Written Answers of 3 March 2003

CABINET OFFICE

  Central Office of Information
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a copy of the Service Delivery Agreement for the Central Office of Information; and if he will make a statement. [99391]

  Mr. Alexander
  A copy of the current Central Office of Information (COI) Service Delivery Agreement (SDA), which was published as part of the Spending Review 2000, is already available from the House Libraries and on-line at the COI's website:.http://www.coi.gov.uk/aboutus/sda.html

  However, the COI is currently in the process of revising its Framework Document and preparing its Annual Business Plan for 2003–04. It is anticipated that the COI will announce and publish its revised Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) at the same time as announcing its annual performance targets to Parliament.

  The current timetable for the COI to publish its annually agreed external performance targets, which will be done by means of a Written Ministerial Statement, is April 2003. Copies of these will then be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Official Vehicles
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many official vehicles have been at the disposal of(a) the Government, (b) the Official Opposition and (c) the Liberal Democrats in each year since 1995; and at what cost; [100130]

  (2) what the total cost has been for official vehicles for (a) the Prime Minister's Office, (b) the Official Opposition Leader's Office and (c) the Office of the Leader of the Liberal Democrats in each year since 1995. [100131]

  Mr. Alexander
  The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Written Questions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many named day written questions were tabled to the Office between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer(a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days,
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  (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and what procedures are in place to monitor performance on answering (i) parliamentary questions and (ii) ministerial letters.[99458]

  Mr. Alexander
  Seventy five named day questions were tabled to the Cabinet Office between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003, of these nine had holding replies. All were answered within three parliamentary sitting days.

  Cabinet Office parliamentary questions are recorded on a parliamentary database, and progress of all parliamentary questions are monitored closely.

  As far as ministerial correspondence is concerned, the Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on performance of departments in replying to ministerial correspondence. The Report for 2001 was published on 24 May 2002, column 674W. The Report for 2002 will be published in due course.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Inland Waterways
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to appoint an independent regulator to oversee the interests of inland waterway users. [100206]

  Alun Michael
  I am not convinced of the need for a regulator. British Waterways and other navigation authorities are already subject to the general law against anti-competitive practice. I know that the Inland Waterways Association has written to British Waterways suggesting that it would be preferable to set up a new appeal procedure to deal with waterway managers' decisions. I understand that British Waterways is willing to consider this suggestion and I think that it should be fully explored. It may be possible to extend any agreed arrangements to other navigation authorities.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Lembit öpik
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many confirmed incidents of bovine tuberculosis were identified in the parliamentary constituencies of(a) Montgomeryshire and (b) Brecon and Radnorshire, in each quarter in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and(iii) 2002; and if she will make a statement. [99308]

  Mr. Morley
  The number of confirmed incidents of bovine tuberculosis in(a) Montgomeryshire and (b) Brecon and Radnorshire, broken down as requested is shown in the table.

  Care must be taken in making comparisons with previous years' figures. The disruption to the TB programme caused by FMD, and the rolling nature of the testing programme means that we are now effectively catching up on two years' testing. Clearance of overdue testing has been targeted on those herds at higher risk first, therefore it will not be possible to interpret the data properly until the testing backlog has been cleared.
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  TB breakdown statistics

  Quarter

  2000

  2001

  2002

  (a)Number of confirmed incidents of TB in Brecon and Radnorshire

  Q1

  8

  8

  15

  Q2

  4

  1

  13

  Q3

  4

  0

  13

  Q4

  4

  4

  26

  Total

  20

  13

  67

  (b)Number of confirmed incidents of TB in Montgomeryshire

  Q1

  0

  3

  11

  Q2

  0

  1

  4

  Q3

  1

  1

  1

  Q4

  1

  11

  5

  Total

  2

  16

  21

  Diffuse Pollution
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of diffuse pollution have been recorded in each year since 1997; and how many resulted in(a) prosecutions and (b) fines. [99250]

  Mr. Morley
  In its records of pollution incidents, the Environment Agency has identified 4,779 incidents since 1999 where urban or rural land run-off was the likely cause and which have been attributed to diffuse sources.

  However, by its very nature diffuse pollution often does not manifest itself as an identifiable incident. Much diffuse pollution occurs through repeated low level leaching of pollutants from land or run-off from surfaces that has a cumulative impact on water quality. So, records of pollution incidents only pick up a small part of the problem of diffuse pollution.

  It has not proved possible to collate any information on prosecutions and fines in relation to diffuse pollution for this answer.

  Most current legislation relating to water pollution is addressed at point sources, such as discharges of industrial effluent or specific pollution incidents, and was not designed to prevent or control more gradual diffuse pollution. This is why the Government have proposed the creation of a new statutory power to prevent and control diffuse pollution as part of action to transpose the provisions of the water framework directive into domestic legislation. This proposal was included in the "Second Consultation Paper on the Implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)", published in October 2002.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes have taken place or are planned related to tracing the sources of diffuse pollution.[99251]

  Mr. Morley
  In the past tracing sources of diffuse water pollution has been done as part of catchment campaigns by the Environment Agency to improve compliance with river quality objectives. Such campaigns have been run in various catchments across the country.

  As part of action to implement the water framework directive, a more comprehensive approach will be required. The directive requires that reviews are undertaken of the impact of human activity on the
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  status of surface waters and on groundwater, including the identification of significant diffuse source pollution. The Government have proposed that a specific duty should be placed on the Environment Agency to carry out such reviews. This proposal is set out in the "Second Consultation Paper on the Implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)", published in October 2002.

  Drinking Water
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the number of households using water filter devices for providing drinking water in the UK in each year since 1992. [99231]

  Mr Morley
  The Department has no direct responsibility for domestic water filters and does not compile or keep records of numbers of users or of sales. Based on information that British water has provided, however, a best available estimated figure for annual sales of plumbed-in water filters is between 20,000–25,000 during the period 1991–2001.

  We have no information on numbers of households using jug water filters.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for the environment of adding fluoride to drinking water. [99203]

  Mr. Morley
  A review of the effect of fluoride on a range of aquatic life was carried out for the Environment Agency when deriving a non-statutory environmental quality standard (EQS) for fluoride in water, which was published in 2000. The review drew on research carried out by a range of recognised scientific laboratories and available data indicated that effects on aquatic life from fluoride occur at concentrations between 9.0–350mg/l. Where fluoridation schemes are in place, fluoride is added to maintain a concentration of 1.0 mg/1 in drinking water which is well below these levels. Any discharges will be further diluted upon entry to the aquatic environment through the process of collection and treatment of waste water.

  A copy of the review has been deposited in the Library of the House.

  Fair Trade Products
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the purchase for departmental use, of fair trade products. [99241]

  Alun Michael
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 9 December,Official Report, column 92W. The Government are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible within the boundaries set by the public procurement rules and provides significant support to the Fair Trade Foundation's efforts in promoting the supply and marketing of fair trade products.

  This is reflected from Defra's Green Guide for Buyers, http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/partf/greenbuy/index.htm, and the

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  work that departmental officials are undertaking with Defra's catering contractors to the purchasing approach within my private office. In consultation with them Defra has produced a catering action sheet that, among other things, calls for promotion of fair trade or ethically produced food by, where appropriate, reflecting such needs in non-discriminatory specifications in line with user requirements. Defra has been negotiating with its catering contractors to put fair trade tea and coffee on their menus and to supply such drinks whenever official hospitality is provided. These arrangements should be in place shortly in Defra canteens in the following locations: Guildford, Reading, York, London and the Central Science Laboratory.

  Foxhound Packs
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many foxhound packs there are in England and Wales; and how many hunts have taken place in each of the last five years. [100361]

  Alun Michael
  According to the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Hunting with Dogs in England and Wales (The Burns Report), published in June 2000, there were 175 foxhunting packs registered with the Masters of Foxhounds Association in England and Wales. There were also nine fell packs registered with, or affiliated to, the Central Committee of Fell Packs. In addition, there were seven packs of harriers, registered with the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles which mainly hunt foxes. There were also another two harrier packs which were registered to hunt foxes.

  The position in Wales was found to be less clear. There were 48 foxhunting packs registered with the Federation of Welsh Packs which included 27 Welsh based packs affiliated to the Masters of Foxhounds Association, and 30 registered with the Welsh Farmers' Fox Control Association. At the time of publication of the Burns Report these two bodies had been formed fairly recently and represented only a proportion of the total number of packs in Wales. Some estimates put the number of unregistered packs in Wales at two or three times those of registered packs (Burns, paragraphs 2.10–2.11).

  The Burns Report stated that there was a total of some 15,000 meets per season (paragraph 2.12). This figure would have been significantly less in 2001 when all hunting was suspended in England and Wales due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's hospitality budget(a) is in 2002–03 and (b) was in each of the last three years; and how much was left unspent at the end of each financial year. [99515]

  Alun Michael
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 24 February 2003;Official Report, column 85W.

  Illegal Meat Imports
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2003,Official Report, column 380W, what additional resources the Government are making available at ports to prevent the importation of substandard meat and bushmeat into the UK. [98372]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have made available a total of £25 million over the next three financial years to tackle illegal imports from outside the European Union of any meat, other animal products and plant products. Following the Cabinet Office review of enforcement structures, final decisions on the allocation of this money will be made once consultations with HM Customs and Excise and the FSA have concluded.

  Action against illegal imports is not limited to substandard meat and bushmeat, nor will it be limited to ports and airports. It is in addition to the requirement to pre-notify all commercial imports of meat and products of animal origin and present them to a Border Inspection Post for veterinary checks.

  In the current financial year, additional measures have been introduced at ports and airports to tackle illegal imports. Additional temporary agency staff have been recruited to carry out checks to detect smuggled goods—teams of six are based at our major airports and teams of two at major seaports. We are also paying for additional checks through overtime elsewhere. Additional inspection resources have also been provided through the detector dog pilot, and a publicity campaign which has targeted both ports and airports and travellers before they leave.

  Water Pollution
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of significant non-water industrial discharges to rivers were reviewed in 2002 by the Environment Agency, broken down by region; and if she will make a statement. [99204]

  Mr. Morley
  The information shows the percentage of consents for significant non-water company industrial discharges to rivers reviewed by the Environment Agency (the Agency) regions in 2002. Consents are issued under the Water Resources Act 1991 (as amended by the Environment Act 1995). Significant discharges are defined by the Agency as consented discharges of more than five cubic metres per day, some smaller discharges where the type and location of discharge requires monitoring will also be included.

  Percentage

  Anglian

  11

  Midlands

  7

  North East

  11

  North West

  6

  Southern

  7

  South West

  3

  Thames

  5

  Overall percentage of consents reviewed in England = 8
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  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals are deemed to be safe(a) at point of emission and (b) within water courses under (i) UK, (ii) EU and (iii) International law; how many water courses there are where the level of endocrine disrupting chemicals exceeded levels deemed safe in the last year for which figures are available; and where they are located. [99238]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency for England and Wales currently refers to its own non-statutory standards of 1 microgram per litre as an annual average, and 2.5 micrograms per litre as a maximum allowable concentration, for nonylphenol and octylphenol for the protection of the aquatic environment where appropriate for regulating discharges to water courses. These values were detennined in relation to the substances' wider ecotoxicological impact, although data on their endocrine disrupting properties were taken into account.

  Under the EU Community Strategy on Endocrine Disrupting Substances, and the Oslo Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR), a number of potentially endocrine disrupting substances have been identified for which an assessment strategy is currently being developed. The European Commission is expected to propose later this year EQS and emission standards for certain substances on the Priority List of Dangerous Substances under Article 16 of the Water Framework Directive which are potential endocrine disrupters.

  Nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenols are produced at one site only in the UK where monitoring for nonylphenol showed that the Environment Agency standard was not exceeded in 2002. The Environment Agency does not routinely monitor these substances nationally. Other substances, such as ethinyl oestradiol and oestradiol, have been studied in specific water courses and the results of those findings are currently the subject of risk assessment.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of(a) streams and (b) rivers with high microbial loading in each year since 1997; and where each is located. [99252]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency does not have any statutory obligations to control the microbial quality of freshwater streams and rivers to specific environmental standards and does not routinely monitor the microbial quality of these waters.

  Limited monitoring is undertaken as part of research to investigate causes of non-compliance with bathing and shellfish water standards.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many legal actions have been begun against(a) water companies and (b) other companies in respect of discharges of endocrine disrupting chemicals in each year since 1992; how many in each case resulted in successful prosecutions; and what fines were levied as a result. [99280]
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  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency has not initiated prosecutions against any companies specifically as a result of endocrine disrupting impacts on the environment. Prosecutions may have been initiated in relation to substances which are potential endocrine disrupters but, owing to the large number of such substances and the level of uncertainty surrounding many of them, figures would be difficult to compile and would involve disproportionate cost.

  Water Services
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average monthly cost to consumers is of(a) water services and (b) sewerage services in each region (i) in total and (ii) broken down by those who are (A) metered and (B) unmetered. [99243]

  Mr. Morley
  The following is the information for household customers of each water and sewerage company in England in 2002–03.

  Table 1: Unmetered water tariffs for household customers, 2002–03

  £

  Water and sewerage companies

  Average monthly charge

  Anglian

  11.1

  Northumbrian:

  Essex and Suffolk

  10.3

  Northumbrian

  7.4

  Severn Trent

  9.4

  South West

  10.9

  Southern

  7.6

  Thames

  8.8

  United Utilities

  9.3

  Wessex

  10.0

  Yorkshire:

  Yorkshire

  9.1

  York

  7.7

  Water only companies:

  Bournemouth and West Hampshire

  8.7

  Bristol

  9.3

  Cambridge

  8.3

  Dee Valley

  9.8

  Folkestone and Dover

  11.3

  Mid Kent

  11.1

  Portsmouth

  6.2

  South East

  10.5

  South Staffordshire

  7.3

  Sutton and East Surrey

  10.3

  Tendring Hundred

  14.6

  Three Valleys:

  North Surrey

  9.1

  Three Valleys

  9.9

  Table 2: Unmetered sewerage tariffs for household customers, 2002–03

  £

  Average monthly charge

  Anglian

  0.0

  Northumbrian

  0.0

  Severn Trent

  0.0

  South West

  0.0

  Southern

  0.0

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  Table 2: Unmetered sewerage tariffs for household customers, 2002–03

  £

  Average monthly charge

  Thames

  0.0

  United Utilities

  0.0

  Wessex

  0.0

  Yorkshire

  0.00

  Table 3: Metered water tariffs for household customers, 2002–03

  £

  Water and sewerage companies

  Average monthly charge

  Anglian

  7.8

  Northumbrian:

  Essex and Suffolk

  7.0

  Northumbrian

  6.3

  Severn Trent

  7.6

  South West

  7.4

  Southern

  7.1

  Thames

  7.8

  United Utilities

  8.3

  Wessex

  7.9

  Yorkshire:

  Yorkshire

  7.3

  York

  6.3

  Water only companies:

  Bournemouth and West Hampshire

  7.8

  Bristol

  7.2

  Cambridge

  6.8

  Dee Valley

  6.1

  Folkestone and Dover

  8.6

  Mid Kent

  8.3

  Portsmouth

  7.0

  South East

  9.0

  South Staffordshire

  6.8

  Sutton and East Surrey

  9.1

  Tendring Hundred

  10.1

  Three Valleys:

  North Surrey

  6.6

  Three Valleys

  7.0

  Table 4: Metered sewerage tariffs for household customers, 2002–03

  £

  Water and sewerage companies

  Average monthly charge

  Anglian

  10.8

  Northumbrian

  8.4

  Severn Trent

  7.4

  South West

  12.1

  Southern

  10.9

  Thames

  6.9

  United Utilities

  9.5

  Wessex

  9.3

  Yorkshire

  9.6

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  Table 5: Metered and unmetered water tariffs for household Customers, 2002–03

  £

  Water and sewerage companies

  Average monthly charge

  Anglian

  9.4

  Northumbrian:

  Essex and Suffolk

  9.3

  Northumbrian

  7.3

  Severn Trent

  9.0

  South West

  9.6

  Southern

  7.5

  Thames

  8.7

  United Utilities

  9.1

  Wessex

  9.4

  Yorkshire:

  Yorkshire

  8.7

  York

  7.5

  Water only companies:

  Bournemouth and West Hampshire

  8.4

  Bristol

  8.8

  Cambridge

  7.5

  Dee Valley

  8.7

  Folkestone and Dover

  10.4

  Mid Kent

  10.6

  Portsmouth

  6.3

  South East

  10.1

  South Staffordshire

  7.2

  Sutton and East Surrey

  10.1

  Tendring Hundred

  12.2

  Three Valleys:

  North Surrey

  8.6

  Three Valleys

  9.3

  Table 6: Metered and unmetered sewerage tariffs for household customers, 2002–03

  £

  Average monthly charge

  Anglian

  13.1

  Northumbrian

  9.4

  Severn Trent

  8.0

  South West

  17.6

  Southern

  12.7

  Thames

  7.8

  United Utilities

  10.2

  Wessex

  11.1

  Yorkshire

  9.3

  Water Supply
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much water was supplied by water companies to consumers in the last year for which figures are available; what this represents per household; and what percentage of tap water supplied is estimated to be used for drinking purposes. [99275]

  Mr. Morley
  In 2001–02 a total of 8,622 million litres of water per day were delivered to households. This represents an average consumption of 150 litres per person per day. Further details are contained in the Ofwat report "Security of supply, leakage and the
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  efficient use of water 2001–02", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. It is estimated that around 4 per cent. of water supplied to households is used for drinking and cooking purposes.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much water was used by(a) domestic, (b) business and (c) industry sectors, in each year since 1992; and what the total water use was in each of these years. [99276]

  Mr. Morley
  As a proportion of water put into the public supply, about 56 per cent. is delivered to domestic customers, 14 per cent. to businesses and 11 per cent. to industrial users. Total water use since 1992, shown in megalitres per day, is as follows:

  Year

  Megalitres per day

  1992–93

  10,807

  1993–94

  10,686

  1994–95

  10,799

  1995–96

  11,327

  1996–97

  11,117

  1997–98

  12,511

  1998–99

  12,208

  1999–00

  12,370

  2000–01

  12,333

  2001–02

  12,493

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) homes and (b) businesses are fitted with water saving devices, with particular reference to (i) hippos and (ii) cistern and flush controls. [99277]

  Mr. Morley
  Since 1999, 840,287 cistern devices, including Hippos, have been installed in households by water companies or their customers. Since 1996, 29,542 water audits of commercial premises have been completed by water companies, but no data are available on specific measures implemented as a result. These activities were carried out as part of water companies' legal duty to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. Further details are contained in the Ofwat report 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water 2001–02', a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

  Saudi Arabian Airforce
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission where copies of the 1992 National Audit Office report on the Saudi Arabian Airforce Project are located. [98181]

  Mr. Alan Williams
  Copies of the 1992 National Audit Office Report on the Saudi Arabian Airforce Project—known as Project. Al Yamamah—are held by the National Audit Office and the Ministry of Defence.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Domestic Violence
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Solicitor General if she will make a statement on the role of the Crown Prosecution Service in domestic violence cases. [99404]

  The Solicitor-General
  I will write to my hon. Friend with my answer shortly.

TRANSPORT

  Aircraft Seating Arrangements
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with scheduled tour operators in relation to seating arrangements on aircrafts over the last 12 months. [99984]

  Mr. Jamieson
  We have had no specific discussions with airlines over seating arrangements on aircraft, but we have been in close and regular contact with airlines in relation to the information they provide to the public on seat pitch and width.

  Airlines
  Mr. David
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve protection for individual airline passengers against the failure of scheduled airlines. [99913]

  Mr. Jamieson
  This is not a matter for Government. Some passengers are protected by virtue of the way they pay for their tickets. For others, insurance against scheduled airline failure is readily available.

  Air Transport (Insurance)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the viability of creating a third party insurance cover relating to British air transport. [100052]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Following 11 September 2001, when commercial insurance cover was partially withdrawn, the Government provided temporary third-party war risk insurance cover for UK airlines and other air service providers. Such intervention is a form of state aid and the terms upon which the UK, and other EU member states, assisted their aviation industry during the crisis was strictly regulated by the European Commission. The Government discontinued their support for third party war risk insurance on 31 October 2002, and we see no case for further intervention.

  Airport Development
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which airport development options assessed at SERAS Stages 2 and 3 were considered by the SERAS consultants to meet private sector funding criteria in terms of an acceptable internal rate of return. [99522]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The financial appraisal undertaken in the SERAS study indicates that, using airport charges at the time the analysis was undertaken, achieving a high target rate of return (12.5 per cent.) might be difficult for
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  any major airport development. Chapter 15 of the Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, a second edition of which was published on 27 February (including some minor revisions to this chapter) discusses how major new airport capacity might be funded.

  The principal results of the financial appraisal of different airport options are presented in the "SERAS Stage two Appraisal Findings report (section
  14.4)."

  ATOL Protection
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the requirement to provide ATOL protection to all airlines and booking facilities offering bundled flight and accommodation services; and if he will make a statement. [R] [100261]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Government have no plans to extend the requirement to provide ATOL protection in this way.

  Some airlines selling air tickets through the Internet provide links to other services such as accommodation and car hire. Purchasing such services by this method involves separate contracts with, and separate payments to, different companies for the individual services. This does not constitute a package under European law. It is for individual consumers to decide whether to purchase disaggregated services in this way or to purchase a package deal offered by an ATOL holder.

  Central Railway
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on the provision of public money(a) to support the Central Railway project and (b) to meet claims for compensation arising out of the Central Railway project. [99490]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Central Railway's proposal is for an entirely privately funded project. We understand that it includes provisions for compensation of property owners in the event of compulsory purchase

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Vehicle Certification Agency

  Total staff

  80

  86

  87

  92

  100

  Inspectors

  41

  43

  44

  47

  49

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency

  Total staff

  986

  1,000

  1,064

  1,024.5

  1,067

  Surveyors/inspectors

  160

  160

  149

  157

  162

  Driving Standards Agency

  Total staff

  1,785

  1,637

  1,715

  1,742

  1,851

  Examiners/inspectors

  1,202

  1,119

  1,201

  1,196

  1,302

  Where part of an employee's duties includes inspection they have not been counted in the second row. Only dedicated inspectors are shown.

  Child Pedestrian Training
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress of the pilot network of child pedestrian training schemes in primary schools in deprived areas. [99769]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Projects are being rolled out in three tranches. The first 38 English projects were awarded to 38 local authorities in September 2001. The next 39 projects were awarded to 36 local authorities in September 2002. Each project will run for three years.

  Invitations to bid for the final round of projects will be issued shortly.

  By the end of the summer term 2002, 703 of the volunteers who themselves train children had undertaken their own training. Also, in total, 3,882 children have received some training with an average of 105 children per project and 24 per school.

  Congestion Charging
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what(a) guidance has been issued and (b) requests have been made by the Department to the DVLA with regard to congestion charging over the last 12 months; [99875]

  (2) what discussions he and his Department have had with the DVLA regarding congestion charging in London in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [99767]

  Mr. Jamieson
  DVLA has worked closely with Transport for London to develop the systems needed to meet the legal obligation to supply information from its records to support congestion charging. My Department has asked DVLA for regular reports on progress throughout last year to ensure that the Agency meets its obligations.

  Departmental Agency Staff
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by the(a) Vehicle Certification Agency, (b) Maritime and Coast Guard Agency and (c) Driving Standards Agency, in each year since 1997; and how many were inspection staff in each case. [100016]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The average number of employees and of dedicated inspection staff during each accounting year was:

  Driver Fatigue
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the number of people
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  killed in road crashes caused by driver fatigue on (a) motorways, (b) trunk roads and (c) other roads in the last five years. [99636]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Research studies indicate that driver sleepiness accounts for 15–20 per cent. of accidents on monotonous roads, especially motorways and for about 10 per cent. of all accidents on the road network in Great Britain.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to promote the erection of tiredness kills signs on trunk roads as well as on motorways. [99637]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Signs have been provided on the approaches to service areas on motorways to remind drivers of the need for regular breaks, because opportunities for drivers to stop on motorways are limited. This is not generally the case on all-purpose trunk roads. We have no plans for the erection of additional signs on approaches to trunk road services, unless there is a specific traffic management need at a particular location.

