Written Answers of 19 November 2003

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Departmental Expenditure (Official Residences)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Solicitor-General how much the Department spent on(a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [134702]

  The Solicitor-General
  Nothing. None of the Departments for which the Attorney-General is responsible have residential properties used by Ministers or officials.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Service
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on progress towards achieving ethnic diversity within the senior civil service. [139750]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Government are strongly committed to achieving ethnic diversity in the senior civil service and to ensuring that the civil service is fully representative of the community it serves.

  Latest data, for April 2003, show that ethnic minorities make up 2.8 per cent. at senior civil service level, up from 1.6 per cent. in 1998. Our target is for

  £ million

  Financial year unit established

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–031

  Budget 2003–04

  Prime Minister's Delivery Unit

  2001–02

  0

  0

  0.9

  3.1

  3.8

  Office of Public Services Reform

  2001–02

  0

  0

  2.0

  5.7

  4.2

  Office of the e-Envoy

  1999–2000

  38.5

  22.7

  25.5

  24.8

  17.5

  1 Subject to audit.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff are employed in the(a) Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, (b) Office of Public Services Reform and (c) Office of the e-Envoy; where these staff are located; and if he will make a statement. [139776]

  Mr. Alexander
  As at 3 November 2003, there were 28 staff working in the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, 40 working in the Office of Public Services Reform and 105 in the Office of the e-Envoy. These figures are for Cabinet Office employees and are rounded to full-time equivalents. All of these units are based in central London.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times the(a) Cabinet Office Strategy
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  ethnic minorities to make up 3.2 per cent. of the senior civil service by 2004–05.

  Departmental Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139340]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Cabinet Office commissioned an external review of the content and design of its internet presence in February and March of 2003. We are now putting in place the recommendations from this review.

  Market Research
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department spent on(a) opinion polling and (b) market research in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement. [139991]

  Mr. Alexander
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 15 May 2003,Official Report, column 402W.

  Government Bodies
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the(a) purpose, (b) annual budget since inception, (c) projected budget for the next two years and (d) current work programme of the (i) Prime Minister's Delivery Unit, (ii) Office of Public Services Reform and (iii) Office of the e-Envoy. [139775]

  Mr. Alexander
  The work of the units is explained in the Cabinet Office's Departmental Report for 2003, published in May 2003.

  Financial Information is shown in the following table.

  Budgets for the next two years will be decided on completion of the Cabinet Office planning round, which is currently under way.

  Board, (b) Business Regulation Team, (c) Regulatory Reform Strategy Team, (d) Public Sector Team, (e) Europe and Economics Team, (f) Reform Strategy Group and (g) Corporate Development Group have met since they were established; how much each meeting cost; what the (i) annual budget since inception has been, (ii) projected budget for the next two years is and (iii) current work programme of each body is; and if he will make a statement. [139777]

  Mr. Alexander
  The Cabinet Office Strategy Board has met regularly since its formation earlier this year. The secretariat for the Cabinet Office Strategy Board is an integral part of the Managing Director's private office. There is no separate budget line for this work.
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  The terms of reference for the Cabinet Office Strategy Board are available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk).

  The Business Regulation Team, the Regulatory Reform Strategy team, the Public Sector Team and, the Europe and Economics Team are all functional work

  £ million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  Business Regulation Team

  0

  0

  0.1

  0.3

  0.3

  Regulatory Reform Strategy

  0

  0

  0

  0.2

  0.4

  Public Sector Team

  0.1

  0.3

  0.6

  0.6

  0.7

  Europe and Economics Team

  0.6

  0.4

  0.3

  0.4

  0.4

  The work of the Regulatory Impact Unit is explained in the Cabinet Office's Departmental Report for 2003, published in May 2003.

  The Reform Strategy Group and Corporate Development Group are functional units of the Cabinet Office. Annual budgets are as follows:

  £ million

  2002–03

  2002–03

  Reform Strategy Group

  1.6

  1—

  Corporate Development Group

  17.1

  14.7

  1 The work of the Reform Strategy Group has been absorbed within other units.

  Budgets for the next two years will be decided on completion of the Cabinet Office planning round, which is currently under way.

  Official Properties
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Department spent on(a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [134685]

  Mr. Alexander
  Admiralty House contains residential accommodation for Ministers and the occupying Departments are responsible for relevant costs associated with each of the residential flats. No Cabinet Office Ministers are currently accommodated in Admiralty House. The Cabinet Office is responsible for costs associated with the common parts, as well as for maintaining the fabric of the entire building.

  The Cabinet Office's share of the maintenance costs of Admiralty House for 2002–03 was £2,295.

  From February 2002 to September 2002, a major electrical rewiring, asbestos removal and redecoration project was undertaken to the ground floor state rooms and two of the residential flats. The cost of this work (which was borne by the Cabinet Office) was £629,266.

  The Cabinet Office's share of the running costs of Admiralty House (i.e. excluding the appropriate share of the costs from the occupying Departments) for 2002–03 was £631,421.

  Information about the costs of official residences used by Ministers for previous financial years is already in the public domain.
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  areas within the Cabinet Office's Regulatory Impact Unit, and therefore do not 'meet' in the way an ad-hoc Board or committee might do.

  The Resource Outturn for these teams since their inception is as follows:

  Two Cabinet Office officials occupy accommodation in residential properties in the grounds of the Emergency Planning College in Easingwold. One flat is occupied by an official working at the Emergency Planning College on detached duty. The other occupant pays a market rent for the property, which was established by a valuation conducted within the past 18 months by independent valuers appointed by the Office of Government Commerce. Records are not held separately of the maintenance, renovation and running costs associated with these properties in particular and these costs could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The council tax for 2002–03 associated with the property occupied by the individual on detached duty was approximately £175. For 1997–98, the council tax associated with properties occupied by college employees was approximately £190, for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 no college employees resided in college properties, for 2000–01 the approximate council tax was £50, and for 2001–02 the council tax was approximately £150.

  From 1997 to May 2002, some officials were accommodated in civil service college properties on the college's Sunningdale estate. The individual occupants of the properties were responsible for paying the rents that had been established by independent valuers. From June 1999 to March 2000, a number of general repairs were made, to some of the residential dwellings occupied by college staff, amounting to £20,827. In October 2000, £365 was spent on repairs. In January 2002, £3,160 was spent on repairs. There may have been other costs incurred under a maintenance contract let to cover the whole of the Sunningdale Park estate, however, it is not possible to disaggregate costs to a level of individual building. The individual occupants were responsible for their own council tax and running costs (such as utility bills).

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [136844]
  881W
  Mr. Alexander
  The Cabinet Office does not record reported cases of work-related stress. However, in August 2002 it introduced a mechanism for recording sickness absence caused by work-related stress as distinct from non-work related stress.

  Since that date, the number of reported cases where work-related stress has been recorded as the reason for sickness absence has been less than five. To protect the privacy of individuals, more detailed information cannot be provided.

  No compensatory payments have been claimed or made.

  The Cabinet Office is aware of its legal responsibilities to reduce stress at work. It provides in-house guidance and training to its managers and individuals, has an in-house counselling service that can be accessed by all and has procedures in place for dealing with complaints, harassment and bullying.
  It also encourages, where possible, flexible working arrangements that allow for both work and home commitments to be accommodated.

  Information on the individual costs of these initiatives could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Marine Consents Unit
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on regulating impact assessments which have been carried out into the work of the Marine Consents Unit. [138551]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government's first Marine Stewardship Report announced a Review of Development in Marine and Coastal Waters. This included an examination of a range of marine controls, including those exercised by the Marine Consents and Environment Unit, from a regulatory perspective. A range of options for short-term and long-term reform are currently being considered. An announcement will be made in due course.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the regulatory impacts of the proposed spatial planning body within the Marine Consents Unit. [138552]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government's first Marine Stewardship Report contained a commitment to explore the role of spatial planning for the marine environment. This is being followed up in a number of workshops. There is currently no proposal for a spatial planning body within the Marine Consents Unit.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of the review being conducted into the Marine Consents Unit. [138555]

  Mr. Morley
  No review is being conducted into the Marine Consents Unit. However, the Government are currently undertaking a Review of Development in 882W
  Marine and Coastal Waters to see how the complexity of the current regulatory control regime might be reduced. The review is being led by my noble Friend the Lord Rooker, Minister of State for Regeneration and Regional Development. The findings from the review will be announced in due course.

  Agriculture
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the consultation on measures to address the environmental impacts of agriculture through the use of economic instruments referred to in her speech to the Environmental Industries Commission Annual Conference on 25 June 2003. [139478]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government included a discussion of agriculture and economic instruments in an annex to the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, published in December 2002. The main route for progressing issues raised in the annex has been through work on diffuse water pollution. The aim is to publish a consultation paper on a broad range of policy options, including economic instruments, by the end of this financial year.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) strategy has been implemented and (b) funds have been committed to (i) identifying and (ii) eradicating bovine tuberculosis. [138031]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In 2002–03 we spent nearly £74 million on the bovine tuberculosis (TB) Five Point Plan, based on:Protecting human health;
  Cattle testing and controls;
  Development of a TB vaccine;
  Research into how TB is spread; and
  A badger culling trial

  We are keen to improve diagnosis of the disease in both cattle and badgers and have commissioned the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to carry out two research projects, at a total estimated cost of over £950,000.

  The current TB programme is under review and we expect to consult on proposals for a new TB strategy for Great Britain, and on short-term policy options for TB control, around the end of the year. In developing the strategy we will need to consider whether eradication of the disease is a realistic goal within the 10 year period over which the strategy will apply, and on the most appropriate ways of achieving it.

  Cement Kilns
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent analysis has been carried out by the Environment Agency to establish emission levels from the Rugby Cement Works, Rugby; what conclusions have been drawn in respect of the health implications for residents in the town; and if she will make a statement. [138577]
  883W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Environment Agency is the regulator for the cement works in Rugby and last conducted independent monitoring at the installation on 13 August 2002. I understand that further independent tests have been scheduled for the week beginning 10 November 2003.

  The Rugby Cement Works is regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000. The Environment Agency recently issued a permit to the cement works in Rugby under those regulations.

  It is the Environment Agency's opinion that compliance with the very carefully designed PPC permit conditions is sufficient to protect human health and the environment. The rationale for the Environment Agency's decision to grant a PPC permit is set out in full detail in a lengthy decision document (Ref. BL7248) which has been placed on public registers maintained by the Environment Agency and the Rugby borough council. A copy of the agency's Decision Document can be obtained by telephoning 01684 850951.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the impact on emission levels from the burning of tyres in cement kilns used for co-incineration, with particular reference to(a) nitrogen dioxide, (b) sulphur dioxide and (c) particulate matter; and if she will make a statement. [138578]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  As the competent authority under the Pollution Prevention and Control (England and Wales) Regulations 2000, the Environment Agency is responsible for assessing the impact of emissions from cement kilns that burn tyres. The Environment Agency's assessment methodology shows that tyre burning trials have consistently demonstrated that emissions of the principal pollutant from cement kilns—oxides of nitrogen—are reduced when conventional fuels such as coal and pet coke are substituted by scrap tyres, in some cases significantly. Whilst there might be an increase or decrease in other, less environmentally significant, emissions, the use of scrap tyres has been repeatedly demonstrated to result in a net environmental benefit.

  Childhood Obesity
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with other Departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. [138786]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra has been working closely with the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills and the Food Standards Agency in relation to cross-Government initiatives such as the Food and Health Action Plan, Food in Schools, the National School Fruit Scheme and the Five a Day Programme. These are aimed at educating and encouraging both children and the wider population to adopt a healthier diet and lifestyle, including tackling the growing problem of obesity.

  Cod Farms
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement about the future of cod farming; [138809]

  (2) how many cod farms have been proposed to be built in the UK; [138810]

  (3) if she will make a statement on the health aspects of eating farmed cod; [138811]

  (4) if she will make a statement about the effects of cod farming on natural fish stocks. [138812]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government's policy on aquaculture is to encourage the development of viable, competitive and sustainable enterprises (including cod farming) provided that this can be done within a framework which safeguards public health and also protects the health and welfare of farmed and wild stocks.

  At present there are six farming enterprises on growing cod on seven sites in Scotland. In general, the English coastline is unsuitable for marine cages, and the alternative (enclosed water re-circulation systems) is capital-intensive.

  While cod-farming on this relatively modest scale may well meet a niche market demand, and there is potentially a vast market for farmed cod, it is not clear that significant expansion in cod is economically viable, given the cost of inputs and the price obtainable for final output.

  The Food Standards Agency advises that there are health benefits to consumers in eating at least two portions of fish a week as part of a healthy diet, at least one of which should be oily. We have no reason to believe that farmed cod should not contribute to a healthy diet as does cod from the wild.

  Consumer Reward Card
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will commission a study of the potential effect of a consumer reward card scheme to influence people's behaviour and its impact on the environment; and what studies she has received of the NU card scheme in the Netherlands. [139183]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department is aware of the scheme which is being tried out in the Netherlands, as the National Consumer Council and the New Economics Foundation have recently had discussions with stakeholders in this country about the scheme's potential. We have not received any studies as such, nor at this stage do we have any plans to commission one; but this is an interesting approach and we will keep in touch with developments.

  Contingency Planning
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on new measures in place to deal with disease breakdown following foot and mouth disease. [139473]
  885W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  A new EU directive on measures to control foot and mouth disease was adopted in Agriculture Council on 29 September 2003 and is due to be transposed into domestic legislation by 30 June 2004.

  Under the terms of this directive, the slaughter of infected animals and known "dangerous contacts" remains the principal tool in tackling an FMD outbreak. The main area of change in the new directive is the emphasis it places on emergency vaccination, which has now moved to the forefront of disease control strategies and has to be considered immediately the first case of FMD is confirmed.

  The policies and operational arrangements that would be implemented in an outbreak are captured in the Foot and Mouth Disease Contingency Plan which is reviewed, updated and laid before Parliament annually.

  Corporate Environmental Performance
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department undertook on the environmental reporting of FTSE 350 companies prior to the Prime Minister's challenge in October 2000 to produce more corporate environmental reports; when her Department will next report progress made by UK companies in voluntary reporting of environmental performance; and what information her Department collates on the response of UK companies to the Prime Minister's challenge. [139673]

  Mr. Morley
  Prior to the challenge in 2000, the Department drew on published sources to establish trends in environmental reporting by business. Last year the Department conducted its own survey of reporting by FTSE 350 companies and an account of this was placed in the Library of the House in July 2002. That exercise has not been repeated, but several surveys by other organisations are now publicly available. One recent survey indicates that over half of FTSE 250 companies now report publicly on their environmental performance.

  Country Land and Business Association
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the invitation from the Country Landowners Association to speak at their November conference. [135591]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 3 November 2003]: My Diary Secretary sent an interim response to the invitation, by e-mail, to Richard Jarman, Head of CLA Public Affairs, on 29 August 2003. After further contact by telephone, a final response was sent, again by e-mail, on 29 October 2003, confirming that I was, regrettably, unable to attend, but that Alun Michael would be delighted to speak at the CLA Conference in my stead.

  Countryside Agency
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to abolish the Countryside Agency; and if she will make a statement. [138958]
  886W
  Alun Michael
  There will be a continued need for the functions which the Countryside Agency performs. I refer my hon. friend to the written ministerial statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 11 November, in which she announced the intention to create an integrated agency incorporating some elements of work currently undertaken by the Countryside Agency, and to focus delivery on others in partnerships with regional development agencies, local government and the voluntary sector in order to provide the best services to rural communities.

  The Countryside Agency will continue with a new, well focused role which we will discuss with the Agency and others over the next few months.

  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of the Countryside Agency Headquarters in Cheltenham. [138913]

  Alun Michael
  No decisions have been taken yet on the future structure of the Countryside Agency beyond what the Secretary of State announced on 11 November. We will work closely with the Countryside Agency as we develop more detailed proposals, and intend to give more details in the spring.

  Dry Walls
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Government assistance has been given for repairing dry walls in each of the last five years. [139975]

  Alun Michael
  Grants for repairing dry stone walls have been given under the Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme since 1987 and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme since 1991. On the latest information available, the total length of wall repaired under these schemes since those dates is approximately 1,100 kilometres, at a current cost of between £12 and £28 per metre.

  Egg Industry
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with(a) representatives of the UK's egg industry and (b) the European Union about possible changes in the EU intervention price of feed grain; and if she will make a statement. [138087]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The question of whether to change the cereals intervention price was considered as part of the CAP reform discussions earlier this year. As announced in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House on 26 June 2003,Official Report, column 1220–21, in the final compromise deal the Agriculture Council decided not to implement the 5 per cent. reduction proposed by the European Commission, although monthly increments will be reduced by 50 per cent. from the 2004–05 marketing year. I have had no specific discussions with the egg industry on this issue.

  Energy Consumption (Standby Units)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate
  887W

  she has made of the daily energy consumption resulting from the use of standby units on televisions; and if she will make a statement. [139192]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government's Market Transformation Programme estimates that the 61.5 million televisions in the UK consume approximately 38 million KWh of electricity per day. Of this approximately 3.3 million Kwh (8.5 per cent.) per day is consumed by these televisions while they are in stand-by mode.

  The Government is aware of the potential for many types of appliance to consume significant amounts of energy while left in stand-by mode. It is therefore already working via the Market Transformation Programme (www.mtprog.com) to encourage manufacturers to reduce both the "on" and "stand-by" power consumption of household appliances, including televisions, through the adoption of design improvements, voluntary codes of conduct, and the establishment of best practice guidelines and targets. To date this approach has been fairly successful and we expect that the majority of new televisions sold in the UK should soon consume around 1 watt of power in stand-by mode rather than the 3–8 watts consumed by older models.

  In addition, the Government's recently announced commitment to purchase goods and services that meet higher environmental standards ("Quick Wins") requires any government department which purchases televisions to specify a stand-by power requirement of no more that 1 watt.

  EU Committees
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the directive on water intended for human consumption, (b) the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for sheep and goats and (c) the EU Committee on the Directive on packaging and packaging waste during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda for each meeting; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting, including the officials present; and if she will make a statement. [132714]

  Mr. Morley
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on water intended for human consumption

  The Drinking Water Directive management committee met during the Danish presidency on 26 November 2002 and during the Greek presidency on 8 May 2003. Issues discussed included sampling and monitoring for radioactivity, lead, copper and nickel, and studies on drinking water.

  (b) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for sheep and goats

  The Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for sheep and goats met during the Danish presidency on 5 July 2002. It discussed the Implementation of the Council
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  Regulation concerning the community scale for the classification of Ovine animals. The Committee did not meet during the Greek presidency.

  (c) The EU Committee on the Directive on packaging and packaging waste

  The EU Committee on the Directive on packaging and packaging waste met during the Danish presidency on 25 July 2002 and during the Greek presidency on 29 January 2003. Issues discussed included data reporting on recycling and recovery of packaging waste, development of the CEN standards on packaging, and notification of Belgium concerning Article 6(6) of Directive 94/62/EC.

  The devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are kept fully informed of the work of all Committees and their views are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

  Regarding any preparatory meetings, Exemption 2 to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources and (b) the EU Committee on the conservations of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (habitat) during the Danish and Greek Presidencies; what items were on each agenda for each meeting; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting, including the officials present; and if she will make a statement. [132716]

  Mr. Morley
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources;

  The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources did not meet during the Danish Presidency. It met on one occasion during the Greek presidency on 27 March 2003. Issues discussed at the Committee included grassland fertilisation and nitrates, tracing nitrate origin, and updated monitoring guidelines for groundwater and surface waters.

  (b) The EU Committee on the conservations of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (habitat);

  The Habitats Committee (the Committee on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) met during the Danish Presidency on 20 November 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 10 March 2003. Issues discussed included the Natura 2000 Network and conservation projects.

  The devolved administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are kept fully informed of the work of all Committees and their views are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

  Regarding any preparatory meetings, Exemption two to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies.

  Fallen Stock
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provisions there will be for farmers to deliver their own casualty animals to the collection point under the new Fallen Stock Scheme. [138782]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There will be no need for farmers to deliver their own casualty animals to collection points under the Scheme. The subscription fee paid by farmers which join the Scheme covers collection and disposal of fallen stock from farm premises. If farmers nevertheless wish to use their own vehicles to transport carcases to approved collection centres their vehicles will need to comply with the Animal By-products Regulations 2003 and they will need to establish with the approved collection centre that they are prepared to accept carcases which are so delivered.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to publish details regarding the collection of carcases under the Fallen Stock Scheme. [138780]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Progress is being made drawing up the detailed requirements for collection of carcases and the other conditions of the Scheme. These will be made widely available shortly for collection and disposal operators who wish to provide services to the Scheme.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether hunts will be able to register as(a) collectors and (b) receivers of fallen stock. [138781]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Animal By-products Regulations 2003 require hunt kennels that collect and treat fallen stock carcases to be approved by Defra as collection centres and premises which only receive treated carcases for feeding to hounds are required to be approved as final users. Appropriately authorised hunt kennels will be eligible to register as collectors and/or disposal agents under the National Fallen Stock Scheme if they wish to do so.

  Farm Holdings
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance is provided by the Government to young farmers who wish to obtain their own farm holding. [137260]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government recognise the importance of encouraging new entrants into farming. The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food sets out how industry, Government and consumers must work together to secure profitable and international competitive farming and food industries which are attractive to those already engaged in them and to potential new entrants.

  This Department has commissioned research which will seek to identify the existence and nature of any artificial barriers to new entrants, and the potential means by which such barriers might be overcome. We are discussing with interested organisations how to take forward any measures which are found to be necessary.

  Farmers' Markets
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help was given to farmers' markets in England in 2001–02. [139041]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  During the financial year 2001–02, Defra provided the following help to farmers' markets in England:

  funding to help the National Association of Farmers' Markets (NAFM), the umbrella organisation for farmers' markets, re-launch farmers' markets following the foot and mouth outbreak;

  funding under the Agriculture Development Scheme to NAFM for the publication of information booklets to help producers develop their knowledge of sales and marketing, and to help NAFM develop its certification programme for accrediting farmers' markets; and

  funding under the Rural Enterprise Scheme for the Somerset Farmers' Market Company.

  In addition, the Countryside Agency, which we grant aid, provided start-up funding to NAFM.

  Fisheries
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she will bring forward at(a) national and (b) European level to tackle cetacean by-catch; and if she will make a statement. [138088]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  At a national level, the UK has published a strategy for the reduction of small cetacean by-catch, which includes a number of recommendations for action. As part of this strategy, trials to reduce cetacean by-catch have been carried out in the offshore bass fishery. These trials have demonstrated that separator grids are a viable means of minimising dolphin by-catch in this fishery and the Scottish fishermen involved in this fishery have already indicated that they will continue to use the grid on a voluntary basis. I am determined to move forward from trialling the separator grid to deploying the gear in the fishery. However, given that the UK is not the main prosecutor of this fishery, it must be understood that whatever action we might consider by way of requiring the use of separator grids or other mitigation measures, or even closing the fisheries, would need to be implemented at the EU level in order to have significant effect.

  The importance of reducing cetacean by-catch has been raised by the UK at ministerial level with the Fisheries Commissioner on a number of occasions and bilaterally with France. In particular, the UK has pressed for the introduction of a observer programme across the EU to broaden the information available about which fisheries, and which vessels, are involved in the problem.

  The Commission published, on 24 July 2003, a draft Council regulation concerning the incidental by-catch of cetaceans in fisheries. Discussions on this proposal are at a very preliminary stage.

  Food Standards
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the adequacy of charges available to prosecutors under food regulations. [137584]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  As part of its action plan to implement the recommendations of the Waste Food Task Force, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has undertaken to consider a number of legal issues with stakeholders. These issues include the offences available to enforcers when taking prosecutions for illegal diversion of unfit meat, the penalties available for such offences, the time limits for investigation of these offences and the issues involved with lack of a power of arrest for food safety offences. The FSA will be discussing these issues with stakeholders at a seminar on 26 November 2003 to discuss the lessons to be learned from the prosecutions in the Denby Poultry Products case.

  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to improve enforcement of food safety regulations at animal by-products processing premises arising from recent meat fraud cases. [137588]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Food safety regulations are the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency. The State Veterinary Service (SVS) visits animal by-products premises for the purposes of administering the animal by-products legislation, which is enforced by local authorities and the Meat Hygiene Service. SVS instructions were amended in light of the fraud cases referred to, with the aim of preventing further such incidents. They improved audit procedures and highlighted the need to liaise more closely with enforcement agencies where there are possible breaches of food hygiene or other legislation. To improve communication and co-operation between the relevant bodies, Defra has also provided joint training on the new Animal By-Products Regulation for all the relevant enforcement bodies.

  Genetically Modified Crops
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether estimates of yield for GM maize in the GM farm scale evaluation published by her Department will be based upon maize crops grown using the same herbicide regime as used on these farm scale evaluations. [137655]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department has not published yield estimates for the GM maize grown in the farm-scale evaluations. The paper by Champion and others Crop management and agronomy of the farm-scale evaluations' published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society on 16 October explains that crop yields were not routinely recorded. The GM and conventional maize crops in each field evaluation were assessed and compared at every stage of growth and results were only included in the analysis where these correlates of yield were comparable and consistent with the protocol requiring 'cost effective weed control'.
  892W
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the public relations companies employed by her Department to present the Government's viewpoint on GM(a) foods and (b) crops; and how much public funding has been allocated for this purpose. [139768]

  Mr. Morley
  This Department does not employ public relations companies to present our viewpoint on GM food and crops.

  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the(a) role and (b) responsibilities of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment in relation to GM (i) crops and (ii) trials. [139807]

  Mr. Morley
  The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) is the statutory advisory committee established under Section 124 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. ACRE advise Government and the devolved administrations on all aspects of releases of GMOs into the environment, including the release of GM crops for the purposes of marketing or research. ACRE'S full terms of reference are included in their most recent annual report, which is available on the internet at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/acre/annrep9/index.htm.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effects she estimates the adoption of genetically modified crops in the UK would have on the organic farming industry. [138808]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government recognises that the growing of GM crops could affect the economic position of organic and conventional farmers growing equivalent crops. This was highlighted in the Strategy Unit report entitled 'Field Work: weighing up the costs and benefits of GM crops', published last July. The issue is also being discussed amongst member states of the European union. The Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission has been analysing the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops and associated liability issues and was due to publish a report last month. When the report is published we will consider it very carefully, taking into account the possible effects on the organic sector.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has received about whether the planting of GM crops would lead to a change in the use of(a) pesticides and (b) chemical weed killers. [138813]

  Mr. Morley
  Almost all of the GM crops that have been grown under trial in the EU in recent years, or are under consideration for commercial growing, are associated with changes in the use of herbicides and/or insecticides. Each GM crop is assessed on its own merits and any application to release must be accompanied by a dossier that includes detailed information on any potential changes in pesticide use and the effects this would have on the environment. The GM crop farm-scale evaluations, conducted in the UK, made a detailed assessment of the impact of herbicide use associated with three types of GM crop. A copy of the results, which were published last month, is in the Library.
  893W
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of EU labelling and traceability regulations in respect of GM(a) seeds, (b) animal food and (c) food for human consumption. [139015]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Food Standards Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have commissioned an independent study on the impact of the new GM regulations. This study and information obtained from stakeholders will form the basis of a Regulatory Impact Assessment on the regulations. This will be part of a consultation package, which will be issued at the end of December 2003 and will include the draft domestic implementing regulations and draft guidance to accompany the regulations.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the application for the sale of GM sweetcorn Bt11; and what advice her Department will offer to forthcoming Council of Ministers meetings on the application. [139016]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Food Standards Agency (FSA), as the competent authority under the EC Novel Foods Regulation, is advised by the independent Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP). The ACNFP assessed the original data submitted in support of the application for the sale of genetically modified sweetcorn Bt11 and the opinion of the Dutch competent authority. The European Commission's Scientific Committee (SCF) for food carried out a further assessment of these data and additional information submitted in support of the application and its opinion was also considered.

  Ministers have agreed that the FSA will advise the Council of Ministers that the United Kingdom should support this application based on the conclusion of the SCF, which stated that:
  "Bt11 sweet maize is as safe for human use as its conventional counterparts".

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the National Assembly for Wales in respect of their decision to declare Wales a GM-free nation. [139017]

  Mr. Morley
  I understand from ministerial colleagues in the Welsh Assembly Government that their policy is to adopt the most restrictive approach possible on GM crops within the confines of European Union and domestic law. They have made clear that this is not the same as declaring Wales GM-free. Ministers and officials in Defra and the Assembly Government keep in close touch on GM issues and hold regular meetings.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment has been made through(a) research commissioned by her Department, (b) farm scale trials and (c) other research of the potential for GM herbicide tolerant plants to create herbicide tolerant hybrid weeds; and what the results of that research were; [139018]
  894W
  (2) what assessment her Department has made of the (a) likelihood and (b) impact of hybridisation of GM oilseed rape. [139156]

  Mr. Morley
  There has been considerable research investigating hybridisation between GM and non-GM crops, including the crops studied in the Farm Scale Evaluations, and between GM crops and wild relatives. This includes studies commissioned by my Department (e.g. "Monitoring large scale releases of genetically modified crops, incorporating report on project EPG 1/5/30: monitoring releases of genetically modified crop plants" (December 2002)), studies carried out in parallel with the Farm Scale Evaluations (e.g. "Gene Flow Monitoring from the GM Crop FSE Sites: Monitoring Gene Flow from the GM Crop to Non-GM Equivalent Crops in the Vicinity. Part 1: Forage Maize" (October 2003)) and other research published in scientific journals (e.g. Wilkinson et al. (2003) Science online www.scienceexpress.org(9 October 2003)). The issues of gene flow and hybridisation between GM and non-GM crops are addressed in Chapter 7 of the GM Science Review published in July 2003 (http://www.gmsciencedebate.org.uk/).

  The impact of hybridisation between herbicide tolerant GM crops and other crops or wild relatives is considered as part of the risk assessment carried out prior to any decision to authorise the release of herbicide-tolerant GM crops.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to monitor the impact of GM animal feed on animal health. [139152]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department has no current plans to monitor the impact of GM animal feed on animal health.

  Under EU Directive 2001/18, no genetically modified organism may be used in animal feed in the EU unless and until EU member states have agreed collectively that it is safe to do. In making these decisions, each GM product is judged on its own merits according to evidence of risk to human health or the environment. If authorisation is granted, any subsequent marketing of the GM product in question will be subject to conditions of consent, including details of how the GM product must be monitored. These monitoring conditions may or may not include a requirement to monitor the impact of GM animal feed on animal health depending on the details of each specific case. No such condition has been thought necessary to date.

  In the UK, we are advised on GM product applications by a statutory expert body—the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). If a proposed GM product were intended for use in animal feed, ACRE would consult the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedstuffs (ACAF), which would provide advice on any risks to animal health. If the experts advised that a proposed GM product was safe but that its effects on animal health should be monitored, we would use our voice within Europe to call for this to be included in the monitoring plan.
  895W
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the GM Science Review Panel will play in advising her Department on future decisions in respect of applications to grow GM crops in the UK. [139153]

  Mr. Morley
  The GM Science Review Panel will not play a role in advising on future decisions on GM crop applications. The Government are advised on these matters by a statutory expert body, the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.

  The GM Science Review was commissioned specifically to undertake a comprehensive review of the science of genetic modification relevant to crops and food. The Government are taking its findings into account along with other elements of the GM public dialogue (the Strategy Unit study of costs and benefits and the debate "GM Nation?") in shaping its overall approach to GM crops and food. The GM Science Review Panel published their first report in July 2003 and will shortly conclude their work with the publication of a second supplementary report.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role her Department will have in implementing the surveillance scheme proposed in the Food Standards Agency's study on post-marketing monitoring. [139155]

  Mr. Morley
  I am aware that in July 2003 the Food Standards Agency published research by Imperial College looking into the feasibility of monitoring the buying and eating of novel foods, including GM foods. I understand that the Food Standards Agency has not yet decided whether or not to proceed with the recommendations.

  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2003,Official Report, column 561W, what research has been conducted on unintended biochemical consequences of genetic modification in the GM crops that were tested in the farm scale evaluations. [139218]

  Mr. Morley
  Potential unintended biochemical consequences of specific genetic modifications are considered as part of the case-by-case risk assessment of all GM crops. This consideration is based on research studies of the composition of particular crops grown under a range of conditions. Data examining composition of the crops in the Farm Scale Evaluations will form an important part of the assessment of any applications to market the crops concerned.

  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set up a GM public debate on the findings of the farm-scale evaluations. [139582]

  Mr. Morley
  The government has already sponsored GM Nation?'—the public debate on GM issues—to explore the public's opinions on GM crops.

  The results of the farm-scale evaluations, published on 16 October, are in the public domain and are being discussed widely. The results relate to specific GM crops and have been passed to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) for statutory advice. ACRE will be holding open meetings on
  896W
  25 November in London and fourth December in Edinburgh to take evidence from stakeholders and the public. There are no plans to hold a further public debate specifically on the results of the Farm Scale Evaluations.

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what research the choice of(a) dose, (b) timing, (c) formulation and (d) method of application of the herbicide used on GM maize in the farm scale evaluations was based. [139804]

  Mr. Morley
  Research and other information necessary to make these choices was determined by the company concerned. The specific use of the herbicide in the farm-scale evaluations was covered by an approval issued by the Pesticides Safety Directorate.

  Housing
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the rural proofing of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's new regional housing policies. [137827]

  Alun Michael
  I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on 11 November 2003,Official Report, column 259W. I shall also be meeting with my noble Friend Lord Rooker next month to discuss this issue.

  Livestock Industry
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the average(a) disposal sale price and (b) market price for (i) commercial dairy cattle and (ii) pedigree dairy cattle in (A) England and (B) Wales for each of the last five years for which figures are available. [136409]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The average(a) disposal sale price of (i) commercial dairy cattle (ii) pedigree dairy cattle and the (b) market price of (ii) pedigree dairy cattle is not recorded by either Defra or the MLC and is therefore unavailable.

  The average (b) market price for (i) commercial dairy cattle for the last five years is available, as an aggregate of (A) England and (B) Wales due to the few Welsh markets from which data is available. Six years data of the yearly average market price for Friesian Holstein dairy cows sold at auction markets in England and Wales shows the trend of livestock prices prior to the foot and mouth outbreak.

  Average price of dairy cows sold at livestock auctions (England and Wales)

  Average price £ per head

  1998

  555

  1999

  489

  2000

  479

  2001

  616

  2002

  593

  2003

  744

  Notes:

  1. 2001: The yearly average price was calculated from data collected during January and February 2001, until foot and mouth forced the closure of the livestock auctions.
  897W
  2. 2002: The yearly average price was calculated from data collected from the auction markets which began to re-open from February 2002 onwards, the numbers steadily increased as more markets opened after the restrictions were lifted due to the end of foot and mouth.

  3. 2003: The yearly average price was calculated from data collected during the period January until October 2003.

  Milk Chocolate
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on consumption of milk chocolate in the EU of its re-designation as family milk chocolate. [139133]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Directive 2000/36/EC harmonising labelling and composition rules on cocoa and chocolate products only took effect on 3 August 2003. It is therefore too early to make an assessment on whether there has been any effect on the consumption of milk chocolate in the European Union.

  Ministerial Speeches
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the speeches made by each Minister in her Department since 1 January. [135468]

  Margaret Beckett
  [holding answer 30 October 2003]: Copies of most of keynote ministerial speeches can be found on the Defra website. Speeches made by Defra Ministers since January 2003 are as follows:

  Secretary of State: Margaret Beckett

  Oxford Farming Conference (7 January)

  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA (3 February)

  Guardian and Observer Business and Society Conference (6 February)

  Local Government Association Launch of the Rural Revival Report Conference (11 February)

  National Farmers Union Annual Conference (18 February)

  Launch of the Government's Annual Report 2002 (24 February)

  Royal Institute of International Affairs—UK Objectives for the Kiev Conference (27 February)

  Launch of the Supply Chain Partnership Forum Dinner (27 February)

  Food and Drink's Federation New President's Dinner (6 March)

  Industry Forum (Energy) (19 March)

  Agra Europe Outlook Conference (31 March)

  G8 Environment Ministers Meeting (26 April)

  Joint launch with the UNFCCC Secretariat on the IDR (8 May)

  Royal Society for the Green Alliance "The GM Debate: Precaution in Practice" Workshop (5 June)

  Vaillant Service Centre—Speech on the Energy White Paper (23 June)

  Environment Industries Commission Conference (Benefits to the UK of High Environmental Standards) (25 June)

  Green-Works (3 July)

  Fabian Society Waste event (9 July)

  Opening of the Plant Sciences Centre at Broomfield College— (24 September)

  Better Building Summit (21 October)

  REEEP Conference (23 October)

  898W
  PUS(L)—Lord Whitty

  Oxford farming conference (7 January)

  Regional Food Showcase (21 January)

  Address CLA Council Meeting (29 January)

  Agri-Economics Society Conference (30 January)

  Foodaware Meeting (30 January)

  100th school milk bar (31 January)

  Parliamentary Warm Homes Group Conference (5 February)

  Unilever Sustainable Agriculture in Practice Seminar
  (25 February)

  Entry Level Agri-Environment Scheme launch (27 February)

  National heart forum launch (12 March)

  International Food and Drink Exhibition (25 March)

  UK Gas Conference (25 March)

  Carbon Trust and BAA plc energy efficiency partnership launch (31 March)

  Launch of the Crop Protection Management Plans (3 April)

  CCAs event (7 April)

  Briefing MEPs and Assistants on CAP Reform (30 April)

  Young Farmers Annual Forum (3 May)

  Coal UK 2003 conference (12 May)

  Royal Institute of International Affairs conference on Food and Trade (19 May)

  UK BCSE National Conference (20 May)

  Building Research Establishment conference on sustainable development and off site construction (21 May)

  Pimlico District Heating Scheme (Community Energy Programme) (21 May)

  Go Wild At Kew Gardens (22 May)

  Johannesburg renewable energy conference, Brussels (4 June)

  Royal Cornwall Show (6 June)

  Launch of agricultural export promotion unit (10 June)

  Address General Assembly of Confederation of European Spirit Producers (16 June)

  Institute of Public Policy Research Energy Conference (17 June)

  Sustainable Energy Awards (18 June)

  British Water annual lunch (25 June)

  Kew Gardens SSSI launch (4 July)

  MLC barbecue (7 July)

  Queen Mary and Westfield Seminar (16 July)

  Launch Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (26 August)

  5th Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment (10 Sept)

  Strategy on Sustainable Consumption and Production Launch, two speeches (25 September)

  Better building Summit (21 October)

  Renewable Power Conference (23 October)

  British Meat Processor's Association launch (28 October)

  David Black Awards (29 October)

  Noise abatement society's John Connell Awards (29 October)

  899W
  MoS (Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality)—Alun Michael

  National Association of Farms for Schools (15 January 2003)

  West Midlands Rural Affairs Forum (15 January 2003)

  CPRE—opening new office (23 January 2003)

  Making it Happen—Reality on the Ground Conference (29 January 2003)

  LGA Rural Housing Conference (4 March 2003)

  Food for thought: 1 day Conference (14 March 2003)

  Quality Parish Conference (18 March 2003)

  CHaRT RICS meeting (18 March 2003)

  Speak at RPA Inspectorate Conference (24 March 2003)

  Corporate Responsibility Group meeting (10 April 2003)

  Rural Business Support Conference (9 June 2003)

  Conference of the International Rural Network (26 June 2003)

  Living Sea Conference (23 July 2003)

  Living Lakes Conference (10 September 2003)

  ANPA Conference (2 October 2003)

  NALC Annual Conference (3 October 2003)

  Co-operatives and Social Enterprise Conference (4 October 2003)

  Society Local Council Clerks Conference (20 October 03)

  Civil Service/MP attachment scheme (21 October 2003)

  Connexions Event: Delivery of Connexions in rural areas (28 October 2003)

  MoS (Environment) (Michael Meacher)

  SW scoping study into impacts of climate change (22 January)

  Parliamentary Sustainable Waste Group (28 January)

  HCIMA—hospitable climates (28 January)

  Adam Smith Institute (29 January)

  Women's Environmental Network seminar on real nappies (10 February)

  Gene Futures conference (11 February)

  Fabian Society (11 February)

  Newcastle University Chaplaincy Lecture (14 February)

  LGA conference on waste (18 February)

  UNED-UK conference on sustainable development (19 February)

  Foundation for Science and Technology seminar on Arctic regions (25 February)

  Environment Agency Chairmen's National Conference (26 February)

  UKCIP/EPSRC conference on climate change (3 March)

  Packaging Federation conference (13 March)

  Wilton Park conference on the Arctic (17 March)

  Eve Balfour Lecture (Soil Association) (19 March)

  QMW energy seminar (20 March)

  ACCA awards (20 March)

  London First Sustainable Business Network launch (1 April)

  Organic Products seminar (7 April)

  UK Business and Environment Chief Executives seminar (9 April)

  Fabian Society Environmental Forum (8 May)

  NW Regional Assembly State of the Region conference (9 May)

  Euromoney emissions trading conference (12 May)

  All Party Group on Conservation and Wildlife (19 May)

  CIRIA climate change conference (4 June)

  Trucost/IRS conference (4 June)

  Parliamentary Sustainable Waste Group (4 June)

  Game Conservancy Trust conference (10 June)

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  MoS (Environment and Agri-Environment)—Elliot Morley

  CHPA President's Reception (18 June)

  Address to National Glass Week Conference (19 June)

  Launch of the LGA/EA joint document.(23 June)

  ADA Annual demonstration event, Lincolnshire (3 July)

  New Bristol Zoo Waste Minimisation display (7 July)

  Government's environmental priorities to the All Party Parliamentary Environment Group (8 July)

  'Listening to Business' Breakfast, Stevenage (10 July)

  the All Party group on Sewers and Sewerage (10 July)

  UKCIP Launch on climate change (15 July)

  Speech on Energy and Environment at Informal Environment Council, Montecatini (20 July)

  Launch of the Greenwich Council new recycling facility (29 July)

  Opening of the Gowy Flood Defences (31 July)

  Launch of the Number Regional Waste Strategy, Doncaster (1 August)

  Regional Visit, Cumbria—Speech on Agri-Environment (14 August)

  Launch of Recycle for London (2 September)

  Opening the new Waste Resources Action Programme Building, Banbury (11 September)

  Speech to School Children about being responsible for the Environment during presentation of the Franco-British council Environmental Exchange(17 September)

  Thames Water Regulation seminar (22 September)

  British Water Seminar on UK-China Co-operation, Beijing (23 September)

  British Water Seminar UK-China Co-operation, Guangzhov (24 September)

  British Water Seminar UK-China Co-operation, Shanghai (26 September)

  Launch of the WCMC World Atlas of Seagrasses (15 October)

  Economist 14th Annual Water Industry conference (16 October)

  Institute of Chartered Accountants Corporate Social Responsibility Debate (21 October)

  Environment Agency Annual Conference Dinner (28 October)

  Speech to present Biffawards (30 October)

  Speech to present prizes to School children at the Shout About Waste event (3 November)

  ADA annual conference (5 November)

  Royal Institute International Affairs conference (5 November)

  WATER UK Source 2003 Conference (5 November)

  Launch of the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme for Water Technologies (6 November)

  Speech on Business and the Environment to local business groups in Burnley (6 November)

  Opening of the IWEX Water Exhibition (11 November)

  901W
  PUS(C)—Elliot Morley

  Launch of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (8 January)

  Opening of the Lower Tone Flood Defence scheme (14 January)

  Opening Water UK's 3rd Annual City Conference (15 January)

  Business Breakfast of the South Yorkshire Green Business Club (20 January)

  Launch of the RSPB Twite report (20 January)

  Coastal Futures Conference (23 January)

  North Sea Flood Conference—'1953 Floods and beyond' (30 January)

  Opening a Vulture rehabilitation Centre, part funded by the Darwin Initiative.(8 February)

  Tehri Institute, Delhi (7 February)

  Marsh Award for Bird Conservation, Indian High Commission (26 February)

  British Water UK—Poland Water Co-operation seminar (4 March)

  Launch of the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration Rome (11 March)

  Address to the UK Association of Frozen Food Producers Annual Lunch (19 March)

  Deer Initiative Conference Buxton (28 March)

  National Sea Fish awards (2 April)

  UFAW Animal Welfare Conference (3 April)

  45th Ministerial conference on Protection of Forests in Europe (28 April)

  AINA reception (6 May)

  IEA's 4 Annual Conference, Water 2003 (4 June)

  National Water Efficiency Awards (5 June)

  Water Bill and the Sustainabie Management and use of Water, SERA dinner(10 June)

  PUS(C)—Ben Bradshaw

  All Party Group on Wildlife and Conservation (17 September)

  National Environment Campaigns
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment has been made of the impact of the Bag It and Bin It campaign on individual behaviour, with specific reference to the change in the number of items disposed of inappropriately. [139182]

  Mr. Morley
  Bag It and Bin It is a water industry campaign and it is for the water companies themselves to assess the impact of the campaign.

  Nuclear Waste Sites
  Mr. Alan Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the(a) sites in the United Kingdom on which intermediate level nuclear waste is stored and (b) volume stored on each site. [139507]

  Mr. Morley
  The following is a list of sites at which intermediate-level radioactive waste (ILW) is stored. The figures have been taken from the 2001 waste inventory published by Defra and Nirex in October 2002. The figures for each site are the volume of conditioned waste, in cubic metres, and, where appropriate, include the ILW estimated to arise from continued operation and decommissioning.
  902W

  Waste site

  ILW—volume, cubic metres, conditioned

  Aldermaston

  4,247.0

  Amersham

  488.0

  Berkeley

  2,364.0

  Bradwell

  4,591.0

  Calder Hall

  4,755.0

  Capenhurst

  2.0

  Cardiff

  423.0

  Chapelcross

  5,640.0

  Clyde

  1.0

  Culham

  383.0

  Devonport

  258.0

  Donnington and Stafford

  0.2

  Dounreay

  8,580.0

  Dungeness A

  4,197.0

  Dungeness B

  3,729.0

  Hartlepool

  4,114.0

  Harwell

  2,744.1

  Heysham 1

  4,307.0

  Heysham 2

  4,417.0

  Hinkley Point A

  6,015.0

  Hinkley Point B

  4,156.0

  Hunterston A

  5,428.0

  Hunterston B

  4,502.0

  Oldbury

  3,665.0

  Portsmouth

  9.0

  Rosyth

  86.0

  Rosyth and Devonport (submarines)

  1,928.0

  Sellafield

  131,547.0

  Sizewell A

  4,244.0

  Sizewell B

  595.0

  Torness

  4,224.0

  Trawsfynydd

  2,849.0

  Vulcan

  203.0

  Windscale

  4,209.0

  Winfrith

  1,312.0

  Wylfa

  6,810.0

  Total

  237,022.3

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was of(a) setting, (b) monitoring and (c) measuring the performance targets for her Department in 2002–03; and how many and what grades of civil servants monitor these targets. [137973]

  Alun Michael
  The monitoring of progress towards PSA targets is part of the mainstream work of the department and involves a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation. Progress towards achieving targets is also monitored by staff in HM Treasury.

  Pesticides
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will carry out the appraisal of the progress of the voluntary initiative on pesticides at the end of 2003, as recommended by the Environmental Audit Committee in its First Report of Session 2002–03. [139530]

  Alun Michael
  In its response to this Environmental Audit Committee report, the Government said that it would continue to make regular assessments of progress and would be looking for real steps forward during 2003. In particular, the Government said it would be important for the initiative to demonstrate growing farmer uptake and progress on outcomes, particularly in respect of the water catchment project.
  903W
  The Government's assessments of progress are published in the Budget and Pre-Budget Reports. The next such assessment will be in next month's Pre-Budget

  Pig Farming
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made with measures to support British pig farmers; and if she will make a statement. [137249]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  This Government has done and will continue to do what it can to help the pig sector. Since December 2000 over £63 million of taxpayers money, comprising £21.8 million for ongoers and £15.6 million for outgoers under the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme and some £26 million in relation to Classical Swine Fever, has gone or will go direct to pig farmers as well as £200 million of indirect support in areas such as private storage aid schemes, export refunds, development grants and market promotion.

  We meet frequently with representatives of the pig industry to discuss the challenges they face and have pledged to continue to encourage all parts of the pigmeat supply chain to work together, with ourselves and with Sir Don Curry's Implementation Group, in order to build a sustainable future for all sections of the industry. The Department helped to sponsor the first World Pork Congress in June and assisted industry in getting the approval of the Pigmeat Management Committee to use a new method of carcase grading—Autofom—in Great Britain.

  In addition the Red Meat Industry Forum has made a successful start in providing information designed to help improve competitiveness for all the players in the red meat supply chain. In particular, this includes benchmarking for pig producers.

  We will also be publishing a 10 year Animal Health and Welfare Strategy next spring, after a comprehensive consultation process. The aim of the Strategy is to improve the health and welfare of animals kept by man, and protect public health from animal disease. One major initiative of the Strategy, will be the publication of dedicated sector based sub-strategies, based on a partnership approach between Government and industry. We have been working closely with the pig sector over the past 12 months to help develop such a sub-strategy, which I believe will be launched later this year.

  On illegal imports, we have made much progress in implementing our Action Plan in the past two years. Successes include the transfer of anti-smuggling responsibilities to HM Customs, new risk assessments are being carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, looking at the risk of illegally imported meat. These assessments will be published next year. We are also raising awareness of the import rules among travellers, using a wide variety of methods to get our messages across.

  The Department has been active in persuading overseas authorities to accept UK exports again. Last year an Export Certification Users Group was set up for live pigs, their genetic material, meat and products. The Group meets regularly to identify priority export
  904W
  markets which remain closed and it also enables us to consider export certification for potential markets abroad.

  Furthermore we recently launched the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative to procure food in a manner that promotes sustainable development. Its aim is to encourage public bodies to procure food in a manner that promotes sustainable development and to provide greater opportunities for small and local suppliers to compete for public sector business.

  The Government is also making rapid progress on setting up a National Fallen Stock Scheme to help reduce costs to farmers, including pig farmers, for disposing of their fallen stock. We are aware of the pig industry's concerns about biosecurity and will consult the industry on the scheme's biosecurity conditions before issuing. The Directors who will sit on the Board of the Company that will run the scheme have now been selected by industry interests and formally appointed and we hope that the scheme will be up and running early in the new year.

  Plankton
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what data her Department holds on plankton(a) density and type (b) around the British Isles; and whether areas of cold water plankton have been replaced by warm water types. [134010]

  Mr. Morley
  The Department does not hold data on plankton density and type, but does fund the international marine environmental charity 'Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science' (SAHFOS) which is based in Plymouth, UK. SAHFOS currently operates the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey, which has been in operation since 1931 and provides one of the longest and largest marine biological data sets in the world. More than 70 years of information on the density of over 450 plankton types is contained in the database. Plankton samples have been collected from all over the north Atlantic but predominantly from waters around the British Isles.

  Plankton are at the bottom of the marine food-web and because of this they are an essential food-source to virtually all marine life from fish to marine mammals and sea birds. The results of monitoring plankton communities can be used to monitor the state of the marine environment and have been employed to assess the ecological health of the waters around the British Isles.

  Recent research using data from the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey has shown significant changes to the North sea ecosystem. Cold-water species of plankton that are an important food-source for cod and salmon have been displaced northwards, particularly over the last decade, and appear to be being replaced by more southerly warmer-water species.

  Pollution Incidents
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 12 December 2002,Official Report, column 435W, on discharges into the environment, in

  905W
  respect of pollution incidents, if she will place in the Library an updated list of the documents provided in writing to the hon. Member for Lewes. [139185]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency is currently updating the information provided to the hon. Member. This will take a little time, and I will write when it is available.

  Protected Geographical Indicators Scheme
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many products from the United Kingdom, broken down by region and nation, are being considered for registration under the Protected Geographical Indicators Scheme by the EU. [138214]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are two products, both Scottish, Arbroath Smokies and Scottish Farmed Salmon, which are currently being considered for registration as Protected Geographical Indications by the EU.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many regional foods are registered in each EU state; and how many of these in each state have registered within the last 12 months. [138215]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The numbers of regional foods registered as protected food names by all EU member states are set out in the following table.

  Member state

  Protected designations of origin (PDOs) and Protected geographical indications (PGIs)

  Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSGs)

  Total registered

  Italy

  132

  1

  133

  France

  132

  —

  132

  Portugal

  85

  —

  85

  Greece

  83

  —

  83

  Spain

  71

  3

  74

  Germany

  64

  —

  64

  United Kingdom

  33

  1

  34

  Austria

  12

  —

  12

  Belgium

  4

  5

  9

  Netherlands

  5

  —

  5

  Luxembourg

  4

  —

  4

  Ireland

  3

  —

  3

  Denmark

  3

  —

  3

  Sweden

  2

  1

  3

  Finland

  1

  2

  3

  The numbers of regional food products registered within the last 12 months are set out in the following table:

  Member state

  Number registered

  Italy

  10

  Greece

  4

  Portugal

  4

  Spain

  3

  United Kingdom

  2

  France

  1

  Finland

  1

  Rats
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate 906W
  the rat population (a) in England and (b) broken down by local authority area (i) in each year since 1997 and (ii) in each year to 2006. [139180]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The most recent estimate of the Norway rat population in England was a minimum of 5,240,000 individuals. This figure was established by a review that assessed the population and conservation status of all British mammals, published in 1995. The only recent objective national survey of rat presence is within the English House Condition Survey. The latest report available is for the 1996 survey which revealed that 0.23 per cent. of properties had rats indoors and 1.6 per cent. had rats present outside.

  With regard to local authorities, section 2(2) of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 required every local authority to maintain records of activities undertaken to destroy rats and mice. However, this section was repealed in 1980 since when no information on rat presence within individual local authority areas has been collected by central Government.

  Sewage
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers water companies have to divert sewage into rivers; and if she will make a statement. [139187]

  Mr. Morley
  Water companies have duties under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to provide and maintain sewers to ensure that they are effectively drained, and the sewer contents are effectively dealt with by treatment works or otherwise.

  Consents to discharge sewage effluents, sometimes in emergencies, into controlled waters are subject to conditions and are issued by the Environment Agency under the Water Resources Act 1991 (WRA91).

  In certain situations water companies may have to make discharges other than in accordance with a consent. In these circumstances, the WRA91 provides two distinct defences to offences of polluting controlled waters under section 85 of the WRA91.

  Section 89(1) states that a person shall not be guilty of an offence of polluting controlled waters if the discharge is made in an emergency to avoid danger to life or health, if steps are taken to minimise the polluting effects of the discharge, and if details of the incident are provided to the Agency as soon as possible after it occurs.

  Section 87(2) states that a sewerage undertaker shall not be guilty of an offence if the undertaker could not reasonably be expected to prevent the discharge into the sewer or works, if a discharge into the sewer is caused by another person and if the undertaker was not bound to receive it, or if it was, the conditions of the discharge were not observed.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many recorded incidents there have been in each year since 1997 of water companies diverting sewage into rivers under section 89 of the Water Resources Act 1991; what the location was; and what the volume of sewage released was in each case; [139188]
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  (2) if she will list the incidents under investigation by the Environment Agency relating to cases where water companies have diverted sewage into rivers; what the location was; which water company was involved; and what volume was released in each case; [139189]

  (3) what estimate she has made of the total cost in each of the last five years of cleaning up rivers as a result of incidents where water companies have diverted sewage into rivers. [139190]

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

  Sugar Costs
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from food manufacturers about the process of applying for reimbursment of sugar costs from the Rural Payments Agency. [139132]

  Alun Michael
  None. The Rural Payments Agency maintains on-going dialogue with industry representatives through its Industry Forum and Experts Group. There is also frequent contact with individual companies in connection with the payment of claims. The RPA tells me that it is not aware of any particular representations having been made by the sector in question.

