particular needs. This is being addressed through the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health. The contribution of patients will also be reflected in the forthcoming national service framework for children, young people and maternity services which will drive up standards of care in all health and social care settings for all children and young people. We hope to publish the first module on hospital services shortly. The national service framework will also inform guidance the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is developing on children's and adolescent cancers.

    We do not hold details of all services centrally but are aware of at least eight units dedicated to teenage cancer patients in the national health service.

    Mr. Evans
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have wards specialising exclusively in cancer in teenagers. [97804]
    506W
    Ms Blears
    We do not hold details of all services centrally but we are aware of eight units dedicated to teenage cancer patients in the following National Health Service trusts:

    Middlesex Hospital, University College Hospitals NHS Trust, London;

    University College Hospital, University College Hospitals NHS Trust, London;

    Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust;

    Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester;

    Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust;

    St James's University Hospital. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust;

    Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust;

    Alder Hey Hospital, Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust.

    Canthaxanthin
    Mr. Wyatt
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he plans to take over the import into the UK from non-EU countries of(a) poultry and (b) eggs which are fed canthaxanthin; and if she will make a statement. [97577]

    Ms Blears
    In December 2002 European Union member states agreed the text of a Directive to reduce the maximum incorporation levels for canthaxanthin in feed. However, the United Kingdom successfully argued that maximum residue limits also be introduced for relevant foods. These will be set following a risk assessment and when European Commission legal powers are available later this year. The levels will apply evenly to both imports and home production.

    Mr. Wyatt
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what tests will be carried out to check the levels of canthaxanthin in(a) poultry and (b) eggs imported into this country from non-EU countries. [97578]

    Ms Blears
    There are no statutory maximum permitted levels for canthaxanthin in eggs or poultry against which such tests could monitor compliance. Nevertheless, I am advised that the Food Standards Agency is considering such surveillance of canthaxanthin in food derived from European Union and non-EU countries as would be necessary both to inform the setting of future maximum residue levels and to inform estimates of consumer exposure.

    Care Standards Act
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses he received to his consultation on regulations to the Care Standards Act 2000; and how many dealt with(a) room dimensions, (b) communal space and (c) training of staff. [97885]

    Jacqui Smith
    The consultation document issued on 16 August set out proposals to change certain national minimum standards for care homes for older people and care homes for younger adults (18–65) which relate to the physical environment. The consultation did not propose making any changes to the Care Homes Regulations 2001 issued under the Care Standards Act.
    507W
    In total, 243 responses to the consultation were received. The majority of respondents commented on two or more of the standards. 109 of the responses mentioned the issue of room dimensions, 82 mentioned communal space, and 33 mentioned training of staff.

    Chemical Protection Suits
    Mr. Swayne
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allocation of chemical protection suits has been made to each ambulance NHS trust; and if he will make a statement. [97788]

    Mr. Lammy
    On 14 March 2002 the Department issued a letter outlining the process for purchasing mobile decontamination units and personal protective equipment (PPE) suits for chemical incidents.

    The funding allocation made to each region in the financial year 2002–03 is:

    £

    Eastern

    458,000

    London

    575,000

    Northern and Yorkshire

    630,000

    North West

    673,000

    South East

    968,000

    South West

    706,000

    Trent

    407,000

    West Midlands

    583,000

    Regional offices are free to agree with National Health Service trusts the number of decontamination facilities and the amount of associated PPE and any other items that can be obtained from the regional allocation to implement regional strategies.

    The number of suits ordered to date by ambulance trusts is as follows:

    No.

    Avon

    100

    Bedfordshire

    100

    Cumbria

    100

    Dorset

    100

    East Anglian

    200

    East Midlands

    150

    Essex

    100

    Greater Manchester

    150

    Guernsey

    12

    Hampshire

    150

    Hereford and Worcester

    50

    Kent

    150

    Lancashire

    150

    Lincolnshire

    100

    London

    350

    Mersey

    200

    North East

    200

    Oxfordshire

    100

    Royal Berks.

    100

    South Yorkshire

    50

    Surrey

    150

    Sussex

    100

    Tees East & North Yorks.

    150

    Two Shires

    100

    West Country

    400

    West Midlands

    105

    West Yorkshire

    100

    Wiltshire

    100

    508W

    Children (West Africa)
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with social services authorities in(a) Nigeria, (b) Sierra Leone and (c) the Ivory Coast about the dangers to children coming to the UK to live without their parents. [96111]

    Jacqui Smith
    None. However, as part of a recent Department of Health review of private fostering, officials from the Department have had discussions with organisations in this country with direct links to communities in West Africa, including the African Women's Welfare Association.

    Cigarette Smuggling
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out into the health implications of cigarette smuggling. [96516]

    Ms Blears
    There is clear evidence that price affects consumption and the availability of smuggled cigarettes acts against our efforts to reduce smoking prevalence.

    The price a person has to pay for cigarettes is linked to the likelihood of that person smoking. The higher the price the greater the likelihood that a person will not buy cigarettes.

    Smuggled cigarettes are sold at relatively low prices and therefore encourage people to purchase and smoke cigarettes. With lower levels of smuggling we would expect fewer people to smoke and hence fewer people to develop smoking related illnesses.

    Congestion Charge
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with the London Ambulance Service concerning the introduction of congestion charges in Central London; [97819]

    (2) how many representations he has received concerning the possible consequential impact of the introduction of congestion charges in Central London on health services, with particular reference to emergency services, in London. [97818]

    Mr. Hutton
    I have received three letters from national health service professionals employed in London about the impact of the congestion charge.

    The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has been actively involved in the consultation process for the congestion charging scheme and the development of the NHS reimbursement scheme, in discussion with Transport for London. The implementation of the reimbursement scheme is being led by the NHS and a steering group has been established, with trust, staff and patient representation, to oversee the development of the scheme and assess the impacts of congestion charging on both staff and patients.

    My hon. Friend Under-Secretary for Public Health has visited the LAS and corresponded with the chief executive regarding the congestion charging and the NHS reimbursement scheme.
    509W

    Coronary Heart Disease
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to visit coronary heart disease departments in hospitals in Havering. [97696]

    Mr. Hutton
    I have no current plans to visit coronary heart disease departments in hospitals in Havering at this time.

    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to combat coronary heart disease in the London Borough of Havering; [97698]

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    England

    86

    81

    78

    74

    69

    Havering

    89

    79

    71

    79

    75

    Barking & Dagenham

    105

    94

    93

    96

    87

    Redbridge

    91

    76

    81

    74

    74

    Hackney

    82

    80

    76

    66

    64

    Tower Hamlets

    100

    89

    79

    77

    73

    Newham

    100

    96

    95

    100

    89

    Waltham Forest

    96

    92

    78

    94

    85

    The national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD), published in March 2000, sets out a 10 year strategy for tackling heart disease through improved prevention, identification and treatment of CHD. The NHS Plan reinforced this, including a commitment to significantly increase investment in services. Since the publication of the NSF, an additional 359 million revenue funding has been made available, most of this in baseline allocations, to enable local health communities to develop the services they need to meet the needs of their local population.

    In north east London there is a cardiac network as well as the local Havering cardiac NSF implementation team working to ensure that the NSF is implemented fully. There is joint work ongoing between the local primary care trust (PCTs) and acute trust to improve speed of access to thrombolysis for patients admitted to accident and emergency with acute myocardial infarction.

    There are also additional resources being made available from Havering PCT to support primary care in developing CHD registers. These are a key tool to enable systematic identification and treatment of people with, or at high risk of developing, CHD. The PCT also provides a smoking cessation service. Figures available are combined for Barking and Havering and in 2001–01, 318 people successfully quit, whilst in 2001–02 there were 502.

    International research shows that diets rich in fruit and vegetables are protective against cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke. The National School Fruit Scheme, which will be fully operation from 2004, will entitle school children aged four to six to a free piece of fruit each school day. The scheme was rolled-out to schools in London during the autumn of last year. The scheme is now available to all Romford schools with four to six year olds.

    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with(a) Havering Primary Care Trust and (b) the Havering, Barking and Redbridge NHS Hospitals Trust regarding coronary heart disease. [97699]
    510W
    (2) if he will make a statement on the levels of coronary heart disease in the London Borough of Havering. [97697]

    Mr. Hutton
    Figures available on trends in mortality from coronary heart disease (LCD 410–414) indirectly standardised ratios (SMR) for all ages, covering the time period of 1996–2000, show that there has been a sustained decrease in mortality in all of the primary care trusts in north east London, including Havering. This information is shown in the table.

    Mr. Hutton
    I have had no discussions with Havering Primary Care Trust and Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals National Health Service Trust regarding coronary heart disease.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Webb
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 25 October 2002, regarding Mrs. J. A., his ref P01018183. [94021]

    Jacqui Smith
    A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 18 February 2003.

    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 10th January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. H Fisher. [98964]

    Mr. Milburn
    A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 24 February.

