Written Answers of 20 November 2003

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

  Working Time Directive
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister for Women what recent assessment she has made of the implications of the Working Time Directive on women's employment. [140173]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this Question before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

  Party Funding
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on the inquiry into the funding of political parties; and if he will make a statement. [140240]

  Mr. Hain
  I met the Chairman of the Electoral Commission on 18 November 2003 to discuss the Commission's work on the funding of political parties, and have spoken to him on other occasions about this and other issues.

CABINET OFFICE

  Civil Contingencies Secretariat
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the recent work of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat. [140169]

  Mr. Alexander
  On 19 June 2003, the Civil Contingencies Secretariat published a revised third edition of Dealing with Disaster and a draft Civil Contingencies Bill which establishes a new framework for civil protection against the challenges of the 21st century. The draft Bill is currently being considered by a Joint Committee of both Houses. The Secretariat continues to improve the resilience of the United Kingdom to disruptive challenges through working with others to anticipate, assess, prevent, prepare, respond and recover.

  Lord Birt
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the contribution made by Lord Birt to the Cabinet Office Strategy Board. [139778]
  1146W
  Mr. Alexander
  Lord Birt, who was appointed in October 2001 as an unpaid strategy adviser to the Prime Minister, attends the Cabinet Office Strategy Board as an external member.

SCOTLAND

  Identity Cards
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Executive in relation to the introduction of identity cards. [138966]

  Mrs. McGuire
  My right hon. Friend and I have regular meetings with Scottish Executive Ministers, at which a wide range of issues affecting Scotland are discussed.

PRIME MINISTER

  Arctic Veterans
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen), on 5 November 2003, what procedure the request for medals for Arctic veterans has undergone, what further stages have to be gone through; and if he will make a statement. [137891]

  The Prime Minister
  First, I would like to pay tribute to the bravery and dedication of all those who sailed in the Arctic convoys. Those who served in the Arctic Convoys during the Second World War were awarded a medal, the Atlantic Star, at the time to mark their important contribution.

  The general policy on medals, which has been followed by successive Governments over many years, is that two separate medals are not awarded for any one exercise or campaign, In addition, except in cases where specific criteria are met as in the case of the Suez Canal Zone, proposals for new medals are not considered more than five years after the event.

  Any further representations or requests for new evidence to be examined should be sent to the Ministry of Defence in the first instance.

  Presidential Elections (USA)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if it is his policy to remain neutral on the outcome of presidential elections in the United States of America. [140151]

  The Prime Minister
  Yes.

  State Visit
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the representations he has received from organisations in the United States regarding the forthcoming visit of US President Bush, with particular reference to political organisations. [140152]

  The Prime Minister
  As far as I am aware, none.

  War Criminals
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his actions to seek to persuade the President of the United States to bring captured senior Saddam supporters to trial, with particular reference to Mr.Tariq Aziz. [140040]

  The Prime Minister
  United Nations Security Council resolution 1483 affirmed the need for accountability for crimes and atrocities committed by the previous Iraqi regime. We fully support this, as do the US. We believe it is for the Iraqi people to decide how to bring those responsible to justice, with suitable international help. The Governing Council is developing the idea of a Special Iraqi Tribunal to prosecute those suspected of serious human rights abuses under the former regime. No final decision has yet been reached.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  ASBOs
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Solicitor-General what guidance the Crown Prosecution Service in Merseyside has provided to the Merseyside police in relation to antisocial behaviour orders; and who is responsible for requesting that an order be made. [132336]

  The Solicitor-General
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Conviction Rates
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Solicitor-General what the conviction rate was for prosecutions under(a) a designated public places order and (b) the model bye-law for an on-street drinking ban in each year since the introduction of the DPPO. [136380]

  The Solicitor-General
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Corruption Legislation
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Solicitor-General whether she has refused consent for any investigations or prosecutions to be carried out under corruption legislation. [132362]

  The Solicitor-General
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mr. Denham
  To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on prosecutions under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 of people who have employed illegal immigrants. [136361]

  The Solicitor-General
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Serious Fraud Office
  Mr. Mike Hancock
  To ask the Solicitor-General (1) when she will reply to the written questions, tabled by the hon. Member for Portsmouth South on 14 October 2003, refs(a) 131900, (b) 131901 and (c) 131902; [139578]

  (2) how many (a) offences of fraud and (b) serious frauds involving breaches of trust by professionals were reported to the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last three years; how many prosecutions were initiated; what the outcome was in each case; and if she will make a statement; [131900]

  (3) what plans she has to set up branches of the Serious Fraud Office in the regions; [131901]

  (4) what recent assessment she has made of the work of the Serious Fraud Office; and if she will make a statement. [131902]

  The Solicitor-General
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  BBC Charter
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received on the renewal of the BBC Charter; and if she will make a statement. [140172]

  Tessa Jowell
  The review of the BBC's Charter will be wide-ranging, with full industry and public consultation, and will, I hope, be characterised by vigorous and open debate. The process will be extensive and thorough, with several opportunities for people to feed in their views, and there will be an appropriate parliamentary stage.

  It will begin before the end of the year when I issue a consultation document outlining the main issues for consideration.

  My Department has already received numerous representations about a wide range of issues relating to the BBC. Those views will, along with information from a variety of other sources, including formal public consultation, be used to inform the Government's thinking on Charter review.

  Crystal Palace
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with(a) Sport England and (b) relevant local and other authorities on the future of Crystal Palace as a sports stadium. [140177]

  Mr. Caborn
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Ethical Tourism
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action the Government is taking to support ethical tourism schemes. [139397]

  Mr. Caborn
  The Government welcomes in principle the efforts of individual tourism businesses who promote themselves under an eco-tourism banner. We regard such businesses as an important element of the mix of tourism products available to consumers.

  There are no plans to introduce a national, Government-sponsored, eco-tourism award scheme. However, several such schemes do operate independently in the UK, often aimed at a geographical or product niche. The Government supports their aims. Indeed on 12 November 2003 I met the operator of one such conservation scheme, targeted at caravan parks, for a discussion about environmental tourism.

  Golf
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funds are available to develop young golfers through municipal golf courses. [140060]

  Estelle Morris
  Participation projects in golf are eligible for Sport England Lottery Funding, and golf received a total of 40 grants worth £8.9 million between 1995 and May 2003.

  Sport England also provides £92,000 of Exchequer funding annually to the Golf Foundation for the development of Junior Officers. The role of Junior Officers is to encourage young people to participate in the sport, through schemes such as Tri-Golf which is now being delivered throughout primary schools and social inclusion partnerships bringing golf to young people in areas of social and economic deprivation.

  Leisure Facilities
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives she has discussed to improve access to leisure facilities in disadvantaged communities. [140061]

  Estelle Morris
  We are investing £581 million through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) in sports facilities for schools in England. The Space for Sport and Arts programme is putting £130 million into primary school sports facilities in 65 of the most deprived LEAs in the country. (This includes £25 million from NOF.)

  We are investing £459 million in the national strategy for PE, school sport and club links. This includes a further £10 million to enhance primary-school playgrounds in 27 deprived areas and £60 million for the Community Club Development Programme to improve amateur club facilities. Distribution is a matter for governing bodies, but the programme is targeted at deprived areas and disadvantaged groups.

  Licensing Act
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what fees she will introduce under the Licensing Act 2003; what estimate she has made of the cost of implementing the Act in each of the next 1150W
  three years; and what estimate she has made of the amount which will be raised from applications for licences. [139763]

  Mr. Caborn
  Proposed fee levels and the expected costs of compliance with the Act were set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which accompanied the Licensing Bill and is available from the House Library. Regulations setting out these fees will be laid before Parliament shortly. The Department is working closely with the Local Government Association to ensure that fees are set at a level to which provides for full cost recovery in respect of administration, inspection and enforcement.

  Lottery Funding
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on the recovery of Lottery funding from projects awarded grants which subsequently fail. [140230]

  Estelle Morris
  Lottery distributing bodies are required, under their financial directions, to attach conditions to each Lottery grant, enabling the distributor concerned to seek repayment of the grant, in full or in part, in certain circumstances. These circumstances include a breach by the recipient of any of the grant conditions; a material change of purpose, ownership or recipient during the project or after its completion; and cases where the recipient ceases to operate, becomes insolvent, fails to apply the grant for the purpose for which it was awarded, fails to complete the project, is found to have completed its application form fraudulently, incorrectly or misleadingly, or acts fraudulently or negligently during the completion of the project. The Department has issued guidance to the distributing bodies on the matters to be taken into account when they are considering seeking recovery of a Lottery award.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether Lottery distributors monitor the performance of successful Lottery bids against the criteria under which they were granted. [140231]

  Estelle Morris
  Each Lottery distributing body's financial directions require the body to institute a system for project monitoring in respect of capital and revenue projects supported with Lottery funds, to monitor whether the objectives and terms and conditions of grant are being met. The exact nature of monitoring will vary in individual cases depending on the size, nature and complexity of the project concerned.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Lottery funding has been recovered from failed Lottery projects in each of the past five years for which figures are available, broken down by Lottery fund. [140232]

  Estelle Morris
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Market Research
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [139981]

  Mr. Caborn
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Meridian Station (New Hythe)
  Miss Widdecombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement about the future of the Meridian station in New Hythe. [140010]

  Estelle Morris
  This is a matter for the Independent Television Commission, who I understand are currently considering Meridian's proposals.

  Millennium Fund
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment is undertaken of the use made of successful Millennium Fund bids; [140233]

  (2) what assessment is undertaken of the financial viability of bids to the Millennium Fund; and if she will make a statement. [140234]

  Tessa Jowell
  I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chair of the Millennium Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on services provided to her Department by NM Rothschild since 1997. [139965]

  Mr. Caborn
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Olympic Bid
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to public funds was of running the competition for a logo for the UK Olympic bid for London 2012. [140209]

  Tessa Jowell
  London 2012 Ltd organised an open competition to design the logo with a prize of £10,000 and associated organisational costs of £18,000. The competition attracted 1,100 entries generating community involvement in the bid, and was judged by a panel including athletes, designers, a school sports co-ordinator and a London black cab driver. The winning logo, which will be used on all bid materials and communications, from advertising and building wraps through to badges and pens, was produced by Kino Design. London 2012 Ltd have estimated that using a private design agency would have led to considerably higher costs.

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 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. [137955]

  Estelle Morris
  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 Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the performance targets that(a) her Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are required to meet; and if she will specify for each target (i) who sets it and (ii) who monitors achievement against it. [137970]

  Estelle Morris
  Key performance targets for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport 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 target along with HM Treasury and PMDU and progress is reported regularly.

  Performance targets for the majority of the Department's non-departmental public bodies can be found in the 2003–2006 funding agreements between the Department and the relevant body, which were laid in the Library of the House on 25, 26 and 29 of September 2003. Performance targets for English Heritage and the Historic Royal Palaces are contained in these bodies annual reports which have been laid in the Library of the House. Performance targets for Sport England and Arts Council England are still being formulated.

  Achievement against the targets is monitored by the department, including through meetings between the Secretary of State/Ministers and relevant Chief Executives.

  Prime Funding
  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had since July with leaders of sporting bodies which are not in the list of 10 for prime funding with public money announced on 18 November by the Chairman of Sport England.[140178]

  Mr. Caborn
  None. The list of sports which will qualify as priorities for Lottery funding at governing body level was and is entirely a matter for Sport England. The 10 sports announced on 18 November will be priorities for the 40 per cent. of total sports Lottery funding which will be allocated for governing body support at national level. The other 60 per cent. will be distributed through the nine Regional Sport Boards, which will consider projects on their merits and without regard to the national priority list.

  Television Advertising
  Ms Shipley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the dates of meetings she and her officials have had with representatives of(a) the advertising industry, (b) commercial television channels and (c) the food and drink industry during the last six months. [138676]

  Tessa Jowell
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  TV Licences
  Sir Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) for what reason the Television Licensing Authority collects six months' money in advance from TV licence holders who opt to pay for their licences using the direct debit facility; under what powers the Television Licensing Authority collects such advance payments; and how much was held in advance payments on the latest date for which figures are available; [139389]

  (2) what percentage of TV licence holders using the direct debit payment facility who surrendered their licences before the end of that term subsequently claimed refunds on their extra payments, in the last period for which figures are available; [139390]

  (3) what percentage of deceased TV licence fee payers who used the direct debit payment facility subsequently had refunds claimed by their executors for the six months' extra payments, in the last year for which figures are available; [139391]

  (4) if she will abolish the six-month pre-payment scheme for TV licence fee payers opting to use the direct debit facility; and if she will make a statement. [139394]

  Estelle Morris
  I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before Prorogation. I shall therefore write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Women's Sport
  Angela Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research has been

  2000

  2000

  Region

  Qtr 1

  Qtr 2

  Qtr 3

  Qtr 4

  2000 total

  2001 Qtr 1

  Qtr 2

  Qtr 3

  Qtr 4

  2001 total

  EastMidlands

  1,232

  986

  1,218

  1,075

  4,511

  1,019

  880

  950

  1,029

  3,878

  Eastern

  1,253

  832

  1,162

  882

  4,129

  1,029

  882

  1,048

  1,027

  3,986

  London

  4,907

  4,844

  5,055

  4,994

  19,800

  5,519

  4,801

  6,063

  5,451

  21,834

  Merseyside

  421

  378

  383

  537

  1,719

  357

  1,053

  1,982

  397

  3,789

  North East

  717

  523

  595

  518

  2,353

  500

  677

  555

  621

  2,353

  North West

  1,786

  1,329

  1,672

  1,531

  6,318

  1,322

  1,281

  1,262

  1,591

  5,456

  South East

  1,464

  1,455

  1,301

  1,299

  5,519

  1,311

  1,311

  1,911

  1,552

  6,085

  South West

  875

  546

  561

  567

  2,549

  504

  526

  456

  555

  2,041

  Wales

  841

  665

  773

  811

  3,090

  761

  787

  774

  757

  3,079

  West Midlands

  1,548

  1,415

  1,489

  1,693

  6,145

  1,861

  1,956

  1,923

  1,816

  7,556

  Yorkshire and Humber

  1,432

  1,322

  1,315

  1,379

  5,448

  1,497

  1,240

  1,558

  1,268

  5,563

  England and Wales

  16,476

  14,295

  15,524

  15,286

  61,581

  15,680

  15,394

  18,482

  16,064

  65,620

  1154W
  commissioned by her Department into the gender balance of television sports coverage; and if she will make a statement. [139568]

  Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]This Department has not undertaken any research in this area because broadcasters are generally free to respond to the needs and preferences of viewers in making their scheduling decisions. It is a well established principle of broadcasting that Government only intervenes in the sports broadcasting market to seek to ensure that all viewers, including the lower paid and the elderly, have "free to air" access to listed sporting events.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

  Asylum Seekers
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what legal advice is made available to asylum seekers. [139651]

  Mr. Lammy
  Publicly funded legal help is available for those making an asylum application, provided the client is financially eligible. Where an asylum application is refused, further legal advice and representation is available for an appeal, although at this stage the availability of public funding is subject to a strict merits test.

  Only solicitors' firms or advice agencies that hold a contract with the Legal Services Commission may undertake publicly funded work.

  My Department recently consulted on a series of changes to publicly funded immigration and asylum advice and representation. An announcement on the way forward will be made separately. In addition, the Department, the Home Office and the Legal Services Commission are currently examining the initial decision-making stage of the asylum process with particular regard to the role that publicly funded legal advice plays.

