Written Answers of 13 March 2003

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  AIDS
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what meetings she has had with pharmaceutical companies to discuss AIDS in developing countries. [102738]

  Clare Short
  My Department continues to give greater priority to prevention, but we also place great emphasis on reducing the personal, social and economic impact of illness and disease caused by HIV/AIDS. The fight against HIV/AIDS has to incorporate effective public health responses that engage in education, prevention, care and support, impact mitigation and related development concurrently. For any of these programmes to be successfully implemented, broad multi-sectoral approaches are crucial.

  I have regularly met representatives of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), AstraZeneca and Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries (ABPI), as a result of their involvement in the high level working group on increasing access to essential medicines for AIDS, TB and Malaria.

  Officials from my Department have been in extensive dialogue with representatives of these companies and MERCK, a member of the US PHARMA industry association, around taking forward the reports' recommendations in a number of initial countries. We will continue to have a dialogue with them and other key actors in the pharmaceutical industry in the lead up to the G8 summit in Evian later this year.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's strategy is for tackling AIDS. [102812]

  Clare Short
  My Department's HIV/AIDS strategy focuses on the following key areas:

  building political leadership;

  building national capacity;

  tackling the underlying causes of vulnerability;

  maximising the contribution of all sectors;

  supporting work across the prevention, treatment, care and impact mitigation continuum;

  supporting the development of knowledge generation.

  A copy of our HIV/AIDS strategy is available in the Library of the House.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department is doing to co-ordinate an international strategy for tackling AIDS in the developing world. [102813]
  354W
  Clare Short
  The Declaration of Commitment adopted by 189 delegations at the twenty-sixth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in June 2001 sets out a global consensus on action necessary to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Within this framework, my Department is working in partnership with governments, international agencies, the private sector, NGOs and others to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of combating HIV/AIDS.

  Ethiopia
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on food security in Ethiopia; and what assessment her Department has made of the number of people who have died as a result of food shortages in Ethiopia in the last 12 months. [102748]

  Clare Short
  The overall response to the humanitarian crisis has so far averted mortality that could be directly attributed to levels of starvation. However, low levels of nutrition predispose people to disease, which can raise mortality rates. For this reason, we are working with the Ethiopian Government and other donors to provide assistance with health, water and sanitation in addition to food.

  Forestry (Africa)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the UK position on the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Conference in April. [101325]

  Clare Short
  The Under-Secretary of State for International Development will make a statement of the UK position at the Africa Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial in April.

  Global Health Fund
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the(a) performance and (b) future funding of the Global Health Fund. [102814]

  Clare Short
  The primary role of the fund is to provide drugs and commodities for the prevention and treatment of AIDS, TB and Malaria. Wherever possible the Global Fund should be providing support behind strategies that help deliver sustainable improvements in health care. The fund has strong founding principles in this regard, but performance to date to this end has been mixed.

  The UK Government have pledged $200 million over five years to the fund, $80 million of which has been disbursed. In addition we have committed over £1.5 billion since 1997 to support the development of health systems in poorer countries. Strengthening such systems is vital if drugs are to be safely and sustainably supplied to the poor. Our future support for the Global Fund will depend on its effectiveness. It is one of several possible instruments designed to improve basic health care in poor countries.

  International Organisation for Migration
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has to increase its funding to the International Organisation for Migration. [101715]

  Clare Short
  My Department has no current plans to increase funding to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). To date, DFID's funding of IOM has principally been for practical programmes aimed at improving IOM's capacity in the area of emergency response and preparedness. We will continue to consider any proposals put to us in this or other areas of mutual interest such as research in the field of migration and development. In addition, DFID is responsible for paying half of the UK's annual subscription to IOM. This will continue.

  Uganda
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the reports of a ceasefire by the Lord's Resistance Army. [102808]

  Clare Short
  Both Government and Donors have greeted this announcement with cautious optimism. President Museveni has responded by ordering the Ugandan Army to pull back from frontline positions in one area for a period of five days so that religious leaders, traditional leaders, and a Government peace team can hold face-to-face talks wit h the LRA. It is too early to say what will come out of this process but we are hoping for positive developments so that this terrible conflict might be brought to an end.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of reports by the UN WFP on malnutrition in children in Anaka and Pabbo refugee camps in northern Uganda; and how much aid she is giving in response. [102809]

  Clare Short
  An estimated 800,000 people have been displaced by this conflict in northern Uganda. Access to these groups is often difficult due to insecurity, but we are aware that the malnutrition rates in Anaka and Pabbo displaced persons camps are of grave concern. To date DFID has provided £2.5m for humanitarian needs including £.1.6m to the World Foocl Programme for the emergency purchase and distribution of food supplies. This food, along with other donor contributions, is now being distributed in Pabbo and An aka as well as other camps in northern Uganda. The DFID office in Uganda remains in close touch with agencies working in the area and is continually re-assessing the situation.

  Uzbekistan
  Mr. Pope
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she will make to the Government of Uzbekistan on its human rights record when she chairs the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development meeting in Tashkent. [102191]

  Clare Short
  The EBRD's new strategy for Uzbekistan clearly states the concerns about the situation in Uzbekistan and the need for progress 356W
  with economic and political (including human rights) reforms. The strategy also sets out seven key benchmarks for political (including human rights) and economic progress, and states that the bank will monitor progress towards these benchmarks after one year.

  At the annual meeting I will seek to ensure these messages are delivered strongly, so as to encourage the Uzbek authorities to undertake essential economic and political reforms, which will enhance the country's economic growth, attract investment and reduce poverty.

  Central Asia is a region of desperate poverty, of high levels of debt and corruption, and of deteriorating infrastructure and public services. We hope that the EBRD Annual Meeting will focus international attention on the region, and will provide a forum for a full and open discussion of the need for progress in achieving economic and political transition, tackling poverty, strengthening the investment climate, increasing regional co-operation and improving human rights.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development regarding human rights in Uzbekistan. [102247]

  Clare Short
  EBRD's new two-year strategy for Uzbekistan clearly states the need for improvements in the human rights situation. Encouraging progress with economic and political (including human rights) reform is a central part of the bank's work and the UK Delegation at EBRD has been closely involved in the bank's discussions on Uzbekistan. In addition I have met EBRD's President Lemierre twice in the last six months to discuss the EBRD Annual Meeting, and conditions in Uzbekistan and Central Asia more widely.

TRANSPORT

  Beddingham Level Crossing
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the decision-making process and timescale involved in the proposal to install a double barrier at the level crossing at Beddingham on the A27; what weight is being given to the views of the(a) local county and district councils and (b) the constituency hon. Member; what assessment is being made of the traffic conjunction implications of the proposal; whether the proposal is being considered in conjunction with the separate proposal to construct a flyover over this crossing; and if he will make a statement. [102819]

  Mr. Jamieson
  An application for an Order has been made under the Level Crossing Act 1983 for a full barrier crossing at Beddingham. In accordance with the legislation the draft Order has been sent to all affected local authorities, including the highways authority. The Secretary of State for Transport will consider all representations made against this draft Orde—including the impact on road traffic—before making a decision on the way forward. The consultation period
  357W
  closes on 1 April but the likely timeframe for decisions will be dependent on the level and content of the representations received. Careful consideration will be needed before any final decision on the way forward is made. Decisions related to the long-term future of the crossing will be taken within the context of decisions on the south coast multi-modal study. There is in any case a need to consider the short-term safety issues at Beddingham, which is the purpose of the consultation relating to the draft Order.

  London Transport Schemes
  Martin Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department and its predecessors spent on transport in London in each of the last five years; and what plans he has to finance new London transport schemes in 2003 to 2008. [100895]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The figures show the Treasury's analysis of public expenditure on Road and Transport in London taken from the annual Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA).

  £ million

  1997–98

  1,394

  1998–99

  1,436

  1999–2000

  1,366

  2000–01

  1,396

  From 2001/02 onwards, the Government's spending on transport in London, and its plans for the future are laid out in Table A1.1 of Annexe 1 to "Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report", published in December 2002. These are shown as follows:

  £ million

  2001–02

  1,597

  2002–03

  2,189

  2003–04

  2,716

  2004–05

  2,579

  2005–06

  2,504

  2006–07

  2,616

  2007–08

  2,690

  Decisions on individual schemes in London are a matter for the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). London will also benefit from improvements to the National Rail network.

  Ministerial Speeches
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules govern the placing of(a) speeches and (b) notes for speeches by Ministers of his Department (i) on his Department's website and (ii) in the Library. [102193]

  Mr. Spellar
  Ministers address a very wide range of audiences in the course of business.

  Key speeches, such as mark a significant development in, or are significant new statements of policy, are placed on the departmental website. Copies of such speeches will be placed in the Library of the House on request.

  Notes for speeches are not placed on the website or in the Library.
  358W
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003,Official Report, column 290W, on ministerial speeches, if he will place a copy of the notes from which he spoke in the Library. [102340]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have not kept a copy.

  Motorways
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the annual maintenance costs of English motorways in each year from 1985–86 to 2005–06 (planned); if he will provide such estimates, broken down for each such motorway; and if he will make a statement. [101533]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Separate totals for maintenance for years 1985–86 to 1990–91 are not available because accounts for those years were not published at that level of detail. Maintenance costs for 1991–92 onwards are available, but the costs are not split between motorways and other trunk roads, or by individual motorway. Listed in the table is the overall maintenance expenditure by the Highways Agency and its predecessor for each year since 1991–92.

  £ million

  Financial year

  Total cash maintenance expenditure

  1991–92

  482

  1992–93

  539

  1993–94

  584

  1994–95

  595

  1995–96

  615

  1996–97

  550

  1997–98

  582

  1998–99

  641

  1999–2000

  726

  2000–01

  736

  2001–02

  711

  2002–03

  1740

  2003–04

  2748

  2004–05

  2822

  2005–06

  2824

  1 Budget.

  2 Planned.

  Railways
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train carriages have been ordered in the last four years; how many carriages are expected to be ordered before 2010; and if he will make a statement. [100296]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Since 1999, 2,832 vehicles have been ordered. Over 1,500 have already entered passenger service and the rest are expected to do so by 2005. Future orders are primarily a matter for train operating and rolling stock leasing companies. However, the Strategic Rail Authority's rolling stock strategy, now being developed, aims to assess future rolling stock needs and co-ordinate the ordering process.

  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by his Department in the last year of the security arrangements at railway stations; and which have been assessed, listed by station operator. [102198]
  359W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department for Transport's security inspectors regularly monitor the security arrangements at railway stations to ensure that the requisite standards are being met.

  For obvious reasons, it will not be appropriate to detail the assessments carried out at particular stations.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to take to improve perceptions of safety among users of railway transport. [102228]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department is currently looking at good practice to improve personal security on trains. Part of this work includes considering the perceptions of passengers.

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the performance of Silverlink train services from Hatch End and Headstone Lane stations into Euston(a) before 1997 and (b) since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [102285]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the performance of the Chiltern Line services from Sudbury Hill and Northolt Park into central London since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [102286]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Strategic Rail Authority publish performance statistics for all train operating companies in their quarterly National Rail Trends publication and their six-monthly "On Track" publication. The figures for each operator are not broken down to route level, but reflect the performance of their services in aggregate. The latest edition of "National Rail Trends" was published on Wednesday 12 March and copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Road Safety
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on accepting road safety research conducted overseas as being valid for the United Kingdom; and whether this policy is applied in other parts of his Department. [102217]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The road safety research programme takes account of research conducted overseas through literature reviews and collaborative projects under the EU Framework programme. Our vehicle standards research feeds into international collaborative agreements where the combined research effort of all participants is used. Every attempt is made not to duplicate research unnecessarily, but the validity of results from research in other countries needs to be assessed to ensure that they are relevant in British road conditions and under our legal and regulatory system. A similar approach is taken in other parts of the Department.

  London Underground
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Metronet contract will be signed; and when the Mayor of London will take over responsibility for the London Underground. [102392]
  360W
  Mr. Jamieson
  London Underground Ltd. has agreed final commercial terms with Metronet for the remaining two public-private partnership transactions, and expects final completion of the transactions to take place this spring.

  The Government intend to transfer London Underground Ltd. to Transport for London as soon as possible after completion of those transactions.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Nuclear Reactors (North Korea)
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether BNFL remains contracted to build two nuclear reactors for North Korea; and if she will make a statement. [100984]

  Mr. Wilson
  BNFL has no contractual commitments to provide two nuclear reactors for North Korea.

  However, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, a BNFL subsidiary, has provided technology and supplied components for a number of nuclear plants in South Korea. Westinghouse is under contract with companies in South Korea to manufacture components and to provide system design consulting, in respect of the light-water reactors to be supplied to North Korea by the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organisation (KEDO).

  KEDO is an international organisation formed and funded by the Governments of the United States, South Korea, Japan, the European Union and others. The organisation is responsible for supplying two light-water reactors under the 1994 agreed framework negotiated between the US Government and the North Korean Government.

  Equipment being supplied by Westinghouse for the KEDO projects is subject to US export controls and requires US Government authorisations prior to export.

  British Energy
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library a copy of the British Energy restructuring plan at the same time as it is submitted to the European Commission under state aid rules. [101996]

  Mr. Wilson
  No. The submission to the European Commission of the restructuring plan relating to British Energy, which was made on 7 March, contains commercially sensitive information. As such, it is exempt from disclosure under Exemption 13—Third Party Commercial Confidences of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the(a) safety and (b) operational performance of British Energy, following the report of the World Association of Nuclear Operators. [102164]

  Mr. Wilson
  I understand the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) review was requested by British Energy, and like all such reviews is confidential
  361W
  between the company and WANO. The Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations' Inspectorate (HSE/NII) welcomes and supports any critical self-examination of health and safety performance by nuclear licensees. The HSE/NII respect the fact that these WANO peer assessments are confidential, although I understand British Energy have briefed the HSE/NII on the main recommendations of the report. The HSE/NII would expect to be informed of any initiatives of relevance to the safe operation of its sites being taken in response to the WANO recommendations.

  Car Batteries
  Mr. Burnett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance she gives on the disposal of motor car batteries; and if she will make a statement. [102399]

  Mr. Wilson
  The UK has an excellent record for recycling automotive batteries and it is estimated that close to 90 per cent. are currently recycled, with the vast majority going to the lead smelters at H.J. Enthoven in Derbyshire and Britannia Refined Metals in Kent.

  Many local authority civic amenity sites offer collection facilities for automotive batteries and some garages and vehicle accessory stores also participate in collection schemes. Consumers facing difficulties in finding out about the nearest collection point for automotive batteries should contact their local authority. In no circumstances should automotive batteries be disposed of with household waste.

  Coal Miners' Compensation
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the liability of licensed small coal mines to contribute to coal health compensation claims. [101836]

  Mr. Wilson
  Licensed small mines have liability together with British Coal for respiratory disease and vibration white finger. The Small Mines Federation is negotiating with the Department and the claimants' solicitors about accession to the claims handling agreement for respiratory disease. Discussions are ongoing with regard to appropriate tortuous dust levels, job dust factors and respirator factors. The issues involved are complex, but a good measure of progress has been made and the Department is pressing for a further meeting on 19 March. Small mines already contribute to compensation under the separate claims handling agreement for vibration white finger.

  Compulsory Purchase
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many properties have been compulsorily purchased by(a) the UK Atomic Energy Authority and (b) the Coal Authority in each year since 1999. [101828]

  Mr. Wilson
  The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has not undertaken any compulsory purchases in this period. For its part the Coal Authority does not have compulsory purchase powers.

  Electricity
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the transmission losses of electricity in the UK in 2002, broken down by supplier; and what percentage of total electricity supplied this represents. [101690]

  Mr. Wilson
  Data on electricity losses in 2002 are not yet available. In 2001 total losses of electricity were 30,900 GWh. It is estimated that about 5,600 GWh of this were lost from the high voltage transmission systems and 25,300 GWh (just under 7 per cent. of supply) between the grid supply points an customers meters. As part of its consultation paper on electricity distribution losses OFGEM have published the following figures for losses as a percentage of electricity supplied for each distribution network operator (DNO) in 2000–01. OFGEM have commented that there are many inherent differences in the design and load characteristics of each DNO. Nevertheless, it is not clear that these differences are sufficient to account for the variable performance of distribution companies.

  Distribution network operator

  2000–01(%)

  Eastern

  7.1

  East Midlands

  6.0

  London

  7.3

  Manweb

  9.1

  Midlands

  5.4

  Northern

  6.6

  Norweb

  6.2

  Seeboard

  7.6

  Southern

  7.2

  South Wales

  7.2

  South Western

  7.9

  Yorkshire

  6.6

  Scottish Power

  7.2

  Hydro Electric

  9.1

  Average

  9.1

  Employers' Liability Insurance
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what her estimate is of the number of construction and roofing companies working without employers' liability insurance; [102322]

  (2) what information she has given to members of the public about the risks of exposure to the activities of construction companies that are involved in accidents without employers' liability insurance. [102324]

  Mr. Wilson
  The HSE is responsible for ensuring compliance with ELI rules. Non-compliance is monitored by means of periodic checks undertaken by Workplace Contacts and HSE's Health and Safety Inspectors. Their estimate for non-compliance based on the level of notices to produce and prosecutions for all employers, not just construction and roofing contractors, under employers' liability compulsory insurance HELC—is low, less than 1 per cent. A breakdown of this figure for construction and roofing firms is not available.

