Written Answers of 15 July 2003

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Connexions
  Valerie Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the performance of the Connexions service as a universal advice service for all young people. [123693]

  Margaret Hodge
  There are now 47 Connexions partnerships in operation covering all of England. 31 started during the financial year 2002–03. The last one started in April 2003. Ofsted have reported full inspections of six partnerships so far and initial indications are that Connexions partnerships are making progress at different rates with implementation of services. Performance was assessed as good in four of the partnerships, while the other two were rated as less effective. There is now a substantial programme of work developing performance in these two partnerships to address the concerns expressed by Ofsted.

  Among the findings from an independent survey of 16,000 young people who had been in contact with Connexion services were the following:
  91 per cent. said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service;
  90 per cent. agreed that "Connexions has a lot to offer young people";
  86 per cent. felt that "Connexions helps me see all the options available to me";
  68 per cent. said Connexions had helped them make life-changing decisions;
  47 per cent. said that contact with Connexions had made them more confident;
  irrespective of the topic discussed, respondents were positive about the usefulness of the advice given—for example, 85 per cent. thought the advice on housing either very useful or useful.

  Connexions provides more than just advice on careers, jobs and training, with 21 per cent. of young people receiving advice on money and benefits, 11 per cent. on stress, 10 per cent. on alcohol and drugs, 7 per cent. on bullying and 7 per cent. on sexual health matters.

  Departmental Policies (Pendle)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what policies(a) initiated and (b) managed by his Department since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [124096]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  Outlined are details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on the Pendle constituency and Lancashire LEA.
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  Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)—East Lancashire Transport Pilot

  This is a pilot EMA area operating the transport variation. Young People receive a free travel pass to their place of learning. They can also receive up to three £50 bonuses a year plus a £50 achievement bonus at the end of their studies.

  Schools in Special Measures

  There is one school in Nelson—Maries Hill Pupil Referral Unit—which has been in special measures since February 2003.

  Extended School Pathfinder

  Lancashire is one of 25 LEAs that has received £200,000 in 2002–03 to run an extended school pathfinder (made available through the Standards Fund). An additional £25,000 was allocated to each of the pathfinders specifically for childcare provision. Overall the aim of the pathfinders has been to test out various approaches used by schools and authorities in the development of family and community facilities and services on school premises.

  The Lancashire pathfinder has built upon existing and emerging developments in community use of maintained schools in the County. The project has focused primarily on five specific areas in the county where serious issues of social unrest, lack of community cohesion, significant levels of deprivation and poor health have already been identified. One of the five areas is Pendle, where six schools have been involved (listed as follows)

  The six Pendle schools are:

  Nelson Walton High School

  West Craven High School

  Nelson Edge End High School

  Colne Saints John Fisher and Thomas Moore High School

  Brierfield Mansfield High School

  Nelson Marsden Early Excellence Centre

  Connexions

  Connexions is the Government's front line support service for all young people in England aged 13–19. It is a universal service, offering integrated information, advice and guidance and access to personal development opportunities, to help remove barriers to learning and progression and ensure young people make a smooth transition to adulthood and working life. The headline aim is to reduce the number of young people aged 16–18 years who are not in education, employment or training.

  Connexions Lancashire went live in April 2002. Its budgets were:

  £

  2002–03

  12,132,753

  2003–04

  12,666,525

  Note:

  A breakdown for Pendle itself cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.
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  School Achievement Awards

  The following schools in Pendle have received School Achievement Awards since 2001:

  Round one awards announced March 2001

  Barnoldswick Church of England Controlled Primary School

  Barrowford School

  Colne Gibfield School

  Colne Lord Street School

  Holy Saviour Roman Catholic Primary School, Nelson

  Kelbrook Primary School

  Brierfield Mansfield High School

  McMillan Nursery School

  Nelson Bradley Primary School

  Nelson St. Paul's Church of England Primary School

  Nelson St. Philip's Church of England Primary School

  Nelson Whitefield Infant School and Nursery Unit

  Salterforth Primary School

  St. John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School, Colne

  St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Barnoldswick

  Trawden Forest Primary School

  Round two awards announced March 2002

  Barnoldswick Church of England Controlled Primary School

  Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School

  Bradley Nursery School

  Laneshaw Bridge Primary School

  Marsden Community Primary School

  McMillan Nursery School

  Nelson Whitefield Infant School and Nursery Unit

  Newjown Nursery School

  Park Primary School

  Reedley Primary School

  Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Colne

  Salterforth Primary School

  St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Barnoldswick

  Walton Lane Nursery School

  West Street Primary School

  Round three awards announced May 2003

  Bradley Nursery School

  Walton Lane Nursery School

  Newtown Nursery School

  McMillan Nursery School

  Barrowford School

  Blacko Primary School

  West Street Community Primary School

  Bradley Primary School

  Walverden Primary School

  Nelson Whitefield Infant School and Nursery Unit

  Kelbrook Primary School

  Colne Christ Church Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

  Nelson St. Philip's Church of England Primary School

  St. John Southworth Roman Catholic Primary School, Nelson

  Wheatley Lane Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School

  West Craven High Technology College

  Nelson Edge End High School

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  Capital Allocations (£000) for Lancashire LEA:

  Lancashire LEA have not bid for any capital funding for Pendle through any of the bidding rounds since 2001. The only funding going specifically to schools in Pendle (through Lancashire LEA) is devolved formula capital which started in 2000–01. The amount of devolved going to Pendle would only be known by the LEA.

  Since 1999 the LEA has received the following capital allocations:

  £000

  Capital allocation

  1999–2000

  3,5179

  2000–01

  38;021

  2001–02

  29,778

  2002–03

  44,303

  2003–04

  62,607

  School Attendance

  Lancashire is one of the Authorities that have been funded through the £11.25 million Capital Modernisation Funding project to provide funding for electronic registration systems in secondary schools with high levels of unauthorised absence which was initiated by the Department in 2001–02. Lancashire has received £444,340 towards setting up electronic registration in 23 secondary schools including two schools (Walton High School and West Craven High School) in the Pendle constituency receiving a total of £38,570. Independent evaluation has shown that, used effectively, electronic registration can significantly reduce levels of truancy within the first two years of implementation.

  Lancashire has also participated in the nationally co-ordinated truancy sweeps, for example in December 178 truants were found. Lancashire also conducts a termly programme of truancy sweeps. Truancy sweeps have not only been found useful in returning truanting children back to school and publicising the importance of school attendance, but also through them children who have been missing from the school system altogether have been identified.

  Exclusions

  Pendle district has two Pupil Referral Units: Maries Hill PRU (40 places), and Pendle PRU (24 places). The LEA has a well structured Pupil Referral Service with clear policies and procedures for admissions and exit.

  On reintegration of teenage parents into education

  Lancashire has received funding from the DIES Standards Fund since 2000 to help reduce the levels of conception for under 18 by half by 2010—and the social exclusion of teenage parents within the Authority. Details of funding are as follows:

  £

  2000–01

  137,400

  2001–02

  137,400

  2002–03

  163,847

  Lancashire has recruited five part time Learning Mentors to complement the work of the re-integration officer. For example, altogether they dealt with over 140

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  secondary educational bases. 62 young girls and four young men were referred to the re-integration officer in the 2001–02 financial year.

  Beacon Schools

  There are currently two beacon schools in the Pendle constituency—they are Laneshaw Bridge Primary School and Walton Lane Nursery School. Laneshaw Bridge became a beacon school in September 2000 and has just has its beacon status renewed for a further year until September 2004. Walton Lane Nursery School became a beacon school in September 2001 and its beacon status also ends in September 2004.

  Newchurch in Pendle St. Mary's CE Primary School ceased to be a beacon school in September 2002.

  Pathfinder Young Community Champions Fund (PYCCF) Funding

  £45,000 shared between four Boroughs (February 2003—September 2004).

  Note:

  Pendle forms part of the Lancashire Partnership pathfinder community cohesion area (consisting of Lancashire county council, Burnley borough council, Hyndburn borough council, Pendle borough council and Rossendale borough council). The area will receive £45,000 to implement the PYCCF between February 2003 to September 2004.

  Higher Education (Elmet)
  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils from the four high schools in the Elmet constituency progressed into higher education in each year since 1995. [123515]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 8 July 2003]The numbers of students from the four high schools in Elmet accepted for entry through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to full-time undergraduate courses in the UK is given as follows:

  Applicants accepted through UCAS to full-time higher education from the four high schools1 in Elmet constituency

  Year of Entry

  Number

  1995

  226

  1996

  231

  1997

  249

  1998

  226

  1999

  254

  2000

  257

  2001

  239

  2002

  261

  1Includes Boston Spa Comprehensive School, Brigshaw High School, Garforth Community College and Wetherby High School

  Source:

  UCAS

  Modern Languages
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will reply to the Question from the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton of 30th April on the estimated number of entrants aged under 21 to modern languages courses at higher education institutions from 2003 to 2008. [121801]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 July 2003,Official Report, column 800W.

  Students (Home Towns)
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the change in the proportion of students attending university in their home towns over the last five years. [110997]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department does not hold information on students studying in their home towns. However, several re search projects have looked at the influences on choice of institution. Comparisons from the Student Income and Expenditure Survey (SIES) in 1995–96 and 1998–99 show that there has been a slight increase of around 5 per cent. in the overall proportion of students living with their parents, especially among first years. Among the students surveyed in 1998–99, 18 per cent. lived with their parents.

  A student living survey carried out by UNITE/MORI in 2003 revealed that the ability to live at home during term time was a factor influencing the choice of university by 35 per cent. of those in the lower social classes compared with 26 per cent. of semi-skilled non-manual workers and 13 per cent. of those in professional and managerial social classes.

  A study completed by the Institute of Employment Studies found that the priority when choosing an institution is for the right subject of study and course, however non-traditional applicants, particularly mature applicants and ethnic minorities gave more emphasis to reputation and quality, location and nearness to 'home'.

  Universities
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his policy is on the diversity of academic courses and research at universities in the UK. [125138]

  Alan Johnson
  Universities in the UK are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible for deciding the range and mode of courses they offer, taking account of student demand and their institutional mission. The Higher Education Funding Council for England and its equivalent bodies in the devolved administrations allocate research funding selectively to universities according to the quality and volume of their research activity.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to promote the teaching and research of specialist and emergency subjects at universities in the UK. [125140]

  Alan Johnson
  The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) allocates teaching funding to higher education institutions (HEIs) in England through a formula relating to the number of students and the types of courses they are taking. The HEFCE has also allocated special funding for 'minority subjects' which it deems to be in national interest but which might otherwise be at risk because of the small number of students taking them.

  Research funding is allocated to HEIs according to their success in the Research Assessment Exercise. In addition to the main allocations, the HEFCE provides

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  research capability funding to emerging subjects where the research base is not as strong as in more established subjects.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Agricultural Consultants
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has undertaken of the impact of the Department and Business Link on agricultural consultants in the private sector. [125399]

  Alun Michael
  None.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants about the work of the Department and Business Link. [125400]

  Alun Michael
  I attended the Institute's annual lunch last year. I accepted a subsequent offer to me from the Chief Executive of the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants to assist with our work in developing a business support framework for rural areas and Defra officials are discussing this further with the Institute on my behalf.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department has spent in each of the past five years supporting the work of(a) Business Link and (b) the Farm Business Advice Service; and how many farmers have been advised in the past five years by the Department and Business Link. [125403]

  Alun Michael
  The following table sets out expenditure and delivery figures for the Farm Business Advice Service since it began in October 2000.

  Number of requests

  Number of initial visits

  Number of action plans

  Expenditure (£ million)

  2000–01

  4,120

  885

  6,352

  4.1

  2001–02

  2,393

  2,214

  2,101

  6.85

  2002–03

  4,067

  3,237

  3,058

  6.76

  2003–041

  1,085

  604

  339

  0.1

  Total

  11,665

  6,940

  11,850

  17.81

  1First two months of delivery

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the procedures for the screening of applicants to become Business Link advisers with the Farm Business Advice Service. [125432]

  Alun Michael
  The Farm Business Advice Service is managed by the Small Business Service (an agency of the DTI) and delivered through a network of Business Link advisers. The Service has adopted the Standards of Professional Competence for Business Link Advisory and Information Services. The Small Business Service intends to enhance the Standards of Professional Competence during 2003–04. Defra's Learning, Skills and Knowledge Programme involves a review of the accreditation requirements for publicly funded advisers, following a recommendation by the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food.
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  Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) individuals and (b) firms are registered as Business Link advisers with the Farm Business Advice Service. [125433]

  Alun Michael
  Across England a total of 522 advisers are contracted to deliver the Farm Business Advice Service. Of these, 43 are contracted directly to a Business Link, 79 are self-employed and 387 are sub-contracted and some of these are employed by agricultural consultancies. The recruitment of advisers is managed directly by Business Link organisations.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered because of bovine TB in each year since 1997 in(a) West Derbyshire and (b) Derbyshire. [124011]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The number of cattle slaughtered under bovine TB measures in Derbyshire, from 1997 to 2002, is given in the table. The data requested are not available for the parliamentary constituency of West Derbyshire. However, as a guideline, approximately 90 per cent. of confirmed TB breakdowns over the period have occurred in the western part of the county.

  Cattle slaughtered in Derbyshire under bovine TB control measures 1997–20021

  Number

  1997

  61

  1998

  57

  1999

  255

  2000

  59

  2001

  45

  2002

  370

  1 TB Reactors plus direct contacts

  Note:

  In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the number of TB reactors identified and slaughtered in 2002 is not comparable to those identified and slaughtered in previous years.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will update the statistics on her Department's bovine TB website and reconcile them to the data on the incidence of TB collected by the British Cattle Veterinary Association. [124315]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Each month Defra publishes provisional cumulative TB statistics for the calendar year on its website, including the number of TB tests carried out, the number of new TB incidents and the number of animals slaughtered in each State Veterinary Service region (SVS).

  There is a delay of approximately six weeks before the data appear, to allow sufficient time for data to be returned to the SVS and entered on the Department's computer system. The data are subject to revision over

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  a period of several months as additional data are entered. The most recent statistics on the website are for January to April 2003.

  National statistics notices are also published on the Defra TB website each month. They are produced after a time lag of approximately three months, and therefore give a more complete and accurate picture than Defra's GB statistics.

  We have no plans at the present time to reconcile our data with the data collected by the British Cattle Veterinary Association.

  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the collection of data on the TB 99 epidemiological survey. [124317]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  At 24 June 2003, a total of 703 TB99 case reports and 354 control reports had been entered on to the TB99 database for the badger culling trial areas. Defra is working hard to increase the number of reports e.g. by contracting ADAS Ltd. to assist the State Veterinary Service to complete TB99s. The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB has advised that it expects to have sufficient data to complete an initial analysis by the end of 2003.

  Carbon Sinks
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether wood used in wood products is assessed by her Department as a carbon sink; what research has been undertaken into the use of carbon sinks as an environmental measure; and if she will make a statement. [125117]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory submitted annually to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN-FCCC) includes an allowance for carbon in wood products produced from timber harvested in the UK. This estimate is provided as part of the research sponsored by Government and the devolved Administrations on the use of sinks in helping to stabilise greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The scientific evidence from this research, and that carried out in other countries, underpins UK policies and international agreements on the importance of protecting and enhancing carbon sinks as required by the UN-FCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.

  Common Agricultural Policy
  Mrs. Browning
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes the Agreement on CAP Reform agreed on 26 June will have on Britain's(a) gross and (b) net contribution to the EU Budget. [124350]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 8 July 2003]The Government's latest forecast of the trend in the UK's net contribution to the EC Budget for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06 were included in a footnote to Table C 11 of the 2003 Budget Report (HC 500). These figures were also shown in Table 3.3 of the 2003 Annual White Paper "European Community Finances (Cm 5800). Revised forecasts will be included in the pre-Budget Report and will take account of all of the latest factors, including those on CAP reform.
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  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of how much of the budget for the planned reform of the Common Agricultural Policy contributes to(a) trade distorting and (b) non-trade distorting initiatives. [123961]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  It is not yet possible to make an accurate forecast of how the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget will be allocated between trade distorting and non-trade distorting measures since member states have discretion in implementing the various optional arrangements included in the reform agreement. Moreover decisions remain to be taken on reforms of the sugar, cotton, tobacco and olive oil regimes. However, the Government's initial estimates indicate that the EU is now close to meeting WTO demands for a 60 per cent. reduction in amber box subsidies and can fully meet the WTO proposal for a 50 per cent. reduction in blue box payments.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of how reform of the Common Agricultural Policy will affect agricultural producers in the developing world. [123962]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy should provide direct and indirect benefits to agricultural producers in the developing world. First, the decoupling of subsidy payments from production, together with reductions agreed in some market support arrangements, will reduce EU over-production and subsidised exports of surpluses onto world markets at prices which undermine developing country markets and economies. Secondly, the impetus which these reforms should give to a successful Doha trade round will help to bring about wider development gains, not least through global action on agricultural subsidies.

  The EU Commission will also bring forward proposals during the next few months for reform of the sugar, oil, tobacco, cotton and olive oil regimes, all of which are of importance to developing world producers.

  Dioxin Emissions
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the level of dioxin emissions from the cement industry was(a) in 1997 and (b) in 2001; what assessment (i) her Department and (ii) the Environment Agency has conducted of the reasons for changes in the level of emissions; and if she will make a statement on the safety of these emissions. [122758]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The National Air Emission Inventory (`NAEI') estimated emissions of dioxins produced by cement kilns as 2.829 and 5.684 grams in 1997 and 2001 respectively.

  Measurements of dioxins are subject to an uncertainty of up to 100 per cent. because of the complex nature of the sampling and analysis techniques and the very low levels of emissions being monitored. The amount of cement production is not the same every year and this will also affect the figures for dioxins. As a result the numerical difference may have no statistical

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  significance. The Environment Agency is at present investigating better techniques for dioxin analysis to secure more accurate reporting of dioxins data.

  The Environment Agency has recently taken regulatory action to decrease dioxin levels, in particular at a single cement kiln site where a reduction from 2.2 grams in 2001 to 0.3 grams in 2002 is anticipated. The Environment Agency's own provisional estimate for 2002 is 1.5 grams of dioxins.

  European and domestic environmental regulations require that emissions limits for dioxins are set for cement production activities. The limits will reflect the benchmark values suggested by the European Commission and technical guidance produced by the Environment Agency. While excessive exposure to dioxins may be detrimental to human health, the Environment Agency aims to ensure that environmental exposures are too low for this to occur.

  Energy Conservation
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received following the annual report on the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. [118987]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Representation on the report has been received from the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG).

  European Councils
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 11 to 13 June; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [119888]

  Margaret Beckett
  I refer my hon. Friend to my statement on CAP Reform on 26 June 2003,Official Report, column 7220.

  Fats and Proteins (UK) Ltd.
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will make a decision on the appeal of Fats and Proteins (UK) Ltd. which was heard in 1998. [124999]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 11 July 2003]The Secretary of State's decision has been made and a letter dated 7 July 2003 has been sent to the appellant. Copies of the letter have been sent to all interested parties.

  GM Crops
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which regions of the UK are involved in GM field trials; and how many sites for GM field trials there are in the UK. [125956]

  Mr. Morley
  The following table shows the location, by county or region, of the 38 field trials of GM crops that are currently in progress in the UK. This number includes 18 sites which are part of the remaining farm scale evaluation trials, and 15 sites where statutory trials 152W
  of seeds for UK National List purposes are taking place. Numbers in brackets indicate that there is more than one trial site in a particular county.

  Field trials of GM crops currently in progress

  Farm scale evaluation sites

  National seeds list trial sites.

  Other GM crop research sites

  Aberdeenshire

  Aberdeenshire

  Cambridgeshire

  Cheshire

  Cambridgeshire (2)

  Hertfordshire (2)

  Dorset

  Herefordshire

  Norfolk (2)

  Durham

  Herefordshire

  East Riding of Yorkshire (4)

  Lincolnshire

  Fife

  Norfolk (4)

  Hertfordshire

  North Yorkshire (2)

  Kent

  Nottinghamshire

  Lincolnshire (2)

  Oxfordshire

  Norfolk

  Worcestershire

  Oxfordshire

  Shropshire

  Tyne and Wear

  Warwickshire

  Littering
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fixed penalty notices were issued for littering in England and Wales in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [124940]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 11 July 2003]In England for the period 2001–02, 11,500 fixed penalty notices were issued for littering. The figures for 2002–03 are not yet available.

  Data collection on litter fixed penalty notices in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly. I understand that centrally held data are currently not available for Wales, although it is intended that the Assembly Government will start collating data on enforcement action for littering offences by local authorities.

  Nitrogen Dioxide Limits
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of people living in areas surrounding Heathrow airport where nitrogen dioxide levels exceed EU limits; and what estimate her Department has made of the number of such people in 2010. [122157]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  From our national air quality modelling, current forecasts suggest that we are unlikely to achieve the mandatory EU limit value for nitrogen dioxide set for 2010 around Heathrow. However, we do not have estimates for the number of people exposed to nitrogen dioxide levels in excess of the EU limit value at any airports at that point.

  The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK: South East consultation document (DfT, February 2003) showed predicted exceedences of the nitrogen dioxide objective for Heathrow based on. modelling carried out as part of the Government's SERAS study. That modelling predicts that there would be 35,000 people exposed in 2015 if a third runway were to be built. falling to 33,000 in 2030. If no new airport were to be built, 14,000 people are predicted to be exposed to an exceedence of the nitrogen dioxide objective. Further modelling for SERAS, which is also reported in the

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  consultation document, based on a more optimistic view of improvements in engine technology and assuming positive action by the aviation industry to reduce emissions indicated that the figure of 35,000 in 2015 might fall to 5,000.

  OSPAR Meeting
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the recent OSPAR meeting in Germany; and what the implications are of decisions taken for Sellafield. [123667]

  Mr. Morley
  I made a written statement on 9 July about the outcome of the OSPAR meeting.

  The meeting agreed that the years 1995–2001 would be used to calculate the baselines against which progress in achieving the objectives of the 1998 strategy would be measured. The Ministerial statement agreed at the meeting included the following passage:
  "We note the concerns expressed by a number of Contracting Parties about discharges of technetium-99 from Sellafield and their view that these discharges should cease immediately. We welcome the recent initiative of the United Kingdom to request the operator of Sellafield to stop discharges from the MAC treatment process for the next nine months while further research and development of abatement technology is carried out. We look forward to the introduction of such technology to treat remaining MAC if it proves to be technically feasible."

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the Chairman of BNFL shortly before the OSPAR meeting. Careful consideration will be given to BN FL's full response when it is received, and to any other representations the Department receives on this issue before any further decisions are taken on the future regulation of technetium-99 discharges from Sellafield.

  Recycling
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to promote plastic recycling. [124491]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have set targets and provided funding for local authorities to ensure they increase their recycling capacity. It is for the local authority to decide which materials to collect.

  The Packaging Regulations contain material specific targets, including plastics. The quantity of plastic packaging which is recycled should increase as a result of current negotiations to revise the EU Directive on packaging.

  The Government have also established the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee with the aim of promoting sustainable waste management by creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, including plastics.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to ensure that local authorities implement and promote doorstep recycling strategies. [124492]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have set statutory performance standards (targets) requiring all local authorities to double their recycling, compared with 154W
  1999–2000, by 2003–04 and to trebling their recycling by 2005–06. We have not specified how these targets should be met, however we would expect doorstep collection to play an increasing role in meeting the targets.

  The Government have supported the general principle of the Household Waste Recycling Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Joan Ruddock). The Bill addresses the issue of doorstep collection. It provides that where English waste collection authorities have a duty to collect waste they shall ensure, except in some circumstances, that by the end of 2010 they collect at least two recyclates separate from the remainder of the waste.

  The Government have also provided local authorities with substantial financial support to enable them to increase their recycling operations. Spending Review 2002 increased provision in the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block (which includes waste) by £671 million over the three years to 2005–06. We have also provided additional funding of £140 million for 2002–03 and 2003–04 through the ring-fenced Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's progress in allowing the introduction of home-based waste separation for recycling within the five-year timetable set by the EU. [124437]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]Under the revision of the Packaging Waste Directive, the European Parliament recently voted for increased recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste to be met by 2008. The Directive does not specify the method by which these targets should be met. To meet the increased targets greater quantities of packaging waste will have to be collected from the household waste stream. We would expect to see industry working together with compliance schemes and local authorities to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to meet these targets.

  Separately, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Joan Ruddock) has introduced the Household Waste Recycling Bill which addresses the issue of doorstep collection. The Government support the general principle of the Bill and it has now completed Committee stage in the Commons. The Bill provides that where English waste collection authorities have a duty to collect waste they shall ensure, except in some circumstances, that by the end of 2010 they collect at least two recyclates separate from the remainder of the waste.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what budget has been set aside for the next five years to promote(a) recycling and (b) waste separation in homes. [124438]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]The Strategy Unit Report 'Waste Not Want Not' recommended that the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) take forward a programme of public education and awareness, which will include recycling and waste separation. The Government have accepted this recommendation and WRAP is now in the process of drawing up the detailed programme. The
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  majority of the resources allocated to the programme, which will amount to £3 million in 2003–04, will support local authority education schemes.

  Budgets for the programme will be £10 million and £17 million in 2004–05 and 2005–06 respectively.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what percentage of biomass suitable for renewable energy generation was sent to landfill in the UK in 2002; and what the figure was for each other E U member; [124560]

  (2) what the latest calculation is that she has made of the percentage of biomass containing industrial and municipal waste suitable for renewable energy generation sent to landfill. [124561]

  Mr. Morley
  We have not made any detailed assessments of quantities of biomass along the lines requested.

  This is because the quality of the feedstock used in processes that generate renewable energy from biomass obtained from wastes varies according to the technology employed, and these wastes can also be treated by options not involving energy recovery.

  However, current estimates are that nearly 80 per cent. of biodegradable municipal waste goes to landfill.

  Rodenticides
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action has been taken to assess rodenticides residue in(a) domestic and (b) non-domestic animals customarily eaten by humans and potential implications for public health. [124636]

  Mr. Browne
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Health and Safety Executive has recently taken over responsibility from DEFRA for the registration and assessment of rodenticides under the Control of Pesticides Regulations. All rodenticides are assessed prior to approval been granted to ensure they do not pose an unacceptable risk to man and the wider environment.

  Each approval is granted, by Ministers, subject to specific Conditions of Approval" which are legal requirements and must be followed. These conditions are recorded in the approval documents and are reflected on the product label. The label will inform the user what the product has approval for use against, how it must be used to be effective and essential risk and safety advice associated with the product. The directions for use and the precautionary phrases will give the user guidance on how to avoid exposure to domestic and non-domestic animals. When carrying out a treatment the label advice must be followed and the potential risks involved when using a product should be considered.

  Following approval of a product, the Approval Holder is under an ongoing responsibility to report adverse data associated with the product to the regulatory authority. Additionally, the Pesticides
  156W
  Residues Committee, a sub-committee of the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides, conduct a ongoing programme of testing to assess the residue levels of pesticides in food stuffs. The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme looks at cases where domestic and non-domestic animals have been poisoned by pesticides. Information gathered from these monitoring processes are fed back into the approvals process and, if appropriate, action can be taken against products.

  Rural Transport Partnership
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding has been allocated(a) by the Countryside Agency and (b) from other sources for new Rural Transport Partnership projects for the financial year 2003–04; and whether these allocations vary from sums previously announced. [125857]

  Alun Michael
  A total of £12.3 million has been allocated by the Countryside Agency to the Rural Transport Partnership scheme in 2003–04.

  The Rural Transport Partnership grant scheme is run by the Agency on behalf of Defra and provides funding to Rural Transport Partnerships to help develop local transport schemes on a match funding basis.

  Transport Pollutant Emissions
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of F-gas emissions are estimated to derive from the transport sector through vehicle air-conditioning and transport refrigeration; and what plans she has to control such emissions. [125333]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 11 July 2003]The data presented in the table are taken from a study sponsored by my Department in 1999. The study estimated that in 1995, emissions from mobile air conditioning and refrigerated transport were responsible for 0.8 per cent. of total UK fluorinated gases (F-gases) emissions. This figure was projected to rise to 12 per cent. in 2010, due to the increasing use of air conditioners in new vehicles.

  Emissions in million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

  Mobile air conditioning

  Refrigerated transport

  Total transport

  Total all sources

  Percentage of UK total emission

  1995

  0.13

  0.01

  0.14

  17.5

  0.8

  2010

  1.31

  0.13

  1.44

  12.0

  12

  The Department has undertaken a follow-up study for emissions and projections of F-gases and this will be published shortly.

  We expect the European Commission to publish shortly a proposal on measures to reduce emissions of F-gases.

  Unsupported Crops Sector
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the impact of the European Commission's proposals for decoupling in the unsupported crops sector. [116486]
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  Margaret Beckett
  Overall, the agreement reached at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 27 June is estimated to give rise to annual net economic benefits of about euro 0.6 to 0.8 billion in the UK. The agreement does not provide for direct payments to growers for land used only for non-supported crops in the reference period. However, land needed to qualify for a direct payment under the new arrangements cannot be used to grow fruit, vegetables and table potatoes, thereby removing a potential source of additional competition that the unsupported sector was concerned would arise from the Commission's proposals.

  Vital Villages Programme
  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether(a) she, (b) Department officials and (c) the Countryside Agency gave instructions to suspend payments on the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages programme from 16 April to 1 June 2003. [125855]

  Alun Michael
  The Countryside Agency manages the Vital Villages programme on behalf of Defra. Day to day decisions on the operation of the scheme are a matter for the Agency.

  The Countryside Agency did not suspend payments under the programme but did call a temporary halt to making any new commitments while they considered how to target the programme for the remainder of the year. By May 2003 almost two thirds of the 2003–04 budget was allocated.

  Mrs. Shephard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there was variation between budgeted and actual expenditure in the period from April 2002 to March 2003 in the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages programme. [125856]

  Alun Michael
  The Countryside Agency's Vital Villages programme budget allocation was £17.5 million in 2002–03 and the actual expenditure on grants was £17.25 million. Within the overall programme the Rural Transport Partnerships budget allocation was £8.2 million and actual expenditure was £9.9 million.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the trips made by senior Ministers, and the countries visited, where UK exports on the Military and Dual Lists were the main reason for the trip in each year since 2001. [125665]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I am not aware of any overseas visits by senior DTI Ministers in the years since 2001 that have had as their main theme the export of Military and Dual List goods.

  The specific responsibility within this Government for the export promotion of UK military equipment lies with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), specifically the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO).

  BNFL
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the involvement of BNFL in nuclear weapons programmes. [119539]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 16 June 2003]BNFL's Board ensures compliance with all UK nuclear nonproliferation obligations.

  In common with many other suppliers, BNFL has made an important contribution to the UK's effective and credible nuclear deterrent. Tritium continues to be supplied to the Ministry of Defence, but the production and separation of plutonium for weapons' use was stopped prior to 1995. Civil nuclear material at BNFL facilities is, like such material at other facilities in the UK, subject to Euratom Treaty safeguards and to the terms of the UK's safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Euratom.

  BNFL is a third joint venture partner in a consortium that manages the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston on be half of MOD.

  Canada-EU Trade
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken towards Canada agreeing a free trade agreement with the EU; and if she will make a statement. [125081]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  At the EU-Canada Summit in Ottawa last December it was agreed that proposals for the negotiation of a Trade and Investment Enhancement Agreement would be submitted for the next Summit in Canada, in December 2003.

  Departmental Grants
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been given by her Department(a) in the form of Regional Selective Assistance and (b) under the Enterprise Grant scheme; and how much of this has been paid to industrial projects that have subsequently failed. [124730]

  Jacqui Smith
  Expenditure from 1 January 1997 to date was £662.1 million for Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) in England and £28.2 million for the Enterprise Grant scheme (EG) which was introduced in January 2000.

  £40.1 million and £0.2 million was paid to RSA and EG projects respectively where, to date, there has been some recovery or write-off action. Many of these projects will have involved some investment but not on the scale anticipated at the time of offer.

  Departmental Policy (Burma)
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on(a) trade with and (b) investment in Burma by companies registered in the United Kingdom or their overseas subsidiaries. [125668]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Ann McKechin) on 25 June 2003,Official Report, column 1042W, the British

  159W
  Government do not encourage trade with or investment in Burma while the regime continues to suppress the basic human rights of its people. We offer no support for companies wishing to trade with Burma or for those who want to invest there. Representatives of British companies or their subsidiaries that inquire about the prospects, either for trade with or investment in Burma, are informed of this policy. I met the Chairman of British American Tobacco, Mr. Marlin Broughton on 2 July 2003. BAT are the only major British investor in Burma. They run a partnership with the business arm of Burma's military directorship, the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings. I asked Mr. Broughton to consider withdrawing their investment.

  Electricity Generation
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the UK's generation mix for electricity(a) is and (b) was in (i) 1973, (ii) 1980, and (iii) 1990, (iv) 2000. [125583]

  Mr. Timms
  The percentage of gross electricity supplied by fuel is set out in the following table.

  1973

  1980

  1990

  2000

  2002

  Coal

  67

  74

  69

  32

  32

  Oil

  21

  11

  7

  1

  1

  Gas

  —

  1

  1

  40

  40

  Nuclear

  10

  12

  20

  22

  22

  Renewables1

  2

  2

  3

  3

  3

  Other2

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  Total

  100

  100

  100

  100

  100

  1 Includes hydro natural flow.

  2 Includes coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, waste products from chemical processes and generation by hydro pumped storage.

  Sources:

  Digest of UK Energy Statistics, UK Energy in Brief

  Mobile Phone Masts
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to ask the National Radiological Protection Board to review research on the health aspects of mobile phone masts and to report to her; and if she will make a statement. [125006]

  Mr. Timms
  The public health implications of mobile phone technologies in general were comprehensively assessed by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP), chaired by Sir William Stewart, in May 2000 (www.iegmp.org.uk). In respect of base stations the Group concluded that:

  The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines.

  Measurements undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board and the Radiocommunications Agency have confirmed that public exposures are very much lower than the international exposure guidelines and are published on the websites www.nrpb.org and www.radio.gov.uk respectively.

  The IEGMP additionally recommended that the issue of possible health effects from mobile phone technology should be the subject of a further review in three years time or earlier if circumstances demand it. In responding
  160W
  to the recommendations in the IEGMP report, the Government asked the NRPB to undertake this further review and the Board of NRPB requested its independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) to carry this out. It is expected that this further report will be issued towards the end of 2003. Membership of AGNIR can be found on the NRPB's website (www.nrpb.org).

  Post Office
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the(a) gross and (b) net marginal cost to the Government is of the opening of (i) 1, (ii) 100, (iii) 1,000 and (iv) 100,000 post office card accounts. [125278]

  Mr. Pond
  [holding answer 11 July 2003]I have been asked to reply.

  Our working assumption is around 3 million post office card accounts will have been opened by 2005. However, there is no cap on numbers and anyone who wants to open an account can do so. Present indications are that the final number will be significantly above three million. The precise cost at any given level of take-up is commercial in confidence to Post Office Ltd. and is not released in line with paragraph 13, part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.

  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which urban post offices in the North East of England(a) have closed in each of the last three years and (b) are being proposed for closure. [126063]

  Mr. Timms
  This is a matter that falls within the operational responsibilities of Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to my right hon. Friend.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Post Office Card Accounts have been(a) applied for and (b) opened in (i) Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) the UK. [125728]

  Mr. Timms
  The information is not available in the format requested. National figures only are available.

  I understand from Post Office Ltd. that by 20 June 2003, 57,000 Post Office card accounts had been opened. By that date I further understand from the Department for Work and Pensions that 430,000 customers had opted for a Post Office card account.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will provide a full reply pursuant to the holding answer she gave on 18 June 2003 regarding post offices, ref 119723. [126154]

  Mr. Timms
  I replied in full to the hon. Member's question on 23 June 2003,Official Report, column 564.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies she has conducted into the comparative costs and uptake of renewable energy throughout the European Union. [124819]
  161W
  Mr. Timms
  The take up of renewable energy in the different states of the European Union is well documented (e.g. in the statistics compiled by the International Energy Agency). In addition, the European Wind Energy Association has recently published Wind Force 12, a report which assesses the current state of the European Wind Energy Market, and its potential growth. This report is available at www.ewea.org/doc/WF12.pdf. The Department has not carried out studies into the comparative costs of renewables in the different member states.