  Timber
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the local authorities which have not responded to the letter from the Environment Minister on timber procurement of 19 September 2002. [139176]

  Mr. Morley
  Written replies to the Environment Minister's letter dated 19 September 2002 about timber procurement, and the follow up letter dated 7 April 2003, have not been received from the following local authorities:Adur District Council, Allerdale District Council, Alnwick District Council, Ashfield District Council, Barking and Dagenham London Borough, Barnet London Borough, Barrow in Furness Borough Council, Bassetlaw District Council, Bedford Borough Council, Bexley London Borough, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blyth Valley Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, Borough of Poole, Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Breckland District Council, Brent London Borough, Bridgnorth Distict Council, Bromsgrove District Council, Broxbourne Borough Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cannock Chase District Council, Caradon District Council, Carlisle City Council, Carrick District Council, Castle Morpeth Borough Council, Castle Point District Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Cherwell District Council, Cheshire County Council, Chester City Council, Chorley Borough Council, Christchurch Borough Council, Corby Borough Council, Corporation of London, Craven District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council, Cumbria County Council, Dacorum Borough Council, Dartford Borough Council, Daventry District Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Derwentside District Council, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Durham City Council, Ealing London Borough, Easington District Council, East Hampshire District Council. East Hertfordshire District Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Eden District Council, Ellesmere
  908W
  Port and Neston Borough Council, Elmbridge Borough Council, Enfield London Borough, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, Erewash Borough Council, Fenland District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Fylde Borough Council, Gedling Borough Council, Gravesham Borough Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Hackney London Borough, Halton Borough Council, Hammersmith & Fulham London Borough, Harborough District Council, Haringey London Borough, Hartlepool Borough Council, Hastings Borough Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Hillingdon London Borough, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Isle of Wight Council, Isles of Scilly Council, Islington London Borough, Kennet District Council, Kettering Borough Council, King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, Kingston Upon Thames Royal Borough Council, Lambeth London Borough, Leeds City Council, Lewisham London Borough, Lichfield District Council, Lincoln City Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Mendip District Council, Merton London Borough, Mid Suffolk District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, Middlesbrough Borough Council, Milton Keynes Council, Newcastle City Council, North Dorset District Council, North Hertfordshire District Council, North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Northamptonshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, Oswestry District Council, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Pendle Borough Council, Penwith District Council, Peterborough City Council, Plymouth City Council, Preston District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Restormel Borough Council, Richmond Upon Thames London Borough, Rochford District Council, Rother District Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Runnymede Borough Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Rutland County Council, Ryedale District Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Shropshire County Council, Slough Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, South Bedfordshire District Council, South Bucks District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, South Derbyshire District Council, South Holland District Council, South Kesteven District Council, South Shropshire District Council, South Tyneside Met. Borough Council, Southampton City Council, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Southwark London Borough, St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, Stafford Borough Council, Stevenage Borough Council, Stockton on Tees Borough Council, Stoke on Trent City Council, Sunderland City Metropolitan Borough Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Sutton London Borough, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, Teesdale District Council, Teignbridge District Council, Test Valley Borough Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council, Trafford Metro Borough Council, Tynedale District Council, Uttlesford District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, Vale Royal Borough Council, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, Waltham Forest London Borough, Wansbeck District Council, Warrington Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council, Watford Borough Council, Waverley Borough Council, Wealden District Council, Welwyn Hatfield District Council, West Berkshire District Council, West Devon Borough Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, West Sussex County Council, West Wiltshire District Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, Winchester City Council, Woking Borough Council, Worthing Borough Council, Wychavon District Council, Wyre Borough Council, York (City of) Council

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list, based on responses to the Environment Minister's letter on timber procurement from 19 September 2002, the local authorities which have timber procurement policies in place. [139177]
  909W
  Mr. Morley
  All the local authorities that responded to the Environment Minister's letters dated 19 September 2002 and 7 April 2003 described their various policies for purchasing timber. Some authorities were in the process of reviewing their policies and others reported plans to undertake reviews or were considering making such plans. The authorities that responded are listed as follows:Amber Valley Borough Council, Arun District Council, Ashford Borough Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Babergh District Council, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Basildon District Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bedfordshire County Council, Berwick-Upon-Tweed Borough Council, Birmingham Metropolitan City Council, Blaby District Council, Blackpool Borough Council, Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Boston Borough Council, Bournemouth Borough Council, Bradford City Council, Braintree District Council, Brentwood Borough Council, Brighton and Hove Council, Bristol City Council, Broadland District Council, Bromley London Borough, Broxtowe Borough Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Burnley Borough Council, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Cambridge City Council, Camden London Borough, Canterbury City Council, Charnwood Borough Council, Chelmsford Borough Council,
  Chesterfield Borough Council, Chester-le-Street District Council, Chichester District Council, Chiltern District Council, Colchester Borough Council, Congleton Borough Council, Copeland Borough Council, Cornwall County Council, Cotswold District Council, Coventry City Council, Croydon London Borough, Darlington Borough Council, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Devon County Council, Dorset County Council, Dover District Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Durham County Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, East Devon District Council, East Dorset District Council, East Lindsey District Council, East Northamptonshire District Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Epping Forest District Council, Essex County Council, Exeter City Council, Fareham Borough Council, Forest Heath District Council, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, Gloucester City Council. Gloucestershire County Council, Gosport Borough Council, Greenwich London Borough, Guildford Borough Council, Hambleton District Council, Hampshire County Council, Harlow District Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Harrow London Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Havering London Borough, Herefordshire Council, Hertsmere Borough Council, High Peak Borough Council, Horsham District Council, Hounslow London Borough, Huntingdon District Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Kensington and Chelsea Royal Borough, Kent County Council, Kerrier District Council, Kingston Upon Hull City Council, Kirklees Metropolitan Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster City Council, Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, Lewes District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Liverpool City Council, Luton Borough Council, Macclesfield Borough Council, Maldon District Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Manchester City Council, Mansfield District Council, Medway Towns Council, Melton Borough Council, Mid Bedfordshire District Council, Mid Devon District Council, Mole Valley District Council, New Forest District Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Newham London Borough, Norfolk County Council, North Cornwall District Council, North Devon District Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, North East Lincolnshire Council, North Kesteven District Council, North Lincolnshire Council, North Norfolk District Council, North Shropshire District Council, North Somerset Council, North Yorkshire County Council, Northampton Borough Council, Northumberland County Council, Norwich City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth
  910W
  Borough Council, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council, Purbeck District Council, Reading Borough Council, Redbridge London Borough, Redcar and Cleveland Council, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Richmondshire District Council, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Rossendale Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Rushmoor Borough Council. Salford City Council, Salisbury District Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Scarborough Borough Council, Sedgefield Borough District Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, Selby District Council, Sheffield City Council, Shepway District Council, Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, Somerset County Council, South Gloucestershire Council, South Hams District Council, South Lakeland District Council, South Norfolk District Council, South Northamptonshire Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, South Ribble District Council, South Somerset District Council, South Staffordshire District Council, Spelthorne Borough Council, St. Albans City and District Council, St. Edmundsbury Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, Stratford-on- Avon District Council, Stroud District Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Suffolk County Council, Surrey County Council, Swale Borough Council, Swindon Borough Council, Tamworth Borough Council, Tandridge District Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, Tendring District Council, Thanet District Council, Thurrock Borough Council, Tonbridge and Mailing Borough Council, Torbay Council, Torridge District Council, Tower Hamlets London Borough, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Wandsworth London Borough, Warwick District Council, Waveney District Council, Wear Valley District Council, Wellingborough Borough Council, West Dorset District Council, West Lancashire District Council, West Lindsey District Council, West Somerset District Council, Westminster City Council, Wiltshire County Council, Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough Council, Wirral Borough Metropolitan Council, Wokingham District Council, Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough, Worcester City Council, Worcestershire County Council, Wycombe District Council, Wyre Forest District Council,

  Transfrontier Shipment Notifications
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if a transfrontier shipment notification can be issued when a company does not have a licence to dispose of the shipment. [137925]

  Mr. Morley
  The notifier (the company submitting the transfrontier shipment notification) is required to submit the notification to the relevant competent authorities. The notifier is unlikely to be the company recovering, or disposing, of the wastes. However, the waste should be consigned to a suitably licensed facility.

  US Warships (Decommissioning)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has secured from the US authorities undertakings that the ships from the US Naval Reserve due to be stored at Hartlepool will(a) remain the responsibility of the US authorities and (b) be returned to the United States. [139206]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The legal responsibility of the ships will remain with the contractors: the US Marine Administration and Able UK. Able UK hold the Waste Management Licence for the site where the ships will be stored, pending a decision on their future.
  911W
  If dismantling cannot be completed consistent with international rules and Community Law, the law requires that the ships be returned to the US, unless the waste can be recovered in an alternative, environmentally sound manner.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what requirements the Environment Agency has put in place to prevent environmental damage arising from the storage at Hartlepool of ships from the US Naval Reserve. [139208]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: On 12 November, the Environment Agency used its emergency powers under section 43(4) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to modify Able UK's existing waste management licence to include conditions which:

  Impose restrictions so that ships cannot be dismantled, decommissioned, cut or broken at the Able facility.

  Require the installation of floating booms across the dock entrance and around waste vessels that are berthed in the dock. The booms must be inspected daily, and should oil be identified within the boomed area, it must be removed within two hours.

  Require that no removal of bilge or ballast water from waste ships shall take place except in accordance with a method statement submitted to and approved in writing by the Agency.

  While waste ships are in the dock, sampling of the dock water and estuary water upstream and downstream of the dock must take place weekly. Results must be submitted to Agency within four weeks. In the event that any results exceed specified trigger levels, the Agency must be notified within 24 hours.

  In addition to these conditions imposed on Able UK, the Agency will carry out its own unannounced site inspections—initially at a weekly frequency. The Agency will carry out its own environmental monitoring, as well as auditing the monitoring carried out by Able UK.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on who will bear the cost of storage, including any inspection and basic safety measures necessary, of ships from the US Naval Reserve at Hartlepool. [139209]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: It is the Waste Management Licence holder's responsibility to comply with the conditions of a Waste Management Licence at their expense. The modification to the conditions of Able UK's Waste Management Licence now requires them, in effect, not to undertake any dismantling of the ships or other works, save for pollution control measures.

  The Environment Agency will conduct such inspections as it considers necessary to ensure compliance with the conditions of the licence. The costs of these are recovered through subsistence charges.

  Any costs from the safety inspection would be borne by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors underlay her press statement of 7 November that immediate return of the ships sent for disposal to Able UK at Hartlepool would be impractical. [139211]
  912W
  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The immediate return of the ships is impractical primarily due to the prevailing weather conditions in the Atlantic over the winter. In the interests of safeguarding human health and the environment, it has been agreed that the ships should be stored temporarily at Hartlepool, pending a decision on their future.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her recent discussions with the US Transportation Secretary on the fleet of ships en route from the USA to Hartlepool. [139212]

  Mr. Morley
  My Department issued a statement on 15 November following discussions between US and UK authorities, the text of which is reproduced below."Following exploration of alternative options, the Government has agreed with the US authorities that the third and fourth US ships currently on their way to the UK, should continue their passage to Hartlepool, where they will be securely stored pending a decision on their future. As with the first two ships, the Environment Agency will place requirements on them to ensure the environment is fully protected and the ships remain ready for return to the United States.
  We explained last week that we were working closely with the United States authorities to examine the practicability of the return of the third and fourth ships to the United States. We have now reached a shared view that it would be imprudent for these ships to attempt a return crossing at this time of year; and that there is no other suitable storage site available. Hartlepool therefore best meets our objectives of safety and environmental protection.
  The US authorities accept that the four ships will have to return to the United States next Spring, unless environmentally suitable and legally acceptable methods for their disposal have by then been identified."

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Environment Agency's press statement of 6 October 2003 about the decommissioning of United States ships did not refer to the Agency's earlier advice that the ships should not sail from America. [137768]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency's 6 October press release was issued in response to specific statements made by Friends of the Earth about its legal challenge to the Agency. It was also based on the Agency's understanding of the legal situation at that time.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been carried out of the(a) economic and (b) environmental impact of the arrival of the ships due to arrive from the United States for dismantling by Able UK. [138064]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested is as follows:
  913W
  on the licence, would cause likely significant effect on the SPA and Ramsar site, alone, or in combination with other plans or projects.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers Government Ministers have to prevent ships entering United Kingdom waters; and on what occasions they have used these powers. [138065]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have been asked to reply.

  Powers of intervention, including the power to direct a ship to leave UK waters, may only be exercised where a ship is already in UK waters. Such powers may be exercised only where it is considered necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of the ships or other ships; the safety of persons or property; or preventing or reducing significant pollution.

  Warm Front Scheme
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many grants made under the Warm Front scheme have been suspended this year to date; and if she will make a statement. [137085]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]: Warm Front is the Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England.

  No grants have been suspended under the Warm Front scheme. However a number of applications have been cancelled either by the applicant, or by the scheme managers in cases where proof of eligibility has not been provided.

  Waste Incineration
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research is being undertaken into the health effects of energy-from-waste incinerators. [138820]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government has commissioned a review of the environmental and health effects of waste management options including incineration. This appraisal is currently being peer reviewed by the Royal Society and is due to be published around the time of the Pre-Budget report 2003.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the distribution of proposed waste incineration. [138823]

  Mr. Morley
  At present just over 12 per cent. of England's municipal waste is recycled or composted, about 9 per cent. of municipal waste is incinerated and the rest is landfilled.

  There are 16 Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators in the whole of the UK (14 in England and Wales, two in Scotland) with a total capacity of about 2.7 million tonnes of municipal solid waste per year. There are many hundreds of other incinerators for sewage sludge, hazardous waste, clinical waste, production waste from factories etc.
  914W
  The Government has no plans for constructing any particular number of incinerators: the choice of waste treatment facilities is a matter for local authorities to take into consideration with the communities they serve; along with other factors such as their recycling targets and national waste policy.

  Waste Performance Reward Grant
  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the practice in other EU countries in relation to excluding rubble and incineration bottom ash from recycling totals. [139455]

  Mr. Morley
  No detailed assessments have been made of the practice in other EU countries. In the UK and England, any wastes that are recycled are included in the relevant statistics for recycling.

  However, for the purposes of local authority Best Value Performance Standards in England, rubble and incineration bottom ash, among some other wastes, are excluded from the recycling figures. They are not included in the Standards because the Government want to encourage the recycling and composting of dry recyclables and compostable materials separated from mixed household wastes.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to receive the report of the review into the health and environmental effects of waste disposal. [139458]

  Mr. Morley
  The report on the review of the environmental and health effects of waste management options is due to be published around the time of the pre-budget report.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what capacity there is in the United Kingdom for the(a) treatment, (b) recovery and (c) recycling of (i) end of life vehicles and (ii) electrical and electronic equipment. [139460]

  Mr. Morley
  A recent study, undertaken by the Industry Council for Electronics Recycling (ICER), estimated the UK's current capacity to treat waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to be between 130 and 180 facilities UK wide. At present, there are between 70 and 120 specialist treatment facilities that only treat and process electrical waste, mainly IT waste. There are also 19 fridge recyclers in the UK, and ICER suggest that these facilities may turn to treatment of other WEEE in the future. In addition to the specialist treatment facilities, there are around 40 plants UK wide that shred and granulate WEEE in preparation for recycling, and these types of plants treat most types of WEEE, alongside other waste streams, like end-of-life vehicles (ELVs).

  Similarly, it is estimated that there are presently around 950 businesses with waste management licences, and a further 1,750 registered exempt businesses, treating end-of-life vehicles. A recent study, carried out for the Department by TRL Ltd., calculated that approximately 77 per cent. of the weight of ELVs scrapped in 2000 was reused, recovered and recycled.
  915W
  However, it is not clear what the UK capacity will be for recycling WEEE, although we do know that much of the recycling industry has already taken the opportunity to recycle electronic and vehicle scrap now entering the waste stream.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent measures she has introduced on waste minimisation. [139461]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have committed over £40 million over the next three years (2003–06) to the Waste and Resources Action Programme's (WRAP) waste minimisation work. Its work tackles waste minimisation through four schemes:an expansion of home composting;
  promotion of re-usable nappies;
  a research and development programme, aimed at identifying and developing innovative approaches to waste minimisation; and
  work with major retailers to reduce the amount of waste entering the waste stream from supermarkets.

  In addition, WRAP will take forward an education and awareness programme. This will operate at both a national and local level to raise the public's awareness about waste issues, including waste minimisation.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the amount of commercial and industrial waste diverted to local authority managed civic amenity sites in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [139462]

  Mr. Morley
  Section 51(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 places a duty on waste disposal authorities to provide reasonably accessible places (civic amenity sites) for persons resident in their area to deposit their household waste. Section 51(3) of the 1990 Act enables waste disposal authorities to include in those sites arrangements for the deposit of other controlled waste (commercial and industrial waste) by other persons on such terms as to payment (if any) as the waste disposal authority determines.

  Defra does not hold information on the amount of commercial and industrial waste diverted to local authority managed civic amenity sites.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authority projects for waste minimisation are funded from the Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund. [139463]

  Mr. Morley
  In 2003–04, the National Waste Minimisation Fund received 34 funding bids for waste minimisation, including education. Of these, 11 received just over a total of £2 million.

  Mr. Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Waste Performance Reward Grant. [139464]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government announced on 12 August 2003 that they would consult interested parties on the design of the waste performance reward grant in the autumn. Preparations for launching the consultation are well-advanced.

  Website
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the use of computer games on her departmental website. [139296]

  Alun Michael
  Our aim is that our website should include material that is suitable for its intended audience. On occasion, we have developed website content, typically aimed at a schools audience, that uses quizzes and similar content to stimulate users of the site as part of their learning process.

  Yoghurt Classification
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice has been given to yoghurt manufacturers to help them comply with EU Directives on yoghurt classification. [139045]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I have been asked to reply.

  I am advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that there is no specific European Union legislation on the composition and labelling of yoghurt. However, the European Commission is considering the need for such legislation and the form it might take. The FSA is currently consulting interested parties on a draft document prepared by the Commission.

SCOTLAND

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 by the Scottish Office, 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. [137731]

  Mrs. McGuire
  No consultancy or other work was carried out by Bechtel for the Scottish Office between 1997 and 30 June 1999. Responsibility for contracts after that date is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [138066]

  Mrs. McGuire
  No consultancy or other work was carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to the former Scottish Office between 1997 and 30 June 1999; or for agencies responsible to the Scotland Office since 1 July 1999.

  Civil Service
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil service jobs there were in
  917W
  Scotland in each year from 1974 to 1999, broken down by (a) local authority area, (b) Department and (c) agency. [135271]

  Mrs. McGuire
  Information on civil service numbers is contained in the Cabinet Office publications 'Civil Service Statistics', back copies of which are available from the Library of the House. Electronic copies from 1995 onwards can also be accessed from the web: www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/css.htm. Specific details relating to location of jobs by local authority area is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [137953]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Scotland Office has no public service agreements. Details of other performance targets are set out in Departmental Reports. 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. The monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, targets is undertaken by a variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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. [137968]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Scotland Office has no public service agreements. Details of other performance targets are set in Departmental Reports. Monitoring progress toward departmental targets is undertaken by a variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

  Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment he has made of the(a) content and (b) design of his Department's website. [139503]

  Mrs. McGuire
  The Scotland Office website is kept under regular review and content is added when required. It is currently being redesigned.

  TRANSPORT Licensed Cabs
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to remove local authority powers to restrict the number of licensed cabs in a local authority area; and if he will make a statement. [138956]

  Mr. McNulty
  We are currently considering the taxi and private hire vehicle market study report published on 11 November by the Office of Fair Trading which recommended that local authorities' power to control 918W
  taxi numbers (outside London) should be abolished. We are now consulting principal stakeholders and are committed to responding to the recommendations within 120 days of the report's publication.

  Traffic Control
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who has statutory authority to direct traffic on a public highway; and if he will make a statement. [139944]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The police have the prime statutory authority for directing traffic on public highways. Traffic wardens, as part of the Police Service, are empowered to direct traffic in certain circumstances. A limited number of authorised persons, including school crossing patrols, have power to stop vehicles for particular purposes. Vehicle and Operator Services Agency examiners, accredited under the Police Reform Act 2002, have powers to stop vehicles for the purpose of inspecting their roadworthiness.

  Air Transport White Paper
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the new Air Transport White Paper. [139356]

  Mr. McNulty
  The White Paper will be published before the end of the year.

  Silent Aeroplanes
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide funds to Cambridge University for research into silent aeroplanes. [140078]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) launched its project to design a 'silent' aircraft on 10 November 2003. The project, centred around collaborative research teams at Cambridge University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has been established using Government funding.

  Ballast UK
  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contracts Ballast UK has for the renewal of the rail network; and what the value is in each case. [132925]

  Mr. McNulty
  Decisions on letting contracts for work on the rail infrastructure are an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail advises that it has no contracts with Ballast UK.

  British Transport Police
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of violence on underground trains have been reported to British Transport Police in the last six years for which figures are available. [139381]

  Mr. McNulty
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: The British Transport Police have provided the following information regarding criminal offences on London Underground trains that have been reported to the force.
  919W

  Offence category

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  April-October 2003

  Violence against the person

  261

  409

  337

  341

  405

  278

  Sexual offences

  183

  287

  279

  234

  208

  133

  Robbery

  224

  379

  376

  497

  259

  143

  Total

  668

  1,075

  992

  1,072

  872

  554

  Buses
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of bus lanes there are in England. [137683]

  Mr. McNulty
  Allocation of road space is a matter for local highway authorities. The Department does not maintain a central register of the length of bus lanes.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on re-regulation of buses. [139749]

  Mr. McNulty
  The current statutory framework for buses is set out in the Transport Act 2000. As with all other legislation, we keep the situation under review. Ministers have discussed these matters with a number of groups and individuals representing both local authorities and bus operators.

  Call Centres
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department plans to outsource call centre work to premises outside the United Kingdom. [132100]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department has no call centre plans which specify a location outside the United Kingdom.

  Central Railway Project
  Mr. Grieve
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason he is unable to make an immediate decision on the Central Railway project. [138772]

  Mr. McNulty
  A decision cannot be made until all aspects of Central Railway's proposal have been fully examined.

  Climate Change
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has conducted on the effect of climate change on railway infrastructure; what assessment he has made of the likely impact of future climate change upon the transport sector; and if he will place in the Library copies of reports published from research funded by his Department on the effects of climate change on(a) railways, (b) roads, (c) aviation and (d) other transport. [139761]

  Mr. McNulty
  An assessment into the impact of climate change on transport policies was undertaken by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions in 2001 and is now available from the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/ climatechange/impacts/01.htm.
  920W
  The Rail Safety and Standards Board published their own research, entitled 'Safety Implications of Weather, Climate and Climate Change', in April 2003. This is available from their website, www.railwaysafety.org.uk.

  The Highways Agency completed a report entitled 'Climate change and the Highways Agency' in January 2001. The report covered both the influence the Agency had on climate change as well as the implications of climate change on the Agency's operations. A copy of all three reports will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Computer Games
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what contracts his Department has awarded to external computer game companies, broken down by(a) the company to which the contract was awarded and (b) the date and total cost of the contract; what the purpose of each contract was; and what has been delivered to date on each contract; [139587]

  (2) if he will list the computer games on (a) his Department's website and (b) other websites supported financially by his Department; what the cost to date was of (i) producing and (ii) promoting these; what each game seeks to achieve; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of each in meeting its aims. [139588]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Our THINK! Road Safety web site—www.hedgehogs.gov.uk—which is designed to engage children has a games area:

  The contract for the games area was awarded to Draught Associates on 13 February 2001 and cost £13,125 ex vat. The purpose was to design and develop a series of interactive games as a fun and relevant vehicle for communicating important road safety messages to 7–11 year olds. The contract has finished and five interactive games were delivered. This included versions of the games for under 7s, and for 8–11s. The contract cost covered design, production, testing and research.

  The site and games were launched as part of the 'Be Safe Be Seen campaign' in October 2001 and the URL has been on advertisements, T-shirts, stickers, etc we have aimed at children since then. We do not incur expenditure promoting the games specifically as Be Safe, Be Seen is itself our promotional message.

  For the under 7s there are three games:
  'Double Up' is a simple matching pairs game where children must find a total of 18 pairs of road safety icons e.g: crash helmet, zebra crossing, lollipop lady, etc.
  'Simon' is a game where children have to remember a sequence of coloured cars as they drive past. It becomes increasingly difficult and there is a road safety message after each sequence
  'Look Out' is a game where children must scroll through a street scene and, when prompted, identify children being careless in various scenarios eg:
  playing with a ball near the road, cycling without a helmet, etc.

  921W
  For the 8–11 years old there are five games:
  Double Up' is similar as for the under 7s except it uses more advanced icons eg: road signs etc.
  Zebras'—in this game players navigate a zebra through a series of crossings. They must use crossings where the man is green to score points 'Simon' is similar to the under 7s game of the same name except the player follows a cyclist and identifies his arm signals.
  Walkies' is a similar concept to the game where you have to feed a metal loop along a wire without touching the two together. The player has to walk their pet dog along a road and use designated crossings etc to score points.
  Look out' is similar to the under 7s game of the same name but uses scenarios which are more relevant to older children.

  Qualitative research was carried out with groups from the target audience to test the games. The hedgehogs site is popular with children and has had 403,719 page impressions this year.

  Deep Vein Thrombosis
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research studies he has(a) commissioned and (b) received on alternative designs for the layout of aeroplane cabins to minimise the risk of deep vein thrombosis. [138979]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government has neither commissioned nor received any such studies. Following the House of Lords Report on air travel and health, the Government is co-funding research through the World Health Organisation into the incidence and possible causes of deep vein thrombosis amongst air travellers.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of deep vein thrombosis in passengers on aeroplanes there were in each of the last 12 months. [139608]

  Mr. McNulty
  This data is not collated centrally. Such data would be difficult to obtain as any passenger developing thrombosis is usually likely to do so a number of days or weeks after the flight has taken place.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued to airline companies on informing passengers on(a) the risk of deep vein thrombosis and (b) drinking water during the flight to reduce the risk of DVT. [139694]

  Mr. McNulty
  In 2001 the Government issued advice on deep vein thrombosis and air travel. It identified groups of people with a higher risk of DVT and provided guidance on measures to reduce the risk, including a recommendation that passengers should drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. All UK airlines operating long-haul flights have based the information they give to passengers on this advice.

  Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139371]

  Mr. McNulty
  The DfT web site, re-launched in July 2003, was developed to provide improved design, navigation and information retrieval. Following the launch of the site, we carried out an internal content review over the summer and commissioned a survey of 922W
  external users designed by NOP. Further changes to improve customer focus are planned as a result of these exercises.

  Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints were received by(a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (b) his Department and (c) other bodies about the process by which licence applications are processed by the DVLA, broken down by the nature of each complaint, in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04 to date. [139728]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The following table provides information about formal complaints received directly by DVLA about the driving licence application process. Figures are not available on complaints received by other bodies.

  DVLA formal customer complaints

  Complaints category

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–041

  Driving licence applications

  Non-receipt of a driving licence

  57

  86

  52

  Other driving licence complaints

  367

  457

  278

  Drivers medical complaint

  129

  141

  214

  Documents lost at DVLA

  92

  120

  96

  processing time

  24

  32

  34

  Processing procedures

  189

  211

  156

  DVLA forms

  85

  96

  18

  Total

  943

  1,143

  848

  1 April to October

  Environmental Impact Assessments
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has incorporated Directive 85/ 337/EEC on environmental impact assessment into its consideration of the future development of air transport in the UK. [138840]

  Mr. McNulty
  Directive 85/337/EEC makes it clear that environmental impact assessment is a matter for developers, as part of the procedure for seeking consent to any development. That said, we believe our strategic appraisal of airport options is consistent with the aims of the Directive.

  Environmentally Sustainable Aviation
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce an environmentally sustainable aviation policy; and if he will make a statement. [138876]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Air Transport White Paper will be published before the end of the year and will address the issue of environmental sustainability in the context of aviation policy.

  EU Committees
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the EC-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Transport Committee met during the Danish and Greek presidencies. [132682]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not centrally available.
  923W
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the EU Advisory Committee on transport met during the Danish and Greek presidencies; and if he will make a statement. [132719]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not centrally available.

  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 establishment of conditions for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system, (b) the EU Committee on the System of Charging for the Use of Transport Infrastructure and (c) the EU Advisory Committee on unfair pricing in maritime transport 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. [132723]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) During the period in question, there were four meetings of this Committee, on 3 July 2002, 30 September-1 October 2002, 4 February 2003, and 23–24 June 2003. The UK is represented on this Committee by the Strategic Rail Authority. The Committee is primarily responsible for assisting and overseeing the production, adoption and revision of Technical Standards of Interoperability. The purpose of these specifications is to technically harmonise the European railway supply market. The committee oversees the development of these TSIs for both the High Speed (96/48/EC) and the Conventional Interoperability (2001/16/EC) Directives. During the specified period, the Committee discussed principles for the drafting groups to adhere to in writing the TSIs and monitored the progress being made on the production of these TSIs. It also considered the cost-benefit analyses (including methodology) that accompany the TSIs and the co-ordination of notified bodies (organisations appointed in Europe to verify compliance with TSIs).

  (b) This Committee did not meet during the period in question.

  (c) UK involvement in this Committee is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

  Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information covering internal discussion and advice applies.

  Domestic freight transport by mode: Great Britain 1974–2002

  Goods moved (billion tonne kilometres)

  Goods moved (percentage share of total)

  Year

  Road

  Raill

  Water

  Pipeline

  All modes

  Road

  Rail

  Water

  Pipeline

  All modes

  1988

  130

  18

  59

  11

  219

  60

  8

  27

  5

  100

  1989

  138

  17

  58

  10

  223

  62

  8

  26

  4

  100

  1990

  136

  16

  56

  211

  219

  62

  7

  26

  5

  100

  1991

  130

  15

  58

  11

  214

  61

  7

  27

  5

  100

  1992

  127

  16

  55

  11

  208

  61

  7

  26

  5

  100

  1993

  135

  14

  51

  12

  211

  64

  7

  24

  5

  100

  1994

  144

  13

  52

  12

  221

  65

  6

  24

  5

  100

  1995

  150

  13

  53

  11

  227

  66

  6

  23

  5

  100

  1996

  154

  15

  55

  12

  236

  65

  6

  23

  5

  100

  1997

  157

  17

  48

  11

  233

  67

  7

  21

  5

  100

  1998

  160

  17

  57

  12

  245

  65

  7

  23

  5

  100

  1999

  157

  18

  59

  12

  246

  64

  7

  24

  5

  100

  2000

  158

  18

  67

  11

  255

  62

  7

  26

  4

  100

  2001

  157

  19

  59

  12

  247

  64

  8

  24

  5

  100

  2002

  157

  19

  67

  11

  254

  62

  7

  26

  4

  100

  924W
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether(a) the EC-Bulgaria Joint Transport Committee, (b) the EEC-Slovenia Joint Transport Committee and (c) the EC-Romania Joint Transport Committee met during the Danish and Greek presidencies. [132728]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not centrally available.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates and locations of meetings of(a) the EU Advisory Committee on the definition and use of compatible technical and operating standards and specifications for the procurement of air-traffic management equipment and systems, (b) the EU Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions in the shipping industry and (c) the EU Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions in air transport 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. [132731]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information requested is as follows.

  (a) This Committee did not meet during the period in question.

  (b) and (c) UK involvement in these Committees is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether(a) the EC-Czech Republic Joint Transport Committee, (b) the EC-Slovak Republic Joint Transport Committee, (c) the EC-Hungary Joint Transport Committee and (d) the EC-Poland Joint Transport Committee met during the Danish and Greek Presidencies; and if he will make a statement. [132761]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not centrally available.

  Freight
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much freight in(a) actual and (b) percentage terms was carried by (i) road, (ii) rail and (iii) water in each year from 1974 to date. [133111]

  Dr. Howells
  The information requested is as follows:
  925W

  Domestic freight transport by mode: Great Britain 1974–2002

  Goods moved (billion tonne kilometres)

  Goods moved (percentage share of total)

  Year

  Road

  Raill

  Water

  Pipeline

  All modes

  Road

  Rail

  Water

  Pipeline

  All modes

  1988

  130

  18

  59

  11

  219

  60

  8

  27

  5

  100

  1989

  138

  17

  58

  10

  223

  62

  8

  26

  4

  100

  1990

  136

  16

  56

  211

  219

  62

  7

  26

  5

  100

  1991

  130

  15

  58

  11

  214

  61

  7

  27

  5

  100

  1992

  127

  16

  55

  11

  208

  61

  7

  26

  5

  100

  1993

  135

  14

  51

  12

  211

  64

  7

  24

  5

  100

  1994

  144

  13

  52

  12

  221

  65

  6

  24

  5

  100

  1995

  150

  13

  53

  11

  227

  66

  6

  23

  5

  100

  1996

  154

  15

  55

  12

  236

  65

  6

  23

  5

  100

  1997

  157

  17

  48

  11

  233

  67

  7

  21

  5

  100

  1998

  160

  17

  57

  12

  245

  65

  7

  23

  5

  100

  1999

  157

  18

  59

  12

  246

  64

  7

  24

  5

  100

  2000

  158

  18

  67

  11

  255

  62

  7

  26

  4

  100

  2001

  157

  19

  59

  12

  247

  64

  8

  24

  5

  100

  2002

  157

  19

  67

  11

  254

  62

  7

  26

  4

  100

  Source:

  1 Road and water—DfT; Rail—Strategic Rail Authority; Pipeline—DTI

  From 1991 figures for rail are for financial years ie 1991/92 etc, and from 1998 are calculated on a new basis.

  2 The increase in 1990 is largely due to changes in coverage

  Heathrow Pollutants
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research he has commissioned on methods of maintaining levels of nitrogen dioxide around Heathrow Airport within EU limits;[138839]

  (2) whether a third runway at Heathrow Airport would remain an acceptable option in the forthcoming Aviation White Paper in the event that relevant pollutants could not be contained within EU limits; [138841]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the action plan to minimise emissions from Heathrow Airport which BAA plc was required to produce as a condition of the planning permission for the fifth terminal. [138842]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government has reviewed a wide range of evidence, including information contained within the BAA pic Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan, in considering the future development of Heathrow. The Government remains of the view that a new runway at Heathrow could not be considered unless it could be confident that levels of all relevant pollutants could be consistently contained within EU limits. Final decisions will be announced in the forthcoming air transport White Paper.

  Missile Incidents
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents since 1997 have been caused by missiles thrown from bridges over(a) motorways and (b) trunk roads. [138882]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Police and Highways Agency procedures for recording details of incidents on motorways and trunk roads do not support identifying those caused by missiles being thrown from bridges.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures the Government is taking to reduce the number of incidents caused by missiles thrown from bridges over motorways and trunk roads. [138883]
  926W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The Agency is tackling the problem of missiles thrown from bridges and trunk roads in several different ways.

  These include education initiatives, visits to schools by Police and local Road Safety officers, to make younger children more aware of the consequences of this type of activity. The Agency is also looking to support the Police in implementing additional enforcement measures, including increased CCTV coverage and warning notices on the approaches to problem sites. The Agency has also incorporated guidance on measures to prevent missile throwing within the latest version of its standard for the design of footbridges.

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on services provided to his Department by NM Rothschilds since 1997. [139967]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department was formed in May 2002. No services have been provided to the Department by NM Rothschilds.

  Rail Industry
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to take back into full public ownership(a) rail operations, (b) full responsibility for track renewal and (c) London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [137898]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Government aims to deliver a safer, more reliable and efficient rail system.

  What is essential is for the public and private sector working together to focus on delivering improvements. Major structural change can be disruptive and would detract effort from making improvements to the day to day management of the network.

  Network Rail have said they will continue to use contractors to carry out renewals, upgrading lines or installing a new signalling system—areas where there is

  927W
  a competitive supply market. This work is typically carried out on a project basis, making use of a specialist workforce and is well-suited to competitive tendering.
  Responsibility for London Underground (LUL) transferred from central Government to Transport for London, an agency of the London Mayor on 15 July 2003. It is now for London Underground, working with the infrastructure companies, to ensure the stable long-term funding that Government is providing is used to bring the Tube up to modern standards.

  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessments his Department has made of the potential of high-speed rail as an alternative to short-haul flights. [139354]

  Mr. McNulty
  Scope for the railways to provide an alternative to short-haul air services was among the many issues on which we invited views in our consultation on the future development of air transport in the United Kingdom.

  We will set out our conclusions in the air transport White Paper, which we expect to publish next month.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place a list of the stations which have secure station accreditation in the Library. [139743]

  Mr. McNulty
  The list of the 163 stations currently accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme has been placed in the House Library today. Seventy three of these stations have been reaccredited.

  Approximately two thirds of all overground rail journeys, and approximately one half of all London Underground journeys now involve passengers starting or finishing their journey at a Secure Station.

  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new train carriages will be ready for use by December but cannot be used due to insufficient power supply. [133039]

  Mr. McNulty
  Over 2,000 new carriages are being introduced to replace all the slam-door trains—most of which are over 30 years old—across the three south-of-the-Thames franchises. Railtrack failed to plan for the associated upgrade of the power supply. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) now has a grip on the project and expects to complete it early in 2005. Meanwhile, many of the new carriages are already in service and none is in store because of power shortages. As deliveries continue, around a 100 out of over 2,000 new carriages may be stored by December, but the SRA is leading work on ways in which they might be introduced into service using existing power supplies.

  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made towards reducing the train journey time between London and Manchester; and if he will make a statement. [134556]

  Mr. McNulty
  Work is currently underway to modernise the West Coast Main Line which will substantially reduce the current journey time of two hours 41 minutes. The Strategic Rail Authority's West Coast Main Line Strategy, published in June 2003, projects a reduction in minimum journey times between London and Manchester of around 40 minutes by 2007.

  Reflective Clothing
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment has been made of the effect of wearing reflective clothing on the number of(a) child and (b) road casualties; [139589]

  (2) what support has been given to the Cats Eyes for Kids road safety campaign; and what assessment there has been of its impact on (a) the number of casualties and (b) promoting better individual behaviour related to road safety. [139590]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Nationwide's Cats' Eyes for Kids campaign promotes reflective clothing, and provides reflectors for children to wear. It is not possible to quantify exactly how much the wearing of such materials impacts on casualties. But together with other good practice, it undoubtedly makes our children more visible when walking in the dark and thus safer on the roads. The Nationwide initiative is an excellent example of how the private sector can help us to meet national casualty reduction targets.

  Road Accidents
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) deaths of and (b) injuries to (i) vehicle drivers, (ii) vehicle passengers and (iii) pedestrians occurred as a result of road accidents involving (A) converted-van or multi-purpose vehicle taxis and (B) purpose-built taxis in (1) the United Kingdom and (2) London in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [137682]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The available information relates to the number of deaths and injuries to (i) vehicle drivers/ riders, (ii) vehicle passengers and (iii) pedestrians as a result of road accidents involving taxis (hackney carriages) in (1) Great Britain and (2) Greater London in each of the last five years. This information is shown in the following table. Information is not available on accidents involving converted van or multi-purpose vehicle taxis. Information for Northern Ireland is collected on a different basis and does not identify pedestrian injuries resulting from accidents involving taxis.

  All casualties from accidents involving taxis12 GB, Greater London: 1998–2002

  Casualties

  Severity

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Great Britain

  Drivers/riders

  Killed

  2

  3

  6

  4

  0

  Injured

  1,388

  1,314

  1,297

  1,297

  1,210

  Passengers

  Killed

  1

  3

  6

  4

  4

  Injured

  1,120

  995

  1,111

  961

  863

  Pedestrians

  Killed

  7

  6

  7

  4

  3

  Injured

  414

  377

  395

  404

  376

  Greater London

  Drivers/riders

  Killed

  0

  2

  1

  2

  0

  Injured

  576

  573

  531

  515

  476

  929W

  All causualties from accidents involving taxis12GB, Greater London: 1998–2002

  Casualties

  Severity

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Passengers

  Killed

  1

  1

  2

  0

  3

  Injured

  320

  269

  270

  277

  219

  Pedestrians

  Killed

  0

  1

  1

  1

  1

  Injuews

  168

  174

  161

  188

  142

  1Body type taxi—definition used in the DVLS, DVLI administrative records.

  2 Includes casualties other than taxi occupants.

  Road Traffic Control
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on permitting civilians to direct vehicles on public highways; and if he will make a statement. [139945]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There are limited circumstances in which civilians can direct vehicles on public highways. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today (ref. 139944). In developing its role as a network operator, as announced by the Secretary of State for Transport in his statement to the House on 20 June 2003, the need was identified for civilian traffic officers working on the trunk road network, around the clock to keep traffic flowing. This followed a review undertaken by the Agency, in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers, of both organisations roles and responsibilities for traffic management. This concluded that responsibility for a number of tasks associated with traffic management should transfer from the police to the Highways Agency. In order to develop its role the Highways Agency needs new, limited, traffic management powers and is preparing the necessary legislation.

  The Highways Agency continues to work in partnership with the police and has held discussions with representatives of primary stakeholders, including constabularies, road contractors, County Surveyors Society, AA and RAC.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the SPECS electronic signs on the M4 between junction 4 and junction 15 contain cameras which(a) read vehicle number plates, (b) compute vehicle speeds and (c) are used to issue speeding tickets; and if he will make a statement. [139948]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There is no camera equipment located on the M4 between junctions 4 and 15 that is capable of(a) reading vehicle number plates, (b) computing vehicle speeds in order to (c) issue speeding tickets.

  Sleeping Drivers
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents caused by drivers falling asleep while driving there were in each year since 1997. [138938]
  930W
  Mr. Jamieson
  The information requested is not available. Research has estimated that tiredness is a principle factor in around 10 per cent. of car driver accidents and about 15–20 per cent. of all accidents on motorways and other similar roads.

  Speed Partnerships
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of speed partnerships. [138948]

  Mr. Jamieson
  At present 42 partnership areas are participating in the scheme. We plan to continue with the national roll out of this successful programme.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines there are for setting speed areas for speed partnerships. [138949]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Guidelines for the setting of speed limits are contained in Circular Roads 1/93.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what level of fine proceeds from mobile partnership speed vans was given to public authorities in the Avon and Somerset area in 2002–03. [139036]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Fines from speeding offences detected by mobile units are not separated for the purpose of Home Office statistics.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has published on partnership speed camera vans in the Somerset and Avon area. [139038]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Vehicles associated with mobile camera units need to be in a livery that makes clear the vehicles contain the speed enforcement cameras.

  Transport Security
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to minimise the security risk from terrorists using haulage vehicles to attack targets; [138357]

  (2) what security checks are carried out on (a) individuals and (b) organisations seeking permits to transport hazardous materials. [138363]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The UK's existing transport security regimes are kept under review to ensure they continue to manage the assessed risk, although for obvious reasons it is not appropriate to set out the detail of the particular security measures.

  Transport Staff
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by(a) the Office of the Rail Regulator, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority, (c) Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, (d) sections relating to railway matters within the Health and Safety Executive and Health and Safety Commission and (e) the (i) Rail Delivery Directorate and (ii) Railways Restructuring Directorates, or their equivalent, within his Department in each year since 1997. [139727]
  931W
  Mr. McNulty
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3 February 2003,Official Report, column 46W. As at 1 April 2003, 83 staff were employed in my Department's Rail Directorate.

  Trunk Roads
  Mrs. Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what weight restrictions are in place on trunk roads; [139078]

  (2) which trunk roads have weight restrictions placed on them. [139079]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have asked the Acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Stephen Hickey, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Stephen Hickey to Mrs. Jackie Lawrence, dated 19 November 2003:

  I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about weight restrictions on trunk roads.

  The trunk road network in England, which is the responsibility of the Highways Agency, has very few permanent and temporary weight restrictions below the 40 tonne requirement in place, following a programme of strengthening work that has been carried out in recent years. The locations where restrictions are currently in place are listed in Table 1.

  Weight restrictions below 40 tonnes

  Trunk road/structure

  Weight limit(tones)

  Temporary/permanent

  A282 Dartford Crossing (offside lane of east tunnel)

  3

  Permanent

  A282Dartford Crossing (offside lane of west tunnel)

  7.5

  Permanent

  M5 Junctions 27–28

  7.5

  Temporary

  M4 Junctions 16–18

  7.5

  Temporary

  West Coast Main Line
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expected(a) cost and (b) completion date were of the renewal of the west coast main line when the contract was let; and what his latest estimates of (a) and (b) are. [137939]

  Mr. McNulty
  The West Coast Route Modernisation project was originally developed by Railtrack in the late 1990s, which claimed that it would be completed by 2005 at a cost of around £2.2 billion. A number of contracts were let with project managers and suppliers for its delivery. However, under Railtrack's management the projected costs eventually escalated to over £13 billion, and it became clear the committed outputs were undeliverable. The Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail have now established a robust framework for delivering the project, based on the SRA's June 2003 'West Coast Main Line Strategy', which indicated that the costs would be kept within a cap of £9.9 billion. Further work is under way to explore the scope for reducing the costs further. The outputs are currently on course to be delivered by 2007–08.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the West Coast Main Line connection between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street will be fully modernised by 2005. [139285]
  932W
  Mr. McNulty
  The West Coast Main line Strategy, published by the SRA in June 2003, shows that the upgrading of the line between Crewe—Weaver Junction and Liverpool for higher maximum line speeds is projected to be completed by 2005.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average speed of trains on the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street will be after the line has been fully modernised. [139286]

  Mr. McNulty
  Under current timetable proposals for fastest Crewe-Liverpool journey times of some 34 minutes by the end of 2004, average journey speed would be around 60mph, depending on the number of intermediate stops. Timetabling proposals for later years are not yet developed.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the estimated increase in the costs of modernising will have on the Government's plans for the West Coast Main Line. [139287]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority's 'West Coast Main Line Strategy', published in June 2003, established a robust framework for delivering the project. The Strategy indicated a project cost within a cap of £9.9 billion. Further work is under way to explore the scope for reducing costs. The project outputs are currently on course to be delivered fully by 2007–08.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated train journey time is for services between London and Liverpool using the West Coast Main Line after 2005. [139288]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority's 'West Coast Main Line Strategy', published in June 2003, gave an indicative best journey time of 2 hours 12 minutes in 2005 for London to Liverpool services.

  Mr. Watts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the whole of the West Coast Main Line will be fully modernised by 2008; [139289]

  (2) what the estimated journey time is for trains using the West Coast Main Line between London and Glasgow after 2008. [139290]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority's "West Coast Main Line Strategy", published in June 2003, envisages that the modernisation of the line will be complete by 2008 when the fastest journey time from London to Glasgow is projected to fall to some four hours 18 minutes.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

  Official Residences
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Leader of the House how much was spent on(a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in his Department in each year since 1997. [134695]

  Mr. Hain
  No expenditure of this sort has been incurred in respect of officials. Nor has such expenditure, in respect of Ministers, been incurred since
  933W
  spring this year. The remaining information sought is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Legislative Scrutiny
  Mr. Jack
  To ask the Leader of the House if he will list for each Bill with over 150 clauses considered in this session of Parliament, how much debate each clause received at(a) Committee Stage and (b) Report Stage. [138907]

  Mr. Hain
  Five Bills considered in this session of Parliament have over 150 clauses. How much time was spent debating each clause of these Bills is a matter of public record, obtainable from Hansard, but could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

  September Sittings
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to his answer of 6 November,Official Report, columns 773W, on September sittings, whether he has tabulated the representations for and against the September sitting of the House. [139384]

  Mr. Hain
  No.

  Sitting Hours
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to his answer of 6 November,Official Report, columns 773–4W, on sitting hours, whether he has tabulated the representations for and against the present sitting hours of the House. [139383]

  Mr. Hain
  No.

PRIME MINISTER

  Gaia House
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Gaia house near Totnes. [139332]

  The Prime Minister
  I have no current plans to do so.

  Guantanamo Bay
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issue of the(a) legality and (b) impartiality of the proposed military tribunals for the Guantanamo Bay detainees with President Bush when he visits the UK next week. [139471]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right, hon. Member for Ross, Skye and Inverness (Mr. Kennedy) at Prime Minister's Questions today.

  Iraq
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Prime Minister how many of the sources of information used in the compilation of Government publications referring to weapons of mass destruction in Iraq have been interviewed since May of this year to verify the information they provided. [139602]
  934W
  The Prime Minister
  Many of the sources of information used in the compilation of the Government's publications were intelligence sources. It has been the practice of successive Government not to comment on intelligence matters.

  Kyoto/ICC
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise with the US President the decision to secede from(a) the Kyoto agreement and (b) the International Criminal Court. [139903]

  The Prime Minister
  I expect to cover a range of issues of common interest with President Bush. My regular discussions with him include international issues and climate change.

  Mark Henderson
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken towards securing the release of Mr. Mark Henderson, kidnapped by ELN, the national liberation army in Colombia, on 12 September 2003. [139873]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government have been in regular touch with the Colombian Government about the kidnapping of Mark Henderson. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in conjunction with police experts in London and the British Embassy in Bogota, has been actively involved in this case from the outset.

  We are liasing with the Colombian authorities at the highest level and with the Catholic Church in Colombia which is leading the negotiations with the ELN, also known as the National Liberation Army. We are supporting their efforts to obtain the release of Mark Henderson and the other hostages, emphasizing that the safety of the hostages is of paramount importance. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in regular contact with the Henderson family.

  Ministerial Visits
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his Oral Answer to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire of 12 November 2003,Official Report, column. 284, what action he has taken to pass on the hon. Member's request to the Deputy Prime Minister to visit south Bedfordshire. [140071]

  The Prime Minister
  The Deputy Prime Minister has been made aware of the hon. Member's comments.

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Prime Minister 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. [137950]

  The Prime Minister
  Performance targets for my Office form part of the Cabinet Office performance targets and were agreed as part of Spending Review 2002. The monitoring and measurement of Public Service Agreement targets forms part of performance management throughout the Office. Performance management is an integral part of the day to day
  935W
  running of my Office, and as such it is not possible to separate the specific costs out. The monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, the Public Service Agreement targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the performance targets that(a) his Office is required to meet; and if he will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. [137966]

  The Prime Minister
  Key performance targets for my Office form part of the Cabinet Office performance targets and are agreed as part of the Spending Review and the latest set were published in Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–06 (Cm 5571). We monitor progress towards the target along with HM Treasury and progress is reported regularly.

  State Visit (Protests)
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that peaceful protest against the visit of the President of the United States is facilitated. [139902]

  The Prime Minister
  The Metropolitan Police will facilitate peaceful protest during the visit of the President of the United States.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Prime Minister how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his office 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. [136840]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) gave to him today.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  BBC Governor Elections
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will put mechanisms in place for the election of a number of BBC governors by viewers and listeners. [139239]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Queen currently appoints the BBC Governors, on recommendation of the Prime Minister following advice from the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. Candidates are identified through an open and transparent process that is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

  There are no current plans to change the appointments mechanism, although the Commissioner regularly reviews her Code. However, the forthcoming review of the BBC's Royal Charter will provide an opportunity to examine all aspects of the Corporation's role and function, including the appointment of Governors.

  Childhood Obesity
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with sports and leisure representatives on the role of her Department in tackling obesity among children; and if she will make a statement. [139449]

  Estelle Morris
  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has a key role to play in addressing child obesity. The cross-Departmental Activity Coordination Team, which is co-chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport and Tourism, is currently preparing a national physical activity strategy. The Team is consulting widely across the sports, leisure and fitness sectors. Representatives from these sectors will be attending a stakeholders' meeting facilitated by ACT and Sport England on 19 November. Measures for addressing obesity among children will be discussed at that meeting.

  Film Locations
  Dr0. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department is taking to promote sites in(a) the North East and (b) England as film locations. [139398]

  Estelle Morris
  The UK Film Council, the Government's strategic adviser for film, has established a network of nine Regional Screen Agencies (receiving £7.5 million per year), to help create a sustainable film and moving image industry throughout England and to work together to promote England as a film location. Each Regional Screen Agency provides a locations service, to promote locations and offer practical assistance for television companies and filmmakers wishing to work in their region.

  Northern Film and Media (NFM) is the regional screen agency for the North East. NFM encourages both inward investment and indigenous production and promotes the use of locations, crews and facilities in the North East.

  Licensing Laws
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advice has been given to local authorities on the administration of the new licensing laws for premises selling alcohol. [139059]

  Estelle Morris
  The Licensing Act 2003 provides that the Secretary of State must issue guidance to licensing authorities on the discharge of their functions under the Act and she expects to present this to both Houses for approval shortly. In the meantime the Department is working with the Local Government Association and the Local Authorities Coordinating Office on Regulatory Services in advising licensing authorities on their forthcoming functions under the Act.

  Lottery Funds (Orkney and Shetland)
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total value was of applications for Lottery money made by groups in(a) Orkney and (b) Shetland in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [139489]
  937W
  Estelle Morris
  The Department does not collect this information.

  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total value was of Lottery grants made to groups from(a) Orkney and (b) Shetland in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [139490]

  Estelle Morris
  The total value of Lottery awards made to the constituency of Orkney and Shetland in the past five years has been:

  Calendar Year

  £

  1998

  1,690,757

  1999

  1,647,985

  2000

  1,346,536

  2001

  1,898,912

  2002

  8,247,946

  January 2003 to date

  2,989,411

  We are not able to disaggregate the Lottery funding that has gone to the islands individually without disproportionate cost.

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

  Olympic Games
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the Olympic facilities in London announced in November will be permanently available for sports use. [139754]

  Tessa Jowell
  In line with guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), London 2012 Ltd are working with Sport England and local government to ensure that the sporting legacy of the Olympics will be sustainable. This work is ongoing and an initial assessment will be sent to the IOC on 15 January as a part of the candidature acceptance procedure.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps will be taken to improve hotel and tourist facilities outside London in the event of a successful Olympic bid for 2012. [135844]

  Tessa Jowell
  For tourism, as with other sectors, it is important to realise the full range of opportunities that hosting the Olympics would offer and ensure that the whole country is in a position to capture these benefits fully if the Bid is successful. We have already briefed the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) on the Bid and the opportunities the Games would create and Visit Britain is looking further at the potential tourism benefits with the tourism industry. London 2012 will also be taking forward further work on the regional benefits in discussion with the RDAs.

  Tourism Revenue
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the tourist revenue generated in 2002 from visits 938W
  to (a) the Palace of Westminster, (b) Buckingham Palace, (c) the London Eye and (d) the Tower of London; and if she will set out the methodology she uses to calculate such figures. [137680]

  Estelle Morris
  We have not made an estimate of the tourism revenue generated by visits to these places. However, this Department is responsible for the maintenance and presentation of the Tower of London through its contract with Historic Royal Palaces, which relies on revenue generated by the palaces. Buckingham Palace is one of the Occupied Royal Palaces: the Royal Household receives Grant-in-Aid to meet property and service costs. We have obtained the following figures from the bodies responsible concerning tourist revenues:The Tower of London: gross revenue in 2002 from admissions, retail and concessions was £23,319,000.
  Buckingham Palace: the State Rooms were open during August, September and part of October 2002. Gross total revenue from visitors was £5,491,000, comprising £2,993,000 for admissions, and £2,498,000 for shop sales.
  Palace of Westminster: House of Commons Officials have advised that, according to unaudited accounts, gross revenue from tickets and merchandise for tours of the Palace in 2002 was £605,000.
  The London Eye: is a commercial attraction and we do not have its revenue figures.

  Velodrome
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the proposed velodrome will be a permanent facility for cycling; and whether it will be built in the event of an unsuccessful bid for the 2012 Olympics. [139755]

  Tessa Jowell
  London 2012 Ltd, the company tasked with preparation of the Olympic bid, is in discussion with key stakeholders, including the British Cycling Federation, Lea Valley Regional Park Authority and Sport England, about possible non-Olympic use of the Velodrome, both before and after a 2012 London games. Those discussions encompass the question of whether the building of the velodrome is dependent on a successful London bid.

  Women's Sport
  Angela Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the New Community Development Fund sports budget will be available to women and girls who do not participate in traditional mainstream sports. [139567]

  Tessa Jowell
  The £60 million Community Club Development Programme will run from 2003–04 to 2005–06, and is designed to effect improvements in facility provision at amateur sports clubs. In selecting the sports which will benefit, the Government considered participation rates and the abilities of governing bodies to deliver improvement quickly. As a result, the programme will be delivered by established sports with significant numbers of participants.
  939W
  Funding is being made available to governing bodies as follows:

  The Rugby Football Union, the Football Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the Lawn Tennis Association have been allocated £9.4 million each. The following governing bodies have been allocated £20 million between them over these three years:

  the Badminton Association of England,

  England Basketball,

  the British Canoe Union,

  British Cycling,

  British Gymnastics,

  the English Hockey Federation,

  the British Judo Association,

  the All England Netball Association,

  the Amateur Rowing Association,

  the Rugby Football League,

  the Amateur Swimming Association, and

  the English Table Tennis Association.

  This funding is not targeted at the development of facilities for women and girls, or at any particular geographical or socio-economic group. It is for the governing bodies which have joined the programme to decide what proportions of funding should be made available for facilities specifically targeted at women's and girls' participation, against their national development plans.

  Angela Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are being taken by her Department to encourage girls to participate in sport. [139569]

  Tessa Jowell
  The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone is given the opportunity to participate in sport. Sport England Lottery funding to governing bodies is now provided only where those bodies have acceptable equity policies in place as parts of their development plans. In addition, Sport England provides £200,000 a year to the Women's Sports Foundation to support the involvement of women and girls in sport.

  World Heritage Status
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many United Kingdom sites have World Heritage Site status, broken down by government office of the region area; and what steps she is taking to gain recognition for other sites. [139396]

  Estelle Morris
  The UK has 25 World Heritage Sites of which 22 are located within the UK mainland. A break down of these sites by regional Government Office is in the table.

  In 1999, the Government produced a Tentative List of 25 sites that might be nominated for World Heritage Site status over the next 5–10 years. To date, seven sites on this List have been inscribed onto the World Heritage List and a number of other sites are preparing for nomination. Since 2002, only one nomination may be made each year.
  940W

  Government Office

  World Heritage Site

  North East

  Durham Cathedral and Castle

  Hadrian's Wall

  North West

  Hadrian's Wall

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  Fountains Abbey, St. Mary's Church and Studley Royal Park

  Saltaire

  East Midlands

  Derwent Valley Mills

  West Midlands

  Ironbridge Gorge

  London

  Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

  Maritime Greenwich

  Palace of Westminster, St. Margaret's

  Church and Westminster Abbey

  The Tower of London

  South East

  Blenheim Palace and Park

  Canterbury Cathedral (with St. Augustine's Abbey and St. Martin's Church)

  South West

  City of Bath

  Dorset and East Devon Coast

  Stonehenge, Avebury and associated sites

  Other Administrations

  Northern Ireland

  Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast

  Scotland

  Edinburgh Old and new Towns

  New Lanark

  Hearth of Neolithic Orkney

  St. Kilda

  Wales

  Blaenavon Industrial Landscape

  Castle and Town Walls of Edward I in Gwynedd

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Palestinian Negotiation Support Unit
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding is given by the Government to the Palestinian Negotiation Support Unit; and what conditions are attached to the use of the funding. [139388]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID has committed a total of £9.2 million to support the Palestinian Negotiation Support Unit (NSU). This funding covers the period 1999 to 2006. To date £5.25 million has been disbursed.

  The purpose of this project is to provide professional legal, technical, policy and communications advice to the Palestinian authorities in preparation for, and during, permanent status negotiations with Israel. Following the collapse of formal negotiations the NSU has broadened its role by seeking to encourage the resumption of permanent status negotiations by contributing to a variety of diplomatic peace initiatives. The project supports those in the Palestinian Authority who are committed to peace.

  The project is managed on behalf of the Palestinian authorities by the Adam Smith Institute. There are no specific conditions attached, but it is subject to DFID's usual checks and balances to ensure funds are disbursed in accordance with the agreed objectives. In addition four other governments, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands and Denmark provide complementary funding. We are currently establishing with these partners, and with the NSU, a framework for the overall management of the project.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of United Kingdom aid to Afghanistan since 2001 has been used to combat the production of opium. [138728]

  Hilary Benn
  Tackling opium production in Afghanistan requires action in many areas: to improve the ability of the government to enforce the law and implement a coherent counter-narcotics strategy and to improve the conditions for legal private sector economic growth to offer people involved in poppy cultivation the chance of a licit alternative livelihood.