  Employers' liability insurance relates to the cost of compensating workers for injury or illness which their employer is liable for. It has no direct relevance to third parties such as members of the public.

  Export Licences
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export licences were given to UHDE Ltd. of Hounslow to export equipment for the Falluja II chlorine plant mentioned in the Government dossier on Iraq's military programmes of September 2002. [102729]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I deeply regret that previous Administrations have not considered it appropriate to publish information on individual licensing decisions. Information on export licences issued prior to May 1997, where the end users were in Iraq, is not held centrally and a manual search of all the case files would incur disproportionate cost. Details of all relevant export licences since 2 May 1997 are published in the Government's annual reports on strategic export controls. Copies of the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 annual reports are available in the Libraries of the House. The 2002 annual report will be published in due course.

  The details of this particular case were, however, published in the 1996 report of the inquiry into the export of defence equipment and dual-use goods to Iraq and related prosecutions. The then Vice Chancellor, the right hon. Sir Richard Scott (now the noble Lord Scott of Foscote) concluded that
  "Such equipment as would need, under the contract, to be exported from the UK was not export licensable".
  A copy of the 1996 Scott report is available from the Libraries of the House.

  Nuclear Liabilities
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what resources have been committed in support of her Department's Liabilities Management Unit; what developments have taken place towards the creation of a nuclear liabilities management authority; and if she will make a statement. [101998]

  Mr. Wilson
  By the end of the current financial year, the Department will have spent approximately £9.5 million in support of the Liabilities Management Unit (LMU).

  As announced in the Queen's Speech, the Government will publish draft legislation later this year. This will set out the legal basis for creating the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (formerly the Liabilities Management Authority—the new name better reflects the Authority's role but its remit remains the same). We will also publish at the same time draft memoranda of understanding between the NDA and the nuclear regulators and a draft NDA management statement, setting out the basis of the relationship between the NDA and the Government.

  In the meantime, I can report that good progress is being made in preparing the ground for the NDA. The LMU is developing a comprehensive understanding of the liabilities on legacy sites and working closely with BNFL and UKAEA and the nuclear regulators in a number of important areas including the development of comprehensive long term decommissioning plans for all the legacy sites. My officials are also actively seeking out and talking to relevant and interested stakeholders, in particular through regular meetings with
  364W
  stakeholders at regional level. The first round of these meetings is focusing on explaining progress to date and identifying the issues which stakeholders want to discuss. The second round, in the summer, will focus on how the NDA might work with stakeholders with a view to developing a draft stakeholder engagement framework that the NDA can build on once it is in place.

  Offshore Industry (TUPE Regulations)
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to secure protection under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employees) Regulations 1981 for those engaged in the offshore industry who are employed on the UK continental shelf; and if she will make a statement. [102842]

  Alan Johnson
  The offshore industry is not explicitly excluded from the coverage of the regulations. The regulations implement the EC Acquired Rights Directive, which states that it shall apply where and in so far as the undertaking, business or part to be transferred is situated within the territorial scope of the Treaty.

  The Government have been considering possibilities for the reform of the TUPE Regulations, but has no plans to make further provision specifically in relation to the continental shelf. We announced on 14 February 2003 that a public consultation will be launched in the first half of this year on draft revised regulations. All representations received in that consultation will be taken into account. The new regulations are expected to be in effect by April 2004.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Advertising Costs (Scotland)
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department spent on advertising in Scotland in each year since 1999 on(a) television, (b) newspapers, (c) radio, (d) magazines, (e) billboards and (f) sporting events. [102329]

  Alun Michael
  The Department has incurred no advertising expenditure in Scotland since its formation in June 2001.

  An analysis of the expenditure for each agency and non-departmental body sponsored by the Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Animal Movement
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to grant an exemption in relation to the six-day rule for animal movements for agricultural shows; [102569]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the potential loss of marketing opportunities for major breeders unable to move from show to show without an exemption for on-farm isolation. [102568]
  365W
  Mr. Morley
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in a written statement on 23 January 2003,Official Report, columns 20–23WS, that the standstill would be reduced to six days for cattle, sheep and goats with effect from 4 March, but with far fewer exemptions.

  The removal of most of the exemptions is a counter-balance to the increased risk created by the reduction in the standstill period. The much shorter standstill should make it possible for show organisers to arrange events so that breeders and others wishing to exhibit at shows can plan their movements to comply with the rules.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposal to restrict cattle movements to a 96-mile radius; and what impact this will have on those farmers who move animals for finishing purposes. [102793]

  Mr. Morley
  In a written statement on 23 January 2003,Official Report, columns 20–24WS, announcing the Government's decision to reduce the 20-day standstill to six days, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, stated that Defra would commission further work into the possibility of imposing a distance limit on the movement of animals through markets or making such moves subject to special licences. A figure of 150 kilometres was suggested.

  We will discuss this suggestion further with livestock auctioneers and the farming industry in order to obtain more information about the pattern of movements through markets and the likely impact of such a restriction before we reach a view on its merits.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the new arrangements for the restrictions upon animal movements, following the replacement of the 20-day rule, will be fully in place. [102794]

  Mr. Morley
  The Disease Control (Interim Measures) (England) Order 2003 and the Disease Control (Interim Measures) (Wales) Order 2003 both came into effect on 4 March 2003. The Orders reduced the 20-day standstill to six days for cattle, sheep and goats, and removed most of the previous exemptions from the standst

  We intend to consult soon on a number of further proposals aimed at improving biosecurity and disease detection, for possible introduction later this year.

  Avian Influenza
  Mr. Wiggin
  To> ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what compensation her Department will make available to farmers affected by avian influenza. [102363]

  Mr. Morley
  Schedule 3 to the Animal Health Act 1981 provides that, where the Secretary of State causes birds to be slaughtered, compensation for poultry that are not diseased shall be their value immediately before slaughter. No compensation is paid for diseased poultry.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which vectors carry avian influenza. [102364]
  366W
  Mr. Morley
  There are no known insect vectors of avian influenza. Avian influenza spreads by the movement of infected birds, products of infected birds and contaminated materials.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what symptoms are shown by poultry with avian influenza. [102365]

  Mr. Morley
  The clinical signs of avian influenza are variable and depend greatly on the characteristics of the particular virus involved, and on the species and age of the infected poultry.

  Infection of chickens with a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus typically causes severe respiratory signs, swelling of the head, blue discoloration of the wattles and comb and diarrhoea. Death may occur between one and seven days after first appearance of clinical signs.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which countries had outbreaks of avian influenza in(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002. [102369]

  Mr. Morley
  The Office International des Epizooties (World Animal Health Organisation) records that the countries that had outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the relevant years are as follows:

  2000

  Italy

  Pakistan

  2001

  Hong Kong

  Saudi Arabia

  2002

  Chile

  Senegal.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research into avian influenza she has commissioned. [102371]

  Mr. Morley
  The Veterinary Laboratories Agency undertakes on-going research into avian influenza. The main aims of this research are to:

  i) provide a rapid realistic diagnostic service for statutory tests;

  ii) provide an international reference laboratory service;

  iii) improve diagnostic methods of virus detection and characterisation;

  iv) improve our understanding of virus virulence, host range, host adaptation and disease pathogenicity; and

  v) improve our under standing of avian influenza epidemiology.

  The Veterinary Laboratories Agency is also about to co-ordinate a survey for avian influenza viruses in poultry and wild birds. All EU members states are being asked to carry out surveys in accordance with Commission Decision 2002/649/EC to provide information on the incidence strains of low pathogenicity, some of which may have the potential to mutate to high pathogenicity.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many veterinarians are available from the Government's veterinary service to deal with the outbreak of avian influenza. [102373]
  367W
  Mr. Morley
  At the present time, there is not an outbreak of avian influenza in Great Britain.

  There are currently 211 State Veterinary Service permanent Veterinary Officers (VOs) and 48 casual VOs (full-time equivalents) located throughout GB. These would be deployed to eradicate the disease as necessary. Additional veterinary resources could be commissioned in a similar manner to that set out in Defra's Foot and Mouth Contingency Plan, which is scheduled to be laid before Parliament in late March 2003.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance she gives on the treatment of chickens which do not die from avian influenza, but which are on infected farms. [102402]

  Mr. Morley
  EU Council Directive 92/40 lays down that once the presence of avian influenza has been officially confirmed on a holding, all poultry on that holding shall be killed without delay.

  Bathing Waters
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list those bathing waters where bathing water meets the EU mandatory standards, but do nor meet the advisory guidelines. [99253]

  Mr. Morley
  The bathing water compliance results in England for the 2002 bathing season were published on 11 November 2002. The News Release can be found on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/news/2002/021111a.htm. This release provides a link to a list of all the bathing waters in England that met the EU mandatory standards last year and those that also passed the more stringent guideline standards.

  Bird Registration Scheme
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress being made on the Bird Registration scheme. [102435]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 12 March 2003]Our consultation on the future of the Bird Registration scheme in autumn 2002 attracted over 400 responses from individuals; from groups and organisations known to have an interest in the scheme from central and local government organisations; and from police forces and other enforcement agencies.

  These responses have been carefully analysed and I intend to make an announcement shortly.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) research she has collated and (b) guidance she has given on the susceptibility of red deer to bovine tuberculosis; and what assessment she has made of the likely impact of bovine tuberculosis on the red deer herd on Exmoor. [102147]

  Mr. Morley
  The information is as follows.
  368W
  (a) Defra is funding the Central Science Laboratory to carry out research into the risk to cattle from wildlife species other than badgers in areas of high herd breakdown. The research project is proceeding according to plan and the findings will be published in due course.

  (b) Mycobacterium bovis is isolated almost every year from wild red deer specimens submitted to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency as part of the statutory requirement to notify suspect lesions in deer carcases. In 2002 there was one positive isolate from a red deer from Exmoor. There has been no formal assessment of the effect of bovine tuberculosis on wild deer populations.

  Statutory controls are in place to deal with bovine tuberculosis in farmed deer.

  Bushmeat
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of bushmeat seizures at UK ports over the past 12 months have resulted in a prosecution. [101351]

  Mr. Morley
  We are not aware of any prosecutions resulting from seizures of bushmeat at UK ports over the past 12 months.

  Prosecutions for offences relating to bushmeat can be brought under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species by HM Customs, and under the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) regulations by local authorities.

  Bushmeat forms only a very small proportion of reported seizures of products of animal origin—less than 2.5 per cent. Seizures are confiscated and destroyed.

  Domestic Abuse
  Margaret Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure the provision of facilities and services for victims of domestic abuse in remote rural areas. [97754]

  Alun Michael
  Policy responsibility for domestic violence, including provision of services for victims, lies outside my Department. However, the Government are committed to "rural-proofing" all their policies. The Department and the Countryside Agency work with other Government Departments to ensure that rural aspects of policies are addressed and to improve service delivery in rural areas.

  The Countryside Agency is working on two pilot initiatives. One is with Crime Concern and their local partners to quantify the nature and extent of domestic violence in rural Wiltshire and to implement innovative methods of early intervention, and the other with Save the Children UK to examine the impact of domestic violence on rural children in the West Midlands region.

  Rural Development
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many grants
  369W
  have been approved under the land-based schemes of the England Rural Development Programme since its inception; and what proportion of the total available budget this represented in each year. [102404]

  Scheme

  Total number of agreements

  Number of agreements approved between 2000–021,2

  Scheme budget 2000–06 (£ million)

  Countryside Stewardship Scheme

  13,858

  6,290

  481

  Environmentally Sensitive Areas

  12,300

  1,677

  330

  Organic Farming Scheme

  n/a

  1,085

  141

  Woodland Grant Scheme

  32,748

  7,058

  139

  Farm Woodland Premium Scheme/Farm Woodland Scheme

  10,059

  2,389

  77

  Energy Crops Scheme

  n/a

  31

  32

  Hill Farm Allowance2

  n/a

  9,953

  254

  1 Figures for number of approved agreements are provisional as some agreements for 2002 remain to be processed. Agreements entered into before 2000 are excluded.

  2 For Hill Farm Allowance, figure relates to number of payments made on claims received in 2002 rather than agreements approved over the years 2000 to 2002.

  It is not possible to compare the value of approved agreements in a given year directly with the budget for that year, because (a) the majority of agreements under the land based schemes are for commitments lasting 10 years or more and with payments made annually; (b) first payments under individual agreements may not always be made in the same year as the agreement is approved; and (c) much of the current budget for land based schemes is expended on commitments entered into before the ERDP began in 2000.

  In financial year 2000–01, 83 per cent. of the total budget available for the ERDP land-based schemes was spent, and in financial year 2001–02, 89 per cent. of the total budget available for the ERDP land-based schemes was spent.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to(a) encourage the take-up and (b) speed up the processing of grants for land-based schemes of the England Rural Development Programme. [102405]

  Alun Michael
  All ERDP schemes are being promoted both at national and regional level through joint working with partner organisations, at events such as agricultural shows and other public events, news releases and local publicity, and workshops for potential applicants.

  Alun Michael
  In addition, a number of initiatives are in place to encourage uptake of particular ERDP land-based schemes. For example, the opening of the 2003 Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) application window was announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 7 November 2002 and applications have been encouraged through advertisements in the national farming press. In order to increase the number of farmers converting to organic production methods, the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) will be relaunched from May 2003 with a new option that allows payments to be made (over a five year agreement) for the management of organically farmed land in an environmentally beneficial way. In addition, steps are under way to improve the take up of the Energy Crops Scheme (ECS), which supports the establishment of short rotation coppice and miscanthus as renewable energy sources. The Government have allocated
  370W
  The following table shows the number of ERDP agreements approved under the land based schemes since the Programme began in 2000, and the total programme budget for each scheme.

  £66 million to the development of end markets for such crops, and £3.5 million for improvements to the fuels supply infrastructure. We will also be reviewing the rules in respect of the co-firing of energy crops with coal.

  The payment of some claims has recently been delayed due to the need under EU regulations to cross-check land-based scheme agreements against the IACS database. Steps have now been taken to speed up the processing of applications and payments through the streamlining of administrative procedures. In addition, a simplified claim form for CSS payments was introduced last year, to significantly ease the burden on beneficiaries. Also, to allow more time for the preparation of CSS applications, the application window has been opened two months earlier than in previous years. Over the longer term, major reviews of both the agri-environment and forestry schemes are considering ways of rationalising and simplifying existing arrangements. To this end a pilot of the Entry Level Scheme, which is designed to encourage a large number of farmers across a wide area of farmland to deliver simple yet effective environmental management on their farms, was launched on 27 February. Together with the introduction of new IT systems in Defra, the Rural Payments Agency and the Forestry Commission, these developments should lead to significant improvements in the speed and efficiency of land-based scheme administration.

  Forestry Commission Disposals
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many disposals of land(a) under 100 acres and (b) over 100 acres have been completed by the Forestry Commission in (i) Scotland, (ii) England and (iii) Wales. [101739]

  Mr. Morley
  The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by Forest Enterprise. I asked its Chief Executive, Dr. Bob McIntosh, to arrange a written response.

  Letter from Bob McIntosh to Mr. Peter Duncan, dated March 2003:
  I refer to your question asking the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for details of sales of Forestry Commission land.
  371W
  I set out below details of the number of cases of forestry land sold this financial year.

  (40 hectares)

  Country

  Under 100 acres

  Over 100 acres

  Scotland

  15

  5

  England

  6

  1

  Wales

  1

  1

  I hope that you will find this helpful.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her policy towards Forestry Commission disposals of land to(a) community purchase and (b) smallholding farmers. [101742]

  Mr. Morley
  The Forestry Commission operates a sponsorship scheme by which bodies with environmental responsibilities or interests and local communities may be given a preferential opportunity to acquire surplus property which has been identified for sale and which has either a recreational, conservation or amenity interest or is of interest to a local community for their social and economic development.

  Communities may purchase such surplus on condition that they gain sponsorship from the relevant Government Department or Agency. The sponsorship is, in effect, a statement from the Department or Agency certifying that a sale direct to the community would be more in the public interest than selling the land on the open market. The District Valuer determines the sale price.

  There is no specific policy in respect of sales of land to Smallholding Farmers. However, the Commission usually sells surplus agricultural land on the open market. Where the land is tenanted, the farmer would be given a prior opportunity to purchase.

  GM Crops
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations with Government the Food Standards Agency undertook before embarking on the GM public debate. [100864]

  Mr. Meacher
  The Food Standards Agency announced its plans to involve consumers in debating issues related to GM food last July and has kept both Government and the Public Debate Steering Board fully informed of progress since then.