    Delayed Discharges
    Mr. Ruffley
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharge patients there were in January in(a) the Suffolk West PCT area and (b) the Central Suffolk PCT area; and what percentage of those patients had been waiting over 28 days. [97391]

    Jacqui Smith
    The information requested is not available for January. The latest centrally collected figures are for December 2002, when 34 patients in Suffolk West primary care trust (PCT) area and 12 patients in Central Suffolk PCT area were awaiting discharge. 41.2 per cent. in Suffolk West PCT had been waiting over 28 days and 41.7 per cent. in Central Suffolk PCT.

    Dentistry
    Mr. Gareth Thomas
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions on a reciprocal agreement to recognise qualifications in dental surgery achieved in
    511W
    Kenya there have been in the last 30 years with the Kenyan authorities; and if he will make a statement. [96792]

    Mr. Lammy
    The General Dental Council has statutory responsibility within the United Kingdom for determining which qualifications confer eligibility for admission to the dental register. Discussions about reciprocal arrangements would be a matter for the GDC. Advice for overseas dentists seeking to become eligible to work in the United Kingdom is available from the GDC and the National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Education, Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons.

    Dietary Advice
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money his Department has spent on public health programmes targeted at encouraging the consumption of fruit and vegetables in each of the past 10 years. [97104]

    Ms Blears
    In 2002–03 the Department of Health expects to have spent £783,000 on the Five-a-day programme to promote consumption of fruit and vegetables, including Five-a-day community initiatives and the National School Fruit Scheme. The New Opportunities Fund is also spending £52 million on those schemes: £42 million for National School Fruit Scheme and £10 million for community initiatives over the next two years.

    In each of 2001–02 and 2000–01 the Department spent £1.25 million. There was no spending specifically to encourage consumption of fruit and vegetables before 1999.

    In addition to the above, initiatives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption have been funded through health action zones, sure start, healthy living centres and through general funding allocations to health authorities and primary care trusts.

    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given to the public on improving diet. [97322]

    Ms Blears
    The Government are committed to providing advice and information, based on a sound evidence base, which will help to achieve long-term improvements in the diet and nutrition of the United Kingdom population. It is for this reason that government advice, in general, is for people to consume a healthy and varied balanced diet.

    The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Department of Health are engaged in a wide range of activities aimed at promoting the uptake of a healthy balanced diet as outlined in the FSA's Nutrition Action Plan and the NHS Plan.

    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the fruit and vegetables that are(a) excluded and (b) included in the approved lists for the five a day campaign. [96884]

    Ms Blears
    The Five-a-day message is to eat at least five portions of a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. Fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100 per cent. juice count.
    512W
    100 per cent. juice only counts once per day even if more than one portion is consumed. Beans and other pulse vegetables only count once per day even is more than one portion is consumed. A portion of dried fruit counts, but other types of fruits and vegetables should be consumed to meet the rest of the five a day target.

    Potatoes and other vegetables that are eaten as the main starchy 'staple', such as yam and cassava, do not count towards the five a day target. Starchy foods are an important part of a healthy, balanced diet.

    Nuts and seeds, coconut, marmalade and jam do not count towards five a day. Fruit drinks with added ingredients such as juice "drinks" and squashes do not count towards five a day.

    The fruit and vegetables contained in processed foods, such as pasta sauces, soups, stews and puddings can contribute to five-a-day. However, processed foods containing fruit and vegetables which are also high in added fat, salt and/or sugars should only be eaten in moderation.

    A Five-a-day logo has been developed as part of the communications programme, to help people recognise the Five-a-day message and introduce consistency in the message in all settings. In the first instance, the logo will only be able to be used to promote products without any added sugar, fat or salt. While the recommendation to eat more fruit and vegetables is an important one, this needs to be considered in the context of an overall balanced diet. We are giving further consideration to developing nutrition criteria for the use of the Five-aday logo on fruits and vegetable product with added ingredients.

    Digital Hearing Aids
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on increasing the availability of digital hearing aids for patients in York and North Yorkshire. [95201]

    Jacqui Smith
    Funding has been made available for the years 2003–04 and 2004–05 to ensure that a modernised service, providing digital hearing aids, will he available from all National Hearing Service hearing aids services in England by April 2005.

    Those NHS hospital trusts not yet involved in the modernisation project will now need to discuss with their respective primary care trusts whether they wish to modernise in 2003–04 or 2004–05.

    Mr. Hoyle
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will provide digital hearing aids on the NHS in Chorley; and when the next round of allocations for the provision of digital hearing aids on the NHS will be announced. [97693]

    Jacqui Smith
    Funding has been made available for the years 2003–04 and 2004–05 to ensure that a modernised service, providing digital hearing aids, will be available from all National Health Service hearing aids services in England by April 2005.

    Those NHS hospital trusts not yet involved in the modernisation project will now need to discuss with their respective primary care trusts whether they wish to modernise in 2003–04 or 2004–05.
    513W
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he expects to use non-NHS providers to achieve full coverage of digital hearing aids under the Modernising Hearing Aid Services Programme. [97877]

    Jacqui Smith
    Following a successful pilot, which provided National Health Service aids via private hearing aid providers, we intend to extend public private partnerships to boost NHS capacity, reduce waiting times and to make it easier for people with hearing impairment to access services—on the high street rather than in hospitals. We are drawing up plans for this work and want to make rapid progress.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional audiologists he estimates will need to be recruited to provide digital hearing aids for the target user group within the two year timetable. [97890]

    Jacqui Smith
    It is currently estimated that an additional two audiological posts will be required by each site as it is modernised to become a service that provides digital hearing aids. As modernised hearing aid services are rolled out across England over the next two years, work will be continuing on skill-mix and involvement of the private sector, which could have an effect on that estimate.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts do not offer digital hearing aids; and what estimate he has made of when each of them will be able to start fitting digital hearing aids. [97891]

    Jacqui Smith
    All National Health Service hearing aid services will be providing digital hearing aids by April 2005. We plan to modernise 80 in 2004–05 and the remaining services, approximately 70, in 2004–05.

    By the end of March, there will be a total of 50 NHS trusts providing digital hearing aids as part of a modernised hearing aid service. In addition, any NHS hearing aid service which has received appropriate training and equipment is able to access the NHS digital hearing aid contract. This represented in the region of 23 additional trusts accessing the contract at the beginning of this financial year, five of which have since joined the modernisation programme. By April 2003, a further 17 services will have received, through the modernisation programme, the equipment and training to enable them to access the contract. We understand that there may be other trusts who supply digital hearing aids outside the NHS contract. Those figures are not held centrally.

    Drug Dependency (Treatment)
    Mrs. Helen Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for an opiate dependent patient seeking treatment before he or she received treatment in the last year for which figures are available. [97643]

    Ms Blears
    Opiate dependent patients receive treatment through the different treatment delivery methods as listed, depending on their clinical need. The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) has implemented a waiting times strategy which 514W
    is significantly reducing waiting times. The longest waiting times reported to the NTA in drug action team treatment plans are shown in the table.

    Weeks

    December 2001

    December 2002

    In-patient detoxification

    12

    8

    Specialist prescribing

    14

    8

    GP prescribing

    5

    4

    Structured counselling

    7

    5

    Day Care

    6

    3

    Residential rehab

    9

    7

    Mrs. Helen Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the proportion of opiate dependent patients seeking treatment who(a) proceed to receive treatment, (b) complete the course of treatment and (c) fail to report for treatment when offered. [97644]

    Ms Blears
    Information on the numbers of drug misusers in contact with drug treatment agencies in England is available in "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases on drug misusers in treatment in England, 2000–01" http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/ sb0133.htm. This document is available in the Library.

    The Department funded National Treatment Outcome Research Study demonstrates that around half, or 47 per cent., of drug users who have gone through residential programmes, and more than a third, or 35 per cent., of those from methadone programmes are still abstinent from opiates at four to five years. More than a third, or 38 per cent., of all the residential clients were also abstinent from all six illicit target drugs—illicit heroin, non-prescribed methadone, non-prescribed benzodiazepines, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, amphetamines—at four to five years.

    The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System collects data on drug users on arrest referral schemes which show that 48,810 individuals were screened between October 2000 and September 2001 in England and Wales, of whom over half were voluntarily referred to a specialist drug treatment service. Of those referred, a quarter made a demand for treatment, a total of 5,520 individuals.

    Mrs. Helen Clark
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of methadone is prescribed for(a) oral consumption and (b) delivery by injection. [97647]

    Ms Blears
    96 per cent. of all prescription items for methadone hydrochloride that were dispensed in the community in England in 2001 were for oral consumption. The corresponding percentage for injections is 4 per cent.

    It should be noted that methadone is not only prescribed for opioid dependence and may be prescribed as a treatment for other conditions.
    515W

    Electronic Patient Records
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what targets are in place for the introduction of electronic patient records; [88736]

    (2) how many trusts are meeting their targets for the introduction of electronic patient records. [88737]

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for health pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham on 13 January 2003,Official Report, column 488W, when he expects all NHS trusts in the south-east to have introduced electronic patient records. [92598]

    Mr. Lammy
    The following targets are in place for implementing the Integrated Care Record Service (ICRS) in the Government's '21st Century IT' Strategy for the national health service:Health Records Infrastructure initial connections by all trusts by March 2005;
    December 2005—all primary care trusts and all NHS trusts actively implementing elements of electronic patient records (EPR);
    December 2007—full national health record service, with core data and reference links to local EPR systems for full record access; EPR (compliant with new national standard, XML-based specification) systems implemented in all PCTs and all hospitals (to be confirmed during calendar year 2003); and
    Unified Health Record (with all appropriate social care information) by December 2010 (to be confirmed during calendar year 2006).

