Written Answers of 5 June 2003

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  York Minster
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what plans the Church Commissioners have for York Minster Library; and if he will make a statement. [116917]

  Mr. Bell
  This Library does not belong to the Church Commissioners but I am sure the Chapter are aware that the sale, loan or other disposal of any item of architectural, archaeological, artistic or historic interest vested in them requires approval under the Care of Cathedrals Measure.

  As this is a statutory procedure, I would not wish to prejudge whatever decision might be made either by the Fabric Advisory Committee or by the Cathedrals Fabric Commission on any such application.

DEFENCE

  Cluster Munitions
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cluster munitions have been used in Iraq by the(a) United States and (b) United Kingdom armed forces. [116815]

  Mr. Ingram
  As at 28 May 2003, British forces have used in the region of 66 air delivered cluster bombs and in the region of 2,000 extended range bomblet shells in Iraq. We do not comment on the number of munitions used by other nations.

  Manning Control Points
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to(a) suspend and (b) terminate the use of manning control points; and if he will make a statement; [116147]

  (2) how many soldiers (a) returning from Iraq and (b) currently serving in Iraq will face manning control points in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [116146]

  Dr. Moonie
  A wide-ranging review of soldiers' career structures and terms of service is presently under way. This will include consideration of the continued utility of manning control point reviews as a structural control mechanism. In the meantime, against the background of current Army manning shortfalls, there are no plans to conduct any manning control point reviews in the next 12 months.

  Military Deployments
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel have been employed in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [115072]

  Dr. Moonie
  The number of Armed Forces personnel (Army, Navy and RAF), under the command of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland (GOC NI), deployed in Northern Ireland for the last five years is set out in the table below:

  As at April

  Number of Armed Forces Personnel

  1999

  14,850

  2000

  13,852

  2001

  13,856

  2002

  13,288

  2003

  13,188

  The GOC NI also has under his command troops that are rear-based in Great Britain that can be called forward to the Province as and when required. In addition other troops can be made available to the GOC NI from Land Command if required, for example during the marching season.

  Reserve Forces
  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2003,Official Report, column 785W, on reserve forces, what is being done to remedy the shortfall of reservists; what assessment he has made of the reasons for the difference in the level of shortfall in the three services; and if he will break down the shortfall by (a) rank and (b) branch. [116487]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Volunteer Reserve Forces run vigorous recruiting campaigns to meet their requirements for manpower each year. The approaches they adopt reflect their differing requirements. The Territorial Army recruits continuously throughout the year, with a surge effort in the spring. Local radio, press and regional events are used, as well as campaigns combined with the Regulars. The Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force recruit on a unit basis, with budgets specifically allocated for this purpose. The Royal Auxiliary Air Force recruits on an ad-hoc basis as and when vacancies arise.

  The level of shortfall in each of the Volunteer Reserve Forces varies. Each has different requirements and looks for different skills, which affects their recruitment. The Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marine Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force are smaller, and recruit for a specialised reserve. They therefore have limited opportunities that arise in specific parts of the country where units are based. As a larger organisation, the

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  Territorial Army has a nationwide footprint and uses general, as well as specialist, skills. We will be examining whether we can use the experience of Operation TELIC to see if there are lessons to be identified that may aid recruiting across the reserves.

  Establishment

  Strength

  Arm/Service

  Officer

  Soldier

  Officer

  Soldier

  FTRS and Mobilised

  Percentage manned

  Royal Armoured Corps

  155

  1,161

  126

  1,007

  186

  100

  Royal Artillery

  248

  2,823

  244

  2,612

  110

  96

  Royal Engineers

  347

  2,908

  249

  2,135

  484

  88

  Royal Signals

  499

  4,727

  389

  3,692

  267

  81

  Infantry

  519

  7,442

  475

  6,953

  547

  100

  Army Air Corps

  32

  125

  44

  72

  1

  74

  Royal Army Chaplains Department

  87

  0

  67

  0

  10

  88

  Royal Logistic Corps

  625

  6,638

  409

  3,899

  1,294

  77

  Royal Army Medical Corps

  3,533

  2,968

  1,452

  2,415

  905

  73

  Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  122

  1,530

  98

  1,148

  246

  98

  Adjutant General Corps

  73

  359

  51

  264

  79

  91

  Royal Army Veterinary Corps

  14

  0

  8

  0

  0

  57

  Intelligence Corps

  113

  437

  61

  323

  121

  92

  Others

  619

  141

  534

  156

  66

  100

  Information for the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marine Reserve and Royal Auxiliary Air Force is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Royal Irish Regiment
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will halt the disbandment of the three home battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment over the next three years; and if he will keep each battalion fully operational after April 2005. [116963]

  Dr. Moonie
  There is no timetable for disbandment of the Home Service Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, as the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland made clear in a statement on 28 May to all the personnel under his command.

  Territorial Army
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which campaigns Territorial Army units have served since 1990; and what proportion of reservists(a) is committed and (b) was committed in (i) 1990 and (ii) 1997. [116665]

  Dr. Moonie
  Territorial Army units have served in the following operational theatres since 1990:

  Theatre

  Date

  Gulf

  1990–91

  Bosnia

  1998–2003

  Afghanistan

  2001–present

  Balkans

  2003–present

  Iraq

  2003–present

  The proportion of reservists committed to operations is as follows (as at 1 May 2003):

  Percentage

  Royal Naval Reserve

  10

  Royal Marine Reserve

  13

  Territorial Army

  10

  Reserve Air Forces

  48

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  I am unable to provide the figures requested for shortfall by rank and branch for any of the Reserve Forces. Information is available for the TA on shortages by specialism. This is given in the following table (as at 1 April 2003):

  Figures for previous years are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Unexploded Ordnance
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resources his Department has allocated for the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Iraq. [116816]

  Mr. Ingram
  Currently there are some 200 United Kingdom personnel involved in the clearance of unexploded ordnance in Iraq, and many more are engaged in the process of marking and securing sites for clearance.

  War Widows
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what practices have been in place in the last 10 years to inform war widows of their right to backdate their war widows pension. [116064]

  Dr. Moonie
  A war widows pension may be awarded where death is due to service in the armed forces. There are no time limits for claiming a pension but as a result the onus is normally on the war widow to claim. The commencement date of any resulting award depends on the individual circumstances of the claim. There is no right for a war widows pension to be backdated, for instance, where she has failed to claim from an earlier date.

  The normal rules provide that where death is in service or a claim is made within three months of death a war widows pension may be paid from the day after death; otherwise, a pension will be paid from the date of the claim or application for review as the case may be. Similar provision applies to the restoration of a war widows pension on the death of a second or subsequent husband.

  In certain specified circumstances a pension may be paid from a date earlier than that provided for by the normal rules where, for instance, a widow has been prevented from claiming a pension because of ill health.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Civil Servants
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 14 May 2003,Official Report, column 265W, on civil servants, what the criteria are for recognition within the Special Bonus Scheme; what the performance indicators are that are assessed when considering staff for one-off bonuses; and whether the reduction of financial payments to farmers is a performance indicator for the purposes of the scheme. [114993]

  Alun Michael
  The Special Bonus Scheme is designed to recognise special achievement and contribution additional to the normal demands of the job. The criteria for an award include:Work on a specific project or contribution during an acute staff shortage
  Achievement on a valued piece of work, such as a report or short-term project that helped the team, branch, or division to meet a difficult or challenging target
  Leading or contributing to work of an exceptional standard to a tight timetable.

  The reduction of financial payments to farmers is not a performance indicator for the purposes of the scheme.

  Deer
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she has issued to the State Veterinary Service on whether a deer missing a hind foot should be classified as exhibiting signs of ill treatment or suffering. [115253]

  Mr. Morley
  No guidance has been issued to the State Veterinary Service. A veterinary inspector would be expected to use his experience and clinical judgment to assess such injuries and the degree to which an animal may be suffering or exhibiting signs of ill treatment.

  GM Crops
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with(a) biotechnology companies and (b) health and environmental campaign and voluntary groups regarding the future licensing of GM crops. [114024]

  Mr. Meacher
  Ministers and officials have regular face-to-face, telephone and written communications with relevant stakeholders on GM crop issues. No central record is kept of these communications.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments have been made of applications for marketing consents to the EU of GM crops by(a) her Department and (b) other member states; and what evidence was used in the assessments. [114027]

  Mr. Meacher
  To date, 19 applications have been made under EU Directive 2001/18 for consent to place GMOs on the European single market. 10 of these are for GM crops intended for cultivation in the EU, and the other nine are for "import only"—i.e. of GM grain grown outside the EU intended for import into the EU 512W
  for processing into products. In all 19 cases, the process of assessment is ongoing and no collective EU decisions have yet been made.

  EU Directive 2001/18 requires that applications to place GMOs on the market consist of a substantial dossier of information about the particular GMO and scientific evidence concerned with potential risks associated with the intended use. Summaries of these dossiers are published on a European Commission website at http://gmoinfo.jrc.it/default.asp.

  Each application must first be made to the authorities in one of the 15 EU member states, which must make an initial assessment of compliance with the safety standards required by the Directive. If the assessment is positive the application is referred to the European Commission, which then disseminates the assessment and its supporting evidence to other member states for EU-wide scrutiny and public consultation, leading to a collective decision by the European Commission and all 15 member states on whether or not a consent should be granted.

  Two of the 19 applications have been made in the UK. They both concern GMOs intended for "import only", and in both cases the UK authority is awaiting further information requested from the applicants before it makes its initial assessment.

  Of the remaining 17 applications made in other member states, three have received positive initial assessments and are being scrutinised at EU-level. The UK has forwarded opinions on two of these dossiers (published at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/euconsent.htm), and will deliver its opinion on the other in due course. In both opinions, the UK asked the lead member state for further information to be required from the applicant before a final assessment can be made. The other 14 applications made in other member states have not yet received initial assessments.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) of 1 May 2003,Official Report, column 465W, on GM crop trials, what plans she has for public consultation on the future licensing of GM crops after the results of all of the Government's current GM farm-scale evaluations are published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. [114161]

  Mr. Meacher
  Currently we have no plans for a specific consultation exercise on the future licensing of GM crops after the publication of the results of the farm scale evaluations. Once published, the results of the crop trials will be in the public domain and people will be able to comment on them then.

  In addition, as each individual crop in the farm scale evaluations comes forward for licensing, the public has the opportunity to comment on every application during the two consultation periods specified in Directive 2001/18/EC, before decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis at EU level.

  Poultry Regulations
  Mr. Cameron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has received about planned restrictions on travelling hours for chickens; whether these will apply to free-range birds; and if she will make a statement. [117142]

  Mr. Morley
  Unless suitable food and liquid is available, the maximum permitted journey time for all poultry and domestic birds is 12 hours, disregarding loading and unloading times. This Department has received representations proposing that loading and unloading times should be included within the maximum journey time and the views of industry representatives have been sought. These limits are set down in European Union Directive 91/628, as amended, on the welfare of animals during transport. The European Commission is expected to publish proposals to update and improve this directive later this year.

  Water Extraction
  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences have been granted by the Environment Agency to extract water from rivers in 2003; what average length of time it has taken to grant a licence to extract water from a river; what the average length of time a licence for which is issued; and how many such licences have been granted covering the River Aire in the Elmet constituency in 2003. [115677]

  Mr. Morley [holding answer 3 June 2003]
  The information is as follows:

  Number of Licences to abstract water from rivers granted so far in 2003

  Between 1 January and 22 May 2003 the Environment Agency granted 86 licences for abstraction from surface waters, including canals, minor watercourses and rivers.

  Length of time to grant a licence to abstract water

  During the period April 2002-March 2003 the Environment Agency granted 984 abstraction licences for surface and groundwater, of which 97 per cent. were granted within the statutory three months, or such longer period as had been agreed with the applicant. The agency does not collect information on the average length of time it takes to determine applications.

  Length of time licences issued for

  With the introduction of Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS), new licences are initially granted to a "Common End Date" according to the CAMS area in which they lie. There is a presumption of renewal. Following the initial term of the licence the Environment Agency will normally renew the licence for a period of 12 years, again with a presumption of renewal.

  Abstraction Licences on the River Aire granted in 2003

  No licences have been granted for abstraction from the River Aire in the Elmet constituency during 2003.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Chad-Cameroon Pipeline Project
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development when the World Bank will publish its periodical report for the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline Project. [116775]

  Hilary Benn
  Regular reports are published by the External Compliance Monitoring Group (ECMG) and the International Advisory Group (IAG), which were established by the World Bank, monitor the project implementation. The IAG has just made a visit to the project and we expect the report to be issued on 17 June. The last report from the ECMG was published in February 2003. We do not yet have a date for publication of its next report. The reports are available on the World Bank website www.worldbank.org/afr/ccproi

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment the Department has made of the latest report by the Global HIV Prevention Working Group; and if he will make a statement. [116194]

  Hilary Benn
  We welcome the report by the Global Working Group, Access to HIV prevention: Closing The Gap. It is the first attempt to assess the gap between HIV prevention needs and existing provision.

  While the report emphasises the increased need for prevention, it also recognises that prevention works best where care and treatments are also available. DFID has been working towards a combined approach of prevention and care for several years and will continue to support Governments in improving their overall provision of services in the future.

  The recommendations made in the report echo DFID"s existing HIV/AIDS priorities, in support of which we have invested over £250 million in 2002–03. DFID has also committed £14 million to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI),£16 million to the Medical Research Council's Microbicides Development Programme, and £3 million annually to UNAIDS. In addition, we have committed over £1.5 billion since 1997 to support the development of health systems in poorer countries. Strengthening such systems is vital if drugs are to be safely and sustainably supplied to the poor. DFID as the second largest contributor to the Global Fund has also just increased its contribution by $80 million to a total of $280million in recognition of the need to accelerate efforts to reduce infections globally.

  Malawi
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what discussions he has had with the Government of Malawi concerning alternative care for AIDS patients outside acute general hospitals. [116406]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID officials are in close and regular contact with the Malawi National AIDS Commission, the Ministry of Health and Population and other donors on care required for AIDS patients. The UK has
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  contributed $280 million to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria. The fund has agreed to allocate Malawi $198 million over five years. Intended uses for these resources include antiretroviral treatments, and prevention of mother to child transmission.

TREASURY

  EU Information Campaigns
  Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the monitoring by his Department of the application of European Community guidelines on impartiality in EU funding of information campaigns. [114468]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  The European Commission's proposed Information and Communication Strategy for the EU, adopted on 2 July 2002, highlights the importance of neutral, factual information. The Copenhagen European Council has also stressed that information provided for the public on EU activities should be objective.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office keeps itself fully aware of the nature of the European Commission's communications activities via regular contact with the European Commission's Representation to the UK.