  Future Integrated Transport LINK Programme
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research has been conducted into the Future Integrated Transport LINK Programme; and if he will place a copy of findings in the Library; [99770]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Future Integrated Transport LINK Programme. [99771]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Future Integrated Transport Programme provided part funding to academic/ industrial collaborative research projects under the Government's LINK framework. From the launch of the programme in September 1999 until its closure to applications in 2002, the Department for Transport and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council offered support to 18 projects. The LINK projects supported are:Pedestrian Activity Measurement in the Transport Environment;
  The Demand for Public Transport—a Practical Guide;
  UK Marine Motorways Study;
  Integrating Transport and eCommerce in Logistics Supply Chains:
  Rapid Construction of Passenger Interchanges;
  Assessing the Potential for Rationalising Road Freight Operations;
  Integration of Multi-Modal Reliability in the Assessment of Transport Schemes;
  Monitoring of High Occupancy Vehicles;
  Inclusive Transport Environment: Colour Design, Lighting and Visual Impairment;
  Measuring Demand for an Integrated Inter-urban Public Transport Network;
  Evaluating the Success of Urban Cycle Networks;
  Enhanced Rail Contribution by Improved Reliability;
  Improving the Efficiency of Travel by Improved Household Activity Scheduling;
  Co-ordinating Individual Action Programmes in Rural Transport Management;
  A Model to Assess Public Transport Reliability;
  Multi-Objective Signal Control for Urban Environments;
  Computer Based Tools for Streetscape Design and Reallocation;
  Dynamic Assistive Information System.
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  Fuller descriptions of the objectives of these projects are available on the Department's website. As individual projects are completed between 2003 and 2007, summary results will also become available on the website. The industrial and academic partners undertake publication of the results of the individual projects.

  Highways Agency
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) staff and (b) inspection staff were employed by the Highways Agency in each year since 1997. [99760]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The numbers of civil servants employed by the Highways Agency on the 1 January 2003 for the past seven years are set out in the following table:

  Year

  Number of civil servants

  1997

  1,628

  1998

  1,597

  1999

  1,591

  2000

  1,634

  2001

  1,647

  2002

  1,668

  2003

  1,720

  The Highways Agency has not employed any inspection staff during this period. These duties are carried out on behalf of the Agency by their managing agent contractors.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how often Ministers in his Department have received hospitality in restaurants from outside groups; [99581]

  (2) what criteria Ministers in his Department use when determining whether to offer hospitality in restaurants to interest groups at public expense; and if he will make a statement; [99504]

  (3) what hospitality has been offered at public expense in the last 12 months, by each Minister in his Department to outside interest groups, broken down by (a) restaurant, (b) recipient and (c) cost in each case. [99505]

  Mr. Jamieson
  All offers of hospitality are made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting". The giving and receiving of hospitality is conducted fully in accordance with the guidance set out in the "Ministerial Code", and "Guidance on Contacts with Outside Interest Groups Including Lobbyists". The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Liquefied Petroleum Gas
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on allowing motor vehicles powered by LPG to travel through the Channel Tunnel; and if he will make a statement. [99403]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  Eurotunnel's original applications for operating certificates excluded the carriage of LPG and dual-fuelled vehicles. It is for the company to come forward with proposals to extend the range of its services to include these vehicles; Eurotunnel has been keeping its policy under review. If the company does seek to extend the scope of its services to include these vehicles, it will first need the agreement of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, acting on the advice of the independent binational Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, to its proposals.

  M6
  Mr. David Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what environmental impact assessments he(a) has studied, (b) has commissioned and (c) intends to commission regarding the proposed widening of the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and 20; [99368]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the opening of the M6 toll road in 2004 on the volumes of traffic using the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and 20; [99370]

  (3) what proposals he has for widening the M6 motorway between junctions 6 and 11. [99369]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The environmental assessments carried out in the mid 1990s, at the time of the previous widening proposals, are currently being reviewed and updated by the Highways Agency with a view to a widening scheme between Junctions 11 and 20 being included in the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements. Should such a scheme be accepted into the Programme as a result, a full environmental impact assessment would be prepared to reflect the new proposals.

  The effects of the opened M6 Toll Road on M6 traffic levels were assessed when the toll road was being planned. More recently, the West Midlands to North West Conurbation Multi Modal Study, which gave rise to the present widening proposals between Junctions 11 and 20, also took account of the implications of the toll road opening. The effects will be evaluated in more detail as the widening proposals aredeveloped.

  There are no proposals to widen the M6 between Junctions 6 and 11.

  Marinair
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2003,Official Report, column 525W, what estimate was made of total costs of the former Marinair scheme, during the 'Preliminary Site Search of Options for New Airport Capacity to Serve the South East and East of England'. [94781]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The "Preliminary Site Search of Options for New Airport Capacity to Serve the South East and East of England" (published June 2001 and available in the Libraries of the House) estimated the total costs of the former Marinair scheme at nearly £20 billion pounds.
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  The estimate was based on a desk-top study that reviewed proposals submitted by supporters of Marinair in the early 1990s.

  Mobile Phones (Accidents)
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research he has conducted about the number of(a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries arising from accidents in which a driver involved was using a mobile phone; and if he will make a statement. [100389]

  Mr. Jamieson
  A wide body of research provides clear evidence of an increased risk of an accident when using a mobile phone while driving. A recent report, "The risk of using a mobile phone while driving", commissioned by the Department from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, contains a review of such research. It also summarises 19 cases reported in the UK press between 1988 and 2001 where a death could be attributed to a driver using a mobile phone. The report may be viewed at www.rospa.com/pdfs/road/mobiles/report.pdf.

  Two research projects currently under way will help to establish the likely numbers of road traffic accidents involving mobile phones. One involves in-depth analysis of police fatal road accident reports that identify distraction as a possible contributory factor. A report is expected in the summer. The other involves on-the-spot studies of accidents in order to improve the understanding of the influences of human involvement, vehicle and highway design on accident causation and injury mechanisms. A database is expected to be available from the autumn.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many named day written questions were tabled to the Department between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer(a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and what procedures the Department has in place to monitor performance on answering (i) parliamentary questions and (ii) ministerial letters. [99427]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In the period 15 October 2002 to 24 February 2003, 318 named day written questions were tabled to my Department, of which 77 (24 per cent.) received a holding answer.

  Of the 77 that received a holding answer, 65 (84 per cent.) received a substantive answer within three days; 10 (13 per cent.) received a substantive answer between four and seven days; and two (3 per cent.) received a substantive answer between eight and 14 days.

  The effective handling of parliamentary questions and ministerial correspondence is an issue to which I, and ministerial colleagues, attach great importance. The Department has a Service Delivery Agreement Target of responding to 76 per cent. of ministerial correspondence within 15 days and 90 per cent. within 20 days. My Department operates an electronic tracking system to monitor ministerial correspondence and parliamentary

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  question performance. The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on performance of Departments in replying to ministerial correspondence.

  Private Sector Businesses (Forms)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the forms that his Department requires private sector businesses to complete and return. [98091]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The list of all such forms, as recorded by the Department's Forms Gatekeeper and Survey Control Unit, has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list makes no distinction between those that are compulsory or voluntary.

  Public Service Agreement
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the technical note underlying his Public Service Agreement; and if he will make a statement. [99393]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The technical note will be published shortly, and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Railway Property (Birds)
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's estimate is of the cost to(a) local authorities, (b) train operating companies and (c) Network Rail of cleaning costs relating to the presence of birds on railway property in the last 12 months. [99774]

  Mr. Jamieson
  My Department has made no such estimate.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for(a) erecting netting, (b) erecting deterrents and (c) cleaning costs, relating to the presence of birds on railway property, with specific reference to bridges over public highways. [99775]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Network Rail advises that it is under no statutory duty to prevent the fouling of its structures by pigeons or other birds; and that it falls to the local highway authority to maintain the public footways and highways under the company's bridges. In specific cases of the establishment of a statutory nuisance under one of its bridges, the costs of pigeon proofing the structure and cleaning the public footway may be shared equally by agreement between Network Rail and the local authority. The company seeks to work with local authorities to tackle pigeon nuisance and to assess alternative pigeon deterrents to netting.

  Railways
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government is taking(a) to ensure better value for public money from the railways and (b) to prevent rail costs increasing; what is being done to limit the number of contactors and sub-contractors working on the railways; and if he will make a statement. [100297]
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  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority's second Strategic Plan, published in January, sets out the nature of the challenges and the steps underway to control costs and improve value for money. The contractual arrangements for maintaining and renewing the railways are a matter for Network Rail and its customers.

  School Transport
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the recommendations to his Department from the School Travel Advisory Group; and what progress has been made towards their implementation in each case. [99768]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The recommendations of the "School Travel Advisory Group are set out in the "School Travel Advisory Group Report 1998–1999". Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  The recommendations for my Department were for school travel issues to be included in local transport plans; better road safety education; improved enforcement of speed, parking and other traffic regulations; better cycle storage facilities and lockers at schools; affordable bus travel for all children in compulsory education; and special training for bus drivers working with children.

  We have asked local authorities to include a school travel strategy, explain how they will work with individual schools to develop school travel plans (STPs) and include targets for reducing the number of children who travel to school by car in their local transport plans. To help local authorities we have provided 57 bursaries to enable them to employ staff to work with schools to develop STPs, and a further 17 for them to employ staff to work jointly with schools and workplaces. Since May 2001 we have been providing up to five days of free site-specific consultancy advice to schools wanting to develop a STP.

  We have published free best practice guidance on developing and implementing STPs for both local authorities and schools and a school travel resource pack for schools. (These and other resources are also available on our web site at http://www.localtransport/schooltravel/index.htm). We have held free seminars to disseminate these guidesand to promote partnership working between local highway authorities, Healthy Schools co-ordinators, School Sport co-ordinators, bus operators and others.

  To improve child road safety we have published a range of booklets for children and the child road safety pages of our web site include lesson plans for primary and secondary school teachers designed to tie in with the national curriculum; these can be found at http:// wuav.databases.dtt.gov.uk/lessonpians/. We are also spending £10 million over five years for local authorities to pilot a network of child pedestrian training schemes in deprived areas.

  To reduce child deaths and injuries we have asked local authorities to pay particular attention in preparing their local road safety strategies to roads around schools and the routes children use to get to school; we have asked them to plan specific measures such as 20 mph zones with traffic calming and safe crossing places if traffic calming is not appropriate.
  795W
  In recent local transport plan settlements we have allocated increased levels of funding to local authorities for small-scale schemes including road safety and programmes to encourage walking and cycling; these can include the provision of lockers and secure cycle parking. We have also set up the Cycling Projects Fund, to which schools can apply for funding for cycle routes, lockers and secure cycle parking.

  We have included best practice guidance on setting up successful operator and local authority discount schemes for children on buses in our best practice guidance for increasing bus use for journeys to school and we also included workshops on how to encourage and work with bus operators successfully in our school travel seminars.

  In order to improve relationships between bus drivers and young people we commissioned a training programme for bus drivers. New European standards have been established for the knowledge drivers must have before obtaining a licence to driver a bus or a coach. These include the driver's responsibility in respect of the safety and comfort of passengers including children and the appropriate material has been added to Driving Standards Agency publications.

  Secure Stations
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a list of stations which have Secure Station status. [99778]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The list of the 170 stations currently accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Traffic (East Lancashire)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of likely traffic flows in East Lancashire following completion of the Bingley bypass. [100044]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have asked the Chief Executive, Tim Matthews, of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Tim Matthews to Gordon Prentice dated 3 March 2003:
  I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking what assessment has been made of likely traffic flows in East Lancashire following completion of the Bingley Bypass.
  An assessment was carried out ten years ago to calculate the movement in traffic patterns caused by a series of bypass and improvement schemes on the A650, A629 and A65 which were at that time in the National Roads Programme. This showed that the impact on the East Lancashire network would be small. Clearly this assessment was based on data that is now out of date. Following the 1997–98 Roads Review it was decided not to proceed with many of the schemes, but the A650 Bingley Relief Road scheme remained in the roads programme.
  I can confirm that no specific assessments have been carried out which looked at the impact of the completed A650 Bingley Relief Road scheme on traffic flows in East Lancashire.
  If you require any further information, please contact Peter Scally, the Highways Agency Project Manager for the A650 Bingley Relief Road scheme. He can be contacted on 0113 283 6488 or you can e-mail him at peter.scally@highways.gsi.gov.uk

  Work Placements
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many university students his Department and associated agencies have supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what his policy is on work placements; what plans he has to develop such schemes; and what his policy is on paying their university fees. [98535]

  Mr. Jamieson
  In 2002, my Department organised centrally five summer work placements.

  Placements arranged are available to individuals through formal schemes:
  the Cabinet Office Fast Stream Summer Development programme—aimed at ethnic minority graduates and undergraduates;
  Workable—an organisation which arranges work placements for disabled graduates and undergraduates; and
  the Windsor Fellowship—aimed at ethnic minority undergraduates.

  My Department is keen to offer placement opportunities through these schemes and will continue to work in partnership with the organisations to encourage able individuals to consider the civil service as a career.

  For students on work placements, my Department's policy is not to pay university fees. However, whether the organisations with whom we work pay them, is a matter for them.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had with the Home Office and the Department for Health regarding the availability of health care for female asylum seekers and refugees at dispersal areas. [98073]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 24 February 2003]: I have had no discussions with the Home Office and the Department of Health regarding the availability of health care for female asylum seekers and refugees at dispersal areas.

  Domestic Violence
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had and plans to have with the Home Office about the central collection of statistics regarding domestic violence. [99047]

  Ms Hewitt
  Domestic violence is a serious and abhorrent crime accounting for a quarter of all violent crime. Currently, any incidents of this crime are recorded through the British Crime Survey and the Police Crime Statistics.

  Within these Police Crime Statistics, domestic violence is not a separate category and incidents are recorded across a range of crimes. As a consequence, it can be difficult to identify the prevalence of this serious crime.
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  I am in correspondence with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on this issue.

  Public Appointments
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Minister for Women how many women have attended regional seminars by the Women and Equality Unit on attracting women to public appointments; and if she will make a statement. [99042]

  Ms Hewitt
  848 women attended the eight regional seminars. In addition, five national seminars took place, targeted at specialist female audiences. In total, 1,328 women, from diverse backgrounds, attended the 13 seminars.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on the publication of the Cabinet Office report, "Public Bodies 2002". [99043]

  Ms Hewitt
  I welcome the publication of "Public Bodies 2002", as announced by the Cabinet Office on 31 January 2003. Although the number of women holding public appointments has remained static at 34 per cent., the figures published are as at March 2002, and therefore do not reflect any changes due to activity since March 2002. I welcome the news that the proportion of those from minority ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities have increased (from 4.8 per cent. to 6.2 per cent. and from 1.5 per cent. to 3.3 per cent. respectively).

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Minister for Women if she will make a statement on the regional seminar series hosted by the Women and Equality Unit in attracting women to public appointments; and if she will make a statement. [99045]

  Ms Hewitt
  The national outreach campaign to encourage more women to apply for public appointments included a series of regional seminars and events targeted at specific audiences. The seminars aimed to increase awareness among women, to provide support and to help women realise their potential. On-the-day evaluation showed that 91 per cent. of those attending reported that they were now more likely to apply for an appointment.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Algeria (Controlled Goods)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the controlled goods which have been granted export licences for use in Algeria for each month since September 2001. [99145]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I refer the hon Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Moore) on 6 February 2003,Official Report, column 389W–390W.

  Benefit Claimants
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how quickly disabled people will be 798W
  able to change designated individuals authorised to collect benefit payments on their behalf from post offices when card accounts come into operation; [100450]

  (2) what plans she has made for assisting disabled people to use the new PIN number key pads for card accounts in post offices when accessing benefits; [100447]

  (3) what the procedure is for benefit claimants changing designated individuals to collect payments on their behalf when their carer changes. [100449]

  Mr. Timms
  This is a matter which falls within the day-to-day responsibility of Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance her Department gave to the Greater London Assembly in 2002; and for what projects. [95847]

  Alan Johnson
  No financial assistance was given to the London Assembly in 2002.

  Employers Liability Insurance
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Office of Fair Trading report on Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance will be published. [100244]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Office of Fair Trading is conducting a fact finding study of the UK Liability Insurance Market, including Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI). The timing of the study is a matter for the OFT, but I understand that a report is planned for publication in spring 2003. Further details of the OFT study are available at http://www.oft. gov.uk/market + investigations/investigations/insurance.htm.

  The Government are simultaneously carrying out a review specifically of the operation of the ELCI system, led by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and involving other Government Departments, including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Officials working on the ELCI review are also working closely with OFT and the two pieces of work are being conducted to a similar timetable. Further details of the ELC1 review are available at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2002/ health-safety/eli-review/index.htm.

  Energy Policy Consultation
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will publish a summary of the responses to the consultation on energy policy. [99674]

  Mr. Wilson
  The energy White Paper consultation process consisted of two main strands, public consultation and strategic stakeholder consultation.

  Three methods were used in consulting the public: focus groups, deliberative workshops, and a touch screen questionnaire used at the BBC Tomorrow's World roadshows in Birmingham, London, Cardiff and Glasgow, and also made available via the DTI website. The results of the public consultation were published on 10 October 2002.
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  Stakeholders were invited to comment on a variety of themes including security of supply, climate change, international issues, energy efficiency and energy supply and distribution. A summary of the results were published on 27 November 2002.

  The consultation results are on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/developep/.

  Environmental Impact Assessment (North Sea)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what environmental impact assessment process is in place in respect of oil and gas exploration and production activities in the North Sea. [99795]

  Mr. Wilson
  Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) became a formal requirement for all offshore oil and gas activities in March 1999, following the introduction of the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999. All new developments, and significant exploration and production activities that could have an adverse impact in the receiving environment, require a full EIA that includes consultation with statutory bodies and a period of public notice. Other activities are also assessed to confirm that a full EIA is not required. Activities are additionally considered under the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001.

  Fair Trade Products
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the purchase, for departmental use, of fair trade products. [99290]

  Ms Hewitt
  Departmental policy is to promote the purchase of fair trade products. However, this is set against the background of the need to obtain best value for money, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives. Within these guidelines, the Department is committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible. For example, the Department's catering contractor to its London restaurants makes available fair trade tea and coffee to staff.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department will publish the firework injury statistics for November 2002; and what plans she has to collect year-round firework injury statistics. [98716]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The firework injury statistics are currently being finalised and it is our intention to publish them by the end of March. I have no plans to collect them year -round.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what hospitality has been offered at public expense in the last 12 months by each Minister in her Department to outside interest groups, broken down by(a) restaurant, (b) recipient and (c) cost in each case; [99497]
  800W
  (2) what criteria Ministers in her Department use when determining whether to offer hospitality in restaurants to interest groups at public expense; and if she will make a statement; [99496]

  (3) how often Ministers in her Department have received hospitality in restaurants from outside groups. [99572]

  Ms Hewitt
  All offers of hospitality are made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in 'Government Accounting'. The giving and receiving of hospitality is conducted fully in accordance with the guidance set out in the Ministerial Code, and Guidance on Contacts with Outside Interest Groups including Lobbyists. The detailed information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  House Building
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what schemes are in place to increase the number of people in house building professions. [99397]

  Mr. Wilson
  The Construction Industry Training Board is taking the lead in increasing recruitment into the construction industry. This includes the needs of the house building sector. The Ambition Construction scheme was launched in 2001 with joint CITB and DWP funding to train and place New Deal clients in skilled jobs directly relevant to house building.

  In recognition of the importance of this issue to the future health of the industry, the Strategic Forum for Construction has set targets for recruitment and retention in its agenda (as set out in its report "Accelerating Change"). In addition, the Strategic Forum is also looking to improve the productivity of the construction industry through integrated team working and through offsite fabrication which will in turn increase the ability of the industry to meet the demands—both in terms of quality and quantity—of its clients. The Department is working with the Strategic Forum and others, to deliver this agenda.

  Manufacturing Investment
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on levels of manufacturing investment. [100085]

  Alan Johnson
  The level of manufacturing investment as a proportion of manufacturing output in the fourth quarter of 2002 was 9.7 per cent.

  Recent difficulties faced by manufacturing are largely the result of the global slowdown, which began in 2001, and increased uncertainty and lower confidence in global conditions have led firms to postpone investment projects.

  We are taking action to help manufacturers facing difficult conditions through the Government's Manufacturing Strategy we have developed in partnership with industry. The macroeconomic framework we have established, with low inflation and sound public finances, is

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  creating the right underlying conditions to encourage businesses to increase investment when the global economy recovers.

  Minister for Science
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 24 February 2003, ref 98996, if she will list the official visits to(a) companies, (b) universities and (c) organisations by (i) the Minister for Science and (ii) the Chief Scientific Adviser in each of the last three years. [99985]

  Ms Hewitt
  Unfortunately this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  North Sea Oil and Gas Industry
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her plans to work with Norway to make more efficient the administration of the North Sea oil and gas industry. [99198]

  Mr. Wilson
  The report of the UK-Norway North Sea Co-operation Workgroup, published in August 2002, sets out a number of recommendations to facilitate closer co-operation and sharing of best practice. This includes a Framework Treaty—designed to facilitate a wide range of potential future trans-boundary oil and gas developments—and a single North Sea suppliers' database. Further work is also proposed to assess the need for a pan-industry Code of Practice.

  The report shows clearly that improved co-operation in the recommended areas can improve North Sea effectiveness and will unlock value through lowering investment and operating costs, through economies of scale and through improved safety standards.

  A Pilot /Kon-Craft Implementation Group is working closely with relevant parties to ensure that the recommendations of the report are fully realised.

  Oil/Gas Reserves
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of(a) oil and (b) gas reserves on the UK mainland. [99791]

  Mr. Wilson
  Current estimates of remaining reserves (proven and probable) on the UK mainland are(a) 18.7 million tonnes of oil and (b) 4,400 million cubic metres of gas. The gas reserves include associated gas from onshore oil fields, dry gas from onshore gas fields and mine gas from mine vent fields.

  Part-time Workers
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to accord part-time workers the same employment rights as those in full-time work. [100480]

  Alan Johnson
  Part-time employees in the UK enjoy the same statutory employment rights as full-timers, including protection against unfair dismissal, unlawful deductions from wages and adverse treatment on grounds of sex, race or disability. In addition, the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable 802W
  Treatment) Regulations 2000 require them to be treated no less favourably in their terms and conditions than comparable full-timers, unless different treatment can be justified on objective grounds.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with European Union colleagues regarding a Europe-wide approach to securing parity of employment rights between part-time workers and full-time workers. [100482]

  Alan Johnson
  None. The European Directive on part-time work already requires member states to ensure that part-time workers are treated no less favourably in their terms and conditions of employment than comparable full-timers.

  Post Office Closures
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many consultation exercises have been undertaken by Post Office Counters concerning proposed closures of post offices since 1 July 2001; and how many such exercises have resulted in the intention to close being withdrawn. [99916]

  Mr. Timms
  Proposals for post office closures under the urban network reinvention programme are put out to public consultation in accordance with the code of practice agreed with Postwatch. Final decisions on closure, after consideration of representations received, are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Recycling
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if electricity produced from processes involving the recovery of clean recyclable materials will be classed as a renewable source of energy. [99372]

  Mr. Wilson
  Under Directive 2001/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market, "renewable energy sources" are defined to include "biomass," and "biomass" is defined to include "the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste."

  In the UK, the renewables obligation includes the biodegradable fraction of waste only if it is converted to electricity through advanced conversion technologies such as pyrolysis, gasification and anaerobic digestion.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

  Electoral Commission (Expenditure Limit)
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what change is planned to the Departmental Expenditure Limit of the Electoral Commission for 2002–03. [100321]

  Mr. Viggers
  Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the Electoral Commission DEL for 2002–03 will be increased by
  803W
  £1,294,000 from £20,117,000 to £21,411,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are set out in the following table:

  £000

  Resources

  Capital

  Change

  694

  600

  New Del

  20,460

  951

  Of which:

  Voted

  20,460

  951

  Non-voted

  0

  0

  The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from the take up of end year flexibility for 2001–02 in respect of the payment of policy development grants (£514,528) and public awareness costs (£179,457) and for capital and refurbishment and other fit out costs of Commission offices.

  Although the funds had been budgeted for and approved in respect of this expenditure for the year 2001–02, the Commission was unable to make full use of the case provision.

