Written Answers of 17 November 2003

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Extradition
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the policy of the United Kingdom Government is on requesting extradition of individuals accused of torturing British nationals abroad, in the absence of a pending prosecution in the country where the accused is located. [137834]

  The Solicitor-General
  The courts of England and Wales may have jurisdiction in respect of an offence committed abroad if the offender, or the victim, is a British national. Once such jurisdiction is established then the procedures for investigating and prosecuting the case are the same as for any case prosecuted in the courts of England and Wales. The police are responsible for investigating allegations of criminal offences and for obtaining admissible evidence to prove the alleged offence. The CPS is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal cases resulting from police investigations. The police ask the advice of the CPS before charging any person with a criminal offence.

  In complex and serious cases such as potential offences involving torture, the police will invariably consult with the CPS for advice on the sufficiency of the evidence before a person is charged. The CPS will consider each case that is passed to it by the police. Each case is carefully considered to assess whether it meets the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors, issued under section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. Once the CPS has decided to start a prosecution, if the alleged offender is located abroad the CPS will refer an application for extradition to the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will forward the request through the appropriate diplomatic channels.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Compensation Orders
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many compensation orders were awarded at(a) magistrates' courts and (b) Crown courts in each year since 2000; what the rate of default was in (i) each year and (ii) each court; and if he will make a statement. [138451]

  Mr. Leslie
  Information on compensation orders in Magistrates' Courts has not been historically collected by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. However, the Home Office Criminal Statistics Publication (Table SI, 6(A)) shows that in 2000, 97,073 offenders were ordered to pay compensation (excluding summary motoring offences) and in 2001, 97,134 offenders were ordered to pay compensation (excluding summary 468W
  motoring offences). Information on the rate of default is not currently collected as compensation orders are measured with confiscation orders and other fines and not isolated. Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs) have a responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed by both the magistrates' courts and the Crown Court. Debt collected includes compensation but also fees, fines, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders. It is not yet possible to separate out only compensation orders from the total. There are plans, however, to isolate compensation orders in debt analysis under the Libra Project from around Autumn 2004 onwards. This will involve the use of the Libra Application which is the new IT system being developed for the Magistrates' Courts.

  Figures concerning the number of compensation orders made in the Crown Court for the years 2000–02 are as follows. This information relates to defendants, not cases:

  2000—6,892

  2001—6,732

  2002—7,100

  Unfortunately, I am unable to provide information on the rate of default as the monies are paid into Magistrates Courts and the figures aggregated in the way explained above.

  Appointments Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people were interviewed for the position of chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission when it was first established. [138519]

  Mr. Leslie
  My Department is not responsible for the present House of Lords Appointments Commission, which is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office. However, I understand that three people were interviewed for the post of chair when the Commission was first established.

  Bailiffs
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints have been made in each year since 1997 concerning the conduct of bailiffs; how many complaints have been investigated; how many complaints have resulted in a prosecution; how many convictions there were concerning the conduct of bailiffs; and if he will publish a list of banned bailiffs. [136800]

  Mr. Leslie
  [holding answer 6 November 2003]My Department is responsible for county court bailiffs only. Any complaint involving a county court bailiff, unless of a serious nature, is dealt with by the county court that s/he is assigned to. There is no database kept on complaints against individual bailiffs.

  There are Certificated Bailiffs who act in a private capacity. They are given their authority to do so for a period of two years, by their local county court judge, in accordance with the Distress for Rent Rules 1988. A complaint against a Certificated Bailiff is considered by a judge of the county court that granted the certificate.

  469W
  If the certificate is revoked the Department will be informed. The information will be recorded on the Register of Certificated Bailiffs that is kept centrally. The Register is open to public search through a central point of contact. No data is retained longer than three years. In 2001 two certificates were cancelled, in 2002, 13 were cancelled, and in 2003 to date 17 have been cancelled. Any prosecution would be taken by the member of the public affected by the action of a certificated bailiff. There is no data kept by the county court or the Department centrally.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 for the Lord Chancellor's Department, stating in each case(a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement.[137738]

  Mr. Lammy
  According to our records, since 1997 the Lord Chancellor's Department has not entered into a contract with Bechtel for consultancy or other work.

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost was to his Department and its predecessor of use for official business of(a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997. [123086]

  Mr. Lammy
  I refer the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs to the answer of the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) of 13 November 2003,470W
  Official Report, column 397W, which deals with part (a) and (f) on behalf of my Department.

  It is not possible to identify the Department's other travel costs without incurring disproportionate cost. The Department has published rules for official travel in its staff handbook and ministerial travel is governed by the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.

  Divorced Parents
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2003,Official Report, column 631, on divorced parents, if he will collect separate figures for the numbers of (a) fathers and (b) mothers granted leave to remove their children from the United Kingdom. [136098]

  Mr. Lammy
  There are no plans to collect the data requested. No children statistics distinguish between orders in favour of mothers and fathers and to collect figures in this area would incur disproportionate cost. Figures are kept of the total number of orders made under section 13 of the Children Act 1989 for removal from the jurisdiction since 2000 (when figures were first collected). Separate figures are not held for mothers and fathers, though 333 such orders were made in 2002.

  Law Commission (Acts)
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on what dates Acts have received Royal Assent enshrining legislative proposals published by the Law Commission since 1990. [138044]

  Mr. Lammy
  The Law Commission Reports published since 1990, together with the titles of the Acts incorporating the Reports' recommendations and the dates on which those Acts received Royal Assent, are set out in the table.

  Report No.

  Title

  Act

  Royal Assent

  1990

  192

  Family Law: The Ground for Divorce (HC 636)

  Family Law Act 1996 (c 27)

  04 July 1996

  193

  Private International Law: Choice of Law in Tort and Delict (Joint Report—Scot Law Com No 1 29)(HC 65)

  Private International Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995 (c 42)

  08 November 1995

  1991

  196

  Rights of Suit in Respect of Carriage of Goods by Sea (Joint Report—Scot Law Corn No 130) (HC 250)

  Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 (c 50)

  16 July 1992

  199

  Transfer of Land: Implied Covenants for Title (HC 437)

  Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1994 (c 36)

  03 November 1994

  202+

  Criminal Law: Corroboration of Evidence in Criminal Trials (Cm 1620)

  Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c 33)

  03 November 1994

  1992

  205

  Criminal Law: Rape within Marriage (HC 167)

  Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c 33)

  03 November 1994

  207

  Family Law: Domestic Violence and Occupation of the Family Home (HC 1)

  Family Law Act 1996 (c 27)

  04 July 1996

  1993

  215

  Sale of Goods Forming Part of a Bulk (Joint Report—Scot Law Com No 145) (HC 807)

  Sale of Goods (Amendment) Act 1995 (c 28)

  19 July 1995

  216

  The Hearsay Rule in Civil Proceedings (Cm 2321)

  Civil Evidence Act 1995 (c 38)

  08 November 1995

  217

  Family Law: The Effect of Divorce on Wills

  Law Reform (Succession) Act 1995 (c 41)

  08 November 1995

  1994

  220

  The Law of Trusts: Delegation by Individual Trustees (HC 110)

  Trustee Delegation Act 1999 (c 15)

  15 July 1999

  471W

  Report No.

  Title

  Act

  Royal Assent

  224

  Structured Settlements and Interim and Provisional

  In part by the Finance Act 1995 (c 4); Civil

  01 May 1995

  Damages (Cm 2646)

  Evidence Act 1995 (c 38); and Damages Act 1996(c 48)

  08 November 1995 24 July 1996

  226

  Administrative Law: Judicial Review and Statutory Appeals (HC 669)

  In part by Housing Act 1996 (c 52)

  24 July 1996

  228

  Criminal Law: Conspiracy to Defraud (HC 11)

  Theft (Amendment) Act 1996 (c 62)

  18 December 1996

  1995

  230

  Legislating the Criminal Code: The Year and a Day Rule in Homicide (HC 183)

  Law Reform (Year and a Day Rule) Act 1996 (c 19)

  17 June 1996

  235

  Transfer of Land: Land Registration (jointly with HM Land Registry) (Cm 2950)

  Land Registration Act 1997 (c2)

  27 February 1997

  1996

  242

  Privity of Contract: Contracts for the Benefit of Third Parties (Cm 3329)

  Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (c 31)

  11 November 1999

  243

  Offences of Dishonesty: Money Transfers (HC 690)

  Theft (Amendment) Act 1996 (c 62)

  18 December 1996

  1999

  260

  Trustees' Powers and Duties (Joint Report—Scot Law Com No 166) (HC 538/SE2)

  Trustee Act 2000 (c 29)

  23 November 2000

  2001

  271

  Land Registration for the Twenty-First Century (Joint Report with HM Land Registry) (HC 114)

  Land Registration Act 2002 (c 9)

  26 February 2002

  Note:

  This table does not contain 41 Consolidation Acts or the 3 Statute Law (Repeal) Acts passed since 1990.

  Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
  Brian White
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what statutory investigatory powers the Department has; which ones will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and what plans he has for removing these legacy powers. [136128]

  Mr. Lammy
  My Department has no existing statutory investigatory powers.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Community Fund
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many grants have been made from the Community Fund to projects in the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency since its inception; [138423]

  Recipient

  Award amount(£)

  Award date

  Worthing Boys Club

  105,616

  11 June 1996

  Adur Furniture Network

  98,000

  11 June 1996

  The Sussex Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Centre Ltd.

  44,000

  17 December 1996

  Counselling For Carers

  130,317

  17 December 1996

  Adur Carers Association

  193,172

  17 December 1996

  Shoreham and District Mental Health Association

  49,140

  18 September 1997

  Adur Special Needs Project

  101,999

  18 September 1997

  1st Durrington Scout Group

  175,000

  18 September 1997

  Alchemist Scrap Store Ltd.

  68,500

  26 March 1998

  Sompting Parish Hall

  31,654

  30 September 1998

  Adur Independent Mediation Service

  3,691

  5 November1998

  Adur Carers Association

  103,000

  4 March 1999

  Adur Community Transport Ltd.

  70,283

  4 March 1999

  6th Shoreham-by-Sea Sea Scouts

  4,950

  11 March 1999

  Fishersgate Community Association

  104,863

  5 August 1999

  The Club

  4,258

  1 September 1999

  Shoreham and District Mental Health Association

  938

  1 September 1999

  Broadwater (Worthing) Community Association

  2,500

  11 November 1999

  Adur Carers Association

  161,020

  30 August 2000

  472W
  (2) what the value is of grants made by the Community Fund to projects in the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency since its inception; and what the average value is of such grants per parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom; [138424]

  (3) if she will list the projects in the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency which have benefited from Community Fund grants. [138425]

  Estelle Morris
  Since the Lottery's start, the Community Fund has made 32 grants in the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency. The following table lists the recipients of the awards, when they received this and how much it was for.

  The total value of awards received in the constituency of East Worthing and Shoreham from the Community Fund is £2,142,779.

  UK constituencies on average have received £3,913,217 from the Community Fund.
  473W

  Recipient

  Award amount (£)

  Award date

  Hurstfield Residents Association

  735

  20 September 2000

  Lancing and Sompting Citizens Advice Bureau

  146,856

  27 October 2000

  Adur Council For Voluntary Service

  178,019

  27 October 2000

  Shoreham and Southwick U3A

  4,242

  22 November 2000

  Shoreham and District Mental Health Association

  75,941

  20 December 2000

  West Sussex Association for the Disabled

  2,925

  16 May 2001

  Adur (Tenants and Leaseholders) Consultative Forum

  1,006

  18 July 2001

  Broadwater (Worthing) Community Association

  3,201

  26 September 2001

  4th Worthing Scout Group

  5,000

  29 November 2001

  Worthing And District Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme

  3,885

  27 March 2002

  Shoreham and District Mental Health Association

  33,316

  4 December 2002

  St. John Ambulance

  152,701

  22 January 2003

  Lancing and Sompting Citizens Advice Bureau

  82,051

  25 March 2003

  This is derived from the Department's Awards Database and is based on information supplied by the distributing bodies.

  Design
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to the promotion of design(a) initiatives and (b) education. [136654]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have been asked to reply.

  The more effective use of design throughout the British economy would improve prosperity and productivity. We promote design through the work of the Design Council, which is funded by the DTL.

  For example, the Design Council's "Design Demonstrations" projects with companies provide exemplars of how design can radically improve performance. These projects are with manufacturing and emerging technology companies. The outputs will support awareness campaigns, to be undertaken with Regional Development Agencies and Business Link, to reach a wider business audience.

  In education, the Design Council's "Design in Schools Week" places professionals in schools to inspire design and technology students and teachers. In 2002, 302 designers worked in 295 schools, this year, 372 designers worked in 360 schools.

  Business Link and the Manufacturing Advisory Service provide extensive advice and brokerage services on design.

  Digital Terrestrial Television
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of households in Scotland are able to receive digital terrestrial television services. [139025]

  Estelle Morris
  I understand from the BBC that the percentage of households in Scotland, able to receive digital terrestrial television services is 80.5 per cent. Further information can be found on the Freeview website: www.freeview.co.uk.

  National Lottery Ticket Sales
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many National Lottery ticket sales there were in the(a) EH30, (b) EH29,
  474W
  (c) EH28, (d) EH 12, (e) EH4 and (f) EH11 postcode areas in each of the last 10 years; and how much was raised in each case. [138452]

  Estelle Morris
  Information on the number of National Lottery tickets sold is not available by postcode area. Revenue raised through ticket sales is not calculated by postcode on an on-going basis. However, in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Morley and Rothwell (Mr. Challen) on 22 October 2002,Official Report, columns 182–83, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport and Tourism placed in the Library a table listing sales by postcode area since the Lottery's launch. I will provide an update of the table to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, and place a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Olympic Sports
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support will be given to Olympic sports in which UK participants in the Sydney Olympics gained medals. [137464]

  Tessa Jowell
  All Olympic sports that won medals in Sydney have had their funding confirmed to 31 March 2005. The National Governing Bodies of these sports are all preparing draft World Class programme plans for the Beijing Olympiad by March 2004 and refining those plans post Athens, by November 2004. The Sports Councils will review the plans during December and January and decisions on funding effective from April 2005 will be taken in January and February 2005.

  Regional News
  Andrew Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will request the Independent Television Commission to insist that television companies uphold franchise and licensing agreements relating to the broadcasting of regional news from specific county locations during the term of any franchise; and if she will make a statement. [139026]

  Estelle Morris
  This is a matter for the Independent Television Commission.

  Social Inclusion
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with(a) regional cultural consortia, (b) libraries and (c) museums on measures to promote social inclusion in relation to access to (i) the arts and (ii) sport. [138372]
  475W
  Estelle Morris
  Departmental Ministers have regular discussions about social inclusion and access with representatives of our sectors, including libraries, museums and a wide variety of regional interests. We are pursuing access and inclusion through a range of initiatives that feed into our Public Service Agreement objectives and targets. The Department is also working closely with the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and the Home Office to promote and support sports and cultural activities as ways of reducing social exclusion, through the building of community cohesion and trust and individual self-esteem and skills.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Attention Deficit Disorder
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce in Northern Ireland non-drug behavioural therapies used in the United States for the treatment of attention deficit disorder; and if he will make a statement. [138976]

  Angela Smith
  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a very complex disorder with both genetic and environmental components to its aetiology. There is established evidence that medication is an effective mainstay of management and should be used within an overall package of care and support. This package should include advice around management of behaviour for parents, carers and teachers. Considerable local expertise is available through the child and adolescent mental health teams. If specific non-drug behavioural therapies are used this would be at the discretion of the clinicians.

  Benefit Payments
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid in(a) disability living allowance, (b) unemployment benefit and (c) incapacity benefit in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [138992]

  Mr. Spellar:
  The most recent figures available are attached in the following table:

  Benefit

  Expenditure from October 2002-September 2003 (£000)

  Disability living allowance

  493,526

  Jobseekers allowance—income based

  89,249

  Jobseekers allowance—contributory based

  14,719

  Incapacity benefit

  319,061

  Total

  916,555

  Note:

  Unemployment benefit has now been replaced by jobseekers allowance, both income-based and contributory-based.

  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [138977]
  476W
  Mr. Pearson
  The following table gives the number of deaths resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, registered in Northern Irel and from 1998 to 2002.

  Number of registered deaths by year in Northern Ireland resulting from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

  Deaths

  1998

  627

  1999

  704

  2000

  610

  2000

  584

  2001

  553

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Northern Ireland. [138978]

  Angela Smith
  Although there is evidence of some genetic component to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the majority of cases are associated with smoking, exposure to air pollution, including that caused by environmental tobacco smoke, and lung damage arising from respiratory infections.

  The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety published a five year Tobacco Action Plan in July 2003. The Plan addresses a number of key issues, including prevention, helping smokers to quit and protecting the public from tobacco smoke. An Implementation Group, under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer, is taking forward the 24 action points identified in the Plan.

  Driving Licences
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which countries are on the list of those whose driving licence is transferable to a Northern Ireland one; what criteria are used in deciding whether a country's driving licence is transferable to Northern Ireland; for what reason South Africa is excluded from this list; and what plans he has to amend the arrangements to include South Africa. [138726]

  Angela Smith
  There are 14 countries and territories currently designated for the purposes of exchangeable licences in Northern Ireland, namely Australia, Austria, Barbados, the Republic of Cyprus, Finland, Gibraltar, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and Zimbabwe, and the territories of Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.

  In determining the suitability of a country for exchange purposes, the driver testing and licensing systems are assessed, to ensure that the drivers meet standards that are comparable to those in Northern Ireland. This includes an assessment of the driving test, the integrity of licensing system and the nature and format of the licence itself.

  With regard to the Republic of South Africa (RSA), it is accepted that the nature of the driving test and the general driving standards are comparable to those in Northern Ireland. However, further consideration is being given to the integrity of the system for issuing licences. Furthermore, the RSA driving licence does not

  477W
  indicate whether it has been issued in exchange for a licence from a third country. This is important since the standards in that third country may not have been assessed against Northern Ireland standards.

  The Department of the Environment is continuing to assess the suitability of licences from RSA for exchange. The Department is also developing proposals to amend the relevant legislation to enable selective recognition of licences from other countries so that, for example, licences which had been issued in exchange for a licence from a third country, which does not meet Northern Ireland standards, could be excluded from the exchange arrangements. This will bring exchange arrangements in Northern Ireland into line with those in Great Britain. Depending on the availability of legislative opportunities, it is hoped to have the amendment in place before the end of 2005.

  Hare Coursing
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of illegal coursing on the population of the Irish hare; and if he will commission research on the size of the population. [138561]

  Angela Smith
  No assessment has been made of the impact of illegal coursing on the population of the Irish hare in Northern Ireland.

  The Irish Hare Species Action Plan, published by the Department of the Environment in 2000, identifies the need to carry out regular surveys of the Irish hare population in Northern Ireland. The purpose of these surveys is to estimate the size of the population and make deductions about the causes of any movement in the estimated numbers. A baseline survey was completed in 1997; this was followed by "The Northern Ireland Irish Hare Survey 2002", carried out by Professor Montgomery's research team at The Queen's University of Belfast. The Department will carry out regular, similar research into surveys of the Irish hare population to measure progress against the Species Action Plan targets "to maintain the existing range and to demonstrate a population increase by 2005; and to double the present population by 2010 over as much of the range as possible". The next of the surveys will be commissioned in spring 2004.

  Separate research is also under way at Queen's University into the status and population dynamics of the Irish Hare, using DNA techniques, and on the ecology of the Irish hare.

  Copies of the documents referred to above have been placed in the Library.

  National Employment Plans
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made to implement and monitor National Employment Plans in Northern Ireland. [132790]
  478W
  Jane Kennedy
  There is no separate Northern Ireland 'National Employment Plan' although our labour market plans are included within my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's 'Draft Priorities and Budget 2004–07' document and the Department for Employment and Learning's 'Service Delivery Agreement 2003–04'. Copies of these documents are available in the Library. Northern Ireland contributes, as do Scotland and Wales, to the National Employment Action Plan for the UK.

  In Northern Ireland, Government programmes, and projects receiving European funding, address the key European Employment Strategy issues of employability, skills needs, entrepreneurship and equal opportunities in the labour market. Northern Ireland contributes information on the implementation of programmes and projects as part of the monitoring of national progress against the Employment Guidelines issued by the European Commission.

WALES

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost was to his Department for(a) ministerial cars and drivers, (b) taxis, (c) train travel, (d) the use of helicopters, (e) airline tickets and (f) chartered aeroplanes in each year since 1997. [123073]

  Mr. Hain
  The Wales Office was created in July 1999.(a) I refer the hon. member to the reply which he received from Mr. N Matheson of the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (a copy of which can be found in the Libraries of the House of Commons) which addressed this issue.

  (b) Cost to the department of taxis

  £

  1999–20001

  310

  2000–01

  1,266

  2001–02

  2,851

  2002–03

  796

  20032-

  912

  1 From July 1999

  2 To date

  These figures exclude any amounts spent on taxis, black cabs and licensed hackney carriages outside departmental contracts and reclaimed by officials as travel and subsistence expenditure. That information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  (c) Cost to the department of trains

  1999–20001

  35,239

  2000–01

  62,121

  2001–02

  84,423

  2002–03

  124,035

  2003–

  67,895

  1 From July 1999

  2 To date

  (d)and (f) The Wales Office has never used helicopters or chartered planes.
  479W

  (e) Cost to the department of air line tickets

  £

  1999–20001

  105

  2000–01

  6,851

  2001–02

  5,283

  2002–03

  695

  20032-

  95

  1 From July 1999

  2 To date

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each item of market and opinion research commissioned since May 1997 by(a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible; what the purpose of each item was; and whether the results were published. [137004]

  Mr. Touhig
  The Wales Office was established in 1999. Since then the Wales Office has not commissioned any market or opinion research.

  New Jobs
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many new jobs there are in(a) the private sector and (b) the public sector in Wales; [137649]

  (2) how many new jobs there have been in (a) the private sector and (b) the public sector in Wales since 1997. [137648]

  Mr. Touhig
  Comparing the 12 months to August 2003 with 1997, there has been an increase of 49,000 people employed in the public sector and 61,000 employed in the private sector in Wales.

  Source:

  Labour Force Survey

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total cost was of(a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002–03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. [137952]

  Mr. Touhig
  The setting, measuring and monitoring of Wales Office's performance targets is an integral part of the job of all managers. It is not possible to disaggregate the cost. The Wales Office Management Board regularly reviews targets. It consists of the eight most senior people in the Department. Their grades are 3 (one person), 6 (four people) and 7 (three people).

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the performance targets that(a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. [137967]

  Mr. Touhig
  This information is published in the Wales Office Departmental Report (Cm 5928), copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
  480W
  The targets are set by Ministers on the advice of the Management Board and are monitored by Ministers and the Management Board.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost, what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136852]

  Mr. Touhig
  Detailed sick absence statistics are derived from medical and self-certificates, which are completed by staff or their GPs. While certain illnesses, such as "depression", "anxiety", "general debility" and even "stress" may be indicated on certificates, it is not possible to determine levels of "work-related stress". Consequently, we have no details on the number of working days lost due to work-related stress or the cost to the Department.

  The Wales Office staff have available to them the resources of the National Assembly, and since June 2003, of the Department for Constitutional Affairs in tackling stress. These include a range of stress management courses for both line managers and employees, Health, Safety and Welfare intranet site, a stress handbook for line managers, and a fully trained in-house Welfare service.

  The Department offers flexible working patterns, enabling staff to adopt more effective working patterns to better balance their work and home life.

  We have a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for all our staff and, under the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative, we are committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost generally to work-related injuries and illnesses.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Pension Schemes
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are in place to protect the(a) values and (b) benefits of pension fund schemes created by the former publicly owned industries. [138651]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Responsibility for the pension fund schemes created by the former publicly owned industries is a matter for the relevant sponsor Departments, or their successors, and the successor companies themselves. More generally, however, we have proposed a range of protection measures which will apply to the pension funds created by the former publicly owned industries in the same way as they will to those of any other privately owned company.

  Through the introduction of the new Pension Protection Fund, we are taking action to make sure that members of defined benefit schemes will still have the secure retirement they were expecting. The Government has also published and consulted on draft regulations

  481W
  that increase the debt due from solvent employers when their salary-related pension scheme is wound up. In addition we are at present consulting on draft Regulations on the proposed new priority order.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce legislation to prevent employers from taking contribution holidays from their employees' pension fund schemes. [137921]

  Malcolm Wicks
  No.

  Since pension provision by employers is voluntary, the levels of contributions are a matter for agreement between pension scheme trustees and sponsoring employers.

  Under the new scheme-specific funding regime which will replace the Minimum Funding Requirement, trustees and sponsoring employers will be required to develop and agree, with the scheme actuary's advice, the funding principles for their scheme—including a determination of whether the level of contributions is sufficient to meet a scheme's long-term pension commitments.

  The new simplified tax regime for approved pension schemes (set out in the document "Simplifying the taxation of pensions: increasing choice and flexibility for all" (December 2002)) would abolish the rules requiring approved occupational pension schemes to run off their surplus funds (for example by agreeing contributions holidays) or lose their full tax exempt status. In addition, the document "Action on Occupational Pensions" announced that pension funds will no longer be able to make payments of surplus to employers from an actuarial surplus only where the scheme was funded above a level sufficient to secure full buy-out of scheme liabilities.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to maximise take-up of pension credit. [138652]

  Malcolm Wicks
  We want every pensioner to take up their entitlement. At the heart of our marketing campaign is a direct mail pack to all pensioner households who have not been converted to pension credit automatically. We will have written to all pensioner households by June 2004. To support this process we are running an advertising campaign on TV, radio and in the press to encourage pensioners to apply.

  The Pension Service Local Service are also playing a key role in take-up of pension credit, particularly in encouraging pensioners who traditionally do not take up their entitlement to apply. Working closely with key partners such as Citizens Advice, Age Concern and local authorities and with local voluntary organisations the local service reach these pensioners at locations that suit their needs. Activities being undertaken include awareness sessions, information surgeries and take-up campaigns. Over this month the Local Service has held or plans to hold over 1,300 events which are expected to reach around 117,000 people.
  482W
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners he estimates will be in receipt of means-tested benefits as a result of the introduction of the pension credit by 2004–05. [138654]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The Department estimates that in 2004–05 there will be approximately three million pensioner benefit units receiving income related benefits.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the pension credit. [138637]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Pension credit is making a real difference to the lives of millions of pensioners. As the Secretary of State reported on 11 November, at the end of October there were already 1.97 million pensioner households, around 2.3 million individuals, receiving pension credit. And 1.2 million households, around 1.4 million individuals, are now receiving more money than they did before, with the average award being £47.10 per week,Official Report, 11 November 2003, column 18WS.

  Our advertising campaign is continuing and we are working with partner organisations, such as Help The Aged, Age Concern and Citizens Advice, to fulfil our aspiration that every pensioner takes up their entitlement.

  And it is not too late to apply. Anyone who makes an application before October 2004, where entitlement exists, will have their award backdated to October 2003, or to the date entitlement begins if this is later.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what he estimates that the average(a) single pensioner and (b) pensioner couple will receive each week under the pension credit in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South. [137982]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is for estimates. The figures set out in the following table are the actual average amounts.

  Weekly average amount in payment (£)

  Area

  All claimants

  Couples

  Singles

  North West and Merseyside (GOR)

  45.92

  58.26

  43.30

  Merseyside Metropolitan County Council

  46.24

  56.66

  43.95

  St. Helens South Parliamentary Constituency

  44.63

  55.37

  42.23

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (GMS) data.

  2. Local authorities, Government Office Regions (GOR), and Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in(a) the north west region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South have claimed the pension credit. [137985]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested.
  483W
  As at 17 October 2003 the number of people receiving pension credit in St. Helens South was 3,615, in Merseyside Metropolitan 67,185, and in the north west and Merseyside region 261,250.

  Notes:

  1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

  2. Figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.

  3. Local authorities, Government Office Regions (GOR), and parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by how much he estimates the income of the average(a) single pensioner and (b) pensioner couples will change under the pension credit for (i) the north west region, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) St. Helens, South compared with that in 1997. [138014]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested.

  As at 17 October 2003 the average weekly gain for those on Pension Credit is indicated in the table.

  Average weekly gain (£)

  Area

  All claimants

  Couples

  Singles

  North west and Merseyside

  5.31

  7.40

  4.86

  Merseyside Metropolitan County Council

  5.59

  7.98

  5.05

  St. Helens. South Parliamentary Constituency

  6.21

  8.06

  5.78

  Notes:

  1. Figures produced by IAD from 100 per cent Generalised
  Matching Service (GMS) data at 17 October 2003.

  2. Gainer figures have been produced by comparing Pension
  Credit amount at 17 October 2003 with MIG amount immediately
  prior to introduction of Pension Credit.

  3. Local authorities, Government Office Regions (GOR), and
  parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes
  against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent sample.

  The Government will be spending around £8 billion extra on pensioners in 2003–04 as a result of the measures introduced since 1997. This includes around –3.75 billion on the poorest third of pensioners—the very people who need help the most. This is almost six times as much as an earnings link to the basic state pension since 1998 would have given them.

  Following the introduction of the Pension Credit, the average pensioner household will be £1,250 per year, or £24 per week, better off due to the Government's personal tax and benefit changes than they would have been under the 1997 system.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the Government's plans are to ensure maximum take-up in(a) the north west region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South of the pension credit. [138015]

  Malcolm Wicks
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Eltham (Clive Efford) on 15 September 2003,Official Report, column 559W. The Pension Service local service continues to work with partner organisations in the
  484W
  north west, Merseyside and St. Helens South, including Age Concern, local authorities and local voluntary organisations, to tell pensioners about pension credit, raise awareness and encourage those eligible to apply. Activities at the local level are particularly aimed at encouraging applications from pensioners who traditionally do not take up their entitlement and include awareness sessions, information surgeries and take-up campaigns.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in(a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South are entitled to the pension credit. [138016]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested but we estimate that around 500,000 pensioner households in the North West and Merseyside region are eligible for Pension Credit.

  Unemployment
  Mr. Borrow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on long-term trends in unemployment. [138655]

  Mr. Browne
  Labour market statistics continue to show employment growing and unemployment on a downward trend. In the last month the unemployment figure fell from 3.1 per cent. to 3.0 per cent., the lowest figure in over 25 years.

  These are great achievements. But we know we still have more to do. We are working to ensure that all groups of people, in all parts of the country, have access to job opportunities and are given the support they need to overcome the barriers they face.

  Pensioner Incomes
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effect of Government policy on the incomes of(a) the poorest pensioners and (b) all pensioners. [138656]

  Malcolm Wicks
  As a result of Government measures already undertaken since 1997, including the introduction of pension credit in October, on average:pensioner households will be £1,250 a year better off in real terms—around £24 extra a week; and
  the poorest third of pensioner households will have gained £1,600 a year in real terms.

  Providing a decent income for the poorest pensioners is key. Since April 2003, no pensioner has to get by on less than £102.10 per week (£155.80 for couples).

  Age Discrimination
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to bring about the early elimination of age discrimination in employment. [138657]

  Mr. Browne
  We are committed to introducing legislation to outlaw age discrimination in employment in October 2006. Meanwhile we shall continue to promote the employment of those aged 50 and over through our Age Positive Campaign.

  Asbestos Surveyors
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many United Kingdom Accreditation Service asbestos surveyors are registered in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [137814]

  Mr. Browne
  The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has accredited 50 organisations that carry out inspections for asbestos in buildings. A further 40 organisations have applied for accreditation. The Department holds no information on the numbers of surveyors employed by these organisations.

  Council Tax Benefit
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to encourage people on low incomes to claim council tax benefit. [138653]

  Mr. Pond
  Local authorities have a statutory duty to promote council tax benefit for which they use leaflets, posters and information on websites. Most authorities also include information when issuing council tax bills.

  A specific leaflet on council tax benefit is available from post offices, as well as information included in generic departmental guides.

  Automated Credit Transfer
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have migrated from over-the-counter post office benefit payments to direct bank transfer since 1 April in(a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England. [116766]

  Mr. Pond
  The information is not available in the precise format requested.

  Information has been compiled from the data available on 22 March 2003 and that available on 6 September 2003, and is shown in the following table.

  Number of customers receiving benefits that have migrated from payments at post offices to those paid into bank, building society or Post Office card accounts, which may also be collectable at post offices, between 22 March 2003 and 6 September 2003

  Number of customers

  Haltemprice and Howden constituency

  1,570

  East Riding of Yorkshire local authority

  6,615

  England

  977,770

  The above figures are payload not caseload figures, therefore a claimant may be counted more than once if they are on several benefits.

  Notes

  Customers who have chosen to be paid into a bank account a Post Office card account will continue to be paid by order book until their present order book runs out, and will not have been included in the numbers above where that order book was still current on 6 September.

  Source

  DWP Information Centre, Information and Analysis Directorate (100 per cent. data).

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of recipients in each benefit category do not have a bank account; what 486W
  measures his Department is taking to encourage the take-up of the Post Office card accounts by those without a bank or building society account; and what targets his Department has set for the paying of benefits by automatic credit transfer to those without a bank or building society account. [137745]

  Mr. Pond
  The following table shows the percentage of recipients in each benefit category that do not have a bank account suitable for direct payment. This information has been derived from the data used to compile the Family Resources Survey1 (FRS) 2001–02.

  Benefit

  Per cent. of recipients in each benefit category that do not have a bank account suitable for direct payment

  Working age benefits

  33

  Disability and carer's benefit

  23

  Retirement pension1

  10

  Child benefit

  12

  War pensions

  8

  All benefits

  13

  1 Excluding M1G cases.

  The Department has a published Public Service Agreement target that by 2005, 85 per cent. of customers will have their benefits paid by direct payment. People are being provided with all the information they need on all of their "account options", including which accounts can be used at post office branches. It will be up to the customers themselves to decide which type of account they wish to have their money paid into. Already 87 per cent. of all customers have access to a bank account that can receive direct payment.

  The move to direct payment is progressing well. Key figures on the progress of conversion to direct payment are available in the Library, updated every four weeks.

  1GB household survey of people aged 16 and above and not in full time, non-advanced education.

  Carers Allowance
  John Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people aged over 65 years in(a) Glasgow, Anniesland and (b) the United Kingdom, who have an underlying entitlement to carers allowance but who cannot receive it because they are also in receipt of the state pension. [136943]

  Maria Eagle
  Information for Great Britain is as follows.

  Number of people aged over 65 years who have an underlying entitlement to carers allowance but who do not receive payment due to the receipt of state pension as at 31 May 2003

  Number of people aged 65 and over who are entitled but do not receive payment

  Anniesland Glasgow

  140

  Great Britian

  54,625

  Note

  Figures are rounded to the nearest 5

  source

  IAD Information Centre,100 Per cent. sample
  487W
  It is assumed all people with an overlapping benefit who are over 65 are not receiving Carers Allowance because of State Pension.

  Employment Statistics
  Ms Munn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the number of people(a) in employment now and (b) in employment in 1997, broken down by (i) permanent and (ii) temporary employment. [138636]

  Mr. Browne
  Building on a platform of sound economic management, our welfare-to-work policies have helped increase the number of people in permanent employment by nearly two million since 1997.

  We are now at record levels of employment and this has been achieved against a background of economic stability. As the number of people in employment has risen, the number of people in temporary jobs has actually fallen by over 260,000.

  Hospital Patients (Benefit Cuts)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the abolition of benefit cuts for patients in the first 52 weeks of a hospital stay has cost his Department. [138622]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The estimated cost of increasing the period of time to 52 weeks before relevant benefits are reduced is £65 million per year.

  Notes

  1. Costs are based on 2001–02 administrative data and average amounts. Numbers are rounded to the nearest million and expressed in 2003–04 terms.

  Project Name—2000–03

  What stage the project has reached

  Key achievements to date

  Child support reform (CSR)

  Implement Changes

  Since 3 March 2003, new child support claims have been calculated using the new rules and new IT.

  Customer management system

  Implement changes

  This system currently being rolled out will allow information supplied by customers to be gathered electronically by staff, improving efficiency and customer service. Staff will be able to check information supplied against that already held and issue the customer with a statement reflecting the information supplied.

  Debt management

  Implement changes

  October 2003: Nine out of ten debt centres now set-up.

  Digital office infrastructure (DOI) previously known as early office infrastructure

  Implement changes

  DOI aims to implement a modern IT infrastructure platform across the Department allowing staff access to modern business software. By October 2003 over 128.000 PCs had been installed.

  Modernising the employment service

  Realised benefits

  March 2001: Worktrain website launched.

  February 2001: network of Jobpoint kiosks completed.

  October 2001: Employer Direct service goes national.

  Corporate intranet

  Implement changes

  June 2001: Corporate Intranet redesigned to support creation of DWP.
  December 2002 all DWP staff have access to intranet following completion of DOI and MES desktops roll-outs.

  Jobcentre plus implementation

  Implement changes

  Rollout of integrated offices across the country, replacing the Social Security and Employment Offices (286 to date) currently in place. Jobcentre Plus offices allow customers to access employment opportunities and benefit information in a modern environment.

  New tax credits

  Implement changes

  January 2003: IT Gateway between Inland Revenue and DWP went live.
  April 2003: Payment of new awards of child tax credit and working tax credit start.

  October 2003: 30,000 minimum income guarantee child premium cases successfully completed.

  Payment modernisation programme

  Implement changes

  From April 2003: Direct payment becomes the normal method of payment for new customers. Benefit systems aligned to accommodate direct payments.

  488W
  2. Costs take into account all benefits covered by the change from six to 52 weeks.

  IT Expenditure
  Dr. Pugh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what major IT projects with a value in excess of £10,000 he authorised expenditure on in each of the last three financial years. [125723]

  Mr. Browne
  Expenditure on projects is formally approved by the Department's governance process and authorised through review gates. These reviews ensure that projects are meeting the standards we expect (including business change, technical, financial and commercial criteria) before authority to progress to the next stage of their development is given.

  Major IT projects are those contained within our modernisation programme which is regularly reviewed by the Secretary of State. The following table outlines the major IT projects included in the programme during the period April 2000 to March 2003 and provides supplementary information regarding the stage each project has reached and its key achievements to date. For completeness it includes two major modernisation projects to create new infrastructure for Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service.

  The key stages in the Department's project lifecycle are defined as follows:

  0. Initial feasibility

  1. Define and initiate

  2. Design changes

  3. Develop changes

  4. Implement changes; realise benefits

  It should be noted that project details may alter as they pass through the project lifecycle.
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  Project Name—2000–03

  What stage the project has reached

  Key achievements to date

  Universal banking programme

  Implement changes

  1 April 2003: Universal banking go live—new banking services available at post offices including Post Office card accounts.

  Pension credit

  Implement changes

  April 2003: Advance application for pension credit invited.

  May 2003: Minimum income guarantee to pension credit—conversion started.

  October 2003: Pension credit payable. 1.97 million pensioner households are now in receipt—of which 82,000 are as a result of new pension credit awards in October. Pension credit application line have taken their millionth call.

  Pensions transformation programme (PTP)

  Design changes

  The project is currently focusing on designing and delivering changes to the Pension Service organisation, business processes, services and IT.

  Implementation of the Pension Service, including project empower

  Realised benefits

  26 pension centres operational, including those part of the Project Empower (Burnley and Swansea)

  Resource management system

  Develop changes

  The project is configuring standard Oracle software and implementing best practice processes to replace the Department's existing resource management systems.

  Pensions forecasting

  Implement changes

  October 2001: Combined pensions forecasting service available.

  Interactive e-services

  Implement changes

  April 2003 customers are able to claim child benefit and provide information about changes of circumstances electronically via the internet.

  ISCS/JSAPS modernisation project

  Define and initiate

  The Department's updated IS/IT strategy has identified new ways of delivering IT improvements at lower risk. The modernisation of our income support and jobseekers allowance systems is now being taken forward in line with updated IS/IT strategy principles for example, a preference for commercially available packages rather than bespoke development and staged incremental improvements rather than "big bang" replacement.

  Modernising appeals programme

  Initial feasibility

  The programme was refocused in October 2003 because of doubts about its cost effectiveness. A new feasibility study has been commissioned to look at lower cost approaches, and to include any business change requirements resulting from the move to the Department of Constitutional Affairs.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the future of call centres in London for Jobcentre Plus clients. [136830]

  Mr. Browne
  The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from David Anderson to Andrew Dismore, dated November 2003

  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the future of call centres in London for Jobcentre Plus clients. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  Contact Centres are an essential part of the new Jobcentre Plus process and allow customers to make claims by telephone without the need to attend a Jobcentre Plus office. The range of services offered by contact centres will be increased in time, along with the ability for customers to make claims via the internet.

  The Department for Work and Pensions is currently undertaking a review with all of its operational businesses, including Jobcentre Plus, to determine overall requirements for contact centre capacity for the period up to 2007. This report is likely to be issued towards the end of the year. This will then inform decisions that will be made regarding the future of the three existing London contact centre sites.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list each item of market and opinion research commissioned since May 1997 by(a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible; what the purpose of each item was; and whether the results were published. [137007]
  490W
  Mr. Browne
  This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Minimum Income Guarantee
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners he estimates in(a) the north west region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens, South are eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee. [137983]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Minimum Income Guarantee was replaced by Pension Credit in October 2003. Estimates of the national number of pensioners previously eligible for, but not claiming the Minimum Income Guarantee, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are included in the publication "Income-Related Benefits—Estimates of Take Up in 2000/2001", copies of which are available in the Library.

  Around 3.8 million pensioner households are eligible for Pension Credit nationally with around 500,000 in the north west and Merseyside region.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in(a) the north west region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St. Helens South are in receipt of the minimum income guarantee. [137984]

  Malcolm Wicks
  As at May 2003, the number of minimum income guarantee recipients in St. Helens south was around 3,400, in Merseyside Metropolitan 61,800, and in the north west and Merseyside region, 248,600. These are the latest figures available.

  Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
  491W
  Notes

  1. The MIG figure has been rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. The MIG figure is based on a 5 per cent. sample, and therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  3. Government office region/parliamentary constituency are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

  4. MIG recipients are defined as income support benefit units where the claimant, and/or partner is aged 60 or over.

  Source

  IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample

  New Deal
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 10 November 2003,Official Report, column 148W, on the New Deal, how many 18 to 24-year-olds left the New Deal for Young People with known destinations; and what percentage of these have subsequently found full-time employment. [139235]

  Mr. Browne
  Since the start of the programme, there have been 643,4501 leavers from New Deal for Young People to known destinations, of which 55 per cent. have left to unsubsidised employment.

  1 Includes people who may have left the programme more than once.

  Pensioners (Benefits)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total value of benefits unclaimed by pensioners in each year since 1997. [138693]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is not available.

  Estimates of take-up of income-related benefits for Great Britain are in the Department's reports titled "Income-Related Benefits—Estimates of Take-Up". Copies of all the reports in the series are in the Library.

  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of public expenditure on(a) housing benefit for pensioners, (b) council tax benefit for pensioners and (c) pension credit as a percentage of gross domestic product in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 2002–03, (iii) 2010, (iv) 2020, (v) 2030, (vi) 2040, (vii) 2050 and (viii) for other years for which estimates have been made, assuming that the value of the pension credit increases in line with prices and that (A) pensioners' incomes from other sources rise in line with prices and (B) that pensioners' incomes from other sources rise in line with earnings; [134474]

  (2) what estimate he has made of public expenditure on (a) housing benefit for pensioners, (b)council tax benefit for pensioners and (c) pension credit as a percentage of gross domestic product in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 2002–03, (iii) 2010, (iv) 2020, (v) 2030, (vi) 2040, (vii) 2050 and (viii) for other years for which estimates have been made, assuming that the value of the pension credit increases in line with earnings and that (A) pensioners' incomes from other sources rise in line with prices and (B) that pensioners' incomes from other sources rise in line with earnings. [134475]
  492W
  Malcolm Wicks
  Expenditure on income support/ minimum income guarantee, housing benefit and council tax benefit for pensioners as a proportion of gross domestic product in 1997–98 and 2002–03 is shown in Table 1.

  Table 1: Expenditure on income support/minimum income guarantee, housing benefit for pensioners and council tax benefit for pensioners as a proportion of gross domestic product

  Percentage

  Income support/minimum income guarantee

  Housing benefit

  Council tax benefit

  1997–98

  0.45

  0.45

  0.15

  2002–03

  0.40

  0.45

  0.15

  Note

  Figures rounded to the nearest 0.05 per cent.

  The latest projections of the full cost of pension credit (guarantee credit and savings credit) to 2050 are published on page 148, Annex 3 of the Pensions Green Paper 'Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement' (cm 5677). Based on a number of assumptions about the future, as set out in Annex 3, this shows that pension credit expenditure could rise to around one and a half per cent. of GDP by 2050.

  One of the assumptions used was that on average, income brought to account in the pension credit would increase in line with average earnings.

  The Pensioners' Incomes Series 2001–02, based on Family Resources Survey and Family Expenditure Survey data, shows that average pensioner incomes between 1979 and 1996–97 rose by 64 per cent. in real terms, compared to average earnings growth in the whole economy of 36 per cent. in real terms. More recent growth estimates are subject to uncertainty, but the growth in average pensioner incomes between 1994–95 and 2001–02 was around 23 per cent. in real terms, higher than average earnings (up 12 per cent. over the same period).

  Robust projections of future spending on pension credit, housing benefit for pensioners and council tax benefit for pensioners, based on alternative assumptions, and in different years, are not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However Table 2 provides a broad indication, of the likely relative costs in 2050 under alternative scenarios of pension credit uprating and pensioner income growth.

  Table 2: Expenditure in 2050 on pension credit, housing benefit for pensioners and council tax benefit for pensioners as a proportion of gross domestic product

  Percentage

  Pension credit rises by

  Pensioner incomes rise by

  Pension credit

  Housing benefit

  Council tax benefit

  Earnings

  Prices

  3.80

  0.60

  0.35

  Earnings

  1.60

  0.50

  0.20

  Prices

  Prices

  0.30

  0.55

  0.15

  Earnings

  0.10

  0.25

  0.05

  Note

  Figures rounded to the nearest 0.05 per cent.

  As explained, given the evidence of past penisoner income growth, the likelihood that those eligible for pension credit in the future will have higher state

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  retirement pension income than previous cohorts, and the growth of non-pension income, such as earnings, this assumption is likely to be unrealistic.

  The long-term cost of pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit will also depend greatly on the decisions made by future governments in annual uprating statements. This Government are committed to increase the guarantee in line with average earnings for the remainder of this Parliament, ensuring that all pensioners share in rising national prosperity. Following the introduction of pension credit, the Government will be spending an additional £9.2 billion on pensioners in 2004–05 as a result of measures introduced since 1997.

  Pensioners (Council Tax)
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were in receipt of(a) full and (b) partial council tax benefit in Copeland (i) in 1996–97 and (ii) in the last financial year for which figures are available; what percentage of all pensioners in Copeland this represents in each case; and if he will make a statement. [138471]

  Mr. Pond
  The available information is in the table.

  Council tax benefit beneficiaries aged 60 and over in the North West Government Office Region: May 1997 and May 2002

  Partial benefit

  Full benefit

  Total

  Number of beneficiaries

  May 1997

  143,000

  181,000

  324,000

  May 2002

  115,000

  259,000

  374,000

  Beneficiaries as a percentage of people aged 60 and over in the North Wset Government Office Region

  May 1997

  10.1

  12.8

  22.9

  May 2002

  8.1

  18.2

  26.2

  Notes

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

  2. Valid figures from a 1 per cent. sample are not available by local authority as they would be subject to a high degree of sampling error.

  3. Caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4. Percentages have been rounded to one decimal place.

  5. Figures exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.

  6. Beneficiaries are classed as claimants and/or partners aged 60 or over.

  Sources

  1. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, I Per cent. sample.

  2. ONS, Population Estimates Unit, Mid-1997 and 2002.

  Pensions
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to amend the FRS17 account measure for company pension schemes; and if he will make a statement. [137121]

  Malcolm Wicks
  Amendment of FRS17 is not a Government responsibility. It set by the independent Accounting Standards Board for the purpose of providing clarity of liabilities in company accounts. Its full implementation has been deferred awaiting the development of a revised International Accounting Standard, being developed by the independent 494W
  International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). It is anticipated that the revised international standard will be agreed by 2004.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by which means pensioners who receive their pension by order book and have not replied to his Department's literature about direct payment by April 2005 will receive their payments. [138797]

  Maria Eagle
  90 per cent. of pensioners already have an account suitable to receive Direct Payment.

  Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library and are updated every four weeks.

  We will be writing to the remaining pensioners over the next year. In addition we will be making further contact with those who have not responded.

  However, we have always recognised that there will be some people who are genuinely unable to operate any type of bank account. For those customers an exceptions method of payment will be available. It is likely that the exceptions method of payment will be a cheque based solution and will be available at Post Office branches.

  Remploy
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disabled people were employed by Remploy in each of the last four years. [135285]

  Maria Eagle
  Remploy directly supports disabled people through employment in one of its businesses, through placement with a third party employer, or by providing ongoing support to an employee of a mainstream employer to enable them to retain employment.

  The actual number of disabled people employed by Remploy is different to the number the company supports under WORKSTEP, as it includes a small number of disabled people who are not supported by the programme and excludes a number of people who are supported by Remploy under the WORKSTEP programme, but who are employed by a third party.

  Disabled people employed by Remploy

  1999–2000

  9,613

  2000–01

  9,255

  2001–02

  8,728

  1001–03

  7,191

  Disabled people supported by Remploy through WORKSTEP

  Of which employed by third party

  1999–2000

  10,262

  672

  2000–01

  10,423

  1,196

  2001–02

  10,523

  1,839

  2002–03

  9,543

  2,411

  Winter Fuel Payments
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people who were newly entitled to the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 in(a) North Staffordshire. (b) Stoke-on-Trent and (c) the Stoke-on-Trent South constituency; [137775]

  (2) how many people newly entitled to the winter fuel payment in 2003–04 claimed in (a) North Staffordshire, (b) Stoke-on-Trent and (c) Stoke-on-Trent South constituency. [137776]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, for the parliamentary constituencies of Stoke-on-Trent South, North and Central 3,911 winter fuel payment claim forms were issued to people who need to claim a payment for this winter. Of those 2,483 have submitted their claim forms.

  We are publicising the availability of winter fuel payments and how to obtain a claim form. Those who need to claim for this winter have until 30 March 2004 to do so.

  Note

  Information to identify those likely to be entitled was extracted from the Departmental Central Index based on postcodes.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in(a) the City of Edinburgh local authority area, (b) Edinburgh West, (c) Edinburgh Central, (d) Edinburgh North and Leith, (e) Edinburgh South, (f) Edinburgh Pentlands, (g) Edinburgh East and Musselburgh will be eligible for winter fuel payments in 2003–04; and how many of these will receive the payment automatically. [138453]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available is set out in the following table:

  Winter fuel payments in Edinburgh 2002–03

  All

  Males

  Females

  Parliamentary constituencies

  Edinburgh Central

  11,815

  4,630

  7,190

  Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

  15,745

  6,570

  9,175

  Edinburgh North and Leith

  12,045

  4,910

  7,135

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  14,560

  6,080

  8,480

  Edinburgh South

  14,325

  5,535

  8,790

  Edinburgh West

  17,760

  7,510

  10,250

  Local authority

  City of Edinburgh

  83,065

  33,975

  49,090

  Notes:

  1. Number are rounded to the nearest five.

  2. Figures taken from the Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuel Payment 2002–03 exercise.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre,100 per cent sample.

  The number of people Who Would receive the Winter fuel payment automatically in Winter 2003–04 is expected to be similar to those in the table.

DEFENCE

  Al Yamamah Programme
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department intends to introduce monitoring of sub-contractor performance in the A1 Yamamah programme. [137237]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Department has no contractual relationship with sub-contractors, whose performance is a matter for the A1 Yamamah Programme prime contractor, BAE Systems, and has no plans to introduce monitoring of sub-contractors.

  Asset Valuation
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the Treasury concerning the valuation of assets in his Department. [137914]

  Mr. Hoon
  Officials have held regular discussions and meetings with HM Treasury regarding the Department's financial position, including on the issue of asset valuations.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case(a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [137879]

  Mr. Ingram
  According to our records no contracts have been placed with Bechtel.

  Chemical Ali
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on(a) the claim by UK armed forces to have killed the Iraqi known as Chemical Ali in Basra during the conflict earlier this year and (b) the recent claim by the US Administration to have captured Chemical Ali. [136708]

  Mr. Ingram
  Ali Hassan al-Majeed—"Chemical Ali"—is in US custody.

  On 6 April there were indications that Ali Hassan al-Majeed had been in a building in Basra when it was destroyed by coalition aircraft. We said at the time that we believed that a body found was that of Ali Hassan al-Majeed but that we could not be certain until scientific tests had been performed to positively identify it. The tests subsequently proved that the body was not, in fact, his.

  Chinook Helicopters
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what process the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter has undergone to ascertain its readiness for release to operational service; [137492]

  (2) what the latest estimate is of the cost of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter procurement project; [137497]
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  (3) when the budget for the Chinook Mark 3 Procurement project was authorised; and what the total cost forecast was at contract stage; [137498]

  (4) what the differences between the Mark 2 Chinook helicopter, the Chinook 47-H and the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter are; [137493]

  (5) what the differences between the Mark 2 Chinook helicopter, the Chinook 47-H and the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter are; [137494]

  (6) how the validation process of the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter differs from the validation process used to validate the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 2 and Mark 2a Chinook helicopter; [137613]

  (7) how many lines of software cope were written in programming the FADEC system fitted to the Chinook Mark 3 helicopter; [137614]

  (8) what operational requirement the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter was designed to fulfil when the original order was placed in October 1995; [137495]

  (9) what cost-benefit analysis was conducted prior to initiating procurement of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; and what the results were; [137496]

  (10) what software language was used in writing the software for the FADEC fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; and what sub-contractors have been used to conduct this work; [137615]

  (11) which company was contracted to fit the FADEC system into the Mark 3 Chinook helicopter; [137616]

  (12) what differences there are between the FADEC system fitted to the Mark 3 Chinook and the MH47 Chinook helicopter. [137617]

  Mr. Ingram
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the release to service of the Mark 3 Chinook helicopters. [138386]

  Mr. Ingram
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Cluster Munitions
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) air-launched and (b) ground-launched cluster munitions his Department purchased from Israeli Military Industries in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [135857]

  Mr. Ingram
  No air-launched cluster munitions are purchased from Israel. Ground-launched cluster munitions, which consist of Shell 155mm HE L20A1 Extended Range Bomblet Shell (ERBS), are purchased from Royal Ordnance Defence (ROD) as the prime contractor, who sub contract the manufacture of ERBS shell to Israeli Military Industries (IMI). The fuse is fitted by ROD Glascoed where the entire round is packaged.
  498W
  The following quantities of ERBS have been purchased in the last five years: 6,000 in financial year 2002–03, 20,100 in financial year 2003–04, with a further quantity of 3,009 being provided against an option on the contract.

  Clyde Dockyards
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for defence pursuant to his answer of 20 October 2003,Official Report, columns 373–4W, on departmental staff, what the total number of civilian personnel working at the Clyde dockyards was at the time of transfer of management to the private sector; what the procedure was (a) leading up to the decision for the transfer to be undertaken and (b) from the time of the decision for the transfer to be undertaken to the handover to the private sector; what companies participated in the process; what commitments in relation to job maintenance in Scotland were (i) sought and (ii) given as part of the transfer; and if he will make a statement. [138570]

  Mr. Caplin
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Defence Budget (Scotland)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the defence budget was spent in Scotland in the most recent year for which figures are available(a) in actual terms and (b) as a percentage of the total defence budget; and if he will make a statement. [138573]

  Mr. Ingram
  The information is not held centrally in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  HMS Colchester
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to name a Royal Navy fighting ship, HMS Colchester. [139006]

  Mr. Ingram
  The new class of Royal Navy destroyers (the Type 45 or D Class) are to bear names beginning with the letter 'D', so Colchester cannot be a candidate for any of these. The same applies to the new Astute Class of submarine whose names all begin with the letter 'A'.

  The Ships Names and Badges Committee has the task of assessing all the possible names for new ships before making their recommendation through the First Sea Lord and Secretary of State for Defence for final approval by Her Majesty the Queen. I am sure that Colchester, of which there have been six ships previously with the name,whose last Battle Honour was at the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665, will be among the names considered for future suitable vessels.

  Iraq
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) bridges, (b) sewerage pumping stations and (c) power stations have been reconstructed and repaired by United Kingdom forces operating in Iraq. [134597]
  499W
  Mr. Ingram
  Responsibility for the repair of civil infrastructure lies with the Coalition Provisional Administration. Where possible, and within resource constraints, United Kingdom Forces will assist the Iraqi authorities in the reconstruction and repair of Iraqi infrastructure when requested to do so.