  Royal Mail
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has held with(a) executives of Royal Mail and (b) other ministerial colleagues over the decision by Royal Mail to forego the use of rail transport for the carrige of mail; what assessment she has made of the decision; and if she will make a statement. [125985]

  Mr. Timms
  The department meets Royal Mail on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues including progress on the transport review. That review envisaged a continuing role for rail freight. Royal Mail has, following protracted negotiations with EWS, concluded that it cannot now proceed on the basis it originally intended, for reasons of cost.

  The Government regret the loss of business for rail freight but stands by its policy that Royal Mail must have the freedom it needs to operate genuinely commercially.

  Shareholder Votes
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what penalties she plans to impose on companies who mislay a significant proportion of shareholders' votes. [124731]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have no plans to impose penalties on companies. I regard the effective operation of the shareholder voting process as an essential part of the corporate governance framework. The process involves a number of parties and I am glad to see that they are working together to analyse the process in order to make it more efficient. The Department will be monitoring developments in this area closely.

  Shipyards (Assistance)
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance is available from(a) the Government and (b) its agencies for shipyards in (i) England and (ii) Scotland competing for orders to construct ships. [125562]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 14 July 2003]Financial support is available to help UK shipyards win new orders through my Department's Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme (HSCGS). The HSCGS provides soft credit finance facilities to UK resident purchasers of ships in the form of loan guarantees of up to 80 per cent. of contract value for the construction and conversion of vessels. The HSCGS is currently under appraisal, in line with the DTI's wider review of existing business support schemes.

  Timber
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requirements there are on timber merchants to identify the source of timber imported into the UK. [125152]

  Nigel Griffiths
  None. The Timber Trade Federation operates a code of practice and organisations like the WWF 1995 Plus Group have been set up to encourage merchants and retailers to promote business methods that are consistent with sustainable forestry practices.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry from which countries the UK imports timber; what percentage of the total timber import comes from each country; what percentage is from unidentified sources; and what steps the Government takes to ensure the timber is from sustainable sources in each country. [125153]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Data on the UK's imports of timber are given in the following table.

  Statistics on UK imports of goods are compiled by HM Customs and Excise. The information is published on the basis of the country of consignment: which is normally the last country in which a commercial transaction takes place. Information on the country of consignment is comprehensive for countries outside the European Union (EU). Within the EU detailed information is collected from all but very small traders. Overall, small traders are estimated to account for 2–3 per cent. of the value of UK trade with the EU, or about half that for total UK trade in goods. HM Customs and Excise do not collect from importers information relating to the precise origin of the timber, ie. whether or not the timber was forested from a legal and sustainably managed source, other than the country of consignment.

  Comprehensive data, by country of origin are not available. The free flow of goods within the Single European Market means that information on the country of origin is not always available when goods are first imported into another European Union country and then consigned to the UK.

  The Government have shown leadership in its strong encouragement of the European Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process. This is part of the EU's wider objective to encourage sustainable forest management and ensure that timber entering the EU is sustainably sourced. The Government are broadly supportive of the Commission's recently published FLEGT action plan and will work with other member states to ensure the Commission is able to make rapid progress.

  UK imports of timber in 2002

  Country

  £000

  Percentage share

  Total Imports

  1,295,351

  100.00

  Sweden

  325,172

  25.10

  Latvia

  205,504

  15.86

  Finland

  193,389

  14.93

  USA

  75,570

  5.83

  Russia

  65,909

  5.09

  Canada

  62,164

  4.80

  Estonia

  52,680

  4.07

  Irish Republic

  43,462

  3.36

  163W

  UK imports of timber in 2002

  Country

  £000

  Percentage share

  Germany

  31,326

  2.42

  Malaysia

  26,536

  2.05

  France

  20,239

  1.56

  Netherlands

  19.813

  1.53

  Italy

  19,720

  1.52

  Lithuania

  14,144

  1.09

  Norway

  12,932

  1.00

  Cameroon

  12,851

  0.99

  Brazil

  12,575

  0.97

  Indonesia

  10,740

  0.83

  Belgium

  10,377

  0.80

  Denmark

  7,937

  0.61

  China

  7,931

  0.61

  Ivory Coast

  7,551

  0.58

  Czech Republic

  6,951

  0.54

  Ghana

  6,570

  0.51

  Poland

  5,080

  0.39

  Singapore

  4,096

  0.32

  Portugal

  3,726

  0.29

  Austria

  3,000

  0.23

  Chile

  2,955

  0.23

  Guyana

  2,424

  0.19

  South Africa

  2,258

  0.17

  Spain

  1,943

  0.15

  Slovakia

  1,528

  0.12

  Romania

  1,520

  0.12

  Thailand

  1,406

  0.11

  Australia

  1,259

  0.10

  Congo

  1,124

  0.09

  Honduras

  1,080

  0.08

  Taiwan

  1,074

  0.08

  Liberia

  1,012

  0.08

  Burma

  979

  0.08

  Hong Kong

  690

  0.05

  Ukraine

  600

  0.05

  Philippines

  510

  0.04

  Switzerland

  384

  0.03

  Hungary

  319

  0.02

  India

  314

  0.02

  New Zealand

  307

  0.02

  Serbia and Montenegro

  267

  0.02

  Turkey

  262

  0.02

  Zaire

  255

  0.02

  Tanzania

  223

  0.02

  Costa Rica

  210

  0.02

  Bosnia and Herzegovina

  185

  0.01

  Zimbabwe

  171

  0.01

  Slovenia

  143

  0.01

  Gabon

  136

  0.01

  Papua New Guinea

  134

  0.01

  Bulgaria

  132

  0.01

  Cyprus

  129

  0.01

  Luxembourg

  121

  0.01

  Gibraltar

  114

  0.01

  Japan

  107

  0.01

  Nigeria

  95

  0.01

  Guinea

  84

  0.01

  Croatia

  79

  0.01

  Ecuador

  78

  0.01

  Central African Rep.

  77

  0.01

  Bolivia

  57

  0.00

  British Virgin Islands

  52

  0.00

  South Korea

  52

  0.00

  Algeria

  37

  0.00

  Greece

  37

  0.00

  Mozambique

  36

  0.00

  Jamaica

  35

  0.00

  Dominican Republic

  35

  0.00

  Belize

  34

  0.00

  Vatican City

  34

  0.00

  Peru

  31

  0.00

  Panama (inc. Former Canal Zone)

  27

  0.00

  Laos

  25

  0.00

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  UK imports of timber in2002

  Country

  £000

  Percentageshare

  Antigua and Barbuda

  25

  0.00

  Surinam

  21

  0.00

  Syria

  18

  0.00

  Madagascar

  17

  0.00

  Macedonia

  16

  0.00

  Armentina

  15

  0.00

  Burundi

  14

  0.00

  Sharjah etc.

  12

  0.00

  Dubai

  12

  0.00

  Saudi Arabia

  10

  0.00

  Mexico

  8

  0.00

  Bahamas

  8

  0.00

  Malta

  8

  0.00

  Libya

  7

  0.00

  Israel

  6

  0.00

  Namibia

  6

  0.00

  Argentina

  6

  0.00

  Trinidad and Tobago

  5

  0.00

  Mauritius

  5

  0.00

  Swaziland

  4

  0.00

  Sri Lanka

  3

  0.00

  Gambia

  2

  0.00

  Note:

  Timber is defined as headings 247 and 248 of the Standard International Trade Classification, Rev 3 (SITC).

  Source:

  Compiled by DTI from HM Customs and Excise data

CABINET OFFICE

  Public Appointments
  Linda Gilroy
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps have been taken towards improving transparency in the public appointments process. [125459]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Cabinet Office fully supports the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice, which provides Departments with a clear guide to the steps required to ensure an open and transparent appointments process.

  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what age restrictions there are on public appointments. [125461]

  Mr. Alexander
  Generally, there are no age restrictions for people applying to be considered for public appointments. Appointments made by the Lord Chancellor to tribunals do have some restrictions.

  Central Office of Information
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement about the recruitment practices of the Central Office of Information. [125460]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Central Office of Information's recruitment practices follow the recruitment code laid down by the Civil Service Commissioners.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost was to his Department of mobile phones supplied to Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [123147]
  165W
  Mr. Alexander
  Information on the cost to the Cabinet Office of mobile telephones supplied to Ministers and officials in each year since 1997 is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Widows and Orphans Pensions Schemes
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make it his policy to allow widows who married officers after they had retired from the service to benefit from the Widows and Orphans Pensions Schemes; and if he will make a statement. [125213]

  Mr. Alexander
  Before April 1978, the Civil Service pension scheme, in common with other public service schemes, paid pensions only to widows who had been married to officers at the time they left service. For service from 6 April 1978, in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975, pensions have been paid regardless of when the marriage took place.

TRANSPORT

  Workplace Parking (Nottingham)
  Mr. Graham Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support he is giving to Nottingham city council's policy for a workplace parking levy; and if he will make a statement. [125445]

  Mr. McNulty
  I support Nottingham city council's development of an integrated local transport policy in which a workplace parking levy could play an integral part, but I cannot make any statement that would prejudge my decision should a scheme order be submitted to me for confirmation.

  Rail Network
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve the rail network in northern England. [125446]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan sets out investment priorities and describes how delivery of the key targets in our 10-Year Transport Plan will be achieved. The SRA is in the process of establishing two new franchises for the north of England, which will separate long-distance and local services to allow concentrated management attention within each market.

  Traffic Congestion (South-east)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to reduce traffic congestion in the south-east. [125447]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport made a statement to this House on 9 July 2003 on transport investment. This announced a number of measures to be taken forward in our major transport corridors which will tackle traffic congestion, support economic growth and improve safety on our strategic road network, including the south-east.

  A46/A47 Link Road
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to visit Leicester to discuss the operation of the A46 to A47 link road. [125448]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None. As the A46/A47 link road is a local road scheme, the responsibility for its operation rests with the local highway authority, Leicester city council.

  Royal Mail
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the impact of the decision by Royal Mail to withdraw its mail services from the railways on the Government's plans to develop an integrated transport policy. [125449]

  Mr. McNulty
  Royal Mail's decision is a commercial matter for the company. The Government's policy is to promote a competitive sustainable distribution industry that brings economic and environmental benefits for the country. We remain committed to rail freight, and are giving the railways the sustained investment they have never had before.

  Motorway Safety
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were(a) killed and (b) seriously injure J. in each of the last three years for which figures are available in crashes involving vehicles parked on the hard shoulders of motorways. [125450]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Information is available for the total number of those killed and seriously injured in road accidents involving vehicles parked on motorways for the three-year period from 1999 to 2001. The figures are:

  (a) 62 people killed; and

  (b) 118 people seriously injured.

  The figures are not available on a yearly basis.

  Rail Freight
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government financial incentives there are to encourage freight on the railways in(a) England and (b) Wales; and if he will make a statement. [125451]

  Mr. McNulty
  Grants are available from the Strategic Rail Authority and the National Assembly for Wales to enable companies to move freight by rail instead of road where this is justified by environmental benefits.

  Rail Services (Edinburgh)
  Mr. Lazarowiez
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority regarding long-distance rail services to and from Edinburgh. [125453]

  Mr. McNulty
  Ministers have regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority over all aspects of their business. The Authority have recently announced that west coast trains will begin to serve Edinburgh from 2005. The Authority are also considering upgrade options for the east coast main line, on which they will consult later this year.

  Air Safety
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessments of the risk of bird strikes at London Heathrow airport his Department has made in the last five years; [126018]

  (2) how many incidents of bird strike have been reported at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted in the last five years; [126023]

  (3) what measures his Department undertakes to assess the potential risk of bird strike at UK airports. [126024]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for the licensing of civil aerodromes in the UK. Licensed aerodromes are required to take all reasonable steps to secure that the aerodrome and its immediately surrounding airspace are safe at all times for use by aircraft. As a licensing condition, aerodrome operators are also specifically required to have in place procedures for the control of bird hazards. The CAA maintains an oversight of the effectiveness of the bird hazard control activities at all UK licensed aerodromes and comments on this activity in the individual aerodrome's annual audit report.

  Although the Department for Transport has not conducted separate aerodromes bird strike risk assessments, it has organised, and currently chairs, a working group of representatives from relevant local authorities, private land owners, the CAA and Heathrow Airport Ltd. (HAL) to consider ways of expediting effective management of the bird population and habitat around Heathrow. This builds on HAL's on-going work with the Central Science Laboratory's Bird Strike Avoidance Team to develop and implement appropriate bird strike mitigation measures. It is anticipated that the results of the group's work will, in due course, be disseminated to other aerodromes around the country.

  The following table sets out the number of reported bird strikes at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted over the last five years.

  Heathrow

  Gatwick

  Stansted

  1998

  36

  32

  14

  1999

  56

  39

  16

  2000

  46

  39

  21

  2001

  59

  40

  28

  2002

  71

  51

  30

  Car Tax
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government is taking to reduce the number of people who are illegally avoiding paying car tax. [125954]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in co-operation with police forces, local authorities and other enforcement agencies already uses a wide range of measures to tackle evasion of vehicle excise duty (VED). These include on-street enforcement, wheelclamping and the use of roadside cameras. The enforcement programme successfully 168W
  actioned some 820,000 cases, recovering some £110 million in fines, out of court settlements and relicensing revenue.

  This programme is being strengthened by a range of new initiatives. These include combined operations with local authorities, police forces and fire services aimed at abandoned and unlicensed vehicles, wider use of police traffic cameras, and a new "hotline" facility to allow members of the public to report offences directly to DVLA, anonymously if they wish.

  On 22 May I announced proposals to introduce a form of continuous registration, starting in 2004. Under these proposals a vehicle's registered keeper will remain liable for licensing it until it is formally transferred to a new keeper. Enforcement will include the imposition of standard penalties, with more severe fines for determined evaders following prosecution. There will be consultation on the details of these proposals later this year.

  Bus Stop Clearway Orders (Newcastle upon Tyne)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the City of Newcastle upon Tyne requested approval of permanent bus stop clearway orders in respect of Osborne Road, NE2; and whether approval was granted. [125649]

  Mr. McNulty
  This is a matter for the Local Highway Authority, Newcastle city council.

  The Council made application to the Department (Government Office for the North East) on 3 May 2001 for 24 hour Bus Stop Clearways on Osborne Road, Newcastle.

  The Government Office responded on 13 July 2001. The Council were advised that it had the power to introduce the 24 hour Bus Stop Clearways by making the appropriate Traffic Regulation Order in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and then to erect a sign to Diagram 974 as prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 1994 (which were current at the time of the inquiry), reflecting the times the restriction is in force.

  Electric Trains
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage energy loss is in converting the primary energy source into electrical driving energy for the modern electric train. [125761]

  Dr. Howells
  In contrast to older electric units such as Mark Is, which lose up to 60 per cent. to 70 per cent. of the energy supplied to them when starting up and operating at low speeds, modern electric multiple units such as Networkers have electronic control systems designed to prevent any significant energy loss in the provision of traction.

  Eurostar Trains
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Eurostar trains are kept unused in sidings owned by Network Rail; and what annual rent is charged for their storage. [122114]
  169W
  Mr. McNulty
  There are currently no unused Eurostar trains. However, trains are redeployed between different operating companies and purposes, according to circumstances, from time to time.

  Foreign Seafarers (Employment Standards)
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to bring forward minimum employment and safety standards for foreign seafarers serving on UK registered ships. [125452]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The UK will play a full part in the current International Labour Organisation initiative to consolidate its maritime conventions in order to improve global observance of the standards of living and working conditions in international shipping.

  Highways Agency
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to ensure the co-ordination of activity between the Highways Agency and regional bodies in order to deliver greater integration and cost-efficiency. [125516]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Highways Agency is continuing to work closely with regional planning bodies, the Government Offices for the Regions, the Regional Development Agencies, the Regional Assemblies and local authorities to ensure the Highways Agency has awareness of, and input into, important regional policies such as Regional Planning Guidance, Regional Economic Strategy, and the Regional Transport Strategy.

  The agency has also built strong links with all other key regional and national transport stakeholders to support the delivery of sustainable transport solutions.

  M42
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the decision to open a hard shoulder on the M42 to ease congestion. [125515]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The then Minister for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar), announced on 27 July 2001 that the M42 between Junctions 3a and 7 had been chosen as a pilot site for Active Traffic Management (ATM). The pilot will provide useful data and experience about a range of existing and new traffic management measures. This will include part-time use of the hard shoulder as a running lane for traffic at peak periods and at other times when there has been an incident, but only under carefully controlled conditions.

  Motorway Speed Limits
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 8 July 2003,Official Report, column 689W, on motorway speed limits, if he will place the conclusions arising from this assessment in the Library. [125366]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake) on 14 July 2003,Official Report, column 27W.

  National Walking Strategy
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make funding and additional resources available to support the implementation of the National Walking Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [126214]

  (2) if he will establish a National Walking Authority to monitor progress of the National Walking Strategy and assist the Government in its implementation; [126215]

  (3) when the National Walking Strategy will be published; and whet her it will contain targets. [126216]

  Dr. Howells
  My Department issued a discussion document on walking on 30 June. "On the move: by foot" seeks views from all interests on how we might improve conditions for pedestrians and increase levels of walking. Responses to the document have been requested by 26 September and will inform our forward strategy in respect of resources, institutions and targets.

  Private Office Costs
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the running costs have been of Ministers' private offices in his Department in each year since 1997. [123110]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department was formed on 29 May 2002. Thee estimated final outturn for the running costs of Ministers' private offices in 2002–03 is £1.3 million.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the implementation of rail safety recommendations by the Railway Inspectorate over the last three years. [125556]

  Mr. McNulty
  In the last three years the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have published recommendations as part of their investigation reports into the Hatfield and Potters Bar rail crashes. HSE intend to publish progress reports on implementation of these recommendations once legal proceedings are concluded or not proceeded with.

  The Health and Safety Commission progress report of July 2002 on implementation of the recommendations from the Southall, Ladbroke Grove and train protection public inquiries is in the Libraries of the House. A further report will be published later this summer.

  Roads
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which major road schemes in England have been given(a) provisional and (b) full government approval in each of the last three years; what their current status is; and what the (i) anticipated start date and (ii) completion date is in each case. [125709]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House. A scheme at the M40 Junction 15 at Longbridge, was added to the Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI) today.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has conducted into the consistency with which speed cameras on trunk roads record speeding motorists. [124797]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Decisions on issues relating to speed camera operation and enforcement of speed limits are a matter for chief constables of police.

PRIME MINISTER

  Camp Delta
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has made to the US President concerning the future of the British detainees at Camp Delta. [124615]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness, West (Mr. Kennedy),Official Report, column 1152, the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Geraint Davies), Official Report, columns 1152–53, and the hon. Member for Walsall, North (David Winnick) Official Report, column 1155, at Prime Minister's questions on 9 July.

  China
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his forthcoming visit to the People's Republic of China. [123676]

  The Prime Minister
  I will arrive in China on Monday 21 July and will stay away until Thursday 24 July, visiting Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will use his forthcoming visit to the People's Republic of China (PRC) to express support for the Beijing talks mechanism for a peaceful solution to the North Korea nuclear issue involving the USA, North Korea and the PRC. [123679]

  The Prime Minister
  I will discuss the North Korea nuclear issue with the Chinese Government during my visit. We welcome the role that the Chinese Government has played in hosting trilateral talks.

  European Constitution
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed new EU constitution upon the representative role of Her Majesty The Queen. [125990]

  The Prime Minister
  Her Majesty The Queen's status and role as Head of State of the United Kingdom, including any representative functions, would be unaffected by any of the proposals in the draft Constitutional Treaty.

  Government Reorganisation
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of(a) the costs arising from the recent Cabinet reshuffle and (b) the reorganisation costs of Government departments. [125042]
  172W
  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 25 June 2003,Official Report, column 792W.

  Iraq
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek permission from the Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee to allow publication of the source for the statement at page 6 of the dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, published in September 2002, that Iraq has sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa; and whether Her Majesty's Government provided the source material to the International Atomic Energy Agency. [123047]

  The Prime Minister
  It is not our practice to publish the source of intelligence reports. We asked the originators of our intelligence information to discuss the issue with the IAEA.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had on the use of oil revenues to fund reconstruction in Iraq in the manner outlined to the United Nations on 10 May. [125235]

  The Prime Minister
  UN Security Council resolution 1483, which the UK co-sponsored, stipulates that Iraqi oil revenues must be used for purposes benefiting the people of Iraq, including economic reconstruction. I have always made it clear in relevant discussions that Iraqi oil is owned by the Iraqi people and its revenues should be used for the good of the people, consistent with UN Security Council resolutions.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had regarding(a) extra funding and (b) international assistance for the Iraqi police force. [125248]

  The Prime Minister
  Government officials have discussed with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) how best the UK can contribute to the CPA's work to rebuild the Iraqi police service. The UK considers the restoration of the rule of law in Iraq to be a priority and will stay closely engaged with the CPA on issues of funding and assistance. In particular, the UK has deployed a senior police officer to Baghdad to assist with advising and training the new Iraq police service. In addition to this a further senior officer will deploy to Basra on 15 July to advise CPA (South). The CPA intends to hold a police contributor's conference shortly to garner support for a substantial international policing contribution and the UK is actively considering making a further commitment as part of this process.

  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Iraq's attempts to purchase uranium from Niger. [125650]

  The Prime Minister
  The September dossier stated that"there is intelligence that Iraq has sought the supply of significant quantities of uranium from Africa".

  This assessment drew on intelligence from more than one source. The IAEA has confirmed that Iraq did acquire uranium from Niger in the early 1980s.
  173W
  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on(a) the reasons for defining the defection of Iraqi Lieutenant General Hussein Kamal as important in the Government's dossier, Weapons of Mass Destruction, of 24 September 2002 and (b) the value of the General's testimony to UN weapons inspectors that all proscribed weapons had been destroyed on his orders. [125936]

  The Prime Minister
  Lieutenant General Hussein Kamal defected in 1995. As the dossier makes clear, following his defection Iraq released over 2 million documents relating to its weapons of mass destruction programmes and acknowledged that it had pursued a biological programme that led to the deployment of actual weapons.

  In his testimony to UN weapons inspectors, Kamal claimed that he had ordered the destruction of all biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and missiles. We know that Iraq did not do this and continued to be in breach of UN Security Council resolutions. Intelligence obtained by the British Government, reflected in the September dossier, has reported on the possession and production of chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missiles by Iraq. Equipment related to Iraq's nuclear programme dating back to 1991 has recently been recovered from the garden of a scientist in Iraq.

  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Prime Minister what the deterioration rates are of the(a) VX nerve agent, (b) Sarin and (c) botulinum toxin which he declared had been unaccounted for when UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in 1998, during his statement to the House of 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 76W. [125937]

  The Prime Minister
  The stability of the materials quoted depends very much on the initial purity and the precise storage conditions. Their usable lifetime as chemical or biological warfare agents, can range from a few months to tens of years. Even partially degraded material may still pose a significant hazard.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his evidence to the Liaison Committee, 8 July, Question 186, (1) on what basis he calculated that(a) it was not true that 90 per cent. of the second dossier came from plagiarised material and (b) two of the three parts of the dossier were based on intelligence; [125968]

  (2) what proportions of the second Iraqi dossier were based upon the work of (a) Ibrahim al-Marishi in the Middle East Review of International Affairs of September 2002, (b) Sean Boyne in Jane's Intelligence Review of 1997, (c) Ken Gause in Jane's Intelligence Review of 2002, (d) Anthony Corderman in Key Targets on Iraq of February 1998 and (e) UK intelligence services. [125955]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the House on 10 February 2003,Official Report, column 583W.

  The published memorandum from the Foreign Secretary and my Director of Communications and Strategy made clear that sections one and three were based on intelligence material and highlighted the relevant parts in section two that were based on intelligence material. The intelligence material was
  174W
  authorised by the relevant intelligence agency for use in the public in domain, in accordance with the procedures in place at the time.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister when he was first informed that the reports relating to attempts by the Iraqi regime to obtain nuclear related materials from Niger were(a) of dubious basis and (b) possibly based on forgeries; and what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on the reports. [126037]

  The Prime Minister
  In February 2003, the IAEA received a number of documents related to Iraqi attempts to obtain uranium. On 7 March 2003, Dr. el-Baradei announced that the IAEA had concluded that these documents were not authentic.

  I speak to President Bush regularly on many matters. It would not be appropriate to disclose the contents of those discussions.

  Korea
  Mrs. Mahon
  To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit the Republic of Korea. [123835]

  The Prime Minister
  I will visit Korea on Sunday 20 July where I will have my first meeting with President Roh in Seoul.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Departmental Consultations
  John Barrett
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list the consultation documents issued by the Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation. [124573]

  Hilary Benn
  The information requested is not collated on a central basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, a list of consultation exercises run by DFID is available at www.dfid.gov.uk.

  Departmental Strategies
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what measures are in place to ensure that account is taken of the concerns of aid agencies, human rights organisations and other non-governmental organisations in developing the Department's strategies. [124619]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID has significant involvement with a wide range of NGOs and other civil society organisations. This includes meeting, discussing and consulting widely with them, at both ministerial and official level.

  Examples include: DFID's Information and Civil Society Department consult widely with the British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND) network in relation to funding schemes, and have made improvements to funding procedures based on the views of BOND'S members; the International Financial Institutions Department holds regular official meetings with NGOs, particularly focusing on Poverty Reduction

  175W
  Strategy process; many of our Policy teams engage in wider dialogue with individual organisations on key policy and strategic areas; and a number of key NGOs made submissions to DFID White Papers and have responded to our Institutional Strategy Papers and Target Strategy Papers.

  EU Humanitarian Aid
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list(a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU committee on implementation of humanitarian aid operations, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House. [110308]

  Hilary Benn
  The European Community's Humanitarian Aid Committee (HAC) does not have a fixed membership, but consists of delegates drawn from each of the 15 European member states. The HAC meets on average once a month, excluding August (and often December). In addition to this, each Presidency usually holds an informal HAC to discuss issues of substance in more detail. Including both formal and informal HACs there have been 19 meetings since January 2002.

  The Department for International Development usually sends one or two delegates to the HAC, drawn from our Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department or our regional departments.

  At the HAC meetings, member states review the Annual Global Plans (large scale humanitarian country strategies) and Decisions (less detailed, smaller scale humanitarian programmes) drawn up by the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) for ongoing humanitarian assistance to countries, regions, or specific population groups. ECHO also uses the HAC to inform member states of decisions taken under ECHO's own delegated authority both. on its smallest programmes, and on those taken under the Primary Emergency Procedures for rapid disbursement (recent examples include Iraq, Algeria and the Palestinian Territories). In November of each year, ECHO presents its overall strategy for the following year for discussion by member states. ECHO also presents at various times during the year procedural and thematic papers on various aspects of EC assistance for member state's information and comment.

  The role of the Humanitarian Aid Committee is to oversee the powers delegated to the European Commission by the European Council of Ministers. As with all Comitology Committees, documents circulated at the HAC are not routinely deposited for scrutiny under established scrutiny procedures, unless they are politically significant. Since January 2002 DFID has deposited for scrutiny the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office's Annual Report for 2001 (COM (2002) 322 FINAL).
  176W
  Together with member states, the Commission has been conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of Comitology Committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to
  "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".

  The Working Group on the Friends of Comitology is meeting later this month to discuss proposals for interim reform.

  As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of the Committee. The second report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 10 January 2003, ref 5060/03, COM(03)733.

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

  General Agreement on Trade in Services
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what estimate he has made of the economic effect on developing countries which will arise from liberalisation of trade in services. [125180]

  Hilary Benn
  All countries involved in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) are responsible for conducting their own impact assessments as a part of the process of deciding which sectors to open to foreign competition. It would be neither desirable nor practical for either the WTO or developed country Governments to make an assessment of service-sector liberalisation on behalf of developing countries.

  However, we recognise that developing countries require support in this area. To this end, DFID is cooperating with UNCTAD and the World bank on a programme of work which will help inform developing country assessments.

  Iraq
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what requests the Department has received for medical drugs from health professionals in Iraq. [124678]

  Hilary Benn
  We have received no specific requests for drugs from health professionals in Iraq.

  The World Health Organisation's assessment is that there is no overall shortage of medical supplies in Iraq, although there are still shortages of drugs for some specific conditions. The drugs supply pipeline is funded until spring 2004.

  In Basra, an oxygen shortfall has resulted from production problems in local manufacturing plants. Immediate emergency needs have been met by importing oxygen from Kuwait. Work is under way to restore existing production capacity in Basra, and ultimately to install new production capacity which would also improve the quality of the oxygen supplied for medical use.
  177W
  DFID's assistance to health and nutrition in the current crisis is channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. Save the Children Fund, CARE and a number of other non-governmental organisations. £12 million has been allocated specifically to health and nutrition activities (not including food aid); £35 million has also been allocated to humanitarian agencies, not earmarked to specific sectors, a proportion of which is being spent in the health sector.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment the Department has made of the rate of child illness in Iraq. [125234]

  Hilary Benn
  Before the recent conflict, the effects of mismanagement, war, migration of medical staff and economic sanctions had significantly weakened Iraq's capacity to protect the health of its children: almost a third of children in the centre and south suffered from chronic malnutrition; the prevalence of low birth-weight babies had increased more than five-fold over the previous 10 years; and the under-five mortality rate, at 131 per 1,000 live births, was very high. Immediately after the recent conflict, looting, insecurity and an initial breakdown of public services exacerbated existing problems. Increased levels of diarrhoea and vaccine-preventable diseases among children were reported.

  Subsequently, progress has been made in restoring health services and clean water supplies. UNICEF has re-started routine vaccination, including a catch-up campaign for children who missed immunisation during the conflict. Sufficient vaccines are now in Iraq for six to eight months of vaccinations. The Coalition Provisional Authority has announced that public health spending in the July to December 2003 budget will be US$210 million, including $125 million for supplies and equipment and $31 million for generators to supply power to hospitals in Baghdad.

  DFID's assistance to health and nutrition in the current crisis is channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, Save the Children Fund, CARE and a number of other non-governmental organisations. £12 million has been allocated specifically to health and nutrition activities (not including food aid); £35 million has also been allocated to humanitarian agencies, not earmarked to specific sectors, a proportion of which is being spent in the health sector.

  Adam Price
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment the Department has made of the state of Iraqi hospitals. [125246]

  Hilary Benn
  Hospital infrastructure was little damaged during the recent conflict, but the health care system was badly affected by the subsequent insecurity in which equipment and supplies were looted and water and electricity systems disrupted. The United Nations reported in June 2003 that Iraq's health system was functioning at only 30 to 50 per cent. of its pre-conflict capacity.

  Some progress is being made. All 240 hospitals in the country are in operation. The Coalition Provisional Authority is making considerable efforts to improve the
  178W
  water supply, sanitation, power and security difficulties. Coalition forces have been training Iraqi security staff to guard medical facilities. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been active throughout Iraq replacing missing equipment, and supplying water, power, and medical supplies. Regular salary payments to hospital staff have been resumed.

  The Coalition Provisional Authority has announced that public health spending in the July to December 2003 budget will be US$210 million, including $125 million for supplies and equipment and $31 million for generators to supply power to hospitals in Baghdad.

  DFID's assistance to health and nutrition in the current crisis is channelled through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, Save the Children Fund, CARE and a number of other non-governmental organisations. £12 million has been allocated specifically to health and nutrition activities (not including food aid); £35 million has also been allocated to humanitarian agencies, not earmarked to specific sectors, a proportion of which is being spent in the health sector.

  Kenya
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what agencies in Kenya received money from the Department in each year since 1997. [124479]

  Hilary Benn
  The Department for International Development funds a large number of civil society, private sector, and multilateral agencies in Kenya, including through umbrella bodies which channel resources to a wide range of organisations.

  A detailed breakdown of the total number of DFID partners is not held centrally, and is available only at disproportionate cost. A broad indication of the funds provided to civil society, private sector and multilateral agencies over the last three years is set out in the following table.

  £million

  Civil society agencies

  Private sector agencies

  Multilateral agencies

  2000–01

  11

  2

  9

  2001–02

  12

  2

  3

  2002–03

  19

  3

  0

  Liberia
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what action he intends to take in respect of the World Health Organisation's call for supplies and funds to combat the health crisis in Liberia; and if he will make a statement. [125303]

  Hilary Benn
  I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 25 June 2003,Official Report, column 39WS.

  The World Health Organisation's appeal for supplies and funds to provide healthcare to Liberians is one of several urgent requests that we have received in recent weeks from the international humanitarian community.
  179W
  DFID has committed £1.5 million in response to the present crisis in Liberia, in addition to the £1 million we gave to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Medecins sans Frontieres in March 2003. We have allocated £500,000 to ICRC, £374,000 to Merlin and £316,000 to Save the Children Fund (UK).

  We shall commit the balance of the funding available to agencies that have access to those in need and continue to keep the situation under close review.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Liberia; and if he will make a statement on security conditions for aid agencies operating in Liberia. [125304]

  Hilary Benn
  Our information on the humanitarian situation in Liberia is provided by the United Nations and the other international humanitarian agencies that are maintaining a presence there. Although the UN has plans to return expatriate personnel to the country as soon as conditions allow, for now they are relying on information from their country staff and the international non-Government organisations. Only a few agencies have an expatriate presence in Liberia and this is limited mainly to the capital, Monrovia.

  The reports we are receiving describe the conditions as very poor. Humanitarian activities are severely hampered by looting of vehicles, fuel, medical supplies and food by all the main parties to the conflict. There are severe shortages, especially of food and clean water. Sanitation is virtually non-existent, and with around one-third of the population now located within Monrovia, the impact on an already over-stretched infrastructure is serious. We have little hard information on the situation outside the capital.

  Cholera cases are reported to be significantly above the norm. Hospitals (of which only one has been functioning recently) and health centres are finding it difficult to cope. It is vital that the present lull in the fighting continues to enable the international community to re-engage, with access to all areas.

  We have allocated £1.5 million in response to the recent deterioration in the humanitarian situation, in addition to £1 million that we allocated in March 2003. We are liaising closely with the principal agencies concerned. We and other donors will be joining with members of the UN and other humanitarian agencies at a meeting in Dakar, Senegal, on 17 and 18 July 2003 to discuss the situation across the west Africa sub-region, including Liberia.

  Montserrat
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the level of humanitarian aid reaching the people of Montserrat. [125322]

  Hilary Benn
  Our aid to Montserrat is in the form of development and budgetary assistance. Since the onset of the volcanic crisis, we have provided some 180W
  £180 million. A further £45.6 million is available for disbursement over the UK financial year period 2003–04 to 2005–06, representing a 50 per cent. increase over the sum originally available for that period. All of the money is used to maintain essential services and to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people of Montserrat.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on disaster relief to Montserrat. [125993]

  Hilary Benn
  We provided substantial emergency assistance for Montserrat in the immediate aftermath of the volcanic crisis in the mid-1990s. This included provision of housing, essential services and infrastructure which had been lost or seriously damaged. Increasingly, our assistance is now geared towards other productive activity, which will help Montserrat towards its goal of renewed self-sufficiency. For example, a new airport to replace the one at risk from the volcano is now under construction and should become operational next year.

  We were very concerned to learn about the recent volcanic events in Montserrat. DFID officials are in direct contact with the Montserratian authorities to assist in every possible way.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the provision of housing in Montserrat. [125996]

  Hilary Benn
  The Government of Montserrat's policy is to make housing assistance available for all those on the island who are deemed eligible for it. We have devoted substantial resources in support of this policy and for provision of associated infrastructure to help Montserratians affected by volcanic activity. We and the Montserrat authorities will continue to keep those needs under close and regular review.