  In order to incorporate the carry over into the Electoral Commission's voted resources for 2002–03, the Speaker's Committee, having consulted the Treasury, agreed on 24 February to lay a spring supplementary supply estimate.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to her answer of 14 January 2003,Official Report, column 564, on HIPC, what response the UK Government has had from the World bank and the IMF to the call for their approach to topping up to be widened to provide additional relief for HIPC countries with unsustainable debts. [99686]

  Clare Short
  We continue, with others, to press the IMF and the World Bank to change the rules on topping up, so that any HIPC country facing unsustainable debts which has demonstrated its commitment to poverty reduction and economic reform can qualify for this additional debt relief. At discussions on topping up, to be held in the IMF and the World bank boards over the next month we shall press to move this issue forward. We are working with others to achieve this. Topping up is calculated on a case by case basis, depending on the assessment of each country's economic prospects.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how often Ministers in her Department have received hospitality in restaurants from outside groups, broken down by(a) restaurant, (b) recipient and (c) cost in each case; [99592]

  (2) what criteria Ministers in her Department use when determining whether to offer hospitality in restaurants to interest groups at public expense; and if she will make a statement; [99516]
  804W
  (3) what hospitality has been offered at public expense in the last 12 months by each Minister in her Department to outside interest groups. [99517]

  Clare Short
  All offers of hospitality are made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in Government Accounting. The giving and receiving of hospitality is conducted in accordance with the guidance set out in the Ministerial Code, and Guidance on Contacts with Outside Interest Groups including Lobbyists. The detailed information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Meningitis (Nigeria)
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action her Department has taken in response to the meningitis epidemic in(a) the Nigerian state of Zangara and (b) Burkina Faso. [99348]

  Clare Short
  Epidemic Meningococcal Disease (EMD) is a contagious disease responsible for high number of deaths throughout the world, with up to 50 per cent. of victims dying in the developing world. Of those who survive, between 10–20 per cent. suffer permanent brain damage.

  Epidemic meningococcal disease imposes its greatest burden on a group of 18 countries that form the so-called "African meningitis belt", stretching from Ethiopia to Senegal. Epidemics can be devastating, sometimes flaring up to as many as 100,000 cases in a very short period of time. In the absence of mass vaccination, an epidemic can last for several months, draining enormous resources, overwhelming hospitals and disrupting routine care.

  The strategy to control a meningitis epidemic has three components: early detection of outbreaks, emergency mass immunization campaigns, and careful case management.

  The Government of Nigeria has not approached DFID to respond to the epidemic In Zamfara. However DFID supports WHO in all its work. This includes the valuable efforts to support Governments tackle epidemics. WHO are involved in supporting the Government of Burkina Faso in their surveillance and clinical service delivery. In addition, WHO has been working with GSK (vaccine manufacturer) and Gates Foundation to ensure adequate quantities of appropriate vaccine.

  Police Training
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the competitive tendering arrangements that culminated in the award of a contract to the Rameses Group for police training in the Balkans region; and if she will make a statement. [99447]

  Clare Short
  DFID has contracted Atos KPMG Consulting as implementing agents for the United Kingdom Government's programme of assistance to enhance access to justice in the Balkans. The Rameses Group is subcontracted by Atos KPMG Consulting
  805W
  as project director for activities concerned with community-based policing and community safety in Serbia. The Atos KPMG Consulting contract was awarded following an open tender process in line with EC procurement directives.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether(a) the OSCE and (b) another international agency was invited to fulfil the work in relation to police training in the Balkans that was subsequently contracted to the Rameses Group. [99449]

  Clare Short
  After an open tender procedure in line with EC procurement directives, DFID contracted Atos KPMG Consulting as implementing agents for the United Kingdom Government's programme of assistance to enhance access to justice in the Balkans. DFID was not involved in the subcontracting arrangements with the Rameses Group.

  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what purposes the Rameses Group has been awarded a contract in relation to police training in the Balkans region; and if she will make a statement. [99450]

  Clare Short
  As part of the UK Government's support for enhancing access to justice in the Balkans, the Rameses Group has been sub-contracted by our implementing agents, Atos KPMG Consulting, as project director for activities concerned with community based policing and community safety in Serbia.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Age Diversity
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department completed its diagnostic review for compliance with the Government's Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment; and what changes her Department plans to make following the review. [99423]

  Dr. Howells
  The Department is committed to equal opportunities for all and had already incorporated age into its equal opportunities policy prior to the "Winning the Generation Game" report. The Department is in the process of implementing the final recommendation of the report, with the introduction of a flexible retirement age for those between 60 and 65 years.

  Institution

  Increase in visitors in the first 12 months of free entry1

  Imperial War Museum (Lambeth Road)

  68,887

  Victoria and Albert Museum (free entry introduced 22 November 2001)

  1,245,674

  Natural History Museum

  1,336,457

  Science Museum (South Kensington)

  1,321,316

  National Railway Museum (York)

  197,596

  National Coal Mining Museum for England (free entry introduced 8 April 2002)

  230,307

  Museum of London

  85,972

  Royal Armouries (Leeds)

  59,676

  Hospitality
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's hospitality budget(a) is in 2002–03 and (b) was in each of the last three years; and how much was left unspent at the end of each financial year. [99585]

  Dr. Howells
  The hospitably budgets for financial years 1999–2003 are laid out in the following table, together with the expenditure incurred on hospitality in financial years 1999–2002.

  It should be noted, however, that from 2001–02 onwards the hospitality budgets were subsumed into a larger budget which included conferences and committees, as part of the Department's move to a delegated budgeting system. It is now for Directors to decide how much they would spend on each element, and consequently it is not possible to state a figure for the hospitality element of the aggregated budget and any underspend against that budget element, although it is still possible to identify the expenditure incurred on hospitality.

  Year

  Budget

  Expenditure

  Underspend/(overspend)

  1999–2000

  51,941

  32,533

  19,408

  2000–01

  33,190

  50,891

  (17,701)

  2001–02

  —

  28,657

  —

  2002–03

  —

  —

  —

  Museums and Galleries
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in which museums and galleries sponsored by her Department free admission has been introduced; what the annual cost of free admission in lost income from charging was in each year since its introduction; how many more visitors have attended these museums and galleries since free admission was introduced; and if she will make a statement. [99839]

  Dr. Howells
  Free admission for all to those museums and galleries sponsored by my Department that previously charged was introduced on 1 December 2001 (22 November 2001 for the V&A). In addition, free admission to the National Coal Mining Museum for England was introduced on 8 April 2002, while the Imperial War Museum of the North in Trafford, Manchester opened free on 2 July 2002. In the first 12 months of this policy (1 December 2001 to 30 November 2002), these museums received an additional 5.4 million visitors, an increase of 70 per cent. The cost of free admission to these museums is £28.1 million in 2002–03. Details of the museums involved and of the growth in visitors are given in the following table.
  807W

  Institution

  Increase in visitors in the first 12 months of free entry1

  Royal Armouries (Fort Nelson, Portsmouth)

  25,650

  National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside

  545,195

  Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

  183,878

  Imperial War Museum of the North, Trafford, Manchester

  Opened July 2002

  Total

  5,408,548

  1 1 December 2001–30 November 2002.

  2 For the first eight months of free entry since April 2002.

  The growth in visitors is a magnificent testament to the success of the Free Access policy and to the important role of our sponsored museums and galleries.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of visitors to the national museums and galleries sponsored by her

  1997–98

  1998–99

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Number of overseas visitors

  n/a

  10,700,480

  10,869,483

  10,439,938

  10,029,208

  Percentage of total visitors

  n/a

  45

  45

  36

  33

  The fall in the proportion of overseas visitors comes against the background of an increase in the total number of visitors from 24 million in 1997–98 to 30 million in 2002–03. It reflects the substantial increase in visitors from the UK attributable to the introduction of full free access.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to public funds of free admission to Department of Culture, Media and Sport sponsored museums and galleries was in each year from 1999–2000 to 2003–04 (planned); and if she will make a statement. [99841]

  Dr. Howells
  The total cost of public funding to facilitate free admission to the former charging museums and galleries sponsored by my Department is set out in the following table. Visitors to these museums and galleries increased by 70 per cent. from 1 December 2001 to 30 November 2002, the first full year of free admission for all.

  £million

  1999–20001

  2000–012

  2001–023

  2002–034

  2003–045

  Total

  4.2

  8.02

  13.8

  28.1

  29.3

  1 Free children from 1 April 1999.

  2 Free children; free over 60s from 1 April 2000.

  3 Free children and over 60s; free to all from 1 December 2001.

  4 Free to all.

  5 Free to all.

  Figures have been rounded to nearest £0.1 million.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visits there were to the British Museum in each year since 1996–97; what changes in the charging regime there have been since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [99844]

  Dr. Howells
  The British Museum has maintained free admission to its permanent collections since its establishment in the 18th Century. The number of visitors since 1996–97 is as follows.
  808W
  Department were visiting the UK from overseas in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [99840]

  Dr. Howells
  The proportion of overseas visitors to the national museums and galleries sponsored by my Department since 1998–99 is set out in the following table. Figures for 1997–98 are not available.

  Year

  Total visitors

  1996–97

  5,525,000

  1997–98

  5,185,000

  1998–99

  4,768,578

  1999–2000

  4,645,565

  2000–01

  4,687,920

  2001–02

  4,810,000

  April 2002 to January 2003

  3,875,140

  I welcome the British Museum's commitment to maintaining free access to its permanent collections.

  National Lottery
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been distributed by the National Lottery in each year since it was established; and if she will make a statement. [99837]

  Mr. Caborn
  The following table, which is based upon information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the National Lottery awards database, shows how much money has been awarded in each calendar year since 1995.

  £

  Year

  Total amount awarded

  1995

  983,462,994

  1996

  1,715,239,248

  1997

  2,380,203,184

  1998

  1,099,279,154

  1999

  1,548,634,247

  2000

  1,242,308,699

  2001

  1,310,094,043

  2002

  1,094,087,046

  Note:

  Although the first National Lottery draw was in November 1994, Lottery award were made from 1995 onwards

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the take-up of National Lottery grants in the Yeovil constituency since 1997. [99842]
  809W
  Mr. Caborn
  According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the National Lottery awards database, the Yeovil constituency has been awarded a total of £6,974,537 in lottery funding between 1 January 1997 and 31 January 2003.

  Playing Field Sales
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place in the Library a statement of the(a) criteria applied and (b) circumstances surrounding the playing fields which have been sold since May 1997, and those in relation to which sale was prevented. [100329]

  Mr. Caborn
  Sport England is a statutory consultee on all planning applications which affect playing fields. I am arranging to place in the Libraries of both Houses, an annex which summarises the legislative measures and criteria applied to proposals to dispose of school playing fields and to planning applications affecting playing fields since 1997.

  The collation centrally of information detailing the circumstances surrounding both playing fields sold and those for which sale was prevented would incur disproportionate costs.

  Rugby Union
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will meet a delegation from Rotherham Rugby Football Union Club to discuss rugby union. [100242]

  Mr. Caborn
  I met representatives of Rotherham Rugby Football Union Club at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield on 31 October 2002. We discussed matters relating to the rugby club and general rugby union issues.

  I would be happy to meet representatives of the club again to discuss any further developments at Rotherham.

  Tourism
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visitors made visits to British tourist attractions in 2002. [99684]

  Dr. Howells
  Statistics for the number of visits made to visitor attractions in 2002 will not be available until the summer of 2003.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of expenditure on non-domestic tourism in 2002. [99755]

  Dr. Howells
  Expenditure by overseas visitors to the UK in 2002 is estimated to have been £11.8 billion.

  Welsh Fourth Channel
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority (S4C) in each year since 1980–81; how many viewers the channel had in each of the last 10 years; what plans there are to transfer the funding of S4C to the Welsh Assembly; and if she will make a statement. [99838]
  810W
  Dr. Howells
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport was created in 1992, as the Department of National Heritage. Prior to this, grant payments to S4C were made by the Home Office. The amount of grant in aid paid under S4Cs statutory funding formula since 1980–81 was:

  £ million

  Year

  Amount

  January 1981 to March 1982

  2.009

  Year ending 31 March

  1983

  18.107

  1984

  25.119

  1985

  28.000

  1986

  31.900

  1987

  33.880

  1988

  40.000

  1989

  45.453

  1990

  51.738

  1991

  55.902

  April to December 1991

  43.666

  Year ending 31 December

  1992

  58.571

  1993

  55.705

  1994

  57.971

  1995

  63.942

  1996

  68.416

  1997

  72.223

  1998

  74.895

  1999

  77.134

  2000

  78.218

  2001

  80.745

  2002

  81.468

  The total number of viewers, based on average weekly reach, for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available, was:

  Year

  1Total number of viewers

  19922

  1,470,720

  1993

  1,531,860

  1994

  1,547,040

  1995

  1,559,240

  1996

  1,594,560

  1997

  1,544,320

  1998

  1,491,450

  1999

  1,533,260

  2000

  1,432,020

  2001

  1,268,370

  1 Viewing figures are based on the average over the year of the total number of viewers in Wales aged four or over who watched S4C for at least three consecutive minutes during the course of each week.

  2 The figure for 1992 is based on data for September to December, due to a temporary HTV viewing panel being used for the period January to August 1992.

  Source:

  Broadcasters' Audience Research Board figures provided by S4C.

  The Government has no plans to transfer the funding of S4C to the Welsh Assembly.

DEFENCE

  International Terrorism (British Forces)
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on his plans for the
  811W
  future involvement of British forces in combating international terrorism. [99865]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Armed Forces have a significant role in the Government's counter-terrorist strategy, which includes the capability to take military action in self-defence when necessary. The New Chapter of the Strategic Defence Review set out the types of tasks which they might be directed to undertake, in terms of prevention, deterrence, coercion, disruption and destruction.

  Army Numbers
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the approved strength of the Army is; and how many vacancies there are. [99867]

  Dr. Moonie
  As at 1 January 2003, whole Army strength stood at 102,800, representing a shortfall of 4,180 personnel against the current requirement.

  United Kingdom armed forces full time strengths and trained requirement figures are contained in the Defence Analytical Services Agency's Tri-Service Publication 3, which is available in the Library of the House.

  Deepcut Barracks
  Mr. Eric Illsley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the deaths which have occurred at Deepcut barracks. [99870]

  Mr. Ingram
  The deaths of Privates Sean Benton, Cheryl James, Geoff Gray and James Collinson at Deepcut remain the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Surrey police. The Army has always co-operated fully with the police in the course of their enquiries, and continues to do so. It would be inappropriate to comment on the specific circumstances surrounding the deaths, or hold any further inquiry, whilst current investigations continue.

  Defence Fire Service
  Ms Julia Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to pursue a private finance initiative for the Defence Fire Service. [99866]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Airfield Support Services Project is seeking to achieve the most viable and cost effective solution for the provision of airfield support and wider fire services to the Ministry of Defence world wide without compromising operational effectiveness. It includes both PPP and in-house solutions.

  The bids will be compared against a taut public sector comparator. Main Gate approval is planned for October 2003 while the eventual decision will be based on best value for money—no decisions have been taken at this stage.

  Red Dragon Project
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he next plans to visit the Defence Aviation Repair Agency at RAF St. Athan to discuss the Red Dragon project. [99868]
  812W
  Mr. Ingram
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence currently has no plans to visit DARA. However, I visited DARA at RAF St Athan last week to launch the Red Dragon project.

  Aircraft Carriers
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he calculates to be the taxpayer's liability under the contractual arrangements he is proposing between his Department, BAE Systems and Thales for the construction of the two new aircraft carriers. [98580]

  Mr. Ingram
  We are now in discussion with BAE Systems and Thales UK to confirm that the proposed alliance partnership offers the best means of delivering the future aircraft carrier programme and will be capable of operating effectively. We also intend that the Ministry of Defence should take up a formal role within the Alliance. The precise roles and responsibilities of the alliance members will be determined through negotiations. At the conclusion of the negotiations, theMinistry of Defence will be required to demonstrate that it has completely bounded the Government's liabilities under the terms of the prime contract, which we plan to award in the spring of 2004.

  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress in negotiations on construction of the new aircraft carriers. [99860]

  Mr. Ingram
  Discussions with BAE Systems and Thales UK on the Alliance structure for the aircraft carrier programme are progressing. Although I cannot go into the detail of the commercial negotiations, both companies are engaging positively in the process and we anticipate moving forward to the next phase of assessment work in the next few months.

  Battlegroup Thermal Imaging
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the in service date for battlegroup thermal imaging has been delayed; and if he will make a statement. [99799]

  Mr. Ingram
  The in service date for Battlegroup Thermal Imaging (BGTI) equipment has been revised so that it better aligns with the conversion programme for Bowman. This minimises the disruption to front line units as vehicles that are to receive both BGTI and Bowman will only need to be withdrawn from service for a single period, during which both conversions will be completed.

  Biological/Chemical Weapons
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to withdraw British troops from military action where an ally uses(a) biological and (b) chemical weapons. [99669]

  Mr. Hoon
  Our NATO allies are State Parties to both the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) and have renounced the use of such weapons.

  Bowman
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether(a) operational field trials for Bowman, and (b) the conversion of the first unit to the communications system, are on target to take place this year; and if he will make a statement. [99800]

  Mr. Ingram
  Yes. We continue to make good progress on the Bowman tactical communications system programme in our aim to introduce it to all three Services as planned between 2004 and 2007. The 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment will begin its Bowman conversion and training programme in July 2003 in advance of operational field trials in November 2003.

  Domestic Security
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reservists participated in domestic security operations in January and February. [99859]

  Mr. Ingram
  Domestic security in the United Kingdom is primarily the responsibility of the Home Office and the police. Military assistance is, however, provided on a regular basis and contributes significantly towards the security of United Kingdom citizens. No reservists were engaged in providing such assistance during January or February this year.

  European Defence Concept
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for the development of a European strategic concept for defence. [100286]

  Mr. Hoon
  NATO provides the collective defence mechanisms for its Members including those in Europe. This is articulated in the Alliance's Strategic Concept which was agreed at the Washington Summit in 1999. There are no plans to produce an alternative strategic concept.

  Fire Dispute
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy(a) ships and (b) personnel are being diverted from other operational tasks to ensure their availability for fire fighting duties in the event of a firefighter strike; and if he will make a statement. [99851]

  Mr. Ingram
  Almost 3,300 Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel were used on fire-fighting duties during the last fire-fighters strike. A significant number of personnel used were taken from ships and submarines undergoing periods of refit or maintenance or which had returned from operational deployments and were not programmed to undergo further deployments. Only two of the ships from which personnel had for fire-fighting duties were prevented from undertaking operational tasks.

  With the exception of 330 people currently undergoing training, the individuals used for fire-lighting have now returned to their units where, whilst remaining on standby for fire-fighting duties, they have resumed their normal duties. As the Honourable
  814W
  Member will appreciate, the Royal Navy's involvement in fire-fighting duties has not prevented the deployment of a substantial Task Force to the Gulf.

  Logistical Support (Gulf)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the logistical operations in support of the deployment of UK forces to the Gulf. [99861]

  Mr. Ingram
  Logistic operations in support of the deployment of United Kingdom forces to the Gulf are fully effective. They will result in an equivalent quantity of material to that supplied for the last Gulf conflict being deployed to theatre in half the time. The deployment has required a significant strategic air and sea lift, and is supported by arrangements to sustain and manage continuing supply chain activity.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the USA about their obligations under the Non Proliferation Treaty to(a) limit the spread of nuclear weapons and (b) actively move towards the elimination of US nuclear weapons. [99672]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have had no such discussions. However, Ministry of Defence officials have regular contact with their counterparts from the United States and several other states on issues relating to the non proliferation treaty.

  Primary Casualty Receiving Ship
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the decision to use a conventional procurement route for the primary casualty receiving ship was made; and if he will make a statement. [99801]

  Mr. Ingram
  The decision was taken at the end of 2002. Our working assumption had been that some form of private sector involvement would be beneficial. A series of studies, however, demonstrated the absence of a private market for such a ship's facilities and also that a service-provision contract would be incompatible with the operational requirement.

  Remote Influence Minesweeping System
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money was invested in the Remote Influence Minesweeping System before the project was cancelled in April 2002; why the project was cancelled; and if he will make a statement. [99802]

  Mr. Ingram
  Expenditure on the Remote Influence Minesweeping System amounted to some £2.7 million at out-turn prices. The investment afforded us valuable insights which will be exploited in the future.

  The decision to discontinue the project was taken as part of the normal departmental planning process. The same process has freed up resources for a programme of incremental technology insertion which will enhance the Royal Navy's mine countermeasures capabilities from the middle of the present decade and will include, early in the next decade, a remote capability.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Alcohol Abstinence Orders
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alcohol abstinence orders have been given in each of the last five years. [98176]

  Mr. Bob Ainsworth
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 25 February 2003,Official Report, column 416W.

  Angel Group
  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what allowances, benefits and support of other kind other than tax credits is provided to employees of the Angel Group and its subsidiaries from public funds. [99704]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 27 February 2003]: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has a contract with the Angel Group to provide accommodation for asylum seekers. The contract price does not include specific payments to the Angel Group in relation to allowances, benefits and other support for its staff.

  Peter Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the contracts which the Angel Group and its subsidiaries have agreed with local authorities for the provision of services for asylum seekers and other specific groups of individuals; [99687]

  (2) if he will list the contracts let and the dates on which they were let by his Department and its agencies to the Angel Group and its subsidiary companies; [99702]

  (3) for how many contracts the Angel Group and its subsidiary companies applied to the Home Office and its agencies, and with what results, in the last five years. [99705]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 27 February 2003]: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has one contract with the Angel Group which was signed on 3 April 2000 and runs for five years. I am unable to supply information on tenders submitted by the group during the last five years since this is commercial in confidence. NASS is not aware of any contracts the Angel Group has entered into with local authorities and other agencies regarding the provision of services for asylum seekers.

  Asylum Centre (Daedalus Site)
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Minister of State responsible for immigration will visit Lee-on-the-Solent to meet residents in advance of any decision being taken on whether to apply for planning permission for an asylum centre at the Daedalus site. [100158]

  Beverley Hughes
  I can confirm that I will visit Lee-on-the-Solent to hear the views of local people. The timing of that meeting will be determined in consultation with Gosport borough council.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. James Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department takes to ensure that protection and assistance is given to children separated from their parents who are seeking asylum. [100314]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  Unaccompanied, asylum-seeking children as supported by councils with social services responsibilities, in accordance with the duties laid on them by the Children Act 1989. The Act draws no distinction between such children and other children in need.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seeker applications by country of origin are awaiting first interview after a period of(a) three months or less, (b) six months or less, (c) 12 months or less, (d) two years or less and (e) more than two years after lodging their case. [99095]

  Beverley Hughes
  The available data for the number of applications are based on the total number awaiting initial decision, rather than the number awaiting an interview. The number of cases awaiting an initial decision has been at a lower level during 2002 than for 10 years. There were 40,800 applications awaiting an initial decision at the end of December 2002.

  The Government's emphasis has been on delivering the challenging targets set for deciding the majority of new substantive asylum applications within two months. Older cases are progressed as resources allow. 76 per cent. of new substantive applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases) received in the period April to September 2002 had initial decisions made and served within two months. The Home Office's Public Service Agreement target for 2002–03 is 65 per cent.

  Information on the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uki rds/immigration 1.html. The next publication will be available from 30 May and will cover the first quarter of 2003 (January to March).

  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dispersal areas there are in England and Wales to which asylum seekers are sent. [99409]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are currently 71 cluster areas in England and Wales to which asylum seekers may be dispersed. Asylum seekers have been dispersed to 62 of these areas.

  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of asylum seekers have failed to comply with reporting requirements while awaiting(a) an initial decision and (b) removal. [997121]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information on the number of people who fail to comply with reporting requirements while awaiting initial decision, appeal decision or removal is not available and could be obtained by examination of individual case-files only at disproportionate cost.

  Asylum Support
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average(a)set-up costs and (b) weekly revenue costs of units of accommodation supplied by local authorities under NASS arrangements are; and what projections he has made of annual increases in those costs. [99077]

  Beverley Hughes
  I am unable to give details of prices paid by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) for accommodation due to its commercially sensitive nature. Any disclosure of this kind could have an adverse effect on future contract negotiations for accommodation.

  Each contract has within it a contract price review mechanism that is linked to the rate of inflation and it is expected that any increases of this type will be offset by efficiency savings made within NASS as a whole. NASS is committed to maintaining unit costs at current levels or below representing an annual efficiency saving equivalent to inflation.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to hold(a) tribunals, and (b) interview sessions in the region of dispersal for asylum seekers dispersed under NASS arrangements. [99096]

  Beverley Hughes
  Asylum appeals to an adjudicator are listed into hearing centres around the country based on location of the appellant. Cases are listed by postcode in accordance with a list agreed with the judiciary. When fixing the venue, reasonable travelling distance, ease of journey and waiting times in the area are all taken into account to enable the case to be dealt speedily. The Immigration Appeal Tribunal's workload arises in consequence of hearings at the adjudicator tier. Each claimant is offered the facility to attend a hearing in the same region of the country in which the Adjudicator hearing took place. The claimant's representative may ask for a hearing elsewhere or in London.