  UK Forces have supported Iraqi engineers in the repair of sewerage pumping stations and power stations but we do not hold central records of the numbers involved. We have no record of UK Forces having repaired or reconstructed bridges in Iraq.

  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) distance of (i) road and (ii) electricity transmission system has been repaired and (b) length of railway has been returned to service by United Kingdom forces operating in Iraq. [134598]

  Mr. Ingram
  Responsibility for the repair of civil infrastructure lies with the Coalition Provisional Administration (CPA). Where possible, and within resource constraints, United Kingdom forces will assist the provisional Iraqi authorities in the reconstruction and repair of Iraqi infrastructure when requested to do so.

  We have no record of any repairs to the road network. UK forces have repaired approximately 50 kilometres of electricity transmission system. In addition, UK forces have carried out repairs to the rail network in the Um Qasr region of Iraq and supported Iraqi rail maintenance crews on a number of other occasions.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all troops in the Gulf are fully equipped with desert clothing; and if he will make a statement. [122977]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 3 July 2003]The Ministry of Defence has previously acknowledged the difficulties faced during Operation Telic in determining the in-theatre rate of consumption of, and tracking of, desert clothing. However, I can confirm that sufficient personal equipment, including desert clothing, has been despatched to theatre to equip all deployed UK Servicemen and women.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation will be paid to the estates of Iraqi civilians who died as a result of British military action in Iraq. [125109]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no plans to pay compensation to Iraqi civilians killed during combat operations in Iraq.

  The handling of claims made by Iraqis for losses which do not arise in connection with combat operations are governed by section 6 of the Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17. This provides that any such claims shall be submitted to and dealt with by the parent state of the person whose activities are alleged to have caused the loss. The claims will then be dealt with in a manner consistent with the national laws of that parent state.

  Where a claim against British troops arises from activity which would not give rise to a legal liability to pay compensation under English law, there may nevertheless be an ex gratia payment made to the injured
  500W
  person or to the family of the deceased where this would be in accordance with local custom or directed to meet a particular urgent humanitarian need.

  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the mechanisms in place for the sharing of information between the British and other coalition forces involved in operations in Iraq. [133309]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence works closely with our partner nations to ensure effective sharing of information and intelligence including through the use of embedded officers within national command structures. Within the Multinational Division (South East), which is led by the United Kingdom, there is a combined Command and Control structure that includes all partner nations.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures are followed by UK personnel in Iraq before live ammunition is fired at civilians; and whether protocols have been agreed with US forces on procedures to be followed. [133417]

  Mr. Ingram
  Use of lethal force by United Kingdom armed forces personnel in Iraq is governed by the extant Rules of Engagement for Operation Telic. It is not our practice to comment on Rules of Engagement and I am withholding information regarding their contents under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  We cannot comment on the Rules of Engagement used by other nations.

  Military Colleges
  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many students awarded service scholarships, undergraduate bursaries and cadetships, who were due to enter military colleges in the past five years, have withdrawn from the scheme; how many of those who have withdrawn repaid in full funds advanced to them prior to their withdrawal; whether the armed forces continue to pursue those who have not repaid sums received; and how much has been written off in each of the past five years. [133866]

  Mr. Caplin
  Those awarded university cadetships or bursaries are required, as a condition of the offer, to agree to refund the costs of the cadetship or bursary should they fail to complete five years (cadetships) or three years (bursaries) productive service (six years for Medical Cadetships and the RAF Flying Branch). Each case is considered on its merits, but it is the Department's normal practice to seek to recover its appropriate outlay when the specified return of service is not given, through a decision to leave the Service attributable to the individual. Salary payments are not recovered in respect of cadetships. Allowance is not made for time served except in respect of uniform costs. Recovery is not sought from those individuals whose service, or bursary, is terminated through no fault of their own (e.g. on medical grounds) and may be waived in whole or part on compassionate grounds or in other exceptional circumstances.
  501W
  The following table gives details of the number of withdrawals from Army and RAF scholarships, cadetships and bursaries.

  Withdrawal from scholarships, cadetships and bursaries

  RN/RM*

  Army

  RAF

  1999–2000

  11

  57

  Not available

  2000–01

  11

  77

  58

  2001–02

  24

  69

  58

  2002–03

  17

  55

  32

  2003–04

  17

  34

  21

  Total

  80

  292

  169

  The number of recoveries initiated:

  Recoveries initiated

  Army

  RAF

  1999–2000

  46

  58

  2000–01

  63

  39

  2001–02

  68

  48

  2002–03

  55

  27

  2003–04

  34

  18

  Total

  256

  190

  All award holder withdrawals (with the exception of the few who are excused repayment in accordance with the above policy) are pursued for full recovery, although some write-off actions have occurred and these are detailed as follows. The year in which write-off action is taken is not necessarily the year in which withdrawal occurred.

  Number of cases involving write-off action

  Army

  RAF

  1999–2000

  0

  0

  2000–01

  0

  4

  2001–02

  4

  7

  2002–03

  4

  2

  2003–04

  8

  0

  Total

  16

  13

  I will write to the hon. Member once similar figures regarding withdrawals from Royal Marines scholarships, cadetships and bursaries have been collated and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Operation Southern Focus
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of British forces in Operation Southern Focus. [129895]

  Mr. Ingram
  United Kingdom forces were not involved in Operation Southern Focus.

  Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what statutory investigatory powers the Department has; which ones will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and what plans he has for removing these legacy powers. [136130]

  Mr. Caplin
  In addition to the powers governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the Ministry of Defence Police have statutory investigatory powers under the MOD Police Act 1987 (as amended by 502W
  the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001) and Service police investigatory powers are specified in the Army and Air Force Acts 1955 and the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (as amended by the various Armed Forces Acts).

  No existing statutory investigatory powers will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. Existing statutory investigatory powers to compel production of information will not be used to compel disclosure of communications data under Part 1 Chapter 11 of RIPA and there are no plans to repeal those existing powers.

  Reservists (Life Insurance)
  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 27 October 2003,Official Report, columns 6–7W, on life insurance, what provisions were put in place to cover Reservists called up for service in the six months prior to 1 July. [138098]

  Mr. Caplin
  For many years, the Ministry of Defence has provided attributable death and injury benefits for Reservists under the War Pension Scheme and the Reserve Forces (Attributable Benefits Etc) Regulations. Commercial insurance has offered—and still offers—additional cover to those requiring it. The decision whether to take out such cover has always been a matter for the individual; MOD neither endorses nor sponsors commercial insurance schemes.

  Reservists called up for service in the six months prior to 1 July 2003 could, if they wished, have taken out life cover under RPAX, and at that time been covered for war risks on joining the scheme. Information about RPAX was then, and still is, promulgated, periodically, to individual Reservists and units. In addition, Reservists would have been briefed on its availability at their respective mobilisation centres.

  Saudi Arabia
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2003,Official Report, column 428–29W, on Saudi Arabia, when his Department's Permanent Secretary raised the allegations against British Aerospace/BAE Systems and Robert Lee International with the Chairman of BAE Systems; how these allegations were raised; what type of claims have to be endorsed by staff of his Department's Director General of the Saudi Armed Forces Project; what the terms of the A1 Yamamah contracts are in respect of the endorsement claims; and if he will make a statement. [137234]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Department's Permanent Secretary raised the matter with the Chairman of BAE Systems in May 2001, in the context of the Government's firm anti-fraud policies.

  The A1 Yamamah contracts provide for a set of accounting processes, jointly agreed between the UK and Saudi Arabian Governments, which cover the endorsement and recording of approved claims. The processes cover claims for goods and services supplied to Saudi Arabia under the A1 Yamamah contracts. Staff of the Directorate General Saudi Armed Forces Project endorse the fact that such goods and services have been supplied to the agreed specification or standard and at

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  the price set out in the A1 Yamamah contracts. Ali claims are made in the name of the Prime Contractor. BAE Systems.

  Ships (Sale and Disposal)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) submarines and (b) surface ships are decommissioned and awaiting (i) sale and (ii) disposal. [137561]

  Mr. Ingram
  Currently, one conventionally powered (diesel electric) Upholder Class submarine is undergoing refurbishment pending handover to Canada. Twelve nuclear-powered submarines have been decommissioned and will be disposed of in due course. In addition, one decommissioned surface ship (a Fleet Diving Tender) is awaiting sale and one (Fearless Class) is awaiting disposal.

  Territorial Army
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel are on active service; and how many are expected to be on active service over the Christmas period.[138440]

  Mr. Caplin
  As at 1 September 2003, 4,160 members of the Territorial Army (TA) were mobilised, either on operations abroad, or in support of those operations in the United Kingdom.

  It is estimated that 1,600 members of the TA will be on active service over the Christmas period. This figure does not include those individuals who, although still compulsorily mobilised, have returned home from active service but not yet completed their post operational tour leave.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of the Territorial Army in Iraq. [138441]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Territorial Army (TA) undertake any and every task that is performed by their regular armed forces counterparts and are present throughout British Army units in Iraq. This is entirely in accordance with the Strategic Defence Review which set out a requirement for the TA to become a more integrated, relevant, useable force, better able to support their Regular counterparts on operations overseas.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in the number of annual training days in the Territorial Army on(a) morale, (b) retention and (c) recruitment; [138443]

  (2) how the change in the number of annual Territorial Army training days will affect the pay of (a) privates and (b) majors in the TA. [138442]

  Mr. Caplin
  It has been assessed that the change in the numbers of annual training days in the Territorial Army being put in place will have no significant effect on morale, retention and recruitment.

  The change will not affect the pay of privates or majors in the Territorial Army, nor will it impact on the ability of members of the Territorial Army to earn their annual bounty payment.

  Unexploded Ordnance
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the(a) quantity, (b) spread and (c) location of (i) mines, (ii) unexploded cluster bomb submunitions and (iii) unexploded conventional munitions in Iraq; what efforts are (A) planned and (B) underway to locate, defuse and remove these munitions; and if he will make a statement. [133319]

  Mr. Ingram
  The provision of a safe, secure and risk free environment for the Iraqi people is a key aspect of restoration activity for all members of the International Coalition in Iraq. The United Kingdom takes seriously its obligations as a member of that coalition to deal with unexploded ordnance. Unexploded ordnance in Iraq includes munitions from the Iran-Iraq war, mines laid by Iraqi forces, stores of ammunition and other ordnance left by Iraqi military and paramilitary forces as well as ordnance fired or dropped by both sides during recent hostilities.

  Since the end of major combat operations UK and other Coalition forces have been engaged in clearing sites containing unexploded ordnance. In the UK's area of responsibility an average of about 45 new sites have been discovered each week. Whenever a site is discovered UK forces mark the site and inform those in the vicinity. The munitions are then recovered or destroyed as soon as resources permit. To date around 1,600 sites have been cleared, containing about 619,000 munitions. We do not record individual types of munitions cleared.

  We are not in a position to comment on progress made in other areas of Iraq by our coalition partners.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the(a) quantity, (b) spread and (c) location of (i) mines, (ii) unexploded cluster bomb submunitions and (iii) unexploded conventional munitions in Afghanistan; what efforts are (A) planned and (B) underway to locate, defuse and remove these munitions; what countries are participating in these efforts; and if he will make a statement. [133320]

  Mr. Ingram
  Responsibility for the assessment and clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Afghanistan rests with that nation's ruling authorities. The majority of the assessment and the clearance of UXO is conducted by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and commercial demining companies, in many cases working under the auspices of the United Nations. At the end of 2002, independent assessment showed that some 263 square kilometres of land had been cleared of UXO.

  The Ministry of Defence carries out assessments of the quantity, spread and location of mines and UXO to ensure the force protection of our Service personnel or to counter any immediate threat to civilian life in Afghanistan. Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) capability is currently provided by Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Croatia as part of the International Stabilisation and Assistance Force (ISAF).

  Wideawake Airport
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the running cost in 2003–04 is of the establishment at Wideawake airport, Ascension Island; and what the estimated budget for the next financial year is. [139101]

  Mr. Caplin
  Wideawake is a United States airfield and is jointly operated by the US Air Force and the RAF. Excluding the value of assets, the Department's net operating cost budget for RAF Ascension Island in Financial Year 2003–04 is £9,547,243. The equivalent figure presently planned for FY 2004–05 is £8,425,000.

PRIME MINISTER

  House of Lords
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Secretary of State will require the House of Lords Appointments Commission to publish in its Annual Report statistics relating to the participation of people's peers in votes, questions and debates. [138515]

  The Prime Minister
  No.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister how many and what proportion of the local and national organisations contracted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission to help identify suitable nominees for a people's peerage responded to the request by furnishing names; and if he will make a statement. [138658]

  The Prime Minister
  The House of Lords Appointments Commission did not collate this information.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Prime Minister how many applicants for a people's peerage since April 2001 were self-nominated. [138662]

  The Prime Minister
  The Appointments Commission does not distinguish between nominations and self-nominations and, therefore, does not keep figures on the number of self-nominations received. All nominations are considered against the same criteria, regardless of whether they are nominated or self-nominated, and all nominees complete the same nomination form.

  EU Summits
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Prime Minister how many EU summits are scheduled for next year; and how many the Prime Minister plans to attend(a) in connection with and (b) unconnected with the Presidency. [139237]

  The Prime Minister
  There are four European Council summits planned next year for Heads of State and Government, which I plan to attend. Two will be under the Irish Presidency and two under the Presidency of the Netherlands.

  Heads of State (Television Footage)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will set controls on the use of recorded footage of Her Majesty The Queen and foreign heads of state to prevent their use for political purposes by foreign heads of state and government. [139282]
  506W
  The Prime Minister
  The media facilities for this State Visit will follow the same pattern as in previous Visits, including the recent State Visit of President Putin in June this year.

  It is not the role of the Government to instruct the media, both British and foreign, in the use of the material they obtain during their coverage of State Visits.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 27 October 2003,Official Report,column 50W, on Iraq, what steps he took to ascertain the nature of the delivery system to which the time of 45 minutes, mentioned in the Joint Intelligence Committee's assessment of 9 September, referred. [138629]

  The Prime Minister
  This intelligence report did not significantly amend the long standing Joint Intelligence Committee assessment that Iraq had command and control and logistical arrangements in place for the use of weapons of mass destruction. This particular piece of intelligence added precision as to timing which had not previously been available but did not change the overall picture and therefore there was no reason to seek further information.

  As the Intelligence and Security Committee noted in their report on 9 September 2003 there was convincing intelligence that Iraq had active chemical, biological and nuclear programmes, the capability to produce chemical and biological weapons. All of this, irrespective of the means by which such weapons were to be delivered, was in breach of UN Security Council Resolutions.

  Policy Advice
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the subjects on which he has asked the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) to undertake policy advice to ministers and other Government work since 1 January. [139275]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 September,Official Report, column 367W.

  President Bush (State Visit)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister what analysis of historical precedent was undertaken in deciding to invite President Bush to make a State Visit to the United Kingdom. [139283]

  The Prime Minister
  Each State Visit is considered on an individual basis, underlining the relationship between the UK and the nation of the visiting Head of State. The UK and US have a deep and close relationship across a wide spectrum of issues.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Discrimination
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government's policy is on extending discrimination law to include the media. [138165]

  Ms Hewitt
  Media organisations are covered by existing discrimination law in the same way as other employers and service providers. There are no plans to extend legislation specifically in relation to the media industry.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1069W, for what reason her Department has not provided support to Interpol's international weapons and explosives tracking system. [138613]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department has no responsibility for tracking weapons or explosives.

  British Energy
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in the restructuring of British Energy; and if she will make a statement. [139571]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, on 14 October 2003,Official Report, columns 1OWS–12WS about the progress in the restructuring of British Energy. I also refer to the company's further related announcement on 31 October "Update on Proposed Restructuring", a copy of which I have placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Call Centres
  Mr. Andrew Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will encourage large companies to keep their call centre bases in the United Kingdom. [135473]

  Mr. Timms
  Companies in the UK are operating in an increasingly competitive, global marketplace. It is a commercial matter for companies to decide where to locate their operations. In doing so companies will need to consider a number of factors including, inter alia, the strategic importance to the business of their call centre operations and the relative risks and benefits of transferring these overseas, the geographic distribution of their customer base and the need to be close to customers, location of their competitors, relative costs, and the ability to maintain service quality. The United Kingdom has by far the greatest number of call centre operations in Europe reflecting our expertise in call centre management and the wish by many companies to retain call centre bases here.

  A protectionist approach would run the risk of forcing companies to locate completely out of the UK which would not be to our long term economic benefit.
  508W
  We are, however, continuing to create a stable, competitive, economic environment in the UK for all companies to operate in. Our long term economic interest will be based on our ability to innovate to produce high value-added goods and services, supported by a highly skilled workforce, high calibre managers, forward looking unions and knowledgeable consumers.

  Company Regulation (Cold Calling)
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to regulate companies which cold call customers. [138717]

  Mr. Timms
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) on 10 November 2003,Official Report, column 22W.

  Competitiveness Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Competitiveness Council held on 10 and 11 November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [138785]

  Jacqui Smith
  I represented the UK at the Competitiveness Council, Brussels on 10 November 2003. Andy Kerr MSP was also present.

  There was an initial exchange of views over the proposed Directive on Unfair Commercial Practices.

  The Council reached General Agreement on the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive. This is designed to guarantee free movement of electrical equipment within the Internal Market, whilst ensuring that such equipment does not create unacceptable levels of electromagnetic disturbance.

  The Council adopted a Resolution on the application of New Approach Directives.

  The Commission presented its new proposal for a Chemicals Regulation, stressing its importance for European industry. There were differing views of the impact on downstream users, and the Commission stated that it would like to discuss this, and the question of impact assessment at a public meeting on 23 November.

  The Presidency said that this was a priority issue in the Competitiveness Council agenda. There will be a policy debate at the next meeting on 26 and 27 November 2003. I asked for environmental and industrial interests to work together, and called for more effective prioritisation and simplification of the registration procedure, with one substance and one registration.

  There was a discussion on Competitiveness Policy. The Commission recognised the need for its proposals to take competitiveness aspects properly into account. The Council and European Parliament would be able to see improvements in the extended impact procedure in the 2004 work programme.
  509W
  I supported the idea of a competitiveness test and called for a better regulation 'expert' working group to be established as soon as possible to help assess the quality of impact assessments.

  The Presidency concluded that the Competitiveness Council needed to work with other Council formations to ensure they took competitiveness into account in their work.

  The Presidency asked for views on the Growth Initiative in the light of the October European Council's conclusions.

  Several of the projects are in the field of Research and Development. Key areas were nanotechnology, space and high speed networks for research bodies. I stated that I wanted to see clear criteria for projects based upon project readiness and EU added value. I also confirmed that UK preferences were close to those of the Commission.

  The Presidency concluded that the Council should agree a new list of priority projects on 27 November, for presentation to the December European Council.

  The Council agreed a Resolution on Researchers' Careers.

  There was a discussion over lunch on the EU candidate site for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor).

  Copyright Directive
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made with ensuring compliance with the EU Copyright Directive; and if she will make a statement. [137542]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No. 2498) bringing UK law into full compliance with the EU Copyright Directive came into force on 31 October 2003.

  Numbers of licences (a) granted and (b) revoked, to (i) debt collectors and (ii)lenders, (A) since 1974 and (B) each year since 1997

  (i)Debt collectors-Category E

  (ii>Lenders-Category A ('Consumer Credit business')

  (a)Licences granted

  (b)MTRevokes issued

  (a)Licences granted covering Category A-i.e 'Consumer Credit Business'

  (b)MTRevokes issued to Finance Companies

  A Cumulatively 1976-May 2003 (breakdown unavailable 1974–1976 and after May 2003)

  102,876

  Not available

  205,352

  Not available

  B Annually since 1997

  1997

  8,176

  20

  10,778

  12

  1998

  11,215

  8

  13,480

  4

  1999

  10,723

  24

  12,644

  9

  2000

  9,247

  10

  11,214

  4

  2001

  8,586

  3

  10,223

  4

  2002

  9,140

  1

  10,962

  8

  2003(to end May)

  3,996

  0

  4,797

  7

  Note;

  A single Licence can cover more than one type of business category

  Debt Collection
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to prevent companies from using the same home visiting personnel both to sell loans and collect debts. [138598]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The practice of one agent both selling loans, and collecting the payments due, is extensively used in the doorstep lending sector. This practice has not been shown to be inconsistent with either fair dealing or responsible lending and there is some evidence that it is valued by many consumers. I therefore do not intend to take any action in this matter.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library the responses received to the Office of Fair Trading consultation on debt collection. [138237]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]: The responses received to the Office of Fair Trading consultation on debt collection, other than those where the respondent requested confidentiality, are available for viewing at:

  Office of Fair Trading

  Fleetbank House

  2–6 Salisbury Square

  London

  EC4Y 8JX

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences have been(a) granted and (b) revoked by the Office of Fair Trading to (i) debt collectors and (ii) lenders, (A) since the Consumer Credit Act 1974 was introduced and (B) in each year since 1997. [138238]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]: The information is not available in the form requested. Information on licence revocations is not broken down by market sector and is not available for the early years. Disaggregated information is available on the issue of Minded to Revoke Notices (MTRs). There is no licence category which precisely corresponds to "lenders". "Consumer Credit Business" is likely to be wider and "Finance Companies" narrower. The available information is set out as follows:
  511W

  Total number of Licences revoked

  1997

  34

  1998

  15

  1999

  25

  2000

  31

  2001

  21

  2002

  26

  To 30 September 2003

  10

  Employers' Liability Insurance
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the progress of the second stage report of its review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance. [130824]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I have had four meetings with colleagues on the review of Employers' Liability Insurance, and we will continue to meet to ensure good progress on the second stage report.

  A statement was made to the House before Recess, on 22 May 2003, and a first stage report published on 3 June 2003, which is in the Library of the House. The second stage report will be published in the autumn.

  Employment Regulations
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will lay before Parliament the final draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations; and if she will make a statement. [137778]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  I hope to make an announcement on this matter in the near future.

  The new Regulations will take account of the needs of the private recruitment industry and the interests of those using the services provided.

  Exports to Morocco
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason strategic exports of(a) toxic chemical precursors and (b) technology for the production of toxins have been licensed for sale to Morocco. [136727]

  Mr. Timms
  Following careful consideration against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, these exports have been licensed for sale to Morocco as they are for the production of pharmaceuticals and toothpaste and will not be used for any strategic purposes.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what methods the Government use to monitor the distribution, from ports of entry, of imported fireworks. [138003]

  Mr. Browne
  I have been asked to reply.

  There is no routine monitoring of the distribution of fireworks from the port of entry.
  512W
  The storage of fireworks is regulated by HSE in partnership with local authorities under the Explosives Act 1875. Anyone storing fireworks illegally will be liable to prosecution.

  HSE works with local authorities and Customs and Excise to verify whether firework importers have licensed storage facilities in Great Britain. The evidence from these checks is that the overwhelming majority of fireworks imports declared to Customs and Excise are being imported by firms with licensed storage available to them.

  Industrial Development Act
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many jobs her Department forecast would be created under each scheme in each of the past six years under(a) section 7 and (b) section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, and at what cost per job; how many people are still employed as a direct result of financial assistance in each scheme; and if she will make a statement on her Department's (i) financing and (ii) monitoring of jobs created under the Act; [138775]

  (2) what the value was of (a) applications received and (b) offers accepted for financial assistance in each year since 1997 under (i) section 7 and (ii) section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. [138776]

  Jacqui Smith
  The forecast of jobs expected to be created and safeguarded in England as a result of offers accepted under Section 7 (Regional Selective Assistance) and the average cost per job were:

  Jobs

  Average cost per job (£)

  1997–98

  39,167

  4,287

  1998–99

  27,838

  4,606

  1999–2000

  35,270

  3,152

  2000–01

  32,184

  6,378

  2001–021

  16,714

  4,723

  2002–03

  19,856

  5,426

  Total

  171,029

  4,673

  1The reduction in jobs is the result of a transfer of smaller RSA cases (capital investment less than £500,000) to a separate Enterprise Grant scheme under Section 8, w.e.f. 1 January 2000).

  To date, 117,256 of these jobs have been achieved with approximately 65 per cent. of projects completed. The jobs achieved will increase as further projects are completed.

  It is not policy to continue monitoring firms once the conditions of an offer of grant have been met.

  Schemes under Section 8 are not primarily targeted on job creation and no forecasts have been made.

  Further details on the schemes operating under Sections 7 and 8 can be found in the Industrial Development Act Annual Report, published by The Stationery Office.

  Internet Banking
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what work her Department is doing with banks to improve the security of internet banking. [136170]
  513W
  Mr. Timms
  Security of Internet Banking services is a matter for the individual banks concerned and falls within the overall regime for the conduct of banking operations which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Department promotes the security of business processes and transactions generally and is thus in regular contact with individual banks and the Association for Payment and Clearing Services (APACS). The banking sector has been an important contributor to the development of tScheme which is committed to improving trust in electronic commerce. TScheme was created in response to the Electronic Communications Act 2000.

  The financial sector, including internet banking, is one of the business sectors targeted as part of the UK's critical information infrastructure policy which is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I understand that there are regular contacts between the banking sector and the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre to develop and implement policy in this area.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the visits made by Ministers in her Department in each of the last five years, broken down by constituency.[136918]

  Ms Hewitt
  These details are not held centrally and to provide the information would be only at disproportionate cost in terms of financial and physical resource.

  Policyholders Protection Act 1975
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on reform of the Policyholders Protection Act 1975 resulting from the case of Aitken v. Financial Services Compensation Scheme Ltd., 30 May, SL7 OH Court of Session. [136826]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

  The courts have upheld the Financial Services Compensation Scheme decision in the case of Aitkin v. Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The Government see no reason to depart from our current policy as a result of the ruling.

  Post Office
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the Post Office network income from clients for each year since 1997, broken down by main source. [138773]

  Mr. Timms
  The information requested is an operational matter for the Post Office. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which(a) local authorities and (b) housing associations used the Post Office for the payment of (i) rent and (ii) insurance premiums for home contents policies in each year since 1997. [137704]
  514W
  Mr. Timms
  We do not collect the information requested, which is an operational matter for the Post Office, and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Post Office Card Account
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which company operates the systems for the Post Office Card Account; and what safeguards have been put in place to ensure the adequate data protection of personal data of account holders where those data are transmitted outside the UK. [138796]

  Mr. Timms
  These are matters that fall within the day-to-day responsibility of Post Office Ltd. and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

  Post Office Subsidy Scheme
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the Sub-Post Office Start-Up Capital Subsidy scheme has been spent to date, broken down by region. [138897]

  Mr. Timms
  I understand from Post Office Ltd, who administer the Scheme on my Department's behalf, that payments totalling £1,238,722.18 had been made to the end of September 2003, the latest date to which data is available. As at the same date, the total value of grants approved was £1,712,811.62. I also understand that details of grants approved and paid are not recorded by region but are available on a country basis and that payments totalling £151,401.98 had been made to sub post offices in Scotland as at the end of September 2003.

  Post Offices (Closure)
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many urban post offices have been(a) proposed and (b) approved for closure since the inception of the network reinvention scheme in (i) West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency and (ii) mid-Essex. [137154]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 12 November 2003]: Proposals for post office closures and final decisions on them, following public consultation under the Code of Practice, are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. I am advised by Post Office Ltd that data on urban reinvention proposals and closures is not available in the form requested as the company does not require this data for operational reasons. However, I understand that since March 2000 the company has recorded details of post office closures, including those under the urban reinvention programme, which commenced in late 2002, on the basis of Government Region. In the East of England Region as a whole, there have been 43 closures under the urban reinvention programme to the end of September 2003, the latest quarter for which figures are currently available.

  Working Time Directive
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her oral answer of 6 November, if she will negotiate the maintenance of the UK opt-out of the 48 hour limit under Article 18 of the Working Time Directive before 23 November. [137819]
  515W
  Ms Hewitt
  The European Commission intends to issue an initial Communication on the Working Time opt-out, the definition of Working Time with regard to on-call time and the Working Time reference period, around the end of November. We are not expecting the Communication to contain any firm proposals. There will then follow a consultation period before the Commission produce formal proposals. The Government will fully engage in this process, and will seek to ensure that the outcome safeguards choice for individuals over the hours they work, whilst ensuring their employment rights are protected.

CABINET OFFICE

  Duchy's Benevolent Fund
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the organisations located within the boundaries of Pendle Borough Council that have received grants from the Duchy's Benevolent Fund since January 2000. [138104]

  Mr. Alexander
  I am not a Trustee of the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund. However, the Secretary of the Fund has provided the following information:

  Organisations located within boundaries of Pendle borough council that have received grants from the Duchy's Benevolent Fund since January 2000

  Organisations

  2000

  St Michaels and All Angels Church, Foulridge New Life Christian Centre, Colne Home Start, Pendle Pendle Girls Rugby league Club Nelson Youth and community Centre Nelson Civic Junior Choir

  2001

  Hospice care for Burnley and Pendle Earby Mines Research Trust Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS Pendle and Dist. Ms Group

  2002

  Christ Church, Nelson Earby Coffee stop New Road Comm. Centre, Earby

  2003

  Colourful Voice, Colrie Colne Open Door

  Government Policy
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his role is(a) as the interface between the Labour Party and the Government and (b) in providing the Prime Minister with strategic thinking on the general direction of Government policy and the values underpinning it. [137192]
  516W
  Mr. Alexander
  My ministerial responsibilities are set out in the List of Ministerial Responsibilities (LMR), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. LMR is also available in electronic form and can be accessed at www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/elmr/minister.nsf.

  Knowledge Network Project
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if he will list, by subject, the statistics that have been collected for the first time at constituency level under the Knowledge Network project, stating in each case the date on which the first in the series was completed; if he will place a copy of the most recent of each set of statistics listed in the Library; and if he will make a statement; [135301]

  (2) which information held on the Knowledge Network computer system will not be available to (a) the public and (b) hon. Members; and if he will make a statement; [135305]

  (3) what the cost has been to date of the new Knowledge Network system; and if he will make a statement. [135306]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Knowledge Network is a government-wide electronic communications tool promoting collaborative working both within and between departments as part of the modernisation and e-government initiatives. The Network does not collect statistics by subject at constituency level.

  Access to the Knowledge Network is restricted to Ministers and civil servants via the Government Secure Intranet. There is currently no access to the Knowledge Network other than for these groups. The UKonline website provides a range of government services and information to the public and is an easy entry point for people who want to search government information and find out about local services.

  Since its inception in 1999, the Knowledge Network project has cost £13.7 million to develop and manage. £10 million of this was from the Capital Modernisation Fund to improve information sharing across Government.

  Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
  Brian White
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what statutory investigatory powers the Department has; which ones will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and what plans he has for removing these legacy powers. [136127]

  Mr. Alexander
  My Department has no investigatory powers.

TREASURY

  Business Costs
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the cost to business of the statistical inquiries of businesses carried out by the Office for National Statistics in 2002; and if he will make a statement. [136798]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 6 November 2003]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 17 November 2003:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the cost to business of the statistical inquiries of businesses carried out by the Office for National Statistics in 2002. I am replying in his absence.(136798)

  The overall compliance costs to business are controlled within limits agreed by Treasury Ministers and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Each year ONS produces a Compliance Plan to help monitor and control the load on businesses of its statistical surveys. It also includes information on initiatives to minimise the form-filling load, such as the use of efficient and fair sampling procedures.

  Between 1994 and 1997 compliance costs showed a progressive decrease. However from 1998 onwards compliance costs have risen steadily, as a result of the need for high quality statistics to capture changes in the economy, such as the development of E-commerce and the increasingly important service sector.

  The latest compliance plan has calculated the compliance cost to business of ONS surveys in 2002 at £28.9 million at 2002 prices, which was within the agreed limit. The figure is the same as 1995 in real terms.

  Heroin
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much heroin, and of what value, has been seized in(a) Tyne and Wear, (b) the North East and (c) the UK in each year since 1997. [138432]

  John Healey
  The Home Office has published data on controlled drugs seized in the UK by Customs and other law enforcement agencies in the annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin on Drugs Seizure and Offender Statistics 2000 and Home Office Findings 2002 (Seizures of drugs in the UK 2001). Figures for seizures in 2002, for the value of drugs seized in 2001, and for seizures in Tyne and Wear are not available. Copies are available in the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate's website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb402. pdf.

  Business Taxation
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the rate of change in the burden of business taxation in(a) the UK, (b) Japan, (c) the USA and (d) EU member states; [137604]

  (2)what assessment he has made of the burden of business taxation in (a) the UK and (b) the USA. [137605]
  518W
  Dawn Primarolo
  The OECD publishes figures on "taxes on corporate income" and "employers' social security contributions" in its annual Revenue Statistics publication, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  The Government are fully committed to a fair and modern UK tax system that recognises the realities of modern business. Since 1997, the Government have introduced a wide-ranging package of tax measures to make the UK an attractive place for business to locate, boost productivity and help small businesses.

  Cancer Survival Rates
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned on cancer survival rates in the United Kingdom compared with other EU countries. [133894]

  Ruth Kelly
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 17 November 2003:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what research the Chancellor of the Exchequer has commissioned on cancer survival rates in the United Kingdom compared with other EU countries. I am replying in his absence. (133894)

  Comparable statistics on cancer survival in the UK and most other EU countries have been produced in three studies funded by the European Commission (the EUROCARE studies). Cancer registries in the UK, including staff from the National Registry at ONS, have been involved in these studies since they began in 1989.

  The results indicated that survival was generally highest in Sweden, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland, and lowest in Estonia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Survival in the UK and Denmark was lower than in other western European countries for common tumours such as those of lung, breast, stomach, large bowel, prostate and kidney. However, international differences in survival were not large for tumours amenable to cytotoxic therapy, such as testicular cancer and Hodgkin's disease.

  Government plans for funding cancer research were published in the NHS Cancer Plan in September 2000; copies of which are available in the Library. The Plan acknowledged that "survival rates for many of the major cancers lag behind the rest of Europe".

  CAT Standard
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many CAT standard products have been(a) launched and (b) withdrawn in each year since the CAT mark was introduced.[138426]

  Ruth Kelly
  This data is not collected centrally.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the CAT standard endorsed products, broken down by category of product. [138427]
  519W
  Ruth Kelly
  There are CAT standards for equity, insurance and cash ISA products and there is a CAT standard for fixed and variable rate mortgages.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many credit card companies have(a) applied for and (b) been granted the CAT standard mark. [138428]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government have not adopted a CAT standard for credit cards.

  Consumer Debt
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of consumer debt; and what estimate he has made of the change in the number of companies offering(a) credit and (b) loans in the last three years. [138832]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government's forthcoming pre-Budget report will include an assessment of developments in consumer debt. The Office of Fair Trading's Annual Report contains statistics on consumer credit licences granted and the Financial Services Authority's Annual Report contains statistics on lenders regulated by the FSA (available respectively at www.oft.gov.uk/News/ Annual+report and www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/annual).

  Council Tax
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average weekly amount of council tax, net of council tax benefit, paid by(a) all pensioner households and (b) pensioner households whose taxable income is below the income tax threshold. [137692]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Average weekly amount of Council Tax paid by (a) all single and couple pensioner households and (b) all single and couple pensioner households who did not report paying income tax1 for 2001–02: Great Britain

  £Per week

  Single and Couple Pensioner households

  Average net council tax

  Average council tax benefit

  Average gross council tax

  All single and couple pensioner households

  10.90

  2.80

  13.60

  All single and couple pensioner households who did not report paying Income Tax

  5.70

  6.10

  11.80

  1Income Tax is net of tax relief at source on life assurance premiums

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much council tax was paid as a proportion of gross incomes for households in each income quintile group in each English region for the last year for which data are available. [138147]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 17 November 2003:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how much council tax was paid as a proportion of gross incomes for households in each income quintile group in each English region for the latest year for which data is available. I am replying in his absence. (138147)

  Estimates in the following table are produced from the Office for National Statistics' analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income" produced by the ONS and published on the
  520W
  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 17 November 2003:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the average weekly amount of council tax and net council tax benefit paid by all pensioners, and pensioners whose taxable income is below the income tax threshold. (137692)

  Estimates for council taxes are based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on October 21st 2003. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons Library or from the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits. It includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey. This is a sample survey covering about 7,500 households in the UK and sample sizes for pensioner households are only sufficient to give approximate estimates. The Family Resources Survey would have been an alternative source with a larger sample size, but the taxes and benefits analysis has been used for consistency with answers to other recent parliamentary questions.

  Pensioner households have been defined as those where the Household Reference Person is retired or unoccupied and aged 65 or more and male, or 60 years of age or more and female, and economically inactive.

  Detailed information on the definition of the Household Reference Person can be found in Appendix D of the document at the following address: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ downloads/theme_social/Family_Spending_2001–02_revised/Family_ Spending_revised.pdf

  Estimates for 2001–02 are shown in the following table for all pensioner households (single and couples) in Great Britain and for those who did not pay income tax (i.e. their reported income tax was zero). Council tax is not paid in Northern Ireland. The survey does not record the income tax threshold of household members so the absence of recorded income tax has been used as the relevant measure. Net council tax is defined as gross council tax less benefits and discounts, where a household reports taking up a council tax benefit entitlement.

  National Statistics website on October 21st 2003. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons Library or from the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ taxesbenefits. It includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey. This is a sample survey covering about 7,500 households in the UK and sample sizes for each region are only sufficient to give approximate estimates. The Family Resources Survey would have been an alternative source with a larger sample size, but the taxes and benefits analysis has been used for consistency with answers to other recent parliamentary questions.

  The table shows, for 2001–02, the average net council tax paid for all households in each Government Office Region and for each income quintile group within each region where households are ranked by equivalised disposable income. Equivalisation is a standard methodology that takes into account the size and composition of households and adjusts their incomes to recognise differing demands on resources. The net council tax figures are gross council tax less reported council tax benefits and discounts. The table also shows the boundaries between equivalised disposable income quintiles, which have been calculated

  521W
  separately for households in each Government Office Region. For example, the 1st quintile boundary is the income level below which one fifth of those households are estimated to lie. The results are

  Net council tax paid by households within each Government Office Region by equivalised disposable income quintile, 2001–02: England

  North East

  North West and Merseyside

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  Quintile

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as % of gross income

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as % of gross income

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as % of gross income

  Bottom

  242

  3.1

  397

  4.7

  373

  4.0

  8,838

  9,805

  9,941

  2nd

  419

  3.4

  430

  3.4

  372

  2.9

  12,551

  13,187

  13,353

  3rd

  502

  2.6

  656

  3.3

  525

  2.7

  17,838

  17,667

  17,646

  4th

  707

  2.3

  755

  2.7

  647

  2.4

  25,843

  24,065

  23,660

  Top

  872

  1.5

  938

  1.8

  846

  1.7

  All households in region

  548

  2.2

  635

  2.6

  553

  2.3

  1 Boundary point between equivalised disposable income quintiles

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'.

  Net council tax paid by households within each Government Office Region by equivalised disposable income quintile, 2001–02 (continued): England

  East Midlands

  West Midlands

  Eastern

  Quintile

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as %of gross income

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as % of gross income

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as % of gross income

  Bottom

  482

  5.2

  424

  4.8

  467

  5.3

  10,265

  9,829

  10,977

  2nd

  555

  3.5

  430

  3.4

  530

  3.4

  14,708

  13,721

  16,010

  3rd

  675

  2.8

  604

  2.7

  722

  2.7

  19,597

  17,811

  22,095

  4th

  724

  2.3

  777

  2.3

  779

  2.1

  26,737

  25,179

  30,016

  Top

  785

  1.4

  781

  1.5

  891

  1.4

  All households in region

  644

  2.4

  603

  2.3

  678

  2.2

  1 Boundary point between equivalised disposable income quintiles

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'.

  Net council tax paid by households within each Government Office Region by equivalised disposable income quintile, 2001–02 (continued): England

  London

  South East

  South West

  Quintile

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as % of gross income

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as % of gross income

  Income boundary1(£)

  Net council tax (£)

  Net council tax as % of gross income

  Bottom

  443

  4.6

  477

  4.8

  474

  5.4

  11,432

  12,550

  10,609

  2nd

  567

  3.1

  637

  3.3

  565

  3.8

  17,512

  18,002

  14,441

  3rd

  746

  2.2

  748

  2.5

  683

  3.0

  25,609

  24,649

  19,341

  4th

  790

  1.7

  826

  1.9

  748

  2.5

  37,913

  35,184

  26,281

  Top

  886

  1.0

  986

  1.3

  890

  1.5

  All households in region

  686

  1.7

  735

  2.0

  672

  2.5

  1 Boundary point between equivalised disposable income quintiles

  Source:

  Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'.

  Families (Taxation)
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the treatment for the purposes of(a) taxation and (b) tax credits of (i) families with two children of different ages and (ii) families with twins. [137461]
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  subject to a high degree of uncertainty due to increased sampling variablity arising from small sample sizes, particularly for some regions.

  Dawn Primarolo
  In any single tax year there are currently no differences in the treatment of families with two children of different ages and of families with twins for the purposes of taxation or tax credits.

  Financial Literacy
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the Treasury's strategy for improving the level of financial literacy. [136757]

  Ruth Kelly
  Raising standards of financial literacy is an important part of the Government's wider strategy to reduce social and financial exclusion, and promote appropriate participation in the financial services industry, while tackling overindebtedness, and promote saving. Financially literate, confident, and independent consumers also spur firms to offer high quality, value for money products and services, and promotes effective competition.

  A number of departments and agencies are active in achieving our ambitions. For example, we are the first Government to introduce a framework for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) that provides for personal finance education to be taught throughout Key Stages 1 to 4 of the school curriculum.

  We also work closely with the Financial Services Authority.

  In his 2002 Review of Medium and Long Term Saving Ron Sandier suggested that the FSA should lead and coordinate further work in this area. Partly in response to those proposals, the FSA announced on 20 October 2003 the membership of their Financial Capability Steering Group. This group will bring together government, consumer representatives, the industry, the media, and the regulator to develop and implement a national strategy for financial capability.

  The FSA has already delivered a great deal to help consumers and has fostered initiatives on financial literacy, working closely, for example, with the Personal Finance Education Group, which has undertaken valuable work on good practice I delivering personal finance teaching in schools. But the steering group announcement recognised that more needs to be done, to engage with and learn from the widest range of organisation.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make the equity release market subject to Financial Services Authority regulation. [138959]

  Ruth Kelly
  Mortgage based equity release schemes will be regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) with effect from 31 October 2004. On 11 November 2003, I published a consultation document seeking views on whether home reversion plans should come within the scope of FSA regulation. Copies of this consultation document are available in the Library.

  Flooding
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the scope for the application of economic instruments in promoting the development of flood defences. [138933]
  524W
  Ruth Kelly
  The 2001 Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review recommended that the Government should consider the application of economic instruments as part of alternative funding streams for flood defence. We agree with the review's analysis and have therefore asked Defra to work up proposals as part of their Spending Review 2002 commitments. They have since consulted on a range of options, including a Floodplain Development Connection Charge to be levied on new developments in the floodplain. The work on this is still at a very early stage. and will be taken forward as part of Defra's new flood management strategy.

  Graduate Income
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average wage for a new graduate was in each year since 1997 in(a) the North East and (b) the UK. [137458]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Stephen Hepburn, dated 17 November 2003:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the average wage for new graduates in the North East and the UK. I am replying in his absence. (137458)

  Table 1 overleaf gives estimates of the average gross weekly earnings of all working age graduates resident in the UK and the North East region who are full-time employees.

  Table 2 gives estimates of the average gross weekly earnings of graduates aged 25 and under resident in the UK who are full-time employees. Similar estimates for graduates aged 25 and under resident in the North East region are not reliable because the survey sample sizes available are too small.

  These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the twelve month period ending August of each year from 1998 to 2003. Estimates for all new graduates, irrespective of age, cannot be produced as the LFS does not include a question about how long ago respondents graduated.

  Table 1 Average gross weekly earnings of working age1, graduates2 who are full-time3 employees

  £

  September to August

  UK

  North East

  1997–8

  513

  453

  1998–9

  539

  488

  1999–2000

  555

  484

  2000–1

  582

  497

  2001–2

  605

  534

  2002–3

  625

  552

  1Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59

  2 People whose highest qualification is degree level or above

  3 The definition of full-time is based on respondents' self assessment

  Note:

  These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates have not been interim-adjusted to take account of the recent Census 2001 results.

  Source:

  ONS—Labour Force Survey
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  Table 2 Average gross weekly earnings of graduates1 aged 25 and under resident in the UK who are full-time2 employees

  September to August

  £

  1997–8

  285

  1998–9

  314

  1999–0

  319

  2000–1

  341

  2001–2

  356

  2002–3

  350

  1People whose highest qualification is degree level or above

  2 The definition of full-time is based on respondents' self assessment

  Note:

  These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates have not been interim-adjusted to take account of the Census 2001 results

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey.

  International Monetary Fund
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reform the workings of the International Monetary Fund in favour of lower income countries. [138389]

  John Healey
  The UK Government believe that International Monetary Fund (IMF) support to low-income countries should work within its areas of competence to help these countries achieve the macroeconomic stability and supporting policy measures crucial to poverty reduction and delivery of the Millennium Development Goals. The IMF's chief form of support to low-income countries is through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, which was created in 1999. This facility is designed to support country-led poverty reduction strategies, and the UK has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the IMF's work is based on these strategies.

  Discussions were held at the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Dubai in September where my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer chaired the International Monetary and Finance Committee meetings. The Committee noted that faster growth will be needed in low-income countries in order to reduce poverty, and that this would require stronger policies and institutions, better governance and increased and more effective aid.

  The Committee observed that the IMF should remain engaged with these countries in the long-term, encouraging it to undertake further initiatives to support higher sustained growth and poverty reduction, improved governance, and reduced vulnerability to shocks. The IMF will prepare a number of Board papers on these issues, and the Committee looks forward to a review of progress at its next meeting.

  The Committee also noted the need for increased and more effective aid, and for enhanced market access. The Committee urged the IMF to work with the World Bank on aid effectiveness, aid absorption, results-based measurement systems and financing mechanisms, including the International Finance Facility. Developing and emerging market countries are being consulted on this, and France will host an international conference in spring next year.
  526W
  In respect of representation of developing countries on the Boards of the IMF and World Bank, the Development Committee, meeting in Dubai, agreed to continue efforts to build the necessary political consensus on this issue, with a roadmap to be produced for the spring meetings. The International Monetary and Financial Committee welcomed measures under way and asked the IMF to examine these issues further.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Treasury's policy regarding the content and extent of answers to written parliamentary questions. with particular reference to the Treasury's policy on the provision of lists, where lists are requested by a written parliamentary question; [137644]

  (2) pursuant to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury's Answer of 30 October 2003, Official Report, column 310W, on the euro, if he will list (a) the meetings attended by ministers to campaign for a pro-European consensus, the ministers at these meetings and the dates of these events and (b) the events planned at which ministers will campaign for a pro-European consensus, the ministers who will attend these events, and the dates of these events. [137694]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer I gave him on 30 October.

  Treasury Ministers seek to give accurate information to Parliament in reply to written questions, taking account of such factors as the level of detail sought by questioners and the availability of information.

  Pension Incomes
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of an increase in the use of property to generate pension incomes on(a) the British economy, (b) Government expenditure and (c) the housing market. [138616]

  Ruth Kelly
  Box A3 in Annex A of PBR 2002 discusses the impact on the housing market and the wider economy of diversification out of equities into property.

  Pensions and Financial Ombudsmen
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) Pensions Ombudsman and (b) Financial Ombudsman cases were considered in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were (i) upheld and (ii) rejected; what the average time taken to consider a case was; and what the average cost per case was. [137333]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Pensions Ombudsman operates a two stage process. Stage 1 involves identifying which applications are to be accepted for investigation and redirecting those where the decision is not to investigate. Stage 2 involves an in-depth investigation.

  The Pensions Ombudsman's Office tell me that for the year ended 31 March 2003, they dealt with a total of 4363 cases. The table below shows a breakdown of all cases resolved during the period:
  527W

  Outcome of cases

  Year ended 31 March 2003

  Stage 1

  3,684 of which 98 per cent. of decisions were taken within four weeks.

  Stage 2

  679 decisions made in the course of the year.

  So far as the Pensions Ombudsman's formal determinations are concerned 23 per cent. resulted in a finding of the complaint being upheld; 34 per cent. of the complaint being not upheld and 43 per cent. of the investigations which were closed.

  The unit cost per case is divided by the expenditure of the office by the 679 Stage 2 completed investigations, the average cost per case is £2,160; and for Stage 1 completion the cost is £336. There is however an element of double counting involved in the last calculation: a case which went through Stage 1 at the beginning of the year and where the Stage 2 completion was before the end of the year will be counted as two cases in the calculation which produces the 336 figure.

  It is not possible to answer the query about average time taken to consider a case without incurring additional costs. However, the times taken to complete Stage 2 cases were:
  Cases taking in excess of 12 months 240 (35 per cent.)
  Cases taking between 6 and 12 months 255 (38 per cent.)
  Cases taking less than 6 months 184(27 per cent.)
  The Financial Ombudsman Service tell me that for the financial year ending 31 March 2003, the Financial Ombudsman Service received a total of 62,170 cases.

  The following table shows a breakdown of the outcome of all cases resolved during the period.

  Outcome of cases

  Year ended 31 March 2003

  Percentage

  Resolved by mediation or conciliation

  40

  Resolved after investigation by an adjudicator

  49

  of which:

  13 mixed outcome (partial win/lose for both sides)

  18 in favour of the consumer

  69 in favour of the firm

  Resolved by final decision of an ombudsman

  11

  of which:

  15 mixed outcome (partial win/lose for both sides)

  35 in favour of the consumer

  50 in favour of the firm

  The average time taken to resolve cases in the year ending 31 March 2003 was 135.8 days.

  The unit cost per case (calculated by dividing the total expenditure—less financing costs—by the number of cases closed) for the year ending 31 March 2003 was £518.

  Quarterly Financial Reporting
  Mr. Prisk
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with representatives of(a) the European Union, (b) the Institute of Chartered Accountants and (c) business concerning the European Union's proposals for quarterly financial reporting; and if he will make a statement. [137608]

  Ruth Kelly
  Officials from HM Treasury, together with colleagues from the FSA and the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union, have been 528W
  involved in intensive discussions on the Transparency Directive with representatives from the European Institutions. Efforts have focused on achieving agreement on a final text that balances the objective of increasing market transparency with the need to reduce the burden and costs for businesses, in particular concerning the European Commission's proposal to introduce quarterly reporting for companies with shares on regulated EU markets.

  Officials have also been consulting on this Directive with businesses and their representatives and advisers since November 2002. These consultations have included regular roundtable meetings, which give participants an opportunity to make their concerns known, to get feedback on the process in Brussels, and to quiz officials involved in the process. Officials have also been holding smaller meetings with business representatives, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants, to provide an additional forum for consultation.

  Tax and Benefit Reforms
  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 10 July 2003,Official Report, column 928W, if he will provide a breakdown of the impact of his tax and benefit reforms on households with annual income of (a) £30,000, (b) £50,000, (c) £75,000 and (d) over £75,000. [127058]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The following table shows the average change in net household incomes as a result of all personal tax and benefit measures introduced since 1997, for households with annual gross incomes in the ranges specified in the question.

  Household gross income

  Average change 2003–04 compared to 1997–98 £

  Up to £30,000

  1,100

  Up to £50,000

  950

  Up to £75,000

  875

  All households

  775

  Tax Credits
  John Barrett
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 6 November 2003,Official Report, column 804W, on tax credits, (1) when he expects the Family Resources Survey 2003–04 will be available; and if he will place take-up estimates of (i) child tax credit and (ii) working tax credit, broken down by (A) parliamentary constituency and (B) local authority area, in the Library when the survey is available; [138393]

  (2) whether it is possible to make estimates of take-up of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority area using 2002–03 figures. [138394]

  Dawn Primarolo
  In line with previous years, the Family Resources Survey (FRS) for 2003–04 is expected to be available by late 2004. The FRS sample size is not sufficient to allow the estimation of take-up rates for either child tax credit or working tax credit at the level of parliamentary constituency or local authority area.
  529W
  Official estimates of take-up of income related benefits or tax credits require data which identifies individuals who are entitled to the particular credit or benefit but who are observed as not taking up that entitlement. Such data for the child tax credit or the working tax credit will not be available from sources for 2002–03 as the tax credits were not introduced until April 2003.

  Taxes (London)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of taxes paid by(a) people and (b) organisations in London; and if he will make a statement. [135161]

  Ruth Kelly
  The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Simon Hughes, dated 17 November 2003:

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on taxes paid by people and organisations in London. (135161)

  The table below shows estimates of taxes on income, taxes on products, taxes on production and other taxes paid by individuals and businesses in London and in the UK in 1998. The London figures were produced by ONS for the estimation of sub-national government accounts on an experimental basis and were published in a news release on 31 October 2002. They were produced as part of a pilot study funded by the European Commission and there are no current plans to update this analysis. Separate information on taxes paid by individuals and businesses is not available.

  Estimate of taxes paid by individuals and businesses in 19981

  £ million

  Taxes on income

  Taxes on Products

  Taxes on Production

  Other current taxes

  Total taxes paid

  London

  22,204

  12,303

  4,138

  1,731

  40,376

  United Kingdom

  124,060

  99,108

  17,287

  14,993

  255,448

  1Consistent with National Accounts Blue Book 2001.

  Value Added Tax
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the European Commission on a new reduced rate category of VAT for protective and safety equipment; and what the outcome was. [138774]

  John Healey
  The Directive covering reduced rates of VAT is currently under discussion by European Ministers, following a proposal from the Commission earlier this year. This proposal challenges a number of the UK's zero rates including those for children's clothing and several reliefs targeted at charities and disabled people. We have made clear in the negotiations that we will not agree to the removal of any of our zero or reduced rate VAT derogations.

  The Commission's approach to this review has significantly narrowed the scope to consider the introduction of new reduced rates. However, as well as defending our zero rates, the Government continue to press for our long standing commitments for reduced
  530W
  rates for repairs to listed places of worship and the purchase of energy-saving materials for do-it-yourself installation, and also for energy-efficient products.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 by his Department's predecessors in areas relating to regional government, stating in each case(a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [1377361]

  Yvette Cooper
  There have been no contracts awarded to Bechtel since 1997 by the predecessor Departments of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

  Billboards
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the regulations that apply to the display of billboards(a) in the open countryside and (b) on telegraph poles on public or private land without planning permission. [138682]

  Keith Hill
  The display of outdoor advertisements including billboards in the open countryside and on telegraph poles on public and private land is controlled by the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992. The express consent of the local planning authority is required before these advertisements may be lawfully displayed. The local planning authority must consider amenity and public safety issues. The consent of the owner of the land is also required. Local planning authorities have enforcement powers under sections 224 and 225 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 which they may use to remove, or require the removal of, advertisements displayed in contravention of the Regulations.

  Business Planning Zones
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he offers to local authorities on the establishment of(a) business planning zones and (b) business improvement districts, with particular reference to (i) Sunderland and (ii) Redcar and Cleveland. [139425]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The information is as follows:

  Business Planning Zones

  Guidance for local planning authorities will be published for public consultation next year. Broad policy will be set out in draft PPS4: Planning for Economic Development, and more detailed guidance on how local planning authorities should establish such zones will be produced in due course.

  Business Improvement Districts

  Draft guidance on Business Improvement Districts is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website (www.odpm.gov.uk) Consultation on this guidance has recently completed and the final version will be published when the regulations relating to BIDs legislation are laid before the House in spring 2004.
  531W
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of any specific issues in Sunderland or Redcar and Cleveland which would require more specific guidance on Business Planning Zones or Business Improvement Districts.

  Cash Incentive Scheme Grants
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Cash Incentive Scheme grants were made by each local authority in London in 2002–03; and what the total value of these grants was for each local authority. [139271]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The number of Cash Incentive Scheme grants made by those London borough's running schemes in 2002–03 and the total value of grants made are shown in the table.

  Total number of grants

  Total expenditure (£000)

  Barnet

  36

  917

  Brent

  31

  305

  Camden

  20

  466

  Croydon

  48

  980

  Enfield

  31

  760

  Haringey

  21

  496

  Havering

  9

  6

  Hiilingdon

  19

  382

  Islington

  9

  255

  Kingston-upon-Thames

  17

  343

  Lewisham

  27

  521

  Merton

  9

  205

  Tower Hamlets

  56

  755

  Waltham Forest

  6

  148

  Wandsworth

  32

  638

  Westminster

  15

  357

  Central Government Funding (Havering)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money was allocated from central Government to the London Borough of Havering in(a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002. [138465]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Tabled are the figures for Government grants paid to the London Borough of Havering in each financial year from 1996–97. Figures are not available for calendar years.