  Performance Fund
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what the(a) objectives, (b) targets and (c) main budgetary compartments are for the (i) Africa Performance Fund and (ii) Asia Performance Fund; and if he will make a statement. [122736]

  Hilary Benn
  [pursuant to his reply, 2 July 2003, c. 301 W] The budgeted figures given in the table for Asia for financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02 were unfortunately not correct. The table and the text in the paragraph regarding Asia have therefore been revised as follows:

  Divisional performance funds were introduced from 2000–01 as reserves to be allocated in-year by directors, largely to reward good performance but also to respond to unforeseen demands and opportunities, including urgent humanitarian needs. They provide flexibility to allocate additional funds to those countries and institutions where progress on reform enables effective use of funds in pursuit of poverty reduction.
  181W
  The table shows the total amounts budgeted:

  DFID performance funds

  £ million

  Year

  Africa

  Asia

  2000–01

  57

  20

  2001–02

  10

  36

  2002–03

  14

  18

  2003–04

  35

  0

  2004–051

  151

  65

  2005–061

  289

  130

  1Includes amounts provisionally earmarked from Director General Performance Fund from 2004–05.

  In Africa in 2000–01 there were two payments, one of £29 million to assist copper industry restructuring in Zambia, and another of £28 million as programme aid to support economic reform in Kenya. In 2001–02, a smaller sum was available, of which £7 million was spent on humanitarian assistance: £5 million in the DRC (through the International Red Cross) and £2 million on humanitarian projects in the Sudan. A further £0.25 million was spent on AFRICAP, an African micro-finance investment fund. In 2002–03, £10 million was spent on programme aid to Ethiopia as our bilateral relationship strengthened, £3.2 million on humanitarian work (in Angola, Sudan and the Great Lakes region). and a further £0.8 million contribution to AFRICAP. Some £35 million is available in 2003–04, much of which will be needed for humanitarian work.

  In financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02 Asia's performance fund was used for various purposes including transfers to programmes in the Middle East and Pakistan. Not all the funds allocated to the Fund were needed in these years; resources not required were re-allocated to other parts of the DFID's programme. In 2002–03, funds were used for Afghanistan and other humanitarian work. Asia does not have a performance fund allocation for 2003–04.

  From 2004–05 onwards, resources for performance funds rise significantly. These funds will be allocated in part before the year commences, although significant amounts will remain to be allocated in-year. They will be targeted at those countries that are currently performing less well or that are in or emerging from conflict. We are already planning high and stable levels of spending in countries with a clear commitment to, and capacity to deliver, poverty reduction.

  Street Children
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how many street children there are in Asia; in which Asian countries they are located; and how many street children there are in each country. [123733]

  Hilary Benn
  It is difficult to provide accurate data on the overall numbers of street children in Asia or to provide a breakdown by country. Estimates are unreliable and coverage is patchy. According to UNICEF there are roughly about 25 million children estimated to be living on the streets in Asia. However there is no reliable information for many Asian countries. In India the Ministry of Social Welfare estimates that there are between 75,000 to 250,000 street 182W
  children in Calcutta alone. UNICEF estimate there are 15,000 street children in Vietnam and 16,000 in Sri Lanka.

  The fundamental cause of children living on the street is poverty. This is exacerbated by chronic hunger, lack of school places and family conflict. Between 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. of children in South Asia are malnourished. Despite improvements in education provision around 41 per cent. of children drop out of school before they reach the fifth grade. Between 30 per cent. to 55 per cent. of school age children are working. Many of these children are exploited through child labour or are involved in the sex industry. Unless these problems are addressed the problems of street children in Asia will continue to grow.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much aid his Department gives to tackle the problem of street children in Asia; who this money is given to; and what the money is spent on. [123734]

  Hilary Benn
  Urban poverty, homelessness, lack of education and the demand for child labour forces children to leave their families and live on the streets in Asia. It is important that these underlying problems are addressed as well as helping street children directly. Our bilateral programmes in Asia aim to alleviate family poverty more generally as a basis for addressing the needs of street children.

  Many of our programmes support NGO activities that advocate for the rights of children and work directly with street children. In Bangladesh we are supporting two NGOs to provide informal education to vulnerable working children in urban areas at a cost of £8 million. In Burma we have been supporting a street and working children project with World Vision a total cost of £450,000. In India we are supporting a local NGO to work with child street vendors and have several other small projects in the pipeline focusing on vulnerable working children in urban areas.

  We are providing £1.6 million to Save the Children to work directly with vulnerable children in the Mekong sub region. This project aims to prevent poor rural children being trafficked to urban areas in the region for purposes of sexual exploitation and under age employment. This helps to reduce the potential for these children to end up on the street.

  Other DFID activities also contribute indirectly to addressing the problems of street children. Improving basic education for every child is the main contribution that Asian Governments can make to reducing child poverty and indirectly to reducing the numbers of street children. Support to basic education is a major focus of our bilateral programme in Asia and in 2001–02 DFID committed £130 million to support this.

  Another example is the £12 million urban poverty reduction project in Cochin in India that has helped to improve basic services for poor families and their children.

  Water and Sanitation Programmes
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what proportion of the Department's funds have been allocated for water and sanitation programmes in each year since 1998. [126080]

  Hilary Benn
  Presenting accurate data on expenditure for the water and sanitation sector is not straightforward. Reporting years and methods differ, especially between DFID's multilateral and bilateral partners, but we are working with our partners to improve the quality and hence the reliability of these data.

  Over the last three years DFID has undertaken a detailed analysis of all projects to determine its total water related bilateral expenditure. This showed that total bilateral water expenditure was £82 million in 1999–2000, £91 million in 2000–01 and £87 million in 2001–02. This equates to 6.19 per cent., 6.43 per cent. and 5.77 per cent. respectively of DFID's total bilateral expenditure over this period. These amounts include bilateral expenditure on a 11 aspects of water including emergency assistance and international water
  184W
  programmes, but exclude expenditure that may be allocated to the water sector from direct budget support and from multilateral funding.

  We have only calculated figures using this method back to 1999–2000.

  In 2001–02, DFID channelled £1.3 billion through multilateral organisations. DFID's contribution to multilateral spend on water and sanitation is estimated at around £40 million per year.

  In 2001–02, DFID provided £296 million as general budget support to country governments (including sector support), which was 20 per cent. of our total bilateral programme and 10 per cent. of our entire programme. An internal exercise to allocate direct budget support notionally by sector concluded that only a small proportion (less than one per cent) went to the water sector.

  Much of the above information is included in the National Audit Office review of DFID's work in the water sector (NAO Report No. HC351, 31 January 2003). DFID publishes details of its aid expenditure annually. Statistics on International Development which is available in the Library, also provides details of the volume, type, purpose and destination of all UK development assistance.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Alcohol Advertising
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to restrict the advertising of alcohol. [125144]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, in close collaboration with other Government Departments, including the Department of Health, is currently developing the national alcohol harm reduction strategy. The Strategy Unit is due to publish an interim analysis paper in the summer and its final report setting out the cross-governmental alcohol harm reduction strategy in the autumn. The final report will consider a wide variety of issues including the advertising of alcohol.

  British Overseas Territories
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what responsibilities her Department undertakes in connection with British Overseas Territories. [123899]

  Mr. Caborn
  DCMS has responsibilities under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention with regard to Henderson Island (South Pacific Ocean), Cough Island (South Atlantic Ocean) and the Historic Town of St. George, Bermuda, World Heritage Sites. This Department has also provided advice to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Gibraltar's draft legislation relating to the Television Without Frontiers Directive (89/552/EEC as amended by 97/36/EC).

  Civil List
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what functions have had funding transferred from the grant in aid budget to the Civil List since May 1997, broken down by the(a) function transferred, (b) date of transfer and (c) current annual sum involved. [122118]

  Mr. Caborn
  In April 2001 a transfer of responsibilities occurred between the Civil List and the Property Services Grant in Aid. The following were transferred from the grant in aid to the Civil List at a cost of £724,000, enabling the grant in aid to take over financial responsibility for the Court Post Office:

  congratulatory cards;

  Gentlemen-at-arms and Yeomen of the Guard;

  porter and non-domestic cleaners;

  the Separate allocation, which is available to the Sovereign for use at her discretion for such things as furnishings; and

  St. James's Palace state apartments.

  The information on current costs is not readily available, but I shall write to the hon. Member and place copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff of her Department were redeployed out of London and the south-east in the last five years. [125359]
  186W
  Mr. Caborn
  No staff within the Department have been redeployed out of London and the south-east in the last five years.

  IT Contracts
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by her Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if she will make a statement. [126205]

  Mr. Caborn
  DC MS has signed no IT outsourcing contracts since 1997.

  Royal Palaces
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definition applies to the terms(a) occupied and (b) unoccupied in respect of royal palaces. [125330]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 11 July 2003]An occupied royal palace is an official residence where members of the royal family live and carry out official duties. The unoccupied royal palaces were previously, but are no longer, used by members of the royal family.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what authorisation process is applied by the Department for the occupation of a royal palace. [125331]

  Mr. Caborn
  [holding answer 11 July 2003]The occupied palaces arc owned by the Queen as Sovereign on behalf of the nation. How the properties are used in fulfilling the requirements and functions of the Head of State is a matter for Her Majesty the Queen, although proposals are discussed with this Department wherever appropriate.

  Sport England
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on staffing levels in(a) Sport England headquarters and (b) its regional offices in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [125323]

  Mr. Caborn
  Details of Sport England's staff numbers in 2002–03 are as follows.

  1 April 2002

  31 March 2003

  Headquarters

  276

  231

  Regional offices

  183

  177

  Total

  459

  408

  By 30 September 2003, there are expected to be 116 staff in headquarters and 150 in regional offices.

  Sports Funding
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the sports in receipt of World Class lottery funding. [125219]
  187W
  Mr. Caborn
  The following sports are currently in receipt of World Class lottery funding:

  archery;

  athletics;

  athletics-disability;

  badminton;

  boccia;

  boxing;

  canoeing;

  cricket;

  cycling;

  diving;

  equestrian;

  fencing-disability;

  goalball;

  golf-ladies;

  golf-mens;

  gymnastics-rhythmic;

  gymnastics-sports acrobatics;

  gymnastics-womens artistic/trampolining;

  gymnastics-mens artistic;

  hockey;

  ice skating;

  judo;

  karate;

  modern pentathlon;

  netball;

  orienteering;

  paraplegic shooting;

  powerlifting-disability;

  rowing;

  rugby league;

  rugby union-mens;

  rugby union-womens;

  sailing;

  skeleton;

  skiing;

  snowboarding:

  speed skating;

  squash;

  swimming;

  swimming-disability;

  table tennis;

  table tennis-disability;

  taekwondo;

  target shooting;

  trampolining;

  triathlon;

  waterskiing;

  weightlifting;

  wheelchair basketball, and

  wheelchair rugby.

  Tourism
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage tourism contributed to the gross domestic product of England in each of the last two financial years. [125098]
  188W
  Mr. Caborn
  It is not currently possible to calculate the percentage which tourism contributed to the gross domestic product of England in the last two financial years, due to delays in the production of National Statistics' Regional Accounts. However, the equivalent figure for the contribution of tourism to the UK's GDP in the calendar year 2001 was 4.5 per cent., and the proportion for England can be expected to be of a similar magnitude.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much she spent advertising each of the regions as a tourist destination(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) internationally in the last two financial years. [125099]

  Mr. Caborn
  In 2001–02, this Department allocated to the English Tourism Council (ETC) £3.8 million from the Reserve to assist the domestic recovery of tourism from foot and mouth disease; over half of that amount was then passed to the 10 regional tourist boards (RTBs) in England and much of it used for promotional activities. In addition, of the sums granted by the Department to the Greater London Authority (GLA) to promote tourism, £500,000 was used for domestic marketing in 2001–02 and £100,000 in 2002–03.

  In 2001–02 and 2002–03, the British Tourist Authority (BTA) was responsible for marketing Britain overseas as a tourist destination. It did not allocate funds for individual regions of Britain, but promoted Britain as a whole in a way which maximised the impact of its campaigns in individual markets overseas. DCMS allocated the following amounts to the BTA in the last two years:

  £ million

  BTA

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Baseline grant in aid

  35.5

  35.5

  Additional sums from Reserve to assist recovery

  14.2

  19.0

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much she spent advertising the UK as a tourist destination in the last two financial years. [125100]

  Mr. Caborn
  In 2001–02 and 2002–03, the British Tourist Authority (BTA) was responsible for marketing Britain overseas as a tourist destination. DCMS allocated the following amounts to the BTA in the last two years.

  £ million

  BTA

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Baseline grant in aid

  35.5

  35.5

  Additional sums from Reserve to assist recovery

  14.2

  19.0

  The BTA's statutory role has been the overseas promotion of Britain, rather than the UK, although it had powers to encourage people to visit Northern Ireland by agreement with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB).

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage tourism contributed to the GDP in the north-east in the last two financial years. [125119]
  189W
  Mr. Caborn
  The only figure for tourism's contribution to GDP in the north-east is for the calendar year 2000. This was derived from "Tourism Impact—a Pilot Study for the North East", which was published in September 2002. This estimated tourism's contribution to the GDP in the north-east to be 3.5 per cent. This study was jointly funded by the regional development agency, ONE, and the Department.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many international tourists visited(a) England and (b) the north-east in 2001 and 2002; and what percentage of international tourists to the UK this represented. [125120]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following table shows the number of staying visits (visits which included a stay of at least one night) to the north-east, England and the UK in 2001 and 2002. The figures for 2002 are provisional.

  2001

  2002

  Staying visits (thousand)

  Percentage of all staying visits

  Staying visits (thousand)

  Percentage of all staying visits

  North-east

  440

  2

  520

  2

  Total England

  19,320

  93

  20,390

  92

  Total UK

  20,980

  100

  22,120

  100

  Source:

  International Passenger Survey, National Statistics.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

  EU Institutions (Visits)
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of hon. Members have used the facility of a visit to an EU institution in each of the years for which figures are available. [124996]

  Mr. Hain
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my predecessor on 21 October 2002,Official Report, column 106W. I understand that the percentage of Members who used this facility during 2002–03 rose to 24 per cent. This includes visits to national parliaments as well as to EU institutions.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Leader of the House what discussions he has had with Foreign Office colleagues regarding using the visits by hon. Members to EU institutions. [125177]

  Mr. Hain
  I have as yet had no discussions with Foreign and Commonwealth Office colleagues regarding the Members' European travel scheme, which allows up to three visits each year to national parliaments of EU member states and those of candidate countries, as well as to EU institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg.

  Pre-legislative Scrutiny
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Leader of the House what steps he is taking to ensure that all Bills will undergo pre-legislative scrutiny. [124976]

  Mr. Hain
  The Government have never proposed that it would be possible to make all bills available for pre-legislative scrutiny. Some nine Bills will be published this session for pre-legislative scrutiny, a considerable 190W
  increase on last session. I hope that we will be in a position to publish a similar number or more during the course of next session.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Leader of the House what progress he has made in enabling pre-legislative scrutiny to be carried out on-line. [124977]

  Mr. Hain
  Whether to carry out pre-legislative scrutiny on-line is a matter for decision by the Committee concerned, and the provision of facilities and funding for it are a matter for the House authorities. The Joint Committee on the draft Communications Bill found its on-line for um extremely useful, and I hope that other Committees will also choose to make use of the opportunities which Information Technology provides. I welcome work being done by the Committee Office to identify and promote good practice in this area.

DEFENCE

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the(a) size and (b) duration of British military patrols outside Kabul in Afghanistan. [125008]

  Mr. Ingram
  The main body of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) began to deploy to Mazar-e-Sharif on 10 July 2003 and is still in the process of establishing itself in the city. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence explained to the House on 8 May 2003,Official Report, columns 38–40WS, the PRT will be active across the five surrounding provinces of Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, Sar-e-Pol and Samangan. In preparation for that role, advance teams have recently visited sites across these provinces at irregular intervals.

  Bosnia
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions took place at the recent NATO ministerial meeting in Madrid concerning the EU decision at Copenhagen to assume the NATO peacekeeping mandate in Bosnia; and whether(a) NATO and (b) the United States has accepted that decision. [124362]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  The European Union has not taken a decision to "assume the NATO peace-keeping mandate in Bosnia". The Conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council of 12/13 December 2002 noted "the European Union's willingness to lead a military operation in Bosnia following SFOR". This would of course require a prior decision by NATO to terminate its mission, as was the case when the EU took over the stabilisation role from NATO earlier this year in Macedonia. The transition of the much larger mission in Bosnia will require extensive discussions between the EU and NATO. There was a brief informal discussion of this issue, as part of the wider discussion of EU/NATO co-operation in the Balkans at the NA TO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Madrid.

  CBRN Emergencies
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training of Territorial Army personnel has taken place in 2003 in respect of dealing with CBRN emergencies; and if he will make a statement. [125617]

  Mr. Caplin
  All Territorial Army personnel are expected to undertake training in respect of dealing with Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear attack, initially as part of their recruitment training, and annually as one of their Individual Training Directives (ITDs).

  In order for an individual to be considered either for operational deployment, or inclusion within a Civil Contingency Reaction Force, they must have completed the relevant ITD in the last 12 months.

  Cluster Munitions
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has commissioned on the number of civilians(a) killed and (b) injured by cluster submunitions by (i) the International Red Cross and (ii) other agencies in Iraq. [116813]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 5 June 2003]We recognise that unexploded cluster bomblets, and indeed all unexploded ordnance, is a matter of humanitarian concern and we are fully committed to work towards the clearance of unexploded ordnance.

  No research has been commissioned by the Ministry of Defence on casualties caused to civilians by cluster munitions.

  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reviews have been undertaken by his Department regarding the civilian casualty figures caused by unexploded cluster submunitions in the post-conflict regions of(a) the Gulf, (b) Kosovo and (c) Afghanistan; and what assessment he has made of the impact of these bomblets on Iraqi civilians in the future. [116818]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 5 June 2003]No such reviews and assessments have been undertaken by the Ministry of Defence.

  Conflict Prevention
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his budget in(a) 2002–03 will be and (b) 2003–04 was spent on conflict prevention. [125240]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence's outturn for 2002–03 will not be finalised until publication of the Departmental Resource Account in the autumn. However, based on provisional outturn, the proportion of the 2002–03 budget spent on conflict prevention operations and activities is as follows:

  Percentage

  Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL)

  6.56

  Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL)

  5.22

  It is not possible to estimate at this stage the
  192W
  proportion of the 2003–04 budget that will be spent on conflict prevention, as this will depend on the demand for military involvement in each theatre of operations.

  Departmental Policies (Pendle)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what policies(a) initiated and (b) managed by his Department since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [124089]

  Mr. Caplin
  The purpose of the Ministry of Defence is to provide the capabilities needed to defend the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories, and protect British people and interests, as well as act as a force for good by strengthening international peace and security. Defence is a national activity and as such policy initiatives and spending are characterised as in the regions rather than for the regions.

  While the MOD makes a positive contribution to the community through the management of a Cadet Hut at Butts Yard, Barnoldswick, there are no other Defence establishments in the constituency. Some of our policies may have an indirect effect on people and organisations in Pendle, e.g. recruitment to the armed forces or the MOD from this area, or the presence in Pendle of defence suppliers, including their sub-contractors and employees. However, this regionally based information is not held centrally by the Department and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Diego Garcia
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which vessels are moored in British waters off Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement. [125568]

  Mr. Rammell
  I have been asked to reply.

  In accordance with our various agreements with the US, a number of US merchant vessels, chartered by the US Government, are at any time moored in Diego Garcia waters. From time-to-time US and other visiting warships also moor there, as do fishing vessels which have been brought in on suspicion of illegal fishing in British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) waters, vessels engaged in scientific research in the waters of the Territory and the BIOT Fisheries Protection Vessel.

  Drummore Harbour
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Drummore harbour will next be dredged. [125736]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Ministry of Defence has no plans for dredging Drummore Harbour at this time.

  EU Committees
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in the Department serve on EU committees or working parties. [116094]

  Mr. Ingram
  The highest military body established in the Council is the EU Military Committee, which is comprised of Chiefs of Defence Staff who meet at least once every six months. At other times, the EUMC and its Working Group are serviced by five Brussels-based United Kingdom military staff working for the UK
  193W
  Military Representative to the EU, who also functions as the UK Military Representative to NATO. Two Ministry of Defence civilian officials are also based in Brussels to support ESDP aspects of the work of the Political and Security Committee and its preparatory groups. From time to time, specialist staff based in the UK also attend working group meetings in Brussels, for example to plan crisis management exercises or for detailed work on force development. These meetings generally do not have a fixed membership, and the numbers attending vary depending on the subjects under discussion, but the total number of UK-based MOD staff involved is about 20.

  European Security and Defence Policy
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects that the EU will be able to deploy forces of Corps level under the provisions of the European Security and Defence Pact. [125608]

  Mr. Hoon
  There is no "European Security and Defence Pact". Responding to the Headline Goal established under the European Security and Defence Policy, European Union member states have together already offered to make available for ESDP operations forces of greater than corps size. The General Affairs and External Relations Council in May agreed that the EU now has operational capability across the full range of Petersberg tasks, albeit limited and constrained by recognised shortfalls, which particularly affect speed of deployment and level of risk for larger, higher-intensity tasks. The number of forces which could be deployed for any particular ESDP operation would depend on the operational scenario and what member states and other countries decided to contribute.

  Expenditure Approvals (Iraq)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many urgent operational requirements in excess of £500,000 his Department has approved(a) since 27 January and (b) since 1 November 2002; and what the total value is of such requirements in connection with operations in Iraq. [121452]

  Mr. Ingram
  About 110 Urgent Operational Requirements for in excess of £500,000 have been approved since 1 November 2002 as part of preparations for, and the prosecution of, decisive operations in Iraq. These have had a value in the region of £483 million, and include 19 measures approved since 27 January 2003. In addition, a small number of measures are being approved to support the continuing presence of UK armed forces in Iraq.

  Forces Pensions
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 4 April 2003,Official Report, column 141W, on the interest payable on tax incorrectly deducted from armed forces pensions, whether he has made a decision on whether a further payment should be made. [125540]

  Mr. Caplin
  As my predecessor, Dr. Moonie explained in his answer of 4 April 2003,Official Report, column 141W, where it has been confirmed that Service pensioners have paid tax incorrectly, they have received
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  from the Inland Revenue a refund of tax, and, in appropriate cases, the statutory repayment supplement. A decision has yet to be made on whether it would be appropriate to make any further payment to compensate for the consequences of the error. We are still working to bring this to a conclusion as soon as possible.

  Iraq
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether cluster bombs have been used in Iraq since the declaration of the end of the war. [123604]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 7 July 2003]Since1 May 2003—when it was declared that major combat operations were over—the United Kingdom has used no cluster bombs.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF units remain in the Gulf region in support of Operation Telic; and what plans he has(a) to deploy further units and (b) to replace those in theatre. [123651]

  Mr. Ingram
  In support of Operation Telic the United Kingdom currently retains II Squadron (Tornado GR4—replaced by 14 Squadron from 1 August); elements of 10 and 101 Squadrons (VC10); elements of 24 and 30 Squadrons (C130); elements of 22 Squadron (Chinook); elements of 32 Squadron (HS 125); elements of 120, 201 and 206 Squadrons (Nimrod MPA); elements of 26 and 34 Squadrons RAF Regiment; Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment Squadron (replaced from 15 July by 15 Squadron). Standard practice is to route Squadrons every two months.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which ships remain in the Gulf region in support of Operation Telic; and what plans he has(a) to deploy further units and (b) to replace those in theatre. [123652]

  Mr. Ingram
  In support of Operation Telic the United Kingdom currently has HMS Chatham—to be replaced by HMS Kent on 10 July—and HMS Sutherland, RFA Diligence, RFA Brambleleaf, and HMS Triumph in the Gulf region. Frigates and Destroyers are replaced every four months. RFA crews are rouled on a rolling basis while the ship stays in theatre. HMS Triumph is currently committed to Operation Telic and we will review this deployment when necessary.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made regarding the restoration of law and order in Iraq; what area of Iraq UK troops are responsible for: and how many civil disturbances have occurred since the end of the war. [123839]

  Mr. Ingram
  Coalition forces hold the maintenance of law and order as a high priority. Coalition forces continue to patrol robustly, often alongside members of around 30,000 Iraqi police who are now operational across the country. Coalition forces are empowered to arrest individuals suspected of criminal offences, and their patrols have had an effect in controlling the lawlessness and looting that in some areas immediately followed the collapse of the Ba'athist regime. United Kingdom forces are currently responsible for security and stability in the southern provinces of Basrah and Maysan. We do not hold figures for the number of civil
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  disturbances across Iraq, but the Coalition will continue to work hard to reduce such instances, and to improve life for the Iraqi people.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effects of 24-hour media coverage of the recent military action in Iraq on ensuring that families of casualties are informed before details are made public. [124465]

  Mr. Hoon
  The introduction of 24-hour media coverage and the development and use of technology have changed the way that wars are reported. During the coalition, broadcasters were able for the first time to report in real time from the battlefield, and incidents which previously might have gone unreported for several hours, were in many cases seen by the embedded journalists and reported back to their news desks. And in some cases, images were broadcast live.

  These changes have caused the Ministry of Defence to keep under review its incident reporting and casualty handling procedures. While our primary aim is always to protect the interests of families involved, it was no longer feasible to delay announcing that an incident had occurred until all the next of kin had been informed. Thus, while our first task was always to inform the next of kin of those families affected. we simultaneously released information on incidents, subject to operational security, in order to limit the 'circle of worry' of non-affected families who would be aware from media reporting that an incident had occurred. However, incident and casualty reporting is a very difficult area and all decisions were taken on a case-by-case basis.

  We did not publish the names of fatalities until we had confirmation that the next of kin, and in some cases the extended family network, had been informed. Our Casualty staffs worked closely with media staffs to ensure that the families involved were protected from any media intrusion.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the HVM Starstreak system was deployed in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [111815]

  Mr. Ingram
  The HVM Starstreak system was deployed to Iraq but was not used. The system has not been tested on operations but has met, in trials, all performance criteria against the original defined user requirements.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sets of clothing were issued to soldiers serving with Seventh Armoured Brigade in Basra. [112027]

  Mr. Ingram
  Seven Armoured Brigade have been issued with the following desert combat clothing: 16,578 desert lightweight jackets, 14,623 pairs of trousers, 8,392 hats, 8,556 helmet covers, and 8.014 pairs of desert combat boots, since deploying to Theatre, in addition to the clothing and equipment they were issued with prior to deployment.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the former members of the Iraqi regime who have either surrendered to or been captured by Coalition forces; where they are being held; and whether the British authorities have regular access to those individuals to question them. [114893]
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  Mr. Ingram
  The following list shows the members of the former Iraq regime who have either surrendered or been captured by Coalition Forces as of 6 July 2003. They are being held at Baghdad International Airport and both United Kingdom and United States personnel are conducting a co-ordinated series of interviews with senior officials of Saddam Hussein's former regime.

  Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti

  Aziz Salih al-Numan

  Muhammad Hamza al-Zubaydi

  Kamal Mustafa abdallah Sultan al-Tikriti

  Muzahim Sab Hasan al-Tikriti

  Ibrahim Ahmad abd al-Sattar Muhammad al-Tikriti

  Hamid Raja Shalah al-Tikriti

  Latif Nusayyif al-Jasim al-Dulaymi

  abd al-Tawab abdullah Mullah al-Huwaysh

  Jamal Mustafa abdallah Sultan al-Tikriti

  Taha Muhyi al-Din Maruf

  Tariq Aziz

  Walid Hamid Tawfiq al-Tikriti

  Hikmat Mizban Ibrahim al-Azzawi

  Ayad Futayyih Khalifa al-Rawi

  zuhayr Talib abd al-Sattar al-Naqib

  Amir Hamudi Hasan al-Sadi LTG

  Amir Muhammad Rashid al-Tikriti al-Ubaydi

  Hussam Muhammad Amin al-Yasin

  Muhammed Mandi al-Salih

  Watban Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti

  Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti

  Huda Salih Mehdi Ammash

  Samir abd al-Aziz al-Najim

  Humam abd al-Khaliq abd al-Ghafur

  Sayf al-Din al-Mashhadani

  Fadil Mahmud Gharib

  Uglah Abid Saqir al-Kubaysi

  Ghazi Hammud al-Ubaydi

  Adil abdallah Mandi al-Duri al-Tikriti

  Husayn al-Awadi Bg

  Sad abd al-Majid al-Faysal.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [116948]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave on 9 July 2003,Official Report, column 811W to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd).

  Low Frequency Sonar
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of global research regarding the impact of low frequency active sonar on(a) mammals, (b) fish and (c) humans. [124536]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr. Lewis) on 10 February 2003,Official Report, column 511W. The Ministry of Defence monitors global research to ensure that our

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  Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are based on the best available information. The EIA undertaken for Sonar 2087, a Low Frequency Active Sonar, covered fish and humans as well as marine mammals. The conclusion of the EIA, that the sonar had the potential to have an adverse impact, applied to each of these categories. The range of mitigation measures proposed will be also capable of being adapted to each.

  MARS Project
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if it is intended that all vessels for the MARS Project will be built in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [103101]

  Mr. Ingram
  It is our policy that all warships should be built in the UK. The Ministry of Defence is in the early stages of considering how best to meet future requirements for Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability. Once the content of the programme is better defined it will be possible to consider questions such as method of acquisition and location of manufacture. These matters will be clear by the time the Main Gate decision point is reached around the middle of the present decade.

  Mazar-e-Sharif
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) civilian and (b) military staff make up the UK-led provincial reconstruction team in Mazar-e-Sharif. [124912]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]The structure of the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team currently deploying to Mazar-e-Sharif is not yet fixed. On current plans, we expect the total number of UK civilian and military personnel eventually deployed to be two and about 50 respectively.

  Military Burials
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what grants are available to families of servicemen wishing to give a family member a full military burial. [125620]

  Mr. Caplin
  Full military burials are organised and arranged by the parent Service of the deceased if requested by their next of kin; in such circumstances, a grant is not paid as the full costs are met by the Department.

  Missile Defence Systems
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the United States defence authorities on their proposals to develop missile defence systems; and if he will make a statement. [120530]

  Mr. Hoon
  Missile defence is an important bilateral topic which regularly features in my discussions with the US Secretary of Defense and others. In addition, the Ministry of Defence keeps in close touch with the US Administration on possible future developments in missile defence.

  NATO Reaction Force
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the UK's contribution is to the NATO reaction force; and when he expects this force to be operational. [125609]

  Mr. Hoon
  The United Kingdom has made it clear that we are keen t0 make an early and substantial contribution to the NATO Response Force (NRF).

  The NRF is planned to reach Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by October 2004 and Full Operating Capability (FOC) no later than October 2006. SACEUR is working towards establishing an interim capability to be ready later this year.

  The force generation process begins later this month. I am withholding precise details of the UK and other nations' offers of forces in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the(a) strategic and (b) sub-strategic roles of Trident missiles. [124740]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Government set out its nuclear deterrence policy in the Strategic Defence Review. I particularly refer my hon. Friend to Chapter Four and Supporting Essay Five.

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he plans to conduct negotiations to amend or renew the agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the United States of America for co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes, on 3 July 1958, treaty series No. 41 (1958), Command 537; and if he will make a statement; [124744]

  (2) if the Government proposes to extend article III bis to the Anglo-American mutual defence agreement on atomic energy matters, of 3 July 1958, treaty series No. 41 (1958), Command 537 when it expires in.2004. [124743]

  Mr. Caplin
  Discussions are now under way between the United Kingdom and United States Governments on the renewal of the 1958 Agreement For Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes. Subject to the outcome of those discussions, we expect to lay any amendments before the House in accordance with normal procedures for Treaty renewals.

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States on their proposals to(a) reduce the test readiness of their nuclear weapons laboratories and (b) fund research into low yield nuclear weapons. [124745]

  Mr. Caplin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has had no such discussions.

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 11 June 2003,Official Report, column 915W, on scientific exchanges, which United States departments and establishments were visited by AWE personnel; from which departments and

  199W
  establishments the US visitors to AWE came; and how many (a) AWE staff visited the US and (b) US officials visited AWE. [124788]

  Mr. Caplin
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave him on 9 July 2003,Official Report, columns 807–08W. 313 AWE personnel visited the United States in 2002 under the auspices of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement and 485 US personnel visited AWE.

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2003,Official Report, column 1019W, on nuclear weapons, what assessment he has made of when a successor to Trident will be necessary; and what consultation would be undertaken in advance of a decision that a replacement for Trident was necessary. [124863]

  Mr. Hoon
  There are no current plans for a replacement for Trident, and no decisions on any possible successor system are yet needed.

  Private Sector Medical Treatment
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been treated, and how much has been spent on treatment, in the private sector since April 2002; and if he will make a statement. [121369]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 30 June 2003]According to centrally held records, 3,334 referrals were made to private healthcare providers between April 2002 and June 2003, and expenditure on private healthcare treatment over the same period totalled £3.8 million.

  RAF Coltishall
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft movements there were per month at RAF Coltishall in(a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990, (d) 2000, (e) 2002 and (f) so far in 2003. [125291]

  Mr. Ingram
  Historical data about the number of aircraft movements at RAF Coltishall prior to 1997 is not retained by the Department. Figures are available from 1997 onwards, and are listed in the table.
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  1997

  2000

  2002

  2003

  January

  2,215

  1,707

  2,070

  2,163

  February

  2,189

  1,449

  1,744

  2,477

  March

  1,534

  1,741

  2,229

  1,931

  April

  1,663

  1,224

  2,129

  2,374

  May

  1,743

  929

  1,837

  1,913

  June

  1,580

  1,622

  1,848

  1,855

  July

  4,100

  2,112

  3,416

  —

  August

  507

  2,640

  1,697

  —

  September

  614

  2,456

  2,005

  —

  October

  1,560

  1,991

  3,165

  —

  November

  830

  2,078

  1,633

  —

  December

  709

  1,386

  1,302

  —

  Total

  19,244

  21,335

  25,075

  12,713

  Service Personnel (NHS Treatment)
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are on NHS waiting lists; how many have had to pay for their own treatment; and if he will make a statement. [123572]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 4 May 2003]The Department only maintains records of the numbers of Service personnel awaiting treatment at the NHS hospitals which host the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) and the MOD Hospital Units (MDHUs). Information on the numbers of Service personnel awaiting treatment at other NHS hospitals is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. As at 31 March 2003, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 967 Service personnel awaiting in-patient treatment at the RCDM and MDHUs, plus 1332 awaiting day-case treatment and 3,349 awaiting out-patient appointments.

  Service personnel are not required by the Department to pay for their own medical treatment. Information on the numbers who may have chosen to pay for private medical treatment, either themselves or through medical insurance, is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Services Training
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost is of(a) phase one and (b) phase two training per recruit for each of the three services and the Royal Marines. [123946]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 3 June 2003,Official Report, columns 298–99W, by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans (Dr. Moonie) to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what improvements are being implemented to improve recreational facilities in each of the three services. [123947]

  Mr. Ingram
  Trainees already have access to a range of recreational facilities, including playing fields and other sports amenities, and traditional NAAFI facilities, including games and social rooms with TV and video. A number of improvements are being made, including to sporting facilities and the introduction of Quiet Rooms, Juice Bars and Internet Cafes. User views
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  on recreational facilities are being sought through surveys and focus groups to identify further candidate enhancements.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the average supervisory ratios of staff to trainees in initial training establishments for each of the three services. [123948]

  Mr. Ingram
  Average figures for the classroom environment vary from 1:3 to 1:40 according to the nature of the training being undertaken. Outside the classroom, ratios vary greatly depending on local circumstances such as age, maturity of recruits, geography of establishments etc, and an average ratio is therefore neither collated nor meaningful. Individual establishments are charged with ensuring that supervisory ratios outside the classroom are appropriate for duty of care in each of these circumstances.