  Recorded crime: number of offences recorded, by main offence groups—Derbyshire

  19971

  1998–992

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Violence against the person

  5,340

  8,509

  10,019

  9,236

  9,946

  Sexual offences

  528

  556

  546

  527

  651

  Robbery (total)

  396

  504

  584

  773

  1,029

  Burglary (total)

  17,302

  16,720

  15,536

  14,997

  16,564

  Theft and handling of stolen goods

  34,668

  36,742

  36,023

  33,780

  37,022

  Fraud and forgery

  1,308

  4,200

  4,739

  4,670

  4,719

  Criminal damage

  13,387

  14,316

  15,207

  14,997

  17,125

  Drugs offences

  3—

  1,689

  1,659

  1,374

  1,635

  Other offences

  863

  1,223

  1,337

  1,314

  1,150

  Total

  73,792

  84,459

  85,650

  81,668

  89,841

  1Recorded on a calendar year basis.

  2The number of crimes recorded in that financial year using the expanded offence coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.

  3 Before 1 April 1998 the only drug offence recorded was "trafficking", which was included in the Other Offences group.

  Note:

  Numbers of recorded crimes will be affected by changes in reporting and recording. Derbyshire adopted the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) on 1 April 2002, when it was introduced across England and Wales, and therefore will not have affected the 2001–02 figures given in the table.
  818W
  Substantive asylum interviews are normally conducted in Croydon and Liverpool taking account, where possible, of the geographical location of the applicant. We have no current plans to extend these arrangements to other NASS dispersal regions.

  Case Decision
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to take a decision on the case of Mr. O Z of Aylesbury (reference Z1023416); and if he will make a statement. [99558]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 27 February 2003]: I am pleased to inform the hon. Member that a decision has now been taken on the case of Mr O Z. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) will write to Mr. O Z very shortly to inform him of the outcome of his case.

  Correspondence
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter dated 29August 2002 from the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey, with regard to the Crime Reduction Fund. [99022]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to my letter to him of 14 February on the crime reduction programme.

  Crime (Derbyshire)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many offences were recorded by the Derbyshire police force in each year since 1997, broken down by category; [98897]

  (2) how many crimes there were, by major category, in Derbyshire, in each year since 1997. [98902]

  Mr. Denham
  The number of offences recorded by Derbyshire Constabulary, broken down by main offence group for the years requested, are given in the table.

  There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which would have the tendency to increase the number of offences counted. Numbers of offences before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.
  819W
  Mr. Patrick McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) incidents of domestic violence were reported and (b) deaths resulting from domestic violence there were in (i) West Derbyshire and (ii) Derbyshire in each year since 1997. [98896]

  Mr. Denham
  Recorded crime figures are generally collected by legal definitions. Recorded crimes involving domestic violence will be recorded in a range of offences, along with offences which have been committed in other circumstances. Numbers of offences involving domestic violence are therefore not available from recorded crime data.

  The British Crime Survey (BCS) produced data by region for 2001/02, on the number of crimes of domestic violence recorded by the survey. However it does not provide information on domestic violence at a local level nor for individual police force areas.

  The BCS estimates that there were 188 crimes of domestic violence per 10,000 adults in the East Midlands region for interviews conducted in the 2001–02 financial year. This compares with 149 incidents per 10,000 adults in England and Wales as a whole.

  The BCS can also provide trend information on the number of incidents of domestic violence for England and Wales.

  Number of BCS incidents of domestic violence, 1997 to 2001–02 BSC interviews England and Wales

  (Thousands)

  1997

  1999

  2000

  2001–02 BSC interviews

  Domestic violence

  826

  787

  514

  635

  The BCS figures are estimates only. They are derived from a sample and so are subject to sampling error. Also, the context of the face-to-face BCS interview means the estimates are certain to be underestimates of the true extent because some respondents may be unwilling to reveal experience of domestic violence to interviewers. Results from the 1996 BCS self-completion module on domestic violence were published in Home Office Research Study No. 191, deposited in the Library. This more confidential approach to measurement revealed that the proportion of women that were victims in the last year of domestic assault was over three times higher than in the main BCS.

  Details of homicides by constituency are not held centrally. The available information relates to currently recorded offences of homicide (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) where the relationship of the victim to the suspect includes current or former spouse, cohabitant or lover. Information for England and Wales is as follows.

  Number of homicides by current or former spouse, cohabitant or lover, England and Wales

  Year

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  131

  104

  112

  127

  148

  820W
  As at 8 October 2002; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.

  Crime Indicators
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the key performance indicators used by his Department to measure crime. [99346]

  Mr. Denham
  [holding answer 26 February 2003]: The Home Office targets for the period April 2003 to March 2006 were published in the Home Office Targets Delivery Report on 13 February 2003.

  The target relating specifically to crime is as follows: Reduce crime and the fear of crime; improve performance overall, including the gap between the highest crime, Crime Disorder and Reduction Partnership Areas and the best comparable areas; and reduce:
  vehicle crime by 30 per cent. from 1998–99 to 2004;
  domestic burglary by 25 per cent. from 1998–99 to 2005;
  robbery in 10 Street Crime Initiative areas by 14 per cent. from 1999–2000 to 2005;
  and maintain that level.

  A report on progress against the Department's crime targets set in 2000 was published in the same document.

  Fylingdales
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to give additional support to North Yorkshire police as a result of the upgrading of the Fylingdales radar station. [97773]

  Mr. Denham
  Since 11 September, police forces have been able to bid for additional funding for various counter terrorist activities, including the protection of vulnerable sites. Given the nature of the funding, publicity is not being given to the activities it covers or what has been allocated to individual forces.

  HMP/YOI Holloway
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to visit HMP/YOI Holloway; and if he will make a statement. [100231]

  Mr. Blunkett
  My hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central, the Minister for Prisons, (Hilary Benn) visited Holloway on 23 September last year. My ministerial colleagues and I have an extensive programme of prison visits. I have recently indicated to the Governor of Holloway that I intend to visit that prison in the course of the next few months.

  Human Trafficking
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to encourage victims of human trafficking to collaborate with Home Office immigration and the appropriate law enforcement agencies; and if he will make a statement. [99444]

  Beverley Hughes
  The White Paper "Secure Borders, Safe Haven: integration with diversity within modern Britain"—published in February 2002—sets out our general proposals for assisting the victims of trafficking.
  821W
  We are developing a pilot scheme under which victims of trafficking who are willing to come forward to the authorities and help law enforcement against organised criminals will be offered protection and a range of support services such as counselling and health checks in safe accommodation

  We will also consider, in the light of individual circumstances, whether it would be appropriate to allow such victims who have co-operated to remain here. Where they are to return home, we will assist them to do so, providing them with initial counselling, ensuring that they have suitable accommodation to return to, and providing help to enable them to re-integrate into their own community and find employment.

  We are in discussion with the voluntary sector about the provision of these services.

  We plan to make an announcement about the start of the pilot shortly.

  Iraq
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi nationals from(a) the area of Iraq controlled by Saddam Hussein and (b) the Kurdish autonomous area have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom in each of the last 12 months. [100028]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 28 February 2003]14,940 asylum applications were lodged by Iraqi nationals in 2002 (excluding dependants). Asylum applications are recorded by nationality only and therefore it is not possible to say how many of the applicants originated from particular areas within Iraq. The number of those who applied by the claimed region of origin would therefore only be available by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost. Information on the region from which applicants claim to originate may not be reliable as some applicants may falsely claim to come from areas where there is conflict.

  Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the first quarter of 2003, and will be available from 30 May 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1. html.

  Mr. Walter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what preparations he has made for the internment of Iraqi nationals in the event of a war with Iraq. [99691]

  Mr. Blunkett
  [holding answer 27 February 2003]I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Salisbury (Robert Key) on 30 January 2003, Official Report, column 1041W.

  Leave to Remain
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Polish nationals, married to UK citizens, have applied for leave to remain in the UK in each of the last 12 months. [99986]

  Beverley Hughes
  The latest available statistics are given in the following table.
  822W
  The information relates to grants of leave to remain on the basis of marriage to a British citizen in each month in 2001. Data for 2002 will be published later this year.

  Information on the number of applications lodged or the number of such applications which have been refused are not currently available.

  Nationals of Poland granted leave to remain1 on the basis of marriage to a British citizen, by month, 2001

  January

  25

  February

  25

  March

  30

  April

  30

  May

  35

  June

  30

  July

  25

  August

  30

  September

  30

  October

  30

  November

  15

  December

  10

  Total

  315

  1> Excludes the outcome of appeals.

  Data rounded to the nearest 5

  Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of the Office of the Immigration Services Commission in 2002–03 to(a) the Home Office and (b) other public bodies; and how many (i) public bodies, (ii) private bodies and (iii) private individuals are (A) registered with and (B) registered exempt from registration with the OISC. [98811]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) is solely funded by Home Office grant-in-aid and was allocated £3,442,466 for 2002–03.

  As of 25 February 2003, the OISC had registered 206 immigration advisers acting for profit and exempted 992 acting not for profit. All those registered are private bodies, of which 32 are individuals. Of those exempted, eight are public bodies and the remainder are private bodies (for example charities and voluntary groups) of which six are individuals.

  Passport Agency
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last 12 months the average time a passport application took to be processed by the UK Passport Agency; and if he will make a statement. [98721]

  Beverley Hughes
  During the last 12 months the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) has delivered passports effectively and securely.

  Despite higher than anticipated demand levels for part of the year, UKPS maintained fully satisfactory turnaround times for the delivery of passports. The breakdown of average passport turnaround times on a month by month basis from February 2002 until January 2003 is as follows.
  823W

  Month

  Days

  February

  3.36

  March

  3.77

  April

  3.86

  May

  4.15

  June

  4.53

  July

  4.80

  August

  5.12

  September

  3.89

  October

  3.45

  November

  3.09

  December

  2.87

  January

  3.01

  These figures are calculated from the date of the mailbag in which the application is received and ending on the date the passport is printed. In this operational year (April 2002 to March 2003), UKPS is processing 99.46 per cent. of all straight-forward properly completed applications within 10 days.

  Police
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) police support staff there were in England in each year from 1980–81 to 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [99807]

  Mr. Denham
  Information about the number of police officers and civilian staff for each force can be found in the Annual Reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary until 1995–96. Thereafter the data can be found in Home Office Statistical Bulletins on police strength in England and Wales from March 1998 until March 2002, copies of which are in the Library.

  Figures for March 2003 are not yet available. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has set a target for there to be 130,000 officers by March 2003 and 132,500 officers in 2004, but he has not set targets for numbers of civilian staff. Forces are on track to achieve the targets for police officer numbers.

  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the increase in police numbers is in 2003–04, broken down by(a) Crime Fighting Fund and (b) locally funded additional officers; and if he will make a statement. [99902]

  Mr. Denham
  My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has set a target for there to be 132,500 officers in 2004.

  Apart from ring-fenced provision for a particular purpose, such as the Crime Fighting Fund, decisions about police budgets and the allocation of resources, including planned numbers of officers, are matters for Police Authorities and Chief Officers. Details of force plans for locally funded increases in strength are not collected centrally.

  Under the Crime Fighting Fund (CFF) recruitment initiative police forces in England and Wales have been allocated 9,000 recruits over and above the forces' previous recruitment plans for the three years to March 2003. Funding for these officers will continue in 2003–04.
  824W
  The CFF will continue in 2003–04 and we will fund 75 per cent. of the cost of new recruits through CFF rather than 100 per cent. as in the past three years. Funding should be sufficient for forces to recruit a further 650 police officers through this fund.

  Police Authorities
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would the financial effect be of a 20 per cent. reduction in the grant allocated to police authorities in each authority in the metropolitan counties. [92317]

  Mr. Denham
  Police Grant, Revenue Support Grant and National Non-domestic Rate income for the six provincial metropolitan police authorities increased by 4.9 per cent for 2003/04.

  The financial effect of a notional reduction of 20 per cent. in the 2003–04 grant would be as follows:

  £ million

  Police authority

  Grunt 2003–04

  Effect of 20 per cent.

  Greater Manchester

  380.8

  -76.1

  Merseyside

  240.5

  -48.1

  Northumberia

  214.3

  -42.9

  South Yorkshire

  172.3

  -34.5

  West Midlands

  386.5

  -77.3

  West Yorkshire

  289.4

  -57.8

  Total

  1,683.6

  -336.7

  In contrast to the question, Central Government spending in the Police Service will increase by 16 per cent. in cash terms over the Spending Review 2002 period.

  Radioactive Material
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what means are used to detect the illegal passage of radioactive, weapons-grade material through British ports. [98851]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Since the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001, the Government has conducted a thorough comprehensive review of all preventative measures to counter terrorism, including the possibility to which the hon Member refers. This has included trials at UK ports of equipment designed to detect such material. For security reasons, I do not want to disclose further details of these measures.

  Wheeler Report
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the report on airport security by Sir John Wheeler; and if he will make a statement. [99607]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The position remains as described in my answer of 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 659W, to my hon. Friend. Having considered carefully the findings and recommendations in Sir John Wheeler's report, the Government were happy to accept in principle all of them. The Department for Transport and the Home

  825W
  Office are working closely together on implementation, involving as appropriate the police, other control agencies and the aviation industry.

  Work Permits
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the reciprocity in work permit arrangements between the Isle of Man and the UK. [99281]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are no reciprocal arrangements in place between the Isle of Man and the UK in relation to work permits. The holder of a work permit issued by the Home Office would need to obtain separate authority from the Isle of Man's authorities before undertaking work in the Isle of Man, even if that work was incidental to their employment in the United Kingdom.

  Xhevat Murtezi
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision will be made on the case of Xhevat Murtezi of Westcliff-on-Sea, ref M1010576 and ML/LAB 19953. [99144]

  Beverley Hughes
  I am pleased to inform the hon. Member that a decision has now been made on Mr. Murtezi's case. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) will be writing to him very shortly to inform him of the outcome.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Areas of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which areas of special scientific interest in Northern Ireland are recognised by the European Union. [99354]

  Angela Smith
  In my response to PQ 438, I listed the sites in Northern Ireland classified under the Birds Directive and proposed for designation under the Habitats Directive. These sites have also been declared as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order (1985), with the exception of those sites, or parts thereof, which are subtidal. A full list of ASSIs is published on the website of the Environment and Heritage Service—www.nics.gov.uk/ehs. As ASSIs are declared under domestic legislation, there is therefore no provision for their recognition by the European Union.

  Belfast City Airport
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Government grants will be made available for further development of Belfast City Airport. [99415]

  Angela Smith
  There are no plans to make grants available for any further development of this airport.
  826W
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will commission an independent environmental and economic assessment into the proposed development of Belfast City Airport. [99416]

  Angela Smith
  The Department of the Environment has not received any proposals for development at Belfast City Airport. Any necessary assessments will be considered in the context of any specific proposals put forward to Planning Service by the Belfast City Airport authority.

  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the local community consultations procedures being followed in assessing noise consequences of growth in airport operations at Belfast City Airport. [99565]

  Angela Smith
  The Department for Regional Development is currently undertaking a review of noise pollution at all Northern Ireland airports.

  During the course of this study the Department has actively sought to involve and consult local residents' groups as well as the Belfast City Airport Forum.

  The Department has also shared with interested groups the findings of the initial scoping study and plans to make the final report available in due course.

  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to change the night flights curfew of 9.30 pm to 6.30 am at Belfast City Airport; and whether changes require a full public inquiry. [99566]

  Angela Smith
  The Department of the Environment's Planning Service and Belfast City Airport have a planning agreement, signed in January 1997, under Article 40 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. This agreement includes controls on operating hours to restrict scheduled flights to between 06.30 hours and 21.30 hours. The agreement makes provision for delayed flights to arrive between 21.30 hours and 23.59 hours.

  To date, no formal approach has been made to Planning Service seeking provision to be made for later flights. The need for a public inquiry is a matter for consideration in the light of any changes proposed to operations at Belfast City Airport.

  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of whether Belfast City Airport will exceed 1,500,000 seats for sale on Scheduled Flights in the next 12 months as specified in Article 40 Agreement dated 22 January 1997 between Belfast City Airport, Short Bros and the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland. [99567]

  Angela Smith
  The Department of the Environment's Planning Service and Belfast City Airport have a planning agreement, signed in January 1997, under Article 40 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. This agreement includes limits on the number of seats offered for sale on scheduled flights to 1,500,000 seats in any 12-month period.

  I am not in a position to estimate whether Belfast City Airport will exceed the allocated 1,500,000 seats for sale on Scheduled Flights in the next 12 months.
  827W
  The agreement requires Belfast City Airport to provide information to Planning Service in order to maintain compliance with the agreement. To date, the information has indicated that the number of seats offered for sale has been within the limit specified. The latest monitoring figures available from Belfast City Airport indicate that the number of seats offered for sale up to 30 September 2002 was 1,479,267 and is therefore close to the 1,500,000 limit. Planning Service has requested information from Belfast City Airport regarding numbers of seats offered for sale for the 12 months up to 31 January 2003, and projected figures for-seats offered for sale for the next 12 months taking account of any change to services currently being negotiated.

  Planning Service officials have arranged to meet with representatives from BelfastCity Airport shortly to discuss the position.

  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department of Regional Development has been consulted by the authorities at Belfast City Airport with regard to the hours of operation of that airport. [99975]

  Angela Smith
  This is a matter for the Department of the Environment and not the Department for Regional Development. However, no formal approach has been made to either Department.

  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures the Department of the Environment intends to follow on receipt of an application to amend the present planning agreement governing the operation of Belfast City Airport. [99976]

  Angela Smith
  It should be noted that the Department of the Environment has not yet received any request from Belfast City Airport to alter the terms of the existing agreement.

  Upon receipt of an application to amend the present planning agreement governing the operation of Belfast City Airport, the Department of the Environment would examine the application on its merits. In particular, this would involve considering whether a new planning agreement was required and the most appropriate method of dealing with the application, including the possibility of holding a public inquiry.

  Education Spending
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how this year's allocation to the normal spending plans for the Department of Education is to be distributed between(a) state controlled schools, (b) Catholic maintained schools, (c) integrated schools and (d) Irish medium schools; [99414]

  (2) how much is to be invested in (a) state controlled schools, (b) Catholic maintained schools, (c) integrated schools and (d) Irish medium schools as part of the recently announced investment in Northern Ireland. [99413]

  Jane Kennedy
  The education element of the recently announced £2 billion investment amounted to £300 million. This is the largest ever announcement of 828W
  capital investment projects in the Northern Ireland schools estate. It includes £263.1 million in relation to 43 major works projects with the balance comprised of:
  Capital costs of development of grant maintained integrated schools, subject to the achievement of full grant maintained status—£16.2 million
  Removal of temporary classrooms—£10 million
  Schools disabled access—£10 million
  Youth Service—£l million.

  The major works projects announced for initial release are based on an assessment of educational need and not on school sector. The capital value, including public-private partnership projects, is as follows:

  £ million

  Capital value

  (a) Controlled schools

  135.1

  (b) Catholic maintained schools

  25.2

  (c) Grant maintained integrated schools

  7.2

  (d) Irish medium schools

  Nil

  (e) Other voluntary schools (including voluntary grammar)

  95.6

  Included in the above schemes are projects, which have been funded from the Department of Education's normal baseline resources, amounting to:

  £ million

  (a) Controlled schools

  11.9

  (b) Catholic maintained schools

  12.0

  (c) Grant maintained integrated schools

  5.1

  (d) Irish medium schools

  Nil

  (e) Other voluntary schools (including voluntary grammar)

  24.0

  The total value of the projects funded from the Department of Education baseline funds amounts to £53 million, of which £39 million is attributed to 2004–05 and 2005–06 financial years.

  Health and Social Care Groups
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation of Local Health and Social Care Groups in Northern Ireland. [99337]

  Mr. Browne
  All 15 Local Health and Social Care Groups (LHSCGs) have been established. 195 of the management board positions have been filled and chairs have been elected for each group. Unfortunately, GPs have not to date taken up their places on the groups. However, I recently met with GP representatives and further discussions are planned with the profession.

  In their first year of operation, LHSCGs have been attending to internal organisational and personal development needs. They have also been making important decisions about primary care development in their respective areas. They have been allocated more than £ 3million, recovered from the administrative costs following the ending of GP fundholding, to address service gaps which they have identified in primary care, and have provided a boost to the basic primary care infrastructure through the purchase of much needed equipment for health centres, GPs and other primary care providers.

  Health Improvement Authority
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the(a) setting-up costs and (b) estimated running costs for the proposed Northern Ireland Health Improvement Authority are. [99307]

  Mr. Browne
  The new authority will be known as the Health and Personal Social Services Regulation and Improvement Authority.

  The setting-up costs are estimated to be £250,000.

  The running costs are estimated to be around £5.6 million per annum.

  Hospital Staff (Assaults)
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) verbal and (b) physical assaults on staff in general hospitals were reported in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [99563]

  Mr. Browne
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, in the financial year 2001–02, a total of 2,438 assaults (both verbal and physical) were reported in all health and personal social services trusts.

  Imported Waste
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legislation is in place on the importation of waste from another country. [99972]

  Angela Smith
  The Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 1994 make provision for the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community.

  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much waste has been imported from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland by council area in each of the last three years; and what revenue was generated by each council area as a result. [99973]

  Angela Smith
  The import of waste within, into and out of the European Community is governed by the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 1994. Under that legislation, district councils are the competent authorities for the purposes of recording the import of waste. My Department has no statutory responsibility in this area.

  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that EU legislation regarding the importation of waste is complied with; and if he will list instances when this legislation has been breached in the last 12 months. [99974]

  Angela Smith
  The movement of waste within, into and out of the European Community is governed by the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 1994. Under that legislation, District Councils are the competent authority for the purposes of recording the import and export of waste, and the provision of powers of enforcement are a matter for HM Custom and Excise. My Department has no statutory responsibility in this area.

  Independent Financial Advice
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are registered in Northern Ireland to provide independent financial advice; how many companies provide independent financial advice in Northern Ireland; how many people are employed in the independent financial advice sector in Northern Ireland; how many companies provide financial advice in Northern Ireland; and how many employees work in the financial advice sector in Northern Ireland. [99324]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Financial Services Authority (the FSA) tell me there are approximately 100 firms of independent financial advisers based in Northern Ireland, plus 29 authorised professional firms (lawyers or accountants which are directly regulated by the FSA).

  There are also a number of professional firms who may give financial advice who are regulated by the designated professional bodies, such as the Law Society of Northern Ireland, rather than by the FSA.

  In addition, many firms based elsewhere in the United Kingdom provide financial advice, whether or not independent, in Northern Ireland. The FSA do not have detailed employment data of the type sought.

  Insurance Premium Increases
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will establish an independent review of the effect upon business in Northern Ireland of recent increases in insurance premiums. [99321]

  Mr. Pearson
  The current difficulties in the insurance market are having a particularly adverse impact on a predominantly Small and Medium Enterprise based economy such as that in Northern Ireland. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has conducted a business survey on insurance costs. It indicates an average increase of 28 per cent. in 2001 and further an average increase of 49 per cent. in 2002 particularly (but not exclusively) in employers' liability and property insurance. The results of this survey will be fed into Government's current review in which my officials are participating. The outcome of the review will be reported to Ministers by the end of March 2003.

  Mental Health Staff (Assaults)
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) verbal and (b) physical assaults on staff in mental health and learning disability centres in Northern Ireland were reported in the last 12 months. [99564]

  Mr. Browne
  The information is not available in the format requested. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today to question reference 99563.

  Office of Fair Trading Report
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what representations he has received from his policy directorate concerned with consumer affairs on the implications for community-based pharmacists in Northern Ireland, the publication
  831W
  of the Office of Fair Trading report on "The Control of Entry of Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"; and if he will make a statement; [99349]

  (2) whether he has plans to make Beta Interferon more widely available in Northern Ireland for treatment of multiple sclerosis; [99317]

  (3) whether he has made representations to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the recent report by the Office of Fair Trading on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"; and if he will make a statement; [99302]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the impact on the recommendations in Investing for Health 2002 of the report by the Office of Fair Trading on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"; [99301]

  (5) what discussions he has held with the General Consumer Council (Northern Ireland) on the implications of the report by the Office of Fair Trading on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK" for a balanced and sustainable provision of state services; and if he will make a statement; [99299]

  (6) how many representations he has received on the Office of Fair Trading report on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy Services in the UK"; and if he will make a statement; [99303]

  (7) if he will commission a study into the economic impact of the Office of Fair Trading report on "The Control of Entry Regulations and Retail Pharmacy in the UK", with particular reference to the effects upon the rural economy; and if he will make a statement. [99300]

  Mr. Browne
  The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is considering the report of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) carefully, together with the implications the report has for patients and users in both rural and urban areas, for the pharmacy profession and for Health Service policy as a whole.