  Government grants paid to the London Borough of Havering1

  £million

  Revenue support grant

  Redistributed non-domestic rates

  Ring-fenced grants inside AEF2

  1996–97

  62.032

  53.914

  6.256

  1997–98

  64.408

  50.432

  5.823

  1998–99

  69.215

  52.563

  7.261

  1999–2000

  70.247

  56.793

  10.280

  2000–01

  68.687

  63.386

  16.021

  2001–02

  77.482

  62.600

  20.503

  2002–03

  74.583

  68.394

  23.828

  2003–04

  88.628

  65.791

  322.686

  1Figures are not directly comparable between years due to changes in function.

  2Aggregate External Finance.

  3Budgeted figure.

  Council Tax
  Andrew George
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of operating the local government council tax system in each of the last five years for which records are available, broken down by(a) administration, (b) valuation, (c) appeals, (d) council tax benefit administration and (e) other costs. [139157]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Local authorities in England reported council tax collection costs and council tax benefit administration costs in the last five years are tabled below. Administration, valuation and appeals costs are not reported separately.

  £ million

  Council tax collection costs

  Council tax benefit administration costs

  1999–2000

  309.6

  216.7

  2000–01

  301.5

  194.8

  2001–02

  301.1

  218.7

  2002–031

  319.1

  204.5

  2003–041

  2337.0

  235.7

  1 Budgeted figures.

  2In 2003–04, council tax collection costs may include a small amount of NDR, rate (domestic and non-domestic) and community charge collection costs.

  Source:

  1999–2000 to 2001–02 Revenue Summary Returns. 2002–03 to 2003–04 Budget Estimate Returns.

  Credit Unions
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role credit unions play in alleviating poverty in communities; and what role they(a) have and (b) will have in the future as part of New Deal for Communities. [136289]

  Yvette Cooper
  Credit unions have an important role to play in tackling financial exclusion. By bridging the gap between mainstream financial services and those of limited means, credit unions make a real difference to the individuals and communities they serve.

  New Deal for Communities (NDC) Partnerships have a broad remit to tackle issues of crime, worklessness, education, health and housing in the physical environment in some of our most deprived neighbourhoods. A number of NDC Partnerships have already done work to develop credit unions or are covered by credit unions that already exist in their area–such as East Manchester NDC and Knowsley NDC– and Partnerships will continue to do this in future where it is relevant to the needs of the neighbourhood. For example, in the Brent area there are currently on-going discussions between Camden Credit Union and South Kilburn NDC on the subject of Camden Credit Union extending their common bond to the NDC area.

  Disabled Facilities Grant
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average time has been between applying for a disabled facilities grant and(a) assessment of needs, (b) provision of finance and (c) the completion of buildings work, broken down by each local authority. [138162]
  533W
  Keith Hill
  Local authorities are required by statute to respond to a completed application for disabled facilities grant within six months. The Government do not collect information on the average waiting times for these grants.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, jointly with the Department of Health, has issued draft guidance to local authorities setting out best practice in delivering a first class housing adaptations service for disabled people. This includes target times for the complete delivery process including needs assessment, processing of the application and the completion of building works. These target times will depend on the complexity of, and priority attached to, individual cases but the guidance suggests that the maximum target time for the entire process should in any event be no more than 260 working days and only 80 working days in high priority cases. We are currently considering responses to this consultation and hope to issue final guidance to local housing and social service authorities early next year.

  Elected Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of whether the proposed referendums on elected regional assemblies give people living in the regions affected an opportunity for their regions to have similar powers to those of(a) the Scottish Parliament and (b) the Welsh Assembly. [139126]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Elected assemblies will be given powers over key regional issues, such as jobs, planning, housing, transport, culture and economic development. The Regional Governance White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions", sets out the Government's proposals and takes into account the functions that are best dealt with at a national, regional or local level. As the proposals relate to the English regions, the powers of the Greater London Authority are also a relevant consideration.

  There are no plans to revisit the package as a matter of course, but there may be changes in the way some central Government functions are delivered. In developing policies, the Government will consider the opportunities offered by the creation of elected assemblies. For example, the Fire White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service", announced that regional fire and rescue authorities will be established in those regions that choose to have elected assemblies.

  Expenses and Allowances
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the advice given by the inland revenue on tax and national insurance issues in the guidance to local councils on the expenses and allowances payable to mayors and district councils. [138830]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Guidance relating to local authority members' allowances was issued to all local authorities in July 2003. This contains guidance on the tax and national insurance treatment of expenses and allowances for all members of local authorities, including mayors.

  Graffiti
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the extent of the 534W
  problem of graffiti; and how much he estimates was (a) lost by businesses through dealing with the problem of graffiti and (b) spent by local authorities in dealing with graffiti in 2002–03. [138286]

  Yvette Cooper
  Local authorities budgeted to spend £456 million on street cleaning and litter in 2002–03. The detailed information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The Local Environmental Quality Survey for England, prepared by Environmental Campaigns (ENCAMS) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), indicates graffiti is not a major problem over the whole of the country, but those areas where it is a problem suffer particularly badly.

  Homeless People
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding has been allocated to reduce the number of homeless people in the UK since 1997. [128713]

  Yvette Cooper
  A variety of investment streams contribute to tackling and resolving homelessness but these have wider housing and social objectives too, and it is not possible to identify specific homelessness elements within all of them.

  In March 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published "More than a Roof", a report into tackling homelessness, which identified the problems and the steps that were needed in order to tackle homelessness in England. The Homelessness Directorate was established in the previous Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) in March 2002 and brought together the Rough Sleepers Unit, the Bed and Breakfast Unit and a new team to ensure effective implementation of new homelessness legislation and to assist local authorities (and voluntary agencies working with them) in the development of their strategies to tackle homelessness.

  The Homelessness Directorate invested £114.5 million in 2002–03 and has a £260 million budget over 2003–04 to 2005–06.

  Local authorities also receive funding for their homelessness responsibilities through the local government finance settlement. The funding is paid as general grant and it is for local authorities to decide on their spending priorities taking into account their statutory responsibilities and the wishes of their electorate.

  Between 1997–98 and 2001–02, the following net current expenditure on homelessness incurred within the General Fund Revenue Account:

  £ million

  1997–98

  123

  1998–99

  150

  1999–2000

  171

  2000–01

  203

  2001–02

  186

  Much of this expenditure is on the provision of temporary accommodation for homeless households for which authorities claim housing benefit subsidy In relation to general capital investment for housing, the

  535W
  total budget for housing capital investment in 1997–98 was £1.7 billion and £4.3 billion for 2003–04. These budgets provide new affordable housing and improvements to existing housing, both of which can help to prevent and resolve homelessness.

  Future funding will complement increases in investment in affordable housing and the funding available from 1 April 2003 for services to help homeless people under the Supporting People programme. Provision for support relating to homelessness within the Supporting People budget totalled over £353 million this year—a fifth of the £1.8 billion grant for the 2003–04 programme. This expenditure would have previously come from a variety of programmes including housing benefit and Supported Housing Management Grant, but was not identified separately for homeless client groups within these programmes.

  Housing
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will amend total cost indicators in the grant system for housing associations so that it is more profitable for them to build homes with three and four bedrooms. [138589]

  Keith Hill
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 6 November 2003,Official Report, column 796W. The Housing Corporation's Total Cost Indictor (TCI) framework is designed to be cost neutral across all types of homes irrespective of size.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of how to increase the construction by housing associations of(a) two, (b) three and (c) four bedroom homes in an economically viable way while meeting his Department's targets to increase the density of new housing developments. [138590]

  Keith Hill
  The Housing Corporation has recently announced its bidding round for social housing grant for 2004–05 and 2005–06. It has identified a number of ways of achieving better value for money through, for example, partnering arrangements. The detailed programme will reflect priorities identified in Regional Housing Strategies and the funding recommendations made by Regional Housing Boards. Bids from registered social landlords should reflect the local needs that they are aiming to meet.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes that it is possible to achieve net development densities of up to 50 dwellings per hectare with a mix of different types and sizes of housing. Registered social landlords are already providing homes at an average of about 48 dwellings per hectare.

  Housing Stock
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he proposes to take to ensure that regional government offices monitor the activities of local authorities to ensure that they comply with the requirements laid down by the Government in relation to the disposal of council housing stock. [138893]
  536W
  Keith Hill
  The Government Office for the Regions already work with all local authorities on housing matters, including where the authority is considering a housing transfer. In addition the Office's Community Housing Task Force work with authorities to help them deliver housing transfers within the framework set out by Government.

  The Government Offices will continue to work with an authority post transfer on its strategic and statutory housing roles.

  London Boroughs (Council Tax)
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 29 October 2003,Official Report, columns 302–04W, on London boroughs (council tax), how much and what proportion of council tax was collected in the London boroughs in each year from April 1993 to April 1996. [139216]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The following table shows the amount of council tax collected in each London borough and the City of London, irrespective of the financial year to which they relate, in each year from 1993–94 to 1996–97.

  Amounts of council tax collected1

  1993–94

  1994–94

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Inner London

  City of London

  0.960

  1.255

  1.331

  1.417

  Camden

  36.770

  38.940

  37.056

  43.630

  Greenwich

  29.507

  27.851

  29.234

  36.751

  Hackney

  18.279

  18.444

  20.781

  23.071

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  24.866

  26.463

  30.740

  35.882

  Islington

  23.214

  24.288

  26.040

  31.335

  Kensigton and Chelsea

  27.995

  33.732

  34.281

  37.334

  Lambeth

  26.532

  34.831

  31.512

  31.924

  Lewisham

  26.490

  30.637

  30.418

  32.537

  Southwark

  22.624

  26.374

  26.694

  34.584

  Tower Hamlets

  13.870

  15.588

  15.380

  18.419

  Wandsworth

  13.269

  13.777

  27.209

  35.719

  Westminster

  16.255

  19.703

  22.708

  25.260

  Total Inner London

  280.631

  311.883

  333.384

  387.863

  Outer London

  Barking and Dagenham

  15.750

  18.044

  17.906

  19.475

  Barnet

  53.655

  60.553

  62.897

  68.042

  Bexley

  34.491

  36.091

  38.328

  40.037

  Brent

  34.785

  30.199

  27.083

  27.051

  Bromley

  51.307

  52.726

  55.687

  60.924

  Croydon

  47.509

  52.063

  56.216

  57.745

  Ealing

  43.256

  40.727

  42.784

  45.009

  Enfield

  42.630

  46.643

  44.005

  46.958

  Haringey

  30.843

  32.875

  33.226

  35.330

  Harrow

  35.137

  37.151

  2—

  39.659

  Havering

  36.414

  36.550

  39.055

  42.674

  Hillingdon

  37.479

  41.379

  41.846

  43.968

  Kingston upon Thames

  24.433

  27.118

  28.585

  30.454

  Merton

  26.018

  28.624

  34.447

  37.134

  Newham

  20.025

  21.304

  19.112

  20.040

  Redbride

  34.742

  34.778

  37.513

  39.582

  Richmond upon Thames

  32.595

  41.291

  47.754

  51.112

  Sutton

  29.333

  31.906

  33.569

  35.534

  Waltham Forest

  27.583

  29.897

  32.313

  36.215

  Total Outer London

  692.104

  734.971

  2—

  816.105

  1 Amount of council tax due received by the end of the financial year as a percentage of the net collectable debit for the year

  2n/a

  The following table shows the in-year council tax collection rates for each London borough and the City of London for each year from 1993–94 to 1996–97. The collection of council tax continues after the end of the

  537W
  financial year to which it relates. This means that the percentage of council tax ultimately collected for any financial year is greater than that shown in the table.

  In-year council tax collection rates1

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Inner London

  City of London

  97.7

  96.3

  99.0

  98.1

  Camden

  81.4

  82.0

  83.7

  87.7

  Greenwich

  84.3

  86.9

  89.4

  91.4

  Hackney

  67.5

  75.5

  78.8

  79.4

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  86.1

  85.7

  87.4

  87.6

  Islington

  69.3

  81.2

  80.8

  83.0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  87.6

  89.2

  93.2

  94.9

  Lambeth

  48.4

  56.4

  71.8

  78.6

  Lewisham

  82.5

  81.2

  81.5

  84.8

  Southwark

  73.1

  79.9

  83.7

  84.7

  Tower Hamlets

  84.3

  84.6

  87.3

  87.2

  Wandsworth

  88.0

  89.3

  88.6

  87.9

  Westminster

  84.6

  91.3

  93.6

  92.6

  Average Inner London

  75.6

  80.0

  84.4

  86.7

  Outer London

  Barking and Dagenham

  93.1

  94.6

  95.4

  94.9

  Barnet

  92.7

  93.5

  94.4

  94.7

  Bexley

  95.4

  95.7

  96.4

  96.2

  Brent

  84.4

  85.8

  87.0

  87.6

  Bromley

  97.0

  96.9

  97.4

  97.2

  Croydon

  94.3

  92.8

  93.4

  92.1

  Ealing

  86.9

  90.4

  92.9

  94.3

  Enfield

  86.2

  88.5

  90.8

  91.8

  Haringey

  74.0

  81.9

  81.4

  84.7

  Harrow

  94.4

  2—

  2—

  96.4

  Havering

  95.0

  95.8

  96.5

  96.7

  Hallingdon

  92.9

  93.8

  93.9

  94.3

  Hounslow

  91.1

  90.1

  88.8

  92.7

  Kingston upon Thames

  97.5

  98.2

  97.3

  97.1

  Merton

  91.6

  92.9

  96.9

  94.4

  Newham

  73.4

  72.8

  76.9

  81.0

  Redbridge

  94.1

  94.6

  94.7

  95.6

  Richmond upon Thames

  95.2

  95.4

  96.4

  97.0

  Sutton

  97.5

  97.9

  98.3

  98.0

  Waltham Forest

  82.2

  86.2

  88.9

  91.5

  Average Outer London

  90.4

  91.8

  92.9

  93.8

  Average Greater London

  85.6

  88.0

  90.1

  91.4

  1 Amount of council tax due received by the end of the financial year as a percentage of the net collectable debit for the year

  2 n/a

  Regional Assemblies
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will include with the postal ballot for the proposed English regional assemblies explanatory memoranda setting out the expected costs and savings of the new structure. [137559]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 prohibits publication of any material relating to a referendum during the 28 days prior to the poll by any Minister of the Crown, Government Department or local authority. Therefore, the postal ballot for the proposed English regional assemblies will not include any such material. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has launched an information campaign to ensure that relevant information about the role and composition of Elected Regional Assemblies is made easily available in each of the three northern regions where referendums may be held. This includes an estimate of the costs of running elected assemblies and the savings to other public bodies whose staff transfer to the assembly.

  Regional Co-ordination Unit
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Regional Co-ordination Unit was established. [138131]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Regional Co-ordination Unit was set up in the summer of 2000 following the publication of the Performance and Innovation Unit Report, "Reaching Out—The Role Of Central Government At Regional And Local Level".

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many research projects the Regional Co-ordination Unit(a) plans to commission in 2003–04 and (b) commissioned in 2002–03; and what the rationale for each project was. [138134]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Regional Co-ordination Unit (RCU) currently has no plans to commission any research in 2003–04.

  In 2002–03, the following research was commissioned:
  a study of staff appraisal to see if there are any subjective differences in the way appraisals are carried out on staff of different gender, ethnicity or disability; and
  a report into "Incorporating Regional Perspectives into Policy Making". This was commissioned jointly by the RCU and the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit to investigate ways in which central Departments and the Government Offices could better work together to develop policy.

  Ward Boundaries (Devon)
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to introduce orders giving effect to the Boundary Committee's recommendations for Devon County Council's ward boundaries. [138903]

  Mr. Raynsford
  These are now matters for the independent Electoral Commission, to which the periodic electoral reviews functions of the former Local Government Commission for England and my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister were transferred by the Local Government Commission for England (Transfer of Functions) Order 2001 (S.I 2001/3962).

  Wiltshire Fire Authority
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the members of the Wiltshire Fire Authority indicating(a) by whom each was nominated, (b) by whom each was appointed and (c) the political affiliation of each member. [137455]

  Mr. Raynsford
  This information is not held centrally.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136842]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established following machinery of government changes in May 2002.
  539W
  For the period 2002–03, there have been eight cases of alleged work-related stress in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, amounting to 126 days absence. There have been no compensation claims for work-related stress.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has a Stress at Work policy in place, which is supported by practical guidance issued to staff on dealing with the issue. In addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has access to a counselling and support facility. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to meeting the targets for reducing the number of days lost due to work-related injuries and ill health arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been in recent discussions with the Health and Safety Executive about the development of a new proactive stress prevention programme.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Paternal Contact
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what encouragement departments and agencies give to fathers in keeping in contact with their children after separation. [136442]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Government's approach to the issue of child contact is based on the principle in the Children Act 1989, that in all decisions and arrangements about child contact, the child's best interests must be paramount. Figures from recent studies and surveys indicate as follows:60 per cent. of non-resident parents agreed contact with the resident parent.
  77 per cent. of non-resident parents saw their children every day, or at least once a week, or at least once a month. (Office for National Statistics survey).
  47 per cent. of all non-resident fathers were having at least weekly contact, 68 per cent. at least monthly contact and only 3 per cent. had no contact at all, with their children. (Bradshaw, Stimson, Skinner and Williams—"Absent Fathers?" 1999).
  69 per cent. of formerly married parents reported on-going contact. Only 5 per cent. reported that there had never been any contact and 27 per cent. said contact had been interrupted or had ended. (McLean and Eekelaar—"The Parental Obligation: a study of parenthood across households" 1997).

  The Government believe that children generally benefit from the continued involvement of both parents in their lives following divorce or separation, with the interests of the child always being paramount. I am currently considering our response to the Report of the Children Act Sub-committee of the Advisory Board on Family Law "Making Contact Work" to see what further practical steps we can take to facilitate and support contact between children and their parents.

  Meanwhile, the Government have already taken the following initiatives:
  have published the Parenting Plan, designed to help parents make practical arrangements for their children following divorce or separation, and age-related information leaflets for children concerned;
  are supporting a publicity campaign to emphasise the benefits of safe contact for children and to encourage parents to resolve disputes constructively;
  540W
  have made available public funding for family mediation for the resolution of disputes over children. 250 services now have contracts to provide family mediation and in 2001/02 are expanding the provision of child contact facilities.

  Special Educational Needs and Disability Act
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of(a) the effect of provisions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 and (b) progressing schools in fulfilling their duty to draw up accessibility plans. [137910]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools will be reporting on these matters during 2004.

  Child Protection Database
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received about the impact of data protection laws on his plans to introduce a database for child protection. [138422]

  Margaret Hodge
  My right hon. Friend has not received any direct representations about the impact of data protection laws on our plans to introduce a database for child protection.

  The Green Paper "Every Child Matters" sets out our proposals to protect children at risk within a framework of universal services, including the collection and sharing of information on children. The consultation period ends on 1 December.

  Education Act
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) with which schools and local authorities he has discussed proposals to take advantage of the flexibility provisions of the Education Act 2002; [137087]

  (2) how many inquiries he has received about use of the flexibility provisions of the Education Act 2002. [137088]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) on 12 May 2003,Official Report, column 52W; the hon. Member for Ashford (Mr. Green) on 6 October 2003, Official Report, column 1131W; the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) on 27 October 2003, Official Report, column 72W and the noble Baroness Sharp of Guildford, Official Report, House of Lords, 6 October 2003, c. WA3.

  A-Levels
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils from secondary school went on to take A-levels in(a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St. Helens and (d) England in each year since 1997. [137997]

  Mr. Miliband
  The precise information requested is not available. As the National Pupil Database is developed further, this type of analysis will be possible. As a proxy, the following tables show (i) the number of 17-year-old students who took at least one A level in
  541W
  (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St. Helens LEA and (d) England in schools and colleges for the years 1997–2003 and (ii) the number of 15-year-old

  (i)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  a

  North West

  22,309

  23,403

  22,854

  22,755

  24,095

  27,084

  28,077

  b

  Merseyside

  4,699

  4,916

  4,742

  4,712

  5,145

  5,604

  5,927

  c

  St. Helens LEA

  759

  823

  777

  803

  867

  882

  1,022

  d

  England

  192,418

  198,225

  196,743

  193,913

  203,121

  219,455

  228,454

  Note:

  Figures for 2003 are provisional

  (ii)

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  a

  North West

  78,452

  80,647

  79,799

  79,339

  80,875

  80,350

  83,894

  b

  Merseyside

  16,735

  16,959

  16,920

  17,001

  17,282

  16,817

  17,810

  c

  St. Helens LEA

  2,210

  2,193

  2,200

  2,256

  2,195

  2,088

  2,237

  d

  England

  578,197

  594,035

  586,766

  575,210

  580,972

  580,393

  603,318

  Although the exact information required is not currently available, a rough approximation can be obtained by dividing the number of 17-year-old A level students by the number of 15-year-old pupils two years before. It should be noted however that this is not based on data which tracks the same pupils over time.

  The following figures approximately show the percentage of 15-year-old pupils who went on to take A levels at 17 in the North West region and in England.

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  North West

  28

  29

  29

  29

  30

  34

  33

  England

  33

  33

  34

  34

  35

  38

  38

  Similar figures for the Merseyside area and St. Helen's LEA are less accurate due to where students choose to pursue their further education studies.

  Advertising/Marketing
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money his Department spent on advertising and marketing in each month since 1997. [137571]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  Information for expenditure per month for the period and areas specified could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Expenditure from the Department's central advertising and publicity budget is as follows:

  £000

  1997–98

  10,879

  1998–99

  13,426

  1999–2000

  9,902

  2000–01

  14,595

  2001–02

  11,688

  2002–03

  14,089

  2003–04 (to date)

  2,937

  542W
  pupils in secondary schools in (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St. Helens LEA and (d) England, two years before each of the years shown in (i).

  In addition to expenditure from this central budget, expenditure from budgets allocated to individual programmes will also include spend on publicity and marketing related activity. It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to separately identify all such expenditure. However, it is possible to identify separately expenditure on advertising, and this is as follows:

  £000

  1997–98

  9,992

  1998–99

  15,673

  1999–2000

  11,900

  2000–01

  29,066

  2001–02

  20,489

  2002–03

  11,261

  2003–04 (to date)

  11,210

  Information on expenditure by agencies and non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally.

  Domestic Violence
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase support for the non-abusive parent in cases of domestic violence where children are involved. [134909]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Government have proposed a number of measures which will improve the support and protection available to the children and non-abusive partner of a violent parent. These were set out in our consultation paper "Safety and Justice: The Government's Proposals on Domestic Violence" and include:making sure that child contact arrangements in domestic violence cases guarantee the safety of all parties. We will be expanding the provision of supervised child contact centres and services. Where domestic violence (or other safety issues) features in contact cases it is vital that the families are referred to services that are able to meet their needs, especially on safety. Baroness Ashton of Upholland and I plan to announce successful applicants for funding from a joint Children's Fund/

  543W
  Sure Start Investment Stream of £2.9 million for new supervised contact services. We expect new services to commence from the New Year;
  improving the support available to children and young people affected by domestic violence, both for the benefit of the children and young people themselves and to relieve pressures on their parents;
  providing help for victims of domestic violence as early as possible, and making sure that the civil and criminal law offer the maximum protection to all victims, children and adults, to prevent the violence recurring;
  providing advice and information to victims on how to get access to support services and legal protection;
  ensuring an effective police response when victims report domestic violence and ensuring that victims are not deterred by the way they will be treated at any stage of the judicial process;
  improving the sharing of information so that child and adult victims are better protected and supported;
  increasing the full range of accommodation options, including supporting people to stay in their own home. Children can particularly suffer by moving away from their friends, school, pets and other familiar surroundings;
  helping victims who have ended or left a violent relationship to rebuild their lives; and
  raising awareness about domestic violence among the general public and key professionals;

  The Government are currently considering the responses to these proposals.Our Green Paper Every Child Matters recognises that supporting parents and carers is a significant factor in our general strategy to improve children's lives. It sets out the Government's vision of better integrated services for all children that are focused around the needs of the child, to ensure no child falls through the net and all children get the support they need to fulfil their potential:
  integrating services for children and families within Children's Trusts. This will particularly benefit the families in which children are affected by domestic violence as they may have a range of physical, emotional and psychological needs and may often be in temporary accommodation or moving around;
  providing access to specialist services. Being a victim of, or witnessing, domestic violence can have a long-term negative impact on children's behaviour, health and educational outcomes. The Green Paper sets out how the Government will seek to ensure specialist provision is available so that all children achieve and are in good physical and mental health;
  strengthening child protection arrangements. The Green Paper sets out proposals for changes to arrangements for safeguarding children, which we hope will lead to a better response to the needs of vulnerable children including those affected by domestic violence;
  improving information sharing will ensure that difficulties are picked up earlier and acted upon in a coherent way. We are consulting on the best way to use information about families and parents in such cases to build a complete picture of the risks to the child;
  improving both universal and targeted support for parents. Such support will be appropriate and non-stigmatising. It will help parents in supporting their children and the universal support in particular will be a gateway to more specialist services, for example, support for families affected by domestic violence; and
  improving maternity services. 30 per cent. of domestic violence cases start during pregnancy and existing violence often escalates during it. Through the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services the Government are piloting routine antenatal questioning for domestic violence by midwives.

  Education Spending (North-west)
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on(a) primary education, (b) secondary education, (c) tertiary education and (d) further education in the north west in each year since 1992. [134904]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is contained in the following tables.

  Primary, secondary and further education expenditure in the north west since 1992

  pre-Primary

  Primary

  pre-Primary & Primary

  Secondary

  1992–93

  n/a

  n/a

  1,44,841

  1,153,066

  1993–94

  n/a

  n/a

  1,158,010

  1,049,978

  1994–95

  n/a

  n/a

  1,202,426

  1,089,653

  1995–96

  n/a

  n/a

  1,185,076

  1,000,413

  1996–97

  n/a

  n/a

  1,213,943

  1,018,336

  1997–98

  n/a

  n/a

  1,221,486

  1,027,733

  1998–99

  n/a

  n/a

  1,321,152

  1,089,898

  1999–2000

  46,199

  1,394,850

  1,441,049

  1,286,311

  2000–01

  67,355

  1,522,508

  1,589,863

  1,407,303

  2001–02

  91,379

  1,676,685

  1,768,064

  1,588,239

  Notes:

  1. North West includes the following LEAs:

  Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton, Wirral, Bolton, Bury,
  Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside,
  Trafford, Wigan, Cheshire, Halton, Warrington, Lancashire,
  Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Cumbria.

  2. Net Current Expenditure includes expenditure within schools
  and also that incurred centrally by the LEA's.

  3. Cash term figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000.

  4. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000.

  5. Data is as reported by LEAs.

  6. Data is drawn from the DfES Section 52 outturn statements
  from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously.

  Further education funding allocations to institutions in the north west since 1992

  Further education

  1992–93

  341,320,591

  1993–94

  360,421,769

  1994–95

  379,275,174

  1995–96

  421,366,768

  1996–97

  449,925,071

  1997–98

  458,258,684

  1998–99

  464,615,551

  1999–2000

  475,546,775

  2000–01

  500,439,180

  2001–02

  530,460,995

  2002–03

  552,474,473

  2003–04

  568,368,735

  Notes:

  1. Tertiary Education funding is not reported separately from Further Education funding.

  2. 1992/93 funding allocation was from LEAs.

  3. 1993/94 was a 16 month allocation from 1 April 1993 to July 1994 (first year of funding from the FEFC).

  4. From 1 August 1994 funding was allocated from 1 August—31 July.

  5.Cash terms data reported.

  Fair Trade (Universities)
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action his Department has taken to promote fair trade accreditation at UK universities. [138388]
  545W
  Alan Johnson
  The Government are committed to encouraging responsible trade and encourages all organisations to consider whether their purchasing policies can be adjusted to benefit the poor in developing countries. Through the Department for International Development, the Government have provided £0.5million to support UK development awareness and education campaigns centred around Fairtrade over the past two years. Higher education institutions are however independent, autonomous bodies, entirely responsible for their own trading arrangements, and we cannot directly influence their trading choices.

  Falling Rolls
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England have falling rolls; and if he will make a statement. [136792]

  Mr. Miliband
  In January 2003, out of a total of 17,861 maintained primary schools, there were 10,100 schools that showed a decrease in pupil numbers of at least one pupil compared to January 2002.

  Also in January 2003, out of a total of 3,436 maintained secondary schools, there were 1,017 schools that showed a decrease in pupil numbers of at least one pupil compared to January 2002.

  Funding
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many bodies receive some or all their funding from his Department; what funding was received by each body in each year since 1997; and who the chief executive is of each body. [133677]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  The information on funding of executive non departmental public bodies is published annually in the Departmental Report. Information on the chief executives is contained in the individual annual reports issued by each of the executive non departmental public bodies. Information on other bodies is not available, except at disproportionate cost.

  Gifted Pupils
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what differences there are in the amounts that rural and urban areas received for gifted pupils; and what the reasons are for the differences. [138385]

  Mr. Miliband
  The majority of dedicated funding for gifted and talented education is made available through Excellence in Cities, including Excellence Clusters and Aim Higher. These programmes are targeted at areas of greatest deprivation which are concentrated in urban areas although not exclusively so. Each area receives only a notional allocation for work on gifted and talented education. It is for the local partnership or cluster to decide how much to spend on this, relative to other dimensions of their programme.

  Local education authorities and schools can also use funding from other sources for gifted and talented education, and choose whether or not to take up a range of national resources available to them. These decisions are influenced by a variety of local priorities and needs.

  GNVQs
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 27 October 2003,Official Report, columns 73–6W, on GNVQs, what the total percentage was of pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ level was in each year since 1996; and if he will make a statement. [136715]

  Mr. Miliband
  The percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE/GNVQ are as follows:

  Percentage

  1995/96

  44.5

  1996/97

  45.1

  1997/98

  46.3

  1998/99

  47.9

  1999/2000

  49.2

  2000/01

  50.0

  2001/02

  51.6

  2002/03 (Provisional)

  52.6

  This information can be found in Statistical First Releases and Statistical Volumes on the Department's Research and Statistics website, at http://www. dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway

  Graduate Tax
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he had with colleagues from other departments on variants of a graduate tax as alternatives to fund higher education. [138549]

  Alan Johnson
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had a number of discussions with colleagues across Government on all aspects of the proposals set out in the recent in the White Paper "The future of higher education" (Cm 5735).

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his letter of 11 April, on student funding, for what reasons it was stated that a graduate tax arrangement could not run alongside the existing student loan repayment scheme. [138562]

  Alan Johnson
  The circular referred to is a party political document. I will write to my hon. Friend separately.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students from(a) the North West Region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St. Helens and (d) England in higher education received (i) a grant and (ii) a student loan in each year since 1997. [138000]

  Alan Johnson
  The support arrangements under the mandatory awards scheme for eligible undergraduate students domiciled in England and Wales on courses which began before 1 September 1998 consisted of payment, usually in full, of their tuition fees, a grant towards their maintenance, depending on income, and a non-income assessed loan. New students in academic year 1998/99, with a few exceptions, were expected to contribute up to £1,000 a year towards the cost of their tuition depending on family income. In 1998/99,
  547W
  income-assessed grants on average only formed about a quarter of the support available and all students were entitled to a non income-assessed loan which comprised the remaining three-quarters of support available and which will be repayable on an income contingent basis. New entrants to higher education from 1999/2000, together with those who started in 1998/99, received support for living costs solely through loans which are partly income-assessed. Grants for living costs are no longer available except for some limited allowances, e.g. for students with dependants; students who require assistance with travel, books and equipment; lone parent students; students leaving care; students with dependant children who are eligible for school meals grants; and disabled students.

  National level data are published annually in the Department's Statistical First Releases (SFRs) (SFR 11/ 2003 for 2001/02). Data on grants are collected from the local education authorities (LEAs) to produce national estimates and the data collection exercise does not allow for the production of firm figures below this level, and therefore data by region and local education authority are not available. The percentage of English domiciled students receiving a grant is shown in the table.

  Academic years 1997/98 to 2001/02, England1

  Percentage of students receiving a full or partial maintenance grant

  1997/98

  Student Support Scheme2

  Not applicable

  Mandatory awards3

  72

  All students

  72

  1998/99

  Student Support Scheme2,4

  71

  Mandatory awards3

  69

  All students

  70

  1999/2000

  Student Support Scheme2,5

  5

  Mandatory awards3

  69

  All students

  30

  2000/01

  Student Support Scheme2,5

  7

  Mandatory awards3

  65

  All students

  14

  2001/02

  Student Support Scheme2,5

  7

  Mandatory Awards3

  64

  All students

  9

  1 Awards made by local education authorities in England to students normally domiciled in their area.

  2 Students who entered higher education from 1998/99.

  3 Students who entered higher education up to 1997/98 and those who entered in 1998/99 to whom the existing arrangements still applied. These students are eligible for income assessed maintenance grants and non means tested loans repayable on a mortgage style, fixed term, basis.

  4 Student Support Scheme students in 1998/99 received support for maintenance through income-assessed grants (comprising about a quarter of the support available) and non income assessed student loans (comprising about three-quarters of the support available) repayable on an income contingent basis.

  5 Data on maintenance expenditure for student support scheme students from 1999/2000 relate to additional allowances/grants available to eligible students for extra help depending on their circumstances, e.g. students with disabilities, students with dependents, single parent students, those incurring certain travel
  548W
  costs, and those who have recently left care. Includes students who are eligible for allowances/grants but who may not receive the means tested grants following income assessment.

  Source

  Form F503G survey of local education authorities on student support school meals grants; and disabled students.

  The percentage of students taking out a student loan is shown in the table.

  Academic years 1997/98 to 2001/02

  Percentage of students receiving a loan1

  Income contingent loans (Student Support Scheme students) 2

  Mortgage style loans (mandatory awards)3

  1997/984

  UK

  Not applicable

  64

  1998/994

  UK

  69

  68

  1999/2000

  England5

  75

  65

  North West5

  82

  Not available

  Merseysides5,6

  81

  Not available

  2000/01

  England5

  80

  67

  North West5,6

  85

  Not available

  Merseyside5,7

  88

  Not available

  2001/02

  England5

  82

  72

  North West5,6

  84

  Not available

  Merseyside5,7

  88

  Not available

  1 New student support arrangements were introduced from academic year 1998/99. New students in 1998/99 (apart from certain specified exceptions) received support for maintenance expenditure through means-tested grants (comprising about a quarter of the support available) and non income-assessed student loans (comprising about three-quarters of the support available). From 1999/2000, students who entered higher education after 1998/99 received support for maintenance expenditure through loans, of which approximately three-quarters of the value was non income-assessed. Loans made under these arrangements are repayable on an income contingent basis.

  2 Excludes the fixed rate loans (£500) for eligible part-time students, introduced in September 2000.

  3 Data on mandatory awards are available only at England level.

  4 Data up to an including 1998/99 are not available below United Kingdom level.

  5Data at a level below England have been taken from available data and may include a small number of loans which have been authorised for payment but not paid: England data include only those loans actually paid.

  6 The North West Government Office Region.

  7 Merseyside includes Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral local education authorities.

  Source

  Student Loans Company.

  Information on the region or local education authority of domicile of applicants for student loans is not available prior to academic year 1999/2000; data on the domicile of students taking out fixed rate mortgage style loans (normally those who entered higher education before 1998/99) is not available because applications are made through their education institution. The number of students estimated to be eligible for loans is compiled from data provided by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (covering HEIs)

  549W
  and from separate surveys covering higher education students in further education colleges. These estimates do not allow for robust disaggregation to LEA level.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students from(a) the North West Region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St. Helens and (d) England in higher education paid up-front fees in each year since 1997. [138001]

  Alan Johnson
  The student support arrangements up to, and including, academic year 1997/98 included the payment of tuition fees in full from public funds on behalf of eligible students domiciled in England and Wales. New student support arrangements came into effect at the start of academic year 1998/99 when new entrants to higher education were expected to contribute towards the cost of their tuition. The amount of the contribution depends on family income.

  The number of students in England in academic years 1998/99 to 2001/02 (latest year for which data are available) who have been assessed to make a partial or full contribution towards the cost of their tuition is shown in the table.

  Student Support Scheme Student number (thousand)1,2

  Academic year

  Full or partial contribution towards the cost of tuition from student/parents/spouse/partner3

  1998/99

  125

  1999/2000

  244

  2000/01

  375

  2001/02

  402

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

  2 Data for academic year 1998/99 comprise the cohort of students who entered higher education in that year; data for 1999/2000 comprise the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 cohorts; data for 2000/01 comprise those who entered in 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/01; and data for 2001/02 comprise those students still in study from 1998/99 onwards and new entrants from 2001/02.

  3 Includes students who withdrew from their course before the fee due date (and therefore no fee payment was made by the local education authority). In 1998/99, includes estimation for students who, because they did not expect to receive a contribution towards the cost of their tuition from public funds, did not make an application to their local authority.

  Source

  F503G survey of local education authorities.

  National level data are published annually in the Department's Statistical First Releases (SFRs) (SFR 11/ 2003 for 2001/02).

  Data are collected from the local education authorities (LEAs) to produce national estimates and the data collection exercise does not allow for the production of firm figures below this level, and therefore data by region and local education authority are not available.

  Key Stage 2
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children in(a) Wiltshire, (b) Dorset,(c) Devon and (d) Somerset gained level 4 and above at Key Stage 2 in (i) English and (ii) mathematics in each year since 1997. [138962]
  550W
  Mr. Miliband
  The percentage of 11-year-olds in(a) Wiltshire, (b) Dorset, (c) Devon and (d) Somerset who gained level 4 and above at Key Stage 2 in (i) English and (ii) mathematics in each year since 1997 are as follows:

  LEA

  2003

  2002

  2001

  2000

  1999

  1998

  1997

  English

  Wiltshire

  75

  74

  73

  75

  73

  67

  67

  Dorset

  76

  78

  77

  79

  74

  68

  68

  Devon1

  74

  74

  76

  75

  72

  66

  62

  Somerset

  74

  74

  74

  75

  73

  67

  67

  England

  75

  75

  75

  75

  71

  65

  63

  Mathematics

  Wiltshire

  73

  73

  70

  71

  69

  62

  67

  Dorset

  73

  72

  70

  73

  71

  60

  67

  Devon

  74

  73

  71

  72

  70

  60

  62

  Somerset

  72

  72

  69

  70

  70

  58

  63

  England

  73

  73

  71

  72

  69

  59

  62

  1For 1997, Devon LEA included schools in Torbay and Plymouth. Following the local Government reorganisation in 1998, Torbay and Plymouth schools are excluded from the Devon figures.

  Note:

  The 2003 information is based on provisional data.

  Literacy
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the literacy level is in(a) the constituency of Romford and (b) other population centres in Essex. [136476]

  Mr. Miliband
  The constituency of Romford falls within the London borough of Havering education authority. The Key Stage 2 English results for Havering are above average with 80 per cent. of pupils achieving the expected level for their age (level 4+) in 2003, an 11 percentage points increase since 1998, when the National Literacy Strategy was introduced. Nationally, 75 per cent. of pupils achieved level 4+ in English at Key Stage 2 in 2003, a rise of 10 percentage points since 1998.

  The 2003 Key Stage 2 results for Havering, compared with those for the London boroughs of Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham, and with the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, and with Essex local education authority are set out in the table. The table shows the percentage of pupils who achieved the expected level for their age (level 4+) in the Key Stage 2 English tests since 1998 in these areas:

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  20031

  Havering

  71

  78

  78

  79

  80

  80

  Redbridge

  70

  72

  77

  77

  78

  77

  Barking and

  60

  65

  72

  72

  69

  70

  Dagenham

  Essex

  65

  71

  76

  75

  76

  77

  Southend-on-Sea

  63

  69

  72

  73

  75

  74

  Thurrock

  55

  60

  65

  68

  68

  66

  1 Provisional

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects the 2002–03 contextual value added indicators to be distributed to local education authorities; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [136817]
  551W
  Mr. Miliband
  The Department will share contextual value added information for secondary schools with individual LEAs before the end of this term. The analysis will be based on provisional data for 2003 results at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, and therefore subject to slight revision. The information is provided on a confidential basis in order to help authorities to review and evaluate the performance of their schools, and to challenge any underperformance.

  We have no plans to publish this analysis.

  London Universities
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the drop-out rate for universities in London was by(a) percentage and (b) number in each year since 1997. [138665]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information on non continuation rates is contained in "Performance Indicators in Higher Education", published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The figures cover full-time first degree courses only, and show, for each individual HE institution in the UK, the numbers and proportion of entrants who failed to complete their course. Copies of the HEFCE publication are available for students starting courses in 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–00 in the House Library. The next edition, covering students starting courses in 2000–01, is scheduled for publication in autumn 2003.

  NVQs
  Rob Marris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many NVQs were completed in further education colleges in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [136977]

  Alan Johnson
  The National Information System for Vocational Qualifications (NISVQ) showed that 146,000 NVQs/SVQs of a total 315,000 NVQ/SVQs were achieved1 in further education colleges/tertiary colleges in England in 2001/02. The equivalent figure for 2002/03 is not yet available.

  1NISVQ collects information on full NVQ/SVQs awarded. It does not collect information on those qualifications which were completed but not achieved.

  Rob Marris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of NVQs were completed in further education colleges in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [136978]

  Alan Johnson
  The National Information System for Vocational Qualifications (NISVQ) showed that 46.4 per cent. of a total 315,000 NVQ/SVQs were achieved1 in further education colleges/tertiary colleges in England in 2001/02. The equivalent figure for 2002/03 is not yet available.

  1NISVQ collects information on full NVQ/SVQs awarded. It does not collect information on those qualifications which were completed but not achieved.

  Performance and Assessment Reports
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects the 2002–03 Ofsted PANDA information to be distributed to schools; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [136818]
  552W
  Mr. Miliband
  This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to my hon. friend and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Performance-related Pay
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the costs for every local education authority's performance-related pay expenditure for 2004–05 will be funded in full by government grant, including the on-going costs arising from performance awards in earlier years. [136889]

  Mr. Miliband
  The threshold performance payments made by schools are refunded in full by the Department, including for on-costs. In 2003–04 we are also contributing a further £205 million towards other performance-related payments to teachers, principally to help meet the costs of the upper pay scale. This will be sufficient to meet all schools' continuing commitments arising from the performance-related pay grant provided in 2002–03 and will support the costs of similar progress along the Upper Pay Scale for those teachers becoming eligible for performance points in September 2003.

  For 2004–05, the £205 million we have allocated this year will be uprated at least in line with the headline pay settlement. And if proper arrangements for point 3 of the upper pay scale can be settled with the stakeholders, additional resources will be allocated from September 2004.

  Pupil Funding
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the standard deviation from the mean per pupil funding is across(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in 2003–04. [137200]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is contained in the following table:

  Per pupil funding for primary and secondary schools for the 2003–04 session

  £

  Per pupil funding

  Mean

  Standard deviation

  Primary schools

  2,660

  642

  Secondary schools

  3,269

  556

  Notes

  1. LEA funding to schools as reported by LEAs.

  2. The data are taken from the 2003–04 Section 52 Budget table 2.

  3. Per pupil funding includes schools budget share, devolved standards fund and school standards grant.

  School Funding
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average per pupil funding for(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special schools was in each local education authority area for (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [133603]

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

  School Meals
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) primary and (b) secondary school students are eligible for free school meals in each English local education authority area. [137546]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  School Workforce Agreement
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much he has included in his 2004–05 Schools budget for the full implementation of the School Workforce Agreement. [136887]

  Mr. Miliband
  On 29 October we announced a package of measures to deliver greater stability in school budgets for 2004–05. These measures provide headroom over the average cost pressures that schools face to help schools implement the National Agreement on workforce reform.

  Maintained secondary schools: appeals lodged by parents against non-admission of their children 1996/97 to 2001/02

  Somerset local education authority

  Appeals heard

  Appeals decided in parent's favour

  Number of admissions

  Number of appeals

  Number

  Percentage1

  Number

  Percentage2

  1996/97

  6,163

  115

  88

  76.5

  43

  48.9

  1997/98

  6,333

  186

  157

  84.4

  90

  57.3

  1998/99

  6,466

  160

  122

  76.3

  60

  49.2

  1999/2000

  6,869

  141

  83

  58.9

  47

  56.6

  2000/01

  6,787

  321

  190

  59.2

  127

  66.8

  2001/02

  37,700

  361

  236

  65.4

  153

  64.8

  1Number of appeals heard expressed as a percentage of number of appeals lodged.

  2 Number of appeals decided in parent's favour expressed as a percentage of number of appeals heard.

  3 Due to changes in the underlying data collection the number of admissions shown here is not directly comparable with those for earlier years. In previous years the number of admissions reflected the total number of pupils of the school's basic entry age who started school at the start of the academic year. In 2001/02 the coverage is extended to all new admissions to schools regardless of pupils' age. Rounded to nearest 100.

  Source

  Annual Schools' Census and Admission Appeals Survey

  Secondary School Places
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils entered secondary education in the Leeds Local Education Authority over the last five years; and how many

  Maintained secondary schools: appeals lodged by parents against non-admission of their children, 1997/98 to 2001/02

  Leeds Local Education Authority

  Appeals heard

  Appeals decided in parent's favour

  Number of admissions

  Number of appeals lodged

  Number

  Percentage1

  Number

  Percentage2

  1997/98

  8,375

  1,186

  664

  56.0

  337

  50.8

  1998/99

  8,375

  1,707

  996

  58.3

  457

  45.9

  1999/2000

  8,360

  1,149

  879

  76.5

  407

  46.3

  2000/01

  8,637

  1,646

  1,095

  66.5

  386

  35.3

  2001/02

  9,1003

  1,585

  981

  61.9

  394

  40.2

  1 Number of appeals heard expressed as a percentage of number of appeals lodged.

  2 Number of appeals decided in parent's favour expressed as a percentage of number of appeals heard.

  3 Due to changes in the underlying data collection, the number of admissions shown here is not directly comparable with those for earlier years. In previous years, the number of admissions reflected the total number of pupils of the school's basic entry age who started school at the start of the academic year. In 2001/02, the coverage is extended to all new admissions to schools regardless of pupils' age. Rounded to nearest 100.

  Source

  Annual Schools' Census and Admission Appeals Survey.
  554W
  In addition, much progress can also be made from schools managing their total resources—people and resources—in different ways. For example, in September 2004, a limit of 38 hours will be introduced on the amount of cover an individual teacher can be required to undertake. Although the majority of teachers will not be affected by this initial limit, it provides an opportunity for schools to examine the use of supply teachers for providing short-term cover, and developing the use of cover supervision by trained support staff.

  Secondary Education (Somerset)
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils entered secondary education in Somerset in each of the last six years; and how many secondary school admission appeals there were in the Somerset local education authority in the same periods, broken down by(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals. [137382]

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

  secondary school admission appeals there were in Leeds LEA over the same period, broken down between (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals. [136786]

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

  Student Finance
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made of the average indebtedness of students upon graduation in each of the last 10 years. [137475]

  Alan Johnson
  The table shows the average student loan debt at the point at which they entered repayment status for borrowers who became liable to repay their loans in financial years 1999–2000 to 2002–03. Data for earlier years are not available.

  Average student loan debt on entering year entered repayment status1

  £

  Financial year entered repayment status2

  Mortgage style loans3

  Income contingent loans4

  Part-time loans5

  1999–2000

  3,530

  6—

  6—

  2000–01

  4.090

  2,300

  6—

  2001–02

  4,490

  3,410

  450

  2002–03

  5,150

  5,980

  520

  1 Data rounded to nearest £10. Includes interest accrued up to the point of entering repayment status. Excludes any early voluntary repayments which may have been made before borrowers enter repayment status. Debt of borrowers with more than one loan type has been split between types.

  2 Borrowers enter repayment status in the April following their graduation or otherwise leaving their course. Borrowers may have accounts in more than one cohort year of entering repayment.

  3 Loans made to students who entered higher education up to 1997–98 or who entered in 1998–99 under existing arrangements. Includes loans repayable to the private sector following the sale of two trenches of student loans.

  4 Loans, repayable on an income contingent basis, available to students who entered higher education from academic year 1998–99. These loans were subject to a repayment holiday until April 2000. Includes hardship loans.

  5 Fixed-rate loans made to eligible part-time students, introduced in September 2000.

  6 Not applicable.

  Source

  Student Loans Company

  The first cohort of students on a three-year degree course who entered higher education under the new student support arrangements became liable for repayment in April 2002. That, and earlier, cohorts includes a disproportionate number of students on shorter courses as well as those who have left higher education before completing their courses. Therefore the average level of debt will not be representative of the average debt experienced by those who complete their courses.

  Borrowers are liable to repay their loans from the April following graduation or otherwise leaving their course. Students who started their course from the 1998–99 academic year will repay income contingent loans. Loans for those who started their course before 1998–99 are repayable on a mortgage style basis.

  The Department does not have annual data for HE students' total debt on graduation (including bank loans, overdrafts, credit cards, and informal debts to family and friends). The Student income and Expenditure Survey (SIES), which collects this information is undertaken every three to four years. Findings from the last survey in 1998–99 showed that the average total anticipated debt of all full-time
  556W
  students graduating in 1998–99 was £3,462. The Department has conducted a SIES for the 2002–03 academic year which will be published shortly.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average student loan for a student from(a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St. Helens and (d) England was in each year since 1997. [137996]

  Alan Johnson
  Information on the region or Local Education Authority of domicile of applicants for student loans is not available prior to academic year 1999/2000; data on the domicile of students taking out fixed rate mortgage style loans (normally those who entered higher education before 1998/99) is not available because applications are made through their education institution.

  The available information on students taking out income contingent loans is shown in the table:

  Average income-contingent loan1 taken out by domicile of student–academic years 1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2001/02

  Average income contingent student loan1 taken out, 2,3 (£)

  Academic year

  Domicile4

  1999/2000

  2000/01

  2001/02

  North West5,6

  3,130

  3,090

  3,130

  Merseyside6,7

  3,110

  3,060

  3,100

  St. Helens6

  3,030

  3,000

  3,040

  England

  3,180

  3,160

  3,190

  1 New student support arrangements were introduced from academic year 1998/99. From 1999/2000 students who entered higher education after 1998/99 received support for maintenance expenditure through loans, of which approximately three quarters of the value was non income-assessed. Loans made under these arrangements are repayable on an income contingent basis. The ratio of support for mandatory award holders, i.e. those who entered higher education up to 1997/98, was roughly 50 per cent. means-tested grant and 50 per cent. non means-tested loan repayable on a mortgage style basis.

  2 Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.

  3 Excludes the fixed rate loan (£500) for eligible part-time students, introduced in September 2000.

  4 From academic year 1999/2000, student support students apply to their Local Education Authority for assessment of their eligibility for student support, including student loans, irrespective of their place of study. Mandatory award holders, i.e. those eligible for mortgage style loans, continue to make applications for student loans through their education institution.

  5 The North West Government Office Region.

  6 Data at a level below England have been taken from available data and may include a small number of loans which have been authorised for payment but not paid: England data are only those loans actually paid.

  7Merseyside includes Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral Local Education Authorities.

  Source

  Student Loans Company

  Average mortgage style loan1 taken out(£)2

  Academic year

  Domicile3

  1999/2000

  2000/01

  2001/02

  England

  1,470

  1,460

  1,520

  1 New student support arrangements were introduced from academic year 1998/99. From 1999/2000 students who entered higher education after 1998/99 received support for maintenance
  expenditure through loans, of which approximately three quarters

  557W
  of the value was non income-assessed. Loans made under these arrangements are repayable on an income contingent basis. The ratio of support for mandatory award holders, i.e. those who entered higher education up to 1997/98, was roughly 50 per cent. means-tested grant and 50 per cent. non means-tested loan repayable on a mortgage style basis.

  2Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10

  3 From academic year 1999/2000, student support students apply to their Local Education Authority for assessment of their eligibility for student support, including student loans, irrespective of their place of study. Mandatory award holders, i.e. those eligible for mortgage style loans, continue to make applications for student loans through their education institution.

  Source

  Student Loans Company

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average size of(a) grants, (b) student loans and (c) the debt acquired to enable students to finance higher education has been in each year since 1997. [138043]

  Alan Johnson
  The support arrangements under the mandatory awards scheme for eligible undergraduate students domiciled in England and Wales on courses which began before 1 September 1998 consisted of payment, usually in full, of their tuition fees, a grant towards their maintenance, depending on income, and a non-income assessed loan. New students in academic year 1998/99, with a few exceptions, were expected to contribute up to £1,000 a year towards the cost of their tuition depending on family income. In 1998/99, income-assessed grants on average only formed about a quarter of the support available and all students were entitled to a non income-assessed loan which comprised the remaining three quarters of support available and which will be repayable on an income contingent basis. New entrants to higher education from 1999/2000, together with those who started in 1998/99, received support for living costs solely through loans which are partly income-assessed. Grants for living costs are no longer available except for some limited allowances, e.g. for students with dependants; students who require assistance with travel, books and equipment; lone parent students; students leaving care; students with dependant children who are eligible for school meals grants; and disabled students.

  The overall maintenance grant and student loan is shown in the table.

  Academic years 1997/98 to 2001/02

  England and Wales

  Average maintenance per award holder (£) England and Wales1

  Average loan (£)1.2

  1997/98

  Student Support Scheme3

  n/a

  n/a

  Mandatory Awards4

  1,210

  1,5308

  All Students

  1,210

  1,5308

  1998/99

  Students Support Scheme3.5

  690

  2,5808

  Mandatory Awards4

  1,190

  1,5208

  All Students

  1,030

  1,8708

  1999/2000

  Students Support Scheme3.6.7

  120

  3,180

  Mandatory Awards4

  1,150

  1,470

  All Students

  510

  2,590

  558W

  Academic years 1997/98 to 2001/02

  England and Wales

  Average maintenance per award holder (£) England and Wales1

  Average loan (£)1.2

  2000/01

  Student Support Scheme3,6,7

  140

  3,160

  Mandatory Awards4

  1,130

  1,460

  All students

  270

  2,960

  2001/02

  Student Support Scheme3,6,7

  170

  3,190

  Mandatory Awards4

  1,250

  1,520

  All students

  200

  3,150

  1 Rounded to the nearest £10.

  2 Averages relate to the amount of loan taken out in that academic year; excludes hardship loans and the fixed rate (£500) loans for part-time students.

  3 Students who entered higher education from 1998/99. These students are eligible for student loans repayable on an income contingent basis.

  4 Students who entered higher education up to those who entered in 1998/99 to whom the existing arrangements still 1997/98 and applied. These students are eligible for non means-tested loans repayable on a mortgage style, fixed term, basis.

  5 New students in 1998/99 received support for maintenance through income-assessed grants(comprising about a quarter of the support available) and non income-assessed student loans (comprising about three quarters of the support available).

  6 From 1999/2000, students who entered higher education from 1998/99 onwards received support for maintenance through loans, of which approximately three quarters of the value was non income-assessed.

  7 Data on maintenance expenditure for student support scheme students from 1999/2000 relates to additional allowances/grants available to eligible students for extra help depending on their circumstances, e.g. students with disabilities, students with dependents, single parent students, those incurring certain travel costs, and those who have recently left care.

  8 Data are for UK.

  n/a = not applicable

  Source

  Form F503G survey of local education authorities on student support and Student Loans Company

  The Department does not collect annual data for HE students' total debt on graduation (including bank loans, overdrafts, credit cards, and informal debts to family and friends). The Student Income and Expenditure Survey (SIES), which collects this information is undertaken every three to four years. Findings from the last survey in 1998/99 showed that the average total anticipated debt of all full-time students graduating in 1998/99 was £3,462. The Department has conducted a SIES for the 2002/03 academic year which will be published shortly.

  Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets(a) his Department and (b) the Student Loans Company have for delivering loan payments; and what assessment he has made of whether these targets have been met. [138669]

  Alan Johnson
  We set performance targets for the Student Loans Company each year. The latest figures on performance against targets are for 2001–02. The 2001–02 targets for delivering mortgage style and income contingent loan payments to students were that the Company should pay 100 per cent. of loan payments within 17 days of receiving an actionable application form. For mortgage style loans, 99 per cent. payments were made within that timescale; for income contingent
  559W
  loans, 98.5 per cent. payments were made within the timescale. Figures showing performance against targets for 2002–03 will be available shortly.

  Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) new students and (b) continuing students received their loans within (i) two weeks, (ii) one to two months, (iii) two to three months and (iv) four to five months of sending their applications for academic year 2003–04. [138670]

  Alan Johnson
  The information is not available in the requested format. All students who applied by the published deadlines with the correct information have now been paid.

  Ann Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what provisions are in place to support students awaiting loan payments. [138671]

  Alan Johnson
  The Hardship/Access to Learning Fund is made available to institutions with HE students to provide discretionary financial help for both full and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students can receive an emergency short-term loan from the Fund, where their first loan payment has been delayed beyond the start of term.