  Dairy Products (Imports)
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list dairy products which if brought into the UK by international travellers are considered to be a health risk by the "Don't Bring Back More Than You Bargained For" campaign; and what risks are associated with each. [101268]

  Mr. Morley
  Passengers entering the United Kingdom from third countries are prohibited by EU and domestic law from bringing in for their personal consumption, milk and milk products.
  372W
  These prohibited products include, milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt, ghee, and milk powder.

  In terms of animal health, exotic viral diseases that can be transmitted in milk include Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest and Peste des Petits Ruminants. Heat treatment or other processing could destroy some or all of the virus present in the product but there remains the possibility of recontamination after production.

  In terms of human health, there is no definitive list of dairy products that may be considered to be a health risk. All food products that are not subject to stringent health and hygiene controls may be contaminated with bacteria or undesirable chemicals. The Food Standards Agency has responsibility for human food safety matters.

  Uncontrolled animal products (including dairy products) pose an increased risk to human and animal health in general terms primarily due to their perishable nature and association as vectors of both animal disease and human pathogens.

  Light Pollution
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to curb light pollution; and if she will make a statement. [101186]

  Alun Michael
  We included nuisance lighting options in our "Living Places—Powers, Rights, Responsibilities" consultation paper. That consultation exercise closed on 14 February. We are in the process of analysing the responses received in order to decide how to proceed.

  Poultry Meat imports (Brazil)
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has made representations concerning the non-compliance of Brazil with EU residue testing and veterinary certification requirements. [101571]

  Mr. Morley
  Following the detection of nitrofurans in poultry meat imported from Brazil, the EU has introduced legislation requiring all consignments of poultry meat from Brazil to be tested to ensure that the products concerned do not present a hazard to human health. No poultry meat from Brazil is permitted to enter the community unless the results of these checks are favourable. Any poultry meat that tests positive for nitrofurans or their metabolites will be destroyed.

  The UK has implemented the provisions of this decision. The European Commission is engaged in discussions with the Brazilian authorities and my Department is monitoring the situation.

  All meat imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where it is subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport.
  373W
  If during the documentary check, a problem is found with the accompanying veterinary certification, appropriate action will be taken.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the import into the UK of whole turkeys from Brazil at below production cost. [101573]

  Mr. Morley
  My colleagues and I, and the Department, have received two letters on this subject, and the broader question of imports of poultry meat from third countries has been discussed with several stakeholders in recent weeks.

  Noise Emissions
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the EU Directive relating to noise emissions from outdoor equipment. [102475]

  Mr. Wilson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The EC noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors Directive was adopted by the European Parliament and Council on 3 July 2000 as Directive 2000/14/EC. Its purpose is to harmonise national laws of member states regarding noise emission limits and labelling requirements at the manufacturing stage.

  The Directive was implemented into UK law by The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/1701) made under the European Communities Act 1972.

  The Directive and implementing UK Regulations apply to 57 types of equipment for use outdoors ranging from construction machinery to lawnmowers that require noise emission measurements to be taken and to fix labels showing the "guaranteed" noise levels of each machine. In addition the Directive and implementing UK Regulations set noise limits for 22 of the 57 types of equipment that are intended to be first placed on the market or taken into service as an entire unit.

  Equipment is subject to conformity assessment, as with other European Directives of this type. Certain types of equipment, is subject to third party assessment by a Notified Body. In the UK these organisations are appointed by the Secretary of State, according to certain minimum criteria laid down in the Directive and Regulations, following an assessment by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. A manufacturer or his authorised representative established in the Community may use the services of Notified Bodies in any of the other member states.

  Once conformity assessment has been completed and provided that the equipment subsequently complies with the provisions of the Directive and any other applicable Regulations, the manufacturer will be required to affix the CE marking together with the indication of the guaranteed sound power level.

  Enforcement of the UK Regulations is carried out by the Vehicle Certification Agency. The penalties for non-compliance range from the issuing of suspension notices to imprisonment or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the
  374W
  standard scale. It should be noted, however, that the VCA are seeking to work with manufacturers to help them comply properly, as well as taking enforcement action in justifiable cases.

  Non-Bovine Carcases
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to support farmers with the cost of collection of non-bovine animal carcases from 1 April. [101768]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 7 March 2003]: The Government are already voluntarily contributing nearly £30 million annually for the collection and disposal of fallen stock for TSE testing purposes. The Government have been discussing with the livestock industry how we can build on the arrangements that are already in place to develop a wider service for collecting fallen stock when the new animal by-products regulation banning burial comes into force from 1 May. Any further progress is dependent upon the willingness of the livestock industry to make a financial contribution to a national scheme.

  Pesticides
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many pesticides are(a) approved for use in the UK, (b) approved for use in the UK but not for use in the European Union and (c) manufactured in the UK and approved for use in third countries but not in the UK or the EU; and when each was approved for use in (i) the UK, (ii) the EU and (iii) third countries. [101270]

  Mr. Morley
  At present there are approvals for 4,112 individual pesticide products in the UK. The number of active substances for which there are one or more approved products is currently 336.

  There are two active substances that are approved for agricultural use in the UK but not for use in other member states. Differences in approvals between countries can arise because different approval conditions are applied or because commercial approvals are not sought in all countries. A spreadsheet (named the 'Indicative list') giving details of pesticides approved in each member state can be found on the Commission's website at: http://europa.euant/comm/food/fs/ph_ps/pro/eva/existinq/index_en.htm

  The Government do not hold this information, as the UK's pesticide legislation does not extend to the manufacture of pesticides or to those pesticides intended solely for exportation from the UK. Neither do the Government have information on the details of pesticides approved for use in the third countries or information on when each pesticide was approved for use in the EU and third countries. Within the UK pesticides have been approved for use under the Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) since October 1986.

  Raptor Protection
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to deregulate raptor protection. [99616]
  375W
  Mr. Morley
  There are no plans to deregulate raptor protection. All wild birds, including raptors are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, I recognise the problems presented by birds of prey to game bird managers and pigeon fanciers, and believe the recommendations from the Raptor Working Group's final report, published in 2000, will provide an integrated solution to the problems presented by birds of prey in these particular sectors.

  Work is already being taken forward by the country conservation agencies, and other organisations, and includes research in Scotland examining levels of pigeon predation, at lofts and release sites and during races, and testing the feasibility of using radio tags to follow pigeons when training or racing, I look forward to hearing the results. In addition, English Nature has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Moorland Association on addressing the issue of raptor predation in the uplands.

  Implementation of the Working Group's report's recommendations in Scotland and Wales is of course a matter for the devolved Administrations. Nevertheless, I have asked the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to report generally on progress.

  Copies of the Raptor Working Group report are available from the Library of the House.

  Regional Government
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the administrative cost of the Countryside Agency to each Government Office of the Region was in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03. [103016]

  Alun Michael
  The Countryside Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body funded directly by Defra and it does not impose any costs on the Government Offices.

  Ducks
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her Written Ministerial Statement on 3 March 2003,Official Report, column 71WS, how much additional money she will be spending on future research work into the ruddy and white-headed duck populations. [101381]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 March 2003]The Department has completed the ruddy duck control trial and will spend an additional £100,000 this financial year on research work into refining control methods for the ruddy duck. Further research will be undertaken in 2003–04. Final decisions have not yet been taken on the allocation of the research budget, but the expected expenditure is around £250,000. We also propose to participate in a white-headed duck workshop to be held later this year in Morocco. The workshop will consider various control methods used on ruddy ducks throughout Europe and North Africa.

  Illegal Meat Imports
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sniffer dogs are being used to detect illegal meat imports at UK airports and ports; and where they are used. [102157]
  376W
  Mr. Morley
  We are running a six-month pilot with two detector dogs, based at Heathrow airport. They are working in baggage, cargo and mail areas, and have been tested in a number of locations.

  Noise Mapping Project
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the national noise mapping project, launched on 12 December 2002, will include the regular sounding of horns by trains at particular points on rail lines. [102530]

  Alun Michael
  The information being collected for the noise mapping project considers the level of noise on the basis of the 16 hour day, 4 hour evening and 8 hour night period, when averaged over a year.

  The initial stage of the project does not consider short-term noise events such as the regular sounding of horns by trains.

  Train drivers are required to sound their horns at level crossings and on the approaches to tunnels to give extra warning of the approach of trains to those who may wish to cross or are working on the track. This is done on the grounds of safety.

  Trees
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase plantation of trees to boost the supply of wood available as fuel in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [101291]

  Mr. Morley
  Forestry is a devolved matter, and the policies for tree planting in Scotland and Wales are therefore the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government respectively.

  We are committed to increasing the use of renewable energy. This includes the use of woodfuel from both traditional woodland and short rotation coppice. There is already considerable scope for increased sustainable harvesting for woodfuel in existing woodland in England, and we also expect the area of woodland to continue to increase at its current rate of around 5,000 hectares per year. Support for woodland creation is provided by the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, while the Energy Crops Scheme offers financial incentives for the establishment of short rotation coppice as woodfuel. A review of the support for woodland creation has been carried out, and the results will be published in the spring.

  Turkey Meat
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has commissioned in the last two years into the UK turkey meat market. [101570]

  Mr. Morley
  None. However, digests summarising technical research in the poultry sector were published by ADAS in November 2001 and April 2002. The aim of the review was to publish poultry research findings of interest to the poultry industry. The reports cover turkey production, marketing, nutrition, welfare and
  377W
  meat quality, and are available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/poultry/techtransfer/index.htm

  Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. [101975]

  Mr. Meacher
  We have received representations from numerous stakeholders including local authorities, dismantlers, retailers, manufacturers and small businesses.

TREASURY

  Working Hours
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in(a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales work less than 16 hours a week. [102780]

  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. Nigel Evans, dated 13 March 2003:
  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about people who work less than 16 hours a week by country of residence. (102780)
  The attached table gives the information requested for the three-month period ending November 2002. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). They are not seasonally adjusted.

  People who work less than 16 hours a week by country of residence1—United Kingdom—September to November 2002

  Thousands, not seasonally adjusted

  UK

  2,422

  England

  2,084

  Wales

  98

  Scotland

  190

  Northern Ireland

  50

  1 Total usual weekly hours worked in main job, including paid and unpaid overtime.

  Note:

  These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates are Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA) and have not yet been adjusted to take account of the Census 2001 results.

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey

  Accountancy Services
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002. [101568]

  Ruth Kelly
  This information is not held in the format required, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Advertising Costs (Scotland)
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department spent on advertising in Scotland in each year since 1999 on(a) television, (b) newspapers, (c) radio, (d) magazines, (e) billboards and (f) sporting events. [102335]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information is as follows:

  Customs and Excise

  HMCE spends 1999–2002 by Media Scotland only

  £

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Total

  TV

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Newspapers

  —

  26,966.00

  45,466

  11,716.61

  84,148.61

  Radio

  —

  —

  20,128.95

  7,897.45

  28,026.40

  Magazines

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Billboards

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Sporting events

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  TOTAL

  —

  26,966.00

  65,594.95

  19,614.06

  112,175.01

  Valuation Office Agency

  The detailed breakdown requested is not available. However, the total amount spent on advertising in Scotland was as follows:

  £

  Total spent on advertising

  19991–2000

  35

  2000–01

  0

  2001–02

  0

  2002–03

  1146.87

  1 To date

  Inland Revenue

  It is not possible to separate out costs for all media as this is generally bought on a UK wide basis. Where this is possible separating out spending for Scotland would incur disproportionate costs.

  National Savings and Investments

  National Savings and Investments spends 1999–2002 by Media Scotland only

  £

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Total

  TV

  218,466

  —

  —

  —

  218,466

  Press

  13,245

  3,510

  6,107

  18,183

  41,045

  Billboards

  —

  —

  —

  38,316

  38,316

  Radio

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  TOTAL

  231,711

  3,510

  6,107

  56,499

  297,827

  Source:

  DDS, Outdoor Connection

  The figures for press relate only to Scottish newspapers.

  Royal Mint

  The Royal Mint advertises in the UK media but does not currently break down spend geographically below this level.

  No expenditure was incurred by the Treasury, the Office for National Statistics, the Office of Government Commerce, the Debt Management Office and the Government's Actuary's Department.

  Economic Instruments
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the selective use by the EU of economic instruments where the aim is to influence environmental behaviour. [102473]

  John Healey
  Economic and market-based instruments are one of the range of instruments that can be used to influence environmental behaviour. As stated in the European Economic Reform White Paper 'Realising Europe's Potential', published in February 2002, the Government are in favour of the use of such instruments at Community level where these are most appropriate.

  The voluntary agreements with car manufacturers on carbon dioxide emissions from new cars and the forthcoming EU Emission Trading Scheme are good examples of the community, with the Government's support, developing economic and market-based instruments where these are most appropriate to address environmental issues with a strong trans-boundary or single market dimension.

  Generally, the Government will only allow departures from member states' freedom to set tax rates and bases where there are strong, specific reasons for the UK to do so which would otherwise be undermined by a lack of community level action. For example, the Government recognise that there are strong and specific reasons to agree common approaches to tackle climate change. Otherwise, for example, businesses could relocate within the EU to member states that did not tax the causes of climate change—thereby not reducing climate change at all.

  For this reason, the Government are prepared to agree to the proposed EU energy products directive that would increase the minimum rates of duty on road fuels within the EU and introduce minimum rates on some other energy products. This proposal is currently being discussed in Brussels and the Government expect that agreement will be reached on it shortly. However, the Government believe that member states should be free to tax more than the minimum rates if they wish to do so.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he takes to ensure that his use of economic instruments is consistent with sound environmental practice; if proposals for tax changes are always subject to prior environmental impact assessment; and if he will make a statement. [102474]

  John Healey
  The Chancellor takes account of all relevant social, economic and environmental factors when deciding taxation policy. The environmental impacts of Budget measures are taken into account in the Budget decision-making process. The impacts of any measures which have a significant environmental effect are published in the Budget and pre-Budget report documents.

  The document 'Tax and the environment: using economic instruments', published with the 2002 pre-Budget report, sets out how the Government use an evidence-based approach based on an assessment of costs and benefits when developing environmental policy measures.

  Founation Hospitals
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what request he has recently made to the Office of National Statistics in relation to confirming the correct accounting treatment for the classification of the borrowings of foundation hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [101620]

  Mr. Boateng
  [holding answer 10 March 2003]Treasury officials consult ONS about the national accounts treatment of new institutions as a matter of routine. Treasury officials sent a letter to ONS on the 3 February 2003 with the full involvement of DH officials. This was a routine inquiry and not undertaken by Ministers.

  Fuel Tax
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he has taken of the trends in relative transport costs of(a) car, (b) bus and (c) train over the last 30 years in determining his policy on fuel tax for private vehicles. [102480]

  John Healey
  The Chancellor takes into account all relevant social, environmental and economic factors when setting road fuel duty rates.

  IT Projects
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies including(a) the start date, (b) the planned completion date, (c) the current expected completion date, (d) the planned cost and (e) the current estimated cost; and if he will make a statement. [98223]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information has been placed in the Library.

  Landfill Tax
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to enable the administration of the new landfill tax credit scheme. [102343]

  John Healey
  From 1 April 2003 the landfill tax credit scheme will be capped at a value of around £47 million per year for spending on local community environmental projects, ensuring that the current level of support for these projects is maintained. The Government have been considering the detailed administration and criteria for the successor scheme in consultation with stakeholders and are considering how the management of the scheme might be improved to ensure greater transparency and accountability, more attention to value for money, and better evaluation of projects. The Government will set out their plans for reform on a Budget timetable.

  Pension Funds (Tax Treatment)
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposal in his consultation document on the tax treatment of pension funds for a £1.4 million limit on tax exempt pension in savings includes(a) funded public sector schemes and (b) unfunded public sector schemes. [100795]
  381W
  Ruth Kelly
  The Government consultation paper, "Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions: Increasing Choice and Flexibility for All", proposes a framework of benefit rules that would apply, from the date of its introduction, to any pension scheme, whether in the public or private sector, that wished to utilise pension tax privileges. The consultation period allows people to put forward their views before final decisions are taken.

  Waste Management
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy that revenue from landfill tax be recycled to business to improve waste management performance. [102730]

  John Healey
  As announced in the 2002 pre-Budget report, the Government are consulting with stakeholders on a revenue-neutral proposal to increase the landfill tax escalator to £3 per tonne in 2005–06 and to increase the rate of the tax by at least £3 per tonne in future years, on the way to a medium to long term rate of £35 per tonne. It is the Government's intention that these increases will be introduced in a way that is revenue neutral to business as whole. Decisions on how to achieve this will announced as part of the Budget process, taking account of views from stakeholders.

DEFENCE

  International Military Services
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has examined with regard to the claim by the Government of Iraq that International Military Services supplied(a) materials, (b) expertise and (c) other types of support for the development of (i) missiles and (ii) rocketry. [98869]

  Mr. Hoon
  International Military Services ceased trading on 31 July 1991. Any transactions prior to that date will have been governed by our arms export policy at the time.

  A400M
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected unit price is of each A400M aircraft; and what effect on that price the withdrawal of Portugal from the project involves. [102574]

  Mr. Ingram
  I am withholding the unit price information in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to third party's commercial confidences. The withdrawal of Portugal had no effect on the unit price.