  The Department has invited views and is meeting key interests to hear their reactions to the report in order to help inform the Government response. As of 27 February, 14 written responses have been received. In addition, the Department sought the views of key interests, including community pharmacy, the Health Service, patient groups and the General Consumer Council, at a seminar on 20 February 2003. A written submission from the General Consumer Council is expected shortly.

  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is responsible for co-ordinating a response across Government to reports of this type. Competition and consumer matters are reserved to the United Kingdom Government in Westminster. However, Health Service pharmacy policy is a devolved matter and the regulations imposing controls on pharmacies are a matter for Ministers in each country. They will consider and determine how they wish to respond. That will be reflected in the overall Government response. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is therefore working closely with Health Departments and other Government Departments to make sure that
  832W
  Government's response to the report takes account not only of competition and consumer interests, but wider public policy objectives.

  In considering the OFT report and its recommendations, the Department will take fully into account the views of all interests. It is too early to say what further economic or other information might be required.

  Police Service of Northern Ireland
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how frequently PSNI officers have to undergo sessions to re-classify in relation to firearms; how often Belfast International Airport police officers have to re-classify; and if he will make a statement. [98567]

  Jane Kennedy
  PSNI officers attend at least twice, preferably three times, a year for refresher firearms training on each respective weapon in which they are qualified.

  Following the Key Point Survey at Belfast International Airport in 1993, RUC/PSNI Training Branch recommended that Belfast International Airport police should re-classify in relation to firearms on a basis similar to that of RUC/PSNI officers.

TREASURY

  Advertising Campaigns
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2003,Official Report, column 603W, on advertising campaigns, what the costs within the publicity campaign were of (a) advertising, (b) national and regional public relations and promotions, (c) the soaps, (d) partnerships, (e) the Census and (f) Wales counts; and if he will make a statement. [96200]

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

  Letter from L. Cook to Mr. Matthew Taylor, dated 3 March 2003:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question, pursuant to the answer of 27th January, Official Report, column 603W, on advertising campaigns, what the costs within the publicity campaign were of (a) advertising, (b) national and regional public relations and promotions, (c) the soaps,(d) partnerships,(e) Census and (f) Wales counts. (96200)
  For the Office for National Statistics to answer the question above, the costs are not readily available by the categories requested and can only be supplied at disproportionate cost. Please find below the publicity costs for 1997–2003.

  Office for National Statistics Publicity costs (£)

  1997/1998

  3,000

  1998/1999

  3,00

  1999/2000

  3,000

  2000/2001

  ∗1,272,000

  2001/2002

  ∗1,770,000

  2002/2003

  (estimated) ∗140,000

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics
  833W
  ∗ The large increase in expenditure since 2000/01 is a result of costs associated with the census of population in 2001.

  For National Savings and Investments, parts c, d, e and f of the question are not applicable. Information on advertising and national and regional public relations and promotions costs are given in the tables below.

  National Savings and Investments advertising costs (above and below the line) (£)

  1997/1998

  6,186,272

  1998/1999

  3,922,000

  1999/2000

  9,962,000

  2000/2001

  6,191,592

  2001/2002

  7,779,000

  2002/2003

  (estimated) 8,174,000

  Source:

  National Savings and Investments

  National Savings and Investments national and regional public relations and promotions costs (£)

  1997/1998

  135,897

  1998/1999

  166,340

  1999/2000

  268,060

  2000/2001

  243,014

  2001/2002

  369,449

  2002/2003

  (estimated) 470,000

  Source:

  National Savings and Investments

  Asbestos
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the compatibility of the arrangements for tax relief on work done to remove asbestos with the EU state aid rules. [98658]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Tax relief for work done to remove asbestos falls within the rules on relief for remediation of contaminated land. It is a general measure as it is available to all payers of Corporation tax and it is not therefore a state aid.

  Bank of International Settlements
  Mr. David Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the governance of the Bank of International Settlements, with particular reference to(a) member control and (b) access to information. [99987]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury has no formal responsibilities with respect to the governance of the Bank for International Settlements. The membership is comprised mainly of Central Banks. The Bank of England is a shareholder and the Governor of the Bank of England is on the Board of the BIS. Further information about the BIS is publicly available on its website (www.bis.org), in the annual report (published on 8 July) and from the BIS library and archive.

  Centenarians (Independent Living)
  Mr. MacDougall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged 100 and over are living independently in the UK. [100558]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
  834W
  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John MacDougall dated 3 March 2003:
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the number of persons aged 100 and over who are living independently in the UK. (100558)
  The number of persons aged 100 and over living in the United Kingdom in mid-2001 was estimated to be 8,100. It is not possible to say what proportion of these persons are living independently.

  Debt Management Office
  Mr. Archie Norman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the(a) total number of staff and (b) number of inspection staff employed by the Debt Management Office was in each year since 1997. [100212]

  Ruth Kelly
  The DMO was established on 1 April 1998; the average number of staff employed, on a full time equivalent basis, in each of the financial years since then has been:

  1998–99–24

  1999–2000–31

  2000–01–37

  2001–02–51

  2002–031—73

  The DMO does not employ inspection staff. However, it does employ staff engaged in audit and compliance functions; the numbers of these, on a full time equivalent basis2, have been:

  1998–99–1

  1999–2000–1

  2000–01–1

  2001–02–2

  2002–03–3

  1 The average number of staff over the 1 April 2002 to 27 February 2003 period. The increase in 2002–03 reflects the integration of the Public Works Loan Board and the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt into the DMO on 1 July 2002.

  2 Until 2000–01 the audit function was carried out by HM Treasury internal audit staff and not DMO staff employees.

  Earnings Statistics
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average earnings of(a) male, (b) female and (c) male and female at age 60 were in each year since 2000. [99155]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Howard Flight, dated 3 March 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the average earnings of people aged 60 in each year since 2000. (99155)
  The table below shows the average annual earnings for males and females aged 60 in April for each of the years specified. The data are from the New Earnings Survey and apply to people on adult rates whose pay was not affected by absence.
  835W

  Average annual earnings for people aged 60

  £

  Men

  Women

  All persons

  April 2000

  22,797

  14,811

  20,971

  April 2001

  22,943

  15,998

  21,314

  April 2002

  23,574

  16,216

  21,817

  EU Heads of Government Meeting
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's approach to the discussion of economic reform and the goal of full employment at the forthcoming EU Heads of Government meeting in Brussels. [100097]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Lisbon agenda of economic reform will be discussed at the forthcoming EU Heads of Government meeting in Brussels. The Treasury is fully engaged in discussion of economic reform within ECOFIN and its relevant associated committees.

  Euro
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions on the single European currency there have been during meetings between Government officials and representatives of the Isle of Man. [99753]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 11 February 2002, columns 104–05W.

  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the implications of the report "Meeting the Challenge: Economic Reform in Europe" for the likelihood of entry to the euro; [100096]

  (2) whether UK entry to the euro is conditional upon economic reform in Europe. [100095]

  Ruth Kelly
  The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest and whether the economic case for joining is clear and unambiguous. A comprehensive and rigorous assessment of the five economic tests will be made within two years of the start of this Parliament.

  Fair Trade Products
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the purchase, for departmental use, of fair trade products. [99222]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the Chief Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Brent North (Mr. Gardiner) on 9 December 2002,Official Report, column 92W.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what criteria Ministers in his Department use when determining whether to offer hospitality in restaurants to interest groups at public expense; and if he will make a statement; [99586]
  836W
  (2) what hospitality has been offered at public expense in the last 12 months, by each Minister in his Department to outside interest groups, broken down by (a) restaurant, (b) recipient and (c) cost in each case; [99587]

  (3) how often Ministers in his Department have received hospitality in restaurants from outside groups in the last 12 months. [99510]

  Ruth Kelly
  All offers of hospitality are made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting". The giving and receiving of hospitality is conducted fully in accordance with the guidance set out in the "Ministerial Code", and "Guidance on Contacts with Outside Interest Groups including Lobbyists". The detailed information requested is not held in the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Individual Savings Accounts
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the take up rate was in the last five years of PEPs and TESSAs for individuals earning up to(a) £10,000, (b) £15,000, (c) £20,000, (d) £25,000, (e) £30,000 and (f) over £30,000; [99031]

  (2) what the take up rate was for the last five years of PEPs and TESSAs for individuals in each of the income tax bands that applied to earnings at this time; [99030]

  (3) What the take up rate for ISAs has been for each year since introduction for individuals in each of the income tax bands that applied to earnings during this period. [99029]

  Ruth Kelly
  Estimates are not available in the terms specified or for all time periods, but those estimates that are available are contained in the following table.

  This compares the holding of TESSAs or PEPs in 1998–99, the last year when subscriptions could be made to these products, with the first three years of ISAs.

  The estimates are based on the Family Resources Surveys 1998–99 to 2001–02 and relate to those reporting holding these products, as the Survey does not separately identify those who are subscribing to them in the year. As take-up built during the first three years of ISAs the total number reporting holdings is lower than that suggested from administrative sources, particularly in 1999–2000.

  Note that the earnings group 'Less than £10,000' includes individuals with no reported earnings; many in this group will be pensioners.

  Percentage of individuals holding a TESSA or PEP in 1998–99 compared with the percentage of individuals holding an ISA in 1999–2000 to 2001–02

  Annual earnings (lower limits, £)

  TESSA or PEP 1998–99

  ISA 1999–2000

  ISA 2000–01

  ISA 2001–02

  Less than £10,000

  15%

  7%,

  15%

  20%

  £10,000–£14,999

  15%

  8%

  16%

  19%

  £15,000–£19,999

  17%

  9%

  18%

  22%

  £20,000–£24,999

  22%

  10%

  22%

  25%

  £25,000–£29,999

  24%

  13%,

  25%

  31%

  Over £30,000

  33%

  14%

  31%

  37%

  Insurance Tax Premium
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much insurance tax premium was collected in(a) the UK and (b) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [99319]

  Ruth Kelly
  The total amount of insurance premium tax collected in the UK can be found on the HM Customs and Excise website: www.hmce.gov.uk/about/ reports/ann-report/n2.pdf. The total collected for the last five years is as follows:

  £million

  Total tax receipts

  1997–98

  1,044

  1998–99

  1,245

  1999–2000

  1,423

  2000–01

  1,707

  2001–02

  1,861

  Separate data on the amount of insurance premium tax collected in Northern Ireland are not available.

  Labour Market Participation
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the rates of participation in the labour market were of people aged between(a) 18 and 35, (b) 35 and 50, (c) 50 and 65 and (d) 65 and 75, in (i) 1992, (ii) 1982 and (iii) 1973; [100452]

  (2) what the participation rate is of people in the labour market aged between (a) 18 and 35, (b) 35 and 50, (c) 50 and 65 and (d) 65 and 75. [100451]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Edward O'Hara, dated 3 March 2003:
  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about economic activity rates. I am replying in his absence. (100451, 100452)
  The table overleaf gives estimates of economic activity rates by age for the three month periods ending May 1984, May 1992 and May 2002. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are not seasonally adjusted. This information is not available for 1973 and 1982.

  Economic activity rates1 by age United Kingdom (percentage), not seasonally adjusted

  March to May

  19842

  19923

  20023

  All aged 16 and over

  62.1

  62.9

  62.6

  16 to 59/644

  77.6

  78.7

  78.2

  18 to 34

  79.7

  80.1

  80.1

  35 to 49

  83.6

  85.9

  85.0

  50 to 59/644

  69.8

  69.1

  70.4

  60/654

  8.2

  8.4

  8.7

  1Total economically active as a percentage of all persons in the relevant age group.

  2 Data not adjusted for the Census 2001 results.

  3 Data adjusted for the 2001 Census results.

  4Economic activity rates are usually given for the working age population. This is defined as men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59. The age groups in this table reflect that definition.

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey.
  838W
  Mr. O'Hara
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected participation rates of people in the labour market are, given current trends, for the year 2012. [100453]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's projection framework goes up to 2006 and it does not forecast directly participation rates. However, the Treasury's trend output growth projections imply an estimated trend increase in the working age activity rate i.e. labour market participation rate of 0.1 percentage point a year up to Q4 2006. Further details are available in "Trend Growth: Recent Developments and Prospects", published by HM Treasury in April 2002.

  Laptop Computers
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many laptop computers were used by(a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement. [98705]

  Ruth Kelly
  Current Treasury records simply assign ownership of laptops and other small equipment to Budget centres within the Department, and so a distinction between(a) and (b) is not made.

  Year

  Stock

  Cost/£

  Stolen

  <1995

  111

  194,030

  2

  1996

  + 145

  299,421

  1

  1997

  + 59

  132,982

  3

  1998

  + 15

  33,967

  1

  1999

  +111

  221,801

  2

  2000

  + 135

  301,497

  1

  2001

  + 100

  168,543

  2

  2002

  +35

  69,053

  5

  Notes:

  1. All recorded losses of laptops have been due to theft. The figure for 2002 does not include 16 old and redundant laptops that were removed without authorisation from a temporary stockroom during the move to new accommodation.

  2. The totals above indicate acquisitions and do not reflect the actual number in use, which is affected by occasional stock holding and by old equipment being replaced with newer models. At present the number of laptops supported is about 300.

  Private Sector Businesses (Forms)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the forms that his Department requires private sector businesses to complete and return. [98089]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury does not require private sector businesses to complete and return any forms, although the Debt Management Office, an executive agency of the Treasury, requires the 16 investment banks that act as Gilt-edged Market Makers (GEMMs) to report weekly on their turnover in gilts. This data is then aggregated and sent to the GEMMs so they can assess their gilt market share.

  It would be impractical to list all forms the Inland Revenue uses, although Inland Revenue business forms are available on their website: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk. However, the Inland Revenue database does not

  839W
  differentiate between forms for completion and return and material on guidance for operating PAYE and/or tax credits.

  In respect of Customs and Excise the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The information with regard to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is as follows:

  Office for National Statistics-Business Inquiries

  Survey of British Enterprise Research and Development

  Monthly inquiry into the Production Industries

  Monthly inquiry into the Distribution and Service Sector

  Monthly Stocks inquiry

  Annual PROCOM Inquiry

  Quarterly PRODCOM Inquiry

  Quarterly Stocks inquiry

  Quarterly Non Production Stocks

  Quarterly Capital Expenditure Inquiry

  Quarterly Profits Inquiry

  Retail Sales Inquiry

  Merchants Inquiry

  Quarterly Inquiry into International Trade in Service

  Annual Inquiry into International Trade in Service

  Annual Film and Television

  Corporate Services Price Index

  Annual Foreign Direct Investment in the UK

  Annual Foreign Direct Investment Overseas

  Quarterly Foreign Direct Investment in the UK

  Quarterly Foreign Direct Investment Overseas

  Motor Vehicle Production Inquiry (Cars)

  Motor Vehicle Production Inquiry (Engines)

  Quarterly Survey of Financial Assets and Liabilities

  Acquisitions and Mergers Inquiry

  Quarterly Inquiries into Insurance Companies (QIIC)—

  Long Term Funds—Transactions in Financial Assets

  QIIC-General Funds—Transactions in Financial Assets

  QIIC—Long Term Funds—Income and Expenditure

  QIIC—General Funds—Transactions in Financial Assets

  Annual Inquiries into Insurance Companies (AIIC)—

  Long Term Funds—Balance Sheet

  AIIC-General Funds—Balance Sheet

  AIIC-Long Term—Funds Income and Expenditure

  AIIC—General Funds—Income and Expenditure

  Quarterly Inquiries into Pension Funds—Transaction in Financial Assets

  Quarterly Inquiries into Pension Funds—Income and Expenditure

  Annual inquiry into Pension Funds—Balance Sheets

  Unit Trusts—Assets and Liabilities—Annual

  Unit Trust—Transactions—Quarterly

  Investment Trusts—Annual Return of Liabilities

  Investment Trusts—Quarterly Return of Transactions

  Securities Dealers—Overseas Direct Investment—Quarterly

  Property Unit Trusts—Assets and Liabilities—Annual

  Property Unit Trusts—Transactions Quarterly

  Securities Dealers—Assets, Liabilities and Transactions—Quarterly

  Securities Dealers—Income and Expenditure—Quarterly

  Monthly Credit Grantors

  Monthly Producer Price Index

  840W

  Monthly Export Price Index

  Monthly Wages and Salaries

  Quarterly Inquiries into the Distribution and Service Sector

  New Earnings Survey

  Monthly Import Price Index

  Quarterly Inquiry into the Number of Employees in Local Government

  Monthly Producer Price Index—Recruitment

  Imported Capital Goods

  Quarterly Asset Finance Inquiries

  Annual Asset Finance Inquiries

  Survey onto Business Spending on Capital Goods

  Quarterly Dividends Inquiry Vacancies Inquiry

  E-Commence Inquiry

  Export Prices Inquiry (Recruitment)

  Import Prices Inquiry (Recruitment)

  Imported Capital Goods Inquiry (Recruitment)

  Annual Business Inquiry Part 1 Employment

  Annual Business Inquiry Part 2 Financial

  Annual Register Inquiry (1)

  Annual Register Inquiry (2)

  Monthly Inquiry of Internet Service Providers

  Labour Disputes

  Inquiries carried out for OGD

  Quarterly Oil and Natural Gas

  Quarterly Fuels Inquiry

  Quarterly Sand and Gravel

  Quarterly Concrete Blocks

  Quarterly Roofing Tiles

  Quarterly Fibre Cement

  Quarterly Slate

  Monthly Concrete Blocks

  Building Materials Inquiry—Annual Ready Mix Concrete—Monthly Bricks

  Marine Dredged Sites

  Annual Minerals Raised

  Electricity Generated Inquiry

  Quarterly Electricity

  Quarterly Railway Investment Inquiry

  Construction Industry Statistics

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. John Smith
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the number of house buyers who have unnecessarily paid stamp duty because of inaccurate information provided by the Inland Revenue relating to post codes; how many people have been affected; and if he will make a statement. [98547]

  John Healey
  Relief from stamp duty in disadvantaged areas was implemented by this Government on 30 November 2001, exempting from stamp duty all property transactions below £150,000 in around 2,000 of the most deprived areas of the UK. We intend to abolish this cap for non-residential property this year.

  Qualifying areas in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are defined in regulations by reference to electoral wards. As with other tax reliefs, the onus is on the customer to claim this relief. To help customers to

  841W
  identify whether they can claim the relief, the Inland Revenue has made available a postcode search facility on its website. The Inland Revenue is aware that there have been some problems with this tool, particularly where properties straddle ward boundaries or are new developments. As soon as the Inland Revenue has become aware of any shortcomings in the system, they have rectified them and any customer who has paid stamp duty and subsequently discovers relief was due may claim a full repayment of the duty with interest from the Inland Revenue. As an indication of the number of people who have not claimed the relief but have subsequently claimed a repayment, the Inland Revenue currently processes around 300 claims for repayment per month.

  Suicide
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides have been recorded in each of the last 10 years for(a) males under 18, (b) females under 18, (c) males over 18 and (d) females over 18. [100549]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Tim Loughton, dated 3 March 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many suicides have been recorded in each of the last ten years for (a) males under 18, (b) females under 18, (c) males over 18 and (d) females over 18.
  The most recent available mortality data are for the calendar year 2001. Figures for each year from 1992 to 2001 are given in the table below.

  Number of deaths from suicide and injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted,1 by sex, England and Wales, 1992 to 20012

  Calendar year

  Number of deaths (a) males under 18

  (b) females under 18

  (c) males 18 and over

  (d) females 18 and over

  1992

  51

  23

  4,009

  1,403

  1993

  63

  30

  3,812

  1,346

  1994

  65

  21

  3,822

  1,236

  1995

  43

  35

  3,787

  1,292

  1996

  54

  25

  3,600

  1,214

  1997

  56

  30

  3,666

  1,229

  1998

  66

  21

  3,863

  1,204

  1999

  53

  27

  3,851

  1,257

  2000

  66

  25

  3,593

  1,238

  2001

  52

  17

  3,486

  1,150

  1The cause of death wad defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8 for the years 1992 to 2000, and, for the year 2001, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the Coroner's verdict was pending.

  2 Figures are for deaths registered in 1992 and for deaths occurring in each calendar year from 1993 to 2001.

  Work Force Statistics
  Mr. Wray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the working population is in (a) part-time and (b) full-time jobs. [100479]
  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. James Wray, dated 3 March 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question about part-time and full-time employment. (100479)
  The estimates from the Labour Force Survey for the three month period ending December 2002 are 74.5 per cent of people in employment are employed full-time and 25.5 per cent are employed part-time. These estimates are seasonally adjusted.

  Written Questions
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many named day written questions were tabled to the Department between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer(a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and what procedures the Department has in place to monitor performance on answering (i) Parliamentary Questions and (ii) ministerial letters. [99426]

  John Healey
  273 of the 369 Named Day questions tabled to Treasury Ministers in the period concerned (74 per cent.) received replies on the nominated day for answering. Of the 96 remaining questions, 23 received replies within three days of the nominated day, 46 within a week, 19 within 28 days, and eight over 28 days.

  Treasury Ministers attach a high importance to parliamentary questions on time. Performance is monitored continually by officials and reported regularly to Minister. Ministers also receive regular reports on correspondence: 78 per cent. of letters to Ministers are currently being answered within 15 working days, an increase from 44 per cent. in 1999.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Anti-personnel Mines
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has taken to promote the Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. [99666]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has lead responsibility within government for humanitarian demining issues, including the Ottawa Convention. This involves playing a full role in the follow-up process to the Convention, including participation in the annual Meeting of States Parties, the most recent of which was held in September 2002. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also recently assumed the chair of the Sponsorship Committee, a Geneva-based body responsible for determining levels of assistance to States Parties and aspirant countries which would otherwise be financially unable to attend, and has contributed £25,000 to the Committee's funds. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also recently funded an exploratory visit to the Russian Federation by a UK ordnance expert in connection with
  843W
  the possible establishment of a trust fund for the destruction of stockpiled PFM
  anti-personnel landmines.

  Balbir Singh Bonnis
  John McDonnell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the application for a visa to return to the UK by Mr. Balbir Singh Bonnis; and on what grounds the processing of this visa application has been delayed. [98460]

  Mr. Rammell
  The case was referred to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office by the High Commission in New Delhi on 10 September 2002. The Home Office are considering the case and will make a decision shortly.

  Biochemical Weapons
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 13 February 2003 to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson),Official Report, column 107W, what the biochemical weapons referred to by US Defence Secretary Rumsfeld on 5 February 2003 in his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee are. [99673]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I understand US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, in his evidence on 5 February to the US House Armed Services Committee, was referring to non-lethal Riot Control Agents. He went on to acknowledge that the United States has undertaken not to use any such Agents as a method of warfare. This prohibition applies to all States Parties to the CWC. Riot Control Agents are defined under the CWC as any chemical not listed in a Schedule which can produce rapidly in humans sensory irritation or disabling physical effects which disappear within a short time following termination of exposure.

  Broadcast Services (Funding)
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the net cost to his Department of(a) the London Radio Service and (b) the British Satellite News, in each year from 1996–97 to 2003–04 (planned); what the purpose is of these two services; and if he will make a statement. [99122]

  Mr. MacShane
  [holding answer 26 February 2003]: LRS and BSN were established in order to promote Britain and HMG's policies overseas.

  The net cost of London Radio Service (LRS) was as follows:

  1 August 1997 to 31 July 1998: £1.400 million

  1 August 1998 to 31 July 1999: £1.426 million

  1 August 1999 to 31 July 2000: £1.458 million

  1 August 2000 to 30 September 2001: £1.820 million

  1 October 2001 to 30 September 2002: £1.573 million at which point the service was terminated.

  844W
  The net cost of British Satellite News is as follows:

  1 October 1997 to 30 September 1998: £1.676 million

  1 October 1998 to 30 September 1999: £1.703 million

  1 October 1999 to 30 September 2000: £1.718 million

  1 October 2000 to 30 September 2001: £2.182 million

  1 October 2001 to 30 September 2002: £2.221 million

  1 October 2002 to 30 September 2003: £1.25 million at which point BSN was streamlined from a global service to one that focused primarily on the Islamic and Arab world.

  Planned BSN cost for 2001–04 is £1.25 million.

  Catholic Priests
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Chinese Government regarding the imprisonment of Catholic priests. [99990]

  Mr. Rammell
  The cases of Catholic Bishops Su Zhimin, Jiang Shurang and Shi Enxiang were included on our list of individual cases of concern which was handed over to the Chinese authorities at the most recent UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in November 2002. We shall continue to press the Chinese for a full explanation of their arrest and their early release.