    ENT Patients
    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has put in place to extend the London pilot scheme on patient choice for(a) cataract patients, (b) ENT patients and (c) general surgery throughout England. [97316]

    Ratio of all practitioners (excluding GP retainers)1 and unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)2 to patients in North Yorkshire health authority and England; 1997, 2000 and 2001

    1997

    2000

    2001

    Ratio of:

    Ratio of:

    Ratio of:

    All practitioners: patients (excl. GP retainers)

    UPEs: patients

    All practitioners: patients (excl. GP retainers)

    UPEs: patients

    All practitioners: patients (excl. GP retainers)

    UPEs: patients

    North Yorkshire

    HA

    1:1,512

    1:1,660

    1:1,439

    1:1,605

    1:1,443

    1:1,594

    England

    1:1,732

    1:1,878

    1:1,697

    1:1,853

    1:1,670

    1:1,841

    1 All practitioners (excluding GP retainers) include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para. 52 SEA), PMS others.

    2 UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

    Notes:

    1. GP retainers were first collected in 1999 and have been omitted from this table for comparability purposes.

    2. Data as at 1 October 1997 and 30 September 2000–01.

    Source:

    General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

    Foster Care
    Mr. Wray
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government has to increase(a) funding for the foster carer service and (b) local authority allowances for children in foster care. [98486]
    516W
    Mr. Hutton
    Choice pilot projects have been approved in the following areas:Surrey and Sussex, Dorset and Somerset, Berkshire, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire for certain specialities
    Southern England as a whole for ophthalmology.

    These projects will help local health services prepare for the implementation of wider patient choice leading to implementation guidance being issued to the national health service later this year.

    Evening Primrose
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of Oil of Evening Primrose from the NHS Tariff. [96508]

    Ms Blears
    The marketing authorisations for two products, Epogam and Efamast, containing gamolenic acid, which is derived from evening primrose oil, were withdrawn in October 2002. This action followed a review by the Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Medicines Commission, who came to the conclusion that the products did not meet the current standard of effectiveness required for authorisation of these products as medicines for the treatment of eczema and breast pain respectively.

    Family Doctors
    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average ratio of family doctors to patients was in(a) 1997 and (b) 2000; and what the average is now in (i) England and (ii) North Yorkshire. [98050]

    Mr. Hutton
    The average ratio of all practitioner, excluding general practitioner retainers, and unrestricted principle equivalents GPs to patients in England and North Yorkshire in 1997, 2000 and 2001 is shown in the table.

    Jacqui Smith
    A £19.75 million choice protects grant will be paid to local authorities in 2003–04 to expand and strengthen their fostering services. The choice protects review is examining placement services for looked after children with a particular emphasis on fostering services. Fostering allowances are being considered alongside issues such as recruitment, retention and methods of supporting foster carers.
    517W
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is paid towards foster care allowances in each Social Services Authority. [96091]

    Jacqui Smith
    This information is not held centrally.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to standardise allowances paid to foster carers throughout the United Kingdom. [96092]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Department of Health is currently reviewing all aspects of the fostering service, including remuneration and other issues such as training and support as part of the Choice Protects review.

    Foundation Hospitals
    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures foundation hospitals will be able to use to recruit and retain staff. [97305]

    Ms Blears
    [holding answer 13 February 2003]: As set out in "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts", paragraph 6.1, National Health Service foundation trusts will have the freedom to recruit and employ their own staff. In developing recruitment and retention policies that recognise local needs they will have flexibility to adopt measures within the framework set out in licence and forthcoming legislation, including the statutory duty of partnership.

    Genito-urinary Medicine
    Mrs. Calton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what(a) monitoring and (b) research has been conducted or for his Department on long waiting times for genito-urinary medicine services; [97149]

    (2) if he will make a statement on the investment by his Department on GUM clinics; and how the investment will be spent; [97148]

    (3) what the average waiting times were in GUM clinics for patients referred by general practitioners in the latest period for which figures are available. [97147]

    Ms Blears
    The average (mean) waiting time for a first out-patient appointment for patients referred to genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics by general practitioners is 2.15 weeks as of September 2002. However GUM services are open-access and the vast majority of patients self-refer, so this figure may not be an accurate reflection of waiting times which vary across the country.

    Data from clinicians in the field shows that medium time to first appointment in GUM services has lengthened to 12 days for men and 14 days for women. However there is wide variation in waiting times across the country. It is important that people with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are able to access GUM services quickly. Evidence from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (2000) shows that people with an untreated STI typically pass the infection on to a further one to four partners. If there is a wait for several weeks, there is a high risk that the patient will not turn up for the appointment.
    518W
    We have invested a total of £5.3 million in GUM services this financial year. This funding was allocated in recognition of the pressure GUM services are facing and in response to concerns from the profession about the possible impact of the new adult sexual health campaign launched in December. We advised this money should be used in line with the priorities highlighted in the sexual health and HIV strategy to increase service capacity and reduce waiting times, develop clinical networks and expand the role of health advisers. The local primary care trust sexual health lead has been asked to monitor that the money has been used effectively.

    General Practitioners
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many golden hello payments have been made to general practitioners in(a) London and (b) West Sussex, broken down by primary care trust level. [96081]

    Mr. Hutton
    Successful applications from general practitioners are forwarded to the Department by primary care trusts for monitoring purposes. Information on the number of applications received by the Department relating to London and West Sussex, broken down by primary care trust level, is shown in the following table.

    Strategic Health Authority/ Primary Care Trust North West London

    Number of applications received

    Ealing

    12

    Hounslow

    4

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    13

    Hillingdon

    9

    Brent

    10

    Harrow

    16

    Westminster

    5

    Kensington and Chelsea

    0

    North Central London

    Barnet

    15

    Enfield

    10

    Haringey

    6

    Camden

    0

    Islington

    0

    North East London

    Barking and Dagenham

    1

    Havering

    5

    City and Hackney

    16

    Newham

    9

    Tower Hamlets

    0

    Chingford, Wanstead and

    6

    Woodford

    Redbridge

    10

    Walthamstowe, Leyton and

    10

    Leytonstone

    South East London

    Bexley

    9

    Greenwich

    9

    Bromley

    17

    Lambeth

    26

    Southwark

    10

    Lewisham

    10

    South West London

    Kingston

    8

    Richmond and Twickenham

    9

    519W

    Strategic Health Authority/Primary Care Trust North West London

    Number of applications received

    Sutton and Merton

    16

    Wandsworth

    11

    Croydon

    25

    Surrey and Sussex (West Sussex PCTs only)

    Adun, Arun and Worthing

    8

    Western Sussex

    13

    Crawley

    3

    Horsham and Chanctonbury

    5

    Note:

    Due to the reconfiguration of primary care groups and trusts in 2002, the information includes applications received from primary care groups and trusts, which merged to form the primary care trusts shown in the table.

    Miss Anne McIntosh
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the level of GP vacancies; and if he will make a statement. [98049]

    Mr. Hutton
    I have received 29 representations concerning the level of general practitioner vacancies in recent months.

    The increase in GP vacancies reflects the intention of primary care trusts to increase numbers throughout the country. The last GP recruitment, retention and vacancy survey, carried out by the Department for the year ending 31 March 2002, reported that 83 per cent., of vacancies filled in the period of the survey took six months or less to fill.

    The Government is committed to recruiting and retaining more GPs. That is why we have introduced a range of measures, including extended flexible working and childcare and financial incentives for GPs new and returning to general practice and for those who delay their retirement.

    Mr. Cox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for general medical practitioners in the London Borough of Wandsworth. [97532]

    Mr. Hutton
    The Department of Health does not collect the information in the format requested. However information provided from South West London Strategic Health Authority shows is that there are five general practitioner vacancies in Wandsworth.

    Health Care (East Riding)
    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) residential care and (b) nursing homes have closed in (i) Hull and (ii) the East Riding in each quarter since 1997 for which figures are available. [97731]

    Jacqui Smith
    Information on the number of residential and nursing care homes that have closed is not centrally available.

    Information on the number of residential and nursing care homes in East Riding and Hull is shown in the table at 31 March for the years 1997 to 2001. Data for 2002 are not yet available.
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    Number of residential and nursing care homes1 in East Riding and Hull2 at 31 March 1997 to 2001

    Residential care homes2

    Nursing care homes2,3

    As at 31 March

    Kingston upon Hull Unitary Authority

    East Riding Unitary Authority

    Total for Kingston Upon Hull Unitary Authority and East Riding Unitary Authority

    East Riding and Hull Health Authority

    1997

    106

    237

    343

    49

    1998

    116

    228

    344

    56

    1999

    105

    259

    364

    56

    2000

    100

    247

    347

    52

    2001

    103

    240

    343

    47

    1Residential data exclude dual registered homes.