  DFID's assistance to Afghanistan contributes to all of these areas. Since October 2001, DFID has disbursed £157 million of aid to Afghanistan. This has included humanitarian support which prevents people from sliding into the marginalised criminal economy, £35 million of financial assistance to the Afghan Government, and over £5 million in assistance to develop the capacity of the Afghan Government.

  DFID has already provided £2.5 million for specific sustainable livelihoods programmes and has projects being implemented worth nearly £10 million. DFID has recently doubled its budget for sustainable livelihoods programme to £20 million over three years. This represents over 10 per cent. of total DFID assistance over the next three years and over 20 per cent. of the budget for programmes excluding financial assistance.

  The Government have allocated £70 million over three years specifically to combat the production of opium in Afghanistan. This includes a £5.4 million contribution from DFID's £20 million livelihoods budget. In total, this represents some 30 per cent. of planned UK assistance to Afghanistan over the next three years.

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff were employed in his Department on 31 December(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002; and how many are employed there now. [139543]

  Hilary Benn
  Staff numbers for DFID permanent and pensionable Home Civil Service (HCS) staff, for each year from 1997 to 2002 inclusive, published in our annual Departmental Reports from 1998, are set out as follows.

  Details of the available figures are contained in the following table:

  HCS staff in UK headquarters

  HCS staff overseas

  Total

  1997

  1,007

  170

  1,177

  1998

  1,200

  180

  1,380

  1999

  1,279

  195

  1,474

  2000

  1,292

  209

  1,501

  2001

  1,374

  224

  1,598

  2002

  1,433

  241

  1,674

  Total HCS staff numbers (headquarters and overseas) at 1 October 2003 was 1,744.
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  We do not hold annual staff numbers for locally appointed staff in our Overseas offices (SAIC). However, we can say that the number of SAIC in post in March 2003 was 914.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff were employed in his Department when the 2002 spending review was completed; and how many he expects to be in post at the end of financial year 2005–06. [139544]

  Hilary Benn
  Details of DFID staffing figures for 2002 are taken from our published Departmental Report for 2003.

  The numbers of permanent and pensionable Home Civil Service (HCS) staff in post at that time, are as detailed in the following table:

  2000

  Number

  HCS staff in UK headquarters

  1,433

  HCS staff overseas

  241

  Total

  1,674

  By the end of the Financial Year 2005–06, we forecast that these numbers will have risen to 1,774.

  The number of locally appointed In-Country staff (SAIC) was 914 in March 2003. At this stage, we cannot say what future impact our reduced effort in middle income countries will have on these figures.

  Ethiopia
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his plans to provide aid to Ethiopia in response to predicted food shortages next year. [139346]

  Hilary Benn
  Since the beginning of 2002 we have provided over £50 million in humanitarian support to Ethiopia.

  The Ethiopian Government's Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Commission (DPPC) and UN agencies are currently undertaking crop assessments. Official estimates of food shortages for 2004 will therefore not be available until the DPPC/UN appeal, which should be issued on 10 December.

  We will then take these estimates into account, along with nutritional information and other indicators of the humanitarian crisis, when making our decisions about the provision of humanitarian assistance during 2004.

  Infant Mortality
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made against the target of reducing the number of child deaths under the fourth millennium development goal; and what assessment his Department has made of whether the target will be met. [138904]

  Hilary Benn
  Globally child mortality is declining, and between 1990 and 2000 the under-five mortality rate was reduced from 92 to 82 deaths per 1,000 live births. On
  943W
  current trends, however, the Millennium Development Goal target of reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015 will not be met.

  DFID works with international partners to monitor global trends in progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and their associated targets. Latest United Nations reports suggest considerable regional variation in the rates of progress being made towards the under-five mortality target. Latin America is expected to meet the target, but there has been much slower progress in South Asia, and virtually no progress in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for over half of all under-five deaths.

  DFID has put the achievement of the MDGs at the heart of its work, and is working with its partners to accelerate progress towards the MDG targets. The targets for both child and maternal mortality in Africa and Asia form part of DFID's Public Service Agreement. Supporting progress in sub- Saharan Africa is a particular priority for DFID.

  An assessment of progress towards all of the MDGs is provided in the UN Secretary General's 2003 report on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration: http://ods-dds- nv.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/NO3/481/ 57/PDF/NO348157. pdf?OpenElement.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) if he will list the mortality rates of children under five for(a) girls and (b) boys in Asia in each of the last 10 years; [139540]

  (2) what the mortality rates of children under five for (a) girls and (b) boys were in sub-Saharan Africa in each of the last 10 years. [139542]

  Hilary Benn
  Estimates for under-five mortality by region are published by the UN Statistics Division on the Millennium Development Goals database. This provides information for 1990 and 2000 but not for intervening years. A gender disaggregation is not available. Details are as follows:

  Under-five mortality rates (deaths per 1,000 live births)

  1990

  2000

  Sub-Saharan Africa

  176

  172

  Eastern Asia

  44

  36

  South-central Asia

  125

  95

  South-eastern Asia

  77

  51

  Western Asia

  70

  62

  These figures were published in the report of the Secretary-General on the MDGs to the UN General Assembly in September 2003 and can be accessed via: http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/mi/pdf/ a_58_323e.pdf.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on child mortality in developing countries in(a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000. [139622]

  Hilary Benn
  Globally, child mortality was significantly reduced in the late twentieth century. The number of child deaths fell from over 13 million in 1980 to an estimated 10.8million in 2000. The following table gives the United Nations estimates of under-five 944W
  mortality rates (the probability of a child dying before his or her fifth birthday expressed per 1,000 live births) over this period globally and in developing countries:

  Under-five mortality: the world

  Under-five mortality: developing regions

  (a) 1980

  117

  132

  (b) 1990

  92

  102

  (c) 2000

  82

  90

  While this decline in child deaths is encouraging, current progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015 is too slow and uneven across regions. A significant challenge remains, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

  DFID has put the achievement of the MDGs at the heart of its work, and is working with its partners to accelerate progress towards the MDG targets. The targets for both child and maternal mortality in Africa and Asia form part of DFID's Public Service Agreement.

  Iraq
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps coalition forces in Iraq are taking to set up a humanitarian traffic lane on the Iraqi side of the Iraqi-Jordanian border. [138619]

  Hilary Benn
  We are not aware that coalition forces are planning the setting up of a humanitarian traffic lane on the Iraq side of the border with Jordan.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of Iraq's demand for domestically consumed fuels was met through imports in the last month. [138877]

  Hilary Benn
  It is estimated that, in October 2003, between one-quarter and one-third of the national supply of gasoline, diesel and kerosene was met by imports. Imports also provided almost two-thirds of the demand for LPG. Iraq is likely to depend on imports of these fuels until the early spring.

  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will identify the roles and responsibilities of(a) the 18 members of staff in his Department and (b) the seconded consultants working in Iraq. [138890]

  Hilary Benn
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Iraq Directorate within DFID consists of a range of programme management and professional advisory staff who cover development subjects relevant to the needs of the reconstruction effort, e.g. social development, health, economics and infrastructure.

  (b) Most of the seconded consultants are working for the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Baghdad and Basrah in an advisory capacity in various sectors, including economics, education, refugees/returns and infrastructure and urban development. There are eight DFID-funded contractors working as project officers and facilities managers in various Governorate Team Offices throughout Iraq. There are also three DFID members of staff seconded to CPA whose job titles are Assistant to Chief of Operations, Press Officer and Senior Engineering Adviser.

  945W
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment his Department has made of the need for environmental improvements in Iraq; [139008]

  (2) what support his Department is giving to the Minister for the Environment in Iraq. [139007]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID is exploring options for support to the environment, including work with the Minister for the Environment, in the context of other priorities for our future assistance to Iraq. DFID and Defra officials are planning to undertake an assessment visit to Iraq shortly. DFID has meanwhile agreed to part-finance a survey to be carried out in Iraq by the Post-Conflict Assessment Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what advisers have been appointed by Coalition members to support the work of the Minister for the Environment in Iraq. [139009]

  Hilary Benn
  Coalition members have provided a number of staff for the Coalition Provisional Authority with environmental expertise who work alongside the Iraqi Environment Ministry. These include the Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Health, which previously contained Iraq's Environmental Protection and Improvement Directorate, and the Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources. As part of the UK contribution to the reconstruction effort, we have agreed to fund half of UNEP's environmental field assessment, which is likely to commence in spring 2004, and will include work on institutional and capacity building focusing particularly on the Environment Ministry.

  Richard Younger-Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what resources provided by(a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) NGOs are available in Iraq for mine clearance. [125702]

  Hilary Benn
  The UK has made the following resources available for mine/UXO clearance in Iraq in the current financial year.

  Organisation

  Purpose

  Amount (£)

  UNMAS

  Mine/UXO clearance

  4,000,000

  UNMAS

  Plastic explosive for disposal of mines/UXO

  357,378

  Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

  Preparedness

  80,883

  Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

  Integrated mine action

  781,639

  Life Expectancy
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on life expectancy in developing countries in(a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000. [139641]

  Hilary Benn
  The figures for life expectancy in developing countries are as follows:

  Number

  1980

  60

  1990

  63

  2001

  64

  946W
  Life expectancy in developing countries is therefore improving steadily, but not dramatically. However, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is dramatically reducing life expectancy in the worst affected countries. By 2010, life expectancy in many African countries will fall to around 30 years of age, levels not seen since the end of the nineteenth century. The demographic impact outside Africa will be less severe but still significant.

  Maternal Health
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many mothers(a) died and (b) suffered injury or disability through childbirth in each developing country in the last year for which figures are available. [139532]

  Hilary Benn
  Maternal mortality is difficult to measure. As a result, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA have developed an approach to estimating maternal mortality that generates estimates for countries with no data and corrects available data for underreporting and misclassification. They estimate that there were 527,000 maternal deaths in the year 2000 in developing countries, where 99.6 per cent. of all maternal deaths occur. The latest country estimates for the year 2000 have been placed in the Libraries of the House under the title "Maternal Mortality Estimates in 2000". The number of maternal deaths is listed in the fourth column.

  Measuring and classifying the numbers of women who suffer injury or disability as a result of pregnancy and childbirth is even more challenging. Estimates from WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA for 1995 suggest that 300 million women worldwide (including 25 per cent. of the developing world's adult women) suffer from ill health and disability as a result of complications of pregnancy. WHO is currently conducting a review of published and unpublished studies in an attempt to provide a comprehensive tabulation of available data on the prevalence and incidence of global maternal morbidity.

  DFID is also working with partners to develop and use improved ways of measuring the extent of maternal mortality.

  A copy of the report and latest estimates of maternal mortality developed by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA is available at: http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/ publications/maternal_mortality_2000/maternal_ mortality_2000.pdf

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of births were assisted by skilled births assistants in sub-Saharan Africa in each of the last 10 years. [139619]

  Hilary Benn
  The proportion of women in Sub-Saharan Africa who gave birth with the assistance of a skilled health worker (the internationally agreed maternal mortality indicator) increased slightly from 40 per cent. in 1990 to 42 per cent. by 2000.

  Annual figures for sub-Saharan Africa as a whole are not available.

  More information and individual country data can be found by accessing UNICEF's statistical database at http://www.childinfo.org/index2.htm.

  Millennium Development Goals
  Ms Drown
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department estimates that Tanzania will achieve the millennium development goals. [138905]

  Hilary Benn
  Recent reports indicate that Tanzania has the potential to meet the millennium development goals on poverty, HIV/AIDS, and environmental resources. Progress has been disappointing on the maternal and child health goals. There is insufficient data to indicate progress on access to safe water, but there are encouraging signs of progress. In the past two years, there has been significant progress towards the education target, with hugely increased numbers of children entering the first grade of Primary School. The supportive environment in Tanzania is improving.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list his estimated expenditure on pursuit of the millennium development goals in(a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04, (d) 2004–05 and (e) 2005–06. [139620]

  Hilary Benn
  DFID's aim is to eliminate poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. With the exception of funds voted to DFID to fulfil its legal commitments to provide pensions to former expatriate colonial civil and public servants, we use all of our resources for eliminating poverty in poorer countries and for preventing and reducing conflict. The information in the table updates the figures published in DFID's Annual Report 2003, where a further breakdown is available:

  DFID Resource Budget

  £million

  Eliminating poverty in poorer countries

  Overseas superannuation

  Total resource budget

  2001–02 outturn

  3,174

  59

  3,233

  2002–03 outturn

  3,614

  56

  3,671

  2003–04 plans

  3,756

  60

  3,816

  2004–05 plans

  3,780

  57

  3,837

  2005–06 plans

  4,533

  54

  4,587

  Poverty
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the countries in which some people live on $I per day or less. [139618]

  Hilary Benn
  A comprehensive list of such countries has not been published as for many there is insufficient information to make robust estimates. However most if not all low and middle income countries can be expected to have some people living on less than $1 a day. Where country estimates exist the details are set out in table 1.1 of the annual publication 'Statistics on International Development' a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

  Primary Education
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of children in each developing country receive no education. [139534]
  948W
  Hilary Benn
  The most recent Education For All Global Monitoring Report, published by UNESCO in November this year, estimated that 104 million children of primary school age were not enrolled in school in 2000, 96 per cent. in developing countries. Most of the out-of-school children are concentrated in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa and south and west Asia.

  I have placed in the Library lists of the primary net enrolment ratio and the corresponding percentage of primary school-age children not enrolled in school in 2000. The list is called "Education Enrolment in Developing Countries, 2000", and has figures for each country where comparable data are available. The table shows that for developing countries as a whole, 17.9 per cent. of primary school-age children were not enrolled in school in 2000.

  The Education For All Global Monitoring Report 2003–04, containing these data, is available at: http:// www.efareport.unesco.org

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of primary age children enrolled in primary school in sub-Saharan Africa in each of the last 10 years. [139539]

  Hilary Benn
  Due to the difficulties of collecting reliable and comparable data consistently across the whole of sub-Saharan Africa there are not internationally agreed figures for primary school enrolment for each of the last 10 years. However the most recent Education For All Global Monitoring Report published by UNESCO in November this year has a comparison of the Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) for most countries in sub-Saharan Africa between 1990 and 2000.

  These figures show that in sub-Saharan Africa enrolment has improved but only slightly. In 1990, 55 per cent. of primary school age children were enrolled; in 2000 58 per cent. were enrolled. Within these figures there is wide variation by regions—from 89 per cent. in South Africa to 30 per cent. in Niger in the year 2000.

  The Education For All Global Monitoring Report 2003–04, containing these data, is available at http:// www.efareport.unesco.org

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school in sub-Saharan Africa was in 2003–04; and what it is expected to be in 2005–06. [139613]

  Hilary Benn
  Due to the difficulties of collecting reliable and comparable data consistently across the whole of sub-Saharan Africa the most recent internationally agreed figures for gender parity are for 2000. These are in the most recent Education For All Global Monitoring Report published by UNESCO in November this year.

  In 2000, there were 88 girls to every 100 boys in primary school classrooms in sub-Saharan Africa. This figure is the number of children of any age enrolled in primary school (the gross enrolment ratio).
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  There is no predicted ratio of boys to girls for 2005–06. However the Global Monitoring report estimates that of 128 countries for which data are available, 35 countries are not likely to meet the 2005 goal of gender parity in primary education. 19 of these are in sub-Saharan Africa.

  The Education For All Global Monitoring Report 2003–04, containing this data, is available at http:// www.efareport.unesco.org.

  Sanitation/Water
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of families in each developing country are without access to water supplies or basic sanitation. [139533]

  Hilary Benn
  Information on the percentage of the population without access to an improved water supply and improved sanitation is set out in the 2003 World Development Indicators Book, published by the World Bank. I have placed a table called "Improved Water and Sanitation" in the Libraries of the Houses.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Moylinn Medical Centre (Security)
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he will take to respond to attacks on medical staff at the out-of-hours GP cooperative based at Moylinn, Craigavon; and what plans he has to relocate the co-operative. [138972]

  Angela Smith
  The Southern Health and Social Services Board (SHSSB) and the Association of Southern Areas Doctors On Call (ASADOC), which runs the Moylinn Medical Centre, are collaborating to improve security at the centre. Fencing around the centre has already been improved and both CCTV and alarm systems have been installed. Meetings have also been held with the local police with a view to improving security and local representatives have been asked to do all they can to minimise attacks in the future.

  The SHSSB and ASADOC are currently considering several options to relocate the centre and final decisions are expected in the near future.

  British-Irish Interparliamentary Conference
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the(a) matters discussed and (b) decisions taken at the 27th British-Irish Interparliamentary conference; and if he will place in the Library the report on Sellafield discussed at the conference. [134410]

  Mr. Spellar
  The British-Irish Interparliamentary Body (BIIPB) held its 27th Plenary session between 19–21 October this year. As an Interparliamentary Body, the BIIPB is independent of Government and, as such, it would not be appropriate for me to offer a statement on the matters discussed nor on the decisions taken. The minutes and a full verbatim account of the 950W
  open sessions will, I understand, be posted on the body's website in due course. A copy of the report on Sellafield has been placed in the Library.

  Carpets International
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on the use of the land occupied by Carpets International (UK) Ltd. in Donaghadee, should it be unsuccessful in attracting a buyer. [132463]

  Angela Smith
  In considering the current use of this site, the need to provide an appropriate level of employment opportunity in Donaghadee, and the lack of readily available alternatives, the Department of the Environment proposed that the land should be retained for industrial use. This is reflected in the recently published Draft Ards and Down Area Plan 2015.

  Coagulometers
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2003,Official Report, column 420W, on anti-coagulants, what effect the results of the home use trial of coagulometers by Roche Ltd. will have on current practice. [139262]

  Angela Smith
  Further work is being undertaken nationally to assess the effectiveness of self-testing and to develop clinical guidelines on the appropriate selection of patients suitable to undertake self-management. The Department will not be issuing guidance about the further development of self-monitoring until this work has been completed.

  Decommissioning
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent(a) meetings and (b) discussions he has had with (i) Unionist politicians and (ii) others on decommissioning of arms held by Loyalist terrorists; and if he will make a statement. [137344]

  Mr. Spellar
  We have talked about the issue of decommissioning by paramilitary organisations at a large number of meetings and discussions regarding the political process in Northern Ireland over recent weeks. Individual meetings and discussions are confidential, but we have consistently made clear our view that all paramilitary groups should engage with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning with a view to putting arms beyond use in a manner which is conducive to creating public confidence.

  Devolved Government
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent discussions with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland on the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland. [134844]

  Mr. Spellar
  I refer the hon. Member to the remarks my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made on this subject at Northern Ireland oral questions in the House on 29 October.

  Employment Tribunals
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been awarded since 1 November 2002 in Northern Ireland in costs as the result of employment tribunals; and what the average sum awarded was. [138982]

  Jane Kennedy
  The equivalents of Employment Tribunals in Northern Ireland are the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal. Costs may be awarded against any party if a tribunal decides that the party has acted scandalously, frivolously, vexatiously, abusively, disruptively or otherwise unreasonably.

  The information requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost. Costs are awarded infrequently by the tribunals and they have normally been in the range £50 to £500.

  Equality Commission
  Mr. McGrady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions the Equality Commission has had with the Northern Ireland Office on the legality of the exclusion of Irish nationals from reserved posts. [132213]

  Mr. Pearson
  There has been contact at official level between the Northern Ireland Office and the Equality Commission concerning the progress of the Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill, which was introduced on 28 January 2003.

  EU Fisheries Council
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that the Minister of State with responsibility for Agriculture and Rural Development will be present throughout the negotiations at the EU Fisheries Council meeting. [137526]

  Mr. Pearson
  I propose to attend the whole of the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council Meeting, although I should much prefer Northern Ireland's interests to be represented by a locally elected Minister.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what lines of communication will be provided between the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development and representatives of the Northern Ireland fishing industry during the negotiations at the EU Fisheries Council. [137527]

  Mr. Pearson
  If a locally elected Minister cannot represent Northern Ireland at the December Agriculture and Fisheries Council, my senior officials and I will make every effort to keep local fishing industry representatives informed of developments throughout the proceedings.

  General Practitioners
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage trainee general practitioners to develop special interests. [138987]
  952W
  Angela Smith
  My Department has received a proposal to extend the GP Vocational Training programme by one year, to enable trainee GPs to develop special interests. The practicalities and funding implications of this proposal are currently being considered.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage trainee general practitioners in Northern Ireland to develop an interest in the area of family planning. [138988]

  Angela Smith
  My Department has received a proposal to extend the GP Vocational Training programme by one year, to enable trainee GPs to develop special interests, including family planning. The practicalities and funding implications of this proposal are currently being considered.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage experienced senior house officers in hospitals in the Province to remain in Northern Ireland to complete their GP registrar year. [138990]

  Angela Smith
  Vocational Training for General Practice consists of three years, made up of two years in approved Senior House Officer posts in hospitals followed by one year in a GP Registrar post.

  The Department currently funds 40 GP Registrar posts per year, all of which, from this year, will be allocated to doctors participating in a three year integrated training programme. This means that there will be no new GP Registrar posts available for other Senior House Officers who are not in the three-year scheme and no arrangements are in place for such posts.

  At present there is no shortage of GPs in Northern Ireland and the numbers in training meet current demands. However, the number of GP Registrar posts available will be kept under review as part of the Department's workforce planning process.

  Loyalist Terrorists
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of Loyalist terrorists' capacity to carry out(a) targeting, (b) intimidation and (c) racketeering activities in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [134963]

  Jane Kennedy
  This information is only available from intelligence sources and it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment. We now call on all paramilitary organisations to bring a complete and permanent end to paramilitary activity in all its forms.

  North/South Ministerial Council
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the North/South Ministerial Council has met as indicated in the 1998 Belfast Agreement(a) in Plenary format, (b) in specific sectoral formats, represented by the individual Ministers and (c) to consider cross-sectoral matters. [132091]
  953W
  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The North/South Ministerial Council, since its establishment in 1999, has met four times in Plenary format, once in Institutional format to consider cross-sectoral matters and 60 times in specific sectoral format.

  A breakdown of specific sectoral meetings is provided as follows:

  Specific sectoral area

  Number of meetings

  Agriculture

  7

  Education

  4

  Environment

  6

  Aquaculture and Marine

  8

  Health and Food Safety

  5

  Language

  4

  Special EU Programmes

  7

  Tourism

  5

  Trade and Business Development

  7

  Transport

  2

  Inland Waterways

  5

  Total

  60

  Prisons
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the breakdown is of prison custody visitors by(a) perceived community origin and (b) sex. [138706]

  Jane Kennedy
  There are currently a total of 50 Board of Visitors/Visiting Committee members in post. The breakdowns are as follows:

  Breakdown

  Perceived community origin

  Protestant

  29

  Roman Catholic

  15

  Not known

  6

  Sex

  Male

  26

  Female

  24

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of the prison custody visitors scheme was in 2002; and what proportion of this comprises(a) remuneration, (b) travel and (c) other expenses incurred by the visitors. [138707]

  Jane Kennedy
  The total expenditure for the Board of Visitors/Visiting Committee in Northern Ireland for the financial year 2002–03 was £51,751.00. Of this, £39,000 was for travel and subsistence. Members are volunteers and do not receive remuneration.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what administrative support is available to teams of prison custody visitors. [138708]

  Jane Kennedy
  Each Board/Committee is supported by a part-time Clerk at local level. There is also a small team at Prison Service Headquarters who provide administrative support for all three boards.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the procedural mechanisms are for addressing(a) general matters of prison
  954W
  administration and (b) expressions of concern about individual prisoners; and what mechanisms are available to monitor (i) responses and (ii) implementation. [138709]

  Jane Kennedy
  Concerns regarding both general matters of prison administration and concerns regarding individual prisoners can be raised with staff informally, or formally with the Governor at the monthly meeting. If possible, the Governor responds at the meeting, or the query is recorded and the response provided at the next monthly meeting, or before then if urgent. All queries are formally recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

  If members are not satisfied with the response they receive, or the action taken by the Governor, they can raise the matter with Prison Service Headquarters or ultimately the Secretary of State.

  The Boards submit an annual report to the Secretary of State each year. In the interests of openness and transparency, this report is now made available to the general public.

  Salmon
  David Burnside
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the impact on wild salmon stocks of salmon fish farms in Northern Ireland. [135445]

  Angela Smith
  The occurrence of escaped farmed salmon in Northern Ireland's commercial salmon catches is examined annually. The largest occurrence was in 2001, when 9.1 per cent. of the commercial catch was farmed fish. The 10-year average, excluding the year 2001, is 1.4 per cent.

  Occurrences of escaped farmed salmon in freshwater are also monitored at the trap on the River Bush, where the 10-year average of farmed salmon as a total of trapped fish is 0.7 per cent.

  The only detailed information available on the genetic impact of farmed salmon on wild salmon stocks has been undertaken in two surveys of the Glenarm River in 1990–91 and in 1997. The surveys showed that the genetic status of the wild population was significantly changed indicating that cross breeding with farmed salmon had taken place.

  Further scientific studies have commenced on the River Bush catchment on the potential consequences of genetic change in the wild population caused by interbreeding with farmed salmon in terms of long-term productivity. No results are yet available and such studies are likely to be case specific.

  Mr. Donaldson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the number of salmon spawning in each river in the Foyle system has reached the numbers recommended by P. F. Elson and A. L. W. Tuomi in their report of 1975, the Foyle Fisheries, New Basis for Rational Management. [136068]

  Mr. Pearson
  The target numbers of salmon spawning in each river in the Foyle System recommended by Elson and Tuomi in their 1975 report have been met. A comparison of these numbers together with the number of salmon passing through the relevant fish counters in the years 2000–02 is set out in the following table.
  955W

  Foyle rivers

  Number of salmon passing through fish counter (year)

  River System

  Elson and Tuomi spawning targets

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Faughan and tributaries upstream of fish counter

  590

  2,551

  1,518

  4,228

  Roe and tributaries upstream of fish counter

  1,222

  1,433

  3,459

  5,459

  Mourne and tributaries upstream of fish counter

  4,276

  4,690

  6,250

  12,991

  Social Housing
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many units of social housing

  Housing Executive vacant properties

  District council

  31 March 1999

  31 March 2000

  31 March 2001

  31 March 2002

  31 March 2003

  Belfast

  1,872

  2,000

  2,179

  1,835

  2,146

  North Down

  104

  108

  151

  207

  162

  Ards

  94

  78

  121

  156

  153

  Castlereagh

  198

  228

  286

  350

  323

  Lisburn

  223

  290

  322

  249

  354

  Down

  108

  163

  59

  61

  73

  Banbridge

  74

  46

  63

  54

  61

  Newry and Mourne

  74

  109

  109

  137

  167

  Armagh

  90

  98

  113

  124

  121

  Craigavon

  485

  580

  523

  496

  472

  Dungannon

  69

  80

  118

  136

  159

  Fermanagh

  21

  22

  19

  43

  38

  Ballymena

  275

  366

  329

  270

  262

  Antrim

  107

  187

  193

  147

  184

  Newtownabbey

  306

  343

  240

  277

  340

  Carrick

  138

  235

  279

  304

  225

  Lame

  117

  168

  255

  341

  227

  Moyle

  10

  19

  15

  13

  17

  Ballymoney

  59

  44

  31

  36

  29

  Coleraine

  122

  202

  240

  203

  270

  Derry

  129

  191

  211

  205

  176

  Limavady

  24

  15

  20

  16

  29

  Magherafelt

  6

  24

  30

  31

  29

  Strabane

  13

  21

  25

  40

  35

  Omagh

  60

  121

  86

  146

  159

  Cookstown

  40

  32

  46

  55

  57

  Total

  4,818

  5,770

  6,063

  5,932

  6,268

  Strategic Investment Body
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress to date of the Strategic Investment Body (SIB) in improving the profile and performance of the capital expenditure programme across the Northern Ireland Civil Service; and what assessment he has made of whether the departments are working effectively with the SIB on(a) an individual and (b) a collaborative basis. [133009]

  Mr. Pearson
  Since its inception in April 2003, the SIB has made considerable progress in improving the profile and performance of Northern Ireland's capital expenditure programme. By April 2004, SIB expects to have two to three times the value of PPP projects out to market than had been signed in the previous eleven years in Northern Ireland. An early priority project, a new Invest NI Headquarters, is expected to be signed by June 2004, following a fast procurement period at the 956W
  properties were vacant in each of the last five years in each local government area. [139708]

  Mr. Spellar
  The following table details the number of vacant Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties by District Council Area over the five-year period 1998–99 to 2002–03.

  Statistics for housing association vacant properties are not held in the form requested. However, the total number of vacant housing association properties over the same five-year period was:

  31 March 1999: 917

  31 March 2000: 1,157

  31 March 2001: 1,002

  31 March 2002: 1,076

  31 March 2003: 1,208

  top end of HM Treasury performance averages. With the assistance of SIB, the Department of Finance and Personnel has created a new and strong incentive scheme designed to encourage departments to be more active in managing their asset bases. In its first six months of operation, therefore, the SIB has already developed effective working relationships with a number of departments and I am sure that its impact will continue to grow as we work to improve Northern Ireland's infrastructure.

  University Capital Expenditure
  Mr. Hume
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government capital expenditure on buildings used for teaching and research, not including expenditure on science and business parks and incubators, was for each year since 1992 on each of the campuses of(a) the University of Ulster and (b) Queen's University Belfast. [133007]
  957W
  Jane Kennedy
  Bearing in mind the range of sources for government or government-derived funding not all of which are within Northern Ireland, it would not be possible to provide an answer without incurring disproportionate cost.

  Urology Consultants
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many urology consultants are employed by the Northern Ireland Health Service; and what the average waiting time to see a urology consultant is in each health trust. [137665]

  Angela Smith
  The number of urology consultants employed by Health and Social Services Trusts are given in the following table.

  Table 1: Number of urology consultants employed by Health and Social Services Trusts, as at 6 November 2003

  HSS1 Trust

  Headcount

  WTE2

  Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust

  2

  1.91

  Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

  6

  4.82

  Causeway HSS Trust

  30

  0.00

  Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

  2

  2.00

  Down Lisburn HSS Trust

  41

  n\a

  Foyle Community HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  Green Park Healthcare Hss Trust

  0

  0.00

  Homefirst Community HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

  1

  1.00

  Table 2: Percentage of patients waiting for a first out-patient appointment with a urology consultant in Northern Ireland, at 30 June 2003

  Time waiting(Months)(Percentage)

  Provider Trust

  0–2

  3–11

  12–17

  18–23

  24+

  Total

  The Royal Group of Hospital HSS Trust

  50.0

  50.0

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  92

  Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

  40.2

  56.0

  3.1

  0.6

  0.1

  1,264

  Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust

  91.7

  8.3

  0.0

  0.0

  0.0

  144

  Down and Lisburn HSS Trust

  16.4

  14.2

  33.2

  31.0

  5.2

  232

  Mater Infirmorum HSS Trust

  30.9

  63.5

  3.6

  1.4

  0.6

  644

  Causeway HSS Trust

  18.0

  30.9

  17.8

  10.5

  22.8

  916

  Craigavon Area Hospital HSS Trust

  17.1

  31.6

  16.6

  10.2

  24.6

  1,182

  Altnagelvin Area Hospital HSS Trust

  25.3

  53.0

  15.2

  5.6

  0.9

  1,091

  Northern Ireland

  28.1

  43.9

  11.9

  6.6

  9.5

  5,565

  Source:

  CH3
  958W

  Table 1: Number of urology consultants employed by Health and Social Services Trusts, as at 6 November 2003

  HSS1Trust

  Headcount

  WTE2

  Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  North and West Belfast HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

  50

  0.00

  South and East Belfast HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust

  0

  0.00

  Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

  2

  1.40

  United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

  63

  n/a

  Total

  17

  n/a

  1 Health and Social Services.

  2 Whole-time Equivalent.

  3 Causeway HSS Trust has a urology service level agreement with Belfast City Hospital—the consultant who works in Causeway HSS Trust is employed by Belfast City Hospital Trust.

  4 Within Down Lisburn HSS Trust the consultant within General Surgery performs operations within Urology—the whole-time equivalent cannot be defined as it varies.

  5 There are no consultants employed in the area of urology by Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust—0.45 WTE is provided to the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust by Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust.

  6 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust—There are three general surgery consultants who provide some sessional commitment in the area of urology—any activity is recorded under general surgery and not urology.

  Note:

  Information on waiting lists and waiting times is collected on the basis of time bands. It is not possible to derive an average from this information.

  Source:

  Human Resource Management System

DEFENCE

  First World War (Passchendaele)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on repatriating remains of soldiers fallen in the First World War near the trenches found at the site of the new Passchendaele motorway near Ypres. [138779]

  Mr. Caplin
  I am not aware of any representations.

  Armed Forces
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when last questioned, how many(a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Navy personnel said that overstretch was causing problems in their working; what question was asked; how many responded to each option; what percentage of those asked to respond this represents; and if he will make a statement. [137517]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]: All three Services conduct continuous attitude surveys (CASs) of serving personnel to ascertain attitudes towards a range of Service conditions.

  In the Naval Service CAS there are currently no questions specifically mentioning or using the term 'overstretch'.

  The last survey of Army serving personnel was sent out in December 2002 and the RAF CASs results in July 2003.

  I intend to write to the hon. Member shortly with the results and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of increased rates of childhood obesity on the ability of the armed forces to recruit sufficient numbers of young people in the past 10 years. [139124]

  Mr. Caplin
  In Financial Year 2002–03, the total armed forces intake from civilian life exceeded the recruiting target. Consequently, the apparent increase in the rates of childhood obesity in recent years has had no marked impact to date on the armed forces ability to recruit sufficient numbers of capable young people.

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what statistical information analysis of recruitment patterns for each of HM Armed Forces is based. [137503]

  Mr. Caplin
  Armed Forces personnel data are compiled from pay and personnel records held by the Armed Forces Pay Administration Agency (AFPAA). These records are supplemented from other sources to improve the quality of the data on, for example, the ethnic origin of new recruits.
  960W
  Information on potential recruits is compiled from data collected during the application process. This is held on each Service's Training Administration and Financial Management System (TAFMIS). Records are updated with more information at each stage of the recruitment process, from enquiry through to selection.

  Asbestos-related Diseases
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-servicemen and women have presented with asbestos-related diseases (ARDs); how many more the Government forecasts will present with ARDs; and if he will make a statement. [117370]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 10 June 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Congo
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution will be made by the UK to the multi-national rapid reaction force to the Democratic Republic of Congo. [116411]

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

  Defence Agencies
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the location of each of the defence agencies headquarters; how many staff each employs; what the annual expenditure of each was in the last year for which figures are available; and how much was spent in Wales; [137307]

  (2) what the expenditure was of each defence agency (a) in total and (b) in Scotland in the last available year; and how many staff were employed by each agency (i) in total and (ii) in Wales in that year. [137309]

  Mr. Caplin
  The location of defence agency headquarters, the total number of staff employed by each agency as at 1 April 2003 and agency net operating costs for financial year 2002–03 are available in a supplementary document to the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03. This is available at www.mod.uk/linked_files/publications/pdr2002_2003/agencies03.pdf.

  Figures for civilian personnel employed by Defence agencies in Wales are provided in the table below. Information on agency expenditure in Wales and Scotland, and the number of Service personnel employed by agencies in Wales, is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  The number of staff employed in Wales (full-time equivalent figures for industrial and non-industrial, permanent staff, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and those on career breaks, long term sick leave, secondments etc), by executive agencies as at 1 April 2003:

  961W

  Civilian Staff employed as at 1 April 2003

  Army Personnel Centre

  —

  Army Training and Recruiting Agency

  140

  British Forces Post Office

  10

  Defence Communication Services Agency

  10

  Defence Dental Agency

  —

  Defence Estates

  20

  Defence Housing Executive

  10

  Defence Procurement Agency

  —

  Defence Storage and Distribution Agency

  190

  Ministry of Defence Police

  —

  Naval Recruiting and Training Agency

  10

  RAF Training Group Defence Agency

  140

  Veterans Agency

  10

  Trading Funds

  ABRO

  20

  Defence Aviation Repair Agency

  2,770

  Defence Science and Technology

  —

  Laboratory

  Meteorological Office

  40

  Those agencies and Trading Funds that are not referred to do not have staff employed in Wales. Data have been rounded to the nearest 10 to preserve confidentiality and those with fewer than five staff are recorded as —.

  Defence Dental Agency
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the unpublished 1997–98 annual report and accounts for the Defence Dental Agency. [139691]

  Mr. Caplin
  The 1997–98 annual report and accounts was never published as a stand-alone document, in fact, it was included in the 1999 annual report and accounts, which covered the period from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1999. The reason that there was this two-year report was that HM Treasury had withdrawn the Defence Dental Agency's Accounts Direction for 1997–98.

  A copy of the 1997–99 annual report and accounts was placed in the Library but I am arranging for a further copy to be provided.

  Defence Personnel (Scotland)
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defence-related jobs there are in each constituency in Scotland. [136188]

  Mr. Ingram
  United Kingdom Defence Statistics 2003 contains the numbers of service and Ministry of Defence civilian personnel in Scotland at 1 July 2000. Tri-Service Publication 10, produced by the Defence Analytical Services Agency, contains data on service personnel by local authority region. Both publications are available in the Library of the House.

  The exact number of defence related jobs in each constituency in Scotland, including those related to defence expenditure by MOD on goods and services and defence export contracts in Scotland, is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Staff
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 20 October 2003,962W
  Official Report, columns 373–74W, on departmental staff, what function previously performed in the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Commitments (P&P) area was transferred 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. [138569]

  Mr. Caplin
  Personnel, Pay and Pensions Administration (PPPA) functions within the Army Personnel Centre, Kentigern House, Glasgow were transferred to Electronic Data Systems (EDS) under a partnering arrangement with the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA).

  PPPA functions for the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force have been undertaken by EDS since 1998, the negotiations for which included an agreement that the same functions would subsequently be provided for the Army. As such, no other commercial companies participated in the process of the Army transfer. The contract with EDS was awarded following a competitive selection in which a number of companies took part.

  Ministry of Defence personnel transferred to EDS under the terms of the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment)(TUPE) Regulations 1981, and formal consultation with the MOD Trade Unions took place. Personnel affected continue to carry out the functions transferred at Kentigern House, Glasgow.

  Maintenance Projects
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many equipment(a) maintenance,(b) repair and (c) refit projects were (i) planned for and (ii) undertaken in each month of the current year in each of the branches of the armed forces in (A) England, (B) Wales, (C) Northern Ireland and (D) each of the bases in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [136236]

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

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent at each of the military bases in Scotland in each month in 2003 on equipment(a) maintenance, (b) repair and (c) refit; what percentage this represents of each base's maintenance and repair budget; and if he will make a statement. [136237]

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

  Ex-service Personnel
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provisions he will make for the welfare of ex-service personnel after the Gulf conflict. [111873]

  Mr. Caplin
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  963W

  Global Security
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential overlap between European future research programmes on global security and UK national defence programmes; and if he will make a statement. [120505]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 23 June 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Illicit Arms Purchases
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the proportion of(a) injuries and (b) fatalities caused to United Kingdom forces from illicitly purchased arms in the last five years. [131122]

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

  Iraq
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Territorial Army strength has been mobilised for deployment in Iraq since the beginning of the conflict. [139806]

  Mr. Ingram
  As at 17 November 2003, approximately 17 per cent. of the Territorial Army have been mobilised for deployment in Iraq since the beginning of the conflict.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions there have been with the US Government regarding the use of(a) anti-personnel mines and (b) cluster munitions in a possible conflict with Iraq. [102354]

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

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the components were of British manufacture in the two vehicles found in Iraq and suspected of being involved in the production of weapons of mass destruction; which companies produced them; and if he will make a statement. [131485]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]: I am withholding details of components and companies under Exemption 1 b and 1 c of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relate to international relations and information received in confidence from foreign Governments.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans the UK has, in conjunction with the international community, to limit Iraqi civilian casualties in the event of the use of(a) chemical and (b) biological weapons in the event of war. [97483]

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

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those categories of weapons held by UK forces which will not be permitted for use in the event of a war involving UK forces and Iraq. [99285]

  Mr. Ingram
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  964W
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial resources are available to the UK armed forces for the administration of the British sector of Iraq. [124361]

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

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of experimental weapons by the US forces in the war in Iraq. [125085]

  Mr. Hoon
  This is a matter for the US Department of Defence.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what experimental weapons systems were tested in the war in Iraq. [125087]

  Mr. Hoon
  United Kingdom Armed Forces did not specifically test any experimental weapons during military operations in Iraq. However, a number of weapons systems were used by UK Armed Forces for the first time including:

  Storm Shadow—an air launched conventionally armed precision stand off weapon.

  Maverick—an air launched anti armour precision guided weapon.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether UK personnel in Iraq have received special training on the protection and rights of women and girls in armed conflict situations in line with the commitments in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325; and what discussions he has had with his US counterpart about their implementation of these commitments. [112159]

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

  KPMG
  Mr. Kilfoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department has awarded to KPMG since 1997. [113681]

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

  Letter of Intent Framework
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the working groups set up under the Letter of Intent framework to report; and if he will make a statement. [117500]

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

  Low Flying
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the latest advice to RAF pilots undertaking low-flying training in the Gloucester and Severn Valley area. [136013]

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

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [137010]

  Mr. Caplin
  I refer the hon. Member to the previous answer given on 28 April 2003.Official Report, columns 57–58W by my hon. friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr Moonie).

  The central corporate communications division carries out public opinion research relating to the Ministry of Defence as a whole and the main findings of the most recent research were included in the MOD's Annual Report, HC1125–Page 38; a copy of the Report is available in the Library of the House.

  Married Couples' Rights
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rights only married couples have in(a) housing on military bases, (b) pensions and other employment-related benefits, (c) notification when a spouse has died or has been injured in military action, (d) war pensions and other benefits and (e) war graves. [132414]

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

  Medical Discharges
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical discharges there were from each of the three services in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [139272]

  Mr. Caplin
  The numbers of medical discharges from the armed forces (both trained and untrained United Kingdom regular personnel) between 1997 and 2002 are as follows:

  Medical discharges in the armed forces: 1997–2002

  Year

  Navy

  Army

  RAF

  Total

  1997

  354

  1,067

  223

  1,644

  1998

  448

  1,060

  155

  1,663

  1999

  456

  1,100

  189

  1,745

  2000

  484

  1,024

  201

  1,709

  2001

  413

  1,004

  195

  1,612

  20021

  391

  1,008

  145

  1,544

  1 Figures for 2002 have not yet been finalised and may be subject to alteration.

  Medical discharges in the services reflect the different fitness levels required by each service, and the employment policy of each service. Because of these factors medical discharges should not be taken as absolute indicators of the health status of service personnel. Similarly, because of the different requirements of the three services, inter-service comparisons may not be valid.

  Ministerial Visits
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the(a) foreign and (b) UK visits
  966W
  he has made since 1 April; what the cost was to public funds of each trip; who he met; and what gifts he has received. [126984]

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

  MOD Police
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the work on surge capacity referred to in the consultative document issued in response to the Ministry of Defence Police Quinquennial Review First Stage Report will be completed; and what the reasons are for the delay in completing the work. [139363]

  Mr. Caplin
  Work on surge capacity has been completed. Recommendations to deliver an increase in capability have been made and the additional funding needed for this enhanced capability is being considered as one of the bids in the Department's current planning and resource allocation round. The outcome of this will not be known before the end of the year.

  National Minimum Wage
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost is in 2003–04 to his Department, agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible of the increase in the national minimum wage from £4.20 per hour to £4.50 per hour. [110447]

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

  Naval Ships
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantities of(a) oil, (b oily ballast water, (c) asbestos, (d) polychlorinated biphenyl, (e) biohazards, (f) ozone-depleting substances, (g) mercury, (h) cadmium and (i) chromium and lead-based paints are present on Her Majesty's ships (i) Fearless, (ii) Intrepid, (iii) Brave, (iv) Boxer, (v) Rame Head and (vi) RFA Sir Geraint; and if he will make a statement. [139161]

  Mr. Ingram
  Information is not held in the format requested for all of the vessels. However, the following substances have been identified on Intrepid in preparation for her sale:

  (a) Residual diesel fuel in pipes and systems—estimated 4,000 litres. Residual mineral oil in sumps and pipework—estimated 2,000 litres;

  (b) Oily ballast water—all tanks cleaned and flushed with water;

  (c) Asbestos—up to an estimated 40 tons;

  (d) Polychlorinated biphenyl/triphenyl (PCB/PCT)—trace; no liquid PCB;

  (e) Biohazards—none identified;

  (f) Ozone-depleting substances—all main refrigerant gases removed; balance to be removed before disposal;

  (g) Mercury—none known;

  (h) Cadmium—minimal (plating on fastenings);

  (i) Chromium and lead-based paints—not known.

  967W
  HMS Fearless is the sister-ship to HMS Intrepid and she is similar in every respect.

  HMS Boxer and HMS Brave have been designated as target ships for a Cincfleet High Seas Firing and have already been stripped of much of their equipment. As part of the preparatory planning work for the firing, an Environmental Impact Assessment is being undertaken to provide the necessary environmental assurances. These rigorous preparatory steps will ensure that we are able to comply with the international conventions that regulate protection of the marine environment, and we will be required to demonstrate before the exercise takes place that those materials subject to regulation have been removed from the ships.

  Ramehead and RFA Sir Geraint remain in operational service. Ramehead is used as a static training vessel. Sir Geraint is held in a reduced readiness state, has been defuelled and there is no oily ballast water on board. Both vessels have been the subject of extensive asbestos surveys and some asbestos has been removed in accordance with Health & Safety Executive directives. The surveys indicate the type of asbestos and where it is fitted, but not the quantities. Three years ago, the outer bottom of Ramehead was pressure-blasted back to bare metal and re-coated using commercial paint products. Similar products have been used throughout the life of Sir Geraint.

  Prior to the disposal of Sir Geraint and Ramehead, as part of the preparations for sale, further surveys will be undertaken to identify any remaining hazardous materials and a waste statement will be produced.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what(a) Royal Navy ships and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliaries have been sold for scrapping overseas in each year since 1997; in which countries they were scrapped; and what toxic materials were present on these vessels. [139162]

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

  Nuclear Test Veterans
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ex-service personnel have been awarded pensions within the last year as a result of health problems resulting from their service on(a) Christmas Island and (b) other nuclear test sites. [138235]

  Mr. Caplin
  From the information held within the Veterans Agency, it is only possible to distinguish two groups. The first is for service on Christmas/Maiden Island (South Pacific). The second is for other nuclear site tests.

  Pensions are awarded if disablement is assessed at 20 per cent. or more; if less than 20 per cent. a single gratuity payment is awarded. Over the last year (April—March 2003) there were no cases awarded for 20 per cent. and above for Christmas Island/Maiden Island and two cases were awarded for less than 20 per cent. Over the same period for the second category, five cases were awarded 20 per cent. and above and none were awarded for under 20 per cent.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what sections of the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty the collaborative work between AWE and weapons laboratories in the United States is being undertaken. [119075]

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

  Operation Telic
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether morphine, and antidotes to provide post attack therapy against nerve agents, were available to all front line personnel serving on Operation Telic. [126095]

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

  Overseas Deployments
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops are deployed in(a) East Timor, (b) the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (c) Kuwait. [132270]

  Mr. Ingram
  The UK currently has no service personnel deployed in East Timor. Five service personnel are deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and around 260 personnel are deployed in Kuwait.

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [137972]

  Mr. Caplin
  Performance targets for the department 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 covers a wide range of data for internal management purposes in addition to that required for PSA monitoring. Monitoring and measuring performance is therefore undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation, and it is not possible to separate out discrete costs. The Department's top level performance management system, including reports against PSA targets, is co-ordinated by a dedicated section of five civilian and military personnel within the Directorate of Performance and Analysis in the Ministry of Defence Head Office.

  Personal Injuries Scheme
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Amendment Scheme. [107782]

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

  Service Accommodation
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent upgrading and building accommodation for the junior ranks of the(a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in each of the last three years; what is to be provided in the forward programme; and if he will make a statement. [136520]

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

  Social Conduct Code
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance has been issued by the Director General of Service Personnel Policy based on the reviewed Code of Social Conduct; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [112621]

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

  Submarines
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many SSNs would be capable of continuous deployment in cycles based on an SSN fleet of(a) four, (b) five and (c) six such boats. [139595]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of Royal Navy attack submarines required to maintain a continuous deployment depends on the nature of the deployment and the operational circumstances pertaining at the time. In the future, the new Astute class will bring improved capability and increased availability for Royal Navy SSN deployments.

  Surplus Arms Stores (Developing Countries)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on the security of British soldiers deployed overseas of measures to reduce surplus arms stores in developing countries. [131129]

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

  Sustainable Development
  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what remit relating to sustainable development is required by his Department's(a) executive agencies, (b) advisory non-departmental bodies, (c) executive non-departmental bodies, (d) tribunals, (e) public corporations and (f) other bodies. [116673]

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

  Mr. Horam
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which United Kingdom commitments arising from the World Summit on Sustainable Development(a) have been incorporated into the Department's existing delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements and
  970W
  (b) will be incorporated in its delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements in advance of the 2004 Spending Review. [113881]

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

  Territorial Army
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army soldiers are(a) in the Gulf and (b) overseas; and how many are preparing for deployment in the Gulf. [138952]

  Mr. Caplin
  As at 13 November 2003, 1,780 members of the Territorial Army (TA) are currently serving in the Gulf, with a further 295 serving elsewhere overseas. 580 members of the TA are currently preparing to deploy to the Gulf, although many of these individuals will not arrive in theatre until after the Christmas period.

  Training Establishments
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made by principal personnel officers of the resources needed to bring medical facilities at training establishments up to required minimum standards; and how many and what percentage of establishments fall below those standards. [112628]

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

  Transport Aircraft
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many transport aircraft, and of what type, are used by the armed forces. [98294]

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

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his expenditure plans are for transport aircraft in the next five years. [98295]

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

  Voluntary Organisations
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding programmes are operated by his Department to support voluntary organisations working with young people; and what the level of support has been over the last three years. [116490]

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

  Vulcan Sky Trust
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support has been given to the Vulcan Sky Trust. [138836]

  Mr. Ingram
  None.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Bank Accounts (Post Offices)
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of basic bank accounts available are accessible at post offices; and of those, what proportion offer balance inquiries services at post offices. [140095]

  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.

  Alstom Transport UK
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often and on what dates during the last year she has met Mr. Paul Barron, Vice President of Alstom Transport UK, to discuss the future of the Alstom factory at Crashwood Heath in Birmingham; and what the outcome of these discussions was. [139301]

  Jacqui Smith
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met Paul Barron on 6 May 2003 to discuss Alstom's general restructuring plans and their impact on the company's operations in the UK, including Washwood Heath. Details of discussions between Ministers and company representatives must, for commercial reasons, remain confidential under Exemption 13—Third Party's Commercial confidences, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, but Mr. Barron stressed the need for the company to undertake global restructuring in order to address mounting debts and ensure a viable future. The Secretary of State has had discussions with Mr. Barron on a number of other occasions and these were detailed in her letter to you of 1 September 2003.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the number of experiments on animals has increased since 1997; what the average number of animals used has been in each year since 1997; and what plans she has to reduce the number of animals used in experimentation. [136143]

  Caroline Flint
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to my hon Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies in the UK provide animals for use in experimentation; whether they receive Government assistance; and what regulations control to whom they supply. [136145]

  Caroline Flint
  I have been asked to reply.

  The breeding and supply of animals for use in experimental or other scientific procedures in the United Kingdom is regulated under section 7 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. There are currently five commercial establishments licensed under the 1986 Act primarily concerned with the breeding and supply of
  972W
  animals for use in experimentation. In addition to these, 140 establishments designated under the 1986 Act also breed animals for use in experiments.

  Breeding and supplying establishments are only licensed if the Secretary of State is satisfied that they provide appropriate standards of care and accommodation as set out in the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals in Designated Breeding and Supplying Establishments presented to Parliament in 1995 under section 21 of the 1986 Act. A supplement to the code of practice dealing with the housing and care of ferrets and gerbils was published separately in 2001.

  None of the licensed breeding and supplying establishments, nor any other establishments licensed under the provisions of the 1986 Act, receive financial assistance from the Home Office nor, as far as available records show, from any other Government Department.

  The 1986 Act does not regulate the sale of animals. However, unless specifically exempted by the Secretary of State, species listed in Schedule 2 of the Act, including mice, rats, cats, dogs and primates, may only be obtained from designated breeding and supplying establishments for use in programmes of work licensed under the 1986 Act.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers she has to enforce the conditions contained in end-user control certificates; and what action she can take in case of breach of those conditions. [138618]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government refuses export licences where there is a clear risk that the goods will be used in contravention of the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

  The Government has no legal power to enforce conditions contained in end-user certificates. We would, however, take any misuse of equipment into account when assessing future export licence applications for the end-users in question. In addition, the Government has the power to revoke licences for exports to purchasers of concern, which would prevent any outstanding arms exports to that purchaser from leaving the United Kingdom. It could also cancel any open licences for exports to that destination country, obliging exporters to apply for individual licences for each export, or refuse to accept any assurances given by a country about the end-use of an export.

  We may liase with the Government in the country concerned, encouraging them to control or sanction the purchasers in question. If the end-user were a Government, we would have a wide range of foreign policy tools at our disposal.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to her Department in each year since 1997,
  973W
  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. [138063]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 12 November 2003]: I have asked each of the Chief Executives of my Department to reply.

  Letter from Claire Clancy to Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 November 2003:

  I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.

  I can confirm from our records that Companies House has not contracted any work to Bechtel since 1999. Our records for 1997–1998 have been archived, and to check this period would incur a disproportionate cost. Due to the nature of Bechtel's work, however, I am confident they were not contracted by Companies House to carry out any work during this period.

  Letter from Martin Wyn Griffith to Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 November 2003:

  I am replying on behalf of the Small Business Service (SBS), to the above question addressed to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. It concerns contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel, in each year since 1977.

  SBS only commenced operations as an Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on 1 April 2000. Since that date, SBS has not engaged the services of Bechtel.

  Letter from Desmond Flynn to Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 November 2003:

  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in of respect to your question (2002/4638) asking for a list of contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to the Office in each year since 1997, stating in ease case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract.

  I can confirm that The Insolvency Service has had no dealings with Bechtel during this time.

  Letter from lain MacGregor to Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 November 2003:

  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question asking her if she will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to her 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 she will make a statement.

  Bechtel has not carried out any contracts for consultancy or other work for National Weights and Measures Laboratory.

  Letter from Kevin Woodrow to Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 November 2003:

  In the absence of Alison Brimelow, Chief Executive, I am replying to this parliamentary question, tabled on 7 November 2003, about contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for each year since 1997.

  The Patent Office has had no contracts for consultancy or other work with Bechtel during this period.

  Letter from Roger Heathcote to Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 November 2003:

  You asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to list contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to her Department in each year since 1997. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service (ETS), which is an Agency of the DTI.
  974W
  I can confirm that the ETS has had no contracts with Bechtel over the period in question.

  Letter from David Smith to Malcolm Bruce, dated 19 November 2003:

  The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the Radiocommunications Agency to your Parliamentary Question about contracts with Bechtel.

  The Agency has no record of contracting with Bechtel since 1997.

  Broadband
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government is taking to ensure that broadband is available throughout the Glasgow, Pollok constituency at the earliest possible date. [139407]

  Mr. Timms
  BT has recently informed the Department that ADSL has been enabled to all exchanges throughout the Glasgow, Pollok constituency. They are currently reviewing areas where not everybody will be able to receive an ADSL service, as they may live too far from the exchange and these will be published on their website shortly. BT announced on 17 November 2003 that they have set trigger levels for 2,300 more exchanges, (http://www.bt.com/broadband/). Broadband services are increasingly being made available via a range of alternative technologies across Scotland, for example, cable, one-way and two-way broadband satellite, fixed wireless and local wireless networks. The Scottish Executive is committed to extension of broadband to every area in Scotland. They offer a Broadband Business Incentive grant to encourage broadband take-up and information is available from Scottish Enterprise's website: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/services-to-business/broadband.htm

  Climate Change
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the contribution of the Carbon Trust to progress on meeting climate change targets.[134948]

  Mr. Morley
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Carbon Trust was launched in 2001 as part of the Climate Change Programme. A formal review of the Climate Change Programme is planned for 2004 that will include an assessment of the contribution of the Carbon Trust towards climate change targets.

  The Carbon Trust has undertaken an impact assessment of their programmes as part of their annual review which is available via their website www.thecarbontrust.co.uk.

  Coal Miners' Compensation
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to ensure that all eligible compensation claims for those suffering from coal-related diseases are submitted before March 2004. [140046]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Following Lord Justice Turner's agreement to a cut-off date of 31 March 2003 for submitting respiratory disease claims under the Claims Handling Agreement, the Department implemented a
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  comprehensive communication plan to ensure that the date was communicated as widely and expeditiously as possible.

  We have written to all widows who receive pensions under the Mineworkers Pension Scheme.

  Under the plan we have carried out two comprehensive newspaper advertising campaigns and will carry out a further two such campaigns before the cut-off date. The Department's advert has also been carried in a number of coal industry publications and the Department's own "Compensation for Miners" newsletter.

  The budget for this is £100,583.

  References to the cut-off date are also carried on both of the Department's websites—www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth and www.coalclaims.com.

  Coal Mining
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the coal mining industry in the UK. [1400471]

  Mr. Timms
  The coal mining industry continues to make an important contribution to the economy, supplying around 50 per cent. of the country's total coal needs and some 60 per cent. of its coal-fired electricity generation feedstock. The Government are working to secure a future for viable deep and opencast mines. In June 2003, they launched Coal Investment Aid, which has a budget of up to £60 million for allocation of over the next three years to provide up to 30 per cent. support for eligible mining investment projects. An announcement about awards in response to first period applications for Coal Investment Aid is expected soon.