  We raise freedom of religion in general with the Chinese, both in the context of the biannual UK/China Human Rights Dialogue and at other appropriate official
  and ministerial meetings.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 16 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Mohammad Arshad. [99365]

  Mr. Straw
  I did reply to my right hon. Friend's letter of 16 January, on 30 January. I am sorry however that my right hon. Friend did not for some reason receive this reply. I forwarded him a copy of that letter on 26 February, in response to this question.

  European Union
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has achieved its Public Service Agreement target to ensure increasing public support for EU activities; and if he will make a statement. [98429]

  Mr. MacShane
  The FCO's Public Service Agreement for 2001–04, agreed under the 2000 Spending Review, sets out our aim to achieve Increased support for, and better understanding of, merits of EU membership'. We work towards achieving this objective through our EU Public Diplomacy strategy. Progress can be measured through Eurobarometer, the European Commission's regular survey of pan-European public opinion.

  According to Eurobarometer, support for EU membership in the UK has increased recently. In the Eurobarometer spring 2000 survey, only 25 per cent. of those polled in the UK said that our EU membership was a 'good thing'. By the autumn of 2002, this figure had risen to 31 per cent. Eurobarometer showed that

  845W
  levels of perceived knowledge about the EU in the UK also rose between the spring 2000 and spring 2002 surveys.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote agreement with the Government of Spain regarding(a) better access to Gibraltar and (b) improved communications for the Territory. [100557]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government secured through the Brussels Process talks better access from Spain to Gibraltar through the opening in March 2002 of a second customs lane at the border. It remains our view that dialogue with Spain and Gibraltar is the only way to resolve such problems.

  David Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission in respect of regulation of financial services in Gibraltar. [100560]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 17 December 2002,Official Report, column 761W.

  David Hamilton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Spain about(a) up-rating of the pension paid to Spanish pensioners who worked in Gibraltar prior to 1969, (b) payment of the household cost allowance to Spanish pensioners who worked in Gibraltar prior to 1969 and (c) reform of the household cost allowance scheme operating in Gibraltar. [100559]

  Mr. MacShane
  Her Majesty's Government have received a number of representations from the Government of Spain on these issues.

  International Criminal Court
  Tony Worthington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account he has taken of the scope of US federal law in deciding whether to conclude a bilateral Article 98 treaty relating to the International Criminal Court. [98386]

  Mr. Rammell
  In considering such an Agreement, we shall be guided by the Principles agreed by EU Foreign Ministers on 30 September 2002.The Principles envisage that an Agreement will include appropriate operative provisions ensuring that persons who have committed crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the ICC do not enjoy impunity. Such provisions should ensure appropriate investigation and—where there is sufficient evidence—prosecution by the US authorities of persons requested by the ICC.

  Iraq
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of Iraqis killed or tortured in each year since Saddam Hussein came to power. [100059]
  846W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hereford (Mr. Keetch) today (UIN 99526).

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on how many estimated Iraqi civilian deaths have been directly caused by the regime of Saddam Hussein(a) prior to 1990, (b) since 1990, (c) since 1998 and (d) since November 2002; and if he will make a statement. [99526]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Precise figures are not available. But it is clear that Saddam Hussein's regime is responsible for many Iraqi civilian deaths. Amnesty International's report "Iraq: State cruelty: branding, amputation and the death penalty"—April 1996, deplores "the disappearance or extrajudicial execution of hundreds of thousands of people—including whole communities—for political reasons, and the widespread use of the death penalty for numerous criminal and political offences after unfair trials. The Iraqi Government has sanctioned mass killings and torture as a matter of policy…" The testimonies of Iraqi exiles give credence to these and other similar reports.

  John "Jackie" Elliot
  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to(a) the United States Federal Authorities, (b) the Texas State Authorities and (c) the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to plead for clemency for John 'Jackie' Elliot. [92313]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Representations were made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the Governor of Texas, the hon. Rick Perry, and to the Chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Gerald Garret; my noble Friend Baroness Amos also wrote to Gerald Garret; and to other Texas State officials who had a role in the decision making process of the Paroles and Pardons Board in this case. The US Federal Authorities have no direct role in the Texas parole and pardons process.

  These representations made clear HMG's opposition to the death penalty and urged that Mr. Elliott's sentence of death be commuted to a term of imprisonment. In making our representations, we sought information from key officials in Texas to ensure that we were doing all that we could to prevent the execution from taking place. We were in regular and close contact with Mr. Elliott's lawyers and were ready to make further representations as appropriate. Mr. Elliott was executed on 4 February.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Texan authorities regarding the pending execution of Mr. John 'Jackie' Elliott; and if he will make a statement. [92788]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (John Robertson) today, UIN 92313.

  Kurdish Autonomous Region (Northern Iraq)
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what guarantees of autonomy have been offered to the Kurdish parties in Northern Iraq after any US-led invasion has taken place; [100280]

  (2) what guarantees have been given by the Government of Turkey that they will respect the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq following any US-led invasion. [100279]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I am not aware of any guarantees given to the Kurdish administrations in Northern Iraq by Turkey. But the UK is committed to the maintenance of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its current borders. The only secure long-term future for the Kurds and other minority groups in Northern Iraq is as part of a stable, peaceful Iraq, which gives them a negotiated degree of autonomy.

  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Iran concerning their approach to the Kurdish autonomous region of Northern Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [100281]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We regularly discuss Iraq policy with out Iranian counterparts. Like the UK, the Iranians tell us that Iran is committed to the maintenance of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its current borders. The only secure long-term future for the Kurds and other minority groups in Northern Iraq is as part of a stable, peaceful Iraq, which gives them a negotiated degree of autonomy.

  Malta
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Malta regarding their referendum on EU membership. [99737]

  Mr. MacShane
  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary met Dr. Fenech Adami, Prime Minister of Malta, in London on 18 February 2003. Malta's EU membership was one of the subjects discussed. The decision on Malta's EU membership is one for the Maltese people alone to make, in the referendum on 8 March.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many mobile phones have been used and at what cost by(a) himself and Ministers in his Department, (b) special advisers in his Department and (c) his departmental officials in each year since 1997; [98572]

  (2) how many mobile phones used by (a) himself, his Ministers of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, (b) his Department's Special Advisers and (c) his departmental officials have been listed as lost or stolen in each year since 1997. [98571]
  848W
  Mr. Rammell
  Information is not held in the form requested and, particularly with regard to posts overseas, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Publicity Campaigns
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 31 January 2003,Official Report, column 1089W, if he will list the publicity campaigns which account for his Department's publicity expenditure in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [98500]

  Mr. Rammell
  Most of the expenditure listed in my answer of 31 January 2003,Official Report, column 1089W, is deployed in support of the FCO's efforts to promote greater understanding and awareness of the UK to overseas audiences, to project the UK's strengths and increase trade, inward investment, tourism and the influence of UK foreign policy. This includes expenditure on events, creative work, research and production of videos, leaflets and posters. Details of how each activity supports individual FCO objectives are not held centrally and these activities are not managed as separately identifiable publicity campaigns.

  An exception is the FCO's consular publicity campaigns, which are aimed at encouraging travellers to be better prepared before going overseas. These account for £1,141,459 in 2001–02 and £1,060,000 in 2002–03.

  Spain
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to hold meetings with the Government of Spain under the Brussels Process; and what consultation with the Government of Gibraltar will take place in advance of such meetings. [99952]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 11 December 2002 to the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Mr. Spring),Official Report, column 380W. The Government have always wanted the Government of Gibraltar to be fully involved in discussion within the Brussels Process.

  United Nations Security Council
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the vetoes in the Security Council used on(a) 17 May 1995, (b) 30 June 2002, (c) 14 December 2001, (d) 27 March 2001, (e) 21 March 1997, (f) 7 March 1997, (g) 10 January 1997, (h) 11 May 1993 and (i) 2 December 1994. [98330]

  Mr. Rammell
  The US vetoes on 17 May 1995, 7 March 1997, 21 March 1997, 27 March 2001, 14 December 2001 were in respect of the Israel/Palestine situation.

  The US veto on 30 June 2002 was in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  The other vetoes listed were not by the US:

  The veto on 11 May 1993 was by Russia in respect of Cyprus.
  849W
  The veto on 2 December 1994 was by Russia in respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  The veto on 10 January 1997 was by China in respect of Central America.

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

PRIME MINISTER

  Iraq
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of recent letters and e-mails he has received are(a) in favour and (b) against military action against Iraq. [100039]

  The Prime Minister
  Since January, I have received over 80,000 letters and cards about the subject of Iraq. Given the volume of correspondence I receive, over one million letters in the last year covering a broad spectrum of issues, my office records the numbers of letters received on a subject rather than by the view expressed. However, I know that many people have written to me expressing concerns about the action against Iraq and I reiterate what I have said that no decision has been made to take military action and military action is not inevitable. My office works hard to ensure that all the letters receive appropriate responses.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Prime Minister what the procedure was for approving and publishing the dossier entitled Iraq—Its Infrastructure of Concealment, Deception and Intimidation; and which Minister had ultimate responsibility for its contents. [100285]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 10 February 2003,Official Report, column 583W and Prime Minister's Questions on 12 February 2003.

  Oil Contracts
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement to the House of 25 February 2003,Official Report, columns 123–140W, what contingency plans he has in place relating to the honouring of current oil contracts between Iraq and France and Russia. [99968]
  850W
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 28 February 2003]: Contracts for the export of Iraqi oil under the Oil for Food programme continue to be honoured, with Iraq exporting 11.9 million barrels in the week beginning 15 February. Our policy is that the sanctions regime should be complied with.

  United Nations Security Council
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the leaders of other members of the United Nations Security Council with whom he has had contact since 1 February 2003 broken down by date and purpose of communication. [100075]

  The Prime Minister
  I am in regular contact with other world leaders, including heads of state and government of other members of the UN Security Council, on a wide range of international issues.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the databases inherited by CAFCASS on 1 April 2001 will no longer be required. [99544]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The databases inherited by CAFCASS from its predecessors will no longer be required when CAFCASS has alternative service-wide systems in place. User consultation has taken place and CAFCASS is currently examining its options for the most appropriate IT solution to its organisational requirements.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how long it takes to make a file on a CAFCASS client available on request, and at what cost. [99545]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  CAFCASS clients have access to documents in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998 and associated rules and regulations, including those governing court proceedings. CAFCASS applies the standard DPA provisions to the timescale for the release of information—aiming to complete all requests within 40 days. Relevant documents are made available on payment of a fee of £10.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Sure Start
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on Sure Start projects in each of the last five years. [96108]

  Maria Eagle
  The annual spending on Sure Start for the last five financial years is shown in the following table.

  £ million

  1997–98

  n/a

  1998–99

  n/a

  1999–2000

  5

  2000–01

  56

  2001–02

  134

  Class Sizes
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) five, (b) six and (c) sevenyear-old children in Nottingham, North were taught in class sizes of 30 or more (i) in 1997 and (ii) in the latest period for which figures are available. [98327]

  Maria Eagle
  Information on the age of pupils within classes is not collected centrally.

  The available information on the number of pupils in designated nursery classes and other classes of 31 or more in maintained primary schools in Nottingham, North parliamentary constituency is shown in the table.

  Maintained primary schools1: number of classes of 31 or more and the number pupils within them2 Nottingham, North parliamentary constituency

  Taught by one teacher

  Nursery classes

  Other classes

  Position as at January each year

  Number of pupils

  Number of classes

  Number of pupils

  Number of classes

  1997

  563

  14

  3,502

  107

  1998

  529

  13

  3,052

  93

  1999

  617

  16

  2,633

  79

  2000

  527

  13

  2,388

  72

  2001

  493

  12

  1,763

  53

  2002

  524

  13

  1,443

  44

  1Excludes middle schools as deemed.

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

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Demountable Classrooms
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many demountable classrooms there were at primary schools in the Colchester constituency in May 1997; how many there are; and how many have been replaced with permanent accommodation since May 1997. [99654]

  Mr. Miliband
  As part of the data collected through the appraisal of sset management plans, the Department for Education and Skills has some information on the overall area of temporary accommodation at schools, but it is not possible from these data to identify with any 852W
  precision the actual number of temporary classrooms. The Department does not hold information on numbers of replacement temporary classrooms.

  Departmental Phone Directories
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the most recent internal phone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [100092]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The Department's internal directory is held electronically and updated constantly. We are discontinuing printed versions but will, however, provide the House Library with a CD-Rom version and update that quarterly.

  Education Fees (Contribution)
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of students in each local education authority(a) contributed and (b) partly contributed to fees in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02; and what his estimate is for the current academic year. [99141]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  [holding answer 25 February 2003]In England and Wales students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition only if they can afford to do so.

  The percentage of students in England and Wales in academic years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 (latest year for which data are available) who have been assessed to make a full or partial contribution towards the cost of their tuition is shown in the table:

  All students (percentage)1

  Academic Year

  1999–2000

  2000–012

  Partial contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/partner

  20

  19

  Full contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/partner

  35

  39

  1 Contributions towards the cost of tuition are assessed by local education authorities in England and Wales for students normally domiciled in their area and studying in the UK.

  2 2000–01 data are provisional.

  Source:

  F503G survey of local education authorities

  National level data are published annually in the Department's Statistical First Releases (SFRs) (SFR 18/2001 and SFR 08/2002 for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 respectively). Data are collected from the local education authorities (LEAs) to produce national estimates and the data collection exercise does not allow the production of firm figures at the individual LEA level. National data for academic year 2001–02 will be available at the end of April 2003 and that for the current year 2002–03 will be published in spring 2004.

  Education Funding
  Angela Watkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average Education Funding Spending Share per(a) primary pupil and

  853W
  (b) secondary pupil is in London; and which London borough will receive the lowest EFSS per pupil in 2003–04. [100221]

  Mr. Miliband
  In London, the average education formula spending share per primary pupil in 2003–04 is £2,733 and per secondary pupil is £3,470.

  Havering has the lowest EFSS per pupil in London. The main reason for this is that Havering benefits less overall than other London authorities from the top-ups in the funding formula to reflect the additional costs of educating deprived pupils, and the additional costs of recruiting and retaining staff in high-cost areas.

  That is because, in London, only Richmond upon Thames has a lower proportion of deprived pupils than Havering. But Richmond upon Thames benefits more from the factor in the formula for area costs. The area cost adjustment for outer London authorities is split into east and west: wages in west London are generally higher than in east London so the ACA for west London is higher. Richmond upon Thames receives the (higher) ACA for outer London authorities in the west, and Havering receives the (lower) ACA for those in the east. The net effect is that Havering has a lower EFSS per pupil than Richmond upon Thames, and other London authorities.

  Higher Education
  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evidence his Department assessed on the deterrent effect of debt on potential students from lower socio-economic groups when drawing up the proposals in the policy document, The Future of Higher Education; and if he will make a statement. [98131]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department considered a range of evidence including its own commissioned research into "Social Class and HE: Issues Affecting Decisions on Participation by Lower Social Class Groups" (published 2001), the HE extension of the Youth Cohort Study (still in progress) and preliminary results from its evaluation of the Excellence Challenge. The findings suggest that concern about debt is only one of the inhibitors on HE participation. Cultural, social and institutional influences and educational background are also important. The right kind of information is vital. Recent departmental research suggests also that the most common cause of non-completion of HE courses is poor choice of course rather than financial problems associated with participation.

  In the light of this evidence we are introducing the measures set out in the White Paper, The Future of Higher Education, notably means tested higher education grants of up to £1,000 per year and raising the loan repayment threshold from £10,000 to £15,000 from April 2005, but also the abolition of upfront tuition fees which were perceived as inhibiting access. In addition we are committed to improving our promotion, marketing and outreach to convince those from low income backgrounds that HE really is for them. We must also continue with our school reforms, particularly now at secondary level, to increase the number of young people with the right qualifications to benefit from higher education.
  854W
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the average amount of Government support towards living costs per student for each university and higher education institution in each year since 1980. [94708]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, information on average maintenance grant per student is available nationally for England and Wales and is shown in the table.

  Average maintenance grant in England and Wales1

  £

  Cash terms

  In real terms 2000–012

  Academic Year

  Student support scheme students3,4

  Mandatory award scheme students4,5

  Student support scheme students3,4

  Mandatory award scheme students4,5

  2000–06

  150

  1,130

  150

  1,130

  1999–20006

  130

  1,150

  130

  1,180

  1998–996

  690

  1,200

  720

  1,250

  1997–986

  7—

  1,210

  7—

  1,300

  1996–976

  7—

  1,240

  7—

  1,360

  1995–966

  7—

  1,390

  7—

  1,580

  1994–956

  7—

  1,520

  7—

  1,780

  1993–946

  7—

  1,670

  7—

  1,980

  1992–936

  7—

  1,610

  7—

  1,980

  1991–926,8

  7—

  1,550

  7—

  1,980

  1990–916

  7—

  1,480

  7—

  2,000

  1989–90

  7—

  1,390

  7—

  2,050

  1988–89

  7—

  1,320

  7—

  2,060

  1987–88

  7—

  1,240

  7—

  2,050

  1986–87

  7—

  1,220

  7—

  2,070

  1985–86

  7—

  1,170

  7—

  2,070

  1984–859

  7—

  1,240

  7—

  2,310

  1983–849

  7—

  1,310

  7—

  2,530

  1982–839

  7—

  1,270

  7—

  2,590

  1981–829

  7—

  1,250

  7—

  2,730

  1980–819

  7—

  1,190

  7—

  2,910

  1 Payable to students normally domiciled in LEAs in England and Wales.

  2 Expenditure shown in 2000–01 prices based on the RPI (excluding mortgage interest payments) of September each academic year.

  3 Students starting their course in 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 under the student support scheme funding.

  4 Average maintenance figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.

  5 Students who entered higher education up to 1997–98 and those who entered in 1998–99 to whom the mandatory scheme funding arrangements still applied.

  6 Student loans were introduced when student support arrangements were changed in 1990–91 to supplement maintenance grants which were frozen at their level in that year. Data in this table exclude student loans and relate to maintenance grants only.

  7 Not applicable

  8 Includes an estimated 8.600 students and £17.5 million maintenance expenditure in respect of the London Residual Body.

  9 Up until academic year 1984–85 all eligible mandatory scheme students were entitled to receive a minimum cash grant (£205 in 1984–85; £410 in 1981–82 to 1983–84; and £385 in 1980–81).

  Source:

  F503G Survey of local education authorities on student support funding.

  Additionally, loan support has been available to eligible students normally domiciled in the United Kingdom since 1990–91 and information on the average amount of student loan is given in the table. However, because the rules for eligibility between maintenance grants and loans differ, and because the average

  855W
  maintenance data refer to students domiciled in England and Wales, whereas the average loans data refer to students domiciled in the United Kingdom, the two sets of data should not be added together.

  Student support provision—average loan: United Kingdom—academic years 1990–91 to 2001–021

  £

  Average loan (United Kingdom)2,3,4

  Cash terms

  In real terms 2001–025

  Academic year6

  Student support scheme students

  Mandatory award scheme Students

  student support scheme students

  Mandatory award scheme students

  2001–021

  3,120

  1,500

  73,120

  1,500

  2000–01

  3,100

  1,450

  3,170

  1,480

  1999–2000

  3,150

  1,470

  3,290

  1,540

  1998–99

  2,580

  1,520

  2,760

  1,620

  1997–98

  8—

  1,530

  8—

  1,680

  1996–97

  8—

  1,490

  8—

  1,680

  1995–96

  8—

  1,250

  8—

  1,450

  1994–95

  8—

  1,040

  8—

  1,240

  1993–94

  8—

  740

  8—

  900

  1992–93

  8—

  660

  8—

  830

  1991–92

  8—

  530

  8—

  690

  1990–91

  8—

  390

  8—

  540

  12001–02 data are provisional.

  2 Student loans are available to eligible students normally domiciled in the United Kingdom.

  3 Student loans are available to students on full-time undergraduate HE courses (and students on full-time and part-time postgraduate courses of initial teacher training). From 1999–2000, students aged between 50 to 54 at the start of their course (this includes students who started their course after September 1998) can apply for a student loan as long as they can demonstrate to their awarding authority that they plan to return to employment after finishing their course.

  4 Average figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.

  5 Expenditure shown in 2001–02 prices based on the RPI (excluding mortgage interest payments of September each academic year).

  6 The time series of this table is different to that shown for average maintenance because student loans were not introduced until 1990–91, and provisional data are available for 2001–02

  7 The drop in the average loan is explained by final year students of a three year course entering the figures for the first time; these students are eligible for a lower rate of loan.

  8 Not applicable

  Source

  The Student Loans Company

  Industrial Action/Illness
  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many working days were lost due to(a) industrial action and (b) illness in his Department in each year since 1997. [95899]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The overall sickness absence rate in the Department for Education and Skills for 2001 was 8.4 days per staff year.

  The overall sickness absence rate in the former Department for Education and Employment for each of the years from 2000 to 1997 was:

  Days per staff year

  2000

  11.3

  1999

  11.0

  1998

  11.6

  1997

  12.6

  856W
  The figures are taken from the report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service", published annually by Cabinet Office. The figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.

  My Department is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and to maintain its efforts to try and meet the 2003 target for reduced sickness absence as set out in its Service Delivery Agreement.

  Information on the number of working days lost due to industrial action could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. My Department recognises the importance of and maintains its commitment to working in partnership with the trade union side as a means of eliminating industrial action.

  Internal Directorate
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the allocated funding is for each internal directorate of his Department in(a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06, (i) in cash terms and (ii) on a full resource budgeting basis. [96281]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Details of the administrative budgets allocated to internal directorates in my Department for 2003–04 are set out in the table. Firm internal allocations have not been agreed for the forward years. The figures are on a resource accounting basis, budgets are no longer allocated on a cash basis.

  £000

  Directorate

  2003–04

  Youth

  13,824

  Corporate services and development

  89,859

  Schools

  43,874

  Finance and analytical services

  20,029

  Strategy and communications

  10,100

  Lifelong learning

  26,867

  Legal adviser's office

  3,300

  Non-cash costs previously charged to annually managed expenditure are included within corporate services and development directorate's allocation. Similarly, the costs of the Department's estates, information systems and human resource services are not devolved and are included in the allocation for corporate services and development directorate.

  List 99 Database
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how often the List 99 database is updated and maintained; and what checks are in place to ensure information is accurate. [100146]

  Mr. Miliband
  List 99 is updated every time my Department issues a direction, barring or restricting a person from employment in the education service, or removing or varying a bar or restriction on a person's employment. It is also updated when we receive notification that a person on the list has died. The information shown on List 99—a person's name, date of
  birth, teacher reference number (if appropriate) and National Insurance Number—is provided by the police and the person's employer.

  Modern Languages
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students achieved A grades in modern languages at(a) GCSE and (b) 'A' level in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [99625]

  Mr. Miliband
  The number of students who achieved A grades in Modern Languages at GCSE and A level in each year since 1995 are:

  GCSE1

  A level

  French

  German

  Spanish

  French

  German

  Spanish

  2002

  52,751

  22,121

  10,542

  —

  —

  —

  2001

  53,692

  22,931

  10,378

  3,745

  2,177

  1,202

  2000

  53,331

  23,503

  9,439

  3,519

  2,079

  1,068

  1999

  53,580

  23,367

  8,381

  3,789

  2,008

  992

  1998

  52,383

  23,764

  7,852

  3,969

  2,042

  1,049

  1997

  54,811

  25,904

  8,081

  3,986

  1,866

  945

  1996

  56,672

  24,965

  7,405

  4,351

  1,897

  844

  1995

  54,896

  23,788

  6,262

  4,190

  1,712

  689

  1GCSE figures include A∗ grades

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many modern languages teachers qualified in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [99626]

  Mr. Miliband
  The following table gives the numbers qualifying as teachers in England1 with a modern language as their subject.

  Calendar year of qualification2

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  1,590

  1,590

  1,510

  1,520

  1,410

  1,260

  1,390

  1 Includes those trained through the Open University but excludes those qualifying through employment based routes.

  2 The data for 1995 to 2000 are from the DfES Database of Teachers' Records (DTR). The 2001 figure is taken from the Teacher Training Agency's (TTA) Performance Profiles because 2001 DTR data are not available. The TTA figure is comparable to the DTR data.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) three and (b) four-year-old children in Nottingham, North attended nursery (i) in 1997 and (ii) in the most recent period for which figures are available. [98328]

  Maria Eagle
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  The available information on the numbers of free early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in Nottingham City local education authority for 1997 and 2002 are shown in the table.