    2 Residential data is shown separately for Kingston upon Hull Unitary Authority and East Riding Unitary Authority, and combined for comparative purposes with East Riding and Hull Health Authority. Nursing data refers to East Riding and Hull Health Authority.

    3 Nursing data includes general nursing homes, mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.

    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients contracted a hospital acquired infection in the Hull and East Riding Hospitals Trust in each quarter since 1997.[97727]

    Jacqui Smith
    Data on hospital acquired infections are not routinely collected. However, collection of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections data was commenced in April 2001. In the period April 2001 to March 2002 there were 106 cases of M RSA bacteraemias in Hull and East Yorkshire National Health Service Trust.

    Source:

    Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust (MRSA table).

    Health Emergency Planning
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what safeguards he will put in place to maintain existing standards of health emergency planning during the transition of responsibilities from the(a) Public Health Laboratory Service, (b) National Radiological Protection Board and (c) Microbiological Research Authority to the Health Protection Agency. [96590]

    Ms Blears
    We are working with the Public Health Laboratory Service and the Microbiological Research Authority to provide for a smooth transfer of responsibilities from them to the Health Protection Agency (HPA), which we propose to create as a special health authority from 1 April 2003.

    We propose that, at a later stage, the HPA should also take responsibility for functions currently discharged by the National Radiological Protection Board and we shall ensure that that transfer is handled smoothly. We shall expect the HPA to maintain and, where possible, improve standards of health emergency planning.

    Health Protection Agency
    Dr. Evan Harris
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment was made of the model adopted by the National Assembly for Wales for a unified
    521W
    infection service for Wales when his Department decided on the establishment of the Health Protection Agency. [95869]

    Ms Blears
    The Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales each took the other's proposals into account in developing proposals for England and Wales respectively.

    Health Service Ombudsman
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the Health Service Ombudsman to report on the implementation of the Court of Appeal Judgment Rv. North and East Health Authority (Ex parte Coughlan) (1999) in cases already investigated. [97674]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Ombudsman is independent of the national health service and government. The Secretary of State is not able to ask the Ombudsman to report on particular issues.

    Heart Choice Scheme
    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what qualifications are required for a person wishing to become a patient care adviser for the Heart Choice Scheme. [97311]

    Ms Blears
    Patient care advisers (PCA) are expected to have an appropriate clinical background, and a majority of those in post come from nursing. Beyond this, PCAs need to combine clinical knowledge with excellent organisational and networking skills, and above all to be effective advocates for the patients they are supporting.

    Hepatoxicity
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of hepatoxicity have been reported in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [96175]

    Ms Blears
    Hepatoxicity may be caused by a number of external sources including the use or misuse of alcohol, certain drugs as well as infection and injury. The Department does not routinely collect figures on the number of cases of hepatoxicity reported in the United Kingdom.

    Table 1 provides data on the number of admissions to national health service hospitals in England where the reason for admission was alcoholic liver failure or toxic liver disease in the years 1995–96 to 2001–02. These figures are given in accordance with the derivation of hepatoxicity by NHS clinical coders.

    Table 1: Breakdown of hospital admissions related to alcoholic or toxic liver disease

    Alcoholic liver failure

    Toxic liver disease

    1995–96

    19,058

    652

    1996–97

    22,881

    690

    1997–98

    27,083

    757

    1998–99

    29,026

    787

    1999–2000

    33,571

    676

    2000–01

    36,923

    749

    2001–02

    39,896

    670

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    The Yellow Card Scheme is a scheme by which health professionals in the UK can report suspected adverse reactions to medicinal products. Data are colleted and reviewed by the Medices Control Agency, with independent advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Approximately 18,000 reports of suspected adverse reactions to medicines are received through the scheme each year.

    Table 2 provides a breakdown of the number of reports of hepatoxicity received in association with any medicine through the Yellow Card Scheme by year since 1993. These reports include all levels of severity of liver problems, from mild elevations of liver enzymes to liver failure. It is important to note that a report of suspected adverse reaction through the scheme does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the medicine.

    Data from the Yellow Card Scheme cannot be used to calculate the incidence of medicine-related liver injury as not all adverse reaction to medicines are reported.

    Table 2: Number of reports of hepatoxicity suspected to be due to medicines reported through the Yellow Card Scheme

    Year received

    Number of reports

    1993

    671

    1994

    675

    1995

    723

    1996

    712

    1997

    770

    1998

    820

    1999

    847

    2000

    861

    2001

    900

    2002

    785

    HIV/AIDS
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people infected by HIV/AIDS in(a) Brighton and Hove City, (b) West Sussex and (c) East Sussex. [96029]

    Ms Blears
    Information on the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS attending statutory services for HIV-related care is collected by the Public Health Laboratory Service's annual survey of prevalent HIV infections diagnosed.

    In 2001, the latest year for which these data are available, there were 800 HIV-infected residents in the East Sussex, Brighton and Hove health authority, of whom 628 were resident in Brighton and Hove local authority. There were 206 HIV-infected people living in West Sussex health authority.

    Hospital Managers
    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital managers there are in the Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust. [96698]

    Jacqui Smith
    The information as at 30 September 2001 is shown in the table.
    523W

    Whole Time Equivalents

    Headcount

    All Managers

    165

    170

    of which:

    Administration and Estates

    136

    141

    Nursing

    23

    23

    Scientific, Therapeutic and Technical

    6

    6

    Notes:

    Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.

    Source:

    Department of Health Non Medical Workforce Census(30 September 2001).

    Illegal Part-time Employment
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to protect children aged 13 to 15 engaged in illegal part-time employment; and if he will make a statement. [98102]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Children and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended, is the primary legislation covering the employment of all children below the minimum school leaving age. Section 21 of the Act allows for those employing children and young people in contravention of the Act and any byelaws made under it to be prosecuted.

    In-patients
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the average length of stay for in-patients in an NHS hospital in England; and what the average length of stay was in February(a) 2002, (b) 2000, (c) 1998 and (d) 1996. [97839]

    Mr. Hutton
    The average length of stay for ordinary admissions to national health service hospital trusts in England over years from April to March is shown in the table.

    Average length of stay (days)

    2001–02

    8.1

    2000–01

    8.2

    1998–99

    8.7

    1996–97

    10.3

    Notes:

    1. Day cases are excluded. Figures relate to all admissions, including general and acute, mental health and maternity.

    2. Data in this table are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data, except for 2001–02 which is not yet adjusted for shortfalls.

    3. The length of stay relates to spells finishing over the period; some bed days may have preceded the start of the year.

    Source:

    Hospital Episodes Statistics

    Internet Medical Companies
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what controls he has introduced to ensure that doctors who service internet medical companies provide patient consultations. [97664]

    Mr. Hutton
    Doctors who service internet medical companies do so in a private capacity. A doctor has a duty of care towards patients, no matter how the service is provided. The General Medical Council (CMC)524W
    advises the profession that, in its view, advice and prescribing by e-mail may seriously compromise standards of care; where the doctor does not previously know the patient, where no examination can be provided and where there is little or no provision for proper patient follow-up care. A doctor in the United Kingdom who fails to discharge the duty of care towards patients is liable to investigation and disciplinary action by the GMC.

    Medical Procedures
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many hospitals in the UK are equipped to perform flexible sigmoidoscopies;. [96070]

    (2) what the average cost to the NHS for a (a) rigid sigmoidoscopy and (b) flexible sigmoidoscopy was in the last 12 months. [96072]

    Ms Blears
    The national average costs of a rigid and flexible sigmoidoscopy are shown in the following table. These procedures can be undertaken in a variety of settings and the table reflects this. The costs shown are for the financial year 2001–02 ending on 31 March 2002.

    Full details of these costs can be found in the "Reference Costs 2002", which is available in the Library. They are available to the public via the Department of Health's website.

    £

    Patient type

    Rigid Sigmoidoscopy

    Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

    In-patient: Elective elective

    591

    591

    In-patient: Non-elective

    435

    435

    Day Case

    315

    315

    Out-patient

    98

    122

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for a flexible or rigid sigmoidoscopy procedure in each hospital trust in England. [96073]

    Ms Blears
    Information on waiting times for sigmoidoscopy procedures are not centrally available. Waiting times for consultant led inpatient elective admissions and consultant led first outpatient appointments following general practitioner referral are collected on the consultant's main speciality, not by procedure.

    Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for public consultation on the operation of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. [97950]

    Mr. Lammy
    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which is being created on 1 April this year, will have new governance arrangements, designed to ensure that the Agency is responsive to the views of its customers, beneficiaries and stakeholders. The Agency will be led by a Chairman and a Board of directors, including a majority of non-executive directors, which will be responsible for developing the
    525W
    policies of the Agency within the framework set by Ministers. The Agency's Chairman, Professor Alasdair Breckenridge, will be responsible for increasing its public profile and, in particular, for ensuring that the public is well-informed about issues concerning the safety of medicines and medical equipment. The Agency will also publish an annual report on its operations.