  Electricity
  Mr. Beard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average balance between supply and demand of electricity was at(a) peak and (b) off-peak times last winter; what she estimates the balance is likely to be in (i) five years time and (ii) 10 years time; and what her forecasts are of (A) demand and (B) the projected investment plans of the industry over those periods. [138875]

  Mr. Timms
  According to figures published in the DTI Digest of UK Energy Statistics, the maximum simultaneous electricity load met during the winter of 2002–03 was 61,717 MW. This represented 87.6 per cent. of the generating capacity owned by major power producers in the UK, although this figure would fall to 85.2 per cent. if the interconnector with France were included. Average load across the whole winter period (October to March) was approximately 49,000 M W.

  Provisional estimates arising from work to update the DTI energy projections in Energy Paper 68 indicate that electricity demand is likely to grow by around 1.25 per cent. per annum over the next decade. On this basis, demand in five years time would be around 6 per cent. above current levels and demand in 10 years around 13 per cent. above current levels.
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  Future investment by the industry, and hence the future balance between supply and demand, is a commercial matter for electricity market participants. The UK market provides strong financial incentives for electricity suppliers to contract for sufficient power to meet their customers' needs and for generators to deliver the power they have contracted to provide.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much electricity generating capacity was available in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997, listing the contribution made by(a) coal, (b) gas, (c) nuclear power, (d) oil, (e) imports and (f) others; and what projections she has made of available generating capacity from each of these in the United Kingdom in each year to 2020. [139816]

  Mr. Timms
  Figures for the electricity generating capacity available in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997 are published in Table 5.7, Plant Capacity, of the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2002–03. Copies of this publication are available in the Library of the House.

  The latest full published projections of available generating capacity in the United Kingdom up to 2020 are published in Annex G, ESI Capacity, of Energy Projections for the UK, Energy Paper 68. This publication is also available in the Library of the House. Work to update these projections is currently underway for completion around March 2004. The latest projections, representing work in progress, are available on the DTI web site (www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/projections.pdf).

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the benefits of transmitting energy underground. [134127]

  Mr. Timms
  None. It is recognised that compared with overhead lines, there are potential benefits of underground transmission. However, benefits must always be weighed against cost, which at 400,000 volts in particular, is significantly higher per kilometre than an overhead line.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much spare generating capacity there is in the United Kingdom; and how much spare capacity her Department deems to be a sufficient safety net to safeguard electricity supplies for winter 2003–04. [139814]

  Mr. Timms
  The October 2003 Update to the National Grid Company (NGC) Seven Year Statement projects a plant margin of 19.3 per cent. for England and Wales for the winter 2003–04. By way of comparison, the projected plant margin for the winter of 2002–03 in NGC's October 2002 Update was 17.4 per cent. NGC project that peak demand under average cold spell (ACS) conditions this winter would be 55,900 MW and that the registered capacity of generating stations, including interconnectors with France and Scotland, would be 66,697 MW. The figures do not include additional reserves that NGC has recently contracted for and nor do they allow for any further return of mothballed plant.
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  The electricity market provides electricity suppliers and generators with strong financial incentives to deliver the power they have contracted to provide. It is not the Government's role to specify how market participants should meet their contracted obligations.

  The Department of Trade and Industry, together with Ofgem, monitors the security of gas and electricity supplies through the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS). The latest report from JESS was published on the Department's web site (www. dti.gov.uk/energy/jess/jessreport3.pdf) on 12 November and copies will be placed in the library of the House when available.

  Employment Rights
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will make an announcement regarding section 23 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 in relation to employment rights for clergy. [139856]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Government hopes to publish a response to the DTI Review of Employment Status in relation to statutory employment rights around the turn of the year.

  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to announce the results of her Department's consultation on employment rights for atypical workers, with special reference to clergy. [139939]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Government hope to publish a response to the DTI Review of Employment Status in relation to statutory employment rights around the turn of the year.

  Estate Agents
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims against estate agents have been taken to the civil courts: how many have been upheld; and how much financial compensation has been awarded in each year since 1997. [139671]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  This information is not collected by the Department.

  EU Committees
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the dates of meetings of the(a) EU Committee for the implementation of the multiannual community programme to stimulate the establishment of the information society in Europe and (b) EU Advisory Committee on the development and reconversion of regions during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; which 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 she will make a statement. [132762]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:
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  (a) There were no meetings of this Committee during the Danish and Greek presidencies. The programme was discussed at the Information Society working group during co-decision negotiations with the European Parliament.

  (b) The Committee for the Development and Conversion of Regions (CDCR) is chaired by DG REGIO the Directorate General for the Regions, and meets 10 times a year. All of its activities are a matter of record and are available on DG REGIO's "circa" website: http://forum.europa.eu.int

  The Committee discusses matters relating to the implementation of structural funds in the EU. Much of its work during the Danish presidency was concentrated on the simplification, clarification, coordination and flexibility of the structural policies. During the Greek presidency, the CDCR discussed a wide range of issues, including the Commission's revised indicative guidelines on the structural funds and their coordination with the Cohesion Fund.

  The CDCR has met four times since the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham on 13 May 2003, Official Report, columns 169–70W. Its structure and remit are unchanged.

  There was no representative from the Scottish Executive at these meetings. The UK is represented by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry who represent all of the UK.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under "Exemption 2: internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the Government do not release details of such meetings.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the dates of meetings of the(a) EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of protective equipment and systems for use in explosive atmospheres and (b) EU Committee on implementation of the multiannual programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; which 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 she will make a statement. [132763]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) I believe that the hon. Member is referring to the Standing Committee set up in Article 6 of Council Directive 94/9/EC Of 23 March 1994 on the approximation of laws of the member states concerning Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres (the "ATEX" Directive).

  The meeting scheduled for 11 December, during the Danish presidency was postponed until 6 and 7 February 2003, during the Greek Presidency. Agenda items for the February meeting were categorised under; questions of scope; questions of conformity assessment; questions of transition (1.7.2003); questions on the ATEX guidelines;

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  reports from CEN standardisation committees; cooperation between EU notified bodies; progress in candidate countries concerning the implementation of the ATEX Directive, and, report from DG Enterprise concerning the ATEX "Workplace" Directive 1999/ 192/EC.

  The next meeting of the Standing Committee is scheduled for 4 December 2003. The UK is represented by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who represent all of the UK.

  (b) The Enterprise Programme Management Committee met in Brussels on 17 October 2002 and on 13 March 2003. The main business of the former meeting was to discuss and approve multi-annual programme (MAP) activity for 2003, amendments to approved MAP activity for 2002 and proposals to take forward particular projects. The main purpose of the latter meeting was to consider the report on MAP implementation during 2002, amendments to the approved 2002 and 2003 activities and an evaluation of the 2001–05 MAP.

  UK officials consult widely and ensure that the views of the devolved administrations, including the Scottish Executive are fully reflected at committee meetings.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under Exemption2: Internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, the Government does not release details of such meetings.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the dates of meetings of the(a) EU Committee for the implementation of the multiannual community action plan on promoting the safe use of the internet and (b) EU committee for management of generalised preferences during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; which 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 she will make a statement. [132764]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Common Commercial Policy is not devolved to the Scottish Executive. The GSP is part of the EU's Common Commercial Policy on which the Community have competence.

  The Committee met on 7 November 2002 and agenda items included the Implementation of Article 12 of Regulation No. 2501/2001, with respect to graduation, the request of Ukraine for the special incentive arrangements for the protection of labour rights, Information on other requests for the special incentive arrangements and information on judgment concerning case T?113/00 (DuPont Teijin Films Luxembourg SA; Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH; Toray Plastics Europe SA v. Commission).

  On 29 November 2002 and 13 December 2002, the Committee discussed the implementation of Article 12 of Regulation No. 2501/2001, with respect to graduation.
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  On 25 March 2003, items discussed included a request according to Articles 26 to 28 of the Regulation No. 2501/2001 concerning Belarus, request of Sri Lanka for the special incentive arrangements for the protection of labour rights (for exchange of views), information on other requests for the special incentive arrangements and information on India's complaint in WTO.

  The GSP Working Party met on 6 November 2002 and on 5 March 2003 to discuss the SPG Regulation, on 27 February 2003 to discuss the application of a generalised tariff preference schemes from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004.

  (b) The IAPPC (Safer Internet Action Plan Committee) met on 28 October 2002 and 16 May 2003. The October 2002 agenda included: progress on the implementation of projects selected in 2002, report on activities of hotlines co-funded by the Action Plan, procedure for selecting contractor for final evaluation of programme, update on recent events (Racism Workshop, Police and hotlines workshop, extension of IAPCODE contract, discussions with candidate countries), proposal for a two-year extension of the programme, discussion paper on eSafe Work Programme 2003–04 and recent developments from member states. The May 2003 agenda included: the adoption of the Council Decision for the extension of the Work Programme to year 2003–04, a final evaluation of the programme, the criteria and content of the call for proposals, rules of procedure and national events, progress and particular issues related to illegal and/or harmful content on the internet. The Commission also organised a consultation day for committee members and the public on 12 September 2003 on the forthcoming programme (2005–08).

  UK officials consult widely and ensure that the views of the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under "Exemption 2: internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the Government do not release details of such meetings.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the dates of meetings of the(a) EU Committee for the harmonisation of national legislation relating to recreational craft, (b) EU Standing Committee on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to machinery and (c) EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of cosmetics during the Danish and Greek Presidencies; what items were on each agenda; which 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 she will make a statement. [132765]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) I believe that the hon. Member is referring to the Standing Committee set up under Article 6 of Directive 94/25/EC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of member states relating to recreational craft. The last meeting was held on 27 January 2003 in Brussels. The items on the Agenda

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  included a discussion concerning the updated rules of procedure of the Standing Committee; an update on the guide to the application of the Directive; a review of the Recreational Craft Sectoral Group's recommendation for use sheets; an exchange of views on administrative co-operation between member states and a discussion. There was no representative of the Scottish Executive at this meeting; the UK is represented by two officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) who represent all of the UK.

  (b) The Standing Committee set up under Article 6.2 of Directive 98/37/EC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to machinery has met twice during the period of the Danish and Greek Presidencies.

  On 28 March, the agenda items discussed were: co-ordination of notified bodies; progress on standardisation; electric hoists on lift car tops; safety belts on industrial trucks; standards on portable handheld machines; tipping equipment for fitting to road lorries; and mobile transport platforms.

  On October 23 and 24, the agenda items discussed were: mobile transport platforms; press brakes; annex ZA of harmonised standards, co-ordination of notified bodies; duration of type examination certificates; recommendations for use; progress on standardization; machines that use gas as fuel; Pr EN 13683 (garden equipment); Karting; prototypes; translation issues; EN 14122–4 (fixed ladders); climbing frames; automatic dough dividers; steam boilers; agricultural spray equipment; and, visibility from vehicles.

  There was no representative from the Scottish Executive at these meetings. The UK is represented by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry who represent all of the UK. They are supported by a technical expert from the Health and Safety Executive

  (c) The Committee for the Adaptation to Technical Progress (CATP) of Directive 76/768 on Cosmetic Products met twice during the Danish Presidency (on 22 July and 30 September 2002) and twice during the Greek Presidency (on 4 February and 29 April 2003). Under the Danish Presidency, discussions took place on the draft 27th and 28th Amendments to the Cosmetic Directive and these amendments were also adopted in this period. During the Greek Presidency, the 29th and 30th Amendments to the Cosmetics Directive were considered and adopted. The amendments all involved technical amendments (relating to substances allowed/ restricted for use in cosmetics) to the annexes that form part of the Cosmetics Directive.

  There was no representative from the Scottish Executive at these meetings. The UK is represented by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry who represent all of the UK. When technical amendments to the Cosmetics Directive are proposed, which usually relate to toxicological issues, the views of Department of Health and chemical advisers are sought.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under "Exemption 2: internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the Government do not release details of such meetings.
  982W
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the dates of meetings of the(a) EU Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions, (b) EU Advisory Committee on concentrations between undertakings and (c) EU Committee for implementation of the action programme to tackle discrimination during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; which 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 she will make a statement. [132766]

  Ms Hewitt
  Competition is a reserved matter under the Scotland Act.

  (a) The Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions is the body through which the European Commission carries out its duty to consult member states on decisions and amendments to EC competition law that it proposes to adopt. Office of Fair Trading officials represent the UK at these meetings, but may be accompanied by officials from Government Departments and other regulators where they have a particular interest.

  The Committee met in October, November and December 2002 and in March and May 2003, and discussed a number of anti-trust cases including those involving video games, auction houses, reinforcing steel bars, speciality graphites, beef and veal, food flavour enhancers, network sharing agreements for mobile phones and high-speed internet services.

  (b) The Advisory Committee on concentrations between undertakings meets to discuss all cases subject to detailed examination under the EC Merger Regulation and the Office of Fair Trading represents the United Kingdom with Ministers playing no role.

  The Committee also meets to discuss draft Commission guidance associated with EC Merger Regulation and broader policy issues raised by the European merger regime. The Committee met three times in July 2002; twice in October 2002; once in November 2002, December 2002 and March 2003; twice in April 2003; and once in June 2003.

  (c) In the relevant period there has been one meeting of the Committee for the Community Action programme to combat discrimination, on 6 December 2002. Among the items discussed were the draft Work Programme 2003, the Presentation of 2003 disability specific initiatives (European Year of People with Disabilities), Part financing the Platform of European Social NGOs- Awareness raising measures, the Results of Eurobarometer survey on the perceptions of discrimination, and the Evaluation of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia.

  When appropriate UK officials consult widely and ensure that the views of the devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under Exemption2: Internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, the Government do not release details of such meetings.
  983W
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the dates of meetings of the(a) EU Accounting Directives Contact Committee, (b) EU Advisory Committee on opening up public contracts and (c) EU Committee on the directives on names and labelling of textile products during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; which 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 she will make a statement. [132767]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The last three meetings of the EU Accounting Directives Contact Committee took place on 12–13 December 2001,14 October 2002 and 27 March 2003. The Contact Committee discussed the Accounting Directives, including the Modernisation of the Accounting Directives, the Fair Value Directive and the interaction of national law and the European Regulation on International Accounting Standards.

  (b) During the Danish presidency there was a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Public Procurement in Brussels on 9 December 2002.

  The (substantive) items on the agenda were: the adoption of new rules of procedure, recent case law, public private partnerships, local public services, statistics and the related subject of indicators, forthcoming negotiations on coverage under the WTO GPA review and the establishment of a Working Group on e-procurement.

  During the Greek presidency there were two meetings of the Advisory Committee on Public Procurement in Brussels on 11 March and 18 June 2003.

  On 11 March the (substantive) agenda items were: public private partnerships, exchange of views on the review of the remedies directives, recent case law, presentation of and discussion of SOLVIT and the Public Procurement Network (PPN), qualification of construction firms, statistics and indicators, WTO procurement developments, the Community Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) and standard forms.

  On 18 June the (substantive) agenda items were: information on the Internal Market Strategy, discussion on the replies to a questionnaire on the review of the remedies directives, progress on the legislative package, information on the PPN, presentation and discussion of an ongoing Commission study on SME access to public procurement contracts, public procurement in the field of defence, WTO procurement developments, proposal for a CPV amending regulation, standard forms and statistics.

  (c) No meeting of the EU Committee on Directives relating to Textile Names and labelling took place during the Danish and Greek presidencies.

  There was no representative from the Scottish Executive at these meetings. The UK is represented by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry who represent all of the UK.
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  With regard to preparatory meetings, under "Exemption 2: Internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the Government do not release details of such meetings.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the(a) EU Committee for the harmonisation of credit insurance provisions for transactions with medium and long-term cover, (b) EU Advisory Committee on standardisation in the field of information technology, (c) EU Committee on general authorisations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services and (d) the EU Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions in the transport industry met during the Danish and Greek presidencies; and if she will make a statement. [132768]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) There were no meetings of the EU Committee for the harmonisation of credit insurance provisions for transactions with medium and long terms cover in 2002–03, during the period corresponding to the Danish and Greek presidencies of the council.

  This Committee would only be involved in the case of an unresolved disagreement as to the status of a debtor.

  There were no such disagreements in 2002–03 so the committee was not convened.

  (b) I believe that the hon. Member is referring to the Senior Officials Group on Information Technology Standardisation, which has not met since 1999.

  (c) The EU Committee on general authorisations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services (Licensing Committee) did not meet during the period in question. Its work was taken over in October 2002 by the Communications Committee (COCOM), which met seven times during the period in question. Agenda items included progress towards implementation of the new regulatory package; measures to encourage new market entrants, to promote the deployment of broadband and to discourage unsolicited commercial e-mail; adoption of common technical standards; the appointment of a registry to run the new "EU" top level domain internet address.

  (d) The Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions in the transport industry is the body through which the European Commission carries out its duty to consult member states on decisions and amendments to EC competition law in the field of transport which it proposes to adopt. The Committee met once in Brussels in the period in question: in September 2002, it discussed a revision to the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement on liner shipping conferences.

  When appropriate UK officials consult widely and ensure that the views of the devolved administrations, including the Scottish Parliament are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under "Exemption 2: Internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the Government does not release details of such meetings.
  985W
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the(a) EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of electric materials used in an explosive atmosphere, (b) EU Committee on the directives on names and labelling of textile products, (c) EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of directives on the removal of technical barriers to trade in the sector of measuring instruments and methods of metrological control, (d) EU Advisory Committee on telecommunications procurement and (e) EU Committee on the implementation of open network provision met during the Danish and Greek presidencies; and if she will make a statement. [132770]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) I believe that the hon. Member is referring to Committees set up under "Old Approach" Directives 79/196/EEC, and 82/130/EEC.Adaptation to technical progress could only be made to these directives by amending directives incorporating updated harmonised standards. Directives 94/26/EC and 97/53/EC amended Directive 79/196/EEC and Directive 98/9/EC amended Directive 82/130 EEC.

  All these Directives were repealed on 30 June 2003 and superseded by "New Approach" Directive, 94/9/EC on the approximation of laws of the member states concerning Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres, (ATEX). This Directive is concerned with a wider range of ignition risks arising from electrical and mechanical equipment and dusts. It is my belief that there have been no meetings in respect of adapting to technical progress directives, since 1998.

  (b) No meeting of the EU Committee on Directives relating to Textile Names and labelling took place during the Danish and Greek presidencies.

  (c) No such EU Committee is currently active (which was also the position during both the Danish and Greek presidencies).

  (d) This Committee did not meet under the Danish or Greek presidencies.

  (e) The EU Committee on the implementation of open network provision (ONP) met once during the period in question, on 10 July 2002. Its work was taken over in October 2002 by the Communications Committee (COCOM), which met seven times during the period in question. Agenda items included progress towards implementation of the new regulatory package; measures to encourage new market entrants, to promote the deployment of broadband and to discourage unsolicited commercial e-mail; adoption of common technical standards; the appointment of a registry to run the new ".eu" top level domain Internet address.

  UK officials consult widely and ensure that the views of the devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under "Exemption 2: Internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the Government do not release details of such meetings
  986W
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Committee on the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on promotion of innovation and participation of SMEs and (b) the EU Coordination Group to promote uniformity of application of the general system for the recognition of higher education diplomas (first general system) during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; which 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 she will make a statement. [132797]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) With the advent of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), which was launched in December 2002, the committee system was restructured to reflect the format of the new programme. Innovation issues are now considered by the Research and Innovation committee and SME issues are covered by the horizontal committees on structuring the European Research Area and integrating and strengthening the European Research Area.

  The FP5 Innovation & SMEs committee met on two occasions during the Danish Presidency, on 10 July and 17 October 2002.

  During these meetings, the opinion of the committee was sought on the first batch of innovation projects accepted for funding and on the second batch of proposals for supporting the setting up and development of innovative firms. There was also discussion on a range of other issues including:

  tender for the CORDIS database contract and the future of the service;

  the results of an analysis of Technology Transfer and Validation projects under Framework Programmes four;

  the Innovation Trend chart;

  2001 Innovation and SME Monitoring report; and

  the contracts for two Innovation Relay Centres.

  The FP6 Research and Innovation Committee met on three occasions during the Danish Presidency: on 29 October, 19 November and 4 December 2002.

  During these meetings, there was discussion on:

  introduction to the Work Programmes of the Specific Programme 'Structuring the European Research Area';

  common criteria for evaluating proposals and common rules of procedure for the sub-programme committees; and

  the draft Work Programme for the Research and Innovation sub-programme.

  There were no meetings of this committee under the Greek Presidency. Each member state is permitted to send no more than one delegate to the committee. However, UK officials consult widely to ensure that the views of the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, are fully reflected at committee meetings.

  The horizontal committees on structuring the European Research Area and integrating and strengthening the European Research Area met on three

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  occasions during the Greek Presidency: on 4 March, 21 May and 9 July 2003. These covered the following SME issues:

  information on the first call for collective research proposals;

  information on SME participation in first calls of thematic priorities;

  information on the results of the first deadline for co-operative research; and

  information and discussion on the planning of co-operative research calls in 2004.

  The European Commission's meetings of the SME and Innovation Programme Committee were attended by DTI officials. The agendas and minutes of these meetings are circulated to the Devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, and any views expressed by them are reflected at committee meetings.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under Exemption2: internal discussion and advice, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, the Government do not release details of such meetings.

  (b) This Committee falls within the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the dates of meetings of(a) the EU Telematics between Administrations Committee (TAC), (b) the EU Advisory Committee on State Aid for the application of Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty to certain categories of horizontal State Aid (exemption) and (c) the EU Advisory Committee on State Aid on the arrangements for applying Article 93 of the EC Treaty (procedure) 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 she will make a statement. [132822]

  Ms Hewitt
  The information is as follows:

  (a) There were three TAC meetings under the Danish presidency. Agenda items included included discussion on the IDA 2002 Work Programme; the future of IDA and eEurope; and IDA II mid-term evaluation, and the IDA Work Programmes for 2002 and 2003.

  There were five TAC meetings under the Greek presidency. Agenda items included the strategy for implementing the portal of the EU administration, the IDA Work Programme and eEurope, the 2003 IDA Work Programme, a Communication on Interoperability and Global Implementation Plans and Preparatory Reports for a number of projects.

  (b) The EU Advisory Committee on State Aid for the application of Article 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty to certain categories of horizontal State Aid (exemption) met once during the Danish and Greek presidencies. The meeting was held on 24 July 2002 and the sole item on the agenda was discussion of Commission proposals for a Block Exemption for State aid for employment.
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  The EU Advisory Committee on State Aid on the arrangements for applying Article 93 of the EC Treaty (procedure) met twice during the Danish and Greek presidencies. The meetings were held on 17 December 2002 when the sole item on the agenda was discussion of informal Commission proposals on reform of State aid procedures and on 18 December 2002 when the sole item on the agenda was discussion of Commission proposals on Services of General Economic Interest.

  The Department consults widely on the topics for discussion at these meetings and the views of the devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive are fully reflected at Committee meetings.

  With regard to preparatory meetings, under "Exemption 2: Internal advice and discussion, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information", the Government do not release details of such meetings.

  Export Controls
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will discuss with(a) the Foreign Secretary, (b) the Secretary of State for International Development, (c) the Secretary of State for Defence and (d) the European Commission the allegations made by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme in the (i) debate on Export Controls on 6 November and (ii) debate on the Export Control Bill on 8 November 2001 in relation to arms supplies to Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if she will take steps to investigate the allegations. [138668]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Investigations into alleged breaches of arms embargoes and Sanctions regimes is a matter for HM Customs and Excise.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2003,Official Report, columns 104–05W, on the Export Control Act 2002, what (a) controls and (b) sanctions would apply under (A) orders made under the Export Control Act 2002 coming into force on 1 May 2004 and (B) European Union measures to an individual with United Kingdom residence rights and business interests but joint Zimbabwean and Dutch nationality who supplied arms or military supplies to Zimbabwe through (i) United Kingdom incorporated companies and (ii) Zimbabwe incorporated companies, which are associated with or controlled by her; [138696]

  (2) in what circumstances an individual dealing in arms who has United Kingdom residence rights but who does not hold a United Kingdom passport would be subject to the controls and sanctions of the orders due to come into force on 1 May 2004 under the Export Control Act 2002; [138697]

  (3) in what circumstances United Kingdom companies (a) controlled by and (b) associated with an individual with United Kingdom residence rights but joint Zimbabwean and Dutch nationality which are dealing in arms to Zimbabwe would be subject to restrictions and sanctions contained in the orders coming into force on 1st May 2004 under the Export Control Act 2002; [138698]
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  (4) in what circumstances an individual dealing in arms to Zimbabwe who has United Kingdom residence rights but holds joint Zimbabwean and Dutch nationality would be subject to the controls contained in the orders which will come into force on 1 May 2004 under the Export Control Act 2002; [138699]

  (5) whether the Export Control Act 2002 and the orders due to come into force on 1 May 2004 will apply to the activities of UK-based arms dealers who have UK residence rights but are not UK passport holders and who supply arms to Zimbabwe through companies incorporated and based overseas. [138700]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Trade in Goods (Control) Order prohibits trade in specified military equipment between countries outside the UK unless the Secretary of State grants a licence. In the case of long-range missiles, specially designed components and equipment used in torture, the controls will apply to any trading activities done in the UK and also to the activities of UK persons anywhere in the world. For trade in any other equipment on the UK Military List to non-embargoed destinations, the controls will apply where any part of the trading activity takes place in the UK. The maximum penalty under this Order, for trading without a licence, is a fine for any amount or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.

  A "UK person" is defined as a UK national, a Scottish Partnership, or a body incorporated under the law of any part of the UK. Controls on trade from a country outside the UK to an embargoed destination will be introduced by a separate Order to be made under Section 4 of the Export Control Act 2002. Trade activities carried out in the UK or by a UK person anywhere in the world are prohibited without a licence. The relevant embargoed destinations will be those subject to non-binding United Nations Sanctions, and European Union, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UK national, embargoes. The maximum penalty under these Orders, for promoting the supply or delivery of any relevant goods to the embargoed destination without a licence, will be a fine for any amount or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.

  Zimbabwe is subject to both EU and national embargoes. On 18 February 2002 the Council of the European Union agreed a range of targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe (Council Common Position 2002/145/CFSP), including an embargo on the sale or supply of arms by nationals of member states and from the territory of member states, a ban on the supply of training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms, and a ban on the sale or supply of certain equipment which might be used for internal repression. The European Council subsequently adopted Council Regulation (EC) 310/ 2002 implementing certain measures of the Common Position, including the ban on the sale or supply of equipment for internal repression and technical assistance related to arms.

  The Zimbabwe (Sale, Supply, Export and Shipment of Equipment) (Penalties and Licences) Regulation 2002 (SI 2002/868) gives effect to EU Regulation 310/2002. The maximum penalty under the UK Regulation, for promoting the sale, supply or shipment of equipment
  990W
  which might be used for internal repression or the provision of relevant technical assistance to Zimbabwe without a licence, is a fine, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both. Presently, under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the maximum penalty for the export of controlled goods from the UK to Zimbabwe without a valid export licence is a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, or both. This is to be increased to 10 years imprisonment from 1 May 2004 under the Trade in Good (Control) Order.

  A licence would be required under the new trade controls by a UK person anywhere in the world or any person acting in the UK who negotiated or arranged a contract with an overseas partner which he or she knew or had reason to believe would result in the movement of controlled goods from an overseas country to an embargoed destination. This would include trade to a third country where he or she knew or had reason to suppose that the goods were ultimately destined for an embargoed destination. The controls would apply to trading activity done from the UK regardless of whether it was undertaken through UK or foreign registered companies.

  Fair Trade
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to promote fair trade accreditation at UK universities. [138387]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 18 November 2003,Official Report, columns 544–45W.

  Fireworks
  Mr. Lyons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking to prevent misuse of fireworks. [117395]

  Ms Blears
  I have been asked to reply.

  I apologise for the delay in replying.

  The Police and Criminal Justice Act 2001 introduced fixed penalty notices for disorder–letting-off of fireworks in a public place is one of the offences covered by the scheme. In addition the Department for Trade and Industry introduced a voluntary agreement with the firework industry from January 2003 preventing the supply of airbombs. The Government also supported the Private Member's Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, South (Mr. Tynan), which received royal assent on the 18 September and which will allow more effective controls on fireworks.

  Insolvency
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) company insolvencies and (b) individual insolvencies there were in each quarter since 1997. [139815]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The figures requested are supplied in the following table.
  991W
  Figures on individual and company insolvencies are available from the DTI's quarterly insolvency press release. This can also be found on the website at www.dti.gov.uk/sd/insolv

  Year/quarter

  Company insolvencies1

  Individual insolvencies1

  1997

  Q1

  3,017

  6,021

  Q2

  3,183

  6,421

  Q3

  3,196

  6,093

  Q4

  3,214

  5,906

  1998

  Q1

  3,123

  5,746

  Q2

  3,291

  5,776

  Q3

  3,373

  6,306

  Q4

  3,416

  6,721

  1999

  Q1

  3,741

  6,785

  Q2

  3,653

  7,042

  Q3

  3,428

  7,503

  Q4

  3,458

  7,476

  2000

  Q1

  3,522

  7,612

  Q2

  3.431

  7,440

  Q3

  3,775

  7,200

  Q4

  3,589

  7,276

  2001

  Q1

  3,825

  7,473

  Q2

  3,765

  7,591

  Q3

  3,692

  7,324

  Q4

  3,690

  7,387

  2002

  Q1

  4,014

  7,244

  Q2

  4,130

  7,596

  Q3

  3,882

  7,779

  Q4

  4,280

  7,967

  2003

  Q1

  3,672

  8,146

  Q22

  3,825

  8,738

  Q33

  3,398

  9,094

  1Seasonally adjusted

  1Revised

  1Provisional

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much revenue has been generated from fees charged by the Insolvency Service in respect of(a) company winding-up petitions, (b) creditors' petitions and (c) debtor's petitions in each year since 1997. [139819]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  Due to the nature of the current Insolvency Fees structure it is not possible to disaggregate the amount of fees recovered between(a) company winding-up petitions, (b) creditors' petitions and (c) debtor's petitions.

  Total fees recovered for each year since 1997 for Insolvency fee earning activities were:

  Amount (£000)

  1997–98

  35,155

  1998–99

  37,892

  1999–2000

  38,197

  2000–01

  41,777

  2001–02

  44,859

  2002–03

  52,589

  Manufacturing Advisory Service
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many inquiries about the Manufacturing Advisory Service have been made by firms in(a) York unitary authority and (b)Yorkshire; [135939]

  (2) how many firms in (a) York unitary authority and (b) Yorkshire have taken up services offered by the Manufacturing Advisory Service; [135940]

  (3) how many training events have been held by the Manufacturing Advisory Service in Yorkshire. [135941]

  Jacqui Smith
  The Manufacturing Advisory Service (Yorkshire and Humber) has, since its launch in May 2002 to 17 November 2003, dealt with(a) 110 inquiries from firms in the York unitary authority area; and, (b) 2,563 inquiries from firms in Yorkshire and The Humber.

  In total, services offered by Manufacturing Advisory Service (Yorkshire and Humber) have been taken up by (a) 23 firms from the York unitary authority area; and (b) 547 firms in Yorkshire and The Humber.

  The Manufacturing Advisory Service (Yorkshire and Humber) has held 16 training events.

  Overall, the Manufacturing Advisory Service (Yorkshire and Humber) has so far delivered a total added value of 4.5 £million to firms in the region.

  Market Research
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much her Department spent on(a) opinion polling and (b) market research in the last financial year; and if she will make a statement. [139983]

  Ms Hewitt
  The department does not centrally collect the information sought at the required level of detail and to provide it would entail disproportionate cost.

  Statistical surveys to businesses and local authorities conducted by the Department and its agencies are monitored centrally to facilitate control of compliance costs to business and departmental expenditure on survey activity. It is not possible, however, to determine with any degree of accuracy which surveys fall into the categories of market and opinion research, or which contain an element of these. The answer would incur disproportionate cost because of the need to ask all Directorates in DTI to attempt to provide details of each survey and piece of research commissioned.

  Mobile Phone Masts
  Virginia Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of third generation mobile telephone masts that will be required in Surrey.[136281]

  Mr. Timms
  It is not possible to give a reliable estimate of the number of new masts that will be needed to fulfil the obligations of the 3G licensees, whether in total or by area. The number of masts required in an area will be affected by the level of consumer demand for 3G services, by commercial decisions related to the design of the networks, by the physical topography and by the requirements of planning authorities.

  Mobile Phones
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will issue guidance to mobile phone companies urging them to cancel mobile phone SIM cards when customers cancel contracts. [138609]

  Mr. Timms
  This is a matter for the mobile phone operating companies and should involve no liability for customers.

  Mr. Fallon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding(a) fraud and (b) market abuse in the prepaid mobile telephone card market; and what action she is taking. [140019]

  Mr. Timms
  No representations have been received regarding either fraud or market abuse in the pre-paid mobile phone card market.

  There are no plans to take any action with regard to the pre-paid mobile telephone card market.

  NTL Complaints
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints Oftel received about NTL in the last 12 months; what action Oftel has taken in response to complaints; and when she next plans to meet the Chief Executive of NTL. [139805]

  Mr. Timms
  Between 1 November 2002 and 17 November 2003 Oftel received 5,202 complaints about NTL. In line with Oftel's policy of allowing telecommunications companies the opportunity to resolve complaints in the first instance, about 80 per cent. of the complaints were devolved to NTL to resolve. The remainder were handled by Oftel. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has no immediate plans to meet the Chief Executive of NTL.

  Oil and Gas Industry
  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact on the control of the UK's oil and gas industries of the draft European Constitution; and if she will make a statement. [139420]

  Mr. Timms
  My Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the draft Constitution on the Department's powers to regulate recovery of hydrocarbons from the UK Continental Shelf. This assessment notes that Article III-157 of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty would give the EU competence in energy matters, including natural resources, with voting by qualified majority. Also that Article III-130(2)(c) provides for unanimity on "measures significantly affecting a Member State's choice between different energy sources and the general structure of its energy supply". Under the Treaty establishing the European Community, there is already Union activity in energy matters and we believe there is a strong case for making the legal base for policy in this area more transparent. However, the UK Government would not agree to any proposal that was inconsistent with UK energy interests.

  Post Office Closures
  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many urban post offices in Scotland have been(a) proposed and (b) approved for closure since the inception of the Network Reinvention Scheme. [139024]

  Mr. Timms
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: 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 and country. It does not record details of proposals on this basis. In Scotland, there have been 28 closures under the urban reinvention programme to the end of September 2003, the latest quarter for which figures are currently available.

  Post Offices (Benefit Payments)
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the volume of transactions across post office counters was(a) in total, (b) for child benefit payments, (c) for pensions payments, (d) for Veterans Agency pensions and (e) for Jobcentre Plus in the last year for which figures are available. [139672]

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

  Printer Cartridges
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library copies of correspondence between her Department and the European Commission concerning the status of printer cartridges within the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. [139197]

  Mr. Timms
  There has been no written correspondence on this subject between the Government and the Commission.

  Radio Frequency Identifier Devices
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with retailers about the use of radio frequency identifier devices. [140030]

  Mr. Timms
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not met with retailers specifically to discuss the use of radio frequency identification (REID) devices.

  DTI supports wider and innovative use of REID as a business technology that can bring significant productivity improvements, reduce the opportunity for crime and enhance customer service. Demonstrator projects have been funded under the Basic Technologies and Next Wave programmes investigating REID applications in retail, supply chain, construction and transport sectors.

  DTI also seeks to identify and spread best practice, and better inform consideration of. REID technologies by working with the Auto-Identification Manufacturers trade association (AIM UK) and sector specific fora such

  995W
  as the British Retail Consortium, the Buildings Research Establishment and the Institute of Logistics and Transport.

  Red Tape
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to reduce the administrative burden on small businesses. [139901]

  Nigel Griffiths
  I can confirm today that the small company audit exemption threshold will be raised to the EU maximum of £5.6 million. This will mean 69,000 companies will be added to the 822,000 already able to make their own decision about whether to have their accounts audited. This is expected to save companies at least £94 million a year.

  The recent OECD review of EU countries shows the UK has almost the lowest administration cost and few regulations for entrepreneurs than any other EU country.

  We are seeking further improvements through Regulatory Impact Assessments, 'Think Small First' and 'Small business Europe', which promotes better regulation.

  Royal Mail Group
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list foreign acquisitions by the Royal Mail Group since May 1997; what the cost of the acquisition was in each case; what their contribution to the Royal Mail Group's profit and loss account was in the most recent period for which figures are available; which acquisitions have since been divested from Royal Mail; and what the net contribution to the Royal Mail Group was in such cases. [139854]

  Mr. Timms
  Royal Mail's overseas investments are the responsibility of the Royal Mail Board. I have therefore asked the Deputy Chairman to reply direct to my hon. Friend.

  Small Business Council
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the(a) cost and (b) remit of the Small Business Council was in 2002–03; what use has been made of the council by businesses in Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland; and if she will make a statement. [139570]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The cost of the Service in 2002–03 in millions was £349 million, which includes programme budgets.

  Information about the use of the service in the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency is not collected separately. In the Middlesbrough area the Tees Valley Business Link has helped 465 businesses to start up and has provided advice and guidance to 1,151 businesses during 2002–03. Further information is available from Tees Valley Business Link.

  The remit of the Small Business Service is to help build an enterprise society in which small firms of all kinds thrive and achieve their potential, with an increase in the number of people considering going into business, an improvement in the overall productivity of small firms, and more enterprise in disadvantaged communities.
  996W
  The SBS Annual Report (HC 807) placed in the Libraries of the House on 14 July 2003 gives an overview of national progress, costs and impact.

  Small Loans Guarantee Fund
  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) applications have been received and (b) awards have been granted by the Small Loans Guarantee Fund in the last six years for which figures are available within (i) the Scottish Borders, (ii) Scotland and (iii) the UK. [139484]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Since 1997, 29,205 UK businesses have received loan guarantees through this scheme.

  The total number of loans guaranteed for the Scottish Borders, Scotland and the UK over the last six years are shown in the following table.

  Borders

  Scotland

  UK

  2003–04

  (April to September)

  4

  401

  2,866

  Guaranteed

  2002–03

  Guaranteed

  10

  558

  3,916

  2001–02

  Guaranteed

  16

  698

  4,269

  2000–01

  Guaranteed

  19

  621

  4,312

  1999–2000

  Guaranteed

  23

  526

  4,279

  1998–99

  Guaranteed

  16

  408

  4,482

  1997–98

  Guaranteed

  16

  440

  5,081

  Total

  104

  3,652

  29,205

  There is no figure for the number of loan applications made to banks and other lenders.

  Training
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with(a) the Department for Education and Skills, (b) the Learning Skills Council, (c) voluntary sector training providers and (d) other interested parties regarding training and re-training in manufacturing and industry; and if she will make a statement. [139426]

  Jacqui Smith
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, works closely with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, meeting regularly to discuss areas of joint interest. They jointly lead and chair the Skills Alliance, which brings Government together with key Social and Economic partners, and delivery agencies, including the LSC and SSDA, to drive the implementation of the Government's Skills Strategy.
  997W
  The Skills Strategy, published in July 2003, aims to ensure that employers have the right skills to support the success of their businesses and organisations, and individuals have the skills they need to be both employable and personally fulfilled.

  Through the Government's Manufacturing Strategy we are working closely with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that UK manufacturing has the skills it needs as it increasingly moves to high value, knowledge intensive operations.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Higher Education White Paper
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the additional cost of implementing the proposals in the higher education White Paper in the first three years that they come into effect] [139752]

  Alan Johnson
  We plan to publish a Regulatory Impact Assessment before the end of the year which will set out the impact of this change alongside the financial implications of the other policies announced in the Higher Education White Paper.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Answer of 12 November,Official Report, columns. 354–5W, on the Higher Education White Paper, how many responses to the consultation on the White Paper on Higher Education were received from honourable Members; how many were included in the total in the Government's response to the consultation; and how many other responses received by (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments and agencies within the time limit for the consultation were not included in the total in the Government's response. [139453]

  Alan Johnson
  Seven hon. Members responded to the invitation to comment on the White Paper and were included in the total in the Government's commentary of responses.

  All other responses similarly were included in the total in the commentary of responses which was published on 28 July 2003.

  Non-EU Students
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the 50(a) universities and (b) further education colleges with the highest numbers of non-European Union students registered for courses, giving the number of non-European Union students registered at each institution for the last year for which figures are available. [131724]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest available figures are given in the table.

  Non EU overseas students studying in English institutions, 2001–02

  Number

  HE Institutions1

  Middlesex University

  3571

  London School of Economics and Political Science

  3425

  998W

  Non EU overseas students studying in English institutions, 2001–02

  Number

  The University of Oxford

  3265

  The University of Cambridge

  3065

  The University of Nottingham

  3042

  The University of Warwick

  3038

  University College London

  2933

  The London Institute

  2911

  The University of Leeds

  2855

  The University of Birmingham

  2827

  The Victoria University of Manchester

  2795

  The University of Sheffield

  2440

  The University of Westminster

  2104

  Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine

  2014

  City University

  1872

  King's College London

  1869

  Oxford Brookes University

  1825

  University of Luton

  1759

  The University of Leicester

  1710

  The University of North London

  1678

  The University of Northumbria at Newcastle

  1618

  The University of Central Lancashire

  1582

  University of Hertfordshire

  1567

  The University of Bristol

  1565

  The University of Liverpool

  1544

  The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  1539

  The University of Hull

  1533

  The University of Essex

  1521

  The University of Salford

  1509

  The University of Reading

  1466

  The University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology

  1459

  Anglia Polytechnic University

  1457

  The University of Greenwich

  1453

  The University of Lancaster

  1383

  The University of Portsmouth

  1381

  The University of Bath

  1348

  Coventry University

  1344

  Leeds Metropolitan University

  1328

  South Bank University

  1308

  The University of Surrey

  1302

  The University of East London

  1299

  The University of Wolverhampton

  1295

  De Montfort University

  1233

  Queen Mary and Westfield College

  1183

  The University of Southampton

  1147

  Loughborough University

  1134

  The University of Bradford

  1108

  The University of East Anglia

  1100

  The University of Kent at Canterbury

  1081

  London Guildhall University

  1072

  Further Education Colleges2

  City College, Birmingham

  810

  Brooklands College

  747

  Bradford College

  731

  Liverpool Community College

  704

  Guildford College of Further and Higher Education

  656

  Richmond Adult and Community College

  603

  South tyneside College

  591

  Kingston College

  581

  Bournville College of Further Education

  538

  Crawley College

  500

  Oxford College of Further Education

  483

  Lambeth College

  477

  Solihull College

  398

  City College, Manchester

  392

  Newham College of Further Education

  380

  Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies

  379

  Chichester College

  376

  West Herts College

  376

  Reading College and School of Arts and Desigh

  360

  Barnet College

  351

  Manchester College of Arts and Technology

  338

  Croydon College

  317

  Dudley College of Technology

  317

  Leicester College

  313

  999W

  Non EU overseas students studying in English institutions, 2001–02

  Number

  Harrow College

  304

  Lewes Tertiary College

  302

  South Thames College

  298

  Oaklands College

  295

  New College Nottingham

  281

  Gloucestershire College of Arts and Technology

  279

  East Berkshire College

  276

  Blackpool and The Fylde College

  271

  Bournemouth and Poole College

  265

  Northampton College

  247

  Swindon College

  243

  Wigan and Leigh College

  235

  City of Bath College

  217

  Southgate College

  216

  Park Lane College

  214

  Thomas Danby College

  213

  Southampton City College

  206

  Stratford Upon Avon College

  205

  Barnfield College

  206

  Northbrook College, Sussex

  203

  Bracknell and Wokingham College

  201

  Broxtowe College, Nottingham

  194

  The Henley College

  190

  Suffolk College

  185

  Walsall College of Arts and Technology

  179

  Havering College of Further and Higher Education

  178

  1 HE figures cover Non-EU overseas students studying HE and FE in English HEIs including the OU, based on a census count as at 1 December.

  2 FE data cover Non-EU overseas students studying HE and FE in English FECs, based on a census count as at 1 November.

  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and Learning Skills Council (LSC)

  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what percentage of non-European Union students at(a) further education colleges and (b) universities successfully completed their courses for each of the last five years for which figures are available; [131725]

  (2) if he will list the 50 universities with the lowest percentage of non-European Union students successfully completing their courses, giving the percentage for each institution in the last year for which figures are available. [131726]

  Alan Johnson
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  For universities and other HE sector institutions, the available information on non-completion rates is published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in "Performance Indicators in Higher Education in the UK", but this information covers UK domiciled students only.

  For the FE sector, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) only publish success, retention and achievement rates for those learners funded by the council in further education colleges and external institutions in England. However, the majority of learners from countries outside of the European Union are not funded by the LSC—so figures are not available. Furthermore, the LSC do not publish further education institution success, retention and achievement rates based on less than 500 learners as they can be misleading. In 2001/02, less than 15 further education institutions in England had more than 500 LSC funded non-European Union students.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [137880]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  My Department has not awarded any contracts to Bechtel during this period.

  Capital Projects
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what the Government guidelines are for bids in relation to capital projects for schools; and how counties will apply for funds; [138874]

  (2) when the bids for capital projects to build new schools were sent out to counties. [138873]

  Mr. Miliband
  There are currently two main bidding rounds through which local education authorities (LEAs) are able to apply for capital funding for their school estates, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) and Targeted Capital Fund (TCF).

  The guidelines for the BSF programme were set out in guidance sent to all LEAs on 17 July 2003. The TCF guidance was issued to LEAs on 21 July. Both sets of guidance have been deposited in the House of Commons Library.

  In both cases authorities were invited to prepare proposals based on the guidance, and to submit their proposals by 31 October 2003. We hope to announce successful projects for the first phase of BSF (due to start in 2005–06) in early January 2004, and successful TCF projects (due to start in 2004–05) will be announced at the end of January.

  Expressions of interest for later years BSF funding are due to be submitted by LEAs by 19 December 2003. A further phase of successful BSF projects will subsequently be announced at the end of March.

  Childhood Obesity
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how he intends to measure the impact of the Travelling to School action plan on childhood obesity. [138745]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  "Travelling to School: an action plan" describes how we are encouraging every school to draw up a School Travel Plan in consultation with parents, pupils, local authorities and other partners. School Travel Plans will help schools, local education and transport authorities identify what needs to be done to make it safe and practical for more children to walk, cycle and take the bus to school. The School Travel Planning process includes regular checks on the way pupils travel from home to school, indicating how many children are taking regular exercise which will improve their health and reduce the risk of obesity.

  Official Residences
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department spent on(a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [134688]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My Department has not had any costs relating to Government owned official residences since 1997.

  Education Villages
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what discussions and consultations education authorities were required to carry out on education villages; [138879]

  (2) how many schools have bid for capital funding for education villages in the South West; [138953]

  (3) what the estimated total cost for education village bids is for the next two financial years; [138954]

  (4) how many bids have been received for village education centres; [139043]

  (5) whether the bids for (a) capital projects, (b) education improvements and (c) education villages are publicly available. [138872]

  Mr. Miliband
  Although we are unfamiliar with the term education village, we understand that this expression has been used at some local meetings in Somerset when discussing the local education authority's (LEA) proposal for Building Schools for the Future (BSF).

  My written statements of 26 February and 26 June 2003 explain the aims of BSF, which is a programme of rebuilding and renewal to ensure that secondary education in every part of England has facilities of 21st century standard within 10 to 15 years (subject to future spending decisions), from 2005–06, when over £2 billion will be made available for investment.

  We asked LEAs to consult widely on their proposals for BSF, as set out in guidance for LEAs, a copy of which I have placed in the House of Commons Library. The closing date for submission of proposals for the first wave was 31 October.

  The Department does not make capital bids publicly available, because the bidding processes involve an exchange of information which is given in confidence. Whilst we are not aware of a bidding programme specifically aimed at education improvements, all capital investment is designed to raise educational standards in schools.

  Although Somerset is the only LEA to be using the term education village in this context, we have received 53 BSF proposals (including the one for Somerset) for consideration for the first wave of investment. Three of these are from the South West.

  Foundation Degrees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the 1002W
  number of students who will be studying foundation degrees in 2010; and how many he expects to study locally. [139085]

  Alan Johnson
  The estimated number of full-time equivalent places on foundation degree courses in English universities from 2002–03 to 2005–06 are given below. Projections by whether the student is living at home while studying are not available.

  Full-time equivalent student places on foundation degree courses (academic year)

  2002/03

  9,500

  2003/04

  12,000

  2004/05

  30,000

  2005/06

  50,000

  Note:

  These numbers include HND places being replaced by foundation degrees.

  It should be noted that the total number of students in 2010 would depend on a number of factors, including demographic trends and rate of growth in participation towards the end of the decade. It is not possible therefore to make an estimate for 2010.

  GCSEs
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of fifth-form pupils in(a) England, (b) comprehensive schools, (c) grammar schools, (d) secondary modern schools and (e) grammar and secondary modern schools taken together have achieved (i) five or more A* GCSEs, (ii) five or more A* or A GCSEs and (iii) five or more A*-C GCSEs in each year since 1997. [139029]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information requested is given in the tables:

  (a) England

  Percentages

  Academic Year

  (i)15 year olds achieving five or more A* grades at GCSEs

  (ii) 15 year olds achieving five or more grades A*-A at GCSEs

  (iii)five or more A*-C GCSEs in each year since 1997

  20031

  2.9

  12.3

  52.6

  2002

  3.0

  12.2

  51.6

  2001

  2.8

  12.1

  50.0

  2000

  2.6

  11.7

  49.2

  1999

  2.4

  11.2

  47.9

  1998

  2.1

  10.6

  46.3

  1997

  1.7

  9.8

  45.1

  1 Provisional

  (b) Comprehensive schools

  Percentages

  Academic Year

  (i) 15 year olds achieving five or more A* grades at GCSEs

  (ii) 15 year olds achieving five of more A*-A at GCSEs

  (iii) 15 year olds achieving five or more grades A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ

  20031

  1.5

  8.7

  50.1

  2002

  1.5

  8.6

  48.8

  2001

  1.5

  8.5

  47.1

  2000

  1.4

  8.3

  46.4

  1999

  1.2

  7.8

  45.0

  1998

  1.1

  7.4

  43.1

  1997

  0.9

  6.8

  41.8

  1 Provisional

  1003W

  (c) Grammar schools

  Percentages

  Academic Year

  (i) 15 year achieving five or more A* grades at GCSEs

  (ii) 15 year olds achieving five or more grades A*-A at GCSEs

  (iii) 15 year olds achieving five or more grades A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ

  20031

  15.0

  51.59

  7.4

  2002

  14.9

  50.89

  7.5

  2001

  113.5

  49.7

  97.5

  2000

  12.5

  47.9

  97.3

  1999

  11.3

  45.1

  96.4

  1998

  9.3

  42.0

  95.4

  1997

  7.1

  37.6

  94.1

  1Provisional

  (d) Secondary modern school

  Percentages

  Academic Year

  (i) 15 year olds achieving five or more A* grades at GCSEs

  (ii) 15 year olds achieving five or more grades A*-A at GCSEs

  (iii) 15 year olds achieving five or more grades A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ

  20031

  0.2

  2.7

  40.8

  2002

  0.3

  2.6

  38.8

  2001

  0.2

  2.5

  36.8

  2000

  0.2

  2.1

  34.6

  1999

  0.1

  2.0

  32.8

  1998

  0.1

  1.5

  31.1

  1997

  0.0

  1.3

  29.0

  1 Provisional

  (e) Grammar and secondary modern schools

  Percentages

  Academic Year

  (i) 15 year olds achieving five or more A* grades at GCSEs

  (ii) 15 year olds achieving five or more grades A*-A at GCSEs

  (iii) 15 year olds achieving five or more grades A*-C at GCSE/GNVQ

  20031

  7.1

  25.4

  67.2

  2002

  7.0

  24.9

  66.0

  2001

  6.3

  24.2

  64.7

  2000

  5.9

  23.4

  63.8

  1999

  5.6

  23.3

  64.2

  1998

  4.6

  21.5

  62.8

  1997

  3.5

  19.3

  61.3

  1 Provisional

  Graduate Tax
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish side-by-side comparative analyses of the cashflow profiles, showing projected expenditure and receipts of(a) the graduate payback scheme proposed in the White Paper on Higher Education and (b) the principal variants of a graduate tax which his Department has considered.[139342]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the two letters to my hon. Friend from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, dated 11 April 2003 and 3 June 2003. Copies of both letters are in the House Library. I also refer my hon. Friend to the Government response to the Education and Skills Select Committee's report on the Higher Education White paper, published on 28 July, and to a letter to my hon. Friend from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, dated 12 November 2003.
  1004W
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place in the Library copies of focus group research which his Department has carried out into(a) higher education funding and (b) possible graduate contribution schemes. [139364]

  Alan Johnson
  Copies of "Student funding: findings from a two-stage programme of qualitative research on the funding of higher education" were placed in the Library and posted on the Department's Internet site on 28 March 2003.

  Graduates
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent reports he has received from Barclays Bank in respect of changes to the time it is taking for graduates to find a permanent employed position after leaving university. [139628]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department has not received any recent reports from Barclays Bank on the changing patterns of graduate employment.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent reports he has received from Barclays Bank regarding recent levels of average graduate salaries. [139639]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department has not received any recent reports from Barclays Bank on average graduate salaries.

  Higher Education
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on widening participation in higher education in each year since 1997; on what schemes; and how much will be spent in each of the next five years. [137203]

  Alan Johnson
  Excluding student support, the relevant schemes and initiatives are as follows:Aimhigher (previously called Excellence Challenge) provides grants mainly to schools and colleges to raise the aspirations and attainment levels of young people. The Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) Partnerships for Progression provides funds to universities for outreach. The White Paper The future of higher education announced that these two initiatives would be merged to form a new Aimhigher programme. Between 1998 and 2003, HEFCE established regionally based widening participation projects. Expenditure on these schemes and initiatives to 2005–06 are given in the following tables.
  In addition, HEFCE uses part of its teaching grant to provide a widening participation premium to universities to assist them with the additional costs of recruiting and retaining students from non-traditional backgrounds. The amount for this is £255 million in 2003–04, which includes £10 million from the Department's Aimhigher/Excellence challenge budget. HEFCE's disability allocation (£10 million in 2003–04) provides additional funding to universities to support recruitment and retention of disabled students.

  Plans for expenditure after 2005–06 will be determined during the next spending review.
  1005W

  £ million

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004–051

  2005–061

  Excellence Challenge/higher

  —

  —

  —

  50

  69.5

  100

  —

  —

  Partnerships for Progression

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  20

  —

  —

  The new Aimhigher

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  126

  128

  HEFCE's Regional projects

  1.5

  5

  5

  5

  5

  —

  —

  —

  Total non-student support

  1.5

  5

  5

  55

  74.5

  120

  126

  128

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what models of higher education funding his Department has assessed based on increases to(a) basic rate income tax, (b) basic rate national insurance payable by individuals and businesses, (c) income tax paid by higher rate taxpayers only and (d) national insurance payable by individuals and businesses in respect of higher rate taxpayers only. [139163]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the two letters to my hon. Friend from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, dated 11 April 2003 and 3 June 2003. Copies of both letters are in the House Library. I also refer my hon. Friend to the Government response to the Education and Skills Select Committee's report on the Higher Education White paper, published on 28 July, and to a letter to my hon. Friend from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, dated 12 November 2003.

  Household Incomes
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will publish the latest research he has commissioned on average household incomes by(a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local education authority in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland. [139634]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Farrelly dated 19 November 2003:

  Percentages

  (a) Wiltshire LEA

  (b) Dorset LEA

  (c) Devon LEA1

  England

  English

  Maths

  English

  Maths

  English

  Maths

  English

  Maths

  20032

  74

  77

  75

  77

  70

  73

  68

  70

  2002

  70

  73

  72

  73

  71

  71

  67

  67

  2001

  69

  72

  70

  73

  65

  70

  65

  66

  2000

  70

  71

  70

  72

  63

  67

  64

  65

  1999

  71

  69

  67

  69

  66

  66

  64

  62

  1998

  71

  66

  68

  65

  68

  64

  65

  59

  1997

  63

  67

  62

  68

  60

  63

  57

  60

  1 For 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.

  2 The 2003 information is based on provisional data.

  1006W
  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question relating to research commissioned on average household incomes by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local education authority in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland.

  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has not commissioned any research on average household incomes by parliamentary constituencies or by local education authorities. However, estimates of average household income and household disposable income are available at regional, sub-regional and local area levels (NUTS levels 1, 2 and 3 respectively), and were published in a news release on 26 March 2002, available on the National Statistics website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/reg0302.pdf.

  In most cases, NUTS level 3 areas are groups of administrative areas that are also local education authorities, but this is not the case throughout the UK.

  ONS has also conducted work to develop estimates of average incomes at the ward level, and the results should be published within the next three months. However, these estimates cannot simply be aggregated to parliamentary constituencies or local education authorities. These results will be the best estimates at the ward level, and to produce the best estimates for parliamentary constituencies or local education authorities, different methodologies are likely to be more appropriate.

  I understand that there is work carried out by the devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland on household incomes at various geographic levels.

  Key Stage 3
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children in(a) Wiltshire, (b) Dorset and (c) Devon gained level 5 or above in the Key Stage 3 tests in (i) English and (ii) mathematics in each year since 1997. [138963]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The percentage of pupils achieving Level 5 or above at Key Stage 3 in (a) Wiltshire (b) Dorset and (c) Devon in (i) English and (ii) mathematics from 1997 onwards are:

  Licensed Qualifications
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to introduce a licensed qualification for(a) bricklayers and (b) hairdressers; and if he will make a statement. [138960]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  We have no plans to introduce licensed qualifications for either bricklayers or hairdressers. While a statutory approach, such as a licence to practice or operate, may suit some industries, we believe that collaborative voluntary action will be the appropriate route for most sectors.