  House Repossessions
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many house repossessions there have been in each region per quarter since 2000. [140174]

  Mr. Leslie
  Figures for the number of possession proceedings executed per quarter since 2000 are provided in the following tables.
  1155W

  2002

  2003

  Region

  Qtr 1

  Qtr 2

  Qtr 3

  Qtr 4

  2002 total

  Qtr 1

  Qtr 2

  East Midlands

  1,012

  1,904

  1,112

  1,157

  5,185

  1,183

  1,016

  Eastern

  956

  1,379

  1,070

  1,028

  4,433

  2,158

  831

  London

  4,608

  4,172

  4,798

  5,549

  19,127

  4,750

  4,579

  Merseyside

  396

  390

  362

  394

  1,542

  794

  736

  North East

  849

  492

  760

  559

  2,660

  650

  563

  North West

  1,355

  1,145

  1,624

  1,673

  5,797

  1,133

  1,182

  South East

  1,197

  1,271

  1,705

  1,775

  5,948

  1,286

  1,534

  South West

  602

  875

  1,039

  925

  3,441

  832

  859

  Wales

  508

  1,498

  678

  755

  3,439

  935

  502

  West Midlands

  1,771

  1,532

  1,495

  1,225

  6,023

  1,110

  1,903

  Yorkshire and Humber

  1,167

  1,254

  1,388

  1,294

  5,103

  1,076

  1,124

  England and Wales

  14,421

  15,912

  16,031

  16,334

  62,698

  15,907

  14,829

  Magistrates (Wales)
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will list the members of Advisory Committees for the appointment of magistrates in Wales. [140366]

  Mr. Leslie
  There are 105 members of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace in Wales. Following is a full list of their names and the Committees on which they sit.

  Clwyd

  Mrs. Lindsay Catherine Wilding

  Mr. Toby Glynn Prosser

  Mr. Michael William Pugh

  Mrs. Gillian Mary Peers

  Mr. William Gareth Hughes

  Mr. Thomas Charles Davies

  Mr. Martyn George Johnston

  Mr. Reginald Evans

  Mr. Charles Frederick Sammons

  Mrs. Elizabeth Alice Jones

  Mrs. Margaret Laura Rees

  Mr. Norman Land

  Mr. Trefor Jones

  Dyfed-Carmarthen

  Lord John Morris

  Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Esme Jones

  Mr. David Islwyn Lewis

  Mr. Thomas David Griffith Williams

  Mr. Malcolm Morgan Jones

  Mrs. Eira Ann Jenkins

  Mr. Emyr Wyn Jones

  Mr. Arwel John Davies

  Mr. John Patrick French

  Mrs. Stella Jean Jones

  Dyfed-Ceredigion

  Lord John Morris

  Mr. Geoffrey Kenneth Walker

  Mrs. Nansi Elleri Davies

  Mr. David John Davies

  Dr. Julian Raymond Evans

  Mr. Robert George Harris

  Mrs. Sheila Elizabeth Speed

  Mr. Lodwick Lloyd

  Professor David Hywel Emlyn Roberts

  1156W

  Professor Ian Michael Roffe

  Reverend Peter Morgan Thomas

  Mrs. Annie Wendy Mary Lloyd

  Mr. Huw Prys Williams

  Dyfed-Pembroke

  Lord John Morris

  Mr. David Robert Smalley Clarke

  Mrs. Mollie Roach

  Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Smith

  Mrs. (Rev.) Nanette Lewis-Head

  Mr. Thomas Jones

  Mrs. Margaret Jane John

  Mr. Stanley John Barry Vaughan

  Mr. Christopher John Noott

  Mrs. Dorothy Jean Lewis

  Mr. Stephen Watkins

  Gwent

  Mr. David Michael Parry Kenny

  Mr. Simon Boyle

  Mr. Keith Dykes

  Mrs. Judith Margaret Anthony

  Mrs. Anne Christine Thomas

  Mrs. Judith Elizabeth Child

  Mr. Stuart John Telling

  Mid-Glamorgan

  Mr. David Morgan

  Mrs. Gillian Anne Rees

  Mrs. Helen Ruth Brooks

  Mrs. Moira Rosalind Evans

  Mr. Trefor Coslett Davies

  Mrs. Carole Ann Blandford

  Mrs. Kathrin Elizabeth Thomas

  South Glamorgan

  Captain Norman Lloyd-Edwards

  Cllr. Mrs. Janie Jones

  Mr. Paul Raymond Marshall

  Mrs. Dianne Hughes

  Mr. Herbert John Tonkin

  Mr. Peter James Emery

  Mr. John Lewis Jones

  Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart Williams

  1157W
  West Glamorgan

  Dr. John Delwyn Morgan

  Mrs. Wenna Maud Parry Evans

  Mr. Elliot Griffiths

  Mrs. Lynda Heycock

  Mrs. Roberta Louise Fleet

  Mrs. Janet Eleanor Osborne

  Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Williams

  Mr. Gordon Cowie

  Miss Barbara Mary Lewis

  Mr. Kenneth Lewis

  Mr. Philip Wernford James

  Mr. Taha Idris

  Powys

  Lady Beryl Christine Davies

  Mrs. Kay Jeanette Hay

  Ms Lynette Kretchmer

  Mrs. Ceri Elizabeth Havard

  Mr. Gareth Richard Price

  Mr. Egan Thomas Morgan

  Mr. David Richard Jones

  Mr. Colin Smith

  Mrs. Lavenda June Pettitt

  Mr. Donald Lewis Davies

  Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Morris

  The Hon. Mrs. Shan Legge-Bourke

  Mr. Joseph Anstie Vaughan Blackham

  Gwynedd

  Dr. Helen May Roberts

  Professor Eric Sunderland

  Mrs. Susan Wynn-Jones

  Mrs. Jean Marian Bryson

  Mr. Alwyn Lloyd Ellis

  Mr. Carroll Hughes

  Mr. Thomas Arthur Hughes

  Mr. Edmund Caerwyn Roberts

  Mrs. Carey Jennifer Jones

  Mrs. Alexandra Mary Jaundrill

  Mr. Bryan Maxwell Humphreys

  Royal Prerogative
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will require Government Departments to lay before Parliament each month from 1 January 2004 a written statement listing decisions(a) made and (b) implemented using the Royal Prerogative. [140204]

  Mr. Leslie
  No. As the Prime Minister has indicated previously to the House, records are not kept of the individual occasions on which powers under the Royal Prerogative are exercised, nor would it be practicable to do so.

  Consultants
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in(a) 2002–03 and (b) the last six months. [139245]
  1158W
  Mr. Lammy
  The Department's net expenditure with external consultants in the financial year dated 2002–03 was £5.7 million.

  My Department only collects information on consultancy expenditure on an annual basis at the end of the financial year, so figures for the current year are not yet available.

  Crown Immunity
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, if he will make a statement on the impact of(a) the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and (b) human rights legislation on disclosure of information from hearings under which access is restricted owing to Crown Property immunity from prosecution. [133075]

  Mr. Leslie
  Consideration is being given to the issue of the State's immunity from criminal proceedings. Both the Government's consultation paper on the reform of the law on involuntary manslaughter, in May 2000. and 'Revitalising Health and Safety' in June 2000, contained proposals for removing or modifying that immunity.

  In the light of the responses to those publications, an inter-departmental working group was established. My noble Friend. the Under Secretary of State, Lord Filkin. will write to the hon. Member when further infomation is available.

  Departmental Expenditure (Official Residences)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 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. [134684]

  Mr. Lammy
  My Department has no residential properties used by Ministers or officials.

  Electronic Voting
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what meetings he has had with manufacturers of electronic voting machines. [140027]

  Mr. Leslie
  I have not met with any manufacturers to discuss electronic voting machines, but my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Local Government has met a number of such manufacturers as part of the local elections pilots programme over the past three years.

  Gender Recognition Certificates
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment he has made of(a) the impact on a marriage where one person is granted a full gender recognition certificate, (b) the effect on children in a marriage where one person is granted a FGRC and (c) the financial effects of one partner in a marriage being granted a FGRC. [138168]

  Mr. Lammy
  This Government are committed to understanding and recognising the needs and aspirations of transsexual people. We recognise that transsexual people face many challenges not least the
  1159W
  impact on their family should they decide to seek legal recognition in an acquired gender. The purpose of the draft Bill is specifically to give transsexual people legal recognition in their acquired gender, and with that legal recognition transsexual people will be expected to conform with gender specific arrangements that would apply to anyone sharing their legal gender.

  (a) The issue of what to do with existing marriages is a complex one. The Government's policy is clear on existing marriages that involve a transsexual person. It is a policy founded on the fact that UK law does not recognise marriage between two people of the same legal gender and the Government do not intend to see that position charmed.

  (b) Transsexual parents will no doubt consider carefully what impact their gaining legal recognition in an acquired gender might have on their children. A transsexual person will retain his or her parental status after being granted a full gender recognition certificate and, thereby, legal recognition in their acquired gender.

  (c) The issue of an interim gender recognition certificate makes the existing marriage of the successful applicant voidable at the application to the Courts of either party to the marriage but has no effect beyond that. In granting the annulment, the Court will be able to make orders dealing with financial and other issues arising from the annulment of the marriage.

  (d) The Government have conducted a consultation exercise for same sex civil partnership and will publish their response in due course. If a civil partnership scheme is created, an individual who has been married prior to receiving recognition in the acquired gender could, subsequent to receiving recognition, register a civil partnership with the same individual.

  House Sales
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many house sales there were at more than(a) £50,001,

  Total

  England

  Wales

  N. Ireland

  Scotland

  A) Judiciary and legal

  19

  Judges

  4

  4

  0

  0

  0

  Associations/societies

  14

  11

  0

  2

  1

  Solicitors

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  B) Government Departments/agencies

  9

  Government Departments

  5

  5

  0

  0

  0

  Advisory committees/local authorities

  4

  4

  0

  0

  0

  C) Political parties and hon. members

  2

  Political parties

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Members of the House of Lords

  2

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Members of the House of Commons

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  D) Main representative groups and interested parties

  36

  33

  0

  2

  1

  E) Ecclesiastical representatives/ organisations

  142

  142

  0

  0

  0

  There have been 17 responses from members of the general public

  225 responses received in total
  1160W
  (b) £100,001,(c) £200,001, (d) £500,001, (e) £750,001 and (f) £1 million in London in each of the last six years for which figures are available. [139932]

  Mr. Lammy
  The figures for each completed calendar year are as follows. Land Registry collects residential property price data by specified price bands and it is not possible to provide figures for sales specifically at "more than £750,001". An alternative range has therefore been provided.

  More than (£)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  50,001

  74,570

  65,405

  63,064

  41,335

  30,720

  16,134

  100,001

  44,801

  50,443

  69,947

  69,665

  82,899

  87,567

  200,001

  15,859

  18,535

  29,968

  35,032

  46,098

  64,462

  500,001

  1,616

  1,842

  2,867

  3,636

  4,188

  5,899

  800,000

  401

  383

  682

  928

  1,112

  1,378

  1 million

  480

  608

  939

  1,428

  1,070

  2,046

  Lord Chancellor
  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many responses he received to the "Constitutional Reform: Reforming the Office of the Lord Chancellor" consultation document; how many of these responses came from(a) the judiciary and legal professions, (b) Government Departments and agencies, (c) political parties and hon. Members,(d) main representative groups and interested parties, (e) ecclesiastical representatives and organisations in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland; and when the Government intend to issue its response to the responses received. [140101]

  Mr. Leslie
  There have been 225 responses to the consultation paper on "Constitutional Reform: reforming the office of the Lord Chancellor". There have been four responses from Northern Ireland, and two from Scotland. Apart from this, all responses have been from England. A further breakdown of these responses is set out in the following table.

  The Government will be announcing its decisions in the light of responses to the consultation as soon as possible.

  Magistrates (Wales)
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the declared political allegiance of magistrate benches in Wales was in the last year for which figures are available. [140367]

  Mr. Leslie
  Applicants to the magistracy are no longer asked to declare their political affiliation. The most recent figures, however, give the position in April 2003. These show that, of those who declared any affiliation, 526 declared for Labour, 473 for the Conservatives, 240 for the Liberal Democrats and 126 for Plaid Cymru.

  Market Research
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Department spent on(a) opinion polling and (b) market research in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement. [139990]

  Mr. Lammy
  My Department conducts a range of exercises to measure public satisfaction with services and to assess future needs. Information regarding expenditure on such activities is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Office for the Supervision of Solicitors
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will make a statement on the rate of throughput of cases in the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors. [139678]

  Mr. Lammy
  The OSS produce a monthly Digest of Performance Measures and Statistics which gives details of their performance. From January 2003 to October 2003, their throughput of cases is as follows:

  Combined performance of conduct and service cases

  Per cent.

  Percentage of cases closed within

  Jan–Oct 2003

  3 months

  45

  6 months

  67

  12 months

  89

  18 months

  96

  21 months

  98

  Further details are available on the Law Society website www.lawsociety.co.uk. (Please refer to the "Visitors" site for the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.)

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Overseas Assistance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of European Community overseas development assistance has gone to low income countries in each of the last 10 years. [139545]
  1162W
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The proportion of European community overseas development assistance which went to low income countries over the last 10 years was:

  Percentage

  2002

  152

  2001

  43

  2000

  38

  1999

  43

  1998

  46

  1997

  46

  1996

  52

  1995

  60

  1994

  59

  1993

  53

  1Provisional

  Source:

  Geographical Distribution of Financial Flows to Aid Recipients, OECD-DAC.

  Food Aid
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which countries have been the top five recipients of(a) UK and (b) EU food aid in 2003; what tonnages of food each received, broken down by food type in each of the last five years; and what local production of these food types was in the five countries in each of the last five years. [138889]

  Hilary Benn
  The top five recipients of UK bilateral food aid in 2002–03 are:

  £ million

  Central Africa (regional)

  25.75

  Ethiopia

  19.04

  Zimbabwe

  6.51

  Zambia

  4.28

  Angola

  2.75

  EC figures (including UK attribution) for 2003 are not yet available.

  UK Government food aid contributions are made in cash rather than in kind and disbursed through a variety of means including World Food Programme and Non-Governmental Organisations. Neither DFID nor the EC hold centrally information relating to the tonnages and types of food then purchased, or the local production statistics in each of the recipient countries. To answer the question fully and going back over five years, would incur disproportionate cost.

  HIV/AIDS
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of pregnant women aged between 15 and 24 years in sub-Saharan Africa suffered from HIV/AIDS in the last year for which figures are available. [139535]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  There is limited data on the prevalence rate among pregnant women in the 15 to 24-year-age group. However, the level of HIV infection among pregnant women is similar to that in the general female population and the latter can be used as a proxy for the prevalence in pregnant women of the same age.
  1163W
  The latest UNAIDS estimates of the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in women aged 15 to 24 years in sub-Saharan Africa range between a low of 6.4 per cent. and a high of 11.4 per cent. at the end of 2001. The World Bank estimates the middle point of this range as 9.3 per cent.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the prevalence rates of HIV infection were in vulnerable groups in Asia in each of the last 10 years. [139541]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  Comprehensive data showing prevalence rates for these vulnerable groups in Asia is not available for the whole period requested. What data is available comes mainly from internationally accepted sources e.g. UNAIDS (see www.unaids.org). It does suggest a clear trend of increasing HIV prevalence in specific vulnerable groups in several countries.

  DFID is working closely with others, including UNAIDS, to improve data on HIV prevalence in these marginalised and often hidden population groups in China, India and other Asian countries.

  Illiteracy
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on illiteracy in developing countries in(a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000. [139621]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The Dakar Goal on literacy calls for a 50 per cent. improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015. The world is making steady but slow progress on this goal. In 2000, almost one fifth of the world's adults, 862 million people aged 15 and over, were illiterate. This means that over the last two decades we have seen an improvement of less than 10 per cent. in adult literacy rates, from approximately 70 per cent. in 1980 and 75 per cent. in 1990 to 80 per cent. in 2000. Women continue to be disproportionately affected and still account for almost two-thirds of the world's illiterates. Clearly, the world needs to intensify efforts if the Dakar literacy goal is to be achieved

  DFID believes that literacy is key to enabling individuals to acquire the basic skills necessary to build and sustain a livelihood, and to participate in and shape society. To support national governments in their efforts to reduce levels of illiteracy, DFID focuses on strengthening education systems to increase access to good quality primary education for all children. Since May 1997 the Government have committed over £700 million to support sustainable, high quality, primary education systems in developing countries. We will do more. Between 2002 and 2007 we intend to invest about £1 billion in education.