    Medicines Control Agency
    Dr. Gibson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to act upon the recommendations made in the recent National Audit Office report on the Medicines Control Agency. [97951]

    Mr. Lammy
    The National Audit Office report was published on 16 January and officials of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) are currently considering the recommendations of the report. The Board of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will take the recommendations fully into account when it considers the operation of the new Agency. Officials from the Department of Health and the MCA will be giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on the subject of the report in March.

    Mental Health
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessments have been made of the effectiveness of assertive outreach teams on the take up of aftercare services by mental health service users discharged from hospital. [97661]

    Jacqui Smith
    Although the Department has not undertaken a direct assessment of this, studies have reported that those receiving assertive community treatments were more likely to remain in contact with services than people receiving standard community care. People allocated to assertive outreach teams were less likely to be admitted to hospital than those receiving standard community care and spent less time in hospital, results show a 35 per cent. decrease in hospital admissions, hence reducing the use of in-patient beds.

    Studies have also shown that in terms of clinical and social outcome, significant and robust differences between assertive community treatment and standard community care were found on accommodation status, employment and patient satisfaction. More users were maintained in treatment longer than in routine case management, users experienced fewer admissions involving the police and there were fewer involuntary admissions.

    Mental Health NHS Trusts
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new posts of Development Manager have been created in Mental Health NHS trusts in the last year. [97874]

    Mr. Hutton
    Information is not collected centrally on posts which carry this description or title.

    Minor Injuries Units
    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the running costs of the(a) St Charles Hospital Minor
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    Injuries Unit, (b) Soho Walk-In Centre and (c) South Westminster Minor Injuries Unit have been in each of the last three years. [95618]

    Mr. Hutton
    The running costs of the St Charles Hospital Minor Injuries Unit and the South Westminster Minor Injuries Unit are not held centrally. This information would be available by contacting the Chair of Westminster Primary Care Trust directly.

    In the first three years of their existence the Department provided specific additional funds to primary care trusts who host national health service walk in centres. For Soho walk in centre the central contribution is shown in the table.

    Year

    Contribution

    2000–2001

    616,000

    2001–2002

    683,000

    2002–2003

    620,000

    Mixed Sex Wards
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made over the last year to end the use of mixed sex wards in NHS hospitals in England; how many mixed sex wards there are in NHS hospitals in England; and how many there were in February(a) 2002, (b) 2001, (c) 2000, (d) 1999 and (e) 1998. [97835]

    Mr. Hutton
    I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 14 January 2003,Official Report, column 24WS.

    Information on the number of mixed-sex wards is not available.

    National Institute for Mental Health
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the proposed expenditure on each regional centre for the National Institute for Mental Health. [97875]

    Jacqui Smith
    Each regional development centre for the National Institute for Mental Health has been allocated £500,000 in each of the next three financial years. North Yorkshire and Humberside regional development centre will be getting an additional £100,000 per annum as it has a larger catchment than the others.

    Additional funding will be available for time limited projects undertaken by the development centres.

    National School Fruit Scheme
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the future funding of the national school fruit scheme. [96515]

    Ms Blears
    The Government have made a commitment to introduce a National School Fruit Scheme for four to six-year-olds across England by 2004. It will be free to schools, parents and children. Region wide pilots for the scheme are being introduced in 2002–03 and 2003–04 with funding from the New Opportunities Fund.

    NHS Dental Care (North-West)
    Mr. Evans
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices are taking on new NHS patients in(a) the Ribble Valley and Fulwood, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West of England. [97803]

    Jacqui Smith
    The information requested is not available centrally.

    Arrangements are in place to ensure that all patients can gain access to National Health Service dental services by calling NHS Direct.

    NHS Mental Health Trusts
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the compensation payments to former directors of NHS Mental Health trusts not transferred to new Partnership NHS trusts for mental health. [97873]

    Jacqui Smith
    The information requested is not collected centrally.

    NHS Procurement Programme
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the entry in the Guidance to the National NHS Procurement Programme on page 10 which states that contracts will be structured so that payments only start when value has been delivered. [97707]

    Mr. Lammy
    The guidance to the national National Health Service procurement programme explains the principles the national programme will use in its future contractual relationships with suppliers. It intends to structure contacts so that payment will only start once demonstrable value in terms of goods or services have been delivered.

    NHS Senior Managers
    Mr. Burns
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior managers employed by the NHS(a) had their employment within the NHS terminated rather than being moved to another job within the NHS and (b) were sacked and then re-employed in another capacity in the NHS in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [98317]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The information requested on the termination of employment contracts of senior managers and their reemployment in another capacity in the National Health Service is not collected centrally.

    NHS Treatment (Europe)
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health establishments which have treated NHS patients on the Continent; and which other establishments he plans to use. [98155]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: Patients have received treatment in three hospitals in France and eight hospitals in Germany. The French hospitals are Polyclinique de la Louviere, Lille; Institute Calo-Hesdin, Berck sur mer; and Clinique Pasteur, St Chamond. The German hospitals are Lutherhaus, Essen; Eduardus Krankenhaus, Cologne;
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    Henriettenstiftung, Hanover; Das Klinikum, Osnabruck; Gilead, Bielefeld; Endo Klinik, Hamburg; Ostseeklinik, Damp; and a clinic in Celle.

    The lead commissioners are currently conducting a procurement process to identify additional overseas capacity. It would be inappropriate to speculate about which other establishments are likely to be used in the future, as this may influence the contracting process.

    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 5 February,Official Report, column 316W, on NHS treatment abroad, whether the figure includes payments for search agents identifying suitable health establishments to be used by NHS patients in (a) France and (b) Germany; and which search agents were used in each case and at what cost. [98157]

    Mr. Hutton
    [holding answer 24 February 2003]: The figure quoted in the answer of 5 February includes some payment for searches undertaken to identify health establishments. This refers to the hospital used in France, which was identified by the lead commissioner at Kent and Medway health authority. Three separate intermediaries were used to identify suitable hospitals in Germany: Guy's and St Thomas'Trust, Germedic and German Medicine Net.

    NICE Products
    Dr. Francis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many National Institute for Clinical Excellence products increased their price above the accepted rate of inflation in 2002; and whether his Department issues guidelines to NICE on what action to take in such circumstances; [97301]

    (2) what provisions the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has in place to prevent the treatment producer from increasing the cost once NICE has conducted a cost qualitative assessment of a treatment and approved it. [97302]

    Mr. Lammy
    [holding answers 12 February 2003]: Companies which are members of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme may not increase the price of any branded licensed National Health Service medicine Without the prior approval of the Department of Health. The Department's records show that none of the pharmaceutical products appraised by National Institute for Clinical Excellence were increased in price during 2002.

    The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency negotiates contracts for other products on behalf of the NHS in England. The Agency is not aware of any products where the price has increased as a direct result of a positive appraisal by NICE.

    Non-UK Nationals (Treatment Costs)
    Chris Grayling
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating non-UK nationals in each of the last five years. [98841]

    Mr. Hutton
    The information requested is not collected centrally.

    Overseas Health Treatment
    Mrs. Lait
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what protocols are in place to clarify the responsibility and funding arrangements for the follow-up care of NHS patients sent abroad for treatment; how he has ensured that GPs and consultants are aware of them: and what advice he has given GPs and consultants on measures to take if they identify complications from the treatment or have concerns about the standard of care of those patients. [98104]

    Mr. Hutton
    The responsibility and funding arrangements for the follow-up care of National Health Service patients referred abroad for treatment are clarified in the contracts held with overseas providers. These contracts define the clinical and non-clinical service to be provided; normally these specify that the overseas provider will provider a complete package of care, requiring no further intervention by the NHS when the patients return to the United Kingdom.

    General practitioners and consultants are briefed by their local trust on the arrangements for the follow-up care of patients that have received treatment abroad. If a GP or consultant identifies complications following treatment abroad, or has any concerns regarding standards of care, they are advised to raise their concerns according to the same procedures that would apply to any other NHS patient. This would involve highlighting the concern with the trust, which can then pursue the matter with either the overseas clinician or the relevant lead commissioner.

    Oxfordshire Community Health Council
    Tony Baldry
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisations will replace the Oxfordshire Community Health Council. [95942]

    Mr. Lammy
    There will be patients'forums to monitor and review services from the patients perspective and to represent their views, overview and scrutiny committees that scrutinise health and independent support for patients wanting to complain against the national health service.

    Patient Care Advisers
    Dr. Fox
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each London NHS trust whether a patient care adviser has been appointed for(a) ear, nose and throat patients and (b) general surgery patients who will be eligible for the London pilot scheme extending patient choice from spring 2003. [97377]

    Mr. Hutton
    The London National Health Service trusts with patients on their waiting lists for more than six months who will be participating in the London scheme extending patient choice from spring 2003 are:

    Barnet and Chase Farm, Whipps Cross, Royal Free, Barking Havering and Redbridge, Barts and the London Hospital, Ealing, Hammersmith, North West London, Hillingdon, St. Marys, West Middlesex, Kingston, Mayday, St. Georges, Guys and St. Thomas', Hammersmith, Lewisham, Queen Mary's Sidcup, Whittington, Newham, Epsom and St, Helier and Bromley.
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    The patient care advisers are appointed to manage a number of trusts from the list, rather than particular specialties. However all patients participating in the London patient choice scheme will be allocated an individual patient care adviser.