  Sure Start
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to extend Sure Start's Business Success for Childcare programme to more areas of England, with particular reference to Bassetlaw. [138213]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Business Success for Childcare Programme delivers free business support training to childcare providers through a series of workshops supported by workbooks.

  There are no workshops currently scheduled in the Bassetlaw area. However, 16 workshops have taken place or are due to take place nearby in Mansfield and Nottingham. In addition, the training materials developed for the Programme can be easily accessed via our website www.surestart.gov.uk/support4business.

  Sustainable Development
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that the Department's bid to the forthcoming Government Spending Round contributes toward the UK's objectives on sustainable development. [138689]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The Department for Education and Skills has direct responsibility for one of Government's key sustainable development priorities, and influences seven others, set out in the UK Strategy for Sustainable Development. I launched the Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills on 23 September 2003. This plan commits this department to work with our partner organisations and other Government departments to ensure that sustainable development is an integral part of education and skills development of this country and its economy. We are working with HM Treasury in the context of the 2004 Spending Review to ensure that sustainable development remains at the heart of the development and renewal of the strategic priorities for this department. We are 560W
  working closely with colleagues in Defra to ensure the impact of our policies can be measured through the new sustainable development indicators currently being developed as part of the review of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy.

  Teacher Recruitment
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on the fast track teacher recruitment scheme in each year since the scheme's inception, broken down by category of activity. [138534]

  Mr. Miliband
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 8 September 2003,Official Report, column 144W.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department spent on measures to aid teacher recruitment in each year since 1997–98, broken down by programme. [138535]

  Mr. Miliband
  Many of the Government's policies in education and other areas have contributed to the 25,000 more teachers employed in England since 1997 and the record numbers of trainees now beginning courses of initial teacher training.

  Most dedicated programmes intended to increase the numbers of new recruits to teaching in England are administered on the Government's behalf by the Teacher Training Agency. Details of expenditure on these for years up to and including 2002–03 are contained in the Agency's audited accounts, which have been placed in the Library.

  Teachers (Qualifications)
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what subject qualifications a teacher requires to teach(a) mathematics, (b) English and (c) science at (i) Key Stage I, (ii) Key Stage II, (iii) Key Stage III, (iv) Key Stage IV and (v) AS/A2 level. [138533]

  Mr. Miliband
  The deployment of teachers and other school staff is a matter for the professional judgment of headteachers.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many lessons in(a) mathematics, (b) science and (c) English were identified in the 2003 Curriculum and Staffing Survey as being taught by teachers without a subject-specific qualification in the subject being taught. [138536]

  Mr. Miliband
  In the November 2002 Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey, 13 per cent. of mathematics; 8 per cent. of combined/general science; and 11 per cent. of English periods were taught to year groups 7 to 13 by full time teachers without a post A-level qualification in the subject being taught. The data underpinning these percentages are still undergoing thorough validation. Estimates of the total number of periods taught by full time teachers to year groups 7 to 13 by subject will be published in the statistical volume "School Workforce in England (2003 edition)".
  561W
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken to ensure that teachers without formal qualifications in(a) mathematics, (b) science and (c) English receive professional development to teach these subjects. [138537]

  Mr. Miliband
  Through the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies, the Government are already offering comprehensive support and training for the teaching of English and maths in primary schools. The Key Stage 3 Strategy provides similar support for subject knowledge and professional development for teachers teaching English, maths and science in secondary schools.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of additional(a) mathematics, (b) science and (c) English teachers that would need to be recruited if all lessons at Key Stage III and Key Stage IV were to be taught by teachers with a formal qualification in the appropriate subject.[138538]

  Mr. Miliband
  My right hon. Friend has made no such estimate. However, the financial incentives and new routes to Qualified Teacher Status that the Government has created are bringing specialists in these subjects into teaching in record numbers. Figures published by the Teacher Training Agency on 10 November showed that, in the last five years, the number of recruits to conventional undergraduate and postgraduate courses of initial teacher training and the employment-based Graduate Teacher Programme has risen in mathematics by 91 per cent, in English by 33 per cent, and in science by 40 per cent. In these subjects alone, there have been almost 2,700 more recruits to training so far this year than in 1998–99.

  In addition to these huge gains, the widely welcomed remodelling of the school workforce that the Government and its partners are tak'ng forward will enable all subject specialists to use their knowledge to the maximum benefit of learners in the classroom.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many newly qualified teachers who registered on the database of teacher records in each of the last three years for which figures are available had degrees in psychology. [138539]

  Mr. Miliband
  The table shows the number of teachers who qualified in England in each of the calendar years shown with psychology as a subject of their first degree.

  Calendar year

  Psychology as a subject of first degree1

  2000

  720

  2001

  850

  20022

  870

  1Includes those with psychology as either a first or second subject of first degree, excluding those whose first degree is their initial teacher training degree.

  2 Data for 2002 are provisional. The number of completers in this year may be undercounted.

  Source

  Database of Teacher Records

  Top-up Fees
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he(a) has taken and
  562W
  (b) proposes to take to meet concerns expressed by hon. Members about the proposed implementation of variable top-up fees. [137555]

  Alan Johnson
  We published our response to the Education and Skills Select Committee's report on the Higher Education White Paper on 28 July. We also published on that date our response to the consultation on the Higher Education White Paper. In addition, I have had a number of meetings with hon. Members about our higher education policy, and will continue to do so.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements will apply if top-up fees are introduced for the allocation of resources for student bursaries in situations where two or more higher education institutions make joint arrangements to facilitate access to their courses. [137878]

  Alan Johnson
  Universities will be able to make joint arrangements for bursaries–we already encourage collaboration between institutions in order to widen participation through programmes such as Aimhigher.

  Tuition Fees
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has collated on the impact of variable fees on social access to university medical places in(a) the United States, (b) Canada and (c) Australia. [137213]

  Alan Johnson
  We are aware of research on the impact of variable fees on social access to a range of university courses in Australia and Canada. I have placed copies of a number of pieces of research in the House Library.

  With regard to access to medical places in this country under the proposed variable fees system, we do not anticipate that there will be any significant effect on applications to medical courses. Applications to medical schools in the UK have gone up since 1988, as have the total number of students studying medical courses. However, Department of Health Ministers have made it clear that they will, if necessary, take measures to ensure that any increase in the level of tuition fees will not have an adverse impact on the supply, retention, diversity or quality of students undertaking medical training.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates his Department has made of the demand for places on medical courses if students are charged the maximum tuition fee per year. [137215]

  Alan Johnson
  We do not anticipate any significant impact on demand for medical courses after the introduction of variable fees. The Department of Health will, however, be monitoring demand for, and take-up of, medical courses. Department of Health Ministers have made it clear that they will, if necessary, take measures to ensure that any increase in the level of tuition fees will not have an adverse impact on the supply, retention, diversity or quality of students on health professional courses, including medicine.

  Since the introduction of tuition fees in 1998, demand for places on medical courses has continued to outstrip significantly the number of places, despite an increase in

  563W
  the number of places available. Between 1999 and 2001, plans for some 2,250 more medical school places in the UK were announced. As a result of the extra investment, the number of students entering medical school will increase to over 7,300 in 2005. The number of UK applicants to study medicine at UK universities is also at its highest since 1986 (the earliest year for which data are available).

  As I said on 6 November in response to an earlier question from my hon. Friend, I have placed in the House Library copies of a number of pieces of international research on the impact on social access to a range of university courses.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the responses to the Higher Education White Paper(a) were supportive (b) had reservations about and (c) were opposed to variable fees. [137299]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the Government's response to the consultation on the Higher Education White Paper that was placed on the website of the Department for Education and Skills on 28 July 2003. An electronic copy of all the responses was also placed in the House Library.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place in the Library copies of the evidence collated from overseas on the impact of variable tuition fees on social access to medical courses. [137570]

  Alan Johnson
  I have placed in the House Library copies of a number of documents containing evidence from Canada and Australia on the impact of variable fees on social access to a range of university courses.

  I will also place in the House Library a copy of a piece of research from New Zealand which also contains evidence on this matter.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the cost to a student of financing up-front payment of a £3,000 student tuition fee over the anticipated period of repayment. [138532]

  Alan Johnson
  The Government has proposed that students who choose to defer payment of their tuition fees until after they have graduated will repay their fee loans at zero real rate of interest. A graduate will, therefore, repay the same amount, in real terms, as he or she borrowed initially.

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of tuition fees he intends that each university should pay out in bursaries to students from low-income families; and what definition of a low-income family he will use for this purpose. [138716]

  Alan Johnson
  We are considering and discussing the contents of access agreements and the duties of the Office for Fair Access, and will make a statement in due course.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 12 November 2003,Official Report, columns 354–5W, on tuition fees, if he will give the column reference and
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  name of the honourable Member who put the question he answered on 6 November in respect of international research on social access and higher education. [139408]

  Alan Johnson
  The answer to question 137214 was intended to refer to question number 137213, tabled by the hon. Member himself for answer on 6 November. Due to an administrative error PQ 137213 had not been answered by the time the reply to 137214 was tabled. The information referred to has been placed in the Libraries.

  University Applicants
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what options he has examined for assessing(a) the standard of university applicants and (b) their suitability for different types of university courses; [137676]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the use of psychometric testing in the university admissions procedure. [137677]

  Alan Johnson
  Admissions are a matter for universities. Professor Steven Schwartz, Vice Chancellor of Brunel University is currently leading an independent review of the options which English institutions should consider in assessing the merits of applicants for their courses. His review will help universities to draw on best practice and the latest research. We expect that the review will provide a statement of high level principles that we hope all universities will adopt.

  University Courses (Vacancies)
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many places on courses offered by universities were not filled in each academic year since 1997, broken down by course; [133069]

  (2) when he will reply to the question of 15 October from the hon. Member for Hertsmere, ref 133069. [136717]

  Alan Johnson
  Information on the number of unfilled places on courses offered by universities is not collected centrally.

  University Entrants
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) expressed as a percentage of the total student body in(a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001, what percentage of (i) student entrants and (ii) student drop-outs came from each socio-economic class; [135781]

  (2) what percentage of new student entrants to Russell Group universities came from each socio-economic class in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001; and what the figures were of all universities in those years. [135782]

  Alan Johnson
  Information for years prior to 1994 is not available centrally. The available information covers UK domiciled accepted applicant numbers to full time and sandwich first degrees through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to Russell Group institutions and all UK institutions. Figures are shown in the table.
  565W
  The available information on non-completion rates by institution is contained in the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) publication "Performance indicators in higher education in the UK", a copy of which is in the House Library. The figures cover full-time first degree courses only, and show, for each individual HE institution in the UK, the proportion of entrants who failed to complete their course, but these data are not disaggregated by social class.

  Percentage1 of UK domiciled accepted applicants through UCAS to full time and sandwich first degree and HND courses

  Russell Group

  All UK institutions

  Social class

  1994

  1997

  2001

  1994

  1997

  2001

  I—Professional

  24.7

  24.9

  24.2

  16.2

  14.8

  14.4

  II—Intermediate

  46.7

  47.9

  47.7

  43.6

  43.7

  43.7

  IIIn—Skilled non-manual

  10.8

  10.8

  11.1

  12.8

  13.9

  14.0

  IIIm—Skilled manual

  11.5

  10.3

  11.2

  17.4

  16.7

  17.5

  IV—Partly skilled

  5.2

  5.2

  4.8

  8.0

  8.8

  8.4

  V—Unskilled

  1.1

  0.9

  1.0

  2.0

  2.1

  2.0

  Total

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  100.0

  1Of those of known social class.

  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of reaching the target of 50 per cent. of 18 to 30-year-olds entering university by 2010. [137204]

  Alan Johnson
  The funding for higher education up to 2005–06 was set out in the White Paper 'The Future of higher education' (Cmd 5735), and in the annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Assessments of the costs for increasing and widening participation beyond 2005–06 will be made as part of the 2004 Spending Review.

  Vocational Education
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the importance placed on the promotion of vocational education within the schools system.[137545]

  Mr. Miliband
  We attach great importance to vocational education in schools and are taking many steps to promote it as a first class option for all pupils. Not only have we made available eight GCSEs in vocational subjects, and backed them up with the £120 million 'Increased Flexibility for 14–16 Year Olds' programme, but we are also developing more GCSEs in vocational subjects and work-related learning will become a statutory requirement for all in 2004.

  In the longer term, we will be considering the recommendations of the 14–19 Working Group as to how we can strengthen vocational programmes for young people.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136845]
  566W
  Mr. Charles Clarke
  The information requested is not held by my Department in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  My Department is committed to providing its employees with a safe and healthy working environment. It is also committed to meeting the targets for reducing work related injuries and illnesses arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative. This includes ensuring that work practices are safe and that effective occupational health policies and good health management practices are developed.

  My Department has procedures in place to reduce stress related absences which include:
  Training events on stress management available to all staff;
  An interactive on-line package to help with recognition and prevention of stress;
  An employee assistance service which includes an advice and counselling service; and
  An occupational health service that provides practical advice on occupational health issues.

  No compensation has been paid to employees specifically for work related stress in any of the last three years.

  Youth Workers
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth workers were employed in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04, broken down by local education authority. [136967]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 6 November 2003]This information is not yet available, although the figures for 2002–03 should be available within the next two months. I will of course write to my hon. Friend setting out the figures for both 2002–03 and 2003–04 as soon as I have them and I will place a copy in the House Library.

HEALTH

  Disabled People (Sexual Relationships)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programmes(a) there are and (b) he intends to introduce to enable more disabled people to have fulfilled sexual relationships. [137909]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Primary care trusts (PCTs) have been given the flexibility to provide services to best meet local needs, and we would expect this to include appropriate sexual health services for disabled people where such a need exists. To support PCTs in this role, the Department has published best practice information on commissioning sexual health services, which emphasises the need to provide services which are accessible and equitable, including advice on sexual health promotion for disabled people. The Department is also supporting, through a Section 64 grant, the Family Planning Association's project to provide training, advice and support in sexual health to people working with, and caring for, adults with learning disabilities.

  Genetically Modified Food
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what techniques are available for identifying unintended changes in GM foods at the molecular level; and what research he has published on this subject; [136235]

  (2) how unintended changes in GM foods approved in Europe are evaluated; and what research he has commissioned on this subject. [136238]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Each genetically modified (GM) food approved to date in Europe has been assessed on a case by case basis. A comparison is made between the GM food and its non-GM counterpart and the assessment focuses on any differences between the two. This includes a detailed analysis of the inserted gene and the protein produced, and any differences observed in the overall composition of the food.

  There are a number of techniques, which could potentially be used for identifying unintended effects in GM foods at the molecular level. These include two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis, protein microarrays, nuclear magnetic resonance and gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

  The Food Standards Agency funds two research programmes, which underpin the safety assessment of GM foods. One of the programmes is exploring the potential use of the above techniques for detecting unintended changes at the molecular level. The programme started in September 2001 and will finish in 2004.

  NHS Dentistry
  Mr. Etherington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals resident in the City of Sunderland were registered with an NHS dental practitioner in each year since 2000; and how many NHS dental practitioners were practising in the Sunderland PCT area in each year. [136518]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Table 1 shows the number of registrations in the general dental service (CDS) for dentists located in the Sunderland area between 2000 and 2003, at 31 August each year.

  Thousand1

  Registrations1

  Adults

  Children

  Total

  2000

  105.0

  43.7

  148.7

  2001

  106.9

  42.6

  149.4

  2002

  110.0

  42.3

  152.3

  20032

  110.9

  41.6

  152.6

  1Some of these registrations will include patients resident in other areas. Patients resident in the Sunderland area who attend dentists outside the area are excluded from the figures.

  2Number of registrations for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, following the move from Health Authority to PCT in October 2002.

  Source

  Dental Practice Board

  Table 2 shows the number of CDS dentists working in the Sunderland area between 2000 and 2003, at 30 June each year.
  568W

  GDS Dentists

  Principals

  Assistants

  Vocational dental practitioners

  Total dentists

  20002

  74

  1

  7

  82

  20012

  77

  1

  7

  85

  20022

  85

  2

  7

  94

  20031.2

  84

  3

  9

  96

  1Number of CDS dentists for Sunderland Teaching PCT,following the move from Health Authority to PCT in October 2002.

  2These figures cover dentists whose main work is in the area and will include some dentists whose main work is elsewhere.

  Source

  Dental Practice Board

  Accident and Emergency Services
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for patients in accident and emergency departments in each of the hospitals in(a) the Havering, Barking and Redbridge national health service trust and (b) Romford in the last year for which figures are available. [137319]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the total time patients spend in accident and emergency departments from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge is collected each quarter from national health service trusts and is routinely published on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.

  Copies of the information for England and for each national health service trust and strategic health authority for the last year have been placed in the Library.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time in accident and emergency departments has been in each of the past 12 months, broken down by strategic health authority. [135417]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information is not collected on the average waiting time in accident and emergency departments. Information on the total time patients spend in accident and emergency departments from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge is collected each quarter from national health service trusts and is routinely published on the Department of Health website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/. Copies of the information for England and for each national health service trust and strategic health authority have been placed in the Library.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients admitted to accident and emergency in Worthing hospital in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003 waited for more than (i) 12 and (ii) four hours before being treated or transferred to a ward.[134776]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on accident and emergency is not collected centrally at individual hospital level, or on the time patients wait for treatment. However, the table shows the number of patients who waited more than four hours for a bed in a ward following a decision to admit at Worthing and Southlands Hospitals National Health Service Trust. Information for patients waiting more than 12 hours is not available.
  569W

  Admission from accident and emergency departments, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust

  Year/Quarter

  Number of patients admitted through A&E

  Patients not placed in bed in a ward within four hours of a decision to admit

  2001–02

  1

  2,431

  122

  2

  2,432

  584

  3

  2,549

  204

  4

  2,828

  198

  2002–03

  1

  2,809

  140

  2

  2,854

  228

  3

  3,196

  256

  4

  3,052

  275

  2003–04

  1

  2,737

  137

  Source

  Department of Health dataset QMAE/QMNG.

  Alcohol
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require health warnings to be displayed on alcoholic drinks; and if he will make a statement. [137771]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  This issue will be examined as part of the work on the development of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England, which is currently being undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit. The strategy is due to implemented from 2004, in line with the commitment given in the NHS Plan.

  Alcohol-related Violence
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating the victims of alcohol-related violence in town and city centres. [136360]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The most recent estimates of costs to the national health service arising from alcohol-related illness and disease was undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and published in their Interim Analytical Report on 19 September 2003. This document reported the annual cost of alcohol-related attendances at accident and emergency (A and E) units and alcohol-related ambulance journeys in England at around £0.5 billion per year. This estimate covers all alcohol-related attendances at A and E and ambulance journeys, and does not break the costs down by reason for attendance. However a proportion of these costs will be attributable to alcohol-related violence in town centres.

  Alternative Medicine
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS trusts which provide(a) alternative and (b) complementary medicine. [138105]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Details of which national health service organisations provide access to complementary or alternative medicines are not recorded centrally.
  570W
  However, a survey of general practices in England, conducted in 2001 for the Department by the Medical Care Research Unit, University of Sheffield, found that almost half the practices offered patients some access to complementary or alternative medicines. The therapies most frequently provided were acupuncture and homeopathy.

  Source

  Family Practice, Vol. 20, No. 5, Oxford University Press 2003.

  Ambulance Control Centre (Merseyside)
  Mr. Benton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the change in the number of emergency calls received by Merseyside Ambulance Control Centre was in each year since 1993; what the change in staffing levels at Merseyside Ambulance Control Centre was in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [137845]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 12 November 2003]The information is not available in the requested format. The Merseyside Ambulance Control Centre has updated its call routing system in October this year. As a result, only data from 1993 and 2003 is available. The figures for 1993 are available because the control centre documented data in 1993 in order to carry out a ten year comparison in 2003. In 1993–94, the control centre received 368,800 emergency calls. In 2002–03, the figure was 468,700.

  The staffing levels at the Merseyside Ambulance Control Centre are shown in the table.

  Percentage of staff

  1998–99

  57.78

  1999–2000

  57.78

  2000–01

  57.78

  2001–02

  66.79

  2002–03

  66.79

  Currently

  68.79

  Ambulances
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average response time of ambulances to 999 calls in the London borough of Havering was in the last year for which figures are available. [137321]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on response times is collected on a national health service trust basis. A copy is available in the Library and at http:// www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0313.pdf.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time an ambulance took to reach hospital was for the last 12 months that figures are available in(a) England, (b) the north west region, (c) Merseyside and (d) St. Helens. [138004]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Details of ambulance performance are contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England 2002–03". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/ sb0313.htm.
  571W
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance call-outs were made in the last 12 months for which figures are available in(a) the St. Helens trust area, (b) Merseyside and (c) England. [138005]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information about the number of emergency calls received by national health service ambulance trusts, including Mersey Regional Ambulance Service, is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England 2002–03". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0313.htm.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of ambulance call outs in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available have taken more than(a) 15, (b) 30 and (c) 50 minutes to respond to category A emergency calls in (i) the St. Helens and Knowsley Trust area, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) England. [138008]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Details of ambulance performance are contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England 2002–03". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/ sb0313.htm.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken by his Department to respond to the concerns of the Commission for Health Improvement in relation to(a) ambulance response times being manipulated, (b) wide variations in the categorisation of calls, (c) poor management practice in ambulance trusts and (d) the need for appropriate outcome measures for the ambulance service. [138059]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department of Health and the ambulance service recognise that response times can sometimes be recorded inconsistently. We are determined to resolve this and have already begun to hold constructive discussions with the service and other key stakeholders about how to tighten up and standardise procedures.

  We will not tolerate any deliberate mis-reporting of data and have made it very clear that serious consequences will follow any individual or trusts that seek to manipulate their performance data.

  Response time will always be an important measure of the service to patients and there is no immediate prospect of moving away from the eight minute standard. The standard has clinical origins—it is based on the optimum time limit for intervention in heart attack cases. But there are other signifiers of progress and other measures of success, and we intend to explore the possibilities of supplementing response times with other standards, including those directly related to clinical outcomes.

  We are working closely with the Modernisation Agency and key stakeholders concerning management practices raised within this report.

  Appliance Contractors
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he will take to protect patient access to a full range of products after the deregulation of the appliance contractor market; [137358]

  (2) what arrangements he is putting in place for the production of bespoke products after the deregulation of the appliance contractor market; [137359]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the savings that the national health service will make under the deregulation of the appliance contractor market; [137360]

  (4) if he will make a statement about his proposals to deregulate the appliance agency market.[137362]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We are currently consulting on a range of measures to modernise the regulatory system which governs whether or not a community pharmacy or appliance contractor can dispense national health service prescriptions, known as the "control of entry" test. As well as maintaining and improving access to pharmaceutical services, including the supply of appliances, in all our communities and continuing to raise standards for patients, the aim is to make the system more business friendly, to provide more certainty and reliability for the companies who depend on it and to make the process less time-consuming.

  The measures include a proposal to exempt from that test applications from contractors who intend to provide a wholly mail order or internet based service by implementing the provisions of Section 43 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 relating to the remote provision of NHS pharmaceutical services. This exemption would be subject to the range of services such contractors are to provide being agreed within the proposed new national contractual framework.

  Full details are given in Chapter 4 of the consultation document, "Proposals to reform and modernise the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992", published on 29 August 2003 and available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk./pharmacy regulationconsultation. It also includes at Annex C a draft regulatory impact assessment and competition assessment setting out further details of the possible costs and benefits of the proposals.

  Comments can be sent, by 21 November 2003, to Peter Dunlevy, Pharmacy and Prescriptions Branch, Department of Health, Room 155 Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS or e-mail to peter.dunlevy@doh.gsi.gov.uk

  We have also set up a multi-disciplinary advisory group to advise on the details of implementation of the reform proposals. We have asked the group to report by December this year.

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Chris McCafferty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department is able to trace the sources of(a) mesothelioma and (b) other asbestos-related diseases through its records. [137383]

  Mr. Browne
  I have been asked to reply.
  573W
  The information held by the Department and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases is not sufficiently detailed to trace accurately the specific sources of such diseases.

  HSE maintains mesothelioma and asbestosis registers based on information from death certificates but then give only the last known occupation. They also hold information on the medical examinations of asbestos removal workers to assess if in the longer term they are more likely to contract an asbestos-related disease than other occupational groups.

  Claimants for mesothelioma under the Department's Industrial Injuries Benefit scheme provide details of employers where they claim they were exposed to asbestos. But this is a no-fault scheme that does not attribute the cause to a specific employer.

  Asperger's Syndrome
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of health provision for people with Asperger's syndrome. [136954]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 6 November 2003]No assessment has been made of the adequacy of health provision for people with Asperger's syndrome. It is the responsibility of local statutory authorities to determine the pattern of services in their area in the light of their knowledge of local needs and priorities. People with Asperger's syndrome have the same right of access to health services as everyone else. Adults with Asperger's syndrome are covered by the mental health national service framework in respect of any mental health problems that they may have. We have also issued guidance to the national health service, which states that:"adults with Asperger's syndrome are not precluded from using learning disability services, where appropriate, and may require an assessment of their social functioning and communications skills in order to determine their level of need".

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether(a) his Department and (b) the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has issued guidance to trusts and doctors on whether Asperger's syndrome should be considered a mental disorder in relation to the Mental Health Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [138833]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder on the autistic spectrum and as such comes under the definition of mental disorder in the Mental Health Act 1983. Although the Mental Health (Patients in the Community) Act 1995 amended the 1983 Act, it did not change the definition of mental disorder. Guidance on the operation of the Mental Health Act 1983 (the Code of Practice ISBN 0–11–322111–8) was produced by my Department and the then Welsh Office and published by the Stationery Office in 1999. It does not make specific mention of Asperger's syndrome.

  Audiology
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the(a) pay structure and (b) employment package for qualified audiologists; and if he will make a statement. [137854]

  Mr. Hutton
  "Agenda for Change", the new pay system for national health service employees, including healthcare scientists working in the discipline of audiology, has been negotiated over the past four years by NHS staff and NHS employer representatives working in partnership. From 2003–04 to 2005–06 the package will give a 10 per cent. pay increase to all staff, plus an estimated 5.9 per cent. on average from the reform package in the longer run.

  "Agenda for Change" is being tested in 12 'early implementer' sites with a view to implementing the new system nationally from October 2004.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many audiologists qualified in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [137857]

  (2) how many people are being trained as audiologists. [137859]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is not available centrally.

  The Health Professions Council (HPC) holds information on the numbers of clinical scientists in audiology on its register, a prerequisite for employment in the United Kingdom. This information can be found on the HPC website at http://www.hpc-uk.org/about us/ facts figures cpsm registrants.htm.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long it takes for an audiologist to become qualified. [137858]

  Mr. Hutton
  The length of time it takes to become a qualified audiologist depends upon an individual's entry qualifications and experience. The major education and training route into audiology, and associated with a defined scope of practice, will be the new four year BSc (Hons) vocational degree in audiology. Within this programme, there will be an opportunity for some non-audiology graduates to undertake a fast track two year education and training route leading to a graduate diploma.

  Good honours graduates in relevant science subjects can still enter into the national health service as clinical scientist audiology trainees. They spend a period of up to four years in postgraduate education and training (incorporating an MSc degree and clinical training) before becoming registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC) as a clinical scientist in the modality of audiology.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects digital hearing aids to be available to patients on the NHS in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland. [136464]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The James Cook University hospital, Middlesbrough, will be fitting digital hearing aids routinely as a part of a modernised hearing aid service by March 2004.

  Breast Feeding
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to encourage more hospitals in England to seek baby-friendly accreditation from UNICEF by promoting increased uptake of breast feeding. [135034]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 29 October 2003]The Department works closely with the UK Baby Friendly Initiative to help further the mutual aim of promoting increased uptake of breast feeding. It is for local national health service trusts to decide whether to seek baby-friendly accreditation from UNICEF.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that student(a) midwives and (b) health visitors receive adequate education on breast feeding as part of their preregistration training. [135043]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 29 October 2003]The regulatory Council for Nursing and Midwifery sets the standards and outline requirements for pre-registration nurse and midwifery education. Additional content may be included to reflect the employment needs of the local service providers. National health service trusts, as local service providers, will wish to ensure that their staff receive adequate education on breast feeding to enable them to deliver the targets in the Priorities and Planning Framework to increase breast feeding initiation rates. In the NHS Plan, the Government have made a commitment to provide increased support for breast feeding.

  Cancer
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will amend the Cancer Patient Information Strategy to ensure that information on(a) diagnosis and (b) treatment is available for all people affected by (i) breast cancer and (ii) cancer in general who want it. [137454]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The provision of a range of high quality, accurate, culturally sensitive and timely information materials about cancer and cancer services for patients and carers throughout the course of their illness is one of the key recommendations in the NHS Cancer Plan (September 2000). It is also in the draft National Institute for Clinical Excellence's supportive and palliative care guidance, due to be published in February 2004. These build on the Cancer Information Strategy, published in June 2000,

  Work to address this need is being taken forward by the coalition for cancer information (CCI). The CCI, which was formed in June 2002, brings together

  Headquarters

  East Midlands

  Eastern

  London

  North East

  North West

  Number of Inspectors on Establishment (wte)

  0.00

  113.25

  122.61

  133.76

  74.91

  204.01

  Headcount of Inspectors in Post

  0

  110

  128

  146

  75

  199

  Number of Inspectors in Post (wte)

  0.00

  103.31

  122.30

  136.46

  72.41

  191.10

  Vacancies

  0.00

  9.94

  0.31

  -2.70

  2.50

  12.91

  Percentage of Inspectors in post

  0.00

  91.22

  99.75

  102.02

  96.66

  93.67

  576W
  producers and consumers of cancer information, including Breast Cancer Care, CancerBACUP and Macmillan Cancer Relief. The role of the CCI is to oversee the development of high quality information materials for those affected by cancer. It is presently taking forward work on quality assurance and accreditation and it will also address issues concerning the development of information, dissemination and delivery to patients.

  Cannabis
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to accelerate the process to allow the prescription of medicinal cannabis. [138354]

  Dr. Ladyman
  A marketing authorisation has not yet been issued for cannabis for pain relief use. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will consider any application for a medicinal product containing cannabinoids for the treatment of spasticity and other symptoms related to multiple sclerosis.

  Like any other medicinal product, however, cannabis-based medicines can only be granted a marketing authorisation for medical purposes when supporting data have been submitted to demonstrate that the quality, safety and efficacy of the product are satisfactory for the intended use.

  Care Home Beds
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received from the National Care Standards Commission on the number of care home beds in(a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [138892]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) noted in their annual report, published in September 2003, that there were 426,600 care places in homes registered in England at 31 March 2003. This figure excludes some local authority homes which had not been registered and therefore is not comparable with data for previous years published by the Department of Health.

  Due to operational and technical problems with the NCSC database they have been unable to produce information for 2002.

  Care Home Inspection
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care home inspectors are employed; how many vacancies there are in each region for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [136868]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  577W

  South East

  South West

  West Midlands

  Yorkshire/Humberside

  PVH

  National

  Number of Inspectors on Establishment (wte)

  256.13

  195.99

  144.26

  132.86

  61.35

  1,439.1

  Headcount of Inspectors in Post

  261

  205

  150

  135

  66

  1,475

  Number of Inspectors in Post (wte)

  246.79

  189.39

  139.29

  129.41

  59.73

  1,390.1

  Vacancies

  9.34

  6.60

  4.97

  3.45

  1.62

  48.94

  Percentage of inspectors in post

  96.35

  96.63

  96.55

  97.40

  97.36

  96.60

  wte—whole-time equivalent

  British Lung Foundation
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has held with the British Lung Foundation; and if he will make a statement. [137773]

  Dr. Ladyman
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, will be meeting representatives of the British Lung Foundation in the near future.

  Care Homes
  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of converting residential rooms operated by the Leonard Cheshire Organisation at the Holehird home for the disabled in Windermere to comply with new national care standards. [137922]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The national minimum standards for care homes for adults 18 to 65 and those for care homes for older people were introduced in April 2002. It is not possible to estimate the cost for individual care homes of meeting the standards as this will vary from home to home depending on the individual circumstances of the home, including the type of resident cared for and the extent to which it already meets the necessary standards. It is for the National Care Standards Commission to inspect care homes to ensure they meet the assessed needs of their residents.

  Mr. Collins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the Holehird Leonard Cheshire home for the disabled in Windermere. [137924]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The decision to close Holehird is an operational one for the Leonard Cheshire Foundation. It is not generally appropriate for central government to intervene when a home closes.

  We appreciate how traumatic it can be for vulnerable people who have to be moved from residential care homes which have become their true homes. It is, therefore, important that any decision to close a home is taken as sensitively and appropriately as possible.

  Local councils have a responsibility for making satisfactory alternative arrangements for anyone that they place in a home which subsequently closes. There should be adequate time for the safe and satisfactory transfer of all residents to other suitable homes. This should be done in a way that takes into account the views of residents and their relatives and creates the minimum possible discomfort to all concerned.

  Cervical Cancer
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people participated in the limited implementation human papilloma virus pilot scheme in 578W
  (a) Newcastle, (b) North Bristol and (c) Norfolk and Norwich; and if he will make a statement on the scheme. [136880]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  A pilot study of liquid based cytology (LBC) and human papilloma viruses (HPV) testing as triage within the national health service cervical screening programme began in April 2001 at three sites. The independent evaluation report on the LBC arm of the pilot was sent to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in April 2003. On 22 October 2003, NICE published its appraisal of LBC and recommended that this new technology be introduced across the NHS. The independent evaluation of the HPV arm of pilot is due to report in spring 2004.

  Details of the number of people who participated in the pilot are shown in the table.

  Number of people participating

  Pilot site

  HPV

  LBC

  Norfolk and Norwich

  3,220

  61,684

  Bristol

  3,858

  81,155

  Newcastle

  5,109

  80,116

  Chiropody
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients recorded as first contacts for chiropody services during 2002–03(a) had a foot condition that was cured and (b) did not go on to receive foot care. [131565]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]This information is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies he has commissioned on access and eligibility criteria used by primary care trusts for NHS chiropody provision; and what the results were; [131566]

  (2) what steps are being taken to harmonise access and eligibility criteria for chiropody services across (a) primary care trusts and (b) regions; [131567]

  (3) what extent access and eligibility criteria for chiropody services operated by primary care trusts are based on (a) patient need and (b) funding requirement. [131568]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]We have not commissioned any such studies. Eligibility criteria are broadly the same everywhere and are essentially clinical though there may be detail differences from place to place. Access in individual cases may depend on a variety of factors including funding but predominantly acuteness of problem,
  579W
  medical risk or clinical need. It is for primary care trusts to determine the level of resources to devote to the treatment of different conditions in their localities.

  Continence Services
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts include the development of an integrated continence service in their health improvement programme. [137936]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We do not collect this information centrally. Health improvement programmes have now been replaced by local delivery plans (LDPs). Each national health service trust is now responsible for creating its own business plan, which shows how it will deploy its resources to deliver on both national and local priorities and fit within the plans of its primary care trust (PCT) commissioners. These local plans will not be analysed centrally.

  Strategic health authorities (SHAs) will bring together those PCT plans into a comprehensive LDP for their area. In general, the SHA-level local delivery plan will be the only plan the Department will formally sign-off. The LDP that is submitted to the Department addresses the Priorities in the Planning and Performance Framework (Improvement, expansion and reform: The next three years' priorities and planning framework, 2003–06). Formal monitoring only covers those priorities and will not provide detail of individual service provision like continence services.

  The national service framework for older people includes a milestone that, by April 2004, all local health and social care systems should have established an integrated continence service.

  CT Scans
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time was between diagnosis of a suspected haemorrhagic stroke and the administration of a CT scan in 2002–03. [137347]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally. The target in this area is to achieve a computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan in less than 48 hours. The summary report of the 2001–02 National Sentinel Stroke Audit reported that more patients than ever had brain imaging, with at least 83 per cent., meeting that target.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability to new patients of NHS dentistry in the Gosport constituency; and what the prescribed minimum level of availability is in England. [1355951

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]The Government are committed to ensure that national health service dentistry is available to all those who need and seek it. Those wishing to see a NHS dentist can do so by contacting NHS Direct for information on dentists offering NHS dental services in their areas. It is recognised that not all dentists on general dental service lists of primary care trusts (PCTs) are accepting new NHS registrations. We have set up a580W
  NHS Support Team to work with PCTs on dental access. We have also announced new funds totalling £44 million for 2003–04 and 2004–05 to support dental access, choice and quality.

  Subject to Parliament, the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will give new duties for PCTs to secure primary dental services. With these new responsibilities will go the £1.2 billion financial resources currently held centrally.

  On 1 August 2003, as part of the new arrangements for NHS dentistry, we set up the new special health authority in shadow form to support PCTs. A team from the special health authority and the NHS dentistry support team met with NHS officials for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight at the end of October to discuss the development of a dentistry action plan and the support team will be working closely with the NHS locally to take this forward.

  In the meantime, the Fareham and Gosport primary care trust is putting in place a range of measures to improve access to dental services in the area. This includes a dental access centre in Fareham designed to provide unregistered patients with access to NHS dentistry. This is supported by an incentive scheme which offers additional access to NHS dental care based in existing dental surgeries.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many dentists in north east Lincolnshire provide NHS dentistry for adults; and how many will take new NHS clients onto their rolls; [137695]

  (2) what proposals he has for improving access to NHS dentistry in north east Lincolnshire. [137696]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  44 general dental service (GDS) dentists were working in the North East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) area on 30 June 2003, all of whom provided national health service dentistry for adults.

  The www.nhs.uk website shows that no dentists are taking on new NHS patients in the North East Lincolnshire PCT area.

  Patients seeking to register with a dentist can access information on the dental practices taking on new NHS patients by contacting NHS Direct, their local PCT or by accessing the www.nhs.uk website. Registrations are being accepted in Stamford, Grantham and Lincoln.

  The Department has approved an application for funding one full time salaried dentist plus support staff, which has been submitted by North East Lincolnshire PCT.

  Following local discussion between the PCT and local dental practitioners, a proposal has been developed to establish an urgent "dental access service" based in Grimsby to serve north east Lincolnshire patients.

  Disciplinary Investigations
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidelines are in place to ensure that disciplinary investigations within NHS trusts are independent; [137371]
  581W
  (2) what scrutiny is undertaken to ensure that (a) disciplinary investigations within NHS trusts are independent and (b) investigatory panels make undisputed conclusions. [137372]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 November 2003]National health service trusts are free to employ staff under such terms as they see fit (section 16, NHS and Community Care Act 1990). Trusts are also responsible for the establishment of their own local disciplinary procedures for medical and dental staff. In the 1990s, many trusts developed new procedures often based on the procedures set out in circulars HC(90)9 and HSG(94)49.

  The Department has been working closely with the British Medical Association to develop a new national framework. Trusts will be required to ensure that their local procedures adhere to the principles and procedures set out in the framework.

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that, in contentious disciplinary cases, evidence submitted to an investigation is not(a) altered and (b) summarised. [137373]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 November 2003]All disciplinary issues are a matter for the employing national health service trust, which must ensure that their procedures comply with employment law. The Department is currently working with the British Medical Association to introduce a new national framework for hospital doctors and dentists. Serious cases should be referred to the General Medical Council or the General Dental Council.

  Distalgesic Tablets
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the decision was taken to place Distalgesic tablets on Schedule 10 to the NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992; and on what advice the decision was taken. [137097]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Distalgesic tablets were placed on Schedule 10 of the NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992, in April 1985. The listing was made on the recommendation of the then advisory committee on national health service drugs, an independent committee of pharmaceuticals and medical experts.

  East Kent Hospitals
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the payment to overcome exceptional circumstances referred to in his July announcement on the future of East Kent Hospitals and in his Minister of State's letter to the hon. Member for Canterbury is a grant or a loan. [130350]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 16 September 2003]Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority has been told by the NHS Bank to assume the one-off payment of £17 million in respect of East Kent Hospitals is recoverable from future primary care trust allocations after the current planning round.

  Elderly Medicine
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely demand for specialists in elderly medicine. [138155]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The NHS Plan provides for increases in national health service staffing, including 7,500 more consultants between 1999 and 2004. So far, an additional 1551 specialists in geriatric medicine and 841 in old age psychiatry have been appointed, in addition to a range of other specialties who provide services to older people. The NHS has developed local delivery plans for 2003 to 2006, which are based on local assessment of need for staff. These suggest annual increases of between 3 per cent. and 4 per cent. between now and 2006 in geriatric medicine (+ 20 to 30 whole-time equivalent) and between 3 per cent. and 4 per cent. between now and 2006 in old age psychiatry (+ 10 to 20 whole-time equivalent).

  1Whole-time equivalent consultants.

  2Whole-time equivalent consultants.

  Sources

  1Medical and Non Medical census: 30 September 1999 and 30 June 2003.

  2 NHS local delivery plans.

  Emergency Care Strategy Unit
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the(a) priorities and (b) work programme of the Emergency Care Strategy Unit. [138073]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The emergency care strategy team within the Department of Health is responsible for managing and developing government policy relating to emergency care. The scope of this work includes accident and emergency ambulance services and critical care, with priorities to reflect NHS Plan targets.

  Further information can be found on the emergency care pages on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/emergencycare.

  Emergency Services
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many times in each of the last 12 months an ambulance has taken over(a) 15 minutes, (b) 30 minutes, (c) 60 minutes and (d) 90 minutes to respond to category B emergency calls in East Sussex; and if he will make a statement; [136044]

  (2) what percentage of emergency calls from GPs surgeries were answered within 15 minutes in East Sussex in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; [136045]

  (3) what percentage of emergency calls were answered within 19 minutes in East Sussex in each of the last 12 months, broken down by category; and if he will make a statement. [137191]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department does not collect this information by general practitioner surgeries. Information is collected on National Health Service trust basis. A copy is available in the Library and at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sbQ313.pdf.

  Eye Tests
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pensioners in the Haltemprice and Howden constituency received free eye tests in the last two years for which figures are available. [135924]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The table shows the number of National Health Service sight tests paid for in East Riding and Hull Health Authority for 2001–02 and 2002–03. Figures for the number of sight tests by constituency or age are not collected centrally. The table shows the number of sight tests where "patient aged 60 and over" was given as the eligibility category and all sight tests.

  Eligibility to NHS sight tests was extended to those aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999.

  General Ophthalmic Services: Number of sight tests paid in East Riding and Hull HA for the years 2001–02 and 2002–03

  Thousand

  Total sight test for patients aged 60 and over

  All sight tests

  2001–02

  44.6

  111.0

  2002–03

  41.3

  108.0

  Note

  Data on eligibility category is derived from a 2 per cent. sample.

  Fatal Operations
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died during operations in the hospitals in the London borough of Havering in 2002. [137322]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Flu Vaccine
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the take-up rates for flu vaccine were at(a) 1 November and (b) 1 December 2002 for each health authority. [138158]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Influenza vaccine uptake rates in those aged 65 years and above for 1 November and 1 December 2002 by strategic health authority are shown in the following table.

  Percentage uptake

  Strategic health authority

  November 2002

  December 2002

  Birmingham and Black Country

  50.8

  60.6

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  57.1

  68.2

  West Midlands South Health Authority

  57.2

  67.2

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland

  55.0

  65.8

  Trent

  58.7

  68.6

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  53.9

  64.3

  Essex

  54

  64.7

  Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire

  58.3

  68.1

  South Yorkshire

  57.7

  67.3

  West Yorkshire

  57.6

  66.8

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

  60.1

  69.8

  Northumberland Tyne and Wear

  58.7

  67.9

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  55.5

  66.0

  Greater Manchester

  53.8

  63.5

  Cumbria and Lancashire

  53.8

  67.0

  Cheshire and Merseyside

  57.9

  67.5

  North East London

  53.4

  61.5

  584W

  Percentage uptake

  Strategic health authority

  November 2002

  December 2002

  North Central London

  45.2

  56.6

  South East London

  46.2

  54.1

  South West London

  50.5

  61.8

  North West London

  47.4

  56.6

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  55.5

  68.4

  Thames Valley

  54.9

  68.3

  Surrey and Sussex

  55.4

  66.3

  Kent and Medway

  55.6

  65.4

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

  54.4

  67.3

  South West Peninsula

  54.8

  64.1

  Dorset and Somerset

  56.5

  68.5

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged 65 years or over have been immunised against influenza in(a) South Tyneside, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since 1997. [133215]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Monitoring of influenza vaccinations given to those aged 65 and over started in 2000. The number of people receiving flu vaccine since 2000 are shown in the table.

  Health Authority/Primary Care Trust

  Number of people immunised

  2000–01

  Gateshead and South Tyneside1

  42,093

  Tyne and Wear2

  128,644

  North East3

  157,190

  England4

  4,965,370

  2001–02

  Gateshead and South Tyneside1

  43,082

  Tyne and Wear2

  124,226

  North East3

  162,909

  England4

  5,113,036

  2002–03

  South Tyneside

  19,480

  Tyne and Wear3

  128,521

  Northumberland Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority4

  167,742

  England5

  5,487,645

  1Data recorded by Health Authority only until 2002, when they became primary care trusts (PCTs). Gateshead and South Tyneside were one health authority (HA) in 2000–01 and 2001–02.

  2Tyne and Wear not recorded as a HA or PCT. We have therefore used current strategic health authority (SHA)/PCT data to record Tyne and Wear as the following Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland Teaching PCT.

  3 North East data based on current SHA/PCT breakdown (see next point).

  4 PCTs covered by Northumberland Tyne and Wear SHA are Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland Teaching PCT and Northumberland. We have therefore used the same PCTs to provide the North East figure for 2000–01 and 2001–02.

  5 Devolved territories record their own information on flu uptake.

  Food Manufacturers
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from manufacturers of foods for particular nutritional uses. [136892]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Food Standards Agency officials have met recently with various stakeholders to discuss issues affecting foods for particular nutritional uses. Topics discussed include the draft European Regulation on health and nutrition claims, the proposed European Directive on 'sports foods' and gluten-free foods.
  585W
  Manufacturers of foods for particular nutritional uses have concerns about the potential impact of the proposed regulation on health and nutrition claims on the labelling of these foods.

  Food Supplements
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Food Standards Agency will meet representatives of(a) the Health Food Manufacturers Association, (b) the Institute for Optimum Nutrition and (c) other stakeholder organisations to discuss ways of improving the evidence base for the assessment of nutrient safety. [136610]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Food Standards Agency has been in regular dialogue with stakeholders. This has included meeting manufacturers' associations and other stakeholders to advise on the requirements for submission of dossiers on nutrient sources to European Food Safety Authority, and advising, where requested, on the types of research needed to fill data gaps on the safety of individual vitamins and minerals.

  Foundation Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require chief executives of putative NHS foundation hospital trusts to publish details of their consultations with the public on the proposal for foundation hospitals together with an assessment of the results. [138521]

  Mr. Hutton
  Before authorising a national health service foundation trust, the Independent Regulator must be satisfied that consultation has taken place and has been satisfactory. Documentation submitted to the Independent Regulator by applicants must therefore show evidence of consultation with key stakeholders. This document will be public.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with putative NHS foundation trusts concerning the means whereby the token sum required for people to become members might be collected. [138557]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill was amended in House of Lords Committee to remove the requirement on prospective members of national health service foundation trusts to commit to paying a sum of up to a pound.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether doctors who have been struck off the medical register are eligible for election to the board of governors of a foundation trust. [138558]

  Mr. Hutton
  Subject to Parliament, the legislation on national health service foundation trusts will allow a NHS foundation trust's constitution to make further provision as to the circumstances in which a person may not become or continue as a member of the Board of Governors. It will be up to each NHS foundation trust to decide whether to include in their constitution a provision that doctors who have been struck off the medical register are not eligible to sit on the Board of Governors.
  586W
  If a NHS foundation trust's constitution did not include any such provision, then a doctor who had been struck off the medical register would be eligible to sit on the Board of Governors if elected by any of the public, patient or staff constituencies, provided that they were otherwise eligible to stand.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 4 November 2003,Official Report, column 585W, on foundation hospitals, if he will place in the Library copies of the material produced by putative NHS foundation hospital trusts which seek public support for such status. [137591]

  Mr. Hutton
  Copies of the documents requested will be placed in the Library shortly.

  Guidance Updates (NICE)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was in each of the last three years of sending guidance updates from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to(a) all hon. Member and (b) Members of the National Assembly for Wales. [136601]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The average cost per mailing for both right hon. and hon. Members and Welsh Assembly Members is £500.

  GP Waiting Times
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for an appointment with a general practitioner was in the London borough of Havering in 2002–03.[137325]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the time each patient waits to see a general practitioner is not collected. However, data on the availability of appointments show that in March 2003, 90 per cent. of the population of Havering Primary Care Trust were able to be offered an appointment with a general practitioner within two working days.

  GPs
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were registered with GP practices in Taunton in each year since 1997. [137230]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on the number of patients registered with general practitioner practices in Taunton since 1997 is shown in the tables.

  Patients of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 in Somerset HA; 1997–2001

  Numbers (headcount)

  Somerset HA

  1997

  491,210

  1998

  491,104

  1999

  493,256

  2000

  502,039

  2001

  462,530

  Notes

  UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

  Data as at 1 October 1997–99 and 30 September 2000–01

  Source

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services
  Statistics
  587W

  Patients of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 in Taunton HA; 1999–2002

  Numbers (headcount)

  Taunton and Area PCG

  Taunton Deane PCT

  4XM98

  5K2

  1999

  140,852

  —

  2000

  144,049

  —

  2001

  137,774

  —

  2002

  —

  105,406

  Notes:

  UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

  Data as at 1 October 1999 and 30 September 2000–02

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Patients of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)1 in Taunton; 1999–2002

  Numbers (headcount)

  Taunton and Area PCG

  Taunton Deane PCT

  4XM98

  5K2

  1999

  140,852

  —

  2000

  144,049

  —

  2001

  137,774

  —

  2002

  —

  105,406

  Notes:

  UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

  Data as at 1 October 1997–99 and 30 September 2000–01

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) nurses, (b) non-medical, non-nursing care workers and (c) administrative staff were employed in general practitioner practices in Taunton in each year since 1997. [137380]

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

  Practice staff1 by type 1997 to 2001 for Somerset health authority

  Whole-time equivalent

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Practice Staff1

  604

  616

  583

  601

  629

  Of which:

  Practice Nurse

  102

  105

  106

  113

  114

  Direct Patient Care

  21

  24

  8

  8

  14

  Admin and Clerical

  481

  487

  468

  481

  487

  Other

  —

  1

  —

  —

  15

  1 Practice Staff includes Practice Nurses, Direct Patient Care, Admin and Clerical and Other

  Note:

  Data as at 1 October 1992–99 and 30 September 2000–01

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
  588W

  Practice staff1 by type 1992 to 2001 for Somerset health authority

  Number (headcount)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  Practice Staff1

  923

  914

  907

  907

  1,058

  Of which;

  Practice Nurse2

  183

  191

  194

  176

  206

  1 Practice Staff includes Practice Nurses, Direct Patient Care, Admin and Clerical and Other

  2 Headcount practice nurse figures are estimated for these years. Headcount figures for other types of practice staff are not available separately.

  Note:

  Data as at 1 October 1997–99 and 30 September 2000–01

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Practice staff1 for Taunton by type

  Whole-time equivalent

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Taunton and Area

  Practice Staff

  160

  173

  n/a

  n/a

  Of which:

  Practice Nurse

  30

  32

  n/a

  n/a

  Direct Patient Care

  4

  6

  n/a

  n/a

  Admin and Clerical

  126

  134

  n/a

  n/a

  Other

  —

  —

  n/a

  n/a

  Taunton Deane PCT

  Practice Staff

  n/a

  n/a

  175

  261

  Of which:

  Practice Nurse

  n/a

  n/a

  30

  47

  Direct Patient Care

  n/a

  n/a

  7

  10

  Admin and Clerical

  n/a

  n/a

  129

  199

  Other

  n/a

  n/a

  9

  4

  n/a = Not available

  Note:

  1 Practice Staff includes Practice Nurses, Direct Patient Care, Admin and Clerical and Other

  Practice staff1 for Taunton by type

  Number (headcount)

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Taunton and Area PCG

  Practice Staff

  276

  252

  n/a

  n/a

  Of which:

  Practice Nurse

  54

  48

  n/a

  n/a

  Taunton Deane PCT

  Practice Staff

  n/a

  n/a

  284

  400

  Of which:

  Practice Nurse

  n/a

  n/a

  55

  56

  n/a = Not available

  1 Practice Staff includes Practice Nurses, Direct Patient Care, Admin and Clerical and Other. Headcount figures for other types of practice staff are not available separately.

  Notes:

  1. Data as at 1 October 1999 and 30 September 2000–02.

  2. Practice Nurse figure estimated in 1999.

  Source:

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Group B Streptococcus
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost analysis he has carried out of introducing a
  589W
  pilot screening programme for pregnant women to test for Group B Streptococcus; and what he estimates the costs involved would be. [136418]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) has commissioned an assessment of the existing evidence on screening for Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy against criteria used to assess potential screening programmes to ensure they do more good than harm. This assessment will include consideration of the costs that would be involved in introducing a screening programme. The NSC is expected to consider policy options at its meeting in December 2003.

  Health Care (York)
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) average waiting time for an initial appointment to see a cancer specialist and (b) average time between initial referral and appropriate specialist treatment for cancer at York District Hospital was in each year since 1996–97. [135960]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is not available in the format requested. The table shows the number of cancer patients treated within certain timeframes at York Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

  Patients treated within 31 days of being urgently referred by their G (D) P with suspected cancer and subsequently diagnosed with cancer: York Hospitals NHS Trust

  Quarter

  Cancer site

  Total patients treated

  Percentage treated within 31 days

  2001–02

  4

  Children's Cancers

  0

  n/a

  Testicular cancer

  0

  n/a

  Acute Leukaemia

  0

  n/a

  2002–03

  1

  Children's cancers

  0

  n/a

  Testicular cancer

  3

  100.00

  Acute Leukaemia

  0

  n/a

  2002–03

  2

  Children's cancers

  0

  n/a

  Testicular cancer

  1

  100.00

  Acute Leukaemia

  0

  n/a

  2002–03

  3

  Children's cancers

  0

  n/a

  Testicular cancer

  3

  100.00

  Acute Leukaemia

  0

  n/a

  2002–03

  4

  Children's cancers

  0

  n/a

  Testicular cancer

  1

  100.00

  Acute Leukaemia

  0

  n/a

  2003–04

  1

  Children's cancers

  0

  n/a

  Testicular cancer

  1

  100.00

  Acute Leukaemia

  1

  100.00

  Patients treated within 31 days of being diagnosed with breast cancer: York Hospitals NHS Trust

  Quarter

  Total patients treated

  Percentage treated within 31 days

  2001–02

  4

  64

  100.00

  2002–03

  1

  70

  100.00

  2002–03

  2

  56

  100.00

  2002–03

  3

  48

  100.00

  2002–03

  4

  67

  100.00

  2003–04

  1

  62

  100.00

  590W

  Patients treated within 62 days of being urgently refered by their G(D)P with suspected cancer and subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer: York Hospitals NHS Trust

  Quarter

  Total patients treated

  Percentage treated within 62 days

  2003–04

  1

  25

  100.00

  Note:

  Data were not collected prior to the dates in the tables.

  Source:

  Department of Health form QMCW.

  Health Service Ombudsman
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Health Service Ombudsman cases were considered in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were(a) upheld and (b) rejected; what the average time taken to consider a case was; and what the average cost per case was. [137334]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Health Service Ombudsman publishes information about the handling of cases in her annual report, copies of which are available in the Library and on the Ombudsman's website at www.ombudsman.org.uk.

  Health Services (Somerset)
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) children and adolescents, (b) adults and (c) pensioners were treated by the Somerset Partnership Mental Health Trust in each year since 1997. [135422]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on the total number of patients admitted for treatment by Somerset National Health Service Trust since 1997 is available by age, and is shown in the table. Admissions are defined as the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. These figures do not represent the number of in-patients as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  Total patients by age within Somerset Partnership NHS Trust

  Age group

  0–14 years

  15–59 years

  60–74 years

  75+ years

  1997–98

  7

  1,210

  473

  715

  1998–99

  *

  1,262

  372

  707

  1999–2000

  6

  1,298

  378

  711

  2000–01

  10

  1,338

  357

  789

  2001–02

  *

  1,274

  312

  609

  Notes:

  1. Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between one and five have been suppressed and replaced with an asterisk.