  At the same time, improving literacy practice for adults will continue to be an integral part of many different sectoral programmes supported by DFID, such as health, transport and water. We will continue to emphasise the need to ensure that all such efforts to improve literacy levels are given appropriate priority in poverty reduction strategies.

  Iraq
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 1 September 2003, to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West (John Barrett),Official Report, column 809W, if he will make a statement on the work of the task force set up to remove radioactive material removed from the civil nuclear facility at al-Tuwaitha in Iraq. [138617]

  Mr. Rammell
  I have been asked to reply.

  The findings of the inspection team which assessed the extent and impact of the looting of the storage drums and containers from Al Tuwaitha has been reported by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The inspection team found that approximately 200 containers, used for storing low-enriched uranium, had been removed and the contents dispersed. The quantity and type of compounds dispersed were not found to be sensitive from a proliferation point of view. The site has now been secured and the radioactive material sealed in concrete.

  A second task force, consisting of the Iraqi Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Environment, World Health Organisation (WHO), Coalition Provisional Authority, IAEA and NGOs was convened to address the potential risk to public health caused by the residual radioactive materials within the looted containers. As a result, the MoH, MoE and WHO have initiated a survey, through local public health centres, to assess and monitor the population potentially affected. The survey, still in its preliminary phase, has been disrupted by the impact of the bombing of the UN HQ on 19 August 2003 and has yet to be completed. The UK Government has provided £6 million to WHO in 2003 to support WHOs sectoral lead in health in Iraq.

  Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the follow-up action taken by the countries which have completed poverty reduction strategy papers. [139617]

  Hilary Benn
  So far, Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are being implemented in 32 countries, three of which are in the process of implementing their second PRSP (Bolivia, Nicaragua and Uganda). Through its Country Offices and with international partners, DFID is working closely to monitor progress on implementation.

  Preliminary evidence suggests that many of these countries are using their PRSPs to maintain processes for civil society participation; improve the framing of macroeconomic policies; improve policies for service delivery and governance; improve public expenditure management; and shift spending priorities towards poverty reduction.

  According to the World Bank and IMF, expenditure on poverty-reducing sectors (e.g. health, education, water, sanitations) has increased in PRSP countries by 4 per cent. of total spending, and by 1.5 per cent. of GDP. However, implementation of these strategies remains at an early stage, and will require sustained support both from country governments and the

  1165W
  international community to help meet emerging challenges and realise the Millennium Development Goals.

  Primary Education
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of primary age children enrolled in primary school in Asia in each of the last 10 years. [139538]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  Internationally agreed figures for Primary school enrolment for each of the last 10 years do not exist. However the most recent Education For All Global Monitoring Report published by UNESCO in November 2003 compares the Net Enrolment Rate, defined as the number of pupils in the official primary school age group enrolled in primary school as a percentage of the primary school age population, for the Asia regions (Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, and South and West Asia) between 1990 and 2000. Details are:

  Primary net enrolment ratio

  1990

  2000

  Central Asia

  82

  91

  East Asia and Pacific

  96

  93

  South and West Asia

  73

  81

  The Education For All Global Monitoring Report 2003–04, containing this 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 Asia has been in the last 10 years. [139612]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  Internationally agreed figures for gender ratios of enrolments for each of the last 10 years do not exist. However the most recent Education For All Global Monitoring Report published by UNESCO in November 2003 compares the Gender Parity Index (GPI), defined as the ratio of female-to-male gross enrolment ratios, for the Asia regions (Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, and South and West Asia) between 1990 and 2000. Details are:

  Ratio of girls to boys in primary school

  1999

  2000

  Central Asia

  0.99

  0.99

  East Asia and Pacific

  0.94

  0.99

  South and West Asia

  0.76

  0.84

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

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Air Guns
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of violent crime involving air guns there have been in each of the past 20 1166W
  years; and how many (a) fatalities and (b) woundings involving air rifles there have been in each of the past 20 years. [140427]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Antisocial Behaviour
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were issued with fines for vandalism in each year since 1997; what proportion of fines have been paid; and what proposals he has to ensure that fines are not ignored. [136272]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources will be available to the police to enable them to implement the provision of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill, with particular reference to Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland.[139573]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on procedures in place for dealing with unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the UK who are resident in Scotland. [127864]

  Beverley Hughes
  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 (1) how many people applied for asylum in the UK in each of the last 15 years; [139643]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the extent of the backlog of asylum applications; [139644]

  (3) what agreement has been made with the Treasury concerning the budget for the asylum application system in this financial year; [139645]

  (4) what recent measures have been implemented to improve the processing of asylum applications; [139648]

  (5) if he will make a statement on the quality of decision-making in the asylum application process; [139649]

  (6) what training is given to staff working in the asylum application system; [139650]

  (7) what measures are in place to reduce the number of appeals against asylum application decisions; [139652]

  (8) what (a) number and (b) percentage of asylum applications were rejected purely on procedural grounds in 2002–03. [139653]

  (9) what his policy is on providing asylum seekers with assistance during the application process; [139655]

  (10) what action he is taking to increase the number of removals of rejected asylum applicants; [139656]
  1167W
  (11) when his proposal to set up an annual quota for asylum seekers will be implemented; [139659]

  (12) how (a) local government and (b) health providers are integrated with asylum support services. [139654]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Children Act
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken by(a) his Department and (b) the Prison Service following the recent judicial review finding that the Children Act 1989 covers children in prisons. [139001]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Cleveland Coroner
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquests were outstanding in the jurisdiction of the Cleveland Coroner in(a) July, (b) August, (c) September and (d) October. [136567]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]I will write to my hon. and learned Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inquests in the jurisdiction of the Cleveland Coroner were heard in(a) August, (b) September and (c) October by the (i) coroner, (ii) deputy coroner and (iii) assistant deputy coroner. [136568]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. amd learned Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salaries are of(a) the Cleveland Coroner, (b) his deputy and (c) his assistant deputy. [136569]

  Paul Goggins
  [holding answer 4 November 2003]I will write to my hon. and learned Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Consultants
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many consultants are employed by each agency for which his Department is responsible. [138500]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply in full to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes dated 29 July concerning Mrs. Mary Williams of Brixham, South Devon. [132592]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1168W
  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 8 September, with regard to Mr.Yacob Yonis. [138460]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I will write to my right hon. Friend 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 respond to the letter of 22 April 2002 from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on behalf of Omar Mohammed Waiss, reference W1049328, regarding his application for an extension of his exceptional leave to remain. [139487]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Crime (International Co-operation)
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve international co-operation on tackling crime; and what assessment he has made of the benefits of such co-operation. [139574]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Crime Statistics (Avon and Somerset)
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many burglaries there were in(a) Avon and Somerset constabulary and (b) Bath and North East Somerset Basic Command Unit in (i) 1997, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003; [136321]

  (2) how many vehicle crimes there were in Avon and Somerset in (a) 1997,(b) 2002 and (c) 2003; [136322]

  (3) how many robberies there were in Avon and Somerset in (a) 1997, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [136323]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Criminal Records Bureau
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what procedures are applicable for undertaking a Criminal Records Bureau check for people coming from abroad to work in the health and care sector; [140273]

  (2) what procedures are in place for monitoring the performance of Capita's contract for the Criminal Records Bureau. [140274]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Curfew Orders
  Mr. Mark Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 28 October, on curfew orders,Official Report, column 178W, when he will be able to provide the equivalent figures for 2002. [138530]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  David Blaine
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the costs to public funds were of the recent actions of Mr. Blaine. [139921]

  Ms Blears
  [holding answer 20 November 2003]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 in custody of prisoners below the age of 20 years there were in each of the last 30 years. [140431]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Drug Addicts
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what changes there have been in the aftercare of those released from prison receiving treatment for a drug dependency in the last 12 months; [140048]

  (2) what discussions he has had with the Department of Health on the effectiveness of drug treatment facilities in prisons; and if he will make a statement; [140049]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the impact of drug treatment and testing orders on the reoffending rates of heroin addicts. [140050]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Drugs
  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 10 November 2003,Official Report, column 100W, on drugs, what percentage of (a) male and (b) female prisoners have been imprisoned for reoffending for drugs offences. [140075]

  Paul Goggins
  The latest information available for reconviction rates for prisoners discharged from establishments in England and Wales is for 1999. Of the 7,148 males and 820 female prisoners discharged in 1999 and originally sentenced for a drugs offence, 348 (5 per cent) and 28 (3 per cent) respectively were re-convicted and re-incarcerated for a further drugs related offence within two years of discharge.

  Dungavel
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to vary the terms of contract between Premier Group and his Department in respect of the administration of Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre. [131552]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Durban Programme of Action Seminar
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) at what level the Government 1170W
  will be represented at the seminar on implementing the Durban Programme of Action convened by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, to be held in Brussels from 10 to 12 December 2003;[139909]

  (2) what progress has been made in the last 12 months in drawing up a National Action Plan Against Racism, as agreed at the UN World Conference against Racism in Durban in September 2001. [139910]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Economic Migration
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold regular public consultations on the subject of economic migration. [139657]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Electronic Tagging
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have been electronically tagged as part of their licence conditions under section 62 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000; what evaluation has been conducted into the operation of these powers; and if he will make a statement. [138481]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Emergency Calls (Police Response Times)
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) target and (b) maximum response times are for the police to attend emergencies following 999 calls. [139386]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Essex Police
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many additional police officers were employed by Essex police, for the Crime Fighting Fund on 1 September; [139667]

  (2) how many regular police officers were employed by Essex Police on 1 September; [139668]

  (3) how many support staff were employed by Essex Police on 1 September; [139669]

  (4) what the vacancy figure for regular police officers in Essex Police on 1 September was. [139670]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Ethnic Monitoring
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many new staff were employed by the Prison Service in England and Wales
  1171W
  during 2002 as (a) governors, (b) prison officers and (c) other staff; and how many in each category were (i) black and (ii) Asian; [138397]

  (2) how many people are on the National Probation Service case load by type of order; and how many in each category are (a) black and (b) Asian; [138402]

  (3) how many sentenced prisoners in England and Wales are (a) white and (b) black, broken down by whether they were sentenced for (i) sexual offences, (ii) violence against another person, (iii) robbery, (iv) burglary, (v) drug offences, (vi) fraud, (vii) criminal damage and (viii) theft; [138404]

  (4) what proportion of (a) white and (b) black prisoners were recommended for parole at their first review during 2002; [138405]

  (5) how many people were in prison (a) on remand awaiting trial, (b) on remand awaiting sentence and (c) sentenced, on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many in each category were (i) black and (ii) Asian. [138403]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Firearms
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether all the companies exhibiting equipment covered by the Firearms Acts at the Defence Systems Equipment International Exhibition in September obtained the necessary licences; and if he will make a statement. [135338]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Football Hooliganism
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to close UK-based websites promoting hooligan behaviour at football grounds. [135840]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Graffiti
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions his Department has had with utility companies on measures to tackle graffiti on street furniture owned by those companies. [140237]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Heroin Addicts
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered heroin addicts there were in the West Midlands in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority. [140238]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Homophobic Incitement
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to his noble Friend's answer of 18 December 2002,House of Lords, Official Report, column 124WA, what plans he has to take further action against potential incitement to violence against homosexual people through song lyrics in the context of live performances. [126211]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Identity Cards
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his proposal to require all foreigners in the UK to have identification cards in four years after the start of the scheme will include(a) citizens of Commonwealth countries, (b) Commonwealth citizens with resident status, (c) citizens of EU member states, (d) citizens of EU new member states and (e) citizens of EU applicant states. [139797]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the responses received to the Government's consultation exercise on entitlement cards and identity fraud were from Northern Ireland; and how many of these responses were(a) in favour of and (b) against a card scheme. [140102]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Members and applicant states of the European Union where a system of obligatory identity cards is part of domestic law; what(a) formal, (b) informal and (c) provisional agreements (i) have been made and (ii) are under consideration between Members and applicant states for common (A) format, (B) content and (C) system of citizen identity documents and their use; and what additional action would be required by the Government in respect of compulsory use of identity cards if EU common citizenship was adopted under proposals in Article 1–8 of the Draft European Constitution. [140203]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on whether, subsequent to the coming into effect of the proposed EU constitution, presentation of a national identity card of a member state would provide sufficient certification to permit entry to the UK. [140445]

  Mr. Blunkett
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Illegal Employment Prosecutions
  Mr. Byers
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions have been brought under section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 in each year since its introduction; and how many have been successful; [136533]
  1173W
  (2) how many prosecutions have been brought under section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971 in each year since 1973; and how many have been successful. [136534]

  Beverley Hughes
  The latest available information on those persons proceeded against, and found guilty, under section 8 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1996 and section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971 are shown in the table. Comparable data prior to 1983 are not available due to changes in data collection methods.

  The data given for 1997 to 2001 have been revised significantly since they were published in the command paper "Control of Immigration Statistics: United Kingdom 2001" in November 2002. These corrected data are being published here for the first time. Despite

  Persons found guilty of offences under Immigration Acts 1971 to 1996 in England and Wales

  Number of persons

  Found guilty

  Act and section

  Offence1description

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  All courts2

  Immigration Act 1971

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK in breach of a deportation order

  10

  13

  13

  6

  6

  5

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK without leave

  7

  3

  10

  7

  7

  4

  24(1)(b)(i), 24(1)(c)

  Overstaying time limit of leave

  571

  599

  476

  446

  358

  229

  24(1)(b)(ii), 24(1)(d)

  Failure to observe conditions of leave

  245

  260

  209

  202

  368

  313

  24(1)(e)

  Failure to observe restrictions under Schedule 2 or 3 as to residence, employment and reporting to police or an Immigration Officer

  16

  11

  14

  12

  4

  1

  24(A)3

  Seeking leave to enter or remain, or avoidance or postponement of enforcement action, by deception

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24(1)(f) and (g)

  26(1)(e), (g) and 27

  Other Immigration Act offences

  6

  3

  6

  2

  5

  3

  Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

  8

  Employing a person subject to immigration control

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Found guilty

  Act and section

  Offence1 description

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  All courts2

  Immigration Act 1971

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK in breach of a deportation order

  4

  5

  2

  3

  1

  2

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK without leave

  1

  1

  4

  1

  5

  7

  24(1)(b)(i),24(1)(c)

  Overstaying time limit of leave

  55

  22

  15

  10

  1

  3

  24(1)(b)(ii),24(1)(d)

  Failure to observe conditions of leave

  77

  55

  31

  17

  6

  3

  24 (1) (e)

  Failure to observe restrictions under Schedule 2 or 3 as to residence, employment and reporting to police or an Immigration Officer

  4

  3

  5

  —

  —

  1

  24(A)3

  Seeking leave to enter or remain, or avoidance or postponement of enforcement action, by deception

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24(1)(f) and (g)

  26(1)(e),(g) and 27

  Other Immigration Act offences

  7

  15

  2

  4

  3

  3

  Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

  8

  Employing a person subject to immigration control

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Found guilty

  Act and section

  Offence1 description

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19984

  19994

  20004

  20014

  All courts2

  Immigration Act 1971

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK in breach of a deportation order

  2

  1

  2

  6

  6

  2

  3

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK without leave

  10

  5

  16

  19

  24

  27

  37

  24(1)b(i),24(1)(c)

  Overstaying time limit of leave

  6

  2

  11

  2

  6

  3

  5

  24(1)(b)(ii),24(1)(d)

  Failure to observe conditions of leave

  5

  7

  5

  7

  7

  2

  14

  Failure to observe restrictions under Schedule 2 or 3 as to residence, employment and reporting to police

  1174W
  being labelled as being the number of persons proceeded against under the Acts, the data for magistrates courts given previously described the number of offences and therefore have been revised downwards.

  For the Crown Court, the tables previously counted immigration offences only where they were the principle offence under consideration. The figures have now been revised upwards to include the principle immigration offence, irrespective of what other offences may have been dealt with at the same time.