  Al Yamamah Deal
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 12 February 2003,Official Report, column 737W, on the Al Yamamah deal, when he estimates that the Al Yamamah programme will cease to have a significant impact on British jobs and exports. [101924]
  382W
  Mr. Ingram
  Al Yamamah is an on-going programme with no specific end point. Because of its importance for British jobs and exports, we look forward to providing continuing and long-term support for the equipment already delivered.

  AWACS
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) establishment and (b) strength is of weapons controller personnel on the E3D AWACS fleet. [102575]

  Mr. Ingram
  The establishment for weapons controllers on the E3D AWACS fleet on 1 March 2003 was 33. The trained strength on the same date was 23. The shortfall of 10 being recently established posts that have still to be filled.

  Biological/Chemical Warfare
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what communications he has had with his United States counterparts since 5 February in respect of the United Kingdom opposition to(a) incapacitants and (b) irritant chemical agents in warfare. [102074]

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the United States administration about the British Government's policy on the use by British armed forces of incapacitant and calmative weapons, and irritant chemical agents during wartime. [102414]

  Mr. Hoon
  None.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the compatibility of disabling nerve agents with international obligations governing chemical weapons. [101941]

  Mr. Hoon
  [holding answer 10 March 2003]The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the development, production and use of all toxic chemicals (both lethal and incapacitating) and their precursors, except where they are intended for purposes not prohibited under the Convention, as long as the type and quantities are consistent with such purposes.

  Council Tax Rebates
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the Armed Forces on deployment are entitled to council tax rebates; and if he will make a statement. [102516]

  Dr. Moonie
  All Service personnel who own a private property remain liable to pay council tax on their own property to the local authority concerned. Council tax rebates are a matter for local authorities and it is for them to interpret the regulations concerning "sole or main residence". In reaching their decision they consider case law arising from earlier council tax appeals, which takes various factors into account including the amount of time spent at a property, whether it is the family home, and security of tenure.

  Foreign Warships
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what foreign warships have been involved in Royal Naval training exercises in UK domestic waters in the past two years. [102572]

  Mr. Ingram
  Royal Navy operational sea training, is recognised as a world leader. In the past two years, 129 warships from 15 nations undertook training with or were trained by the Royal Navy in UK domestic waters. Details are as follows.

  Nationality

  Name Of Unit

  Type of training

  Year

  Bangladesh

  Kapatappa

  OST1

  2002

  Belgium

  Westdiep

  OST

  2001

  Belgium

  Lobelia

  JMC2

  2001

  Belgium

  Godetia

  JMC

  2001

  Belgium

  Crocus

  JMC

  2001

  Belgium

  Wielingen

  JMC

  2001

  Belgium

  Westdiep

  JMC

  2001

  Canada

  Halifax

  JMC

  2001

  Canada

  Ursula

  OST

  2001

  Denmark

  Saelen

  JMC

  2001

  Denmark

  Skaden

  JMC

  2001

  Denmark

  Viben

  JMC

  2001

  Denmark

  Hvidbjornen

  JMC

  2002

  Finland

  Rubis

  JMC

  2002

  France

  La Fayette

  OST

  2002

  France

  Cdr Blaison

  JMC

  2001

  France

  De Grasse

  JMC

  2001

  France

  Marne

  JMC

  2001

  France

  S M Le Bihan

  JMC

  2001

  France

  Siroco

  JMC

  2001

  France

  Croix Du Sud

  JMC

  2001

  France

  Latouche Treville

  JMC

  2002

  France

  Primauguet

  JMC

  2002

  France

  Le Henaff

  JMC

  2002

  France

  Orion

  JMC

  2002

  France

  Styx

  JMC

  2002

  France

  Le Henaff

  JMC

  2002

  France

  Com L'herminier

  JMC

  2002

  Germany

  Augsburg

  OST

  2002

  Germany

  Brandenburg

  OST

  2002

  Germany

  Bremen

  OST

  2002

  Germany

  Emden

  OST

  2001

  Germany

  Frankfurt Am Main

  OST

  2002

  Germany

  Freiburg

  OST

  2001

  Germany

  Karlsruhe

  OST

  2001

  Germany

  Luetjens

  OST

  2001

  Germany

  Mecklenburg

  OST

  2001

  Germany

  Vorpommern

  OST

  2002

  Germany

  Schleswig Holstein

  OST

  2001

  Germany

  Lubeck

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Augsburg

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Bremen

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Rhon

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Fulda

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Rhein

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Bad Bevensen

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Walchensee

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Greif

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Kondor

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Habicht

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Hermelin

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Kormoran

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Elbe

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Molders

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Lutjens

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Spessart

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Karlsruhe

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  U22

  JMC

  2001

  Germany

  Mecklenburg

  JMC

  2002

  Vorpommern

  384W

  Nationality

  Name Of Unit

  Type of training

  Year

  Greece

  Bouboulina

  OST

  2002

  Greece

  Callisto

  OST

  2001

  Greece

  Elli

  OST

  2002

  Greece

  Limnos

  OST

  2001

  Guyana

  Essequibo

  OST

  2001

  Netherlands

  Abraham Van Der Hulst

  OST

  2001

  Netherlands

  Bloys Van Treslong

  OST

  2001

  Netherlands

  Jacob Van Heemskerk

  OST

  2001

  Netherlands

  Van Galen

  OST

  2002

  Netherlands

  Van Nes

  OST

  2001

  Netherlands

  Van Speijk

  OST

  2002

  Netherlands

  Walrus

  OST

  2001

  Netherlands

  Van Amstel

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  Makkum

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  Schiedam

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  Vlaardingen

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  Bruinvis

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  Vlaardingen

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  Bruinvis

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  Scheveningen

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  J V Heemskerk

  JMC

  2001

  Netherlands

  Harlingen

  JMC

  2002

  Netherlands

  Middelburg

  JMC

  2002

  Netherlands

  Van Nes

  JMC

  2002

  Netherlands

  Walrus

  OST

  2002

  Netherlands

  Walrus

  JMC

  2002

  Netherlands

  Maassluis

  JMC

  2002

  Netherlands

  Willemstad

  JMC

  2002

  Netherlands

  Bruinvis

  OST

  2002

  Norway

  Uredd

  JMC

  2001

  Norway

  Bergen

  JMC

  2001

  Norway

  Maaloey

  JMC

  2001

  Norway

  Utstein

  JMC

  2001

  Norway

  Narvik

  JMC

  2001

  Norway

  Uthaug

  JMC

  2001

  Norway

  Trondheim

  JMC

  2002

  Norway

  Uredd

  JMC

  2002

  Norway

  Utvaer

  JMC

  2002

  Poland

  Orzel

  OST

  2001

  Poland

  Orzel

  JMC

  2002

  Portugal

  Corte Real

  OST

  2001

  Portugal

  Vasco De Gama

  OST

  2001

  Portugal

  Corte Real

  JMC

  2001

  Spain

  Reina Sofia

  JMC

  2001

  Spain

  Extremadura

  JMC

  2001

  Spain

  Patino

  JMC

  2001

  Spain

  Canarias

  JMC

  2002

  Spain

  Santa Maria

  JMC

  2002

  Spain

  Patino

  JMC

  2002

  Spain

  Orion

  JMC

  2002

  Sweden

  Gavle

  OST

  2002

  Sweden

  Goteburg

  OST

  2001

  Sweden

  Kalmar

  OST

  2001

  Sweden

  Vinga

  OST

  2001

  Sweden

  Vinga

  OST

  2002

  Sweden

  Arholma

  OST

  2002

  Sweden

  Gotland

  JMC

  2001

  Sweden

  Goteburg

  JMC

  2002

  Sweden

  Kalmar

  JMC

  2002

  Sweden

  Visborg

  JMC

  2002

  USA

  Winston Churchill

  OST

  2001

  USA

  Enterprise

  JMC

  2001

  USA

  Arctic

  JMC

  2001

  USA

  Philippine

  JMC

  2001

  USA

  McFaul

  JMC

  2001

  USA

  Hampton

  JMC

  2001

  USA

  Samuel E Morison

  JMC

  2001

  USA

  Anzio

  JMC

  2002

  USA

  Cape St. George

  JMC

  2002

  USA

  Conneticut

  JMC

  2002

  USA

  Mahan

  JMC

  2002

  1 Operational Sea Training

  2 Joint Maritime Course

  Frigates
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether warships will be re-allocated to Atlantic Patrol (North) duties following the deployment of HMS Iron Duke in support of operations in Sierra Leone. [102573]

  Mr. Ingram
  Outside the hurricane season, May to November, the unit assigned to APT (N) is routinely at 14 days notice to be in the Caribbean theatre. HMS Iron Duke demonstrated, during her transit from the Caribbean to Sierra Leone, that she is well within that 14-day notice period. It is not planned to supplement the APT (N) unit at the present moment.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational status is of HMS Montrose. [102552]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 March 2003,Official Report, column 1040W to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the complement is of HMS Newcastle; and whether she is fully crewed. [102551]

  Mr. Ingram
  The complement of HMS Newcastle is 249. 16 posts are gapped, but she is currently carrying 22 personnel under training. Her current strength is therefore 255.

  Kuwait
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of water by troops stationed in Kuwait for personal hygiene; and what estimate he has made of the amount of water military personnel will consume per day. [102252]

  Mr. Ingram
  Water for the personal hygiene of troops deployed in Kuwait is being provided under a joint UK/US arrangement. This provides for showers and ablutions. No specific consumption rates are being applied. Bottled drinking water is provided at a rate of six litres per person per day. All personnel are advised to ensure that they adhere to the recommended consumption levels in order to avoid the effects of dehydration.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press officers from his Department he has sent to Kuwait in each of the last eight weeks. [102248]

  Mr. Ingram
  In the eight weeks since 13 January, the Department has deployed two press officers—defined as members of the Government Information and Communication Service—to Kuwait. The first officer departed during the week beginning 24 February and the second in the week beginning 3 March.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what menus are being used for troops stationed in Kuwait; and what plans he has to place troops on food rations. [102251]

  Mr. Ingram
  A wide variety of menus are available for troops stationed in Kuwait to ensure that they receive the required daily calorific intake and a balanced nutritional diet. Troops currently receive a hot meal for 386W
  both breakfast and evening meal, while lunch comprises a US ration pack ready-to-eat meal provided under a joint US/UK arrangement. Operational ration packs have been deployed for use, if necessary and as required, in the event of any military action.

  Manning Control Reviews
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been(a) recommended for manning control review, (b) subsequently discharged after a review and (c) transferred to s-type contracts in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [102443]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 December 2002,Official Report, column 13W, which explained that the number of Army personnel who have been recommended for Manning Control Point review is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Only two individuals have been discharged under Queens Regulations for the Army paragraph 9.413, 'Not required for a full Army career', in the last 12 months. Both discharges occurred in April 2002 and neither individual has been re-engaged nor transferred to an s-type engagement.

  Naval Deployment
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the tasks are of(a) 800 and (b) 801 NAS. [102570]

  Mr. Ingram
  800 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons are currently engaged in non-operational tasking. Both squadrons are undertaking routine training and participating in routine exercises, at home and abroad, to maintain their capabilities in readiness for future tasking as required.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of Naval Service personnel are(a) deployed and (b) warned to deploy. [102553]

  Mr. Ingram
  Approximately 26 per cent. of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines trained strength are currently on a range of operational deployments. On current plans, a further 13 per cent. are warned to deploy, including personnel warned for fire-fighting duties.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the French warships, Aconit and Primauguet, will join up with Naval Task Group 03. [102550]

  Mr. Ingram
  The French Ship (FS) Primauguet was integrated into the Naval Task Group (NTG) 03 between the dates 17 to 29 January 2003. There is currently no plan for FS Primauguet to re-integrate with the Task Group. While FS Aconit did participate in NTG 2000, there was never any intention for her to participate in NTG 03. A French Minehunter, FS Cassiopee, is currently assigned to Operational Armilla in the Gulf under United Kingdom Operational Command.

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which operational warships are not(a) deployed on operations, (b) warned to deploy for operations, (c) preparing to deploy for operations, (d) allocated to

  387W
  duties for Atlantic Patrol (North), Atlantic Patrol (South) and the Armilla Patrol, (e) held in port as part of Operation Fresco and (f) at sea because crew are on leave. [102565]

  Mr. Ingram
  Of the ships available for operations for the remainder of this year, HMS GRAFTON is not currently operational, warned to deploy on operations, preparing to deploy for operations, allocated to duties for Atlantic Patrol (North), Atlantic Patrol (South), the ARMILLA Patrol, held in port as part of Operation FRESCO or operational but not at sea due to crew on leave. A number of ships warned for operations later in the year are currently in United Kingdom waters or alongside in the UK undergoing training or maintenance or in support of Op FRESCO. These ships could be made available for alternative tasks if priorities changed.

  NBC Regiment
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) establishment and (b) strength is of the Joint NBC Regiment. [102555]

  Mr. Ingram
  On the 1 February 2003 the strength of the Joint NBC Regiment was 498 against an establishment of 343. These figures reflect the fact that the Joint NBC Regiment has been augmented for Operation Telic.

  Operation Telic
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on under-18s serving on Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement. [102578]

  Dr. Moonie
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 March 2003,Official Report, column 1053W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe).

  Operational Welfare Package
  Tony Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to allow to family and friends of service personnel deployed in operations to send a limited number of parcels to them at no charge, as part of the operational welfare package. [102698]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Ministry of Defence recognises that an affordable, regular and reliable postal service is vital for morale and consequently a high priority is given to achieving this. For operational reasons there is very limited transport capacity available for mail both into the Gulf region and for onward carriage within theatre. A parcels service is, therefore, not offered within the mail element of the Operational Welfare Package for Operation Telic, and only letters and packets within the weight and dimension limits of the air letter service can be accepted, the maximum weight being two kilograms. The charge for a two kilogram packet is £6.89, which is the same as the United Kingdom inland first class letter rate. This is the limit of the concession currently approved and complies with the principle that Service personnel should not be disadvantaged by being deployed overseas.

  Public Relations Agencies
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on public relations agencies in the last year for which figures are available; which public relations agencies are retained by each service; and for what reasons such agencies are retained. [102548]

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

  However, since 1999–2000, Ministry of Defence's public relations expenditure has been published in the annual Departmental Performance Report, broken down into categories of RN, Army, RAF and civilian recruitment, PR, marketing and business support services, Chief of PR, sales promotion, scholarships and National Employers' Liaison Committee. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Rail Mail
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investment the MOD has made in the(a) Rail Mail and (b) MOD equivalent in each of the last five years. [102421]

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what agreement is in place between Royal Mail and MOD for MOD use of the Rail Mail, and if he will place a copy in the Library. [102422]

  Mr. Ingram
  I assume that the hon. Member refers to the system known as "Mail Rail" which the Ministry of Defence does not use, and for which it has no requirement and no investment in this system. No MOD equivalent exists.

  Reservists
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists called up for duty in connection with Operation Telic have failed to respond to call up papers; and what plans he has for legal proceedings against reservists who have gone absent without leave. [102554]

  Dr. Moonie
  The Reserve Forces Act 1996 (RFA 96) requires reservists who are served with a call-out notice to report for service at a specified time and place. Should a reservist fail to comply with a call-out notice, the Ministry of Defence will attempt to resolve administratively cases where an individual has inadvertently failed to comply with call-out instructions. This includes checking address information and sending a follow-up notice by recorded delivery. However, should it become apparent that the individual has deliberately failed to comply, a formal investigation will take place that may result in the reservist being charged with desertion or absence without leave. Such cases will be reported to the civil police and will be tried in a civil court. As at 10 March only one reservist is believed to have deliberately failed to report for service.

  There are separate arrangements for conscientious objectors.
  389W
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many NHS personnel(a) resident and (b) working in Eastbourne have received notice that they may be called up for active service; and what are their positions in the NHS. [91195]

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists have been called up who are employed at(a) Chorley hospital, (b) Preston hospital, (c) hospitals in the north-west and (d) hospitals in the UK. [100682]

  Dr. Moonie
  Generally, reservists are not required to provide details of their civilian employment to the Ministry of Defence until such time as they are called-out. Historically, therefore, no central records have been maintained by the MOD of the numbers of reservists working in the NHS as doctors, nurses, paramedics and other professionals allied to medicine.

  As at 6 March, 1,065 medical reservists in the Volunteer Reserve Forces had been sent call-out papers. Of these, 509 are understood to be working in the NHS. Information detailing the specific NHS Trusts these individuals work for is not available centrally. In addition, 166 medical reservists from the Regular Reserve have been sent call-out papers. None of these are understood to be employed in the NHS.

  The MOD is working with the Department of Health to minimise disruption to the NHS as far as possible.