  2. Figures for 2001–02 have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data.

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 5 November 2003,Official Report, column 689W, on Health Services (Somerset), what the reasons are for the increases in (a) places in private residential homes in 1998 and (b) places in independent nursing homes in 1998. [138828]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The years 1997–99 showed a steady increase in the numbers of places in private residential homes and places in independent nursing homes, in Somerset, as shown in the table. The reasons behind this trend have not been determined.
  591W

  Number of places in Somerset, 1997–99

  Private residential homes

  Independent nursing homes

  1997

  2,265

  2,575

  1998

  2,995

  2,830

  1999

  3,000

  2,870

  Source:

  K036, RA AND RH(N) FORM A

  Hearing Aids
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average current waiting time is in the South West London Strategic Health Authority for a hearing aid assessment to fit digital hearing aids. [136823]

  Hospital Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services: Medical and Dental consultants (including Directors of Public Health) and Doctors in Training within specified organisations

  Number (headcount)

  Taunton Deane PCT

  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

  2002

  March 2003

  June 2003

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  March 2003

  June 2003

  Consultant (including Directors of Public Health)

  2

  2

  1

  86

  90

  92

  99

  104

  109

  115

  115

  Accident and emergency

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  3

  3

  Anaesthetics (inc. Intensive care medicine)

  0

  0

  0

  11

  12

  14

  14

  15

  17

  18

  18

  Cardiology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  Chemical pathology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Clinical radiology

  0

  0

  0

  7

  8

  8

  9

  9

  9

  10

  10

  Dermatology

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Endocrinology and diabetes mellitus

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  3

  2

  2

  2

  Gastroenterology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  3

  3

  2

  General surgery

  0

  0

  0

  6

  6

  7

  7

  8

  9

  9

  9

  Gentio-urinary medicine

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Geriatric medicine

  0

  0

  0

  4

  4

  4

  4

  5

  4

  5

  5

  Haematology

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  Histopathology

  0

  0

  0

  4

  3

  4

  4

  4

  4

  6

  7

  Medical microbiology and virology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Neurology

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  2

  3

  3

  2

  3

  3

  Obstetrics and gynaecology

  0

  0

  0

  5

  5

  5

  6

  6

  6

  7

  6

  Occupational health

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Opthalmology

  0

  0

  0

  6

  6

  6

  5

  5

  5

  5

  6

  Oral and maxillo facial surgery

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Orthodontics

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Otolaryngology

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  2

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  Paediatrics

  0

  0

  0

  6

  6

  5

  6

  6

  6

  6

  6

  Public health medicine

  2

  2

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Rehabilitation medicine

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  0

  Respiratory medicine

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  2

  2

  2

  Rheumatology

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  1

  2

  2

  2

  Trauma and orthopaedic surgery

  0

  0

  0

  6

  6

  6

  7

  8

  8

  8

  8

  Urology

  0

  0

  0

  3

  3

  3

  4

  4

  4

  4

  4

  Other

  0

  0

  0

  10

  11

  12

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Doctors in training

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  108

  114

  115

  124

  133

  139

  n/a

  n/a

  Accident and emergency

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  5

  5

  6

  7

  9

  10

  n/a

  n/a

  Anaesthetics (inc. Incentive care medicine)

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  11

  11

  10

  12

  13

  15

  n/a

  n/a

  Cardiology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Gastroenterology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  General surgery

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  12

  13

  13

  15

  17

  18

  n/a

  n/a

  Geriatric medicine

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1

  2

  3

  3

  1

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Haematology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  3

  4

  4

  4

  2

  2

  n/a

  n/a

  Neurology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  Obstetrics and gynaecology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  9

  10

  8

  10

  10

  11

  n/a

  n/a

  Occupational health

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  1

  n/a

  n/a

  Opthalmology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  7

  7

  7

  6

  7

  7

  n/a

  n/a

  Oral and maxillo facial surgery

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  3

  n/a

  n/a

  Orthodontics

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  1

  n/a

  n/a

  Otolaryngology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  4

  5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  n/a

  n/a

  Paediatrics

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  14

  13

  12

  15

  16

  18

  n/a

  n/a

  Rehabilitation medicine

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  n/a

  n/a

  Respiratory medicine

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  5

  n/a

  n/a

  Rheumatology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1

  —

  n/a

  n/a

  Trauma and orthopaedic surgery

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  10

  11

  10

  11

  11

  12

  n/a

  n/a

  Urology

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  5

  4

  5

  5

  4

  5

  n/a

  n/a

  Other

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  22

  24

  28

  26

  27

  25

  n/a

  n/a

  Notes:

  n/a= not available. March and June 2003 data are taken from mini censuses that collected Consultants only. Data as at 30 September 1992 to 2002 and 31 March 2003 and 30 June 2003.

  Source

  Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
  592W
  Mr. Hutton
  These figures are not held centrally.

  Health Services (Taunton)
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) consultants and (b) junior hospital doctors there were in each clinical speciality at (i) Taunton and Somerset NHS Hospital Trust and (ii) Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust in each year since 1997. [137243]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The numbers of consultants and junior hospital doctors in each clinical speciality at Taunton and Somerset National Health Service Hospital Trust and Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust are shown in the table.

  Heath Care (Bath/North East Somerset)
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) GPs and (b) nurses were employed in Bath and North East Somerset in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2003. [136325]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on the number of general practitioners and nurses employed in Bath and North East Somerset in 1997 is not available. The latest available information for 2002 and 2003 is shown in the tables.

  All general medical practitioners1for Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust

  Number(headcount)

  2001

  142

  March 2002

  143

  2002

  136

  March 2003

  154

  JUNE 2003

  144

  1All practitioners include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted Gps, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para. 52 SFA), PMS other, GP retainers and flexible career scheme Gps.

  Note

  Data as at 30 September 2001–02, 31 March 2002–03 and 30 June 2003.

  Source

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Total qualified nursing staff for Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust

  Number(headcount)

  2001

  2002

  529

  517

  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health Visiting staff

  422

  424

  GP practice nurses

  107

  93

  Note

  Data as at September each year.

  Sources

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

  Hepatitis C
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in working out the details in relation to his announcement on 29 August that he would establish a financial assistance scheme for people infected with hepatitis C as a result of being given blood products by the NHS. [137747]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We are making every effort to progress the hepatitis C financial assistance scheme as quickly as possible and expect to announce details of the scheme's eligibility criteria and payment structure shortly.

  Herceptin
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that there is equal access in different areas to Herceptin. [136283]
  594W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, has asked the National Cancer Director, Professor Mike Richards, to look at the National Health Service in every region and ensure the cancer drugs and treatments, including herceptin, which have been approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, are available nationally.

  Professor Richards will be working with cancer networks and the pharmaceutical industry over the next few months to assess the position and identify and address any underlying variations in prescription rates.

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people are waiting for hip replacements in each of the London boroughs; [137324]

  (2) how many patients are waiting for orthopaedic surgery in the London borough of Havering; [137327]

  (3) how many patients are waiting for cancer surgery in each of the London boroughs. [137329]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information on specific procedures is not identified in the headline waiting times collected by the Department, which are specialty based.

  Information for individual trusts and specialties is available on the Department's website at www. doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes.

  Hypertension
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much extra funding will be provided to practices to support standards in managing high blood pressure; and what the criteria will be for claiming it. [130111]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The new contract for general medical services (QMS), accepted by general practitioners on 20 June 2003, will significantly benefit patients by improving the quality of care, including the management of high blood pressure, and widening the range of services available at GP surgeries.

  Two thirds of the additional investment linked to the GMS contract has been earmarked to reward practices for better services. This funding will be allocated through a new Quality and Outcomes Framework, which sets out a range of indicators relating to the detection, recording and management of patients with high blood pressure. Practices will gain a certain number of points according to their performance against these indicators. A typical practice with average list size achieving all the hypertension points might expect to earn £12,975.

  Under the new arrangements for the national health service as outlined in "Shifting the Balance of Power", primary care trusts now allocate funding from their own devolved budgets to deliver national targets and milestones and to meet local priorities. The NHS Planning and Performance Framework target for coronary heart disease (CHD) registers requires that the majority of patients at high risk of CHD, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes and a body mass index

  595W
  greater than 30 are covered by systematic treatment regimes, including appropriate advice on diet, physical activity and smoking.

  Infant Formula Milk
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received on advertisements for infant formula milk(a) on television and (b) in parents' magazines; [135035]

  (2) what representations he has received on stopping the promotion of breast milk substitutes for feeding to infants. [135042]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 29 October 2003]I have received some letters and emails within the last year about these subjects in general. The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995 control the advertisement and promotion of infant formula milk and breast milk substitutes.

  Insulin
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of patients who are suited to treatment with animal insulin rather than synthetic insulin; [137592]

  (2) how many people with diabetes require (a) animal insulin and (b) synthetic insulin; [137597]

  (3) what representations his Department has received from patients about the suitability of synthetic insulin. [137600]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Data on the number of people using these insulins are not collected. However, the table shows the number of prescription items that were dispensed in the community in England, and their cost, in the 12 months ended June 2003.

  Decisions on the most suitable type of insulin should be made by people with diabetes in consultation with their healthcare providers. The Department has received no representations about the suitability of synthetic insulin.

  Number of prescription items and net ingredient cost of Insulins that were dispensed in the community in England for the 12 months ending June 2003

  Number of prescription items (thousand)

  Net ingredient cost (£000)

  Highly purified animal insulin

  128.1

  4,217.2

  Human sequence (GM Insulin)

  3,522.0

  150,528.8

  All Insulins

  3,650.0

  154,746.0

  Notes

  1. The data is from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system which covers all prescription items that are dispensed in the community in England. This does not include drugs dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

  2. Insulins are those defined in the British National Formulary (BNF) paragraph 6.1.1, "Insulins". Insulin drugs have been grouped into highly purified animal and human sequence (GM) insulin in line with the British National Formulary (BNF).

  3. Doctors write prescriptions on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost (which the dispenser is reimbursed) of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.
  596W
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidence he has received on adverse reactions to synthetic insulin among diabetics which were not experienced when animal insulin was used; and if he will make a statement; [137593]

  (2) what plans he has to issue guidance to the medical profession about adverse reactions to synthetic insulin; [137595]

  (3) what studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) received on the suitability of synthetic insulin for treatment of diabetes; [137598]

  (4) what steps his Department takes to avail itself of research from a wide range of sources into the safety and suitability of synthetic insulin. [137599]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) and its Sub-Committee on Pharmacovigilance (SCOP) have kept the safety of synthetic (human) insulins under close review and have considered the available data on a number of occasions. Most recently in 2002, the SCOP considered the findings of an independent review of controlled clinical trial data by the Cochrane Collaboration. The conclusions of the Cochrane review were that there is no difference in the incidence of adverse events between patients on synthetic insulin compared with patients on animal insulins. The SCOP confirmed its previous advice that there is no clear evidence of safety problem specific to human insulin. However, the issue will be reviewed again should further information become available.

  The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) receives reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) via the Yellow Card scheme. The most commonly reported suspected ADRs with both synthetic (human) and animal insulins are disorders of metabolism and nutrition such as hypoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia unawareness, followed by skin and subcutaneous tissue disorder such as injection site reaction. However the reporting of a reaction does not necessarily mean that the drug caused the problem.

  A higher number of suspected ADR reports have been received in association with synthetic insulin through the Yellow Card Scheme, however this may reflect the fact that 80 per cent. of patients with Type 1 Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus are estimated to be receiving synthetic insulin in the United Kingdom.

  Full guidance on prescribing and use of synthetic insulins, including possible side effects, is provided in the product information for prescribes and patients. This includes warnings about the risk of hypoglycaemia unawareness particularly upon transfer from animal insulins to synthetic insulins. Key prescribing information is also included in the British National Formulary, which is sent by the Department to doctors and pharmacists.

  Both human and animal derived insulins are currently available and the MHRA is not aware of any specific plans for the discontinuation of production of animal derived insulins. However, decisions as to the most suitable type of insulin for particular patients are clinical matters and must be made by individual doctors.
  597W
  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet representatives of the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust to discuss the continued(a) choice between and (b) availability of (i) synthetic and (ii) animal insulin. [137594]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I am not aware of any problems with either the choice between or availability of the various types of insulin. I should, however, be interested to have details of the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust's concerns and would be happy for them to write to me in the first instance.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure competition in(a) the manufacture of insulin and (b) the manufacture of different types of insulin for treatment of diabetes; and if he will make a statement. [137596]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department, working closely with other bodies such as the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and pharmaceutical companies, has arrangements in place to ensure security of supply of medicines.

  In addition the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme aims to:
  secure the provision of safe and effective medicines for the NHS at reasonable prices;
  promote a strong and profitable pharmaceutical industry capable of such sustained research and development expenditure as should lead to the future availability of new and improved medicines;
  encourage the efficient and competitive development and supply of medicines to pharmaceutical markets in this and other countries.

  Finally, the patent system provides considerable incentives for companies to compete in the development of new and innovative medicines.

  Learning Disabilities
  Mr. Paul Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to the provision of services for people with learning disabilities since the publication of the White Paper "Valuing People": how this funding has been spent; and what funding remains unallocated. [138187]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Over £3 billion a year is spent on health and social care provision for people with learning disabilities. The White Paper, "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (Cm 5086), published in March 2001, which set out our proposals for improving services for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers, announced two new funds to support its proposals: the implementation support fund (ISF) from April 2001 and the learning disability development fund (LDDF) from April 2002. Funding has been allocated to support priorities set out in "Valuing People".

  Money from the £2.3 million ISF was fully allocated in both 2001–02 and 2002–03. We expect it to be fully allocated in 2003–04. Funding has been used to support a range of work, including:
  The development and support of advocacy services
  The setting up and support of the national forum of people with learning disabilities and its network of regional forums
  598W
  The preparation, publication, and dissemination of good practice guidance on a range of subjects
  The setting up and support of the Learning Disability Telephone Information and Helpline (funded jointly with MENCAP)
  Extension of the learning disability awards framework.

  The LDDF was introduced in April 2002. £2 million of the £22.6 million revenue element available in 2002–03 was used to support the "Valuing People" support team and its related activities. The remainder was distributed to health authorities on a pro-rata basis to be used as agreed through their partnership board, with their partner local authorities to support the following priorities for service change:
  Modernising day centres
  Completing the reprovision of the remaining long-stay hospitals to enable people to move to more appropriate accommodation
  Developing supported living approaches for people with learning disabilities living with older carers
  Promoting the further development of advocacy
  Supporting the wider introduction of person centred planning
  Enhancing leadership in learning disability services.

  In 2003–04, £2 million was again allocated for the "Valuing People" support team, with £21 million being distributed to primary care trusts to be used on the above priorities for service change.

  The capital element of the LDDF comprises £20 million a year to be used on the following priorities:
  Enabling local providers to develop specialist services for people with severe challenging behaviour
  Developing integrated health and social services facilities for children and people with severe disabilities and complex needs
  Developing supported living approaches for people with learning disabilities living with older carers
  Implementing the results of person centred planning for people currently living in national health service campuses.

  In 2002–03, bids were invited from learning disability partnership boards and £16 million of the available £20 million was allocated. In 2003–04, the £20 million capital was allocated direct to strategic health authorities as part of their strategic capital allocations.

  London NHS Trusts
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total aggregate cumulative deficit of London NHS trusts was at the end of the most recent financial year for which records are available. [133743]

  Mr. Hutton
  The combined balance sheets of all London national health service trusts at the end of 2002–03 show a net cumulative deficit on the income and expenditure reserve account of £47.7 million. This figure does not necessarily represent liabilities which will need to be settled nor is it an indication of poor financial performance. Changes in accounting policy and the periodic re-valuation of assets over recent years have distorted the apparent financial position of NHS trusts.

  The latest annual accounts for 2002–03 show London NHS trusts made an overall surplus of £4.3 million. All have balanced financial plans for 2003–04.

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each item of market and opinion research commissioned since May 1997 by(a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible; what the purpose of each item was; and whether the results were published. [137008]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  A list of research projects carried out by the Department since 1 May 1997 was placed in the Library in July 1999. The list may not include all research projects, as some information was not centrally available. The list has been updated year on year, with the most recent list, for 2002–03, being placed in the Library in July 2003.

  We are committed to consulting and involving the public to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality and more responsive public services.

  Market or opinion research is commissioned only when it is justified by the needs of the policy programme and is the most economical, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose.

  Medicine Reviews
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by primary care trust, the(a) numbers and (b) percentages of patients over 75 who have had their medicines reviewed at least annually in the last three years. [137929]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to publish the summary of responses to the consultation on the Draft Mental Health Bill. [139096]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government's response to the consultation will be published prior to introduction of the Bill. It will be available in hard copy and on the Department of Health website.

  At that time, copies of responses will be placed in the Library, except in cases where respondents have asked for confidentiality.

  Mersey Regional Ambulance Service
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason no Warrington-based ambulances were available in Warrington during the weekend of 1 and 2 November 2003; and if he will take steps to ensure that Mersey Regional Ambulance Service do not allow this situation to occur again. [136788]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The shortfall in the number of Warrington-based ambulances in Warrington during 1 and 2 November 2003 was due to the diversion of blue light admissions from Warrington Hospital accident and emergency department. Ambulances were diverted to other hospitals in the area, which included 600W
  Manchester and Stoke. This had a direct impact on the length of time taken for ambulances to return to the Warrington area.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has taken to develop an effective internal and external communications strategy as recommended by the Commission for Health Improvement; and if he will place a copy of the strategy in the Library. [138444]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]In July 2002, the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service appointed a communications manager with considerable senior level experience. A review of both internal and external communications has taken place along with a review of the trusts ability to provide effective communications. The trust is currently drawing up its communications strategy. A copy will be placed in the Library when it is completed.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has taken to arrange with NHS acute trusts locations for ambulance liaison assistants which maintain patient confidentiality. [138445]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority reports that several initiatives have been taken forward to address this issue. In particular:A major redesign of Aintree Hospital included refurbishment work within the ambulance liaison assistants (ALA) area. This is now more accessible for patients and more suited to their needs. This has also involved a redesign of the office furniture and now all telephone conversations are conducted behind a higher level counter;
  During the last 12 months a refurbishment project has been carried out by the Countess of Chester Hospital and this included work in the ALA lounge. Specifically, this involved relocating the patient transport service lounge to make it more accessible and more open plan to create a better environment. Telephone conversations are now held in a much more secure environment behind high level counters;
  Work is also currently ongoing with the Royal Liverpool Hospital. As part of its major entrance redesign, this has included the creation of a purpose built patient discharge and ambulance liaison lounge. This is a confidential environment.

  Furthermore, recognising the need to work more closely with its hospital partners, the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has recently completed a management restructure, which empowers managers to work on a more integrated basis within the health economy to ensure such projects are taken forward.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures have been put in place by Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to ensure that all crews receive information and training on new vehicles prior to their introduction. [138446]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]A number of procedures ensure that all staff receive training and information on new vehicles prior to their introduction. These are consistent with the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service national health service trust's health and safety policy and supported by the head of training and development.
  601W
  The trust also operates a vehicle working group, which is made up of managers, staff and trade union representatives. This group agrees the format of all new vehicles and equipment as well as the formal training plan to ensure staff receive appropriate training prior to the vehicles being put into service.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of Mersey Regional Ambulance Service's child protection policy in the Library. [138447]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  holding answer 13 November 2003]Following the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) action plan, the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service national health service trust agreed to review its current child protection arrangements.

  A draft policy is awaiting approval by the trust board. The trust is on target to achieve the timescales of the CHI recommendations. A copy will be placed in the Library in due course.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by Mersey Regional Ambulance Service in developing a plan for the training of staff in clinical audit skills; and if he will place a copy of the plan in the Library. [138448]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic health authority reports that the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service is developing a trust-wide training programme for frontline staff in clinical audit skills and will incorporate this into the training and education strategy by December 2003.

  Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2003—Vacanciesin strategic health authority areas and by Government regional office area for qualified midwives—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post

  Qualified midwives

  March 2003

  September 2002

  Three month vacancy rate (percentage)

  Three month vacancy (number)

  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent)

  Staff in post (headcount)

  England

  3.1

  572

  18,119

  23,249

  East of England

  4.1

  60

  1,630

  2,159

  Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire strategic HA

  0.0

  —

  672

  910

  Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic HA

  9.1

  45

  472

  605

  Q03 Essex strategic HA

  3.9

  16

  486

  644

  London

  7.7

  214

  2,812

  3,601

  Q04 North West London strategic HA

  4.5

  30

  633

  842

  Q05 North Central London strategic HA

  10.1

  53

  498

  628

  Q06 North East London strategic HA

  5.5

  31

  615

  724

  Q07 South East London strategic HA

  12.2

  83

  580

  769

  Q08 South East London strategic HA

  4.9

  17

  487

  638

  North East

  0.8

  8

  993

  1,241

  Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear strategic HA

  0.3

  1

  537

  675

  Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley strategic HA

  1.4

  6

  457

  566

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  2.2

  43

  1,909

  2,321

  Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire strategic HA

  1.3

  7

  526

  651

  Q12 West Yorkshire strategic HA

  2.9

  26

  850

  1,021

  Q23 South Yorkshire strategic HA

  1.8

  10

  533

  649

  North West

  1.1

  33

  3,069

  3,833

  Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire strategic HA

  0.3

  2

  768

  985

  Q14 Greater Manchester strategic HA

  1.4

  19

  1,310

  1,572

  Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside strategic HA

  1.2

  12

  991

  1,276

  602W
  A copy of the programme will be placed in the Library when it is completed.

  Midwives
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average vacancy rate is for midwives in the NHS, broken down by region; what proportion of midwife vacancies have remained vacant for more than three months in(a) England and (b) each region in the last year for which figures are available; which 10 regions of England have the highest vacancy rates; and what these rates are; [139021]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the vacancy rate for midwives on decisions by midwives to leave the profession. [139240]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of vacancies for midwives lasting three months or more is collected in the national health service vacancy survey, information on the number of vacancies lasting less than three months is not collected centrally. The available information is shown in the table by Government regional office area and strategic health authority.

  No assessment has been made on the effect of vacancy rates for midwives on decisions by midwives to leave the profession. The vacancy rate for midwives is comparable with that for the overall nursing work force. Since 1997, the number of midwives employed in the NHS has increased by 860 and the Government will continue to increase the NHS midwifery work force through a range of recruitment and retention initiatives.
  603W

  Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2003—Vacancies in strategic health authority areas and by Government regional office area for qualified midwives—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post

  Qualified midwives

  March 2003

  September 2002

  Three month vacancy rate (percentage)

  Three month vacancy (number)

  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent)

  Staff in post (headcount)

  South East

  4.7

  122

  2,522

  3,414

  Q16 Thames Valley strategic HA

  2.0

  14

  722

  1,004

  Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight strategic HA

  3.5

  20

  536

  730

  Q18 Kent and Medway strategic HA

  5.7

  30

  509

  660

  Q19 Surrey and Sussex strategic HA

  7.2

  59

  755

  1,020

  South West

  1.6

  28

  1,785

  2,358

  Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire strategic HA

  2.3

  19

  827

  1,091

  Q21 South West Peninsula strategic HA

  1.3

  8

  612

  797

  Q22 Dorset and Somerset strategic HA

  0.3

  1

  345

  470

  East Midlands

  1.3

  17

  1,307

  1,697

  Q24 Trent strategic HA

  0.1

  1

  819

  1,053

  Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland strategic HA

  3.1

  16

  488

  644

  West Midlands

  2.2

  47

  2,091

  2,625

  Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic HA

  1.5

  8

  508

  652

  Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country strategic HA

  3.7

  39

  1,010

  1,234

  Q28 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire strategic HA

  0.0

  —

  573

  739

  Three month vacancy notes

  1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2003

  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. Three month Vacancy Rates for non-medical staff are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey, March 2003

  5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place

  6. `—' zero

  Staff in post notes

  1. Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2002

  2. '—' zero

  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. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts

  4. Strategic HA figures are based on Trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare

  Sources

  Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2003

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2002

  Mixed Wards
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many wards in NHS hospitals have regularly had patients of both sexes staying at the same time in the last 12 months; [138156]

  (2) on how many occasions over the last 12 months hospitals have admitted a patient into a ward reserved for patients of the opposite sex, broken down by NHS hospital trust. [138159]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not collect information at the level of the individual ward. National health service trusts are required only to report on total patient throughput per annum.

  MRI Scans
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the existing capacity for MRI scanning for NHS patients in the(a) public and (b) private sectors; and if he will make a statement. [137083]
  604W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Past under-funding of the national health service led to the inadequate provision of essential diagnostic equipment, unevenly distributed across the country. The Government are committed to putting right this under-investment and is providing unprecedented levels of central funding to expand capacity and replace ageing equipment.

  There are currently 207 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners installed in the NHS in England, compared with 110 machines in 1997, representing an 88 per cent. increase in total numbers. By December 2004, this will increase further to approximately 276 MRI scanners, a 150 per cent. increase on 1997.

  There are approximately 60 MRI scanners in private hospitals in England. The private sector is only able to provide a small amount of additional capacity for the NHS. The utilisation of any radiology equipment is dependent on the availability of skilled staff. Both the NHS and private sector use staff from the same work force pool.
  605W
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for MRI scans in England was in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region. [137084]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Data on waiting times for diagnostic tests are not collected centrally.

  National Service Framework for Children
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures aimed at children with learning disabilities will be included in the national service framework for children. [138494]

  Dr. Ladyman
  A key part of the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services will focus on the needs of disabled children, including those with learning disabilities. This will involve looking at how services can respond to their needs more flexibly and improving the transition to adulthood.

  NHS Direct
  Mr. Berry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum period is which he requires should elapse before NICE guidance is reflected in(a) the advice given by NHS Direct and (b) the content of NHS Direct Online. [133369]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  When content of National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance requires amendment to National Health Service Clinical Assessment System (CAS) clinical content, the change would normally be made in the next clinical release. Main releases are currently made twice yearly. When the need for change is identified as more urgent than the timetable for the next main release, guidance regarding the change is issued first to all staff by a message system which is part of NHS CAS and this is followed by an interim version release of the clinical content between the main releases. Depending on the timing of release of NICE guidance in relation to the next planned main clinical release, it could otherwise be up to six months before the clinical content was revised. Advice on the urgency of implementing changes is given by the NHS Direct national medical adviser in consultation with the NHS Direct CAS clinical panel. NHS Direct is working with the system supplier to be able to amend clinical content more frequently.

  If someone required information only on a treatment, the situation is as follows. The NICE website is on the recommended list for all NHS Direct call centres. Also, a monthly current awareness bulletin is produced and posted on 'indirect' (NHS Direct's Intranet site) as well as being e-mailed to site information staff (they are encouraged to publicise at sites). This would feature any new NICE guidelines.

  If NICE guidance requires a change to the content of NHS Direct Online, it would usually be updated in their content within 48 hours, although this process can be shortened to within the hour for urgent cases.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of calls to NHS Direct were answered within 30 seconds in the most recent 12 month period, broken down by month, for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [136874]
  606W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The percentage of calls to NHS Direct that were answered within 30 seconds for the most recent 12 month period, broken down by month are shown in the table. The overall percentage for the most recent 12 month period is 63 per cent.

  Analysis date

  Percentage1

  2002

  November

  60

  December

  61

  2003

  January

  70

  February

  61

  March

  57

  April

  55

  May

  62

  June

  63

  July

  64

  August

  65

  September

  69

  October

  67

  1 Percentage of calls answered in 30 seconds

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of staff are employed by NHS Direct; and if he will make a statement. [136876]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Currently, all NHS Direct members of staff are employed by their host organisation trust. NHS Direct employs approximately 3,000 (whole time equivalent) members of staff nationally. Of these, around 1,063 are nurses and 543 call handlers. The remaining staff consists of health information advisors, managers, trainers, nurse supervisors and administration staff. Each of the 22 sites for clinical governance purposes employs a medical director (doctor).

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the quality of clinical advice provided by NHS Direct to patients. [138074]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  NHS Direct has a well established record for offering good clinical advice. This was confirmed in the sector report published by the Commission for Health Improvement on 10 November, following its review of 19 out of the 23 NHS Direct sites in England.

  NHS Staff
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS employees belong to a trade union; and which ones. [134811]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not hold centrally the number of national health service employees who belong to a trade union.

  The Office for National Statistics produces an estimate for the United Kingdom of the proportion of public sector employees with trade union membership, by industry classification, using data from the Labour Force Survey. The figure for health for autumn 2002 is 62 per cent.
  607W
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed by the NHS in(a) the London borough of Havering and (b) each NHS trust in London. [137330]

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine, Community Health Services (HCHS) and General and Personal Medical Services: All NHS staff by organisation

  Numbers (headcount)

  As at 30 September 2002

  All NHS staff1

  Medical and dental1

  Non-medical staff2

  GPs3

  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust

  RF4

  6,113

  538

  5,575

  n/a

  Havering PCT

  5A4

  1,061

  7

  930

  124

  Royal Free NHS Trust

  RAL

  4,928

  538

  4,390

  n/a

  Royal National Orthopaedic NHS Trust

  RAN

  941

  87

  854

  n/a

  North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust

  RAP

  2,302

  233

  2,069

  n/a

  Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

  RAS

  2,884

  250

  2,634

  n/a

  North East London Mental Health NHS Trust

  RAT

  1,635

  89

  1,546

  n/a

  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust

  RAX

  2,818

  324

  2,494

  n/a

  Ealing Hospital NHS Trust

  RC3

  1,585

  182

  1,403

  n/a

  West Middlesex University NHS Trust

  RFW

  1,999

  198

  1,801

  n/a

  Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust

  RG2

  2,273

  206

  2,067

  n/a

  Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust

  RG3

  2,265

  244

  2,021

  n/a

  Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust

  RGC

  2,509

  247

  2,262

  n/a

  Queen Mary's, Sidcup NHS Trust

  RGZ

  2,488

  218

  2,270

  n/a

  Guys and St. Thomas's NHS Trust

  RJ1

  7,785

  936

  6,849

  n/a

  Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust

  RJ2

  2,655

  246

  2,409

  n/a

  St. Mary's Hospital NHS Trust

  RJ5

  4,752

  564

  4,188

  n/a

  Mayday Health Care NHS Trust

  RJ6

  2,851

  275

  2,576

  n/a

  St. George's Group NHS Trust

  RJ7

  5,430

  648

  4,782

  n/a

  King's Healthcare NHS Trust

  RJZ

  5,456

  920

  4,536

  n/a

  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  RKE

  2,115

  241

  1,874

  n/a

  West London Mental Health NHS Trust

  RKL

  3,776

  194

  3,582

  n/a

  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust

  RNH

  1,684

  176

  1,508

  n/a

  Royal Hospital of St. Bartholomew, The Royal London Hospital and London Chest Hospital NHS Trust

  RNJ

  6,873

  918

  5,955

  n/a

  Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust

  RNK

  352

  42

  310

  n/a

  Great Ormond Street Hospital For Sick Children NHS Trust

  RP4

  2,761

  361

  2,400

  n/a

  Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust

  RP6

  1,008

  187

  821

  n/a

  Oxleas NHS Trust

  RPG

  2,173

  97

  2,076

  n/a

  Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust

  RPY

  1,789

  192

  1,597

  n/a

  Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust

  ROM

  2,652

  385

  2,267

  n/a

  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

  RON

  5,673

  781

  4,892

  n/a

  Homerton Hospital NHS Trust

  RQX

  1,859

  215

  1,644

  n/a

  Pathfinder NHS Trust

  RQY

  2,738

  245

  2,493

  n/a

  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

  RRP

  2,429

  163

  2,266

  n/a

  London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  RRU

  3,630

  0

  3,630

  n/a

  University College London Hospitals NHS Trust

  RRV

  5,419

  789

  4,630

  n/a

  Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust

  RT3

  2,550

  281

  2,269

  n/a

  Brent, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Mental Health NHS Trust

  RV3

  2,697

  199

  2,498

  n/a

  South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

  RV5

  4,708

  462

  4,246

  n/a

  North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

  RV8

  4,398

  551

  3,847

  n/a

  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust

  RVL

  4,036

  429

  3,607

  n/a

  Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust

  RVR

  4,386

  462

  3,924

  n/a

  East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust

  RWK

  2,053

  151

  1,902

  n/a

  Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust

  TAF

  1,198

  103

  1,095

  n/a

  1 Data excludes medical Hospital Practitioners and medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are also GPs working part time in hospitals.

  2 Figures for London based on the Strategic Health Authority Areas Q04 North West London SHA Q05 North Central London SHA, Q06 North East London SHA, Q07 South East London SHA Q08 South West London SHA, and RRU the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

  3 All Practitioners include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other and GP Retainers.

  n/a—not available

  Sources:

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

  Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census

  Department of Health General & Personal Medical Services Statistics

  Non-medical Staff
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-medical staff are employed in(a) each of London's national health service trusts and (b) in the London borough of Havering. [137326]
  608W
  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not collected by London borough. The information shown in the table includes national health service organisations within the London borough of Havering.

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on the number of non-medical staff employed in the London borough of Havering is not collected centrally. Information on the number of non-medical staff employed by Havering Primary Care Trust, and in each of London's national health service trusts, is shown in the table.
  609W

  NHS hospital and community health services: All non-medical staff in the London area by organisation as at 30 September 2002

  Headcount

  5A4

  Havering PCT

  930

  RAL

  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust

  4,390

  RAN

  Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust

  854

  RAP

  North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

  2,069

  RAS

  Hillington Hospital NHS Trust

  2,634

  RAT

  North East London Mental Health NHS Trust

  1,546

  RAX

  Kingston Hospital NHS Trust

  2,494

  RC3

  Ealing Hospital NHS Trust

  1,403

  RF4

  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust

  5,575

  RFW

  West Middlesex University NHS Trust

  1,801

  RG2

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust

  2,067

  RG3

  Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust

  2,021

  RGC

  Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust

  2,262

  RGZ

  Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust

  2,270

  RJ1

  Guy's and St Thomas 1 NHS Trust

  6,849

  RJ2

  Lewisham Hospital NHS

  2,409

  RJ5

  St. Mary's NHS Trust

  4,188

  RJ6

  Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,576

  RJ7

  St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  4,782

  RJZ

  King's College Hospital NHS Trust

  4,536

  RKE

  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  1,874

  RKL

  West London Mental Health NHS Trust

  3,582

  RNH

  Newham Healthcare NHS Trust

  1,508

  RNJ

  Barts and The London NHS Trust

  5,955

  RNK

  Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust

  310

  RP4

  Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Trust

  2,400

  RP6

  Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust

  821

  RPG

  Oxleas NHS Trust

  2,076

  RPY

  Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust

  1,597

  RQM

  Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust

  2,267

  RQN

  Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

  4,892

  RQX

  Homerton University Hospital NHS Trust

  1,644

  RQY

  South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust

  2,493

  RRP

  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

  2,266

  RRU

  London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

  3,630

  RRV

  University College London Hospitals NHS Trust

  4,630

  RT3

  Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust

  2,269

  RV3

  Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust

  2,498

  RV5

  South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

  4,246

  RV8

  North West London Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,847

  RVL

  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust

  3,607

  RVR

  Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust

  3,924

  RWK

  East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust

  1,902

  TAF

  Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust

  1,095

  Note:

  Figures for London based on the Strategic Health Authority Areas Q04 North West SHA, Q05 North Central London SHA, Q06 North East London SHA, Q07 South East London SHA, Q08 South West London SHA, and RRU the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census

  Nurses
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses(a) were in training and (b) completed training at Taunton and Somerset NHS Hospital Trust in each year since 1997. [137231]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Information on the number of nurses in training or completing training at Taunton and Somerset Hospitals National Health Service Trust is not available centrally. The number of training commissions in the Somerset, Devon and Cornwall area in 2002–03 was 547, an increase of 41 per cent. since 1998–99.
  610W
  The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) publishes an annual statistical report, which includes information about the number of nurses registering each year, a requirement for employment in the NHS. This data can be found on the NMC website at www.nmc-uk.org.uk.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have left the register in each of the last five years. [138039]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) publishes an annual statistical report, which includes information about the number of nurses and midwives leaving the register. These data can be found on the NMC's website at: www.nmc-uk.org.uk

  Older People
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have introduced self-administration schemes for medicines for older people. [137931]

  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis he has made of the(a) levels and (b) patterns of services for older people in order to facilitate comparisons across health authorities. [137937]

  Dr. Ladyman
  In July 2002, the Department published its national health service performance ratings and indicators for 2001–02. This compared performance of NHS trusts, also grouped by strategic health authority and, for the first time, primary care organisations.

  The indicator set included several performance indicators relating to services for older people including services following a fall or a stroke.

  The indicators and ratings can be found at www.doh.gov.uk/performanceratings/2002.

  The Department also collects, on a regular basis, performance information relating to targets, including those relating to older people's services, in "Improvement, Expansion and Reform," the 2003–06 priorities and planning document.

  Overseas Treatment Scheme
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis patients are selected for the NHS overseas treatment scheme; and who is involved in the making of that decision. [136746]

  Mr. Hutton
  Local national health service trusts determine the process for selecting patients for treatment abroad. However, two key determinants are always addressed:The patient is clinically fit to travel
  The patient is clinically fit to be operated on

  In general, in selecting patients for a NHS overseas treatment scheme, acute trusts will review their waiting lists and identify suitable patients who are then contacted to offer patients the choice of travelling for treatment either overseas or in the private sector. Where patients express an interest in treatment abroad, either

  611W
  the local trust or the overseas commissioner (in accordance with local agreement) seeks approval from the patient's general practitioner that they are fit to travel. Before travelling overseas, all patients attend an overseas assessment clinic, run by the overseas clinicians. This allows the overseas clinicians to carry out a pre-operative assessment to determine whether the patient is suitable for surgery and to travel to the overseas hospital.

  Performance Targets
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of(a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002–03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. [137946]

  Mr. Hutton
  Performance targets for the Department were agreed as part of Spending Review 2002. The monitoring and measurement of Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets forms part of departmental performance management. Performance management is an integral part of the day to day running of the Department and, as such, it is not possible to separate the specific costs out. The monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, the Department's PSA targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the performance targets that(a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. [137962]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) on 23 June 2003,Official Report, column 581W.

  The Department of Health Report 2003 provides information on its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Performance against targets is monitored by the Department, including through meetings between Secretary of State and Ministers and the Chief Executive of the body.

  Personal Alarms
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to supply personal alarms to NHS staff. [137466]

  Mr. Hutton
  The decision to supply personal alarms to national health service staff is the responsibility of each individual NHS employing body.

  The Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) was launched in April 2003, with a remit encompassing policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the NHS. The CFSMS will shortly be publishing a strategy on the management of security in the NHS. From June 2004, a NHS security management manual will be made available to trained and accredited security management specialists in each NHS health body, which will contain advice on the issue of personal alarms to NHS staff and professionals.

  Personal Care
  Mr. Patrick Hall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation he has made of the impact of free personal care in Scotland. [138929]

  Dr. Ladyman
  It is a matter for the Scottish Executive to evaluate the implementation of free personal care in Scotland.

  Pharmaceutical Regulations
  Brian Cotter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to carry out a regulatory impact assessment on the proposals to reform and modernise the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992. [137302]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I refer the hon. Member to the draft regulatory impact assessment and competition assessment at Annex C of our consultation document, "Proposals to reform and modernise the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992" published on 29 August 2003. This is available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/pharmacy regulationconsultation.

  Comments on the consultation document and draft assessments can be sent, by 21 November 2003, to Peter Dunlevy, Pharmacy and Prescriptions Branch, Department of Health, Room 155, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS or e-mailed to peter.dunlevy@doh.gsi.gov.uk. We will publish a final full regulatory impact assessment and competition assessment in due course having analysed all comments received. These assessments will be placed in the Library.

  Plastic Bottles
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the safety of plastic bottles for consumption of fluids for(a) babies and (b) the general public; [136077]

  (2) what research he has collated on risks to health of using plastic bottles for feeding babies; and what assessment he has made of the practice in other EU countries. [137218]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The composition of plastic bottles used for drinks consumed by babies and the general public is strictly controlled to ensure the safety of foodstuffs contained in them. These controls are harmonised throughout the European Union and they set limits on the migration of substances into foodstuffs to prevent harmful quantities being present.

  The materials used to make plastic bottles for feeding babies are subject to strict controls that have been harmonised throughout the European Union. These controls are based on a detailed assessment of safety data by European scientific experts.

  Podiatry
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time has been that patients have had to wait for podiatry appointments in each primary care trust, in each year since 2001. [138160]
  613W
  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Premature Babies
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that premature babies at Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital receiving preventative treatment for respiratory syncytial virus are not discharged without assurance that they will be able to return to the hospital as required to complete their course of treatment; [136926]

  (2) if he will ensure that premature babies at Guys and St. Thomas' Hospital at high risk of contracting respiratory syncytial virus and chronic lung disease do not have their treatment curtailed due to cost cutting requirements; [136927]

  (3) how many paediatric wards were closed to new admissions owing to respiratory syncytial virus infection in the last year for which records are available. [136928]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is the current view of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation that children less than two years of age with severe chronic lung disease and who are on home oxygen during the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season should receive prophylactic treatment during the respiratory syncytial virus season. I am assured by Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital National Health Service Trust that it will continue to provide full courses of the prophylactic treatment for these children.

  Information on the number of wards closed to new admissions owing to RSV is not collected centrally.

  Proton Therapy
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on proton therapy in the context of the NHS cancer plan. [137066]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The NHS Cancer Plan set out our commitment to maintain a modern stock of equipment in the national health service which offers the latest imaging and treatment techniques. We are aware of the benefits proton therapy can offer to the small number of patients with ocular cancer and will keep under review its potential for the treatment of other cancers.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for further investment in proton therapy equipment at the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology. [137363]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There are currently no plans for further investment in proton therapy equipment at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology.

  Public Interest Disclosure Act
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's obligations under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 are. [138560]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department recognises that it has an obligation under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 to ensure that all employees are able to raise 614W
  matters of concern about malpractice or illegal acts (whether it has been committed or is likely to be committed), such as,

  unlawful conduct;

  a failure to comply with any legal obligation;

  a miscarriage of justice;

  financial malpractice;

  danger to the health and safety of any individual at work;

  damage to the environment; and

  concealing of information in relation to any of the above.

  The Department's employees have been provided with guidance on how to raise their concerns. While employees are encouraged to raise their concerns with their line manager, they can raise their concerns wherever or at whatever level they feel appropriate within the Department. Employees can also raise their concerns to an appropriate authority outside of the Department.

  The Department's guidance clearly states that employees who raise concerns will be protected from discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation.

  Respiratory Physiotherapy
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts offer(a) pulmonary rehabilitation and (b) domiciliary respiratory physiotherapy; and how many patients are undergoing such treatment in each. [138040]

  Dr. Ladyman
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]This information is not held centrally. However, a survey carried out earlier this year by the British Lung Foundation and British Thoracic Society found that 160 out of 266 hospitals across the country provide some form of pulmonary rehabilitation to lung patients.

  The National Institute of Clinical Excellence is currently developing a guideline on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary and secondary care. It is expected that the guideline will be published in February 2004.

  Respite Care
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources the Government made available for respite care since 1997 in(a) the UK, (b) the north west region and (c) St. Helens. [137979]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Carers Grant was introduced in 1999 to support local councils in arranging short breaks services for carers. It has provided an extra £325 million over five years to increase the number of breaks for carers.

  The Carers Grant allocations since 1999 are shown in the table.

  England (£ million)

  North west region (£)

  St. Helens (£)

  1999–2000

  20

  2,719,403

  71,679

  2000–01

  50

  6,855,503

  177,417

  2001–02

  70

  9,469,014

  245,713

  2002–03

  85

  11,451,858

  297,557

  2003–04

  100

  14,087,110

  393,460

  615W
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's policy for the provision of respite care for carers is. [137980]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Carers are entitled to an assessment to determine their needs as carers and eligibility for support including short-term breaks. The Carers Grant, worth £100 million this year, provides money for local councils to provide short breaks and other services for carers to enable them to take a break. The introduction of the short-term break voucher scheme earlier this year provides more choice and flexibility for service users and their carers.

  Smear Tests
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of smear tests in England and Wales resulted in women being recalled as a result of inadequate smears in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [136875]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The number of inadequate smears that resulted in women being recalled are shown in the table.

  Screening year

  Number of inadequate smears

  1998–99

  364,116

  1999–2000

  379,501

  2000–01

  359,441

  2001–02

  367,329

  2002–03

  357,707

  On 22 October, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence recommended that liquid based cytology (LBC) should be introduced across the cervical screening programme in England. LBC is a new method of preparing cervical samples for examination and reduces the likelihood of an inadequate test from one in 10 to one in 100. The Government welcomed the recommendations, which mean that approximately 300,000 women a year will not need to be recalled.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of UK women participated in the Pap Screening Programme, broken down by those(a) under 30, (b) 30 to 49,(c) 50 to 59 and (d) 60 to 64 in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [136878]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The percentage coverage of the national health service cervical screening programme, broken into age groups and taken from the cervical screening programme statistical bulletin, is shown in the table.

  Age range

  Percentage coverage

  20 to 29

  63

  30 to 49

  82.8

  50 to 59

  82.3

  60 to 64

  77.3

  Coverage is the proportion of women resident who have had a test with a result at least once in the previous five years.

  Smog
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the(a) mortality and (b) morbidity caused by smog in London in the last five years. [136539]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  No estimates of the impact of air pollution on mortality or morbidity in London have been made.

  Smoking
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds are addicted to cigarettes in the UK. [136812]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]The available data are shown in the table.

  Cigarette smoking status among adults aged 16 to 18 by gender, Great Britain, 2001

  Percentages

  Status

  Men

  Women

  Total

  Current smokers

  Less than 10 per day

  9

  10

  10

  10 to 19 per day

  10

  16

  13

  20 or more per day

  2

  4

  3

  Total current smokers

  21

  30

  26

  Ex-regular smokers

  4

  6

  5

  Never or only occasionally smoked cigarettes

  74

  64

  69

  Base

  532

  630

  1,162

  Source:

  ONS General Household Survey, published as "Living in Britain 2001, results from the General Household Survey".

  Social Care Bodies
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many administrative staff have been employed by social care bodies(a) directly and (b) indirectly in each of the last six years. [138486]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Figures for the last six years for administrative staff employed by local authorities in central and/or strategic positions in social services are shown in the table.

  Number of administrative staff

  1997

  16,400

  1998

  17,300

  1999

  18,500

  2000

  19,400

  2001

  18,800

  2002

  18,000

  These are whole-time equivalents and the figures are as at 30 September in each year. They represent a wide range of staff, including senior directing staff, planning staff, training managers and officers, registration and inspection officers and senior support staff.
  617W
  The source of these figures is form SSDS001. This is the annual return of staffing figures provided by local authorities to the Department. The Department does not hold figures on staff employed indirectly by authorities, or employed by the independent sector.

  Stroke Units
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to his answer of 27 October 2003,Official Report, column 99W, on stroke, how the stroke units that do not have rehabilitation stroke beds seek to rehabilitate their patients; [138930]

  (2) pursuant to his answers of 27 October 2003, Official Report, column 99W and 23 October 2003, Official Report, column 736W, on strokes, whether he intends that specialist stroke units should have separate acute care and rehabilitation units; and whether a combined unit is sufficient to meet the stroke service target. [139011]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The stroke service model in the national service framework for older people states that an integrated stroke service will involve specialist stroke services providing acute care and rehabilitation. Decisions on how that rehabilitation will be provided are best taken at a local level. Different models of care may emerge, but we anticipate that most trusts will establish a rehabilitation stroke unit.

  The target of all general hospitals that care for people with stroke to have a specialised stroke service by April 2004, as described in the stroke service model, is well on its way to being met. 94 per cent. of the hospitals that provide stroke care now have a specialised stroke service.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which general hospitals which care for people who have had strokes have not developed plans to introduce a specialised stroke service from 2004. [137932]

  Dr. Ladyman
  171 out of 181 hospitals which provide stroke services are planning to meet the target on time. Officials are in discussions with those who may not meet the target and hope to meet them in the near future to identify what central support we can provide to help them achieve the target.

  Supported Accommodation
  Mr. Keith Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers a local authority has to place an adult whose family live in that local authority in supported accommodation in another local authority area; and which local authority has the financial responsibility for that adult. [138965]

  Dr. Ladyman
  When a council makes arrangements for an adult to enter residential accommodation under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948, the council should make the placement in the most appropriate accommodation to meet the individual's assessed need subject to the National Assistance Act 1948 (Choice of Accommodation) Directions 1992. In doing so the placing council may place the individual in residential accommodation its own area or in the area of another council in England. Generally, no matter where the individual is placed, the placing council retains 618W
  care management and financial responsibility for the individual for as long as he remains in residential accommodation under section 21.

  Waiting List Deaths
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died while on a waiting list for an operation in each national health service hospital in(a) London and (b) the London borough of Havering in (i) 1995, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2001 and (v) 2002. [137323]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for surgery in the London borough of Havering on 31 December(a) 2002, (b) 2001, (c) 2000, (d) 1999, (e) 1998 and (f) 1997. [137328]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not held centrally.

  Information for individual trusts and specialties is available on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for health how many people are waiting for an operation in each of the London boroughs. [137332]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Information for individual trusts and specialties is available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of work related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work related stress, and at what cost, what procedures have been put in place to reduce work related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136858]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department holds no data on reported cases of work related stress, so we cannot identify costs. Central records on compensation payments do not record work-related stress separately.

  The Department has a number of procedures in place to help managers and staff to be aware of and to reduce work-related stress.

  The Department is committed to its legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for employees and its commitment to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost generally due to work related injuries and illness arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.

  Working Time Directive
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the Working Time Directive on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [136134]
  619W
  Mr. Hutton
  The Working Time Directive (WTD) came into force for all staff in the national health service, with the exception of junior doctors in training, in 1998 and has already been effectively implemented. From August 2004, doctors in training will be subject to a limit of 58 hours a week under the WTD. A substantial programme of work is currently under way to support implementation within the NHS in the context of providing safe and effective services. Trusts have been asked to provide action plans for compliance with the Directive in respect of doctors in training by 31 December, to be agreed with their strategic health authorities.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the implementation of the European Working Time Directive on(a) hospital waiting times and (b) junior doctor training. [137069]

  Mr. Hutton
  Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are assessing the readiness of trusts to comply with the Working Time Directive (WTD) for doctors in training and continuing to deliver service priorities, including waiting times. Trusts have been asked to provide action plans for compliance with the WTD in respect of doctors in training by 31 December, to be agreed with their SHAs. A substantial programme of work is underway to support implementation and WTD pilots are beginning to demonstrate that the right mix of solutions can be found locally to deliver improved services for patients, fairer working hours and extended opportunities across the work force.

  The pilots are also implementing medical training posts, which are designed to offer doctors suitable programmes of training and achieve WTD compliance. Also, the modernising medical careers programme has been informed by the requirements of the WTD. These initiatives, together with discussions taking place with the Medical Royal Colleges, are designed to ensure that doctors continue to receive the high quality training that they and their patients deserve.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had on the implementation of the European Working Time Directive in the health sector in other EU countries. [137070]

  Mr. Hutton
  Ministers and officials at the Department held discussions with counterparts in other member states throughout the previous negotiation and subsequent implementation of the European Working Time Directive (WTD).

  Further to the recent announcement of a Commission Review of the WTD, which they were required to undertake, we continue to actively engage with fellow member states to ensure that the interests of health workers and the national health service are protected. We expect the Commission to publish their proposals in late November and we continue to work to try and influence the content of this communication.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Abattoirs
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards small abattoirs; [137247]

  (2) how many slaughterhouse premises have closed in the last 12 months; and what effect this has had on increasing journey times of livestock to slaughter within the United Kingdom. [137269]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Slaughtering of livestock for human consumption is a commercial activity provided in response to the market, and livestock producers are free to choose which abattoirs to use. According to information provided by The Food Standards Agency, 25 red meat abattoirs had their licences terminated in the United Kingdom over the last 12 months.

  The Government support the robust enforcement of rules protecting animal welfare during transport. However, they do not attempt to manage the sector in a dirigiste way, including the numbers and locations of abattoirs.

  As part of the wider Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, we are working with industry to help secure a network of abattoirs and meat cutting plants including small enterprises. As part of our work, we are finalising data on the structure of the sector and this should help in the further development of strategic policies. We are already encouraging the use of investment grants within the England Rural Development Programme to help improve industry structure, processing and marketing. In addition, we are committing significant resources to the Red Meat Industry Forum and are actively participating in its work to improve the competitiveness of the red meat supply chain.

  Agricultural Subsidies
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) UK and (b) other EU countries she estimates would be affected if (i) 300,000 euro, (ii) 250,000 euro and (iii) 200,000 euro limits were placed upon public support for agricultural holdings. [135771]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  England would be affected by each of these limits. Questions regarding the payment of direct grants and subsidies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should be directed to the devolved authorities in Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Administration.

  According to commission figures, in the 2000 EU financial year 11 of the 14 member states excluding Greece would have been affected by each of these limits. Statistics are not available for Greece.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm holdings in(a) the UK and (b) each member state she estimates would be affected if the EU were to place a 300,000 euro limit on the payment it makes; and how many euros would be held back from agricultural support under such a system. [135772]
  621W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 October 2002,Official Report, column 314W. We have not made an assessment of what funds would be generated in this hypothetical policy scenario.

  According to figures from the European Commission, in the 2000 EU financial year, 11 of the 14 member states excluding Greece would have been affected by each of these limits. Statistics are not available for Greece.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to her Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case(a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if she will make a statement. [137883]

  Alun Michael
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 November 2003,Official Report, column 628W. From information held centrally, Defra and its agencies have let no contracts with Bechtel.

  Scottish Beef Exports
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Scottish produced beef has been exported by(a) weight and (b) value in the last five years for which figures are available; and how much of these exports comprised (i) beef of Scottish origin and (ii) beef of foreign origin. [135827]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  This is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

  For information, the following table shows UK exports of beef in the last five years.

  Exports of beef

  Tonnes

  £000

  1998

  4,884

  12,157

  1999

  5,647

  19,720

  2000

  5,387

  20,983

  2001

  5,409

  18,763

  2002

  5,318

  18,057

  Sources:

  HM Customs and Excise

  Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Consultancy Trade & IT, ESD, DEFRA

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements she will put in place to assist dairy farmers affected by herd breakdowns as a result of bovine tuberculosis. [138028]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are already a number of measures in place to help farmers, including dairy farmers, with herds affected by bovine TB. Compensation is paid at the market rate for all animals slaughtered under TB control measures and in late 2002 we introduced licensed movements of non-reactor cattle on to and off farms under restriction, subject to veterinary risk assessment. In seeking 622W
  ways to assist farmers dealing with TB, a balance must be struck between reducing the burden on industry and effective disease control.

  We have a wide ranging research programme in place which is seeking, amongst other things, to develop a vaccine for TB, to improve diagnosis of the disease and establish how bovine TB is spread. All farmers are likely to benefit from the outcomes of the research. The bovine TB programme is under review and we will be consulting on proposals for a new long-term strategy, and on short term policy options, around the end of the year.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of cattle which are awaiting tests to identify bovine tuberculosis. [138029]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  At the end of September 2003 there were just over 3,300 cattle herds awaiting bovine tuberculosis tests. Details of the number of overdue herd tests are published each month on the Defra website at defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/stats/index.htm

  The number of individual animals awaiting tests is not available.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of(a) the funding for and (b) the number of veterinary surgeons which would be required to ensure there was no waiting list for cattle tests to identify bovine tuberculosis. [138030]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In 2002/03 we spent £14 million on TB testing to bring the backlog of 27,000 overdue tests built up during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) under control. We expect to spend in the region of £10.3 million on the testing programme in this financial year.

  At the end of September 2003 the number of outstanding herd tests had been reduced to just over 3,300. This is about the same level as that prior to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The rolling nature of the testing programme means that herd tests are falling due all the time and we are therefore unlikely to reduce the overdue list to zero.

  We propose to consult on additional testing (pre and post-movement testing and changes to testing frequencies) as part of a short term measures package and are preparing estimates of the veterinary resource input for such proposals.

  We recently consulted on proposals to permit suitably trained and competent non-veterinarians to carry out TB tests. Responses are still being analysed. However, there is no intention in the proposal to require local veterinary practices to use lay testers.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what system she has in place to monitor bovine TB factor compensation payments; and whether her Department collates and publishes the results of monitoring. [136411]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Bovine TB compensation payments are based on the market value of the animals. The valuations are agreed between the Department and the farmer, or between professional valuers working on behalf of the Department and on behalf of farmers.
  623W
  A consultation on proposals to rationalise existing compensation arrangements for all notifiable animal diseases is underway. The main aim of that exercise will be to increase transparency and operational simplicity by creating a single approach for all notifiable diseases. In the interim, the Department is considering what can be done to monitor valuers and the level of valuations in recognition of deficiencies in the current system which were highlighted in recent audit reports.

  The Department publishes aggregated data on the numbers of stock slaughtered and compensation paid in Great Britain in the annual report of the Chief Veterinary Officer.