  Information on those people proceeded against in 2002 under the Immigration Acts is due to be published at the end of November on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnewl.html.
  1175W

  Found guilty

  Act and section

  Offence1 description

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19984

  19994

  20004

  20014

  24(1)(c)

  or an Immigration Officer

  3

  1

  2

  1

  —

  2

  1

  24(A)3

  Seeking leave to enter or remain, or avoidance or postponement of enforcement action, by deception

  3

  1

  2

  1

  10

  10

  111

  24(1)(f) and (g)

  26(1)(e), (g) and 27

  Other Immigration Act offences

  4

  3

  2

  1

  1

  2

  1

  Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

  8

  Employing a person subject to immigration control

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  2

  1 Principal immigration offence.

  2 Includes cases found guilty at magistrates courts and the Crown Court.

  3 As added by section 2 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999—(replaced section 24(1)(aa) from 14 February 2000).

  4Revised

  Persons found guilty of offences under Immigration Acts 1971 to 1996 in England and Wales

  Number of persons

  Proceeded against

  Act and section

  Offence1 description

  1983

  1984

  1985

  1986

  1987

  1988

  Magistrates courts

  Immigration Act 1971

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK in breach of a deportation order

  11

  14

  13

  8

  10

  5

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK without leave

  9

  6

  10

  10

  8

  7

  24(1)(b)(i),24(1)(c)

  Overstaying time limit of leave

  630

  663

  52

  509

  425

  291

  24(1)(b)(ii),24(1)(d)

  Failure to observe condition of leave

  263

  282

  249

  221

  435

  376

  24(1)(e)

  Failure to observe restrictions under Schedule 2 or 3 as to residence, employment and reporting to police or an Immigration Officer

  19

  12

  16

  13

  5

  3

  24(A)2

  Seeking leave to enter or remain, or avoidance or postponement of enforcement action, by deception

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24(1)(f) and (g)

  26(1)(e),(g) and 27

  Other Immigration Act offences

  8

  3

  8

  6

  6

  3

  Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

  8

  Employing a person subject to immigration control

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Proceeded against

  Act and section

  Offence1description

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Magistrates courts

  Immigration Act 1971

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK in breach of a deportation order

  7

  6

  2

  4

  1

  3

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK without leave

  4

  3

  7

  3

  6

  12

  24(1)(b)(i),24(1)(c)

  Overstaying time limit of leave

  87

  45

  26

  16

  13

  17

  24(1)(b)(ii),24(1)(d)

  Failure to observe conditions of leave

  99

  76

  44

  32

  13

  12

  24(1)(e)

  Failure to observe restrictions under Schedule 2 or 3 as to residence, employment and reporting to police or an Immigration Officer

  6

  3

  7

  1

  2

  2

  24(A)2

  Seeking leave to enter or remain, or avoidance or postponement of enforcement action, by deception

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  24(1)(f) and (g)

  26(1)(e),(g) and 27

  Other Immigration Act offences

  9

  23

  6

  6

  4

  6

  Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

  8

  Employing a person subject to immigration control

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Proceeded against

  Act and section

  Offence1description

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19983

  19993

  20003

  20013

  Magistrates courts

  Immigration Act 1971

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK in breach of a deportation order

  3

  1

  3

  7

  6

  3

  5

  24(1)(a)

  Entering UK without leave

  24

  9

  35

  34

  42

  39

  53

  24(1)(b)(i),24(1)(c)

  Overstaying time limit of leave

  11

  11

  16

  3

  9

  12

  11

  24(1)b(ii),24(1)(d)

  Failure to observe conditions of leave

  11

  12

  10

  10

  14

  9

  13

  1176W 1177W

  Proceeded against

  Act and section

  Offence1 description

  1995

  1996

  1997

  19983

  19993

  20003

  20013

  24(1)(e)

  Failure to observe restrictions under Schedule 2 or 3 as to residence, employment and reporting to police or an Immigration Officer

  9

  3

  5

  2

  2

  3

  2

  24(A)2

  Seeking leave to enter or remain, or avoidance or postponement of enforcement action, by deception

  —

  —

  1

  5

  13

  17

  121

  24(1)(f)and(g)

  26(1)(e),(g)and 27

  Other Immigration Act offences

  8

  4

  2

  3

  1

  3

  1

  Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

  8

  Employing a person subject to immigration control

  —

  —

  —

  1

  4

  10

  5

  1 Principal immigration offence.

  2 As added by section 2 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999—(replaced section 24(1)(aa) from 14 February 2000).

  3Revised

  Illegal Immigrants
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he is taking to assess the number of people illegally present in the UK; [139646]

  (2) what measures are in place to deal with the problems of (a) illegal immigrants and (b) immigrants working illegally. [139647]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Immigration and Asylum
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) recorded and (b) estimated levels of (i) immigration supported by a work permit, (ii) immigration of dependants, (iii) asylum-seeker arrivals, (iv) other categories of inward migration to the UK, (v) asylum-seeker returns, (vi) deportations of illegal immigrants and (vii) other categories of migration from the UK were in each year since 1997. [140000]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  International Drugs Trade
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is being done to combat the international drugs trade, particularly that emanating from countries of concern; and if he will make a statement on its impact upon the United Kingdom. [136478]

  Caroline Flint
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  IT Workers (Fast-track Visas)
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that information technology workers entering the UK from outside the EU, facilitated by a Fast Track visa, have(a) appropriate technical qualifications and (b) at least 10 years' validated experience in IT work; [140340]

  (2) if he will make it his policy to ensure that companies wishing to import information technology workers from outside the EU have first advertised such posts in (a) the UK and (b) the EU. [140341]
  1178W
  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Metropolitan Police
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the number of officers in the Metropolitan Police sufficiently to ensure that the Borough of Wandsworth has more police than were available prior to 1 May 1997. [140119]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Ministerial Visits
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons he has visited in(a) the last three months, (b) the last six months and (c) the last year. [135871]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Multiple Murder Convictions
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted for multiple murders in each of the last 30 years. [140029]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  NM Rothschild and Son Ltd
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on services provided to his Department by NM Rothschilds since 1997. [139962]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Nuisance Neighbours
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what community initiatives are under discussion for the elimination of the problem of nuisance neighbours. [140051]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  On-street Drinking Ban
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance he gives to local authorities on the best method for implementing a city-wide on-street drinking ban. [136379]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question of 18 September from the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon on the research into the potential re-use of burial grounds. [138176]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the question from the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington, tabled on 14 October 2003, reference 132690. [140175]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Parole
  Mrs Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) dangerous and (b) non-dangerous prisoners applied for parole in 2002–03; [135487]

  (2) how many individuals have been eligible for parole in each year since 2000; and how many have sought parole; [135488]

  (3) when the parole board will be advised of their funding budget for 2004–05; [135490]

  (4) what recent steps have been taken to inform (a) the public and (b) interested bodies within the criminal justice system about the work of the parole board; [135491]

  (5) how many prisons have a parole clerk; [135492]

  (6) how the denyers who came before the parole board between January and June were classified; and what the outcome was of their appeals to the parole board;
  [135494]

  (7) what the primary reasons are for refusing parole. [135495]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Passports
  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to proceed with changes to the requirements placed upon applicants for new passports only when the proposals have been(a) notified to Parliament and (b) subjected to a parliamentary procedure. [140208]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the right hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1180W
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have refused to pay fees for(a) applications for variation of leave and (b) endorsing passports since August; and if he will make a statement. [136960]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Steinberg
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the population holds a passport. [140245]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Pay and Pension Service
  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the(a) staff turnover and (b) staffing levels at the Bootle headquarters of the Home Office Pay and Pension Service were in each financial year since 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [139560]

  Fiona Mactaggart
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Police
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason there has not been an inflationary increase in the special rural grant in Police Authority funding; and if he will rectify this in next year's settlement. [140036]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of central government grant per head was paid to each police authority in England in the last financial year for which figures are available. [140013]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the right hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the sources of funding are for police community support officers in Cambridgeshire; and how much funding is being received from each source in 2003–04. [136385]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the(a) establishment figure and (b) actual figure for the Kent Police Force Area was in each of the last five years broken down by (i) police constables, (ii) sergeants and (iii) inspectors; [140146]

  (2) what the (a) establishment figure and (b) actual figure for police force strength in each of the police force areas in England and Wales was in each of the last five years. [140347]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1181W
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in each of the police authorities in Wales in each of the last 24 years. [140396]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of each reorganisation of the police service since 1977. [137560]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice his Department offers constabularies in relation to response times to 999 calls; [139971]

  (2) if he will make a statement on targets for response times by the police to 999 calls. [139972]

  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 how many minor crimes were reported through(a) the www.online.police.uk website and (b) individual police force websites in the last year for which figures are available; and how many reports have resulted in (i) an offence being recorded and (ii) further substantive action. [138508]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Prisons
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps the Prison Service is taking to(a) ensure that all prisoners have a healthy and balanced diet and (b) provide information and education to prisoners on what constitutes a healthy and balanced diet, with particular reference to young offenders in young offender institutions; [138997]

  (2) what research his Department has commissioned on the relationship between diet and (a) behaviour in prison, (b) education in prison and (c) re-offending after release from prison; and if he will make a statement. [138998]

  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 much was spent on(a) education and (b) cognitive behavioural therapy in prisons in each of the last six years. [139226]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many part-time prison officers were employed by Her Majesty's Prison Service in Essex on 1 September. [139509]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1182W
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the shortfall in prison officers in high security prisons; and what measures he is taking to increase recruitment of prison officers. [140024]

  Paul Goggins
  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 pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2003,Official Report, columns 437–38W, on prisoners, (1) how many of the prisoners were women, in each case; how many were young offenders; what the average distance that prisoners were held away from their home town was in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement; [139265]

  (2) how many people received into prison in each of the last 10 years served sentences of (a) less than three months, (b) between three and six months, (c) between six and nine months, (d) between nine and 12 months,(e) between 12 months and two years, (f) between two and four years and (g) over four years, broken down by (i) age and (ii) sex. [138999]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have retired from the Prison Service for reasons of age, in each year since 1992; and what he estimates the figure will be for 2004–05. [138747]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted of multiple murder have been released from prison in each of the last 30 years. [140028]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisons in England and Wales provide detoxification programmes for alcohol-misusing prisoners; [139056]

  (2) how many prisoners with alcohol-related problems (a) entered and (b) completed detoxification programmes for alcohol misuse in each year since 2000; [139065]

  (3) how many places are available on alcohol treatment programmes for prisoners in England and Wales; [139066]

  (4) whether the Prison Service has an alcohol strategy for the treatment of prisoners with alcohol problems; [139067]

  (5) what proportion of (a) male and (b) female prisoners in England and Wales have alcohol-related problems; [139099]

  (6) how many prisoners with alcohol-related problems have been received into custody in prisons in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available; [139100]
  1183W
  (7) how many prisoners in custody in England and Wales received treatment for alcohol-related problems (a) prior to being received into custody and (b) while in custody. [139104]

  Paul Goggins
  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 what the average number of hours out-of-cell women of 18 years or younger received each day in prison, in the last year for which figures are available. [139137]

  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 what the recommended minimum number of hours out of cell is for(a) men in prison and (b) young men in young offender institutions; and what the actual number of hours out of cell for young men in young offender institutions was in the last year for which figures are available. [139138]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Caton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those of Her Majesty's Prisons where visitors have to wait outside the prison gates before being allowed inside. [138143]

  Paul Goggins
  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 places on drug rehabilitation programmes are available in each prison in(a) London and (b) England and Wales. [138502]

  Caroline Flint
  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 minimum safe ratio for prison officers to prisoners is in each category of prison. [138503]

  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 unfilled positions there were in the Prison Service in each month since May; and by what percentage each prison affected is understaffed. [138504]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the (1) Home Department how many television sets there were in each of the last five years in prisons; and what proportion operated with stand-by units; [139193]

  (2) what his policy is on the use of televisions with stand-by units within prisons. [139194]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1184W
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total prisons budget was for each year since 1995; and what the prisons spending forecast is for each year up to 2009. [140195]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Public Places Order
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what challenges have been made to the validity of prosecutions for infringement of a designated public places order. [136378]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Radio Frequency Identifier Devices
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the police on the use of radio frequency identifier devices. [140031]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Rape Crisis Federation
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about his Department's decision to cease funding the Rape Crisis Federation. [140022]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Special Constables
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in England and Wales for each year since 1997, broken down by police force. [139923]

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

  State Visit
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen based in Croydon have deployed to police the state visit of President Bush. [140205]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Strip Searches
  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children have been forcibly strip searched in each of the juvenile prisons in(a) 2003 and (b) 2002; and for what reason; [140160]

  (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to governors of prisons holding juvenile prisoners on their strip searching. [140161]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Terrorism
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stop and searches under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 have been carried out since demonstrations began at RAF Fairford; what the charges against those arrested were; and how many have resulted in successful prosecutions. [139088]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received on the number of successful prosecutions to date of those involved in the 11 September terrorist attacks. [140014]

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

  Violent Partner Register
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the proposed register of violent partners will be administered; and if he will make a statement. [136393]

  Ms Blears
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Visa Charges
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the statement by the Under-Secretary of State of 22 October 2003,Official Report, column. 313WH, on visa charges, which representatives of (a) schools and (b) universities were consulted on plans to increase visa charges for overseas students; and whether the Department for Education and Skills made representations on the issue to his Department. [134908]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Work Permits
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits in each month since January 2001 were(a) applied for and (b) granted. [139974]

  Beverley Hughes
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Young Offenders
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders in young offender institutions are in overcrowded cells. [135866]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many youth offenders in each of the last five years have been transferred to another penal institution during the last three months of their sentence. [139060]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1186W
  Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls aged under 25 are serving sentences in each(a) prison, (b) young offender institution and (c) local authority secure unit. [139136]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders from Wales were in penal institutions in(a) Wales and (b) England at the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by institution; and what plans he has to accommodate more youth offenders from Wales in Wales. [139591]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my right hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children in Feltham Young Offenders Institution have been placed in the segregation unit since January; and for how long. [140162]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Dr. Vis
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children in Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution have been placed in the segregation unit since January; and for how long. [140163]

  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 young people from each local unitary authority in Wales were in young offenders' institutions in each of the past 20 years. [140436]

  Paul Goggins
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

WALES

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel in each year after 1997 by the Welsh 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.[137734]

  Mr. Touhig
  The Wales Office was established in 1999. Bechtel have not been contracted to carry out any consultancy work for the Wales Office since then.

  There are no records of Bechtel carrying out any work for the Welsh Office between 1997 and 1999.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department or its predecessor in 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. [138061]

  Mr. Touhig
  The Wales Office was established in 1999. It has no agencies.
  1187W
  There are no records of Bechtel carrying out any work for agencies of the Welsh Office between 1997 and 1999.

  Burglary
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the level of burglary was in Wales in 1997; what it was in 2002; and if he will make a statement. [139293]

  Mr. Touhig
  The number of burglary offences recorded in 1997 was 46,445. In 2002–03, it was 36,848.

  There was a change in the counting rules for recorded crime from 1998, which had the effect of increasing the number of crimes counted, and therefore, the number of offences are not directly comparable.

  Drug Abuse
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his co-ordinated plans with the Welsh Assembly to tackle drug abuse in Wales. [139294]

  Mr. Touhig
  I have met ministerial colleagues, both in Westminster and the Assembly, to discuss tackling substance misuse.

  The Drug Strategy, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", was introduced in 1998. Following a review in 2002, it was built on and adapted with the launch of an Updated Strategy, which is widely available, including on the Home Office website.

  The Assembly has responsibility for many areas of tackling substance misuse in Wales, for example, the provision of treatment for those with substance misuse problems. The Assembly Strategy for Wales, "Tackling Substance Misuse in Wales: A Partnership Approach", is widely available, including on the National Assembly for Wales' website.

  Examination Results
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average grade at(a) GCSE and (b) A-level in Wales was in 2002; and what the results were in England. [139592]

  Mr. Touhig
  Provisional statistical information on GCSE and A-level results in Wales for 2002 are available in the National Assembly's Statistics Wales Release SDR 55/2003.

  DfES provides statistical information for GCSE and A-level results in England in a similar form in their release SFR 30/2003.

  Both releases are available in the library of the House of Commons.