  Numbers of free early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds, Nottingham City local education authority area 1997 and 2002

  Position in January each year

  1997

  2002

  3-year-olds

  Maintained nursery and primary schools1,2

  1,800

  —

  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers3

  n/a

  —

  4-year-olds

  3,900

  —

  Total

  5,700

  —

  858W

  Numbers of free early education places taken up by three and four-year-olds, Nottingham City local education authority area 1997 and 2002

  Position in January each year

  1997

  2002

  3-year-olds

  Maintained nursery and primary schools1

  —

  2,400

  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers3

  —

  690

  4-year-olds

  —

  Maintained nursery and primary schools4

  —

  3,000

  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers5

  —

  430

  Total 4-year-olds6

  —

  3,430

  Total

  —

  6,520

  n/a = not available

  1Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools Census

  2 Summer term 1997.

  3 Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education Grant data collection exercise. Nursery Education Grant for three-year-olds was allocated to the 65 LEAs in 1999–2000 and all LEAs from 2000–2001.

  4Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Annual Schools Census.

  5 Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Nursery Education grant data collection exercise.

  6 The total 4-year-old figure for 2002 combines two sources of information, the Annual Schools' Census and Nursery Education Grant data. In previous years, only Nursery Education Grant data was used.

  Latest figures on three and four-year-olds in early years education providers were published by the Department in the Statistical Bulletin "Provision for Children Under Five Years of Age in England—January 2002 (08/2002)" in December 2002, a copy of which is available from the Library. An electronic copy of this publication is also available on the Department's website (www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics).

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many nursery places in England and Wales there were for children(a) under three years and (b) from three years to compulsory school age for each year since 1997. [96802]

  Mr. Miliband
  The available information on the number of free early years educatquoteion places taken up by three and four-year-olds in each year since 1997 is shown in Table 1.

  Table 1: Number1,2 of 3 and 4-year-olds taking up free early years education places England 1997–2002

  Position in January each year

  3-year-olds

  4-year-olds

  Total

  1997

  214,200

  576,200

  790,300

  1998

  222,000

  591,500

  813,500

  1999

  225,700

  593,800

  819,500

  2000

  270,200

  598,500

  868,600

  2001

  335,400

  589,300

  924,700

  2002

  408,200

  584,500

  992,800

  1 Rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2 Sum over 3 and 4-year-olds may not equal total because of rounding.

  All four-year-olds have been able to access a free, part-time early education place since September 1998. Since September 1999, we have invested substantially in

  859W
  new free early years education places for three-year-olds. The table shows that the number of free early years education places taken up by three-year-olds increased from 214,200 in 1997 to 408,200 in 2002, an increase of 194,000 places. We are committed to providing all three year-olds, whose parents want one, with free early years education places by April 2004.

  The latest figures on provision for three and four-year-olds were published in Statistical Bulletin 09/2002 "Provision For Children Under Five Years Of Age in England-January 2002", which is available from the Library or the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/ statistics/.

  Information for Wales is a matter for the Education Department of the Assembly for Wales.

  School Buildings
  Mr. Mike Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money the Government has spent on the replacement of old and worn-out school buildings in(a) England and (b) the Portsmouth area in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [100104]

  Mr. Miliband
  Government support for capital investment in school buildings in England for 2002–03 is £3 billion; for Portsmouth the figure is £4.25 million. We do not collect information on the split between new buildings and renovation. Looking to the future, I announced on 26 February proposals for a new approach to capital investment in a paper, "Building schools for the future". This will be a programme of rebuilding and renewal to ensure that secondary education in every part of England has facilities of 21st Century standard within 10 to 15 years from 2005–06, subject to future public spending decisions. We will also aim to provide substantial investment in primary school buildings.

  School Circulars
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the circulars that have been sent by the Learning and Skills Council to(a) secondary schools and (b) colleges of further education since 1 March 2002; and how many pages each circular contained. [99486]

  Mr. Miliband
  This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries.

  Student Grants (Portsmouth, South)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of students in Portsmouth, South eligible to claim grants for university in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [98096]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department does not make forecasts for the number of students likely to be claiming grants for university in each local education authority (LEA) or parliamentary constituency.

  Student Grants
  Mr Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the cost of providing students with family incomes of(a) £15,000, (b) £20,000 and (c) £30,000 with student grants of (i) £1,000, (ii) £2,000 and (iii) £3,000. [94754]

  Margaret Hodge
  The information requested is currently not available. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Birmingham Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 6 February,Official Report, column 357W.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Affordable Housing
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the London Housing Board will be able to fund the construction of new affordable housing in the east, south east and south west regions for use as part of the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme. [99170]

  Mr. McNulty
  It will remain open to authorities in London, and elsewhere, to support the provision of additional affordable housing in other regions if this is a cost-effective way of addressing their housing needs but only where it has the support of the authority in which the housing is to be provided. The establishment of regional housing boards will allow a more strategic view to be taken about the extent to which needs can be met by provision of housing outside the region.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many units of affordable housing(a) for rent and (b) for sale were built from funding generated by recycled capital grant in each year since 1997. [99174]

  Mr. McNulty
  The option for Registered Social Landlords to recycle social housing grant was introduced in April 1997. The number of dwellings completed by RSLs which have been funded, wholly or in conjunction with loans or RSL reserves, from recycled capital grant fund since 1997 are tabled below.

  Sale

  Rent

  1997–98

  1

  0

  1998–99

  100

  87

  1999–2000

  85

  271

  2000–01

  502

  646

  2001–02

  1218

  361

  1Figures for 2001–02 subject to validation

  In addition, RSLs have built affordable housing units by combining recycled grant with social housing grant from local authorities or the Housing Corporation. These units are not included in the above figures. RSLs can also use recycled grant for major repair and improvement of their existing housing.

  Disconnections
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households there are where(a) gas, (b) electricity and (c) water utilities are disconnected. [98971]
  861W
  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Information on the number of households disconnected at any one time is not available. During 2002, 22,335 gas and 3,334 electricity customers were disconnected for debt or theft.

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

  Gypsies and Travellers
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will issue joint guidance with the Home Department on managing unauthorised camping by gypsies and other travellers; and if he will make a statement. [99494]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in conjunction with the Home Office, will issue new joint guidance on managing unauthorised camping by gypsies and other travellers by the summer.

  The joint guide will form two documents, "Framework Guidance", which is a set of general principles, and detailed "Operational Guidance" for use mainly by local authorities and police services.

  Homebuy Loans
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homebuy loans were made in each local authority in London in each year since the scheme's introduction. [99172]

  Mr. McNulty
  Tabled as follows is the breakdown of homebuy loans that have been made in each local authority area in London since the scheme was first introduced on 1 April 1999.

  Loans

  Sponsoring authority

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–031

  Barking and Dagenham

  6

  18

  15

  2

  Barnet

  12

  20

  18

  8

  Bexley

  0

  0

  5

  8

  Brent

  21

  34

  29

  28

  Bromley

  8

  21

  16

  14

  Camden

  9

  12

  17

  12

  Croydon

  15

  17

  15

  10

  Ealing

  9

  32

  18

  6

  Enfield

  8

  18

  11

  11

  Greenwich

  0

  19

  29

  16

  Hackney

  19

  39

  17

  32

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  27

  31

  17

  15

  Haringey

  19

  32

  26

  22

  Harrow

  4

  11

  8

  2

  Havering

  0

  7

  10

  7

  Hillingdon

  7

  25

  16

  5

  Hounslow

  11

  27

  10

  6

  Islington

  14

  13

  13

  9

  Kensington and Chelsea

  14

  5

  0

  0

  Kingston upon Thames

  6

  3

  6

  5

  Lambeth

  20

  16

  17

  17

  Lewisham

  22

  23

  13

  19

  Merton

  6

  8

  13

  4

  Newham

  57

  42

  0

  8

  Redbridge

  0

  9

  0

  17

  Richmond upon Thames

  10

  6

  6

  1

  Southwark

  19

  19

  15

  22

  Button

  1

  7

  8

  2

  Tower Hamlets

  32

  17

  21

  6

  862W

  Loans

  Sponsoring authority

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–031

  Waltham Forest

  17

  23

  11

  9

  Wandsworth

  33

  59

  50

  6

  Westminster

  31

  36

  33

  15

  City of London

  1

  2

  5

  8

  1To 31 January

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homebuy loans were made to(a) those in social housing, (b) those on housing waiting/transfer lists and (c) key workers in London in each year since the scheme's introduction. [99173]

  Mr. McNulty
  A total of 2,529 people were helped into home ownership using the homebuy scheme during the first three years of its operation. The following table shows the breakdown between those from rented properties and those from the waiting list where available.

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  On the waiting list

  177

  343

  346

  In social housing

  355

  569

  519

  Not available

  394

  584

  449

  Total

  926

  1,496

  1,314

  To be eligible for a homebuy loan, a potential purchaser must either be currently in social housing, or be on the housing waiting list and be recommended by the local authority as being in housing need.

  Information on the number of homebuy loans made to key workers is not collected. The starter home initiative is helping key workers into home ownership through equity loans based on the homebuy model and shared ownership schemes. To the end of January 2003 around 1,000 key workers in London had purchased homes with Starter Home Initiative assistance.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of introducing(a) low tranche (below 25 per cent.) shared ownership schemes and (b) lower tranche (below 75 per cent.) homebuy schemes. [99176]

  Mr. McNulty
  As announced by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 5 February and published in "Sustainable Communities: building for the future", the Housing Corporation has agreed to lead a task force which will look at existing programmes that support sustainable home ownership. This will include both the shared ownership and homebuy schemes. The task force will examine the scope for better targeting and design of the current home ownership initiatives to ensure they are cost effective and that the home ownership is sustainable.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the correlation between the indicators of deprivation used by his Department to distribute local authority finance and actual levels of homelessness in each authority. [99733]
  863W
  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and local authority groups considered a range of indicators to reflect the costs of providing services to homeless people during the recent review of the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block formula. These costs vary significantly around the country and it is clear that they are related to the balance between demand and the supply of available housing in each area. However no workable formula to measure this balance or otherwise model homelessness expenditure was found. The EPCS formula has also to take account of a substantial number of other important services.

  The new EPCS formula contains deprivation indicators that reflect the additional costs of provision across the full range of EPCS services.

  Housing
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by(a) housing action trusts, (b) English Partnerships, (c) regional development agencies and (d) the Housing Corporation in each year since 1999. [99401]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Housing Affordability
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish(a) the house price and (b) income data underlying the south east: Housing Affordability 2001 map in his document "Sustainable Communities in the South East"; if he will provide a breakdown of income data for each district or unitary authority; and what the ratio of lower quartile house prices to lower quartile income is in each local authority area in the South East. [99309]

  Mr. McNulty
  Tabled below are the lower quartile house prices for local authorities in the South East, the regional lower quartile earnings and the equivalent house price to earningsratios that were used to produce the South East; Housing Affordability 2001 map in the recent document entitled "Sustainable Communities in the south east"1

  The derivation of the house price to earnings ratios that formed the basis of the map entitled "South East: Housing Affordability 2001"2 and published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in "Sustainable communities in the South East"

  Local Authority

  Lower quartile houseprice (£)

  Lower quartile earnings per person by region (£)

  Ratio of house price to earnings

  Adur

  89,950

  14794

  6.08

  Arun

  80,000

  14794

  5.41

  Ashford

  81,000

  14794

  5.48

  Aylesbury Vale

  93,000

  14794

  6.29

  Basingstoke and Deane

  99,950

  14794

  6.76

  Bracknell Forest

  114,000

  14794

  7.71

  Brighton

  89,950

  14794

  6.08

  Canterbury

  82,000

  14794

  5.54

  Cherwell

  89,950

  14794

  6.08

  Chichester

  105,000

  14794

  7.10

  Chiltern

  142,500

  14794

  9.63

  Portsmouth

  67,000

  14794

  4.53

  Southampron

  67,000

  14794

  4.73

  Crawley

  88,500

  14794

  5.98

  Dartford

  75,000

  14794

  5.07

  East Hampshire

  107,500

  14794

  7.27

  Eastbourne

  70,000

  14,794

  4.73

  864W

  The derivation of the house price to earnings ratios that formed the basis of the map entitled "South East: Housing Affordability 2001"2 and published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in "Sustainable communities in the South East"

  Local Authority

  Lower quartile houseprice (£)

  Lower quartile earnings per person by region (£)

  Ratio of house price to earnings

  Eastleigh

  91,000

  14,794

  6.15

  Elmbridge

  155,000

  14,794

  10.48

  Epsom and Ewell

  135,000

  14,794

  9.13

  Fareham

  93,000

  14,794

  6.29

  Gosport

  65,303

  14,794

  4.41

  Gravesham

  76,000

  14,794

  5.14

  Guildford

  128,000

  14,794

  8.65

  Hart

  128,000

  14,794

  8.65

  Hastings

  45,950

  14,794

  3.11

  Havant

  76,094

  14,794

  5.14

  Horsham

  112,500

  14,794

  7.60

  Isle of Wight

  65,000

  14,794

  4.39

  Lewes

  89,000

  14,794

  6.02

  Maidstone

  87,000

  14,794

  5.88

  Medway

  62,000

  14,794

  4.19

  Mid Sussex

  112,000

  14,794

  7.57

  Milton Keynes

  73,500

  14,794

  4.97

  Mole Valley

  140,125

  14,794

  9.47

  New Forest

  94,500

  14,794

  6.39

  Oxford

  125,000

  14,794

  8.45

  Reading

  102,950

  14,794

  6.96

  Reigate and Banstead

  120,000

  14,794

  8.11

  Rother

  75,000

  14,794

  5.07

  Runnymede

  126,000

  14,794

  8.52

  Rushmoor

  96,000

  14,794

  6.49

  Sevenoaks

  118,000

  14,794

  7.98

  Shepway

  63,000

  14,794

  4.26

  Slough

  88,000

  14,794

  5.95

  South Bucks

  150,000

  14,794

  10.14

  South Oxfordshire

  112,000

  14.794

  7.57

  Spelthorne

  120,000

  14,794

  8.11

  Surrey Heath

  130,000

  14,794

  8.79

  Swale

  64,984

  14,794

  4.39

  Tandridge

  124,950

  14,794

  8.45

  Test Valley

  99,950

  14,794

  6.76

  Thanet

  58,950

  14,794

  3.98

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  96,950

  14,794

  6.55

  Tunbridge Wells

  99,000

  14,794

  6.69

  Vale of the White Horse

  112,000

  14,794

  7.57

  Waverley

  132,500

  14,794

  8.96

  Wealden

  91,000

  14,794

  6.15

  West Berkshire

  115,000

  14,794

  7.77

  West Oxfordshire

  110,000

  14,794

  7.44

  Winchester

  123,000

  14,794

  8.31

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  150,000

  14,794

  10.14

  Woking

  121,000

  14,794

  8.18

  Wokingham

  137,000

  14,794

  9.26

  Worthing

  74,659

  14,794

  5.05

  Wycombe

  115,000

  14,794

  7.77

  1House price data: Land Registry

  2 Earnings data: Office for National Statistics: New Earnings Survey, 2001 (based on adults working full-time)

  Whilst the above data was used as a basis for the published map, more recent information on estimated earnings by local authority is now available and may be published in the near future.

  However, in the context of measuring affordability of housing in each local authority no decision has yet been made on the most appropriate combination of house price and income indicators. For instance, it may be decided to continue using regional incomes rather than local authority incomes.

  Islington
  Jeremy Corbyn
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action is being taken by his Department to ensure improvements in the performance of the London borough of Islington. [100518]

  Mr. Raynsford
  A process of support and assistance is now in place to aid recovery in Islington council. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has appointed a lead official, who is working closely with the council's
  865W
  elected members and officers to establish what needs to be done to bring about rapid improvement in Islington. The official will help Islington council, other Government Departments and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to work together in a co-ordinated and supportive manner to address Islington's key priorities and deliver the quality of services the people of Islington rightly deserve.

  Local Government
  Mr. Maude
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many different plans concerning local authority functions each tier of local government has been required to submit to central Government in each year since 1997. [98407]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The number of plans required to be submitted in each year to central Government is in the following table. These figures include plans which are required from partnerships which include local authorities as well as those plans that are required from only particular authorities. The table reflects the best available information.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recently announced a significant reduction in the number of plans that will be required from all authorities. The very best authorities will have only to prepare two plans, neither of which will be submitted to Government.

  Year

  Unitary

  Tier District

  County

  1997–98

  5

  2

  4

  1998–99

  11

  3

  10

  1999–2000

  18

  3

  17

  2000–01

  22

  5

  21

  2001–02

  31

  9

  28

  2002–03

  33

  7

  31

  2003–041

  22

  5

  20

  1Estimate

  Pathfinder Report
  Mr. Michael Weir
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to publish in full the Fire Cover Task Group's Pathfinder report. [100119]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak, Lynne Jones on 7 January 2003,Official Report, column 115W.

  Recycled Capital Grant
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to require the Housing Corporation to promote greater transparency about the amount and uses of recycled capital grant. [99175]

  Mr. McNulty
  Registered social landlords (RSLs) are required, by the Housing Corporation, to present accumulated recycled capital grant in their annual accounts. RSLs are expected to consult with the local authorities from whose area grant has been recycled about the use of the recycled capital grant fund (RCGF).
  866W
  Information on the permitted uses of RCGF is available on the Housing Corporation's website (www.housingcorp.gov.uk). In brief, RSLs may use RCGF for projects that would qualify for new social housing grant. These projects are subject to the same grant rates, cost limits and rents as new grant projects.

  Regional Housing Boards
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) when each of the new Regional Housing Boards will first meet; and how often they will be expected to meet each year; [99167]

  (2) what plans he has to issue further guidance to the new Regional Housing Boards (a) collectively and (b) individually; [99169]

  (3) which organisations and individuals have been invited to sit on each of the new Regional Housing Boards; [99166]

  (4) what the arrangements will be for the new Regional Housing Boards to consult with interested parties. [99168]

  Mr. McNulty
  Government and Housing Corporation Regional Offices, the Regional Assembly, the Regional Development Agency and English Partnership will be represented on the Regional Housing Board. Further membership of the board, the timing and frequency of its meetings and the arrangements for consulting with other interested parties are a matter for agreement within the region. The composition of the board is still being finalised in some regions. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to work closely with Regional Housing Boards in the coming months to ensure the new arrangements are implemented successfully.

  Seaside and Country Homes Scheme
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which registered social landlords participate in the seaside and country homes scheme. [99162]

  Mr. McNulty
  There are eight registered social landlords who hold seaside and country homes. These are North British Housing, Anchor Trust, Bristol Churches, Devon and Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Knightstone, Longhurst and Nene Housing Society.

  All London registered social landlords can nominate tenants for the scheme. In the year from April 2001 until March 2002 the following RSLs had tenants either interviewed for the scheme and/or rehoused (some of the rehousings were from previous years): Bethnal Green and Victoria Park HA, Bradford Property Trust, Bromley/Broomleigh HA, Church Commissioners, Circles 33 Housing Trust, Community HA, East Thames HA, English Churches HA, Family HA, Guinness Trust, Hexagon HA, Hyde HA, Islington and Shoreditch HA, London and Quadrant, Metropolitan Housing Trust, Network HA, New Islington and Hackney HA, Octavia HA, Orbit HA, Peabody Trust, Poplar Harca, Richmond Churches, Samuel Lewis Trust, Sanctuary HA, Soldiers and Sailors Foundation, South London Family HA, Springboard HA, St Pancras HA, Threshold Tennant HA, Toynbee HA and Warden HA.
  867W
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities place restrictions on the numbers of tenants they will nominate to the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme each year.[99163]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of any local authorities that have placed restrictions on the number of their tenants who meet the eligibility criteria that can apply.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities about establishing the relative priority of tenants they nominate to the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme. [99164]

  Mr. McNulty
  The last guidance on the scheme was issued to all London Boroughs by HOMES in 2000. This included as an annex the application form that explains how points are awarded.

  HOMES also send all boroughs a quarterly report which gives details of areas with lower demand and also ensure that London Borough staff who take over responsibility for the scheme are trained in how it operates. Front line staff are encouraged to attend these sessions so as to ensure they are familiar with the scheme's operation.

  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what figures his Department has collated on the number of tenants whose application to be considered for the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme has been refused by their local authority on the grounds of(a) their eligibility and (b) their relative priority. [99165]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not collected any figures on the number of applicants who have been refused by local authorities.

  Shared Ownership
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of registered social landlords who set rents for shared ownership properties in the range of 3 to 3.5 per cent. of equity; [99177]

  (2) what plans he has to require the Housing Corporation to (a) set benchmark rents for shared ownership properties and (b) monitor the performance of registered social landlords against these. [99178]

  Mr. McNulty
  The rent for a shared ownership property is a matter for the individual registered social landlord (RSL). The rent for new shared ownership schemes is dependent on a number of factors including levels of equity bought, development loans to be serviced by the association, sales receipts and consideration of what is affordable and marketable.

  The Housing Corporation does not analyse the proportion of registered social landlords (RSLs) who set rents for shared ownership properties in the range of 3 to 3.5 per cent. of equity.

  The Housing Corporation has agreed to lead a Task Force, to be chaired by Baroness Dean, which will look at existing programmes that support sustainable home ownership. Further details will be announced shortly.

  Sheltered Housing
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines his Department gives in respect of the construction standards for sheltered housing; what funding his Department provides for the refurbishment of sheltered housing; and if he will make a statement. [98867]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government are committed to the provision of social housing including sheltered accommodation and have substantially increased resources provided to local authorities and the Housing Corporation for housing investment. The Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) may be used to refurbish sheltered housing in the ownership of a Registered Social Landlord (RSL). Since 1999 the Housing Corporation has approved some £22 million of ADP for sheltered housing accommodation schemes in respect of elderly people with warden support, and frail elderly people, improving 2,363 dwellings.

  No specific guidelines are given by the Department in respect of construction standards for sheltered housing. All building work must comply with the current Building Regulations 2000. New build sheltered housing schemes funded by the Housing Corporation must comply with their Scheme Development Standards.

  Starter Homes Initiatives
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what benefits will be received by(a) persons and (b) local authorities in areas covered by the Starter Homes Initiatives; and what criteria determines which (i) authorities and (ii) areas are chosen for that initiative. [99310]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is providing £250 million for the Starter Home Initiative (SHI) which aims to help around 10,000 key workers to buy their first homes. The assistance is primarily in the form of equity loans or shared ownership and is being administered by local scheme providers, mainly registered social landlords. The funding was allocated via two competitive bidding rounds.

  In the first round, bids were invited to administer schemes to help key workers in any area where the high cost of housing was undermining recruitment and retention. The main factors taken into account in making allocations were: the relative need for SHI based on house prices, incomes and assessments of recruitment and retention difficulties for key worker groups in different areas; and the cost effectiveness of competing bids.

  Second round bids were invited to help key workers in specific areas of the south east, eastern, south west and west Midlands regions. These areas were targeted taking into account recruitment and retention problems being experienced across different areas and the allocations made in round 1.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Benefits
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of(a) means-tested benefit paid to pensioners and (b) council tax relief and housing benefit paid to pensioners in 2001–02. [99151]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information requested is shown in the table:

  Estimated costs of means tested benefits for pensioners 2001–02(£s millions cash)

  Benefit

  Expenditure

  Minimum Income Guarantee

  4,486

  Housing Benefit

  4,225

  Council Tax Benefit

  1,320

  Total Means tested benefit

  10,031

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is of the minimum income guarantee in 2002–03. [99150]

  Mr. McCartney
  The estimated cost of the minimum income guarantee in 2002/03 is £4.47 billion.

  Benefit Overpayment (Write-offs)
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many overpayments of benefit have been written off in the last five years on the basis of concern for the health of the claimant. [99456]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Between May 1998 and the end of 2002, 394 cases were waived due to the health and welfare criteria. Information for earlier periods is not available.

  Benefit Take-up
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage the take-up of(a) the minimum income guarantee and (b) attendance allowance; and if he will make a statement. [96846]

  Mr. McCartney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 24 February 2003,Official Report, columns 190–91W.

  Departmental Vehicles
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made, by(a) volume and (b) percentage for each category of

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Staff employed

  356.91

  362.62

  451.45

  1004.31

  1112.54

  Transfers to private sector

  None

  None

  None

  None

  None

  Notes:

  1. Most smaller DWP filestores are managed within DWP core business and separate staffing figures are not available for some or all of the years in the table above.