  Sigma Aerospace Contracts
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 3 July, ref 123650, how long is left of the unexpired period on the Sigma Aerospace Ltd. contracts(a) to repair and overhaul TS6 Hercules engines and (b) to provide second line servicing on the Allison engine fitted C130J Hercules. [124928]

  Mr. Ingram
  The present contract with Sigma Aerospace Ltd. for the repair and overhaul of the Hercules C-130K T56 engines is due to expire on 30 September 2003. The Ministry of Defence has placed an entry in the Defence Contracts Bulletin requesting expressions of interest for the replacement contract.

  Servicing of the Hercules C-130J Allison engines is currently undertaken as part of the Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) arrangement with Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the Hercules C-130J. This CLS arrangement is due to finish in June 2005.

  Submarines
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to deploy low frequency active sonar to detect quiet submarines; and what the timescale is for its deployment. [124534]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 10 February 2003,Official Report, column 516W, 12 May 2003, Official Report, column 47W, to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Baillieston (Mr. Wray) on 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 159W. The only low frequency active sonar currently planned for deployment with the Royal Navy is Sonar 2087. It is expected to enter service from 2006 onwards. It will be fitted to the Type 23 Frigates as part of their normal refit programmes.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he is undertaking into the effects on the UK marine environment of the use of low frequency active sonar. [124535]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 November 2002,Official Report, column 69W, by my right hon. Friend
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  the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr. Moonie) to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders). The Ministry of Defence has a programme of research into the effects of active sonar generally, rather than Low Frequency Active Sonar in particular, and this is ongoing. This work is intended to inform Environmental Impact Assessments on marine environments in which sonars might be used by the United Kingdom, rather than in the specific context of UK territorial waters.

  Suicide Rates (Female Personnel)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 30 June 2003,Official Report, column 467W, on suicide rates, what the estimated rates for female personnel were; and what percentage of female personnel this represents. [125566]

  Mr. Caplin
  There has been one female suicide/open verdict death over the period 1993–2002, which equates to a rate of 1 per 100,000 strength.

  Telecommunications Masts
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many planning applications have been made to site mobile telecommunications masts on land owned by the Department. [124811]

  Mr. Caplin
  Since August 2001 when the current planning regulations on mobile telecommunications masts came into force, there have been 43 applications and seven applications for prior approval to site mobile telecommunications masts on land owned by the Ministry of Defence.

  War Crimes
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity have been undertaken by British forces near Basra; and if he will make a statement. [115325]

  Mr. Ingram
  United Kingdom Forces in Basra are preserving any evidence found of legacy war crimes or crimes against humanity thought to have been carried out by the Iraqi regime for possible future investigations by an appropriate authority. UK military police are currently investigating a number of incidents that occurred during recent operations involving UK forces. It would be inappropriate to comment on on-going investigations.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Angling
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the value of angling to the Northern Ireland economy; how many tourists participated in angling in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and what his latest estimate is of how many Northern Ireland residents participate in angling in Northern Ireland. [123469]

  Angela Smith
  No assessment has been made of the value of angling to the Northern Ireland economy. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board estimates that the value
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  of trips which included an angling element was £4.88 million in 2002. In the five-year period 1998 to 2002, the estimated numbers of tourists participating in angling in Northern Ireland based on rod licence sales are as follows:

  Number

  2002

  3,894

  2001

  3,666

  2000

  3,855

  1999

  5,254

  1998

  4,807

  The estimated number of Northern Ireland residents participating in angling in Northern Ireland based on rod licence sales is 23,125. This figure does not include a small number of anglers participating in sea angling as no licence is required for sea fish angling.

  Car Accidents (Deaths)
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the PSNI about the measures to reduce deaths through road traffic accidents(a) in Northern Ireland and (b) in North Down. [125812]

  Angela Smith
  In November 2002, I was joined by the Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for road traffic policing in launching the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy 2002–12. The strategy provides a major step forward in outlining the partnership approach between the main agencies: Department of the Environment (DOE), the Department for Regional Development (DRD) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), in addressing the main causes of death and serious injuries, which are speed, drink-driving and failure to wear seat belts.

  Officials in the relevant Departments and agencies, including PSNI, have been liaising closely to implement the objectives outlined in the strategy. The strategy provided for the establishment of a Road Safety Steering Group, which will oversee and monitor progress towards the delivery of the strategic objectives and targets and consider new initiatives. The Steering Group involves senior management in each of the three main organisations responsible for the delivery of the strategy.

  Actual delivery of the activities and initiatives set out in the strategy will be co-ordinated by the Road Safety Review Group, which is chaired by a senior official in the DOE and includes representatives from Roads Service and PSNIs Road Policing Development Branch.

  Since the launch of the strategy there have been five joint launches involving the DOE and PSNI, including the launch of the new anti-speeding campaign where the Assistant Chief Constable and I reaffirmed our commitment to road safety and to influence positively the attitudes and behaviour of all road users through education and enforcement.

  Officials from the DRD Roads Service have regular liaison meetings with PSNI to discuss any relevant issues to do with traffic management and road safety from an
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  engineering perspective. Roads Service officials have also met recently with PSNI to discuss road safety on the A2 Belfast to Bangor road in North Down.

  As part of a major initiative on use of fixed and mobile safety cameras throughout Northern Ireland, four sites on the A2 Belfast to Bangor Road have been selected for enforcement by safety cameras and new signing for these sites was erected on 1 July 2003, superseding earlier speed camera signing. This again was undertaken by PSNI in conjunction with Roads Service and was as a result of the close liaison between the two organisations.

  The hon. Member may be interested to note that although the number of fatalities (87) to date this year is higher than the comparable period in the last two years, the numbers of killed and seriously injured (KSI), which are the recognised road safety indicators throughout the UK, have shown a steady decline. In the first five months of this year (the last full period for which comparative figures are available) the KSI total is 581 compared with 682 for the same period in 2002 and 701 in 2001.

  There will continue to be positive and constructive discussions not only between the DOE, DRD and PSNI, but also with all its partners in road safety to ensure safer roads for everyone in Northern Ireland. However, it is incumbent upon all road users to take personal responsibility for their action when using the roads.

  Electoral Identity Card
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of those eligible to vote in each constituency of Northern Ireland have(a) applied for and (b) received an electoral identity card. [120889]

  Mr. Spellar
  No record is maintained of applications made for the electoral identity card by constituency because of the validation procedures set up involving the electoral register. All accurate and complete applications, however, will result in the issue of the card. The number of cards issued at 3 July 2003, along with the percentage of the electorate having applied in each of the 18 Northern Ireland constituencies, is as follows:

  Constituency

  Number of cards issued

  Percentage of electorate issued with cards

  Foyle

  6,847

  10.5

  East Londonderry

  4,194

  7.5

  North Antrim

  4,921

  7.0

  East Antrim

  3,183

  5.7

  Mid Ulster

  4,318

  7.2

  West Tyrone

  5,165

  8.9

  Fermanagh and South Tyrone

  5,217

  8.1

  Upper Bann

  3,840

  5.6

  Newry and Armagh

  3,887

  5.6

  South Down

  4,175

  5.9

  Lagan Valley

  4,097

  6.0

  Strangford

  3,743

  5.6

  South Antrim

  3,465

  5.4

  North Down

  2,853

  5.0

  Belfast East

  3,555

  6.8

  Belfast South

  3,323

  6.5

  Belfast West

  6,154

  12.1

  Belfast North

  5,545

  10.8

  Total

  78,482

  7.1

  Post Offices
  Mr. Dodds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the post offices, and their locations, which have been closed permanently in Northern Ireland in each year since March 1998. [125307]

  Mr. Timms
  I have been asked to reply.

  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 30 June 2002, Official Report, column 75W. This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd.

  Sickness Absence
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many staff in his Department were on long-term sick leave in each of the last five years; [109254]

  (2) how many staff in the Department have been on long-term sick leave in each of the last two years. [115857]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The number of staff in the Northern Ireland Office who were on long-term sick absence is as follows:

  Long-termsickness absence—Northern Ireland Office staff

  Number

  1997–98

  1—

  1998–99

  1—

  1999–2000

  1—

  2000–01

  147

  2001–02

  143

  1 Figures for 1997–98 to 1999–2000 could be provided onlyat disproportionatecost.

  Long-term sickness absence—Northern Ireland prison civilian staff

  Number

  1998

  30

  1999

  33

  2000

  30

  2001

  46

  2002

  46

  The Northern Ireland Office considers 20 consecutive days (28 for prison civilian staff) to be long-term absence.

  Sick absence statistics for the 11 Departments within the Northern Ireland Administration are analysed by financial year as opposed to calendar year. The information sought is readily available only for the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02.

  Long-term sick leave in the NICS is defined as those sick absences lasting more than 20 working days. Published statistics for Northern Ireland Departments for the financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02 are accessible on the Department's website at: www. dfpni.gov.uk.publications

  The following table identifies the number of staff who were on long-term sick leave during the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02.
  206W

  Number

  1999–2000

  2,690

  2000–01

  2,804

  2001–02

  3,029

  The level of sick absence has been a matter of concern over recent years and a range of corporate and departmental initiatives have been, and are being, taken forward to reduce the current levels of sick absence. Northern Ireland Departments have now set individual targets for reduction in sick absence.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Feroz Abbasi/Moazzam Begg
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Stone of 10 July 2003, ref 124822, what response she has received from the United States Administration on why Mr. Feroz Abbasi and Mr. Moazzam Begg have been detained; and what discussions she has held with the Crown Prosecution Service on whether the information received is adequate to found a criminal prosecution in the UK against Mr. Abbasi and Mr. Begg. [126038]

  The Solicitor-General
  The US Administration confirmed to the Attorney-General that its view is that all the detainees in Guantanamo Bay, including Feroz Abbasi and Moazzam Begg, have been detained as enemy combatants under the laws of armed conflict. It is not the policy or practice of the CPS to comment on whether a prosecution is likely to be commenced in individual cases.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the published statement of the Attorney-General immediately prior to the war in Iraq, on legal aspects of military action in Iraq, if she will make a further statement on how the length of the military occupation of Iraq impinges on those legal aspects. [126036]

  The Solicitor-General
  The written answer given by the Attorney-General on 17 March 2003 in the House of Lords related to the legality of the use of force against Iraq. Since then, the United Nations Security Council has adopted Resolution 1483 of 21 May 2003. This Resolution, together with the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Hague Regulations, now governs the conduct of the United Kingdom and the United States as occupying powers in Iraq. The Resolution calls upon the occupying powers to work towards the creation of conditions in which the Iraqi people can freely determine their own political future.

TREASURY

  Airport Passenger Tax
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Airport Passenger Tax is designed to produce environmental benefits. [R] [124761]
  207W
  John Healey
  Air passenger duty (APD) was introduced in 1994 as a measure whose principal purpose was to raise revenue from the aviation industry but with the anticipation that there would be environmental benefits through its effect on air traffic volumes.

  The Government are currently discussing with stakeholders the most effective economic instruments to ensure the aviation industry takes account of, and where appropriate reduces, its contribution to global warming and local air and noise pollution. A Government discussion document, Aviation and the Environment: using economic instruments, was published in March 2003.

  Aviation Tourism
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the balance of payments in aviation tourism was in each of the last three years. [124252]

  John Healey
  The precise information requested is not collected centrally although "The UK Balance of Payments—The Pink Book 2002" states that the total deficit for all forms of overseas travel (business and tourism, by air, sea and rail) for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 was £8.87 billion, £10.94 billion and £13.75 billion respectively (page 45). It should be noted, however, that the UK runs a significant surplus in overall services trade.

  Page 39 of the Pink Book 2002 states that in 2001, 58 million UK residents travelled abroad and 23 million foreign nationals visited the UK with the comment that
  "the sharp fall in the numbers of overseas visitors to the UK in 2001 is thought to be partly due to events such as the foot and mouth crisis deterring people from travelling to the UK".

  Biofuels
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take in respect of(a) fuel duty rebates and (b) other measures to ensure that the UK meets the EU guidelines for biofuel use at the end of (i) 2005 and (ii) 2010. [125854]

  John Healey
  I refer to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Clark), of 10 July 2003,Official Report, column 928W

  Drug Seizures
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many kilograms of(a) heroin, (b) cocaine and (c) cannabis were seized by HM Customs and Excise whilst being imported into the UK in each of the last five years; and what percentage of each substance was seized at the Port of Liverpool. [121623]

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions in each of the last five years(a) firearms, (b) drugs and (c) other dangerous goods were intercepted at Royal Mail sorting offices in the London area. [124942]

  John Healey
  For information on HM Customs and Excise's seizures of drugs, firearms and other dangerous goods, I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and 208W
  Bermondsey on 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 50W. The more detailed information requested is not available; exemption 4 (law enforcement and legal proceedings) of the Open Government Code applies.

  Economic Consultancies
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which economic consultancies have been commissioned by HM Treasury in(a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002 and (d) 2003; and in each case what the cost was of each consultancy. [123664]

  John Healey
  Complete information for all the periods requested could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. The following consultancies have been identified from information readily available:

  Taxation of Farming.

  Identifying the drivers of regional productivity.

  The effects of uncertainty on investment.

  Correlation of business cycles in the UK with other major economies.

  Shocks that have influenced economic cycles.

  Why EU R and D is lower than US levels.

  Economic impact of EU enlargement.

  Productivity in the EU and the US.

  EU/US trade. (Jointly funded study with Dutch Finance Ministry).

  Regional Performance.

  Analysis for HMT's Productivity in the UK series.

  Update the UK's generational accounts.

  Britain's relative productivity performance.

  New "Green Book" guidance on appraisal and evaluation in central Government.

  Relationship between wages, employment and the participation rate.

  Team based incentives.

  Public service productivity.

  Equilibrium exchange rates.

  EMU cyclical convergence and shocks.

  Exchange rate economics.

  Housing market and monetary policy transmissions.

  US as a monetary union.

  Monetary policy transmission.

  Export market performance of OECD countries.

  Labour market issues.

  Location of financial activity.

  Monetary union and trade.

  Fiscal stabilisation in EMU.

  Impact of EMU on business sectors.

  Minimum benchmarks under the EU Treaty and the Stability and Growth Pact.

  Policy Frameworks.

  Prices and competition in the EU and USA.

  Transatlantic Relations (Jointly funded study with the Dutch Finance Ministry).

  Trademarks exhaustion.

  The specific costs of individual consultancies cannot be disclosed for commercial reasons. Total expenditure on the projects above was £413,000.

  EU Advisory Committee
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU advisory committee on value added tax, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House. [110284]

  John Healey
  The EU Advisory Committee on value added tax consists of delegates drawn from each of the 15 European member states. The UK is represented by officials from HM Customs and Excise.

  The Committee has met six times since January 2002, on 20 March 2002, 19 June 2002, 20 November 2002, 8 January 2003, 10 March 2003 and 4 June 2003.

  The agenda items considered by the Committee related to questions on the application of the Community provisions on value added tax. The Committee has no legal power to take decisions. The Committee's role is to examine the application of the Community provisions on value added tax, and to serve as a forum for an exchange of views in order to reach guidelines on a uniform application of those provisions. Some provisions of EU VAT law require member states to consult the Committee before acting.

  EU Committees
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list(a) the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU committee on excise duties, (b) the number of times, and the dates, on which it has met since January 2002, (c) the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, (d) the decisions it has made since January 2002 and (e) the means used to communicate the decisions to the House. [110283]

  John Healey
  The EU Committee on Excise Duties consists of delegates drawn from each of the 15 European member states. The UK is represented by officials from HM Customs and Excise.

  The Committee has met six times since January 2002. On 16/17 May 2002, 7/8 November 2002 and 3/4 April 2003, it considered questions relating to the interpretation and application of Community provisions on excise duties and procedures. Meetings on 7 October 2002,28/29 November 2002 and 16 December 2002 dealt specifically with the development of the EU computerised system for movement and control of goods subject to excise duty (EMCS).

  Under its powers in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EEC, the Committee approved a minor amendment to an existing Commission Decision on the product to be used as a fiscal marker for gas oils and kerosene, as well as the EMCS project management plan. Additionally, the Committee agreed an administrative arrangement for the operation of the electronic early warning information exchange system for intra-EU movements of excise goods.

  Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process documents which fall within the Scrutiny Terms of Reference are
  210W
  deposited within Parliament along with an Explanatory Memorandum for examination by the Scrutiny Committees.

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

  The Working Group on the Friends of Comitology is meeting later this month to discuss proposals for interim reform.

  The Commission is obliged to publish an annual report on the working of the Committees. The latest report (Com (2002)733 final, dated 13/12/02) has been published and was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 10 January 2003.

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

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the names, titles and grades of the officials who sit on the EU Customs Code Committee on counterfeit and pirated goods, the number of times and the dates on which it has met since January 2002, the agenda items it has considered since January 2002, the decisions it has made since January 2002 and the means used to communicate these decisions to the House. [110503]

  John Healey
  The Customs Code Committee on counterfeit and pirated goods, consists of delegates drawn from each of the 15 member states. The UK Government are represented by officials from HM Customs and Excise. Since January 2002 there have been four meetings of the Customs Code Committee (Counterfeiting)—6 March, 3 September, 4 October 2002 and 3 March 2003.

  The Customs Code Committee (Counterfeiting) discusses matters relating to intellectual property rights and in particular measures concerning the entry into the community, export, re-export from the community of goods infringing certain intellectual property rights. The main item under discussion by the Committee during the period in question has been a proposal to overhaul these measures and this has now been completed.

  Accountability and transparency to Parliament is ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process: documents which fall within the scrutiny terms of reference are deposited within Parliament along with an explanatory memorandum for examination by the Scrutiny Committees.

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

  The Working Group on the Friends of Comitology is meeting later this month to discuss proposals for interim reform.
  211W
  The Commission is obliged to publish an annual report on the working of the Committees. The latest report (Com (2002)733 final, dated 13 December 2002) has been published and deposited with both Houses.

  The UK Government have also encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every Comitology Committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

  Financial Services (Fines)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the fines levied against financial services companies in each year since the creation of the Financial Services Authority by company,(b) amount and (c) reason for fine; and if he will make a statement on the use of the money raised from these fines. [125831]

  Mr. Boateng
  The FSA is a private company, which operates independently from the Government. It has the power to develop its own rules, which have the force of law. and determines, the level of lines that are levied when those rules are breeched.

  The Financial Services and Markets Act (Schedule 1) stipulates that any amounts received by the FSA through the levy of fines should be applied for the benefit of authorised persons.

  Information on fines levied by the FSA is available from their website.

  Incineration Tax
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much annual revenue would be raised from a tax on the incineration of municipal waste at £35 per tonne for(a) all existing municipal waste incinerators and (b) all municipal waste incinerators for which planning applications have been made. [125128]

  John Healey
  Given current levels of waste disposed of by incineration, a tax on the incineration of municipal waste of £35 per tonne would be expected to raise about £90 million per annum. However, it is unlikely that this level of revenue would be generated, as a tax on incineration at such a rate would be expected to lead to more waste going to alternatives such as landfill. The current level of landfill tax is £14 per tonne rising to £15 next year, and will be increased by at least £3 per tonne each year from 2005–06 until it reaches a rate of £35 per tonne in the medium to long term. These increases will help encourage reductions in the quantities of waste disposed of to landfill. No estimate has been made of the projected levels of incineration which would result from the building of all municipal waste incinerators for which planning applications have been made.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has held with representatives of local government on the potential for an incineration tax to support the waste hierarchy; and if he will make a statement. [126158]

  John Healey
  The Government have had discussions with representatives of Local Government on a range of waste related issues, including incineration. The Government have also commissioned a review of the 212W
  environmental and health effects of all waste management and disposal options and aims to report on the findings later in the year.

  Meat Imports
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made since the new arrangements have been in place to intercept illegal importation of meats at ports. [125624]

  John Healey
  Since Customs took over responsibility for tackling illegal inputs of meat products from third countries from April 11, they have undertaken a number of initiatives designed to help them tackle this problem more effectively. These include: a recruitment drive for new anti-smuggling teams and dog handlers; re-deploying existing anti-smuggling staff to target these illegal importations; transferring "meat" dogs and their handlers from Defra to Customs; instituting a programme of awareness meetings with senior Government officials from targeted risk countries, undertaking a series of training seminars for Customs staff and developing new publicity posters and leaflets for ports and airports in the UK.

  Money Laundering
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of money that has been laundered through British businesses in each year since 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [124733]

  Mr. Boateng
  The true scale of money laundered in the UK cannot be measured directly. Global money laundering has been estimated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the equivalent of between 2 per cent. and 5 per cent. of world input.

  The UK has recently taken steps to strengthen its anti-money laundering regime, including through the Proceeds of Crime Act, the money laundering provisions of which came into force earlier this year. The Government intends to lay Regulations before Parliament shortly that will implement the provisions of the 2nd EU Money Laundering Directive.

  Mortgages
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of monetary policy in economies with housing markets characterised by high levels of fixed rate mortgages. [125047]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Chancellor has asked David Miles, Professor of Finance at Imperial College, to undertake a review of the UK's fixed rate mortgage market.

  This will involve an examination of whether there has been any market failure that has held back the market for fixed and long-term fixed rate mortgages and a consideration of associated opportunities, risks and potential costs.

  Professor Miles will deliver an interim report by autumn and a comprehensive report and recommendations to the Chancellor by Budget 2004.
  213W
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with members of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee concerning(a) the effectiveness of monetary policy if the ratio of fixed to variable rate mortgages were to rise and (b) the likely level of interest rates corresponding to an annual inflation target of 2 per cent. on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices. [125048]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Chancellor regularly meets with the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss a wide range of issues. The Treasury representative to the MFC and other Treasury officials also regularly discuss economic issues with counterparts in the Bank of England.

  The Chancellor has asked David Miles, Professor of Finance at Imperial College, to undertake a review of the UK's fixed rate mortgage market. This will involve an examination of whether there has been any market failure that has held back the market for fixed and long-term fixed rate mortgages and a consideration of associated opportunities, risks and potential costs. Professor Miles will deliver an interim report by autumn and a comprehensive report and recommendations to the Chancellor by Budget 2004.

  The inflation target is 2.5 per cent. for RPIX inflation. In his statement on EMU on 9 June, which he reaffirmed on Thursday, 10 July, the Chancellor said that, subject to confirmation at the time of the pre-Budget Report, he intended to change the inflation target to one set on the consumer prices definition at that time.

  ONS (Information)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the categories of information and statistics sought by the Office for National Statistics for business and individuals by way of requirements for information. [126072]

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

  Department

  Staff numbers

  Staff costs (£ million)

  HM Customs and Excise

  Spring Report 2000(Cm 4616)

  Inland Revenue

  Spring Report 2002(Cm 5428)

  1,174

  See accompanying booklet "The Government's Expenditure Plans 2002–04"

  HM Treasury

  2002 Departmental Report (Cm 5425)

  2000 Departmental Report (Cm 4615)

  Office of National Statistics

  2003 Departmental Report (Cm 5931)

  68

  Government Actuary's Department

  91

  4

  OGCbuying. solutions is an Executive Agency of the Office of Government Commerce and came into operation on 1 April 2001. For the year ended 31 March 2002, the agency had 177 employees and the cost of their employment including National Insurance and superannuation was £5.1 million.

  Staff numbers and costs for the other Chancellor's departments are as follows.
  214W
  Letter from Len Cook to Dr. Cable, dated 15 July 2003:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the list of categories of information and statistics sought by the Office for National Statistics for business and individuals by way of requirements for information. (126072)
  I have arranged for details of the data requested from businesses to be placed in the House of Commons Library.
  For individuals and households, the Social Survey Division Annual Report gives the information requested. The latest published version available is for 2001/02, a copy of which can also be found in the House of Commons Library.
  The 2002/03 version is currently in draft and is expected to be published at the end of August 2003. A copy of the report will be placed in the House of Commons Library once published.

  Staff Costs
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible had in each year since 1997; and what the cost of those staff was in each of those years. [122250]

  John Healey
  Information on the number and cost of staff from the financial year 1998–99 can be found in the following 2003 Spring Departmental Reports:

  Department

  Command number

  Reference

  HM Customs & Excise

  5,924

  Tables 5 and 6

  Inland Revenue

  5,925

  Annex 3 and Table 5

  HM Treasury1

  5,922

  Annex B5 and B6

  Office of National Statistics

  5,931

  Tables 2 & 4

  Government Actuary's Department

  5,923

  Tables 6 and 7

  1 Includes the Office of Government Commerce (core) and Debt Management Office

  Prior to 1998–99 the requirement was to supply figures for "running costs" only which included the paybill figures. Consequently, the information requested for 1997–98 is not available in a standard format but can be found in the following publications:

  The valuation office

  Financial year

  Staff numbers

  Staff costs (£ million)1

  1997–98

  4,346

  103

  1998–99

  4,063

  101

  1999–2000

  4,016

  103

  2000–01

  3,948

  103

  2001–02

  3,814

  103

  1 Valuation Office staff costs do not include early departure costs

  215W

  The Royal Mint

  Financial year

  Staff numbers

  Staff costs (£million)

  1997–98

  1,014

  24

  1998–99

  994

  24

  1999–2000

  1,171

  28

  2000–01

  1,138

  31

  2001–02

  1,008

  28

  National savings and investments

  Financial year

  Staff numbers

  Staff costs (£ million)

  1997–98

  4,241

  73

  1998–99

  4,009

  75

  1999–2000

  121

  6

  2000–01

  122

  6

  2001–02

  118

  6

  In April 1999, following a competitive tendering exercise, the operations part of National Savings and Investments was outsourced to Siemens Business Services.

  Staff numbers in the tables above are based upon Civil Service Full Time Equivalents and Casual staff years but do not include overtime staff year effort.

  Staff costs relate to paybill including early departure costs, unless otherwise specified.

  Final staffing figures for 2002–03 are not yet available.

  Taxes and Benefits
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the document The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02, what percentage of gross incomes was paid in indirect taxes by income decile for(a) retired and (b) non retired households; and if he will make a statement. [124448]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Matthew Taylor, dated 15 July 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the percentage of gross incomes paid in indirect taxes by income decile for (a) retired and (b) non retired households. (124448)
  Estimates for indirect taxes and income are based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on April 11 th 2003 and in Economic Trends in the May 2003 edition. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons library. This includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey (EPS). Due to the sampling variability of each measure, sample sizes are only sufficient to allow a breakdown to be given by quintiles for the ratio of indirect taxes to gross income, and not by decile.
  A retired household in the analysis of "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" is defined as one where the combined income of 'retired' members amounts to at least half the total gross income of the household. A 'retired' person is defined as anyone in the EPS survey who is over minimum NI pension age and is 'unoccupied' or 'sick or injured but not intending to seek work,' or who describes themselves as 'retired'.
  216W
  The following table shows the estimated indirect taxes as a proportion of gross income for retired and non-retired households in the UK for each income quintile where households are ranked by equivalised disposable income. The table also shows the lower hands of the equivalised disposable income quintiles, which have been calculated separately for the retired and non retired households. For example, the lower bound of the 2nd quintile for the retired households is the income below which one fifth of all retired households are estimated to lie and similarly for the non-retired households. Since indirect tax tends to be a higher proportion of income for lower income bands, using different quintile points for retired and non-retired households affects the relative percentages for each quintile.
  Estimates of indirect taxes are imputed using household expenditure given in the EPS. One drawback of comparing the incidence of indirect taxes on households at different levels of income is that, by whatever measure used, on average, recorded expenditure exceeds income apparently available for it by significant amounts at the bottom of the distribution.
  Income and expenditure data recorded in the EFS are not fully compatible because they are recorded in different ways. Indeed, measured expenditure exceeds measured income for households in the lower half of the distribution.
  There are a number of possible explanations for this. Some households with low incomes may draw on their savings or borrow in order to finance their expenditure. In these cases, expenditure is not being met from current income. Some types of receipts are not included as income in the EFS e.g. inheritance and severance payments.
  In some cases, the information given on expenditure is not consistent with that on income received, possibly because of timing differences.

  Indirect taxes as a percentage of gross income for retired and non-retired households, 2001–02

  United Kingdom

  Household type

  Boundary point between equivalised disposable income quintiles (£ per year)

  Indirect taxes (as percentage of gross income)

  Retired

  Bottom

  —

  26.2

  2nd

  9,026

  19.1

  3rd

  11,354

  18.1

  4th

  13,878

  17.3

  Top

  18,465

  13.0

  Average for all retired households

  16.7

  Non-retired

  Bottom

  30.4

  2nd

  11,604

  19.5

  3rd

  17,038

  17.1

  4th

  22,711

  14.1

  Top

  31,321

  9.9

  Average for all non-retired households

  14.6

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends No. 594 May 2003.

  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the document "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02", (1) what percentage of gross incomes was paid in
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  customs duties by income decile for (a) retired and (b) non-retired households; and if he will make a statement; [124450]

  (2) what percentage of gross incomes was paid in stamp duties on house purchases by income decile for (a) retired and (b) non retired households; and if he will make a statement. [124451]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Matthew Taylor, dated 15 July 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking for the percentage of gross incomes paid in Customs duties (24) and additionally in stamp duties (25) by income decile for (a) retired and (b) non retired households. (124450, 124451)
  Estimates for indirect taxes and income are based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on April 11th 2003 and in Economic Trends in the May 2003 edition. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons Library. This includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey (EPS). Due to the sampling variability of each measure, sample sizes are only sufficient to allow a breakdown to be given by quintiles for the ratio of customs or stamp duties to gross income, and not by decile.
  A retired household is defined as one where the combined income of 'retired' members amounts to at least half the total gross income of the household. A 'retired' person is defined as anyone in the EPS survey who describes themselves as 'retired' or anyone over minimum NI pension age describing themselves as 'unoccupied' or 'sick or injured but not intending to seek work.'
  Customs duties are estimated from customs receipts and are allocated to households in proportion to expenditure data recorded in the EPS. Stamp duty on house purchases for owner-occupier households has been estimated in proportion to the hypothetical duty payable on buying their current dwelling (estimated from EPS data) multiplied by the probability of a household of that type moving in a given year (estimated from the General Household Survey).
  The following table shows the estimated Customs duties and stamp duties paid as a proportion of gross income for retired and non-retired households in the UK for each income quintile where households are ranked by equivalised disposable income. The table also shows the lower bounds of the equivalised disposable income quintiles, which have been calculated separately for the retired and non retired households. For example, the lower bound of the 2nd quintile for the retired households is the income below which one fifth of all retired households are estimated to lie and similarly for the non-retired households.
  Since indirect taxes tend to be a higher proportion of income for lower income bands, using different quintile points for retired and non-retired households affects the relative percentages for each quintile.

  Tobacco and alcohol receipts

  £ million

  Tobacco

  Alcohol

  Duty

  Estimated VAT

  Estimated total tobacco revenue

  Duty

  Estimated VAT

  Estimated total alcohol revenue

  1997–98

  8,356

  1,750

  10,105

  5,742

  4,430

  10,170

  1998–99

  8,207

  1,770

  9,980

  5,966

  4,620

  10,590

  1999–2000

  5,684

  1,805

  7,490

  6,429

  4,940

  11,370

  2000–01

  7,648

  1,765

  9,415

  6,663

  5,060

  11,720

  2001–02

  7,755

  1,760

  9,940

  6,955

  5,290

  12,250

  2002–031

  8,055

  2—

  2—

  7,300

  2—

  2—

  218W
  One drawback of comparing the incidence of indirect taxes on households at different levels of income is that, by whatever measure used, on average, recorded expenditure exceeds income apparently available for it by significant amounts at the bottom of the distribution. Income and expenditure data recorded in the EPS are not fully compatible because they are recorded in different ways. Indeed, measured expenditure exceeds measured income for households in the lower half of the distribution.
  There are a number of possible explanations for this. Some households with low incomes may draw on their savings or borrow in order to finance their expenditure. In these cases, expenditure is not being met from current income. Some types of receipts are not included as income in the EPS e.g. inheritance and severance payments. In some cases, the information given on expenditure is not consistent with that on income received, possibly because of timing differences.

  Customs and stamp duties as a percentage of gross income for retired and non-retired households, 2001–02

  United Kingdom

  Household type

  Quintile

  Boundary point between equivalised disposable income quintiles (£ per year)

  Customs duties (as percentage of gross income)

  Stamp duty on house purchase (as percentage of gross income)

  Retired

  Bottom

  0.2

  0.4

  2nd

  9,026

  0.2

  0.2

  3rd

  11,354

  0.2

  0.2

  4th

  13,878

  0.1

  0.2

  Top

  18,465

  0.1

  0.3

  Average for all retired households

  0.1

  0.3

  Non-retired

  Bottom

  0.2

  0.4

  2nd

  11,604

  0.1

  0.3

  3rd

  17,038

  0.1

  0.3

  4th

  22,711

  0.1

  0.3

  Top

  31,321

  0.1

  0.3

  Average for all non-retired households

  0.1

  0.3

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends No. 594 May 2003

  Tobacco/Alcohol Duty
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money was generated through tax on(a) tobacco and (b) alcohol since 1997. [125143]

  John Healey
  Excise Duty and estimated VAT receipts for tobacco and alcohol products are:
  219W
  1 Provisional:

  2 Estimated VAT figures for 2002–03 are still being processed

  Note:

  Due to rounding there may be an apparent discrepancy between the total and the sum of its constituent parts.

  This information can be found in the HM Customs and Excise July 2003 'Tobacco Factsheet' and 'Alcohol Factsheet' Pages 1, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

  Unemployment (Merseyside)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs have been created in Merseyside in the last five years. [124203]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas, dated 15 July 2003:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of jobs that have been created in the last five years in Merseyside. (124203)
  There are no figures for jobs created but an indication can be obtained by comparing the annual surveys of employee jobs. The Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) gives an estimate of the number of employee jobs in December of each year; the latest year for which figures are available is 2001.
  The ABI was preceded, prior to 1998, by the Annual Employment Survey. This inquiry had a different structure to the ABI and so direct comparisons cannot be made between the AES and ABI at a regional level.
  Between 1998 and 2001 the AB 1 data shows a net increase in the number of employee jobs in Merseyside of 21,000.

  Water Charges (Household Income)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is by income decile of the water charges element of the local taxes line of the average income tax tables contained within the document, The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02. [125193]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Norman Baker, dated 15 July 2003
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the value is by income decile of the water charges element of local taxes. (125193)
  Estimates for local taxes, which includes water charges, are based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on April 11th 2003 and in Economic Trends in the May 2003 edition. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons library. This includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey (EPS).
  The following table shows the estimated average water and sewerage charges paid in 2001–02 for all households in the United Kingdom and by each equivalised disposable income decile. Payments for water and sewerage charges are not collected separately within the EPS and only a combined estimate can be given.
  220W

  Water charges element of local taxes by equivalised disposable income decile, 2001–02

  United Kingdom

  Decile

  Boundary point deciles between equivalised disposable income deciles(£ per year)

  Water charges paid (£ per year)

  Bottom

  8,271

  221

  2nd

  10,412

  225

  3rd

  12,456

  211

  4th

  14,751

  226

  5th

  17,249

  226

  6th

  20,085

  229

  7th

  23,831

  230

  8th

  28,640

  238

  9th

  37,544

  241

  Top

  —

  249

  Average for all households

  —

  230

  Source

  Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends No.594 May 2003.

  Working Family Tax Credit
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken to provide full responses to correspondence from Right honourable and honourable Members in respect of working family tax credit applications to the Inland Revenue has been; and if he will make a statement. [123370]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue's Tax Credit Office does not keep information about the average time taken to answer right hon. and hon. Members' letters about the working families tax credit.

  The TCO aims to answer 80 per cent. of all letters, including those from right hon. and hon. Members, within 15 working days of receipt. In the year to 31 March 2003 the TCO exceeded this target and answered 84 per cent. of all letters within 15 working days of receipt. They will measure their performance in the current financial year and report against their aim in due course.