    Penalty Clauses
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services in the NHS since 1998 which have included penalty clauses for non-performance. [97650]

    Mr. Lammy
    Records are not held centrally for all contracts entered into with private sector companies for the provision of goods or services in the national health service.

    Perinatal Deaths
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many perinatal deaths there were in each of the last 10 years; what the most common causes of perinatal deaths are; what figures he has collated on the rate of perinatal deaths in the UK compared to European countries and the USA; and what he is doing to reduce the number of perinatal deaths. [99081]

    Jacqui Smith
    The number and rate of perinatal deaths (stillbirths plus deaths at ages up to six completed days of life) in each of the last 10 years for England and Wales and also causes of perinatal deaths in 2001, are shown in the tables. Eurostat, the Statistical Office Of European Communities collates statistics across Europe (Eurostat: Key data on health 2000 (1999) pg 170). However, due to differences in the definition of stillbirths, perinatal mortality figures are not completely comparable between the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, nor with the USA.

    As part of the work on the maternity module of the children's national service framework, the Post Birth and Baby Sub Group is developing national standards to ensure the safety and well being of the baby and will cover issues such as resuscitation, need for assessment, and the immediate needs of the new born. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence will also draw up clinical guidelines.

    In addition we are increasing the number of doctors and midwives to provide better support for women in established labour and thereby improve outcomes for both mother and child, and we have invested an additional £100 million in refurbishment and equipment for maternity suites.

    Perinatal deaths England and Wales 1992–2001

    Number

    Rate per 1,000 total births

    1992⋆

    5238

    7.6

    1993

    6044

    9.0

    1994

    5958

    8.9

    1995

    5701

    8.7

    1996

    5605

    8.6

    1997

    5380

    8.3

    1998

    5261

    8.2

    1999

    5138

    8.2

    2000

    4956

    8.2

    2001⋆⋆

    4740

    8.0

    531W
    ⋆For data from 1993, the definition of a stillbirth changed from 28 weeks to 24 weeks gestation.

    ⋆⋆ Provisional

    Perinatal deaths by ONS cause groups England and Wales 2001 (provisional)

    ONS cause group⋆

    Number

    Rate

    All causes

    4740

    8.0

    Congenital anomalies

    826

    1.4

    Antepartum infections

    53

    0.1

    Immaturity related conditions

    976

    1.6

    Asphyxia, anoxia or trauma

    260

    0.4

    External conditions

    12

    0.0

    Infections

    10

    0.0

    Other specific conditions

    191

    0.3

    Antepartum stillbirths

    2333

    3.9

    Sudden infant death

    1

    0.0

    Other conditions

    78

    0.1

    Total births

    597,694

    ⋆2001 data based on ONS cause groups developed in ICD10.

    Source:

    Office for National Statistics (ONS)

    Pharmacists
    Mr. Rosindell
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to consult local pharmacists regarding the proposed deregulation of pharmacists; [97703]

    (2) what recent discussions he has had with representative bodies of local pharmacies regarding the deregulation of pharmacies; [97702]

    (3) if he will make a statement on his plans for deregulation of local pharmacies. [97701]

    Mr. Lammy
    We are considering the report from the Director General of Fair Trading and its findings and recommendation carefully.

    We have invited views on the report and I have met representatives and officers of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, the National Pharmaceutical Association and the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies to hear their preliminary views as well as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and many of the larger pharmacy contractors. The views of these and other interested parties will help inform the Government response which my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, is co-ordinating.

    Protection of Vulnerable Adults List
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Protection of Vulnerable Adults list. [98725]

    Number of local authority residential places, independent sector residential places, NHS geriatric and elderly long-stay mental illness beds, and independent sector nursing home places in England at 31 March, for the years 1973, 1980, 1990 and 2000

    Rounded As at 31 March

    Residential home places1,2

    NHS geriatric beds3

    NHS elderly long-stay mental illness beds

    Nursing home places1.4 independent sector

    Local authority

    Independent sector

    1973

    6—

    6—

    56,180

    6—

    6—

    19805

    125,390

    76,130

    54,950

    6—

    34,790

    1990

    121,940

    206,010

    48,730

    18,880

    113,260

    2000

    55,500

    273,950

    27,860

    6,040

    193,620

    532W
    Jacqui Smith
    The implementation of the Protection of Vulnerable Adults list has been delayed until the Department is confident that the Criminal Records Bureau will be able to implement checks against the list. The list will be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

    Public Health Controls (Brazil)
    Mr. Lidington
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis he has made of the EU Commission's report DG (SANCO)/8529/2002 on animal and public health controls in Brazil; what assessment he has made of the risk to public health in the United Kingdom from the import of Brazilian meat; and if he will make a statement. [95054]

    Ms Blears
    The European Commission has so far made no proposals to permit imports of pig meat from Brazil further to this report. If such a proposal were made, we would expect the shortcomings identified in the report to have been addressed before the United Kingdom could support it.

    Public Health Laboratory Service
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to maintain the benefits of bulk procurement in the Public Health Laboratory Service when laboratories are transferred to the National Health Service. [95674]

    Ms Blears
    We plan that the Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) should assume responsibility for bulk procurement during 2003–2004, as current contracts are completed. Before these transfers, PASA will be putting in place bulk procurement procedures which will be designed to provide equivalent benefits to the current arrangements for all the national health service microbiology laboratories.

    Residential Care
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) local authority residential places, (b)independent sector residential places, (c) national health service long-stay geriatric and psycho-geriatric beds and (d) independent sector nursing home places there were in (i) 1973, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 2000. [97660]

    Jacqui Smith
    The information available is shown in the table for England at 31 March for the years 1973, 1980,1990 and 2000.

    Reliable data on the number of residential home places for the years prior to 1980, and nursing home places prior to 1982, are not readily available. Information on national health service long stay mental illness beds is not available for 1973 and 1980.
    533W
    1Data include places in dual registered homes.

    2 Data for 1980 do not include places for the client group "other".

    3 Geriatric beds include long and short-stay beds. Long-stay beds are not collected as a separate category.

    4 Nursing home places include beds in general and mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.

    5 Number of independent nursing home places are given as at 31 December 1982. Reliable data for years prior to 1982 are not available.

    6 Data not available

    Smoking
    David Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the number of people who have died in each of the last five years in England and Wales as a result of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. [93623]

    Ms Blears
    Information in not routinely collected on the number of people who have died as a result of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.

    The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) in its 1998 Report concluded that, "exposure to environmental smoke is a cause of lung cancer and, in those with long-term exposure, the increased risk is in the order of 20 to 30 per cent. The numbers of people so exposed are not known precisely, but an estimate would suggest about several hundred extra lung cancer deaths a year are caused by exposure to passive smoking".

    SCOTH also concluded: "Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a cause of ischaemic heart diseases and if current published estimates of magnitude of relative risk are validated, such exposures represents a substantial public hazard".

    Paul Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died in each of the last five years as a result of passive smoking; and what measures are being taken to reduce exposure to passive tobacco smoke. [93684]

    Ms Blears
    Information in not routinely collected on the number of people who have died as a result of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.

    The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) in its 1998 Report concluded that, "exposure to environmental smoke is a cause of lung cancer and, in those with long-term exposure, the increased risk is in the order of 20 to 30 per cent. The numbers of people so exposed are not known precisely, but an estimate would suggest about several hundred extra lung cancer deaths a year are caused by exposure to passive smoking."

    SCOTH also concluded: "Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a cause of ischaemic heart diseases and if current published estimates of magnitude of relative risk are validated, such exposures represents a substantial public hazard."

    We are working closely with the hospitality trade to implement the Public Places Charter, designed to provide customers with clear information on the type of smoking policy operating in a particular establishment and allow them to make an informed choice.

    We are also be increasing the visibility of health messages highlighting to smokers the risks environmental tobacco smoke presents. This is through regulations to transpose into UK law the European Union Directive on the Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco Products. These regulations require
    534W
    tobacco products to carry larger and starker health warnings, on both the front and back of the packet. The dangers of passive smoking are highlighted in two of the new warnings, which include "Smoking seriously harms you and others around you" and "Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke." The contents of tobacco smoke are also highlighted in a warning saying, "Smoke contains benzene, nitrosomines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide".

    We are encouraging all employers to introduce smoke-free work places. All of the Department of Health's headquarter buildings will be completely smoke-free by 31 March 2003 and we are funding local tobacco control alliances across England to carry out projects in close co-operation with local employers to tackle passive smoking and to increase the number of smoke-free environments. These projects vary in nature from the production of smoke-free guides to pubs and restaurants to the provision of advice and support to managers wishing to introduce policies. We hope that many will be suitable for national application.

    Paul Flynn
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regular tobacco smokers there are(a) in the UK and (b) in other Council of Europe countries; and how many there were in each case in 1980. [92573]

    Ms Blears
    The estimated number of smokers in the United Kingdom is shown in table 1. The available data on smokers in other Council of Europe countries as published by the World Health Organisation are shown in table 2.