  RFA Sir Galahad
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) the date of original build completion, (b) the date of acceptance into service, (c) the anticipated date of decommissioning, (d) the number of crew, (e) the stores-carrying capacity and (f) the ownership of RFA Sir Galahad. [102513]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information requested for RFA Sir Galahad is contained in the table:

  Build completion date

  1987

  Date of acceptance into service

  1987

  Planned decommission date

  2005

  Crew complement

  51 RFA, 20 Embarked force

  Approximate stores capacity

  Ammunition and cargo: 900 m3 vehicles: 15 Challenger tanks, 33 eight-tonne vehicles, 23 drop vehicles, 72 Land Rovers or 26 20-foot containers on the tank deck; 33 eight-tonne vehicles, 74 Land Rovers or 40 20-foot containers on the vehicle deck

  Ownership

  MOD

  Riot Control Agents
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether it is the British Government's policy to forbid British armed forces from handling riot control agents such as CS gas and pepper spray during wartime; [102413]

  (2) what the British Government's policy is on British armed forces taking part in joint military operations with other countries where riot control agents are used. [102412]
  390W
  Mr. Ingram
  The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the use of riot control agents as a method of warfare. United Kingdom armed forces will comply with their obligations under the Convention. The Government expect that other states parties to the Convention will likewise comply with their obligations under the Convention.

  Sea Harrier
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Sea Harrier aircraft are being used in the quick reaction alert role. [102580]

  Mr. Ingram
  No.

  Tornado
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the(a) establishment and (b) strength is of Tornado F3 navigators. [102576]

  Mr. Ingram
  On the 1 March 2003 the establishment for navigators on the Tornado F3 was 112. The trained strength on the same date was 90. The figures include senior officer appointments on frontline squadrons and the operational conversion unit.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Advertising Costs (Scotland)
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Department spent on advertising in Scotland in each year since 1999 on(a) television, (b) newspapers, (c) radio, (d) magazines, (e) billboards and (f) sporting events. [102330]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information at the level of detail requested is not available. Where it is possible to disaggregate figures for advertising in Scotland, the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Advisory Panel on Country Information
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 10 February 2003,Official Report, column 537W, on the Advisory Panel on Country Information, what progress has been made to date in setting up the Panel; and what his timetable is for appointing (i) the chairman and (ii) the members of the Panel. [102452]

  Beverley Hughes
  We have identified a number of eminent organisations that we expect will be interested in being represented on the Advisory Panel. The appointment of the chairman and members of the panel will take place during 2003.

  Carter Inquiry
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report of the Carter Inquiry, with extracts that are deemed commercially confidential removed. [100901]

  Hilary Benn
  A summary of the key recommendations was published on 27 February.
  391W
  As we have made clear, the report took the form of advice to Ministers, including advice on matters that are commercially confidential. As such, the report would not be in a form suitable for publication, even if the commercially confidential material were removed.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether disciplinary action has been taken against officials(a) in his Department and (b) in the Passport Service UK as a result of the Carter Inquiry. [101391]

  Hilary Benn
  No. The Independent Review Team was asked to look to the future and identify the long-term changes necessary to further improve the performance of the Criminal Records Bureau; it was not asked to conduct an inquest.

  Juvenile Prisoners
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children Lnder 18 in 2002 were made subject to category A status in prison when they were(a) remanded and (b) sentenced; [101255]

  (2) how many children under the age of 18 were held in category A security conditions in prison in 2002, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender, (c) ethnicity and (d) location. [101256]

  Hilary Benn
  [holding answer 10 March 2003]: In 2002, four 17-year-olds were received into Prison Service accommodation and made the subject of category A procedures. Two of them were sentenced during 2002. Of the two, one was first held at Altcourse and then transferred to Moorland as a Restricted Status prisoner upon sentencing. The other was held in Highdown and had his security categorisation downgraded upon sentencing later in 2002. Of the remaining two, one was received into Woodhill and the other into Belmarsh. Both remain on remand. With regard to their ethnicity, two were white, one black and one of Algerian origin.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 17 January 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Roz Hughes; [100687]

  (2) why he has not replied to the letter to him dated 16 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Roz Hughes [102186]

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

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letter of 11 December 2002 from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells regarding Mr.Hoi Kam Tang. [101875]

  Beverley Hughes
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 13 March 2003.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells of 10 December 2002 and 13 January 2003 regarding Mr. and Mrs. Yurchenko. [101876]
  392W
  Beverley Hughes
  I wrote to the hon. Member on 13 March 2003.

  Commission for Racial Equality
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the Commission for Racial Equality was in the last year for which figures are available; what value for money assessment he has made of its work; and if he will make a statement. [99806]

  Beverley Hughes
  The total operating cost of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) for 2001–02 was £20,465,894 of which some £19,340,000 was provided in grant in aid.

  The most recent quinquennial review of the Commission for Racial Equality was completed in 1996–97. The quinquennial review which was programmed to take place in 2000–01 was delayed to enable the then new Chair of the Commission to become established in post and introduce a modernisation programme to enable the Commission to meet its new responsibilities under the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000. As the Government are currently examining the feasibility of establishing a single equality body we do not anticipate conducting a separate value for money assessment of the CRE at this time.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement of 27 February 2003,Official Report, columns 32–36WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, when he expects the independent executive agency to be created within the Home Office; how many additional staff will be needed; and at what additional cost. [101019]

  Hilary Benn
  The Criminal Records Bureau will be established as a separate executive agency as soon as practicable. As part of the process of establishing the Agency consideration will be given to the number of additional staff required and to the additional cost.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement of 27 February 2003,Official Report, columns 32–36WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, what steps he is taking to determine whether current systems in the CRB would he able to deal with the doubling in demand of criminal record checks. [101028]

  Hilary Benn
  As the report of the Independent Review Team made clear, a further programme of enhancement to the current IT system will be required in order to satisfy the demand for Disclosures. This will be pursued as part of the renegotiation of the contract with Capita.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement of 27 February,Official Report, columns 32–36WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, if he will define the needs of the intelligent customer function of the Criminal Records Bureau. [101029]

  Hilary Benn
  The precise details need to be settled, but the function would include setting standards for the end-to-end process, auditing them and, monitoring performance against them; contract management;
  393W
  identifying and specifying product changes; managing relationships with registered bodies, the police and other stakeholders; and handling complaints.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement of 27 February 2003,Official Report, columns 32–36WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, (1) what implications the increased requirement for bodies registered with the Criminal Records Bureau to verify applicant's identity will have for their public liability insurance; [101033]

  (2) what implications the increased requirement for bodies registered with the Criminal Record Bureau to verify applicant's identity will have for their public liability insurance. [101033]

  Hilary Benn
  We will address any evidence that may be presented to us on these matters, under the current consultation exercise on the recommendations of the independent review team.

  Under guidance issued by the Criminal Records Bureau, registered bodies are already required to verify the identity of persons, applying for a disclosure, in implementing the independent review team's second recommendation we are simply seeking to formalise this requirement. We are currently consulting registered bodies on the implications for them of recommendations and will consider any representations made about the impact on their insurance premiums.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2003,Official Report, columns 32–36WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, (1) how the reduction in the numbers of bodies registered with the Criminal Records Bureau will enable voluntary and community organisations more easily to access disclosures; [101035]

  (2) how many voluntary organisations the Independent Review Team into the Criminal Records Bureau consulted as part of their inquiry. [101034]

  Hilary Benn
  In the course of fieldwork for the review, representatives of two major voluntary organisations were interviewed. We have launched a consultation exercise on those recommendations of the review team that directly impact on the role of registered bodies. We expect that the sector, either through the Consultative Panel and Voluntary and Community Sector Working Group that we have put in place, or directly, will wish to make known its views on the implications of these recommendations, so that they can be fully taken into account.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Statement of 27 February 2003,Official Report, columns 32–36WS, on the Criminal Records Bureau, what the contractual consequences are for his Department with Capita of recommendation 7 of the Carter Inquiry. [101037]

  Hilary Benn
  This is a matter for the discussions that will take place to renegotiate the contract with Capita.

  Experience Corps
  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding the Home Office has provided to the Experience Corps. [101867]
  394W
  Beverley Hughes
  The funding for the Experience Corps amounts to a total of £19.9 million over three years to March 2004. To date they have received £11.67 million.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets the Government set for the Experience Corps; and what progress has been made towards those targets. [101868]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Experience Corps have been set the target to recruit 250,000 volunteers, reflecting the diversity of people over 50, by 2004. A further target requires that 90 per cent. of the volunteers have been active members over a three month period and that 40 per cent. of these are active over the period of a year in 2003–04. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 11 February 2003,Official Report, column 716W, which gives details of progress. The performance of the Experience Corps is currently being reviewed by the Home Office.

  Mr. Streeter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many volunteers the Experience Corps has recruited since its formation; how many of these are from ethnic minority communities; and on what basis each total is calculated. [101869]

  Beverley Hughes
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) on 11 February 2003,Official Report, column 716W, which gives details of volunteers recruited by the Experience Corps. The Experience Corps state that, as at 28 February 2003, over 60 per cent. of their volunteers are from ethnic communities. These figures are drawn from a database maintained by the Experience Corps. The performance of the Experience Corps is currently being reviewed by the Home Office.

  Haslar Removal Centre
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research has been commissioned by his Department into the operation of Haslar Removal Centre since February 2002; and if he will place copies in the Library. [102450]

  Beverley Hughes
  No specific research has been commissioned into the operation of Haslar Removal Centre. However, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons carried out a formal inspection of the Centre in February 2002. We expect the report of this inspection to be published in the near future.

  Immigration Detainees
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration detainees are being held in prisons. [102467]

  Beverley Hughes
  The latest available data on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act 1971 powers relate to 28 December 2002. As at that date, 215 persons (to the nearest five) were being detained in Prison Service accommodation of which 110 are recorded as having claimed asylum at some stage.

  The routine use of Prison Service accommodation for immigration detainees ended at the beginning of 2002, but it remains necessary to hold small numbers of

  395W
  detainees in prison for reasons of control and security. The figure of 215 may also include individuals who are held pending deportation on completion of custodial sentences.

  Information on Immigration Act detainees as at 29 March 2003 will be published on 30 May 2003 on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

  Muslims
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further action he is taking to prevent racially and religiously motivated attacks on Muslims; and if he will make a statement. [100584]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Government are committed to tackling hate crime regardless of what form it takes.

  The criminal law already contains a wide range of powers to deal with violent behaviour and harassment. This includes, under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the ability for courts to issue higher sentences to perpetrators of crimes motivated by racial hatred. These measures send a clear message that the Government will not tolerate these types of crimes.

  The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), working with the Government, have developed guidance for police forces on dealing with these types of crime (including racially and religiously motivated crime). This guidance is entitled "Identifying and Combating Hate Crime" and was last updated in April 2002.

  Additionally, ACPO has produced an Operational Guide for the Management of Inter Ethnic Conflict, which will ultimately aim to improve officers ability to understand, communicate and interact with the many diverse communities.

  The police service seeks to maintain strong links with representatives of Muslim communities. The Muslim Safety Forum, which brings together representatives of Muslim communities and the police meets every month to consider any issues of concern.

  Women's Prisons
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the report by the Youth Justice Board on the detention of teenage girls in women's prisons. [101344]

  Hilary Benn
  The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is responsible for the commissioning and purchasing of secure accommodation for under 18s and for the placement of individual offenders.

  On 18 February the YJB announced its intention to remove all under 17-year-old girls from Prison Service accommodation during 2003. There are currently no 15-year-old girls in Prison Service accommodation, and around 20 16-year-olds.

  This is in line with the commitment given by the then Home Secretary in March 1999 when he said that he intended to use the greater flexibility provided by the detention and training order to place sentenced 15 and
  396W
  16-year-old girls in available non-Prison Service accommodation. The detention and training order came into force in April 2000.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Courts (Salisbury)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he will announce plans for the co-location of the Crown court and magistrates court in Salisbury. [102183]

  Yvette Cooper
  Wiltshire magistrates courts committee and Wiltshire county council are undertaking a feasibility study into the provision of a new combined crown, county and magistrates court facility in Salisbury. Once this feasibility study has been completed (expected to be at the end of March); and the outline business case has been approved, which on current plans will be during April, an announcement on future plans will be made.

PRIVY COUNCIL

  Orders in Council
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council how many Orders in Council in 2002 were made under(a) the prerogative and (b) an Act of Parliament. [103042]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  A total of 526 Orders in Council were made in 2002, of which 372 were made under an Act or Measure and 154 were made under the Prerogative. The Orders approved at each Council meeting are listed on the Privy Council Office website (www.pco.gov.uk) and copies are placed in the Library of the House. The majority of Prerogative Orders related to the appointment of Ministers and Privy Councillors, the private affairs of Chartered bodies, and Channel Islands business. The majority of statutory Orders were confirmations of Church Commissioners' schemes under the Pastoral Measure 1983.

  Privy Council
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council how many times the Privy Council met in 2002; and how many privy councillors were present on each occasion. [103041]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  The Privy Council met on 14 occasions in 2002. Details are given in the table:

  Date of Council

  Number of Privy Councillors present

  14 January

  3

  23 January

  3

  12 February

  6 (of whom 2 were new Councillors attending to be sworn in)

  26 March

  6 (of whom 2 were new Councillors attending to be sworn in)

  17 April

  4

  22 May

  7 (of whom 3 were new Councillors attending to be sworn in)

  31 May

  5

  26 June

  3

  16 July

  7 (of whom 2 were new Councillors attending to be sworn in)

  397W

  Date of Council

  Number of Privy Councillors present

  22 October

  5 (of whom one was a new Councillors attending to be sworn in)

  29 October

  5

  5 November

  4

  20 November

  8 (of whom 4 were new Councillors attending to be sworn in)

  17 December

  6 (of whom one was new Councillors attending to be sworn in)

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Council on what basis privy councillors are selected to sit on ad hoc committees of the Council. [103043]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  Nowadays such committees are established only to consider petitions from bodies seeking a Royal Charter. Their business is conducted in correspondence. Those involved in the correspondence are those Privy Councillors with ministerial responsibility for the area of the body's activities and the Law Officers.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Further Education
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to establish a further education national training organisation. [102712]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Formal Government recognition of national training organisations, including FENTO, the further education NTO, ended in March 2002. This is part of a UK-wide transition to Sector Skills Councils representing wider employment sectors. FENTO continues to deliver a number of essential functions and has operated with assistance from the Sector Skills Development Agency and the department during this transition period.

  Good progress is being made towards developing an employer-led Sector Skills Council proposal covering the workforce in the higher education, further education, work-based and community-based learning sectors. This development will support the delivery of Success for All and the Higher Education strategy and enable employers to look strategically at the UK learning sector for the first time.

  Children's Centres
  Ms Coffey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with local education authorities about guidelines for the new children's centres. [102713]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  Officials have been taking forward detailed discussions with local authorities on this issue. The Sure Start Unit issued children's centre guidance to local authorities at the end of February. Prior to this, a series of stakeholder events were held to enable local authorities and other key partners to feed in their views. In the coming weeks officials will be meeting with every local authority due to receive children's centre funding, as they start their strategic planning.

  Higher Education
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the White Paper on higher education. [102714]

  Margaret Hodge
  The White Paper "The future of higher education" (Cm 5735) states that there will be discussions with the devolved Administrations about the impact on the other UK countries of the proposals for student and institutional funding for higher education institutions in England. Initial discussions between officials have already begun, and I expect them to continue over the coming months.

  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) assessed on the relationship between A level points scores and class of final degree; and if he will make a statement. [101041]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 10 March 2003]The Department has not commissioned research into the relationship between A level points scores and class of final degree. However, it has reviewed a number of research projects in this area including:

  i) "Determinants of degree performance in UK universities: a statistical analysis of the 1993 student cohort" by Jeremy Smith and Robin Naylor at Warwick University. This was published in 2001 in the Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 63, 29–60. It found that
  "…for women, an extra two points per A-level subject (i.e. one grade higher per subject) raises the probability of a good degree (at least an upper second class honours degree) by over 9 percentage points. There is a similar effect for men."

  ii) "School Performance and the Likelihood of getting into Bristol" by Jeff Odell in 1999. This found that, on the whole, of all the students who entered the University of Bristol with excellent A levels, those who came from weaker schools gained better degrees than the students from stronger schools.

  iii) "Gender Differences in Educational Attainment: The Case of University Students in England and Wales" by Robert McNabb, Sarmistha Pal and Peter Sloane was published in Economica in 2002. This found that A-level point scores have a strong positive effect on degree attainment.

  iv) "Who does best at university" HEFCE 2002 concluded that young full-time entrants with lower A level points scores are more likely to drop out, to repeat years and, if they graduate, they are less likely to get a good degree. The authors also argue that admissions tutors should be exploring new ways (in addition to A level attainment) to identify performance. This report can be downloaded from HEFCE's website at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/Learning/whodoes/. The HEFCE are continuing to refine and develop their analysis and a fuller report will be published later this year.

  v) "Fair Enough? Wider access to university by identifying potential to succeed". This was published in 2003 by UUK. It identified objective criteria to build on existing systems and more accurately predict applicants' potential, particularly those from backgrounds not

  399W
  traditionally associated with higher education. This can be downloaded from http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/fairenough/.