  Export Controls
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what formal mechanisms there are for maintaining contact between HM Customs and Excise and the DTI on the issue of export controls. [117019]

  John Healey
  HM Customs and Excise have regular contact with the DTI's Export Control Organisation on a range of export control matters, including the interdepartmental Restricted Enforcement Unit, which meets fortnightly. This includes a Memorandum of Understanding to provide advice on whether or not a licence is required in cases where goods have been detained by Customs.

  Contribution of hotels, catering etc and recreational services to the UK economy, 1995–2000

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  GVA of hotels, catering etc and recreational services (£ million)

  32,158

  35,632

  40,039

  44,195

  47,810

  51,659

  Percentage of total GVA

  5.0

  5.2

  5.6

  5.8

  6.0

  6.2

  GVA total (£ million)

  639,908

  679,620

  720,692

  762,363

  796,273

  838,065

  Pay
  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average weekly earnings(a) including and (b) excluding overtime are for full-time workers in (i) Scotland, (ii) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (iii) Great Britain for (A) all manual, (B) all non-manual, (C) all workers, (D) male manual, (E) male non-manual, (F) all male workers, (G) female manual, (H) female non-manual and (I) all female workers. [116060]

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

  Heroin (Afghanistan)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Customs and Excise personnel are(a) employed to provide advice and assistance to the Afghan Transitional Administration and (b) employed to gather intelligence and assist in the interdiction of heroin along transit routes from Afghanistan to the UK. [116420]

  John Healey
  HM Customs and Excise currently employs five staff who work exclusively on providing advice and assistance to the Afghan Transitional Administration, and a further 14 for whom this work forms part of their duties.

  It would not be appropriate to disclose how many personnel are deployed gathering intelligence and assisting in the interdiction of heroin along transit routes from Afghanistan and the UK. Exemptions 4 (Law enforcement and legal proceedings) and 7 (Effective management and operations of the public service) apply.

  Leisure/Hospitality Sector
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution the leisure and hospitality sector has made to the UK economy in each of the last five years. [117001]

  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. Gardiner, dated 5 June 2003:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the contribution made by the leisure and hospitality sector to the UK economy in each of the last five years. (117001)

  The Office for National Statistics does not define the "leisure and hospitality sector". However, the table below shows the requested figures for the nearest equivalent industrial sector. The contribution to the economy has been measured as a proportion of Gross Value Added. These estimates are consistent with the latest published United Kingdom National Accounts: The Blue Book (2002 edition).

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Moore, dated 5 June 2003:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the average weekly earnings for workers in Great Britain, Scotland and the unitary authorities in Scotland. (116060)

  I have arranged for the data requested to be placed in the House of Commons Library. The information provided shows average weekly earnings including and excluding overtime based on the 2002 New Earnings Survey (NES), the latest survey for which data are available.

  The release of NES data is restricted to figures that are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees to produce an

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  acceptable level of accuracy. I have provided the available data for Great Britain, Scotland and the unitary authorities in Scotland only for those areas where the samples are large enough.

  Mr. Moore
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of full-time workers in(a) Scotland, (b) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (c) Great Britain earn (i) including and (ii) excluding overtime less than (A) £280.00 per week, (B) £210.00 per week and (C) £158.76 per week in the categories (1) male manual, (2) male non-manual, (3) all male workers, (4) female manual, (5) female non-manual, (6) all female workers, (7) all manual, (8) all non-manual and (9) all workers. [116061]

  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. Moore, dated 5 June 2003:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the distribution of average weekly earnings for workers in Great Britain, Scotland and the unitary authorities in Scotland. (116061)

  I am placing in the House of Commons Library tables showing the proportion of people earning below the different thresholds you listed, including and excluding overtime based on the 2002 New Earnings Survey (NES), the latest survey for which data are available.

  The release of NES data is restricted to figures that are derived from a sufficiently large sample of employees, to produce an acceptable level of accuracy. I have provided the available data for Great Britain, Scotland and the unitary authorities in Scotland only for those areas where the samples are large enough.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the Bridgwater constituency have experienced delays in receiving tax credits. [115613]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) on 28 April 2003,Official Report, column 161W.

  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will compensate applicants for child tax credit and working tax credit who have incurred additional costs as a result of delays by Inland Revenue in the payment of these credits. [116639]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) on 12 May 2003,Official Report, column 23W.

  Net yield data 1999–2000 to 2003–04 for London

  £ million

  Local Authority

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  12002–03

  12003–04

  Havering

  44.9

  45.8

  47.5

  47.7

  50.4

  City of London

  338.9

  390.1

  481.6

  531.3

  578.3

  Inner London Borough Camden

  144.5

  176.4

  199.5

  211.0

  228.8

  Greenwich

  33.4

  40.7

  39.2

  44.9

  42.8

  Hackney

  43.1

  37.5

  45.2

  47.0

  48.1

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  66.1

  67.0

  83.6

  96.8

  102.4

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  Hywel Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent since last autumn on advertising and publicity for(a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit in (i) English, (ii) Welsh and (iii) other languages. [116824]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) on 18 March 2003,Official Report, column 681W.

  We have fulfilled our legal obligation for provision of material in Welsh and this, along with community language material, has been treated as part of the overall cost of the campaign and could be isolated only at disproportionate cost.

  Hywel Williams
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advertising and publicity in Welsh there has been since last autumn to alert people to their entitlement to(a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit, and to encourage them to claim. [116825]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The publicity campaign to encourage people to claim their entitlement to child tax credit and working tax credit has been running since mid September 2002. The campaign has included advertising on television, radio, press and online, direct mailings to existing claimants and the distribution of leaflets and posters through Inland Revenue offices and via third party organisations.

  Welsh language publicity has been part of the campaign since its launch and includes subtitled television advertising, translated press work, small posters and leaflets.

  Uniform Business Rate
  John Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in revenue collected from uniform business rates was distributed to the London borough of Havering within the Revenue Support Grant in 2002–03. [116575]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The London Borough of Havering received £68,393,858 through redistributed business rates in the 2002/03 Local Government Finance Settlement. It also received a further £74,582,975 in Revenue Support Grant.

  John Cryer
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from uniform business rates in(a) the London Borough of Havering and (b) each London borough in each of the last five years. [116576]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have been asked to reply.

  The figures requested are in the table.
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  Net yield data 1999–2000 to 2003–04 for London

  £ million

  Local Authority

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  12002–03

  12003–04

  Islington

  80.7

  86.0

  101.5

  107.5

  111.6

  Kensington and Chelsea

  100.2

  112.2

  128.2

  140.4

  147.3

  Lambeth

  46.5

  52.0

  63.3

  67.9

  65.9

  Lewisham

  33.8

  36.0

  36.1

  36.3

  34.7

  Southwark

  65.6

  82.8

  86.1

  90.1

  86.1

  Tower Hamlets

  93.5

  108.0

  136.2

  138.1

  152.7

  Wandsworth

  52.9

  58.3

  61.8

  62.2

  62.3

  Westminster

  535.0

  677.8

  805.4

  875.0

  889.7

  Total Inner London borough

  1,295.4

  1,534.6

  1,786.2

  1,917.3

  1,972.6

  Outer London Borough

  Barking and Dagenham

  38.2

  34.9

  40.9

  41.7

  40.9

  Barnet

  63.9

  65.3

  73.5

  74.3

  72.9

  Bexley

  42.3

  36.3

  49.2

  47.9

  49.6

  Brent

  61.0

  60.3

  65.0

  67.2

  66.3

  Bromley

  55.8

  57.9

  64.5

  65.9

  65.7

  Croydon

  72.7

  80.9

  90.6

  89.7

  89.8

  Ealing

  82.7

  85.4

  90.1

  89.7

  89.9

  Enfield

  58.3

  54.8

  64.3

  65.6

  66.9

  Haringey

  42.7

  40.9

  43.0

  43.7

  43.3

  Harrow

  38.7

  37.1

  43.6

  43.7

  43.5

  Havering

  44.9

  45.8

  47.5

  47.7

  50.4

  Hillingdon

  202.5

  212.4

  242.5

  246.0

  243.2

  Hounslow

  92.8

  89.5

  110.6

  108.2

  115.9

  Kingston upon Thames

  46.5

  50.5

  56.8

  56.8

  56.6

  Merton

  43.8

  46.2

  51.1

  50.2

  50.7

  Newham

  45.3

  46.1

  51.7

  54.4

  52.6

  Redbridge

  34.5

  37.1

  39.3

  39.1

  38.6

  Richmond upon Thames

  41.9

  46.2

  51.1

  50.5

  50.9

  Sutton

  35.2

  30.4

  36.8

  37.0

  36.1

  Waltham Forest

  31.6

  34.4

  34.6

  36.2

  31.7

  Total Outer London borough

  1,175.6

  1,192.4

  1,346.6

  1,355.5

  1,355.5

  Total London borough

  2,470.9

  2,727.0

  3,132.8

  3,272.8

  3,328.0

  1 Provisional

  Data source:

  1999–2000 to 2001–02 Audited National Non Domestic Rate Return Form (NNDR) 3, 2002/03 to 2003/04 NNDR1 provisional.

  Local Government Finance Statistics (LGF3f)

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Gender Mainstreaming
  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Minister for Women when she will publish her next annual report on gender mainstreaming. [116568]

  Ms Hewitt
  I do not publish an annual report on gender mainstreaming. However we have set a gender equality objective in the comprehensive spending review and our action plan on "Delivering Gender Equality" will be published this month.

  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Minister for Women what action she intends to take about the gender pay gap within the public sector. [116571]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government have made a commitment for civil service departments and agencies to undertake pay reviews and prepare action plans. Action plans representing 91 per cent. of the civil service have now been received by the Cabinet Office.

  Equal Pay
  Vernon Coaker
  To ask the Minister for Women what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Equal Pay Act 1970. [116569]
  520W
  Ms Hewitt
  The Equal Pay Act 1970 has made real headway for many women and since 1975 when it came into effect the full-time pay gap has narrowed from 30 per cent. to 19 per cent. in 2002. However the "pay gap" is not just about unequal pay (covered by the Act) it is also about employment opportunities, work experience, culture and attitudes. Legislation has enabled us to make good progress, but the Government are determined to do more and are working to reduce the gender pay gap through a variety of measures which help strengthen and maintain women's attachment to the labour market, including the equal pay questionnaire, working with the EOC to promote equal pay reviews, providing trade unions with additional funding for training representatives in equal pay issues and by requiring the civil service to undertake pay reviews.

  Women's Pensions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Minister for Women, what recent consultations she has had with the Treasury regarding women's pensions. [116570]

  Ms Hewitt
  My Department has been in close contact with both HM Treasury and the Department of Works and Pensions regarding women's pensions.

  Women in Iraq
  Mr. Joyce
  To ask the Minister for Women what action she is taking to promote the role of women in the governance of Iraq. [116565]

  Ms Hewitt
  I am working with other colleagues to support Iraqi women in playing a full role in rebuilding the governing of their country. I am hosting meetings with a representative group of Iraqi women exiles, and last week 40 Iraqi women had a meeting in Baghdad with Ambassador Bremer and John Sawer, the UK Special Representative for Iraq.

  The meeting was also attended b y my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd) who is now of course my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's special representative on Human Rights in Iraq.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the cost was of the publication of the 2001 Departmental Report. [112812]

  The Solicitor-General [holding answer 14 May 2003]
  The cost of publishing the 2001 Law Officers' Department's Departmental Report was £6,849.

  Departmental Invoices
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor General if she will list the occasions on which her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies failed to pay valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period within financial year 2001–02. [104314]

  The Solicitor-General[holding answer 14 May 2003]
  Crown Prosecution Service

  During financial year 2001–02 the Crown Prosecution Service failed to pay 13,490 out of a total of 233,126 valid invoices within 30 days or after the agreed credit period, which represents 5.8 per cent. of the invoices processed.

  Serious Fraud Office

  The information and detail is not available in the format requested without disproportionate cost.

  However, the Serious Fraud Office paid 93.4 per cent. of all invoices within terms or 30 clays, if no terms were specified, for the financial year 2001–02.

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  The prompt payment performance of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate is published each year in line with other Government Departments. For the 2001–02 financial year 97 per cent. of invoices received were paid within the 30 day period.

  The total number of invoices received was 10,518 of which 10,150 were paid within 30 days. The remaining 368 (3 per cent.) were paid outside of the 30 day period. Listing each invoice individually would require
  522W
  extraction of details at disproportionate cost but the breakdown of these invoices by calendar month is as follows:

  Date

  Number of invoices

  April 2001

  74

  May 2001

  18

  June 2001

  26

  July 2001

  67

  August 2001

  27

  September 2001

  24

  October 2001

  22

  November 2001

  16

  December 2001

  18

  January 2002

  39

  February 2002

  29

  March 2002

  8

  Total

  368

  Employment Relations Act
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff in the Law Officers' Departments have taken time off from work in order to attend to domestic incidents as provided for by the Employment Relations Act 1999. [108337]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 14 April 2003]: In relation to my own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, working patterns have at all times been sufficiently flexible to enable staff to deal with domestic incidents. No requests for flexibility have specifically related to the 1999 Act.

  Crown Prosecution Service:

  The information you request is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Serious Fraud Office:

  This information is not available without incurring disproportionate costs.

  Treasury Solicitor's Department:

  160 staff in the Treasury Solicitor's Department have taken time off in order to attend to domestic incidents since this part of the Act came into force.

  Ministerial Transport
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General what her estimate is of the cost of(a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for her Department in 2002. [101847]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 12 May 2003]: On the cost of ministerial cars I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 20 May 2003, Official Report, column 663W.

  Crown Prosecution Service

  The Crown Prosecution Service does not separately record expenditure on taxis and it would incur disproportionate cost to identify this information. The costs of taxis are included with other miscellaneous travel expenditure and the aggregate cost of such expenditure in 2002 was £189,000.
  523W
  Serious Fraud Office

  The total incurred by the Serious Fraud Office for taxis during the financial year 2002 is £15,893.27.

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  The information available in relation to taxis is not held in the form required. Where authorised small claims for travel expenses are met from petty cash, the method of travel is not distinguished. The total expenditure from petty cash for all travel purposes so far in 2002–03 has been £5,523. Where claims are paid otherwise taxi fares are separately identifiable. In 2002–03 these amount to £2,800 for the Treasury Solicitor's Department of which £1,173 is attributable to the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and £25 to Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution. Service Inspectorate. Information is not held by calendar year.

  Property Portfolio
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the estimated value is of the property portfolio held by the Law Officers' Department. [108360]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 14 Apri12003]: Crown Prosecution Service: The National Asset Register, published in July 2001 (Cm 5221), lists those assets owned by the Crown Prosecution Service. The Crown Prosecution Service has freehold ownership of buildings in four locations—Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Portsmouth and Sheffield. The total estimated market value of the land and buildings for these four locations at 31 March 2000 was £3,845,000.