  World Bank
  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the UK policy was in respect of US attempts to block proposals to increase the influence of developing countries within the World Bank; and if he will make a statement. [123402]

  John Healey
  The UK Government are committed to making the voice of developing countries in the World Bank and the IMF more effective. In the 2000 Department for International Development (DfID) White Paper, HMG committed to"work with others to build a stronger, more open and accountable international system, in which poor people and countries have a more effective voice."

  DfID have lead responsibility for issues related to the World Bank, and the Treasury has been working closely with them on this issue.
  221W
  The Development Committee at the spring meetings of the World Bank and the IMF in April 2003 requested the boards of the bank and fund to
  "consider and elaborate upon options with a potential for broad support, taking account of shareholder and institutional implications"
  for discussion at the next meeting of the Development Committee.

  An issues paper which sets out the various options in this area is now being discussed by the board of the World Bank. The US are one of 24 members of the board, and have made a statement outlining their view. The UK Government position remains that further action is required to enhance the voice of developing countries in the World Bank and IMF, and we will continue to support discussions in this area with the aim of reaching agreement on institutional and structural measures to enhance that voice.

HEALTH

  Alcoholism
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Government's strategic plan on combating alcoholism. [121260]

  Ms Blears
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit are undertaking a project to develop an alcohol harm reduction strategy for England. In my previous role as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health I was the Sponsor Minister for the project and I am pleased to continue in this role.

  The cross-governmental alcohol harm reduction strategy for England will be set out in a report planned for publication in autumn 2003.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs of health screening for asylum seekers; and what tests health screening would include. [125958]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Government's aim is for all asylum seekers to receive initial health assessments in induction centres prior to dispersal. This is to address public health concerns and to start treating any health problems. Each assessment takes the form of a general medical check and recording of health history, along with screening for tuberculosis. Referrals for other tests can be made if appropriate, including HIV.

  When the induction centre network is at full capacity, annual costs for health assessments will be approximately £3 million, based on current intake. There will though be resultant savings in dispersal areas.

  Blood Donor Records
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a national database of blood donors which includes details of individuals' medical records. [124881]
  222W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The National Blood Service has no plans to introduce a national database of blood donors which includes details of individuals' medical records.

  Blood Transfusions
  Mr. Havard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the National Blood Service education programme for transfusion medicine will be published. [123385]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The National Blood Service (NBS) has no plans to publish an education programme for transfusion medicine.

  The NBS provides training for scientific and medical staff in hospitals and has recently identified the need to train hospital nurses and midwives in various aspects of transfusion medicine. NBS is currently discussing these training requirements, which will include training on the appropriate use of blood.

  The NBS is also establishing a network of transfusion liaison nurses who will facilitate training in collaboration with similar staff in national health service trusts. This initiative is part of the NBS response to Health Circular HSC 2002/009, "Better Blood Transfusion—Appropriate Use of Blood", which is available at: www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html

  Cancer Nursing
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what calculations his Department has made of(a) current and (b) projected demand for cancer nursing within the NHS. [123248]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Cancer networks should work in partnership with workforce development confederations and strategic health authorities to put in place a sustainable process to assess, plan and review their workforce needs and the education and training of all staff linked to local and national priorities for cancer.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS cancer nurse posts are(a) pump-primed and (b) part-funded by the voluntary sector; and if he will list the voluntary sector organisations. [123251]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Marie Curie and Macmillan Cancer Care both pump prime cancer nurse specialist posts. Information on the number of posts is not collected centrally by the Department of Health.

  Cancer Services
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what written directions his Department has given to the strategic health authorities to ensure the methods for calculating and presenting cancer allocation data in local delivery plans are transparent and nationally consistent; and when these directions were given. [124346]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Strategic health authorities were sent guidance at the end of April 2003 detailing information needed to monitor the cancer investment element of local delivery plans. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to strengthen the rights and protection of residents in elderly persons' care homes from eviction; [125634]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the impact on life expectancy of residents of (a) care home closure and (b) eviction from a care home. [125635]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department of Health recognises that moving between care homes can be difficult and stressful for any long-term resident, particularly vulnerable older people. Such moves, including ones made as a result of care home closures, should be handled as sensitively and appropriately as possible. Proper arrangements should be made for the safe and satisfactory transfer of all residents to other suitable homes. There should be adequate time for this to be done, in a way that allows both residents and their relatives a choice in where they are to move to, and which creates the minimum possible discomfort to all concerned.

  For each resident supported under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948, councils should agree a contract with independent care homes that includes a statement of terms and conditions covering matters such as fees and period of notice. This is in accordance with Standard 2 of the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People. Councils should play a part in facilitating transfers from one home to another as and when appropriate. With respect to supported residents who are transferring, councils should ensure that residents' needs are re-assessed and alternative and appropriate accommodation is arranged promptly, with due regard to the Choice of Accommodation Directions 1992.

  With respect to residents who fund their own care, Standard 2 of the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People also states that contracts agreed by the residents and care homes should cover fees payable, the period of notice and other matters. If, when homes close or residents transfer for other reasons, self-funding residents require advice on other homes to enter and how to go about it, councils should provide this advice. If self-funding residents lack the capacity to make their own arrangements, following an assessment of their needs, councils should take over the arrangements.

  Carers
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of ill and disabled people who are dependent on care from more than one carer or from a changing pattern of carers. [125960]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  Commission for Social Care Inspection
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the scale of fees to be paid in different cases 224W
  and different classes of case will be under clause 83(3) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill. [122931]

  Dr. Ladyman
  It would be for the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to determine any scale of fees to be paid under clause 84 (formerly 83) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill. Before making any such provision, CSCI must consult such persons as appear to it to be appropriate.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria the Government have set for the right of entry to be considered necessary or expedient under clause 86(1) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill; and if personal records inspected under the right of entry will be protected under the Data Protection Act 1998 under clause 85(1)(a). [122953]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Commission for Social Care Inspection will determine what conditions will be considered necessary or expedient under clause 87(1) (formerly clause 86(1)).

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the CSCI will be required to give notice where it requires a person to provide it with any information, records or other items under clause 87(1) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill; where a person is required to provide the CSCI with any information or records (including personal records), whether these will be protected under the Data Protection Act; and where the CSCI requires a person to provide it with information, records and other items, whether the Government will put in place safeguards to ensure that only records, with particular reference to those held on computer, which are relevant to an investigation are requested and that an individual's right to privacy is protected. [122965]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We expect that Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) will normally obtain information by agreement. Where it exercises the power in clause 88 (formerly clause 87) to require the provision of information or documents, we expect that it will normally do so in writing.

  Individuals' rights to privacy will be protected by the common law duty of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act 1998. Under clause 88 (1)(b), CSCI may only request information and documents which it considers necessary or expedient to have for the purposes of chapter 5.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to hold a referendum before new schemes for fluoridation of the public water supply are implemented. [124192]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Amendments to the Water Bill agreed on 9 July in the Other Place provide for regulations to be made on the local consultations that strategic health authorities will be required to undertake before making any arrangements with a water undertaker to have their water fluoridated. In drafting
  225W
  the regulations we shall carefully consider the range of options available for assessing public opinion. This House will debate the Water Bill in due course.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners working in the

  General medical practitioners1 by age-band for specified primary care trusts—England, as at 30 September 2002

  Number (headcount)

  Primary care trusts

  Mendip

  North Devon

  Somerset Coast

  South Somerset

  Taunton Deane

  PCT code

  5FX

  5FQ

  5FW

  5K1

  5K2

  All practitioners

  87

  125

  112

  108

  81

  of which

  under 40

  29

  44

  31

  31

  35

  40 to 54

  45

  65

  70

  64

  41

  55 to 64

  13

  16

  11

  11

  5

  65 +

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  of which

  Unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)2

  63

  105

  94

  92

  74

  of which

  Under 40

  15

  28

  22

  21

  30

  40 to 54

  38

  61

  63

  59

  39

  55 to 64

  10

  16

  9

  10

  5

  65 +

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  1 All practitioners includes UPEs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other and GP retainers.

  2 UPEs include GMS unrestricted principles, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Genetically Modified Foods
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the lifting of the EU ban on biotech foods, and the move to replace the ban with rules for clear labelling of all genetically modified products. [124820]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There is no ban in the European Union on foods developed using biotechnology. Measures have been in place for a number of years to permit the placing of such foods on the market subject to rigorous safety assessment procedures and appropriate labelling.

  Agreement to further EU measures tightening up the legal requirements for the approval and labelling of genetically modified food and feed and for the traceability of genetically modified organisms is likely to be reached by September.

  Hepatitis
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State
  for Health what the incidence of(a) hepatitis A, (b) hepatitis B and (c) hepatitis C was in each year since 1997. [122448]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information available on the incidence of hepatitis A and B in England from 1997 to 2002 is shown in the table.226W
  (a) Taunton Deane, (b) South Somerset, (c) Mendip, (d) Somerset Coastal and (e) North Devon primary care trusts are aged (i) under 40, (ii) 40 to 55, (iii) 55 to 65 and (iv) over 65. [124434]

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

  Laboratory reports of cases of acute hepatitis A and B in England reported to the Health Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 1997–2002

  Hepatitis A

  Hepatitis B

  1997

  1,272

  621

  1998

  1,058

  806

  1999

  1,355

  687

  2000

  1,010

  652

  2001

  773

  526

  2002

  11,326

  1738

  1 Provisional data

  Laboratory reports of antibody to hepatitis C do not distinguish between incident (new), chronic (long-term) and previous resolved infections and most often identify individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection. Therefore, such data cannot be used to estimate the incidence of hepatitis C infection.

  Hospices
  David Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the funding arrangements for(a) children's and (b) adult hospices; and if he will make a statement. [122683]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 30 June 2003]: National health service primary care trusts (PCTs) play a pivotal role in funding services for their resident population, including hospice care. Voluntary healthcare providers, such as hospices, are important players and partners in the planning and development of

  227W
  these services. They should engage fully with PCTs in discussing the level and type of provision which addresses local needs.

  The New Opportunities Fund has allocated £48 million to support over 130 palliative care projects for children. Successful bids have largely been predicated on partnership working between the NHS and service providers. The national service framework for children, which is currently being developed, will set the standards for service providers in this area.

  The NHS Cancer Plan pledged to increase NHS investment in adult specialist palliative care, including hospices, by £50 million per year by 2004. Ministers have set up a central budget of £50 million per annum for specialist palliative care for the three years from 2003–04. Funding will be allocated by a joint NHS/ voluntary sector national partnership group, which will approve local specialist palliative care plans.

  In-patient Survey
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the results of the NHS inpatients survey; what plans he has to make changes in policy as a result of the survey; and if he will make a statement. [124794]

  Ms Rosie Winterton: The results of the 2002 patient surveys have been compiled into comprehensive national reports, which have been made available widely within the Department. The Department is using these results to monitor progress in delivering its Public Service Agreement target to,'enhance accountability to patients and the public and secure sustained national improvements in patient experience, as measured by independently validated surveys'.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on mental health provision in(a) England and (b) Essex in each year since 1990. [124870]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The table shows details of expenditure on Mental Health Services from 1992–93 to 2001–02. Data for 1990–92 is not available.

  It is not possible to provide figures by English county, so the table shows total expenditure by health authorities and primary care trusts in England and for health authority areas within Essex.

  Mental health services expenditure

  £000

  Essex health authorities area

  England

  1992–93

  54,043

  2,331,497

  1993–94

  67,995

  2,350,548

  1994–95

  71,537

  2,371,146

  1995–96

  79,234

  2,511,431

  1996–97

  80,113

  2,648,191

  1997–98

  81,352

  2,767,036

  1998–99

  89,255

  2,925,934

  1999–2000

  111,580

  3,408,660

  2000–01

  122,568

  3,951,618

  228W
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many in-patient beds were available for mental health patients in(a) England and (b) Essex in each year since 1980. [124871]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on the number of in-patient beds between 1980 and 2001–02 for England is shown in the table. Information by geographical area is not available.

  Average daily number of available beds, by sector; NHS Trusts in England

  Available beds

  Mental illness

  1980

  87,396

  1981

  85,436

  1982

  83,831

  1983

  81,786

  1984

  78,911

  1985

  75,866

  1986

  72,402

  1987–88

  67,122

  1988–89

  63,012

  1989–90

  59,288

  1990–91

  55,239

  1991–92

  50,278

  1992–93

  47,308

  1993–94

  43,532

  1994–95

  41,827

  1995–96

  39,477

  1996–97

  37,640

  1997–98

  36,601

  1998–99

  35,692

  1999–00

  34,173

  2000–01

  34,214

  2001–02

  32,783

  Source:

  SH3/KH03

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the NHS budget has been spent on mental health care in each year since 1980. [124872]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The table shows how much was spent on mental health care as a percentage of total hospital and community health service expenditure from 1980 to the present.

  Percentage of total HCHS expenditure

  1979–80

  11.12

  1980–81

  11.25

  1981–82

  11.27

  1982–83

  11.25

  1983–84

  11.19

  1984–85

  11.26

  1985–86

  11.21

  1986–87

  11.14

  1987–88

  11.55

  1988–891

  12.40

  1989–90

  12.24

  1990–91

  11.98

  1991–92

  11.49

  1992–93

  11.47

  1993–94

  10.90

  1994–95

  10.59

  1995–96

  10.55

  1996–972

  12.09

  1997–98

  12.14

  1998–99

  11.97

  1999–20003

  12.34

  2000–01

  12.71

  229W
  1 Data analysis method changed to show more detailed community health care expenditure.

  2 Data collection method changed to give better analysis of NHS expenditure.

  3 Data collection method changed to include secondary healthcare expenditure from primary care groups and trusts.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the proportion of the population of England which will require mental health treatment during their lives. [124874]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Decisions about mental health treatment and care are taken on the basis of an individualised assessment of needs by the responsible clinical team in consultation with the patient, in the light of the evidence base, the resources available, and in the context of national guidance.

  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for compiling, analysing and disseminating information relating to UK economic, social and demographic statistics. Their report, 'Psychiatric morbidity among adults living in private households, 2000', is available on the website at www.statistics.gov.uk. Surveys of children's mental health (1999) and the mental health needs amongst people in prison (1997) have also been undertaken by ONS and further information is available from them.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to improve fast track intervention for those suffering from acute mental health problems. [124876]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department has a public service agreement to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis to a service median of less than three months (individual maximum less than six months) and provide support for the first three years for all young people who develop a first episode of psychosis by 2004. This target is being accomplished by the creation of 50 early intervention teams across the country.

  There are currently 24 early intervention teams in England which provide quick diagnosis of the first onset of a psychotic disorder and appropriate treatment including intensive support in the early years for people aged between 14 and 35.

  Also, NHS Direct's call handling capacity will more than double to 16 million calls annually by 2006, backed by a funding increase to £182 million. Improved 24-hour access to clinical advice by telephone from home will cut the burden on general practitioners and the emergency services, including for people with mental health problems, who can obtain rapid advice from trained nurses.

  As part of the mental health modernisation agenda, steps are being taken to increase capacity in both community and hospital based provision that will help provide quicker and more convenient services. Establishing crisis resolution services and more hospital beds as well as improving access to child and adolescent mental health services by 10 per cent. each year across the service according to agreed local priorities are among these steps.
  230W
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of unmet need with respect to child and adolescent mental health services, broken down by(a) region and (b) strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement. [124921]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information on which to base such an assessment is not collected centrally. Needs assessment is the responsibility of local agencies as part of their service planning activity. Systematic mapping of local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) provision across England was launched last year and it is intended to repeat this annually. This will provide detailed information on service provision, service activity levels and expenditure on CAMHS by provider trust and by local authority and primary care trust commissioners. Data currently available can be found on the dedicated website at www.dur.ac.uk/ service.mapping/CAMH/.

  The Government's strategy for the development of CAMHS, initiated in 1999, has made significant progress in improving the overall quality and accessibility of local services for children and young people with mental health problems. Our current central investment programme of £250 million over the coming three years aims to help secure comprehensive CAMHS in all areas by 2006, in line with the objectives contained in "Improvement, Expansion, Reform the Priorities and Planning Framework 2003–06" published by the Department in October 2002.

  Midwives
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of midwives in post to the total number of births was in 2002 in each NHS maternity unit. [123474]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Information on the ratio of deliveries to midwives by hospital in 2001–02 has been placed in the Library.

  MRI Scanners
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to replace the MRI scanners used in Shropshire NHS trusts. [125147]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 11 July 2003]: The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners at the Princess Royal Hospital National Health Service Trust and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust fit within the criteria for replacement indicated in my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State's announcement on the 22 May 2003, Official Report, column 47WS. It is proposed that the scanner at the Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust will be replaced when the current service agreement expires in April 2004. It is proposed to replace the other scanner during 2005–06

  The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust has recently been awarded an additional MRI scanner from a "New Opportunities Fund initiative". This is likely to be installed before the end of 2004.

  Myositis
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make drugs used to treat patients with myositis available on free prescriptions. [125201]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Prescription charges are not payable by myositis patients who are aged under 16 or 60 or over, who are (or their partner is) receiving income support or income based jobseekers allowance, or who are named on a national health service tax credit exemption certificate. Other patients on a low income may receive help under the NHS low income scheme. We have no plans to change the current charging arrangements.

  By using a prescription prepayment certificate, no one who has to pay need pay more than £32.90 for four months, or £90.40 for 12 months, for all NHS medication they are prescribed.

  National Care Standards Commission
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been made to the National Care Standards Commission from parents of children at(a) boarding schools belonging to the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference and the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools and (b) other boarding schools. [125178]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Care Standards Commission has received six complaints about Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools or Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference schools and six complaints about other boarding schools.

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of dental services which are free at the point of use. [124628]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Gross spend on general dental services (GDS), that is, payments to dentists covering both their income and expenses, was £1.7 billion in 2002–03 in England. Adults who pay charges for their dental treatment contributed about £0.5 billion, leaving a net £1.2 billion contributed by Government.

  National health service resources are also spent on dental services delivered in the community dental service (CDS) and the hospital dental service. Estimate of the cost of the CDS is £150 million. There is no similar estimate for the cost of hospital dental services.

  NICE
  Mr. Havard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the considerations of the Joint Planning Group meeting, involving his Department and NICE, held on 13 March 2003. [123378]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Joint Planning Group is an advisory group which formulates internal advice to Ministers. As such, its minutes are not published.

  Older People
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general hospitals have failed to introduce 232W
  plans for a specialist stroke unit as referred to on page 172 of the National Service Framework for Older People. [124586]

  Dr. Ladyman
  A monitoring exercise, conducted at the end of 2002, suggested that 83 per cent. of hospitals have plans in place to have a specialist stroke service by April 2004.

  The Department of Health will be monitoring formally the overall stroke milestone in April 2004, as this is included as one of the key targets in Improvement, Expansion and Reform, the priorities and planning framework for 2003–06. It is now for strategic health authorities to plan, deliver and monitor progress locally on the other stroke milestones in the national service framework.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of how successfully implemented the medicine reviews are for older people as referred to on page 172 of the National Service Framework for Older People. [124587]

  Dr. Ladyman
  A monitoring exercise, conducted at the end of 2002 through the strategic health authorities (SHAs), suggested that 29 per cent. of practices had mechanisms in place to review medicines prescribed to those aged 75 and over, in accordance with the national service framework (NSF) for older people.

  The Department of Health will be monitoring formally the key targets in Improvement, Expansion and Reform, the priorities and planning framework for 2003–06. It is now for SHAs to plan, deliver and monitor progress locally on the other milestones in the NSF.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received by NHS organisations from older people and carers under systems set up under the National Standards Framework for Older People. [124924]

  Dr. Ladyman
  It is for local National Health Service organisations to analyse and report on complaints received from older people and their carers. This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many risk management procedures under the National Standards Framework for Older People are(a) in development and (b) planned but not in place in providers of health and social care. [124926]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is not collected centrally. The Department of Health will be monitoring formally the overall falls milestone of integrated health and social care falls services by April 2005 as this is included as one of the key targets in Improvement, Expansion and Reform, the priorities and planning framework for 2003–2006. It is now for strategic health authorities to plan, deliver and monitor progress locally on the other falls milestones in the national service framework.

  Ophthalmic Laser Treatment
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Early Day Motion 1494 (Ophthalmic Laser Treatment). [125024]
  233W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Royal College of Ophthalmologists recommends that only qualified ophthalmologists should be able to undertake laser eye surgery and that they should have undertaken additional specialist training in refractive surgery.

  Establishments where Class 4 laser treatment (the type used in laser eye surgery) is provided are required to be registered with the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) as independent hospitals, under the Care Standards Act 2000. Establishments are required to meet certain standards, amongst which is the requirement to ensure that all staff using lasers and intense pulsed light sources use them only for treatments for which they have been trained and, where appropriate, hold qualifications and that they receive regular training. Independent hospitals are inspected by the NCSC at least once every 12 months.

  Prescription Charges
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of abolishing prescription charges in England. [125416]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We estimate that the loss of prescription charge income in England would be around £446 million in 2003–04. Additionally, there could be significant additional costs to the drugs bill if people who currently pay charges sought prescriptions for medicines and other items which they currently purchase.

  Primary Care Trusts
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 30 June 2003,Official

  NHS Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, by age-band, in England as at 30 September each year

  Headcount by age-band

  All ages

  Under 21

  21–30

  30–40

  40–50

  50–60

  Over 60

  Unknown

  2002

  346,537

  124

  48,650

  105,237

  101,468

  53,884

  5,509

  31,665

  2001

  330,535

  149

  47,021

  103,469

  93,766

  50,704

  4,961

  30,465

  2000

  316,752

  131

  45,036

  103,275

  87,725

  48,475

  4,725

  27,385

  1999

  310,142

  167

  45,277

  104,054

  82,164

  45,871

  4,570

  28,039

  1998

  304,563

  168

  47,470

  105,037

  77,119

  43,233

  4,251

  27,285

  1997

  300,467

  535

  50,007

  103,327

  73,427

  41,276

  4,593

  27,302

  1996

  301,253

  208

  55,397

  104,541

  73,096

  39,358

  4,133

  24,520

  1995

  298,650

  291

  58,022

  101,842

  72,345

  39,101

  4,542

  22,507

  1994

  289,284

  163

  60,456

  97,649

  70,161

  38,135

  4,301

  18,419

  1993

  293,379

  63

  64,440

  94,255

  70,565

  38,881

  4,560

  20,615

  Percentage of nurses in each age-band

  All ages

  Under 21

  21–30

  30–40

  40–50

  50–60

  Over 60

  2002

  100.0

  0.0

  15.5

  33.4

  32.2

  17.1

  1.7

  2001

  100.0

  0.0

  15.7

  34.5

  31.2

  16.9

  1.7

  2000

  100.0

  0.0

  15.6

  35.7

  30.3

  16.8

  1.6

  1999

  100.0

  0.1

  16.0

  36.9

  29.1

  16.3

  1.6

  1998

  100.0

  0.1

  17.1

  37.9

  27.8

  15.6

  1.5

  1997

  100.0

  0.2

  18.3

  37.8

  26.9

  15.1

  1.7

  1996

  100.0

  0.1

  20.0

  37.8

  26.4

  14.2

  1.5

  1995

  100.0

  0.1

  21.0

  36.9

  26.2

  14.2

  1.6

  1994

  100.0

  0.1

  22.3

  36.1

  25.9

  14.1

  1.6

  1993

  100.0

  0.0

  23.6

  34.6

  25.9

  14.3

  1.7

  Note:

  Percentages have been calculated using only nurses age is known.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
  234W
  Report, column 173W, on primary care trusts, if he will list the average distance from target in each primary care trust, in each year since 1997. [124254]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on primary care trust distances from targets for 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 have been placed in the Library. Prior to 2003–04 allocations were made to health authorities.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to publish this year's star ratings with the local context of each primary care trust. [124391]

  Mr. Hutton
  The next set of national health service performance (star) ratings will be published this summer by the Commission for Health Improvement, the independent regulator for NHS performance. The performance ratings system provides a high level overview of NHS organisations' performance across a wide range of measures.

  Registered Nurses
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of registered nurses were aged(a) 20–30, (b) 30–40, (c) 40–50, (d) 50–60 and (e) over 60, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [123927]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of qualified nurses employed in the national health service by age-band is shown in the table.

  The Nursing and Midwifery Council publishes an annual statistical analysis of the register, which includes a breakdown by age of registered nurses. This can be obtained at www.nmc-uk.org.

  Salt
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring forward legislation on the reduction of the salt content of processed food if the food industry does not introduce voluntary measures. [122803]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There are no plans to do so at present. The Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency have been in ongoing discussions with food manufacturers and retailers about the levels of salt in specific categories of processed foods, reductions that have been made in the past and the opportunities for further reductions. The principal bodies that have been involved are the Food and Drink Federation, the British Retail Consortium, the British Frozen Food Federation and the Joint Food Service Industry Group.

  All of the organisations have approached discussions constructively, with a focus on verifying and recognising salt reductions already achieved by industry and investigating the scope for achieving further reductions.

  School Health Checks
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Skills on introducing annual health checks for schoolchildren up to the age of 16. [124483]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health regularly meet ministerial colleagues from the Department for Education and Skills, where various issues are discussed. Our discussions often include the best way to provide health care, to support health promotional activity for schoolchildren and young people and to ensure access to any health checks that are necessary for their well being.

  Sport
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many staff are employed in his Department to promote sports participation, as part of his public health role; [123909]

  (2) how much is spent by his Department to promote the public health benefits of participation in sport and physical exercise. [123910]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department of Health is committed to developing policies that provide people with the skills, information and support to make and sustain healthy lifestyle choices.

  The Department of Health funds a physical activity programme to:
  support the delivery of Planning and Priorities Framework targets and national service framework milestones;
  work with other government departments and stakeholders to enhance opportunities for physical activity; and
  develop and communicate the evidence base for physical activity.

  It is not possible to provide an overall figure for Department of Health spending to promote the public health benefits of physical activity and exercise, since the
  236W
  amount spent by primary care trusts (PCTs) on the promotion of physical activity from the devolved Department of Health budgets varies in each PCT.

  Department of Health staff work across topic areas within the whole range of work covering cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention (which includes promotion of physical activity) according to needs and we do not enumerate specific people on the topic of sports participation. The Department of Health employs a number of organisations and individuals on an ad hoc contractual basis to assist the department in the delivery of specific work items, and also receives support and advice on the evidence base for successful interventions from the Health Development Agency.

  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to tackle obesity levels through increasing participation in sport and physical activity; and if he will make a statement. [123911]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Considerable action is being taken across Government to tackle obesity levels, especially through increasing physical activity and improving diet.

  The Government have recently set a challenging target for 70 per cent. of the population to be active by 2020. To ensure that there is a co-ordinated and strategic approach to the planning and delivery of sport and physical activity across a diverse range of sectors—such as transport, countryside management and town planning—and in response to this target, a Sport and Physical Activity Board (SPAB) has been established. The SPAB, jointly led by the Department of Health and Department of Culture, Media and Sport and supported by a dedicated delivery team, met for the first time on 8 July 2003.

  Another key project in our programme of work are the local exercise action pilots (LEAPs), which we jointly fund with Sport England and the Countryside Agency. LEAPs will test the effectiveness of primary care trust-led interventions to increase access and levels of physical activity in communities based in neighbourhood renewal areas. Involving a range of partners, the activities range from walking, cycling and swimming, to clinical-based programmes that are focusing on diabetes and weight management.

  Stroke Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals caring for stroke have not established clinical audit systems to ensure delivery of Royal College of Physicians clinical guidelines for stroke care. [124589]

  Dr. Ladyman
  In 2001, the Third National Sentinel Audit of Stroke, carried out by the Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit of the Royal College of Physicians and led by the Intercollegiate Working Party for Stroke, gave a detailed picture of the way hospitals provide care for stroke patients. The results of this study were published in July 2002.

  In the 2001 audit, 98 per cent. of eligible acute trusts submitted clinical data, demonstrating delivery of the clinical guidelines. The next National Sentinel Audit of Stroke is expected to take place in April 2004.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff the Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which it is responsible has; and what their annual cost will be. [122272]

  Mr. Lammy
  Data on staffing levels in the Civil Service are collected from Departments and agencies twice-yearly, in April and October. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Those for October 2002 were published on 27 February 2003. A copy of the press notice, accompanying media brief and supporting tables is available on the world wide web at: www.civilservice.gov.uk/statistics Copies of these documents are also placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  More detailed information on the Civil Service is published annually in "Civil Service Statistics", copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The last edition, based on April 2001 data, was published in June 2002. The next edition, based on April 2002 data, is due to be published at the end of July 2003.

  The Cabinet Office publishes information on non-departmental public bodies in its annual publication, "Public Bodies". The information includes details of the number of staff employed by each NDPB at 31 March each year. "Public Bodies 2002" was published in January 2003. Copies of "Public Bodies", published each year since 1997, are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  The Department for Constitutional Affairs publishes information on staff numbers and costs in the "Departmental Report"; the last report for 2002–03 was published in June 2003.

  Each non-departmental public body for which the Department is responsible publishes its own accounts and annual report.

  These reports are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  General Elections
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Government have taken to increase the turnout at general elections. [124995]

  Mr. Leslie
  This Government have introduced a number of measures aimed at encouraging participation in elections. We have made it easier to register to vote and to cast a vote. We are, with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, continuing to expand the programme of electoral pilot schemes to test innovative methods of voting at local elections. We have announced our intention, subject to parliamentary approval, to hold next year's European parliamentary, local and GLA elections on the same day, so that voters will only need to turn out once, rather than twice within a short period. All these measures are designed to increase flexibility and convenience for voters and thus encourage greater turnout. In addition, we introduced legislation to set up the independent Electoral Commission. The 238W
  Commission has a duty to educate and inform the public about the importance of participation in the democratic process and a remit to recommend ways in which our electoral arrangements can be improved. We will consider carefully any recommendations made by the Electoral Commission which may have an impact on electoral turnout.

  House of Lords Reform
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many letters his Department has received from the general public, giving their views on the appointment of people's peers. [123971]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Department has received several hundred pieces of correspondence on aspects of House of Lords reform from the general public. Around 20 of these have focused exclusively on the appointment of cross-bench life peers following the recommendations of the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

  Magistrates
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many magistrates(a) joined and (b) retired from the bench in each year since 1997. [124914]

  Mr. Leslie
  The table sets out the information for England and Wales, including the Duchy of Lancaster.

  Total appointed1

  Retirements at age 70

  Resignations and removals

  1997

  1,573

  606

  879

  1998

  1,609

  623

  1,004

  1999

  1,743

  559

  1,058

  1 January to 31 March 2000

  180

  133

  405

  2000–01

  1,618

  590

  1,709

  2001–02

  1,786

  638

  1,302

  2002–03

  1,623

  593

  1,181

  1 Excludes re-appointments.

  Office of Supervision of Solicitors
  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to review the effectiveness of the Office of Supervision of Solicitors. [125210]

  Mr. Lammy
  We are considering the performance of the Office in the light of the Legal Service Ombudsman's Annual Report 2002–03 and the Government's undertaking to review the regulatory framework for legal services about which we hope to make an announcement soon.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) whether he will(a) amend and (b) adopt any of the existing Lord Chancellor's Department public service agreements; [124861]

  (2) when he will introduce new public service agreements. [124862]

  Mr. Leslie
  I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 30 June 2003,Official Report, column 127W.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Adviser Discretion Fund
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals have been given financial help to purchase a car through the Adviser Discretion Fund. [121218]

  Mr. Browne
  Detailed information about specific goods and services purchased with help from the Adviser Discretion Fund is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Agency Workers
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the measures in place in respect of(a) jobseekers allowance, (b) housing benefit and (c) other benefits to meet the needs of agency workers who are regularly unemployed for short periods of time. [124021]

  Mr. Browne
  Agency workers can experience intermittent periods of employment and unemployment. The fear of finding themselves involved in a lengthy claim process and without an income during these periods of unemployment may have, in the past, discouraged many people from taking this type of work.

  In order to assist people in these circumstances we introduced Rapid Reclaim to ensure a smooth transition from work to benefit. Rapid Reclaim is available to customers who find themselves having to reclaim Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit within 12 weeks of having previously claimed the same benefit. The Rapid Reclaim process allows Decision Makers to use information provided for the previous claim alongside a shorter claim form, completed by the customer, that captures any changes that may have occurred during the break in their claim. This speeds up the data collection process and so reduces the time from making a claim to receiving the first payment.

  Rapid Reclaim is making it easier for people to take up work, that may be only short-term or through an agency, as it reduces the fear that there will be a delay in the resumption of benefits during the periods that they are off work.

  Benefit Payments
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the reminder letter that is sent to people who have not replied to the initial letter on automated credit transfer. [114371]

  Mr. Pond
  Example copies of the reminder letters sent to child benefit, state pension and benefit customers who have not responded to an initial letter inviting them to transfer to Direct Payment will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the exceptions service being designed for those customers 240W
  who will not be transferring to direct payment; and when he expects to make available the criteria by which customers will qualify for the service. [124018]

  Mr. Pond
  Our aim is to have an exceptions service ready from October 2004. There are now a number of easy to operate accounts available, many of which can be accessed at Post Office branches, so our expectation is that this service will be available for those who are genuinely unable to open or operate any type of bank, building society or Post Office account.

  Benefits
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications were made for social fund(a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) crisis loans in each of the last 12 months; and how many of those applications were successful, broken down by category. [123324]

  Mr. Pond
  The available information is in the tables.

  Community care grant—applications and initial awards

  Date

  Number of applications

  Number of initial awards

  June 2002

  41,600

  17,400

  July 2002

  53,600

  22,200

  August 2002

  47,500

  19,200

  September 2002

  49,300

  20,700

  October 2002

  54,800

  23,000

  November 2002

  53,300

  22,400

  December 2002

  39,500

  17,600

  January 2003

  48,000

  20,200

  February 2003

  49,000

  19,800

  March 2003

  51,100

  20,000

  April 2003

  46,200

  19,900

  May 2003

  46,400

  21,200

  Budgeting loan—applications and initial awards

  Date

  Number of applications

  Number of initial awards

  June 2002

  124,300

  84,900

  July 2002

  151,400

  106,800

  August 2002

  133,600

  93,800

  September 2002

  142,700

  101,200

  October 2002

  176,600

  122,200

  November 2002

  193,900

  140,200

  December 2002

  118,400

  103,700

  January 2003

  133,400

  80,400

  February 2003

  136,000

  95,700

  March 2003

  148,000

  104,900

  April 2003

  135,400

  95,400

  May 2003

  140,200

  102,700

  Crisis loan—applications and initial awards

  Date

  Number of applications

  Number of initial awards

  June 2002

  106,000

  81,100

  July 2002

  123,600

  94,700

  August 2002

  117,700

  90,200

  September 2002

  111,900

  85,900

  October 2002

  121,600

  92,800

  November 2002

  109,600

  83,100

  December 2002

  98,000

  75,600

  January 2003

  126,000

  97,600

  February 2003

  112,700

  86,700

  March 2003

  114,700

  88,100

  241W

  Crisis loan—applications and initial awards

  Date

  Number of applications

  Number of initial awards

  April 2003

  108,300

  84,200

  May 2003

  110,700

  87,700

  Notes:

  1. Available data on the numbers of awards made following review do not differentiate between awards that were initially refused and those where an award was increased on review. To avoid double counting, the tables show the number of initial awards only.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

  3. The number of awards made in a month do not necessarily relate to applications made in that month.

  Source:

  DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management

  Information System.

  Benefits Consultancies
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action the Government have taken to regulate independent benefits consultancies. [122443]

  Mr. Pond
  Independent benefits consultancies are not subject to regulation by this Department.

  The best source of information about entitlement to state pensions and benefits is the Department's own staff. We publicise contact information widely, including details of local offices and specialist help-lines.

  Independent advice is also widely available free of charge through organisations affiliated to the Federation of Independent Advice Centres, Citizens Advice Bureaux and disability organisations.