  We have an excellent example of such an employer led initiative in the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). Major contractors have made a commitment to improve performance by requiring members of their workforce to hold an industry record card—normally the CSCS.

  In the skills strategy we stated our determination to put employers' needs centre stage; it is for employers, not Government, to determine through their Sector Skills Council, whether this kind of agreement for collaborative action should be pursued.

  Local Education Authorities
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total targeted transitional grant is that he expects to give to local education authorities; and whether this sum is additional to the total DFES support grant available for local education authorities. [139093]

  Mr. Miliband
  Indicative allocations of targeted transitional grant for 2004–05 were published on 29 October: these totalled £120 million. Allocations for 2004–05 will be confirmed later this month. I expect to make around half the 2004–05 level of grant available nationally in 2005–06: details will be confirmed in due course. The transitional grant is additional to the funding for local education authorities which was announced following the Spending Review 2002.

  In addition, if any local education authority is able to put forward a compelling case that additional, transitional funds are needed in the short term—above and beyond those already available to the LEA—my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be prepared to consider bringing forward grant payments from my department, so that the LEA will have funds available in 2004–05 for this purpose, with the expectation of a consequential reduction to what they will receive in future years. The maximum amount that might be made available to each LEA in this way would be 300,000 per authority, or 0.2 per cent. of the authority's total education resources in 2004–05, if that is higher.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions he has had on modern apprenticeships; what plans he has to expand Government aided apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement. [139444]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and his ministerial colleagues have regular meetings with numerous organisations and agencies 1008W
  to discuss modern apprenticeship developments. The Secretary of State has agreed to take part in a panel discussion at the Confederation of British Industry conference to address skills issues including modern apprenticeships. There are plans for Sir Roy Gardner, Chair of the Modern Apprenticeship Task Force, to feed back the task force's interim findings to the Secretary of State and myself.

  The Government are wholly behind modern apprenticeships as a high quality work-based learning option for young people. We are fully committed to implementing the reforms recommended by the Modern Apprenticeships Advisory Committee under Sir John Cassels, and more recent skills strategy announcements. We have adopted a PSA target for 2004 of 28 per cent. of young people entering a modern apprenticeship before the age of 22. We have made sufficient resources available to ensure that we meet this target and are on course to achieve it.

  Office of Fair Access
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the(a) capital expenditure and (b) running costs likely to arise as a result of the establishing of the Office of Fair Access. [137474]

  Alan Johnson
  This matter will be addressed in the explanatory notes which will be published when legislative proposals are presented to the House. We have proposed, in "Widening Participation in Higher Education" that OFFA will be separate from but supported by HEFCE. We do not expect any significant capital expenditure.

  Primary Schools (Essex)
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the vacancy figure for primary school teachers in Essex was on 1 September 2003. [139523]

  Mr. Miliband
  Vacancy information is collected in January of each year. Information for January 2003 is shown in table 17 of the Schools Workforce in England statistical first release (SFR) of 9 September 2003. A copy of this SFR has been placed in the Library. The table is also available on the statistics section of the DfES website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000411/index.shtml

  School Performance Tables
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost of publishing stand-alone school performance tables for Key Stage 3 was. [139087]

  Mr. Miliband
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4 July 2003,Official Report, column. 680W. The Key Stage 3, GCSE/GNVQ and post-16 performance tables are managed as one exercise so there are no separate costings.

  Schwarz Review
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what process he followed in appointing Mr. Steven Schwarz to lead a review into admissions to higher education; what(a) exchanges and (b) representations took place between himself and Mr. Schwarz regarding the independence of such a review; and what guidelines there are regarding independence of reviews carried out at his request.[139123]

  Alan Johnson
  The Secretary of State for Education and Skills appointed Professor Steven Schwartz following discussion with organisations in the higher education sector. This included contact with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), and Universities UK (UUK).

  The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has drawn up clear terms of reference for the Admissions to Higher Education Steering Group which are set out in its recent consultation paper, "Consultation On Key Issues Relating To Fair Admissions To Higher Education", available from www.admissions-review.org.uk.

  The Admissions to Higher Education Review adheres to good practice in preserving the independence of such reviews. This is demonstrated by the following:

  Professor Schwartz, vice-chancellor of Brunel University, has been chosen as an independent chair from the HE sector.

  Professor Schwartz has a Steering Group whose members represent a wide range of interests and views.

  The secretariat support to the Steering Group is led by consultants seconded from universities, rather than permanent civil servants.

  Any services commissioned by the Steering Group where resources or facilities are provided by the DfES have been subject to service level agreements.

  An independent press agency has been used for all matters relating to the review.

  Statistical Bulletin
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place in the Library statistics for the most recent available year consistent with those on which DFES statistical bulletin 13–84 was based. [139028]

  Mr. Miliband
  The Department does not produce figures in the form of bulletin 13–84 and to produce an update in that form would involve disproportionate cost.

  Student Drop-outs
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evidence he has collated on the differences in student drop-out rates between institutions, correlated with the socio-economic class of those dropping out.[135780]

  Alan Johnson
  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 1010W
  Library. The figures cover full-time first degree courses only and show the proportion of entrants who failed to complete their course for each individual HE institution in the UK. This data is not disaggregated by social class. However, the publication does show the proportion of young full time first degree entrants from the 'lower' social class categories for each institution.

  However, a number of research studies have explored the factors associated with students dropping out of higher education. The evidence shows that non-completion is a complex process that cannot normally be explained by a single factor. Other important factors (many of which are inter-related) include:

  Incompatibility between the student and their course or institution;

  lack of preparation for higher education;

  lack of commitment to the course:

  level of prior attainment;

  financial hardship;

  poor academic progress;

  health and other personal reason;

  age;

  gender; and

  whether or not the individual applied through clearing.

  Studies in this area include:

  (i) 'Right Choice? A follow up to "Making the Right Choice"' by Connor H, Pearson R, Pollard E, Tyers C, Willison R. Universities UK 2001, available from http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/pubs/report.php?id = 1427uuk

  (ii) 'Effects of in-class variation and student rank on the probability of withdrawal: cross-section and time-series analysis for UK university students', by Arulampalam W, Naylor R A and Smith J, presented at the Royal Economic Society Conference at the University of Warwick in March 2002. It can be downloaded from http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/economics/staff/faculty/naylor/publications/

  (iii) 'Dropping Out: A study of early leavers from Higher Education' by Rhys Davies and Peter Elias, DfES Research Report 386 available from http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/

  (iv) 'Higher Education: Student Retention' a report made by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to the House of Commons Education and Employment Committee, found at http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200001/cmselect/cmeduemp/124/12402.htm.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research his Department has(a) conducted or (b) received into the relationship between a student's financial position and their propensity to drop out of higher education; and what conclusions he has drawn. [139626]

  Alan Johnson
  A number of research studies have explored the factors associated with dropping out of higher education. These include:

  Improving student achievement in the English higher education sector HC 486, Parliamentary Session 2001/2002;

  "Dropping Out: A study of early leavers from Higher Education" (2003) Rhys Davies and Peter Elias, DfES Research Report 386; and

  Yorke, M (1997) "Undergraduate Non-completion in Higher Education in England" Bristol HEFCE;

  Arulampalam, W., Naylor, R. A. and Smith, J., "Effects of in-class variation and student rank on the probability of withdrawal: cross-section and time-series analysis for UK university students," presented at the Royal Economic Society Conference, University of Warwick, March, 2002;
  1011W
  "Right Choice? A follow-up to 'Making the Right Choice"', Connor H. Pearson R, Pollard E, Tyers C, Willison R. Universities UK 2001;

  "Losing out: socio-economic disadvantage and experience in further and higher education" May 2003 Joseph Rowntree Foundation Smith J. and R. A. Naylor, "Dropping out of University: a statistical analysis of the probability of withdrawal for UK university students," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, 2001, vol. 164, pp. 389–405;

  The evidence shows that non-completion is a complex process that cannot normally be explained by any single factor. Incompatibility between the student and their course or institution and a lack of preparation for higher education are the most commonly cited reasons for dropping out of higher education. Other reasons, which are often inter-related, include:

  lack of commitment to the course;

  financial hardship;

  poor academic progress; and

  health or other personal reasons.

  Research also shows that students with lower prior attainment and those who apply through clearing are more likely to drop-out of higher education other things being equal.

  Student Loans
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on costs to his Department of raising the repayment thresholds on student loans to £15,000 a year. [137574]

  Alan Johnson
  We plan to publish a Regulatory Impact Assessment before the end of the year which will set out the impact of this change alongside the financial implications of the other policies announced in the Higher Education White Paper.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of(a) the total outstanding size of student loan debt with the Government and its agencies in each year since 2001 and (b) the total Government payment for full or partial remission of tuition fees since 2001; and if he will list the planning assumptions for the size of each for the next three years. [139022]

  Alan Johnson
  On(a) the outstanding size of student loan debt for England and Wales at the end of financial year 2001–02, i.e. at 31 March 2002 was £7,203,199,000. A figure for student loan debt as at 31 March 2003 will be available when the DfES Resource Accounts for 2002–03 are published which is planned for December 2003. Planning assumptions are based around an increase of approximately £2 billion per annum in student loan debt for England and Wales. The Department does not hold figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

  On (b) the cost to the Government of the public contribution to existing tuition fee remission arrangements for English and Welsh domiciled students studying in the United Kingdom is £382 million for 2001/02 academic year. Projections of fee income to English HEIs from home and EU domiciled students will be available at the end of November.
  1012W
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent research his Department has undertaken to establish whether students differentiate between debt and income-contingent loans. [139636]

  Alan Johnson
  The Department has not undertaken research to establish whether students differentiate between debt and income-contingent loans.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average level of debt for a student leaving university was in each academic year since 1993–94. [139642]

  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 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 tranches 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. Most borrowers 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.
  1013W
  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 students graduating in 1998/99 was £3,462. The Department has conducted a SIES for the 2002/3 academic year which will be published shortly.

  Students
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent reports he has received on the percentage of students attending university whose parents were graduates; and what trends they demonstrate. [139638]

  Alan Johnson
  In 2002 36 per cent. of 18 year olds in higher education had at least one parent with a degree (Youth Cohort Study Cohort 10 sweep three). The table shows that the trend over time appears to be reasonably flat.

  18 year olds in higher education with at least one parent with a degree

  Percentage

  Year

  1994

  1998

  2000

  2002

  18 year olds in HE with graduate parent(s)

  35

  37

  38

  36

  Source:

  Youth Cohort Study cohorts 6,8,9 and 10

  Teacher Training
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to improve teacher training for further education college staff; and if he will make a statement. [138957]

  Alan Johnson
  In "Success for All" the Government set out its aim to enable six million learners to reach their potential. This depends on quality of teaching, which in turn depends on quality of teacher training. On 11 November we launched a consultation "The Future of Initial Teacher Education for the Learning and Skills Sector—An Agenda for Reform": http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations2/30.

  We want all our partners in the learning and skills sector including the Inspectorates, funding bodies, employers and unions to join us in developing this agenda for change. This will support our ambition for more successful and satisfying careers for current and future generations of teachers, to the lasting benefit of learners.

  Top-up Fees
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on top-up fees for university students; what assessment he has made of the effect of top-up fees on decisions by students from low-income families to pursue further and higher education; what steps he will take to encourage 1014W
  students from low-income families to enter further and higher education; and if he will make a statement. [139439]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 September 2003,Official Report, column 464W, in which I described the numerous representations which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received regarding variable fees. With respect to the impact of variable fees on students from low income backgrounds, I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle-Under-Lyme (Paul Farrelly) of 12 November 2003, Official Report, column 354W, in which I set out the Government's proposed measures for safeguarding access to higher education for those from low income backgrounds.

  Our AimHigher campaign provides a focus for the many and varied widening participation activities going on at an institutional, local and regional level. To date, it has reached 1,223 schools and sixth form colleges and a total of 129,130 pupils, and the evidence shows that it is working: applications for entry into higher education in 2003 are up 4.2 per cent. in AimHigher areas compared to 1.6 per cent. in non-AimHigher areas.

  The introduction of variable fees will not impact directly on those in further education. However, we aim to increase participation in further education through a range of actions set out in our 14–19 Skills for Life, Skills and Success for All strategies which will ensure that students from low income families have access to high quality opportunities which meet their individual needs and that they are encouraged to fulfil their potential.

  Tuition Fees
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on salaries for teaching and research staff at universities in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland; [139002]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure, under the proposals in the White Paper on Higher Education, equality of opportunity for English students seeking to go to universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland; [139164]

  (3) what assessment has been made of the impact so far of the different systems of student funding in the UK on cross-border flows of students from (a) England and Wales to Scotland and (b) Scotland to England and Wales; [139128]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on (a) research and (b) teaching at universities in (i) Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Northern Ireland; [139003]

  (5) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees in England on cross-border flows of students from (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland to universities in England;[139004]

  (6) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at English universities on the overall competitiveness of universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland;[139129]
  1015W
  (7) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees at universities in England on cross-border flows of academic staff to England from universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139130]

  (8) what assessment he has made of the possible impact of tuition fees in England on cross-border flows of English students to universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139005]

  (9) how, under the proposals in the White Paper on higher education, he will ensure equality of opportunity for (a) Welsh, (b) Scottish and (c) Northern Irish students to go to universities in (i) Wales, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland; [139105]

  (10) what assessment has been made of the overall impact of the implementation in England of the proposals in the White Paper on Higher Education on universities in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [139175]

  Alan Johnson
  We are involved in regular discussion with the devolved administrations on these issues.

  Funding decisions on higher education relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved administrations. Matters relating to student support are also devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Government propose, subject to Parliamentary approval, to transfer student support to the National Assembly for Wales.

  After legislation to give effect to the transfer is in place, Professor Teresa Rees will start an independent review of student support and tuition fees in Wales. This will include the key question of future policy on variable fees and will advise the Assembly on what it might do with its new student support powers. The Third Stage Higher Education Review in Scotland is currently assessing the impact of the proposals emanating from the White Paper The Future of Higher Education (Cm 5735).

  Subject to any provisions in their access agreements, it will be for individual institutions to determine how they spend income raised from variable tuition fees.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the residual income requirements are for full or partial remission of university tuition fees; and what the proposed residual income levels will be above which student grants will not be(a) fully and (b) partly paid from 2004. [139097]

  Alan Johnson
  For the present residual income requirements for full or partial fee remission, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 October,Official Report, column 438W.

  The income thresholds for 2004–05 have not yet been finalised. From 2004 academic year, new students from a household with an income of £15,200 or less will qualify for a full HE Grant of 1,000. Those from a household with income between £15,201 and £21,185 will qualify for a partial grant of between £50 and £1,000. We expect to announce the rates for the remaining thresholds within the next few weeks.
  1016W
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what fee remissions he proposes for(a) students from more modest backgrounds and (b) students taking up (i) medicine or (ii) teaching; [139627]

  (2) what further measures in respect of (a) maintenance grants and (b) student loans he intends to bring forward; and if he will make a statement. [139629]

  Alan Johnson
  The Government's policy on maintenance grants, student loans and tuition fee remission grant is set out in the White Paper "The future of higher education" (Cm 5735) published on 22 January 2003. I also refer to my written statement of 16 July 2003 to the House of Commons on raising the income threshold, for receipt of the full £1,000 Higher Education Grant, to £15,200.

  Universities
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has sought from businesses on their preferred methods of contributing to more funding for(a) teaching and (b) research in universities in the United Kingdom. [139174]

  Alan Johnson
  I have not specifically invited representations from business in relation to the funding of teaching in universities. As to research, a consultation on funding for research in Higher Education Institutions, The sustainability of University Research', was published by the Office for Science and Technology at the end of May. It closed for consultation on 30 September. Over 162 formal responses were received, including 11 from industry. These responses, and contributions from meetings with a range of organisations, are receiving careful consideration. The government anticipates an announcement on the outcomes of the consultation early in 2004.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the feasibility of implementing the recommendations in the report of July 2002 by the House of Lords Select Committee on the use of animals in scientific procedures; and if he will make a statement. [140045]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans there are to establish national research on the replacement of animals in basic medical research. [133349]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 22 October 2003]: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to enhance the status of alternative research to replace animal experiments. [133350]
  1017W
  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 22 October 2003]: The use of alternatives is widely encouraged and the use of animals in regulated procedures is prohibited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in cases where a scientifically valid non-animal alternative is available.

  Much importance is already attached to alternatives research, both by Government (including public service research funding bodies) and the scientific research community. The latter has considerable incentive to develop replacements for the use of animals, and has an impressive track record in doing so. Responsibility for further progress continues to rest primarily with the researchers themselves, as they try to overcome the technical limitations of those systems and methodologies still dependent upon animal use. The Government will continue their efforts to support that, with the added focus and impetus provided by the various related recommendations of the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures, the Government response to which has been well reported.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the levels of financial support other EU member states have given to alternatives to animal research; and what conclusions he has drawn. [133351]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 22 October 2003]: The Government have not commissioned any research into the levels of financial support other EU member states have given to alternatives to animal research and has no current plans to do so. However, we have not ruled out such research, should it become relevant to our consideration of the need for a United Kingdom centre for research into the alternatives.

  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to encourage alternatives to animal testing for medical research. [133541]

  Caroline Flint
  The use of alternatives is widely encouraged and the use of animals in regulated procedures is prohibited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in cases where a scientifically valid non-animal alternative is available. Every year the Home Office makes available to the Animal Procedures Committee (APC) a budget aimed at developing or promoting the use of alternatives which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used, or refine the procedures involved to minimise suffering (the 3Rs). Work aimed at improving the environmental conditions in which laboratory animals are kept and transported has also been sponsored. The amount made available to the Committee for 2003–04 for this specific purpose is £280,000.

  This is not the only money spent by the Government on alternatives, other Departments also fund such work. It is estimated that the total spent by the United Kingdom Government is between £2 million and £10 million each year. Industry also spends many millions of pounds each year on the search for and development of alternatives.

  We also support international initiatives, including the work of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). The Chief Inspector of
  1018W
  the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate is now the United Kingdom representative on the ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee and is contributing to discussions about the future direction of ECVAM's work. The Chief Inspector and other members of the Inspectorate also participated last year in the Fourth World Congress on alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, in New Orleans, which the Home Office co-sponsored.

  Alcohol (Public Places)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances he would advise a local authority to introduce a city-wide drinking ban using the model Home Office bye-law rather than a designated public places order; [136603]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances under which a designated public places order for a city-wide drinking ban may be used to address aggressive begging; [136599]

  (3) what the average length of time taken to implement a designated public places order has been from the day on which the local authority made a decision. [137239]

  Ms Blears
  Section 12–16 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (CJPA) came into force on 1 September 2001. The provisions in the Act allow local authorities to designate areas to restrict public drinking where there is evidence that nuisance is alcohol related. In such designated areas the police may use their discretionary powers to confiscate all alcohol where they reasonably believe that continued drinking in that place will lead to further disorder or nuisance. The CJPA provides the police with a more consistent set of powers including the power of arrest, which was not available in the previous bye-laws. Any relevant local authority drinking bye-law will lapse after five years commencing on 1 September 2001.

  The powers contained in the CJPA were never intended to be used to introduce a blanket restriction on public drinking. The powers were intended to be used to stop the immediate problems caused by anti-social drinking in designated areas and to allow the police to confiscate alcohol in those areas. Section 13 of the CJPA could permit the designation of an entire local authority area should that area be experiencing problems with nuisance that is alcohol related.

  The time it takes for a local authority to introduce an order will vary from the size of the area to be designated and also with regard to the time it takes to carry out the procedures required under the Local Authorities (Alcohol Consumption in Designated Places) Regulations 2001.

  The objective of the CJPA powers is to tackle anti-social street drinking, rather than begging. Begging is an offence under Section 3 of the Vagrancy Act 1824. It will be made a recordable offence from 1 December 2003.

  Anonymity
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what informed and
  1019W
  strengthened guidance has been given to the police and media on anonymity for those accused of historical child abuse; and where and to whom it is available; [138279]

  (2) which Ministers are discussing with media representatives how intrusive and unhelpful reporting in cases with suspects of historical child abuse can be avoided. [138282]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Child Abuse
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will remove the right to buy from a council tenant any of whose family resident in the family home are subject of an antisocial behaviour order for neighbour nuisance. [138798]

  Ms Blears
  Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill we have made a number of improvements to anti-social behaviour orders. However, we are also aware that anti-social tenants can sometimes evade eviction by buying their homes under the right to buy. We are actively considering what steps we can take to prevent this and thus to protect communities.

  Asylum Seekers
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his provision of taxis for asylum seekers for visiting friends and family; out of which budget they are paid for; what criteria are used to assess whether or not an asylum seeker might be able to make use of such arrangements; and whether provision of taxis is a temporary measure. [134130]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers in each of the last six years have received(a) a criminal record and (b) been sentenced to prison. [135872]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many female asylum seekers that have been settled in the United Kingdom requested that their husband not be granted asylum so as to protect them from domestic violence in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; [138172]

  (2) how many female asylum seekers arrived in the UK seeking protection from an abusive husband or partner in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [138173]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose claims have been certified as clearly unfounded under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 have lodged appeals from abroad; and how many of those appeals have been successful. [139232]
  1020W
  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate the Department has made of the number of asylum seekers given on committing fraud by unqualified legal advisers in the last year for which figures are available. [138691]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Bus Lanes (Policing Costs)
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much policing bus lanes in England cost in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [137684]

  Ms Blears
  The information is not held centrally.

  Citizenship Applications
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average it has taken to deal with British Overseas Citizens' applications in the last year for which figures are available. [133482]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Civil Service Bodies
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the(a) criminal justice and (b) other civil service bodies accountable to his Department which are not required to produce an annual report. [131163]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Community Justice
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to introduce community courts; and how these courts will work in practice. [137532]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects there to be a community justice centre in every area. [138364]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Community Policy Directorate
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the purpose is of the Community Policy Directorate of his Department; what its estimated costs were for each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [99805]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Corporate Killing
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the introduction of health and safety legislation to deal with corporate killing; and if he will make a statement. [136864]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Correspondence
  David Winnick
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 11 September from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding a constituent, reference: PO 13626/3 + K454708. [133067]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton to discuss the letter to him dated 18 September 2003, with regard to Mr. M. J. Sattler. [138459]

  Mr. Blunkett
  A letter was sent to my right hon. Friend on 22 September explaining that his letter had been transferred to the Office for National Statistics.

  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the hon. Member for Bolton, South East will receive a response to his letters of(a) 25 April, (b) 18 June, (c) 29 July, (d) 3 September and (e) 8 October regarding Mr.Dana Kamal, (HO Ref.K1119164). [138771]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will reply to the letter of 24 July 2003 from the hon. Member for Aylesbury on behalf of Mrs. M. Else of Allonby Way, Aylesbury. [139303]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Clare Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood of 4 September 2003 regarding Weston Clark, date of birth 26 February 1975, ref MEV339443. [139577]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Crime Statistics (Northumbria)
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the recorded crime figures were for Northumbria in each year since 1997.[137470]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Criminal Cases Review Commission
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the number of applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 2002–03; and how he estimates this will affect its means of estimating application rates in the future. [138240]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how he intends to(a) decrease the rate of case review manager turnover and (b) increase the rate of recruitment in the Criminal Cases Review Commission; [138241]

  (2) what measures are being taken to ensure that the number of case review managers is not affected by (a) staff turnover and (b) recruitment levels. [138295]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the relationship between his Department and the Criminal Cases Review Commission. [138242]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of accountability of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. [138243]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission in its responsibility to consider and report to the Secretary of State on whether to recommend exercise of Her Majesty's prerogative of mercy in relation to a conviction. [138246]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many and what percentage of cases reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission an investigating officer was appointed from another public body; and what percentage of these cases was referred to a court of appeal in each year since the inception of the service. [138247]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of cases reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been referred to a court of appeal in each year since inception of the service. [138248]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1023W
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to promote public understanding of the role of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.[138249]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission have arisen from each region in the United Kingdom in each year since its inception. [138250]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of public confidence in the criminal justice system since the establishment of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. [138251]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation by(a) health authorities and (b) social services departments with the investigations of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, with particular reference to (i) the preservation of documents and (ii) access to them. [138252]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Criminal Cases Review Commission has made of(a) its dealings with non-public bodies and (b) its helpfulness in investigations. [138253]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission were referred by(a) an independent solicitor and (b) legal partnerships in 2002–03. [138254]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Criminal Cases Review Commission has a duty to analyse the causes of miscarriages of justice and suggest ways to reduce their incidence. [138255]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment the Criminal Cases Review Commission has made of applicants and their views on the openness and transparency of the review process at the various stages; [138256]

  (2) what measures are in place to assess the satisfaction levels of applicants to the Criminal Cases Review Commission and the work and investigation that is done on their behalf. [138257]
  1024W
  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many and what percentage of initial inquiries and communications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission were responded to within three working days in each year since the inception of the service; [138258]

  (2) how many and what percentage of correspondence at stage two of the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been responded to within 10 working days in each year since the inception of the service; [138265]

  (3) how much and what percentage of correspondence at stage two of the Criminal Cases Review Commission was responded to within 10 working days in each year since the inception of the service; [138261]

  (4) how much and what percentage of correspondence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission at stage one was responded to within 10 working days in each year since the inception of the service. [138259]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many and what percentage of reviews at stage one of the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been completed within 30 working days in each year since the inception of the service; [138260]

  (2) how many and what percentage of reviews at stage two screen of the Criminal Cases Review Commission have been completed within 30 working days in each year since the inception of the service. [138262]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of provisional non-referrals at stage two screen of the Criminal Cases Review Commission involved the applicant making further representations within 20 working days; and what percentage of these cases went on to(a) stage two and (b) referral to Court of Appeal, in each year since the inception of the service. [138263]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on reaching tray two in the Criminal Cases Review Commission, how long on average cases have waited in each year since the inception of the commission before being assigned a caseworker. [138264]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many and what percentage of cases the Criminal Cases Review Commission investigated issues by(a) using its own resources, (b) appointing an expert to carry out an investigation or prepare a report, (c) requesting police

  1025W
  to carry out work and (d) the formal appointment of an investigating officer, in each year since the inception of the service. [138266]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of provisional non-referrals at stage two of the Criminal Cases Review Commission involved the applicant making further representations; and what percentage of these cases went on to(a) stage three and (b) referral to Court of Appeal, in each year since the inception of the service. [138267]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many and what percentage of cases convictions have been quashed as a result of legislation that has been passed since the original case was heard, in each year since the inception of the service. [138268]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in how many and what percentage of cases the Criminal Cases Review Commission exercised its section 17 powers in 2003; [138288]

  (2) what the outcome was of discussions between the Criminal Cases Review Commission and his Department concerning possible improvements to the powers of the Commission.[138301]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many and what percentage of referrals non-disclosure has been a determining factor in the decision to refer in 2003. [138289]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what period of time on average cases were classed as non-priority by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year since the inception of the service. [138290]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the outcome was of the Process Improvement Project; [138291]

  (2) how many internal process improvement groups have been convened by the Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and how many process improvement projects have been set up as a result in each year since the inception of the service. [138292]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1026W
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long the Criminal Cases Review Commission estimates it will take to complete the review of case files that have been stored for five years following completion of reviews. [138293]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets the Criminal Cases Review Commission is working towards in the effort to minimise case accumulation; and when it estimates that this will be achieved. [138294]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what ways the Criminal Cases Review Commission's accommodation in the Alpha Tower has been designed to encourage communication and openness; [138297]

  (2) how many training sessions and external courses were held by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 2002–03; and what percentage of staff attended. [138296]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was allocated to the Criminal Cases Review Commission under the Invest to Save initiative; and how this money was used. [138298]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases were referred to the court of appeal in each year from 1990 until the Criminal Cases Review Commission was established; and of these cases, how many(a) appeals were rejected and (b) convictions were quashed; [138321]

  (2) what the results were of the quarterly surveys conducted by the Criminal Cases Review Commission to determine (a) how applicants became aware of the Commission's existence, (b) whether or not they found Commission staff helpful and (c) how they believe communications could have been improved; [138300]

  (3) what the results were of the proof-of-concept trials by the Criminal Cases Review Commission on a knowledge management package in May and June. [138299]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications were received by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each year from 31 March 1997 and 31 March 2003. [139623]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Criminal Justice Bill
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for making appropriate treatment more widely available for the purposes of clause 16 of the Criminal Justice Bill. [128629]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Criminal Justice Boards
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the(a) work and (b) efficiency of the criminal justice boards; and what recent changes have occurred in the way cases are handled at local level. [137826]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Criminal Justice Royal Commission
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost was of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice that reported in June 1996; what the main budgetary items of expenditure were; for how many days the Commission sat in public; how many witnesses gave evidence; and how many copies of the final report were distributed. [137501]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Criminal Justice System
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the representation of victims' interests in the criminal justice system. [137346]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timescale is for the Government's review of inspection arrangements within the criminal justice system. [139255]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the Criminal Records Bureau's Overseas Information Service; [127768]

  (2) what measures he takes to ensure that other Departments are made aware of the Criminal Records Bureau's Overseas Information Service; [127769]

  (3) what measures he has taken to publicise to voluntary sector organisations the service offered by the Criminal Records Bureau's Overseas Information Service. [127770]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1028W
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether applicants for disclosures through the Criminal Records Bureau are required to have their fingerprints taken. [137388]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the outsourcing of Criminal Records Bureau data processing to a company whose employees are based in India. [138838]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Cumbria Crime Squad
  David Maclean
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on(a) the total cost, (b) the cost in terms of the wages of the officers under investigation of the inquiry into the Cumbria Force Crime Squad and (c) the cost in terms of public money; [94025]

  (2) what reasons underlie the length of time taken by the inquiry into the Cumbria Force Crime Squad. [94026]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the right hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Deaths in Custody
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deaths of under-18s held in custody in descending order by institution, there were in the past 20 years.[133050]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of(a) suicide and (b) attempted suicide by under 18s held in custody there have been in each of the last 20 years. [133052]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Domestic Violence
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action(a) has been and (b) will be taken by his Department regarding the recommendations of the 1998 report, Policing Domestic Violence: Effective Organisational Structures. [81091]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has commissioned on how many children who grow up in homes with domestic violence are(a) abused by a partner or husband and (b) abuse a partner or husband later in adulthood. [138169]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Drugs
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the proportion of property crime attributable to the misuse of Class A drugs. [128628]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug dealers were convicted in London in each of the last six years. [139266]

  Caroline Flint
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The table contains data from the Home Office Court Appearances and Cautions Drugs Database showing the number of drug dealers in the City of London and Metropolitan Police force area cautioned and convicted in the years 1996 to 2000 (the latest year available). "Dealing" has been taken to mean drug trafficking, that is: to include possession with intent to supply, unlawful supply, unlawful production and unlawful import/ export.

  Drug dealers1 convicted or cautioned for drug offences in London, 1995–2000;

  Number of persons

  1995

  2,360

  1996

  1,980

  1997

  2,130

  1998

  2,350

  1999

  2,040

  2000

  2,320

  1 The Phrase "drug dealer" has been taken to mean trafficking in drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. That is: to include possession with intent to supply, unlawful supply, unlawful production and unlawful import/export,

  Source:

  Drug offender statistics data bases.

  These data are taken from the annual Home Office Statistical Bulletin, "Drug Seizure and Offender Statistics, UK". Copies of the bulletin, area and supplementary tables and are available on the RDS website and in the Library (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb402.pdf)

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the street prices of illegal drugs in the last two years. [139229]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Dungavel
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of stay at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre for(a) adults and (b) children has been over the last 12 months. [131558]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Prisoner Education
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners at each 1030W
  (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution have received formal education within those institutions in 2003. [131754]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison staff in each(a) prison and (b) young offenders institution are employed to provide educational services; and what proportion these figures represent of the total staff employed in each institution. [131755]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison staff are employed in(a) prisons and (b) young offenders institutions to provide educational services for each of the past 10 years. [131756]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget has been for(a) literacy and (b) numeracy courses in (i) prisons and (ii) young offenders institutions in each of the past five years. [131757]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Enforced Migration
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work he is doing with the Department for International Development to tackle the root causes of enforced migration, with particular reference to(a) human rights abuses and (b) inequality. [138271]

  Mr. Rammell
  I have been asked to reply.

  Enforced migration deriving from human rights abuse and inequality starts with discrimination and marginalisation. Both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) address these root causes in their work to promote human rights abroad. This year the FCO will fund over £12 million worth of grass roots human rights projects in more than 60 countries. Full details of the FCO's work to promote human rights can be found in the Annual Report on Human Rights, a copy of which was sent to all Members of the House. An electronic version is available at: www.fco.gov.uk/ humanrightsreport2003DFID is dedicated to the elimination of poverty through realisation of the human rights of the poorest people of the world. In 2002–03, spending related to human rights and empowerment totalled £112 million. DFID seeks to ensure that poor people are consulted on policies and decisions that affect them and are aware of their rights. This approach aims to promote social justice, including tackling human rights abuse. In October 2000, DFID published its strategy for achieving this goal, entitled "Realising Human Rights for Poor People". A copy was placed in the Library of the House.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many staff were employed by the National Probation Service in England and Wales as(a) chief officers, (b) assistant chief officers, (c) senior probation officers, (d) probation officers, (e) Probation Service officers and (f) administrative and clerical grades on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many in each category were (i) black and (ii) Asian; [138398]

  (2) how many staff were appointed during 2002 by the National Probation Service in England and Wales as (a) chief officers, (b) assistant chief officers, (c) senior probation officers, (d) probation officers, (e) Probation Service officers and (f) administrative, clerical and secretarial grades; and how many in each category were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138399]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people left(a) the police service in England and Wales, (b) the prison service in England and Wales and (c) the probation service in England and Wales during 2001–02 and 2002–03; and how many of those who left were (i) black and (ii) Asian in each case. [138497]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Evidence (Audio-recording)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason all interviews between the prosecution and defence witnesses in advance of trial cannot be audio-recorded. [138285]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Female Prisoners
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it costs per annum for each female detained in prison in the UK. [132319]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Female Rape
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to reduce female rape. [136242]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Firearms Legislation
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his timetable is for the review of firearms legislation announced on 30 April 2003. [131653]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Fireworks
  Ross Cranston
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answers of 16 December 2002,Official Report, column 640W, on fireworks, and 28 January 2003, Official Report, column 754W, on crime reduction, when he expects to place the findings of the exercise on crime and disorder reduction partnerships and their implications for nuisance and noise associated with fireworks in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [127181]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Grants (Administrative Costs)
  Mr. McLoughlin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the administrative costs were of(a) Active Community Unit grants, (b) Race Equality grants and (c) Refugee Integration Unit grants in the last financial year. [101493]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Gurpal Virdi
  Peter Bottomley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will request a copy of the investigation report by south Wales Police for the Metropolitan Police on the handling of the case of Gurpal Virdi. [139528]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implications of the proposed identity cards for(a) Irish citizens living in Great Britain and (b) persons living in Northern Ireland who under the Good Friday Agreement may define themselves as Irish citizens; and what discussions he has had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on the issue. [139120]

  Beverley Hughes
  The identity cards scheme will enable residents of the United Kingdom, whatever their nationality, to obtain secure evidence of their identity. Irish citizens resident in any part of the United Kingdom, including persons born in Northern Ireland, who identify themselves as Irish will be able to apply for an identity card as soon as the scheme is in place.

  We have already alerted the Irish authorities to our plans and will discuss these with them in more detail once the work on implementation of the scheme is further advanced.

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement on Identity Cards on 11 November 2003,Official Report, columns. 171–87, what the evidential basis was of his estimate of £100 million a year in savings on benefit and related systems from introducing an identity card. [139799]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Identity Theft
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to propose legislation to make identity theft a criminal offence. [132506]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Immigration
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Crosby on delays in releasing persons subject to immigration control from Her Majesty's Prison Liverpool at the end of criminal sentences. [124475]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made by(a) police and (b) immigration officers for offences under the Immigration Act 1971 in each year since 1997. [138505]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a decision on the case of Mr.William Michael Moore Rigg and Mrs.Marilyn Rigg, reference number R355557; and if he will make a statement. [138395]

  Beverley Hughes
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate made a decision on Mrs. Marilyn Rigg's case on 12 November 2003. A letter was sent informing them of the decision on Friday 14 November. Further documentation will be sent shortly.

  Independent Monitoring Board
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Independent Monitoring Board annual reports he has received in each year since 1997. [139256]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Jamaican Prisoners
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of female Jamaican nationals in prison in the UK have(a) attempted suicide and (b) committed suicide in each of the last five years. [132318]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Justice and Home Affairs Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the outcome was of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held on 6 November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [139090]
  1034W
  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [137016]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Missing Persons
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of children who ran away from home since 1997 had(a) alcohol and (b) drug abuse problems. [88192]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  National Alcohol Strategy
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's contribution to the development of a national alcohol strategy; and what assessment he has made of its effectiveness. [130490]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  National Probation Service
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many probation areas have suffered a financial penalty this financial year for failing to meet their targets; and what penalty was imposed in each case. [136001]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Ombudsmen
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were considered by the(a) Police Ombudsman and (b) Prison and Probation Ombudsman in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases were (i) upheld or (ii) rejected; what the average time taken was to consider cases; and what the average cost per case was. [137196]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Overseas Pupils
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the total amount of visa charges that will be levied on overseas pupils attending boarding schools in the United Kingdom in this financial year. [133937]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Woking on 23 October 2003, references(a) 134049, (b) 135434, (c) 135433, (d) 135431, (e) 135429 and (f) 135430. [139809]

  Beverley Hughes
  I replied to all the hon. Member's questions on 17 November 2003.

  Passports
  Mr. Terry Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the target period of time is for the passport service to deal with applications for passports; and what their performance was in the most recent period for which this information is available. [139297]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the right hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he carried out before introducing fees for(a) applications for variation of leave and (b) endorsing passports. [136963]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress his Department is making in dealing with(a) passport fraud and (b) duplicate or false national insurance numbers. [137345]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans),Official Report, 30 October 2003, column 321W, what the projected administrative expenditure on passports is in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06. [138529]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Payroll Contracts
  Mr. Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 30 June 2003,Official Report, column 14W, on payroll contracts, what period the £13.94 million contract relates to; and what estimate he has made of the amount of the reduction in the price paid in each year. [139561]

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

  Penal System
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 1 May 2003,Official Report, column 527W, on the penal system, if he will make a statement on the conclusions and recommendations of the second phase of the review of correctional services led by Patrick Carter; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [138477]
  1036W
  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Police
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have taken early retirement(a) prior to and (b) during investigation for misconduct or other work-related offences in each of the past five years for which figures are available, broken down by (i) grade and (ii) force. [139572]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding per head of population Lincolnshire Police received in each year since 1995 from the Government. [138229]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Simmonds
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding per head of population each police authority in England and Wales received in 2002–03. [138230]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Tyrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to guarantee compensation payments to police officers for illnesses caused by continuous long-term low level occupational exposure to radio frequency radiation. [132515]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Prisons
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to combine the prison and probation services into a single correctional service; and if he will make a statement. [125418]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons which offer paid employment and the nature of the employment; which prisons have contracts with the(a) private and (b) public sector; what services and products are produced; and whether the services are profitable. [131242]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 September, references 128559 and 129219, on prisons, for what reason he chose scenario C as the basis for the projection; and if he will provide similar projections on the basis of scenarios(a) A, (b) B and (c) D. [132218]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1037W
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff at(a) High Down and (b) Downview Prisons are not receiving the pay to which they are entitled within one month; and what proportion of staff this represents. [133264]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 6 March 2003,Official Report, column 1244W, on prisons, on which (a) assumptions about future sentencing trends and (b) new policy initiatives with an agreed timetable the forecast average prison population for 2003 to 2006 is based. [128559]

  Paul Goggins
  The projected prison population for 2003–06 in the answer given by the Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Hilary Benn) on 6 March 2003,Official Report, column 1244W, was scenario C published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 14/02 in December 2002. It assumes that custody rates increase by 1.25 per cent. per year for males and 2.5 per cent. for females to 2005, with the increase halving thereafter.

  The legislative and other changes that are included in the projection are given as follows:

  'Narrowing the Justice Gap'—one of the delivery targets for the Criminal Justice System.

  Crime (Sentences) Act 1997—automatic life sentences for serious repeat offenders; minimum custodial sentences of three years for third-time domestic burglars.

  Crime and Disorder Act 1998—the recall of short sentence prisoners released on licence; the extension of secure remands.

  Early release from Detention and Training Orders (DTOs).

  Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programmes (ISSPs).

  Added days—effect of a decision by the European Court of Human Rights.

  The number of Immigration Act detainees.

  Extension of Home Detention Curfew (HDC)—the maximum period of HDC to be increased to 90 days for those prisoners eligible from 16 December 2002.

  An updated set of prison population projections was released on Tuesday 9 September in the April 2003 monthly brief. The projections take into account recent policy changes, such as the extension to HDC in July, and sentencing trends.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juvenile girls being held in prison are pregnant. [132160]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 116W, what his assessment is of the change in(a) criminal convictions and (b) the custodial population between 1980 and 2000. [99962]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1038W
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in each of the last 15 years tested positive for(a) heroin and (b) crack cocaine; what proportion of the total prison population these represented; and if he will make a statement. [133905]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is necessary for the Chief Inspector of Prisons to seek the permission of the Home Secretary to enter prison at any time; and what plans he has to change the rules governing the Chief Inspector's access to prisons. [137075]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his strategy for dealing with changes in the prison population. [137551]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the populations of each(a) prison and (b) young offenders institute; whether each institution is overcrowded, giving (i) the definition of overcrowding used, (ii) by how much and (iii) for how long the institution has been overcrowded; and for each institution, how many prisoners (A) in absolute terms and (B) as a percentage of the total population (1) are serving 0 to three months, (2) are serving three to six months, (3) are serving six to nine months, (4) are serving nine to 12 months, (5) are serving 12 to 24 months, (6) are young offenders, (7) are elderly, (8) have mental health problems, (9) have learning difficulties and (10) are illiterate. [131351]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons offer rehabilitation programmes, giving the nature of the programmes; how many prisoners participated in rehabilitation programmes in(a) absolute terms and (b) as a percentage of total population in 2003; and how many hours they spent on average in rehabilitation programmes on a weekly basis. [131352]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the population of each prison in Haltemprice and Howden was in the last quarter for which figures are available; and what the figures were for the preceding four quarters. [132328]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the right hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Probation Services
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes), of 20 October 2003,Official Report,

  1039W
  column 416W, on probation services, what steps he is taking to avoid an overspend in the probation budget. [138531]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Profiting from Crime
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the law so that current and former criminals cannot profit from their crimes by(a) selling recorded or written material relating to their crimes and (b) engaging in speaking events regarding their crime. [136929]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Pupil Visa Charges
  Mr. Lansley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what form of consultation was undertaken by his Department on the planned introduction of visa charges for overseas school pupils attending United Kingdom schools. [133073]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Racial Crime
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of crimes committed in(a) England and (b) Wales in each year since 1997 were racially motivated; what steps he is taking to reduce these figures; and if he will make a statement. [133187]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Rap Music
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meetings he has held with producers of rap music records; and what the outcome was of those meetings. [136247]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Rape
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug rapes were reported in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) the first half of 2003, broken down by sex of victim. [129670]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women reported rape by their husband or partner in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [138175]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Recorded Crime
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the number and proportion of recorded crimes for which an offender was brought to justice changed in 2001—02. [130485]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Sex Offenders Register
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out in descending order how many(a) registered sex offenders and (b) registered sex offenders per 100,000 population there were in each local authority. [133051]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Sir Paul Beresford
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to provide further assistance to police in(a) checking details of individuals on the Register of Sexual Offenders and (b) undertaking risk assessments of those individuals; and if he will make a statement. [138047]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those on the sex offenders register have been convicted of a further offence following registration.[139257]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Offender Rehabilitation
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to introduce legislation to amend the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. [138480]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Released Prisoners (London)
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were released from prison in London in the last 12 months; and how many are estimated to have(a) mental health and (b) drug or alcohol problems. [139233]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Road Safety
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what standard of accuracy speed cameras work. [138947]

  Caroline Flint
  Until July 2003, the standard to which speed cameras were required to operate was a positive error of no more than 3mph up to 100mph, and 3 per cent. above 100mph. The negative error was not greater than 5mph or 10 per cent. above 50mph. From July 2003, in line with European standards, new speed cameras will be required to be accurate to 2mph up to
  1041W
  66mph and 3 per cent. above 66mph. This has not yet been implemented for existing cameras, but we consider that all cameras are in fact already accurate to this level.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help he gives to chief constables to publish speed messages. [139037]

  Caroline Flint
  Publicity on this issue is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. We recognise that speeding contributes to accidents and that encouraging drivers to slow down can help effect a reduction in the number of accidents. We have made clear in the National Policing Plan our conviction that the National Safety Camera Scheme is effective in reducing speed-related death and injury and our encouragement for all police forces to support it.

  Schools (Violence)
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government are taking to support teachers and school staff in their work to prevent(a) violence and (b) crime in schools. [138749]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  The great majority of schools are orderly places and serious violence is rare. However, we are determined to raise standards of behaviour and security further. We are therefore investing an average of £156 million annually over the next three years in a wide-ranging programme to improve behaviour and attendance in schools. This includes better training for school staff in managing pupil behaviour; support for pupils at risk of becoming involved in crime; and closer working between police and schools, with some officers based in schools in over 50 local education authority areas. We are currently running conferences to help schools combat bullying. We are also making schools more secure; we have legislated against offensive weapons and trespass and published a legal toolkit for dealing with aggressive intruders; we have supported security measures through the Standards Fund and Capital Modernisation Fund, and we are giving school security priority in credit approvals for local authority capital investment.

  Sentencing
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the sentences available to judges following a conviction for throwing missiles from bridges over motorways and trunk roads. [138881]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve public understanding of(a) sentencing policy and practice and (b) community service. [139230]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Sexual Offences
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the most recent rates of 1042W
  (a) prosecution and (b) conviction are for rape and sexual assault in police areas which (i) have and (ii) do not have sexual assault referral centres. [110722]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of offenders likely to be caught under the internet grooming provision of the Sexual Offences Bill. [139219]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been(a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) convicted and (d) sentenced to immediate custody in the course of Operation Ore; how many cases are being investigated; and if he will make a statement. [139220]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Liz Blackman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a code of practice will accompany the Sexual Offences Bill. [137813]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish guidelines for the Sexual Offences Bill; and what plans he has to consult on these guidelines. [137841]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the NGOs to whom the parliamentary under secretary expressed appreciation for the work they had done on the issue of consensual sexual activity short of penetrative sex between under 16s; and whether these NGOs will be directly involved in compiling the Crown Prosecution Service guidance on this issue. [138206]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Student Visas
  Mr. Jon Owen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of those on student visas who complete their courses; and what estimate he has made of the number of those on student visas who remain in this country after their visa has expired. [132922]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Sustainable Development
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the sustainability strategy is for his Department; and if he will make a statement on how it has changed since the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. [83502]
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  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  "Think First" Programmes
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish his research on the completion rates of offenders attending pilot accredited programmes, known as "Think First", in England and Wales. [135997]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Victim Support
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) number and (b) percentage of complainants (i) were offered victim support services and (ii) accepted the help of victim support services, at an early stage in the investigation of child abuse cases in the last five years. [138284]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Vulnerable People (Transport)
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to local authorities to help them determine the suitability of licensed(a) taxi and (b) private hire drivers to escort vulnerable people, including children, in the absence of an enhanced check. [133945]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Waterloo Immigration Office
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what impact he estimates the proposed closure of the Waterloo Immigration Office will have on border control at this point of entry. [138210]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates the cost will be of relocating the Immigration Office at Waterloo to France. [138211]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason(a) French officers at the Waterloo Immigration Office carry guns and (b) British officers there do not. [138212]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Wetherby Young Offenders Institution
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) assaults and (b) incidents of criminal damage there were in Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Wetherby in each of the past five years. [131974]
  1044W
  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sick days have been taken off by staff at Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Wetherby in each of the past five years. [132254]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times staff at Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Wetherby had to use control and restraint in each of the past five years. [132255]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the grounds are for(a) the removal of staff batons and (b) the proposed replacement of staff uniforms at Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Wetherby. [132256]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Young Offenders
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many young offenders found guilty of criminal damage have undertaken reparation under the(a) Reparation Order, (b) Action Plan, (c) Referral Order and (d) Supervision Order since their introduction; [138273]

  (2) how many young offenders he estimates will undertake reparation under the (a) Reparation Order, (b) Action Plan, (c) Referral Order and (d) Supervision Order over the next two years; [138274]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the forms of reparative activities that have been undertaken through the (a) Reparation Order, (b) Action Plan, (c) Referral Order and (d) Supervision Order; [138275]

  (4) if he will make a statement on the re-offending rate of young offenders found guilty of criminal damage who took part in reparation schemes in 2002–03. [138276]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the results of the ISSP schemes; what the completion rate of young offenders guilty of criminal damage on the ISSP schemes has been; and what the re-offending rate of the young people responsible for criminal damage on the ISSP scheme has been. [138277]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many juveniles failed to make contact with the youth offending team on release from prison in the last year for which figures are available. [139000]
  1045W
  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many girls aged(a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years are serving sentences in women's prisons. [139135]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Youth Violence
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Government are taking to reduce youth violence. [138748]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Zahid Mubarek
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set up a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Zahid Mubarek following the judgment of the House of Lords on 16 October in the case of Regina v Secretary of State for the Home Department ex parte Amin. [137141]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 10 November 2003: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Georgia
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to ensure that(a) proper democratic processes are being followed and (b) that fair elections are taking place in the Republic of Georgia. [139049]

  Mr. Rammell
  The United Kingdom has taken every opportunity, both in our bi-lateral contacts and through our membership of international fora, to impress upon the Georgians the importance of the parliamentary elections being free and fair. Our Embassy in Tbilisi has maintained close and regular contact with government, opposition leaders and the Central Electoral Commission in the run up to, and the aftermath of the elections. We contributed a large number of observers to the OSCE monitoring mission. The UK also helped fund a Georgian NGO, the International Society for Fair Elections, to conduct a media campaign raising awareness of the democratic process.

  The UK has endorsed the findings of the International Election Observation Mission on the conduct of the electoral process and encouraged all sides to come to a peaceful, negotiated settlement. The international community, including the UK, has impressed upon the Georgian authorities the need for perceived weaknesses in the electoral system to be resolved before the Presidential elections in 2005. Together with our EU partners, we made a statement on 13 November to this effect. The UK Special
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  Representative to the South Caucasus also raised the matter with government and opposition politicians during his visit to Tbilisi last week.

  We will consider how we can best help the Georgian Electoral Commission to bring about the required improvements in the electoral system.

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Georgia. [139281]

  Mr. Rammell
  I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) today (UIN 139049).

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in improving Afghanistan's drug law enforcement capacity. [138430]

  Mr. Rammell
  As lead nation for counter narcotics activity in Afghanistan, the UK supports the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy which was adopted by President Karzai in May 2003. The strategy proposes activities in four key areas: improved drugs law enforcement; alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers; capacity building for Afghan drugs institutions; and public awareness campaigns/treatment programmes to help reduce demand. The UK is committing £70 million over the next three years and additional British Embassy drugs personnel to drive forward implementation of the strategy.

  In the area of improved drugs law enforcement, the UK is working with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on a basic law enforcement training programme to develop the investigation, detection, interdiction and intelligence capabilities of Afghanistan's principal drug enforcement agency, the Counter Narcotics Police. The UK has trained over 100 officers of the Counter Narcotics Police to date, including two female officers, and has involved trainers from Pakistan, Turkey and Iran in the counter-narcotics training package.

  The UK plans to build upon this training by seconding international experts to mentor officers in Kabul and the regions. Progress in reforming Afghanistan's drug enforcement capacity, as in other areas of the drugs strategy, is dependent upon wider improvements in security and governance.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of the UK's heroin supply coming from Afghanistan. [138431]

  Mr. Rammell
  On the basis of forensic analysis of heroin seizures, it is estimated that at least 95 per cent. of the heroin used in the UK is produced from opium grown in Afghanistan.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the size of the poppy harvest was in Afghanistan in each year since 2000. [138476]
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  Mr. Rammell
  The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducts an annual survey into the level of opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan. Their figures since 2000 are as follows:

  Hectares

  Tonnes

  2000

  82,000

  3,300

  2001

  8,000

  185

  2002

  74,000

  3,400

  2003

  80,000

  3,600

  The low level of cultivation and low production figure in 2001 reflect the Taliban ban on opium cultivation; the ban did not however address the underlying causes of poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and was enforced with mix of threat and bribery.

  Azerbaijan
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with Azerbaijan. [139127]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK has a good bilateral relationship with Azerbaijan. The most recent ministerial visit was by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Energy in May this year, to attend the Caspian Oil and Gas Show in Baku. Ilham Aliev, now President, visited the UK in June when he called on the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mike O'Brien), and the then Secretary of State for International Development my noble Friend Baroness Amos.

  In January 2003, we extended the mandate of Sir Brian Fall the UK Special Representative to cover the whole of the South Caucasus underlining the commitment of the Government to play an active part in the efforts of the international community to help resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

  UK investment in Azerbaijan totals $US 2 billion. The vast majority of this is BP's investment in the oil and gas sector, which has contributed much to the development of the oil and gas industry in Azerbaijan. BP is the largest foreign investor, operating four offshore oil and gas exploration and development contracts. BP is leading the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (ETC) pipeline project. The BTC pipeline will provide an export route for oil (and subsequently gas) from Azerbaijan's Caspian oil fields to Europe.

  Burma
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British American Tobacco's decision to stop its cigarette making operation in Burma. [138824]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I welcome that BAT, the largest remaining UK investor in Burma, has responded to the Government's request that they leave the country. BAT's decision reinforces our long held policy of not encouraging trade, investment or tourism in Burma. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in June, trade and investment with Burma is not appropriate while the military regime continues to suppress the basic 1048W
  rights of its people. This will remain our policy until we see concrete evidence of genuine political will by the regime to work towards national reconciliation, democracy, and respect for human rights in Burma.

  Colombia
  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure compliance by the Colombian Government with recommendations by the UN on human rights. [138944]

  Mr. Rammell
  The issue of the implementation of UN recommendations was discussed at the London Meeting on International Support for Colombia which the UK hosted on 10 July this year. The Colombian Government pledged to implement these recommendations promptly and take effective action against impunity and collusion especially with the paramilitary groups. In my meeting with the Colombian Foreign Minister in New York in September, I underlined the importance we attached to this commitment. A working group of representatives of the governments who attended the London Meeting has been set up in Bogota to monitor and evaluate progress on implementation.

  Mr. Allan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his officials have held with the Colombian Government on rates of voter abstention in(a) the Colombian referendum and (b) the municipal and departmental elections of 25 and 26 October. [138946]

  Mr. Rammell
  We hold regular discussions with the Colombian authorities and others on a wide range of topics, including the outcomes of the recent referendum and the municipal and departmental elections.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 7 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. R. F. Nayeem; [138455]

  (2) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 6 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. F. Begum; [138457]

  (3) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 2 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Tufail Choudhary. [138458]

  Mr. Mullin
  I can confirm that as a result of an administrative error, no replies were sent to my right hon. Friend's letters of 2, 6, 7 October to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary about Mr. Tufail Choudhary, Mrs. F. Begum and Mrs. Ruzi Farzana Nayeem.

  It would appear that a package containing a number of my right hon. Friend's letters was lost while in transit between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's office and UKvisas, the department responsible for entry clearance matters arising overseas. The letters that were lost have now been identified and copies have been sent to UKvisas. I can assure my right hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will write to him in the next few days on this case.

  Democratic Republic of the Congo
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the levels of(a) United Kingdom and (b) UN troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [137618]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003.]: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 12 November 2003, Official Report, column 314W.

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [123075]

  Mr. Rammell
  Under the terms of the Framework Document, the responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers is delegated to the Government Care Despatch Agency. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 13 November 2003,Official Report, column 397W.

  Expenditure in the UK under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) taxi contracts for each year since 1997 was as follows:

  £

  Year

  Expenditure

  1997–98

  152, 442.64

  1998–99

  226,736.15

  1999–2000

  329,903.63

  2000–01

  380,830.36

  2001–02

  525,026.69

  2002–03

  499,164.22

  These figures do not include details of any taxi journeys undertaken by staff outside the scope of the FCO's taxi contracts and for which reimbursement is made through the Department's travel claim system. Expenditure on taxis will also have been incurred by our Missions overseas. Neither of these costs are recorded separately, and it would involve disproportionate cost to identify them.

  The FCO purchases tickets for rail and air travel through a contract with American Express. Figures for this expenditure are immediately available for the 2001–02 and 2002–03 financial years only, and are as follows:

  £

  Year

  Rail

  Air

  2001–02

  752,364

  15,730,892

  2002–03

  699,569

  15,269,677

  I will write to the hon. Member with the figures for 1997–98 to 2000–01 as soon as they are provided by American Express. However, this data do not include
  1050W
  the cost of rail or air journeys booked direct by members of staff and reimbursed through the Department's travel claim system. Direct expenditure on air travel will also have been incurred by our Missions overseas. These costs are not recorded separately, and again it would involve disproportionate cost to identify them.

  Details of the types of aircraft used by FCO travellers, (i.e. helicopters), are not recorded. Neither does the Department or its contractor centrally maintain information on whether FCO personnel travel by scheduled or chartered flights.

  European Court of Human Rights
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy(a) to oppose the introduction of new admissibility criteria for individual petitioners to the European Court of Human Rights and (b) to urge all member states to consult on the matter with (i) the legal community and (ii) civil society; and if he will make a statement. [138795]

  Mr. MacShane
  The Government supports the introduction of the new admissibility criteria for individual petitioners to the European Court of Human Rights. The new admissibility criteria are not designed to restrict the right of individual application. But if the Court is not given discretion to apply the new criteria, that right could be put at risk by the ever-increasing volume of applications which prevents the Court from dealing with any applications in a reasonable time.