  Serious Fraud Office:

  The Serious Fraud Office has a single headquarters building which is subject to a full commercial repairing lease with a remaining life of some 10 years and is not owned by the Serious Fraud Office. The Serious Fraud Office does not own any other land or property.

  Treasury Solicitor's Department:

  The Treasury Solicitor's Department occupies a largely Crown freehold property, incorporating a small area on a 999 year lease to the Crown, whose total value was estimated at a little over £28,000,000 on 31 March 2002.

  The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate both occupy premises rented on modern leases at commercial rates.

  In addition, the Treasury Solicitor's Department manages a modern leasehold property formerly, occupied by Government Property Lawyers and now hosting a number of public bodies who pay occupation charges ("rent") under interdepartmental Memoranda of Terms of Occupations. The lease expires in 2016.

  Staff Union Duties
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff in the Law Officers' Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies receive paid leave to undertake union duties; how many days they are allocated; and what has been the cost to public funds in 2002. [106731]
  524W
  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 7 April 2003]: In relation to my own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, staff are on secondment from other Departments and are covered by their parent Department's arrangements.

  Crown Prosecution Service

  Facility time allocation in the Crown Prosecution Service is in the form of a block allowance—of 2,674 days—to the two recognised trade unions. For the financial year 2001–02 the number of staff receiving paid leave to undertake union duties was 136 and the cost to public funds was £280,042.75.

  Serious Fraud Office

  The Serious Fraud Office does not have any staff who receive paid leave to undertake union duties.

  HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

  The size of Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate means that we have no formal arrangements for facility time. However, both the FDA and the PCS have branches within Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and a Whitley Council which meets quarterly. Preparation and attendance is absorbed within normal working arrangements and I would not regard this as "paid leave". In addition, permission is given for occasional meetings. The total time involved is presently so small as not to warrant separate recording and costing.

  Treasury Solicitor's Department

  Seven members of staff in the Treasury Solicitor's Department are eligible to receive paid leave to undertake union duties; the total allocation is 40 days per year. The actual cost to public funds in 2002 was £715.

  Statutory Instruments
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the statutory instruments issued by the Law Officers' Department since 17 April 2002. [106756]

  The Solicitor-General
  [holding answer 7 April 2003]: None of the Departments for which the Attorney-General holds ministerial responsibility have issued statutory instruments in the period in question.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL

  Mental Health
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Advocate General (1) how many of her staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year; [111992]

  (2) how many sick days were lost in the last year by her Department through staff mental health problems; [112006]

  (3) how many of her staff retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year; [111970]

  (4) what arrangements are made in her Department to allow staff to access counselling services. [111940]

  The Advocate-General for Scotland
  I refer the hon. Member to the Answers given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Correspondence
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff have been employed in the Ministerial Correspondence Unit of the Department in each of the last two years. [115872]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The information requested is in the following table.

  Full-time Permanent members of staff

  Full-time casual members of staff

  Other

  April 2001

  5

  2

  —

  April 2002

  6

  —

  —

  April 2003

  4

  2

  1 part-time permanent member of staff

  Free School Meals
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of state-educated pupils in(a) Leeds, West constituency and (b) Leeds Metropolitan district receive free school meals. [116189]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The information requested is shown in the following table.

  Maintained schools: School meal arrangements

  January 2003 (Provisional)

  Number on roll

  Day pupils1 Number known to be eligible for free school meals

  Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals

  Leeds, West parliamentary constituency

  Primary2

  7,702

  2,009

  26.1

  Secondary2

  4,141

  1,028

  24.8

  Special3

  186

  67

  36.0

  Pupil Referral Units

  26

  13

  50.0

  Leeds local education authority

  Primary2

  65,400

  12,224

  18.7

  Secondary2

  47,806

  8,085

  16.9

  Special3

  955

  346

  36.2

  Pupil Referral Units

  223

  80

  35.9

  1 Excludes boarding pupils.

  2 Includes middle schools as deemed.

  3 Excludes non-maintained special schools.

  Source:

  The Annual Schools Census

  School Funding (Croydon)
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will meet the hon. Member for Croydon, South to discuss funding for(a) Woodcote High School, Croydon and (b) education funding in Croydon. [111686]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I would be happy to meet the hon. Member. My Private Office will be in contact shortly.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which United Kingdom commitments arising from the World Summit on 526W
  Sustainable Development (a) have been incorporated into the Department's existing delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements and (b) will be incorporated in its delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements in advance of the 2004 Spending Review. [113885]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The interdepartmentally cleared Annex to the Memorandum submitted to the Environmental Audit Committee, in response to their inquiry on WSSD follow up, showed no outcomes for which this Department has responsibility,

  Therefore, we see no need to change our existing delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements now, or in the future, in advance of the 2004 Spending Review.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Legal Aid
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what circumstances defendants are entitled to legal aid before being charged; and what plans he has to amend the legal aid regulations in the light of Section 23 and Schedule 2 of the Criminal Justice Bill. [102070]

  Yvette Cooper
  Criminal Defence Service funding, in the form of advice and assistance, is available to anyone who is the subject of an investigation which may lead to criminal proceedings. Advice and assistance from a duty solicitor is free where an individual is arrested and held at a police station. In other circumstances, a defendant will be eligible for help where his weekly disposable income does not exceed £89 and his disposable capital does not exceed £1,000. There is no need to change the regulations in light of the Criminal Justice Bill, as advice and assistance is already available to cover any of the circumstances that may arise under Schedule 2.

  Transsexuals
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress towards achieving equal rights for transsexuals. [116293]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government's policy on transsexual people remains unchanged from that set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 16 December 2002,Official Report, column 36WS. We are committed to legislating as soon as possible to give transsexual people their Convention rights. Our aim is to publish a draft Bill later this session with substantive legislation following when Parliamentary time allows.

SCOTLAND

  Counselling Services
  Mr. Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made in her Department to allow staff to access counselling services. [111951]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Staff in my Department have access to an in-house counselling and welfare service as well as to an external employee assistance programme. These
  527W
  arrangements reflect my commitment to helping staff deal with concerns both inside and outside the workplace.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of her staff retired on medical grounds due to mental health problems in the last year. [111956]

  Mrs. Liddell
  No staff from the Scotland Office retired on medical grounds in 2002.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of her staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year. [111978]

  Mrs. Liddell
  In 2002, a small number of staff in my department had sickness absence relating to mental health problems. Further details of cases are covered by Exemption 12 (Privacy of an Individual) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sick days were lost over the last year by her Department through staff mental health problems. [112067]

  Mrs. Liddell
  In 2002, 180 working days were lost due to staff illness involving mental health problems.

  Ministerial Meetings
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to her answer of 9 April 2003,Official Report, column 278W, on ministerial meetings, if she will give the date of her last meeting with (a) the Minister of State for Trade and Investment and (b) the Scottish Minister responsible for Scottish Trade International. [114964]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I met the Minister of State for Trade and Investment on 6 February this year. My last engagement with the Scottish Minister responsible for Scottish Trade International was on 3 March. I also have frequent telephone conversations with each.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times she has met the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise in each of the last five years; and when her last meeting was. [114965]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Scottish Enterprise is formally responsible to Scottish Ministers for the conduct of its business. Therefore, while my predecessor and I have had continuing informal contacts with the Chairman and past Chairman of Scottish Enterprise over the past four years in a variety of different contexts, there has been no reason to keep detailed records of such contacts since devolution.

  Tax Credit
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many employees in Scotland are (a) entitled to and (b) in receipt of working tax credit; [115815]

  (2) how many families in Scotland are (a) entitled to and (b) in receipt of child tax credit. [115814]
  528W
  Mrs. McGuire
  430,000 families in Scotland are expected to receive the Child Tax Credit and 90,000 families in Scotland a re expected to receive the Working Tax Credit, including some who are expected to receive the Child Tax Credit. Statistics on awards of these tax credits will be published in August.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  National Institute for Medical Research
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the National Institute for Medical Research in Mill Hill. [116515]

  Ms Hewitt
  No decision has been taken regarding the future of the National Institute for Medical Research.

  Manufacturing
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received concerning competitiveness from representatives of the manufacturing sector. [116516]

  Alan Johnson
  I and my colleagues frequently receive representations from industry on a range of issues, including competitiveness. We value and encourage such exchanges.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Indus try if she will make a statement on the change in the number of manufacturing jobs since 1997 in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [116517]

  Alan Johnson
  Since December 1998, the earliest base year available, it is estimated that manufacturing jobs in Shrewsbury have fallen by around 550, a decrease of 12 per cent. In the same period, overall employment in Shrewsbury increases by 8.7 per cent.

  Bilateral Trade
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on current levels of bilateral trade with the United States of America. [116518]

  Ms Hewitt
  Initial figures for 2002 value UK exports of goods to the US at £28.38 billion and UK imports at £26.06 billion so there is a healthy balance in the UK's favour.

  Small Businesses
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Department of Health on the effect of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill on insurance costs for small businesses. [116519]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I know that businesses and business organisations are concerned about the possible impact on insurance costs of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill's provisions on NHS cost recovery. I have represented these concerns to the Department of Health, and as a result the
  529W
  Government decided that the provisions in the Bill will not be commenced before the outcome of further work on the Employers' Liability Insurance system is known.

  Steel Industry
  Mr. Bailey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with Corus and the unions on redundancies in the steel industry announced last month; and if she will make a statement. [116520]

  Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has held a number of discussions with Corus senior management and the steel Trade Unions about restructuring at Corus. It is always terrible when job losses and closures are announced, particularly in a long-established industry which is important to the UK economy, but the decision to restructure or relocate is a commercial one for the company to make.

  We welcome the announcement of new investment at Port Talbot, Scunthorpe and Rotherham, which is essential if the company is to re-establish its competitive position.

  Post Office
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the Post Office's urban reinvention programme. [116521]

  Ms Hewitt
  I understand from Post Office Ltd. that good progress is being made on urban reinvention. As at the end of April 2003, the company had entered into public consultation for compensated closures for a total of 417 offices and that 205 offices had closed under the terms of the programme as at that date. In addition, at the same date, Post Office Ltd. had received 149 applications for investment grants under the urban reinvention programme from offices remaining with the network, of which 36 had been approved.

  I am also informed by Post Office Ltd. that, to date, five post office closure proposals have been withdrawn for further evaluation in the light of representations made during the public consultation process. In addition 18 closure proposals had been withdrawn, and a further 24 modified, prior to public consultation after discussion with Postwatch.

  National Minimum Wage
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans her Department has to extend the National Minimum Wage to 16 and 17-year-olds. [116523]

  Alan Johnson
  The Government agreed in March that the Low Pay Commission should look at the possible advantages and disadvantages of a minimum wage rate for 16 to 17-year-olds. We will publish terms of reference for the Commission shortly. The Commission will report to the Government by the end of February 2004 and we will consider the position then.

  British Business Assistance
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 16 May 2003,Official Report, column 460W, on British Business Assistance, in what format she holds the information; what she estimates the cost would be to provide the information in the formats as requested; and if she will make a statement. [115783]

  Ms Hewitt
  A list of DTI supported schemes is available from http://www.businesslink.org/support. Individual scheme managers hold more detailed information on each scheme in a format suitable for the running of that scheme.

  The information is therefore not held on a central database and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Broadband
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which areas within the Chorley constituency(a) have been and (b) have not been connected to broadband. [116398]

  Mr. Timms
  This data is not available within Government.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with BT(a) in relation to the roll-out of broadband and (b) on ensuring that all areas receive broadband as soon as possible. [116399]

  Mr. Timms
  My colleagues and I maintain regular contact with BT across a wide range of issues as we do with other broadband providers. The Government's target is for the UK to have the most competitive and extensive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. Around 70 per cent. of UK homes and businesses already have access to broadband. Oftel have reported that the UK has over 2 million broadband connections and this is rising by well over 30,000 per week.

  Cambridge-MIT Institute
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when funding from her Department was first made available to the Cambridge-MIT Institute; how much funding her Department gave to the institute in each year since funding began; what restrictions apply to the funding; what assessment she has made of the management of grants made to the institute; what guidance she has given to the institute on its management; and what the status is of the Department's relationship with the institute. [116681]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: On 17 July 2000, DTI formally offered CMI a grant of up to £65.1 million for expenditure incurred up to 31 July 2005. Under the detailed terms and conditions of the offer, the grant is paid in arrears against invoices for expenditure properly incurred, and is conditional on CMI achieving its deliverables. The grant drawn down by CMI each year is published in the DTI Consolidated Resource Accounts.
  531W
  CMI is a limited company. Its Board of Directors are responsible for the operation of CMI and are accountable to DTI for proper expenditure of the grant. DTI and HMT have seats as observers on the CMI board, and there is regular contact with staff at all levels at CMI and both universities. I instigated an independent review of CMI in May 2001, and the CMI board accepted and acted upon all the recommendations. The most recent independent audit, in February 2003, found CMI's internal systems and controls and corporate governance practices to be satisfactory and made no recommendations for further action.

  Coastal Wind Farms
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on(a) the development and (b) the benefits of coastal wind farms on the north-west coastline. [116611]

  Mr. Wilson
  Under the first round of offshore wind farm site leasing in 2001, the Crown Estate granted leases for a number of sites off the north-west coast—Barrow, Shell Flat (three sites), Southport and Burbo Bank. The development at Barrow has been given consent and consent applications for the sites at Shell Flat and Burbo Bank have been submitted to the DTI.

  The Crown Estate will shortly invite applications for sites under a second round of leasing which will focus on the three strategic areas proposed in the Department's "Future Offshore" consultation paper (November 2002)—the Thames Estuary, the Greater Wash and the North West.

  The second round will be informed by a strategic environmental assessment of development in the strategic areas. A report has been prepared which considers possible negative impacts as well as benefits and is available on the Department's website at: http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/ offshore-wind-sea/process/envreport.htm coastal wind farms will make an important contribution to meeting the Government's 10 per cent. renewables target. They will also contribute to the security of national energy supply and provide employment opportunities both locally and nationally.

  Credit Card Industry
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent representations she has received from consumer bodies about credit card cheque books; [116002]

  (2) what discussions she has had with the credit card industry about differential charging and fee structures for the use of credit card cheque books issued to customers. [116717]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Both Citizens Advice and the Office of Fair Trading—representing consumer bodies—raised concerns about the use of credit card cheques in the discussions of the Task Force on Tackling Overindebtedness. The Task Force also included the British Banking Association, the Finance and Leasing Association and the Consumer Credit Association representing the credit industry.
  532W
  Among the topics addressed, differential charging and fee structures were dealt with as a part of the work carried out on the transparency of information that should be provided to consumers.

  The results of all of these discussions can be found in their second report to me, published 30 January 2003, which is available in the Libraries of the House.