  Paul Holmes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with higher education institutions to ensure that they take account of changes to the curriculum proposed in "14 to 19: Opportunity for Excellence". [102710]

  Margaret Hodge
  Representatives from higher education were invited to each of the 58 regional consultation workshops on the 14 to 19 Green Paper, along with representatives from secondary education, further education colleges, employers and other stakeholders. Additional events were also held to discuss the proposals with representatives from higher education including a presentation of the proposals to the Universities UK main Committee of Vice Chancellors.

  The Working Group for 14 to 19 Reform, chaired by Mike Tomlinson, will consult a range of interested bodies, including higher education institutions, as it considers the longer-term agenda for change and develops its proposals for a new unified qualifications framework. The Group's membership includes two University Vice Chancellors.

  Our regional consultations on the White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", will include discussion of the development of more work-based degrees such as Foundation Degrees and progression from the 14 to 19 phase to higher education.

  Top-up Fees
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on top-up fees. [102715]

  Margaret Hodge
  From 2006, we will give universities the freedom to set tuition fees, up to a maximum of £3,000. Universities will set out in Access Agreements how they will safeguard and promote access when they set their fees.

  In addition, no student or parent will have to pay fees up-front. We will offer loans for fees, subsidised in the same way as the current maintenance loans, with a fair and equitable system of repayments.

  Emergency Planning
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he last issued guidance to schools on procedures in the event of a hostile biological or chemical incident. [102716]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  All schools in England have been made aware, most recently earlier this week, that they can get advice on emergency planning via the UK Resilience website. This includes advice on terrorism.

  First Aid
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to encourage the teaching of basic first aid to children in schools. [102717]
  400W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Basic Aid Training is included in the curriculum as part of the framework for Personal Social and Health Education. The aim is to ensure that young children are safe within and outside their school environment. In primary schools, children learn the rules relating to health and safety and basic emergency aid. In secondary schools, young people develop the skills to cope with emergency situations that require basic aid procedures including resuscitation techniques.

  School Results
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to improve secondary school results in coalfield areas. [102718]

  Mr. Miliband
  My Department has set a number of challenging targets aimed at raising the attainment of secondary school pupils in coalfield and other areas, including floor targets at Key Stage 2, 3 and GCSE level. In addition, my Department has targeted measures such as Education Action Zones and Excellence in Cities, to raise standards in particularly disadvantaged areas. These focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning, tackling social exclusion and providing support to families and pupils.

  Early-years Premises
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many early years settings have(a) opened and (b) closed in each year since 1973 for which information is available. [93431]

  Maria Eagle
  Information on the number of maintained nursery schools that have opened and closed each year is shown in the table. Figures are available from 1995 when the Department's database of educational establishments was created.

  Number of maintained nursery schools which opened and closed each year 1995 to 2002–England

  Closed

  Opened

  1995

  3

  1

  1996

  6

  1

  1997

  14

  0

  1998

  12

  2

  1999

  8

  1

  2000

  15

  2

  2001

  17

  3

  2002

  15

  2

  Information on other types of early years settings that have opened and closed since 1973 is not available.

  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 new free early years education places for three year olds. 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 place by April 2004.

  Education (Northampton)
  Mr. Tony Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) pupils and (b) teachers there were in Northampton in (i) primary,

  Maintained primary, secondary and middle deemed schools: full time equivalent number of teachers1 and pupils—position in January each year Northampton, North and South parliamentary constituencies

  Number of pupils

  Number of teachers1

  Primary

  of which middle deemed

  Secondary

  of which middle deemed

  Primary

  of which middle deemed

  Secondary

  of which middle deemed

  1998

  14,555

  0

  17,410

  8,442

  623

  0

  984

  428

  1999

  14,421

  0

  17,572

  8,540

  616

  0

  988

  422

  2000

  14,237

  0

  17,755

  8,463

  615

  0

  987

  423

  2001

  13,866

  0

  18,773

  8,453

  626

  0

  1,093

  431

  2002

  13,579

  0

  18,840

  8,343

  629

  0

  1,106

  428

  1 Includes qualified teachers and other teaching staff.

  Source:

  Annual Schools' Census

  Education Funding
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of his Departmental budget was spent on(a) pre-school education, (b) school age education up to sixth form level, (c) sixth form school and college education, (d) further education and (e) higher education in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement [99819]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The amount spent by the Department on various functions is set out in table 4.2 of the 2002 Departmental Report for the Department for Education and Skills (Command Number 5402).

  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the grants funded by his Department for which(a) LEAs, (b) primary and secondary schools, (c) further education institutions, (d) higher education institutions, (e) individual teachers and (f) students may apply; how much funding was made available in the last financial year; how many awards were made; and what their administrative costs were in each case. [99946]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department makes grant payments to a wide range of education, voluntary and private organisations. Organisations and individuals can also apply to and receive grants from our NDPBs and other agencies, for which we hold no central records. Therefore this question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003,Official Report, columns 164–65W, on pupil funding, for what reasons Havering receives lower funding than other London Boroughs for pupils aged (a) five to 10 and (b) 11 to 15; and what plans he has to increase funding for schools in Havering. [102049]

  Mr. Miliband
  In 2003–04, Havering's Education Formula Spending Share is increasing by 3.2 per cent. per pupil. In addition we will continue to provide Standards Fund grant funding for priority programmes to support improvements as in previous years: for 2003–04 Havering's Standards Fund allocation so far is
  402W
  (ii) middle and (iii) upper schools in (A) the latest period for which figures are available and (B) each of the past four years. [100799]

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

  £4.2 million not including the LEA contribution. Havering's schools will also continue to benefit from significant increases in the School Standards Grant.

  In 2003–04 Havering's average level of funding per primary pupil is £2,237. Its average level of funding per secondary pupil is £2,956.

  Overall, the per pupil funding in Havering is lower than in London authorities because it benefits less than other London authorities from those aspects in the funding formula which reflect the additional costs of recruiting and retaining staff in high-cost areas (the Area Cost Adjustment—ACA) and the additional costs of educating deprived pupils.

  The ACA for London has three values: 1.2624 (inner); 1.1447 (outer London west); and 1.0912 (outer London east). Havering receives the ACA for those in outer London east: its lower value reflects the lower general wage rates in outer London east compared with those in outer London west. On the measures of deprivation in EFSS, Havering is 10th out of the 13 outer London east authorities for both income support and the working families tax credit and has the lowest proportion of pupils with English as an additional language and low achieving ethnic groups.

  We recognise that the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body will place an additional burden on schools in Havering. Consequently our response to the STRB report proposes an additional grant for those London authorities with a low increase in their education formula spending share or a floor increase in their Revenue Support Grant. Havering's share will be £475,000: we intend to pay this grant in May; and the LEA will be required to pass it on to school budgets.

  Education Targets
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many education targets his Department has(a) introduced and (b) failed to attain since 1997. [102292]
  403W
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The Department publishes progress against all its outstanding PSA targets in its Annual Departmental Report and Autumn Performance Report. Progress against our CSR 98 targets was reported most recently in the 2002 autumn report, published in November 2002, together with commentary where appropriate. A copy of the report is available from the House of Commons Library.

  English Baccalaureate
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his assessment is of the impact of the proposed move towards an English baccalaureate on an optional foundation year of study after GCSE. [101883]

  Mr. Miliband
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 March 2003,Official Report, column 168W, in which we explained that we have asked a Working

  Calendar year of qualification2

  Modern languages

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  French

  800

  770

  1,070

  1,070

  1,050

  870

  3—

  German

  210

  200

  250

  250

  210

  200

  3—

  Spanish

  50

  70

  140

  140

  110

  130

  3—

  Other modern languages

  520

  560

  50

  50

  50

  70

  3—

  Total

  1,590

  1,590

  1,510

  1,520

  1,410

  1,260

  1,390

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

  2The data for 1995 to 2000 are from the INES Database of Teachers' Records (DTR). A new subject coding system was introduced in 1997 therefore the 1995 and 1996 subject breakdown within modern languages is not comparable with later years. The 2001 figure is taken from the Teacher Training Agency's (TTA) Performance Profiles because 2001 DTR data are not available. The subject breakdown within modern languages is not available For 2001.

  3 Not available

  GCSEs
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the GCSE results were of the pupils who did not achieve level 4 at Key Stage 2 in 1997. [102290]

  Mr. Miliband
  Of those pupils who attempted GCSEs in 2002 but had not achieved level 4 or above at Key Stage 2 in 1997, 12 per cent. achieved five or more GCSE grades A*-C and 83 per cent. achieved five or more GCSE grades A*-G.

  The answer is based only on pupils who attempted GCSEs as information on the percentage of pupils from KS2 who did not attempt GCSEs is not collected centrally.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many grammar schools there were in each education authority in(a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000. [102424]

  Mr. Miliband
  The numbers of grammar schools as defined under the 1998 School Framework Act in each education authority for the year 2000 are shown in Table 1. Prior to 1998 schools reported themselves as grammar schools in the Annual Schools' Census. Data from the Census for the years 1980 and 1990 are shown in Table 2. The data in the two tables are not directly comparable.
  404W
  Group chaired by Mike Tomlinson to take forward work on possible longer-term 14 to 19 developments, including a unified framework of qualifications for this age group. It would be premature at this stage to be developing specific baccalaureate models before the Group has reported or to make any assessment of its effect on post-GCSE study.

  Foreign Language Teaching
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 3 March 2003, ref: 99626, how many(a) French, (b) German and (c) Spanish teachers qualified in each year since 1995. [102154]

  Mr. Miliband
  The table provides a breakdown of the numbers qualifying as teachers in England1 with a modern language as their subject.

  Table 1: Number of grammar schools1 by local education authority2 in England: 2000

  Barnet

  3

  Bexley

  4

  Birmingham

  8

  Bournemouth3

  2

  Bromley

  2

  Buckinghamshire3

  13

  Calderdale

  2

  Cumbria

  1

  Devon3

  1

  Enfield

  1

  Essex3

  4

  Gloucestershire

  7

  Kent3

  33

  Kingston upon Thames

  2

  Kirklees

  1

  Lancashire3

  4

  Lincolnshire

  15

  Liverpool

  1

  Medway3

  6

  North Yorkshire3

  3

  Plymouth3

  3

  Poole3

  2

  Reading3

  2

  Redbridge

  2

  Slough3

  4

  Southend-on-Sea3

  4

  Stoke-on-Trent3

  1

  Sutton

  5

  Telford and Wrekin

  2

  Torbay3

  3

  Trafford

  7

  Walsall

  2

  Warwickshire

  5

  405W

  Table 1: Number of grammar schools1 by local education authority2 in England: 2000

  Wiltshire3

  2

  Wirral

  6

  Wolverhampton

  1

  1 Grammar schools as defined under the 1998 School Framework Act.

  2 Local education authorities without grammar schools have not been shown.

  3 Local education authority areas affected by the 1996–98 local government reorganisation.

  Table 2: Number of grammar schools as reported in the annual schools' census by local education authority1 in England as at January of each year

  1980

  1990

  Avon

  2

  2

  Barnet

  2

  2

  Berkshire

  8

  6

  Bexley

  2

  2

  Birmingham

  7

  8

  Bolton

  6

  —

  Bromley

  3

  2

  Buckinghamshire

  14

  14

  Calderdale

  7

  2

  Cornwall

  2

  —

  Cumbria

  4

  —

  Derbyshire

  1

  —

  Devon

  11

  8

  Dorset

  11

  6

  Durham

  1

  —

  Enfield

  1

  1

  Essex

  9

  8

  Gloucestershire

  11

  7

  Hereford and Worcester

  2

  —

  Inner London Education Authority

  3

  —

  Kent

  19

  29

  Kingston upon Thames

  2

  2

  Kirklees

  2

  1

  Lancashire

  5

  4

  Lincolnshire

  16

  15

  Liverpool

  10

  —

  Norfolk

  10

  —

  North Yorkshire

  7

  3

  Redbridge

  2

  2

  Shropshire

  4

  2

  Staffordshire

  2

  —

  Sutton

  4

  4

  Tameside

  5

  —

  Trafford

  8

  6

  Walsall

  2

  2

  Warwickshire

  5

  5

  Wiltshire

  3

  2

  Wirral

  4

  4

  Wolverhampton

  1

  1

  1 Local education authorities without grammar schools have not been shown

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 11 February 2003,Official Report, column 693W, on modern apprenticeship programmes, if he will make a statement on the achievement rates of full national vocational qualification (a) level 2 for Foundation Modern Apprenticeships and (b) level 3 for Advanced Modern Apprenticeships from 1994 to 2001. [98908]
  406W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My earlier answer to the hon. Member provided figures for the achievement of the main National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) within Modern Apprenticeship (MA) frameworks. These have risen substantially since 1997. Over half of Advanced Modern Apprentice trainees now complete their level 3 NVQ; other positive outcomes include progression to higher education and continuing with the same employer.

  On 25 February, the Government launched a new Modern Apprenticeship Task Force, under Sir Roy Gardner, to encourage a higher level of employer commitment to MAs. We expect, through their work and that of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), retention and completion rates to rise further.

  Ma framework completion involves achievement of the appropriate NVQ, Key Skills and Technical Certificate qualifications. The collection of information on whole framework completion was a recommendation of the MA Advisory Committee. The LSC aims to publish NVQ attainment and framework completion data from spring 2003.

  Opportunity Bursaries
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 18-year-olds from the borough of Redcar and Cleveland who will meet the parental income eligibility criteria for Opportunity Bursaries in 2003 would be eligible for the proposed Higher Education Grant. [102711]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Department does not collect information about parental income by local education authority area. Opportunity Bursaries are not awarded solely on the basis of parental income. 11,000 Bursaries are available for those entering English higher education institutions in 2003. Students with Opportunity Bursaries will remain eligible to receive their payments in years 2 and 3 of the course, when the new higher education grant is introduced for new students from 2004. Eligibility for the Higher Education Grant will depend on household income. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State indicated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 6 February 2003,Official Report, column 358W, that a decision on the income threshold at which the full £1,000 is payable will be announced later this year.

  Primary Schools
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to extend the Excellence in Cities programme to primary schools; and if he will make a statement. [102696]

  Mr. Miliband
  We extended the Excellence in Cities programme to primary schools in the 24 Phase 1 authorities in September 2000. We plan to roll out the programme to primary schools in the remaining 34 Phase 2 and 3 authorities from April 2004. We are currently considering with headteachers, partnership co-ordinators and Ofsted how best this might be done— learning from the experience in the phase 1 schools, primary schools in Education Action Zones and Excellence Clusters.

  Pupil Mobility
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has conducted to assess the impact of increased pupil mobility on discipline in schools. [101366]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  Pupil mobility is a permanent feature of our school system. There is no evidence that it is increasing. However, there is evidence that very high rates of mobility at particular schools can have detrimental effects on levels of attainment. The Department is therefore supporting a project at 50 schools with very high rates of mobility to help them develop and implement action plans to tackle problems related to behaviour and attendance as well as attainment. This work will also le ad to good practice guidelines to help other schools with high mobility.

  School Circular;
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the circulars that have been sent by his Department to(a) primary school, (b) secondary schools and (c) local education authorities since 1 March 2002; and how many pages each circular contained. [99488]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

  School Federations
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2003, ref 100049, what the purpose is of publishing exam results for federations of schools. [102155]

  Mr. Miliband
  The purpose is to enable participating schools and other interested parties to measure the impact of federating on the overall attainment of schools within the Federation and to recognise the joint efforts of schools in a federation to raise standards. Exam results will continue to be published for individual schools as well.

  School Funding
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on schools in Somerset, in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03, at 2001–02 prices, broken down to show(a) local government spending, (b) central government credit approval and (c) central government expenditure by each available category; and if he will make a statement. [99823]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested for parts(a) and (b) is contained in the table. However the Department does not hold data that would answer part (c) of the question.

  Somerset local education authority expenditure, capital grant and credit approvals

  All figures in £000

  Net current expenditure ( after recharges) 1,3

  Capita Grant2

  Approvals2

  1990–91

  159,446

  —

  —

  1991–92

  157,032

  —

  —

  1992–93

  183,305

  —

  —

  408W

  Somerset local education authority expenditure, capital grant and credit approvals

  All figures in £000

  Net current expenditure (after recharges) 1,3

  Capital Grant2

  Credit Approvals2

  1993–94

  175,418

  —

  —

  1994–95

  187,054

  —

  —

  1995–96

  171,520

  —

  —

  1996–97

  170,311

  964

  3,082

  1997–98

  169,613

  976

  3,253

  1998–99

  173,308

  6,622

  2,761

  1999–2000

  186,049

  7,122

  2,481

  2000–01

  204,471

  14,598

  3,754

  2001–02

  221,524

  13,181

  4,340

  2002–03

  —

  13,359

  5,289

  2003–04

  —

  12,090

  6,231

  1 NCE includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by LEAs.

  Sources:

  2 Schools Capital Database. NB Figures prior to 1996–97 not readily available. Capital grant figures include NGfL

  3 Up to 1998–99 Revenue Outturn Statements which LEAs submitted to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions. From 1999–2000 Section 52 Outturn statements which LEAs submitted to the DIES. Data as reported by LEA.