  Free Prescriptions
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those medical conditions which allow free prescriptions to be claimed. [135258]
  1188W
  Mr. Touhig
  This information is available in the leaflet HC11—Help with Health Costs, which states that free NHS prescriptions can be claimed by those who have a valid medical certificate issued because of the following conditions:Permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy, ileostomy or laryngostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
  Forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
  Diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism
  Diabetes mellitus except where treatment is by diet alone
  Hypoparathyroidism
  Myasthenia gravis
  Myxoedema (Hypothyroidism) or other conditions where supplemental thyroid hormone is necessary.
  Epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy
  A continuing physical disability which prevents the patient leaving his residence except with the help of another person.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) free and (b) charged for prescriptions were issued in each year since 1997. [135288]

  Mr. Touhig
  The information is given in the following table:

  Prescriptions items dispensed in the community within Wales

  £ million

  Free of charge

  Charged

  1997–981

  32.2

  4.4

  1998–991

  33.1

  4.5

  2001–02

  38.0

  5.1

  2002–03

  40.4

  5.3

  1 Estimate based on a 5 per cent. sample.

  Data for 1999–2000 is not available. Data for 1997–99 relates to the responsibility of the former Welsh Office, while the figures since then are the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many free prescriptions to the chronically ill were issued in each year since 1997. [135289]

  Mr. Touhig
  Information collected centrally for the National Assembly for Wales on prescriptions exempt from charge in Wales relates only to those conditions which are medically exempt. As prescription items dispensed for other chronic conditions are not identified separately it is not possible to give an overall figure.

  Gun Crime
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many incidences of gun crime there were in Wales in 2002; how many there were in 1997; and if he will make a statement.[139295]

  Mr. Touhig
  There were 85 recorded crimes in Wales in 1997 involving a firearm other than an air weapon; the figure was 106 in 2002.

  Although the incidence of firearms offences is relatively low in Wales, too many people are still being killed or injured by firearms. This is unacceptable and is being addressed on a number of fronts, including:
  reducing the supply and availability of firearms, and
  effective police operations to drive down firearm offences.
  1189W
  During the firearms amnesty earlier this year, 508 guns were handed in, in Wales. The proposed five-year minimum sentence for illegally selling, possessing or manufacturing prohibited firearms sends a strong message that we will not tolerate the illegal proliferation of guns within our society.

  Manufactured Imports
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the level of imports of manufactured goods into Wales. [136383]

  Mr. Touhig
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales regularly meets the First Minister. In addition, I have regular bi-lateral meetings with the National Assembly for Wales's Economic Development Minister and discuss a wide range of issues, including trade levels of manufacturing goods in Wales.

  The level of exports for manufacturing goods in Wales since May 1997 to the quarter ending 2002 has been consistently higher than the level of imports to Wales.

  Current available statistics point to a continuation of this trend.

  Source

  Her Majesty's Customs and Excise? UK Regional Trade Statistics.

  NHS (Capital Expenditure)
  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much capital expenditure there has been in the NHS in Wales in each of the last five years; and how much of that was attributable to private finance initiative projects. [137090]

  Mr. Touhig
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]In the 2002 Spending Review, the Government allocated an additional £251 million in 2003–04, £925 million in 2004–05 and £1,765 million in 2005–06 to Wales in accordance with the long standing Barnett formula. This included the allocations for health of £140/516/931 million announced by the Chancellor in his spring 2002 Budget.

  The allocation of public expenditure on services such as health is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

  Top-up Fees
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on higher education top-up fees in Wales. [139292]

  Mr. Touhig
  As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales announced in his written statement of 17 July 2003,Official Report, column 84WS, we propose, subject to parliamentary approval, to transfer to the National Assembly for Wales full responsibility for the tuition fee regime, including powers over new policy as regards variable fees.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for reducing waiting times for NHS treatment in Wales. [139280]
  1190W
  Mr. Touhig
  I have regular meetings with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services, at which we discuss a range of health issues including waiting times.

  I am aware that the Assembly has very recently announced a new initiative to tackle long waiting times in Wales. Setting priorities for the Health Service in Wales, including waiting times, is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Rural Bodies
  9. Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many(a) Countryside Agency and (b) Rural Development Service employees will transfer to other government employment following the implementation of the Haskins Review; how many job losses she estimates there will be; and if she will make a statement. [139838]

  Margaret Beckett
  In my statement on 11 November, I announced my intention to create an integrated agency that would incorporate elements of the work of English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service where those functions will most enable the agency to reflect its new remit. Plans for how this agency will be set up, including arrangements for transferring staff, are now being developed. I would hope to give more details in the spring.

  22. Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she proposes that the independent role played by English Nature will be maintained under the proposals of the rural delivery review. [139851]

  Alun Michael
  The intention is to strengthen the independent role currently played by English Nature, not merely to maintain it. In her statement on 11 November, the Secretary of State announced her intention to create an integrated agency to incorporate elements of the work of English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service. The integrated agency will use the experience and expertise of its constituent parts. English Nature's worldwide reputation on biodiversity matters provides a strong foundation for this work. The integrated agency will provide independent policy advice to Government and will implement policy within the framework of the Government's approach to sustainable development.

  The exact status of the agency will be considered as part of the Government's full response and implementation plan, as my right hon. Friend made clear.

  Recycling
  13. Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the UK will meet its recycling targets for 2005. [139842]

  Mr. Morley
  National targets for England are to recycle and compost 17 per cent. of household waste in 2003–04 and 25 per cent. in 2005–06. Our current
  1191W
  assessment of local authority performance is that we expect to meet the 2003–04 target and that, although challenging, the 2005–06 target is achievable.

  Dairy Industry
  14. Matthew Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the dairy industry. [139843]

  Alun Michael
  The Government recognise the difficulties caused by low farmgate prices and the challenges of adjusting to the new conditions faced by the reformed CAP, but we also believe that the UK dairy sector has a sustainable future. The UK has a comparative advantage in terms of climate and farm efficiency and size over many of its competitors and if the industry can work together to maximise its potential then there is no reason why it cannot succeed.

  17. Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she will take to increase the farmgate price of milk for British dairy farmers.[139846]

  Alun Michael
  The reasons for the low farmgate prices over the last few years are complex and cannot be reduced to a single factor. Many of these reasons require action by the industry itself. However, the Government can and have taken action in line with their strategy for sustainable farming and food to facilitate and promote the industry's efforts to become more competitive.

  18. Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the dairy industry. [139847]

  Alun Michael
  Ministers frequently meet representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues affecting the sector. Matters affecting the whole supply chain are regularly discussed at the Dairy Supply Chain Forum chaired by my noble Friend, the Lord Whitty.

  21. Mrs. Brooke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the dairy industry. [139850]

  Alun Michael
  The Government recognise the difficulties caused by low farmgate prices and the challenges of adjusting to the new conditions faced by the reformed CAP, but we also believe that the UK dairy sector has a sustainable future. The UK has a comparative advantage in terms of climate and farm efficiency and size over many of its competitors and if the industry can work together to maximise its potential then there is no reason why it cannot succeed.

  Transport (Environmental Impact)
  15. John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Transport on the environmental impacts from transport. [139844]

  Mr. Morley
  My ministerial colleagues and I have regular discussions with the ministerial team in the Department for Transport on many matters including environmental issues.

  Sheep
  19. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the European Commission's proposals on sheep identification. [139848]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government support the Commission's objective to improve sheep and goat identification but are very concerned that it has take full account of the particular needs and requirements of the UK's stratified and extensive sheep industry.

  We are currently undertaking negotiations in the Council of Ministers and are pressing hard for a satisfactory outcome for the UK industry.

  Farm Subsidies
  20. Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the representations she has received from farming interest groups concerning the review of subsidies to farming. [139849]

  Alun Michael
  We have received responses from a wide range of stakeholders to the public consultation on the options available to member states under the agreement on reforming the common agricultural policy (CAP). There was close to unanimous support for our decision to decouple subsidy fully in England from 2005. The biggest issue to emerge from the consultation was whether to go for an historic or flat rate basis for the single farm payment and responses were divided on this. We are looking carefully at the responses to the consultation and will be making a decision soon on the model for the single farm payment.

  Common Fisheries Policy
  23. Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the sea fish species whose stocks have increased in UK waters since the institution of the European common fisheries policy. [139852]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Fish stocks fluctuate considerably over time, and so comparing two arbitrarily chosen years is of limited value. Generally, however, pelagic stocks, such as mackerel and herring, are at higher levels than in 1983 when the common fisheries policy came into effect. A few demersal stocks, such as North sea haddock, are also at higher levels than in 1983. Stocks of prawns and shellfish have generally thrived.

  Gangmasters
  Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) to what extent legislation applies to undocumented gangmaster-provided labour in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries; [140246]

  (2) what (a) monitoring and (b) enforcement provisions are used to ensure that gangmasters in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries comply with United Kingdom legislation; [140247]
  1193W
  (3) how many gangmasters providing labour in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries have been found to be in breach of United Kingdom law since 1997; how many of those gangmasters were subsequently prosecuted; and what sanctions and penalties were applied to those gangmasters found guilty following prosecution. [140248]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  This information will take some time to collate. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information in due course.

  Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many gangmasters operate within the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries in the UK; and how many gangworkers are employed within these industries. [140189]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Information about the number of gangmasters operating in the agricultural, horticultural and first-line food processing industries in the UK and the number of workers they supply is not collected by Government. In evidence given to the EFRA Select Committee's inquiry into gangmasters it was estimated that the number of gangmasters operating in agriculture and horticulture could be approaching 3,000 of which some 250 are thought to be substantial businesses. Information about the total number of seasonal and casual workers employed in agriculture and horticulture is collected by Defra's annual Census of agriculture and horticulture. In June 2002 (when the Census was taken) some 64,000 seasonal and casual workers were employed. This figure will include both workers supplied by gangmasters to employers in agriculture and horticulture and workers who are employed directly by those employers.

  Habitats Directive
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the regulatory impact of the UK regime for administering the Habitats Directive. [138553]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Habitats Directive is principally transposed into UK law by regulations which came into force in 1994 and 1995. Since then no overall assessment has been made. Nature conservation is a devolved matter and therefore any assessment in Scotland, North Ireland and Wales will be a matter for the relevant administrations. In England, assessments are carried out before candidate Special Areas of Conservation are submitted to the European Commission under Article 4 of the Directive. My Department has also published Regulatory Impact Assessments on recently proposed draft amendments to the regulations in England, and on draft regulations to implement the Directive in the offshore zone.

  Beef Exports
  Michael Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what compensation has been offered to UK farmers as a consequence of the unauthorised ban on British beef imports to France; and if she will make a statement. [139845]
  1194W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  No compensation has been offered to UK farmers for the effects of the illegal French ban on imports of UK beef. Any bids for compensation must come from those affected and be pursued with the French authorities.

  "A" Rated Appliances
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to the letter of 24 October from the Chief Executive of the Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers' Association about the ability of small electrical retailers to sell 'A' rated appliances. [140062]

  Alun Michael
  Letters sent direct to the Department from Organisations and Members of the public are not recorded centrally but are passed to the appropriate policy Division for response. I understand that the letter referred to by the hon. Member is being dealt with and the Chief Executive of the Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers' Association will receive a response shortly.

  Abattoirs
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice and assistance will be given to small abattoirs to meet health and safety standards in the next two years. [139046]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We are working in close co-operation with industry representatives, the Meat and Livestock Commission and regional partners to secure an appropriate network of abattoirs throughout the country. This includes the continuing role of small and medium sized enterprises. Official meat inspection costs are being offset by the Food Standards Agency by more than £20 million per annum. In addition we have advised abattoir owners on the requirements for blood collection under the new Animal By-Products regulations, particularly on how compliance costs for small businesses could be minimised. We will continue to take a constructive approach to the implementation of regulatory requirements including implementation of hazard analysis critical control point procedures.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what grants are available to(a) dairy, (b) arable, (c) sheep, (d) beef, (e) poultry and (f) pig farmers in the Chorley constituency. [140023]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Farmers in Chorley can apply to participate in the following schemes under the England Rural Development Programme: Countryside Stewardship Scheme, Organic Farming Scheme, Farm Woodland Premium Scheme, Woodland Grant Scheme, Energy Crops Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme, Processing and Marketing Grant, and Rural Enterprise Scheme. Any sheep and suckler cow producers whose holdings are within or part within the Less Favoured Area boundary are entitled to claim Hill Farm Allowance.
  1195W
  The Farm Waste Grant (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) Scheme provides help to farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones who are installing or improving farm waste facilities.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on grants given by regional development agencies for agricultural shows in(a) England and (b) the North West over the last two years. [139263]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  I have not been able to answer this Question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the grant given to the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society by the North West Development Agency for the 2003 Royal Lancashire Show. [139264]

  Jacqui Smith
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Lancashire Rural Recovery Partnership, which is funded by the North West Development Agency, provided a grant of £32,578 to fund some of the marketing costs for the 2003 Royal Lancashire Show. This was to help publicise the fact that the Show was taking place at a new venue for the first time in 2003. The funding also contributed towards the promotion of a local product event aimed at generating awareness of local speciality products.

  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 17th November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [139941]

  Margaret Beckett
  I will write to my hon. Friend with this information shortly.

  Air Quality (Heathrow)
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has commissioned into air quality in the Heathrow area; and if she will publish the findings. [138843]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra has commissioned Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd to model air quality in the Heathrow area. The report is expected April 2004. The Department also assesses air quality at a national level and in the Greater London area and publishes the results on its air quality website, the Air Quality Archive. Both these levels of assessment include Heathrow.

  National air quality monitoring data are available at www.airquality.co.uk. The latest published national air quality modelling report "UK air quality modelling for annual reporting 2001 on ambient air quality assessment under Council Directives 96/62/EC and 1999/30/EC" is available at www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports; as too is the latest research report modelling London's air quality "Modelling air quality for London using ADMS-Urban".

  American Ships (Decommissioning)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date Able UK applied to her Department for(a) a dredging licence and (b) a licence to build a protective bund for a proposed dry dock in respect of the planned decommissioning of United States vessels. [137143]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]The information is as follows:

  (a) Defra regulates the disposal of dredged material at sea rather than dredging per se. The Department received an application for disposal of dredged material on 20 October 2003.

  (b) Able UK applied for a FEPA licence to build a coffer dam at the mouth of the TERRC basin on 26 September 2003.

  A FEPA licence had been applied for successfully before but had lapsed.

  Atlantic Ocean
  Ann Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what data her Department has collated on the salinity of the seawater of the North East Atlantic Ocean over the last 20 year period; and if she will publish the data. [140087]

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the deep sea salinity levels of gulf stream waters off the coast of the UK were in each of the past 10 years. [140409]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to the hon. Member, and my hon. Friend with this information shortly.

  Atrazine (Maize)
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the results were of the Farm Scale Evaluation trials in respect of conventional maize crops in the 17 per cent. of cases where atrazine was not used as a herbicide. [140153]

  Mr. Morley
  The results of the farm-scale evaluations published on 16 October 2003 were based on the range of contemporary practice used by the participating farmers for conventional maize. The published papers did not present separate results for each conventional practice that this encompassed. Such analysis may be possible based on the data collected and I understand the research team are currently considering this. If any further information becomes available it will be published in the normal way.

  Badgers
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action has been taken to prevent recolonisation of badger setts after clearance of TB-infected badgers in Krebs reactive areas. [140297]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  All trapped setts are subject to the same procedures, irrespective of the TB status of the badgers taken from them, and no action is taken to prevent re-colonisation of any setts in reactive areas.
  1197W
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what procedures are carried out in respect of badger setts from which TB-infected badgers have been removed. [140298]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  All procedures are standardised and do not vary between setts from which TB infected badgers and non-infected badgers are taken.