  2. 1997–98 figures include data from 13 stores

  3. 1998–99 figures include data from 14 stores

  4. 1999–2000 figures include data from 20 stores

  5. 2000–01 figures include data from 44 stores

  6. 2001–02 figures include data from 62 stores

  870W
  (i) vehicle, (ii) type of power unit and (iii) type of fuel, on an annual
  basis, over each of the past three years, in renewal of his Department's and agencies' vehicle fleet on a lower emission basis. [97969]

  Mr. McCartney
  The composition of the Department's fleet is as follows:

  Petrol

  Diesel

  LPG

  Hybrid

  Percentage of Green Vehicles

  1/4/00

  488

  2105

  60

  0

  2.26

  1/4/01

  425

  1983

  238

  0

  8.99

  1/4/02

  652

  1864

  326

  16

  11 96

  12/02/03

  549

  1.745

  551

  19

  19.90

  On 1 April 2002, the Department took over responsibility for the former Employment Service fleet (600 vehicles), a large number of which were petrol. We have subsequently reduced these and will continue to do so when vehicles are replaced.

  The Department currently exceeds the targets set by Green Ministers, that being 10 per cent. of our fleet to be alternatively fuelled.

  Early Retirement
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much he expects his Department to spend on early retirement packages over the next five years; and how much the Department and its predecessor spent on such packages in the last five years. [99053]

  Mr. McCartney
  Historical costs associated with early exits from the Department's predecessors are only available for the last four years.

  (£)

  2002–03

  11,720,398 (to the end of January 03)

  2001–02

  15,850,518

  2000–01

  21,867,831

  1999–00

  24,227,124

  These include the cost of continuing annual payments.

  The need for early retirement packages is kept under review.

  File Stores
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were employed in the departmental file stores in each year since 1997; how many have been transferred to the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [98855]

  Mr. McCartney
  The information requested is not available. Such information as is available is in the table.

  Full-time Equivalent Staff
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in(a) the Department and (b) each of the agencies it sponsors; and what the figures were for 1997. [90663]

  Mr. McCartney
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office (Douglas Alexander) on 16 January 2003,Official Report, col 697W.

  Mr. Douglas Cowan
  Mr. Bacon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the operation of the Appeals Service for Social Security. Child Support and Vaccine Damage, with particular reference to the case of Mr.Douglas Cowan, a constituent. [99117]

  Maria Eagle
  This is a matter for Norman Egan. Acting Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from Norman Egan to Mr. Richard Bacon dated February 2003:
  The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question regarding the administrative handling of an appeal from one of your constituents, Mr Douglas Gowan.
  The administrative side of the Appeals Service supports the judicial functioning of appeal tribunals. Appeal Tribunals consist of one, two or three members drawn by the President of appeal tribunals from the panel constituted under section 6 of the Social Security Act 1998. Panel members are appointed by the Lord Chancellor.
  The processing of the original appeal; handling of the application for set aside; listing of the case for a re-hearing; and, processing the request for a postponement were handled by the administrative side. The judicial functions were undertaken by the appeal tribunal or where appropriate, a legally qualified panel member, in accordance with the relevant legislation.
  After the decision by a legally qualified panel member to set aside the original appeal tribunal's decision, and having notified all the parties to the proceedings regarding the re-hearing scheduled for 18 February 2003, unfortunately a further notification was issued to Mr Gowan incorrectly advising him that the date was 18 March 2003. As soon as this error was identified a further notification was issued confirming the original date and apologising for any inconvenience caused. A request for a postponement was received and passed to a legally qualified panel member. Thelegally qualified panel member decided that it was in Mr Gowan's best interest if the hearing was not postponed. At the rehearing on 18 February the appeal tribunal adjourned the hearing to a later date having issued directions regarding further evidence needed to enable it to reach a decision.
  I hope this reply is helpful.

  Post-retirement Work
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the proportion of people that remain in work after reaching the retirement age; what measures there are to encourage people to remain in work; what proposals he has to help people over the retirement age re-enter work; and how many people in the UK over retirement age have been helped back into work. [87365]
  872W
  Mr. McCartney
  There is no state retirement age, only an age at which state pension becomes payable, currently 60 for women and 65 for men. Between 2010 and 2020 the women's state pension age will be gradually increased to 65.

  Figures that we published for spring 2002 showed that around 861,000 people over state pension age were in employment, 8.5 per cent. of the age group.

  The New Deal 50 plus programme, which offers tailored help with jobsearch, and an Employment Credit and training grant, is open to people on qualifying benefits who are over 50. There is no upper age limit for eligibility to the programme, and people over the state pension age can take advantage of the help available.

  We are encouraging people to adopt more flexible approaches to retirement. In "Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5677) published 17 December, we have proposed changes to Inland Revenue rules that will allow people to continue to work for their employer, or return to work for them, and draw their occupational pension at the same time.

  To encourage more people to consider later retirement, we will bring forward the date of any increase to the increments people gain if they defer their state pension so that people can benefit from it as soon as possible.

  To help people over state pension age to re-enter work we are promoting vigorously the benefits, to both employers and individuals, of an age diverse work force, including the recruitment and retention of older workers as part of our AgePositive campaign. In 2006 we will introduce legislation to make it unlawful to discriminate against people, on the grounds of age, in employment and vocational training. Under the legislation, compulsory retirement ages are likely to he unlawful, unless employers can objectively justify them.

  The DWP has a programme of research designed to further understanding of the labour market participation of people over 50, in particular retirement behaviour and the barriers to work encountered by this age group. The research includes a project examining the circumstances under which people work after state pension age, the jobs they do, and the impact of working after state pension age on their health, wealth and happiness, compared with the non-working retired population. This research shows that 9 per cent. of women over 60 and 8 per cent. of men over 65 are in employment.

  The report will be published in spring 2003 and will be followed by a second stage of qualitative work, which will explore, amongst other things, what would encourage people to stay in work after state pension age.

  Retirement Age
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on allowing civil servants to retire at the age of 65. [90029]

  Mr. McCartney
  The Government have already begun to address the social and economic consequences of demographic change in its role as employer. One of the recommendations of Winning the Generation Game was that public sector employers should review their
  873W
  retirement ages and examine the case for allowing those who want to work on to age 65 to do so. Already 75 per cent. of civil servants now have the option to retire at 65 and the numbers able to serve beyond 60 are expected to increase.

  All staff in the Department for Work and Pensions, below the Senior Civil Service, are able to choose to remain in employment beyond the age of 60 for any period of time up to the age of 65.

  "Staff in the Senior Civil Service normally retire at the age of 60 but the Head of the Department and Agency Chief Executives have flexibility to retain members of the Senior Civil Service beyond age 60 if they judge it in the public interest and they are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties. The most senior posts require written approval from the Head of the Home Civil Service to be retained for longer than three months beyond their 60th birthday."

  This is based on an extract from the Civil Service Management Code.

  Most public service pension schemes, however, still allow a normal pension to be taken at 60 or under. The Government is seeking views on the proposal that the rules of public service pension schemes should be changed and applied to all new members during the next few years to make an unreduced pension payable from age 65 rather than 60. Such a change would reflect improved longevity, modern working patterns and the practice in the majority of private sector pension schemes.

  Targeted Audits
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of targeted audits carried out by medical services and categorised as grade C have been judged to be fit for purpose. [99457]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available.

HEALTH

  Laming Inquiry
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which recommendations of the Laming inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie the Government intend to implement; and by what date each will be implemented. [95619]

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which recommendations in the Laming Report the Government agree with and intend to put in practice; and by when. [96033]

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2003,Official Report, column 879, on Victoria Climbié, when the recommendations from the Laming Inquiry will be implemented; [95700]

  (2) if he will set out for each (a) category 1 and (b) category 2 recommendations in the Laming Report, (i) whether he accepts or rejects it, (ii) if accepted, what
  874W
  steps he is taking to act on it and to what timescale and (iii) if rejected, what his reasons are and what alternative actions he proposes to take. [96634]

  Jacqui Smith
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health made clear in the House, we will make our substantive response to the report as part of the Green Paper on Children at Risk, which will be published in the spring. We have already begun to implement many of Lord Laming's recommendations and we will say more in the Green Paper.

  A and E Departments (Junior Doctors)
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of doctors in accident and emergency departments are junior doctors. [99316]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows the proportion of doctors in accident and emergency departments who are junior doctors.

  Hospital medical doctors in training with an Accident and Emergency specialty: as at 30 September 2002

  England

  Numbers (headcount)

  All doctors within A&E specialty

  3,220

  Of which:

  Doctors in training within A&E specialty

  1,910

  (as percentage of total)

  59.2

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  Source:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  Age-related Macular Degeneration
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the representations from(a) the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and (b) the RNIB on age-related macular degeneration. [97859]

  Mr. Lammy
  Letters received from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal National Institute for the Blind in relation to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's appraisal of photodynamic therapy have been placed in the Library. I am grateful to these organisations for their agreement to release the letters.

  NICE do not release to a third party any documents received by it from consultees, including submissions, correspondence, responses to formal consultation and statement of appeal against the Final Appraisal Determination, before the completion of its appraisal.

  Attention Deficit Disorder
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research on the prevalence of(a) ADD and (b) ADHD in adults. [99678]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Department is currently committing substantial funding to a research programme in support of the implementation of the mental health national service framework. New priorities for research are continually being identified through consultation and this topic will be considered alongside others that emerge through this process.

  Barnet Chase Farm Trust
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement as to the future clinical strategy for Barnet Chase Farm Trust; [98940]

  (2) what plans he has to move elective surgery from Barnet hospital to Chase Farm hospital; and if he will make a statement; [98936]

  (3) when he expects Barnet Chase Farm hospital to publish its proposals for the Masterplan reconfiguring services on its trust's two sites; what consultative arrangements will be in place to allow the public to consider its proposals; and if he will make a statement; [98948]

  (4) what steps are being taken to create a unified management system for Barnet and Chase Farm Trust; what savings are expected from such unification; and if he will make a statement.[98942]

  Mr. Hutton
  Barnet and Chase Farm hospital national health service trust is continuing to work with local stakeholders in line with national policies over public and patient involvement to develop a clinical services strategy. At present there are no proposals for change.

  Care Homes
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of admissions to care homes of people over the age of(a) 50 and (b) 65 in each of the last five years for which figures are available have been as a result of a fall. [100111]

  Jacqui Smith
  Information on the numbers of admission to care homes for people over the age of 50 and 65 as a result of a fall are not collected centrally. The national service framework for older people recognises that injury resulting from a fall can be a major factor in premature admission to long-term residential care. It sets out a standard and milestones for the development of integrated falls services that cover prevention, effective treatment and care of those who have fallen and appropriate rehabilitation.

  Congestion Charges
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made as to the impact congestion charging in Central London will have on(a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) consultants, (d) paramedics and (e) ancillary staff in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [97842]

  Mr. Hutton
  The congestion charging scheme includes a number of measures which will minimise impact of congestion charging on national health service staff. This includes:Exemption of NHS vehicles currently exempt from vehicle excise duty, including ambulances and paramedic vehicles.
  A provision to reimburse journeys by NHS staff required to carry specified items, such as controlled drugs or confidential information, as part of their operational duties, that should not be transported on public transport.
  A provision to reimburse journeys by NHS staff for the purpose of providing emergency on-call services.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to reply to the letter of Mr. D.F.D. Malein of Milford on Sea of 16 December 2001. [94220]

  Mr. Lammy
  On behalf of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, officials from the Department responded to the points raised in Mr. D.F.D. Malein's letter on 10 February 2003.

  Delayed Discharges
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are being put in place to reimburse local authorities who may be subject to the impact of delayed discharges legislation. [97042]

  Jacqui Smith
  On 28 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced that £100 million per full year of the legislation would be transferred from the national health service to local authorities in order to meet the costs of reimbursement. Areas which are already tackling delayed discharge should have more of this additional funding available to spend on services. An announcement on how this funding is to be distributed will be made shortly.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress made in the training of staff to fit digital hearing aids in the second wave of hospital trusts to receive funding for the purpose. [99405]

  Jacqui Smith
  The training of staff is progressing satisfactorily and is on schedule to enable all second-wave sites to begin fitting digital hearing aids by the end of March.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the second wave of hospital trusts to receive funding for the roll-out of digital hearing aids(a) are fitting the new devices and (b) will have begun to fit the new devices by the end of March. [99406]

  Jacqui Smith
  Seventeen of the 30 second-wave sites are already fitting digital hearing aids as part of a modernised service. The remaining 13 will have begun to fit them by the end of March.

  The Government are investing £94 million over the next two years to spread the benefits of digital hearing aids across the whole of England by April 2005.

  Mr. Swayne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the savings to be had by patients requiring digital hearing aids if registered hearing aid dispensers were enabled to access the NHS hearing aid contract; and if he will make a statement; [99660]

  (2) when the evaluation of pilot projects in Shrewsbury and Leeds to examine the role that the private sector may play in supporting the modernisation of NHS hearing aid service will be completed; and if he will make a statement; [99661]
  877W
  (3) what plans there are to train registered hearing aid dispensers to NHS standards so that they can access the NHS hearing aid contract; and if he will make a statement. [99662]

  Jacqui Smith
  On 7 February 2003, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced a £94 million investment to support the modernisation of hearing aid services, including the provision of digital hearing aids throughout England, by April 2005. Rollout plans include boosting national health service capacity and improving access for patients by extending public/private partnerships.

  The pilot private sector projects in Shrewsbury and Leeds have now been evaluated. The results of the pilot show that private sector hearing aid dispensers can be contracted to fit, assess and follow-up NHS patients with no detriment to the outcome for these patients.

  Private sector partners in Shrewsbury and Leeds provided hearing aids obtained via the NHS hearing aid contract for the NHS patients treated as part of the pilot. NHS patients were not charged for their treatment or for the hearing aids. We intend that these arrangements will apply to extended private sector partnership arrangements. There are no plans to give hearing aid dispensers access to the NHS hearing aid contract for their private patients. Hearing aid dispensers in Leeds and Shrewsbury received training to enable them to provide a modernised service to NHS patients, including fitting digital hearing aids. Dispensers involved in extended private partnerships arrangements will be required to meet similar standards of competence and experience.

  Domestic Violence
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP practice nurses are given training to deal with domestic violence victims. [97122]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Government are committed to tackling domestic violence and have set up a Ministerial group working across Government to provide coordinated and concerted action, including the promotion of education and awareness raising.

  The Department of Health published "Domestic Violence: A Resource Manual for Health Care Professionals" in March 2000. The resource manual provides a solid foundation for local multi-agency work and supports health care professionals and managers in developing their domestic violence policies, protocols and services to ensure victims receive the support they need. Building on this initiative, in 2001, as part of a three year health visitor and school nurse practice development programme, resource packs were produced which included information on dealing with domestic violence as a health priority.

  An extra £50 million has been made available over the past two years to ensure that National Health Service employers have the capacity to deliver health professional training and development effectively and to ensure that all staff, including nurses working in general practice, have better access to training programmes.

  GP Patient Survey
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the general practice patient survey conducted by the National Centre for Social Research will be published. [98918]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 27 February 2003]: The Department is currently making arrangements for the effective dissemination of the results of the general practice services survey.

  Health Service Finance
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the income of each primary care trust per head of population served will be in 2003–04. [99554]

  Mr. Hutton
  Primary care trusts revenue allocations per weighted and unweighted head of population in 2003–04 have been placed in the Library.

  Hospitality
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how often Ministers in his Department have received hospitality in restaurants from outside groups in the last 12 months; [99502]

  (2) what hospitality has been offered at public expense in the last 12 months, by each Minister in his Department to outside interest groups, broken down by (a) restaurant, (b) recipient and (c) cost in each case; [99579]

  (3) what criteria Ministers in his Department use when determining whether to offer hospitality in restaurants to interest groups at public expense; and if he will make a statement. [99578]

  Mr. Lammy
  All offers of hospitality are made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting". The giving and receiving of hospitality is conducted fully in accordance with the guidance set out in the "Ministerial Code and Guidance on Contacts with Outside Interest Groups including Lobbyists". The detailed information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's hospitality budget(a) is in 2002–03 and (b) was in each of the last three years; and how much was left unspent at the end of each financial year. [99503]

  Mr. Lammy
  Expenditure arises on hospitality and entertainment only in the context of promoting the Department's business objectives. All such expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".

  No specific budget amount is allocated for hospitality, which is only one element of the Department's overall administrative budget. The amount spent in recent financial years is shown in the table.
  879W

  Amount (£)

  2002–03

  196,935

  2001–02

  121,968

  2000–01

  93,091

  1999–2000

  50,114

  1Up to 31 January 2003.

  In-patient Survey
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the in-patient survey conducted last year will be published. [98920]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 27 February 2003]: Local patient survey results are included in "Your Guide to Local Health Services", which primary care trusts published for the first time at the end of 2002 and will be published annually.

  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which acute trusts are rationing drugs that have been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement. [99727]

  Mr. Lammy
  National health service bodies are under a statutory obligation to provide funding for treatments recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. We expect them to meet this obligation.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy that drugs that have been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence should be available to all patients whose clinicians judge that they would benefit from them. [99734]

  Mr. Lammy
  Our policy is that treatments appraised by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) should be made available in accordance with recommendations of NICE.

  NHS Chief Executives
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules and guidance govern disclosure of the salaries of NHS chief executives. [98959]

  Mr. Hutton
  The guidance issued to National Health Service bodies with regard to the disclosure of the remuneration of chief executives and other senior managers is contained within manuals for accounts. These documents detail the format of annual accounts and reports that NHS bodies are required to present to public meetings. Individuals may decline to give their consent to have this information published relying on the Data Protection Act 1998. In this case, their decision to withhold the information should be disclosed in the published accounts. The current guidance for the accounting period 2002–03 is being placed in the Library.

  NHS Direct
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of call was to NHS Direct between(a) 15 October 2001 and 10 February 2002 and (b) 15 October 2002 and 10 February 2003. [97820]
  880W
  Mr. Lammy
  NHS Direct did not consistently start collecting call length data until April 2002. The average length of call to NHS Direct from April 2002 is shown in the table.

  NHS Direct—national average nurse call length in seconds

  Average call length

  April 2002

  835

  May 2002

  834

  June 2002

  829

  July 2002

  813

  August 2002

  796

  September 2002

  794

  October 2002

  767

  November 2002

  744

  December 2002

  693

  January 2003

  685

  NHS Estates (PFI)
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contact his Department has had with the public sector team of the fraud squad concerning the NHS estates PFI scheme; and if he will make a statement. [97531]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 February 2003]: Allegations of fraud which are brought to the Department's attention are investigated by the National Health Service Counter Fraud Service (CFS). For obvious reasons, it is not our practice to comment one way or the other on the detail of investigations which may or may not be taking place or on the conduct of any investigation or on contacts with other agencies with whom the CFS routinely works.

  NHS Operations
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate how many instruments were retained after NHS operations in each of the last six years. [98919]

  Mr. Lammy
  [holding answer 27 February 2003]: At the present time, we do not know how many medical errors of this kind affect national health service patients each year.

  However, retained instruments and in particular swabs, are a recognised patient safety issue, both nationally and internationally.

  The Government have established the National Patient Safety Agency to improve the safety of NHS patient care by promoting an open and fair culture and by introducing a national reporting and learning system for adverse events. It is planned for the system to be rolled out across the NSH from summer 2003. The reporting and learning system will, in time, enable us to understand the nature and extent of adverse events in the NHS, including material retained within patients, and take action to prevent them being repeated.

  Orthopaedic Surgery (Leeds)
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for orthopaedic surgery in Leeds was over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [98416]
  881W
  Jacqui Smith
  Information on waiting times is published quarterly on the Department of Health website. This is broken down into both in-patient and out-patient waiting times by national health service trusts by consultant specialty. This information can be accessed at http://www.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes/ index. htm

  Parliamentary Question
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for West Chelmsford will receive an answer to his question of 4 February 2003, ref 95210; and if he will make a statement on the reason for the delay in answering. [100132]

  Mr. Hutton
  I have replied to the hon. Member today. I apologise for the delay in answering.

  Patient Choice
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will determine whether a patient in West Yorkshire needing an eye operation is eligible to choose an alternative hospital. [99106]

  Mr. Hutton
  Approval has recently been given by the Department of Health to the establishment of a national health service based Choice pilot scheme. This is to be based at Westwood Park Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (DTC), Bradford, and will be managed by Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust to deliver day surgery cataract extraction. When fully up and running in April 2004, the pilot proposes that the NHS will offer all patients registered with a general practitioner in West Yorkshire the choice of either referral directly to Westwood Park DTC or to attend for treatment at their local hospital.

  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources he has made available to NHS trusts in London to implement the London pilot scheme extending choice for patients. [97378]

  Mr. Hutton
  The approved funding for the London Patient Choice Pilot project during the financial year 2002–03 is £75 million.

  Primary Care Trusts
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what salary is paid to each primary care trust chief executive in England; and what the average salary for chief executives of primary care groups in England was in the year to 31 October 2002. [95210]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 4 February 2003]: Information on the salaries of individual primary care trust and primary care group chief executives is not available centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 24 October 2002, Official Report, column 509W.

  Primary care trusts are required to disclose in their published accounts details of the remuneration of senior managers, including the chief executive. Individuals may decline to give their consent to have this information published, relying on the Data Protection
  882W
  Act 1998. In this case, their decision to withhold the information should be disclosed in the published accounts.

  Salaries of primary care trust chief executives range from £78,625 to £107,500. However, in exceptional cases, the figures paid may be lower or higher. A copy of the framework used to determine the salaries for primary care trust chief executives in 2002–03 has been placed in the Library.

  Remuneration for primary care group chief executives was decided in line with Health Service Circular (HSC) 1998/017 by the PCG Board, and overseen by the health authority Remuneration Committee, who considered the weight of the post against other health authority senior managers when setting the level of remuneration. There was local flexibility to remunerate at a higher (or lower) band where appropriate. Salaries of primary care group chief executives ranged from £26,000 to £50,000. A copy of HSC 1998/017 has been placed in the Library.

  Prison Doctors
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors work in prisons in England and Wales; and how many of these are qualified to general practitioner level. [99534]

  Jacqui Smith
  There are 543 doctors working in prisons in England and Wales as at January 2003, providing primary care and specialist services.

  Of the 109 directly employed by the Prison Service to provide primary care services, 26 are not qualified to general practitioner level. They are either engaging in training towards GP or psychiatric qualification, or arrangements are being made for them to work under appropriate supervision.

  Private Businesses (Forms)
  Mr. Yeo
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the forms that his Department requires private sector businesses to complete and return. [98092]

  Mr. Hutton
  Under the Government's arrangements for managing the collection of information from private sector businesses, the Department of Health collected information from private nursing homes, hospitals and clinics only up to 31 March 2001. Responsibility for collecting similar data now rests with the National Care Standards Commission.

  Private Healthcare Companies
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many operations were carried out in each of the last five years by private healthcare companies using national health service facilities; [97186]

  (2) what total revenue was generated in each of the last five years from the use of national health service facilities by private healthcare companies. [97169]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department of Health does not hold information centrally on the use by private healthcare companies of national health service facilities, nor on the revenue generated as a result.

  Severalls Hospital Site
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is handling the sale of the former Severalls hospital site in Colchester; and when he expects the sale to be completed. [99698]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 27 February 2003]: Severalls hospital site in Colchester is one of a number of properties included in the one-off sale of remaining retained estate being handled by NHS Estates, an executive agency of the Department of Health.

  The sale is expected to be completed, subject to approval, by September 2003.

  Student Work Placements
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many university students his Department and associated agencies have supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what his policy is on work placements; what plans he has to develop such schemes; and what his policy is on paying their university fees. [98532]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department supported nine undergraduate students in 2002–03 through the Windsor Fellowship Organisation—funded centrally. The Department only keeps records of centrally organised programmes and so there are no records held on ad-hoc work placement sponsorship. The information is shown in the table.
  884W

  Agency

  Number of student sponsored in the last year

  NHS Pensions Agency

  0

  NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency

  0

  NHS Estates Agency

  2

  Medicines Device Agency

  0

  Medicines Control Agency

  0

  For the national health service, medical undergraduates undertake placements in a clinical setting during the third to fifth years of their degree courses. The Department reimburses NHS organisations for the additional costs they incur in providing such placements, of which there were 11,400 in 2001–02.

  The NHS does not collect information on when NHS non-medical pre-registration students undertake their practice placements. As a general rule, NHS students are required to undertake practice placements which account for approximately 50 per cent. of the university course and these are unpaid.

  All pre-registration non-medical NHS students have their personal tuition fee met from departmental funds. Course tuition fees are also met by work force development confederations through the contracts they hold with universities.

  In the 2001–02 financial year, the number of preregistration nursing and midwifery students was 54,313 and the number of pre-registration allied health profession, dental hygienist and dental therapist students was 15,178.

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