  We are also working with local authorities and organisations that represent disabled people to ensure that the right information gets to claimants. Our aim is to work with these partners who are best placed to target potential benefits customers in an individual and focused way.

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new entrants to the Civil Service were employed in his Department in each of the last five years; and how many in each year were aged 50 or over. [119814]

  Maria Eagle
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right. hon Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 24 June 2003,Official Report, columns 657–59W.

  Community Care Grants
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications were made for community care grants as a result of domestic violence in each year since 1998; how many(a) were successful and (b) failed; and if he will make a statement. [125740]

  Mr. Pond
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to her on 28 April 2003,Official Report, column 76W.

  Crisis and Interim Payments
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what criteria the Department and its agencies authorise crisis and interim payments to those in need while benefit applications are processed. [124617]

  Mr. Pond
  Interim payments are discretionary payments on account of benefit made to avoid hardship where the Decision Maker is satisfied that the basic conditions of entitlement for the benefit are met. Interim payments can be ma de in the following circumstances:

  1. Where a benefit claim has been made but cannot immediately be determined and the delay is not the fault of the customer;

  2. In an emergency. This covers a variety of different situations from civil emergencies to industrial action;

  3. Where a claim has not been made in the correct manner but it is not the fault of the customer, for example because the claim form has been completed incorrectly by a visiting officer; and

  4. While an appeal is ongoing but the customer clearly has some residual entitlement t D benefit.

  Interim payments follow the same payment cycles and periods as the main benefit being claimed and are not made before the person's first benefit pay-day. The amount of any payment is recoverable from the main benefit when it is awarded.

  Social fund crisis loans can be made to help with the day-to-day living expenses of people awaiting a first payment of benefit which is paid in arrears. Any crisis loan made under these circumstances will cover the recipient's needs until their first benefit pay-day, following which full or interim payments of benefit can be made.

  Disability Benefits
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action is being taken better to estimate the take-up of disability living allowance. [124641]

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to commission research into the take-up of disability benefits. [124793]

  Maria Eagle
  Entitlement to disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) can only be reliably established after an actual claim has been made and the care and mobility needs of the customer are assessed. There is no data available about who might be entitled to either DLA or AA if they were to make a claim. This means that currently we cannot reliably calculate the number of people receiving the benefits as a proportion of the overall eligible population.

  However, in the five years to November 2002, the number of people receiving DLA increased by 24 per cent. and by 6.1 per cent. in the last 12 months alone. For AA the increases are 9.6 per cent. and 3 per cent. respectively.

  The Department is taking steps to improve the take-up of the benefits in a targeted and well directed way and will continue to work more closely with partners, such as local authorities and welfare rights organisations who are better able to identify potential disability benefits claimants in an individual and focused way.

  Disability Discrimination Act
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the expected(a) average and (b) total expected cost to small businesses employing fewer than 15 people is from the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003; [124736]

  (2) how many small businesses employing fewer than 15 people are expected to be affected by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003; [124737]

  (3) how many representations her Department has had from small businesses employing fewer than 15 people regarding the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (a) prior and (b) subsequent to their being passed; and what proportion of those representations expressed concern about a potentially adverse impact of the regulations; [124738]

  (4) how many disabled employees are expected to be affected by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003; [124739]

  (5) what representations he has received from organisations representing small and medium sized enterprises on the costs of compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003; and if he will make a statement. [125587]

  Maria Eagle
  The Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003, which is available in the Library, estimates that the average cost for small businesses with one to 15 employees of removing the small firms exemption in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is £5.50, although many small employers will have no costs at all. The total cost to these small businesses will be about £6 million. Of this, £3.9 million is a one-off cost while £2.1 million is a recurring cost, and includes £0.7 million for recruitment. This does not take into account the many benefits that employers can gain from employing and retaining disabled people such as access to a wide pool of applicants, retention of skills and knowledge and better motivation more generally among the workforce.

  There are around 1,087,000 businesses with between one and 14 employees. Within these businesses, there are around 382,000 disabled employees who will be protected from discrimination by the DDA's employment provisions as a result of the inclusion of small employers. Other provisions in the Regulations will end a number of other employment and occupational exclusions such as the police, fire-fighters and partners in business partnerships. These measures are expected to bring an additional 218,000 disabled workers within scope of the DDA. Other provisions in the Regulations applying to organisations of all sizes could affect all of the 2,243,000 disabled workers in GB (Winter 2002 Labour Force Survey).

  We consulted on draft regulations to implement the sexual orientation, religion and belief and disability provisions of the Article 13 Employment Directive in our 2002 document "Equality and Diversity—the way ahead". Of the 172 respondents who replied on issues specifically concerning the disability provisions, only 2 identified
  244W
  themselves as a private organisation employing one to 14 employees; the vast majority of replies were from representative bodies, disability organisations, public bodies and voluntary organisations. Neither of those respondents commented on a potential adverse impact of the disability regulations.

  The Federation of small businesses responded to the consultation but did not comment on compliance costs. Other respondents representing employers, such as the Confederation of British Industry and the Institute of Directors, may have taken account of views from small and medium-sized employers in submitting their replies but it is not possible to measure the extent to which their replies were informed by members with fewer than 15 employees. The majority of such responses concerned the operation of the regulations themselves. However, the IOD questioned some of the assumptions made by Government in estimating the overall costs of implementing the Directive. There have been no representations from small employers or their representative bodies on the disability regulations since they were approved by Parliament.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department are assisting tourism businesses in becoming informed about the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [124759]

  Maria Eagle
  The Department is currently undertaking a campaign to raise awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) among all types of businesses, including those in the tourism industry. As Minister for Disabled People, I am undertaking a series of regional visits which highlight disability issues and remind employers and service providers of their duties under the Act, and these have been supported by radio advertising and press articles.

  On 15 May 2003, we launched two major elements of this campaign; an information pack, aimed particularly at small and medium-sized enterprises. The pack contains advisory leaflets for employers and service providers, together with a video entitled 'Act Now—the DDA and Your Business'. This video provides information about the duties that employers and service providers have under the Act. It shows practical examples of what some companies have done to improve access for their disabled workers and customers and the 'Access All Areas' award which aims to recognise and congratulate small organisations that have made imaginative changes to the way they provide their services so that disabled people can use them. Details of the award and an entry form are available on the website www.disability.gov.uk and are included in the information pack, which is available to any business free of charge.

  The Department has undertaken a mailshot of the information packs to business organisations such as Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, CBI Regional Offices, and local Businesslink offices. We have liaised with VisitBritain which has publicised the award on its website and in its email newsletter which reaches 200,000 tourism businesses. The Tourism Skills Network has also advertised the award on its website.
  245W
  In addition, the Department sponsors, and is continuing to work with, the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), to promote a greater awareness and understanding of the rights of disabled people. The DRC provides advice via its helpline to employers. service providers and members of the public about rights and duties under the DDA.

  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport provides funding for England's 9 Regional Tourist Boards (RTBs), and one function of the RTBs is to interpret and communicate the impact of legislation which applies to the tourism sector—this includes the DDA.

  E-government
  Dr. Francis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what organisations he has consulted to meet his Department's commitment to develop an online web based retirement planner; and when that planner will be available to the public. [122267]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The consultation programme for the Green Paper "Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement," Cm 5677, was the largest we have undertaken on pensions. More than 800 consultation responses were received. We also met around 2,000 people including individuals and those representing a wide range of organisations taking part in 35 consultation events of various forms. Nearly 150 people contributed to this discussion on our departmental website.

  There were a limited number of specific references to the online retirement planner within the consultation responses. Those that did respond were in favour of the proposal.

  The Department has also carried out specific consultation with representatives from consumer bodies, industry trade bodies and pension product providers. In particular, with:

  Consumers Association;

  Financial Services Authority (FSA);

  Association of British Insurers (ABI);

  Pension Product Providers, including AXA Sun Life, Legal and General, Norwich Union, Prudential, Scottish Equitable and Standard Life; and

  EMAP, an employer

  We are currently finalising our plans for the web-based retirement planner in response to the Green Paper consultation exercise.

  Employment Assistance
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to assist those for whom a move to new employment would impose severe problems of cash flow. [125375]

  Mr. Browne
  Making the move from benefit into employment can be worrying. In recognition of this a package of measures has been developed, designed to provide real support for people making this transition and give them confidence that they can take up work. These measures include Job Grant, Lone Parents' Run-On, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Extended Payments, Mortgage Interest Run-On, the Adviser 246W
  Discretion Fund, Social Fund Crisis Loans and the New Tax Credits. In addition we have announced further plans to financially assist people during the transition from benefit to work.

  From April 2004 we will be extending the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Extended Payments to people claiming Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance, making it easier for people on these benefits to manage the first few weeks in work. At the same time we will be extending the £11.90 Housing Benefit earnings disregard to people working 16 hours a week and who are receiving or are entitled to Working Tax Credit. This disregard is currently only available to those working 30 hours or more a week and who receiving, or are entitled to, Working Tax Credit.

  From October 2004 we will be introducing a unified, more streamlined and easier to understand Job Grant that will also replace the Lone Parents' Benefit Run-On. The new Job Grant will have two rates; one for people with, and another for those without, children. It will, for the first time, be available to partners of benefit claimants who are taking up work and taking the household off benefit. Finally we will also be piloting a new in-work credit for lone parents, also from October 2004.

  These measures will help people financially during the difficult period between the last payment of benefit and the first payment of wages.

  Energy-efficient Electrical Appliances
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage the use of social fund grants to provide energy efficient electrical appliances. [120750]

  Mr. Pond
  We believe that people should, as far as possible, be responsible for managing their own money. People who are awarded a social fund payment are, like other consumers, free to choose the goods they purchase. This includes deciding whether to purchase energy efficient electrical appliances.

  Exceptions Service
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the statement made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond) of 9 July 2003,Official Report, column 310WH, if he will make a statement on the timetable for the establishment of the exceptions service. [125962]

  Mr. Pond
  Our aim is to have an exceptions service ready from October 2004.

  Gangmasters
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the enforcement of the obligations of gangmasters to ensure that the staff they provide to British farmers and growers(a) are aware of the health and safety requirements of their work and (b) hold appropriate qualifications for any specialised tasks they may need to perform. [124888]
  247W
  Mr. Browne
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]: Employers, including gangmasters have responsibility for the health and safety of their employees. Enforcement of health and safety aw in the agriculture sector rests with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a summary of HSE's enforcement and other activities can be found in the Health and Safety Commission's annual report available from the House library. HSE is involved with other Government agencies and departments in the Gangmaster Working Group's activities to co-ordinate enforcement activity against gangmasters acting illegally.

  Government Initiatives
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the research that has been conducted into(a) employment zones, (b) new deal for communities and (c) action teams; if he will publish these documents; and if he will make a statement. [122465]

  Mr. Browne
  The following research has been conducted into Employment Zones and Action Teams:'Employment Zones: A study of local delivery agents and case studies', Working Age Evaluation Series 124, July 2002
  'Personal Advisers in New Deal 25 plus and Employment Zones', Working Age Evaluation Series 139, August 2002
  'Evaluation of Action Teams for Jobs' Working Age Evaluation 114, April 2002

  All of these reports are available in the Library. Future evaluation reports on these programmes will be placed in the Library when published.

  The evaluation of the New Deal for Communities partnerships is just moving into its second year. A first report on this evaluation will be published later this year by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit. This report will be placed in the Library.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what(a) client-based targets and (b) weighted points target system Jobcentre Plus has for placing people who are on (i) jobseekers allowance, (ii) income support for lone parents, (iii) incapacity benefit and (iv) each of the new deal programmes; what the level of performance has been against each of these targets and the weighted points targets in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [124538]

  Mr. Browne
  Jobcentre Plus was created in April 2002, bringing together the Employment Service and those parts of the Benefits Agency chat delivered services to working age people. That was the first time that an explicit weighted target was used for job entries.

  The targets for Jobcentre Plus are set out in the Jobcentre Plus Business Plan and the Performance and Resources Agreement (PRA) which are available in the Library. Performance against the 2002/03 targets will be included in the Jobcentre Plus Annual Report and Accounts, which will be published in the near future.

  Job entry performance against targets prior to 2002 can be found in the Employment Service Annual Reports and Accounts, copies of which are in the Library.

  Jobseeker's Allowance (North Yorkshire)
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when persons whose jobseekers allowance claims are refused are informed of the reasons for the refusal of their claim; and if he will make a statement on the appeal procedures applicable in such cases. [124024]

  Mr. Pond
  Once a claim for jobseekers allowance is assessed, a letter is sent to inform the person making the claim of the entitlement decision and the reasons for that decision. This letter also sets out the action the customer can take if they either do not understand or are unhappy with the decision. They can ask for further explanation of the decision, ask for the decision to be reconsidered or appeal against the decision to an independent tribunal.

  Full details on these procedures can be found in leaflet GL24: If you think our decision is wrong. A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were claiming jobseeker's allowance in North Yorkshire on(a) 1 April 2000 and (b) 1 April 2003. [124427]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is in the table.

  Jobseeker's allowance claimants in the county of North Yorkshire

  Number

  April 2000

  6,635

  April 2003

  4,932

  Note:

  Figures are from a count of people claiming benefit at 13 April
  2000 and 10 April2003 respectively.

  Source:

  Jobcentre Plus computer systems (including clerically held cases)

  National Insurance
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many pensioners who live abroad and have a full National Insurance record have not had their pension up-rated since they moved; and what the current lowest full basic state pension paid to such a pensioner is; [125029]

  (2) how many pensioners who live abroad and have a full National Insurance contribution record have not had their pension up-rated since they moved; and what the lowest full basic state pension paid to a pensioner living abroad who has a full contribution record is. [125030]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is that, as at 30 September 2002, 488,400 State Pensioners living abroad will not have their State Pension increased.

  Source:

  Five per cent sample from the Pensions Strategy Computer System as at 30 September 2002.

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  Official Spelling
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy that official(a) correspondence, (b) reports and (c) documentation from his office use the English spelling of words where this differs from the US version. [118861]
  249W
  Maria Eagle
  The Department for Work and Pensions follows Cabinet Office Guidance for the Handling of Ministerial and Other Correspondence; this ensures that the quality of replies is high.

  The department also has its own guidance in place known as Better Letters and Effective Business Writing which emphasise the importance of using plain English in all departmental correspondence.

  Departmental publications are prepared in line with the Guidance on the Work of the Government Information and Communication Service.

  Plastic Card Fraud
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following the introduction of direct payment for benefits, what measures he has introduced to. [119848]

  Mr. Pond
  Direct Payment is a more secure and efficient method of payment. We have been paying benefits into customers' accounts for many years. We have no evidence of weakness in the system of delivering Direct Payments to financial institutions once a payment has been authorised it is sent and received securely. The financial institutions already have robust security measures to safeguard cash withdrawals using plastic cards, including benefit payments, from their customers' accounts.

  Post Office Card Accounts
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Post Office Card Accounts he estimates will have been opened by 2005; what the cost to the Government of this number of accounts is; and what the cost would be if five million such accounts were to be opened by this time. [125335]

  Mr. Pond
  [holding answer 11 July 2003]: Our working assumption is around three million Post Office card accounts will have been opened by 2005. However, there is no cap on numbers and anyone who wants to open an account can do so. Present indications are that the final number will be significantly above three million. The precise cost at any given level of take-up is commercial in confidence to Post Office Limited and is not released in line with paragraph 13, part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.

  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2003,Official Report, column 412W, on Post Office card accounts, if he will break down the figures in respect of each benefit of the customers (a) who were invited to take part in direct payment and (b) who have failed to respond to the invitation; and for what reasons the answer did not contain the information requested. [121681]

  Maria Eagle
  [holding answer 26 June 2003]: I regret that the information given in my previous answer was incomplete due to an error.

  As at 6 June 2003 the precise break down of figures is 2,797,879 customers have been invited to convert to direct payment.
  250W
  Of those, 2,354,313 are child benefit customers, 108,837 are Veterans Agency customers, 148,148 are pensions customers and 186,581 are Jobcentre Plus customers.

  We are awaiting a response from 705,699. This consists of 514,235 child benefit customers, 11,775 Veterans Agency customers, 61,320 pension service customers and 118,369 Jobcentre Plus customers.

  Pensions and Jobcentre Plus customers began their conversion process with controlled pilots. Their full conversion commenced at the beginning of May 2003. This corrects the information given in my answer on 19 June 2003, Official Report, column 412W.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of automatically creating Post Office Card Accounts for those benefit and pension claimants who choose not to open a bank account following contact from his Department as part of the migration programme. [124302]

  Mr. Pond
  We have made no such estimates. The Post Office card account is one of the banking options available to customers. The choice of account is a matter for the customer. It would not be appropriate for the Department to open a Post Office card account on a customer's behalf, in the same way as it would be inappropriate for us to do so for any other sort of bank account.

  Social Fund
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what proportion of rejected applications to the Social Fund for(a) budgeting loans and (b) crisis loans have been overturned on appeal in each year since 1997; [110912]

  (2) how many applications there have been to the Social Fund for (a) budgeting loans and (b) crisis loans in each year since 1997; and how many have been rejected in each of th Dse years. [110921]

  Mr. Pond
  An applicant to the discretionary Social Fund who is dissatisfied with the decision on their application has the right to have the decision reviewed.

  An internal reviewing officer carries out the initial review at local level, and the applicant is notified of the outcome. Applicants who remain dissatisfied with the result of the local review can ask for a further review by an independent Social Fund Inspector.

  Information on the number and proportion of applications initially refused, but which resulted in awards following review is not available. Information on the number of applications made and the number which were initially refused is in the table.
  251W

  Social Fund loan applications and refusals 1996–97 to 2002–03

  Budgeting loan applications

  Budgeting loan refusals

  Crisis loan applications

  Crisis loan refusals

  1996–97

  1,339,000

  475,000

  1,022,000

  233,000

  1997–98

  1,330,000

  494,000

  1,057,000

  230,000

  1998–99

  1,327,000

  442,000

  1,135,000

  247,000

  1999–2000

  1,680,000

  647,000

  1,294,000

  336,000

  2000–01

  1,724,000

  531,000

  1,292,000

  342,000

  2001–02

  1,748,000

  460,000

  1,330,000

  317,000

  2002–03

  1,774,000

  466,000

  1,391,000

  305,000

  Notes:

  1. If an application is initially refused, but an award is subsequently made on review, the case will still be counted as an (initial) refusal in the table.

  2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source:

  DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System

  Stakeholder Pension (Women)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the stakeholder pension on pension rights for women. [125355]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Stakeholder pensions do not impose penalties if a person stops paying contributions for a time, or if they transfer their pension to another

  Table 1: The gross cost of restoring a link with earnings in the basic State Pension from April 2004

  £ billion

  2005–06

  2006–07

  2007–08

  2008–09

  2009–10

  2010–11

  All pensioners

  1.7

  2.5

  3.3

  4.2

  5.2

  6.2

  Pensioners aged 65 and over

  1.6

  2.2

  2.9

  3.7

  4.5

  5.4

  Pensioners aged 70 and over

  1.1

  1.6

  2.1

  2.7

  3.3

  3.9

  Pensioners aged 75 and over

  800

  1.1

  1.4

  1.8

  2.2

  2.6

  Pensioners aged 80 and over

  500

  600

  900

  1.1

  1.3

  1.6

  Table 2: The net cost of restoring a link with earnings in the basic State Pension from April 2004

  £ billion

  2005–06

  2006–07

  2007–08

  2008–09

  2009–10

  2010–11

  All pensioners

  1.1

  1.6

  2.2

  2.8

  3.4

  4.1

  Pensioners aged 65 and over

  1.3

  1.8

  2.4

  3.0

  3.7

  4.4

  Pensioners aged 70 and over

  900

  1.2

  1.7

  2.1

  2.6b

  3.0

  Pensioners aged 75 and over

  600

  800

  1.1

  1.4

  1.7b

  2.0

  Pensioners aged 80 and over

  300

  500

  600

  800

  900

  1.1

  Notes:

  1. All costs are rounded to the nearest £100 million and are in 2003–04 price terms.

  2. Gross costs are calculated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with Budget 2003 assumptions. It is assumed that the earnings link is restored in Apr 1 2004.

  3. The net costs are calculated using the DWP Policy Simulation Model for 2005–06. The net cost represents the cost after allowing for any offsetting savings in income-related benefits.

  4. In the case where the earnings link is restored for all pensions, it is assumed that the start of the Savings Credit is increased to the value of the earnings linked basic State Pension. In the other variants it is assumed that the start of the Savings Credit is unchanged.

  State Pensions Forecasts
  Dr. Francis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many state pensions forecasts his Department expects to produce in the next three years; how many people will be required to process those projected forecasts; and what the estimated cost is to process them. [122268]

  Malcolm Wicks
  In the year 2003–04 we expect to issue 843,000 Individual Pension Forecasts; over one million Combined Pension Forecasts and 1.9 million Automatic Pension Forecasts to the self-employed in 252W
  provider. They are therefore a pension option for people who change jobs often or who have breaks in their employment and savings patterns, which includes many women.

  We are monitoring trends in take-up of stakeholder pensions, including differences in take-up between men and women, using a number of sources.

  Information from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) shows that in the period 1 January 2002 to 30 June 2002 over 40 per cent, of stakeholder pension sales were to, or for, women. In comparison 30 per cent, of personal pension products are held by women.

  State Pension
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the cost in(a) gross terms and (b) net terms of restoring the earnings link for the state pension in each year between 2005–06 and 2010–11, assuming that the policy was introduced in April 2004 and applied to (i) all pensioners, (ii) pensioners aged 65 or above, (iii) pensioners aged 70 and above, (iv) pensioners aged 75 and above and (v) pensioners aged 80 and above. [126035]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is set out in the tables.

  2003–04. The total number of State Pension Forecasts for 2003–04 will therefore be approximately 3,944,000. This is five times the number issued in 2002–03.

  We are currently finalising our forecasting plans in response to the Green Paper "Simplicity, Security and Choice," Cm 5677, and the subsequent consultation exercise. We have not made final decisions on the total number of planned forecasts for 2004–05 and 2005–06.

  The current number of staff processing all forecasts is the equivalent of 175 full time staff. The estimated operational cost for this year is £3.9 million. Estimates

  253W
  of the operational costs for future years are not currently available as they are subject to decisions that we make as part of the Informed Choice package in the Green Paper.

  State Second Pension
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is the Government's policy to turn the state second pension into a flat-rate benefit. [125408]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Government are keeping the position under review, taking account of progress on stakeholder pensions and the wider developments in pensions and savings as set out in the Pensions Green Paper "Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5677).

  Tax Credits
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has(a) received from and (b) made to the Scottish Executive concerning recent problems with the credit payments, broken down by (i) subject, (ii) date and (iii) responsible Scottish Minister. [122510]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We regularly communicate with Scottish Office Ministers on matters of mutual interest. At official level, there is regular contact between officials in the Department and their Scottish Executive counterparts.

  Pension Credit will be introduced from October 2003.

  Teenage Mothers
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of teenage mothers are dependent on benefit; and what proportion this represents of the benefit budget. [123592]

  Mr. Pond
  The information requested is not available.

  Work-related Accidents
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work-related(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries occurred in the Truro and St. Austell constituency in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002; and how many prosecutions took place as a result. [124444]

  Mr. Browne
  Information at constituency level is not available.

  The number of work-related (a) deaths and (b) major injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the district councils of Carrick and Restormel in (i) 1999–2000 (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02, and the number of health and safety at work prosecutions which have taken place as a result, are shown in the table.

  Year1

  Work-Related Deaths2

  Separate Offences Prosecuted

  Major injury2

  Separate Offences Prosecuted

  1999–2000

  3

  —

  171

  2

  2000–01

  1

  —

  132

  —

  2001–02

  2

  —

  111

  3—

  254W
  1 The annual basis is the planning year from 1 April to 31 March

  2 Deaths and major injuries to employees, self-employed people and members of the public

  3 HSE Prosecutions may yet follow deaths or injuries that occurred in 2001–02

  The number of work-related (a) deaths and (b) major injuries reported to the district councils of Carrick and Restormel in (i) 1999––2000 (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02, and the number of prosecutions by the councils, are shown in the table.

  Year1

  Work-Reiated Deaths2

  Major injury2

  Number of Separate Offences Prosecuted (all health and safety offences)3

  1999–2000

  —

  73

  2

  2000–014

  —

  68

  —

  2001–02

  —

  61

  Not yet available

  1 The annual basis is the planning year from 1 April to 31 March

  2 Deaths and major injuries to employees, self-employed people and members of the public

  3 Figures for offences prosecuted by local authorities specifically following death or major injury are not available except at disproportionate cost

  4 Restormel District Council did not include details of enforcement action in their annual Local Authority health and safety return for 2000–01

  The number of health and safety at work prosecutions by Carrick and Restormel district councils for 2001–02 will be available on 31 July.

  Workplace Safety
  Mr. Michael Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work-related(a) deaths and (b) serious injuries occurred in Worcester for the last year for which data are available; and how many prosecutions took place as a result. [122517]

  Mr. Browne
  The number of work-related(a) deaths and (b) major injuries reported to HSE in Worcester in 2001–02, and the number of health and safety at work prosecutions which have taken place as a result, are as follows:

  2001–021

  Work-related deaths2

  0

  Major injury2

  109

  1 The annual basis is the planning year from 1 April to 31 March.

  2 Deaths and major injuries to employees, self-employed people and members of the public.

  As yet no prosecutions have been taken in relation to these deaths and injuries. The number of work-related (a) deaths and (b) major injuries reported to Worcester city council in 2001–02, are as follows:

  2001–021

  Work-related deaths2

  1

  Major injury2

  30

  1 The annual basis is the planning year from 1 April to 31 March.

  2 Deaths and major injuries to employees, self-employed people and members of the public.

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  The number of health and safety at work prosecutions by the Council in 2001–02 will be available shortly. I will write to my hon. Friend with these statistics when they become available and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Iraq
  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs what representations the Department has received on providing assistance for the re-establishment of a police force in Iraq [125695]

  Mr. Rammell
  Government officials continue to discuss with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) how best the UK can contribute to the CPA's work to rebuild the Iraqi police service. The UK considers the restoration of the rule of law in Iraq to be a priority and will stay closely engaged with the CPA on issues of funding and assistance. In particular, the UK has deployed a senior police officer to Baghdad to assist with advising and training the new Iraq police service. In addition to this a further senior officer will deploy to Basra on 15 July to advise CPA (South). The CPA intends to hold a police contributor's conference shortly to garner support for a substantial international policing contribution, the UK is actively considering making a further part of this process.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between the United Nations and the Iraq Survey Group. [125544]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Iraq Survey Group reports to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. Under the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1483, Coalition partners will make periodic reports to the UN Security Council on activities in Iraq.

  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iraq sought the supply of uranium from Africa that had no civil nuclear application in Iraq since 1998. [125731]

  Mr. MacShane
  Iraq's civil nuclear programme was frozen under UN Security Council Resolution 707 in August 1991. Iraq would, therefore, have no legitimate civil application for any uranium sought or procured after that time.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 15 May to the right hon. and Learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell)Official Report, column 403W, on arms exports, if he will list (a) the dates of the visits and (b) the names of those involved in the promotion of Ministry exports on such visits. [122149]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer my hon. Friend to the pursuant answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the right hon. and learned Member for 256W
  North East Fife (Menzies Campbell) on 14 July, Official Report, column 47–8W. Further dates of such visits by Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are:

  Chile: Baroness Symons 6–8 March 2002.

  India: Foreign Secretary 27 February and 29 May 2002.

  Mike O'Brien 17 October 2002.

  Singapore: Ben Bradshaw 21 May 2002.

  Foreign Secretary 8 January 2003.

  Chechnya
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with President Putin about human rights in Chechnya. [125279]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in Chechnya with President Putin and Foreign Minister Ivanov during the State Visit last month. President Putin briefed on the political process. The Prime Minister supported a political solution to the conflict and stressed that the Chechen people should have a say in their own internal affairs.

  Colombia
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Colombia. [125519]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Colombia. I undertook a visit in May.

  Consultation Documents
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the consultation documents issued by his Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation. [124576]

  Mr. Straw
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has conducted the following public consultations in the last four years: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/ pane12000Apdf
  Cost: £75,057 (excluding staff costs)
  Consultation Document was sent to 500 businesses and NGOs asking for comments. It was sent to a wide range of organisations throughout Britain and it was published on the FCO's website.
  There were 55 substantive responses to the Consultation paper
  International Criminal Court: Consultation on draft legislation. Presented to Parliament on 1 August 2000 and closed on 12 October 2000. The website address is: http:// www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/icc.pdf
  Cost: £6,156 (excluding staff costs)
  400 copies, plus an electronic copy produced
  45 responses were received

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  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
  Cost: £4,165 (excluding staff costs)
  500 copies of the document were produced
  39 responses were received
  Strengthening the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Countering the Threat from Biological Weapons. Presented to Parliament on 29 April 2002 and closed on 13 September 2002. The website address is: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Filesikfile/ btwc290402.pdf
  Cost: £2,044 (excluding staff costs)
  There was a single report, of which the FCO ordered 500 copies in the time frame of the reply (the Green Paper itself).
  The FCO received 16 formal responses

  Cyprus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the compliance by occupied Cyprus with the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the Loizidou case. [123181]

  Mr. MacShane
  We welcome the recent commitment by Turkey to pay the money awarded to Ms Loizidou by the European Court of Human Rights.

  We urge the Turkish authorities to continue to work with the Council of Europe Secretariat to ensure that this payment is made as soon as possible.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a new procedure for application for a pass for British Forces Cyprus Service Personnel to visit Northern Cyprus will be announced; and if he will make a statement. [125025]

  Mr. Ingram
  I have been asked to reply.

  A review of procedures for passes for British Forces Cyprus Service Personnel to visit the north of Cyprus is being conducted by the British High Commission in conjunction with the Sovereign Base Areas Administration and Headquarters British Forces Cyprus. All affected personnel will be notified once the review is complete. In the meantime British Force Cyprus Service Personnel continue to be able to visit the north of Cyprus.

  Estonia
  Lembit öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has given to Estonia towards assisting the development of(a) their police service and (b) their NPA Estonian Neighbourhood Watch scheme; and if he will make a statement. [125529]

  Expenditure in year

  Major IT Projects

  2001–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Firecrest—Infrastructureproject to provide modern, easy to use office automation throughout the FCO

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Foreign and Commonwealth Office Telecommunications Network (FTN)—An integrated and global telecommunications service

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

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  Mr. MacShane
  Through the British Embassy in Tallinn, the UK is actively supporting the Estonian police in preparing for EU accession. In particular, the government has funded UK experts to provide training in the fields of human rights and police ethics, counter-terrorism, facilitation skills for Police training officers and English language training.

  The FCO coordinated the UK's participation as lead nation in an EU twinning project with Estonia. Contacts established between the UK National Neighbourhood Watch Association and its Estonian counterpart in the context of this project have led to further cooperation between the two organisations.

  European Constitution
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with counterparts in the European Union about the legislative competencies covered by the draft European Constitution. [124755]

  Mr. MacShane
  Foreign Office Ministers and officials have had regular discussions with their counterparts in Member and Accession States on issues arising in the Convention on the Future of Europe.

  India
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Indian Government on the destruction of the national habitat for tigers in Rajastan for the mining of minerals to make talcum powder. [123668]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  While we have not raised this issue with the Government of India we are looking for an opportunity to do so soon. In the interim, the High Commission in New Delhi will monitor the situation.

  International Criminal Court
  Tom Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries recognise the authority of the International Criminal Court. [126173]

  Mr. Rammell
  There are presently 90 States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, a full list of which may be found on the UN website www. un. org.

  IT Projects
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what major IT projects with a value in excess of £10,000 he authorised expenditure in each of the last three financial years. [125775]

  Mr. Rammell
  Expenditure has been authorised on the following major IT projects in the last three financial years:
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  Expenditure in year

  Major IT Projects

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Prism—Personnel, finance and procurement system

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Internet—UK portal site providing British Public Sector Information

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Entry Clearance Modernisation—To support entry clearance modernisation

  Yes

  Yes

  Yes

  Digital passport—Providing a modern machine readable passport system

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Consular Database—A centralised consular database

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Knowledge—FCO knowledge management system

  No

  Yes

  Yes

  Of the above projects, expenditure on FTN, Prism, Digital passports and Consular database was approved by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. Other expenditure on major projects was authorised through delegated authority.

  Liberia
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Liberia. [125299]

  Mr. Mullin
  There is a lull in the fighting in Liberia. On 10 July, the Joint Verification Team, comprising the UN, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and all sides in the conflict, began to verify and monitor the cease-fire. We continue to encourage all parties to respect the cease-fire and participate actively in the peace talks taking place in Ghana. The talks should lead to a negotiated political settlement and transitional government.

  The security and humanitarian situation is of serious concern. There are reports of 250,000 displaced civilians in Monrovia alone. Fuel, water and medical supplies are in short supply and looting is rife. A cholera outbreak has already killed more than 300 people. The UK has committed £2.5 million for humanitarian activity in Liberia this year, including £1.5 million as a response to the latest fighting.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to send British military personnel to Liberia. [125300]

  Mr. Mullin
  There are no plans to send UK troops to Liberia at present.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assesssment he has made of the effect of the exit from power of President Charles Taylor on the stability of Liberia. [125301]

  Mr. Mullin
  President Taylor has been a destabilising influence in Liberia and the region. The UK does not see a political future for him in Liberia. We hope that he will stand down as he has promised to do. The cease-fire agreement, signed in Ghana on 17 June, included provision for the formation of a transitional government, not including President Taylor. Peace talks currently taking place in Ghana aim to agree a political roadmap, leading to free and fair elections.

  On 4 June 2003 the Special Court for Sierra Leone unsealed an indictment for President Charles Taylor of Liberia as one of those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sierra Leone since 1996.
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  The UK has called on Charles Taylor to surrender himself to the Court and continues to encourage all states, particularly those in the region, to cooperate with the Court and facilitate his arrest.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with(a) the US Administration and (b) the Liberian Government concerning (i) the situation in Liberia and (ii) the possible deployment of a peacekeeping force. [125302]

  Mr. Mullin
  We have ongoing discussions with the US Administration at all levels concerning all aspects of the situation in Liberia, including the possible deployment of a peacekeeping force.

  There have been no discussions on the specifics of troop deployment with the Government of Liberia. However, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials met Samuel P Jackson, Minister of State for Financial and Economic Affairs in the Office of the President of Liberia, to discuss the current situation on 26 and 27 June.

  Turkmenistan
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Turkmenistan concerning raids made by the authorities on Baptist church services. [125836]

  Mr. Rammell
  Our Embassy in Ashgabat have made representations to the Turkmen government expressing our concern about the issue of raids on Baptist church services and harrassment of unregistered religious groups in Turkmenistan. We expressed the hope that no such further actions will be taken against peaceful congregations of an entirely religious character.

  The Turkmen authorities are well aware of our concerns on religious freedom issues, including the fact that only two denominations (Sunni Islam and the Russian Orthodox Church) have secured registration, despite others having reportedly fulfilled all necessary procedures.

  Uganda
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [125255]

  Mr. Mullin
  We are concerned about the deteriorating security situation in the north of Uganda following an upsurge in violence by the rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). We are particularly concerned about the impact on the local population and the recent
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  abductions of school children. While we understand the Ugandan Government's aim of combating the LRA militarily, we have, through our High Commission in Kampala, encouraged them to consider all alternative methods of bringing the conflict to an end. We are also consulting with other donor partners in Uganda on ways to help resolve the conflict.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Administration Costs
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the equivalent figures for administration costs in Table 5, pl73 of the Annual Report 2003 were for 1996–97. [124853]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]: The equivalent figures for administrative costs in Table 5, page 173 of the 2003 Home Office Annual Report for 1996–97 were published in the Running Costs table, page 85 of the 1999–2000 Home Office Annual Report.