  Foxes
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the(a) State Veterinary Service and (b) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about the re-homing of captured foxes. [138378]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]The release of foxes and other wild animals from animal rehabilitation centres is an issue that is being considered as part of our consideration of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill. We hope to be able to propose that animal rehabilitation centres should be licensed and required to operate to a code of practice, including provisions for a code for the release of wild animals. Discussions on the rehabilitation of wild animals have included representatives of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the State Veterinary Service.

  Correspondence
  Sir Michael Spicer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 24 September from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for nature conservation and fisheries. [138829]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I responded to the hon. Member on 6 November 2003.

  Crematoria
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the effect upon the cost of a cremation arising from(a) the cost of installing gas cleaning filtration systems to remove mercury emissions and (b) the need to travel a greater distance to the nearest crematorium if closures take place; [137918]

  (2) what representations she has received about the review being undertaken by the Environment Agency's Local Authority Unit into the Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessing Costs for crematoria; [137919]

  (3) what estimate has been made of the cost of fitting gas cleaning filtration systems into crematoria; [138017]

  (4) what estimate has been made of the number of crematoria which would be likely to close if there was a requirement to fit cleaning and filtration systems; [138018]
  624W
  (5)what plans she has to conduct (a) quantified and (b) qualified research into mercury emissions from crematoria prior to reaching a decision on whether gas cleaning filtration systems should be fitted; [138019]

  (6) what account she will take on any decision to enforce the fitting of filtration systems into United Kingdom crematoria of trends on levels of mercury emissions; [138020]

  (7) what assessment she has made of the content of the Local Authority Unit report into Best Available Techniques Not Entailing Excessive Costs (BATNEEC) for crematoria; and what representations she has received which disagree with the report's recommendations. [138563]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Estimates of the impacts of controlling mercury from crematoria were contained in a consultation paper the Department issued on 7 May 2003. A summary of the responses to the consultation has been placed on the Defra website at www. defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/crematoria

  The main interim conclusions reached from this consultation exercise are as follows:
  reducing emissions of mercury from crematoria should aim to be achieved without forcing any crematoria closures due to physical constraints such as insufficiency of space or heritage considerations
  a requirement to remove teeth prior to cremation is not acceptable
  the next step should be to explore developing a fair mechanism for reducing emissions from only a proportion of existing crematoria
  any improvements required for existing crematoria should be spread over a number of years
  detailed proposals on the basis of the above will be subject to full consultation in due course
  new crematoria should be required to install mercury abatement.

  Dairy Sector
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to support dairy farmers in(a) Lancashire and (b) the UK. [136036]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Dairy farmers in Lancashire, in common with the rest of the UK, benefit from expenditure on the dairy CAP worth nearly 2 billion euros across the EU15. This expenditure will increase with the introduction of direct payments to dairy farmers from 2004.

  We believe that in the long term the future of the dairy sector is best secured through pursuing the objectives of our Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food. We have made a grant of nearly £0.5 million to the Food Chain and we have supported the establishment of English Food and Farming Partnerships, a new industry led body that has been set up specifically to support and encourage collaborative activity across all agricultural sectors. Furthermore my noble friend Lord Whitty has been chairing meetings of a Dairy Supply Chain Forum made up of senior figures from across the diary sector. This Forum and its sub-groups have been examining ways in which collaborative action can promote supply chain efficiency, and how levels of innovation and new

  625W
  products development might be increased, and considering the likely impact of the CAP reform package on the dairy sector. It also intends to consider the kinds of changes that the sector might need to make to adjust to the new environment created by the reforms.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy firms went out of business in the last year; and what assessment she has made of the causes. [137285]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that in 2002, 50 enterprises classified as manufacturers of dairy products were de-registered for VAT. This compares to 525 enterprises under this classification registered for VAT at the end of 2002. Although these figures may be indicative of the number of firms which went out of business, the Government have made no assessment of the reasons for these de-registrations, and it should be noted that de-registration can occur for reasons other than an enterprise ceasing to trade, such as its turnover falling below the VAT threshold.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what arrangements she has put in place to evaluate the effect of the farm gate price of raw milk on average net(a) income and (b) profit of dairy farms in the United Kingdom; [137893]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the threshold of the farm gate price of raw milk that would enable dairy farming to be economically viable. [137894]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Department monitors incomes on dairy farms through the annual Farm Business Survey and also, from time to time, via special studies into the economics of milk production. Incomes for the years ended February 2002 and February 2003 on a range of farm types, including dairy farms, will be published by the Department at the end of this month. Forecast incomes for the year ending February 2004 will be published in January 2004. In regard to economic viability, there are a number of factors that influence economic performance, including milk yield, milk price and efficiency of input use and these all vary from farm to farm. The wide range in economic performance across dairy farms is reflected in the wide range in the break even ex-farm milk price.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the current proposals for Common Agricultural Policy reform on the farm gate price of milk. [137895]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  When fully implemented, the reforms agreed in June in Luxembourg will reduce the support price for butter by 10 per cent. more than the 15 per cent. reduction originally agreed for both butter and skimmed milk powder under Agenda 2000 (i.e. a 25 per cent. cut in the support price for butter). If farm gate prices were to fall to the same extent, the price per litre might be reduced by a further 0.95p beyond the impact of Agenda 2000. However, we share the European Commission's assessment that farm gate prices are unlikely to settle at this level: indeed, the overall package of compensation agreed reflects this. (Producers will be compensated through an increase in 626W
  the level of direct payments of a further 0.74ppl over and above the compensation originally agreed in Agenda 2000.) The figures quoted above are based on an exchange rate of 70p/euro.

  Our economic assessment indicates that decoupling of direct payments from production will have a beneficial effect on farm incomes; we would expect the main dairy-specific price impact to be in relation to the value of milk quota.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the competitive position of the dairy processing industry in each EU member state. [137246]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  KPMG, in its report on "Prices and Profitability in the British Dairy Chain", which was commissioned by the Milk Development Council and published earlier this year, found that in 1997 (the most recent year for which UK data was available), apparent labour productivity in the UK dairy processing sector was somewhat below the EU average and significantly lower than in the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria and France. However, there has been significant investment in larger, more efficient, dairy plant in the UK since 1997 and this gap may well have closed.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with(a) supermarkets and (b) dairy farmers regarding the price of milk. [136035]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  While the Government share producers' concerns over the low farmgate price of milk, price negotiations between producers and processors, or processors and supermarkets, are a private commercial matter in which the Government cannot and should not get involved, as long as competition rules are respected.

  The Secretary of State has had no formal meetings with representatives of the dairy industry or retailers to discuss milk prices. However, Ministers frequently meet with representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues. Matters affecting the whole dairy supply chain are regularly discussed at the forum chaired by my noble friend Lord Whitty.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the growth of the United Kingdom milk and milk products industry over the next(a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years. [137292]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  A study commission by Defra, the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland by the Centre for Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics at the University of Manchester, which was published in April 2002, concluded that on balance the elimination of dairy market support and milk quotas, together with compensating decoupled direct payments would not result in a significant change in UK milk production. It also concluded that such a reform of the dairy CAP would result in dynamic benefits to the processing sector as it moved from the production of commodity products to value-added products. Nevertheless, this study could not predict and could therefore not consider the actual
  627W
  outcome of the agreement reached on CAP reform in June. Under the umbrella of the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, which is chaired by my noble Friend Lord Whitty, Defra is co-funding with the Milk Development Council and the Dairy Industry Association, supported by the National Farmers Union, a study on the impacts of the agreement on Dairy CAP reform and some of the options available to the UK. Preliminary results for this work should be available in December, with a final report published in January. Once this is complete, we intend to work with the industry through the Forum to consider the long-term implications and the adjustments the sector will need to make to the new environment.

  Egg Industry
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures she has put in place to assess the effect of tariff reductions on egg imports on the UK's egg industry. [138034]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There is still a considerable way to go in the WTO negotiations on tariff reductions before consideration can be given to the level of reduction applying to individual products. But we are well aware of the egg industry's concerns and we will do all we can to ensure the most favourable outcome possible for UK producers.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what direct subsidies are available to egg producers in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) France and (c) Germany. [138035]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Given that the CAP regime for eggs is a very light one, it does not provide direct subsidies for EU egg producers. Some limited financial assistance is available to the UK egg industry under the England Rural Development Programme and Regional Selective Assistance. We do not hold information on the extent to which other member states make similar assistance available to their egg producers.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what conditions producers are required to meet to be licensed to receive export refunds for egg and poultry products; how many licences have been issued to UK farmers; and what level of export refunds are available to licence holders. [138036]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In order to receive export refunds for egg and poultry products the applicant must be registered with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). Export licences are required where quantities to be exported exceed certain amounts. Applicants for export licences must be natural or legal persons who, at the time applications are made, are able to prove to the satisfaction of the RPA that they have engaged in trade in the egg, or poultry, sector for at least 12 months.

  Within the period of 1 November 2002 and 1 November 2003, 162 egg licences and 395 poultry licences were issued to UK farmers.
  628W
  The level of export refund is determined by product (CN) code. Different egg/poultry products will have different product codes and rates of export refund, however for the period 1 November 2002 to 1 November 2003 the highest and lowest rates prevailing were:
  Egg products—lowest 1.70 euros/100gs; highest 75 euros/ 100kgs
  Poultry Products—lowest 0.80 euros/100kgs; highest 40 euros/100kgs

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable is for determining whether United Kingdom egg producers may continue to use enriched cages for housing laying hens. [138077]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The future of enriched cages will be reviewed on an EU basis when the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive 99/74/EC is next considered by the Agriculture Council in 2005.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the conclusion of the European Union's Agricultural Research Department report that under EU Council directive 99/74/EC on the Welfare of Laying Hens, EU countries will not be able to compete in their home egg market after 2012; and if she will make a statement. [138078]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government will consider this report along with other economic assessments in preparation for the review of the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive 99/74/EC in 2005.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to assist UK egg producers to compete in(a) European and (b) world wide markets. [138079]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Subsidies to compete in the EU market would be incompatible with the principles of the Single Market. The EU egg regime provides for some limited export refunds in respect of egg exports to third countries.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will press the European Union to bring forward measures to enable EU countries to maintain their market share in the European egg market. [138080]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK will continue to play an important role in formulating EU policy in this area.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume in tonnes of shelled eggs was(a) produced by United Kingdom farms, (b) produced by United Kingdom farms and sold at United Kingdom retail outlets and (c) produced by United Kingdom farms and exported in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and to which countries shelled eggs were exported. [138083]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  (a) The following table shows the production of shelled eggs in the United Kingdom for the last 10 years:
  629W

  UK egg production

  Thousand tonnes

  Of which: For human consumption

  Total Production of eggs1

  Total

  Eggs sold in shell

  Eggs Processed

  1993

  202

  180

  158

  22

  1994

  202

  179

  155

  24

  1995

  199

  176

  151

  26

  1996

  200

  177

  150

  26

  1997

  206

  181

  153

  29

  1998

  206

  181

  151

  30

  1999

  194

  169

  138

  32

  2000

  195

  170

  139

  31

  2001

  209

  184

  153

  31

  2002

  222

  196

  164

  32

  1 Includes eggs for human consumption, eggs for hatching, hatching eggs for export and waste

  (b) There are no figures available on the volume of United Kingdom production of shelled eggs that is sold at retail outlets in the United Kingdom. However, the following table provides the volume of total UK production for human consumption less exports which will provide an indication of the volume of UK

  Tonnes

  Country

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Irish Republic

  2,853

  1,868

  2,142

  4,875

  6,529

  3,790

  3,808

  4,896

  4,177

  4,241

  Netherlands

  4,052

  2,280

  2,666

  693

  5,074

  5,407

  582

  258

  184

  120

  Italy

  352

  419

  713

  549

  262

  3,091

  2,054

  3,126

  260

  63

  France

  216

  400

  436

  398

  350

  3,235

  4,334

  900

  372

  198

  Germany

  438

  373

  176

  494

  1,372

  2,334

  695

  788

  684

  349

  Denmark

  57

  200

  89

  79

  321

  4,191

  110

  39

  23

  18

  Belgium-Lux

  1,690

  464

  1,518

  174

  562

  191

  8

  29

  41

  Spain

  204

  442

  478

  276

  363

  798

  484

  488

  550

  591

  Saudi Arabia

  19

  0

  0

  0

  132

  271

  747

  1,612

  Bulgaria

  2,470

  1

  Hungary

  3

  21

  9

  28

  8

  422

  6

  48

  167

  905

  Czech Republic

  2

  4

  19

  1,222

  11

  29

  57

  U.S.A.

  131

  177

  69

  24

  8

  35

  95

  136

  84

  23

  Croatia

  4

  8

  4

  13

  126

  285

  176

  103

  19

  27

  Austria

  4

  4

  31

  0

  7

  572

  Turkey

  0

  5

  12

  11

  4

  169

  279

  Greece

  2

  3

  1

  0

  331

  Others

  188

  169

  278

  275

  101

  202

  240

  75

  94

  246

  Total figure

  10,212

  6,828

  8,589

  7,913

  15,105

  27,673

  12,737

  11,174

  7,605

  9,632

  Note:

  Please note that figures of 0 are less than 0.5 tonnes.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume in tones of whole egg powder was(a) produced in the United Kingdom, (b) produced in the United Kingdom and sold in United Kingdom retail outlets and (c) produced in the United Kingdom and exported in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and to which countries whole egg powder was exported. [138084]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No figures are available on the production of whole egg powder in the United Kingdom, nor on the volume of egg powder sold through United Kingdom retail outlets.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the reasons for the egg production costs in the United Kingdom; and what assessment she has 630W
  production sold onto the UK market (including retail, catering, food processing and hatching eggs) UK Production of shelled eggs less exports (thousand tonnes).

  UK production of shelled eggs less exports

  Thousand tonnes

  1993

  191

  1994

  195

  1995

  190

  1996

  192

  1997

  191

  1998

  178

  1999

  181

  2000

  184

  2001

  201

  2002

  212

  Note:

  Includes table eggs, hatching eggs and other eggs for human consumption

  (c) The following table provides details of shell egg exports over the last 10 years. This will be mainly of UK origin but may include some re-exports of imported eggs.

  made of the reason for the primary egg production costs in (a) Poland, (b) the Ukraine and (c) the USA. [138085]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have made no assessment of the costs of egg production in those countries, but some of this information has been produced by the egg industry. Costs will depend on a number of different factors such as the costs of land and labour, inputs, transport etc.

  Fishing Fleet
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what targets she has set for the decommissioning of the UK fishing fleet; and if she will take steps to ensure that the oldest boats and lines constitute the same proportion of boats decommissioned as they do of the entire fleet; [138089]
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  (2) whether the UK's decommissioning plans are supported by binary decommissioning of fishing vessels within EU member states; [138090]

  (3) what estimate she has made of the likely number of vessels in the UK fishing fleet in each of the next 10 years; [138091]

  (4) what assessment she has made of the effects on fishing communities of the decommissioning of the UK fishing fleet; [138092]

  (5) what estimate she has made of the cost of a benefits package in relation to decommissioning of the UK fishing fleet; [138093]

  (6) what estimate she has made of the cost of the process of decommissioning the UK fishing fleet; [138094]

  (7) what plans there are for decommissioning fishing fleets in other EU member states; [138096]

  (8) what branches of the Civil Service are covered by paragraph 14(7) of Statutory Instrument 2669. [138097]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The objective of the 2003 decommissioning schemes in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland is to remove 15–20 per cent. of the 2001 effort on cod in the North Sea and west of Scotland fisheries (Northern Ireland have also targeted vessels catching cod in the Irish Sea). We are therefore focusing the schemes on those vessels which spend most time fishing for cod. The age of the vessels is not relevant in that context.

  Other member states will decide for themselves whether a decommissioning scheme is appropriate to their particular circumstances. However the effort control measures that are in place under the Community's 2003 Days at Sea scheme apply to the fleets of all European Union countries fishing in the North Sea and west of Scotland—not simply the UK.

  While the Government are keen to reduce overcapacity within the European fleet, we have set no targets for the future size of the UK fleet.

  We are working with the Regional Development Agencies to ensure that the full range of Government support and regional funding is made available as appropriate to individuals and businesses in fishing communities in order to enable them to deal with the consequences of decommissioning.

  More than £60 million has been made available within the UK for decommissioning and associated financial support in 2003.

  It is for applicants to the schemes to decide the basis for their decommissioning bids, but these may include any anticipated costs of decommissioning e.g scrapyard fees.

  The provisions of the decommissioning scheme in England (as defined in Statutory Instrument 2669) are enforced by the staff of the Department's Sea Fisheries Inspectorate.

  Food Standards
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to ensure that consumer interests are represented on food advisory groups. [137257]
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  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The expert committees and working parties that advise the Food Standards Agency (FSA), including those committees which also advise the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and/or the Department of Health, all have at least one consumer representative member. The FSA regularly holds meetings with consumer groups to discuss and explain food policy issues and consumer groups are always included in FSA consultations.

  Animal By-products
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has a database of registered animal by-products approved premises available to enforcement agencies, with particular reference to the Meat Hygiene Service. [137589]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  As required by Regulation (EC) 1774/ 2002 (which lays down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption), Defra maintains information on various premises that require approval to be able to operate e.g. pet food plants. This information is available to the Meat Hygiene Service for enforcement purposes and can be obtained from local Defra animal health offices (who issue the approvals).

  Import Bans
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on powers to ban importation of foods whose production standards are illegal in this country. [137282]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  All consignments of animal products (including meat and fish) imported into the UK from other EU member states must have been produced in accordance with the rules laid down in Community legislation. Imports from third countries must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those in the legislation. Among other things, the legislation sets out the licensing, structural and veterinary supervision requirements to be applied in production plants and each consignment must be accompanied by appropriate health certification.

  If there is an outbreak of disease or if any other phenomenon occurs which is likely to present a risk to human or animal health, Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of products from all, or parts, of the country concerned.

  Any consignment of animal products imported from third countries are subject to veterinary inspection on entering the EU to ensure that conditions of import have been complied with and to ensure that they have remained in a satisfactory condition during transport. Food not of animal origin imported from countries outside the EU is also subject to routine food safety controls at the point of entry to the UK under imported food legislation. Any products that do not meet appropriate requirements may be rejected and either re-exported or destroyed.
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  Food from other EU member states is in free circulation within the EU and is not subject to routine checks at UK ports. Such food can be subject to import checks where there is information to support such action. All imported food, including food from other EU member states, may be inspected at the point of destination in the UK and is subject to the same controls and checks at retail level.

  Food Labelling
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the labelling by country of origin of meat sold in the United Kingdom. [137281]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  European Union rules require country of origin labelling for fresh or frozen veal and beef cuts and veal and beef mince sold prepacked or non-prepacked. For other meats, and for processed veal and beef, country of origin need not be given unless failure to do so might mislead a purchaser as to its true origin. Where origin information is given voluntarily it must not be false or misleading.

  The Food Standards Agency has issued guidance notes for industry and enforcement authorities, which emphasise the need to ensure that origin labels are clearly worded to avoid misleading consumers, for example by applying 'British' labelling to products like ham or bacon prepared from imported meat.

  The Government are pressing at EU level for compulsory origin labelling on all meats and some meat products, and for tighter controls on misleading origin declarations. It welcomes the European Commission's identification of rules on origin labelling as one of the key issues to be considered in its current review of EU labelling rules.

  Waste Management
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what is being done to assess the impact of the different waste management practices required as a consequence of the(a) Landfill Directive and (b) the Waste Management Strategy. [137530]

  Mr. Morley
  A number of studies looking at the health impacts of different waste management options are being carried out by the Environment Agency. Following recommendations in the Strategy Unit report Waste not, Want not, and the 2002 Pre-Budget Report, the Government commissioned a review of existing literature and evidence of the health and environmental effects of different waste management: options. The first phase of the report has looked at facilities which handle municipal solid waste and waste of a similar nature. This is now being peer reviewed by the Royal Society and is due to be published around the time of the Pre-Budget Report.

  The Government will consider whether there are further research requirements in the light of the conclusions of the Review.

  Mobile Telephone Costs
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much she spent on official mobile phone calls in 2002. [132119]

  Margaret Beckett
  Records of itemised phone bills are not kept beyond six months. Usage is fully in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Ministerial Code.

  Market Towns
  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessments she has made of the effect of the Government's policy on market towns in(a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland since the proposals were published; and if she will make a statement. [138470]

  Alun Michael
  In Summer 2002, 76 out of the 120 towns that were then involved in the Market Towns Initiative (MTI) responded to a questionnaire survey. The findings provided a snapshot of what had been achieved in the first year of the MTI, particularly in four key areas: establishing partnerships; community involvement; getting the best out of the health check, vision and action plan; and project successes. This research note can be found at: http://www.countryside.gov.uk/Publications/ articles/crn_60.asp. No specific analysis of any town, district or county was undertaken. However, this year the Countryside Agency is working in partnership with Defra to carry out a more intensive analysis of the problems and achievements arising in the 200 + towns of the Market Towns Initiative. This report is due to be published in May 2004.

  Organic Farming/Biotechnology Research
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government spent in 2001–02 on research into(a) organic farming and (b) biotechnology. [137248]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The table shows Defra spending in the financial year 2001–02 on research into organic farming and biotechnology.

  £ million

  Organic fanning

  2.127

  Biotechnology

  29.7

  Biotechnology is defined as the application of biological organisms, systems and processes to manufacturing and service industries. This definition covers genetic modification (GM) but goes much wider to include fused cell techniques, protein engineering, fermentation and cell culture, production of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies (and many other areas) all of which have applications in conventional agriculture.

  Poultry Meat
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what procedures she has put in place to assess the impact of Brazilian turkey imports into the United Kingdom on the UK's turkey producing industry. [138037]
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  Mr. Bradshaw
  Additional duties can be imposed on poultry meat imports from outside the Community if prices are unrealistically low and are threatening market stability. However, under WTO rules these additional duties can be applied only to a limited number of chicken and turkey products. Action in this area is taken at EU level.

  Earlier this year, the European Commission began investigating industry concerns over the misdescription of basted turkeys as a means of evading proper duties. As part of this, we submitted information on turkey imports into the U.K. Those investigations are continuing.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the volume in tonnes of(a) poultry meat produced in the UK, (b) poultry meat produced in the UK and sold at UK retail outlets and (c) poultry meat produced in the UK and exported overseas was in the last year for which figures are available. [138032]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) 1,534 thousand tonnes of poultry meat was produced in the UK in 2002 (the last year for which figures are available).

  (b) There are no figures available on the volume of UK poultry meat that is sold at UK retail outlets. However, the volume of UK production less exports which was 1,320 thousand tonnes in 2002 provides an indication of the volume of UK production sold onto the UK market (including retail, catering and the food processing sector).

  (c) 214 thousand tonnes of poultry meat (carcase weight equivalent) was exported from the UK in 2002 (the last year for which figures are available). This will mainly be of UK origin but may include some re-exports of imported poultry meat.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what mechanisms are in place to ensure that poultry meat imports from(a) the European Union and (b) third country suppliers meet the same (a) quality and (b) health and safety requirements that poultry meat producers in the UK are required to meet; [138081]

  (2) what procedures are in place to assess whether egg products imported to the United Kingdom meet the same quality standards as domestic egg products. [138086]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  All consignments of poultry meat and egg products imported into the UK from other EU member states must have been produced in accordance with the requirements laid down in Community legislation. Imports from third countries must have been produced to standards at least equivalent to those in the legislation.

  All consignments of poultry meat and egg products imported into the UK from third countries must enter at designated UK Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) where they are subject to veterinary inspections. All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 50 per cent. of consignments undergo
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  physical checks. These ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport.

  In line with Community rules, random spot checks at destination may be carried out on consignments of poultry meat and egg products imported into the UK from other EU member states.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what support the Government provides to(a) poultry meat and (b) egg producers. [138082]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government do not provide any specific support for either of these sectors. The Government readily acknowledges that both industries have excellent track records of innovation and market orientation. From their perspective, the principal need is for Government to avoid imposing unnecessary burdens or obstacles, while ensuring that environmental and animal health and welfare standards, among others, meet public requirements.

  Radioactivity in Food and the Environment
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what liaison took place between the United Kingdom regulatory bodies and the Radiation Protection Institute for Ireland in the production of the report on radioactivity in food and the environment, RIFE 8; [136721]

  (2) when she received the most recent annual report on radioactivity in food and the environment from the regulatory agencies; how members of the public may obtain this report; and if she will make a statement on the key findings of the RIFE 8 report. [136722]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Radioactivity in Food and the Environment report (RIFE 8) contains full details of the monitoring of radioactivity in food and the environment undertaken by the Food Standards Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Environment Agency and the Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland in 2002.

  The report shows that in 2002 radiation doses to the UK public as a result of man-made radioactive discharges to the environment were well below national and international limits.

  The report was published on 29 October and is available in the Library.

  The report was also sent to the Radiation Protection Institute for Ireland (RPII) and its findings will be discussed at the next biannual meeting of the UK Ireland Contact Group on Radioactivity Matters attended by the RPII and the UK regulatory bodies.

  Members of the public may obtain a hardback copy of the report (or an electronic version on CD) by writing to the Food Standards Agency at Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH. The report is free. Copies of the report may also be downloaded from the website of the Food Standards Agency at www. food.gov.uk

  Religious Slaughter
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list for each species the total number of animals religiously slaughtered in the United Kingdom for the last year for which figures are available. [137278]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Information on the number of animals and birds slaughtered by religious methods in the United Kingdom is not collected routinely.

  Information on religious slaughter in Great Britain is gathered as part of the Animal Welfare Review (carried out every two years by the Meat Hygiene Service on behalf of Defra), but the Review collects data only on a weekly basis. The latest published Animal Welfare Review contains information on Muslim (Halal) and Jewish (Kosher) slaughter gathered in 2001. The data given in the table were for the period 3 to 9 September 2001 for red meat animals, and for the period 14 to 20 May 2001 for poultry.

  Species

  Halal, stunned prior to Slaughter

  Halal, not stunned prior to slaughter

  Kosher, stunned prior to slaughter

  Kosher, not stunned prior to slaughter

  Cattle (including calves)

  1,116

  0

  0

  833

  Young lambs

  54,469

  4,028

  0

  2,277

  Other sheep

  23,589

  7,880

  0

  0

  Goats

  120

  21

  0

  0

  Broilers

  913,997

  131,656

  0

  34,728

  Hens

  128,408

  21,780

  0

  1,970

  Turkeys

  0

  0

  0

  637

  Ducks

  0

  36

  0

  476

  Religious slaughter is rarely carried out in Northern Ireland. There have been only a few instances involving a small number of sheep, and all the animals were stunned prior to slaughter.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tonnage of animals religiously slaughtered in Britain in the last year for which figures are available was exported overseas; and to which countries. [137279]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  This information is not available since there is no requirement for an exporter to supply details of the method of slaughter in order to obtain an export health certificate.

  Meat Imports
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive on the impact of the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on meat imports from South America. [133229]
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  Mr. Bradshaw
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and other Defra Ministers, have had frequent discussions with the Scottish Executive on all aspects of CAP reform, but the reform is unlikely to have any direct impact on the level of South American meat imports.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with representatives of UK meat producers on the impact of the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on meat imports from South America. [133230]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Ministers and officials have met regularly with representatives of UK meat producers such as the National Farmers Union and the National Beef Association, to discuss all aspects of CAP reform.

  Rural Payments Agency
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what target time has been set for the Rural Payments Agency to reimburse food manufacturers for the additional costs of using EU origin sugar; and if she will make a statement. [139134]

  Alun Michael
  For year 2003–04 the Rural Payments Agency has a target to pay 80 per cent. of all valid non-IACS claims within 28 days of the claims becoming processable and all claims within EU deadlines or in their absence 60 days.

  For the period 1 April 2003 to 12 November 2003 the target has been met. It is anticipated that this level of performance will be maintained throughout the 2003–04 year.

  Women in Agriculture
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding is available from the European Union for schemes to help women into agriculture. [137276]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), which is funded by Government and the European Union, provides support for rural areas, by encouraging sustainable rural businesses and thriving communities. It helps farmers and foresters respond better to consumer requirements and become more competitive, diverse, flexible and environmentally responsible. It also provides help to rural businesses and communities which need to adapt and develop. The Programme covers 10 separate schemes which provide new opportunities for farmers and others to protect and improve the countryside, to develop sustainable rural enterprises and to help rural communities to thrive. It is estimated that the Programme will provide £1.6 billion in support between 2000 and 2006. Defra believes the best way to encourage enterprise in rural areas is to provide the right economic framework and, where necessary, to target support measures e.g. rural enterprise and training, towards appropriate people. Awards of ERDP funds are made in line with principles of equal opportunities.

TRANSPORT

  Bus Services
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers used bus services in(a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire in each year since 1997. [138349]

  Mr. McNulty
  The number of bus passengers is not available for Shrewsbury and Atcham. Information included by Shropshire County Council in its latest Annual Progress Report for its Local Transport Plan showed that there were an estimated 6.3 million local bus passenger journeys in Shropshire in 2001–02, followed by 6.6 million in 2002–03. There is no reliable estimate of bus passenger journeys in Shropshire for earlier years.

  Childhood Obesity
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research his Department has commissioned into the impact of pedestrian strategies on childhood obesity; [138739]

  (2) what discussions he has had with other Departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. [138740]

  Mr. McNulty
  My Department has not commissioned specific research on this topic. We are, however, closely involved with the work of the cross-departmental Activity Coordination Team, which is developing a strategy to raise levels of physical activity among both children and adults.

  In addition, on 17 September 2003 we launched, in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills, an action plan that includes measures to promote healthy and safe travel to school on foot and by bike.

  Coastguard (Essex)
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many part-time coastguards were employed by the Essex Coastguard Service on 1 September 2003. [139510]

  Mr. McNulty
  On 1 September 2003, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency employed 56 part-time auxiliary coastguards in Essex.

  Cycling
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have died while cycling in London in each of the past 10 years. [138667]

  Mr. McNulty
  The following table shows the number of pedal cyclists killed in road accidents in Greater London in each of the last 10 years.

  Pedal cyclists killed in road accidents in Greater London

  Number

  2002

  20

  2001

  21

  2000

  14

  1999

  10

  1998

  12

  1997

  12

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  Pedal cyclists killed in road accidents in Greater London

  Number

  1996

  20

  1995

  15

  1994

  15

  1993

  18

  Total

  157

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to promote safety guidance aimed at young cyclists; and if he will make a statement. [139438]

  Mr. McNulty
  We have produced a large body of material on cycle safety aimed at younger children promoting the use of cycle helmets as well as other cycle safety messages such as conspicuousness and training. We have also developed a Cycle Sense campaign aimed at teenagers that was launched on 21 May this year. The campaign encourages teenagers to wear cycle helmets and consists of posters and a new Cycle Sense website.

  Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of the Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser Scheme has been in each year since the scheme was established; and how many advisers have been trained in each year. [138370]

  Mr. McNulty
  The regulations implementing EU Directive 96/35/EC were made in February 1999 and dangerous goods safety advisers (DGSA) had to be appointed by a qualifying undertaking from 1 January 2000. The Directive does not include a requirement for approved training. Competence is proved by the successful completion of a written examination, which leads to the award of a DGSA certificate. The first certificate was awarded in October 1998.

  The number of certificates issued in each year are as follows:

  Number

  1998–99

  75

  1999–2000

  2,237

  2000–01

  1,061

  2001–02

  389

  2002–03

  321

  The costs of undertaking the approved examinations and the issue of the vocational certificate issuing arrangements are currently £230. This is to undertake a typical examination consisting of the core module, the transport module and the class module. An additional fee of £85 is payable to undertake an additional module or class examination. As there is no formal training required, there are no records of any associated training costs. The level of training necessary will depend on the competence of the candidate.

  The Health and Safety Executive consulted with stakeholders prior to the making of the regulations. In its consultative document, the HSE estimated the quantified costs to society over a 10-year period at between £580 million and £990 million. These costs are incurred by consignors and operators of transport

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  involved with the carriage of dangerous goods by road and rail. These estimated costs have not been updated or verified.

  Driving Standards Agency
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the budget of the Driving Standards Agency is in 2003–04. [138417]

  Mr. McNulty
  The DSA is a trading fund and is not given a budget by the Department. The Agency's business plan for 2003–04 plans for an expenditure of some £110 million.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many daily(a) telephone calls and (b) website hits were received on average by the Driving Standards Agency from people trying to book a driving test, in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [138419]

  Mr. McNulty
  During the period November 2002 to October 2003, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) received 6,627,063 calls to the national test booking line. This is approximately 26,000 calls per working day.

  Figures are not available for the number of hits on the Agency's website but, during the same period, some 327,000 theory test bookings were made online. The

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Tests taken

  1,202,147

  1,334,829

  1,274,381

  1,241,364

  1,346,656

  1,510,018

  Tests passed

  579,689

  634,308

  583,960

  570,415

  605,205

  675,617

  Pass rate (percentage)

  48.22

  47.52

  45.82

  45.95

  44.94

  44.74

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving test examiners have been employed in each of the last six years, expressed as(a) head count and (b) full-time equivalents. [138421]

  Mr. McNulty
  For the last five years for which data are readily available, the average number of driving examiners employed by the Driving Standards Agency each month was:

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003 (to October)

  Headcount

  1,261.05

  1,271.08

  1,313.06

  1,391.25

  1,493.05

  Full-time equivalent

  1,257.23

  1,268.07

  1,311.34

  1,388.84

  1,488.14

  Note:

  Figures before 1999 are not held.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will press the DVLA to include a contact telephone number on their envelopes. [138612]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I am currently content that the arrangements in place at DVLA are satisfactory and I would be concerned that the inclusion of the DVLA phone number on the envelope could potentially compromise the secure delivery of valuable documents.
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  facility to book practical tests online was introduced last month, and some 7,000 customers have already booked their practical test using this method.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average waiting time for booking a driving test, broken down by area, was in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [138418]

  Mr. McNulty
  For the period November 2002 to October 2003, the waiting times for a driving test in each of the Driving Standards Agency's five areas were:

  Weeks

  Category of test

  London

  Midlands and Eastern

  Wales and Western

  Northern

  Scotland

  Car

  9.9

  9.6

  7.6

  9.8

  6.9

  Motorcycle

  3.1

  3.8

  2.5

  3.8

  2.1

  Lorry/bus

  3.6

  4.6

  2.8

  4.8

  3.6

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have(a) taken and (b) passed a driving test in each of the last six years. [138420]

  Mr. McNulty
  In the last six years the number of people taking and passing practical driving tests, and pass rates, were:

  EU Committees
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Committee for the implementation of the Community framework for co-operation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution, (b) the EU Committee on application of the legislation on access to the groundhandling market at Community airports and (c) the EU Technical Adaptation Committee on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present on each occasion; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present at each preparatory meeting; and if he will make a statement. [132684]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information is as follows:

  (a) During the period in question, this Committee met on 14 March 2003. It typically meets twice a year. Its agenda focuses on a five-year rolling programme of work in the field of pollution prevention and control.

  (b) There were no meetings of this Committee during the period in question.

  (c) UK involvement in this Committee is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

  UK officials consult widely and the views of the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

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  Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information covering internal discussion and advice applies.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Committee on application of the legislation on the minimum level of training for seafarers and the recognition of certificates issued by training institutes or administration of third countries and (b) the EU

  (a) Minimum level of training of seafarers and the recognition of certificates issued by training institutes or administration of third countries

  Date

  Agenda

  Attendees

  22 October 2002

  High-level meeting with representative of the member states and EEA countries.

  MCA officials

  1—To exchange views on the proposal for review of the Directive 2001/25

  6 February 2003

  Shipping Working Party 1—To discuss the text of the proposed amendments to the Directive 2001/25

  MCA, officials, UK permanent representative and Department for Transport (DfT) officials

  12 February 2003

  Shipping Working Party 1—To discuss the text of the proposed amendments to the Directive 2001/25

  MCA officials, UK permanent representative and DfT officials

  4 March 2003

  Shipping Working Party 1—To discuss the text of the proposed amendment to the Directive 2001/25

  MCA officials, UK permanent representative and DfT officials

  (b) The EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of recording equipment in road transport (tachographs) during the Danish and Greek presidencies.

  The Committee has met only once in the last 12 months, on 26 June 2003, under the Greek presidency. The Committee considered and approved editorial amendments to the technical specification to Commission Regulation (EC) 1360/2002, adapting to technical progress to Council Regulation (EEC) 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport (digital tachographs). These amendments were subsequently published as a corrigendum to that regulation. There are currently no plans for further meetings.

  For both these Committees, Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information covering internal discussion and advice applies.

  UK officials consult widely and the views of the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the EU Committee on the reciprocal recognition of national boatmasters' certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway met during the Danish and Greek presidencies; and if he will make a statement. [132721]

  Mr. McNulty
  This Committee did not meet during the period in question.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of roadworthiness tests of vehicles, (b) the EU Standing Committee for Implementation of the Directive on Marketing of Biological Products and (c) the EU Scientific Committee for occupational exposure limits to chemical agents during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the
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  Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of recording equipment in road transport (tachographs) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present on each occasion; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present at each preparatory meeting; and if he will make a statement. [132720]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information is as follows:

  Scottish Executive was present on each occasion; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present at each preparatory meeting; and if he will make a statement. [132722]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information is as follows:

  (a) There was one meeting only of this Committee during the relevant period. It was on 3 to 4 December 2002. It discussed Directives on Vehicle Emissions and Registration of vehicles. It also discussed developments on a regulatory standard on roadworthiness testing and the results of an emissions research study during the period.

  (b) and (c) UK involvement in these Committees is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

  UK officials consult widely and the views of the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are fully reflected at Committee meetings. Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information covering internal discussion and advice applies.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of meetings of the European Energy and Transport Forum during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present on each occasion; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present at each preparatory meeting; and if he will make a statement. [132729]

  Mr. McNulty
  During the period in question, the European Energy and Transport Forum met in plenary session on 8 October 2002 (inaugural meeting), 21 January 2003 and 27 June 2003. Trans-European transport networks, interoperability of road toll collection systems and infrastructure charging were its principal topics of discussion at these meetings.
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  UK officials consult widely and the views of the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are fully reflected at Committee meetings. Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information covering internal discussion and advice applies.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates and locations of meetings of(a) the EU Committee for granting Community aid in the field of trans-European networks on transport, (b) the EU Committee on the Development of trans-Europe Transport Networks and (c) the EU Committee on the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of legislation concerning the transport of dangerous goods during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present on each occasion; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present on each occasion; and if he will make a statement. [132730]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information requested is as follows.

  (a) The EU Committee for granting Community aid in the field of trans-European networks on transport met once during the period on 30 June 2003 in Brussels. The agenda comprised issues regarding the financing of the network and the projects of common interest on it.

  (b) The EU Committee on the Development of trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) met three times during the period, on 26 November 2002, 4 March 2003 and 3 June 2003 in Brussels. The agenda comprised items regarding progress towards completion of the TEN-T and its further development.

  (c) The EU Committee on the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of legislation concerning the transport of dangerous goods met on 9 December 2002 and 4 June 2003 during the period in question. It typically meets twice a year. The Committee discussed derogations and modifications of the annexes to three Directives on the transport of dangerous goods. They also discussed security measures for the transport of dangerous goods and the date of implementation of the transportable pressure equipment Directive and the work of the Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

  UK officials consult widely and the views of the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are fully reflected at Committee meetings. Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information covering internal discussion and advice applies.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on regional economies of a third runway at Heathrow Airport. [138621]

  Mr. McNulty
  The assessment of additional capacity options is based on direct benefits to passengers from allowing more people to fly and giving passengers a greater choice of timings and routes. No assessment has been made of the wider economic benefits including 646W
  those to regional economies of additional airport capacity, though some of these will be captured in the direct benefits, particularly to business passengers.

  M6 Toll Road
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the M6 toll road will become operational. [137357]

  Mr. McNulty
  The M6 Toll road is being developed by Midland Expressway Ltd. The Department is expecting them to make an announcement on the road opening date shortly.

  MOT Computerisation
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was at today's prices of the contract with Siemens Business Services to run the MOT computerisation programme; when this contract was awarded; how much has been spent to date; and how much will have been spent by the time the system is operational. [138144]

  Mr. McNulty
  The cost of the contract with Siemens Business Services (SBS) to run the computerised MOT service is £1.07 per test at today's prices. SBS have been paid nothing so far and will not receive any transaction payments until the first MOT stations are computerised.

  The MOT Computerisation Contract was awarded in 2000. Expenditure to end of 2002–03 on managing and delivering VOSA's contracted products is £8.4 million and the forecast spend from April 2003 until roll-out in May 2004 is £9.6 million.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the MOT computerisation programme; and what assessment(a) has been conducted and (b) is planned of the (i) success and (ii) value for money of its implementation. [138145]

  Mr. McNulty
  Siemens Business Services (SBS) activity since the MOT Computerisation Contract was awarded has included design, development and testing of hardware and software needed to supply the service, and they are close to concluding their testing of the system functionality. VOSA is due to begin its trials of the new service in December 2003.

  Treasury Task Force commissioned a full review of the project in January 2000 before the contract was awarded. The review concluded that the project had a high probability of success. A further review of progress by an Office of Government Commerce independent expert was conducted in July 2002. This review concluded that an amended contract, then being negotiated, should ensure the first MOT stations would be computerised by mid-February 2004.

  A third independent review of progress now under way will report by 20 November 2003.

  A readiness-for-service review, to be conducted at the end of VOSA trials, will confirm the viability of the business case and that the services and users are ready for go-live. This review will also cover value-for-money set out in the business case and approved by HM Treasury.
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  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timetable was for the introduction of the MOT computerisation programme when the contract with Siemens Business Services to run the system was awarded; and what it is now. [138146]

  Mr. McNulty
  The original contracted date for the first MOT stations to be computerised was May 2002. The earliest likely date for implementation is now mid-May 2004.

  Railway Maintenance
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on clearing railway lines of litter in each of the last five years. [138361]

  Mr. McNulty
  This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Responsibility for clearing railway lines of litter usually forms part of Network Rail infrastructure maintenance contracts and as such there is no specific budget, rather spending on litter clearance is subsumed into the general maintenance budgets.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trees have been(a) planted and (b) felled on rail embankments in each year since 1997. [138362]

  Mr. McNulty
  This is an operational matter for Network Rail who are responsible for the maintenance of over 20,000 miles of track in the UK much of which requires the management of vegetation. Detailed figures of the number of trees planted or felled are not available.

  Rail Services
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the performance against target was for(a) reliability, (b) punctuality and (c) safety of rail services between Shrewsbury and (i) Wolverhampton, (ii) Hereford, (iii) Chester and (iv) Aberystwyth in the last year for which figures are available. [138348]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority publishes performance information in its six monthly "On Track" publication, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. Information is provided for the services of each operator in aggregate, not by specific routes. There is no single performance measurement or target for 'safety'.

  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the line from Weaver Junction to Liverpool Lime Street will be modernised to enable trains to run at 125 mph. [138922]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority's "West Coast Main Line Strategy", published in June 2003, envisages that the modernisation of the line from London to Crewe will be completed in autumn 2004 and the Crewe-Weaver Junction-Liverpool section in summer 2005, including sections with a maximum line speed of 125mph. With the introduction of 125-mph trains, journey times between London and Liverpool will be substantially reduced from autumn 2004.

  Roadworks
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of how many 648W
  roadwork cones are (a) accidentally destroyed and (b) stolen in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [138359]

  Mr. McNulty
  Figures for the number of cones accidentally destroyed or stolen are not recorded.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrians were injured in accidental falls into holes dug as a result of roadworks in each of the last five years. [138360]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Highways Agency has no record of any pedestrian being injured in accidental falls into holes dug as a result of roadworks on its roads, in any of the last five years.

  My Department does not hold figures centrally for local authority roads.

  Road Schemes
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has undertaken into the environmental effects of proposals by Norfolk County Council to build a road through the Ringland Valley. [138209]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None. Options for a Northern Distributor Road form part of a review of the Norwich Area Transport Strategy currently being undertaken by Norfolk County Council. It has not taken a decision in principle on the need for the road and so there have been no proposals put forward for assessment by the Secretary of State.

  Vehicles (Tinted Windows)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has made to the concerns represented by the Glass and Glazing Federation about the impact on the owners of vehicles with lightly tinted windows of proposed amendments to Regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations. [138735]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Officials have already met with representatives from the Glass and Glazing Federation and have fully answered their concerns.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue guidance on how the proposed amendments to Regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations should be enforced in respect of existing vehicles already fitted with(a) lightly and (b) heavily tinted windows. [138737]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Guidelines have already been issued to the Department's own enforcement staff in the Vehicle Operator Services Agency. These guidelines have been copied for information to the police.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures are planned to help combat opium production in Afghanistan. [138429]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK is the lead nation on Counter Narcotics (CN) in Afghanistan and has a PSA target to contribute to a reduction in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan by 70 per cent. in five years with elimination in 10 years. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UK are working closely with the Afghan Transitional Administration to help them implement their National Drug Control Strategy.

  The UK has developed a plan of activities to support the Afghan authorities in implementing their Strategy, including law enforcement, institution building, drugs demand reduction and alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers.

  As the lead nation, the UK has committed £70 million over three years and posted additional personnel to Afghanistan to lead this work. It is also planned to hold a counter-narcotics conference in February 2004 in Kabul, involving Afghan and international representation, to encourage further international support for the delivery of the Afghan strategy. I will co-host this with President Karzai.

  Ascension Island
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he next plans to make an official visit to Ascension Island; and for what purpose; [139102]

  (2) if he will meet the hon. Members for (a) Totnes, (b) Vale of Glamorgan and (c) Cheltenham to discuss St. Helena before his departure to Ascension Island. [139103]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Ascension Island in the near future.

  However, I will pay a short visit to Ascension Island during a brief stop-over on the way to the Falkland Islands on 26 November 2003. During this visit I have no plans to meet the Legislative Council of St Helena, but will meet the Island Council of Ascension.

  The Foreign Secretary has no plans to meet with the hon. Member for Totnes, my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Smith), and with the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) to discuss St. Helena. However, I shall meet with them before my visit to discuss St. Helena and Ascension Island.

  Embassy Closures
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British embassies(a) have closed and (b) are expected to close in financial year 2003–04. [137100]
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  Mr. Rammell
  1 refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry) on 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1112W.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign embassies in the United Kingdom(a) have closed and (b) are expected to close in financial year 2003–04. [137101]

  Mr. Straw
  To date, no foreign diplomatic missions have closed in the United Kingdom in financial year 2003–04.

  The Seychelles Government have informed us of their intention to close their High Commission in London on 31 December 2003.

  Colombia
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring takes place to ensure that military aid to Colombia does not indirectly support paramilitary action against civilians. [137720]

  Mr. Rammell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence gave on 10 November 2003,Official Report, columns 46–47W.

  Community Liaison Unit
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the work of the Community Liaison Unit. [137534]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Community Liaison Unit (CLU) is based in the Human Rights Section of Consular Directorate in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It provides assistance to British Nationals in danger of a forced marriage overseas.

  The CLU covers three main areas of work:

  Casework:

  Since the establishment of the CLU in October 2000, staff have dealt with over 600 cases of young British Nationals fearing or escaping from a forced marriage overseas. Forced marriage is a serious human rights abuse and is not sanctioned by any religion or culture. It is quite different from an arranged marriage, in which the parties give their full and free consent. The CLU has dealt with victims, male and female, aged between 11 and 39, and from a wide range of backgrounds including Sikh, Hindu, Catholic and Muslim to date.

  Public sector guidance:

  The CLU also works with other Government Departments to develop guidance for public sector services that may come into contact with forced marriage cases. To date the CLU has developed a video for schools, guidelines for police and are currently awaiting clearance on guidelines for social services. They have also provided support to link UK and foreign police services tackling some of these issues.

  Outreach:

  The CLU also work in the UK with NGOs, refuges, community groups, public sector, and faith groups to raise awareness of the issue and the help available to

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  victims. Overseas, the CLU and posts (Embassies and High Commissions) work with partners in the judiciary, police and NGO community.

  The Community Liaison Unit also worked in partnership with the British Muslim community from 2000–03 to organise the British Hajj Delegation to Mecca. Responsibility for the Hajj Delegation has now moved to the Middle East Assistance section of Consular Directorate. This section deals with consular assistance to distressed British Nationals in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, which means they are better placed to offer assistance to British Hajjis.

  Correspondence
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the letter dated 14 October from the hon. Member for Walsall, North, Home Office ref: PO15398/3 concerning an immigration appeal was sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; when the letter was transferred; and for what reasons an immigration appeals matter was sent to the Foreign Office. [139035]

  Mr. Mullin
  My hon. Friend's letter dated 14 October was transferred to UKvisas, the department responsible for entry clearance matters overseas, as the appeal related to a refusal of entry clearance. At the time of receipt of my hon. Friend's letter, the appeal did not show on Home Office records. The letter was therefore transferred to UKvisas by the Home Office on 4 November so that further enquiries could be conducted with our High Commission in New Delhi.

  I will write to my hon. Friend in the next few days on this case.

  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to encourage British firms to trade with the Democratic Republic of Congo.[136345]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  UK Trade and Investment does not pursue an active programme to encourage British firms to trade with the Democratic Republic of Congo but it does provide information and advice to UK companies wishing to trade there, with particular emphasis on the mining sector.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [137601]

  Mr. Mullin
  Encouraging progress is being made in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Transitional National Government (TNG) in Kinshasa is functioning. Welcome moves have been made recently to improve the DRC's relations with Rwanda and Uganda. The TNG now provides the Congolese people with a real opportunity to end the cycle of violence and human rights abuses and start on the path to democracy and development.

  Pockets of fighting remain, particularly in the east of the country. We are concerned by recent clashes between "Mai-Mai" and forces of the former Forces Armées Rwandaises/lnterahamwe in eastern DRC. We
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  welcome and support efforts by the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC)—acting under their new Chapter VII mandate as authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 1493 (2003)—to tackle this problem.

  In the north-eastern district of Ituri, MONUC's Ituri Brigade have responded robustly and effectively to outbreaks of violence and are now establishing themselves outside the regional capital of Bunia.

  EU Constitution
  Mr. Spring
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what amendments the Government will seek to make to article(a) I-14, (b) III-62 (2) and (c) III-63 of the draft EU Constitution; and if he will make a statement; [137155]

  (2) whether the Government is seeking an explicit rejection of (a) further tax harmonisation and (b) a federal fiscal policy in the European Union in the draft EU Constitution; and if he will make a statement. [137156]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government set out their approach to the Intergovernmental Conference in the White Paper, "A Constitutional Treaty for the EU: The British Approach to the European Union Intergovernmental Conference."

  As the Government make clear in the White Paper, they will oppose proposals which might lead to unnecessary rigidities or undermine the central role of member states in determining their economic policies. They will work to ensure outcomes that will bolster stability, promote flexibility and enhance the ability of European countries to raise productivity and employment levels.

  The Government also believe that the right of member states to determine their own tax policies is a fundamental one. Tax matters are a key component of national sovereignty and vital to the social and economic well-being of the country. That is why, in the IGC, the Government will insist that tax matters continue to be decided by unanimity.

  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the energy chapter of the proposed European Union constitution as it affects the UK offshore oil and gas industry. [137759]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East and Wallsend (Mr. Brown) on 11 November 2003,Official Report, column 204W.

  Council of Ministers
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 1 September 2003,Official Report, columns 796–97W, on the European Council of Ministers, what items were on the agenda for the Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs on (a) 1 September 2002, (b) 9 to 10 February 2002 and (c) 2 to 4 May 2003; when the agenda for each

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  was received by his Department; whether the agenda was forwarded to the Scottish Executive; and if he will make a statement. [137294]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs can take in all the key policy issues of the day, as well as broader strategic issues. The last four meetings have addressed inter alia such issues as: enlargement, wider Europe, counter proliferation, Middle East Peace Process, Western Balkans, ESDP and Iraq.

  The Gymnich offers Foreign Ministers an opportunity to discuss broad policy themes in an informal setting. The nature of the Gymnich means that there is no formal agenda. The Gymnich does not form conclusions or take decisions. Items to be discussed are set out in a letter from the Foreign Minister of the country holding the Presidency to his colleagues. However, the issues actually discussed at the Gymnich often vary from the preliminary suggestions in this letter.

  We usually receive the Presidency's letter about two weeks before the Gymnich. The letter is not a document, which is automatically forwarded to the Scottish Executive. However here, as elsewhere, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is alert to the need to consult the Scottish Executive on issues which touch on devolved areas in Scotland (including non-devolved matters which will have a distinctive impact of importance in Scotland) in line with the Concordat between HMG and the Scottish Executive.

  India
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's relationship with India. [138202]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Bilateral relations have steadily strengthened over recent years. Our relationship with the Indian government is now closer than it has been for a long time across a broad range of policy areas. UK development assistance will increase to £250 million in 2004–05. We are encouraging closer education links between the UK and India, including through a substantial British Council programme. And there has been a marked increase in bilateral trade to 5 billion in 2001. The large British community of Indian origin plays a very important part in maintaining and developing the UK's relationship with India.

  Indonesia
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens were affected by the flash floods in the Gunung Leuser national park on Sumatra Island, Indonesia on 3 November; how many United Kingdom citizens have been identified as(a) missing, (b) injured and (c) killed; what assistance the Government has offered the Government of Indonesia in their search and rescue operations; and if he will make a statement. [137293]
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  Mr. Mullin
  There are no reports of any British Nationals missing, injured or killed following the floods in the Gunung Leuser national park in Northern Sumatra. Our Consul-General went to Medan from 4 to 6 November and together with the Honorary Consul, visited the site, and checked with police, hospitals and mortuaries. We remain in close contact with the local authorities. Our Rapid Deployment Team was put on standby to help but was not, in the end, required.

  The Indonesian Government has announced an assistance package of 1 billion Indonesian Rupiahs (£70,420) for reconstruction and relocation of displaced people. They have not sought any international assistance.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact the imposition of martial law in Aceh on 15 May has had on(a) civil rights and (b) media freedom in the area; when this was raised with (i) the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration, (ii) President Megawati Sukarnoputri and (iii) representatives of the Government of Indonesia; what assurances were (A) requested and (B) received; and if he will make a statement. [137709]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We remain concerned about the situation in Aceh. Most recently, I met the Indonesian ambassador on Monday 10 November and raised our concerns about the extension of martial law, and the Indonesian Government's recent decision not to allow the Tokyo Group (EU, Japan, US and the World Bank) to visit Aceh. Our ambassador to Indonesia wrote to the Indonesian Government in August 2003 requesting that NGOs be granted permission to return to Aceh. When I visited Indonesia on 3–4 June 2003, I stressed to President Megawati that Indonesian military action in Aceh should be proportionate and in accordance with international standards on human rights. We have not approached the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration as our concerns about the situation in Aceh are raised through Indonesian Central Government. Some media have recently been granted permission to gain access to Aceh to report on the situation there. NGOs have not yet been granted permission to return to Aceh.

  We, with our EU partners, urged the Indonesian Government to protect non-combatants in the on-going operations in Aceh, and to pursue a peaceful negotiated solution to the conflict. We remain convinced that a long-term solution to the Aceh problem can be achieved only through political negotiation and consultation between the Indonesian Government and the Acehenese people.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with(a) President Megawati Sukarnoputri, (b) representatives of the Government of Indonesia, (c) UK-based non-governmental organisations and (d) local non-governmental organisations concerning the extension of the state of martial law in Aceh; and if he will make a statement. [137710]
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  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  On 6 November the Tokyo Group (EU, Japan, United States and the World Bank), which co-chaired the preparatory Conference on peace and reconstruction in Aceh, issued a statement to the Indonesian Government expressing their concern at the extension of martial law in Aceh. I met the Indonesian ambassador on Monday 10 November and also reiterated our, and the international community's, concerns about the extension of martial law. The UK continues to work through NGOs and the UN to provide assistance to the people of Aceh.

  We with our EU partners, continue to urge the Indonesian Government to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, as only political negotiation will offer a long term solution to this ongoing conflict. We stand ready to assist both sides in this process wherever appropriate.

  International Terrorism
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are making to prevent links being formed between the Irish Republican Army and other international terrorist and guerrilla organisations. [136766]

  Mr. MacShane
  UK authorities co-operate with their international partners both bilaterally and through international fora to combat all forms of terrorism.

  Iran
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will undertake further joint initiatives with the foreign ministers of France and Germany with regard to relations with Iran. [137639]

  Mr. Rammell
  We will continue to work with like-minded governments in any combination required to impress on Iran the need to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to rebuild international confidence in Iran's intentions. Following the visit to Tehran last month by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and his French and German counterparts, the onus now lies on Iran to deliver on its commitments. We are also calling on Iran to address international concerns on human rights, international terrorism and support for the Middle East Peace Process.

  Iraq
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the occupying powers are taking to ensure access to safe, legal pregnancy termination services in Iraq; what policy, and direct funding to achieve it, the UK is adopting on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [135435]

  Mr. Rammell
  Pregnancy termination services are a matter for the Iraqi Ministry of Health. Reproductive health services are available in Iraqi hospitals.