    Table 1: Estimated percentage and number of current cigarette smokers, among adults aged 16 and over, United Kingdom, 1980 and 2000

    1980

    2000

    Percentage of cigarette smokers1

    39

    27

    Estimated number of cigarette smokers1,2,3

    17,200,000

    12,900,000

    1GB data on the prevalence of smoking have been provided for 1980 as Northern Ireland data are not available: these data were used for estimating the number of smokers in the UK in 1980.

    2The number of smokers has been calculated using the (aged 16 and over), 1971 census based UK population estimates for mid year 1980, and the 1991 census based UK population estimates for mid year 2000 (provided by the Office for National Statistics to the Department of Health).

    3Estimated number of smokers rounded to the nearest 100,000.

    Sources:

    Data on the prevalence of smoking derived from:

    1. Office for National Statistics: General Household Survey 2000, published as 'Living in Britain: Results from the 2000 General Household Survey'. Available from the internet at: http:// www. statistics. gov. uk/lib/index. html

    2. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency: Northern Ireland Health And Social Wellbeing Survey 2001. Available from the internet at: http://www.nisra.gov.uk/whatsnew/wellbeing/ Smokine$20and$20drinking$20tables.pdf
    535W

    Table 2: Prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 and over, Council of Europe countries (other than UK), 1980 and 2000

    Percentage Country

    1980

    2000

    Albania

    1—

    39

    Andorra

    1—

    1—

    Armenia

    1—

    1—

    Austria

    1—

    29

    Azerbaijan

    1—

    1—

    Belgium

    1—

    31

    Bosnia-Herceg

    1—

    1—

    Bulgaria

    1—

    1—

    Croatia

    1—

    30

    Cyprus

    1—

    1—

    Czech Republic

    1—

    29

    Denmark

    1—

    30

    Estonia

    1—

    29

    Finland

    26

    23

    France

    17

    27

    Georgia

    1—

    1—

    Germany

    1—

    35

    Greece

    1—

    38

    Hungary

    1—

    42

    Iceland

    1—

    23

    Ireland

    1—

    1—

    Italy

    1—

    25

    Latvia

    1—

    1—

    Liechtenstein

    1—

    1—

    Lithuania

    1—

    32

    Luxembourg

    1—

    30

    Malta

    1—

    1—

    Moldova

    1—

    19

    Netherlands

    43

    32

    Norway

    31

    32

    Poland

    1—

    1—

    Portugal

    22

    1—

    Romania

    1—

    1—

    Russia

    1—

    1—

    San Marino

    1—

    1—

    Slovakia

    1—

    1—

    Slovenia

    1—

    1—

    Spain

    1—

    1—

    Sweden

    32

    19

    Switzerland

    1—

    1—

    FYR Macedonia

    1—

    1—

    Turkey

    1—

    1—

    Ukraine

    1—

    34

    Yugoslavia FR

    1—

    47

    1Not available

    Former health authority

    Total

    Jan

    Feb

    Mar

    Apr

    May

    Jun

    Jul

    Aug

    Sep

    Oct

    Nov

    Dec

    Year 2002

    East Lancashire

    128

    9

    7

    7

    11

    13

    10

    20

    9

    8

    16

    7

    11

    Morecambe Bay (Lancaster)

    10

    0

    0

    2

    1

    1

    1

    1

    2

    0

    1

    1

    0

    NW Lancashire

    62

    6

    12

    6

    3

    4

    5

    4

    3

    8

    6

    2

    3

    S Lancashire

    14

    0

    0

    4

    1

    2

    2

    1

    1

    1

    2

    0

    0

    Total

    214

    15

    19

    19

    16

    20

    18

    26

    15

    17

    25

    10

    14

    Regional Total

    648

    47

    59

    55

    56

    69

    58

    57

    43

    47

    73

    43

    41

    Year 2001

    East Lancashire

    94

    6

    14

    4

    5

    7

    6

    11

    6

    9

    10

    12

    4

    536W
    Source:

    WHO 'European Health for all database'. Available from the internet at: http//www.who.dk/hfadb

    Surgical Instruments (Sterilisation)
    Tim Loughton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled last year in England because of a failure of surgical instruments to be properly sterilised. [96052]

    Ms Blears
    Quarterly data are collected on the number of operations cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons at the last minute (for example, on the day patients are due to arrive or after arrival in hospital or on the day of their operation) and on the day of surgery. These data are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.qov.uk/ hospitalactivity/data requests.htm

    These data are not broken down into the reasons for cancellation.

    Teenagers
    Dr. Kumar
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to recognise teenagers as a separate group within the National Health Service for all purposes; and if he will make a statement. [98470]

    Jacqui Smith
    Current guidance acknowledges that the recognition of teenagers as a separate group is good practice.

    The forthcoming national service framework for children, young people and maternity services will endorse this by promoting the need for services that are appropriate to the age and stage of development of the person receiving a service.

    Tuberculosis
    Mr. Evans
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of tuberculosis have been reported in(a) Lancashire and (b) the North West of England in each of the last 36 months. [96726]

    Jacqui Smith
    The information required to answer the question is shown in the following table.
    537W

    Former health authority

    Total

    Jan

    Feb

    Mar

    Apr

    May

    Jun

    Jul

    Aug

    Sep

    Oct

    Nov

    Dec

    Morecambe Bay (Lancaster)

    7

    0

    1

    0

    1

    0

    1

    0

    1

    0

    2

    0

    1

    NW Lancashire

    57

    6

    4

    4

    5

    9

    7

    2

    2

    1

    5

    5

    7

    S Lancashire

    15

    0

    0

    4

    0

    0

    2

    2

    1

    1

    1

    4

    0

    Total

    173

    12

    19

    12

    11

    16

    16

    15

    10

    11

    18

    21

    12

    Regional Total

    650

    64

    59

    55

    43

    61

    55

    59

    57

    48

    44

    67

    38

    Year 2000

    East Lancashire

    117

    6

    4

    12

    12

    13

    10

    8

    9

    14

    14

    9

    6

    Morecambe Bay (Lancaster)

    7

    0

    0

    0

    2

    2

    1

    1

    0

    0

    0

    0

    1

    NW Lancashire

    46

    4

    1

    7

    12

    3

    3

    0

    5

    2

    5

    2

    2

    S Lancashire

    13

    2

    1

    2

    0

    1

    0

    0

    2

    2

    2

    1

    0

    Total

    183

    12

    6

    21

    26

    19

    14

    9

    16

    18

    21

    12

    9

    Regional Total

    640

    58

    32

    70

    55

    72

    51

    48

    53

    51

    66

    41

    43

    Notes:

    1. All data taken from notifications to the enhanced surveillance of tuberculosis programme organised by Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC) Colindale and run on a regional basis by CDSC North West.

    2. All data are provisional.

    3. Data should not be used without express permission from CDSC North West.

    Vehicle Fleets
    Rev. Martin Smyth
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of vehicles each NHS trust renewed in their vehicle fleets, broken down by volume and percentage for each category of vehicle, type of power unit and/or type of fuel, in each of the last five years. [96594]

    Ms Blears
    [holding answer 10 February 2003]: Reducing vehicle emissions is a key transport issue, which has been agreed as a priority across Government. Against a baseline year of 2002–03, all Departments are aiming by 31 March 2006 to reduce road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions by at least 10 per cent. and requiring at least 10 per cent. of all fleet cars to be alternatively fuelled.

    Progress against these targets will be reported in the "Sustainable Development in Government" annual reports. The first full report against the Framework will be in 2003, reporting against the baseline year of 2002–03.

    The National Health Service has a vehicle fleet of more than 40,000 vehicles but information in the format requested is currently not available.

    Viagra
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on prescribing practice for Viagra. [97097]
    538W
    Mr. Lammy
    In 1999 we decided to constrain the spend on drug treatments for impotence to the approximate amount that was being spent on these treatments before the first oral treatment became available.

    On 1 July 1999, regulations put into effect decisions made by the Government about the availability of drug treatments for impotence on general practitioner (GP) prescription on the national health service. GPs can write NHS prescriptions for patients with specific clinical conditions. These conditions are set out in Health Service Circular HSC 1999/148.

    Health Service Circular HSC 1999/177 provides guidance on the identification and management within specialist services of the men diagnosed to be suffering from severe distress on account of their impotence.

    Viagra and other drug treatments may be made available on private prescription from GPs for those men who do not meet the conditions specified in HSC 1999/148. As prescription only medicines they are subject to the legal controls on retail sale or supply which are set out in the Medicines Act 1968. They can only be sold or supplied at registered pharmacy premises by or under the supervision of a pharmacist in accordance with a doctor's prescription and they cannot be advertised to the public. The Medicines Control Agency's Enforcement Group investigates alleged illegal activity, including supply of prescription medicines via the internet.

    Victoria Climbié
    Mr. Burstow
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his statement on 28 January,Official

    539W
    Report, column 740, on the Victoria Climbié inquiry, if the hospital standards for children form part of the national service framework (NSF) for children; and if he will list the remaining standards to be included in the NSF, with the date for their publication. [96704]

    Jacqui Smith
    The first phase of the national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services will be published shortly, and will cover hospital services for children and young people.