  Social Care
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the grants funded by his Department for social care for which organisations may apply; how much funding was made in the last financial year; how many awards were made; and what their administrative costs were. [99947]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  My Department does not fund any specific grants for the purpose of providing social care.

  Sure Start
  Mr. Ivan Henderson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated to the Harwich constituency under the Sure Start scheme. [96912]

  Maria Eagle
  [holding answer 10 February 2003]Pursuant to my reply on 4 March 2003,Official Report, columns 965–66W, there is one Sure Start Local Programme operating in the Harwich constituency—a Round 3 programme in West Clacton and Jaywick that was approved in June 2001. It has revenue funding of £601,996 for 2002–03. Funding for capital projects of £400,000 has been approved to date, including funding for a toddler playground and the purchase and refurbishment of a property for a Sure Start Centre. The programme can apply for approval of capital funding up to £1 million. Essex county council is the accountable body.

  Plans for a 'mini' Sure Start programme are currently being considered by the Sure Start Unit. The Harwich 'mini' Sure Start, if approved, will receive up to £100,000 each year for revenue expenditure and funding for capital expenditure of up to £250,000 in total.

  Teachers (Performance Management)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of
  409W
  the effectiveness of the Performance Management System for the teaching profession; and if he will make a statement. [102695]

  Mr. Miliband
  Following the introduction of the new performance management arrangements in 2000–01 the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) looked at how they were being implemented in a sample of schools. They found that even at such an early stage performance management had been introduced in all the schools surveyed and that it had been adopted satisfactorily or better in four fifths of those schools. Ofsted also found that headteachers, other senior managers, teachers and governors were positive about the contribution that performance management could make to school improvement. However we recognise that more needs to be done before performance management can fulfil its potential in supporting school and teacher improvement. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a speech I gave on 27 January this year on this subject.

  University Funding
  Mr. Bryant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the capital needs of UK universities. [102708]

  Margaret Hodge
  Reports commissioned from JM Consulting by the Higher Education Funding Council for England into the capital requirements of higher education institutions in the UK concluded that there was a total shortfall of some £8 billion of investment, consisting of a research infrastructure backlog of £3.2 billion, and a teaching infrastructure backlog of £4.6 billion, plus a need to double expenditure on maintenance. The Secretary of State announced in January 2003 that capital funding for higher education institutions in England will increase by 77 per cent. for research and by 185 per cent. for teaching and learning in cash terms between 2002–03 and 2005–06.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  US Administration (Representations)
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British Government made the representations to the US administration to which the President of the Council referred in his oral answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 6 February 2003,Official Report, column 454. [102484]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Since entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997, the United States has accepted the continuous monitoring of the destruction of its chemical weapons (CW) stockpiles, as well as regular OPCW inspections of its former CW production facilities. Inspections at US industrial facilities only began in May 2000, as a result of a delay in putting in place the necessary domestic enabling legislation. During that time the United Kingdom regularly urged the US to remedy this deficiency at the earliest opportunity. To date the United States has in fact hosted more CW inspections than any other State 410W
  Party, and the bulk of the inspector-person days expended by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have been in the United States.

  Commonwealth Day
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to celebrate Commonwealth Day 2003; and what total budget his Department has made available for the celebration of Commonwealth Day 2003. [101979]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary received an invitation to attend the Observance for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey, but was unable to attend. A Cabinet Minister will represent the Government at the Observance. The FCO has given the Joint Commonwealth Societies' Council £10,000 towards the cost of organising the Observance for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey. Our Embassies and High Commissions will also be arranging events to mark the occasion, but information about expenditure on these events is not yet available.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with each Commonwealth country regarding Commonwealth Day 2003. [101980]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  None. Each member country is responsible for organising its own events to mark the Day.

  Cruise Missiles
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Government about the loading of cruise missiles on to B52 bombers at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. [102418]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  None. I refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Hoon) to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 11 March,Official Report, column 183–4W.

  Iraq
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that, in the event of UK involvement in military conflict in Iraq, prisoners and persons detained will be protected by the 1949 Geneva Convention and accommodated in facilities that meet appropriate UN standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners. [100889]

  Mr. Hoon
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government will act in conformity with the Geneva Convention and international law.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on US plans for US military administration in Iraq following military action. [101597]
  411W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No decision has been made to launch military action in Iraq. If military action becomes necessary to enforce Iraq to disarm, a US-led military coalition will provide security and facilitate the provision of humanitarian relief for the Iraqi people, in accordance with international law.

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Canadian proposals on Iraq as the basis for a resolution at the United Nations Security Council. [102535]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  All proposals on Iraq, from whatever source, have been carefully examined.

  The Canadian proposal contains a number of sensible and useful suggestions, some of which have been incorporated into our current position.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the steps taken to authenticate the documentation on which the claims in the Government dossier that Iraq attempted to buy uranium from Niger were based. [102666]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  There were no claims made in the Government Dossier that Iraq had attempted to procure uranium specifically from Niger.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the costs associated with the return of the UN arms inspectors to Iraq to(a) the UN, (b) each member of the Security Council and (c) other UN members. [102668]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Under the terms of UN Security Council resolution 1284, the UNMOVIC and IAEA inspection regimes for Iraq are funded by the diversion of resources from the Oil-For-Food programme. They are, therefore, effectively self-financing.

  The United Kingdom has met some ad-hoc requests for funding for training and other logistical support for UNMOVIC and the IAEA since the establishment of the new inspection regime in March 2000. The cost of this support to date has been approximately £1.2 million.

  We do not have figures relating to any financial support provided by other countries.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential environmental consequences arising from military action in Iraq; and what provision he is making to minimise these. [102820]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  No decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken.

CABINET OFFICE

  Sir David Omand
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2002,Official Report, column 925, to the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr. Letwin), what functions are performed by the 724 other staff working for Sir David
  412W
  Omand; how much this cost the Cabinet Office in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [99221]

  Mr. Alexander
  The 724 other staff referred to in the answer of 5 December are non-senior civil servants. In December 2002 the total salary costs of non-senior civil servants in the units that report to Sir David Omand were £2.1 million. These units are: the Intelligence and Security Secretariat; the Civil Contingencies Secretariat; the Communication Group; the Machinery of Government Secretariat; the Government Information and Communication Service; the Corporate Services Group; ministerial offices; and Sir David's private office.

PRIME MINISTER

  Lord Levy
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the visits undertaken at his request by Lord Levy since 1 January, indicating in each case the purpose of the visit. [102772]

  The Prime Minister
  In his capacity as the Prime Minister's envoy, Lord Levy travelled to Ramallah on 23 January and to Washington on 19 February to update and exchange views on the Middle East peace process.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what factors he takes into account when deciding that Lord Levy, in preference to a Foreign Office Minister, should undertake a foreign trip on his behalf. [102773]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Ms Coffey) on 9 July 2001,Official Report, column 350W.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the members of the US administration Lord Levy has met while acting as his envoy. [102774]

  The Prime Minister
  In his capacity as the Prime Minister's envoy, Lord Levy has met a range of contacts, including Richard Armitage (Deputy Secretary of State); Bill Burns (Assistant Secretary of State, State Department); David Satterfield (Deputy Assistant Secretary, State Department); Martin Indyk, Dan Kurtzer, Aaron Miller, Rust Deming and Richard Haass (all State Department).

  He has also met Elliott Abrams, Bruce Riedel and Flint Everett (National Security Council), Scooter Libby and John Hannah (Office of the Vice President), General Anthony Zinni (US Special Envoy) and Senator George Mitchell (Chairman of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee).

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Defence of Provocation
  Linda Gilroy
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on the defence of provocation, with particular reference to domestic violence. [102722]
  413W
  The Solicitor-General
  Provocation acts as a partial defence to murder and serves to reduce the offence to manslaughter.

  The Home Secretary and the Law Officers together with the Director of Public Prosecutions are currently considering whether there are grounds for a review of the law of provocation and a direction to the Sentencing Advisory Panel.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service involved the defence of provocation in the last year for which statistics are available. [102726]

  The Solicitor-General
  Currently the CPS does not record statistics on the number of cases involving the defence of provocation. However, part of the work being carried out by the Law Officers and the DPP in considering whether there are grounds for a review of the law will include monitoring exercise in which CCP's will look at all homicides in their area, particularly those involving the defence of provocation.

  British Transport Police
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service on cases brought by the British Transport Police in each of the last four years. [102723]

  The Solicitor-General
  Nearly all operational staff within the 42 areas and the headquarters of the Crown Prosecution Service are likely from time to time to handle cases submitted by the British Transport Police covering England and Wales. There is no central record of who in the CPS has, and has not, handled a British Transport Police case and it would involve a disproportionate cost to survey staff to ascertain this information.

  Race Hate Crimes
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Solicitor-General what her policy is on prosecution of race hate crimes. [102724]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service reviews all allegations of inciting racial hatred in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

  All such allegations are considered individually, on their own merits. However when considering the public interest of such prosecutions the Code for Crown Prosecutors specifically states that
  "a prosecution is likely to be needed if: the offence was motivated by any form of discrimination against the victim's ethnic or national origin".

  All such prosecutions are dealt with by the Casework Directorate where they are reviewed by a team of specialist lawyers and no prosecution takes place without the consent of the Attorney-General.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the priorities of the Serious Fraud Office are. [102725]

  The Solicitor-General
  The main priority of the Serious Fraud Office is the investigation and prosecution of serious and complex fraud.
  414W
  Other priorities include raising public awareness of the dangers of fraud and maintaining confidence in the UK's business and financial institutions.

  The Attorney-General and I are keen to support the SFO in their work which is why I met the Federation of Small Businesses the CPS and the SFO on 5 March to share their views on ways of combating fraud perpetrated against businesses.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Construction Industry (Accidents)
  Mrs. Roe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of the risk to members of the public from activities of construction companies who are involved in accidents. [102323]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The risk from construction work to the public can be significant. Those who create the risks are therefore legally required to control them. The Health and Safety Executive has issued practical guidance "Protecting the public—your next move" to help those in the construction industry to understand their legal responsibilities to the public and to explain how to eliminate hazards and control risks which could affect the public. The Health and Safety Executive also runs regular publicity campaigns to discourage children from playing on construction sites.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Heald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance while working in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [102776]

  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  The information requested is in the table.

  Jobseeker's Allowance claimants declaring part-time earnings (under 16 hours per week)

  As at August

  Thousand

  1997

  53.1

  1998

  46.2

  1999

  36.5

  2000

  28.3

  2001

  21.2

  2002

  19.8

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands.

  Source:

  Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, August 1997 to August 2002.

HEALTH

  Accident and Emergency Admissions
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients were admitted to wards from
  415W
  accident and emergency departments within (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) more than four hours, after being first seen by a doctor or consultant in (i) February 1997 and (ii) the latest month for which figures are available. [97838]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Department collects quarterly data regarding waiting times in accident and emergency, post decision to admit.

  The latest month for which figures are available is Quarter 2, July to September 2002–03—388,247 patients were placed in a bed in a ward within two hours of a decision to admit. 120,915 patients were placed in a bed in a ward within two to four hours of a decision to admit and 509,229 of patients were placed in a ward within four hours of a decision to admit.

  In Quarter 4, January to March 1996–97, 360,246 patients were placed in a bed in a ward within two hours of a decision to admit. 58,540 patients were placed in a bed in a ward within two to four hours of a decision to admit and 293,145 patients were placed in a ward within four hours of a decision to admit.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elderly residents of each London borough have been placed in care homes outside London in the last 12 months; and how many people from outside London have been placed in care homes inside London in the last 12 months, broken down by social services department. [101309]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is not centrally available.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter to him dated 27 January 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Gorton Constituency Labour Party. [100684]

  Mr. Milburn
  A reply was sent to my right hon. Friend on 12 March.

  Dementia
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he will take to provide people with dementia requiring long-term care with specialist, trained care staff; and what provision has been made under the free nursing care policy for such provision; [102040]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of his decision to limit the NHS contribution to funding long-term care to the cost of registered nurse time spent providing, delegating and supervising care to people with dementia. [102041]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 12 March 2003]In response to comments from the Alzheimer's Society, draft supplementary guidance on national health service funded nursing care, that was issued for consultation on 20 December 2002, highlighted the importance of nurses assessing people's mental health as well as physical health needs, particularly in cases of dementia. This will be reflected in forthcoming guidance.
  416W
  As far as NHS-funded nursing care is concerned, people with dementia should be treated no differently from people with other conditions. The level of input from a registered nurse is determined at the appropriate level of funding. Care homes that specialise in dementia care may provide more appropriate care for some people with dementia than a care home providing nursing care.

  The older people's national service framework (NSF) sets out to ensure that people with dementia have access to integrated mental health services, provided by the NHS and councils, to ensure effective diagnosis, treatment and support for them and for their carers. Work to support implementation of the NSF includes a strand on work force development. There is a dementia subgroup of the older people's care group work force team, and this is looking at the steps that need to be taken to ensure that there are the right skills and numbers of staff in place to care for people with dementia.

  Dentistry
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when retrograde amalgam fillings for teeth were first introduced in England and Wales. [98352]

  Mr. Lammy
  As far as records indicate, the treatment has been used since at least the inception of the national health service in 1948.

  Mental Health
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who would be subject to compulsory treatment, whether resident or non-resident, under the proposals contained in the draft Mental Health Bill, who are currently exempt under the Mental Health Act 1983. [100820]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 4 March 2003]The 1983 Mental Act liberalised the law to incorporate more tolerant public attitudes in relation to sexual preference so that this could no longer be viewed as a condition of mental disorder. Also excluded were people who are substance or alcohol misusers.

  However, people with psychosis exacerbated or caused by substance misuse, including alcohol, can be treated under the 1983 Act. A misunderstanding of section 1(3) of the Act has resulted in many instances in substance abusers being denied the treatment they need.

  Proposals under the Bill will remove all exclusions to ensure that those who fulfil all the conditions for compulsion receive the help that they need.

  The draft Mental Health Bill proposes a single broad definition of mental disorder, coupled with tightly drawn conditions that must be satisfied for compulsory powers to be used. It is the intention that the strict conditions will ensure that the powers are only used where the patient is suffering from a mental disorder which is serious enough to require treatment under the care of a mental health consultant; the risk to self or others warrants it and appropriate treatment is available for the individual patient. This approach would remove exclusions and the "treatability"

  417W
  requirement so that there are no arbitrary obstacles to the treatment of anyone who satisfies the conditions for compulsion.

  While the new legislation will lead to some change in the group of people treated, overall it is not the intention that more people will be subject to compulsion under the Bill. Investment under the NHS Plan and service improvements under the national service framework for mental health, such as assertive outreach, crisis resolution and early intervention, will help to provide more effective care and ensure that fewer people become so ill that they need compulsory treatment.

  Neurologists
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neurologists are practising in England; what estimate he has made of the shortfall in neurologists; what action he is taking to encourage more neurologists to practise; what effect the shortfall of neurologists has on the speed of diagnosis for motor neurone disease sufferers; and if he will make a statement. [100107]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are committed to a significant expansion in the national health service work force. The NHS Plan set a target of 7,500 more consultants and 1,000 more specialist registrars by March 2004, over a 1999 baseline.

  Between September 1999 and March 2002, the total number of consultants increased by 13 per cent. During the same time period, the number of consultant neurologists increased by 23 per cent. By 2004, we expect there to be an additional 78 trained specialists available to take up consultant posts in neurology.

  We are encouraging more doctors to practice neurology by expanding the number of specialist registrar (SpR) opportunities in neurology. For 2003–04, central funding will be distributed to support the

  Department of Health Vacancies Survey All consultant vacancies in NHS Trust in London DHSC area three month vacancy rates and numbers

  March 2002

  March 1999

  3 month vacancy rate month (Percentage)

  3 month vacancy rate

  3 month vacancy rate month (Percentage)

  3 month vacancy rate

  England (excluding HA staff) of which:

  3.8

  946

  2.3

  469

  London DHSC area

  3.4

  161

  2.2

  85

  Vacancy Notes:

  1 Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each year

  2 Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents)

  3 Three month Vacancy Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post

  4 For 2002, three month Vacancy Rates are calculated using staff in post from the Consultant Census, March 2002

  5 For 1999, three month Vacancy Rates are calculated using staff in post from the Medical and Dental Census, September 1998

  6 Percentages are rounded to one decimal place

  General notes:

  1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number

  2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates

  3. Medical and dental figures exclude staff in training

  Sources:Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 1999 and March 2002
  418W
  implementation of 10 additional SpR posts in neurology. Trusts will also have the opportunity to create up to 20 locally funded SpR training opportunities.

  The long-term conditions care group workforce team covers conditions such as neurology, diabetes and renal services. It is developing the workforce strategy to underpin the national service frameworks for these conditions. It covers all aspects of work force planning and development including medical and nursing, allied health professions and social care professions.

  Motor neurone disease is often a difficult clinical diagnosis because the pattern of symptoms varies between patients and often mimics other, quite different diseases. The Department has introduced targets to limit the maximum length of time a patient should expect to wait to see a neurologist to 26 weeks.