  The Government endorses paragraph 14 of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers' Declaration of 15 May, which encourages the Governments of member states to share information on this matter with civil society. Civil society representatives and independent experts will have the opportunity to raise questions at a Symposium at the Council of Europe on 17 November, with a further symposium proposed for early 2004.

  European Constitution
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what shared competence exists on energy policy within the EU; and what impact he estimates the proposed Energy Chapter will have on the United Kingdom. [137739]

  Mr. MacShane
  I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 11 November 2003,Official Report, column 204W.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the areas of policy, legislation, administration and decision on objectives to be attained which(a) are and (b) will be the exclusive responsibility of the European Union, and the Articles of the proposed Constitution in which these are set out. [137941]

  Mr. MacShane
  Article 12 (1) of Part I of the Convention on the Future of Europe's draft Constitutional Treaty states that the EU would have exclusive competence in the following areas: competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market: monetary policy for member states who
  1051W
  have adopted the Euro; common commercial policy: customs union: and the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Gibraltar Government in negotiations with the Spanish Government on the future of Gibraltar. [133529]

  Mr. MacShane
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the Government of Gibraltar on this subject. When 1 visited Gibraltar on 4 July, my discussions with the Chief Minister covered, among many other issues, the subject of negotiations with Spain.

  Guantanamo Bay
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the decision by the United States Supreme Court to reassess the legality of holding prisoners in Guantanamo military base as it affects British prisoners held there. [139032]

  Mr. Mullin
  On 10 November, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in the case Al Odah v. United States, which concerns detainees held in Guantanamo Bay. The question that the Court has agreed to hear is "Whether United States courts lack jurisdiction to consider challenges to the legality of the detention of foreign nationals captured abroad in connection with hostilities and incarcerated at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba."

  The Government will of course consider the Supreme Court's judgement on this question once it has been issued.

  Indonesia
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Indonesia on(a) suppressing the rebels' uprising and (b) humanitarian assistance in Aceh. [138825]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government has regularly urged the Indonesian Government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to return to negotiations for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Aceh.

  Together with other members of the Tokyo Group (the EU, US, Japan and World Bank) we have recently called for improved access to Aceh for international agencies and NGOs, and for the impact on the people of Aceh to be minimised. The UK continues to work through NGOs and the UN to provide assistance to the people of Aceh. We continue to discuss Aceh with political contacts in Indonesia and the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK.

  International Atomic Energy Agency
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to make additional resources available to the International 1052W
  Atomic Energy Agency to support its increased safeguards burden in Iran following the agreement concluded in Tehran on 21 October. [134572]

  Mr. MacShane
  The United Kingdom supported a successful call for additional resources for the IAEA's activities at the board of Governors' meeting earlier this year. We believe that, with these additional resources, the IAEA will be able to undertake all of the safeguards tasks with which they are mandated, including work in Iran.

  Iran
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to prevent the Islamic Republic of Iran from obtaining and developing the capabilities to(a) produce and (b) employ nuclear weapons. [136765]

  Mr. Rammell
  Together with our partners from France and German, we have been engaged in intensive discussion with the Iranian Government to persuade them to suspend activities associated with the development of a nuclear weapons capability.

  Iran has announced that it will suspend the enrichment of uranium and activities associated with the reprocessing of nuclear fuels. We will continue to monitor closely Iran's implementation of this course of action.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on Iran's enrichment of uranium. [137999]

  Mr. MacShane
  Together with our French and German partners, we have made clear to Iran that it must suspend all uranium enrichment activities.

  Iraq
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the evidential basis is for the statements made on page 34 and 35 of the Iraq dossier of 24 September on inspections by UNSCOM of the presidential sites. [135348]

  Mr. Rammell
  Only one team of inspectors (UNSCOM 243) was allowed to visit Presidential Sites under a special arrangement facilitated by the UN Secretary-General. Their report of their visit to the sites makes clear that they were not able to carry out full inspections at any of he sites. They were never allowed to return.

  The full report of UNSCOM 243 can be found on the UNSCOM internet website at: www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s98–326.htm.

  Rev. Martin Smyth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's contribution to the provision of a civil police service in Iraq. [137777]

  Mr. Rammell
  There are currently a total of 10 UK police officers in Iraq; three in Basra and seven in Baghdad. Our focus is on recruiting, training and deploying more Iraqi police officers. We plan to deploy a further 24 UK officers to Basra in the near future and
  1053W
  up to a further 75 UK police officers towards a multinational effort to train new Iraqi recruits at a training facility in Jordan. The first nine of these 75 police officers are already in Jordan and another 27 are planning to depart on 23 November.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Iraqi(a) civilians, (b) police officers and (c) military police he estimates have been killed in terrorist attacks in Iraq since 1 May. [137995]

  Mr. Rammell
  There are no reliable statistics available for the number of civilian casualties. I expect to have further information shortly on the Iraqi police killed, and I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Although the first battalion of the Iraqi Army completed training on 4 October, there are no Iraqi military police at present.

  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made in Iraq to re-employ the Iraqis who are unemployed; what discussions he has on assisting these people while unemployed; and if he will make a statement. [138702]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Coalition and Iraqi ministries have placed very significant emphasis on the need to sustain and stimulate employment in Iraq. The payment in full of public sector wages has returned rewards for work to many crucial employees. A micro-finance programme has been created for small businesses and rules on foreign direct investment and tariff holidays have also been introduced to promote the Iraqi private sector, protecting existing jobs and creating new ones.

  As a result of the publication of the Iraqi Budgets for 2003 and 2004, for the first time in decades the revenue from Iraqi oil sales is being spent on meeting the needs of the Iraqi people. In combination with the many billions of dollars of international reconstruction funding being channelled into Iraq this public expenditure is stimulating demand for labour.

  With the exception of senior Ba'athists, former members of the military who lost their job as a result of disbanding the Iraqi army have been paid a stipend. Many are also undergoing retraining to join the new Iraqi security forces.

  Islamabad High Commission
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current status of the high commission in Islamabad; and when he expects it to be fully operational. [137832]

  Mr. Mullin
  As a result of the security situation in Pakistan our high commission in Islamabad operated for a substantial period with severely reduced staff. This reduced our visa section's capacity to provide a full service. In recent months service levels have increased significantly. Islamabad has handled over 81,000 entry clearance applications so far this year.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is committed to restoring a full visa operation in Pakistan as soon as is practical. The high commission in
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  Islamabad announced on 17 November that it would be expanding the service it offers to include visitors who have travelled to the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America within the last ten years. fiancé(e)s applying to settle in the UK, EU dependants and those applying for family reunion.

  The Foreign Secretary will be writing to all members shortly to set out these changes and the way forward in more detail.

  Israel/Palestine
  Dr. Jenny Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the UK representative on the UN Security Council abstained in the vote on 14 October on the resolution declaring illegal the Israeli construction of a security wall in the occupied territories of Palestine. [138664]

  Mr. Rammell
  We did not consider the resolution put to the Security Council on Israel's construction of a fence or wall in the West Bank reflected accurately the situation on the ground. It did not condemn suicide bombings and therefore did not acknowledge Israel's real security concerns. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in the House on 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 3—4, we regard the building of the wall on Palestinian land as unlawful, and we have serious concerns about its impact. But we judged that the text before the Security Council would not help implementation of the roadmap, and so we abstained.

  The resolution subsequently put to an Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly realistically focused on the fence's negative impact on the peace process and local population. European Union proposals for a more balanced text were accepted in General Assembly negotiations and the UK, with our EU Partners, voted for that resolution.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the status of Palestinians living between the Green Line and the new security fence in the Occupied Territories. [138673]

  Mr. Rammell
  My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean raised our concerns about the "Closed Zone" between the fence and the Green Line on 22 October with the Israeli Ambassador, and on 29 October with the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure.

  The implementation of this order will have grave consequences for Palestinians who live between the fence and the 1967 border, and those who farm land in this area. We are in close touch with the US and other allies to ensure that Israel understands the opposition of the wider international community to the route of the fence.

  Japan
  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the
  1055W
  Government of Japan about its refusal to subscribe to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction; and if he will make a statement. [137846]

  Mr. Straw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office encourages all countries with whom the UK has comity of law to join the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction (1980). We believe this comity of law exists between Japan and the UK and are committed to working with the Hague Secretariat to provide the Japanese Government with the information it needs to come to a decision on membership.

  We are working with our partners in the EU to put the case for joining the Hague Convention to Japan. In recent exchanges between the EU and Japan on human right and consular issues, the EU has raised Japanese accession to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to make representations on behalf of individual citizens of the United Kingdom to the Government of Japan when allegations of child abduction from the United Kingdom to Japan arise; and if he will make a statement. [137847]

  Mr Straw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: In cases of child abduction to countries that are not states party to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction 1980. such as Japan, we advise parents to resolve custody and access issues through the domestic courts in the country concerned, or through mediation.

  We would not make representations on behalf of British nationals to the foreign governments concerned as a matter of course, but would consider doing so in exceptional circumstances, for example once the court process has finished, in order properly to enforce the outcome.

  Legislative Council of St. Helena
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange to meet the members of the Legislative Council of St. Helena when he is on Ascension Island at the beginning of December. [139119]

  Mr. Rammell
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 November 2003 (UIN:139102).

  Middle East
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the destruction of(a) wells and (b) other infrastructure in Gaza by the Israeli army. [137431]

  Mr. Rammell
  We deplore the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure and we have asked Israel to cease such activity. We have not recently raised the destruction of wells in Gaza. Nonetheless, my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean called in Israel's ambassador. Mr. Zvi Shtauber. on 22 October to raise our serious concerns about recent Israeli actions in Gaza. Our embassy in Tel Aviv has also raised our concerns with its Israeli interlocutors.
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  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the exchange of Israeli and Palestinian/Lebanese prisoners. [139052]

  Mr. Rammell
  We are pleased to hear that the Israeli Cabinet has approved a deal on the exchange of Israeli, Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners. We hope that Hizbollah will follow suit, and that this matter is resolved soon.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent initiatives have been taken by the United Kingdom to strengthen the provisions of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty; and what actions have been taken by the United Kingdom pursuant to obligations under Article 6 of the NPT. [133308]

  Mr. MacShane
  The United Kingdom believes that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We welcome the increased emphasis on the crucial nonproliferation aspects of the NPT that was in evidence at the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) earlier this year and intend to work with other NPT members to strengthen the effectiveness of measures against nuclear proliferation.

  We continue to stress the utmost importance of compliance with the Treaty. For example, we urge the DPRK to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme and return to compliance with the NPT. We strongly believe in the need for the universalisation of the treaty, and we regularly call on those states that have not yet acceded to do so whenever we have the opportunity.

  The UK also continues to play a full part in the NPT Review process, including most recently in the PrepCom in April and May this year. The UK issued a working paper at the PrepCom on its research into verification of nuclear disarmament and presented the conclusions of this interim study at a seminar during the PrepCom. We anticipate publishing a further paper for the 2004 session of the PrepCom and a consolidated paper at the Review Conference in 2005.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if(a) he and (b) officials from his Department will meet Christian groups in the UK to discuss rights for Christians in Pakistan. [138568]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have regular contact with a range of UK-based NGOs, including those who campaign for the rights of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan. Officials will be meeting representatives of groups interested in the position of Christians in Pakistan within the next month.

  Science and Technology Network
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the(a) funding, (b) remit and (c) functions of the science and technology network. [137535]
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  Mr. Rammell
  Following a review in 2000 the FCO has established a new network of S & T (science and technology) attachés to help capitalise on and enhance the UK science base, to help companies access overseas innovation and technology, to facilitate high-tech trade and attract foreign investment and to use S & T as a vehicle to maximise the UK's impact abroad.

  £3 million of funding was provided through SR2000. A further £750,000 of programme and staffing resource was made available through SR2002. By 2005 there will be a dedicated FCO S &T officer in 34 of our overseas posts in 22 countries. Several other posts have also joined the network and make use of S & T to further bilateral relations. The network reports to a wide customer base and works with a number of UK organisations with an interest in S & T overseas. These include Government Departments, parliamentary and devolved institutions, public sector bodies, universities, research and trade organisations and industry.

  The FCO works in close partnership on international S & T issues, with the Office of Science and Technology (OST), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (especially its team of International Technology Promoters), UK Trade & Investment, the British Council and the Research Councils (RCUK). The FCO's S &T network adds value to the UK by addressing the following objectives:

  To inform UK science policy development, benchmarking UK S & T performance against other nations and using S & T to secure UK influence in international negotiations.

  To promote the UK as the international partner of choice in S & T collaboration, and attract overseas expertise, in areas which match or complement existing or potential UK strengths.

  To enhance wealth creation by using S & T to facilitate trade and inward investment, with development of the UK knowledge economy through commercially edged high technology collaboration.

  To use S & T for public diplomacy to project the UK as a creative, dynamic, technologically advanced nation.

  The network is co-ordinated by the S & T unit within the Global Issues Directorate of the FCO. The work of the network and profiles of the new generation of S & T officers are presented in the FCO's S & T annual report, available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/global-issues/science-and-technology.

  The new network provides informed insight into S & T activity in the host country and an assessment of opportunities and risks for the UK. Through developing networks of opinion formers and key contacts the attachés are well placed to stimulate bilateral interactions. The integrated approach of the S & T attachés with their commercial and public diplomacy colleagues means projection of the UK as a world leading science base and development of a technologically innovative, knowledge based, economy.

  Secondment
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in his Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. [138623]
  1058W
  Mr. Rammell
  In line with the 2001 Government Cross Cutting Review of Science and Research and the 2000 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) review of science and technology (S&T) work, the FCO has increased the use of S&T expertise in its work. The FCO has established a new S&T network and recruited a new and diverse generation of high calibre S&T officers, both UK appointed and locally engaged. As well as scientific and technical expertise, many have experience in business, management consultancy and policymaking, as well as skills in diplomacy and international relations. For UK appointees, in each of the last five years the following numbers of people with a science and technology background have been recruited into the S&T network either on Fixed Term contract, loan from Other Government Departments or on secondment from outside the Civil Service:

  Number

  1999

  2

  2000

  2

  2001

  7

  2002

  2

  2003

  3

  Sri Lanka
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the conflict between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; when this assessment was made; and if he will make a statement. [131830]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer 1 gave him on 15 October 2003,Official Report, column 266–67W.

  Turkey
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of developments in the human rights situation in Turkey; what representations have been made to him; and if he will make a statement. [131444]

  Mr. MacShane
  We welcome Turkey's progress in the protection of human rights and the constitutional and legislative changes that it has made since October 2001. The recent 6th and 7th EU-related reform packages were particularly far reaching. Consistent and effective implementation of these is now crucial, so we are encouraged by the Turkish Government's increasing emphasis on the practical application of new laws, and its creation of a committee, under Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, to monitor progress.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office monitor the human rights situation in Turkey closely. We maintain a strong network of contacts in both our missions in Ankara and Istanbul, and in London. We regularly meet local and multinational NGOs, European and International bodies which monitor Turkey's human rights performance and members of the government. We also attend human rights trials wherever possible and liaise with EU partners to maintain an EU presence at key events throughout the country. We conduct an

  1059W
  on-going bilateral dialogue with Turkey on human rights, the most recent round of which took place in Ankara on 23 October.

  For a full assessment of the human rights situation in Turkey 1 refer the hon. Member to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights Report 2003, which is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/global-issues/humanrights/reports.

  United States
  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the New York Consul General relocated from the residence at 4 East 66th Street; what use has been made of the apartment since; when and at what price the apartment was first listed for sale; what the actual(a) out of pocket costs and (b) annual resource costs of owning the apartment have been since the Consul General left; whether the apartment is still for sale; and at what price it is listed. [138139]

  Mr. Rammell
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]: The Consul General in New York relocated from the residence at 4 East 66th Street in August 2002. Since then the property has remained vacant. The property was first listed for sale in January 2002 at an initial asking price of US$22 million. It remains on the market, listed at US$14 million. We cannot divulge details of prices and costs as these are commercially sensitive.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the New York Consul General moved into the new residence; what the total capital cost of this residence, including all fixtures, fittings and furnishings, professional and other fees, moving and relocation costs was; and what the residence's(a) open market and (b) existing use (i) value and (ii) annual resource cost are. [138140]

  Mr. Rammell
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]: The Consul General in New York moved into the new residence in August 2002. We cannot divulge further details of costs because these are commercially sensitive.

  Mr. Wyatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and at what price the former residence of the San Francisco Consul General was sold; what net proceeds the Department expects will be from this sale after deduction of all costs of the transaction; when the San Francisco Consul General moved into the new residence; what the total capital cost of this residence including post-acquisition costs are expected to be; and what the residence's(a) open market and (b) existing use (i) value and (ii) annual resource cost are. [138141]

  Mr. Rammell
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]: The sale of the Consul General's former residence in San Francisco was completed on 31 October 2003. The Consul General moved into the new residence in the middle of October 2003.

  We cannot divulge further details of prices and costs because these are commercially sensitive.

  Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139367]

  Mr Mullin
  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website (www.fco.gov.uk) is kept under constant review. The site was significantly re-designed and restructured when it was re-launched in May 2002. A leading web design agency developed the new site, after consulting widely with FCO stakeholders. Usability testing on the new site was conducted in August 2002 by a specialist company using members of the public. The recommendations of their report were implemented and the findings informed a further re-design of the homepage which went live in January 2003. In July, a specialist IT consultancy, assessed the website as part of an overall review of FCO electronic information. Their recommendations are in the process of being implemented. Customer feedback is constantly monitored and assessed.

  Zimbabwe
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the UK will take to support Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa forced to return to Zimbabwe. [138750]

  Mr. Mullin
  The issue of Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa is a matter for the South African authorities and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent action the Government has taken to ensure that Zimbabwe has(a) legitimate and (b) democratic government. [138751]

  Mr. Mullin
  We continue to work with our EU, Commonwealth and other international partners to bring about a return to legitimate and democratic government in Zimbabwe, which respects the rule of law and human rights.

  We have consistently condemned the Mugabe government's harassment of the opposition, independent media and civil society. We will continue to support all those working peacefully for a return to a democratically elected government.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Appointments Commission
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if the Secretary of State will direct the House of Lords Appointments Commission to disqualify applicants for a people's peerage who are(a) knights, (b) dames and (c) other holders of a peerage. [138511]

  Mr. Leslie
  The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs has no power to direct the current House of Lords Appointments Commission which is an independent non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office.
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  Any British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen over the age of 21 is eligible to be nominated for membership of the House of Lords, and the Appointments Commission assesses all nominations it receives against the criteria which are published on its web-site at www.houseoflords appointmentscommission.gov.uk

  Asylum Seekers
  Andy King
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of unqualified legal advisers who represented asylum seekers in the last year for which figures are available. [138690]

  Beverley Hughes
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Bankruptcy
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many(a) company winding-up petitions, (b) creditors' petitions and (c) debtors' petitions were issued in each quarter since the third quarter of 2002. [139817]

  Mr. Leslie
  Figures showing the number of insolvency and bankruptcy petitions issued in the county courts of England and Wales for the period set out above are provided in the following table.

  Quarter

  Company winding-up petitions issued

  Creditors bankruptcy petitions issued

  Debtors bankruptcy petitions issued

  Q4 2002

  3,257

  4,601

  4,174

  Q1 2003

  2,650

  4,366

  4,357

  Q2 2003

  2,577

  4,271

  4,776

  Q3 2003

  2,385

  4,243

  4,755

  Fines
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total value was of fines imposed at magistrates courts in London in 2002–03; what the default rate was; and what the value of arrears is. [139243]

  Mr. Leslie
  The amount imposed by Greater London Magistrates Courts Association (GLMCA) for the financial year 2002–03 was £64,793,641. The payment rate for the same period was 40 per cent. The value of arrears was £72,288,339. DCA officials from the Targeted Intervention Project are now working with GLMCA to drive up performance on fine enforcement

  House of Lords Reform
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many staff are employed on the House of Lords reform programme; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [139244]

  Mr. Leslie
  Since August 2003, five officials have been working on the House of Lords reform programme. It is estimated that the final cost for this year will be around £227,000.
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  The cost of the unit for the last full financial year was £181,000 (although at that time fewer officials were working on House of Lords reform and they were also engaged on other duties within the Department).

  Judicial Appointments
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many(a) high court judges, (b) circuit judges, (c) district judges, (d) recorders and (e) assistant recorders there were in the last month for which figures are available; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138764]

  Mr. Leslie
  Figures for October 2003 show that there were(a) 108 high court judges of whom (i) none were black and (ii) none were Asian; (b) 609 circuit judges of whom (i) 1 was black and (ii) 3 were Asian; (c) in total there were 535 district judges broken down as follows: 429 district judges (civil) of whom (i) 1 was black and (ii) 8 were Asian; 106 district judges (magistrates' courts) of whom (i) none were black and (ii) 2 were Asian; in addition there were a total of 987 deputy district judges broken down as follows: 761 deputy district judges (civil) of whom (i) 4 were black and (ii) 7 were Asian; 176 deputy district judges (magistrates' courts) of whom (i) 4 were black and (ii) 5 were Asian, (d) 1367 recorders of whom (i) 19 were black and (ii) 18 were Asian; (e) the post of assistant recorder was abolished on 12 April 2000.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many(a) high court judges, (b) circuit judges, (c) district judges, (d) recorders and (e) assistant recorders were appointed in 2002; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138765]

  Mr. Leslie
  The 2001–2002 Judicial Appointments Annual Report gives the following figures for appointments made between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002:(a) 9 high court judges were appointed, of these (i) none were black and (ii) none were Asian; (b) 20 circuit judges were appointed, of these (i) none were black and (ii) none were Asian; (c) in total 12 district judges were appointed, broken down as follows: 4 district judges (civil) of whom (i) none were black and (ii) 1 was Asian; 8 district judges (magistrates' courts) of whom (i) none were black and (ii) none were Asian. In addition a total of 40 deputy district judges (civil) were appointed of whom (i) none were black and (ii) none were Asian; no deputy district judges (magistrates' courts) were appointed during this period; (d) 98 recorders were appointed, of whom (i) none were black and (ii) I was Asian; (e) the post of assistant recorder was abolished on 12 April 2000 and subsequent appointments were made direct to the office of recorder.

  The 2002–2003 Judicial Appointments Annual Report gives the following figures for appointments made between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2003: (a) 6 high court judges were appointed, of these (i) none were black and (ii) none were Asian; (b) during this period no new general circuit judge competitions were held; (c) in total 15 district judges (civil) were approved for appointment, of whom (i) none were black and (ii) none were Asian; there was no new general competition for appointment as district judges (magistrates' courts), in addition a total of 69 deputy district judges were

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  appointed broken down as follows: 42 deputy district judges (civil) of whom (i) 1 was black and (ii) 2 were Asian; 27 deputy district judges (magistrates' courts) of which (i) 1 was black and (ii) 2 were Asian, (d) 93 recorders were appointed of whom (i) 2 were black and (ii) 2 were Asian; (e) the post of assistant recorder was abolished on 12 April 2000 and subsequent appointments were made direct to the office of recorder.

  Copies of both reports are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many magistrates in England and Wales were in post in the last month for which figures are available; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138766]

  Mr. Leslie
  There were 28,344 active magistrates in England and Wales on 1 April 2003. Of that number, 609 classified themselves as of Black origin and 845 Asian.

  Magistrates' courts staff in post

  Figures as at 31 March 2003

  Post

  1Total

  Black

  Asian

  Other

  Mixed

  Not known

  Justices clerks

  97

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  Senior legal manager

  374

  9

  8

  3

  4

  11

  Senior admin manager

  168

  1

  1

  1

  1

  5

  Court clerk

  1,408

  28

  51

  14

  10

  34

  Principal administrative division

  934

  34

  13

  3

  8

  27

  Administrative grades

  6,342

  198

  190

  45

  40

  212

  Clerical

  1,347

  15

  19

  1

  4

  29

  Total

  10,669

  285

  281

  67

  68

  318

  1 These are full time equivalent figures

  Justices of the Peace
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action the Lord Chancellor will take in respect of declarations by justices of the peace of their intention not to uphold the law; and if he will make a statement. [137853]

  Mr. Leslie
  On appointment, magistrates take the judicial oath and sign a written undertaking to administer justice according to the law and to resign from the Commission of the Peace if they are unable to perform their duties. If it appears to the Lord Chancellor, having considered advice from the local Advisory Committee, that a magistrate has failed to carry out his or her duties, he has powers under Section 5 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 to counsel, caution, admonish, suspend or remove that person from office.

  Witness Suites
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will take steps to move the witness suite at Nottingham Crown Court from proximity to the main entrance used by defendants. [139279]

  Mr. Leslie
  Using funds made available from the Government's Street Crime Initiative, the Witness Suite on the Ground Floor was created in the summer of last year. The location of the suite was determined after consultation with the Witness Support Service and local Court Managers.
  1064W
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many magistrates were appointed in England and Wales in 2002; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138767]

  Mr. Leslie
  1,474 new magistrates were appointed in England and Wales in 2002. Of these 40 classified themselves as of Black origin and 66 Asian.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many(a) justices' clerks, (b) deputy clerks, (c) ushers and (d) administrative clerical and secretarial staff were in post in magistrates' courts in England and Wales in the last month for which figures are available; and how many were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138768]

  Mr. Leslie
  The following table, using the current job titles, provides the information requested. The figures provided are drawn from the latest survey, which was conducted for magistrates' courts staff in post in England and Wales as at 31 March 2003.

  The new Witness Suite has been well received by the Witness Support Service. The facilities are a significant improvement on those previously provided. There are no current plans to change further the provisions for witnesses at the Crown Court in Nottingham.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) 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; [137889]

  (2) if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year after 1997 by the Department of Social Security, 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. [137735]

  Maria Eagle
  Neither the Department for Work and Pensions (formed in June 2001) nor its predecessors has had any contracts with Bechtel in each year since 1997.
  1065W 1070W

  Bechtel

    Benefits
    Mr. Lazarowicz
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he will take to help(a) housebound and (b) disabled people access new systems for receiving benefits and tax credits. [139150]

    Mr. Pond
    The Department is committed to ensure that all people have access to their benefits and pensions; indeed, many housebound and disabled customers have been paid by Direct Payment for some time.

    All customers, including housebound and disabled people, are being provided with information on all of the account options suitable for Direct Payment. It is for customers themselves to decide which type of account they wish to have their money paid into. Once customers contact the Department they are able to talk to an advisor who can help them understand the options open to them.

    Third party access will continue to be available under Direct Payment for those customers who may need someone to collect their benefit or pension for them.

    However, we have always recognised that there will be a small group of people who we cannot pay directly into an account. We are developing an exceptions method of payment to pay this group.

    Correspondence
    Mr. Kaufman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 4 June from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Howarth (Fallows). [127746]

    Mr. Blunkett
    I have been asked to reply.

    A response was sent to my right hon. Friend on 16 July 2003.

    Measures

    December 1997

    Set up the Disability Rights Task Force to consider how best to secure our 1997 Manifesto commitment to look at comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people

    December 1998

    Employment provisions of Disability Discrimination Act extended to employers with 15 or more employees(previously 20 or more)

    January 1999

    All new rail vehicles to comply with Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations

    July 1999 Assent.

    Disability Rights Commission Act 1999 gains Royal Commission opens in April 2000

    October 1999

    Further DDA rights of access to goods and services came into force, meaning service providers have to alter a policy, practice or procedure which prevents a disabled person accessing a service, or to provide an auxiliary aid or service, or provide a service by a reasonably alternative means

    October 2000

    Government agrees the EU Article 13 Employment Directive to combat discrimination in employment and vocational training on grounds of disability, age, religion/belief, sexual orientation

    December 2000

    All new full size single deck buses over 7.5 tonnes and double deck buses to be fully accessible to disabled people, including wheelchair users; new buses up to 7.5 tonnes and coaches to have improved access for ambulant and sensory impaired passengers

    May 2001

    Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA) gains Royal Assent. The Act brings within scope of the DDA's discrimination provisions disabled pupils and students

    September 2002

    First duties of SENDA come into force in September 2002

    March 2003

    Regulations introduced to require taxi drivers to accept assistance dogs and to carry them free of charge

    April 2003

    The Disability Discrimination (Blind and Partially Sighted Persons) Regulations 2003 came into force. People who are certified as blind or partially sighted, or registered as blind or partially sighted by a local authority, automatically deemed disabled for DDA purposes

    July 2003

    DDA 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 approved by Parliament. These include significant measures that will bring over 1 million additional employers, and a further 7 million jobs, within the scope of the DDA.

    Measures come into effect in October 2004. They implement disability provisions of the Article 13 Employment Directive

    November 2003

    Began public consultation on setting an end date for rail vehicle accessibility and for refurbishment of rail vehicles

    November 2003

    Laid Regulations to give effect to the Article 13 Directive's requirements as they affect occupational pension schemes for disabled employees. Measures come into effect in October 2004

    Disability Discrimination
    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what(a) representations and (b) discussions he has had in the last 12 months on the viability of extending the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to protect people who have progressive illnesses with particular reference to cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS; and if he will make a statement. [139447]

    Maria Eagle
    In their legislative review published in April 2003 The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) reiterated our proposals in "Towards Inclusion" to extend the definition of disability to cover more people with HIV and cancer and recommended a further change that would benefit more people with multiple sclerosis. Since then officials have been involved in a number of discussions with the DRC about the proposals.

    Officials have received a range of other representations regarding the definition of disability from disabled people, civil rights groups and organisations that represent disabled people, urging change and supportive of the proposals in "Towards Inclusion". The majority of these have come from people concerned about HIV infection. This included a letter campaign earlier this year supporting the case for extending the DDA to cover HIV from point of diagnosis.

    Disabled People
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures have been taken by the Government since 1997 to advance civil rights legislation for disabled people.[139291]

    Maria Eagle
    Since 1997, we have introduced a wide range of significant measures to improve and broaden civil rights for disabled people, including:
    1067W
    Since 1997, we have also announced the following future measures to improve and broaden civil rights for disabled people.

    Measures

    October 2004

    Final rights of access to goods and services in DDA come into effect, which mean that service providers have to, where reasonable, remove, alter or avoid physical features which act as barriers to disabled people accessing their services

    September 2005

    SENDA duty to remove or alter physical features in post-16 education sector comes into force

    January 2005

    New buses up to 7.5 tonnes and coaches will have improved access for wheelchair users

    January 2015

    All buses up to 7.5 tonnes will be fully accessible

    January 2016

    All full size single deck buses over 7.5 tonnes will be fully accessible

    January 2017

    All double deck buses will be fully accessible

    January 2020

    All coaches will be fully accessible

    In addition, we will publish later this year a draft Disability Bill which will include measures to further extend disabled people's civil rights in respect of the public sector, transport, premises, private clubs, and the definition of disability.

    Housing Benefit
    Mr. Gordon Marsden
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of the Local Housing Allowance Pathfinder scheme in Blackpool; [139583]

    (2) if he will make a statement on the Housing Benefit Pathfinder schemes; [139584]

    (3) what estimate he has made of the number of housing benefit recipients who will be affected by the introduction of the Local Housing Allowance Pathfinder scheme in Blackpool; [139585]

    (4) what guidance his Department has given to local authorities on consultation with local landlords during the operation of the Housing Benefit Pathfinder schemes. [139586]

    Mr. Pond
    The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) was launched in Blackpool on 17 November. Blackpool is the first of nine local authority Pathfinders that will operate the Local Housing Allowance over the next two years; the remaining eight authorities will go live between December and February.

    For de-regulated private rented sector tenants in Pathfinder areas, benefit will no longer depend on individual rents but will be based on a standard amount for the area and size of household. This will allow tenants to trade between the quality and price of their accommodation.

    The LHA will also provide a more transparent, efficient and fairer system. Most tenants will take responsibility for receiving their benefit and paying an appropriate amount of it as rent to their landlord. No claimant will be worse off when the LHA is introduced, and we estimate that in Blackpool around one in three Housing Benefit claimants in the de-regulated private rented sector will benefit financially.

    Pathfinder authorities have been encouraged to work closely with landlords and they have all held meetings with local landlords to explain how the LHA will work and the safeguards that have been put in place; however, we have not issued any specific guidance on consultation.
    1068W
    There will be a comprehensive evaluation of LHA Pathfinders, which will include interviews with claimants, landlords, local authority staff and stakeholder organisations, as well as an analysis of administrative data. This is already under way.

    Local Reference Rents
    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what instructions he has issued to the Chief Rent Officer in London on the localities used in the determination of housing benefit local reference rents since the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) (Amendment) Order 2001. [139107]

    Yvette Cooper
    I have been asked to reply.

    The post of "Chief Rent Officer" no longer exists. and both localities and local reference rents are a matter for the Rent Service, which is an Executive Agency of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. No instructions have been issued to the Rent Service on localities used in the determination of local reference rents since the laying of the 2001 Order.

    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many localities were being used in the determination of housing benefit local reference rents in London in November(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [139108]

    Yvette Cooper
    I have been asked to reply.

    There is no record of the numbers of localities used in the determination of local reference rents in these years. Localities are decided by the Rent Officer using definitions in the Rent Officers (Housing Benefit Functions) Order. Localities are influenced by residential property markets, which are fluid. Therefore, any statistical publication will only ever be able to provide a 'snap shot' at any given time.

    The Rent Service intends to begin publishing information about local reference rents for England in the late spring of 2004.

    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent reports he has received on housing benefit shortfalls experienced by claimants arising from local reference rent restrictions in London. [139111]

    Mr. Pond
    The principle of rent restrictions in Housing Benefit is now well established. It ensures that claimants are able to afford reasonably priced rental
    1069W
    accommodation in the locality that they choose to live in, whilst ensuring that the cost to the taxpayer is kept at a reasonable level.

    We have not received recently any formal reports on this matter.

    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many localities are currently being used by the Rent Service in England to determine local reference rents. [139112]

    Yvette Cooper
    I have been asked to reply.

    There is no on-going record of the numbers of local reference rent localities in England. Localities are influenced by residential properties markets that are fluid. Any statistical publication will only ever be able to give a 'snap shot' at any given time.

    However, the Rent Service intends to publish information about local reference rents for England in the late spring of 2004.

    Sir Archy Kirkwood
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 15 May 2003,Official Report, column 373W, to the hon. Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard), when the Rent Service will begin to publish information about local reference rents for different parts of the country. [139113]

    Yvette Cooper
    I have been asked to reply.

    The Rent Service intends to publish information about local reference rents for England in the late spring of 2004.

    Occupational Pension Schemes
    Annabelle Ewing
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimates his Department has made of(a) the number of occupational pension schemes which have failed to meet their full obligations to employees since May 1997 and (b) the number of employees and pensioners who have been affected. [137580]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The information requested is not available.

    Pension Credit
    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on uptake of the pension credit in Wirral South. [139722]

    Malcolm Wicks
    As at 17 October, 2003 the number of people receiving Pension Credit in the Wirral, South constituency was 2,110. 1.97 million households in Great Britain (around 2.3 million individuals) are already receiving Pension Credit with 1.2 million households, (around 1.4 million individuals) receiving more money than they did before. The average award is £47.10 per week.

    Source:

    IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent sample

    Notes:

    1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

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

    3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

    Pension Funds
    Mr. Best
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to protect the assets in the pension funds of former nationalised industries. [138373]

    Malcolm Wicks
    I refer the hon. member to the written answer I gave him on 17 November 2003,Official Report,Vol. 413,column 48W.

    Pensions
    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what(a) representations and (b) discussions he has had in the last 12 months on encouraging (i) employers and (ii) employees to contribute to stakeholder pensions; and if he will make a statement. [139442]

    Malcolm Wicks
    Ministers have received correspondence from, or had meetings with, a variety of interests including hon. Members, employer, employee and pension industry representatives about encouraging employers and employees to contribute to stakeholder pensions.

    The Employer Task Force, set up as a result of the Government's Green Paper on Pensions has recently discussed this important issue. The Task Force will be considering it further as part of its ongoing work to increase and extend occupational and private pension provision.

    Mr. Pike
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what(a) representations and (b) discussions he has had in the last 12 months on the take-up of occupational pensions by part-time workers; and if he will make a statement. [139443]

    Malcolm Wicks
    The issue of lower occupational pension coverage by part-time compared to full-time workers was brought up for discussion during the Green Paper Consultation events by various different employers, women's lobby groups and other organisations with an interest in the Women and Pensions Agenda.

    The Government is seeking to address this inequality through the Informed Choice Programme. One example is the employer-based pilots we propose to introduce in spring next year. These pilots are aimed at those employers who do not contribute at least 3 per cent to a private pension for their employees and will require the employer to offer information or advice within the workplace to help employees make their own private pension arrangements.

    Making sure that all employees, including part-time workers, fully appreciate the value of employer contributions if these are offered, will also be an integral part of the Informed Choice programme.

    Mr. Caton
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on low income households of delaying commencement of paying state retirement pension until the beginning of the week following the birthday that brings entitlement to that pension; [139485]

    (2) to commence entitlement to state pension from the actual date of the (a)th birthday for men and (b) 60th birthday, for women. [139486]
    1071W
    Malcolm Wicks
    There are no plans to change the date from which entitlement to State Pension commences.

    The rule that entitlement begins on the payday on or following the day on which a man reaches his 65th birthday, or a woman her 60th birthday, derives from the

    Date

    Payment in Advance

    Payment in Arrears

    Thursday 4 December 2003

    Man becomes 65 years/woman becomes 60 years.

    Monday 8 December 2003

    Entitled to standard rate State Pension. Receives £77.45 full week's payment for the coming week

    Would receive £44.28 (4/7ths of £77.45) for the period 4.12.03 to 7.12.03

    Notes:

    In respect of the period up to Wednesday 3 December 2003 the individual from a low income household would typically receive one or more of the following, paid around this time:

    final earnings, monthly or weekly in arrears, with holiday pay, week in hand etc.

    incapacity benefit/jobseeker's allowance—paid fortnightly in arrears

    income support—paid weekly or at another period, in arrears

    Performance Monitoring
    Mr. Flight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [137944]

    Maria Eagle
    Performance targets for the department 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.

    Mr. Flight
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [137960]

    Maria Eagle
    Key performance targets for the Department for Work and Pensions are agreed as part of the Spending Review and the latest set were published in Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–2006 (Cm 5571). The department monitors progress towards the targets along with HM Treasury and progress is reported regularly.

    The department has four agencies:

    Jobcentre Plus

    The Pension Service

    The Child Support Agency

    The Appeals Service.

    The department also sponsors twelve non-departmental public bodies:

    Executive bodies:

    Health and Safety Commission

    Health and Safety Executive

    Disability Rights Commission

    Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority

    1072W
    fact that State Pension is paid in advance. In practice any effect upon low income households is beneficial as the following chart shows. In the case of bereavement benefits, which are also paid in advance, there is no change upon reaching pension age, since the same payday is maintained.

    Pensions Compensation Board

    Remploy Ltd

    Tribunal body:

    Office of the Pensions Ombudsman

    Advisory bodies:

    Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board

    Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

    Social Security Advisory Committee

    National Employment Panel

    Disability Employment Advisory Committee.

    Agency performance targets are set by the Secretary of State and are set out in the Business Plans of our Agencies and, where appropriate, in the Business Plans and Annual Performance Agreements of the Non Departmental Public Bodies. They are available in the Library.

    Achievement against the targets is monitored as part of the department's performance management, which is an integral part of the day to day running of the department. Monitoring of progress towards, and performance against, the targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation, and includes meetings between Ministers and Chief Executives or equivalent.

    Post Office Card Accounts
    Mr. Alan Reid
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive their state pension by means of(a) direct payment into a bank or building society account, (b) direct payment into a Post Office card account and (c) a pension book. [114677]

    Mr. Pond
    The information has been complied form data available on 6 September 2003.

    The number of live accounts in payment of State Pension (RP) at 6 September 2003 paid by:

    (a) Direct Payment into a Bank or Building Society Account:

    4,860,832

    (b)Direct Payment into a Post Office card account:

    10,476

    (c) a pension Book:

    4,327,440

    (d) Other (Payable Order, GIRO):

    49,630

    1073W
    The above table does not include Retirement Pension paid with another benefit, for which an analysis of the method of payment is not available.

    The numbers being paid by direct payment are expected to grow rapidly in the coming months as 20 week order books begin to expire and customers begin to receive payment into their chosen bank, building society and post office card accounts.

    Public Employees (Essex)
    Mr. Francois
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time workers were employed by the Pensions Agency in Essex on 1 September. [139516]

    Maria Eagle
    At 1 September, 224 full time staff (permanent and temporary staff) were employed by The Pension Service in Essex.

    Social Exclusion
    Paul Holmes
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has conducted into the effect of benefit sanctions on claimants with reference to social exclusion; and if he will make a statement. [138754]

    Mr. Pond
    No research has been conducted by the Department into the effect of benefit sanctions on claimants with specific reference to social exclusion. Research on the effect of sanctions, though not specifically related to social exclusion, was carried out and published in 2001 under the title "The Impact of the 26 Sanctioning Regime" (Report number ESR100). A copy of this is available in the Library. Basic quarterly statistical reports on sanctions are available in the Library.

    Work-related Stress
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [136846]

    Maria Eagle
    Information is available only for 2002–03. In addition, where individuals indicate on their medical certificate that 'stress' is the reason for sickness absence, generally this will not differentiate between workplace stress and stress that might have been caused by other factors, for example domestic issues.

    For 2002–03, there were 7,576 reported cases of stress. (This will include individuals who might have had several periods of stress-related sickness absence.) That led to 162,814 working days being lost at a cost of around £8.5 million. We do not collect information on the amount of compensation (if appropriate)that might have been paid to individuals. This could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

    The DWP takes seriously its obligation to provide a supportive working environment for its staff. One way in which this is discharged is through our Employee
    1074W
    Assistance provider, a confidential service which staff can call on 24 hours a day where the need arises. In addition, we will do all we reasonably can to address any workplace issues that might contribute to a person's stress levels. The Department is a key stakeholder in the Government's 'Revitalising Health and Safety' initiative and has signed up to the principle of the 'Government Setting an Example' agenda. The DWP is also participating in the HSE Management Standards pilot in five areas. The pilot is designed to combat workplace stress. If successful, we will look to introduce the Management Standards across the organisation.

  DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

    Permitted Development Rights
    Mrs. Calton
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress with the review of permitted development rights. [139313]

    Keith Hill
    As part of the planning reform agenda the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister undertook to review the permitted development rights granted by the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development Rights) Order 1995. As a first step, a research report commissioned from Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd was published on 10 September.

    No decisions have been made about any changes to permitted development rights. Full public consultation will take place before any changes are made.

    Allotments
    Mr. Ben Chapman
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is taking to promote the wider(a) use and (b) provision of allotments. [139314]

    Yvette Cooper
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister supports the development of green spaces, including allotments, parks, city farms and playgrounds. We have introduced higher restrictions on the disposal of allotments and distributed guidance on allotment management.

    Coalfield Regeneration Trust
    Jeff Ennis
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust on the former coalfield areas. [139315]

    Phil Hope
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, has been pleased with the positive response of the coalfield communities to the work carried out by Coalfields Regeneration Trust since its launch in 1999. I am aware that the Trust is currently undertaking an independent evaluation of its work and I look forward to seeing the results of this shortly.

    Local Government Finance (Cheshire)
    Sir Nicholas Winterton
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received about the impact on local councils in Cheshire of the formula funding arrangements. [139316]
    1075W
    Mr. Raynsford
    Since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published proposals for formula grant in 2003–04, we have received 75 representations from the public, local MPs, councillors and local authorities, mostly about the impact on the education formula.

    Planning Policy/Pollution
    Mrs. Brooke
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received about local planning policies and light pollution. [139318]

    Keith Hill
    In the last few months the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received approximately one letter per week from hon. Members and members of the public on the subject of light pollution and nuisance lighting. None has specifically addressed local planning policies and light pollution. The Campaign to Protect Rural England has also submitted its Night Blight report.

    Prefabricated Housing
    Dr. Naysmith
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is under his Department's Decent Homes guidance with regard to local authority decisions on whether to keep prefabricated housing. [139319]

    Keith Hill
    There are no types of building that are automatically considered to fail the decent homes standard just because of their construction. Prefabricated homes are as acceptable as other types of dwelling if they meet the requirements set out in the decent homes standard.

    The guidance on implementing the standard makes it clear that investment decisions should be made in the context of the local housing market and on the future demand for the stock.

    Neighbourhood Waldens
    Rob Marris
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that achievements of Neighbourhood Warden schemes are recognised by means of awards. [139320]

    Yvette Cooper
    An award scheme is already in operation. I presented the 2003 achievement awards at the wardens' annual conference held in Harrogate, last Friday, which included an award for Community Safety for Wolverhampton. Details of the award winners are available in the Library of the House.

    Arm's Length Management
    Mr. Purchase
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 3 November 2003,Official Report, column 496W, on arm's length management, what percentage of the additional £2 billion announced in the Sustainable Communities Plan will be invested directly in local authority arm's length management organisation managed housing stock. [139141]

    Keith Hill
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects at least 95 per cent. of the £2 billion funding for arms length management organisations (ALMOs) announced in the Sustainable Communities Plan in February for the years 2003–04 to 2005–06 to be invested directly in bringing local authority housing stock up to the Decent Homes standard. ALMOs may 1076W
    devote up to 5 per cent. of their allocations to environmental or other works designed to enhance the sustainability of their investment in Decent Homes.

    Asbestos
    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Department and its agencies on(a) asbestos surveys and (b) the management and removal of asbestos since 1 January 2001; and what budget is available to (i) commission asbestos surveys and (ii) manage and remove asbestos from buildings in (A) 2003 and (B) 2004. [130915]

    Yvette Cooper
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister came into existence in May 2002. The spend to date within those properties now under control of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is as follows:

    a. Asbestos surveys: £53,916.88

    b. Management and Removal of Asbestos: £149,496.72

    The budget available:

    (i) For commissioning asbestos surveys in 2003 is included in the figure at (a) above. Budgets for asbestos surveys in 2004 are being developed.

    (ii) For management and removal of asbestos in 2003 is £130,000 and in 2004 is £800,000.

    Dr. Cable
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 15 July 2003,Official Report, column 287W, on asbestos, if he will list the buildings identified as containing asbestos. [130940]

    Yvette Cooper
    Asbestos surveys undertaken in accordance with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 have revealed that the following Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's buildings contain asbestos-based materials:

    Fire Service College—Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire;

    Government Office for London—Riverwalk House, Westminster:

    HQ Building—Ashdown House—Victoria Street, Westminster; and

    Government Office for the North East—Wellbar House, Newcastle.

    Borrowing Guidelines
    Mr. Sheerman
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister(1) if he will make a statement on the new prudential borrowing guidelines for local government; [139700]

    (2) what the estimated cost of repayments would be per million pounds borrowed and invested in capital schemes within the framework of the new prudential borrowing scheme. [139701]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The new capital finance system will start on 1 April 2004. The legislative framework is in the Local Government Act 2003. This is supplemended by a code of practice on prudential borrowing, published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, to which authorities are required by the Act to have regard.

    It is not possible to estimate future borrowing costs, which will reflect prevailing interest rates and the terms of loan agreements. However, authorities can currently obtain loans repayable after thirty years at a fixed annual interest rate of about 5 per cent.

    Council Reserves
    Mr. Paul Marsden
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the financial value was of the reserves for(a) Shropshire County Council and (b) Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council in each year since 1997. [138884]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The reserves of Shropshire County Council and Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council at the beginning of each financial year since 1997–98 are tabled as follows:

    £000

    Shrewsbury and Atcham

    Shropshire

    1997–98

    5,969

    8,852

    1998–99

    6,516

    4,745

    1999–2000

    6,936

    7,944

    2000–01

    6,367

    8,490

    2001–02

    5,042

    4,562

    2002–03

    5,509

    n/a

    Source:

    1997–98 to 2002–03 Revenue Summary Returns.

    Figures include schools' reserves, other earmarked reserves and unallocated reserves. The 2002–03 figure for Shropshire is not yet available.

    Council Tax
    Mr. Edward Davey
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Government has made of the average level of council tax for the next financial year; and if he will make a statement.[138150]

    Mr. Raynsford
    Decisions on council tax levels are for local authorities to take after consulting with their local electorates and taxpayers. The Government does make projections of the council tax yield in future years for the purposes of managing the public finances. These projections are based on a number of assumptions about changes in council tax levels, the tax base, the collection rate and council tax benefit payments. The level is assumed to rise in line with past trend, and does not represent a value judgment about what local authorities may choose to do in the future. These figures are not a Government view as to what constitutes an acceptable rise in council tax, and simply represent an assumption for public expenditure planning purposes. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also makes a technical assumption in relation to the assumed national council tax which is used for the purposes of the formula which we use to make the annual grant distribution to all local authorities.

    Mr. Sanders
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the(a) band D council tax and (b) average council tax paid in (i) Plymouth, (ii) Torbay, (iii) Torridge, (iv) West Devon, (v) south Hams, (vi) Exeter, (vii) Teignbridge, (viii) mid Devon, (ix) east Devon and (x) north Devon were in financial year 2003–04, including all precepts. [139914]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The information requested is published on the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister at http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ctax/ctax034.htm. The requested figures can be found there at columns 1 and 5 of Table 2, "2003–04 council taxes (average per dwelling and Band D for two adults): individual local authorities". The information is 1078W
    also available in the Library, in Table 2 that accompanied the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister "News Release 2003/0050: 25 March 2003".

    Departmental Energy Use
    Mr. Laurence Robertson
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) electricity and (b) other energy his Department has used in each year since 1997 (i) in total and (ii) per square metre; what the projected use is for each of the following years for which forecasts are made; what plans he has to reduce usage; and if he will make a statement.[135045]

    Yvette Cooper
    For parts(a) and (b) of the answer I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 404W.

    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created in May 2002 and published its Greening Operations Policy Statement in October 2002. In this it states an objective to meet the cross-Government target of an ongoing 1 per cent. per annum reduction in greenhouse gas emissions against 1999–2000 levels (expressed in terms of carbon equivalent emissions).

    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Greening Operations Policy Statement also identifies plans to reduce energy usage that include best practice advice to managers and staff, purchase of energy efficient equipment, introduction of more energy-efficient technologies and where possible increasing the proportion of energy obtained from embedded sources.

    Departmental Staff
    Mr. Pickles
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) staff expressed as a full-time equivalent and (b) press and public affairs staff were employed (i) in his Ministerial office, (ii) in other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) by non-departmental bodies, (iv) by executive agencies and (v) by his Department in (A) 1996–97, (B) 1997–98 and (C) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [138127]

    Yvette Cooper
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.

    Data on staffing levels in the Civil Service is collected from departments and agencies twice yearly, in April and October. The latest figures, for 1 April 2003, were published on 16 October 2003. These are available on the World Wide Web at www.civil-service.gov.uk/ statistics. Copies of these documents are also available in the Libraries of the House.

    Cabinet Office publishes information on non-departmental public bodies in its annual publication 'Public Bodies'. The information includes details of the number of staff employed by each Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) at 31 March each year. "Public Bodies 2003" is available on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/agencies-publicbodies

    At 1 April 2003, six full-time equivalent staff were employed in the ministerial office of the Deputy Prime Minister. A further 22 staff were employed in other Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ministerial offices. The

    1079W
    press office provides a centralised media service on behalf of the Office as a whole. As at 1 April there were 21.8 full-time equivalent press officers. Information requested on the number of press office staff employed in the NDPBs and executive agencies is not held centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    Disabled Children (Play Areas)
    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps his Department is taking to promote good practice on making play areas more accessible for disabled children. [139674]

    Yvette Cooper
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published Developing "Accessible Play Space"–"A Good Practice Guide" on 12 November 2003. Copies of these are available in the Libraries of the House. "Developing Accessible Play Space"–"A Good
    Practice Guide" gives practical advice to play space providers on how to make outdoor play areas more accessible for disabled children. It will help play space providers to understand the issues that disabled children and their families face when using play spaces, and provides good practice examples of how to improve existing space as well as issues to consider when creating new ones.

    Copies of the guide have been sent to all local authorities in England, as well as to housing associations and other play space providers. The guide is also available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website www.odpm.gov.uk

    Emergency Night Shelters
    Mr. Paul Marsden
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many people in each local authority were turned away from emergency night shelter accommodation in each year since 1997. [138885]

    Yvette Cooper
    This information is not collected centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    Energy Performance
    Norman Baker
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement in respect of his policy on the labelling of buildings open to the public in terms of their energy performance.[139147]

    Phil Hope
    By January 2006, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires the United Kingdom to oblige owners of larger buildings occupied by certain types of public authorities and institutions, to openly display energy performance labels. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering how best to implement these requirements in the next major revision of the Building Regulations.

    Energy Policy
    Mr. Yeo
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make a statement, in relation to his Office, on(a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years. [108855]
    1080W
    Yvette Cooper
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created in May 2002 and as such there have been no specific annual energy returns published to date. Energy figures for 2002–03 are being collected and will be published in due course.

    The energy policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister includes compliance with cross-government targets and is as contained within the departmental Greening Operations Policy Statement as published in October 2002.

    Fire and Rescue Service
    Mr. Francois
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many support staff were employed by the Essex Fire and Rescue Service on 1 September 2003. [139663]

    Mr. Raynsford
    As at 31 March 2003 (the latest figures available), there were 179 (full-time equivalent) support staff employed by Essex Fire and Rescue Service. The actual headcount number of support staff employed was 197.

    Mr. Francois
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many community education vans were retained by the Essex Fire and Rescue Service on 1 September. [139665]

    Mr. Raynsford
    There are four dedicated community education vans retained by Essex Fire and Rescue Service as at 1 September 2003.

    Miss McIntosh
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact he proposes regional assemblies will have on the structure of the Fire Service in North Yorkshire. [140168]

    Mr. Raynsford
    The Government made it clear in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808 June 2003) that in those parts of the country that choose to have an elected regional assembly one of its functions will be to oversee a regional fire and rescue service. This will mean fewer individual fire authorities. Day-to-day operational response, fire prevention and community fire safety work, however, will continue as now to be delivered at a local level.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reasons for introducing integrated personal development systems for the fire services in the South West Region. [140186]

    Mr. Raynsford
    Integrated Personal Development System (IPDS) is a national system which is being rolled out across the whole country. The reasons for introducing it are set out in the White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (June 2003).

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with individual fire authorities on integrated personal development systems. [140187]

    Mr. Raynsford
    I have had no such discussions. But fire and rescue authorities are represented by the Local Government Association on the project board taking forward the integrated personal development system (IDPS) within the Fire and Rescue Service Modernisation Programme.
    1081W
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost is of introducing integrated personal development systems for the fire service in the South West Region. [140188]

    Mr. Raynsford
    This is a matter for fire authorities in the South West.

    Green Belt (Development)
    Mr. Pickles
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how many applications have been received for development on green belt land since 1997; how many applications he approved for the development to proceed; and what the total size of the green belt area was on which he approved development. [138130]

    Keith Hill
    The information requested is not held centrally by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    Homelessness (Older People)
    Linda Perham
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to tackle homelessness among older people. [136656]

    Yvette Cooper
    The Government are determined to tackle all forms of homelessness including amongst older people and wants to prevent it occurring wherever possible. This was set out in the March 2002 report, "More than a roof, which focused on the problems homeless people face as much as on places where they live.

    Under current legislation vulnerability due to old age is a priority need category. This ensures that vulnerable older people who become unintentionally homeless, or threatened with homelessness, must be provided with suitable accommodation by the local authority.

    In addition, the Homelessness Act 2002 required each local authority in England to undertake a review of homelessness in their area and put a strategy in place by the end of July 2003 to ensure that accommodation and support is available within their districts for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness. The Homelessness Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also issued good practice guidance to assist local authorities in the development of their strategies including information on addressing the needs of older people who are homeless or vulnerable to homelessness.

    Houses in Multiple Occupation
    Mr Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses are in multiple occupation; how many of them are registered; and how many local authorities have registration schemes. [136902]

    Keith Hill
    According to the English House Condition Survey 2001, there are 638,000 houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in England, of which 338,140 are in the private rented sector (excluding those with resident landlords). According to the Housing Investment Programme Return 2003, 202 local authorities in England operate registration schemes and 14,902 HMOs are registered under them.

    Housing
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by each local authority on(a) arm's length management organisations, (b) private finance initiative and (c) stock retention in relation to ownership of housing. [138681]

    Keith Hill
    A table showing figures for 2002–03 the capital spend by each local authority, management and maintenance expenditure and the amount that is Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) funding is available in the Library of the House. The first ALMOs qualified to start spending in the final quarter of 2002–03, with actual expenditure for 2002–03 recorded at £55.9million.

    It is not possible to provide information on spend for PFI schemes as the commercial position of schemes still in procurement must be protected. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has allocated a total of £760 million credits to 16 schemes. Two of those schemes are signed: Islington (£75million) and Manchester (£39 million). The other Pathfinders are Newham, Camden, NE Derbyshire, Sandwell, Leeds and Reading. The Round 2 schemes are Islington, Newham, Lewisham, NE Derbyshire, Manchester, Leeds, Oldham and Ashford.

    James Purnell
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on investment in social housing. [139317]

    Keith Hill
    Under this Government, total housing investment has more than trebled, rising from £1.4 billion in 1997–98 to £4.9 billion in 2004–05. Amongst other positive developments, this investment has served to improve nearly one million social homes to the decent homes standard already, and we expect to bring another 500,000 social homes up to the standard by spring of next year. Meanwhile, we are investing £5 billion in more affordable housing over the next three years—that is double the level of investment we inherited in 1997.

    Andrew Selous
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is regarding owners of ex-local authority homes who wish to sell them back to the local authority. [139321]

    Keith Hill
    It is up to landlords to decide whether they wish to repurchase homes that they have previously sold, having regard to local housing needs. But we know that some people who have bought council homes, particularly flats, have subsequently found themselves in financial difficulties. So since April 1999 we have helped authorities to buy back such homes, by covering 35 per cent of the costs they incur if they spend £50,000 per year or more. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are ensuring that similar provisions continue to operate under the new local government capital finance system that starts on 1 April 2004.