  Energy Crops
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the amount of energy crops being grown for use by electricity generators. [116265]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government are committed to the development of all forms of bio-energy, including energy crops. While no targets have been set for either the planting of energy crops or for the contribution of individual renewable energy sources, such as energy crops, the Government hope to increase the amount of energy crops grown For electricity generation through a number of schemes designed to create sustainable markets for energy crops.

  My Department provides support ranging from research and development to the creation of a market for energy generation from energy crops through the Renewables Obligation and the Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme.

  DEFRA's Energy Crops Scheme helps farmers and foresters to establish energy crops and a further £3.5million is being made available by DEFRA to develop supply chains.

  Energy Sources
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government assistance is available for the development of market-based production of energy using renewable sources. [116251]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Government has introduced a number of market-based initiatives to assist renewable energy sources:The Renewables Obligation, which places an obligation on licensed electricity suppliers to source a percentage of supplies from renewable sources, to reach 10 per cent. by 2010;
  Exemption, for businesses and organisations, from the Climate Change Levy for electricity generated by new renewable technologies;
  £348 million of capital grants and support for research, development and demonstration programmes to enable emerging technologies gain a foothold in the marketplace.

  Environmental Impact Assessments
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 16 May 2003,Official Report, column 462W, on environmental impact assessments, if she will list (a) the support schemes and (b) the criteria to which she referred for assessing the environmental impact of businesses to whom grants are awarded. [116261]

  Ms Hewitt
  The DTI is involved in 14 schemes which deal with energy efficiency and the environment. Three of these schemes include a grant element and are
  533W
  designed specifically to have a positive effect on the environment by assisting individual businesses. The schemes are:

  1. Biowise. Link to assessment criteria: www.biowise.org.uk

  2. New and Renewable Energy programme. Link to assessment criteria: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/support/research

  3. Solar Power Grants. Link to assessment criteria: www.est.co.uk/solar

  Environmental Research and Development
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was given in grants by the Department for research and development relating to(a) the environment and (b) waste in the years 1998 to 2002; and what the projected allocation is for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2005. [115773]

  Mr. Wilson
  My Department has provided the following funding for research and development relating to waste and the environment (it is not possible to distinguish between the two classifications):

  £

  1998–99

  490,000

  1999–2000

  547,000

  2000–01

  738,000

  2001–02

  1,158,000

  2002–03

  2,356,000

  2003–04

  (projected) 3,186,000

  It is not possible to provide the likely final outturn beyond this. However we have already committed £1,792,000 for 2004–05, but this figure may increase.

  These figures do not include funding for environmental research and development which the Office of Science and Technology provides through the Research Councils. NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) is the primary fund provider and has supplied the following figures for the funding of research and development.

  £ million

  1998–99

  160

  1999–2000

  159

  2000–01

  169

  2001–02

  166

  2002–03

  195

  2003–04

  (forecast) 287

  2004–05

  (forecast) 303

  In addition DTI is also providing £10.65 million funding between 2001–2004 to WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, a not for profit company funded by Government. £8.45 million was allocated for open call research and development programmes between 2001–2003 and a further £1.66 million spent on other research and market studies during the same period. Future WRAP research and development expenditure has not yet been agreed.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 12 May 2003,Official Report, column 16W, on the renewable energy initiative of the ECGD, when she expects a decision to be reached on the three applications outstanding. [117085]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: For all three of the applications ECGD is waiting for the exporters to resolve contractual or financial issues with the respective buyers. These issues are outside ECGD's control and it is not currently possible to say when or indeed if any guarantees will eventually be issued.

  General Agreement on Trade in Services
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the latest(a) discussions held and (b) agreements reached concerning the General Agreement on Trade in Services. [115538]

  Ms Hewitt
  The current negotiations under the General Agreement on Trade in Services—part of the World Trade Organisation's Doha Development Agenda of multilateral trade negotiations—are due to be concluded by 1 January 2005. Negotiations have recently begun to focus on requests and offers. Around 25 offers have so far been tabled by WTO Members. The offer by the European Community and Member States was tabled on 29 April.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the import of products that would be illegal if they had been produced in the United Kingdom; what records are kept of such products; and what assessment she has made of the risk to consumers from such products. [116714]

  Ms Hewitt
  Consumer protection legislation, which is enforced by local authority trading standards officers, makes it an offence to supply unsafe consumer products to the UK market. The legislation applies equally to products manufactured in the UK and imported products. Enforcement statistics do not distinguish action taken against imported products. Under European Council Regulation 339/93—relating to goods imported from non-Community countries—customs officers have powers to detain goods for up to three working days to permit checks by trading standards officers when there is reason to believe that goods may be unsafe. More generally in formulating policy towards imports of goods the United Kingdom must have due regard to its European Community and international trade obligations.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's(a) total managed expenditure, (b) total spending on Information Technology and (c) spending on Information Technology as a proportion of its total managed expenditure was in each financial year since 1997–98. [107186]
  535W
  Ms Hewitt
  The contribution by Department of Trade and Industry to Total Managed Expenditure can be measured by the total of spending under resource and capital budgets, less non-cash items in AME. Data for 1998–99 to 2001–02 were published in the 2003 Departmental Report (Cm 5916).

  Due to the devolved nature of the Department's budgets, complete information of total spending for all budgets on Information Technology (IT) is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, spending by the Department of Trade and Industry from its centrally gross controlled Administration Costs Budgets on IT was £12.1 million in 1998–99, £10.4 million in 1999–2000, £14.9 million in 2000–01, £18 million in 2001–02 and £21.2 million in 2002—03.

  Iraq
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on recent discussions she has held with(a) the UN, (b) the EU and (c) the United States Government on the reconstruction of Iraq. [116269]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: I have had no recent discussions with either the UN or the EU on the reconstruction of Iraq.

  As I informed the hon. Member on 1 April 2003, Official Report, column 624W I have discussed post-conflict issues with Andrew Natsios of US AID.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests for assistance with tendering for business in Iraq her Department has received from UK companies. [116270]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: British Trade International has received hundreds of requests for advice from UK companies on how they might pursue contract opportunities in Iraq. We have almost 1,000 companies registered on our Iraq database.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of her Department's contribution to assisting UK businesses who have registered interest in contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq. [116272]

  Ms Hewitt
  A key objective of the Department has been to help position UK companies to ensure that their expertise and knowledge of the Middle East region is put to the fullest possible use in the redevelopment of Iraq.

  The hon. Member is aware of the main activities we have undertaken to assist companies, including our discussions with the US authorities. At my request, British Trade International set up an Industry Working Group, which will act as a channel of communication to industry in our work to help companies access opportunities. We have a database of nearly 1,000 UK companies interested in working in Iraq and to whom we send mailshot updates. We also held a joint seminar with the US authorities in London on 23 May 2003, which presented an excellent opportunity for UK companies to meet key US departments and contractors. Feedback received from members of the Industry Working Group and other has so far been
  536W
  positive. The redevelopment of Iraq will be a long process and it is too early to make an assessment of our efforts to help companies.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which companies her Department has assisted in winning contracts for the reconstruction of Iraq. [116273]

  Ms Hewitt
  We expect UK companies to play a significant role in the redevelopment of post-conflict Iraq. In the short-term, US funded contracts are likely to be the main source of opportunities for UK companies on a sub-contract basis. While we expect UK companies to bid for and win contracts, companies are not obliged to inform us if and when they have done so.

  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with(a) the Secretary of State for International Development, (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (c) the Prime Minister about the reconstruction of Iraq. [116271]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: The Cabinet and Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq has regular discussions on all aspects of our policy towards Iraq, including reconstruction.

  Miners' Compensation
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the setting up of the medical review panel on miners' compensation; and when the panel will begin its work. [116880]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Review Panel is a feature of a revised version of the medical disputes procedure proposed by the claimants" solicitors and currently under discussion between the parties. A good measure of progress has been made on this issue and it is hoped that agreement can be reached in the near future.

  In the meantime, the original version of the medical disputes procedure continues to operate in draft, as agreed by the parties. There is no bar to a claimant bringing a dispute under this version of the medical disputes procedure until the revised version is finalised.

  Near Earth Object Task Force
  Lembit Öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the recommendations contained in the Government's Near Earth Object Taskforce Report; how much money has been spent since January 2001 on implementing the recommendations contained in the Government's Near Earth Object Taskforce Report; and if she will make a statement. [116732]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government issued its response to the Taskforce Report in February 2001 and an update to the response was issued in January 2002. A key objective for the Government in supporting the thrust of the Task Force's Report was to raise international awareness of this issue and thus to achieve international cooperation in getting to grips with the issues. I believe that this has been achieved. For example, in January 2003 the Global Science Forum of the Organisation for Economic
  537W
  Cooperation and Development held a workshop dedicated to the subject, and a report of this workshop will be considered at a July 2003 meeting of the group.

  DTI has committed a sum of around £460,000 to the area of Near Earth Objects between January 2001 and March 2004. An update on progress will be provided in the autumn.

  Trade (Africa)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken to tackle trade barriers(a) between African countries and the United Kingdom and (b) between African countries; and if she will make a statement. [116626]

  Ms Hewitt
  The UK is working through the EU for a fairer international trading system for all WTO members, with a particular emphasis on developing countries. To maximise the benefits of trade to all African countries the Government are working for the elimination of trade barriers both between themselves and with the EU. This needs to be done in a carefully sequenced manner, together with appropriate complementary policies so that the benefits of freer trade are maximised. The Government are working in partnership with developing countries, the EU and multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, to help developing countries capture new trading opportunities and thus trade their way out of poverty.

  In addition, in terms of tackling trade barriers between Africa and the EU, there are several complementary agreements between the EU and Africa. With South Africa there is the EU-South Africa Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement, which provisionally came into force in 2000 and which aims to create a free trade area between the EU and South Africa over 12 years. In the North there is the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership which aims to establish a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area with 12 Mediterranean Partner Countries, four of which are in North Africa, by 2010.

  For Sub-Saharan Africa under the "Everything But Arms" initiative all products from the 32 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) already have duty and quota-free access to the EU, with phase in periods for bananas, sugar and rice.

  Finally, the UK hopes that the recently launched negotiations under the Cotonou Agreement for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific. (ACP) countries, including all African countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa), will play a significant role in reducing trade barriers between African countries themselves and with the EU. As a result of the negotiations the UK would like to see an outcome which gave all ACP countries duty and quota-free access to the EU.

  UK Liability Insurance Market
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Office of Fair Trading fact-finding study into the UK liability insurance market will be published. [116661]
  538W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Office of Fair Trading fact-finding study into the UK liability insurance market was published on 3 June 2003.

  Veterinary Medicines
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the Competition Commission inquiry into the supply of prescription-only veterinary medicines; and if she will make a statement. [116730]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Competition Commission's recommendations and proposed remedies are intended to lead to greater choice and price transparency for animal owners, to increase competition in the market for veterinary medicines while ensuring that we continue to protect both human and animal health.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked the Office of Fair Trading to consult with relevant parties on the appropriate terms of orders to implement the Commission's remedies under the Fair Trading Act 1973.

  The regulatory controls relating to the supply of veterinary medicines in the UK are the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently considering the Competition Commission's recommendations relating to the veterinary medicines regulatory system. The Government will publish its response by 10 July 2003.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry with which bodies she has had discussions on the recommendations contained in the Competition Commission Report, Veterinary Medicines: A Report on the Supply Within the United Kingdom of Prescription-only Veterinary Medicines. [116106]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked the Office of Fair Trading to consult with relevant parties on the appropriate terms of orders to implement the Commission's remedies under the Fair Trading Act 1973. These include the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the British Veterinary Association, and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association. After the OFT have reported back, my right hon. Friend will then consult publicly on the terms of the orders.

  Wood Residue
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which industries her Department has identified as the major users of wood residue in the United Kingdom. [116266]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department has not undertaken any specific analysis of the major users of wood residue in the UK. However, it is understood that a significant proportion of wood residue is used in the manufacture of wood composite board for the construction and furniture manufacturing industries.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Chamber Orchestras
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards the funding of chamber orchestras. [115517]

  Dr. Howells
  Through their recently announced spending allocations for 2004–05 to 2005–06 Arts Council England is to support a portfolio of seven chamber orchestras to serve those areas of the country which currently have little or no access to orchestral provision, and to ensure a rich mix of provision in other areas. As a result of these allocations, funding for the chamber orchestra sector will increase from £1.34 million this financial year to £1.97 million in 2005–06 or 47.2 per cent.

  Main beneficiaries of this increase include:
  leading contemporary music ensembles—London Sinfonietta, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and the Britten Sinfonia
  the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment—one of the country's busiest and most versatile period-instrument orchestras
  mainstream chamber orchestras with an already established regional presence—City of London Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, Manchester Camerata.

  In addition, the Arts Council invests around £350,000 a year through project funding to support chamber orchestras to tour nationally.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff have been employed in the Ministerial Correspondence Unit of the Department in each of the last two years. [115885]

  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is in the following table. Please note these figures are for the correspondence section only. They do not include Ministerial Private Staff or staff in the Parliamentary Unit.

  Year

  Staff Employed in the Correspondence Unit

  April

  2001–02

  8

  2002–03

  10

  Efficiency Savings
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the target is for efficiency savings in 2003–04 expressed(a) in money terms and (b) as a percentage of the Department's expenditure limit. [114126]

  Dr. Howells
  Following the 2000 Spending Review the Department conducted a benchmarking study of value for money in bodies funded by the Department. This resulted in the 2002 Spending Review PSA target to improve significantly the value for money of the 540W
  Department's sponsored (Museums and Galleries and Lottery Distributing) bodies, measured by a matrix of NDPB indicators.

  Licensing Bill
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what provisions of the Licensing Bill will apply to individual musicians performing in pubs; and if she will make a statement. [115928]

  Dr. Howells
  The Licensing Bill provides in clause 1 that the provision of regulated entertainment is a licensable activity. Schedule 1 to the Bill defines the provision of regulated entertainment and provides that the descriptions of entertainment include a performance of live music. Accordingly, subject to the conditions and exemptions in the Bill, live musical performances in pubs would require the authorisation of a premises licence, a club premises certificate or a temporary event notice. Under clause 134 of the Bill an offence is committed if a person carries on, attempts to carry on, or knowingly allows to take place, unauthorised licensable activities. However, entertainers such as musicians performing in pubs, who perform at unlicensed venues and do nothing else in relation to the provision of regulated entertainment would not be committing this offence.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Simon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many charities in the Birmingham, Erdington constituency have(a) applied for and (b) claimed awards from the Heritage Lottery Fund in each year since the National Lottery began. [112991]

  Dr. Howells
  Applications have been received from, and grants made to, two organisations: St. Barnabas Church, Erdington in Financial Year 1998–99 and Erin Go Bragh GAA & Camogie Club in Financial Year 2002—03.