  Advice Publication
  Jim Dowd
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2003,Official Report, column 646–47W, if he will publish the independent expert advice received by the Department. [125382]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 11 July 2003: We took advice on TETRA health and safety issues from the National Radiological Protection Board's (NRPB's) Independent Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR). The AGNIR report entitled "Possible health effects from Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA)" was published as Volume 12 No. 2, 2001 in the "Documents of the NRPB" series. It is available on the NRPB web site, http://www.nrpb.org.uk.

  Asbestos
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 23 June 2003,Official Report, column 595W, if he will list the buildings which have been identified as containing asbestos. [122966]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  No central records are kept on buildings, which contain asbestos. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, we can more readily provide details of buildings, which contain asbestos for certain parts of our estate. These are listed.

  Asbestos is only a risk to health if fibres are released into the air and breathed in. As long as it is in good condition and is not going to be disturbed or damaged there is no risk. The Department complies with the current regulations on asbestos. This ensures the safety of staff, contractors, inmates or visitors from asbestos. Department is taking steps to ensure that we will comply with the requirements of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (which come into force in May 2004).

  Central London Headquarters estate:

  Queen Anne's Gate

  Horseferry House

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  UK Passport Service

  Olympia House, Newport

  India Buildings, Liverpool

  Aragon Court, Peterborough

  Milburngate House, Durham

  National Probation Services Estate:

  Town Moor, 38/40 Christchurch Road, Doncaster

  Seafield Lodge, 71/73 Shoot Up Hill, London

  2 Corfton Road, Ealing

  St. Josephs Lodge, Miller Street, Patricroft

  172/174 Withington Road, Whalley Range, Manchester

  Carpenter House, 33 Portland Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham

  The above Probation Service buildings were identified as having asbestos from inspections carried out this year. Further surveys are being conducted on the remainder of the probation estate.

  HM Prison Service

  The following establishments have been identified as containing asbestos:

  Sudbury

  Ranby

  Stocken

  Garth

  Lancaster Farms

  Chelmsford

  Blundeston

  Whitemoor

  Dover

  Cookham Wood

  Swaleside

  Send

  Dorchester

  Channings Wood

  Bristol

  Brixton

  Holloway

  Hindley

  Styal

  Castington

  Low Newton

  Albany

  Bullingdon

  Stoke Heath

  Swinfen Hall

  Usk

  Lindholme

  Leeds

  Full Sutton

  Leicester

  Onley

  Lewes

  Doncaster

  Lincoln

  Foston Hall

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  Wellingbrough

  Haverigg

  Preston

  Hollesley Bay

  The Grange

  Bullswood Hall

  Standford Hill

  Blantyre House

  High Down

  Gloucester

  The Verne

  Guys Marsh

  Shepton Mallet

  Latchmere

  Wormwood Scrubs

  Risley

  Kirklevington Grange

  Holme House

  Aylesbury

  Haslar

  Woodhill

  Werrington JC

  Drake Hall

  Frescoed

  Wetherby

  Northallerton

  Wakefield

  Shrewsbury

  Long Lartin

  Kingston

  Whatton

  Morton Hall

  Glen Parva

  Kirkham

  Wymott

  Bedford

  Wayland

  Highpoint

  Down view

  Ford

  Elmley

  Dartmoor

  Portland

  Erlestoke

  Eastwood Park

  Feltham

  Buckley Hall

  Thorn Cross

  Deerbolt

  Durham

  Parkhurst

  Grendon/Springhill

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  Birmingham

  Featherstone

  Swansea

  Hull

  Wealstun

  Moorland

  New Hall

  Brockhill

  Reading

  Canterbury

  North Sea Camp

  Ashwell

  Gartree

  Lancaster Castle

  Norwich

  Highpoint (S)

  Littlehey

  Maidstone

  Rochester

  Coldingley

  East Sutton Park

  Exeter

  The Weare

  Leyhill

  Wandsworth

  Belmarsh

  Liverpool

  Manchester

  Acklington

  Frankland

  Camp Hill

  Huntercombe

  Hewell Grange

  Newbold Revel

  Cardiff

  Everthorpe

  Askham Grange

  Hatfield

  Stafford

  Nottingham

  Winchester

  Wolds

  Asylum Seekers
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers have been granted exceptional right to work in the last 12 months: and what his estimate is of the number of asylum seekers who remain in employment which they commenced prior to the abolition of the employment concession. [124987]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information about the number of asylum seekers granted permission to work exceptionally in the last 12 months is not available centrally and could be obtained only by examination of individual case files.
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  There are no estimates on the number of asylum seekers who remain in employment having been granted permission to work prior to the abolition of the employment concession.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made towards setting a target for the proportion of asylum cases to be decided within six months. [124991]

  Beverley Hughes
  The six-month target is the joint responsibility of the Home Office and the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Both Departments are

  Initial decisions on applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom1 for nationals of Iraq—1998 to 2002

  Number of principal applicants

  Cases considered under normal procedures3

  Backlog clearance exercise4

  Initial decisions2

  Granted asylum

  Granted ELR

  Refused

  Granted asylum or ELR under backlog criteria

  Refused under backlog criteria5

  1998

  1,100

  510

  500

  90

  —

  —

  1999

  745

  315

  320

  100

  5

  *

  2000

  5,530

  845

  2,455

  2,220

  10

  *

  20016

  8,880

  815

  1,855

  6,210

  —

  —

  20026

  11,785

  700

  8,130

  2,955

  —

  —

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2.

  2 Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  3 Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.

  4 Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre-1996 asylum application backlog.

  5 Includes some cases where the application has been refused on substantive grounds.

  6 Provisional data.

  Information on initial decisions on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the period up to June 2003, and will be available provisionally from 28 August 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigrationl. html

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi asylum seekers have been required to return to Iraq in the past year; and if he will make a statement. [125103]

  Beverley Hughes
  Excluding dependants, it is estimated that 195 Iraqi nationals who had sought asylum at some stage were removed in 2002. This figure includes persons deciding to leave after the initiation of enforcement action against them, and persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration.

  Information on the destination of these removals is not available.

  Data on removals by nationality in the period January to March 2003 are due to be published on 28 August on the Home Office web-site www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnewl.html

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the UNHCR's observations on the situation in Iraq and large scale return of Iraqi refugees; [125104]

  (2) if he will implement a moratorium on (a) Iraqi asylum decisions and (b) the proposals to return rejected applicants. [125105]
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  working closely to finalise a challenging but realistic target and will publish this as soon as it is available.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi asylum applications have been refused in each of the last five years. [125101]

  Beverley Hughes
  The table shows the number of Iraqi asylum applicants, excluding dependants, refused asylum or exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom between January 1998 and December 2002. These statistics relate to initial decisions only and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.

  Beverley Hughes
  Decision making on Iraqi asylum applications was suspended on 20 March 2003 at the onset of military action. The rapidly changing country conditions meant that there was insufficient information to make a fully considered decision, either positive or negative, about an applicant's claim and whether they would qualify for asylum under the United Nations Convention.

  We decided to resume processing of Iraqi asylum applications with effect from 16 June 2003. This coincided with a decision by the Independent Appellate Authority (IAA) to begin relisting asylum appeal hearings from the same date.

  While there remain security and humanitarian concerns in some areas, the threat of persecution from Saddam Hussein's regime no longer exists. We did not want to keep applications on hold longer than necessary given the uncertainty this creates for the individuals concerned. Having obtained information about conditions in Iraq from a range of sources, we concluded that there was sufficient information on which to base decisions As with asylum applications from all nationalities, each case will be considered individually on its merits.

  The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) is currently making preparations for the eventual return of large numbers of Iraqis and is developing a return and reintegration plan. UNHCR understands that there are people who wish to return right now and is aware that we are making plans for voluntary return programmes. We are aware of their concerns and will continue to work closely with them. With this in mind, we are developing a coherent returns

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  strategy. Initially the emphasis will be on facilitating voluntary returns. Enforced returns will only be considered once we are satisfied that conditions on the ground allow for this.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) country of departure and (b) country of origin of asylum seekers who made an asylum claim at (i) Heathrow and (ii) Gatwick airports in each of the last five years. [125185]

  Beverley Hughes
  Data is not collated centrally on the origin or the country of departure of asylum seekers, only by nationality. To obtain information on the number of people, who claimed asylum at Heathrow and Gatwick, over the last five years, would be possible only by examination of individual case-files at a disproportionate cost.

  Community Support Officers
  Mark Tami
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has issued to chief constables on the(a) recruitment and (b) use of community support officers. [122882]

  Ms Blears
  The recruitment and deployment of community support officers (CSOs) is a matter for chief officers. In December 2002 the Home Office issued a "Frequently Asked Questions" document which gave some advice on these issues. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has also published a more detailed guidance document on CSOs, with material on both recruitment and deployment. This guidance is available to chief officers on the ACPO intranet site.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of community support officers. [125107]

  Ms Blears
  The 27 forces who received first round Community Support Officer (CSO) funding are required to carry out a formal evaluation of their schemes. I expect to receive their initial findings by the end of September. In addition to this I have already received a significant amount of informal evidence, such

  Consultation papers launched in 2001

  Title

  Number of responses

  Available figures for cost (£)

  Animal Procedures—review of the Ethical Review Process

  139

  35,000

  Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000—New Laws for a successful Multi-Racial Britain

  302

  30,000

  Review of the victims Charter

  n/a

  n/a

  The Law on Extradition: a review

  15

  82,000

  Animal Rights Extremism: Government Strategy: A Consultation

  55

  n/a

  The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 A consultation leaflet

  95

  2,155

  Guidance for the use of an Intermediary under s.29 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999

  86

  80,617

  Funding Community Groups: a consultation document

  235

  3,742

  The Halliday Report—Making punishments work

  305

  75,000

  Consultation of use of X/Gamma Radiation Scanner.

  n/a

  n/a

  Extension of Civil Penalties to Freight Shuttle Wagons

  n/a

  n/a

  Consultation Paper on the Review of Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997

  46

  50,000 plus

  Accessing Communications data—draft code of practice

  n/a

  n/a

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code F

  10

  n/a

  Ratification of the Driving Disqualification Convention

  46

  n/a

  Review of Family Visitors Appeals

  n/a

  n/a

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  as letters from members of the public, indicating that CSOs have been a great success in combating low level crime and reassuring the public.

  Consultation Documents
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the consultation documents issued by his Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation. [124575]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The Government recommend that policy development should be done in close consultation with stakeholders. Formal consultation documents are only one part of this process, which includes:

  Stakeholder meetings

  Listening events/public meetings

  Web forums

  Public surveys

  Focus groups

  Regional events

  Free-phone and freepost surveys and events

  Targeted leaflet campaigns

  Road shows and exhibitions.

  It is standard practice for departments to evaluate the policy development process, including the use of consultation.

  Details of the number of consultation documents issued in each consultation exercise are not collated on a central basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Also provision of full details as requested for the years 1999–2000 would also incur disproportionate cost. However to give the fullest reply I can advise that the Home Office launched 19 consultations in 1999 and 28 consultation papers in 2000. Details of Home Office consultation publications can be found at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/inside/consults/index, html

  The following table lists the consultations launched in 2001, 2002 plus those that were launched this year and for which the consultation period has concluded. I include figures for cost where available; methodology in calculating costs may vary.
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  Consultation papers launched in 2001

  Title

  Number of responses

  A vailable figures for cost (£)

  Improving the planning of Young People Substance Misuse Services

  440

  n/a

  Fees for the removal and storage of vehicles, under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

  21

  n/a

  White Paper 'Policing a New Century: A Blueprint for reform

  1,200

  n/a

  Death in Police Custody—Consultation paper on revising the definition of categories of deaths of members of the public during or following police contact

  14

  930

  Consultation papers launched in 2002

  Title

  Number of responses

  Available figures for cost

  Motor Salvage Operators Regulations 2002, made under the Vehicles (Crime) Act 2001

  26

  n/a

  Secure Borders Safe Haven—Integration with diversity in modern Britain

  330

  n/a

  Extension of controlled drugs licensing

  49

  n/a

  Proposed changes to the Misuse of Drugs legislation

  11

  n/a

  Review of Crime Reduction Training

  n/a

  n/a

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code A

  45

  n/a

  Review of Work Permit Policy on Recruitment of employment agencies and contractors

  54

  n/a

  Charging for the consideration of Work Permit applications

  135

  n/a

  Merger of CDRPs/DATs

  234

  n/a

  Working Holidaymaker Scheme: Consultation document

  84

  5,219 inc 4,750 staff costs

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code B

  28

  No separate costs available as part of wider review

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code C

  16

  No separate costs available as part of wider review

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code D

  105

  No separate costs available as part of wider review

  Police and Criminal Evidence Act—Code E

  16

  No separate costs available as part of wider review

  Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud

  5,031

  Responses still being analysed. Too early to calculate cost.

  Breaking the Circle—A report of the review of the rehabilitation of offenders act

  68

  50,000

  Justice for All (Home Office, Attorney General and Lord Chancellor)

  242

  n/a

  Death in Police Custody—Consultation paper on revising the definition of categories of deaths of members of the public during or following police contact

  13

  n/a

  Protocol to the Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters

  3

  n/a

  Proceeds of Crime Act Section 292—Code of Practice for search powers regarding recovery of criminal proceeds

  23

  2,652

  Proceeds of Crime Act—Part 7 (Money laundering) Section 339 Form and manner of disclosures.

  54

  2,964

  Fundamental review of death certification and the Coroner services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

  500 +

  1.1 million for the review as a Whole. The writing issuing and consideration of the responses to the consultation document were not available separately.

  Criminal Justice White Paper: Proposals on jury exemptions and excusals PRIA

  56

  4,300

  Proceeds of Crime Act section 377—Investigation powers

  24

  3,325

  Proposals to make lawful the supply of specific items of drugs paraphernalia to drug users

  75

  n/a

  Implementation of juxtaposed controls at Calais

  13

  n/a

  IAA 1999 provision of facilities at ports and charging for additional services section 25/26 1999 Act

  8

  2,000

  Consultation papers launched in 2003 and closed to data.

  Title

  Number of responses

  Available figures for cost

  Sexual Offences Bill—sex offenders who travel abroad

  26

  n/a

  Insurance Cover Working Group paper (Voluntary Sector Insurance)

  n/a

  n/a

  Patient Group Directions (PGD)—Proposal to permit the supply of certain controlled drugs by health professionals under the PGD system.

  80

  n/a

  Criminal Records Bureau—reform of the disclosure process

  570

  11,400

  Access to communications data—respecting privacy and protecting the public from crime

  187

  66,167

  Retention of communications data—Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001

  54

  25,251

  Bind overs—a power for the 21st Century

  16

  3,500 approx

  Nationality, Immigration and Asylum (NIA) Act 2002. Sections 134–139: Implementation of new information powers.

  16

  n/a

  Juxtaposed controls implementation—Dover-Calais

  10

  765

  270W 271W

  Consultation papers launched in 2003 and closed to date.

  Title

  Number of responses

  Available figures for cost

  Criminal Records Bureau—Basic Disclosure: Routing applications for basic disclosure through registered bodies

  358

  Still being analysed. Costs not known yet

  New sentencing guidance for the court of appeal on the crime of Robbery

  30—including one anticipated later response

  n/a

  Review of the seasonal agricultural workers scheme

  n/a

  n/a

  Correspondence
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Crosby regarding delays in releasing persons subject to immigration control from Her Majesty's Prison Liverpool at the end of criminal sentences. [124240]

  Beverley Hughes
  I wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 July 2003.

  Crime (Older People)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what initiatives to tackle crimes against older people his Department is responsible. [124439]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 10 July 2003]: Elderly people are far less likely to suffer crime than younger people. But in recognition that crime against older people is particularly distasteful, we have funded several schemes specifically to tackle this problem.

  We set up a Distraction Burglary Task Force in 2000 to facilitate a multi-agency approach to reducing the problem of bogus callers and rogue traders. The task force includes people from different agencies who work with older people, such as Age Concern and Help the Aged, as well agencies such as the police. It has invested substantial resources and effort in promoting local schemes to tackle the problem, liaising with utility companies and others that need to call on the elderly, gathering data and publicising good practice both to the elderly and to those that work with them.

  Under the Crime Reduction Programme, we funded a two-year programme (the Locks for Pensioners scheme) to provide home security upgrades for low income pensioners in areas with burglary rates above the national average. The scheme was run in conjunction with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra's) Warm Front scheme, and, under it, over 58,000 homes received additional locks or bolts.

  The Locks for Pensioners scheme has ended. But it is now open to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships to fund local schemes where they identify crime against the elderly as a problem in their area. We cannot provide comprehensive data on locally funded projects for the elderly as this information is not held centrally. However, we know that interventions being implemented include improving the appearance and security of homes, sharing intelligence with all the involved agencies, educating people in crime reduction measures and providing reassurance and assistance.
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  The work we are taking forward to tackle crime generally, while not solely aimed at older people, deals with many of the concerns they have about their safety.

  General initiatives which may have a particular impact on older people include the introduction of Community Support Officers tasked with tackling low-level crime and anti-social behaviour of the sort that causes older people much concern, and work with the Department of Health to evaluate the effectiveness of security technology in reducing crime and the fear of crime in two pilot hospitals and one ambulance service in England.

  Dangerous Dogs
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities have initiated prosecutions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; how many have resulted in convictions; and how many dogs responsible for attacks were not ordered to be destroyed. [125648]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 14 July 2003]: It is not possible, in the statistics collected centrally, to identify those prosecutions initiated by local authorities.

  The available information, relating to all prosecutions and convictions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England and Wales between 1992 and 2001 is given in the table.

  Figures for 2002 will be available in the autumn.

  Details of cases where dogs responsible for attacks are not destroyed are not collected centrally.

  Defendants1 proceeded against at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, England and Wales 1992–2001

  Year

  Proceeded against

  Found guilty

  1992

  1,222

  575

  1993

  984

  434

  1994

  617

  260

  1995

  554

  220

  1996

  449

  159

  1997

  504

  241

  1998

  764

  406

  1999

  802

  442

  20002

  823

  446

  2001

  886

  522

  1 These data are on the principal offence basis.

  2 Staffordshire Police were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' court for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table

  DCS Ellie Baker
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what progress is being made in the internal police investigation into the conduct of Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker; [123695]

  (2) if he will list (a) the name, (b) rank and (c) length of time for which they have been involved in the investigation of each officer involved in the internal police investigation of Detective Chief Superintende1nt Ellie Baker; [123696]

  (3) whether compensation will be paid to Detective Chief Superintendent Ellie Baker for the criminal investigation into her conduct. [123697]

  Ms Blears
  The West Midlands Police inform me that the internal investigation is drawing to a close. Independent legal advice has been sought and shared with the Police Complaints Authority, who are currently considering further written representations submitted by Detective Chief Superintendent (DCS) Baker in May, before they make their recommendations on whether she should face misconduct proceedings.

  The West Midlands Police inform me that the overall Senior Investigating Officer is Mr. Robert Quick, formerly a Commander of the Metropolitan Police Service and now the Deputy Chief Constable of Surrey Constabulary. Mr. Robert Quick has been involved in the case since the outset in November 2002. Other

  1. Crime Reduction Initiatives

  Initiatives that have been funded in Pendle for crime reduction purposes

  £

  Name of initiative

  Total amount of funding awarded

  CCTV

  2001–02

  201,000

  Communities against drugs

  2001–02 and 2002–03

  169,600

  Safer communities initiative

  2002–03

  32,125

  Partnership Development Fund (PDF)

  2002–03

  20,000

  Small Retailers in Deprived Areas (SRDA)

  2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04

  71,698

  Building Safer Communities Fund (BSC)

  2003–04

  120,867

  Basic Command Unit Fund (BCU)1

  2003–04

  1214,571

  Total

  (inclusive BCU) 829,861

  (exclusive BCU) 615,290

  1 BCU allocation is for the Pennine BCU which includes Burnley, Rossendale and Pendle. The allocation will be used across the BCU area; it is not possible to quantify how much will be utilised in Pendle itself.

  Interventions funded by crime reduction allocations included: a town centre Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system, targeted policing operations, mobile CCTV, an initiative on tackling domestic violence, supporting youth mentoring, installation of security improvements and funding community support workers.

  2. Community Cohesion Initiatives

  The Community Cohesion Pathfinder Programme, launched by the Home Office and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) in October 2002, aims to build examples of areas that are successfully mainstreaming community cohesion into all their core service delivery functions. The programme encompasses local authorities, the community and voluntary sector, and communities themselves. Pendle is one of the five authorities (together with Lancashire County Council,
  274W
  officers who have been involved in the internal investigation of DCS Baker are from the respective Professional Standards Units of the West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police Service and include ranks from Detective Constable up to Detective Superintendent. As these officers are often involved in covert policing methods investigating acts of serious corruption and unethical behaviour, the West Midlands Police do not wish to disclose their names and details publicly.

  The West Midlands Police advise me, however, that DCS Baker is aware of the actual identities of many of the officers involved in the investigation and, in particular, those who have performed key roles.

  At present the West Midlands Police consider that they would have no cause to pay compensation to DCS Baker.

  Departmental Policies (Pendle)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies(a) initiated and (b) managed by his Department since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [124093]

  Ms Blears
  Most of the policies initiated by the Home Office since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle as on other parts of the country. Our policies in the areas of crime reduction, community cohesion and policing are providing direct benefits to the people of Pendle, as follows.
  Burnley Borough Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, and Rossendale Borough Council) which make up the successful East Lancashire Community Cohesion Pathfinder. This will receive a total of £285,000 to spend in the period February 2003 to October 2004.

  The Home Office Community Cohesion Unit has worked closely with the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit of the ODPM, and through Government offices has funded community cohesion-focused activities for children and young people during the summer of 2001 and 2002 (in 2003 this has become incorporated into a single funded inter-Departmental programme). In 2001 around £7 million was provided for summer activities.

  Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP)

  On 29 October 2002, the Street Crime Action Group (SCAG) commissioned the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and

  275W
  Sport (DCMS) to report on the evaluation of summer activities in 2002 and on progress on simplifying funding.

  In December, SCAG approved the key design features and objectives of the new programme based on a simplified single pot for funding. The confirmed total funding pot for 2003–04 is £24.7 million. The formula for the new programme, which for the first time is being developed in each Local Education Authority (LEA) area in the North West, is a national one. It is based on three indicators of need: levels of truancy, offending rates (specifically rates of robbery), and the numbers of young people aged 8–19 in each area.

  It is not possible to provide a figure for Pendle, but each Government office has the flexibility to adjust the allocations by up to 15 per cent. of the regional total. The allocation to Lancashire has been increased by over £115,000 and GO-NW staff are looking to the LEA to take forward enhanced activities in east Lancashire in Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn.

  The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit of the ODPM and Government offices have also funded the community facilitation programme, under which regional coordinators have been appointed to undertake conflict resolution work where tensions are identified, and to strengthen existing capacity for conflict resolution. This programme has raised the profile of community cohesion at the regional and local level and facilitated the building of relationships and Partnerships between agencies to address community cohesion and conflict. It has successfully supported the development of new approaches to addressing community conflicts.

  3. Police Initiatives

  Pendle, Rossendale and Burnley are boroughs within the Pennine division of the Lancashire constabulary. Lancashire as a whole has benefited from a £0.06 million rural policing grant. Each borough has its own Chief Inspector answering to the Chief Superintendent of Pennine Division. The force has informed us that the borough Pendle has benefited from the following Government initiatives.

  Government initiatives funding

  £000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Total

  Crime Fighting Fund (CFF)

  86

  169

  197

  240

  692

  Community Support Officers

  30

  50

  80

  Street Crime

  170

  70

  1 This is an equal portion of the 210,000 allocated to the Pennine Division

  Fly Tipping
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the steps the Government will take to improve detection and prosecution rates in conjunction with the planned sentencing review for fly tipping. [125126]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The environmental sentencing review is looking at sentencing from a broad perspective and is principally concerned with the sentence given to a particular offence, rather than preventative measures taken against it. We expect the results by the end of June.
  276W
  Specific measures to help tackle fly tipping have been proposed in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill. If successful, the provisions will allow local authorities to stop, search and seize vehicles suspected of being used for fly tipping, and to investigate incidents to help them track and prosecute those responsible for dumping waste. The Bill will also give the Secretary of State the power to issue statutory directions to the Environment Agency and local authorities on the types of fly tipping incidents with which they deal.

  Further research into fly tipping will be carried out later this year that will focus on better enforcement, prevention and deterrents.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will earmark revenue from increases to fines for fly tipping for local authorities to spend on detection of fly tipping offences and prevention measures. [125127]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The issue of income from fines and whether this can be recycled to enforcement bodies to fund preventative action is a matter for Her Majesty's Treasury.

  Defra is however considering whether there is scope for using fixed penalty notice to help enforce duty of care legislation in particular.

  Immigration Facilities
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 25 June 2003,Official Report, column 866W on immigration holding cells, which independent bodies are responsible for inspecting the police and immigration facilities listed; and when the last inspection took place in each case. [124983]

  Beverley Hughes
  Independent custody visiting is the new name for lay visiting, the well established system where volunteers attend police stations to check on the treatment of detainees and the conditions in which they are held. Unannounced visits are made at varying times of the day and night, with volunteers having immediate access to the custody area. Heathrow and Stansted police stations were visited most recently on 14 and 25 June, respectively.

  Immigration holding rooms at ports are not at present subject to independent oversight. However, we have very recently invited Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, which performs a similar role in relation to immigration removal centres, to take on an inspection function for immigration short-term holding facilities, including holding rooms at ports, and we will be discussing with them the arrangements by which they might do so.

  Overstayers
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people leaving the UK in the last two years were found to have overstayed the duration of their(a) visa and (b) work permit. [124982]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information requested is unavailable.

  Passports
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total number of United Kingdom passports in circulation was in each of the last 10 years. [124974]

  Beverley Hughes
  The total number of five year/10 year United Kingdom passports in circulation in each of the last 10 years is shown in the table:

  Number of passports

  1992

  24,302,691

  1993

  25,767,518

  1994

  27,808,451

  1995

  30,465,987

  1996

  33,596,434

  1997

  36,824,681

  1998

  38,609,485

  1999

  41,591,838

  2000

  43,608,145

  2001

  45,856,658

  2002

  47,383,796

  It should be noted that the UK Passport Service is not notified in every case of the death of a passport holder so these figures include some valid passports for deceased persons.

  Police
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the targets on which basic command units in each constabulary are assessed on a(a) quarterly and (b) annual basis. [124433]

  Ms Blears
  The Home Office have not asked basic command units to set crime reduction targets. All police authorities have set targets for the reduction of vehicle crime and domestic burglary. In addition, the 10 police authorities involved in the street crime initiative have been asked to set targets for the reduction of robbery.

  It is for individual police authorities and forces to decide whether they would like their basic command units to set targets.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces in England are smaller than the City of Nottingham Division of the Nottinghamshire Constabulary. [124997]

  Ms Blears
  Information provided in June last year by the Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, Mr. Stephen Green QPM, showed that Nottingham

  (a) Number of police officers1

  (b) Police/population2

  (c) Government funding3£million

  (d) Funding per resident £ million

  (e) Precept on band D property (£)

  (f) Revenue raised through precept £ million4

  Avon and Somerset

  3,119

  476

  167.15

  113

  111.6

  58.63

  Bedfordshire

  1,086

  522

  63.73

  113

  93.4

  18.03

  Cambridgeshire

  1,398

  508

  75.95

  107

  113.3

  28.04

  Cheshire

  2,075

  474

  113.44

  115

  88.1

  31.32

  Cleveland

  1,488

  364

  87.43

  162

  120.2

  19.54

  Cumbria

  1,112

  439

  61.43

  126

  130.7

  21.84

  Derbyshire

  1,970

  486

  103.74

  108

  111.8

  34.88

  Devon and Cornwall

  3,145

  502

  172.41

  109

  103.3

  58.23

  278W
  City Division had 789 police officers. Only the City of London Police force was smaller with 764 officers in March 2002.

  Police National Computer
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made to pass data from the Police National Computer to non-Home Department police forces which do not have direct access; and what procedures exist to ensure data protection requirements are complied with in such circumstances. [124945]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 14 July 2002]: Access by non-Home Department police forces to the Police National Computer is either through secure police national computer terminals in those forces or through Home Department police forces.

  Non-Home Department police forces have to meet the same stringent data protection procedures and requirements that apply to Home Department forces.

  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which non-Home Department police forces have direct access to the Police National Computer. [124946]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 14 July 2003]: The non-Home Department police force listed have direct access to the Police Nation al Computer.

  British Transport;

  States of Jersey;

  Guernsey;

  Northern Ireland;

  Isle of Man;

  Ministry of Defence;

  Port of Dover;

  RAF Provost;

  Royal Military Police (Army Provost); and

  UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary.

  Police Numbers
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list(a) the number of police officers, (b) the ratio of police officers to residents, (c) the amount of Government funding received, (d) the amount of Government funding per resident, (e) the precept levied on a Band D property and (f) the overall sum raised by the precept for each police authority in England in the last year for which figures are available [116897]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is provided in the table.
  279W

  (a) Number of police officers1

  (b) Police/population2

  (c) Government funding3 £ million

  (d) Funding per resident £ million

  (e) Precept on band D property (£)

  (f) Revenue raised through precept £ million4

  Dorset

  1,402

  495

  64.94

  94

  123.4

  33.80

  Durham

  1,655

  358

  85.23

  144

  79.6

  14.14

  Essex

  2,988

  541

  165.55

  102

  93.0

  56.51

  Gloucestershire

  1,171

  482

  60.88

  108

  142.6

  29.64

  Greater Manchester

  7,352

  338

  403.88

  163

  91.7

  69.77

  Hampshire

  3,592

  495

  201.03

  113

  97.3

  62.80

  Hertfordshire

  1,902

  544

  105.74

  102

  98.3

  41.36

  Humberside

  2,114

  411

  116.69

  134

  113.0

  30.67

  Kent

  3,434

  460

  193.37

  122

  95.0

  55.88

  Lancashire

  3,378

  419

  185.78

  131

  87.6

  39.56

  Leicestershire

  2,086

  443

  104.31

  113

  104.8

  31.02

  Lincolnshire

  1,214

  534

  63.69

  98

  104.4

  22.31

  Merseyside

  4,118

  331

  255.88

  188

  101.5

  42.25

  Metropolitan Police5

  27,645

  260

  1,902.88

  265

  159.1

  443.75

  Norfolk

  1,481

  539

  88.54

  111

  122.0

  33.70

  Northamptonshire

  1,202

  525

  68.53

  109

  130.1

  27.73

  Northumbria

  4,006

  345

  223.58

  162

  63.8

  26.56

  North Yorkshire

  1,404

  535

  75.26

  100

  156.0

  43.58

  Nottinghamshire

  2,397

  424

  131.49

  129

  109.3

  34.37

  South Yorkshire

  3,217

  394

  185.35

  146

  94.3

  34.38

  Staffordshire

  2,169

  483

  115.45

  110

  126.5

  43.06

  Suffolk

  1,228

  545

  68.29

  102

  109.4

  25.67

  Surrey

  1,986

  533

  93.33

  88

  135.1

  63.75

  Sussex

  2,933

  510

  163.05

  109

  97.7

  57.89

  Thames Valley

  3,830

  546

  220.83

  106

  106.2

  86.13

  Warwickshire

  1,007

  503

  52.97

  105

  117.3

  22.07

  West Mercia

  2,048

  566

  112.25

  97

  119.8

  49.66

  West Midlands

  7,855

  325

  422.27

  165

  71.2

  54.53

  West Yorkshire

  4,999

  416

  306.48

  147

  88.8

  56.08

  Wiltshire

  1,167

  526

  62.41

  102

  109.7

  25.18

  Total for England

  122,373

  409

  7,145.21

  145

  —

  1,928.31

  1 Officers at 30 September 2002.

  2 Population per police officer.

  3 Government funding shown is revenue police and specific grants and RSG/NNDR. Police authorities also received capital grant of £117 million and supplementary credit approvals (grant supported borrowing authority) of £73 million, plus, £12 million loan charges grant as support for costs of capital incurred before 1990.

  4 Data on precepts in columns (e) and (f) provided by ODPM. The average Band D property rate (per household) is £109 for shire authorities and £84 for metropolitan authorities (excluding the GLA) in respect of 2003–04.

  5 City of London police numbers and police specific grant information is included with the Metropolitan police. Precept information relates to MPA only.

  6 Remaining specific grants funds of £201 million have not yet been allocated.

  Police Vehicle Accidents
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) of 10 June 2003,Official Report, column 821W, on police vehicle accidents, how many road traffic accidents there were, broken down by category of incident, including accidents which did not involve another vehicle. [124994]

  Ms Blears
  Police force statistical returns do not separately identify police vehicle accidents by category of incident.

  Policing
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in post in Leicestershire Police Authority in(a) each year between 1991–92 and (b) the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [125256]

  Ms Blears
  The information is set out in the table.
  280W

  Leicestershire police authority

  At 31 March

  Police strength

  Civilian support staff strength

  1992

  1,845

  676

  1993

  1,805

  661

  1994

  1,825

  646

  1995

  1,839

  679

  1996

  1,908

  667

  1997

  1,949

  755

  1998

  1,983

  774

  1999

  1,993

  802

  2000

  1,993

  805

  2001

  2,033

  806

  2002

  2,100

  816

  2002 (30 September)

  2,086

  n/a

  Police officer strength in Leicestershire has increased by 137 since March 1997. This is an increase of seven per cent. and is significantly higher than the national increase for the same period of 3.4 per cent.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to create a separate police force for the city of Nottingham. [125154]
  281W
  Ms Blears
  The Secretary of State may make alterations to the boundaries of police areas by order under sections 32 to 34 of the Police Act 1996. He may only do so if he has either received a request to make alterations from the relevant police authority or authorities or if it seems to him that it is expedient to make changes in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness. I have received no such request from Nottinghamshire Police Authority nor am I aware of any evidence that indicates that the policing of either the city of Nottingham or the county of Nottinghamshire would be improved by creating a separate force for the city.

  Robberies
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revise his Department's target for the reduction of robberies. [124960]

  Ms Blears
  The national Public Service Agreement (PSA) target is to reduce robbery in the 10 street crime initiative areas by 14 per cent. from 1999–2000 to 2005, and maintain that level. The Government has no current plans to revise the target.

  Rural Proofing
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Chairman of the Countryside Agency to discuss rural proofing. [115580]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the. Member for Cardiff, South and Penarth (Alun Michael), on 12 June 2003, Official Report, Column 1017W. Ministers in the Home Office arrange meetings with Ministers in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and with the Chairman of the Countryside Agency (Ewen Cameron) at regular intervals to discuss rural affairs. At the last such meeting, on 3 February this year, Ewen Cameron, Alun Michael and my hon. Friend Bob Ainsworth met to discuss Home Office policy on rural affairs and rural proofing.

  Savitaben Hasmukbhai Patel
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the case of Savitaben Hasmukbhai Patel born 12 July 1947, sent to the Integrated Casework Directorate in Liverpool on 28 May by recorded delivery (no. RE620118685GB); and when a decision will be made on the application. [122793]

  Area

  Minister

  Dates of visits

  London

  John Denham (Home Office)

  20 February 2003

  From July 2003:

  Hazel Blears (Home Office)

  Ivan Lewis (Department for Education and Skills)

  Greater Manchester

  Lord Falconer (Department for Constitutional Affairs)

  12 February 2003

  23 May 2003

  Merseyside

  Yvette Cooper (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)

  20 February 2003

  West Yorkshire

  Hilary Benn (Department for International Development)

  24 April 2003

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  Beverley Hughes
  The application was decided on 27 June.

  Senior Departmental Posts
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many senior departmental posts were advertised in each year since June 1999; and how many of those were advertised in the Scottish press. [120667]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  Specific records of the number of posts advertised are not maintained by the Home Office. Following investigations we have been able to ascertain that two senior posts were advertised in 2000; three were advertised in 2001; three in 2002 and three have been advertised to date in 2003. The figures for 1999 are not available.

  Posts are advertised in the British press. The Home Office, as a department whose functions are primarily England and Wales, has not advertised posts in newspapers or journals published only in Scotland.