  Within the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, no specific action is taken against setts from which badgers have been removed. Following the removal of traps, at the conclusion of trapping operations, techniques such as sticking holes (placing sticks across them) may, occasionally, be used to assist subsequent surveys assess post-cull badger activity.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what radius was adopted to describe the area designated for badger culls in(a) the Krebs proactive and reactive culling protocols and (b) culling protocols adopted prior to 1988. [140310]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Krebs proactive and reactive culling areas were chosen from localities in Cornwall, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestshire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Wiltshire with the highest incidence of TB in cattle; each of the ten proactive and ten reactive areas measures approximately 10,000 hectares (100 sq km). Whilst culling is carried out across an entire proactive area, in reactive areas culling takes place only on and around farms which have had a TB breakdown.

  The culling protocols adopted prior to 1986 were the Gassing Strategy (1975–1982) and the Clean Ring Strategy (1982–5). In the Gassing Strategy the area of badger removal extended up to 1 km from farms with confirmed TB breakdowns. The mean area of badger removal in Clean Ring Strategy areas was about 9 sq. km.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research the Department has commissioned on the use of anaesthesia in badger setts prior to lethal gassing. [140312]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  No research has been commissioned in this area.

  Gassing of badgers has been discounted as a culling option because it is considered to be inhumane.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many badgers have been subject to post-mortem examination for TB in England in the past 10 years; how many were TB reactors; and what proportion of TB lesions found were considered to be of a type which would render badgers capable of transmitting bovine TB. [140313]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Excluding badgers taken in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) or in the seven counties road trafic accident survey, 14,387 badger carcases have been examined of which 2,995 (20.5 per cent.) were considered to be positive. The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISO) recommended that, pending completion of the RBCT, interim reports on numbers and locations of badgers culled and TB prevalences should not be published in 1198W
  order to avoid encouraging illegal action against badgers, deterring participation in the trial and to protect the trial's statistical validity.

  Of the badgers considered to be infected, only those with lesions detected in the lungs, pleura, kidneys and intestines are considered to be likely to be shedding M.bovis and so infectious. 447 (15.1 per cent. had lesions in these tissues.

  Barn Owls
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from the Highways Agency on implementing the recommendations in its Biodiversity Action plan on steps to halt the decline in the barn owl population.[139765]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Highways Agency Biodiversity Action Plan (HABAP), published in 2002, includes a specific Species Action Plan (SAP) for Barn Owls. The stated aim of the SAP is"to reduce the level of incidental mortality on new and existing roads whilst ensuring favourable management of barn owl foraging and nesting habitat."
  This document sets out a number of related objectives and associated actions required to achieve them.

  The Highways Agency has commissioned its own study on the barn owl and is currently reviewing the findings of its own commissions and those of others. The outcome of this review will contribute to the publication of advice on implementation of appropriate actions in accordance with the SAP.

  The Government have set new targets to protect and enhance biodiversity as part of The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. The Framework and associated targets cover all central Government Departments and their Executive Agencies, including the Highways Agency. Departments will report annually on progress.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to implement changes in agricultural policy to improve the(a) quantity and (b) quality of barn owl habitats away from major roads. [139766]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Through our agri-environment schemes we have encouraged farmers to provide many thousands of hectares of grassland habitat, including for example over 20,000 hectares of cereal field margins. These less-intensively managed areas are good habitats for small mammals and provide barn owls with somewhere other than roadside verges to hunt their prey.

  Bovine Tuberculosis
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from which organisations the Department takes advice on the control of TB in cattle. [140291]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB(ISG) is a group of independent scientists who advise the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how best to tackle the problem of
  1199W
  cattle TB. The ISG was set up following the acceptance by Ministers of the recommendations contained in the Krebs Report (1997).

  In addition, the TB Forum aims to bring together experts and interested parties to consider new measures which might be taken to control TB in cattle. Membership consists of representatives from the British Veterinary Association, the British Cattle Veterinary Association, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Country Land and Business Association, English Nature, the Farmers Union of Wales, The National Farmers' Union, NFU (Wales), Wildlife Trusts, the National Federation of Badger Groups, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the National Beef Association, the Tenant Farmers Association and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

  Professor John Bourne, Chairman of the ISG is also a member of the Forum, which is chaired jointly by the Chief Veterinary Officer, Jim Scudamore, and the Head of the Animal Health Group at Defra, Peter Nash.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the estimated population of badgers in England was between 1973 and 1980; and what the estimate is for 2003; [140292]

  (2) how many closed dairy herds in England are registered with the Department; [140294]

  (3) what steps farmers can take to ensure that their cattle are not exposed to M. bovis infection where pasture might be frequented by badgers actively shedding M. bovis vacilli; [140295]

  (4) if she will make a statement on the conditions under which a badger is capable of transmitting TB to cattle; and what the mechanism of transmission is; [140302]

  (5) what protocol was adopted for the ecological survey carried out as part of the Krebs trials; [140303]

  (6) what the potential maximum period of infectivity of adult badgers demonstrating active lesions of M. bovis infection is; [140305]

  (7) what assessment she has made of the success rate, in terms of the percentage of badgers killed in a defined area, of the policy of gassing setts adopted prior to 1986; [140311]

  (8) how many cows have been subject to post-mortem examination for TB in each of the past 10 years; how many were found to be TB reactors; and how many of the reactors revealed tubercular lesions in the udder capable of contaminating milk. [140315]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information shortly.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Department have given to farmers on keeping closed herds. [140293]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Department has provided a significant amount of advice and codes on the health and welfare of livestock. The Defra leaflet, "TB in Cattle—Reducing the Risk" suggests that farmers consider moving to a closed herd system. However, such 1200W
  a system still needs to be combined with other disease prevention measures to reduce risks of disease introduction and spread.

  Due to loss of livestock during FMD, there was a need to replace livestock from outside sources. Defra produced a leaflet "Golden rules for a healthy herd" that gave specific advice on preventative strategies for avoiding introduction of the most important cattle diseases during restocking.

  Defra has also produced a concise list of disease prevention measures (including the need to always know the health status of animals being bought or moved) in the form of a yellow card which was developed with livestock industry representatives and vets. It was sent to all livestock farmers in 2002, and is available on the Defra website.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether perturbation becomes a significant factor in the spread of TB to cattle where there has been incomplete clearance of badgers in a Krebs reactive area. [140296]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We do not know the significance of badger perturbation in the reactive culling areas of the Krebs trial. However, it is known that badgers in a culled population do exhibit changes in their ecology and behaviour which may result in an increased risk of disease transmission.

  Research on perturbation is being carried out on behalf of Defra by Oxford University and the Central Science Laboratory. Results will published once the research programme has been completed.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what actions are required of dairy farmers in respect of their premises following removal of(a) TB reactor and (b) infected cattle from their premises. [140299]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Movement restrictions are imposed on all cattle herds when TB reactors are disclosed at the TB test. In the case of dairy herds, the Chief Environmental Health Officer will be informed, to enable decisions to made about protecting public health. If disease is confirmed, the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control will also be informed.

  Immediately following their identification, all reactors should be isolated from contact with any other cattle. These cattle must remain in isolation until removal for slaughter. Animals that react inconclusively to the test must also be isolated both from the herd and from the conclusive reactors. They must remain in isolation pending retest.

  After removal of reactor(s) or affected animals a Cleansing and Disinfection Notice is issued to the owner. The notice covers the isolation building and any other areas of the farm identified by the Veterinary Officer as likely to be infected. Up to a month is allowed to carry out the disinfection and cleansing.

  Movement restrictions remain in place until the herd has tested clear at least once (twice where infection is confirmed after post-mortem).
  1201W
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what class of pathogen bovis is. [140300]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Defra classify animal pathogens for the purpose of administering the Importation of Animal Pathogens Order 1980 and the Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1998. Mycobacterium bovis is classified as a Group 2 animal pathogen.

  Pathogens classified as group 2 are disease producing organisms which are either exotic or produce notifiable disease, but have a low risk of spread from the laboratory.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the likely incidence of TB breakdown in cattle in Krebs reactive areas, if 100 per cent. culling of badger population in the areas had been carried out. [140301]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Under the protocols for the Krebs trial, badgers are culled using cage trapping, which is estimated to remove around 80 per cent. of the badger population. Analysis of the trial data from reactive areas is therefore only able to indicate what effect this level of removal on and around farms which have had a TB breakdown will have on the incidence of TB breakdown in the reactive area as a whole. It is not possible to estimate what effect an alternative capture method, which would remove 100 per cent., rather than 80 per cent., of the badgers would have.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether cattle-to-cattle transmission of TB has occurred in the Krebs reactive trial area. [140304]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  It is highly likely that some cattle-to-cattle transmission of TB has occurred in all Krebs trial areas, although it is impossible to quantify the number of herd breakdowns which might have been due to this means of infection.

  Table 1 percentage of national herd under restriction

  Year

  20031

  20022

  20012

  Total number of herds registered on Ventnet

  96,865

  99,584

  105,714

  Of which were under TB2 restrictions because of a TB incident at some time during the year

  4,740

  4,174

  2,511

  Percentage of national herd under restriction (cumulative figure for the year)

  4.8

  4.1

  2.3

  1 Data represents 1 January 2003 to 30 September 2003–11–24

  2 Data for 2001 and 2002 are not comparable to other years, because TB testing was significantly reduced during the foot and mouth outbreak, and when testing resumed, it was targeted at higher risk herds.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of registered cattle herds in the UK are under TB restriction. [140309]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The data requested is not available for the UK. However, between 1 January and 30 September 2003 approximately 4.9 per cent. (4,740*) of cattle herds in Great Britain had been under TB restriction.*Provisional data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on the 20–21 October 2003—subject to change as outstanding TB test and culture results become available.
  1202W
  An epidemiological survey in the Krebs badger culling trial areas, known as "TB99", is looking at risk factors in TB outbreaks. A preliminary analysis is set out in the Third Report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the OIE limit of the incidence of TB in cattle necessary to maintain TB-free status trading for the UK, expressed as a percentage of the national herd. [140308]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Office of International des Epizooties (OIE) provides expertise for the control of animal diseases.

  Article 2.3.3.2 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code states that for a Country or zone to qualify as officially free from bovine tuberculosis, shall satisfy the following requirements:
  Bovine tuberculosis is notifiable in the country;
  99.8 per cent. of the herds in the considered geographical area have been officially free from bovine tuberculosis for at least the past three years as disclosed by periodic testing of all cattle in the area to determine the absence of bovine tuberculosis.

  Periodic testing of all cattle is not required in an area where a surveillance programme reveals that 99.9 per cent. of the cattle have been in herds officially free from tuberculosis for at least six years.

  Defra statistics on the incidence of bovine TB are not collated in a format that allows for a comparison with the OIE incidence of TB.

  Table 1 as follows shows the percentage of the national herd that was under restriction between 2001 and 2003.

  Current EU restrictions relating to BSE prevent export of live bovines from the United Kingdom. Export of beef and beef products are permissible under the Date-based Export Scheme (for UK origin beef), or, the XAP Scheme (for beef of foreign origin). Beef fromcattle under TB restrictions cannot be exported.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many carcases produced from cows not reported as TB reactors originating from farms in England were found to be positive for M. bovis or otherwise infected with bovine tuberculosis as a result of samples taken at slaughterhouses in the last 10 years. [140314]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  All cattle slaughtered in licensed slaughterhouses are subject to inspection by Meat Hygiene Service officials. Where lesions suggestive of TB are found at post-mortem, samples are sent for laboratory culture of M. bovis, the causative organism
  1203W
  of bovine tuberculosis. Cases identified by the MHS (but not sent for slaughter as reactors) are "slaughterhouse cases".

  Confirmed slaughterhouse cases

  Total slaughterhouse cases

  Number

  Percentage

  2002

  385

  132

  34

  2001

  194

  65

  36

  2000

  239

  114

  48

  1999

  178

  92

  52

  1998

  94

  50

  53

  1997

  10

  4

  40

  1996

  10

  3

  30

  1995

  4

  3

  75

  Data not currently available for 1994 and 1993

  Number of cattle slaughtered under TB control measures and expenditure on TB compensation 1998–99–2002–03

  England

  Wales

  Number of cattle slaughtered1

  Compensation paid2(£,000)

  Number of cattle slaughtered1

  Compensation paid2 (£,000)

  1998–99

  4,928

  3,755

  1,189

  683

  1999–2000

  6,063

  4,978

  1,262

  1,304

  2000–01

  6,177

  5,715

  1,808

  1,228

  2001–02

  36,644

  7,367

  32,337

  2,366

  2002–03

  3,419,228

  26,076

  3,45,491

  8,087

  1 TB reactors plus direct contacts.

  2 The compensation figures in the table relate only to compensation paid. Previous published information has included valuation and haulage costs, and salvage receipts..

  3 Provisional data only

  4 In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the number of TB reactors identified and slaughtered in 2002–03 is not comparable to those identified and slaughtered in previous years.

  Climate Change
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the potential effects of climate change on British agriculture. [137270]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Since 1987 MAFF and now Defra has commissioned over £6 million of ongoing research focused on (i) identifying the impacts of potential climate change on UK agriculture; and (ii) helping farmers to develop adaptation strategies to manage the impacts of climate change. A report which summarises this research was published in early 2003 and is available on UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) website: http://www.ukcip.org.uk/Agriculture/agriculture.htm.

  Furthermore, in 2000 we commissioned a report 'Climate Change and Agriculture in the UK' aimed at raising awareness of climate change within the farming community. Where sufficient evidence was available, this report summarised possible adaptation strategies to cope with expected changes; where the knowledge base was less robust, the report set out the potential impacts on UK agriculture. This report is available on the Defra website: http://defraweb/environ/climate/climatechange/index.htm

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will increase climate change agreement targets for companies not involved in the EU Emissions Trading scheme. [139148]
  1204W
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the(a) standard, (b) upper level, (c) lower level and (d) average payment made for bovine TB compensation was 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. [136410]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  As compensation for bovine tuberculosis (TB) is based on individual valuations of cattle to be slaughtered for disease control reasons, information in the format requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  The number of cattle slaughtered and overall expenditure on compensation for cattle slaughtered under TB control measures in England and in Wales, for the financial years 1998–99 to 2002–03, is given in the attached table:

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The EU Emissions Trading Scheme will come into force on 1 January 2005. Operators in the Climate Change Agreements within sectors covered by the scheme will be given the opportunity to apply to opt out of the first phase of the scheme between 2005 and 2007. Those operators exercising this opt out will be subject, along with all other operators not covered by the EU ETS, to the provisions of the Climate Change Agreements for a review of targets in 2004 and 2008 to ensure that they continue to represent the potential for cost effective energy savings taking account of any changes in technical or market conditions.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase combined heat and power generation. [139606]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The measures to support CHP announced in the Energy White Paper, taken together with measures we have previously introduced and detailed in the draft CHP Strategy, will significantly help CHP. These will be brought together in the final Government Strategy for CHP to 2010, which we will publish before the end of March 2004.