  Poetry
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what(a) measures she has taken and (b) resources she has committed to promote the (i) writing, (ii) reading and (iii) archiving of poetry in each of the last five years. [116021]

  Dr. Howells
  This is essentially a matter for Arts Council England, which funds a range of organisations concerned with the development of poetry, with a particular emphasis on readers and writers. The following table supplied by the Arts Council contains the information requested by my hon. Friend. These figures refer only to funding from the national office and do not include any regional funding or lottery spend.

  £

  1997–98

  Total literature spend (grant in aid)

  1,426,906

  Total poetry spend1

  785,350

  1998–99

  Total literature spend (grant in aid)

  1,551,016

  Total poetry spend

  1,102,266

  541W

  £

  1999–2000

  Total literature spend (grant in aid)

  1,706,889

  Total poetry spend

  998,790

  2000–01

  Total literature spend (grant in aid)

  1,498,034

  Total poetry spend

  1,008,900

  2001–02

  Total literature spend (grant in aid)

  1,468,645

  Total poetry spend

  1,068,790

  1 These figures are for organisations that focus entirely on poetry and also for organisations that have an element of poetry. They do not include monies spent by the old Regional Arts Boards.

  The Arts Council is not itself responsible for archiving, which remains the responsibility of individual organisations. However, the Arts Council has funded the Poetry Library at the South Bank Centre for £90,000 to digitise its poetry magazine collection. The Arts Council is also supporting a programme of work by the Poetry Archive that will see contemporary poets recording their own work, which will then be made available on CD and via a specially designed website. The DIES is providing £280,000 of funding for this project in 2003–04, and the Arts Council will invest £60,000 in 2004–05, rising to £100,000 in 2005–06.

  As a result of the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Round, funding for literature will increase by 50 per cent. in 2004–05 and 2005–06. This builds on an increase of 77 per cent. in literature funding in the 2000 CSR. Approximately 80 per cent. of the total literature budget is spent directly or indirectly on poetry.

  Radio Stations
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public money has been given in each of the last five years for which figures are available to support local temporary radio stations operating under a short-term licence; and how much of that funding was channelled through the Countryside Agency. [115592]

  Dr. Howells
  This department does not hold a central fund offering financial assistance to local temporary radio stations. Information on how these stations are funded is not held centrally.

  The Countryside Agency does not offer any grant schemes which target radio stations.

  Television Subtitles
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of(a) current and (b) projected use of voice recognition in the production of closed caption television subtitles; and if she will make a statement. [116247]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: None. However, the Independent Television Commission (ITC) monitors developments in subtitling technology which includes systems currently available for using voice recognition.
  542W
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made by her Department of the(a) literacy and (b) other benefits of the provision of closed caption television subtitles for viewers for whom English is their second language; and if she will make a statement. [116248]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: None. The primary purpose of subtitles is for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, rather than people whose first language is not English. All ITC research to date looks at comprehension by people with hearing impairments.

  The ITC Guidance on Standards for Subtitling does give guidance on enhancing the comprehension of subtitles. This guidance focuses on two areas—the first is aimed at reducing the number of words on the screen by re-phrasing to reduce the complexity of a sentence while maintaining the original meaning; the second area is aimed at the reading comprehension of children.

  Olympic Games (London)
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment VisitBritain has made of the impact of holding the Olympic Games in London on(a) visitor numbers in London, (b) visitor displacement from London and (c) visitor numbers in Scotland; and if she will make a statement. [115519]

  Dr. Howells
  The British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council each submitted their assessments to the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport on 14 January 2003. Their assessments were published on 21 January 2003 in the Select Committee report, "A London Olympic Bid for 2012".

  The Select Committee's report can be found at: http:// www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmcumeds/268/26802.htm

  Copies of the report are available in the Vote Office.

  World Tourism Organisation
  Janet Anderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to review the Government's decision not to rejoin the World Tourism Organisation. [116129]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government has reconsidered the question of UK membership of the World Tourism Organisation and, on balance, concluded that there would not be value for money in joining.

  Youth Orchestras
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards funding youth orchestras in Sefton. [116282]

  Dr. Howells
  This is a matter for Arts Council England.

  Arts Council England funds the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) and the Halle Orchestra, both of which run very successful and active youth orchestras. Both youth orchestras work in Sefton and more widely in the north-west.
  543W
  In addition to this, Arts Council England also fund the National Foundation for Youth Music (Youth Music), which provides music making opportunities for young people throughout England. Youth Music has 20 Youth Music Action Zones around the country, including one which works in Sefton and the rest of Merseyside. The Action Zone works with local authorities, training institutions, community organisations, regeneration organisations, local radio, disability forums, youth services, EAZs, schools and music organisations throughout Merseyside.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Adult Education
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people entered Work-Based Learning for Adults in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [114478]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The information requested is in the table. Figures provided are for England only, as responsibility for Government-funded training in Wales and Scotland is devolved to the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament respectively.

  Work-Based Learning for Adults (WBLA)—Delivered by Training and Enterprise Councils

  Starts to WBLA

  1997–98

  183,600

  1998–99

  98,100

  1999–2000

  102,700

  2000–01

  108,300

  Source:

  DfEE WBLA Trainee Database

  Work Based Learning for Adults (WBLA)—Delivered by Jobcentre Plus

  Starts to WBLA

  2001–02

  67,700

  April 2002 to December 02

  53,200

  Source:

  DWP WBLA Evaluation Database

  Several factors have contributed to the reduction in the numbers of people starting Work-Based Learning for Adults (WBLA) since 1997. These include: the fall in unemployment since 1997; the restriction of WBLA provision to people aged 25 and over (excluding exempt groups) following the introduction of New Deal for Young People; and the introduction of New Deal 25 plus in April 2001. This resulted in JSA recipients unemployed for over 18 months becoming ineligible for Work Based Learning for Adults.

  Child Poverty
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in meeting his Department's targets on eliminating child poverty. [116383]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Poverty is a complex and multidimensional problem. We published 'Opportunity for all—Fourth Annual Report' (Cm 5598) in September 2002, which sets out the Government's strategy for 544W
  tackling poverty arid social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.

  In April 2002 we published 'Measuring child poverty: a consultation document' to gather views on an appropriate measure of child poverty for the long term. We published the preliminary conclusions of our consultation on 14 May 2003.

  Progress has been made on the Public Service Agreement (PSA) target, shared by the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury, to reduce the number of children in low-income households by at least a quarter by 2004. Data for this are published in `Households Below Average Income 1994/95 to 2001/ 02'. On this measure the number of children in low income fell by around half a million between 1996–97 and 2001/02. The baseline for the PSA target is 1998–99. We are making steady progress towards the target.

  The Public Service Agreement target technical note, available on the internet and in the library, contains full details of how the target will be monitored.

  Disability (Administration Costs)
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will break down by category of expenditure the total net administration costs for disability for 2003 set out in Table Five of the Annual Report of the Department, Command Paper 5921; and if he will make a statement. [116870]

  Maria Eagle
  Information is not currently available at the level of detail requested. In accordance with the requirements of Resource Accounting and Budgeting the Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by Strategic Objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs), as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts and as reproduced in Table 5 of the Department's Annual Report, a copy of which is available in the Library.

  Means-tested Savings
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to reform the capital rules on means-tested savings. [112095]

  Maria Eagle
  When the Pension Credit is introduced in October this year, the rules excluding pensioners with £12,000 or more in savings from any help will be abolished. Savings of £6,000 or less (£10,000 or less for those in care homes) will be disregarded in full.

  The rate at which we assume income from capital in excess of the £6,000 (£10,000 where appropriate) will be set at £1 in £500, which is half the rate currently assumed for the minimum income guarantee. In addition any assumed income will count towards the savings credit. Overall this means that savings will be treated five times more generously than under minimum income guarantee.

  We have no plans to make any further changes to the capital rules.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken on pensions to ensure that all those potentially eligible for the pension credit are individually advised of their right to claim. [115401]

  Maria Eagle
  The Pension Service has begun to write to pensioner households to explain pension credit and to invite applications. Around £1.8 million people who currently receive the minimum income guarantee have been told that they will be transferred automatically to pension credit, ready for payments to be made from October 2003. In addition, by June 2004, around £6.8 million pensioner households will have been issued with a direct mail pack. This systematic approach will be supported by regional and national advertising.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension credit direct mailing packs have been distributed; and of those, how many pension credit applications have been received via(a) the pension credit hotline and (b) other methods. [116723]

  Maria Eagle
  As at 25 May 2003, around 64,000 pension credit direct mail packs have been issued to pensioners. Of these, around 15,000 applications have been taken by the pension credit application line and a small number of applications have been completed through the Pension Service local service teams.

  The advance application period has been running for only seven weeks. Since there is a time lag between the issue of the mail pack and the subsequent completion

  Employers

  Employers

  Providers

  4th Contact Ltd.

  Meridian

  Countrywide Assd Caspil

  Aberdeen city council

  Merseyside Pension Fund

  Countrywide Assd Vax

  Aircraft Research Ass Ltd.

  MISYS

  Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society

  Albany International Ltd.

  Molins

  Prudential

  Alusuisse Holdings

  Nationwide Pension Fund

  Aspen Plc

  NEC Staff Pension Scheme

  Bacon & Woodrow

  NORTEL Networks UK Pension Trust Ltd.

  Barnet CC

  Northern Lighthouse Board

  Cable & Wireless

  Oxford Instruments

  Capita Hartshead

  Partridge Muir & Warren

  Caterpillar UK Ltd.

  Nationwide Pension Fund

  DWP PCSPS

  Reliance Mutual

  DWP Cheshire

  Rexam PLC

  Durham county council

  Ready Mix Concrete

  EMAP

  Shilling Communications

  Field Group Plc

  Stock Exchange Centralised Pension Fund

  FMC Chemicals Pension Plan

  Thames Water

  The BOC Group

  FMC Corp (UK) Pension Plan

  Vencel Resil Ltd.

  J Sainsbury Plc

  Woodgate Fulfilment Ltd.

  Kent county council

  London—Scottish Fund

  Menzies Distribution Ltd.

  Pensions
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the threshold for payment of compensation for delays in processing retirement pensions was set at eight months. [115507]

  Maria Eagle
  Under the terms of the department's discretionary financial redress scheme compensation may be considered where payments are unreasonably and exceptionally delayed due to official error. An
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  and return of the application, direct comparison of figures is difficult at this stage.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether pensioners who do not make a pension credit application using the pension credit hotline will be able to request an application form; and if he will make a statement. [116724]

  Maria Eagle
  Pensioners who do not want to use the freephone service available to take their pension credit application and wish instead to complete a paper application form will have their contact details taken by the Pension Service and a paper application form will be sent to them around October 2003. From October 2003, paper application forms will be issued as and when they are requested.

  Pension Statements
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the(a) employers and (b) pension providers issuing combined pension statements to their employees and policy holders. [116721]

  Maria Eagle
  The information in the table lists employers and pension providers who are issuing combined pension forecasts to their employees and policy holders. There are 42 employers listed and four providers. An additional 19 companies are registered and a further 454 companies have expressed an interest in taking advantage of the combined pension forecasting service and are at varying stages of the recruitment process.

  objective indicator, specific to each benefit or pension, is employed to assess whether excessive delay has occurred. Available records indicate that a period of eight months has been used since 1 April 1995 for the purpose of calculating delay in payment of retirement pension.

  Mr. Plaskitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase pension provision in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [117322]
  547W
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Green Paper 'Simplicity, Security and Choice: working and saving for retirement' Cm 5677 set out proposals designed to give people more options to save more or work for longer in order to meet their expectations in retirement.

  I hope to be able to make an announcement next week on the action we intend to take following the Green Paper consultation process.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Afghanistan
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of(a) boys and (b) girls are receiving education in Afghanistan. [116400]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There are very limited statistics available on the child population of Afghanistan. From available figures, we estimate that there are 5 million children in Afghanistan, of whom approximately 42 per cent. of boys and 18 per cent. of girls between the ages of 6 and 18 are currently receiving education.

  Convention on the Future of Europe
  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the proposed EU constitutional structure in the draft constitution is federal. [116157]

  Mr. MacShane
  No.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the United Kingdom negotiating objectives are when discussing the draft European constitution. [116158]

  Mr. MacShane
  Discussions on a constitutional treaty for the EU have been taking place in the Convention on the Future of Europe. The Government's objective is to build a European Union of nation states, which is more democratically accountable, better understood, and works effectively with 25 or more Member States, to deliver on the issues that matter. The Government wishes to see the enlargement of the European Union work successfully and this requires a new constitutional treaty which would be ratified by Parliament.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to make reform to the fishing settlement a condition for accepting a new EU constitution. [116161]

  Mr. MacShane
  No.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom Parliament would need EU approval before legislating in areas of EU competence under the present draft constitution for the EU. [116163]

  Mr. MacShane
  The draft constitution divides Union competence into three broad types.

  In those areas where the Member States have conferred upon the Union exclusive competence, only the Union may legislate. The Member States may legislate when empowered to do so by the Union or in
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  order to implement Union acts. Where the nature of the competence conferred upon the Union is shared, both the Union and the Member States may legislate. The Member States may legislate to the extent that the Union has not or has ceased to exercise its competence. The draft constitutional treaty includes a provision for national parliaments to examine whether EU legislative proposals comply with the principle of subsidiarity.

  The third type is where the Union action is limited to areas supporting, coordinating or complementing Member States' action.

  The forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) will make final proposals in this area and these will be ratified by Parliament once the IGC is over.

  Mr. Redwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the retention of the phrase, "ever closer Union", in the draft EU constitution. [116167]

  Mr. MacShane
  The phrase "ever closer Union" has always been in the preamble of the Treaty on Economic Community (TEC), EEC, EC and EU Treaties. The phrase has been approved by Parliament and the Government would not object to its retention.

  General Affairs and External Relations Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held on 19 to 20 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [115529]

  Mr. MacShane
  The information is as follows:

  Outcome of the 19–20 May General Affairs and External Relations Council

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 19 May. My noble Friend the Secretary of State for International Development represented the UK at Council discussions on development issues on 19 and 20 May. Following the signature of the Accession Treaty on 16 April, this was the first General Affairs and External Relations Council at which the 10 EU Accession States participated (as active observers).

  Conclusions on the European Security and Defence Policy, Western Balkans, the Middle East Peace Process and Indonesia were agreed by consensus. No formal votes were taken during the External Relations session. At the General Affairs Session, the Presidency's compromise package on Reform of Staff Regulations was agreed by Qualified Majority Vote.

  General Affairs Session

  I represented the UK.

  Preparation of the Thessaloniki European Council (20–21 June)

  The Presidency noted that discussion at Thessaloniki would centre on the Convention on the Future of Europe, with Parts I and II of the draft Constitution being formally presented there. Ministers agreed that the Accession Countries should participate fully in the

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  Inter-Governmental Conference later in the year. The new EU Treaty would be signed only after Accession was completed on 1 May 2004.