    IT Projects
    Dr. Pugh
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much he spent on IT(a) licences, (b) maintenance, (c) software and (d) hardware in the last financial year. [125774]

    Yvette Cooper
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The information held by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies differs in detail due to the different vote and trading account practices and different IT service supply arrangements. Some of the information requested is subsumed in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's strategic investment in IT. To provide accurate figures for the period and with the degree of breakdown requested is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost.

    Such information as is available indicates that in 2002–03 ODPM HQ, with DFT HQ, spent

    £2,100,000 on hardware

    £1,540,000 on software

    £1,018,000 on maintenance and consumables

    Large Scale Voluntary Transfers
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions the Audit Commission has raised with him issues relating to individual ballots for large scale voluntary transfer in the last three years. [140122]

    Keith Hill
    None.

    Meeting Costs
    Norman Lamb
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many times the(a) Urban Sounding Board, (b) Core Cities Working Group and (c) Arson Control Forum have met since they were established; how much each meeting cost; what the (i) annual budget since inception, (ii) projected budget for the next two years and (iii) current work programme of each body is; and if he will make a statement. [139783]

    Keith Hill
    (a) The Urban Sounding Board met 9 times between April 2001 and September 2002.

    Members were invited to join the Board in a voluntary capacity and received no remuneration. The estimated average costs of refreshments and travel and subsistence claims for each meeting were £900.

    (i) and (ii) There was no specific annual budget for the Urban Sounding Board. Meeting costs were paid for out of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Urban Policy Directorate's general running costs budget.

    (iii) The Sounding Board is to be replaced with smaller ad hoc working groups of external advisors and officials with specific time-limited remits focusing on key issues of concern to the Department, such as obstacles to physical regeneration and skills. Membership of these groups will be voluntary and non-remunerative.

    (b) The Core Cities Working Group has met 14 times since its inception in April 2002. Members of the Working Group, including officials from central government and the Regional Development Agencies and local government officers from the Core Cities, attend meetings as part of their normal duties. The
    1084W
    estimated average cost of refreshments for each meeting has been around £70. No other meeting costs have been incurred.

    (i) and ii) No annual budgets have been set for the Working Group as running costs are minimal. Organisations participating all bear their own costs.

    (iii) The Working Group is currently contributing to the evidence base supporting the government's Public Service Agreement target for regional economic performance. It is seeking to understand how competitive cities can contribute to improvements in regional economic growth through four sub groups focusing on: skills, innovation, better connectivity between cities and regions, and Strategic leadership, with a particular focus on key issues likely to make a difference. The group's work will feed into policy measures to be agreed as part of the Spending Review 2004.

    (c) Since it was set up in April 2001 the Arson Control Forum has met 5 times. The estimated average cost of the room, refreshments and travel and substance claims for each meeting was £650.

    (i) and (ii) The annual Arson Control Forum budget since its formal launch is:

    £ Million

    2001–02

    1.20

    2002–03

    1.36

    2003–04

    4.02 (projected)

    2004–05

    4.47 (projected)

    2005–06

    4.80 (projected)

    (iii) The Arson Control Forum's main activities in its current work programme are the partial funding of local arson reduction projects in England & Wales, supported by a research programme into various aspects of the arson problem (e.g. the relationship between car arson and other car crimes), and the publication of best practice guides on arson prevention.

    Pathfinders Programme
    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation of the Pathfinders programme has taken place. [139675]

    Keith Hill
    Individual schemes will be assessed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and scrutinised independently by the Audit Commission before resources from the Housing Market Renewal Fund are allocated.

    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shall be establishing monitoring systems that will enable us to see the effects of Pathfinder projects on both their own and neighbouring areas. In addition, we shall be evaluating the overall effectiveness of individual Pathfinders' approaches and the programme as a whole.

    An evaluation of the Housing PFI Pathfinder programme has begun. The first part identified a framework for the evaluation programme. This is now completed. Following on from this, work is now underway on a baseline evaluation—the first phase of which has been completed. The findings can be found on

    1085W
    the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/ documents/page/odpm_house_609810.pdf.

    Mr. Jim Cunningham
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in what ways(a) the West Midlands and (b) Coventry have benefited from Pathfinders. [139676]

    Keith Hill
    Both the North Staffordshire and the Birmingham and Sandwell Market Renewal Pathfinders are situated in the West Midlands region. Both have currently received funding of £6.66 million. This money is being used to prepare the Pathfinder's scheme and to fund some early interventions. The two Pathfinders are now currently in the process of preparing their strategic schemes to bid for resources from the Housing Market Renewal fund.

    Coventry does not benefit from Housing Market Renewal activity because it lies outside of any of the nine Housing Market Renewal intervention areas.

    Performance Monitoring
    Mr. Flight
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [137949]

    Yvette Cooper
    Performance targets for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister were agreed as part of Spending Review 2002. The monitoring and measurement of PSA targets forms part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's performance management systems. Performance management is an integral part of the day to day running of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and as such it is not possible to separate the specific costs out. The monitoring of progress towards and performance against the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's PSA targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

    Regional Assembly Elections
    Mr. Gordon Prentice
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, whether he plans to offer advice and guidance to local authorities in areas subject to regional assembly referendums on the extent to which they can publicise their own views on the recommendations of the Boundary Committee on the proposed new local government structure in their area. [139033]

    Mr. Raynsford
    No—the rules on such matters are clearly laid out in the Code of Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

    The Boundary Committee will be giving its recommendations wide publicity. Its reports will explain the views of those that made submissions or representations, including those of the local authorities affected.

    Local authorities may, within reason, make known their views on a preferred outcome in a referendum. These are matters for the judgement of the local authorities affected but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not believe that it is either necessary or appropriate for them to spend council tax payers' money on further publicity.

    Registered Social Housing
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what(a) guidance and (b) advice his Department published for tenants of registered social landlords, concerning (i) their rights in respect of consultation over demolition programmes and (ii) major policy changes; [139889]

    (2) what (a) guidance and (b) advice his Department has published for registered social landlords concerning their responsibilities towards tenants, with particular reference to their responsibilities to inform tenants of their rights when properties become earmarked for demolition; [139890]

    (3) what statutory procedures should be carried out by registered social housing landlords prior to determining demolition programmes. [139891]

    Keith Hill
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not published guidance and advice to registered social landlords (RSLs) or their tenants in respect of consultation about demolition programmes and major policy changes. Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985 requires landlords to "maintain such arrangements" as they consider appropriate for informing secure tenants about any proposals for changes in housing management which will affect them "substantially". These "matters" should include maintenance, improvement and demolition. The Housing Corporation is regulator of RSLs and its regulatory code and guidance (published in "The Way Forward: Our approach to regulation" in January 2002) include requirements that RSLs must seek and be responsive to residents' views and priorities. RSLs are required, amongst other things, to enable residents to be involved in decision making and to provide information about its activities to residents. The regulatory code and guidance apply to all types of legal occupier, including occupants with assured and secure tenancies.

    RSLs do not require consent to demolish property. However, they do require the consent of the Housing Corporation under section 9 of the Housing Act 1996 if property is to be demolished and the land is to be disposed of. RSLs are required to consult the field offices of the Housing Corporation about the need for any grant payment or re-payment in these circumstances.

    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what resources in terms of(a) funding and (b) support are made available by the Government to registered social housing landlords to rectify housing stock in need of a major structural repair. [139892]

    Keith Hill
    The Housing Corporation has allocated £38.9 million in 2003–04 for works to Registered Social Landlords stock. This includes major repairs. The corporation, with the National Housing Federation, has issued guidance to associations covering all aspects of asset management, including how to deal with stock in need of major repair. They have also supported a number of seminars and other training events on this topic. Corporation regulators work with associations at risk of failing to meet the Decent Homes Standard on any of the criteria, including structural soundness, to ensure that all homes will meet the standard by 2010.
    1087W
    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the optimum size is of housing stock for stock transfers of local authority housing to a single trust or association. [139893]

    Keith Hill
    The Housing Transfer Manual 2003 makes clear that decisions of the number of dwellings transferring from a local authority to a new landlord will depend on local circumstances. A material consideration in deciding the number of dwellings transferring to a single landlord would be the number of dwellings remaining after any proposed demolitions. This supersedes the 12,000 dwelling guideline that existed previously.

    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is regarding housing trusts or associations created as a result of stock transfer ballots by tenants, in cases where they propose demolishing occupied properties without the consent of tenants. [139895]

    Keith Hill
    Tenants should be fully involved in all the stages of deciding how to deliver the decent home objective. This includes the option appraisal process, and, where transfer is the preferred option, the detailed development of the transfer proposal including the likely need for demolitions.

    Mr. George Howarth
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is regarding housing trusts or associations created as a result of stock transfer ballots, in cases where tenants demonstrate a desire to establish a new or alternative body to (a) manage, (b) own and (c) manage and own part of the trust's or association's housing stock. [139896]

    Keith Hill
    Increasing tenant participation is a priority for all housing transfers. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would expect any new landlord to be willing to consider any approach from its tenants to manage, own or own and manage their stock. However, in considering any request we would expect the landlord to consider the impact on other tenants, delivery of the transfer promises and the effect on the business plan.

    Rural Housing
    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the exception site planning principle for the provision of housing in villages. [140280]

    Keith Hill
    Current policy on providing for rural exception housing is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3:Housing, Annex B. The policy allows local planning authorities to consider including a "rural exception policy" in their plans where there remains a lack of affordable housing to meet local needs. An exception policy enables a local planning authority to grant planning permission for small sites for affordable housing to meet local needs in perpetuity, within or adjoining existing villages, which may be subject to policies of restraint. The current policy advises that it is inappropriate for local planning authorities to allocate particular sites for affordable housing.

    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation document "Influencing the size, type and affordability of housing" proposes that the current policy on providing for rural exception housing is replaced by a policy that enables local planning
    1088W
    authorities to identify sites solely for affordable housing, on land within or adjoining existing villages, which would not otherwise be released for housing. The consultation period officially closed on 31 October 2003, but responses after that date have been considered because of the postal dispute.

    Mr. Drew
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons the use of exception sites in rural areas is being replaced by a requirement for local authorities to provide a specified number of affordable units through application of planning gains. [140281]

    Keith Hill
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation document "Influencing the size, type and affordability of housing" proposes that the current policy on providing for rural exception housing set out in Annex B of Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing" is replaced by a policy that enables local planning authorities to identify sites solely for affordable housing, on land within or adjoining existing villages which would not otherwise be released for housing.

    The proposal seeks to address concerns that the securing of affordable housing through the current rural exception policy takes too long. The proposed policy will provide affordable housing in a more considered way through the plan-making process. It is anticipated that it will deliver affordable housing where it is needed more effectively and more quickly than the current policy.

    Supermarkets (Planning)
    Mr. Clifton-Brown
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what investigations the Government have carried out into the extent to which existing planning applications for supermarkets have a condition stating the maximum retail floor space; and how many applications have had such conditions attached. [138746]

    Keith Hill
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect information on the amount of floor space granted in planning permissions or what conditions were attached, because to do so would be an excessive burden on local authorities. Our policy is to minimise the data demands we place on local planning authorities.

    From the cases that my officials have seen, which are mainly the largest retail cases, and from advice they have sought, their assessment agreed with that of the hon. Member in Standing Committee that the vast majority of consents since 1996 have maximum floor space stipulated in conditions, whereas for those prior to 1996 it may have been less frequent.

    Tenancy Deposit Scheme
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation his Department has made of the pilot Tenancy Deposit Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [140043]

    Keith Hill
    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 10 November in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Caton),Official Report, column 164W.
    1089W
    Mr. Hancock
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the case for a statutory Tenancy Deposit Scheme; what plans he has to introduce legislation; and if he will make a statement. [140044]

    Keith Hill
    On the first part of the question I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Caton) on 10 November 2003,Official Report, column 164W.

    On the second part, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are currently considering the case for legislation in the context of the Law Commission's proposals for tenure reform.

    Traffic Noise (PPG 24)
    Mr. Heald
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will reduce the maximum noise thresholds in PPG 24 for aircraft noise to below those for other traffic noise sources; [139710]

    (2) if he will set lower maximum traffic noise thresholds for rural areas than for urban areas in PPG 24 when assessing new development areas; [139711]

    (3) if he will remove the two to three decibel allowance included in PPG 24 for aircraft noise; [139712]

    (4) if he will amend PPG 24 to bring the maximum recommended traffic noise levels for assessing new development areas into line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation. [139713]

    Keith Hill
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of Planning Policy Guidance Note 24: "Planning and Noise". The review will include a re-assessment of the Noise Exposure Categories (NECs) in the light of the World Health Organisation's guidelines and other recommendations and research.

    With regards to traffic noise thresholds for rural areas as compared with urban areas, the existing guidance already contains provision for local authorities, where appropriate, to vary the recommended levels contained in the NEC lables by up to three dB(A) (decibels of average weighted sound.

    Urban Landscapes Project
    Dr. Kumar
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on UK participation in the EU Sustainable and Accessible Urban Landscapes Project. [139424]

    Yvette Cooper
    SAUL(2) is a transnational project funded under the European INTERREG III initiative involving partners from the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

    It is led by the UK partner 'Groundwork UK'. Its aim is to improve the public realm and public open space through a collaborative planning and design approach. It involves a range of urban landscape demonstration projects; development of regional strategies; a transnational programme to promote learning, knowledge and experience transfer and planning for new urban landscapes.

    Warrington Borough Council
    Helen Jones
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the rate of local income tax which would be necessary to fund services provided by Warrington Borough Council(a) if such a tax were levied on all those employed in Warrington and (b) if such a tax were levied on residents of Warrington. [140035]

    Phil Hope
    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no estimate of these matters. The Steering Group of the Balance of Funding Review, chaired by my rt. hon. Friend the member for Greenwich and Woolwich, has asked external organisations to give evidence on a number of issues put to it by consultees, which include the case for introducing some form of local income tax. We have made clear that the fact that the group is looking at the issues put to it does not mean that the Government endorses them.

    Website
    John Barrett
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139370]

    Yvette Cooper
    The current Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's web site went on line in July this year. It's design and content is consistent with Cabinet Office guidelines and the development process included usability testing, online user research and extensive content evaluation.

    The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be reviewing the content and design of the site on a regular basis.

    Wilson Marriage Centre, Colchester
    Bob Russell
    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003, if he will call in public inquiry Application CC/COL/03/1437 by Essex County Council in respect of land it owns at the Wilson Marriage Centre, Barrack Streeet, Colchester. [138142]

    Keith Hill
    The planning application in question represents a departure from the local development plan. Essex County Council have confirmed that the application, should they be minded to approve it, will be submitted to my rt. hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in due course, so that he can consider whether the proposals raise any issues which would warrant his intervention.

    In considering whether his intervention may be justified, all representations received will be given very careful consideration.

TREASURY

  Suicide
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides there were in each month in(a) England and (b) each region in each of the last six years. [139867]
  1091W
  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. Paul Burstow, dated 19 November 2003

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many suicides there were in each month in a) England and b) each region in each of the last six years. (139867)

  The most recent available mortality data are for the calendar year 2002. I will arrange for figures for each year from 1997 to 2002, by month and Government Office Region, to be placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Teenage Pregnancy
  John Mann
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many teenage pregnancies there were in(a) the UK, (b) coalfield communities and (c) Bassetlaw in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [140052]

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

  Letter from Len Cook to John Mann, dated 19 November 2003

  As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many teenage pregnancies there were in a) UK, b) Coalfield communities and c) Bassetlaw, for the last 12 months for which figures are available. (140052) Figures for the United Kingdom are not available because conception statistics are not calculated for Northern Ireland, and those for Scotland are not produced on a comparable basis to England and Wales. The information available for England and Wales is shown in the table below.

  The number of teenage pregnancies in England and Wales are compiled routinely by calendar years. The latest year for which figures are available is 2001*.

  Number of pregnancies among women aged under 18 in England and Wales, Coalfield communities and Bassetlaw, 2001

  Number of pregnancies

  England and Wales

  40,966

  Coalfield communities

  5,534

  Bassetlaw

  80

  *Provisional figures

  Unemployment Rates
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of(a) unemployment,(b) seasonally adjusted unemployment and (c) long-term unemployment for the Isle of Wight was for each month since 2000. [139977]

  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. Andrew Turner, dated 19 November 2003:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking for the level of (a) unemployment (b) seasonally adjusted unemployment and (c) long-term unemployment for the Isle of Wight each month since 2000. (139977)
  1092W
  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definition.

  However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of long-term unemployment for the Isle of Wight, or Parliamentary Constituency estimates on a monthly basis.

  ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary Constituencies. The attached table gives the number of JSA claimants and long-term claimants, those who have been claiming for at least 12 months, in the Isle of Wight Parliamentary Constituency for the period January 2000 to October 2003. Claimant count figures are not seasonally adjusted at Parliamentary Constituency level.

  Number of jobseeker's allowance claimants in the Isle of Wight parliamentary constituency from January 2000 to October 2003 (not seasonally adjusted)

  All claimants

  Claimants over 12 months

  2000

  January

  3,279

  906

  February

  3,596

  885

  March

  3,279

  840

  April

  2,892

  775

  May

  2,616

  753

  June

  2,433

  725

  July

  2,403

  722

  August

  2,325

  683

  September

  2,249

  679

  October

  2,347

  673

  November

  2,660

  662

  December

  2,945

  653

  2001

  January

  3,305

  646

  February

  3,189

  633

  March

  2,876

  610

  April

  2,419

  598

  May

  2,228

  594

  June

  2,039

  565

  July

  1,970

  544

  August

  1,940

  532

  September

  1,911

  513

  October

  2,059

  497

  November

  2,332

  488

  December

  2,622

  482

  2002

  January

  3,008

  481

  February

  2,867

  478

  March

  2,587

  452

  April

  2,359

  442

  May

  2,220

  439

  June

  1,973

  412

  July

  1,915

  379

  August

  1,874

  346

  September

  1,887

  331

  October

  1,927

  329

  November

  2,198

  309

  December

  2,451

  322

  2003

  January

  2,785

  325

  February

  2,741

  308

  March

  2,438

  298

  April

  2,125

  296

  May

  1,939

  291

  June

  1,775

  282

  July

  1,714

  282

  August

  1,662

  260

  September

  1,689

  279

  October

  1,709

  273

  Source

  Jobcenter Plus administrative system.

  Advertising Costs
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the cost of advertising by(a) HM Treasury, (b) the Inland Revenue, (c) Customs and Excise, (d) the Office of National Statistics, (e) National Savings and (f) the Royal Mint in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [138802]

  Ruth Kelly
  For the years 1997 to 2002 in respect of HM Treasury, Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise and the Royal Mint, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 7 May 2002,Official Report, column 36W.

  The information relating to subsequent years is as follows:

  Inland Revenue

  2002–04: £19.9 million

  2003–04: £7.4 million

  HM Customs and Excise

  2002–03: £1,539,000

  2003–04: £1,557,000

  The figures for the Office for National Statistics and National Savings and Investments since 1997 are as follows:

  Office for National Statistics

  1997–2000: £3,000

  2000–01: £1,272,000

  2001–02: £1,770,000

  2002–03: None

  National Savings and Investments

  1997–98: £3,893,000

  1998–99: £1,532,000

  1999–2000: £7,011,500

  2000–01: £2,770,086

  2001–02: £3,279,000

  2002–03: £2,459,822

  2003–04: £1,900,000

  Child Tax Credit
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of pensioners with dependent children who are receiving Child Tax Credit. [135213]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer that the Minister for Pensions gave him on 3 November 2003,Official Report, column 467W. Most of those who were not already receiving Child Tax Credit (CTC), who were expected to still have dependent children at the introduction of Pension Credit (PC) and who were expected to qualify for PC at that date, were automatically transferred to tax credits. They are now receiving the CTC, if still entitled.

  Council Tax
  Mr. Dorrell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of general government revenue was accounted for by council tax in each tax year between 1992–93 and 2001–02. [132563]
  1094W
  Dawn Primarolo
  The figures requested are given in the table:

  Council tax1 as percentage of general government total receipts

  Percentage

  1992–93

  3.8

  1993–94

  3.5

  1994–95

  3.4

  1995–96

  3.5

  1996–97

  3.6

  1997–98

  3.5

  1998–99

  3.6

  1999–2000

  3.7

  2000–01

  3.8

  2001–02

  4.0

  1Community charge in 1992–93

  Employment Statistics
  Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of jobs in(a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales were in the (i) public sector and (ii) voluntary sector in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [139943]

  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. Denzil Davies, dated 19 November 2003

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about jobs in the public and voluntary sectors. (139943)

  Information about jobs in the public sector in the United Kingdom is compiled by ONS from returns made by public bodies. From this source, the latest estimate of jobs in the public sector in the UK is 5,298,000 in June 2002, representing 18.3 per cent. of all jobs in the UK. Comparable information is not available for England, Wales and Scotland, nor for the voluntary sector.

  However, information about people in employment is collected in the Labour Force Survey (LFS), and is classified by sector according to the details of their work supplied by respondents to the survey. Employment data covers only the main job of those employed and therefore omits second and subsequent jobs. The LFS definition of the voluntary sector includes all institutions holding charitable status, which would include, for example, employees in many private schools.

  The attached table shows the percentages of all people in employment that worked in the public and voluntary sectors in England, Scotland and Wales for the year to August 2003.

  Percentages of all people in employment working in the public and voluntary sectors—12 months to August 2003

  Percentage not seasonally adjusted

  Voluntary sector

  Public sector

  England

  2.0

  22.2

  Scotland

  2.4

  27.4

  Wales

  2.0

  28.5

  Source

  Labour Force Survey.

  Gold
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tonnes of gold from UK gold holdings were
  1095W
  sold in each year since 1997; at what price per ounce they were sold; and what the value of the sales per ounce was at the afternoon fix on 3 November. [139862]

  Ruth Kelly
  I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 27 October 2003,Official Report, column 39W and to the hon. Members for Reigate (Mr. Blunt) on 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 457W, and for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir Teddy Taylor) on 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 87W; and to the table in the Treasury document "Review of the sale of part of the UK Gold Reserves", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  At the afternoon fix on 3 November 2003, the total proceeds from the sales of gold was US$4,867 million.

  Household Wealth
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the stock of household wealth, net of debt, in(a) 1990, (b) 1997 and (c) the latest period for which figures are available; and what the shares of (i) housing and (ii) securities in the stock were in each case. [139344]

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

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the savings that his Department will make through the introduction of a compulsory identity card. [138968]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury has been involved in discussions on the benefits and costs of a national identity card scheme. The introduction of such a scheme is a long term undertaking, and my department will be involved with ongoing analysis of the benefits and costs. It is too early at present to attribute the scale of any savings to Treasury departments.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in income tax he estimates would be required to be levied on English taxpayers in order to generate an additional(a) £19 billion and (b) £22 billion. [139094]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are a number of ways income tax could be increased to generate revenue. I refer my hon. Friend to table 1.6 "Direct effects of illustrative tax changes" on the Inland Revenue website www.inland revenue.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/g_t06_1.htm, which provides a ready reckoner of the effects of changing the rates of income tax in the UK.

  Ministerial Statements
  Mr Heathcoat-Amory
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his statement of 9 June 2003,Official Report, column 420, what evidential basis he used to support his statement that 3 million jobs in the UK were dependent on the European Union. [129218]
  1096W
  Ruth Kelly
  The Treasury estimates that 3 million jobs in the UK are linked, directly and indirectly, to the export of goods and services to the European Union. This figure is based on the assumption that the share of total UK employment associated with UK exports to the EU is equal to the share of total UK value added (GVA) generated by UK exports to the EU.

  Mobile Phone Contracts
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the central mobile telecommunications contract managed by the Office of Government Commerce cost in each year since the scheme started, broken down by government department; how many mobile phone contracts are managed for each department under the contract; and if he will make a statement. [139553]

  Mr. Boateng
  The information is as follows:

  £

  Year

  Aggregated central civil government expenditure through the framework contract

  Aggregated number of mobile phone contracts agreed through the framework

  2000–01

  3,168,282

  39,501

  2001–02

  5,504,891

  62,614

  2002–03

  10,852,269

  99,907

  The GTM framework provides a vehicle for Central Civil Government departments and the wider public sector to purchase mobile telephony, data and wide area paging services.

  The table shows the aggregated central civil government expenditure through the GTM framework contracts since the frameworks were available. A breakdown of expenditure by government department is not held centrally in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  The table also shows the aggregated number of mobile phone contracts agreed through the framework, this equates to the number of individual handsets obtained.

  National Insurance Fund
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which years the rate of Treasury supplement to the National Insurance Fund was 18 per cent.; and if he will estimate the amount of the supplement in the current year if it were paid at that rate. [139451]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Treasury supplement was 18 per cent. for the years 1975–76 to 1980–81. It was abolished in 1988–89. If it still applied, and the rate was 18 per cent. it would amount to £12.4 billion for 2003–04.

  Official Residences
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department spent on(a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [134700]
  1097W
  Ruth Kelly
  The details requested are set out as follows.

  Maintenance

  Renovation

  Council tax

  Running costs1

  1997–98

  0

  0

  304

  62,306

  1998–99

  0

  0

  325

  149,598

  1999–2000

  0

  0

  350

  166,841

  2000–01

  0

  0

  375

  124,456

  2001–02

  0

  0

  410

  139,814

  2002–03

  0

  0

  445

  156,570

  1These costs include the proportion of capital charge (rent), rates, service charges and utilities in respect of the No.10 flat.

  The increase in rent/rates from 1997–98 to 1998–99 is due to the introduction of capital charging to replace Property Repayment Service assessed rents as the method of accounting for Crown Freehold properties.

  Payroll Services
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures of performance and customer satisfaction were included in the framework agreement between Her Majesty's Treasury and CMG for the implementation and provision of payroll services; what assessment he has made of the outcomes against target in relation to this agreement to date; and if he will make a statement. [139562]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Principal Framework for the provision of payroll services was set up to enable HM Treasury or any other Department or Agency to enter into an individual service contract with the Supplier for payroll provision. The Framework Agreement lays down approved warranties, undertakings and representations for the Supplier.

  The Framework Agreement also provides for the termination of the Agreement.

  The Framework Agreement did not confer upon the Supplier any right to service the payroll requirements of HM Treasury or any Department or Agency other than as provided in any service contracts.

  Personal Tax/Benefits
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to his statement of 13 November 2003,Official Report, column 403, on personal tax and benefit changes since 1997, if he will (a) list the personal tax and benefit changes since 1997 that have benefited householders and (b) state the net change in Government revenue resulting from each personal tax and benefit change for each applicable year since 1997; [140033]

  (2) pursuant to his statement of 13 November 2003, Official Report, column 403, on personal tax and benefit changes since 1997, what definition he used of householders; and how many householders there were in each year since 1997; [140034]

  (3) pursuant to his statement of 13 November 2003, Official Report, column 403, if he will (a) list the assumptions made and (b) set out the calculations used in coming to the conclusion on benefits to householders of personal tax and benefit changes since 1997. [140065]
  1098W
  John Healey
  The Government have introduced a number of personal tax and benefit measures since 1997 that have benefited households. As I said in my answer of 13 November 2003,Official Report, column 403, householders are, on average, £775 a year better off. Full details of these measures and their effect on Exchequer revenues are set out in the relevant Financial Statement and Budget reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. These measures include cutting the basic rate of income tax to 22 per cent. the lowest rate for 70 years, introducing the 10p starting rate of income tax, over-indexing age-related personal allowances and introducing the working and child tax credits to support families and tackle child poverty.

  The definition of a household can be found on page 173 of the 2002 edition of Family Spending a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Table 1.1 of this publication gives an estimate of the number of households in 2001–02; figures for earlier years are given in previous editions.

  An estimate of the average gain is calculated by comparing net household incomes after the operation of 2003–04 direct tax and benefit system with those after the operation of the 1997–98 direct tax and benefit system, uprating parameters to 2003–04 levels in line with changes in prices, and excluding the effect of the abolition of mortgage interest relief at source (MIRAS).

  Private Schools
  Mr. Foulkes
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on value added tax revenue of the charitable status of private schools in the last year for which figures are available. [139693]

  John Healey
  No such estimate can be made. VAT reliefs for charities are general and available data on expenditure by charities and non-profit making bodies do not identify different sectors.

  Secondees
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 4 November 2003,Official Report, column 620W, on secondees, which organisation is responsible for salaries and expenses of secondees out of the Treasury; and if he will make a statement. [139994]

  Ruth Kelly
  Of the 28 organisations mentioned in my earlier answer, the Treasury fully funds secondments to 6 of the organisations (with one of which we have a reciprocal arrangement). Secondments are partially funded by us to 6 other organisations, and the remaining 16 are fully funded by the organisation.

  Stamp Duty
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue cost of restructuring stamp duty on residential property sales so as to charge marginal rates of(a) 0 per cent. on property sales of £100,000 or less, (b) 2 per cent. on sales revenue of between £100,000 and £199,999, (c) 3 per cent. on sales revenue of between £200,000 and £299,999, (d) 4 per cent. In sales revenue of £300,000 to £399,999, (e) 5 per cent. on sales revenue of

  1099W
  £400,000 to £499,999, (f) 6 per cent. on sales revenue of £500,000 to £749,999 and (g) 7 per cent. on sales revenue of £750,000 and above. [135308]

  Ruth Kelly
  The revenue cost of restructuring stamp duty on residential property sales according to the scheme described above is estimated to be £700 million in 2004–05. This does not include any allowance for behavioural changes.

  Tax Credits (Overpayment)
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether existing tax credit claimants will be expected to make contact with the Inland Revenue to request a form or give information regarding their earnings for the last tax year in preparation for a reconciliation of their tax credit status in April 2004; [135413]

  (2) what action he is taking to ensure that the Inland Revenue applies lessons learned from the first year of operation of the (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit to the administration of those credits in time for financial year 2004–05;[135414]

  (3) whether existing tax credit claimants will automatically be sent forms to complete regarding their earnings for the last tax year in preparation for a reconciliation of their tax credit status in April 2004; [135415]

  (4) when he expects existing tax credit claimants to provide information about their earnings over the last tax year in order to achieve a smooth reconciliation of individuals' entitlements in time for April 2004. [135416]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The Inland Revenue has reflected the lessons learned from the introduction of tax credits last April in the detailed design of the processes for finalising tax credits awards and renewing claims from April 2004.

  The Inland Revenue will be writing to all tax credits claimants early next year to explain how the finalisation and renewals processes will work, and to let them know what they can expect to receive from the Revenue and how and when they would be expected to respond.

  No claimant will need to initiate contact. The Inland Revenue will write to all tax credits claimants from April 2004 over a period of weeks explaining how they can finalise their award for 2003–04 and renew their claim for 2004–05, if appropriate.

  Once contacted by the Inland Revenue, we expect two-thirds of claimants will need to provide details of their income for the previous tax year (2003–04) and confirm their circumstances over the period of their award.

  The remaining third of claimants—families receiving only the family element of child tax credit—will not need to contact the Inland Revenue unless they have changes to report in their circumstances or income over the last tax year (2003–04). Because the level of their award would be affected only by a significant change in income, we expect that only a small minority of these claimants will need to report their 2003–04 income.
  1100W
  Claimants who need to provide information will have until 30 September 2004 in which to do so. During this renewal period, tax credits payments will continue. Once the information is provided, the Inland Revenue will finalise the previous tax year's award (2003–04) and, if appropriate, set up the award for 2004–05.

  If they do not have details of their actual income for 2003–04 by the deadline, claimants can provide an estimate by 30 September 2004. They will then have until 31 January 2005 to provide the details of their actual income.

  There will be a comprehensive publicity campaign throughout the period to ensure that claimants are fully aware of what they have to do.

  The Inland Revenue is also expanding the capacity of the Tax Credits Helpline to support the finalisation and renewals processes, with the addition of two new contact centres.

  As set out in my answers of 7 July 2003 to the hon. Members for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight), Official Report, column 583W and for Yeovil (Mr. Laws), Official Report, column 584W, the Inland Revenue's compliance strategy for new tax credits has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints he has received about(a) child tax and (b) working tax credit; how much compensation has been paid for errors; and what the (i) range and (ii) average amount of compensation paid is. [135933]

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many compensation awards have been made by the Inland Revenue in respect of complaints about(a) child and (b) working tax credit; [136151]

  (2) how many complaints seeking compensation have been received in respect of (a) child and (b) working tax credit; [136152]

  (3) what the total value is of compensation awards made by the Inland Revenue in respect of complaints about (a) child and (b) working tax credits. [136449]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]To the end of September approximately 1,600 claims had been paid out. This represents about one thirtieth of one per cent of all claims received for tax credit awards. The average payment was £30.

  Taxation
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much additional revenue would be raised from the residents of(a) each of the borough councils in Hampshire and (b) the Southampton and Portsmouth unitary authorities for every penny increase in the basic rate of tax. [139714]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The requested information is given in the table.
  1101W

  Additional full-year yield (£ million) of increasing the basic rate of tax by 1p in 2000–01

  (a) Borough Councils in Hampshire

  Basingstoke and Deane

  10.4

  East Hampshire

  6.8

  Eastleigh

  8.4

  Fareham

  6.9

  Gosport

  4.3

  Hart

  6.1

  Havant

  5.8

  New Forest

  9.0

  Rushmoor

  4.4

  Test Valley

  6.7

  Winchester

  8.2

  (b) Portsmouth and Southampton unitary authorities

  22.1

  Estimates are based upon the 2000–01 Survey of Personal Incomes. The effects of the illustrative changes can be scaled up or down over a reasonably wide range. The results exclude any behavioural response to the tax change.

  VAT Carousel Fraud
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the value of VAT carousel fraud was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [139769]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of efforts to tackle VAT carousel fraud; [139770]

  (3) how many prosecutions there were in respect of VAT carousel fraud (a) in 2000, (b) in 2001, (c) in 2002 and (d) since 9 April; [139771]

  (4) how much money has been withheld in VAT repayments to companies trading in (a) mobile telephones and (b) computer chips in each of the last three years; how much was subsequently paid on to these companies; and if he will make a statement. [139773]

  John Healey
  There are no separate estimates for tax losses from the specific carousel variant of VAT Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) fraud. However, estimates of revenue loss from all forms of MTIC fraud, which includes carousel fraud, for 1999–2000,2000–01 and 2001–02 were published in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses" at the time of the pre-Budget report in November 2002, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. There are no estimates for earlier years.

  Details of Customs strategy and progress in tackling VAT MTIC fraud were set out in "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud" (November 2001), "Protecting Indirect Tax Revenues" (November 2002), and Customs' Spring Report (May 2003), copies of which are also available in the Library of the House.

  Prosecution figures for VAT MTIC fraud for 2001–02 were published in Customs' Annual Report and Accounts 2001–02 in December 2002 (CM 5671). Figures for earlier years are not available.

  Customs does not maintain information in the format requested and it could be produced only at disproportionate cost. The levels of VAT repayments being withheld by Customs in any given sector at any
  1102W
  given time vary on a daily basis, and repayments may be made which are subsequently established to be wrongly paid, resulting in an assessment for VAT at a later date.

  Estimates of tax losses and the number of prosecutions for 2002–03, and an update on progress in tackling the fraud, will be published later this year.

  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has made to the European Union in respect of its rules on cross-border trade and VAT carousel fraud; and if he will make a statement. [139772]

  John Healey
  The UK Government has regular dialogue with the European Commission and other member states of the EU about the most effective way to counter carousel VAT fraud, including simplifying and modernising the current rules on cross-border trade and strengthening the arrangements for administrative co-operation and information exchange between member states' tax administrations. The UK has supported initiatives in this area such as the proposal for a new VAT Administrative Co-operation Regulation, which will come into force on 1 January 2004.

HEALTH

  Chlamydia
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what powers the testing of 11 to 16-year-olds for chlamydia in schools is carried out; and what recent discussions he has had on the testing of school children for other sexually-transmitted diseases. [131806]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The power and decision to provide a school based health service, and the content of that service, is for the individual governing body of the school in consultation with pupils, parents and the school community.

  GM Crops
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research(a) has been undertaken and (b) is planned by the Government into the effects of consuming GM crops on human gut flora. [138805]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Food Standards Agency has not undertaken, and is not planning, any research into the effects of consuming genetically modified crops on human gut flora. The Government's Science Review on genetic modification has concluded that there is no evidence that transgenic DNA per se behaves differently from any other DNA with respect to its fate following consumption in food.

  Heroin Addicts
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of heroin addicts in(a) Leeds and (b) the UK in each of the last 10 years. [139345]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We do not hold this information centrally.

  A and E Services
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many admissions to Accident and Emergency departments there were in each of the past 12 quarters, broken down by hospital.[133750]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Quarterly activity statistics for accident and emergency departments are available from April 2001 for each national health service trust on the Department of Health website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/. A copy of this information is also available in the Library. Information is not collected by individual hospital site.

  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates since 1 October 2002 changes were made to the criteria used by the NHS in collecting data about the four-hour accident and emergency waiting time target. [135419]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Since October 2002 there has been one clarification to the criteria used by the national health service in collecting total time data. In addition monitoring has been extended beyond major accident and emergency (A&E) units to include all A&E and minor injuries units (MIU) services during this period.

  A clarification took effect from January 2003. This provided a definition of an inpatient ward type 2 and 3 A&Es (specialist A&Es, MIU and walk in centres) were included in total time monitoring on a voluntary basis from the same month. Monitoring of total time in type 2 and 3 A&Es became mandatory from April 2003.

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Frontline ambulances in fleet (including spares)

  109

  109

  109

  112

  112

  112

  Patient Transport Service vehicles in fleet (including spare)

  172

  172

  178

  178

  178

  178

  Solo Rapid Response Cars in fleet (including spare)

  0

  0

  12

  13

  13

  18

  Motorcycles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Cycles

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Special Baby Care Unit

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Source

  Mersey Regional Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

  Bovine TB
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has issued to those who have been in contact with animals infected with bovine tuberculosis. [132628]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Guidance on the management of the public health consequences of tuberculosis in cattle was issued to all consultants in Communicable Disease Control in June 2000.

  BUPA
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS has been of(a) hip replacements, (b) knee replacements and (c) cataract operations carried out at the BUPA hospital in Redhill. [134950]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  As the release of this information would entail disclosing a third party's commercial confidences, exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Open Government applies.

  Ambulances
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average length of time ambulances took to reach(a) the patient and (b) the hospital to which the patient needed to be taken in (i) the North West region, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) St. Helens in the last 12 months; [137989]

  (2) in what proportion of 999 calls made to the Merseyside Ambulance Service in the most recently measured 12 months for which figures are available an ambulance was unnecessary. [138007]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information is not available. The latest published performance data held by the Department is for 2002–03. This can be found on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0313.pdf. This includes response by category of call by national health service trust.

  Information relating to inappropriate calls is not available.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) frontline ambulances, (b) patient transport vehicles, (c) fast response cars, (d) medical motorbikes, (e) medical cycles and (f) special baby care units were available in Merseyside in each year since 1997. [138009]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Cannabis
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in trialling cannabis for medicinal use; and if he will make a statement. [137563]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department supports the evaluation of the therapeutic use of cannabis by clinical trials, and is working with organisations able to conduct high quality clinical trials that will put this research onto a scientific footing. A Medical Research Council supported clinical trial to attempt to measure the therapeutic effects of cannabis extract in people with multiple sclerosis was recently completed by Dr. John Zajicek, a Consultant Neurologist at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. Further information on the trial can be accessed at http://www.cannabis-trial.plymouth.ac.uk/

  A programme to develop a medicine derived from cannabis has been ongoing in the United Kingdom. The work is led by Dr Guy of GW Pharmaceuticals Limited. Current details about the clinical trials being sponsored

  1105W
  by GW Pharmaceuticals Limited may be obtained from the Company's website at http://www.gwpharm.com/rese clin index.html.

  If the benefits of a cannabis-based medicine are scientifically demonstrated, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will move to seek Parliament's agreement to any necessary changes to the misuse of drugs legislation. It would be premature to take such a step before the quality, safety and efficacy of the medicine have been fully established.

  Consumers for Health Choice
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of his discussions with the representative of Consumers for Health Choice on Tuesday 7 October. [138204]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  On Tuesday 7 October, I met with representatives of Consumers for Health Choice, the Health Food Manufacturers' Association, the Proprietary Association of Great Britain and the National Association of Health Stores to hear these groups' concerns about the implications of the Food Supplements Directive.

  I restated the Government's commitment to pressing for European Union maximum permitted limits of vitamins and minerals in food supplements to be set on a safety basis and to this end, using its influence in both scientific and political forums. I will raise this issue with Ministers in other member states as and when appropriate. I am also seeking to arrange a meeting with Commissioner David Byrne at the earliest practical opportunity.

  Contaminated Blood
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffering from haemophilia have(a) died and (b) suffered illness as a result of contaminated blood products from the NHS in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.[138790]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The number of haemophilia patients registered with the Macfarlane Trust who have died in the last five years, after infection with HIV from infected national health service blood products, is shown in the table.

  Number of deaths

  1998

  22

  1999

  19

  2000

  24

  2001

  13

  2002

  12

  Information on the number of haemophilia patients with HIV who have suffered illness is not available.

  The latest information from the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation show 212 patients with haemophilia have died from liver disease. The number of haemophilia patients with hepatitis C who are demonstrating signs of serious liver disease is 2,645, from a total 2,829 patients who are living with hepatitis C, as at January 2000.
  1106W
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to compensate(a) the dependants of those who have died from hepatitis due to infected blood products and (b) those who contracted hepatitis by such means, but recovered after treatment. [138791]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The details of the hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme are still being worked out. We expect to announce the scheme's eligibility criteria and payment structure shortly.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department(a) has commissioned and (b) is evaluating in order to determine the level of compensation for people infected with hepatitis C due to infected blood products; and if he will make a statement. [138792]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The following independent resources are being considered as part of the on-going deliberations to determine the level of payments made under the proposed hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme:the scheme of payments implemented by the Macfarlane Trust;
  the scheme of payments implemented by the Eileen Trust;
  the report of the Hepatitis C Working Party to the Haemophilia Society; and
  the report of the Scottish Executive's Expert Group on Financial and Other Support chaired by Lord Ross.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the steps that he is taking to ensure that contaminants are not present in NHS blood products. [138793]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The safety of blood and blood products used in the national health service is of paramount importance. Every reasonable step has been taken to minimise any risks during blood transfusion. The current high levels of safety are achieved by screening out potential high risk donors and then further testing of every unit of donated blood for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis before it is released to hospitals.

  As a precautionary measure against the theoritical risk that vCJD can be transmitted through blood, since 31 October 1999 all blood used for transfusion has had the white cells removed (a process called leucodepletion), and in 1998, we stopped using United Kingdom plasma in the manufacture of blood products.

  New blood safety initiatives, including technologies to remove pathogens in blood, are kept under review by the National Blood Service's Blood and Tissue Safety Assurance Group and the Department's Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Blood and Tissues for Transplantation.

  Coronary Disease
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has met milestones one to four for primary care management of heart failure in the national service framework for coronary heart disease; whether he has plans to set further milestones; and if he will make a statement; [138188]
  1107W
  (2) whether his Department has met milestones one to three for hospitals admitting patients for the management of heart failure in the heart failure section of the national service framework for coronary heart disease; whether he has plans to set further milestones; and if he will make a statement. [138189]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The national health service has made good progress on meeting the heart failure milestones set out in the national service frameworks. This has been supported further this year through the publication of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guideline on the management of heart failure. The Department has set a target for improved management of heart failure in the Planning and Priorities Framework for the next three years and has supported delivery of this target through publication of a toolkit of best practice for the NHS in October of this year.

  The quality and outcome framework in the new general medical services contract will support further progress in this important area.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service dentists there were in each year between 1997 and 2003. [135370]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The table shows the number of national health service dentists on a head count basis in England at September each year from 1997 to 2002. Information for 2003 is not yet available.

  Information is not available on a whole time equivalent (wte) basis because dentists working in the general dental service dentists (CDS) are self employed dentists who are not required to work standard hours and who are free to vary their working time if they wish.

  NHS dentists cover dentists working in the GDS, hospital dental service, community dental service, personal dental service (PDS) and salaried dentists working in the GDS. Dentists working in more than one dental service are included in each service, apart from dentists working in both the PDS and the GDS, who are counted in the GDS only.

  align="centr"NHS Dental Services: Number of dentists in England

  September each year

  Number of dentists

  1997

  20,393

  1998

  20,887

  1999

  21,435

  2000

  21,728

  2001

  22,321

  2002

  23,183

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) what plans he has to increase spending on the provision of dentures; and what discussions he has had with the General Dental Council on the provision of dentures; [136753]

  (2) what plans he has to prevent the illegal (a) production and (b) fitting of dentures; and what estimate he has made of the level of illegal (i) production and (ii) fitting of dentures. [136754]
  1108W
  (3) if he will introduce an agreed qualification in denturism to permit clinical dental technicians to deal directly with the public. [136755]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Dental appliances are manufactured to the prescription of a registered dentist, mostly in privately owned laboratories, which have to be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency (MHRA) under the Medical Devices Regulations 2002. We are working with the General Dental Council and the profession to provide for the registration of dental technicians including clinical dental technician (CDTs). As a result, members of both professions will need to be appropriately trained and qualified. The registration of CDTs will enable suitably qualified members of the profession to both supply and fit dental appliances thereby legalising the practice of denturism.

  No prosecutions have been undertaken against dental laboratories which have failed to register under the Medical Devices Regulations. The vast majority of breaches of the Regulations are resolved with the co-operation of the manufacturer in line with the Government's Concordat on Enforcement without the need for prosecution. The MHRA investigates and resolves all potential breaches that are drawn to their attention. Information on the illegal fitting of dentures is not held centrally.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state(a) the reasons for compulsory retirement in dentistry and (b) the age limit for this retirement. [138196]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The National Health Service (General Dental Services Supplementary List) and (General Dental Services) Amendment Regulations 2003 amend the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Regulations 1992 by changing the age at which a dentist must be removed from a dental list from 65 to 70 years of age. A dentist so removed may continue to assist in the provision of general dental services after the age of 70 years.

  The NHS Pension Scheme's current normal retirement pension age is 60. Members may stay in the scheme until age 70 but from age 60 they may retire and take a pension voluntarily without reduction.

  Any member still employed at age 70 may take their retirement pension and continue working in the NHS.

  Dentists, along with all other NHS Pension Scheme members are able to retire with benefits from age 50 on a voluntary basis. The voluntary early retirement from age 50 is payable with actuarially reduced benefits.

  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union on regulations on services that may be provided by dental technicians within the European Union. [138221]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Working practices and any legislative controls for dental technicians vary across the countries of the European Union. We intend that the General Dental Council's proposals for registration should aid the development of common standards to assist freedom of movement within Europe.
  1109W
  Mr. Weir
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions he has had with representatives of dental technicians regarding regulations relating to their position in providing dental services; [138223]

  (2) what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Scottish Executive and (b) Welsh Assembly regarding regulations on the provision of dental services within the UK by dental technicians; [138224]

  (3) what recent discussions he has had with the General Dental Council on the role of dental technicians in providing dental services. [138225]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Dental technicians are key members of the dental team. All the Health Departments in the United Kingdom have indicated their support for the General Dental Council's proposals for the registration of dental technicians. This will ensure that they are properly trained and acquire registrable qualifications, which have been identified in consultation with the profession. We plan to put the necessary legislative changes in place during 2004 and intend that registration arrangements should give new impetus to the training and recruitment of dental technicians.

  Mr. Beith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time before dentists qualified overseas can take the qualifying examinations to practise in the UK has been over the last five years. [135917]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]The International Qualifying Examination (IQE), which is the General Dental Council's (GDC) statutory examination for the purpose of gaining admission to the United Kingdom dentists register, was introduced on 1 January 2001. Since then, the number of dentists applying to take the examination has increased from some 150 to nearly 200. Average waiting times for the three parts of the IQE since that date are shown in the table.

  Months

  Part A

  Part B

  Part C

  2001

  2.75

  4.5

  7.4

  2002

  4.25

  5.5

  10

  2003

  5.75

  7.5

  10

  The figures exclude candidates who have asked for the timing of the examination to be delayed. Information for the years prior to the introduction of the IQE is not available. The GDC has increased Part C capacity for 2004 and waiting times should be shortened significantly, with some candidates given only three months wait to sit Part C.

  Diagnosis and Treatment Centres
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much(a) has been and (b) is intended to be spent on capital costs in the new diagnosis and treatment centres.[134952]

  Mr. Hutton
  Independent sector treatment centres (IS-TCs) are being procured in accordance with strict Official Journal of the European Commission (OJEC) rules. The advertisements published in the OJEC in December 2002 were for the provision of health services 1110W
  only and not capital build. The IS-TC programme was design to ensure that additional capacity is available as soon as possible to treat National Health Service patients.

  The 47 NHS treatment centre schemes have been allocated a total capital spend of over £370 million.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the location will be of the diagnostics centre in Southend-on-Sea; and if he will make a statement. [139808]

  Mr. Hutton
  The proposed location of the treatment centre in Southend-on-Sea is expected to be at Fossetts Farm, on the outskirts of Southend-on-Sea. This is subject to receipt of planning permission.

  Digital Hearing Aids
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS digital hearing aids in Wirral South. [139546]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Wirral Hospitals National Health Service Trust manages the provision of digital hearing aids across the Wirral, including Wirral South. Funding has been made available for the years 2003–04 and 2004–05 to ensure that a modernised service, providing digital hearing aids, will be available from all NHS hearing aids services in England by 2005.

  Elective Admissions
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have waited more than(a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months for an elective finished in year admission in each of the last five years for which figures are available for each NHS Trust in London; and if he will make a statement. [135155]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Epilepsy
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the national misdiagnosis rates for epilepsy were in(a) adults and (b) children in the last year for which figures are available; [139786]

  (2) what percentage of patients with epilepsy are seizure free. [139787]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We do not collect information on the misdiagnosis rates for epilepsy. However, recent reports from the Clinical Standards Advisory Group, "Services for patients with epilepsy (2000)", and the Chief Medical Officer, "On the State of the Public Health (2001)", showed that around 20 per cent. of people referred to epilepsy clinics may be misdiagnosed and receive inappropriate and unnecessary treatment. In May 2002, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) made its report of the National Clinical Audit of Epilepsy Related Death available to local national health service clinicians and organisations to help them establish or review policies for the management of epilepsy and epilepsy-related death. NICE is also developing a clinical guideline for the diagnosis,
  1111W

  management and treatment of epilepsy, which is currently due to be published in June 2004 and which will help address any shortfalls in current practice.

  The new general medical services contract includes clinical quality standards for the management of epilepsy in primary care. Under the quality and outcomes framework being introduced from 1 April 2004 as part of the contract general practitioner practices will be rewarded for monitoring and managing people with epilepsy. This will include recording the percentage of patients aged 16 and over receiving drug treatment for epilepsy who have been seizure free for the last 12 months. The Joint Epilepsy Council's "National Statement of Good Practice" shows that around 70 per cent. of people with epilepsy have the potential to become seizure free.

  Flu Vaccinations
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the NHS has made of potential savings derived from sending only one copy of the influenza vaccination reminder letter to a household, even if more than one resident in the household is affected. [132774]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Although no official cost effectiveness assessment has been carried out, general practitioner practices usually ask their primary care trust to write to patients on their behalf. It is thought that this approach is quicker, more cost effective than individual practices writing out and preserves patient confidentiality.

  Fluoridation
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what peer presented research his Department has examined in assessing the potential benefit in the proposed addition of fluoride to drinking water; [136406]

  (2) what other countries' drinking water supply systems were (a) investigated and (b) visited by his Department when preparing proposals to add fluoride to drinking water. [136407]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  In 1999, the Department commissioned the University of York to carry out an up to date expert scientific review of fluoride and health. "A Systematic Review of Water Fluoridation" published in September 2000, reported that fluoridating water reduces the number of children with tooth decay by 15 per cent. The review identified 3,246 research studies from 30 different countries, but was critical of the quality of the research available. Accordingly, the Department asked the Medical Research Council (MRC) how the evidence base could be strengthened and the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Dental Officer are advising Ministers on the implementation of the MRCs recommendations. We have already commissioned a study on the absorption of fluoride, which has now been completed and is subject to peer review.

  Food Advertising
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with other Ministers on extending regulations on food advertising aimed at children. [139624]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government is concerned about the levels of childhood obesity and is taking and considering a number of actions to tackle the problem. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recently published a discussion paper on possible options for action on the promotion and advertising of foods that could improve children's diets and health, and is expected to advise Ministers of its analysis of these options early next year. It would not be appropriate to discuss specific options before receiving the FSA's advice.

  Food Labelling
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that recommended daily amounts for nutrients are carried on food labels. [139481]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  There is no legislative requirement for guideline daily amounts of nutrients to be included on food labels. However, the Food Standards Agency recommends that this information should be given and a number of food manufacturers already include such information on their products. In the next few months, the European Commission is expected to make a proposal to amend the current nutrition labelling directive. The Government are pressing for mandatory nutrition labelling on all foods, and for the labelling to indicate whether the product is high, medium or low in key nutrients, that is fat, sugar and salt.

  Food Supplements
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to promote to other European Union member states the methodology for establishing safe levels of nutrient intake adopted by the Expert Advisory Group on vitamins and minerals; and what further plans he has for promoting his policies of case by case reviews of published literature on nutrient safety. [136626]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive lays out a framework for the future setting of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The United Kingdom continues to press for European Union maximum permitted limits to be set on a safety basis, and in doing so, is using its influence in both scientific and political forums. I intend to raise this issue with Ministers in other Member States as and when appropriate. I am also seeking to arrange a meeting with Commissioner David Byrne at the earliest practicable opportunity.

  Foundation Trusts
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he expects to issue further advice to
  1113W
  putative NHS foundation trusts on the use of existing databases of (a) patients and (b) staff names for the purposes of creating a membership register; [139715]

  (2) when he expects to issue advice on the implications of the (a) Data Protection Act 1998 and (b) Freedom of Information Act 2000 on the (i) compilation and (ii) use of membership registers of NHS foundation trusts. [139716]

  Mr. Hutton
  Subject to Parliament, it is the Government's intention that national health service foundation trusts will be required to have a members register. Officials are working with the first wave of applicants and organisations with expertise in maintaining membership organisations with a view to developing practical advice to be incorporated into an updated edition of "NHS Foundation Trusts: A guide to the governance arrangements".

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will issue advice to putative NHS foundation trusts on the nature of the questions they may ask prospective members concerning their(a) ethnicity, (b) faith and (c) disability. [139717]

  Mr. Hutton
  Department of Health officials are working with the first wave of applicants and organisations with expertise in maintaining membership organisations on the sorts of information that national health service foundation trusts would need to collect to ensure their membership is representative of those eligible for membership. The Department will develop practical advice on these matters to be incorporated into an updated edition of "NHS Foundation Trusts: A Guide to the Governance Arrangements".

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fundholders there are in(a) the North West and (b) England. [134892]

  General Medical Practitioners1 for Somerset and Taunton

  1999

  2000

  2001

  March 2002

  2002

  March 2003

  June 2003

  Somerset Coast PCG

  4AR01

  101

  109

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Somerset

  4AY29

  71

  75

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bath and North East Somerset PCT

  5FL

  —

  —

  142

  143

  136

  154

  144

  Somerset Coast PCT

  5FW

  —

  —

  107

  107

  112

  106

  103

  South Somerset PCT

  5K1

  —

  —

  75

  69

  108

  109

  112

  North Somerset PCT

  5M8

  —

  —

  140

  121

  134

  140

  137

  Taunton and Area PCT

  4XM98

  100

  105

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Taunton Deane PCT

  5K2

  —

  —

  111

  108

  78

  81

  81

  Total

  272

  289

  575

  548

  568

  590

  577

  1 All Practioners include QMS 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 1 October 1999, 30 September 2000–02, March 2002–03 and 30 June 2003.

  Source

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
  1114W
  Mr. Hutton
  General practice fundholding was abolished on 1 October 1999. There are no general practitioner practices in the North West nor in England operating as GP fundholders.

  Genetic Research
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to determine the ethical framework applied to genetic research in receipt of financial support from the Government. [137528]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Genetic research commissioned by the Government and carried out within the national health service is subject to oversight by the appropriate NHS Research Ethics Committee. Gene therapy research will continue to be subject to the approval of, and ongoing supervision by, the Gene Therapy Advisory Committee.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health who has been consulted on the ethical dimensions of the Biobank project; and where it is possible to inspect the comments of consultees. [137529]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Consultations on the ethical dimensions of UK Biobank have involved key public and professional stakeholders ranging from patients' and civil society groups, scientists and health care professionals, to ethicists, lawyers and social scientists, as well as members of the public. These consultations have informed the discussions of the Interim Advisory Group on Ethics and Governance and the development of the ethics and governance framework. Reports of the consultations can be accessed on the UK Biobank website at www.ukbiobank.ac.uk.

  GPs
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there were in(a) Taunton Deane and (b) West Somerset in each year since 1992. [137384]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The information requested on the number of general practitioners is shown in the tables.
  1115W

  General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)1 for Somerset and Taunton

  Numbers (headcount)

  Numbers (headcount)

  1999

  2000

  2001

  March 2002

  2002

  March 2003

  June 2003

  Somerset Coast PCT

  4AR01

  101

  105

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  South Somerset PCT

  4AY29

  71

  72

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Bath and North East Somerset PCT

  5FL

  —

  —

  135

  136

  128

  144

  144

  Somerset Coast PCT

  5FW

  —

  —

  105

  103

  108

  103

  100

  South Somerset PCT

  5K1

  —

  —

  69

  69

  103

  104

  107

  North Somerset PCT

  5M8

  —

  —

  127

  121

  124

  132

  137

  Taunton and Area PCT

  4XM98

  100

  101

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Taunton Deane PCT

  5K2

  —

  —

  105

  104

  78

  78

  79

  Total

  272

  278

  541

  533

  541

  561

  567

  1All practioners (excluding GP retainers) include PMS unrestricted principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other, and Flexible Career Scheme Gps

  Note

  Data as at 1 October 1999, 30 September 2000–02, 31 March 2002–03 and 30 June 2003.