  Dairy Farming
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government has put in place in enable dairy farmers to add value to their products. [137892]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Support is available through the England Rural Development Programme for farmers wishing to add value to their produce. The Processing and Marketing Grant can provide up to 30 per cent. of eligible costs towards projects to improve the processing and marketing infrastructure of mainstream agricultural products. The Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES) provides assistance of up to 50 per cent. to farmers to diversify their businesses, which might involve on-farm processing and retailing of their produce. Help can also be given through RES to market added value, quality, agricultural products.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government has sought to amend EC Regulation 2597/97 in accordance with the Milk Task Force recommendations of December 2001. [137896]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We wrote to interested parties on changing the rules on the fat content of drinking milk in Council Regulation (EC) No. 2597/97 in February 2002, as part of our follow-up to the Milk Task Force and to prepare for possible Commission proposals to amend the regulations. The response we received was mixed. Whilst there was some support for liberalising the rules, there was also concern that it might undermine the well established categories of drinking milk to the detriment of consumers and dairy processors. The Commission in their report on these rules, which was published earlier this year, also found no consensus in favour of changes. It has therefore proposed no changes for the time being, but will initiate a review in 2007, with a view to harmonising rules across the enlarged Community in 2009 when the existing derogations from the rules for Finland, Sweden and several accession countries will expire.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government supports decoupling of the dairy sector in 2005. [138026]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government believes that by breaking the link between farm subsidies and production, decoupling will reconnect farmers to their markets, reduce damaging environmental impacts and reduce bureaucracy. Our economic assessment also indicates that decoupling should have a beneficial impact on farm incomes. We are therefore minded to

  UK imports of birds' eggs, in shell and powdered, 1993–2002

  Tonnes

  Product/country

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Eggs in shell

  Netherlands

  7,797

  12,421

  9,240

  10,864

  8,775

  5,098

  7,905

  17,946

  10,952

  14,865

  Germany

  2,544

  2,389

  2,256

  3,300

  2,292

  2,934

  3,792

  10,807

  14,621

  9,011

  France

  1,382

  2,642

  3,118

  3,338

  2,217

  2,443

  1,513

  2,845

  6,809

  8,723

  Irish Republic

  714

  1,875

  2,216

  1,359

  1,774

  1,472

  865

  1,801

  2,245

  1,981

  Spain

  42

  68

  99

  115

  —

  —

  —

  32

  4,440

  9,499

  Belgium-Lux

  1,350

  2,954

  2,447

  1,681

  663

  169

  681

  1,320

  1,039

  934

  Denmark

  935

  1,313

  1,649

  993

  527

  664

  816

  761

  698

  1,000

  Finland

  —

  —

  278

  1,398

  1,282

  674

  122

  309

  132

  392

  1206W
  decouple dairy direct payments in 2005. We will make a final decision once we have the results of our ongoing consultation on the dairy elements of the reform package, which closes on 3 February.

  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets the Government has set for(a) levels of production and (b) the number of producers in dairy farming. [138027]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Government has not set targets for levels of milk production or for the number of producers in dairy farming.

  Darwin Mounds
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of measures to protect the Darwin Mounds. [139832]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  We have proposed the designation of the Darwin Mounds as a Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. EC measures to protect the Darwin Mounds from damaging fishing activities came into effect on 20 August 2003. The area where restrictions are in place is closely monitored by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. No breaches of the restrictions have been identified.

  Dog Identification Scheme
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the tattooing of dogs for identification purposes. [138574]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have considered the option of introducing a dog identification scheme, but have no current plans to do so. Defra promotes responsible dog ownership through byelaws, education and publicity.

  Tattooing is an option for owners, but is not an option for statutory identification schemes such as pet passports where microchips are used.

  Egg Industry
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume in tonnes of(a) shelled eggs and (b) whole egg powder was imported into the United Kingdom in the last 10 years for which figures are available; and from which countries. [138076]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The following table shows UK imports of(a) shell eggs and (b) whole egg powder between 1993 and 2002.
  1207W

  UK imports of birds' eggs, in shell and powdered, 1993–2002

  Tonnes

  Product/country

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  USA

  2

  6

  3

  4

  83

  53

  130

  864

  1,087

  2,020

  Italy

  4

  1

  1

  —

  68

  —

  10

  31

  1,591

  103

  Sweden

  —

  0

  —

  248

  —

  16

  160

  36

  11

  120

  Austria

  —

  —

  74

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  65

  85

  Portugal

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  104

  Other

  1

  1

  0

  0

  0

  0

  2

  8

  0

  28

  Eggs in shell total

  14,771

  23,670

  21,382

  23,299

  17,681

  13,522

  15,997

  36,760

  43,692

  48,864

  Egg powder

  France

  1,375

  1,679

  1,305

  1,688

  1,879

  2,472

  2,122

  2,015

  1,961

  3,027

  Netherlands

  983

  1,305

  1,561

  1,601

  1,813

  1,807

  2,020

  1,709

  2,030

  1,531

  Belgium-Lux

  222

  182

  273

  287

  178

  198

  523

  273

  337

  1,717

  USA

  98

  169

  151

  225

  295

  482

  184

  473

  313

  186

  Denmark

  155

  138

  100

  192

  229

  224

  195

  211

  535

  541

  Italy

  4

  56

  197

  147

  334

  243

  75

  44

  45

  50

  Germany

  156

  107

  150

  50

  98

  113

  108

  97

  78

  154

  Sweden

  12

  2

  3

  2

  —

  5

  56

  135

  187

  107

  Austria

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  —

  —

  214

  Other

  61

  0

  0

  28

  181

  42

  16

  40

  2

  37

  Egg powder total

  3,065

  3,639

  3,741

  4,219

  5,007

  5,586

  5,299

  4,997

  5,488

  7,563

  Source:

  HM Customs and Excise

  Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities and Food) Consultancy Trade and IT, ESD, DEFRA

  Energy Consumption
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to encourage households to reduce their energy consumption. [138675]

  Mr Bradshaw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]The Energy White Paper details the steps being taken to encourage greater energy efficiency in the UK, and sets out an ambitious strategy for energy efficiency up to 2010 and beyond. Energy efficiency is expected to deliver about half the carbon savings needed to meet our goals for 2020. This will mean roughly doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement of recent decades.

  A wide range of policies and measures have already been established to encourage energy efficiency across the economy. These include:
  Climate Change Agreements, where companies can gain an 80 per cent. discount from the Climate Change Levy for eligible processes by entering into Agreements and meeting energy efficiency targets;
  the work of the Carbon Trust, which takes the lead on energy efficiency for business and the public sector, and supports the development of a low carbon economy in the UK. The Trust was launched in April 2001 as one way in which CCL receipts are recycled to business;
  the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which will generate significant emissions reductions and is the first economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world. The UK Government is also working towards implementing the European ETS, due to start on 1 January 2005;
  funding for the Energy Saving Trust to run a number of programmes to promote the sustainable and efficient use of energy in homes. The Trust also facilitates the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes, which brings together key stakeholders to support and promote domestic energy efficiency;
  encouraging improvements in product standards so that energy-using appliances operate more efficiently;
  the Building Regulations, updated in 2002, which are already delivering significant energy efficiency improvements in new and existing buildings.
  1208W
  Looking to the future, the White Paper proposes some key measures, including extension of the Energy Efficiency Commitment beyond 2005 at possibly twice its current level of activity; improvements in building standards through further revisions to the Building Regulations; and faster improvements in the standards of new household appliances.

  In Budget 2003, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that he would consult further on specific fiscal measures to promote energy efficiency. This consultation closed on the 24 October and the Government is grateful to all those who contributed. All responses are being actively considered to help inform policy development.

  The Government intends to publish an Energy Efficiency Implementation Plan within a year of the White Paper's publication, which will provide further detail on all of these policies.

  Environmental Protection
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department will take into account in the Regulatory Impact Assessment of the EU REACH proposals the economic benefits to UK environmental testing laboratories of the testing work required. [140072]

  Alun Michael
  On 29 October 2003 the European Commission presented a proposal for the regulation of chemicals. The Government will carry out a UK consultation early in the new year which will be accompanied by a Regulatory Impact Assessment.

  The impact assessment will aim to assess all the major costs and benefits, both direct and indirect to industry and make an assessment of the wider impact on the UK economy.

  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the DTI/ Defra Joint Environmental Markets Unit is consulted when her Department carries out regulatory impact
  1209W
  assessments of new environmental protection measures to ensure that benefits of the measures to the UK (a) environmental technology and (b) services industry are included. [140073]

  Mr. Morley
  Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) of new environmental protection measures are undertaken in accordance with the Cabinet OfficeGuidelines, "Better Policy Making: A Guide to Regulatory Impact Assessment". Among other things, this says RIAs should take account of the potential dynamic benefits of regulations and an assessment of all the business sectors affected—both positively and negatively. As part of this process, policy-makers consult with relevant stakeholders, including where appropriate representatives of the environmental goods and services industry who will then have the opportunity to make the case for the benefits. Like other parts of Government with an interest, the Joint DTI/ Defra Environmental Markets Unit will contribute as appropriate and as part of the policy-making process within Government.

  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 Joint Meetings of the Management and/or Regulatory Committee in the field of agriculture-agrimonetary questions, (b) the EU Standing Forestry Committee and (c) the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress and the implementation of the Directive on the control of volatile organic compound emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations 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. [132697]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The EU Joint Meetings of the Management and/or Regulatory Committee in the field of agriculture-agrimonetary questions

  The Agrimonetary Management Committee met during the Danish Presidency on 16 October 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 9 April 2003. The agenda included aspects of agrimonetary compensation and a minor amendment to the agrimonetary regulations.

  (b) The EU standing Forestry Committee

  The EU standing Forestry Committee met during the Danish Presidency on 27 November and 4 December 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 10 February, 7 April and 5 June 2003. Issues discussed included regulations to monitor pollution and prevent fires, to establish a European Forest Information and Communication Network and implementation of national programmes concerning forest protection measures.

  (c) The EU Committee for the adaption to technical progress and the implementation of the Directive on the control of volatile organic compound emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations
  1210W
  The EU Committee for the adaption to technical progress and the implementation of the Directive on the control of volatile organic compound emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations did not meet during either the Danish or Greek Presidencies.

  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 the quality of fresh water, (b) the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for seeds and (c) the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for live plants and floriculture products 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. [132698]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The EU Committee for the adaption to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on the quality of fresh water

  This committee has never met. The role of the Committee, if it should meet, is set out in article 12 of the Directive. It is to deliver its opinion on amendments proposed by the Commission to the G values and to the methods of analysis set out in Annexes to the Directive where amendments are necessary to adapt the Directive's provisions to technical or scientific progress. The Committee has equivalent functions in relation to Directive 79/923/EC on the quality required of Shellfish Waters.

  (b) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for seeds

  The Seeds Management Committee met jointly with the Sugar Management Committee during the Danish Presidency on 19 December 2002, and jointly with the Cereals Management Committee during the Greek Presidency on 9 January 2003, to discuss a draft Regulation setting the minimum aid rate for certain agricultural products for the Outermost Regions (Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores).

  (c) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for live plants and floriculture products

  The Management Committee for live plants and floriculture products did not meet during the Danish and Greek Presidencies.

  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.
  1211W
  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 Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Equatorial Guinea), (b) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Estonia) and (c) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Russia) 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. [132699]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK does not have any fishing interest in the waters concerned and accordingly did not attend any of the meetings of the Joint Committees listed, nor does Defra keep records of these meetings.

  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 Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Guinea Bissau), (b) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Morocco) and (c) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Gambia) 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. [132700]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK does not have any fishing interest in the waters concerned and accordingly did not attend any of the meetings of the Joint Committees listed, nor does Defra keep records of these meetings.

  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 Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Poland), (b) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Greenland) and (c) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Sáo Tomé) 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. [132701]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Poland)

  The UK does not have any fishing interest in the waters concerned and accordingly did not attend any of the meetings of this Joint Committee, nor does Defra keep records of these meetings.
  1212W
  The Fisheries Joint Committee (EU-Greenland)

  The Fisheries Joint Committee (EU-Greenland) did not meet during the Danish Presidency. It met during the Greek Presidency on 21 May and 18 June 2003. The discussions were about the mid-term review of the Fourth EU/Greenland Protocol.

  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. The UK delegation to this committee was led by Defra and included a Scottish Executive official.

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

  (c) The Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Sao Tome)

  The UK does not have any fishing interest in the waters concerned and accordingly did not attend any of the meetings of this Joint Committee, nor does Defra keep records of these meetings.

  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 Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Guinea), (b) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Cape Verde) and (c) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Lithuania) 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. [132702]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK does not have any fishing interest in the waters concerned and accordingly did not attend any of the meetings of the Joint Committees listed, nor does Defra keep records of these meetings.

  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 Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Latvia), (b) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Senegal) and (c) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Argentina) 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. [132703]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK does not have any fishing interest in the waters concerned and accordingly did not attend any of the meetings of the Joint Committees listed, nor does Defra keep records of these meetings.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will list the dates of meetings of(a) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Mauritius), (b) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Côte d'Ivoire) and (c) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Seychelles) 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; [132704]
  1213W
  (2) if she will list the dates of meetings of (a) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Comoros), (b) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Angola) and (c) the Fisheries Joint Committee (EEC-Madagascar) 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. [132705]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The UK does not have any fishing interest in the waters concerned and accordingly did not attend any of the meetings of the Joint Committees listed, nor does Defra keep records of these meetings.

  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 Eco-label Regulatory Committee, (b) the EU Advisory Committee on Veterinary Training and (c) the EU Management Committee of the Common Organisations of Agricultural Markets for Poultry, Meat and Eggs 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. [132706]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Eco-label Regulatory Committee

  The Eco-label Regulatory Committee met during the Danish Presidency on 25 September and 4 December 2002, and during the Greek Presidency on 4 February 2003. Issues discussed at the Committee included votes on ecolabelling criteria.

  (b) The Advisory Committee on Veterinary Training

  The EU Advisory Committee on Veterinary Training committee was abolished in 2000, therefore the Committee did not meet during either the Danish or the Greek Presidency.

  (c) The EU Management Committee of the Common Organisations of Agricultural Markets for Poultry, Meat and Eggs

  The EU Management Committee of the Common Organisations of Agricultural Markets for Poultry, Meat and Eggs met during the Danish Presidency 9 July, 18 September, 17 October, 19 November and 10 December 2002. It met during the Greek Presidency on 21 January, 18 February, 11 March, 8 April, 20 May and 17 June 2003. The agendas contained items relating to the operation of the EU egg and poultry regimes, including inter alia, export refunds, market information and regulations implementing various aspects of the EU regimes. Traditionally items relating to EU rules on honey are also discussed in this committee.

  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.
  1214W
  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 Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health, (b) the EU Committee on the action programme on rare diseases in the framework of the action plan for public health and (c) the EU Standing Veterinary Committee 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. [132707]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  (a) and (c) The EU Standing Veterinary Committee was replaced by two Sections of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health: Animal Health and Welfare covering animal health veterinary issues; and the Biological Control of the Food Chain, covering publich health veterinary issues. Details of these Sections and the Animal Nutrition Section, including meeting dates and minutes, can be found on the links:

  Animal Nutrition

  http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/rc/scfcah/anim nut/index en.html

  Animal Health and Welfare

  http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/rc/scfcah/ah aw/index en.html

  Biological Control of the Food Chain

  http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/rc/scfcah/biological/index en.html

  No representatives of the Scottish Executive were present at these meetings. Formal preparatory meetings are not normally held for Standing Committee meetings. However, prior to Standing Committee, comments and advice are sought from colleagues (including the Scottish Executive) and interested parties to help formulate the United Kingdom's position.

  (b) The EU Committee on the action programme on rare diseases, in the framework of the action plan for public health, did not meet during the Danish or Greek Presidencies.

  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 Management Committee of the common organisation of agricultural markets for milk and milk products, (b) the EU Committee on organic production of agricultural products and (c) the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on conservation of wild birds 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.[132708]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Management Committee of the common organisation of agricultural markets for milk and milk products

  The Management Committee for milk and milk products met during the Danish Presidency on 11 and 25 July, 29 August, 12 and 26 September, 10 and 24 October, 14 and 28 November and 12 December

  1215W
  2002. During the Greek Presidency it met on 16 and 30 January, 13 and 27 February, 13 and 27 March, 10 and 24 April, 15 and 28 May, and 12 and 26 June 2003. Issues discussed at the Committee included matters related to prices, aid and marketing of milk and milk products.

  (b) The EU Committee on organic production of agricultural products

  The Standing Committee on Organic Farming and its associated working groups met during the Danish Presidency on 8–10 July, 5 and 30 September, 1, 7 to 9 and 15 October, 13 November and 4 to 6 and 12 December 2002. During the Greek Presidency it met on 21, 22, 27 and 28 January; 4 to 6 and 27 February; 14 and 26 March; 1, 2 to 3 and 29 April; 14 and 21 to 23 May and 12 and 13 June 2003. Issues discussed included inspection arrangements for feed for organic livestock, seeds for use in organic farming, additives permitted in organic food, imports to the EU from third countries, the use of conventional ingredients in feed for organic livestock, conversion of livestock for organic production and the proposed EU Organic Action Plan.