  Street Crime Initiative
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the cost of the street crime initiative. [124989]

  Ms Blears
  On 1 May 2002 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that £67 million had been allocated to tackle Street Crime in 2002–03. On 5 December 2002 the Home Secretary announced that a further £25 million would be provided in 2003–04 to support continued police operations against street crime.

  In addition, a number of other funding streams and work programmes both within the Home Office and from other Government Departments, have contributed directly and indirectly to tackling street crime. Most of these programmes have, however, had broader agendas, and it is not possible therefore to attribute a precise cost to the street crime element.

  Street Crime Initiative
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which sponsor ministers are attached to each of the 10 street crime areas; and when each minister visited his allocated area in the last six months. [124988]

  Ms Blears
  The information requested is included in the table:
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  Area

  Minister

  Dates of visits

  South Yorkshire

  Ivan Lewis (Department for Education and Skills)

  21 January 2003

  8 April 2003

  21 May 2003

  11 June 2003

  Thames Valley

  Barbara Roche (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)

  13 January 2003

  From July 2003

  Chris Leslie (Department for Constitutional Affairs)

  Avon and Somerset

  Baroness Blackstone (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

  21 February 2003

  9 May 2003

  From July 2003

  Estelle Morris (Department for Culture Media and Sport)

  Lancashire

  Hazel Blears (Home Office)

  6 February 2003

  Nottinghamshire

  Ruth Kelly (Her Majesty's Treasury)

  16 January 2003

  3 April 2003

  From July 2003

  Melanie Johnson (Department of Health)

  West Midlands

  Lord Rooker (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)

  6 June 2003

  Vehicle Crime
  Stephen Hesford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce vehicle crime. [125009]

  Ms Blears
  In September 1998, the Government announced a target to reduce vehicle crime by 30 per cent. over five years. The Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT) was set up at the same time to develop and oversee the implementation of initiatives to meet this target. They published their strategy on 22 September 1999.

  Their main proposals included improved security of new and used cars, improved car park security, better policing and community responses which targeted prolific offenders and crime hotspots, improved vehicle registration procedures, statutory regulation of the motor salvage industry and a publicity campaign to get vehicle crime prevention messages across to the public. Good progress is being made in implementing all these initiatives and some have been developed further. For example, work is in hand to make further improvements to vehicle registration procedures and we are working more closely with some local authorities and voluntary and community groups to get across vehicle crime prevention messages.

  The latest published British Crime Survey shows that, from interviews in the year to December 2002, there were an estimated 2,306,000 vehicle crimes (i.e. thefts of or from vehicles or attempts). This is a reduction of 703,000 offences (23 per cent.) against the baseline of the British Crime Survey 2000 (which estimated crime in 1999).

  Vehicle Recovery
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles were recovered by recovery agents contracted to police forces in each of the last 10 years; and at what cost. [124984]
  284W
  Ms Blears
  This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Voluntary Sector
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of how the voluntary sector will be affected if people work to an older age in paid employment. [124583]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The Government published `Equality and Diversity: Age Matters' on 2 July 2003. It seeks views on proposals for the implementation of new anti-discrimination law under the European Employment Directive. It is the first consultation to focus exclusively on proposals for age legislation. The Department of Trade and Industry is the lead department on this matter and The Active Community Unit have been invited to respond.

  Information gleaned from the Home Office Citizenship Survey 2000, shows that employed people have a higher propensity to volunteer and the development of the Corporate Challenge, launched on 7 July 2003, will contribute to increasing the number of employee-supported volunteering opportunities.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were granted in 2002 for unskilled occupations. [123781]

  Beverley Hughes
  None. Work permits were not issued for unskilled work in 2002.

  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were granted in the first six months of 2003 for unskilled occupations. [123782]

  Beverley Hughes
  No work permits were issued for unskilled work in the first quarter of 2003. Figures for the second quarter will not be available until end of August 2003.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Domestic Violence Helpline
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the 24-hour national helpline for victims of domestic violence will be available in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on its operations. [121259]

  Yvette Cooper
  A national 24-hour telephone helpline service for victims of domestic violence already exists in Northern Ireland. This is run by the Women's Aid Federation of Northern Ireland (NIWAF). It offers advice, support and crisis intervention for abused women, as well as information and guidance to all agencies relating to specific cases. The experienced and trained staff receive around 35,000 calls a year.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also working with Comic Relief on the production of an online information system that will be available for domestic violence service providers and the major helpline services across the UK. This will enable NIWAF to provide key information to people who call the helpline in Northern Ireland more quickly than before, and with the most up to date data on refuge vacancies, so people can be directed to the most appropriate support quickly and effectively.

  Homeless Families
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on recent progress made in finding permanent homes for homeless families in priority need. [125853]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Homelessness Directorate in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister aims to foster sustainable communities by tackling homelessness more effectively and, in particular, delivering the Government's target to:end the use of B&B hotels for homeless families with children, except in short-term emergencies by March 2004.

  The Directorate has a budget of £260 million over the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06, most of which will be allocated to local authorities in support of their homelessness strategies, which they must have in place by 30 July 2003. The strategy must aim to prevent homelessness and ensure that accommodation and support are available for people who become homeless or are at risk of doing so. This funding will also assist local authorities in their efforts to tackle B&B use.

  The Directorate is investing £17 million over 2003/04/ 05 to support London & Quadrant Housing Trust to provide around 500 family houses for homeless households. Homes are being funded within the Housing Corporation's Social Housing Grant regime across a number of London boroughs where there are currently high numbers of black and minority ethnic households in temporary accommodation including B&B hotels.

  Affordable housing has a vital role to play in tackling homelessness. As detailed in the Sustainable Communities Plan, £5 billion is being invested in affordable housing over the next three years. This will make a further contribution to preventing homelessness and moving families out of B&B.
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  In 2003–04 we are increasing the funding for the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme to around £1.5 billion in 2003–04 to provide homes for both rent and low cost home ownership—an increase of £500 million on last year. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expect the Housing Corporation's programme, including the Challenge Fund in London and South-east England, to deliver around 22,000 homes this year.

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria were used by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund to select the five resorts chosen for the award of £30 million over three years; and for what reason the selection was limited to five authorities. [124763]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Indices of Deprivation 2000 (ID2000) have been used to determine Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) eligibility and the basis of distribution of the grant between eligible authorities. The Department decided that those authorities that appear within the top 50 most deprived districts on any of the six district level measures in the ID2000 should be eligible for the NR F. On this basis 81 authorities are eligible. It was also decided that there should be transitional arrangements for those authorities that were within the 50 most deprived areas on any of the four measures under the old Index of Local Deprivation, but are not in the list of 81 authorities that qualify using the ID2000. Therefore, a further seven local authority areas are eligible for the Fund. The 88 local authorities that are eligible for NRF and the amounts allocated to each authority in 2003/04 are listed in Annex A of the Special Grant Report 111 (SGR 111).

  The sum to be allocated to each authority is based on a standard amount per head of population in those wards in the authority that are in the most deprived 10 per cent. of all wards nationally, with a minimum allocation in 2003–04 of £400,000 for any eligible authority. This relates an authority's grant funding to the severity of deprivation within its area, measured by the number of their residents living in particularly deprived areas.

  Affordable Homes
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable homes have been built; and how much has been spent in each constituency in each year since 1997. [125565]

  Keith Hill
  Information on the number of affordable homes built since 1997 and the expenditure is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Asbestos
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the actions his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are taking to comply with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; whether he has made an estimate of the cost of compliance; and if he will make a statement. [117711]
  287W
  Yvette Cooper
  Preparations for compliance with the new duties in respect of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 are under way across the estate of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Records of the estimated costs of compliance are not yet available.

  Bed-and-breakfast Accommodation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) women and (b) men were in bed-and-breakfast accommodation on 31 March. [125023]

  £

  Policies

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Revenue Support Grant

  3.9 million

  4.3 million

  4.3 million

  5.4 million

  Redistributed National Non Domestic Rates

  3.2 million

  3.1 million

  3.5 million

  3.1 million

  Central Government Capital Grant

  1.0 million

  1.7 million

  0.4 million

  0.4 million

  Credit Approvals Available (covers housing, transport, social services, education)

  3.0 million

  1.5 million

  2.3 million

  2.7 million

  Neighbourhood Renewal Fund

  Note1

  1.0 million

  1.5 million

  2.0 million

  Community Empowerment Fund

  Note1

  115,000

  115,000

  115,000

  Community Chest

  Note1

  77.5,000

  116,000

  179,500

  Community Chest

  Note1

  77,500

  116,000

  179,500

  Community Learning Chest

  Note1

  Note1

  31,000

  46,500

  European Funding

  Note2

  1 Neighbourhoold Renewal Funding, Community Chest and Community Empowerment Fund were not available until 2001–02 and Community Learning Chest was not available until 2001–02.

  2 Pendle has transition status under the 2000–06 NW Objective 2 programme. Since 2001, the East Lancashire Partnership has been allocated £13 million ERDF for its transition areas for business support activity. The Pendle Partnership has also been allocated £2.6 million ERDF for its community development programme.

  3 Pendle will also benefit from a proportion of the Housing Market Renewal Fund. This is a long-term project that will identify ways to tackle problems of housing low demand and abandonment in East Lancashire.

  EU Regulations
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many regulations originating from the EU have been implemented by his Department over each of the last five years. [120862]

  Yvette Cooper
  No new European Union regulations have been implemented by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since its creation in May 2002. We continue to implement existing regulations including those relating to structural funds.

  Funding (Sefton
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which wards and programmes since 1997 within Sefton have benefited from(a) capital investment in housing, (b) major repairs allowance, (c) disabled facilities grants, (d) Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, (e) Community Empowerment Fluid, (f) Community Chest and Community Learning Chests, (g) the Objective One Programme, (h) the Objective Two Programme, (i) the Objective Three Programme, (j) the Community Champions Fund, (k) Pathfinder Young Community Champions Fund, (l) Sustainable Development Regional Promotional Budget, (m) Renewable Energy Programme, (n) Building Safer Communities, (o) Wardens Scheme, (p) Small Retailer in Deprived Areas, (q) Partnership Development and (r) Partnership Support Programme since 1997. [124386]
  288W
  Yvette Cooper
  A summary of information being collected from local authorities on the type and gender of homeless households in bed and breakfast accommodation as at 31 March 2003 will be available later in the year in due course.

  Departmental Policies (Pendle)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what policies(a) initiated and (b) managed by his Department since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [124091]

  Yvette Cooper
  The principal kinds of funding which this department has provided to Pendle since 2001 are tabled.

  Yvette Cooper
  Due to the nature of the grants it is difficult to break down allocated funds to specific wards. Here are the programmes that have received funding:

  (a) £4.852 million (2003–4).

  (b) £7.37 million (2002–03), £7.191 million (2003–04).

  (c) £713,000 (2002–03), £720,000 (2003–04).

  All the above can be borough wide. Major repairs allowance is only for use on local authority stock.

  (d) £12.671 million (2001–04), £16,893 (2004–06)—Neighbourhood Renewal Fund is not prescribed, but intended for spend in the most deprived wards.

  (e) £435,423 (2001–04), £290,282 (2004–06) for use to set up a borough-wide community network.

  (f) £651,015 (2001–04), £657,050 (2004–06) Community Chest.

  £128,996 (2001–04), £154,796 (2004–06) Community Learning Chests.

  (g) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on levels of European funding at ward level. Also, as the Objective One programme is Merseyside-wide in scope, a substantial amount of programme-funded activity will be delivered by organisations that have a pan-Merseyside remit. A project based in one particular area (often at the organisations head office) will therefore draw beneficiaries, or have benefits, and spend money outside

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  its immediate locality. However, Sefton will benefit from the £160 million invested through Objective One in Merseyside in 2002.

  (h) Areas that receive Objective One monies are not eligible for either Objective Two or Objective Three funding, therefore, it is nil return.

  (i) See above.

  (j) There are seven Community Champions receiving a total of £7,257.09.

  Current Community Champions include:

  Colette Sheerin Oscroft, No. 35—£416; Tony Roberts, No. 63—£1,000; Ian Mackinson, No. 65—£180; Margi Robinson, No. 73 —£1,209.82; Mary French, No. 74— £457.50; John Cunningham, No. 76—£2,000; Eileen Green, No. 100—£1,993.77.

  (k) Nil return. Sefton does not receive Pathfinder Young CC as they are not an eligible area. DfES ran a national competitive bidding process which Sefton did not enter.

  (l) £500 in 2000 to help the local authority with Local Agenda 21 issues.

  (m) Between 1998 and 2002, Government Office for the North West employed an energy and environmental adviser who visited 87 businesses in the Sefton area promoting environmental management and resource efficiency. This cost GONW approximately £9,000.

  (n) Sefton has been awarded £298,500 (2003–4).

  (o) There are no Wardens Schemes being managed by GONW in Sefton at present.

  (p) £21,000 (2001–02), £29,000 2002–03, £29,000 2003–04. Match funding has also been obtained for all three years from the South Sefton Partnership and all South Sefton wards have been benefited.

  (q) £50,000 awarded for the years 2001–03.

  (r) Allocated on a regional level for 2002–03. Awarded six days consultancy to Sefton CDRP to develop a partnership—Training Needs.

  Growth Area Assessments
  Phil Sawford
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which(a) organisations and (b) consultants are carrying out the Growth Area Assessments in respect of the Milton Keynes and South Midland Study; and what the costs of these assessments are. [123973]

  Yvette Cooper
  Roger Tym and Partners in association with Halcrow and Three Dragons, DTZ Pieda Consulting and Faber Maunsell, and Entec UK Ltd. in association with Faber Maunsell and Bone Wells Associates carried out the Growth Area Assessments for local and regional partners. The total cost of these assessments was approximately £225,000.

  Home Information Packs
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the responses to the consultation on home information packs. [125043]

  Keith Hill
  Yes. Copies of responses to the consultation on the draft Housing Bill as well as the two complementary consultation papers "The home information pack in low demand low value areas" and "Contents of the home information pack" will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many homeless families are in priority need in each local authority; [124667]

  (2) how many homeless families in priority need are temporarily housed in each type of accommodation; [124679]

  (3) what proportion of homeless families in priority need have children; and how many (a) children and (b) children under five are members of such families; [124681]

  (4) what proportion of members of homeless families in priority need (a) have criminal records and (b) are on a drug rehabilitation scheme; [124682]

  (5) what proportion of homeless families in priority need have a family member who is registered unemployed. [124683]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's latest Statistical Release on statutory homelessness, covering figures for England up to the end of March 2003, was published on 17 June 2003.

  Information summarised in Table 4 shows that 129,320 households were accepted as homeless and in priority need by local authorities in England during 2002–03. In some 53 per cent. of these cases the presence of a dependent child or children in the household was cited as the most relevant factor in determining priority need. It is estimated that these families contained some 115,000 children; no information is collected centrally on the ages of children.

  Table 7 shows that on 31 March 2003, 90,680 homeless households were in some form of temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities. This includes household; accommodated pending the local authority's decision on the application.

  An expanded breakdown of all homelessness decisions, acceptances and numbers in various types of temporary accommodation as reported by individual local authorities is presented in Supplementary Tables accompanying the Statistical Release.

  Information about the number of people in households accepted as homeless who have criminal records, are in a drug rehabilitation scheme or are unemployed, is not collected centrally.

  National and regional PIE-based figures—which include estimates for non-responding local authorities—appear in a quarterly Statistical Release, available in the Library and via the ODPM website. An accompanying Supplementary Table presents key data at regional and local authority level. The ODPM website link is: http://www.housing.odpm.gov.uk/ statistics/publicat/homelessness/index. htm#quarterly

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of homeless families in priority need have a family member registered disabled. [124696]

  Yvette Cooper
  During 2002/03, local authorities in England accepted over 129,000 households as being homeless and in priority need. Precise information on the number of these containing a person registered as disabled is not collected centrally, and could only be
  291W
  provided at disproportionate cost. However, in some 7,000 (5 per cent) of these cases the vulnerability of a household member due to a physical disability was reported as the most relevant factor in determining priority need; in a further 11,000 (9 per cent.) cases a mental illness or disability was considered the most relevant.

  Although a household may be eligible under more than one priority need category, authorities are only asked to record the one which they deemed most relevant to their decision. It is possible that some households which were accepted because, for example, there were dependent children would also contain a person with a physical or mental disability.

  The above statistics are included in the latest quarterly Statistical Release on statutory homelessness, issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 17 June and covering statistics up to end March 2003. Copies are available in the library of the House.

  Ms. Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to commission an inquiry into the(a) experiences and (b) causes of hidden homelessness in response to the recommendation contained in the Executive Summary of Housing and BME communities: A review of the evidence base. [124705]

  Yvette Cooper
  Following publication for the first time in September 2002 of local authority homelessness statistics in relation to homelessness amongst black and minority ethnic communities, the Homelessness Directorate in my Department commissioned research to investigate the causes of homelessness amongst people from different black and minority ethnic groups and whether existing homelessness services meet their needs. This work is focused on BME households who have been accepted by the local authority as having a priority need for accommodation, but will cover issues around what the review of evidence in relation to housing and black and minority ethnic communities referred to as "so-called hidden homelessness". The current research is due to report in the Autumn and will include good practice recommendations on effective responses to homelessness for people from different black and minority ethnic groups.

  In addition to this research, the Homelessness Act 2002 requires all local authorities to conduct a review of homelessness and have a strategy based on that review. The first strategies must be in place by 30 July this year and must aim to prevent homelessness and ensure that accommodation and support are available for people who become homeless or are at risk of doing so. Statutory and good practice guidance issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister emphasises the need for reviews, strategies and homelessness services to address the needs of black and minority ethnic communities.

  Earlier this year, the Homelessness Directorate sponsored a series of seminars around the country designed to help local authorities and other agencies engage with, and address the needs of, faith and black and minority ethnic communities in conducting homelessness reviews and developing homelessness strategies and services.
  292W
  A breakdown of homelessness amongst black and minority ethnic groups is now published quarterly with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's regular statistical release on homelessness. The Homelessness Directorate will keep the extent of homelessness amongst black and minority ethnic communities, and the evidence base relating to that, under review.

  Housing
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses in Shrewsbury and Atcham are second homes for(a) local and (b) out of area residents. [125627]

  Keith Hill
  According to the 2001 Census there were 189 second homes in Shrewsbury and Atcham. Information is not available on whether they were owned by local or out of town residents.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the prudential framework will be available to local housing authorities. [126129]

  Keith Hill
  The Government's hope is to introduce the prudential borrowing system for all local authorities on 1 April 2004. However, that depends upon early completion of the remaining Parliamentary stages of the Local Government Bill, which is currently before the House of Lords.

  NDPBs
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department(a) hold public meetings, (b) conduct public consultation exercises, (c) conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests, (d) publish a register of members' interests, (e) publish agendas for meetings and (f) publish the minutes of meetings (i) under a statutory requirement and (ii) voluntarily. [121793]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors seven advisory non-departmental public bodies. Of these:

  a) the Boundary Commission for England and the Boundary Commission for Wales hold public meetings. This is a statutory requirement;

  b) the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, the Boundary Commission for England and the Boundary Commission for Wales conduct public consultation exercises. This is a statutory requirement for the Boundary Commissions;

  c) no advisory non-departmental public bodies conduct consultation exercises with outside commercial interests. This is not a statutory requirement;

  d) the Community Forum, Boundary Commission for England and Boundary Commission for Wales voluntarily publish a register of members' interests. In addition the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, Building Regulations Advisory Committee and the Property Advisory Group keep a register which can be made available on request;

  e) no advisory non-departmental public bodies publish agendas for meetings. This is not a statutory requirement;

  f) no advisory non-departmental public bodies publish minutes of meetings. This is not a statutory requirement.

  All of these bodies are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which requires each of them to put in place a Publication Scheme by February 2004 for classes of material that they intend to

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  publish. They will also need to comply with the access to information provisions of the Act when it comes fully into force at the start of 2005.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been paid by(a) his Department and (b) executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and other organisations for which he is accountable to staff or former staff in respect of (i) alleged equal opportunities breaches which did not proceed to tribunals or courts and (ii) equal opportunities breaches which proceeded to tribunals or courts in (A) the current year and (B) each of the two previous years; and how many staff received payments in each case. [121795]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002. Since that date, one allegation of breach of equal pay legislation was settled before proceedings were issued.

  In addition, two allegations of racial discrimination were settled after proceedings had been issued.

  Two further cases arose in an executive NDPB and were settled before proceeding to tribunal or court; allegations of breach of equal opportunities rules formed only part of these.

  It would be inappropriate to give financial details of the settlements, which are confidential to the individuals concerned.

  There have been no cases citing equal opportunity breaches raised in the executive agencies, or other organisations for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is accountable.

  Neighbourhood Warden Schemes
  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding is available to enable successful neighbourhood warden schemes to continue. [124623]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is keen that all funded schemes continue. However, Government funding for warden schemes was awarded on a short-term basis, and it was clear from the start that this financial support would only be for a limited period. With this in mind the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with all schemes in the development of their future sustainability plans. Events are being held and guidance has been produced to assist scheme managers achieve sustainability for their warden schemes.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister continues to promote the wardens approach, particularly as a key element of neighbourhood management, and where possible will do all that is necessary to help successful schemes continue.

  New Posts
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new, additional positions have been created in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since May 2002. [121809]

  Yvette Cooper
  Since its creation in May 2002, the Office of the Deputy Minister has been reorganising internally to ensure its structure is the most appropriate to meet its objectives, and this has led to some posts 294W
  being discontinued and some being created. All staff costs have been met within the Office of the Deputy Minister's administration budgets.

  Pilots, Trials and Research Studies
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the pilots, trials and research studies funded by his Department which have been conducted since 2002, indicating(a) the title, summary and duration of the pilot or trial, (b) the target population and total number of participants and (c) when each pilot, trial or research finding was published; and if he will list the research bodies and organisations outside his Department which were involved in each pilot, trial or research study. [121777]

  Yvette Cooper
  Since 2002 the Office funded 68 projects of which four were pilots. The following pilots/ trials were commissioned.

  EHCS Follow Up Pilot with Local Authorities:

  A Study in a selection of local authorities to identify the levels of information that local authorities could provide about dwellings on an individual basis, which will be used to inform the direction of future EHCS Postal Survey (or its replacement).

  Let to: NFO Social Research Started 27/5/03 ends 4/7/03 No Publications yet.

  Target population—Local Authorities

  Total No. of participants: 12

  Home Condition Report (HCR)—Technical Pilot:

  This aims to test the effectiveness (technical accuracy and consistency) of the HCR on a number of property types.

  Let to: Building Research Establishment

  Started 7/1/2003 ends 15/8/2003–06–25

  No Publications yet.

  Target population/participants: It involves 25 surveyors spread across the same four locations carrying out HCRs, (Cardiff, Coventry, Hertfordshire and Sheffield), on 20 "test" properties.

  Home Condition Report Consumer Pilot/Surveyor Management contract: (Two contracts, but part of the same piece of work).

  The research will pilot the Home Condition Report (HCR), an element of the proposed Home Information Pack, with consumers to explore their understanding and use of the HCR.

  Let to: Building Research Establishment

  Started 9/5/03 to 31/10/03

  No Publications yet

  Target population: Home buyers and sellers

  Total no: of participants:

  A total of 290 home buyers and sellers from four locations (Cardiff, Coventry, Hertfordshire and Sheffield). A total or 40 estate agents (10 in each of the above four locations) 22 surveyors (spread across the four locations).

  The research projects commissioned by the Office since 2002 are listed in the following table with the research bodies and organisations involved.
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  Research Projects Commissioned by ODPM since 2002

  Research Project

  Contractor

  Accessible Play Space

  Inclusion, Childhood & Ed Research & Consultancy Ltd.

  Alternative Funding for Stock Transfer

  Howard Webb

  Best value performance standards 2002–03

  Llewelyn-Davies

  Counting Gypsies and Travellers

  University of Birmingham

  Developing a planning aid fundraising strategy

  RTPI

  Developing a planning aid service in the south west region

  RTPI

  Developing alternative data sources for a national assessment of previously developed land

  University of the West of England

  EHCS Follow up Pilot with Local Authorities

  NFO System Three

  Evaluation of local Authority Bids for Gypsy Sites Refurbishment Grants in 2003–04

  Price WaterhouseCoopers

  Ex-Post Evaluation of the England and Wales Leader II Programmes (1994–99)

  Fraser Associates

  Good Practice in Providing Homelessness Services for Households from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities

  Ethnos

  Guidance for Local Authorities on Appraisal of Options for investing in Council Housing

  HACAS Chapman Hendy

  Home Condition Report—Technical Pilot

  Building Research Establishment

  Home Condition Report Consumer Pilot: Surveyor Management Contract

  Building Research Establishment

  Home Ownership Solutions for Low Demand Areas

  University of Birmingham

  Housing Research Network

  University of York

  Improvements in social sector repair and maintenance procurement practice

  The Housing Forum

  International Literature Review to Establish the Current Extent of Knowledge of the Physiological Capabilities of Firelighters in Dealing With Incidents in The Natural and Built Environment.

  Optimal Performance Ltd.

  Land Value Change in the Four South East Growth Areas in the Community Plan

  Steer Davies Gleave

  Mid-Term Evaluation of Urban II Programmes in England

  DTZ Pieda Consulting

  Planning aid volunteer recruitment, retention and support

  RTPI

  Planning Research Network

  CUDEM (Leeds Metropolitan Univ)

  Possession Actions and Evictions by Social Landlords

  University of Glasgow

  Preventing and Resolving Conflicts in Communities Between Local Groups

  Lemos and Crane

  Divided on Racial Grounds

  Risk of fire and social exclusion

  Ecotec

  Section 38 Landlord and Tenant Act 1954—Failed Applications

  University of Bristol

  Short Report of the Fire Cover Review

  Ubiqus Reporting UK

  Short Term Consultancy Needs for Human Factors Expertise to Her Majesty's

  Dr. Stephen Cole

  Fire Service Inspectorate and Fire Research Division within the Fire Health Safety Directorate.

  The Home Condition Report: Consumer Piloting

  Building Research Establishment

  The potential of a planning advisory service in England

  Chris Shepley Planning

  The Provision of Guidance on Methods of Forcible Entry.

  Building Research Establishment

  The relationship between transport and development in the Thames gateway

  Llewelyn-Davies

  The role of mediation in the planning process—international experience

  Heriot-Watt University.

  To Investigate the Increasing Value of Planning Appeals

  Arup Economics & Planning

  Urban & Neighbourhhod Studies Research Network

  Economic and Social Research Council

  Valuing the External Benefits of Undeveloped Land (Stage 2 of 3)

  Eftec with ENTEC

  Version 2 of the Housing Health &Safety Rating System

  University of Warwick

  Qualitative Case Studies to examine the perceived impact of policy on the lives of socially excluded households

  Qualitative Research Unit, National Centre for Social Rearch

  Scoping study for relative cost-effectiveness analysis of preventative vs palliative measures

  Frontier Economics

  Cost of interventions, long term costs of failure to address social exclusion among people with mental health problems

  Personal Social Services Research Unit, LSE

  Literature review "Mental Health and volunteering"

  Institute for Volunteering and Research

  Literature review of personal finances

  Birmingham University

  Literature Review of housing

  Housing and Support Association

  Literature review of arts/civic participation

  University of Durham

  Literature review of legal services

  University of Central Lancashire

  Literature review of healthy living

  University College of Ripon and York St. John

  Literature review of education and training

  N1ACE

  Evaluation of the Deprived Urban Post Office Fund

  The Centre for Enterprise and Economic Development Research, Middlesex University

  Evaluation of the NRU's Community Participation Programme

  University of West of England and Liverpool John Moores University

  Evaluation of the NRU's Residents Consultancy Programme

  Amion

  Analysis of Approved Document P Consultation

  White Maple Consulting

  Review of the Operation and Impact of Approved Document B 2000 Amendments

  Ove Arup

  Impact of Business Led Regeneration—phase 2

  Trends Business Research

  Systematic review series—Local economies

  CEEDR—Middlesex University

  Evaluation of National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal Scoping Study

  University of Cambridge

  Annual Progress Report on Local Strategic Partnerships

  York Consulting

  Best Value Survey Indicators

  Data Management and Analysis (ATP/Mori)

  Decision making and Policy Development in New Council Constitutions:

  University of Birmingham De Montfort University

  Emerging Good Practice

  The Role of Staff in Delivering High Quality Public Services

  PriceWaterhouseCoopers

  Long term Evaluation of the Local Government Modernisation Agenda

  University of Manchester

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  Research Projects Commissioned by ODPM since 2002

  Research Project

  Contractor

  Evaluation of Intervention and Recovery Support Programmes

  University of Birmingham

  Research on Modelling the Cost of Local Government Reorganisation

  PricewaterhouseCoopers

  Scoping Work into Regional Governance Relationships

  UCL

  Single Capital Pot Baseline Research

  York Consulting

  Local Authority Use of the Bellwin Scheme Support

  Bannock Consulting

  Beacon Council Scheme: User Satisfaction with Service Delivery Contract

  Mori

  Extension to cover round 5

  Local Government Systems in Commonwealth Countries

  CLGF

  Regulatory Impact Assessments
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Department's Regulatory Impact Assessment procedure; and how many RIAs have been reviewed in respect of the Department over the last year. [120864]

  Yvette Cooper
  A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) must be completed for all policy proposals that have a potential impact on businesses, charities or the voluntary sector. It includes details of the arrangements for monitoring and evaluating policy proposals and their impact.

  From this year the National Audit Office (NAO) has a new role in independently evaluating a selection of RIAs. In their Annual Report, published in February 2003, the Better Regulation Task Force put forward suggestions of RIAs for the NAO to review.

  The NAO review will focus on the quality of analysis in the RIAs and the thoroughness with which the RIAs have been undertaken. The findings and recommendations of best practice will be fed back to departments. It will play a valuable part in driving up standards of RIAs.

  Sexual Dysfunction
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will commission a study by the Social Exclusion Unit into the impact of sexual dysfunction on social exclusion, with particular reference to those on low incomes with erectile dysfunction who are denied treatment on the NHS and cannot afford a private prescription. [123433]

  Yvette Cooper
  No. The SEU currently has a full work programme and is working on three major projects:

  Improving the educational attainment of children in care;

  Tackling social exclusion among adults with mental health problems; and

  Removing barriers to jobs and enterprise in deprived areas.

  The Social Exclusion Unit's remit is to help improve Government action to reduce social exclusion. It does this by looking in depth at particular policy areas and recommending joined up solutions to interconnected problems.

  In addition the SEU is also carrying out work on Impact and Trends in social exclusion to develop a clearer understanding of how Government policies work together to tackle social exclusion for particular groups and to provide a comprehensive evidence base to inform current and future policy-making.
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  The SEU's projects were chosen by my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister following consultation with other Ministers and suggestions from interested groups. Potential new projects are fully tested against a set of objective criteria which include assessing whether a potential new project area has a strong preventative focus; covers an issue currently falling between Government Departments, and will not duplicate work being done elsewhere.

  Social Exclusion and Urban Policy Units
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many conferences staff of the(a) Social Exclusion Unit and (b) Urban Policy Unit attended in each year since the Unit was established; what the (i) cost and (ii) purpose was in each case; and how many were overseas conferences. [113551]

  Yvette Cooper
  In the financial year 2002–03 the Social Exclusion Unit attended 27 conferences at a total cost of £8,942.99. In the financial year 2001–02 the SEU attended 35 conferences at a total cost of £10,511.10.

  Similar information for the SEU and the Urban Policy Unit for 1997–2001 is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost

  All conferences attended are associated with the work of the Units.

  Staff Drug Testing
  Mr. Eric Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will authorise drug testing of staff within his Department. [122136]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently has no plans to introduce drug testing of staff.

  Staff Relocation
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have been relocated out of London since May 2002. [121783]

  Yvette Cooper
  None

  Staff Working Hours
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of staff employed this represents. [121785]

  Yvette Cooper
  160 staff in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, including its Executive Agencies, worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any one of the
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  last 52 weeks. This figure represents 4 per cent. of staff. These figures do not include the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister staff working in the Government Offices where this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Towns and Cities (Regeneration)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government has taken to regenerate the UK's towns and cities. [124199]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government's policies for delivering an urban renaissance were set out in the Urban White Paper "Our Towns and our Cities: the Future" published in November 2000. This provides the framework within which Government policies and programmes affecting urban areas in England are co-ordinated.

  In February 2003, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister launched "Sustainable Communities: building for the future"—a £22 billion action programme to improve housing and communities, including over £5 billion to regenerate deprived areas. This programme builds on the policies and actions in the Urban White Paper and the Rural White Paper "Our Countryside: the future."
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  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has established a £2 billion Single Regeneration Budget to provide resources to support regeneration activity carried out by local regeneration partnerships. Managed at regional level by the RDAs, this programme promotes sustainable economic growth, enterprise and major regeneration projects in nine English regions (including London), with a focus on urban areas. 14 Urban Regeneration Companies have been set up to regenerate some of the most neglected areas in our towns and cities.

  English Partnerships (EP) are involved in wide range of regeneration and development projects across the country. EP is focusing on identifying and delivering more brownfield land for housing and sustainable urban development. Already an initial list of 42 sites have been announced for EP to concentrate on.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also investing over £4 billion through the Neighbourhood Renewal National Strategy Action Plan to tackle deprivation, and extend prosperity and opportunity to the poorest neighbourhoods in the country. This money is used to encourage the better targeting of services and mainstream public funds to the most deprived areas and to provide evidence of best practice through pathfinder programmes.

  Language Implementation Body: Budget 2003
  Language Implementation Body: Budget 2003
  Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
  Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
  North/South Language Body
  North/South Language Body
  Northern Ireland: Energy Costs
  Northern Ireland: Energy Costs
  Northern Ireland: North West Gas Pipeline Project
  Northern Ireland: North West Gas Pipeline Project
  Lisburn to Antrim Railway Line
  Lisburn to Antrim Railway Line
  PEACE I Funding
  PEACE I Funding
  Northern Ireland: Sexual Offences Legislation Review
  Northern Ireland: Sexual Offences Legislation Review
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  Customs and Excise: Review of Current Practices
  Customs and Excise: Review of Current Practices
  Uganda
  Uganda
  UNAMSIL
  UNAMSIL
  Indonesia
  Indonesia
  Iraq: Looting of Archaeological Sites
  Iraq: Looting of Archaeological Sites
  Iraq: Constitution
  Iraq: Constitution
  Iraq: Penal and Criminal Procedure Codes
  Iraq: Penal and Criminal Procedure Codes
  Middle East: Gaza Airport
  Middle East: Gaza Airport
  Middle East Peace Process
  Middle East Peace Process
  Racial Discrimination: UK and EC Legislation
  Racial Discrimination: UK and EC Legislation
  Commission for Racial Equality: Costs of Investigation into Prison Service
  Commission for Racial Equality: Costs of Investigation into Prison Service
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Complaints Audit Committee Annual Report 2002–03
  Immigration and Nationality Directorate: Complaints Audit Committee Annual Report 2002–03
  Prison Service: Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03
  Prison Service: Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03
  Firearms Amnesty
  Firearms Amnesty
  Veterans
  Veterans
  Equality Institutions
  Equality Institutions
  Pensions: Employer Insolvency
  Pensions: Employer Insolvency
  Licensing Act: Draft Guidance and Consultation
  Licensing Act: Draft Guidance and Consultation
  Gambling
  Gambling
  Post Mortem Removal of Organs: Report into case of Mr Cyril Mark Isaacs
  Post Mortem Removal of Organs: Report into case of Mr Cyril Mark Isaacs
  Medicines Commission and Medicines Act Advisory Bodies: Annual Report 2002
  Medicines Commission and Medicines Act Advisory Bodies: Annual Report 2002
  Medicines Control Agency: Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03
  Medicines Control Agency: Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03
  Genetically Modified Products
  Genetically Modified Products
  Horticulture Research International
  Horticulture Research International