  Reform of Staff Regulations

  The Council agreed a compromise package by QMV on reform of staff regulations. The package's measures included promotions on merit rather than seniority and significant changes to the pension scheme, including for existing staff. Officials are finalising the remaining technical details before the final package is submitted to Ministers for approval at the 16–17 June GAERC.

  Progress of Work in other Council Configurations

  The Presidency gave a standard progress report on work in other Councils. There was no discussion.

  The Role of Gender in External Relations

  The Presidency presented a paper on integrating gender considerations across the full range of the EU's external relations policies ("gender mainstreaming").

  External Relations Session

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary represented the UK.

  Iraq

  The Council discussed Iraq within the context of negotiations in New York on draft UNSC Resolution 1483. The UK, France, Spain and Germany briefed Partners on the state of play and looked forward to the possibility of early agreement. Commissioner Patten said the Commission was in contact with the UN and World bank about a needs assessment in Iraq. The EU was already providing significant humanitarian assistance and was looking at how to provide assistance for reconstruction. The Council decided not to agree conclusions on Iraq, given that events were moving forward quickly both in Iraq and in the Security Council.

  Middle East

  The Council agreed that early implementation of the Road Map was essential. The Secretary of State said that a peaceful resolution of the Arab/Israel conflict would contribute to curbing terrorism, but that it was clear the terrorists did not want progress on the Road Map, or for Abu Mazen to succeed. Ministers agreed that UN Security Council endorsement of the Road Map would be helpful.

  ESDP

  Foreign and Defence Ministers agreed conclusions on the development of military and civilian capabilities for crisis management within the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy. Ministers also endorsed the annexed report on capability development.

  Operation Concordia

  EU Operation Commander Admiral Feist reported on the first seven weeks of operation CONCORDIA, stressing the coherence of EU-NATO activity. He reported that a mid-term review would be carried out in June to examine options for mission termination or continuation beyond 30 September.

  Commission Communication on the Defence Industry

  Commissioner Patten set out Commission thinking on the European defence equipment market and how this could better support ESDP. In making his presentation, Commissioner Patten acknowledged the essential interests of member states in the military field.
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  The High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said the European defence industry had already largely been restructured, but that the EU could contribute to its consolidation as the Commission had suggested. Certain Community instruments, provided that they respected the special status of the defence sector, could help strengthen the European defence market.

  Western Balkans

  The Presidency invited Partners' views on how the EU could increase assistance to the Western Balkans. The Commission said that it would publish its proposals for the Thessaloniki European Council on 21 May. These would include looking at ways to enrich the Stabilisation and Association Process in the Western Balkans.

  The Council adopted conclusions that included welcoming the recent the conduct of Presidential elections in Serbia and Montenegro; urging the transfer of all remaining ICTY indictees to the Hague; stressing the need for all parties in Kosovo to avoid any unilateral act that would jeopardise stability in the region; and encouraging all political parties in Macedonia to honour their commitment to fully respect the Ohrid Framework Agreement and its principles.

  EU/Russia Summit Preparation

  The Presidency updated the Council on negotiations with Russia on a joint statement for the 31 May Summit. A joint statement has since been agreed.

  Democratic Republic of Congo

  Over lunch, Javier Solana reported that UN Secretary General Annan had asked whether the EU could play a part in helping to stabilise the situation in Bunia, Ituri region, North Eastern DRC. Ministers agreed that officials should begin work on a possible mandate and identify countries willing to become contributing nations.

  Indonesia/Aceh

  Council Conclusions expressing concern about the breakdown of negotiations and the outbreak of violence in Aceh were agreed without discussion.

  Terrorist Attacks in Saudi Arabia

  The Council agreed that the Presidency's statement condemning the attacks in Saudi Arabia should be reissued as formal Council Conclusions.

  Terrorist Attacks in Casablanca

  Ministers agreed a Presidency Declaration on the terrorist attacks in Casablanca on 17 May.

  ECOWAS/Cote D 'Ivoire

  The Netherlands highlighted the need for further funding for the ECOWAS peace monitoring force in Cote D'Ivoire.

  Development Issues Session

  My noble Friend the Secretary of State for International Development represented the UK.

  No formal votes were taken. Conclusions on migration and development, the role of non-state actors in development, the follow-up to the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development, untying of aid and the establishment of an EU Water Fund were agreed by consensus.
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  Iraq

  The Commission outlined its plans for humanitarian assistance in Iraq. Baroness Amos briefed partners on developments at the UN. All were agreed on the UN taking the leading role on humanitarian assistance, with the EU and bilateral donors working through or alongside the UN agencies. The Presidency concluded that the financial implications for the 2004 budget should be considered.

  EU Water Fund

  The Council agreed Conclusions taking note of the Commission's proposal for an EU Water Fund as a part of the implementation of the EU's pledges at the World Summit for Sustainable Development. The Conclusions invited the Commission to bring forward specific proposals for further discussion by the Council. The EU Water Fund will be designed to increase resources for the water sector in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

  Reproductive Health and Poverty Diseases Regulations

  Two regulations on aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health rights and on aid to combat poverty diseases (HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis) in developing countries were agreed. The regulations will be adopted as an A point at the GAERC on 17–18 June.

  Follow up to Monterrey

  The Council agreed Conclusions on the Commission's progress report on the EU's Monterrey commitments. Ministers welcomed the good progress towards meeting the EU's commitments and most, including Baroness Amos, stressed the need for further progress on harmonisation of donors' approaches and coherence among the EU's external policies. A number of Ministers from the Accession Countries highlighted their commitment to the process but noted that they would need time to achieve the Monterrey targets.

  Untying of Aid

  The Commission welcomed the Council's consensus on the untying of Community aid, a Monterrey priority. Discussion of the Conclusions on the Commission Communication on untying of development assistance focused on whether to include a reference to untying bilateral assistance of member states. Although most member states, including the UK, favoured this, the Council was unable to reach consensus.

  Commission Programme of Action/Reform of the Management of External Action

  The Council welcomed the Commission's 2003 Programme of Action and its efforts to reform the management of external actions, including development assistance. The Council agreed that poverty reduction must remain the main objective of EC development assistance, both in low and middle-income countries but recognised that certain new initiatives following from international conferences or from new internal EU concerns would need to be taken into account.

  The Commission noted that the main problem in reforming the management of external action remained the spending backlog, mainly for the European Development Fund, and for Asia and Latin America. The Council encouraged the Commission to continue its reform efforts. While recognising that progress had been made to reduce delays in decision-making and
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  implementation, the Council considered that the level of outstanding unpaid commitments could be further reduced. Baroness Amos looked forward to a first response to the UK's reform proposals before the July Budget Council, and a further discussion by Development Ministers in the autumn.

  International Criminal Court
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in negotiating a bilateral treaty for impunity from the International Criminal Court for American nationals, he has sought assurances from the United States that an American suspected of war crimes would be prosecuted in the United States for the full range of war crimes specified in the Rome Statute; and if he will make a statement. [116908]

  Mr. Rammell
  There have been no negotiations on a bilateral non-surrender (to the ICC) Agreement with the US since officials met for preliminary discussion on 17 October 2002. In the course of those discussions, it was explained that before entering into any such agreement, the UK would need assurances that inter alia US courts have jurisdiction over all crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC as defined in the Statute.

  Iraq
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many scientists and other personnel linked to Saddam Hussein's regime have been identified by the Coalition as key figures in the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; how many of these have been interviewed; and how many have refused to be interviewed. [115512]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  All scientists and others associated with Saddam Hussein's regime and who were involved in Iraq's weapons programmes could potentially provide key information to assist the search for weapons of mass destruction.

  A concerted effort is being made to encourage all such people to come forward. However, in the current climate in Iraq, some are still fearful of providing information to the coalition.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether his Department has been given access to Iraqi documents seized by supporters of the Iraqi National Congress; [116602]

  (2) what reports he has received of the seizure of documents from the offices within coalition-occupied territory of (a) the Mukhabarat, (b) the Special Security Organisation and (c) the Ba'ath Party by supporters of the Iraqi National Congress; and if he will make a statement; [116601]

  (3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Coalition's arrangements to seize Iraqi Government documents; [116598]

  (4) on what date documents from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry were first seized by Coalition forces; [116604]
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  (5) whether his Department has taken steps to secure copies of Iraqi Government documents seized by (a) British and (b) foreign journalists after the fall of Baghdad; [116600]

  (6) whether Iraqi Government documents seized in Iraq have been removed (a) to the United Kingdom and (b) to the United States; and what arrangements are in place for Coalition members to share their contents. [116596]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Instructions were issued to both UK and US Coalition forces to attempt where possible to secure documents that might provide evidence for possible prosecutions. The Coalition partners in Iraq have secured a large number of official Iraqi documents. We are working on the analysis of these documents and such information is routinely shared between the US and UK Governments as partners in the Coalition. We are also actively seeking to establish whether the claims made by some newspapers about the import of other unseen documents are genuine. We would welcome the sight of any documents discovered by journalists or private individuals so that experts can analyse those too. It will take some time to analyse all the secured documents and make judgments on them, and there is no guarantee that it will be possible to publicise the results of such analysis. If it transpires that the Government can make public any new insights, they will do so. We are withholding some of the detailed information sought by the hon. Member both under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, and since it relates to information obtained from the security and intelligence agencies, which are not within the scope of the code (Part I, paragraph 6).

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he held with his US counterparts(a) before and (b) during the Gulf conflict on the desirability of seizing Iraqi government documents; and on what dates he held such discussions. [116606]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am withholding this information under Exemption 1.C) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, as it concerns confidential exchanges with a foreign government, the disclosure of which would harm the conduct of international relations.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2003,Official Report, column 853W, on Iraq, if he will name those invited to the Nassiriya Conference on 15 April; what the rationale was for each of their invitations; and if he will make a statement. [114864]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The meeting in Nassiriya took place on 15 April, while the military campaign was still under way. Invitations were issued to individuals and the aim was to attract a broad range of Iraqi opinion, including opposition and exile groups and those newly liberated. While the UK was invited to suggest names, the final decision on invitees rested with the US organisers of the event. I am withholding the names 554W
  of those invited under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information "Privacy of an Individual".

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens have been killed in road accidents in(a) Italy and (b) Germany in each of the last five years. [116871]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The number of UK citizens killed in road accidents in Italy and Germany from 1998–2002, of which consular staff were notified, is as follows:

  Number

  Germany

  1998

  5

  1999

  3

  2000

  2

  2001

  6

  2002

  2

  Italy

  1998

  8

  1999

  8

  2000

  5

  2001

  8

  2002

  8

  UN Security Council Resolution 1422
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what implications Resolution 1422 of the Security Council has for compliance with other international agreements, with particular reference to the Convention against Torture and the Geneva Conventions of 1949. [116912]

  Mr. Rammell
  The obligations in respect of compliance for states which have ratified or acceded to these Conventions are unaffected by Resolution 1422. That resolution serves only to defer for 12 months the possibility of an investigation or prosecution by the ICC of any individual engaged on a Security Council operation and who is not a citizen of a state party to the ICC. In the unlikely event of such a person being suspected of a crime over which the ICC otherwise has jurisdiction, and the domestic authorities of the state of the individual's citizenship being unwilling or unable to investigate where appropriate, then the Security Council may allow the ICC to proceed to take action, as provided for in OPI of the Resolution.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Khat
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he plans to classify khat as a Class A drug; and if he will make a statement; [115296]

  (2) what research his Department has carried out into the impact on the health of individuals of khat; and if he will make a statement. [115297]
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  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has no plans at present to control khat under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which advises on these matters, keeps its legal status under review.

  There has in the past been only limited research on khat, carried out by either the Home Office or the Department of Health. However, the Home Office's Drugs and Alcohol Research Unit is shortly to embark on a detailed study to assess the level of harm caused by khat. It is expected that a final report will be completed in autumn 2004, with interim findings being available in spring 2004. The report will inform future decisions on whether khat should be controlled within the 1971 Act.

  Agency Workers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many agency workers have been employed by the Department in each of the last two years; and at what cost to public funds. [115193]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Home Office does not maintain a central record of agency workers. Agency workers are appointed by agreement with individual units within the Department and the recruitment agencies supplying agency workers.

  The information required could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

  Anti-social Behaviour
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 28 April, Official Report, column 207W, on the anti-social behaviour White Paper, if he will list the formal consultation processes which the White Paper drew on. [112144]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The provisions on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in social housing were consulted on in the document "Tackling Anti-Social Tenants", and other measures were consulted on as part of the assessment of regulatory impact. However, the White Paper is primarily a response to the concerns about antisocial behaviour raised with Government by local authorities and agencies and by members of the public including through their representatives in this House.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial assistance is available from his Department for initiatives to divert young people from anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement about how such schemes have affected the Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East, constituency. [115547]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 29 April 2003, to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff),Official Report, column 32W.

  In addition the Youth Justice Board funds 70 Youth Inclusion Programmes (YIPs) across England and Wales. They focus on a core group of 13 to 16-year-olds at risk of offending in deprived neighbourhoods and
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  seek to reduce neighbourhood crime and arrest rates, truancy and exclusions among the target group. Their work includes tackling anti-social behaviour.

  The YIP in West Middlesbrough is highly regarded and has achieved much since it began in 2000. Recent data shows a 53 per cent. reduction in arrest rates among the target group. To provide further diversionary activities for a younger group (9 to 12-year-olds) a new 'Junior YIP' has recently been established in Whanney Bank. This has been funded by West Middlesbrough New Deals Community. The YIPs are strongly supported by the local Youth Offending Team.

  Positive Futures has a project called 'Hoop Dreams' in Teeside (running at Eston Sports Academy). Its funding for 2002–03 was £63,000, of which £19,000 came from the Home Office.

  In addition in the Middlesbrough/South Tees area four Splash schemes have taken place (holiday activities aimed at reducing youth crime). The four schemes were Central Middlesbrough, East Middlesbrough:
  two schemes in the Redcar and Cleveland area;
  one on the Eston and Teesville estates, and;
  one on the Kirkleatham and Dormanstown estates.

  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the Deputy Prime Minister on the effect of the provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour Bill upon the duties of landlords under Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the demotion of tenancies and exclusion from premises. [115274]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The Anti-social Behaviour Bill is a cross-departmental Bill. Officials and Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Office have liaised closely over the policy contained in the Bill.

  Asylum Claims
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a summary of the discussion he has had with his counterparts in(a) Albania and (b) elsewhere on deciding asylum claims offshore. [115215]

  Beverley Hughes
  UK officials have regular, ongoing dialogue with a number of European countries on improving the management of asylum and migration flows into the EU Our new ideas around zones of protection have been part of this dialogue. But these are sensitive, exploratory discussions and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this early stage. Our goal continues to be the strengthening of the international protection regime by tackling the problems of abusive asylum claims.