    The remaining areas to be covered in the NSF include services for disabled children, children in special circumstances, child and adolescent mental health, the health of all children and young people, medicines, maternity services and ill children which we are hoping to publish later this year.

    Waiting Times (Dewsbury)
    Ann Taylor
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) average waiting times and (b) number of people waiting were for referral to (i) cancer and (ii) heart specialists in the Dewsbury area in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [98222]
    540W
    Jacqui Smith
    Information on waiting times is published quarterly on the Department of Health website. This is broken down into both inpatient and outpatient waiting times by National Health Service trusts by consultant specialty. This information can be accessed at http://www.doh.qov.uk/waitinqtimes/ index.htm

    Waiting Times (Hull and East Riding)
    David Davis
    To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients were seen by a doctor or consultant within one hour of their arrival at accident and emergency departments in Hull and the East Riding in each of the last three years. [92910]

    Jacqui Smith
    The Department does not collect data on the number of patients seen by a doctor or consultant within one hour of their arrival at accident and emergency (A&E).

    The NHS Plan set a new target for accident and emergency, to reduce the maximum wait in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours by 2004. In line with this target, data on total time in accident and emergency has been collected since August 2001.

    In Quarter 2,2002–03 64 per cent. of patients in Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust spent less than four hours total time in A&E.
    541W

  NORTHERN IRELAND

    Belfast International Airport (Security)
    Andrew Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the Security Co-ordinating Committee at its meeting on 30 January endorsed the changed arrangements in relation to checkpoint 11 and checkpoint 3 at Belfast International Airport; and if he will make a statement. [99118]

    Jane Kennedy
    The proposal in relation to checkpoint 3 and checkpoint 11 at Belfast International Airport was endorsed by the Security Co-ordinating Committee on 30 January, subject to the outcome of a Department for Transport Cargo Inspection. It would not be appropriate to make any further comment as to the detail of the proposal.

    Andrew Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the distance in a straight line between(a) checkpoint 11 and checkpoint 3 and (b) Checkpoint 3 and the Airport cargo apron at Belfast International Airport. [99119]

    Jane Kennedy
    The distance in a straight line between checkpoint 11 and checkpoint 3 is 415 metres. Checkpoint 3 is situated right on the edge of the cargo apron.

    Consultancy
    Mr. Laws
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much(a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body spent on external consultancy in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [92244]

    Jane Kennedy
    In the Northern Ireland Office the total reported expenditure on the use of consultants in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned) is as follows:

    Northern Ireland Office expenditure on consultants

    £

    Department

    Agencies

    1995–96

    403,000

    185,000

    1996–97

    309,000

    253,000

    1997–98

    352,035

    99,303

    1998–99

    479,897

    469,271

    1999–2000

    702,223

    604,894

    2000–01

    463,569

    1,040,189

    2001–02

    2,248,572

    639,015

    2002–03

    2,588,864

    193,391

    1Full year estimate on spend to date.

    Note:

    Figures for NDPBs are not available.

    In the Northern Ireland Administration the total (reported) expenditure on use of consultants in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned) is as follows:

    Northern Ireland Administration expenditure on consultants

    £

    1995–96

    26,191,196

    1996–97

    19,788,714

    1997–98

    10,458,511

    1998–99

    10,369,465

    1999–2000

    9,193,016

    542W

    Northern Ireland Administration expenditure on consultants

    £

    2000–01

    13,011,780

    2001–02

    16,958,809

    2002–031

    14,604,661

    1Planned

    Note:

    Agencies and NDPBs are included in the above figures which are based on returns from Departments.

    Decommissioning
    Stephen Hesford
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on decommissioning of terrorist weapons. [95775]

    Jane Kennedy
    I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) on 5 February 2003,Official Report, column 260.

    Operation Ore
    Mrs. Iris Robinson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are being investigated as a result of information received from Operation Ore; and how many have been arrested. [97639]

    Jane Kennedy
    There are currently 39 people being investigated by PSNI as a result of information received from Operation Ore. To date there have been four arrests and one person charged.

    Paper Supplies
    Sue Doughty
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the suppliers are of his Department's(a) paper and (b) paper products. [91911]

    Jane Kennedy
    In the Northern Ireland Office paper and paper products are supplied by the following contractors:

    Banner Office Supplies Ltd.

    Guilbert Niceday

    R. W. Pierce & Co.

    In the Northern Ireland Administration paper and paper products are supplied by the following contractors:

    Antalis Ltd.

    Banner Office Supplies Ltd.

    Bunzl Fine Paper (Europe) Ltd.

    DMS

    Donald Murray Paper

    Guilbert UK Ltd.

    Premier Paper

    Robert Horne Group plc

    United Paper Merchants Ltd.

    543W

    Paramilitary Crime
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many crimes have been committed by(a) Loyalist and (b) Republican paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland, (i) since the signing of theBelfast Agreement and (ii) since 1January 2002, broken down by category of crime. [98394]

    Jane Kennedy
    The following table provide details of the number of crimes carried out by Loyalist and Republican paramilitary organisations since the Belfast Agreement to 12 February 2003 and from 1 January 2002 to 12 February 2003.

    Security situation statistics

    BY Loyalist

    By Republican

    Other/Not Known

    Total

    (i)10 April 1998 to 12 February 2003

    Number of deaths as a result of the security situation1

    50

    47

    1

    98

    Number of shooting incidents2

    809

    360

    146

    1,315

    Number of bombing incidents3

    678

    134

    36

    848

    Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults

    427

    243

    N/a

    670

    Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings

    417

    223

    N/a

    60

    1 January 2002 to 12 February 2003

    Number of deaths as a result of the security situation1

    12

    4

    —

    16

    Number of shooting incidents2

    250

    116

    25

    391

    Number of bombing incidents3

    151

    48

    3

    202

    Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style assaults

    96

    51

    N/a

    147

    Number of casualties as a result of paramilitary style shootings

    136

    62

    N/a

    198

    1Includes all deaths due to the security situation.

    2The following types of incidents are included:

    —Shots fired by terrorists;

    —Shots fired by the Security Forces;

    —Paramilitary styl0e attacks involving shootings;

    —Shots heard (and later confirmed);

    —Other violent incidents where shots are fired (e.g. armed robbery).

    3An individual bombing incident may involve one or more explosive devices. The devices recorded include explosions and defusings. Incidents involving hoax devices, petrol bombings or incendiaries are excluded.

    Note:

    Statistics which include figures for 2002 and 2003 are provisional and may be subject to minor amendment.

    Police Complaints
    Mr. McNamara
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints against the police were received by the ICPC and Police Ombudsman in each year since 1994; how many were upheld; how many case papers were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions; how many prosecutions were initiated; how many were successful; how many internal disciplinary proceedings were initiated; and how many led to action being taken. [94420]

    Jane Kennedy
    I have asked the Police Ombudsman and the Executive to provide this information and once that is available I will write to my hon. Friend and place copies in the Libraries of the House.

    Police Service
    Lembit öpik
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland may recruit differential numbers of Protestants and Catholics if a differential number of applicants succeed through to the final stage of the process; and if he will make a statement. [97892]

    Jane Kennedy
    Section 46(1) of the Police Northern Ireland Act 2000 requires the Chief Constable to appoint equal numbers of Catholics and non-Catholics from the pool of qualified candidates. This is the case regardless of whether there are differential numbers of Catholics and non-Catholics in the pool.
    544W
    However, on any occasion where he is satisfied that the number of trainees required by the Chief Constable could not otherwise be appointed, the Secretary of State is empowered, under sections 46(2) and 46(3) of the Act, to set aside the 50:50 arrangement, by order in Parliament. Before making any such order, the Secretary of State is obliged to consult the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

    Lembit öpik
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the number of applications for employment in the Police Service of Northern Ireland changed in the year after the introduction of the 50/50 rule; what the figures were for the year immediately prior to the introduction of the 50/50 rule; and if he will make a statement. [97893]

    Jane Kennedy
    Two recruitment competitions for the Royal Ulster Constabulary were run in 1998. Applicant figures were as follows:

    Launch date

    Total applicants

    March 1998

    2,825

    November 1998

    3,359

    There was no further recruitment to the police until 2001. Applicant figures for the two recruitment competitions for the Police Service for Northern Ireland run in that year, in accordance with the 50:50 recruitment arrangements, were as follows.
    545W

    Launch date

    Total applicants

    February 2001

    7,517

    September 2001

    4,915

    In their first year of operation. the 50:50 recruitment arrangements enabled the appointment of over 500 police trainees, well in excess of the 370 recommended by the Patten Report.

    Written Questions
    Andrew Mackinlay
    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will reply to the questions 546W
    tabled on 27 January by the hon. Member for Thurrock, refs 94450 and 94503; and what the causes are of the delay in replying. [99116]

    Jane Kennedy
    The answer to parliamentary question ref. 95540 was issued on 11 February 2003, the named day specified by my hon. Friend, but it was not printed in the Official Report. It has now been printed —24 February 2003, Official Report, column 8W.

    On question ref. 94503 officials are currently endeavouring to trace the relevant records, some of which date back to 1994. I will reply as soon as possible.

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