  Source

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

  General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)1 for Somerset health authority

  Number (headcount)

  Somerset HA

  1992

  294

  1993

  308

  1994

  322

  1995

  326

  1996

  331

  1997

  330

  1998

  338

  1999

  346

  2000

  350

  2001

  356

  1All Practitioners include GMS Unrestricted Principals. PMS
  Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals,
  Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other and Flexible Career Scheme Gps

  Note

  Data as at 1 October 1992–99 and 30 September 2000–01.

  Source

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services
  Statistics.

  Health Care (York)
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) outpatient consultations and (b) in-patient treatments there were in each clinical specialty provided by (i) York NHS Trust and (ii) York Primary Care Trust for those services recently transferred from the trust to the PCT, in each year since 1992. [135951]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is not available.

  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) hospital and (b) community full-time equivalent nurses were employed by (i) York NHS Trust and (ii) York Primary Care Trust in each year since 1992. [135954]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the table.
  1116W

  NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by hospital or community-based in the specified organisations as at 30 September each year

  Whole-time equivalent

  All qualified nurses

  Community

  Hospital

  York Health Services NHS Trust

  2002

  915

  24

  891

  2001

  1,132

  50

  1,082

  2000

  1,375

  240

  1,136

  1999

  1,268

  200

  1,068

  1998

  1,235

  161

  1,074

  1997

  1,362

  193

  1,169

  1996

  1,310

  193

  1,117

  1995

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1994

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1993

  1,230

  132

  1,098

  1992

  1,129

  123

  1,007

  Selby and York PCT

  2002

  492

  234

  258

  2001

  262

  183

  79

  1 A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995 and as a result reliable data at organizational level is not available for 1994 and 1995. Maternity nurse figures for 1995 onwards have been included within hospital as they cannot be separately identified between community and hospital.

  Notes

  Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  Source

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

  Hepatitis C
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action is being taken to improve the(a) detection and (b) treatment rates of hepatitis C; and what the (i) detection and (ii) treatment rates are in the Northern health region in the last year for which Figures are available; [139402]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of the Hepatitis C Action Plan. [139403]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department published its consultation document, "Hepatitis C Strategy for England", in August 2002, which set out proposals to improve the effectiveness of prevention, diagnosis and treatment services for hepatitis C. The Department intends to publish an action plan to implement this strategy in the next few months.
  1117W
  Detection and treatment rates for the Northern health region are currently being collated and will be placed in the Library when available.

  Hospital Projects
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospital projects with a value of over £50m initiated since 1997 he estimates will be completed by the end of 2005. [136894]

  Mr. Hutton
  Of the schemes with a capital value over £50 million given the go-ahead since 1997, we anticipate that 22 private finance initiative schemes and two publicly funded schemes will he completed and operational by the end of 2005.

  Hospital Trusts
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what control NHS hospital trusts have over the volume of patients being referred to hospitals. [133403]

  Mr. Hutton
  Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning sufficient activity from national health service trusts and other providers to meet the needs of their local population. The levels of activity required from NHS trusts should be specified in service agreements (SAs) and will represent a ceiling to the Trusts contractual obligations.

  Where either there are no SAs in place or the activity levels specified in a SA have already been met by the trust, the PCT is responsible for commissioning additional activity to meet the needs of its patients.

  HSC 2002/007 (Securing Service Delivery: Commissioning Freedoms of Primary Care Trusts) and HSC 1998/198 (Commissioning in the new NHS) provide further information. Copies are available in the Library.

  Information Technology
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the National Audit Office regarding the correspondence they have had about the national programme for information technology. [133926]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department routinely has discussion with the National Audit Office (NAO) as part of its remit to monitor the work of Government departments. A senior member of the NAO has a seat on the national programme board for the National Health Service information management and technology strategy.

  Joint Working
  Mr. Barry Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make a statement on joint working between primary health care trusts and citizen advice bureaux; and how much funding primary health care trusts contributed to citizens advice bureaux in each of the past three years. [135873]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is for individual primary care trusts to determine joint working arrangements with local stakeholders and to allocate funds accordingly. The information requested on funding is not available centrally.

  King George's Hospital (Redbridge)
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which private healthcare companies expressed an interest in running the treatment centre at King George's Hospital, Redbridge; and what the criteria were used to award the contract; [133273]

  (2) if he will estimate how many patients will be treated at the treatment centre based at King George's Hospital, Redbridge; and if he will make a statement. [133274]

  Mr. Hutton
  Anglo Canadian was announced as preferred bidder for the proposed treatment centre at King George's Hospital, Redbridge on 12 September. Their appointment is subject to final contract negotiation and agreements Because of the commercial in confidence status of the procurement, it is not possible to list the other companies that expressed an interest in this scheme.

  The selection of the preferred bidders followed detailed evaluation of the submitted tenders. The evaluation criteria included clinical quality, building proposals, human resources, speed of mobilisation and delivery, affordability, value for money, bidders corporate structure and price. There was a structured scoring mechanism against each of these criteria and total scores assessed between bidders.

  It is expected that the treatment centre based at King George's Hospital will complete 11,800 procedures on average per year of the contract in ophthalmology, general surgery and trauma and orthopaedics. These are indicative activity levels and are subject to the possibility that it may make sense for the national health service and the preferred bidder to shift activity between different centres.

  Macular Degeneration
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration who were treated privately with photodynamic therapy in NHS hospitals in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [138048]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department does not collect data on the number of patients treated privately with photodynamic therapy in national health service hospitals.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations(a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues has received from (i) the Royal College of Ophthalmology, (ii) the AMD Alliance and (iii) the RNIB on the implementation of NICE guidance for wet age-related macular degeneration; and if he will make a statement. [138049]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We have recently received representations from the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Macular Disease Society raising concerns about the extended implementation period from three to nine months. They were concerned that primary care trusts would delay paying for photodynamic therapy (PDT) until the latest possible time. Specialised commissioning groups are leading the implementation of PDT and at a meeting held on
  1119W
  4 November, departmental officials made clear that funding should not delay implementation of the guidance. The Department is also working closely with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists on the implementation of the guidance.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether reading centres assessing patients with wet age-related macular degeneration for treatment with photodynamic therapy will be required to make a diagnosis before patients are treated; and if he will make a statement. [138050]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Reading centres assessing patients with wet age-related macular degeneration for treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) will not be required to make a diagnosis before patients are treated. For the moment, reporting on the same day, in real time, by the reading centres service is not feasible. Consequently to avoid delay, PDT will be offered on the basis of the initial judgement of the clinician at the PDT centre, with confirmation of the diagnosis by the reading centres service being made after the first PDT treatment has occurred.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the NHS of providing photodynamic therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration(a) by primary care trusts, (b) by hospital trusts and (c) in total; and if he will make a statement. [138051]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has estimated that the cost of providing photodynamic therapy (PDT) to 1000 patients per year would be in the region of £4 million in the first year, rising to £8.3 million by the third year and remaining constant thereafter. PDT is a specialised service and we would expect up to 50 centres to be supported. Therefore, every primary care trust (PCT) or hospital trust is not expected to provide this service. Initially, specialised commissioners will fund the service and PCTs will need to consider longer term funding arrangements.

  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients with classic no occult wet age-related macular degeneration who are unable to receive photodynamic therapy on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [138052]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  On the basis of limited epidemiological data, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) estimated that each year in England and Wales there may be 5000 to 7500 new cases of predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) associated with wet age-related macular degeneration. However, they noted there is a high degree of uncertainty about this estimate. We have asked the National Health Service to ensure that patients with suspected CNV are treated wherever capacity exists to do so. By July 2004, the NICE guidance will have been implemented fully across the country and capacity will build between now and then.
  1120W
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have equipment and trained professionals in place to provide photodynamic therapy for wet age-related macular degeneration; and if he will make a statement. [138053]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There are approximately 30 centres providing photodynamic therapy. Some are well established, others are coming on stream. We expect that up to 50 centres will be set up to deliver the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's recommendations. As a specialised service, we expect commissioners to plan for centres to serve a population of not less than a million.

  Meat Fraud
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set up an inquiry into the lessons to be learnt from the prosecutions relating to meat fraud(a) at Denby Poultry Products and (b) in Rotherham. [137587]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Following the prosecutions for fraudulent diversion of unfit meat in the Rotherham case, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) set up the independent Waste Food Task Force. The Task Force, which was made up of experts from enforcement, industry and consumer backgrounds, advised the FSA on additional action that could be taken to prevent the illegal diversion of unfit meat into the food chain. The Task Force also included enforcers involved in the Denby Poultry Products prosecutions. The board of the FSA, at its September meeting, adopted an action plan to implement the recommendations of the Task Force. In addition to this, the FSA has called a seminar on 26 November to discuss the lessons to be learned from the Denby prosecutions. The seminar will involve those who were involved both in the Denby prosecutions and in other similar cases, including local authority enforcers, the Meat Hygiene Service, the police and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as industry and consumer representatives.

  Medicines and Health Care Products Agency
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2003,Official Report, column 616W, on Medicines and Health Care Products Agency, what the value was of each of the contracts listed; and if he will make a statement. [134119]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The value of each of the contracts currently being used by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency are:Accenture, design and build of information technology applications—£12.3 million
  Charles Mackenzie, enhancements to website applications—£20,902
  Hay Group, design of personal development and performance management system—£50,000
  Oxford Group, delivery of management and leadership training programme—£130,000
  RedAnt Design, general practice research database (GPRD) marketing and customer interface—£15,000

  1121W
  TK Consultancy, design and build of medicines enforcement case investigation system—£30,000
  Turner & Townsend, post merger co-location project—£8,000
  Unipart advanced learning systems, enhancements to device adverse incidents tracking system—£7,500
  Winton Nightingale, management of staff restaurant contract–£8,150

  The fees an additional contract with Accenture to manage the GPRD accelerator project are currently under negotiation.

  Mental Health
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) children and adolescents, (b) adults and (c) pensioners were treated by mental health trusts in west Sussex in each of the last six years. [134773]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The total number of admissions of patients with learning disabilities or mental illness resident in the west Sussex local authority is shown in the table.

  Number of admissions of patients under mental illness specialities and learning disabilities in west Sussex

  Age group

  0–14

  15–59

  60–74

  75 Plus

  Unknown

  Total

  1996–97

  67

  1,244

  392

  837

  6

  2,546

  1997–98

  51

  1,158

  346

  726

  0

  2,281

  1998–99

  45

  603

  190

  393

  1

  1,232

  1999–2000

  48

  1,852

  532

  798

  4

  3,234

  2000–01

  312

  1,765

  483

  645

  10

  3,215

  2000–02

  429

  1,247

  292

  353

  0

  2,321

  Average waiting times for application to reach hearing stage

  Regional Office

  Number of applications received in office

  Number of hearings heard

  Ratio of applications that reach hearing stage (percentage)

  Section 2 (days)

  Non-restricted (weeks)

  Restricted (weeks)

  London North

  4,879

  2,823

  58

  6.8

  6.2

  15.4

  London South

  4,245

  2,256

  53

  6.9

  7.6

  17.9

  Liverpool

  3,718

  1,997

  54

  5.8

  6.3

  15.5

  Nottingham

  3,286

  2,277

  69

  6

  7

  16

  Notes

  1. Section 2 applications have a statutory requirement to be heard within seven days of receipt in the MHRT office.

  2. All other applications must be heard as soon as possible, with regard to the receiving of reports and evidence.

  Factors affecting regional efficiency are:

  the volume of applications received in any one office;

  and the ratio of work to medical members.

  Regional office

  Number of medical members

  London North

  55

  London South

  52

  Liverpool

  52

  Nottingham

  48

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the statement by the National Director of Mental Health on 31 July on the draft Mental Health
  1122W
  Notes:

  1 From April 2002 a new trust called West Sussex Health and Social Care Trust came into existence, in the main this trust treats mental health patients in the West Sussex area. This was formed by the merger of three other trusts, or parts of them, namely Worthing Priority Healthcare, Sussex Weald and Downs NHS Trust (previously Chichester Priority Care Services) and Mid Sussex NHS Trust.

  2 The figures shown are the numbers of admissions under mental health specialities and learning disabilities in these three trusts, over the years 1996–2002. This does not, however, guarantee that the patients being admitted are from the west Sussex area.

  3 Admissions are defined as the first period of patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.

  Source

  Hospital Episode Statistics

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to his answers of 3 November 2003.Official Report, column 518W, on mental health, if he will place copies of the (a) Robert Lee Review and (b) review by Sir Andrew Leggatt in the Library; [138023]

  (2) if he will set out details of the regional variations in efficiency and practice of the Mental Health Review Tribunal offices. [138024]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Copies of the Robert Lee review of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Administration will be placed in the Library. Sir Andrew Leggatt's Review of Tribunals was carried out at the request of the Department for Constitutional Affairs and copies will be placed in the Library.

  The following details demonstrate the regional variations in efficiency and practice of the Mental Health Review Tribunal offices and is based on up to date statistical information between January and September 2003.

  Bill represents Government policy; whether he intends to make significant changes to the draft Bill before it is laid before Parliament; what assessment he has made of responses received during the consultation on the draft Bill; and what the timetable is for publishing the responses. [138474]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The National Director for Mental Health expressed his personal views to the Parliamentary Health Forum on 4 June 2003. The Government have considered carefully the need for changes to the draft Bill, following responses to consultation and on-going meetings with key stakeholders. Any changes to the draft Bill will be
  1123W
  indicated when the Government publish their response to consultation prior to the introduction of the Bill to Parliament.

  Mental Health Trusts
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the backlog maintenance cost was to reach(a) estate code condition B, (b) fire safety standards and (c) health and safety standards for all mental health trusts in England, broken down by trust. [133847]

  Mr. Hutton
  The information requested is set out in the table. The figures provided do not indicate levels of risk to patients and staff. Trusts make every effort to

  £

  Trust

  Cost to achieve Physical Condition B 2002–03

  Cost to achieve Statutory Health and Safety Compliance Standard B 2002–03

  Cost to achieve Fire Safety Compliance Standard B 2002–03

  Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

  21,188,485

  1,760,499

  10,900

  Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

  7,045,600

  1,202,070

  284,000

  Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

  2,950,950

  190,286

  202,536

  Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust

  3,674,996

  0

  0

  County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust

  3,021,910

  50,000

  16,000

  East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust

  4,010,993

  3,017,895

  334,045

  Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust

  143,000

  0

  0

  Lancashire Care NHS Trust

  4,164,544

  772,674

  267,200

  Mental Health Services Of Salford NHS Trust

  4,175,110

  0

  0

  Mersey Care NHS Trust

  7,661,919

  85,000

  5,000

  Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust

  6,965,000

  479,000

  4,495,000

  Norfolk Mental Health Care NHS Trust

  4,162,000

  0

  0

  North Cumbria Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Trust

  2,446,100

  303,800

  320,000

  North East London Mental Health NHS Trust

  3,120,550

  1,807,469

  126,330

  North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

  6,613,600

  76,100

  100,400

  North West Surrey Mental Health NHS Trust

  50,000

  0

  0

  Northern Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust

  2,883,159

  171,000

  47,000

  Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,979,784

  743,000

  32,000

  Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust

  3,028,550

  161,120

  86,986

  Oxleas NHS Trust

  6,000,000

  550,000

  250,000

  Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust

  683,000

  0

  0

  South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trust

  1,950,625

  40,000

  30,000

  South London and Maudsley NHS Trust

  19,172,610

  3,995,080

  661,189

  South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust

  73,234,000

  533,000

  958,000

  South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust

  13,619,673

  337,220

  459,135

  Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust

  1,170,800

  2,000

  16,000

  West Hampshire NHS Trust

  536,000

  305,300

  0

  West London Mental Health NHS Trust

  10,752,770

  4,125,000

  1,050,540

  West Sussex Health and Social Care NHS Trust

  1,151,981

  713,569

  116,255

  Total

  219,557,709

  21,421,082

  9,868,516

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual maintenance budget for each NHS mental health trust in England was in each of the last five years. [133848]

  Mr. Hutton
  The annual maintenance budgets for national health service mental health trusts is not centrally collected.

  Data for the last five years on the annual spend on maintenance costs (including engineering, building and grounds and garden maintenance costs) has been placed in the Library. Validation of the data given for 2002–03 remains subject to amendment.

  These figures include:
  Costs associated with the provision of engineering, building and ground and gardens maintenance.
  1124W
  remedy significant concerns as quickly as possible. This is reflected in the very small numbers of injuries and deaths arising as a result of fires and reportable health and safety incidents in national health service hospitals in England, despite the very high numbers of people who use healthcare premises.

  Spending on routine maintenance by mental health trusts reached £41 million in 2002–03 with an additional £60 million having been spent between 1998 and 2001. Improvements to health and safety and fire safety will result from the current priorities and planning framework targets for reducing the backlog of maintenance.

  Labour costs for directly employed and contract staff including contract support costs, fees, materials, and;
  Pay elements for senior managers and all associated staff where involved in maintenance;
  Expenditure relating to the employment of staff belonging to an external organisation (including private finance initiative work);
  Capital works involving adaptations, improvements and/or alterations are not included.

  The trusts listed in the table are those defined as mental health and exclude any trusts where only a minority of services relate to mental health.

  Mersey Regional Ambulance Service
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times during the past six months the Mersey
  1125W
  Regional Ambulance Service has been contacted by BT expressing concern about the way in which the service deals with emergency calls. [136789]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  British Telecom has contacted the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust once in the last six months to discuss how the trust can improve the handling of emergency calls.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service(a) failed to answer within two minutes and (b) took more than five minutes to answer in each of the past 12 months. [136790]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Merseyside Ambulance Control Centre has recently updated its call routing system and therefore information prior to August is not available.

  The number of calls with a delay in excess of two minutes is shown in the table.

  2003

  Number of calls

  August

  195

  September

  236

  October

  332

  Note

  The number of calls has been supplied directly from the Mersey Ambulance Service NHS Trust and is not validated Department of Health data.

  Mersey Regional Ambulance Service do not routinely collect data that follows the format of calls that took more than five minutes to answer.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to develop an education and training strategy as recommended by the Commission for Health Improvement; and if he will place a copy of the strategy in the Library. [138434]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has incorporated its training and education strategy into the human resources strategy. This is in line with the national human resources agenda and has received endorsement from the trust's executive team and the human resources committee.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to improve the patient transport service. [138436]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has developed an improvement and modernisation programme in consultation with staff and trade unions for its patient transport service (PTS) operation. The PTS operation is performance managed and progress is reported regularly to the trust board and the performance management committee.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures have been put in place by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to ensure that all staff are trained in infection control. [138438]
  1126W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  All staff employed in the emergency and paramedic service at Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust receive training in infection control as part of their basic training and education. Training in infection control also forms part of the standard induction programme for all operational staff, which includes staff within the patient transport service.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the action plan agreed between the Mersey Regional Ambulance NHS Trust and the central commissioning group for its area. [138449]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The action plan has not yet been agreed by the relevant parties. A copy will be placed in the Library in due course.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to ensure that all staff(a) are aware of and (b) act upon their Guidelines for the Management of Infection in the Pre-Hospital Setting. [138711]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]I am advised by Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority that the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has a detailed infection control policy. All staff receive copies of the policy and are required to confirm in writing that they have read and understood its content and their responsibilities.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service Trust(a) to assess the implementation of the Community Paramedic Scheme and to (b) ensure it has the confidence of the public following the publication of the report by the Commission for Health Improvement on the Trust. [138712]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]I am advised by the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority that, following the report of the Commission for Health Improvement, the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has introduced a policy together with procedures for "first responders" within the region. The policy has been approved by the trust board.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has taken to implement an action plan for the use of the decontamination unit; and on what date the unit was brought back into use. [138713]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]I am informed by the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority that the plan for ensuring that the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has an effective decontamination facility was written in April 2003. The decontamination unit was brought back into use during August 2003.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedures have been introduced by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service Trust for the safe storage and custody of drugs in ambulances following the report on the Trust by the Commission for Health Improvement. [138715]
  1127W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]I am advised by the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority that, following the report of the Commission for Health Improvement, the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust's existing procedures were reinforced to ensure consistency of approach for the storage of drugs.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taking by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to ensure that all patients' report forms are treated as confidential documents. [139070]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The patient report forms used within the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust are stored on ambulances in a safe box, they are not accessible by members of the public. Within the ambulance stations, patient report forms are stored in locked cabinets. Only staff responsible for checking, auditing or completing the patient report forms are able to view them.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures have been put in place by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to improve access to(a) research literature and (b) the internet at ambulance stations. [139071]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has installed computers in all work areas. This allows access to email, the internet and research literature.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what action has been taken by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service Trust to ensure that all staff are aware of the Trust's whistle-blowing policy; and what training managers have received on the implementation of this policy. [139072]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust reviewed and amended its existing whistle blowing policy in line with Department of Health guidance in September 2003. Managers were provided with details of the changes and copies of the policy and the associated guidance were issued. All remaining staff at the trust will receive the updated guidance before the end of November 2003.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff grievances have been lodged with the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service since March 2002. [139073]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has received 66 grievances since March 2002.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to introduce more effective clinical and monitoring support for paramedics. [139075]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has undergone a significant restructuring of the management team. This includes the introduction of clinical managers who supervise and monitor staff and provide effective clinical supervision and support for paramedics.
  1128W
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service Trust to ensure that all staff working in the Patient Transport Service receive life support skills training; and how many staff have undergone such training since the last Commission for Health Improvement report on the Trust. [139076]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  All staff working within the patient transport service at Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust receive life support training upon commencement of employment. Since April 2003, 33 new starters have undergone the training and 60 staff have undergone refresher training.

  National School Fruit Scheme
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much the Government has spent centrally on the National School Fruit Scheme in the last five years for which figures are available; and what central allocations have been made for this in this year and future years; [128229]

  (2) what central funding sources other than the National Lottery New Opportunities Fund are used to fund the Five-a-Day healthy eating programmes; and how much has been allocated through these other funding sources in (a) the last three years, (b) the current year and (c) future years. [128230]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Over the three years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 the Department of Health made available £3.3 million of central funds to support its Five-A-Day programme, comprising £1.8 million for the National School Fruit Scheme and £1.5 million for community pilots. Department of Health support in 2003–04 and future years will be from central resources for cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention overall, which are not allocated to specific programmes.

  NHS Consultants
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedure he has established to ensure that where a patient is removed from the UK waiting list of a NHS consultant, the consultant is(a) kept informed of the clinical outcomes and (b) involved in their postoperative care. [136742]

  Mr. Hutton
  Any patient referred from the National Health Service to an independent provider (including an overseas provider) will have a discharge letter completed by the independent provider. This is forwarded to their NHS consultant and general practitioner. Where orthopaedic patients are treated abroad, there is support and agreement to register these patients on the United Kingdom national joint registry.

  Care and follow-up arrangements are arranged according to individual needs. Patients who are sent abroad for treatment will remain in the care of the overseas consultant for a period of two to three weeks depending on the treatment they receive. The patient is formally discharged following a post-operative assessment carried out usually between six and eight weeks post-treatment. If the patient requires treatment in the interim, he or she is entitled to seek a referral to NHS provision through the usual routes by GP or

  1129W
  emergency admission, should this be required. Overseas consultants are happy to discuss the clinical care of NHS patients by telephone should the patients UK consultant wish to do so.

  NHS Expenditure
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, to what extent the National Health Service spending has been(a) over and (b) under planned levels in (i) financial year 2001–02 and (ii) the first half of this financial year; and if he will make a statement. [136870]

  Mr. Hutton
  The resource underspend for the Department, which includes National Health Service spending, in 2001–02 was £526 million. The Department plans to spend all available resources in the current financial year. To ensure that best use is made of resources in year, end-year flexibility arrangements allow expenditure to be carried forward into the next financial year.

  NHS Finance
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what per capita expenditure was on the NHS in 1997–98; what it was in 2002–03; and what it is expected to be in future years for which plans have been made. [137681]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows total net national health service expenditure per head of population in England for 1997–98 and for the period 2002–03 to 2007–08.

  £ million

  Spend per head1,2,3

  Cash

  1997–98

  Outturn

  710

  Stage 2

  2002–03

  Plan

  1,130

  2003–04

  Plan

  1,240

  2004–05

  Plan

  1,360

  2005–06

  Plan

  1,490

  2006–07

  Plan

  1,640

  2007–08

  Plan

  1,800

  1 For 1997–98, figures are on a cash basis, whereas figures for the period 2002–03 to 2007–08 are on a stage 2 resource budgeting basis. As a result, figures are not comparable across the period.

  2 Figures are calculated using population projections provided by ONS.

  3 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  Andy Burnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the distance from target in cash terms for each primary care trust in England for each year of the current spending round. [138936]

  Mr. Hutton
  Primary care trust distances from targets for 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 have been placed in the Library.

  NHS Records (Electronic System)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the transfer of NHS records to an electronic system will be funded. [135630]
  1130W
  Mr. Hutton
  The integrated care records service (ICRS) is one element of the national programme for information technology (NpfIT) in the National Health Service. Central funding for the NPfIT in the NHS is to be made available from the Spending Review 2002 as follows—£370 million in 2003–04, £730 million in 2004–05 and £1.2 billion in 2005£06.

  The costs for the ICRS are being calculated as part of the ongoing procurement and financial management processes within the Spending Review 2002 envelope.

  Exact costs are subject to current procurement negotiations. Due to commercial confidentiality and sensitivity it would not be in the public interest to reveal the details of the negotiations and the potential costs.

  The content of the ICRS databases will be generated initially from information already held within NHS systems. This process will be undertaken by local service providers as part of the initial implementation phase during 2004. Over the course of time, the ICRS will build up a summary of relevant health episodes for patients.

  The ICRS is not about re-entering all of the historical data held on existing systems or paper records but about improving patient care through the capture, use and availability of accurate and up-to-date quality data.

  NHS Reference Costs
  Dr. Fox
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the formula and(b) calculations on which the NHS reference costs are based. [134951]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Reference Costs collection entails collecting unit cost and activity data from all National Health Service providers in England, for each financial year.

  Various appropriate activity currencies are used for a range of services and treatments provided by the NHS, which form part of the scope of the Reference Costs collection. Unit cost data is produced by submitting NHS organisations in accordance with the rules detailed in the NHS Costing Manual, to ensure that both cost and activity data are calculated on a consistent and comparable basis.

  The Department of Health collates such data, and produces national average unit cost figures, by calculating, for each service/treatment area, the total national cost for the service, and then dividing this by the total reported activity for that service, at national level.

  All national average costs are published in the National Schedule of Reference Costs, at service level, in conjunction with national activity levels, and interquartile ranges, detailing the ranges between which the middle 50 per cent. of NHS provider costs lie.

  To calculate National Reference Cost Index scores at individual organisation level, the individual NHS providers' activity is multiplied by the national average unit costs for each service/treatment category, undertaken by that NHS provider. This produces a total expected cost for each service/treatment area for each provider. When added together, this establishes an

  1131W
  expected cost that each provider would be expected to incur if they were operating at the national average cost per treatment, procedure, etc.

  An Index score of 100 signifies that on average, a provider is operating at national average cost levels. A score higher than 100 indicates that for their current level of activity, on average, an NHS provider is operating at costs higher than would be expected for this level of activity. Conversely, a score of less than 100 indicates that the organisation is operating at costs less than would be expected, were they to be operating at national average unit cost levels, for a particular financial year.

  NHS Staff
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on which NHS equipment his Department holds information of the numbers in service. [136907]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  There is no central point in the Department of Health that collates information on numbers of the equipment that is in service within the National Health Service.

  Non-smoking Areas
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to make it compulsory for restaurants and cafes to have non-smoking areas. [135656]

  Mean body mass index (BMI) by survey year, Government office region, age and sex BMI (kg/m2) 1998–2001

  Government office regions

  North East

  North West

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  West Midlands

  East Midlands

  East of England

  London

  South East

  South West

  England

  Aged 16 and over

  Men

  1998

  26.2

  26.5

  26.6

  27.1

  26.4

  26.6

  26.1

  26.6

  26.5

  26.5

  1999

  27.3

  26.7

  26.6

  26.6

  26.6

  26.5

  26.2

  25.9

  26.2

  26.5

  2000

  27.2

  26.8

  26.8

  27.0

  26.8

  27.0

  26.4

  26.8

  26.9

  26.8

  2001

  27.4

  26.8

  27.1

  27.3

  27.1

  27.0

  26.6

  27.0

  26.9

  27.0

  Women

  1998

  26.6

  26.4

  26.4

  26.7

  26.8

  26.4

  25.9

  26.1

  26.5

  26.4

  1999

  25.8

  26.4

  26.3

  27.2

  26.5

  26.1

  25.9

  25.9

  26.9

  26.4

  2000

  26.7

  26.9

  26.1

  27.4

  27.0

  26.3

  26.3

  26.4

  26.2

  26.6

  Aged 0–15

  Boys

  1998

  17.9

  17.8

  17.4

  18.3

  17.2

  17.9

  17.5

  17.7

  18.0

  17.7

  1999

  18.1

  18.2

  18.1

  18.0

  17.2

  17.7

  18.2

  18.8

  17.8

  18.1

  2000

  18.2

  17.9

  17.5

  17.9

  17.8

  18.0

  18.2

  17.9

  17.5

  17.9

  2001

  18.3

  18.0

  17.9

  18.0

  17.9

  18.3

  18.0

  17.6

  17.8

  18.0

  Girls

  1998

  18.1

  18.1

  18.0

  18.8

  18.0

  18.3

  18.6

  17.9

  18.4

  18.2

  1999

  17.6

  18.0

  17.8

  19.1

  17.8

  18.0

  18.5

  17.6

  18.4

  18.2

  2000

  18.2

  18.4

  17.7

  19.4

  18.4

  18.0

  18.2

  18.2

  18.8

  18.4

  2001

  18.8

  18.8

  18.0

  18.1

  18.7

  18.2

  18.1

  17.7

  18.3

  18.3

  Bases

  Men

  1998

  410

  936

  705

  639

  592

  743

  797

  991

  743

  6,556

  1999

  173

  506

  331

  348

  303

  400

  323

  492

  327

  3,203

  2000

  192

  489

  376

  348

  304

  383

  367

  452

  348

  3,250

  2001

  437

  840

  662

  700

  611

  764

  665

  889

  694

  6,262

  Women

  1998

  484

  1,082

  819

  763

  671

  862

  960

  1,216

  826

  7,683

  1999

  225

  530

  401

  401

  381

  433

  395

  551

  381

  3,698

  2000

  245

  519

  437

  416

  327

  414

  440

  536

  368

  3,702

  2001

  494

  1,001

  800

  800

  703

  865

  800

  1,132

  814

  7,409

  1132W
  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We have no plans to make it compulsory for restaurants and cafes to have non-smoking areas.

  We will continue to work with partners to encourage smoke-free policies across the country, whilst at the same time increasing support for smokers who want to quit.

  I am encouraged by the responsible attitude of many restaurant owners to speed up this process and am optimistic that many venues will become smoke-free. However I recognise that we still have some way to go and I encourage all businesses to respond to the levels of actual public and customer demand for more smoke-free places.

  Obesity
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average body mass index in(a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority for each of the last 10 years. [138191]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Figures available from the Health Survey for England are set out in the table. For those respondents with a valid height and weight measurement from which the body mass index could be calculated, it gives the average body mass index by Government Office Region for the period 1998–2001. Figures prior to 1998 are not available by Government Office Region. Care should be taken in interpreting trends in children's body mass index because of small sample sizes.
  1133W

  Mean body mass index (BMI) by survey year, Government office region, age and sex BMI (kg/m2) 1998–2001

  Government office regions

  North East

  North West

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  West Midlands

  East Midlands

  East of England

  London

  South East

  South West

  England

  Boys

  1998

  87

  267

  161

  175

  154

  186

  210

  250

  178

  1,668

  1999

  57

  123

  83

  76

  74

  105

  103

  130

  76

  827

  2000

  58

  106

  115

  98

  65

  107

  87

  117

  86

  839

  2001

  124

  216

  155

  193

  155

  180

  145

  207

  157

  1,532

  Girls

  1998

  86

  264

  190

  139

  151

  185

  187

  234

  151

  1,587

  1999

  41

  110

  66

  100

  82

  85

  85

  113

  83

  765

  2000

  47

  111

  94

  111

  73

  89

  101

  120

  72

  818

  2001

  111

  214

  157

  192

  170

  188

  179

  215

  166

  1,592

  Note

  Figures prior to 1998 not available by Government office region.

  Source

  Health Survey for England, Department of Health.

  Paramedics (Data Link Schemes)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide financial assistance to the setting up(a) in England and (b) in Brent of Data Link schemes for paramedics to obtain details of a person's medical history. [136640]

  Mr. Hutton
  Access by paramedics to patients' medical history (subject to appropriate security and confidentiality safeguards) will be included in the core functionality of the integrated care records service (ICRS) that will be implemented across the National Health Service, beginning in 2004 as part of the national programme for information technology in the NHS. Local service providers are being appointed to work with local health communities to deliver solutions tailored to specific local needs.

  Central funding for the National Programme for IT in the NHS, of which the ICRS is one component, is to be made available as follows—£370 million in 2003–04, £730 million in 2004–05 and £1.2 billion in 2005–06.

  There is also some £850 million per annum provided in local baseline allocations that must be used to support investment in IT infrastructure or particular local priorities. If there is specific functionality required in Brent or elsewhere, and local circumstances or priorities dictate that it will be required sooner than ICRS will be rolling it out nationally, then local funds should be used to procure and provide that application, system or service.

  Funding for local initiatives is a matter for the relevant strategic health authority and primary care trusts.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the questions regarding chiropody services tabled on 14 October 2003 by the hon. Member for Billericay, reference numbers 131565 to 131568. [139788]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I replied to the hon. Member on Monday 17 November 2003,Official Report, column 578W.

  Patient Referrals
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been referred by each(a) Strategic Health Authority and (b) NHS Trust in London in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [135154]

  Mr. Hutton
  It has not been possible to respond to the specific question raised. Strategic health authorities do not refer patients. However, if the hon. Member requires specific waiting time information by commissioner and provider, he can visit the following website, www.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes.

  Pneumococcal Disease
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the recorded incidence of pneumococcal disease infection by health authorities was in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of unreported pneumococcal disease infection by health authority. [139482]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Information on the incidence of pneumococcal disease infection by health authority (HA) is not available. Notifications are for pneumococcal meningitis only and these are listed by health authority in the table. No estimate has been made of unreported pneumococcal disease infection by HA.

  Statutory notifications of pneumococcal meningitis England and Wales—2002

  Health authority name

  Number

  Avon

  3

  Barking and Havering

  2

  Barnet, Enfield and Haringey

  2

  Barnsley

  2

  Bedfordshire

  —

  Berkshire

  9

  Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich

  2

  Birmingham

  9

  Bradford

  5

  Brent and Harrow

  1

  Bro Taf

  —

  Buckinghamshire

  3

  Bury and Rochdale

  1

  Calderdale and Kirklees

  2

  Cambridgeshire

  —

  Camden and Islington

  1

  Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

  —

  1135W

  Statutory notifications of pneumococcal meningitis England and Wales—2002

  Health authority name

  Number

  County Durham

  —

  Coventry

  2

  Croydon

  —

  Doncaster

  1

  Dorset

  4

  Dudley

  2

  Dyfed Powys

  4

  Baling, Hammersmith and Hounslow

  2

  East Kent

  2

  East Lancashire

  —

  East London and The City

  1

  East Riding

  4

  East Surrey

  —

  East Sussex, Brighton & Hove

  —

  Gateshead and South Tyneside

  —

  Gloucestershire

  —

  Gwent

  2

  Herefordshire

  —

  Hertfordshire

  3

  Hillington

  —

  Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

  1

  Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster

  —

  Kingston and Richmond

  —

  Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham

  2

  Leeds

  3

  Leicestershire

  3

  Lincolnshire

  2

  Liverpool

  —

  Mancesther

  3

  Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth

  —

  Morecambe Bay

  —

  Morgannwg

  —

  Newcastle and North Tyneside

  3

  Norfolk

  11

  North and East Devon

  —

  North and Mid Hampshire

  2

  North Cheshire

  2

  North Cumbria

  2

  North Derbyshire

  —

  North Essex

  —

  North Nottinghamshire

  1

  North Staffordshire

  —

  North Wales

  4

  North West Lancashire

  2

  North Yorkshire

  —

  Northamptonshire

  3

  Northumberland

  1

  Nottingham

  7

  Oxfordshire

  1

  Port Health Authority

  —

  Redbridge and Waltham Forest

  —

  Rotherham

  1

  Salford and Trafford

  3

  Sandwell

  —

  Sefton

  —

  Sheffield

  —

  Shropshire

  1

  Solihull

  —

  Somerset

  —

  South and West Devon

  4

  South Cheshire

  1

  South Essex

  1

  South Number

  —

  South Lancashire

  —

  South Staffordshire

  —

  Southampton and South West Hampshire

  3

  Southern Derbyshire

  1

  St Helens and Knowsley

  4

  Stockport

  —

  Suffolk

  1

  Sunderland

  —

  Tees

  —

  1136W

  Statutory notifications of pneumococcal meningitis England and Wales—2002

  Health authority name

  Number

  Wakefield

  —

  Walsall

  —

  Warwickshire

  1

  West Kent

  5

  West Pennine

  1

  West Surrey

  1

  West Sussex

  4

  Wigand and Bolton

  2

  Wiltshire

  2

  Wirral

  6

  Wolverhampton

  1

  Worcestershire

  —

  Total

  166

  Source

  Health Protection Agency, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.

  Poultry Waste
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Food Standards Agency has to provide guidance to those involved in the meat trade to(a) improve self-regulation and (b) assist the trade in identifying criminal activity in the distribution of poultry waste. [137585]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has assisted meat trade organisations in preparing and publicising the Industry Code of Practice on the Production, Handling and Processing of Animal By-Products. The FSA will also in December be discussing with other food trade organisations what further action can be taken to identify and prevent fraudulent diversion of unfit meat into the food chain. In addition, the FSA is commissioning a study into the possible use of a marker in low risk animal by-products, which will enable both industry and enforcers to detect meat which is unfit or not intended for human consumption, but does not prevent the legitimate use of such material, for example, in pet food.

  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is planned to ensure effective policing of the segregation of high and low risk waste at poultry slaughterhouses and its distribution from slaughterhouses; and what plans he has to provide extra resources to the Meat Hygiene Service for this purpose. [137586]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revised its instructions to the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) on the enforcement of animal by-products legislation, and the FSA is auditing the MHS's performance against those instructions. In addition, as part of the FSA's action plan to implement the recommendations of the Waste Food Task Force, the Agency is working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the MHS to produce a new, joint, risk-based regime for enforcement of animal by-products legislation in licensed premises. This will make best use of existing enforcement expenditure. In addition to this, the FSA is currently considering the case for extra expenditure for animal by-products enforcement in licensed premises as part of its review of MHS functions.

  Prostate Cancer
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress the Government has made in reducing the incidence of prostate cancer in the last five years; [133863]

  (2) what his Department's strategy is for tackling prostate cancer. [133882]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Good progress has been made since the National Health Service Prostate Cancer Programme was launched on 6 September 2000, setting out the Government's approach to improving prostate cancer services in England and Wales.

  As part of the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP), evidence-based primary care resource packs were sent to all general practitioners in England from 23 September 2002 to aid them in counselling men who are worried about prostate cancer, ensuring the men make an informed choice about whether or not to have a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

  Other elements of the PCRMP include ensuring that a systematic and standardised follow up pathway is available for individuals whose test result is above the PSA threshold and action to improve the quality of laboratory testing of PSA samples. Primary care and laboratories were informed of the related recommendations from the scientific reference group, which supports the PCRMP, in September 2002.

  In 2003–04 the Department will be directly funding £4.2 million of research a year on prostate cancer. This compares with just £98,000 in 1996–97. Two National Cancer Research Institute prostate cancer research collaboratives have been established in Newcastle and London. Funded research includes studies on various treatments for prostate cancer, improving the PSA test and ethnic differences in prostate cancer incidence. The National Cancer Research Institute considered prostate cancer as part of its strategic analysis in 2002, but made no specific recommendations.

  The Department has funded the following regarding public awareness:
  Section 64 grant to the Prostate Cancer Charity to increase further information about prostate cancer.
  Section 64 grant to the Prostate Cancer Charity to improve awareness of the risks and symptoms of prostate cancer in African and Afro-Caribbean men in Britain.
  The database of individual patient experiences in prostate cancer. 97.5 per cent. of patients with suspected urological cancers (including prostate) were seen for their first out-patient appointment within two weeks of their general practitioner deciding they should be urgently referred, and the hospital receiving the referral within 24 hours, between April and July 2003.

  The cancer services collaborative is modernising cancer care, including prostate cancer, by reducing unnecessary delays in the system for patients throughout the cancer journey.

  There has been an increase in the number of consultant urologists from 427 in 2001 to 466 to 2002, and is set to grow to 504 in 2005.
  1138W
  The incidence of prostate cancer has risen over the last five years. Much of this increase is thought to be due to an increased use of the PSA test and a lengthening of life expectancy.

  Much has been achieved on prostate cancer since the Prostate Cancer Programme was launched, but we recognise that there is still much to be done. That is why we welcomed the launch of the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action on 29 January 2003, and set up the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group (PCAG) to ensure better collaboration and communication between the charter members and Government. PCAG is already taking forward work on information for prostate cancer patients, public awareness and a national prostate cancer resource website.

  School Sport
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2003,Official Report, column 64W, on school sport, what assessment has been made of the percentage of school children who (a) were offered and (b) took up two hours per week of high quality physical education and school sport in the last year for which figures are available. [139031]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Government is investing more than £1 billion in England to transform physical education, school sport and club links. The funding will help deliver an ambitious Public Service Agreement target, shared by the Departments for Education and Skills and for Culture, Media and Sport, to increase the percentage of 5 to 16-year-olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006. Data collected during the autumn term 2002 suggested that about a third of schools provided this entitlement at Key Stage 1, two fifths at Key Stage 2 and a third at Key Stages 3 and 4. Data are now being collected for the first time—for publication in April 2004—on the number of pupils who choose to take up this entitlement.

  Sexual Health
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for sexually transmitted infections, broken down by(a) type of infection, (b) sex of patient and (c) age of patient in (i) Eastleigh and Test Valley South, (ii) Southampton City and (iii) Mid-Hants Primary Care Trust, in each of the last 10 years.[138153]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  It is not possible to break down the information into the areas requested in the time frame requested. However, the figures for the old Southampton and South West Hampshire Health Authority area are shown in the tables.
  1139W

  Primary diagnosis (1CD-10 A50-A64, B20-B24) STDs, HIV/AIDS QD3 Southampton and South West Hampshire HA of residence— count of finished in year admission episodes by primary diagnosis—NHS hospitals England 1996–97 to 2001–02

  Primary diagnosis

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  A52 Late Syphilis

  2

  1

  —

  —

  1

  —

  A53 Other and unspecified syphilis

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  A54 Gonococcal Infection

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  A56 Other sexually transmitted chlamydial diseases

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  1

  AGO Anogenital herpesviral (herpes simplex) infection

  2

  1

  —

  2

  1

  1

  A63 Other predominantly sexually transmitted diseases NEC

  4

  5

  5

  5

  4

  5

  B20 Human immunodef virus disease resulting in infectious parasitic diseases

  1

  1

  —

  1

  —

  1

  B21 Human immunodef virus disease resulting in malignant neoplasms

  —

  —

  1

  —

  2

  1

  B22 Human immunodef virus disease resulting in other specified diseases

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  B23 Human immunodeficiency virus disease resulting in other conditions

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  —

  B24 Unspecified human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease

  1

  2

  1

  3

  2

  3

  Grand total

  11

  10

  9

  12

  12

  13

  Primary Diagnosis (ICD-10 A50-A64, B20-B24) STDs, HIV/ AIDS QD3 Southampton and South West Hampshire HA of residence—count of finished in year admission episodes by sex—NHS hospitals England 1996–97 to 2001–02

  Sex

  Female

  Male

  Grand total

  1996–97

  3

  8

  11

  1997–98

  4

  6

  10

  1998–99

  4

  5

  9

  1999–2000

  5

  7

  12

  2000–01

  5

  7

  12

  2001–02

  7

  6

  13

  Primary Diagnosis (1CD-10 A50-A64, B20-B24) STDs, HIV/ AIDS QD3 Southampton and South West Hampshire HA of residence—count of finished in year admission episodes by age grouping—NHS Hospitals England 1996–97 to 2001–02

  Age group

  1996–97

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  0–4

  1

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5–14

  1

  —

  1

  1

  —

  —

  15–44

  8

  5

  6

  5

  6

  8

  45–64

  1

  4

  2

  5

  5

  3

  65–74

  —

  —

  —

  1

  1

  1

  75–84

  —

  1

  —

  —

  —

  1

  Grand total

  11

  10

  9

  12

  12

  13

  Notes

  1. Admissions—admissions are defined as the first period of in patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  2. Diagnosis (primary diagnosis)—the primary diagnosis is the
  first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main
  reason why the patient was in hospital.

  3. Grossing—figures have not (yet) been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed).

  4. Since data is residency based, figures between one and six do not need to be suppressed as authorised by the Security and Confidentiality Group (SCAG).

  5. Prior to 1996–97 there were differences in organizational formation and/or how diagnosis data was collected meaning that data would not be comparable with those years given.

  Source

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Sight Loss
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to(a) the NHS, (b) individuals, (c) families and carers, (d) local authorities and (e) taxpayers of 3,000 people losing their sight; and if he will make a statement. [138055]
  1140W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  We have not made any assessment of these costs. The costs of blindness will differ according to who becomes blind and when. It is not possible to separate the costs of blindness and partial sight given current information.

  The latest estimates of the costs of blindness and visual impairment are from a study commissioned for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in July this year.1

  The report's estimates of the annual non-treatment costs for people registered blind or partially sighted in England in various groupings are shown in table 1.

  Table 1: Estimate of annual non-treatment costs for people with blindness/partial sight

  £

  Estimate per person

  Children

  1,123

  Working age

  19,841

  Elderly

  4,980

  Total

  7,561

  Notes:

  1 These costs make assumptions, based on expert opinion and judgments from the literature, about typical income received from: disability living allowance, carer's allowance, vision rehabilitation services, income support, job seeker's allowance, tax allowances; the provision of community based healthcare and the numbers of blind and partially sighted people unemployed.

  2 The major costs are for those of working age which may be overstated since the report makes assumptions about the lost productivity to the economy related to unemployment among the
  blind and visually impaired and assumes that this can be represented by average earnings. If there are flexible labour markets and non-negligible unemployment then some portion of this "lost" productivity will be recovered through other workers.

  3 Costs could be overestimates since it is not clear from the research whether these are the costs incurred by an average blind or partially sighted person, or the costs that are directly attributable to their blindness or partial sight, for example, some of those who are unemployed and blind or partially sighted would have been unemployed if they were not blind or partially sighted.

  It is not possible to identify treatment costs specifically for those who are blind (or as a result of blindness) from NHS data sources. It is possible to identify the costs of treatment for glaucoma and cataracts, which are both conditions that are associated with low vision and can lead to blindness. The costs shown in table 2 are from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association report.
  1141W

  Table 2: Estimate of treatment costs for cataracts and glaucoma

  £

  Estimate per person

  Glaucoma

  1,016

  Cataracts

  688

  Finally, the literature on the "out-of-pocket costs" for blind patients has been reviewed by the Royal National Institute for the Blind. At 2000 prices, these are estimated to be around £52 per person per week.

  1"The costs of blindness: An analysis of the costs of visual impairment and blindness in the United Kingdom". July 2003, Ethical Strategies Limited. The report can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.healthyeyes.org.uk/index.php?id=25.

  Social Care
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with west Sussex Social Services Department regarding the provision of central funding for the social care of residents of the Chagos Islands arriving in west Sussex. [134770]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Officials in the Department of Work and Pensions and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are considering, with the Department of Health, the situation of destitute Chagosians in the United Kingdom and specifically in west Sussex. Ministers at the Department of Health have had no direct contact with west Sussex County Council on this matter. Departmental officials, however, have maintained close contact with officers of west Sussex County Council.

  South Woodham Ferrers Health Clinic
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to expand services at the South Woodham Ferrers Health Clinic; and if he will make a statement. [139677]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I have no plans to expand South Woodham Ferrers Health Clinic.

  However, I am informed that Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust's bid to Chelmsford borough council's Jubilee fund was successful and they received £75,000 from that fund which it intends to use to redesign South Woodham Ferrers Health Clinic. The PCT has secured planning permission but has revised its original plan which will result in the addition of three further outpatient suites. The PCT is currently awaiting the decision of the borough council's planning committee on the revised plans.

  Strategic Health Authorities
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which strategic health authority has the highest deficit; what guidance he will give Avon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Strategic Health Authority about its deficit; how much the Avon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Strategic Health Authority received from the Government in financial year 2002–03; how much the(a) Bristol, (b) Bath, (c) Wiltshire and (d) Gloucestershire regions received of that sum; and if he will make it his policy when making allocations within strategic health authority areas to award greater
  1142W
  sums to regions which (i) have a higher population and (ii) have demonstrated higher standards of performance. [134548]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  In 2002–03, the last year for which we have audited accounts, the Avon, Wiltshire and Wiltshire and Gloucestershire Strategic Health Authority area reported the highest overall deficit. The Avon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire SHA economy received a total resource allocation of £1.989 billion. The table shows distribution of the allocation across its primary care trusts.

  The Department has asked the Avon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire SHA to ensure that each National Health Service body within the health economy plans for and achieves financial balance and delivers its key targets.

  From 2003–04 revenue resources have been allocated to primary care trusts on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each primary care trust's target share of available resources.

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA Revenue Allocations to Primary Care Trusts 2002–03

  £ Thousand

  Organisation code

  Organisation name

  Revenue Resource Limit allocated

  5FL

  Bath and North east Somerset PCT

  156,601

  5JF

  Bristol North PCT

  211,930

  5JG

  Bristol South and West PCT

  183,161

  5KW

  Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT

  120,921

  5KY

  Cotswold and Vale PCT

  155,152

  5K4

  Kennet ande North Wiltshire PCT

  158,080

  5M8

  North Somerset PCT

  161,638

  5A3

  South Gloucestershire PCT

  190,965

  5DJ

  South Wiltshire PCT

  100,038

  5K3

  Swindon PCT

  164,870

  5KX

  West Gloucestershire PCT

  186,743

  5DH

  West Wiltshire PCT

  93,620

  Total PCT Allocation

  1,883,719

  Q20

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA

  105,366

  Total AGW Patch Position

  1,989,085

  Source

  Strategic Health Authority summarisation forms 2002–03 Primary Care Trust Summarisation Schedules 2002–03

  Stroke Treatment
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of stroke patients are being treated in specialist stroke units; [139784]

  (2) what percentage of stroke patients he plans will be treated in specialist stroke units by April 2004. [139785]

  Dr. Ladyman
  We do not collect the information requested centrally. However, stroke is one of the condition specific standards (Standard 5) incorporated into the national service framework for older people. The target is that by April 2004, 100 per cent. of all general hospitals which care for people with stroke will have a specialised stroke service as described in the stroke service model, and that all people who are thought to have had a stroke will have access to diagnostic services and access to specialist stroke services as appropriate.
  1143W
  The most comprehensive source of information on stroke is the National Sentinel Stroke Audit, carried out by the Royal College of Physicians. The audit was commissioned by the National Health Service in 1998 and was last updated in 2002. The results can be found at http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/strokeaudit01–02.pdf. There will be a further update of these figures in 2004.

  Transgenes Research
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what published research he has assessed on the effects of transgenes on cellular processes other than the intended function of the gene; and what research he has commissioned on this subject. [136062]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]Department of Health research funding is largely focused on research to bring the benefits of new medicines into the national health service. The Department of Health has not commissioned research on this subject. Basic scientific research of this nature is mainly funded by the research councils.

  Waiting Lists/Times
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the latest available(a) inpatient waiting list figures and (b) outpatient quarterly figures for the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area. [139469]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Inpatient waiting list figures for Mid-Essex Hospital Trust for quarter 2, 2003–04 are shown in the table.
  1144W

  Inpatient Waiting List Figures

  Q2 September 2003–04

  Total waiting

  8,123

  Less than 3 months

  4,195

  3–5 months

  2,137

  6–8 months

  1,354

  9–11 months

  436

  12–14 months

  1

  There are no reported waits for the 15 to 24 month periods.

  Outpatient quarterly figures for Mid-Essex Hospital Trust are shown in the table.

  Outpatient quarterly figures

  September Q2 2002–04

  Number of referral requests for first outpatient appointments

  GP written

  14,687

  Other

  11,878

  Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral request to first outpatient attendance (weeks)

  0 to ã4

  3,964

  4 to ã13

  5,985

  13 to ã17

  1,294

  17 to ã21

  457

  21 to ã26

  12

  26 and over

  0

  Not yet seen at end of quarter who have been waiting (weeks)

  13 to ã17

  871

  17 to ã21

  148

  21 to ã26

  0

  26 and over

  0

  Source

  Department of Health quarterly figures for Mid Essex Hospital Trust area

  Starred Questions and Statements: Back-Bench Contributions
  Starred Questions and Statements: Back-Bench Contributions
  Religiously Aggravated Offences
  Religiously Aggravated Offences
  Overseas Students: Visa Extension Charges
  Overseas Students: Visa Extension Charges
  Education, Family Care and Crime Prevention: Administrative Areas
  Education, Family Care and Crime Prevention: Administrative Areas
  Prisons: Child-centred Visits
  Prisons: Child-centred Visits
  HM Inspector of Prisons
  HM Inspector of Prisons
  Women's Security: Licensed Premises in London
  Women's Security: Licensed Premises in London
  Coroner Arrangements
  Coroner Arrangements
  Burial Law
  Burial Law
  EU Anti-trafficking Measures
  EU Anti-trafficking Measures
  Mr Joe Scholes: Death in Custody
  Mr Joe Scholes: Death in Custody
  Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001: Detainees
  Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001: Detainees
  Asylum Seekers' Children
  Asylum Seekers' Children
  EU Internal Boundaries
  EU Internal Boundaries
  Police Funding 2004–05
  Police Funding 2004–05
  Iraq: Radiometric Survey of South
  Iraq: Radiometric Survey of South
  Small Arms
  Small Arms
  MoD Police: Operational Report 2002–03
  MoD Police: Operational Report 2002–03
  Medical Supply Agency: Key Targets 2003–04
  Medical Supply Agency: Key Targets 2003–04
  Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  Employment Service Estate
  Employment Service Estate
  Disabled People: Unemployment
  Disabled People: Unemployment
  Mobile Telephone Numbers: Comprehensive Directory
  Mobile Telephone Numbers: Comprehensive Directory
  Credit Cards: Annual Percentage Rates of Interest
  Credit Cards: Annual Percentage Rates of Interest
  Commission for Equality and Human Rights
  Commission for Equality and Human Rights
  London Stock Exchange: OFT Investigation on Increase in Issuer Fees
  London Stock Exchange: OFT Investigation on Increase in Issuer Fees
  Broadband
  Broadband
  Market Sensitive Statistical Information
  Market Sensitive Statistical Information
  Licensing Decisions: Representations by Interested Parties
  Licensing Decisions: Representations by Interested Parties
  Gambling
  Gambling
  Hazardous Waste
  Hazardous Waste
  Shipbreaking
  Shipbreaking
  Watercourse Dredgings
  Watercourse Dredgings
  Wetlands
  Wetlands
  Waste: Pulverised Fuel Ash and Blast Furnace Slag
  Waste: Pulverised Fuel Ash and Blast Furnace Slag
  Hazardous Waste Criteria and Regulations
  Hazardous Waste Criteria and Regulations
  Northern Ireland Civil Service: Holidays
  Northern Ireland Civil Service: Holidays
  Civil Service: Staffing
  Civil Service: Staffing
  B6403: Colsterworth Junction Improvement
  B6403: Colsterworth Junction Improvement
  Northern Ireland: Listed Buildings
  Northern Ireland: Listed Buildings
  Northern Ireland: Advice to Ministers
  Northern Ireland: Advice to Ministers
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  Police Service of Northern Ireland
  Police Service of Northern Ireland
  North/South Language Body
  North/South Language Body
  Independent Monitoring Commission
  Independent Monitoring Commission
  Strangford Lough: Prawn Fishing
  Strangford Lough: Prawn Fishing
  Northern Ireland Civil Service: Smoking Policy
  Northern Ireland Civil Service: Smoking Policy
  Northern Ireland Bureau, Washington
  Northern Ireland Bureau, Washington
  Ulster Scots Culture
  Ulster Scots Culture
  Northern Ireland: Religious Discrimination
  Northern Ireland: Religious Discrimination
  Cross-Border Implementation Bodies: Provision of Cars for Chief Executives
  Cross-Border Implementation Bodies: Provision of Cars for Chief Executives
  Northern Ireland: Prisoners
  Northern Ireland: Prisoners
  Law Officers' Advice: Disclosure
  Law Officers' Advice: Disclosure
  HIV and AIDS: Developing Countries and Generic Drugs
  HIV and AIDS: Developing Countries and Generic Drugs
  Russia: DfID Support for Harm Reduction Programmes
  Russia: DfID Support for Harm Reduction Programmes
  Central and South America: Street Children
  Central and South America: Street Children
  "Middle Income" Countries
  "Middle Income" Countries
  House of Lords: Representation of Political Parties
  House of Lords: Representation of Political Parties
  Commission for Equality and Human Rights
  Commission for Equality and Human Rights
  Supreme Court
  Supreme Court
  Rent Rebates
  Rent Rebates
  Nutrition
  Nutrition
  Patient and Public Involvement Forums
  Patient and Public Involvement Forums
  NHS Prescriptions
  NHS Prescriptions
  General Practitioner Incomes: Rate for Young Patients
  General Practitioner Incomes: Rate for Young Patients
  National Poisons Information Service: Clinical Advice
  National Poisons Information Service: Clinical Advice