  Israel
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the building by Israel of the security wall; and what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the issue. [137118]

  Mr. Rammell
  We recognise Israel's legitimate security concerns, and deplore the terrorist suicide bombings of Israeli civilians. We have urged the Palestinian Authority to do more to stop such bombings. But we believe that Israel's building of a wall, or fence, on occupied land is unlawful. We have repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to reconsider the route of the fence. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have raised this issue on a number of occasions with the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the matter with the Israeli Foreign Minster, Silvan Shalom, during her visit to Israel on 30 September. She also raised with Zvi Shtauber, Israeli Ambassador on 22 October and Yosef Paritzky, the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October.

  We have made representations through our Embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the fence. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations through the Israeli Embassy in London, most recently on 5 November.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government about the building of the wall. [137524]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary made clear our concerns about the route of the wall, or fence, to the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on a number of occasions. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the matter with the Israeli Foreign Minster, Silvan Shalom, during her visit to Israel on 30 September. She also raised with Zvi Shtauber, Israeli Ambassador on 22 October and Yosef Paritzky, the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October.

  We have made representations through our Embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the fence. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations through the Israeli Embassy in London, most recently on 5 November.

  Nagorno-Karabakh
  Mr. David Atkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the terms of reference of the UK-funded project to improve the prospects for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. [137481]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK will be funding a £2 million three year project aiming to improve the prospects for a permanent settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The purpose of the project will be to improve understanding of the conflict among all stakeholders, to
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  improve the conflict sensitivity of national and international actors in the region and to implement a number of activities which will contribute to the development of constituencies for peace in the region. This should improve the prospects for a permanent settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We shall continue to encourage the governments of both Azerbaijan and Armenia to look to the future and build a better relationship between their two countries.

  Our policy on the Nagorno Karabakh dispute is that we will support any mechanism for its resolution which both parties can accept and which has a realistic chance of delivering a lasting political settlement. We continue to support the work of the OSCE Minsk Group.

  Northern Cyprus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the conduct of the election in Northern Cyprus with particular reference to(a) legal action against the media, with reference to the cases of (i) Murat Kanatli, (ii) Basaran Duzgun, (iii) Hasan Hasturer, (iv) Suleyman Erguclu, (v) Hasan Kahvecioglu and (vi) Mehmet Davuleu, (b) the recent incidents involving the Peace and Democracy Movement, (c) the television interview by Mr. Denktash in which he claimed that Turkish Cypriots would be raped by Greek Cypriots, (d) the protest at Doganci (Elye) on 25 March and (e) the extent to which citizenship is being extended to settlers from mainland Turkey. [138777]

  Mr. MacShane
  The elections in north Cyprus on 14 December are of pivotal importance to the future of the island. This is an important opportunity for Turkish Cypriots to decide their own future. It is essential that these elections should be conducted in a transparent and democratic manner, free from interference. We are calling on all those who have influence, including Turkey, to help ensure the elections in the north are free and fair. We welcome indications from the Turkish Government of the importance they attach to this.

  With regard to legal action against the media, we are deeply concerned about any attempts to limit press freedom. On the particular cases raised, we condemn the physical attack on the journalist Murat Kanatli, reportedly by the 'Grey Wolves' group in north Cyprus. The five further journalists mentioned were charged with a range of offences, including insulting the Turkish Security Forces and undermining the "state". These charges relate to articles reporting events at Doganci (Elye) on 25 March 2003, when opposition parties and pro-solution forces tried to hold a symbolic referendum in support of the Annan Plan. The police raided the protest, an army contingent removed the "ballot box" and the organisers were arrested. The timing of these prosecutions (seven months after the event) adds weight to the assertion that the indictments are politically motivated. Furthermore, we are concerned by reports that a number of these cases will be tried in a military court.
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  On the recent incidents involving the Peace and Democracy movement, we are concerned about reports of attacks on their party headquarters.

  We do not wish to offer detailed comments on the remarks attributed to Mr Denktash. If he did say such things, it was clearly intended to be inflammatory.

  We continue to have concerns about the number of "settlers" who have recently been granted citizenship in north Cyprus. The fact that this took place in such numbers immediately before an election is undermining confidence in the electoral process. The opposition in northern Cyprus has applied to the "Higher Electoral Council" (YSK) for an injunction barring those who have become citizens since the municipal elections in June 2002 from voting in the elections on 14 December. We await a ruling on that particular issue. The Turkish Cypriot courts have already barred two hundred people from voting in the elections who had been granted citizenship by the "Council of Ministers".

  We will continue to monitor the situation in Cyprus very closely in the build up to elections on 14 December.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and if he will make a statement. [136700]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) remains the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and receives the wholehearted support of the UK and the vast majority of the international community— indeed it has the greatest membership of any arms control treaty.

  The NPT currently faces a number of challenges. It is not yet universal, and the UK continues to urge Israel, India and Pakistan to accede to the Treaty as non-nuclear weapon states. We are also concerned about North Korea's admission of a uranium enrichment programme and its announced intention to withdraw from the Treaty. This issue can only be resolved by DPRK's strict compliance with the NPT and full implementation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

  The NPT has survived many challenges in its 33-year history and it remains a strong Treaty. The UK looks forward to participating fully in the 2004 NPT Preparatory Committee and the Review Conference in 2005.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to affirm negative security assurances given at the 1995 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference; and if he will make a statement. [136701]

  Mr. MacShane
  The UK remains fully committed to the negative security assurance we gave in 1995. This negative security assurance was noted by the UN Security Council in its Resolution 984.

  Pakistan
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Pakistan authorities in respect of recent security operations involving their premises; and if he will make a statement. [138583]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]The Pakistani authorities have raised with us both in London and in Islamabad the contents of an article in the sunday Times on 2 November. We have explained that it is the long-standing practice of successive governments not to confirm or deny allegations concerning the activities of the intelligence and security agencies.

  People Trafficking
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's estimate is of the number of children that were trafficked in(a) the world, (b) Europe and (c) the UK in each of the last 10 years; and what plans he has to reduce this number. [137978]

  Mr. Rammell
  We are committed to doing all we can to combat human trafficking. I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Statement made on 5 March 2003,Official Report, column 1085W, by my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Home Office (Beverley Hughes) which sets out the actions we are taking.

  The nature of trafficking means that it is a hidden crime and there are no reliable figures about children being trafficked into or out of the UK. There have been a few high profile instances of children being trafficked into and through the UK, but there is insufficient information to say if this is a growing problem. However, the very nature of the crime demands that is treated very seriously, which is why the Government have introduced criminal sanctions covering child traffickers and has tasked the Reflex group with co-ordinating intelligence on the problem.

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost was of(a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for his Department in 2002–03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. [137957]

  Mr. Rammell
  Performance targets for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were agreed as part of Spending Review 2002. The monitoring and measurement of PSA targets forms part of departmental performance management. Performance management is an integral part of the day to day running of the Department, and as such it is not possible to separate the specific costs out. The monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, the Department's PSA targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

  Religious Freedom (Egypt)
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the issue of the Christians arrested in Egypt for their faith with the Egyptian Government and urge them to stop their action against Muslim converts to Christianity. [135500]

  Mr. Rammell
  We are looking into the reports to which the hon. Member refers. The Egyptian Constitution provides for equal public rights and duties without discrimination on the basis of religion or creed. Although we have received a number of letters on this subject from concerned people in the United Kingdom, we have seen no evidence of systematic official targeting of converts to Christianity. Where there is evidence of violation of human rights, we of course make our views known to the Egyptian authorities.

  Sudan
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the peace process between the Government of Sudan and the Darfur rebel group. [136764]

  Mr. Mullin
  There has been a joint communiqué by the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM)agreeing to return to Abeche in one month to discuss the political and wealth sharing annexes. The parties have also reached agreement on humanitarian access, which will be under the supervision of the Humanitarian Aid Commission, with the Tri-Partite Committee (GoS, Government of Chad and the SLM) being informed of developments.

  We are not directly involved in the Abeche talks and it is difficult at this stage to make an assessment of progress. There have been allegations that the GoS have resumed military activities near SLM areas, and some indication that the SLM are disappointed that some of their proposals have been rejected.

  However, we remain hopeful that both parties will adhere to the terms of the communiqué and resume the talks on time.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the main points were of the ceasefire agreement of 15 October 2002 between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army; what assessment his Department has made of the Sudanese bombings in Darfur on 2 November and their impact on the on-going negotiations in that region; and if he will make a statement. [136905]

  Mr. Mullin
  The main points of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cessation of Hostilities signed on 15 October 2002 in Kenya between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) are as follows:the parties agree to create and maintain a conducive atmosphere throughout the negotiations; to cease hostilities in all areas and ensure military stand down for all forces; to freeze media wars and allow unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas.

  The negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) in Chad, with the Chadian Government as mediators, are

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  separate. We are aware of reports that the Government of Sudan have resumed military activities close to Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) areas. The Government of Sudan has stated that it had bombed areas controlled by other militias who rejected the cease-fire. We are seeking corroboration of the reports including by visits by members of our embassy to the area.

  The parties have now signed a joint communiqué resolving to meet in one month to discuss the political and wealth sharing annexes of the draft agreement. There has also been agreement on humanitarian access. We view these as positive steps.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the progress made in negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army since the signing of the ceasefire agreement of 15 October 2002; what help his Department has(a) offered and (b) delivered to facilitate the process; and if he will make a statement. [136906]

  Mr. Mullin
  The Memorandum of Understanding on Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army has continued to hold. The parties have made substantial progress in the past year. A Framework Agreement on Security Arrangements during the Interim Period, signed on 25 September 2003, is a further indication of the commitment of both parties to peace. The talks have adjourned for Ramadan and will resume on 30 November. We remain hopeful that a comprehensive peace agreement will be signed in the new year.

  The UK observer team has consisted of an official based in Nairobi who can attend every session of the talks and handle local co-ordination between sessions, and the UK Special Representative for Sudan and the Head of the joint FCO/DFID Sudan Unit from London. In addition to financial contributions to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Government have provided experts on legal and security issues. We also contribute funding and personnel to the missions monitoring the agreements already reached.

  Tariq Aziz
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) medical help and (b) legal help and advice has been given to Mr. Tariq Aziz. [137730]

  Mr. Rammell
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]Tariq Aziz is in US custody. As the detaining power, these questions are a matter for the US authorities, who have said that they do not comment on the cases of individual detainees.

  UKvisas
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that calls to UKvisas on 020 7008 8446 are answered by officials. [139034]
  662W
  Mr. Mullin
  I am sorry that officials did not answer UKvisas telephone number 0207 008 8446. Officials in UKvisas are expected to respond to all telephone calls and to use the voicemail facility. Unfortunately, on this occasion, this voicemail facility had not been updated to show that the official was out of the office, and did not give an alternative point of contact. Guidance has been re-issued to ensure that officials are aware of these procedures.

  A full list of contact numbers for the Visa Correspondence Section has been circulated to MPs' offices and is also available on the parliamentary internet. UKvisas recently introduced a dedicated telephone hotline for Members of Parliament to deal with urgent cases and inquiries. This is manned throughout office hours. UKvisas has now resent a copy of this list to my hon. Friend's office.

  United Nations Compensation Commission
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list payments from the United Nations Compensation Commission to(a) the UK Government and (b) other UK beneficiaries broken down by (i) amount and (ii) date; what disbursements have been made by the UK Government; to whom; for what amount; on what dates; and if he will make a statement. [137433]

  Mr. Mullin
  From 1996 to date, the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) has paid a total of US$286,028,428.89 to the UK Government for distribution to individuals, companies and Government Departments. US$100,595,509.28 has been paid to individuals, US$180,329,020.61 to companies, and US$5,103,899.00 to Government Departments. All payments are routed through the UK Government. Details of the 420 payments to companies and six payments to Government Departments can be found on the UNCC website at www.uncc.ch. Details of payments to individuals cannot be disclosed for reasons of confidentiality.

  Uzbekistan
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Uzbekistan. [137432]

  Mr. Rammell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 20 June 2003,Official Report, column 437W, and the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 21 October 2003, Official Report, column 536W.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Uzbekistan has agreed to BBC World Service re-broadcasting from within Uzbekistan. [138166]

  Mr. Rammell
  Uzbekistan has not agreed to BBC World Service re-broadcasting effectively from within Uzbekistan despite representations made to the Uzbek authorities by our embassy in Tashkent. We shall continue to lobby the Uzbek authorities on this issue.
  663W
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding other than that provided for the translating and printing of his Department's publications in Uzbek will be provided for assistance to Uzbekistan in judicial reform. [138167]

  Mr. Rammell
  In 2002, the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) funded a £71,000 pilot electronic court reporting project in Uzbekistan. As part of the project, new electronic court reporting equipment was installed in four criminal courts in the Ferghana Region. Sadly, while receiving some positive reports from defence lawyers, this assistance has had its limitations; the equipment was abused or not used in practice and court reports were not made available when cases were appealed. Further plans to install the equipment in over 150 courts nation wide have been suspended until we receive firm evidence that the equipment provided thus far is being used effectively.

  We shall continue to look for viable opportunities to assist Uzbekistan in reforming its judiciary and improving its human rights record in conjunction with EU, OSCE and other partners. We believe that lessening the dependence on often doubtful confessions and improving the focus on material and forensic evidence is the key to reducing levels of brutality and improving fairness in the judicial process. Through engagement with the authorities on development of an action plan to combat torture, we are also pressing for the political will for such reforms. Regionally we are organising a training workshop in Almaty in December to train judges and prosecutors in the judicial control of the practice of torture. Members of the Uzbek judiciary and procuracy will be invited to attend.

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the oil industry which are active in the Western Sahara. [130573]

  Mr. Rammell
  None.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of work related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work related stress, and at what cost, what procedures have been put in place to reduce work related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136851]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not currently keep statistics on work-related stress as a sickness absence type. No compensation has been paid to employees because of work-related stress in the last three years. All FCO staff (and dependants overseas) can discuss work-related (and personal) concerns in confidence with a trained welfare officer.

  Since March 2002 the FCO has also provided a counselling and advice service to staff in the UK, and for staff and dependants overseas, via an Employee
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  Assistance Programme. Stress, whether or not related to work, is one of the areas covered. The cost is approximately £50,000 pa.

  Zimbabwe
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts his Department has had with the Daily News in Zimbabwe. [137635]

  Mr. Mullin
  Our High Commission in Harare maintains regular contact with media organisations in Zimbabwe, including the Daily News, as part of its routine duties. High Commission representatives also attended the court hearings that followed the Daily News closure on 12 September 2003. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has since issued two press statements on 15 and 20 September condemning the Government of Zimbabwe for its harassment of the free and independent media in Zimbabwe. Copies of the press release are available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.

  Representatives from the Daily News were in London recently to raise awareness of the plight of the newspaper. I met them on 6 November.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met President Mbeki to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. [137638]

  Mr. Mullin
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met President Mbeki in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September. They discussed Zimbabwe.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to urge the Commonwealth to expel Zimbabwe. [138407]

  Mr. Mullin
  Commonwealth decisions are made by consensus. The issue will be discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next month.

  The Commonwealth Secretary General has listed five benchmarks where there would have to be progress before Zimbabwe could be re-admitted to the Councils of the Commonwealth:

  Achieving national reconciliation and dialogue;

  Repealing legislation that prejudices freedom of speech, of the press and of peaceful assembly;

  Stopping harassment of the political opposition and civil society;

  Addressing the recommendations of the two Commonwealth election observer group reports;

  Engaging the Commonwealth Secretariat and UN Development Programme on a proper land reform programme.

  We see no case for readmitting Zimbabwe to the Councils of the Commonwealth while it remains in breach of these benchmarks and of the Harare Principles.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to press the United Nations(a) to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe and (b) to debate the issue of Zimbabwe. [138408]
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  Mr. Mullin
  We maintain regular contact with the UN Secretary General, the UN Development Programme and the World Food Programme about Zimbabwe. We supported EU resolutions at the UN Human Rights Commission in 2002 and 2003. Regrettably these resolutions fell to `No Action' motions.

  As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear to the House on 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 524, we would only go to the United Nations Security Council for a resolution when we believed that we would win one. Tabling a resolution on UN sanctions would be certain to fail and would only hand Mugabe a gratuitous victory.

  We will continue to encourage the UN to focus on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Asylum Seekers
  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from the People's Republic of China sought asylum in the UK in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003 to date. [134202]

  Beverley Hughes
  The table shows the number of asylum applications, excluding dependants, lodged in the UK by nationals of the People's Republic of China in 2001, 2002 and from January to June 2003. The next publication on asylum applications and other asylum statistics covering the third quarter of 2003 (July-September) will be available on 27 November 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http: //www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.

  Applications1 lodged in the UK by nationals of the People's Republic of China, excluding dependants

  Asylum applications lodged in UK

  2001

  2,390

  20022

  3,675

  2003—January to June2

  1,620

  1 All data are rounded to the nearest five.

  2 Provisional data.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the states regarded by his Department for the purposes of fast-tracking asylum applications as democratic. [132233]

  Beverley Hughes
  Applications are considered suitable for fast tracking if, upon initial screening, they are believed to be straightforward and capable of being decided within about seven to 10 days, and the applicant is from a country on the Fast Track Processes Suitability List (previously referred to as the "Oakington List"). A country will be added to the list only if we consider that it produces some types of claim which are capable of being decided quickly. There are no other specific requirements.

  The countries (or part countries) presently appearing on the list are:
  Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Cyprus, Czech
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  Republic, Djibouti, Ecuador, Estonia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iraq, Ivory Coast, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, St. Lucia, Serbia and Montenegro, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somaliland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

  Not all applications from the countries listed above are considered suitable for fast tracking. We are keeping under review the basis on which we consider an application suitable for special fast-tracking arrangements.

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resources have been allocated to citizen advice bureaux specifically for their work with asylum seekers in each of the last five years. [132690]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]The National Asylum Support Service grant funds six voluntary sector organisations to provide reception assistance and one stop services to asylum seekers. The citizens advice bureaux are not one of the organisations funded to assist asylum seekers.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department(a) on what basis and (b) when decision making on Iraqi asylum applications resumed. [133595]

  Beverley Hughes
  On 16 June I announced the resumption with immediate effect of decision making on Iraqi asylum applications. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-West (Mr. Best) on 15 July 2003,Official Report, column 266W.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's policy regarding travel arrangements for asylum seekers to visit relatives in the UK. [133955]

  Beverley Hughes
  The provision of support to eligible asylum seekers applying for asylum in the UK is intended to meet essential living needs. Regulation 9(4) of the Asylum Support Regulations 2000 provides that costs of travel are not to be regarded as an essential living need. National Asylum Support Service (NASS) does not provide funding for asylum seekers to travel by taxi to visit family or friends.

  NASS does not make arrangements for supported asylum seekers to visit relatives living elsewhere in the UK. Neither does it make arrangements for those seeking asylum outside the country to travel to the UK to see relatives.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there were in(a) Hull and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each month in the last two quarters for which figures are available; how long each application took to process; and how many applications were successful. [134052]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 23 October 2003]: The information is not available in the form requested.

  The availability of information on the location of asylum seekers in the UK is currently linked to the support the asylum seeker receives. Asylum seekers in the UK either receive support from the National
  667W
  Asylum Support Service (NASS), local authorities or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or are supporting themselves.

  Information on outstanding asylum cases, initial decision outcomes and asylum case processing times relating to persons in particular areas of the UK is unavailable, as are statistics regarding the location of asylum seekers not in receipt of support.

  NASS does not disperse asylum seekers to any areas in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The following table shows the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) accommodated by NASS and receiving subsistence only support in Hull as at the end of the last two quarters for which figures are available.

  As at end of quarter

  Number of asylum seekers (including dependants supported in NASS accommodation in Hull1

  Number of asylum seekers (including dependants) receiving subsistence only support in Hull

  March 2003

  940

  50

  June 2003

  75

  60

  From grant claims sent to the Home Office by local authorities, as at the end of March 2003, there were the following additional number2 of asylum seekers being supported by the local authorities in Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire:

  1Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 and may not sum due to rounding.

  2Asylum seekers are not necessarily resident in the local authority that supports them due to the voluntary dispersal programme which operated prior to NASS.

  Local authority

  Number of singles supported as at end March 2003

  Number of families supported as at end of March 2003

  East Riding

  5

  0

  Hull

  20

  5

  Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers, broken down by country of origin, applied in the(a) fourth quarter of 2002, (b) first quarter of 2003 and (c) second quarter of 2003. [1340901

  Beverley Hughes
  The table shows the number of asylum applicants, by nationality, for the last three published quarters. This data is not available by country of origin.

  Information on asylum applications and other asylum statistics is published quarterly. The next publication covering the third quarter of 2003 (July—September2003) will be available on the 27 November 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http: //www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration I.html.
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  Applications1 for asylum, received in the UK, excluding dependants, by nationality

  Quarter4

  Quater1

  Quarter2

  2002

  2003

  2003

  Europe

  Albania

  250

  230

  140

  Czech Republic

  120

  20

  20

  SAM2

  365

  345

  175

  Poland

  235

  35

  20

  Romania

  360

  245

  95

  Russia

  85

  70

  65

  Turkey

  805

  645

  585

  Ukraine

  100

  95

  65

  Other Former USSR

  675

  360

  210

  OTHER Former Yugo

  80

  60

  20

  others

  50

  20

  20

  Total:

  3,125

  2,152

  1,415

  Americas

  Colombia

  110

  90

  60

  Ecuador

  90

  65

  40

  Others

  585

  470

  275

  TOTAL:

  785

  625

  370

  Middle East

  Iran

  820

  655

  625

  Iraq

  4,275

  2,135

  635

  Others

  350

  265

  230

  Total:

  5,445

  3,055

  1,490

  Africa

  Algeria

  245

  210

  100

  Angola

  340

  300

  165

  Democratic Republic of Congo

  690

  460

  300

  Ethiopia

  225

  145

  120

  Gambia

  45

  15

  30

  Ghana

  80

  70

  80

  Ivory Coast

  195

  205

  90

  Kenya

  115

  85

  60

  Nigeria

  320

  350

  250

  Rwanda

  145

  120

  70

  Sierra Leone

  220

  165

  85

  Somalia

  1,805

  1,515

  900

  Sudan

  270

  95

  135

  Tanzania

  270

  95

  135

  Uganda

  225

  225

  165

  Zimbabwe

  2740

  1,075

  815

  Others

  1,350

  1,200

  825

  Total:

  9,020

  6,255

  4,200

  Asia

  Afghanistan

  1,315

  950

  485

  Bangladesh

  235

  205

  190

  China

  890

  915

  705

  India

  425

  490

  645

  Pakistan

  555

  460

  645

  Sri Lanka

  420

  560

  440

  Others

  4,335

  3,910

  3,090

  Other and unknown nationalities

  50

  30

  15

  Grand Total

  22,760

  16,000

  10,585

  1Provisional data rounded to the nearest five.

  2Serbia and Montenegro (SAM) replaced Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) from 5 February 2003. SAM comprises of the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of Montenegro, and the province of Kosovo (administered by the UN on an interim basis, since 1999.

  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is given by the National Asylum Support Service to the health of an asylum seeker when a decision to disperse that asylum seeker is made. [134261]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 23 October 2003]NASS will consider all the information known to it when deciding whether dispersal is appropriate. Where it is known this will include consideration of an asylum seeker's, or a dependant's, current medical condition.
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  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers the National Asylum Support Service has placed in(a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Plymouth, (d) Bristol, (e) Bath, (f) Swindon, (g) Wiltshire and (h) Dorset in each month since January. [134551]

  Beverley Hughes
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Figures in respect of asylum seekers in receipt of accommodation support from the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) are published at the end of each quarter.

  Figures for the areas requested as at the end of each quarter since January 2003 are shown in the table.

  Statistics on the number of asylum seekers supported by NASS in each region are available on the Home Office's Immigration and Asylum Statistics website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl. html

  Area

  Asylum seekers in receipt of MASS accommodation support (at end March 2003)

  Asylum seekers in receipt of MASS accommodation support (at end June 2003)

  Bristol

  460

  445

  Bath

  0

  0

  Somerset (other)

  0

  0

  Plymouth

  360

  415

  Exeter

  65

  55

  Devon (other)

  0

  0

  Swindon

  15

  55

  Wiltshire (other)

  0

  0

  Dorset

  0

  0

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his intended use of zones of protection to(a) house asylum seekers and (b) process their claims. [134593]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]The UK ideas were designed to stimulate a debate on improving the international asylum system. Our thinking continues to evolve. But we remain focused on the provision of better protection in asylum seekers' own regions to reduce the motivation to cross continents to make a claim; and to reduce the burden on the asylum system from those misusing it to gain entry to the UK for economic or other reasons. This is not about shifting the burden to poorer regions.

  The majority of the world's refugees are already unable to access asylum systems in the European Union. It is therefore essential to strengthen protection in their region of origin, close to their homes, in order to ensure accessible and effective protection for people fleeing persecution and conflict. We have been working closely with UNHCR, the ED and others on this.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to establish regional protection zones for asylum seekers outside the UK; and what recent discussions he has had with EU Governments on this matter. [134659]
  670W
  Beverley Hughes
  The UK's proposals were designed to stimulate a debate on improving the international asylum system. Our thinking continues to evolve and we are engaged in dialogue with the UNHCR, the European Commission and others to consider how we might put these ideas into practice. We are thinking less in terms of specific protection areas or 'zones' and more in terms of strengthening capacity in regions of origin. The aim would be to reduce the motivation to cross continents to make a claim; and to reduce the burden on the asylum system from those misusing it to gain entry to the UK for economic or other reasons.

  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who have applied for asylum in the UK were resident in each constituency in the UK in the last period for which figures are available. [134729]

  Beverley Hughes
  I regret that the requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Information is held on the location of all asylum seekers supported by NASS and figures are published at local authority level in the regular quarterly asylum statistics on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html, and from the Library of the House. More detailed data on those supported by NASS, at parliamentary constituency level, is available on request.

  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are waiting to have their cases finally determined(a) 12 to 18 months, (b) 18 to 24 months, (c) two to three years and (d) three or more years after it was lodged. [135084]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information on final decisions is not readily available and complete information could only be obtained by examination of individual case files to obtain information on the outcomes of initial decisions, of subsequent appeals to the Immigration Appellate Authority and the Tribunal, and of cases which have been reconsidered. This would incur disproportionate cost. 31,800 cases were awaiting an initial decision at the end of June 2003 (the latest date for which published figures are available); of these 8,900 cases were work in progress ie the application had been outstanding for six months or less.

  As at 30 June 2003, there were an estimated 20,000 appeals lodged with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate which had not been sent to the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA); a proportion of appeals lodged do not result in appeal bundles being sent to the IAA. The total asylum work in progress in the IAA as at 30 June 2003, was 29,500 (19,900 at the Adjudicator Tier, 5,000 applications for permission to appeal to the Tribunal, and 4,700 Tribunal Appeals).

  Provisional data show that 74 per cent. of applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases1) received in 2002–were decided and served within two months. This exceeded the Government's target of 65 per cent. for 2002–03, and was a significant increase on the corresponding figure of 61 per cent. for 2001–02.
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  Information on the number of asylum applications awaiting initial decision and the timeliness of initial decisions is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://wvvw.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigrationl.html.
  1 Cases which may be the responsibility of other EU member states under the Dublin Convention.

  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government has to establish an independent country documentation centre in relation to asylum applications. [135337]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are no plans to establish an independent documentation centre. We recently established the independent Advisory Panel on Country Information under the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 to make recommendations on the country information material produced by the Home Office and help to ensure that it is as accurate, objective and up to date as possible. The Panel is chaired by Prof. Stephen Castles of Oxford University and held its first meeting on 2 September 2003.

  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to increase the financial support to local authorities responsible for the care of asylum seeker children as a result of the judgment of the Administrative Court in the case of Behre and Others v Hillingdon London Borough Council. [135453]

  Beverley Hughes
  Officials across Government are working together to resolve issues arising from the recent Court judgment. An announcement about the rate of grant will be made as soon as practicable after these decisions have been concluded.

  The grant paid by the Home office to local social services departments is intended to cover the direct and immediate costs arising from the placement of children.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that children of asylum seekers receive education. [136785]

  Beverley Hughes
  It is Government policy that children of compulsory school age here as part of an asylum seeking family should receive education. This applies to all children, not just those whose parents are in receipt of support. Currently, with the exception of the small number of families who are detained, children are entitled to attend mainstream schools. For those who are detained a modular programme of education is provided at the relevant removal centre if detention is expected to last for more than a very short period. In the vast majority of cases, the detention of families with children will last for no more than a very short period, usually less than 14 days and often for only a few hours or days prior to removal.

  In respect of children placed in accommodation centres, the operators of the centres will be required to provide education to children which mirrors that provided in mainstream schools.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mistaken asylum removals there were in the latest period for which figures are available. [137103]
  672W
  Beverley Hughes
  The information requested is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to assign National Asylum Seekers Service hard case support to failed asylum seekers in Wales. [137104]

  Beverley Hughes
  There is nothing to prevent the majority of asylum seekers who have received a final negative decision on their claim from leaving the country immediately. Failed asylum seekers unable to leave due to circumstances entirely beyond their control may seek the short-term provision of accommodation under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, as amended. NASS has entered into an arrangement with the west London YMCA to provide accommodation in these circumstances. Accommodation will be in one of a number of YMCAs across England.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reinstate embarkation controls at United Kingdom borders. [137105]

  Beverley Hughes
  My hon. Friend will be aware from my written answer of 10 July that we are keeping the option for embarkation controls under review while exploring the extent to which new technology which were removed by the previous conservative administration could offer us more efficient ways of checking those leaving the country. Short term embarkation exercises continue and during October a number of such exercises took place at airports throughout the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants have become homeless after their claims for asylum have failed since 1 May. [137106]

  Beverley Hughes
  This information is not available. The legislation requires that, with the exception of families including children under the age of 18, support must be terminated 21 days after the receipt of the final negative decision on the asylum claim. NASS does not have information on the whereabouts of asylum seekers evicted from NASS properties.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2003,Official Report, column 808W, on asylum seekers, if he will make a statement on (a) the proportion of failed asylum seekers who notified a new address after their final refusal and (b) the proportion of those visited by the UK Immigration Service who were found living at the recorded address in the last 12 months. [137713]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) maintains databases containing address details for asylum seekers which are also recorded in the individuals' Home Office file. All applicants and their representatives are told of their obligation to notify the Home Office of any subsequent change of address. This may be done, either in person at one of 11 designated Reporting Centres or by post to the Change of Address Team (CoAT), based in Croydon.
  673W
  The Casework Information Database (CID) is the main information technology (IT) system used by IND and allows information to be updated upon receipt throughout the asylum process. There is no link within CID between a change of address and the stage in the asylum process at which it occurred, e.g. before or after final refusal, and therefore the information requested is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  UK Immigration Service visits to asylum seekers' home addresses are not routinely recorded on the national CID database. Again, the information requested is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for his policy not to allow asylum seekers to work while they await a decision on their case. [138269]

  Beverley Hughes
  We are determined to maintain a robust asylum process which helps those fleeing persecution and not those who wish to come to the United Kingdom to work.

  We believe that allowing new asylum applicants to work could act as a pull factor for those with unfounded asylum claims. Those migrants who wish to come here for the purpose of employment have a range of schemes open to them and we continue to develop more routes to allow people to come here and work legally in ways which boost our economy.

  Until 23 July 2002 there was a concession which allowed asylum seekers to seek permission to take employment if no decision had been made on their application within six months of it being lodged.

  By the time we abolished the concession in July last year it had become largely irrelevant and only applicable to a minority of applicants. This was due to the increased speed with which we delivered initial decisions on applications.

  Those who were given permission as part of the concession will retain their permission to work until they receive a final decision on their application for asylum. We have also maintained a discretion to grant permission to work in exceptional cases.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on European Union asylum policies; what progress has been made with the creation of a common European asylum system; and what measures need to be put into place before this can be established. [138270]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Tampere European Council on 15–16 October 1999 set out that the Common European Asylum System should, in its first phase, include the following: a clear and workable determination of the State responsible for the examination of an asylum application; common standards for a fair and efficient asylum procedure; common minimum conditions of reception of asylum seekers; and the approximation of rules on the recognition and content of refugee status. The Tampere European Council also called for an agreement on the issue of temporary protection for 674W
  displaced persons and the completion of work on the system for the identification of asylum seekers (Eurodac).

  Of the measures described above, the Council of Ministers have adopted the following: the Council Regulation of 18 February 2003 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national (known as "Dublin II"); the Council Regulation of 11 December 2000 concerning the establishment of "Eurodac" for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of the Dublin Convention; the Council Directive of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof; and the Council Directive of 27 January 2003 laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers.

  Negotiations are ongoing on the proposal for a Council Directive on minimum standards for the qualification and the status of third-country nationals and stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the proposal for a Council Directive on minimum standards on procedures in Member States for granting and withdrawing refugee status.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much asylum seekers cost public funds in the last 12 months, per head of tax paying population. [138283]

  Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 30 October 2003,Official Report, column 320W.

  Mr. Salmond
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government will change its policy of deporting persons from the UK who come from countries which will accede to EU membership in May 2004; and what the reasons are for refusing leave to remain to people from accession countries. [138466]

  Beverley Hughes
  Nationals of the new member states will have full free movement rights from accession.

  We currently intend to maintain full immigration control towards nationals of the new member states until accession. This means that we will continue to remove nationals from the new member states in the same circumstances as we do at present. The Government considers that, as a matter of policy, this approach is necessary in order to maintain an effective immigration control. In addition, the United Kingdom is under no legal obligation to grant free movement rights to nationals from the new member states before 1 May 2004.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to monitor the whereabouts of asylum seekers affected by Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; and if he will make a statement. [138479]
  675W
  Beverley Hughes
  As part of the initial screening process asylum seekers, including those affected by Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (NIA Act 2002), are required to provide proof of residence at a particular address. Residence at that address is then made a condition of their temporary admission into the United Kingdom, to which other conditions may be added, principally a requirement that the asylum seeker reports regularly to the Immigration Service (IS). The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) maintains databases containing the information supplied, which is also recorded in the individual Home Office(HO)file.

  All applicants, and their representatives, are informed of their obligation to notify the Home Office of any subsequent change of address. This may be done either, in writing to the Change of Address Team (CoAT) in Croydon or, in person to the nearest IS Reporting Centre or Local Enforcement Office (LEO).

  The IS has 11 designated Reporting Centres managing reporting regimes and in addition a person may be required to report to mobile IS staff at a police station near their address. The reporting network will be further expanded by the planned introduction of both Accommodation and Induction Centres.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from faith groups concerning Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. [139231]

  Beverley Hughes
  There is no record of any representations from faith groups about Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it became his Department's policy not to enforce removals of people refused asylum to(a) Iraq, (b) Zimbabwe and
  (c) Somalia; and what the reasons are for this policy in each case. [124239]

  Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer
  I gave on 11 July 2003,Official Report, column 1065.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum applications within the last 12 months for which figures are available were given initial decisions(a) within two weeks, (b) within two months, (c) within six months and (d) after a period of more than six months. [135429]

  Beverley Hughes
  In the 12 months from April 2002 to March 2003 (the latest period for which published figures are available), 74 per cent. of substantive applications (excluding withdrawals and third country cases1) were decided and served within two months and 9 per cent. were decided and served within two weeks. This compares to an average of 20 months when the right hon. Member for Folkstone and Hythe was Home Secretary. The two months figure of 74 per cent. exceeded the Government's target of 65 per cent. for 2002–03 and performance is on track to meet the target for 2003–04 of 75 per cent. The corresponding data requested for initial decisions decided and served within six months will be published in the next quarterly asylum statistics, data for initial decisions decided and served after a period of six months are not available.
  676W
  Information on the timeliness of initial decisions is published quarterly on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

  1 Cases which may be the responsibility of other EU member states under the Dublin Convention.

  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to have determined and finalised asylum cases which qualify under the asylum amnesty he announced recently. [137829]

  Beverley Hughes
  It is expected to take about six months to assess the bulk of those who may be eligible.

  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which service providers are supplying housing for asylum seekers in Essex; and in which towns those homes are provided; [135458]

  (2) how many service providers are providing accommodation for asylum seekers; [135460]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the current service provider contracts for housing asylum seekers; and when they will expire. [135462]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate has 22 contracts with providers for the supply of accommodation to eligible asylum seekers. Eight of these contracts are with the private sector, 12 with the public sector, one with a registered social landlord and one with a charity. The majority of these contracts are due to expire in 2005. There are no contracts providing accommodation in Essex.

  In addition some asylum seekers are supported by local authorities under the interim regulations. No information is held centrally on contracts between individual authorities and their suppliers of accommodation.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seeker families in North East Lincolnshire are eligible to remain in the UK under the recently announced amnesty. [135631]

  Beverley Hughes
  Families who may qualify will be asked to complete a questionnaire. On the basis of the responses and other information on our files decisions will be made about whether they qualify or not.

  The number of families in North East Lincolnshire who will be eligible for a grant of indefinite leave will therefore only be known once the responses are in and the cases have been processed.

  Coroners Courts (Welsh Language)
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coroners courts in Wales have the resources for simultaneous language translation. [132347]

  Paul Goggins
  The information requested is not available centrally. However, I understand that the Court Service is normally able to provide suitable facilities for use by other courts and tribunals in Wales on request.
  677W
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he is taking to ensure that, in inquests, the principles laid down in the Welsh Language Act 1993 are upheld; [132348]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Welsh Language Board and the Welsh Assembly on the adequacy of only providing sequential translation as an option for those wanting a Welsh language inquest. [132355]

  Paul Goggins
  Coroners in Wales are expected to comply with the requirements of the 1993 Act and take responsibility for making any necessary arrangements for translation services.

  The Home Office assists by providing Welsh language versions of our public information leaflets for distribution. Neither the Welsh Language Board nor the Welsh Assembly has raised any concerns with us about these arrangements.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Welsh language inquests have used(a) sequential and (b) simultaneous translation in each year since 1997. [132349]

  (2) how many applications for a Welsh language inquest have been (a) made and (b) refused in each county in Wales since 1997. [132356]

  Paul Goggins
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Headstones
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 27 January,Official Report, column 622W, on headstones, when he expects to issue guidance following the report of the Burial and Cemeteries Advisory Group. [131991]

  Paul Goggins
  The issues surrounding memorial safety are currently being considered by a working group made up of representatives from the burial industry and other organisations. Although it has taken slightly longer than we had anticipated, work is progressing well, and we hope to issue appropriate guidance on memorial safety to local burial authorities early next year.

  Speeding Fines
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices were issued in relation to speeding offences captured by(a) mobile speed cameras and (b) fixed speed cameras in each year since 1997. [138358]

  Caroline Flint
  Available data on the number of fixed penalty notices issued for speeding offences detected by camera in England and Wales from 1997 to 2001 (latest available) are given in the table. 2002 data will be available in the New Year. Data by type of camera device used are not collected centrally.
  678W

  Fixed penalties1 for speeding offences detected by camera2 England and Wales, 1997 to 2001

  Year

  Number

  1997

  288,600

  1998

  338,800

  1999

  423,000

  2000

  599,200

  2001

  877,500

  1 Paid, i.e. no further action

  2 Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999

  Work Permits
  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits have been issued to foreign nationals to work in the UK in each of the past five years. [133520]

  Beverley Hughes
  The total number of work permit approvals for each of the past five years in the United Kingdom is as follows:

  1998—53,962

  1999—60,743

  2000—88,651

  2001—120,823

  2002—136,151 (including NI figures from 1 September);

  and in Northern Ireland:

  1998—347 (1 May to 31 December)

  1999—549

  2000—863

  2001—1,173

  2002—1,410 (1 January to 31 August).

  Asylum Reform Consultation
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the three week consultation period on new legislative proposals on asylum reform to the minimum stipulated by Criterion 5 of Cabinet Office Guidelines on written consultations. [137245]

  Beverley Hughes
  As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary first announced on 22 May this year, the Government are intending to introduce further legislative measures to address the specific problems of abusive appeals and undocumented applicants in the asylum system which continue to undermine the credibility of the system. As stated in the letter we sent to stakeholders, we consider that these are urgent measures and are therefore seeking to introduce them as soon as parliamentary time allows. While we are seeking the views of key stakeholders on the new provisions we believe that further reform is needed quickly if we are to capitalise on the success of our measures to date. Further dialogue is taking place with stakeholders on specific measures and a copy of the letter to stakeholders has been placed on the website of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate so that it is available to the public.
  679W

  Administrative Court
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the estimated costs are of cases dealt with by the Administrative Court relating to section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002; and how many cases these costs cover. [135451]

  Mr. Lammy
  One thousand and ninety six cases have been dealt with at an estimated cost to the Court Service of £120,320; the costs of solicitors and counsel representing the claimants and defendants are not included in this figure.

  Police Code of Conduct (Anonymity of Suspects)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions a police officer has breached the Police Code of Conduct through unauthorised disclosure of information on a suspect since 1973. [138280]

  Ms Blears
  Information concerning the number of occasions a police officer has breached the Police Code of Conduct through unauthorised disclosure of information on a suspect since 1973 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the amendments by the Association of Chief Police Officers to their media and disciplinary guidelines on the subject of anonymity for suspects will be completed. [138281]

  Ms Blears
  The amendments by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to their media and disciplinary guidelines have been completed. They give greater prominence to the issue of anonymity and underline that suspects should not be named before charge. They go on to highlight the possible dangers of doing so in that not only is there the risk of causing irreparable damage to a suspect's reputation, but also because unwarranted disclosure could leave a force open to civil proceedings. ACPO promulgated these guidelines to all forces in mid-October 2003.

  Antisocial Behaviour
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how he plans to keep(a) the police, (b) environmental health and housing officers and (c) the community informed of new powers resulting from legislation concerning anti-social behaviour; and how he will monitor the implementation of the new legislation; [137823]

  (2) how he proposes to improve the efficiency of the administration of the implementation of anti-social behaviour legislation and orders; [137825]

  (3) what measures are in place to hold local authorities to account for their role in the implementation of antisocial behaviour policies. [138368]

  Ms Blears
  All Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships will be required to set out their strategy for tackling anti-social behaviour as part of their three-year Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy. This includes setting out the tools that they intend to use, available 680W
  through new or existing legislation. It is the role of Government Offices to monitor the success of the Partnership against this strategy.

  In addition "Together: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour" the Government's Action Plan sets out our strategy to ensure that all available powers are understood, that they are used effectively and that all agencies support their local communities. We will be setting up the together Actionline and website to provide accurate and high quality information on a full range of interventions and access to innovative solutions. The together Academy will bring together practitioners to provide advice and training on specific issues, and to share knowledge about new solutions to tackle anti-social behaviour.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make additional funds available to local councils for the establishment of antisocial behaviour teams with(a) legal support and (b) people trained in taking witness statements. [138174]

  Ms Blears
  The Home Department has set aside £75 million for the next three years to tackle anti-social behaviour. The Home Office, through this money, will fund local authorities for work to tackle anti-social behaviour; however, it will be for individual local authorities to decide how they invest funding.

  In addition through the together campaign the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit will improve performance across England and Wales by providing funding to support every Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP); establishing a together Academy, providing training to practitioners; and establishing a together Action Line, offering advice and information on all antisocial behaviour related matters.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Minister for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety will meet the hon. Member for Crosby to discuss anti-social behaviour. [138278]

  Ms Blears
  I would be happy to meet with my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas). If she would contact my office a meeting can be arranged.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to tackle the problem of binge drinking and associated anti-social behaviour. [138365]

  Ms Blears
  The answer I gave my hon. Friend on 16 September 2003,Official Report, column 659W, set out a number of legislative measures that are already in place to help tackle anti-social behaviour associated with drinking alcohol.

  The Interim Analytical Report published by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit in September highlighted the scale of alcohol misuse in England. The final report setting out the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England will be published in time for implementation to begin in 2004 and will contain measures to tackle the range of harms associated with alcohol misuse, including binge drinking and alcohol related crime and disorder.
  681W
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how powers of the police have been strengthened since 1997 to deal with antisocial behaviour. [138366]

  Ms Blears
  The Anti-social Behaviour Bill provides a number of new powers for the police:

  Powers to close premises that are being used for drug dealing or use and causing disorder or serious nuisance.

  The ability to issue penalty notices for truancy, for use when conducting truancy sweeps with the education welfare service

  A power to designate areas with a history of anti-social behaviour where they can disperse groups causing intimidation and take children home who are out on the streets late at night.

  New controls to tackle the misuse of air weapons and replica guns.

  Improved powers for dealing. with public assemblies and trespassers. This will help the police to deal with problems caused by intimidating protestors and illegal raves. There is a new power to move on trespassing encampments where there is a relevant site available.

  New powers for local authorities to intervene in neighbourly disputes regarding high hedges.

  Extension of the power to issue penalty notices for disorder to 16 and 17 year olds.

  The Criminal Justice Bill will extend police stop and search powers to circumstances where they have reasonable suspicion that articles made, adapted or intended for use in offences of criminal damage are being carried.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will make up the nuisance neighbours panels; when they will be set up; how they will be able to be contacted; what powers they will have; and what measures will be put in place to ensure complainants are protected. [136271]

  Ms Blears
  Nuisance neighbour panels will be going live in early 2004. Work is currently being undertaken on the composition of the panels, and finalising their core functions. Once up and running the panels will be contactable through the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit in my Department. All complainants will be anonymised.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case(a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [137887]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 27 October,Official Report, column 109W. This answer included information provided by the agencies responsible to the Home Office.

  Biometrics
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research projects his Department has funded on the use of biometrics as a secure form of identification. [139225]
  682W
  Beverley Hughes
  We have funded a study by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) on the use of iris, fingerprint and face biometrics in an identity card scheme, the results of which are on the Home Office website.

  We have funded research into fingerprints through the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) and its predecessors, from the 1970s, chiefly through periodic 'benchmark' tests of fingerprint matching systems to ensure accuracy and security.

  We have also used biometrics in several operational programmes such as the Immigration and Nationality Directorate's ARC scheme.

  Bomfords/Pontrilas Sawmills
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department following the raids last month on two employers in the Midlands, how many of the people detained were people who had claimed asylum, had been refused but could not be returned to their country of origin because it was not safe; how many, after investigation, were found to have the right to remain but had not obtained national insurance numbers; how many were found to have the right to work and a national insurance number; of the other employees working at Bomfords and Pontrilas sawmills who were interviewed, how many were found to have the right to remain but had not obtained national insurance numbers; and how many who had the right to work were being paid below the minimum wage. [137712]

  Beverley Hughes
  A total of 44 individuals were detained during the course of the operations at Bomfords and Pontrilas sawmills. None fitted the above criteria. The individuals were detained because they were removable from the United Kingdom.

  The operations were aimed at the detection and removal of immigration offenders. Once an individual's immigration status was established, no further inquiries were conducted on site. It is not possible therefore to give details relating to the possession of national insurance numbers.

  Once an employee established to an immigration officer that he or she had the right to remain in the United Kingdom, no further inquiries were required.

  Inquiries were not made into exact pay levels at Pontrilas, but it is believed that there were no staff being paid less than the minimum wage. At Bomfords the majority of labour had been provided by agencies and were employed on a piece work basis.

  Child Abuse (Investigations)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding mandatory audio and visual recording of police interviews with(a) complainants and (b) other significant witnesses in investigations of past cases of abuse in children's homes; [138473]

  (2) if he will make a statement on discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding the safeguards in investigations of past cases of abuse in children's homes. [138472]
  683W
  Ms Blears
  I am corresponding with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) regarding the investigation of past cases of child abuse in children's homes.

  I wrote to the hon. member on 4 November offering a meeting to discuss these matters.

  Citizenship Applications
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it has taken to deal with citizenship applications in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many citizenship certificates were issued in each year since 1993; and what the total income from citizenship applications has been since 1993. [133463]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are no data published on actual decision times to determine applications for British citizenship. Information on expected waiting times for citizenship applications are available on the IND website; www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk and is periodically updated. As at September 2003 the expected average processing times were:

  Naturalisation

  7.7 months

  Adult registrations

  1.7 months

  Minor registrations

  7.9 months

  Other registrations

  1.3 months

  Delays arise in part because applications are not always accompanied by complete documentation. Thus, the time taken for a particular individual application may be significantly less than the average if all relevant documentation has been sent with the application form. Statistics on the applications for British citizenship granted since 1993 are shown in the table below:

  Year

  Applications granted

  1993

  45,795

  1994

  44,035

  1995

  40,515

  1996

  43,070

  1997

  37,010

  1998

  53,935

  1999

  54,900

  2000

  82,210

  2001

  90,295

  2002

  120,145

  Information on total income from citizenship applications before 1996 is unavailable. Information for 2000–01 is also unavailable. Total income from citizenship applications from 1996–2000 and after 2001 are shown in the table.

  £000s

  Year

  Nationality applications

  ROA applications

  1996–97

  800,000

  Not shown separately

  1997–98

  869,000

  Not shown separately

  1998–99

  6,491,068

  56,656

  1999–2000

  7,146,783

  63,248

  2000–01

  2001–02

  10,691,823

  115,281

  2002–03

  18,155,419

  62,731

  1.4.03–30.9.03

  6,478,410

  48,917

  Community Support Officers
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Community Support Officers there are in Lincolnshire constabulary. [138227]

  Ms Blears
  There are currently 43 Community Support Officers on patrol within Lincolnshire police force and one vacancy.

  The Home Office funds or part funds 42 of these posts. The other two, deployed within caravan sites in East Division's (Skegness), are wholly locally funded.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Community Support Officers(a) there are in 2002–03 and (b) there will be in 2003–04 in each police authority in England and Wales. [138228]

  Ms Blears
  The table shows the number of Community Support Officers (CSOs) recruited by each force by 1 April 2003 and the Home Office estimate for the number of CSOs in each force on 1 April 2004.
  The figures given include both Home Office funded CSOs and those CSOs funded by local arrangements who have already been recruited. I anticipate that the total numbers for April 2004 will be larger for some forces as they are working to recruit additional locally funded CSOs.

  Force

  CSOs recruited 1 April 2003

  Estimate CSOs recruited 1 April 2004

  Avon and Somerset

  12

  46

  Bedfordshire

  0

  12

  Cambridgeshire

  6

  47

  Cheshire

  6

  21

  Cleveland

  40

  60

  Devon and Cornwall

  20

  55

  Dorset

  7

  Durham

  10

  35

  Dyfed-Powys

  0

  5

  Essex

  10

  55

  Gloucestershire

  0

  60

  Greater Manchester

  160

  185

  Gwent

  30

  50

  Hertfordshire

  14

  38

  Kent

  18

  63

  Lancashire

  74

  111

  Leicestershire

  28

  45

  Lincolnshire

  32

  44

  Merseyside

  40

  100

  Metropolitan Police

  604

  1,034

  Norfolk

  12

  30

  Northamptonshire

  12

  12

  North Wales

  0

  8

  North Yorkshire

  0

  37

  Northumbria

  0

  45

  Nottinghamshire

  10

  45

  South Wales

  0

  50

  South Yorkshire

  14

  42

  Staffordshire

  0

  10

  Suffolk

  0

  15

  Surrey

  52

  63

  Sussex

  22

  72

  Thames Valley

  0

  8

  Warwickshire

  11

  24

  West Mercia

  10

  40

  West Midlands

  0

  56

  West Yorkshire

  70

  170

  Wiltshire

  15

  25

  Total

  1,339

  2,825

  685W
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community support officers are deployed in each local authority area in Staffordshire. [137772]

  Ms Blears
  In May 2003 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary allocated funding for 10 Community Support Officers (CSOs) to Staffordshire police force. The table shows the deployment of these CSOs in the local authorities of Staffordshire.

  Local authority

  Number of CSOs

  Cannock Chase

  0

  East Staffordshire

  2

  Lichfield

  2

  Newcastle under Lyme

  2

  South Staffordshire

  2

  Stafford

  0

  Staffordshire Moorlands

  1

  Stoke on Trent

  0

  Tamworth

  1

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 9 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Farooq Ahmed. [133837]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 13 November 2003.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 8 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr.Yacob Yunis. [133846]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 13 November 2003.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason he has not replied to the letter to him of 8 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr.Yacob Yonis. [135309]

  Beverley Hughes
  The reply is incorporated in 133846.SV 28.10.03.

  Number of offence recorded by Lincolshire police from 1995 to 2002–03

  19951

  1996

  1997

  1998–992.3

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–024

  2002–034

  Total crime

  48,015

  47,069

  43,381

  46,670

  46,170

  44,884

  49,797

  61,949

  Violence against the person

  2,514

  2,701

  3,051

  4,239

  3,866

  3,743

  4,812

  9,238

  Sexual offences

  367

  293

  329

  393

  325

  281

  414

  583

  Robbery

  128

  138

  107

  149

  178

  191

  251

  307

  All burglary

  12,243

  12,819

  10,551

  10,257

  10,719

  9,583

  9,592

  10,831

  Theft and handling

  22,774

  21,085

  20,085

  19,328

  19,551

  18,938

  19,728

  22,745

  Fraud and forgery

  1,163

  1,148

  1,382

  2,723

  1,641

  1,662

  1,968

  2,580

  Criminal damage

  8,138

  8,289

  7,145

  7,728

  8,391

  9,078

  11,282

  13,694

  Drug offfences3

  —

  —

  —

  1,229

  975

  906

  1,116

  1,060

  Other offences

  688

  596

  731

  624

  524

  502

  634

  911

  Theft from a vehicle

  5,661

  6,568

  5,511

  4,838

  4,873

  4,830

  4,897

  5,756

  Theft of a vehicle

  3,538

  3,388

  2,804

  2,106

  1,998

  1,797

  1,885

  2,101

  686W
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has not yet replied to the letter to him dated 18 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Syed Ahstesham Qaisa. [136984]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I responded to my right hon. Friend on 30 October 2003.

  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will direct the Immigration and Nationality Department to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Wrexham dated 2 June and 24 July in respect of Mr. Hamad Hamadimin Ahmed. [129612]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my hon. Friend on 29 September 2003.

  Ian Lucas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will direct the Immigration and Nationality Department to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Wrexham dated 9 December 2002, 4 February 2003 and 24 July 2003 in respect of Mrs. Clementina (Ikekwoaba) Samuels. [129614]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to my hon. Friend's letters of 9 December 2002 and 4 February 2003 on 26 March 2003. My hon. Friend's letter of 24 July 2003 was replied to on 29 September 2003.

  Crime Statistics (Lincolnshire)
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were recorded by Lincolnshire police force in each year since 1995, broken down by category. [138226]

  Ms Blears
  The requested information is given in the table.

  There was a change of counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998, which had the effect of increasing the number of crimes counted. Numbers of offences for years before and after this date are therefore not directly comparable.

  The National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) was introduced across England and Wales in April 2002. Lincolnshire Police Force introduced the Standard in March 2002. Broadly, the NCRS had the effect of increasing the number of crimes recorded by the police. Therefore, following the introduction of the Standard, numbers of recorded crimes are not comparable with previous years.
  687W
  1 Crimes were recorded on a calendar year basis until 1997, and on a financial year basis thereafter.

  fp2 The number of crimes recorded in that financial year using the expanded offence coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1998.

  3 Up until April 1998, the existing drug offences were recorded within 'Other offences'.

  4 Lincolnshire police implemented the NCRS in March 2002. Numbers of recorded crimes after this date are not comparable with previous years.

  Discrimination (Catholic Subjects)
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what restrictions upon Her Majesty's Catholic subjects are contained in legislation for which his Department is responsible; and whether he intends to introduce legislation to repeal them as part of the new legislation against religious discrimination. [137816]

  (2) whether he intends to introduce legislation to remove discrimination against Catholic subjects of the Crown; and if he will make a statement; [137817]

  (3) if he will make a statement on his policy towards the enforcement of laws that discriminate against Her Majesty's Catholic subjects. [137818]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the right hon. Member about the matters he has raised.

  Donald Russell McLachlin
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the application by Donald Russell McLachlin (Ref: M525305) for indefinite leave to remain in the UK will be determined; and what the reasons for the delay are. [133567]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 21 October 2003]Mr. McLachlin's application was lodged in April. It could not be decided on initial consideration. Cases that cannot be initially decided are dealt with in order of receipt. The majority of these are expected to be decided within six months although particularly complex cases can take longer.

  Applications received on or after 1 August attract a fee and we intend that decisions will be reached on these within 13 weeks. Mr. McLachlin's application was determined on 1 October and he has been informed of this decision.

  I wrote to the hon. Member on 15 October to set out the position and suggest how Mr. McLachlin might proceed with an application.

  Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual running cost of Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [131553]

  Beverley Hughes
  The most recent year in which there are figures available for the annual running cost of Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre is 2002–03. The annual running cost for this year was £4,778,287.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to visit Dungavel. [131554]
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  Beverley Hughes
  As Minister for Immigration I visited Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre in September last year. I currently have no plans to make a return visit.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to maintain teaching standards at Dungavel in circumstances where there has been a large admission of children. [131555]

  Beverley Hughes
  There is limited family accommodation at Dungavel Removal Centre and the number of families at the centre fluctuates from day-to-day. For example, during September there were, on any one day, as few as two school age children at Dungavel and never more than 15. The nature of immigration detention is such that there is never a large admission of children as might be the case in local schools and special arrangements do not therefore need to be made for such an eventuality.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost per week is of detaining(a) a single adult asylum seeker in Dungavel, (b) a child of an asylum seeker in Dungavel, (c) a single asylum seeker in Tinsley House and (d) a child of an asylum seeker in Tinsley House. [131654]

  Beverley Hughes
  The average cost per place per week for detaining a person is £655 for Dungavel and £762 for Tinsley House for 2003/04.

  These figures are an average cost per head. It would incur disproportionate cost to break the figures down for adults and children.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on arrangements for the welfare of children being kept at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre. [131557]

  Beverley Hughes
  Families with children who are detained at Dungavel Removal Centre are accommodated in a separate family unit within the centre. Each family room has en-suite facilities. There is a separate family canteen that provides three meals a day as well as a milk kitchen with facilities for younger children. There is a cr1/2che for babies and younger children. There is education provision for all school-aged children. The curriculum includes maths, English, art and history. Science is also included and outside contacts have been set up with various agencies to facilitate the science programme. Children also have access to a library, televisions and videos and a variety of games. There is a multi-faith room at Dungavel which children are able to access with their parents.

  Children have access to the open air throughout the day. There is an outdoor play facility for the younger children and separate gym time is made available for children each day.
  689W
  There are health care facilities for both children and adults, with 24 hours, seven days a week on site nursing care and a GP available for surgery throughout the week.

  Mrs. Geraldine Merchant
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action to ensure that the passport of Mrs. Geraldine Merchant, Ref: M1012795, is returned to her as soon as possible. [135319]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 30 October 2003]My hon. Friend is aware that the circumstances of this case required a full investigation. However, Mrs. Merchant's application should be decided within the next two months. Her passport can be returned to her before then if she wishes but will not be endorsed with leave to remain.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the Prison Service in England and Wales as(a) governor grade, (b) prison officers and (c) other staff on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many in each category were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138396]

  Paul Goggins
  Information on the recorded ethnicity of Prison Service staff at 31 October 2003 is contained in the table.

  Ethnic group

  Senior operational managers1

  Officers2

  Other staff

  Total

  White

  1,170

  20,790

  18,562

  40,522

  Asian

  6

  199

  456

  661

  Black

  10

  432

  768

  1,210

  Other Minority Ethnic

  21

  315

  330

  666

  No Data

  85

  2,189

  1,914

  4,188

  Total

  1,292

  23,925

  22,030

  47,247

  1 Refers to Governor grades

  2 Includes prison officers, senior officers and principal officers

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were stopped and searched by each police force in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years; and how many of the people stopped were(a) black and (b) Asian. [138401]

  Ms Blears
  Information on the number of stops and searches under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and other legislation for the years 1991 to 1996, broken down by police force area, are given in Table 1 which has been placed in the Library. These figures include stops and searches of persons and vehicles. During this period there was no information collected giving the required breakdown on the ethnic group of persons stopped and searched.

  Information on stops and searches of individuals from 1996–97 to 2001–02 is presented in Table 2 which has been placed in the Library, and includes a breakdown by the specific ethnic group groups requested.
  690W
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England and Wales were in post on the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by rank; and how many in each rank were(a) black and (b) Asian. [138482]

  Ms Blears
  The total number of officers in post at 31 March 2003 is contained in Table 4 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 11/03. Information on the number of minority ethnic officers by rank is contained in Table 9. A copy of the publication including Tables 4 and 9 is available in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new police officers were appointed during 2002; and how many of those newly appointed were(a) black and (b) Asian. [138483]

  Ms Blears
  The number of full time equivalent officers joining the police service in the 12 months to 31 March 2003 was 13,126. Of these, 679 (5.2 per cent.) were minority ethnic officers. There is no breakdown available for Black and Asian officers.

  EU Enlargement (Migration)
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of people from countries acceding to the EU who will take up jobs in the UK in each of the three years following accession. [135080]

  Beverley Hughes
  Research conducted by University College London for the Home Office, published in June this year ("The impact of EU enlargement on migration flows", Home Office On-Line Report 25/03), estimates that the numbers of people who will migrate to the UK from the new member states in the years following enlargement will not be significant. The research corroborates a number of other independent studies which have been summarised in reports by the European Commission in 2000 and the former Department for Education and Employment in 1999. The estimates for those expected to migrate comprise both those coming for purposes of work and those coming for other reasons such as education.

  We will monitor the situation and the UK has the right to reintroduce restrictions in the event of an unexpected impact on the standard of living or level of employment in a particular region or occupation.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the estimated cost was of the misuse of fireworks not sold in retail outlets and not used in organised displays in each of the last four years; [138002]

  (2) what estimate she has made of the criminal damage caused by Chinese bomb fireworks in each of the last three years. [137976]

  Ms Blears
  This information is not held centrally. However, Merseyside Police estimate they have spent £500,000 dealing with fireworks incidents so far this year. The recent use of fireworks as improvised explosive devices in the North-West is of particular concern.
  691W
  Fireworks misuse is a nuisance and can be a danger to the public. That is why, on 5 November 2003, we announced our intention to introduce a package of measures banning possession of fireworks by under 18s, banning possession of display fireworks by members of the public and increasing penalties for throwing fireworks in the street. Further measures tackling fireworks nuisance will be taken forward in the New, Year.

  Forensic Science
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many pathologists on the Home Office Register of Forensic Pathology have been removed from the list since its creation; [84279]

  (2) how many years each member of the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology has served; and how many members have retired; [84278]

  (3) by what means a coroner may alert the appropriate authorities of perceived professional shortcomings of a forensic pathologist; [84281]

  (4) by what means he monitors the performance of forensic pathologists; [84280]M

  (5) for what reason the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology's Disciplinary Tribunal recused itself before the completion of its hearing on the one occasion in the last 10 years on which it has met; what the consequences were of its recusal; and what subsequent professional activity has been undertaken by the pathologist who was the object of the complaint; [84275]

  (6) if he will place the terms of reference of the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology, the list of current members and a copy of the Board's Complaints and Disciplinary Procedures in the Library; [84274]

  (7) to whom the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology reports; and if he will place the most recent report of the Board in the Library; [84277]

  (8) how many times the Police Advisory Board for Forensic Pathology has met since its creation; and if he will place minutes of its meetings in the Library. [84276]

  Ms Blears
  The issues raised have been dealt with in a letter from my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 11 June.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received(a) in favour of and (b) opposed to the privatisation of the Forensic Science Service. [137531]

  Ms Blears
  In his statement of 17 July 2003, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary explained the reasons for the proposal that the Forensic Science Service should become a public-private partnership. To date, there have been(a) no representations in favour of the proposal, and (b) 120 representations expressing concern about the future status of the organisation.

  Fraudulent Passport Applications
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for investigating fraudulent passport applications. [139057]
  692W
  Beverley Hughes
  It is one of the UK Passport Service's (UKPS) primary responsibilities to ensure that UK passports are issued only to those people who are entitled to them. UKPS are responsible for identifying fraudulent applications for passports and for mounting investigations into such applications. Once initiated, these investigations are progressed in partnership with police, Immigration Service, and other law enforcement agencies.

  Haslar Removal Centre
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what briefings have been given to prison staff at Haslar Removal Centre relating to(a) the extension of the centre, (b) its transfer to the Immigration Service and (c) its possible privatisation. [135596]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]A project team has been set up to look at proposals to transfer operational responsibility for the centre from the Prison Service to IND. Staff and Trade Unions have been informed of this by means of a letter. The project team will continue to keep them informed throughout the process. The centre manager and his senior management team at Haslar were involved in a feasibility study to look at options to extend Haslar. The options did not prove to be cost effective and therefore there are no plans at present to develop the removal centre at Haslar.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans other than those proposed by his Department have been put forward for the extension of the Haslar Removal Centre; and what the planned new accommodation total is in the proposals put forward by(a) his Department and (b) other bodies. [135597]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]Indicative plans were prepared which looked at a number of options to extend Haslar. However, these were simply architectural sketch plans and no detailed plans have been prepared. No plans have been submitted for planning approval and at this time there is no intention of doing so. There are currently no plans to expand the Removal Centre at Haslar.

  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans for the extension of Haslar Removal Centre have been produced by Capita. [133065]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]Indicative plans were prepared by Capita for some expansion and improvement to Haslar Removal Centre, but we have no plans at present to take this forward.

  Entitlement Cards/Identity Fraud
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a summary of the responses to the consultation paper on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud. [138663]

  Beverley Hughes
  On 11 November 2003, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made a Statement to the House announcing the publication of "Identity Cards—A Summary of Findings from the Consultation
  693W
  Exercise on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud". This followed a lengthy public consultation under Cabinet Office guidelines.

  The publication summarises the responses and the results of surveys and polling which demonstrated substantial commitment to some form of identity card, a term the public preferred to the term "entitlement card".

  The Government has decided to begin the process of building a base for a national compulsory identity cards scheme. The scheme is a key part of a comprehensive strategy to contain threats from illegal migration and working, organised crime and terrorism, identity theft and fraud and fraudulent access to public services, for example by illegal immigrants who have no entitlement to them.

  Imams (Entry Clearance)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Imams have been given clearance to enter and remain in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [136104]

  Beverley Hughes
  Information on the number of Imams given clearance to enter and remain in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years is not available except by examination of individual case-files at disproportionate cost.

  Immigration
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used by immigration officers, who release a person from immigration detention, to determine whether an address is suitable as one where the person will be required to live under the terms of the temporary admission; and what checks immigration officers are expected to carry out before releasing a person from detention to ensure an address meets these criteria. [124238]

  Beverley Hughes
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11 July 2003,Official Report, column 1068.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what actions he is taking to ensure that UK immigration rules are fully compliant with the Human Rights Act 1998. [132234]

  Beverley Hughes
  Paragraph 2 of the Immigration Rules states that all immigration staff will carry out their duties in compliance with the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998. In preparing changes to the Immigration Rules, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary takes detailed advice as part of his consideration of questions of compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate officials and Home Office lawyers. Judgments in individual immigration appeal cases raising human rights issues are also carefully examined for any wider potential implications for the Rules.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out his(a) proposals and (b) targets for improving the speed and quality of service for those who seek to enter the United Kingdom lawfully under the immigration rules. [134049]
  694W
  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 23 October 2003]The UK Immigration Service is committed to processing bona fide passengers with minimal delay, and has signed up to international standards for passenger processing times. These are embedded in the UK Immigration Service's annual business objectives, and are kept under review.

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards for processing passengers are:

  45 minutes for non-EEA passengers, with minimal delay for EEA passengers.

  The UK Immigration Service's performance is also measured independently against the British Airports Authority (BAA) quality of service management figures, which includes queuing times. The Immigration Service continues to score well against this measure.

  The Immigration Service is currently drawing up service level agreements with a number of port operators to monitor passenger processing times.

  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the benefits to the UK economy of authorised immigration. [134136]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 27 October 2003]In 2001 the Home Office published a wide ranging review of the effects of migration on the UK Economy, and in 2002 its Research Directorate published four separate research reports on migrants' fiscal effects and their labour market outcomes and impacts. The studies considered various aspects of immigrants' characteristics and contribution to the UK economy.

  The overall impact is positive—migrants have no significant adverse impact on non-migrants' employment and, if anything, had a positive impact on wages, suggesting they bring complementary skills. The evidence demonstrates that migrants contribute to economic growth, productivity, innovation and public finances. The fiscal study estimated that immigrants made a net £2.5 billion contribution to the economy in 1999–2000. Immigrants also help fill jobs that companies have been unable to fill from the domestic labour force.

  Mr. Simon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend paragraph 302 of the Immigration Rules to permit an accompanying child to be granted a two year visa. [134555]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Immigration Rules will be changed shortly so that children qualifying under paragraph 302 of the rules may be granted limited leave to enter for up to two years.

  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances the Department may retain for up to three years the passport of an individual applying for(a) SET (M) and (b) SET (F). [135318]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 30 October 2003]In both cases a passport is normally held while the application is being considered. It is unusual for documents to be held for three years as non-asylum applications are normally considered within a 12-month
  695W
  period. However, only in exceptional circumstances where, for example, a further investigation is required by the Immigration Service might this time be exceeded.

  Documents can be returned on request at any time before a decision has been made although they may not be endorsed.

  Immigration Checks (Northern Ireland)
  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what immigration checks are in place at airports and ferry terminals in Northern Ireland; and under what legislation they are operating. [133296]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 21 October 2003]Permanent immigration controls operate on passengers arriving in Northern Ireland from outside the Common Travel Area (i.e. the United Kingdom (UK), Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland) under powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971 which allows immigration officers to examine passengers for the purpose of determining whether they qualify for entry, and to refuse entry to those who do not.

  Permanent facilities exist for examination of such passengers at Belfast International airport and temporary facilities operate at other airports within Northern Ireland as required. No permanent control facilities exist at any ferry port as there are no regular international ferry services.

  In addition to the above arrangements, UK Immigration Service has a responsibility for detecting immigration offenders within the UK, including Northern Ireland.

  Separate powers exist within the 1971 Act which enable Immigration Officers to arrest those reasonably suspected of being in the UK unlawfully and for the detention, pending removal from the UK, of those found to be here unlawfully.

  UK Immigration Service staff periodically conduct exercises at the main air and ferry ports in Northern Ireland to identify immigration offenders travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Offenders so identified are arrested or detained under the powers referred to above.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions there are upon immigration checks at airports and ferry terminals within Nothern Ireland in relation to the Common Travel Area; and on what basis immigration officers distinguish between those travelling within the CTA and those outside it. [133297]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 21 October 2003]The Immigration Act 1971 places statutory obligations upon airlines and ferry companies to ensure that passengers arriving from outside the Common Travel Area (CTA) are presented to an immigration officer, who has the power to examine them for the purpose of determining whether they qualify for entry, and to refuse those who do not. At Belfast International airport a separate pier exists for international passengers. At other airports, and when necessary at ferry ports, ad hoc arrangements are made to ensure that international passengers are similarly segregated from those on journeys within the CTA.
  696W
  No immigration controls operate on passengers travelling on journeys within the CTA. However, if identified by a police officer or by other sources of intelligence, Immigration Officers may arrest or detain immigration offenders travelling on flights within the CTA or indeed anywhere in the UK, with a view to their removal from the UK. In doing this they use separate powers of arrest and detention contained within the 1971 Act.

  Immigration Statistics
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the number of people in the UK who are not recorded in official statistics as authorised immigrants. [135594]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]There is currently no official estimate of the number of people in the UK who are not recorded in official statistics as authorised immigrants.

  Independent Police Complaints Commission
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the(a) cost and (b) remit of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. [137533]

  Ms Blears
  This current financial year is the Independent Police Complaint Commission's (IPCC) set up year. It has been allocated £15 million for revenue expenditure and £11.5 million for capital expenditure. The funding for future years has not yet been established.

  The IPCC's remit will be as set out in section 10 of the Police Reform Act 2002. From 1 April 2004, it will be tasked with maintaining effective and efficient arrangements for recording, handling and investigating complaints about conduct and internal conduct matters relating to persons serving with the police (regular officers, police staff, special constables and contracted escort and detention officers). It will also have the function of securing that public confidence is established and maintained in those arrangements and that they manifest an appropriate degree of independence.

  Managed Migration
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how his Department's managed migration policies are attracting immigrants to Scotland. [132982]

  Beverley Hughes
  The Government are responsible for migration to the United Kingdom. Our managed migration policies provide legal routes of entry that will attract migrants to all parts of the UK where this will contribute to our economy and society. The Scottish Executive is complementing these policies by developing the Fresh Talent Initiative to attract migrants to Scotland.

  Mrs. Kaladura Nimali Mason
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a decision on
  697W
  the application of Mrs. Kaladura Nimali Mason (reference M2013611/3) for naturalisation as a British citizen. [135912]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]Mrs. Mason's application has been approved. She was sent an oath of allegiance form on 31 October 2003. Once she has sworn the oath and returned the form to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, they will be able to issue a certificate of British citizenship.

  National Asylum Support Service
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the report of the independent review of the National Asylum Support Service was submitted to ministers. [133964]

  Beverley Hughes
  The independent team established to review the operation of the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) submitted its report on 30 May 2003.

  Mr. Digby Griffith was appointed as Secretary to the independent NASS Review Team during the first week in March 2003 and took up post on 10 March. Following a national open competition he was offered the post of Head of Accommodation in NASS on 24 April. He took up post on 30 June.

  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implications of the decision of the Court of Appeal in Regina versus National Asylum Support Service. [136706]

  Beverley Hughes
  We welcome the findings of the Court in this case. The judgment provides valuable clarification of the extent of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)'s responsibilities for accommodating asylum seekers who have children who are sick or have disabilities. As the judgment made clear IND has always accepted that it had a duty to provide adequate accommodation for the applicant and her family, taking account of the situation of the children. Work is on-going to obtain more suitable accommodation in the area for the family.

  Nationality Applications
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken was to process an application for British nationality in the last five years was; and if he(a) has taken and (b) intends to take action to reduce that waiting time. [137072]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are no data published on actual decision times to determine applications for British citizenship. Information on expected waiting times for citizenship applications are available on the IND website; www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk and is periodically updated. As at the end of October 2003 the expected average processing times were:

  Applications

  Months

  Naturalisation

  6.2

  Adult

  2.0

  Minor

  6.9

  Other

  1.4

  698W
  However, this time may be significantly reduced if all relevant documents are sent with the application form.

  The casework consideration process has been extensively reviewed by the Nationality Group to minimise delays. This has resulted in a reduction to waiting times during this financial year; over 25 per cent. of cases are now decided within one month of receipt. In addition to this, a review of Nationality Group processes was commissioned to focus on ways of reducing the backlog of work and cutting waiting times further. The review report was accepted by the Minister in October. An action plan is now being formulated to take forward its recommendations.

  Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to sections(a) 96, (b) 97 and (c) 98 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, how many cases have been certified by the Secretary of State in accordance with that section; how many cases so certified have been challenged (i) by judicial review and (ii) otherwise; how many challenges were successful; and what the grounds were in each case of challenge. [135430]

  Beverley Hughes
  I regret that the information requested is unavailable and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Statistics on the numbers of certified refusals at asylum initial decisions and the outcomes of any subsequent appeals or judicial reviews are not separately available in relation to sections 96, 97 and 98 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

  Statistics on the outcomes of initial asylum decisions and appeals are published quarterly. The next publication will be available from the 27 November 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ rds/immigration1.html.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases certified as clearly unfounded under Section 94(3) of the Nationality and Immigration Asylum Act 2002 have been(a) challenged successfully and (b) challenged unsuccessfully by judicial review; and, in each case where the challenge was successful, what the grounds of the challenge were. [135431]

  Beverley Hughes
  Section 94(3) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2003 relate to nationalities subject to non-suspensive appeal (NSA). NSA provisions have been applied since 7 November 2002. The number of applications received from such nationalities has fallen significantly.

  I regret that the information requested is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Information on asylum initial decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will be available on 27 November 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at http: //www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1. html.
  699W
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many cases considered under section 94(3) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 he decided that the claim was not clearly unfounded, broken down by country of origin of claimants; [135433]

  (2) how many (a) asylum and (b) human rights claims were certified by the Secretary of State as clearly unfounded under Section 94(3) of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, broken down by country of origin of claimant. [135434]

  Beverley Hughes
  I regret that the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Information on asylum initial decisions is published quarterly. The next publication will be available on 27 November 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http: //www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

  Overseas Students (Visa Charges)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of overseas pupils attending boarding schools in the United Kingdom who will be required to pay visa charges under new regulations. [133935]

  Beverley Hughes
  No figures are available for the number of boarding school children who will be required to pay for applications for leave to remain in the United Kingdom following the introduction of charging for leave to remain which was introduced on 1 August 2003.

  The cost of an application for leave to remain in the United Kingdom is £155 if sent by post or £250 if lodged in person.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of overseas pupils attending boarding schools in the United Kingdom who will miss a period of school due to delays in granting visas. [133936]

  Beverley Hughes
  Student entry clearance applications do not allow us to differentiate those attending boarding schools from others. Globally, over 90 per cent. of all straightforward applications were processed within 24 hours in the financial year 2002–03. By their nature applications from boarding school students are straightforward in most cases.

  UK visas has not received any complaints that students have missed school due to delays in processing entry clearance applications.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the additional charges for overseas student visas contain an element for cost recovery for the past costs of administering such visas in accordance with Treasury guidance. [136540]

  Beverley Hughes
  The fees are set under Treasury rules to recover the full administrative cost entailed in considering applications and no more. This is calculated taking the overall costs of processing applications for one year divided by the number of decisions we expect to make.
  700W
  Treasury guidelines state that the only actual costs may be recovered.

  The costs of dealing with applications which do not attract a fee cannot be recovered from fee paid for applications.

  Treasury rules require the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to carry out an annual fee review.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement by the Under-Secretary of State of 22 October 2003,Official Report, column 311 WH, on visa charges, what discretion his Department has in interpreting Treasury rules on the setting of charges for visas for overseas students. [134907]

  Beverley Hughes
  There are no plans to increase student visa fees at this time. However, visa fees are kept under review and may be increased in order to ensure that the entry clearance operation recovers its full costs.

  The fees for leave to remain applications are set under Treasury rules to recover the full administrative cost entailed in considering applications and no more. This is calculated by taking the overall costs of processing applications divided by the number of decisions we expect to make. This is the same method used to calculate the costs of entry clearance/visa fees. There is a scale of fees for entry clearance depending on the type of visa being applied for. We were unable to introduce differential charging for leave to remain applications, as our current accounting structure does not allow for this. Consultation would not have changed this. However, this is not to close off the potential for differential charging in the future and we will again consider this when charges are reviewed.

  Fees and charges for statutory services are set in accordance with Treasury guidelines.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister of State will reply to the letter of 17 September from the General Secretary of the Independent Schools Council concerning visa charges for school pupils. [133070]

  Beverley Hughes
  A reply to Alistair Cooke's letter of 17 September was sent on 20 October.

  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when, and by what means, he advertised the introduction of visa charges for overseas pupils attending United Kingdom schools. [133071]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 20 October 2003]Theconcept of charging has been in the public domain for some time since it was debated during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary further stated his intention to charge in the White Paper: "Secure Borders, Safe Haven: Integration with Diversity in Modern Britain" published on 7 February 2000.

  The day the regulations were laid (10 July) there was a public announcement by way of a Press Release; information was available on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) Website and a leaflet `Information about New Charges' was available to customers by post and in the Public Enquiry Offices. The leaflet was also sent to IND stakeholders.

  Passports
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has carried out into the effects on those on low incomes of introducing fees for(a) applications for variation of leave and (b) endorsing passports. [136962]

  Beverley Hughes
  We have not carried out any research into the effects to those on low incomes by the introduction of charging for leave to remain applications but the Immigration Rules require a person applying for leave to remain to be able to maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds

  Police Authorities
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the Wiltshire Police Authority indicating(a) who nominated them, (b) who appointed them and (c) their political affiliation. [137348]

  Ms Blears
  There are 17 members of Witshire police authority made up of nine councillors, three magistrates and five independent members, as shown in the table:

  Wiltshire Police Authority

  Members

  Political affiliation

  Councillors

  Mrs. C. Arkell

  Conservative

  Mr. B. Ford

  Conservative

  Mrs. M. Groom

  Conservative

  Mrs. C. Soden

  Conservative

  Mr. W. Spiers

  Conservative

  Mr. D. Benfield

  Labour

  Mrs. M. Taylor

  Labour

  Mrs. M. Boulton

  Liberal Democratic

  Mr. P Sample

  Liberal Democratic

  Magistrates

  —

  Mr. G. Baskerville

  —

  Mr. F. Palmer

  —

  Mrs. M. Sitaram

  —

  Independent Members

  Mr. W. Fishlock

  —

  Mr. C. Hoare

  —

  Mr. I. Johnston

  —

  Miss A. Scofield

  —

  Mr. H. Woolnough

  —

  Councillors and magistrate members are nominated locally. The final decision on independent members is also taken locally but from a short list provided by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. Members are appointed under the terms of Schedule 2 of the Police Act 1996

  The political affiliations of magistrate and independent members are not relevant to the appointment to the police authority and are not known.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he issues on the range of organisations to be represented on police authorities, with particular reference to the number of representatives from(a) district and (b) county councils. [137508]
  702W
  Ms Blears
  The standard membership of a police authority outside London under section 4(1) of the Police Act 1996 is 17 members, of whom nine will be councillors appointed from relevant councils, three will be magistrates appointed by the local Magistrates Courts Committee and five will be appointed from local people (independent members) who mainly live or work in the police area. The Home Office and Association of Police Authorities published joint guidance on the selection and appointment of independent members of police authorities in England and Wales on 20 September 2002. This guidance reflects the intention in the Act that the independent membership should, as far as practical, represent the interests of a wide range of people in the community and be appropriately skilled. It does not specify organisations.

  Where there is a single relevant council in a police area, it selects from its membership the nine councillor members of the police authority according to political balance. If there is more than one relevant council, then a Joint Committee of those councils makes the appointments on the balance of parties prevailing among the members of the relevant councils taken as a whole. The apportionment between relevant councils is a matter for the Joint Committee. This is set out in Schedule 2 of the Police Act 1996 as amended.

  Rural Policing
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been made to each police authority in England and Wales since 1995 under the Rural Sparsity Grant. [138232]

  Ms Blears
  The Rural Policing Fund was introduced in 2000–01. Allocations to the end of this financial year are set out in the table.

  Rural Policing Fund—allocations 2000–01 to 2003–04

  £

  Police authority

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Avon and Somerset

  494,892

  992,875

  993,718

  978,223

  Bedfordshire

  81,390

  163,540

  163,555

  164,272

  Cambridgeshire

  561,585

  1,125,169

  1,126,395

  1,098,821

  Cheshire

  115,058

  228,487

  227,493

  228,073

  Cumbria

  690,613

  1,370,910

  1,360,324

  1,355,658

  Derbyshire

  208,347

  416,190

  415,196

  407,488

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,554,673

  3,114,489

  3,128,806

  3,122,895

  Dorset

  221,858

  442,209

  443,158

  441,478

  Durham

  124,270

  246,803

  245,259

  239,908

  Dyfed Powys

  1,297,570

  2,588,337

  2,583,979

  2,612899

  Essex

  251,315

  503,710

  504,105

  501,773

  Gloucestershire

  387,093

  776,548

  775,749

  778,455

  Gwent

  102,985

  204,476

  203,489

  202,360

  Hampshire

  110,175

  220,430

  219,680

  219,421

  Humberside

  357,640

  710,250

  705,395

  698,109

  Kent

  298,863

  599,342

  599,700

  595,161

  Lancashire

  32,228

  64,054

  63,835

  63,419

  Leicestershire

  216,758

  433,988

  433,164

  428,056

  Lincolnshire

  985,951

  1,978,690

  1,984,449

  2,032,554

  Norfolk

  1,036,848

  2,078,830

  2,085,509

  2,076,414

  Northamptonshire

  350,892

  704,141

  705,137

  712,539

  North Wales

  770,617

  1,533,723

  1,530,130

  1,542,644

  North Yorkshire

  1,005,224

  2,013,806

  2,018,359

  2,018,029

  Staffordshire

  138,358

  275,072

  273,147

  270,884

  Suffolk

  711,533

  1,422,627

  1,424,923

  1,407,313

  703W

  Rural Policing Fund—allocations 2000–01 to 2003–04

  £

  Police authority

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Surrey

  5,463

  11,048

  11,006

  10,825

  Sussex

  273,834

  550,563

  549,849

  541,847

  Thames Valley

  629,559

  1,262,860

  1,261,933

  1,245,238

  Warwickshire

  282,108

  562,546

  561,338

  558,987

  West Mercia

  1,157,670

  2,311,653

  2,309,690

  2,341,925

  Wiltshire

  544,900

  1,092,634

  1,091,530

  1,095,332

  Totals

  15,000,000

  30,000,000

  30,000,000

  30,000,000

  Mar1995

  Mar1996

  Mar1997

  Mar1998

  Mar1999

  Mar2000

  Mar2001

  Mar2002

  Mar20032

  Avon and Somerset

  3,000

  2,981

  2,989

  2,976

  2,999

  2,934

  2,994

  3,096

  3,149

  Bedfordshire

  1,126

  1,128

  1,094

  1,079

  1,041

  1,028

  1,036

  1,069

  1,106

  Cambridgeshire

  1,261

  1,238

  1,302

  1,291

  1,274

  1,237

  1,296

  1,362

  1,384

  Cheshire

  1,932

  1,998

  2,046

  2,042

  2,071

  2,011

  2,002

  2,059

  2,119

  Cleveland

  1,438

  1,420

  1,459

  1,483

  1,416

  1,404

  1,407

  1,461

  1,582

  Cumbria

  1,167

  1,115

  1,144

  1,164

  1,126

  1,084

  1,048

  1,100

  1,140

  Derbyshire

  1,797

  1,763

  1,791

  1,772

  1,759

  1,777

  1,823

  1,848

  2,003

  Devon and Cornwall

  2,877

  2,899

  2,865

  2,962

  2,887

  2,841

  2,934

  3,053

  3,202

  Dorset

  1,288

  1,263

  1,284

  1,310

  1,279

  1,306

  1,354

  1,381

  1,416

  Durham

  1,353

  1,401

  1,461

  1,515

  1,568

  1,558

  1,595

  1,614

  1,651

  Essex

  2,921

  2,884

  2,961

  2,928

  2,891

  2,806

  2,897

  2,946

  2,989

  Gloucestershire

  1,163

  1,133

  1,133

  1,104

  1,104

  1,114

  1,173

  1,183

  1,227

  Greater Manchester

  7,037

  6,938

  6,922

  6,949

  6,810

  6,795

  6,909

  7,217

  7,343

  Hampshire

  3,256

  3,347

  3,452

  3,490

  3,473

  3,419

  3,438

  3,480

  3,668

  Hertfordshire

  1,703

  1,712

  1,759

  1,740

  1,724

  1,767

  1,922

  1,825

  1,957

  Humberside

  2,029

  2,041

  2,045

  2,021

  1,974

  1,932

  1,917

  2,058

  2,105

  Kent

  .3,117

  3,120

  3,260

  3,251

  3,201

  3,204

  3,319

  3,355

  3,487

  Lancashire

  3,212

  3,171

  3,247

  3,257

  3,245

  3,179

  3,255

  3,304

  3,339

  Leicestershire

  1,839

  1,908

  1,949

  1,983

  1,993

  1,993

  2,032

  2,100

  2,114

  Lincolnshire

  1,199

  1,145

  1,196

  1,191

  1,140

  1,115

  1,202

  1,198

  1,221

  City of London

  885

  869

  859

  825

  778

  732

  703

  764

  808

  Merseyside

  4,659

  4,411

  4,230

  4,216

  4,211

  4,085

  4,081

  4,125

  4,099

  Metropolitan police

  27,480

  27,343

  26,677

  26,094

  26,073

  25,485

  24,878

  26,223

  27,984

  Norfolk

  1,395

  1,401

  1,432

  1,430

  1,381

  1,381

  1,420

  1,468

  1,499

  Northamptonshire

  1,156

  1,153

  1,177

  1,169

  1,137

  1,117

  1,157

  1,214

  1,210

  Northumbria

  3,606

  3,668

  3,677

  3,769

  3,840

  3,788

  3,857

  3,929

  3,943

  North Yorkshire

  1,300

  1,324

  1,338

  1,367

  1,337

  1,283

  1,305

  1,417

  1,444

  Nottinghamshire

  2,319

  2,318

  2,323

  2,323

  2,225

  2,204

  2,275

  2,330

  2,411

  South Yorkshire

  3,040

  3,073

  3,159

  3,182

  3,168

  3,163

  3,197

  3,199

  3,183

  Staffordshire

  2,231

  2,209

  2,211

  2,292

  2,238

  2,170

  2,129

  2,133

  2,202

  Suffolk

  1,191

  1,138

  1,180

  1,186

  1,190

  1,145

  1,133

  1,203

  1,253

  Surrey

  1,676

  1,644

  1,620

  1,608

  1,662

  1,785

  2,066

  1,992

  1,906

  Sussex

  2,931

  3,074

  3,085

  2,996

  2,847

  2,822

  2,855

  2,893

  2,989

  Thames Valley

  3,854

  3,674

  3,695

  3,776

  3,748

  3,740

  3,703

  3,762

  3,833

  Warwickshire

  1,013

  979

  926

  924

  908

  900

  926

  969

  997

  West Mercia

  2,046

  2,017

  2,040

  2,010

  2,025

  1,887

  1,951

  2,018

  2,256

  West Midlands

  7,019

  7,145

  7,113

  7,156

  7,321

  7,194

  7,423

  7,681

  7,751

  West Yorkshire

  5,050

  5,142

  5,209

  5,155

  4,982

  4,822

  4,815

  4,889

  5,029

  Wiltshire

  1,261

  1,218

  1,154

  1,156

  1,151

  1,118

  1,120

  1,157

  1,158

  Dyfed-Powys

  976

  991

  1,005

  1,002

  1,026

  1,040

  1,055

  1,132

  1,149

  Gwent

  997

  1,044

  1,243

  1,233

  1,247

  1,264

  1,274

  1,333

  1,341

  North Wales

  1,366

  1,378

  1,369

  1,396

  1,391

  1,403

  1,444

  1,506

  1,539

  South Wales

  3,014

  3,027

  2,976

  2,986

  2,981

  2,926

  3,154

  3,222

  3,239

  Total

  125,180

  124,844

  125,051

  124,756

  123,841

  121,956

  123,476

  127,267

  131,426

  1 Full-time equivalents.

  2 Comparable strength.

  Civilian staff strength1

  Civilian staff strength

  Mar 1996

  Mar 1997

  Mar 1998

  Mar 1999

  Mar 2000

  Mar 2001

  Mar 2002

  Mar 2003

  Avon and Somerset

  1,213

  1,438

  1,393

  1,424

  1,436

  1,452

  1,611

  1,785

  Bedfordshire

  472

  484

  523

  483

  490

  491

  524

  595

  Cambridgeshire

  530

  607

  574

  586

  503

  614

  733

  786

  Cheshire

  690

  735

  781

  785

  823

  833

  884

  1,008

  Cleveland

  553

  609

  586

  552

  595

  586

  626

  694

  Cumbria

  408

  451

  451

  442

  469

  588

  631

  676

  Derbyshire

  656

  723

  787

  818

  826

  875

  953

  1,061

  Devon and Cornwall

  1,121

  1,159

  1,186

  1,215

  1,343

  1,453

  1,639

  1,834

  704W

  Police Strength
  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) police officers and (b) police civilian staff each police authority in England and Wales had in each year since 1995. [138234]

  Ms Blears
  The following tables show the number of police officers from 1995 to 2003 and police staff from 1996 to 2003 (1995 data not available) for each police force area in England and Wales.
  705W

  Civilian staff strength1

  Mar 1996

  Mar 1997

  Mar 1998

  Mar 1999

  Mar 2000

  Mar 2001

  Mar 2002

  Mar 2003

  Dorset

  621

  615

  651

  702

  686

  682

  74.1

  793

  Durham

  531

  583

  557

  559

  590

  566

  660

  602

  Essex

  1,130

  1,199

  1,252

  1,273

  1,348

  1,447

  1,571

  1,682

  Gloucestershire

  415

  435

  423

  504

  484

  506

  545

  590

  Greater Manchester

  2,749

  2,612

  2,661

  2,623

  2,822

  2,858

  3,135

  3,173

  Hampshire

  1,323

  1,316

  1,331

  1,381

  1,443

  1,424

  1,597

  1,720

  Hertfordshire

  754

  818

  831

  835

  890

  935

  1,121

  1,299

  Humberside

  683

  718

  789

  840

  840

  808

  816

  880

  Kent

  1,141

  1,384

  1,470

  1,582

  1,647

  1,796

  1,958

  2,095

  Lancashire

  1,349

  1,126

  1,143

  1,198

  1,422

  1,369

  1,442

  1,489

  Leicestershire

  667

  755

  774

  802

  805

  806

  816

  934

  Lincolnshire

  442

  521

  541

  517

  516

  561

  600

  641

  City of London

  324

  347

  334

  314

  285

  233

  247.

  268

  Merseyside

  1,560

  1,343

  1,502

  1,356

  1,458

  1,418

  1,532

  1,752

  Metropolitan police

  14,372

  13,493

  12,432

  11,257

  10,605

  10,040

  10,459

  11,358

  Norfolk

  529

  603

  646

  648

  655

  694

  819

  924

  Northamptonshire

  511

  554

  577

  587

  599

  694

  742

  812

  Northumbria

  1,319

  1,365

  1,362

  1,443

  1,417

  1,344

  1,403

  1,457

  North Yorkshire

  520

  519

  543

  541

  492

  591

  743

  723

  Nottinghamshire

  979

  1,003

  987

  1,039

  1,024

  1,039

  1,087

  1,180

  South Yorkshire

  1,418

  1,291

  1,243

  1,273

  1,391

  1,312

  1,352

  1,510

  Staffordshire

  754

  763

  866

  1,004

  858

  935

  1,030

  1,146

  Suffolk

  485

  522

  583

  594

  600

  621

  692

  713

  Surrey

  754

  727

  743

  733

  762

  897

  1,043

  1,245

  Sussex

  1,131

  1,149

  1,185

  1,393

  1,328

  1,454

  1,507

  1,578

  Thames Valley

  1,738

  1,825

  1,827

  1,799

  1,786

  1,891

  2,061

  .2,412

  Warwickshire

  376

  376

  398

  406

  394

  412

  459

  503

  West Mercia

  964

  942

  975

  975

  1,043

  1,095

  1,116

  1,233

  West Midlands

  2,780

  2,739

  2,817

  2,652

  2,695

  2,819

  3,007

  3,012

  West Yorkshire

  2,037

  2,234

  2,304

  2,216

  2,199

  2,228

  2,364

  2,538

  Wiltshire

  453

  475

  519

  555

  563

  622

  649

  703

  Dyfed-Powys

  310.

  322

  341

  341

  359

  401

  459

  502

  Gwent

  378

  452

  477

  487

  498

  537

  570

  607

  North Wales

  512

  476

  479

  508

  519

  498

  645

  703

  South Wales

  1,287

  1,206

  1,132

  1,223

  1,081

  1,270

  1,435

  1,366

  England and Wales

  52,933

  53,011

  52,975

  52,465

  52,588

  53,693

  58,022

  62,581

  1 Full-time equivalents.

  Police Reorganisation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reorganise the Police Service in England. [137851]

  Ms Blears
  A major consultation exercise on the future direction of police reform was launched on 4 November 2003 with the publication of "Policing: Building Safer Communities Together". Among other things, this paper opens the debate on whether the current 43 force structure in England and Wales is the right one for today's and tomorrow's policing needs.

  We are clear that any structural change will need to deliver improvements in police performance and delivery of service.

  Deportations
  Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals who had been refused political asylum were deported in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [137060]

  Beverley Hughes
  Deportations are a just one type of removal; others include: persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to illegal entry action or those refused entry at port and subsequently removed.
  706W
  The table shows the number of asylum seekers who were removed from the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2002. These are steadily being increased.

  Removals and voluntary departures1 of asylum applicants, 2000 to 20022

  2000

  2001

  32002

  Principal Applicants

  8,980

  9,285

  10,740

  Dependants4

  N/a

  1,495

  3,170

  1 Figures have been rounded to the nearest live.

  2 Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action has been initiated against them and persons leaving under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.

  3 Provisional data subject to change.

  4 Data on dependants removed have been collected only since April 2001 onwards.

  N/A—Not available

  Information on asylum removals is published quarterly. The next publication will cover the third quarter (July to September) of 2003 and will be available from 27 November 2002 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
  707W
  Denzil Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals lost their appeals to the adjudicator against the refusal of political asylum in the last three years for which figures are available. [137061]

  Beverley Hughes
  The latest available data is given in the following tables. The tables show the outcomes of appeals determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA), further appeals to the

  Asylum appeals determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants12

  Number of principal appellants

  Allowed4

  Dismissed4

  Withdrawn4

  Total determined3

  Total

  Aspercentage of total determined

  Total

  Aspercentage of total determined

  Total

  As percentage of total determined

  2000

  19,395

  3,340

  17

  15,580

  80

  475

  2

  2001

  43,415

  8,155

  19

  34,440

  79

  825

  2

  2002

  64,405

  13,875

  22

  48,845

  76

  1,685

  3

  2003

  Q1

  20,595

  3,480

  17

  16,445

  80

  670

  3

  Q2

  19,345

  4,060

  21

  14,875

  77

  415

  2

  1Figures, other than percentages, rounded to the nearest 5. Numbers might not add up due to rounding.

  2 Data for 2002 and 2003 are provisional.

  3 Based on information supplied by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Determinations do not necessarily relate to appeals received in the same period.

  4 Based on data supplied from the Presenting Officers Unit within the Home Office.

  Note:

  Estimate. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred, and subject to later revision.

  Further appeals to the Tribunal, decisions, and the outcome of tribunal hearings, excluding dependants, 2000 to 20021

  Number of principal appellants

  Applications for leave to appeal to the tribunal2

  Appeal to the tribunal2

  Applications

  Decisions

  Received

  Determined

  2000

  6,020

  5,490

  1,615

  2,635

  2001

  15,540

  13,540

  3,860

  3,190

  2002(P)

  25,600

  22,825

  6,920

  5,565

  Number of principal appellants

  Outcome of Tribunal Hearings3

  Appellant

  Secretary of State

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  Withdrawn

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  Withdrawn

  2000

  650

  1,225

  185

  170

  165

  35

  2001

  315

  1,020

  25

  160

  120

  25

  20024

  410

  1,880

  210

  215

  130

  15

  1 Figures rounded to the nearest 5. Numbers might not add up due to rounding.

  2 Figures based on data supplied by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Decisions and determinations do not necessarily
  correspond to applications and appeals received in any given year.

  3 Figures supplied by the Presenting Officers Unit. Figures for October—December 1999 are based on data for November-December.

  4 Provisional figures.

  Note:

  Revised figures.

  708W
  tribunal (including those brought by the Secretary of State), and applications for judicial review in the last three years. Only a proportion of those that are refused asylum lodge appeals, and the majority of appeals are dismissed.

  Cases are determined according to their individual merits. The figures relate to numbers of cases; appeals determined by the IAA may relate to initial decisions made in previous years, and appeals determined by the IAT may relate to cases determined at the IAA made in previous years.

  Number of principal appellants

  Outcome of tribunal hearings3

  Allowed

  Dismissed

  Withdrawn

  Remitted to adjudicators for further consideration

  2000

  815

  1,385

  220

  215

  2001

  475

  1,140

  150

  1,430

  20024

  620

  2,015

  225

  2,700

  709W

  Applications for judicial review, and outcomes, excluding dependants, 1994 to 2002

  Applications for leave to move for judicial review1

  Applications

  Decisions2

  of which granted leave to move

  Percentage of applicants granted leave to move3

  Total

  20006

  1,920

  2,095

  555

  (26)

  365

  20016

  2,210

  2,300

  290

  (13)

  260

  20027

  3,075

  2,980

  260

  (9)

  25

  The outcome of judicial review hearings1

  Allowed4

  Dismissed6

  Withdrawn

  As percentage of total determined

  Total

  As percentage of total determined

  Total

  As percentage of total determined

  20006

  (48)

  300

  (40)

  95

  (12)

  20016

  (68)

  60

  (16)

  60

  (16)

  20027

  (30)

  60

  (67)

  5

  (3)

  1 Figures based on Administrative Court data. Figures (other than
  percentages) rounded to the nearest 5 with. = 1 or 2.

  2 Decisions do not relate to applications in any given period.

  3 The number of which granted leave to move as a percentage of decisions.

  4 The decision of the respondent (in this case, the Home Office or the Department for Constitutional Affairs) was quashed. These figures include consent orders where the JR was conceded by the respondent.

  5 The decision of the respondent was upheld.

  6 Figures exclude judicial reviews brought in cases relating to asylum support (NASS).

  7 Provisional figures.

  Figures on asylum appeals are published quarterly and are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate web site at
  http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1. html

  Prisoner Transfers
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many vehicles he has had available on average on each day in the last three months for the transfer of prisoners(a) between prisons and (b) between court and prison; and how many vehicles are operated by the private sector; [137482]

  (2) how many prisoners on average were transferred each day between prisons and between court and prison in the last three months. [137483]

  Paul Goggins
  There were around 1,600 prisoner movements between courts and prisons and around 300 prisoners transferred between prisons by private sector contractors on average, each day, in the last three months. No central record is kept of prisoners transferred by the Prison Service.

  On average, 760 vehicles were available each day in the last three months for the transfer of prisoners, 706 of which were operated by private sector contractors. 54 vehicles are owned by and are available to the Prison Service.

  Prison Reception Areas
  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those of Her Majesty's Prisons that have no covered reception area for visitors. [138152]
  710W
  Paul Goggins
  The procedures for managing visitors awaiting entry to a prison varies at each establishment and is not recorded centrally.

  The provision of a covered area immediately outside the gates is often dependent on the structural design of the prison building. However, around 109 establishments provide a visitors' centre which offers visitors both shelter and, in most cases, support services that are available before and immediately after the visit is due to take place.

  Many of those who do not have a centre provide basic facilities such as a waiting area. Recent enquiries suggest that around 10 prisons appear to have no current plans for a visitors' centre and we are exploring with them their intentions in terms of assisting visitors.

  Prison Suicides
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being introduced to reduce the suicide rate in prisons apart from the installation of safe cells. [138369]

  Paul Goggins
  The Prison Service is in the final year of a three-year programme to develop policies and practices to reduce prisoner suicide in prisons. Over the next few months the outcome of this programme will be reviewed taking into account pilot project evaluations and emerging research findings. The next steps and approaches will be resolved in consultation with partner agencies such as the Youth Justice Board and outside organisations such as Samaritans.

  As part of this close partnership with other agencies and organisations, there has been a targeting of efforts where the risks are highest. A particular focus, and an investment of over £21 million over the three year programme, has been on physical improvements at six pilot sites. These improvements have been in reception, first night and induction areas, installing more first night centres, and by having more crisis suites and gated cells that enable staff to watch at-risk prisoners closely.

  Dedicated drug detoxification units and mental health in-reach support have also been established, along with a series of inter-related projects to develop improved suicide prevention and self-harm management policies, concentrating on pre-reception, reception and induction arrangements; inter-agency information exchange; prisoner care and peer support, and learning from investigations into deaths in custody.

  Prison Service Suicide Prevention Co-ordinators have been trained and are now operating in the majority of prisons. Additionally, the Samaritans are recruiting and training more prisoner peer supporters (known as Listeners) in high-risk establishments. Listeners are prisoner volunteers who are selected, trained and supported by Samaritans to offer confidential support to their fellow prisoners who may be at risk of suicide, otherwise in crisis, or simply in need of someone to talk to. 1,241 new Listeners were recruited between 1 October 2001 and 31 March 2003 with further recruitment and training continuing. The scheme's objectives are to assist in preventing suicide, reducing self-harm and to help alleviate the feelings of those in distress.
  711W

  Race Equality
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 in promoting race equality; and what criteria he applied in carrying out the assessment. [137059]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  The Government work closely with the Commission for Racial Equality, (CRE) which has statutory responsibility for enforcing the duty to promote race equality under the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000).

  The CRE commissioned Schneider-Ross, a firm of diversity consultants to evaluate the response of public authorities to the statutory duty to promote race equality. The research had two main elements, quantitative and qualitative, covering two core stages. The first of these was a questionnaire based survey of 3,338 public authorities and educational institutions, using two questionnaires designed to address the different elements of the general and specific duties that apply to the two broad categories. The second was an analysis of a random sample of 143 race equality schemes and policies from the main sectors covered by the duty, assessed against the recommendations of CRE Code of Practice and CRE guidance materials.

  The Schneider-Ross report found that overall local government was the highest achieving sector. Around a third of local authorities were on track; a third had good foundations to respond well to the duty to promote, and, a third needed to carry out more work in order to comply. The criminal justice service was strong, especially in the police and probation services. The weakest sector was schools.

  The Home Office has initiated a Race Relations (Amendment) Act Strategic Sectoral Audit.

  The audit is a sector by sector analysis of whether the key ingredients for success are present or not in each sector. The work on mapping the landscape of current sector activity builds on the findings of the Schneider-Ross survey. We are working closely with the CRE to take this forward quickly so that necessary support and attention can be made available to those public bodies who need it.

  Hendon Police College (Racism)
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to deal with the issue of racism at the Peel Centre Police College, Hendon; and if he will make a statement. [136824]

  Ms Blears
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that the Department of Professional Standards and senior managers at Hendon Training College have already taken action on recently reported cases. One student at Hendon has resigned as a result of making racist comments; two fellow students have been suspended as a result of failing to report the above incident; one student has resigned as a result of making a sexist comment.
  712W
  The Commissioner has recently established a working group to bring together work already undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to race and diversity. Part of this work includes a review of Hendon Training School.

  Rape
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for rape involving the use of drugs there were in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) the first half of 2003. [129669]

  Paul Goggins
  The statistics collected centrally do not enable convictions for rape involving the use of drugs to be identified.

  Staff Training (Non-departmental Public Bodies)
  Mrs Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is compulsory for his Department's staff to undertake training on the Home Office/non-departmental public body relationship as soon as they begin dealing with NDPBs. [138244]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  For each Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB), there is a corresponding Sponsor Team who are the first point of contact in the Home Office, and are responsible for managing the relationship. These Sponsor Teams are collectively supported by an Advisory Team, offering specialist knowledge, and a network of contacts across the Home Office and in other Government Departments.

  Individual Home Office members of staff agree personal development and training plans annually with their managers. This would be undertaken immediately they join a Sponsor Team or the Central Advisory Team. In either of these teams training is not mandatory but is tailored to the individuals according to theirs and the Department's need.

  Mrs Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances training is given to his Department's staff who deal with non-departmental public bodies. [138245]
  Fiona Mactaggart: For each Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB), there is a corresponding Sponsor Team who are the first point of contact in the Home Office, and are responsible for managing the relationship. These Sponsor Teams are collectively supported by an Advisory Team, offerin specialist knowledge, and a network of contacts across the Home Office and in Other Government Departments.

  Individual Home Office members of staff agree personal development and training plans annually with their managers. This would be undertaken immediately they join a Sponsor Team or the Central Advisory Team.

  Street Crime Initiative
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what aspects of the Street Crime Initiative he intends to implement in all areas. [138367]

  Ms Blears
  Police forces not involved in the Street Crime Initiative will benefit from best practice circulated by the Association of Chief Police Officers
  713W
  and the Home Office's Police Standards Unit, including a CD Rom, Tactical Options from the Street Crime Initiative, which has been distributed to all police forces. Lessons are also being learnt from the Street Crime Initiative 'relating to the handling of street crime cases through the Criminal Justice System by the police, Crown Prosecution Service and the courts. These lessons, about getting the case right from the start, providing better support for victims and witnesses, and managing cases robustly in court, are being applied more widely as part of the work on bringing more offences to justice and improving public confidence in the criminal justice system.

  Terrorism Act 2000
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for authorisations under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 received in the last three years have been(a) successful and (b) unsuccessful. [138506]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Home Office records show that since the Terrorism Act came into force on 19 February 2001, 678 stop and search authorisations under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2001 have been confirmed. Of these there have been two instances where the powers have not been confirmed by the Secretary of State.

  Each authorisation is given full consideration. They are confirmed only if the Secretary of State is satisfied that their use is necessary to prevent acts of terrorism as set against the background of the current threat level.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of work-related stress have 714W
  been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress; and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136841]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  Information on sickness absence and compensation payments due to 'work-related' stress are not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  The Department does, however, monitor factors relating to workplace stress including workload and working conditions through its staff surveys. The Department has taken action to address some of the main identified factors, including filling vacancies, recognition of good performance and improving technology. The Home Office is committed to supporting staff in achieving a balance between their work and home responsibilities and has a range of flexible working patterns to help staff achieve this.

  A welfare service is available and offers personal support for staff suffering from any form of stress. In addition, stress awareness courses are available and information on how to recognise stress and suggested coping strategies, is accessible via the Home Office Intranet. The aim of these resources is to help staff recognise the early signs of stress and take appropriate action.

  The Department is aware of its legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for employees and is committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost generally due to work related injuries and illness arising from the government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.

  North/South Implementation Bodies: Funding
  North/South Implementation Bodies: Funding
  Northern Ireland: Mental Health Tribunal Rules
  Northern Ireland: Mental Health Tribunal Rules
  Northern Ireland Government Offices: Cleaning
  Northern Ireland Government Offices: Cleaning
  Northern Ireland Parliament 1921–1972: Legislation
  Northern Ireland Parliament 1921–1972: Legislation
  Belfast: Waterways
  Belfast: Waterways
  Iraq: Gender Experts
  Iraq: Gender Experts
  Cameroon
  Cameroon
  Indonesia: Use of British-built Military Equipment in Aceh
  Indonesia: Use of British-built Military Equipment in Aceh
  Iraq: Unemployment
  Iraq: Unemployment
  Peacekeeping: UNSCR 1325
  Peacekeeping: UNSCR 1325
  Vietnam: Unified Buddhist Church
  Vietnam: Unified Buddhist Church
  Ceuta and Melilla: European Parliamentary Elections 2004
  Ceuta and Melilla: European Parliamentary Elections 2004
  Fourth Geneva Convention: Civilians in the Occupied Territories
  Fourth Geneva Convention: Civilians in the Occupied Territories
  Somaliland
  Somaliland
  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Democratic Republic of Congo
  Saudi Arabia: British Citizens in Detention
  Saudi Arabia: British Citizens in Detention
  Middle East
  Middle East
  Guantanamo Bay: Legal Status of Detainees
  Guantanamo Bay: Legal Status of Detainees
  FCO Annual Report on Human Rights 2003
  FCO Annual Report on Human Rights 2003
  Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission Ruling
  Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission Ruling
  Afghanistan: Police Training
  Afghanistan: Police Training
  Ascension Island: Wideawake Airfield
  Ascension Island: Wideawake Airfield
  Kosovo: UNSCR 1244
  Kosovo: UNSCR 1244
  Rough Sleepers: Westminster Cathedral Piazza
  Rough Sleepers: Westminster Cathedral Piazza
  Planning: Obligations and Charges
  Planning: Obligations and Charges
  Homeless Households: Temporary Accommodation
  Homeless Households: Temporary Accommodation
  Overseas Students
  Overseas Students
  Asylum Reform
  Asylum Reform
  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Anti-social Behaviour Orders
  Halloween
  Halloween
  Asylum Seekers: Detention
  Asylum Seekers: Detention
  Failed Asylum Seekers: Support
  Failed Asylum Seekers: Support
  Work Permits
  Work Permits
  Immigration Policy: ECJ Ruling in Akrich Case
  Immigration Policy: ECJ Ruling in Akrich Case
  People Trafficking
  People Trafficking
  Public Schools: Charitable Status
  Public Schools: Charitable Status
  Immigration Detainees: Language Support
  Immigration Detainees: Language Support
  Immigration Detainees: Children
  Immigration Detainees: Children
  Racial Discrimination: Political Parties
  Racial Discrimination: Political Parties
  Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines
  Gulf War 1990–91: Vaccines
  War Widows
  War Widows
  Armed Forces: Review of Pension and Compensation Arrangements
  Armed Forces: Review of Pension and Compensation Arrangements
  London Student Pledge
  London Student Pledge
  Pension Protection Fund
  Pension Protection Fund
  State Pension
  State Pension
  Housing Benefit
  Housing Benefit
  Tax Credits
  Tax Credits
  FSA: Market Misconduct and Enforcement Action
  FSA: Market Misconduct and Enforcement Action
  Business Banking Code
  Business Banking Code
  Licensing Act 2003: National Guidance
  Licensing Act 2003: National Guidance
  Liquor Licences: Brewster Sessions 2004
  Liquor Licences: Brewster Sessions 2004
  Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes
  Reports on the Observance of Standards and Codes
  NHS Trusts: Private Patients
  NHS Trusts: Private Patients
  NHS Foundation Trusts: Reimbursement
  NHS Foundation Trusts: Reimbursement
  Honey
  Honey
  Nuclear Waste: Disposal
  Nuclear Waste: Disposal
  Countryside Agency: Access Rights and Maps
  Countryside Agency: Access Rights and Maps