  NHS Consultants
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) NHS consultants and (b) NHS consultant vacancies there are in Greater London; and how many of each there were in May 1997. [101319]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on consultant vacancies and consultants in post is shown in the tables. Vacancy figures were only collected from March 1999. The increase in vacancies reflects the action being taken by trusts to expand the consultant workforce.

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): medical and dental consultants

  numbers

  19971

  19991

  March 20022

  London DHSC area

  4,210

  4,620

  5,330

  1 As at 30 September

  2 As at 31 March

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

  Sources:

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census

  NHS University
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to apply for the Royal Charter for the NHS University. [100504]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Health Service University (NHSU) aims to become an awarding and accrediting institution in its own right, by meeting the standards required to become a university. NHSU will apply to the Privy Council in its own right. The decision to grant university status will be then made by the Privy Council.

  NHSU have set up a working group with the Higher Education Funding Council, with members drawn from the Higher Education Funding Council, NHSU, Department for Education and Skills, the Department of Health and the Quality Assurance Agency. This group will look at the appropriate processes and mechanisms for achieving university status, to offer advice and to draw up an action plan setting out the steps to be taken.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Advertising Costs (Scotland)
  Pete Wishart
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Department spent on advertising in Scotland in each year since 1999 on(a) television, (b) newspapers, (c) radio, (d) magazines, (e) billboards and (f) sporting events. [102331]

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

  Capita
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many meetings(a) he and Ministers in his Department, (b) special advisers in his Department and (c) officials have had with Capita employees and members of the Capita board since May 2001; what the purpose was of each meeting; and if he will make a statement. [98578]

  Mr. Leslie
  As with previous Administrations, and in line with exemption 7 of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", it is not this Government's normal practice to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code", the "Civil Service Code", and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists". Copies of these documents are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Children's Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003,Official
  420W
  Report, column 262W, on looked after children, if he will set out the reasons for the delay in publication of the Social Exclusion Unit report. [102527]

  Mrs. Roche
  The Social Exclusion Unit report on the education of children in care will need to take account of the proposals in the forthcoming Green Paper on Children at Risk. It will be published shortly after the Green Paper, which is due for publication in the spring of 2003.

  Compulsory Purchase
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many properties were compulsorily purchased by the Housing Corporation in(a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002. [102409]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Housing Corporation purchased no properties during those years.

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of the(a) Social Exclusion Unit and (b) Deputy Prime Minister's Central Policy Group in each year from 1997–98 to 2004–05 (planned). [99885]

  Mr. Leslie
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The following table shows the total administration expenditure profile for the Social Exclusion Unit for each year 1997–98 to 2004–05. The SEU was located within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on its creation on 29 May 2002.

  £000

  1997–98

  89

  1998–99

  681

  1999–2000

  1,570

  2000–01

  2,246

  2001–02

  2,156

  2002–03

  12,770

  2003–04

  23,163

  2004–05

  23,163

  1 Forecast

  2 Planned

  The Social Exclusion Unit does not have any programme or capital costs.

  (b) The Deputy Prime Minister's Central Policy Group was in existence from July 2001 to June 2002 in the Cabinet Office. Administration expenditure of the Central Policy Group for 2001–02 was £491,000.

  Firefighters
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the relationship between the projected cuts in the number of firefighters under the Bain proposals and the proposals of the Pathfinder report. [100120]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Independent Review of the Fire Service recommended a new and more flexible approach to fire cover. It suggested that resources should be deployed to ensure that the right resources such as
  421W
  firefighters, fire stations, and fire appliances are in the right place at the right time to save lives where they are at risk. This new approach is not about cutting fire stations or firefighters. It is about better targeting Fire Service resources at identified risks in a cost-effective manner.

  The Task Group on the Fire Cover Review (whose report is widely referred to as the "Pathfinder report") developed a Fire Service Emergency Cover Methodology. This was used by the Task Group to predict resource and personnel requirements, and their related cost. This was done both for the 11 fire brigades which participated in the Pathfinder trials and, by extrapolation, nationally. However, while the Task Group endorsed the basic methodology, a number of teething problems led the group to reject the detailed calculations, which are now being repeated following further work. The Fire Cover Review has developed a model to inform decisions about the allocation of emergency response resources (fire stations, red engines, and crews). The model has been tested twice in computer simulations. The first test run suggested that you could spend twice the current Fire Service budget without achieving much reduction in risk. The second test run suggested that you could halve expenditure without much increase in current levels of loss of life and property.

  These two simulations have set out two extreme cases. But taken together, and even allowing for some technical errors which have come to light in the early results, the findings suggest that substantial improvements in Fire Service efficiency and effectiveness are achievable. This judgement has been endorsed by the Bain report.

  The report of the Fire Cover Review was published in draft on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website on 23 December 2002 (www.odpm.gov.uk). Copies of the final report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service, and the draft Fire Cover Review report have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the cuts in the number of firefighters envisaged by the Bain report would be broken down by Fire Brigade regions. [100121]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Independent Review of the Fire Service recommended a new and more flexible approach to fire cover in which resources would be deployed in the right place at the right time to meet identified risks to life and property. This new approach is not about cutting the number of firefighters. Under these proposals, democratically accountable fire authorities, acting on the professional advice of Chief Fire Officers, would take decisions on the provision of fire cover. The review considered that the recommendations it made could be implemented without the need for compulsory redundancies.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he intends to revise fire service guidance on the employment of people with diabetes as firefighters. [102411]
  422W
  Mr. Raynsford
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is reviewing the existing guidance to the fire service on the employment of people with diabetes as fire fighters. Key interest groups are being consulted, and the review will take account of all relevant legislation.

  Housing
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how small local schemes will be funded following the creation of the single housing pot, with particular reference to schemes outside the areas earmarked for housing expansion or housing market renewals. [101831]

  Mr. McNulty
  Local housing authorities and housing associations will continue to invest in improving existing stock or increasing the supply of affordable housing in accordance with priorities identified in local housing strategies. Under the new single regional housing pot the resources provided by central Government to support this housing investment will increasingly be directed to areas or types of expenditure identified as priorities in regional housing strategies.

  Parish Councils
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 5 March 2003,Official Report, column 806, on parish councillors, what the evidential basis was of the information given in his reply. [102137]

  Mr. Leslie
  My reply to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 5 March drew on information in departmental and Standards Board records of the number of parish councillors who have written to say that they have resigned as a result of the requirements in the code of conduct, and on published estimates of the number of parish councillors in England (see 'Local Council Administration', sixth edition, Butterworths 2002).

  Pathfinder Scheme (Swarcliffe Estate)
  Colin Burgon
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the progress of the Pathfinder Scheme for the Swarcliffe estate in the Elmet constituency. [102792]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Housing Private Finance Initiative (PFI) pathfinder for the Swarcliffe estate in Leeds, is due to reach contract signature before the end of 2003.

  Pollution (Fines)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made or plans of the effectiveness of fines levied by local authorities on polluters preventing(a) further incidences of pollution by the polluters and (b) incidences of pollution from others who have not previously polluted; what changes are planned; and if he will make a statement. [99257]

  Mr. Meacher
  I have been asked to reply.

  Part 1 of the Environment Protection Act 1990 specifies that fines be levied by courts and not by the local enforcing authority. The authority may however bring proceedings against the accused in a Court of Law.
  423W
  No assessment has yet been made of the preventive effect of fines levied against environmental offenders. My Department takes the view that the level of fines being imposed for pollution offences is generally too low. We are now working with the Environment Agency and with others, especially the Magistrates Association, to ensure that magistrates are trained and have an increased awareness of the implications of polluting activity and consequently impose more realistic fines. To this end, the Association recently circulated relevant training material to all its 28,000 members.

  The Government are also exploring the possibility of developing general guidelines on sentencing for environmental offences. To this end, my Department has recently commissioned research to examine penalties for environmental offences and to aim to establish a solid body of information, which could be used as a basis for future action. The research team is due to report in the summer.

  Public Bodies (Greater (London)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the value was of each grant paid to public sector bodies in London in the last year before the creation of the Greater London Authority for transport and highways purposes, including the highways and transport element of rate support grant; what sum was paid to the Greater London Authority in the last year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement on the methodology for determining that grant. [101550]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Grants paid to public sector bodies in London in 1999/00 were as follows (figures in fan):

  (£)

  Traffic Director for London

  24

  Traffic Control Systems Unit/Woolwich Ferry/Consultancies

  8

  London Transport (incl. London Underground

  816

  Docklands Light Railway

  29

  Highways Agency London spend (est.)

  140

  London Borough LTP allocations

  84

  Highways Rate Support Grant

  223

  Total:

  1,324

  In addition to these figures, a proportion of the expenditure on National Rail would have been spent in London.

  In 2002/03, the sum paid to the Greater London Authority in the form of GLA transport grant is £1,024,118,000. This does not include any funding for the London Underground, National Rail, or for rate support grant paid to the London boroughs and TfL. No account of concessionary fares funding for London boroughs has been taken with regard to these figures.

  Decisions on the level of GLA transport grant are taken by Ministers during comprehensive spending reviews, based on an assessment of London's need and competing national priorities. Grant is determined annually, following consultation with the Mayor of London.

  Quarries
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many quarries within the Peak District National Park are operating without the requirement for modern working standards required by schedule 13 of the Environment Act 1995; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure all quarries in the Peak District National Park are reviewed under schedule 13 of the Environment Act 1995. [102694]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not available centrally, because the review of existing mineral sites in this area is the responsibility of the Peak District National Park Authority. Guidance on the use of schedule 13 by all mineral planning authorities is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 14: "Environment Act 1995—Review of Mineral Planning Permissions".

  Smoking
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what policy his Department has adopted on smoking in the workplace. [100936]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister operates a no smoking policy except in specifically designated smoking rooms.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff were employed by local authorities to operate and administer speed cameras in each year since 1997. [102230]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  This information is not held centrally.

  Fire Authorities
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the authorities which benefited from the coastline factor in the fire service formula; and what proportion of the aggregate fire service FSS allocation was distributed on the basis of the coastline factor. [101549]

  Mr. Raynsford
  1.5 per cent. of the aggregate fire service FSS allocation was distributed on the basis of the coastline factor. The following fire authorities benefited:

  Cornwall;

  Cumbria;

  Isle of Wight;

  Isles of Scilly;

  Lincolnshire;

  Merseyside;

  Norfolk;

  Northumberland;

  Somerset;

  Suffolk;

  Tyne & Wear; and

  West Sussex.

  425W
  In addition the following authorities benefited on behalf of their combined fire authority:
  Bath and north east Somerset, Bristol, north Somerset and south Gloucestershire for the Avon Fire Authority; Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees for the Cleveland Fire Authority; Plymouth, Torbay and Devon for the Devon Fire Authority; Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset for the Dorset Fire Authority; Darlington and Durham for the Durham Fire Authority, Brighton and Hove and East Sussex for the East Sussex Fire Authority; Thurrock, Southend-on-Sea and Essex for the Essex Fire Authority; Portsmouth, Southampton and Hampshire for the Hampshire Fire Authority; East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire for the Humberside Fire Authority; Medway and Kent for the Kent Fire Authority; Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire for the Lancashire Fire Authority; and York and North Yorkshire for the North Yorkshire Fire Authority.

  Stratford on Avon District Council
  Mr. Maples
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much total Government grant was(a) paid and (b) proposed to be paid to Stratford on Avon District Council in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices in each year between 1997–98 and 2003–04; and what the percentage increase in such grant in each of these years was at constant pricing. [102896]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The following table shows total formula grant which consists of redistributed business rates, revenue support grant and SSA reduction grant (SSA review) (where appropriate).

  Over the period requested there have been many changes in the functions and funding of services to local government. To enable a like-for-like comparison between years, we calculate adjusted grants. The percentage change figures have been calculated on the basis of these like-for-like comparisons.

  Until the introduction of Central Support Protection Grant in 1999–2000, there was no need to calculate grant on a like-for-like basis, and for this reason grant comparisons in the years 1997–98 and 1998–99 are not available. There were no changes in funding and function between 1998–99 and 1999–2000 that needed reflecting in adjusted grants for 1998–99 to allow a like-for-like comparison; the actual 1998–99 values have therefore been used in this case.

  Year

  Formula grant (£ million)

  Formula grant at 2003–04 Prices (£ million)

  Percentage increase in formula grant at 2003–04 prices

  1997–98

  5.635

  6.507

  Not available

  1998–99

  5.167

  5.807

  Not available

  1999–2000

  5.516

  6.053

  6.2

  Adjusted

  1999–2000

  5.516

  6.053

  2000–01

  5.979

  6.415

  6.0

  Adjusted

  2000–01

  6.016

  6.454

  2001–02

  6.009

  6.298

  -2.4

  Adjusted

  2001–02

  5.866

  6.148

  2002–03

  6.157

  6.295

  2.4

  Adjusted

  2002–03

  5.968

  6.102

  2003–04

  6.164

  6.164

  1.0

  Telecommunications
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what further measures he proposes to take to encourage mast sharing by telecommunication operators. [102095]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development was published on 11 November 2002. This firmly encourages mast and site sharing where that is the optimum solution in the individual circumstances. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to amend further the planning arrangements for telecommunications development at the present time.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has(a) made to and (b) received from local planning authorities in respect of telecommunication operators' commitment to participate in obligatory pre-rollout and pre-allocation consultation. [102094]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government issued 'Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications' in August 2001 which strongly encourages telecommunications operators and local planning authorities to carry out annual discussions about rollout plans for each authority's area. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also issued the 'Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development' in November 2002, which includes more detailed recommendations for managing the relationship between mobile operators and local planning authorities and the process of public consultation. The Code also contained the Mobile Operators' Ten Commitments, which includes the commitments to participate in pre-rollout and pre-application consultation with local authorities and improved consultation with local communities.

  The Government receive many representations on matters relating to the telecommunications industry but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of any particular representations from local planning authorities on this subject.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what financial support the Government's independent scientific research programme on mobile communications health issues has received from telecommunication operators. [102096]

  Mr. McNulty
  The independent scientific research programme is costing £7.36 million of which private companies in the telecommunications sector are paying 50 per cent. (£3.68 million). More information about the research programme can be found at the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme website: www.mthr.org.uk.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information his Department has gathered regarding the extent to which telecommunication operators have met their commitment to provide staff resources to respond to complaints and inquiries about radio base stations within 10 working days. [102097]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Mobile Operators Association have commissioned Deloitte and Touche to carry out
  427W
  an independent review of the implementation of the Operators Ten Commitments. The results of the review will be made available to the public in due course.

  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to replace telecommunication operators' voluntary code of conduct with statutory regulation; and if he will make a statement. [102098]
  428W
  Mr. McNulty
  There are no plans to replace the mobile phone Operators' Ten Commitments with statutory regulation. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will, however, continue to monitor the implementation of the Commitments and will keep the situation under review in light of experience and any new developments.

  Local Services
  Local Services
  Local Authorities: Transactional Websites
  Local Authorities: Transactional Websites
  Pension Schemes
  Pension Schemes
  Hull: Unemployment:
  Hull: Unemployment:
  Hassan Said, Marwan al-Banna and Nowaf al-Rosan
  Hassan Said, Marwan al-Banna and Nowaf al-Rosan
  Prison Service: Race Equality Investigation
  Prison Service: Race Equality Investigation
  Court Orders: Domestic Violence
  Court Orders: Domestic Violence
  Gulf: NBC Protection and Missile Defence
  Gulf: NBC Protection and Missile Defence
  Gulf: Local Supplies to British Troops
  Gulf: Local Supplies to British Troops
  Gulf: Immunisation against Anthrax for Service Personnel
  Gulf: Immunisation against Anthrax for Service Personnel
  Harrier Jets: Norwegian Commission of Inquiry
  Harrier Jets: Norwegian Commission of Inquiry
  Royal Irish Regiment
  Royal Irish Regiment
  IDEX 2003
  IDEX 2003
  Depleted Uranium
  Depleted Uranium
  FIST Programme
  FIST Programme
  Armada PFI Project
  Armada PFI Project
  Iraq: Contingency Planning
  Iraq: Contingency Planning
  University Fees
  University Fees
  Public Health Laboratory Service Media Services
  Public Health Laboratory Service Media Services
  Managed Pathology Networks
  Managed Pathology Networks
  NHS Laboratories: Accreditation
  NHS Laboratories: Accreditation
  Genetically Modified Cotton Crops
  Genetically Modified Cotton Crops
  Kava-kava Ban
  Kava-kava Ban
  Abortion Clinics
  Abortion Clinics
  Deafblind Children
  Deafblind Children
  Deafblind Support
  Deafblind Support
  Lord Chancellor's Salary
  Lord Chancellor's Salary
  Senior Appointments: Pension Entitlement
  Senior Appointments: Pension Entitlement
  Lord Chancellor, Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer: Salaries
  Lord Chancellor, Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer: Salaries
  Ethnic Minorities in the Labour Market
  Ethnic Minorities in the Labour Market
  Drivers: Eyesight Tests
  Drivers: Eyesight Tests