  Community Support Officers
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers are(a) operating and (b) centrally funded in each (i) Government office region and (ii) police force area; and how the number of centrally-funded officers was determined. [115548]
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  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The figures requested are given in annex 1. There have been two rounds of central funding for Community Support Officers (CSOs). The first round, which took place in August last year, funded 1,222 CSOs. The second round, which was announced on 2 May, will fund 1,233 CSOs. Continuation funding from both rounds will last until the end of financial year 2005–06.

  The second funding round was heavily oversubscribed. Bids were received from 36 forces. To determine the allocation of the available funding among the bids, I took account of the need to support forces bidding for the first time. I looked closely at the need for CSOs, which was based primarily on the numbers of CSOs already funded and the size of the force making the application. I also considered value for money, which meant looking at the role the CSOs would perform and the impact they were likely to have on crime, fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. Other factors were innovative deployment of CSOs and the security of the excellent local partnership funding arranged by many forces and authorities.

  Unfortunately, it has been necessary to fund many forces for only a proportion of their bid, but all of them have been successful in obtaining a share of the funding.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter dated 7 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Tahir Ahmed. [114673]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 12 May 2003.

  Policing
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrestees in(a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) the Humberside police authority area tested positive for category A and B drugs in each of the last two quarters for which figures are available. [116773]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  There are currently no powers to test arrestees for class A or B drugs. Drug testing of persons in police detention (after charge) is planned to start in Kingston-upon-Hull in the Humberside police force area in the summer of 2003 as part of the initiative to introduce drug testing across the 30 Basic Command Unit (BCD) areas with the highest levels of acquisitive crime. Data analysis will be available thereafter. The police will test under powers introduced by the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, for the presence of specified Class A drugs only i.e. heroin and crack/ cocaine, those most closely associated with acquisitive crime.

  Mrs Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers per head of population were in post in Merseyside in each year since 1995. [116475]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The table sets out the ratio of police officers to the population.558W

  Year

  1 Number of population to one police officer

  March 1995

  306

  March 1996

  322

  March 1997

  337

  March 1998

  337

  March 1999

  336

  March 2000

  345

  March 2001

  344

  March 2002

  340

  September 2002

  331

  1 Calculations are based on Office for National Statistics (ONS) population statistics

  Merseyside police has one of the lowest ratios of population to police officers. In September 2002 only the Metropolitan police and West Midlands police had lower ratios. The average ratio of population per police officer for England and Wales in 1995 was 413 and in September 2002 it was 402.

  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and civilian support staff additional to the complement on I May 1997 have been appointed to Humberside police in each year since that date. [116594]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The information is set out in the table. Police strength details are not collected in May.

  Year (at 31 March)

  Police strength

  Increase in strength

  Civilian Support staff strength

  Increase in Civilian strength

  1997

  2,045

  718

  —

  1998

  2,021

  -24

  789

  +71

  1999

  1,974

  -47

  840

  +51

  2000

  1,932

  -42

  840

  —

  2001

  1,917

  -15

  808

  -32

  2002

  2,058

  +141

  816

  +8

  2002 (30 September)

  2,114

  +56

  Not available

  —

  Humberside police has a record number of police officers. The net increase in force strength since March 1997 is 69 officers, or 3.4 per cent. which is in line with the average increase for England and Wales over the same period.

  Domestic Violence
  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the group dealing with domestic violence perpetrators within the police force has met; and if he will make a statement. [110661]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  The group dealing with domestic violence perpetrators within the police force will meet for the first time on 25 June 2003. The Association of Chief Police Officers hope to publish guidance relating to police perpetrators later in the summer.

  I welcome the work being led by the ACPO in relation to domestic violence perpetrators in the police force and other domestic violence matters. There has been a real and positive shift in police responses to domestic violence incidents over the past few years and making further improvements in the police handling on domestic violence cases will be an important element in

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  our strategy to reduce domestic violence and protect victims. We will publish a consultation paper on that strategy shortly.

  Euro
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received the Treasury documents relating to the five economic tests and the 18 background studies; what discussions he has held with ministerial colleagues on the tests since receipt of the documents; when he expects to complete his analysis of the documents; and what representations(a) he and (b) departmental officials will make to other Departments before a decision is reached on the economic tests. [115387]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Treasury's 18 supporting studies on economic and monetary union (EMU) were sent to Cabinet Ministers on 16 May. My rt hon Friends the Prime Minister and the Chancellor are holding meetings with Cabinet Members. There was an initial discussion at Cabinet on 22 May that will be followed by a special Cabinet meeting on 5 June. The Chancellor will make a statement to the House of Commons on 9 June.

  Illegal Street Traders
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on(a) the police resources which have been made available and (b) the strategy being implemented for reducing the number of illegal street traders. [94562]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  [holding answer 30 January 2003]: No resources have been made specifically available to reduce the number of unlicensed street traders. Most central grant to police authorities is provided to support their policing plans overall.

  Any strategy for reducing the number of unlicensed street traders locally is a matter for individual police authorities and forces.

  KPMG Contracts
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts his Department has awarded to KPMG since 1997. [113686]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The number of contracts awarded to KPMG since 1997 is as follows:

  Financial Year

  Number of contracts with KPMB

  1997–98

  2

  1998–99

  3

  1999–2000

  1

  2000–01

  0

  2001–02

  1

  2002–03

  2

  2003–041

  0

  1 To date

  Nadhmi Auchi
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 12 May 2003,Official Report, column 645W, on Nadhmi Auchi,
  560W
  for what reasons he did not issue his authority to proceed in the extradition case of Mr. Auchi until 18 March. [116236]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: As indicated in the earlier reply on 19 May 2003, Official Report, column 645W, to which the hon. Member refers, receipt of the request for Mr. Auchi's extradition was followed by various exchanges with French authorities. An authority to proceed was issued as soon as papers supporting the French request were judged to be in satisfactory order for that purpose.

  Police
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police forces which operate anti-gun crime initiatives similar to Operation Trident in the Metropolitan police; and what funding is available in each case. [109599]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  Anti-gun crime initiatives similar to Operation Trident in the Metropolitan police are being run by the following police forces:

  Avon and Somerset

  Greater Manchester Police

  Nottinghamshire

  South Wales

  South Yorkshire

  Sussex

  West Midlands

  West Yorkshire

  General grants for policing are available to be used at the police authority's discretion. Forces deciding to run operations similar to Trident will fund them from resources available to them.

  Prisons
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the star system for measuring the performance of prisons was introduced; what criteria it employs; and if he will make a statement. [109521]

  Paul Goggins
  The Director General of the Prison Service announced the introduction of a performance rating system for establishments in England and Wales on 8 April 2003.

  All establishments will be assessed on a performance scale of 1 to 4, with level 4 for a prison delivering exceptionally high performance and level 1 indicating a poor performer. The ratings will be published on the Prison Service website for the first time at the end of June 2003.

  Performance Level

  Criteria

  4

  Exceptionally high performing, consistently meeting or exceedings targets, no significant operating problems, achieving significantly more than similar establishments with similar resources.

  3

  Meeting the: majority of targets, experiencing no significant problems in doing so, delivering a reasonable and decent regime.

  561W

  Performance Level

  Criteria

  2

  Basically stable, secure and providing a limited but decent regime; experiencing significant problems in meeting targets and/or experiencing major operational problems.

  1

  Failing to provide secure, ordered, or decent regimes and/ or has significant shortfalls against the majority of key targets.

  The Director General will make the assessment for public sector establishments, in consultation with Directors and Area Managers.

  The Commissioner for Correctional Services will make the assessment for contracted prisons. Assessment will be reviewed quarterly and are based upon a range of factors:

  1. Finance and performance information using the Prison Service Weighted Scorecard to assess relative performance against key targets.

  2. Compliance with Prison Service Standards.

  3. Findings from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and Boards of Visitors.

  4. The views of Prison Service Area Managers and the Prison Service Management Board, allowing for assessment of more subjective factors such as decency and the prison's commitment to delivering change.

  The rating system supports a new Benchmarking programme, which introduces new ways to recognise and reward the best prisons and arrangements to improve performance in all others.

  Public Service Agreements
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Department has taken to publicise its Public Service Agreement targets; and at what cost to public funds. [114448]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Department's Public Service Agreement targets were first publicised in the Treasury White Paper "2002 Spending Review: Public Service Agreement Targets 2003–2006" (Cm5571). Since then, the new targets have appeared in a range of Home Office publications (for example, the 'Targets Delivery Report', Cm5754) and on the Department's website. Publicising the Department's targets was not the principal purpose of any of these publications; it had no measurable impact on cost.

  Radiocommunications
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many of the Terrestrial Trunk Radio (TETRA) base stations required to provide full national radio coverage(a) have not yet found a site acceptable to landowners, (b) have yet to be subject to a planning application, (c) have been refused planning permission, (d) are proposed to be located in an area with a landscape planning dispensation, (e) are subject to a planning appeal and (f) have been subject to the upholding of a refusal to grant planning approval following an appeal; [114598]

  (2) how many Terrestrial Trunk Radio (TETRA) base stations are required across the country to provide the police with the required national digital radio communications service. [114597]
  562W
  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  About 3,000 TETRA base stations will be required to provide the police with an effective radio communications service across the Country. However, the total number of sites required to support the Airwave service has not yet been finalised and it is anticipated that many base stations will use existing facilities and not require new masts.

  Acquisition of suitable site facilities is a matter for mm02, the main Airwave service provider. They have indicated to us that they do not maintain statistics on sites not yet found acceptable to landowners. In addition they have yet to start planning procedures for around 1,200 base stations. Owing to uncertainties in the network planning, particularly for Scotland where the roll-out is not due to take place before the last quarter of 2004 figures on the number of sites which have been refused planning permission or that will be located in an area with landscape planning dispensation are not available.

  The mm02 have also advised us that the number of pending appeals is currently of the order of 10 and the number of lost appeals in the order of five. These figures compare very favourably with those for mobile phone networks, where the number of controversial sites is expected to be around five per cent of the total.

  Stranraer and Cairnryan
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which locations individuals making asylum applications at Stranraer and Cairnryan ports have been removed, and in what numbers, in each year since 1 January 2000. [115829]

  Beverley Hughes
  From 1 January 2000 to 30 November 2002–179 asylum applications have been made at the Port of Stranraer and Cairnryan. Of these applications three have been granted exceptional leave to remain and 63 have so far been removed.

  The remaining cases are outstanding. Of those removed not all have been removed to their country of origin. Some have been removed to the country where they had a previous opportunity to seek asylum.

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which United Kingom commitments arising from the World Summit on Sustainable Development(a) have been incorporated into the Department's existing delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements and (b) will be incorporated in its delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreement in advance of the 2004 Spending Review. [113876]

  Mr. Blunkett
  The Home Office does not have a lead or a contributory responsibility for any of the main United Kingdom commitments arising from the World Summit on Sustainable Development. We will continue to monitor developments and be prepared to contribute should it become appropriate to do so.

  The Department does contribute towards sustainable development through the objectives and targets set by the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The Framework covers issues such as the implementation of environmental management

  563W
  systems, transport emission reductions, water consumption, energy management, waste minimisation, sustainable procurement, biodiversity and estate management.

  In common with the Department's other support activities, these are not incorporated in the Service Delivery Agreement (Cm 5754) which addresses activities to deliver the Department's Public Service Agreement targets, which were published in July 2002.

TRANSPORT

  Vehicle Licences
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate how many vehicle owners do not have a licence for their vehicle; what his estimate is of the loss of revenue for the last financial year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [116317]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The National Roadside Survey of vehicle excise duty (VED) evasion held in June 2002 showed that there were approximately 1.75 million vehicles evading VED. There are currently over 30 million licensed vehicles.

  The survey indicated the level of evasion as 4.5 per cent. of revenue due which equates to £193 million in 2002–03. This was offset by £110 million in fines, penalties and relicensing revenue recovered through enforcement activities, which brought 819,000 offenders to book.

  A range of measures were announced on 22 May to modernise the vehicle registration system. These are designed to improve the accuracy of the vehicle register, help local authorities tackle abandoned vehicles, and reduce vehicle crime as well and reduce VED evasion.

  We intend to bring forward secondary legislation to implement powers taken in the 2002 Finance Act to ensure that from 1 January 2004 the registered keeper of a vehicle will be liable for licensing the vehicle until it is notified as sold, scrapped, stolen or exported, or unless a current Statutory Off-Road Notification has been declared to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

  Under the same powers we will bring forward secondary legislation to provide for a new automatic fixed penalty for those who fail to re-license (tax) on time.

  The new measures aim to provide greater protection to honest motorists.

  Starting in January 2004:
  Motorists will be legally responsible at all times for re-licensing (taxing) their vehicle.
  Those who fail to re-license on time will be liable for a standard penalty of £80. Determined offenders could face a severe fine if taken to court. If the vehicle remains unlicensed, then following the provisions of the Finance Act 2002, DVLA may prosecute and a court may fine the registered keeper of an unlicensed
  564W
  vehicle a minimum of £1,000 and a maximum of up to 10 times the annual rate of duty. For an HGV this could be up to £25,850.
  Offenders will be penalised automatically when their tax-disc expires or Statutory Off-Road Notification lapses.
  The level of the standard penalty will be subject to public consultation later this year.

  To support these measures:
  The DVLA will increase and re-focus its enforcement activities. It will give particular attention to enforcement from the record and increased co-operation with the police.
  Already, from 1 February 2003, vehicles can only be licensed (taxed) with a valid V 5 vehicle registration document (logbook) or VII reminder, to ensure that every vehicle has a traceable keeper.
  The DVLA will be issuing new-format vehicle registration documents (logbooks) to all law-abiding and, by definition, traceable vehicle keepers from January 2004. All previous vehicle registration documents will be invalid from 31 March 2005.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Key Workers
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) nurses, (b) teachers and (c) social workers have benefited from the key worker initiative for affordable accommodation in West Sussex. [116460]

  Mr. McNulty
  As at the end of April 2003, 34 key workers in West Sussex have been helped to purchase homes under the Starter Home Initiative. The following table breaks down the figure by local authority and by key worker group.

  Number of key workers assisted

  Local authority

  Nurses/ health workers

  Teachers

  Others

  Chichester

  7

  1

  1

  Crawley

  4

  4

  0

  Horsham

  0

  6

  0

  Mid Sussex

  7

  4

  0

  Total

  18

  15

  1

  Note:

  Other key workers being helped under the Starter Home Initiative are social workers, care workers, fire fighters, transport workers and occupational therapists.

  Accountancy Services
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002–03. [109490]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created on 29 May 2002. Between that date and end March 2003 the amount spent on accountancy services was £359,000.

  Freedom of Information Act
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the electronic document and electronic record management systems which have been procured by the public authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for which he is responsible. [116391]
  565W
  Mr. Leslie
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not keep central records of systems bought by the authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently uses Diagonal Solutions Ltd. IMPReS product for records management, and has recently selected Valid Information Systems R/KYV product for electronic document and record management. This product will be tested to see if it meets our requirements for an integrated electronic document and records management solution to meet the 2004 Modernising Government target for electronic record keeping.

  Housing
  David Wright
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of local housing units constructed in each region between 1997–98 and 2002–03 were built to Lifetime Homes Standards. [114140]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on the proportion of housing units that are built to Lifetime Homes Standards. However, information on many aspects of housing including accessibility is available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http://www.housing.odpm.gov.uk/statistics/publicat/summaries/index.htm

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of proposed new homes in the South East will be built on(a) brownfield sites and (b) green belt. [116222]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government have set a national target of 60 per cent. of new development to be on previously developed land. Regional Planning Guidance for the South East also expects at least 60 per cent. of new development to be on previously developed land.

  The proportion of development to be built on previously developed land will vary at more local levels as planning guidance asks each local authority to produce a local land recycling target, in light of their own circumstances.

  Current Regional Planning Guidance states that there is no regional case for reviewing Green Belt boundaries. The recently produced Sustainable Communities Plan also contains a commitment to maintain or increase the current area of land designated as Green Belt in local plans.

  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new dwellings per hectare are proposed for the South East. [116223]

  Mr. McNulty
  Government policy states that new housing developments should be built at a density of at least 30 dwellings per hectare. Higher densities are also expected, particularly in areas with good transport links and in town centres. Planning policy also stresses the role of good design in achieving higher density.

  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is planning to take to ensure that 566W
  the proposed Regional Housing Board housing allocations include environmental, social and financial provisions to deliver the transport, education and health infrastructure to serve the increased population that will result from these proposals. [115935]

  Mr. McNulty
  In order to deliver the step change in progress in tackling shortages of housing and problems of abandonment and low demand, stronger links between related regional strategies and investment plans are needed, particularly on planning and economic development. One of the key roles of the Regional Housing Boards, that have been established to advise Ministers on the allocation of housing capital resources, and the bodies responsible for overseeing activity in the four identified growth areas, will be to ensure that related strategies and plans are properly integrated. Where housing development is planned the potential will depend on the provision of infrastructure and a sustainable approach to growth, tested through regional plans and implemented through local development plans and local partnership. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with other Government Departments and local partners on the infrastructure required.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many sick days were lost in the last year by his Department through staff mental health problems; [112002]

  (2) how many of his staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year. [111988]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since that date 52 staff (an equivalent to slightly over 2,000 days) in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, excluding the Government Offices and its four Executive Agencies, have taken sick leave for causes which may be considered of this nature.

  Information for the Government Offices and the Office's Agencies is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises its legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for employees and has a commitment to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost due to work related injuries and illness arising from the Government's "Revitalising Health and Safety" initiative.

  Sporting Infrastructure
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the way PPG17 contributes to the development of sporting infrastructure in England and Wales. [117067]

  Mr. McNulty
  PPG 17 indicates that local authorities should undertake robust assessments of the existing and future needs of their communities for open space, sports and recreational facilities. Local authorities should then plan to meet those identified needs. PPG 17 also provides strong protection for existing open space, sport and
  567W
  recreational land and building and provides guidance on the location of new facilities. In Wales this is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

  Sprinkler Systems
  Mr. Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what building regulations concerning sprinkler systems are(a) in place and (b) planned for (i) houses of multiple occupation, (ii) care homes, (iii) hospitals, (iv) council offices, (v) listed buildings and (vi) domestic properties. [116850]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Building Regulations 2000 (as amended) make no specific requirements regarding the provision of sprinklers. Guidance on measures that will meet the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations is given in Approved Document B (Fire safety). Approved Document B is intended to provide guidance for some of the more common building situations. This guidance is not mandatory and there may well be alternative ways of achieving compliance with the requirements.

  The current Approved Document does not suggest that sprinklers should be provided in houses of multiple occupation, care homes, listed buildings or domestic properties. For guidance on the design of hospitals, the Approved Document refers to the NHS "Firecode" series of documents, which suggest that sprinklers should be installed in certain parts of a hospital and in specific circumstances. In respect of the construction of new office buildings generally, the Approved Document suggests the provision of sprinklers for those buildings of a height greater than 30 metres. The Building Regulations only apply to most building work undertaken in England and Wales. Therefore they would not be applicable to existing listed buildings unless building work was being undertaken.

  A major review of Approved Document B is due to commence next year. As part of this review it is our intention to consider the potential of extending the provisions for sprinkler protection to new residential premises including houses, flats and maisonettes, houses in multiple occupation, old person's rest homes, children's homes and homes for disabled people. The issue of fire safety generally in hospitals and offices will also be considered as part of the review.

  Standards Board
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the costs incurred by the Standards Board for England were during its first year of operation. [111772]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Standards Board was established on 22 March 2001. In 2001/02 it incurred costs of £2,553,000 and in 2002/03 of £6,916,000.

  Travel Costs
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of travel by train by staff in his Department in 2002. [106338]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) came into existence following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002.
  568W
  Staff in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are encouraged to use the most efficient and economic means of travel commensurate with meeting the operational needs of the Office. The estimated cost, subject to final audit, of travel by train by staff in the Office for the period 1 June 2002 to 31 March 2003 was £405,000.

  Travellers
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to provide accommodation for traveller communities whilst ensuring that settled communities are not deprived of essential services. [115934]

  Mr. McNulty
  Local authorities have the responsibility to ensure that adequate accommodation is available to meet the needs of the local community including Gypsies and Travellers. Both communities have the same right to access these services, and their needs should be assessed accordingly.

  Working Hours
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what policy on(a) core hours and (b) flexible working hours is operated by his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible. [107656]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to accommodating staff who request to work flexibly subject to overriding operational requirements. Most organisations within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister operate a flexible working hours system. Flexible working start times and finish times and core hours vary to reflect the operational requirements of the areas of work.

HEALTH

  Accidental Injuries
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information the public health observatories are collecting on consumer product involvement in accidental injuries; [116029]

  (2) if he will make a statement on how injury surveillance is to be continued following the closure of the home accident surveillance system. [116031]

  Ms Blears
  The report of the accidental injury task force identified a need to strengthen the surveillance of accidental injury at regional and local levels. The Home Accident Surveillance System data was not sufficiently complete to serve as the main tool for local National Health Service surveillance because it was based on a sample of 18 hospitals across the United Kingdom, and did not include injuries on the roads. We are taking forward local surveillance in discussions on the future roles of directors of public health and public health observatories. It is too soon to say whether public health observatories will collect data on product involvement in accidental injuries.
  569W
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to monitor the progress on accidental injury reduction targets in "Our Healthier Nation" after the closure of the home accident surveillance system. [116030]

  Ms Blears
  Progress on the "Our Healthier Nation" target to reduce the death rate from accidents is monitored using data on registered deaths collected by the Office for National Statistics, and population estimates based on the 2001 Census. Progress on the target to reduce serious injury from accidents is monitored using hospital in-patient data collected by the Department of Health, and population estimates. The home accident surveillance system does not provide the information required for monitoring progress on the accidental injury targets and is not used for this purpose.

  Ad Hoc Posts
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary,of State for Health if he will list the people appointed to ad hoc posts within his Department bearing the titles of advocate, tsar, adviser, champion and comparable titles since May 1997; what their job title is or was; what their role is or was; whether they were or are being paid; what the total cost of each such person was in each financial year, including expenses and benefits; what the expected cost of each such person is in 2003–04; to whom they are accountable; and if he will make a statement. [112465]

  Mr. Lammy
  There have been nine national clinical directors, formerly known as tsars, and one champion appointed to the Department of Health. All are seconded to the Department, most on a part-time basis, and their salaries are reimbursed to their employer. The national clinical directors are as follows:

  Professor Ian Philp is the national director for older people's services and is responsible for leading the implementation of the national service framework (NSF) for older people which sets the Government standards for the health and social care for older people in England. Costs in 2000–01 were –46,347.00, in 2001–02 were £53,742.00, in 2002–03 were £54,472.00. Estimate for the year 2003–04 is £46,838.00

  Professor Mike Richards is responsible for spearheading the development and implementation of cancer policy for the Department of Health and the national health service. Professor Richards is accountable to the task force manager for cancer and coronary heart disease. Costs in 2001–02 were £127,608 and in 2002–03 were £143,779. For the year 2000–01 his costs included that of his secretary and are therefore not shown.

  Dr. Roger Boyle is the national director for heart disease and is responsible for implementing the NSF for coronary heart disease (CHD). Dr. Boyle is accountable to the task force manager for cancer and CHD. Cost in 2000–01 were £64,886, in 2001–02 were £77,235 and in 2002–03 were £82,005.

  Dr. David Colin-Thome is the national director for primary care. Dr. Colin-Thome's key role is to aid the development of primary care within the Department and in the NHS and to contribute to implementing the
  570W
  primary care elements of the NHS Plan. Dr ColinThome is accountable to the branch head of primary care. Costs in 2001–02 were, £40.533

  Professor Al Aynsley-Green is the national clinical director for children. Professor Aynsley-Green is leading the work of the children's taskforce and the development of the children's NSF. Professor Aynsley-Green is accountable to the head of the children's taskforce. Professor Aynsley-Green's costs are not available.

  Professor Aidan Halligan had a dual role as national director of clinical governance for the NHS and director of the NHS clinical governance support team, now part of the Modernisation Agency. Professor Halligan was accountable to the Chief Medical Officer. Costs: None.

  Professor Louis Appleby is the national clinical director for mental health. Since 1996, he has been director of the national confidential inquiry into suicide and homicide by people with mental illness, whose recommendations formed the basis of Standard 7 of the NSF on mental health—this standard is about suicide prevention. Professor Appleby is accountable to the Chief Nursing Officer. Costs in 2000–01 were £78,000, in 2001–02 were £77,000, in 2002–03 were £79,000. Estimated costs in 2003–04 are £80,000.

  Dr. Sue Roberts is the national clinical director for diabetes and will be leading the programme for change outlined in the diabetes NSF. Dr. Roberts is accountable to the Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Estimated costs for 2002–03 are £8,000.

  Tony Russell is the NSF mental health product champion. Mr. Russell is accountable to the head of primary care. Costs in 2002–03 were £25,000. Estimated costs in 2003–04 are £25,000.

  Harry Cayton is the director for patient experience and public involvement, to spearhead a major change programme across the Department of Health and NHS to put patients first and involve the public in deciding how services are delivered nationally and locally. Mr. Cayton is accountable to the Chief Nursing Officer. Costs in 2002–03 were £40.971.

  Professor Sir George Alberti is the national clinical director for emergency access. Sir George Alberti is accountable to the director of access and choice. Costs in 2002–03 were £48,626 and an estimated costs in 2003–04 are £120,000. These do not include expenses.

  Agency Staff
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each hospital trust in England spent on agency recruitment in(a) nurses and (b) doctors in (i) the last 12 months and (ii) each of the previous five years. [114754]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on National Health Service trust expenditure on non-NHS medical, nursing, midwifery and health-visiting staff between 1996–97 and 2001–02 has been placed in the Library.

  Information for 2002–03 is not yet available.

  Care Standards
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will(a) list and (b) publish the directions he has issued to the National Care Standards Commission since its inception. [114748]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Secretary of State for Health has not issued any directions to the National Care Standards Commission since its inception.

  Protective Suits
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much additional central funding has been allocated this year to the health and ambulance authorities in Nottinghamshire to provide improved personal protective equipment, including respirators and mobile decontamination units to be used in response to nuclear, biological or chemical terrorist attack; and how many staff have been given specialist training in(a) the use of such equipment and (b) the response to such attacks. [116481]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: The Department allocated £5 million in 2002–03 nationally for the provision of additional and updated personal protective equipment for health service personnel. That equipment has been delivered to hospital accident and emergency departments and to ambulance services, and relevant training programmes have been implemented. Some £130,000 was allocated to health service providers who serve Nottinghamshire. This bought equipment for the East Midlands Ambulance service (EMAS) (which also serves Derbyshire and Leicestershire), Queens Medical Centre (QMC), Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust. The health community is actively undertaking training for staff. EMAS has, for example, trained 30 staff across its area of operation and has plans to train a further 30, and 60 staff at the QMC have been trained in the use of the personal protection equipment.
  572W
  Mr. Kenneth Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance service staff in the East Midland Region have been issued with the newly designed protective suit for use in response to nuclear, biological or chemical attack by terrorists; and how many of these staff have so far received specialist training in the response to such incidents. [116482]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 3 June 2003]: There are three ambulance trusts that serve the East Midlands and the information requested for each of those trusts is shown in the table.

  Ambulance Trust

  Number of suits available

  Number of staff trained

  East Midlands Ambulance Service

  150

  30

  Lincolnshire Ambulance

  100

  116

  Two Shires Ambulance

  100

  40

CABINET OFFICE

  Agency Workers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many agency workers have been employed by the Department in each of the last two years; and at what cost to public funds. [115203]

  Mr. Alexander
  Information on the number of agency workers that have been employed by the Cabinet Office in each of the last two years is not held centrally and is therefore available only at disproportionate cost.

  Estimated expenditure on agency workers in the Cabinet Office is as follows:

  Year

  £000

  2001–02

  1,587

  2002–03

  2,221

  Figures for 2002–03 are subject to end of year adjustment and external audit.

  Legal Aid
  Legal Aid
  Northern Ireland Office: QWAs in House of Lords
  Northern Ireland Office: QWAs in House of Lords
  Ulster-Scots Agency
  Ulster-Scots Agency
  Waterways Ireland
  Waterways Ireland
  Disclosure Process: Responses to Consultation on Reform
  Disclosure Process: Responses to Consultation on Reform
  Scientific Procedures on Animals: Statistics
  Scientific Procedures on Animals: Statistics
  Criminal Records Bureau: Corporate Plan 2003–04
  Criminal Records Bureau: Corporate Plan 2003–04
  G8 Summit: Government's Objectives
  G8 Summit: Government's Objectives
  Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill
  Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill
  Fire Services Bill: ECHR Compatibility
  Fire Services Bill: ECHR Compatibility
  Office of the e-Envoy: Charges to Government Departments
  Office of the e-Envoy: Charges to Government Departments
  e-Government Interoperability Framework
  e-Government Interoperability Framework
  Employer Task Force on Pensions
  Employer Task Force on Pensions
  Oxford and Cambridge Universities: Independent and State School Entries
  Oxford and Cambridge Universities: Independent and State School Entries
  Slug Pellets
  Slug Pellets
  Rural Delivery Review
  Rural Delivery Review