  (c) The EU Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on conservation of wild birds

  The ORNIS Committee (the Committee for the adaptation to technical and scientific progress of the Directive on conservation of wild birds) did not meet during the Danish Presidency. It met once during the Greek Presidency on 26 June 2003. The agenda included EU enlargement preparations concerning the Birds Directive, the Commission's Sustainable Hunting Initiative, the state of progress for the classification of new Special Protection Areas, progress on new monitoring and reporting initiatives for nature directives (including development of bird indicators) and reports under Articles 9 and 12 of the Birds Directive.

  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 protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade, (b) the EU Scientific Review Group for the protection of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade, (c) EU Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Committee and (d) working party on irregularities during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda, 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.[132709]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information requested is as follows:
  1216W
  (a)The EU Committee for the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade

  The EC CITES Committee (The Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora) met during the Danish Presidency on 19 December 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 13 March 2003. Issues discussed at the Committee included applications for permits and licences for trade, and other matters relating to the use and trade of wild animals and plants.

  (b)The EU Scientific Review Group for protection of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade

  The Scientific Review Group (SRG) met during the Danish Presidency on 5 September 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 30 January 2003 and 22 May 2003. Issues discussed included reports on Ecological matters.

  (c) The EU Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Committee

  The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Committee met during the Danish Presidency on 18 July, 20 September, 7 October, 22 October, 8 November, 19 November and 17 December. During the Greek Presidency it met on 22 January, 20 February, 20 March, 22 April, 16 May, 21March and 18 June. Issues discussed included the payment of monthly advances from the Fund, decisions on the clearance of CAP accounts, the exclusion from Community financing of certain expenditure as a result of disallowance decisions, and other matters relating to the control of CAP expenditure.

  (d) The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund working party on irregularities

  The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund working party on irregularities did not meet during the Danish Presidency and met during the Greek Presidency on 11 March 2003. Issues discussed included the formation of a temporary task force to audit outstanding cases of financial irregularity and recovery, difficulties experienced, and presentations on technical items.

  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 Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for products processed from fruit and vegetables and (b) the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for hops 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.[132710]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for products processed from fruit and vegetables
  1217W
  The Processed Fruit and Vegetables Management Committee met during the Danish Presidency on 16 July, 17 September, 15 October, 12 November and 10 December. During the Greek Presidency it met on 10 January, 11 and 19 February, 12 March, 8 and 29 April, 6 and 14 May, and 13, 23 and 24 June 2003. Issues discussed at the Committee included the setting of export refunds and aid for products grown for processing.

  (b) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for hops

  The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for hops did not meet during the Danish or Greek Presidencies.

  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 Advisory Committee for the implementation of the directive on the reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels, (b) the EU Committee on zootechnics and (c) the EU Committee for the Adaptation to Technical and Scientific Progress and Implementation of the Directive on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms 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. [132711]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information requested is as follows:

  (a) The EU Advisory Committee for the implementation of the directive on the reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels.

  The EU Advisory Committee on the Sulphur Content in Liquid Fuels Directive met once during the Danish Presidency on 10 December 2002. The only item on the agenda was a discussion on a derogation for Greece, allowing the use of heavy fuel oil with a sulphur content of 3 per cent. by mass in part of its territory from 1 January 2003. The Committee did not meet during the Greek Presidency.

  (b) The EU Committee on zootechnics

  The Standing Committee on Zootechnics met during the Danish Presidency on 5 November 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 8 April 2003. Issues discussed included proposed amendments to community rules on equidae, bovines and sheep.

  (c) The EU Committee for the Adaption to Technical and Scientific Progress and Implementation of the Directive on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms.

  The EU Committee on the Deliberate Release into the Environment of Genetically Modified Organisms did not meet during either the Danish or the Greek Presidencies.
  1218W
  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 Management Committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for dehydrated fodder, (b) the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for oils and fats and (c) the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research 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. [132712]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for dehydrated fodder

  The EU Management Committee for dehydrated fodder did not meet during the Danish Presidency. It met during the Greek Presidency on 20 June 2003. The main purpose of this meeting was to set the final rate of aid for the previous marketing year.

  (b) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for oils and fats

  The EU Management Committee for oils and fats met during the Danish Presidency on 5 July, 11 and 24 September, 16 October, 20 November and 11 December 2002. It met during the Greek Presidency on 22 January, 12 February, 19 March, 9 April, 19 May and 11 June. Issues discussed included the market situation, export refunds, amendments to the provisions on marketing standards and the work programmes of operators' organisations.

  (c) The EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research

  The Standing Committee on Agricultural Research did not meet during either the Danish or Greek Presidencies.

  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 Joint Meetings of Management and/or Regulatory Committees in the field of agriculture-trade mechanisms, (b) the EU Management Committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for fresh fruit and vegetables and (c) the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress and implementation of the directive on waste during the Danish and Greek

  1219W
  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. [132713]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The EU Joint Meetings of Management and/or Regulatory Committees in the field of agriculture-trade mechanisms

  Meetings of the DG Agri Trade Mechanisms Management Committee usually take place every month except August. The last meeting took place on 11 November 2003. The next meeting is scheduled for 9 December. Issues discussed at the Committee included accessionary arrangements for new member states of the European Union; and amendments to export refunds, licensing, supply arrangements and animal welfare regulations.

  (b) The EU Management Committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for fresh fruit and vegetables

  The Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Management Committee met during the Danish presidency on 16 July, 17 September, 15 October, 12 November and 10 December. During the Greek presidency it met on 10 January, 11 and 19 February, 12 March, 8 and 29 April, 6 and 14 May, and 13, 23 and 24 June 2003. Issues discussed included the setting of export refunds and arrangements for assisting Producer Organisations.

  (c) The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress and implementation of the directive on waste

  The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress and implementation of the directive on waste met during the Danish presidency on 25 July 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 15 January and 7 May 2003. Issues discussed included the directives on Landfill, End-of-life Vehicles and Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

  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 on the implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water, (b) the EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for natural fibres and (c) the EU management committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for cereals 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. [132715]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:
  1220W
  (a)The EU Committee on the implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water

  The EU Committee on the implementation of the Directive establishing a Community policy regarding water did not meet during the Danish presidency. During the Greek presidency, it met on 6 May 2003. Issued discussed at the Committee included work priorities for 2003 and 2004, and implementation of Directive 2000/60/EC.

  (b) The EU Management Committee of the common organisations of agricultural markets for natural fibres

  The Management Committee for Natural Fibres met during the Danish presidency on 25 July, 1 August, 4 September and 13 and 29 November 2002, and during the Greek presidency on 18 March and 28 May 2003. Issues discussed included harvest and market reports for cotton, flax, hemp and silk; estimating cotton production to calculate provisional reductions of the guide price; revising cotton production estimates; fixing actual cotton production; apportioning a National Guaranteed Quantity of 5,000 tonnes of short fibre between five minor producing countries; and contributing to the design of a fibre industry questionnaire.

  (c) The EU Management committees of the common organisations of agricultural markets for cereals

  The Cereals Management Committee normally meets on a weekly basis. The dates of meetings during the Danish and Greek presidencies and the items on each agenda can be viewed at the following internet address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/minco/manco/ cereals/index.htm#top

  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 bathing water, (b) the EU Management Committee for Fisheries Products and (c) the EU Management Committee for the fisheries and aquaculture sector 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. [132717]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information requested is as follows:

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

  The EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Directive on bathing water did not meet during either the Danish Presidency or the Greek Presidency.

  (b) The EU Management Committee for Fisheries Products
  1221W
  The Management Committee for Fishery Products met during the Danish Presidency on 4 July, 4 October and 3 December 2002, and during the Greek Presidency on 27 January (Expert Group), 7 March, 17 March, 14 May (Expert Group) and 18 June 2003. The main items discussed were autonomous tariff quotas for 2003, transnational producer organisations and the European Union/Peru WTO sardine labelling dispute.

  (c) The EU Management Committee for the fisheries and aquaculture sector

  The Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture met during the Danish Presidency on 23 July, 2 October and 5 November 2002 and during the Greek Presidency on 27 February, 19 March, 10 April, 14 May and 26 June 2003. The main items discussed were data collection, future fleet policy and the Multi-Annual Guidance Programme (MAGPIV) results.

  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 when(a) the EU Committee on Geographical Indications and Protected Designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs, (b) the EU Committee on certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs, (c) the EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the directive on procedures for the surveillance and monitoring of environments concerned by waste from the titanium dioxide industry and (d) the EU Advisory Committee on Community policy regarding forestry and forest-based industries met 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. [132718]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The EU Committee on Geographical Indications and Protected Designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs

  The EU Committee on Geographical Indications and Protected Designations of Origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs met during the Danish presidency on 22 July 2002 and during the Greek presidency on 5 February and 4 June 2003. Issued discussed at the Committee included olive oil production, the TRIPS agreement, and recent ECJ judgments.

  (b) The EU Committee on certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs

  The Regulatory Committee for Certificates of Specific Character for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs met during the Danish presidency on 22 July 2002. The item on the agenda was a draft Commission Regulation amending the existing Commission Regulation 1848/93 on Certificates of Specific Character. The Committee did not meet during the Greek presidency.
  1222W
  (c) The EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the directive on procedures for the surveillance and monitoring of environments concerned by waste from the titanium dioxide industry

  The EU Committee for the adaptation to technical progress of the directive on procedures for the surveillance and monitoring of environments concerned by waste from the titanium dioxide industry did not meet during either the Danish or the Greek presidency.

  (d) The EU Advisory Committee on Community policy regarding forestry and forest-based industries

  The Advisory Committee on Forestry and Forest-Based Industries did not meet during the Danish presidency. During the Greek presidency it met on 25 February 2003. Issues discussed included implementation of the EU Forestry Strategy and Habitats Directive, the sustainable use of resources and the status of a proposal for a regulation concerning the monitoring of forests.

  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.

  Packaging
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) percentage and (b) volume of material was recycled by each EU country under the terms of the EU Packaging Directive in the last year for which figures are available. [139201]

  Mr. Morley
  Member states are required to notify the Commission of their packaging data 18 months after the respective year ends. Member states are still in the process of notifying the Commission of their 2001 data. The most complete data set therefore refers to the year 2000, as detailed in the table.

  Country

  Total in the waste stream(tonnes)2000

  Recycling(percentage of waste arising)2000

  Amount of packaging waste recycled (tones)

  Austria

  1,170,000

  69

  807,300

  Belgium

  1,496,290

  63

  942,663

  Denmark

  852,258

  56

  477,265

  Finland

  442,500

  50

  221,250

  France

  12,499,000

  42

  5,249,580

  Germany

  15,130,700

  78

  11,801,946

  Netherlands

  2,903,000

  59

  1,712,770

  Spain

  6,628,035

  40

  2,651,214

  Sweden

  976,800

  58

  566,544

  Luxembourg

  79,701

  45

  35,865

  Portugal

  1,248,259

  31

  386,960

  UK

  9,179,981

  40

  3,671,992

  Italy

  11,168,200

  38

  4,243,916

  Ireland

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1 Still to notify the Commission.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the total volume of packaging used by the fast food industry in each of the last 10 years when
  1223W
  serving their customers, broken down by (a) cardboard and paper, (b) plastics, (c) biodegradable materials and (d) other materials; [139199]

  (2) what assessment her Department has made of the potential for the use of biodegradable packaging within the fast food industry. [139200]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

  Fallen Stock
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the fallen stock scheme. [140167]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Department has received correspondence and enquiries about the conditions for joining the Scheme and asking when it will start. Progress is being made with putting in place the conditions for launching the Scheme and details will be made available shortly.

  Farming
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the costs of administration for farmers in real terms in each of the last four years. [137250]

  Western blue whiting

  North sea herring

  Member state

  Current quota

  Landings

  Closure effective

  Current quota

  Landings

  Closure effective

  Germany

  18,955

  11,712

  —

  39,087

  38,314

  —

  Denmark

  2,218

  586

  —

  63,405

  28,590

  —

  Spain

  104

  44

  —

  —

  —

  —

  France

  11,944

  9,354

  —

  19,154

  16,933

  —

  Ireland

  17,165

  14,069

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Netherlands

  31,263

  31,659

  4 June 2003

  45,935

  43,689

  —

  Sweden

  0

  25

  —

  4,070

  503

  —

  UK

  25,032

  21,273

  2 April 2003

  58,438

  57,510

  9 September 2003

  EEC

  107,281

  94,722

  —

  224,458

  185,536

  —

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has briefed United Kingdom MEPs on the European Parliament Fisheries Committee on her strategy to decouple cod from other whitefish species. [138923]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I attach great importance to finding and negotiating approaches which will promote the recovery of cod stocks whilst allowing fishermen the chance to exploit stocks which are abundant in themselves but caught in the same areas. To be negotiable, such approaches do need to be demonstrably workable. I will certainly ensure that MEPs are briefed on the UK's aims in this respect.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the European Commission's announcement on 11 November that it has opened formal infringement procedures against the United Kingdom in respect of alleged failure to enforce fisheries rules. [138924]
  1224W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  There is no estimate made of the total costs of administration for farmers. We estimate the cost in terms of farmers' time spent in completing statistical survey forms that was as follows (at the current prices in each of the years):

  Year

  £000

  1999

  949

  2000

  11,432

  2001

  2561

  2002

  736

  1Includes full June Agricultural and Horticultural Census as required by European Union

  2Many surveys postponed or scaled down due to Foot and Mouth Disease

  Fisheries
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what major fish stocks which are closed to UK vessels remain open to other countries' vessels; and what the quota levels of each are. [138095]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Two fisheries—Western blue whiting and North Sea herring—have so far been closed in 2003 to the UK fleet as a whole. These fisheries remain open to those other member states which still have uncaught quota for them. Details of their quotas and landings, as shown by the Commission's FIDES database at 11 November, are set out in the following table.

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The European Commission has commenced formal proceedings against the United Kingdom under Article 226 of the EC Treaty and Article 26(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the common fisheries policy. The Commission considers that:

  (i) the United Kingdom has not provided its competent authorities with the sufficient means to perform their tasks of inspection and control, as laid down in Article 1(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy;

  (ii) the United Kingdom has not ensured in a sufficient and effective way the compliance with the Community rules in force concerning control measures, notably inspection and monitoring of all fishing activities within its territory and within the maritime waters subject to it sovereignty or jurisdiction;

  (iii) insufficient and ineffective control has been observed in particular with respect to those obligations related to the use of the VMS (vessel monitoring

  1225W
  systems) by vessels operating in the UK waters, to the recording of the exact amount of catches in the logbook, to the submission of sales notes, to the submission and recording of landing declarations, to the submission of transport documents and to the establishment of a validation system comprising in particular cross-checks and verification of data in order to ensure respect of the obligations laid down in Articles 3,6,8,9,10,13,14 and 17 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93;

  (iv) the United Kingdom has not taken the appropriate measures against the natural or legal persons who do not comply with the rules in force of the common fisheries policy, including proceedings capable of effectively depriving those responsible of the economic benefit of the infringements or of producing results proportionate to the seriousness of such infringements, effectively discouraging further offences of the same kind, and is of the view that the United Kingdom has failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 1 (2), Article 2 (1) in connection with the Article 3 (6), Article 6 (3), Article 8 (1), Article 13 (1—3), Article 14 (1 and 2) and Article 19 (1—3), and Article 31 (1 and 2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93.

  We have two months in which to respond and to demonstrate compliance with its obligations under Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93. If the Commission is not satisfied with our response it may take preventative measures as provided for in Article 26(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 and issue a reasoned opinion under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. Beyond that the Commission may refer the issues to the European Court of Justice.

  Effective enforcement is integral to the success of the common fisheries policy and to efforts to conserve fish stocks. We are taking the Commission's criticisms very seriously and are currently consulting with the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland authorities. We expect to submit a positive response to the Commission early in the New Year.

  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations with the industry she has had on the issue of decoupling cod from other whitefish species. [138925]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I and departmental officials are engaged in ongoing discussions with fishermen, about decoupling and other issues associated with fish stock conservation, in the run-up to the key Council of Ministers meeting in December.

  Food Regulation
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responsibilities her Department has in relation to parliamentary consideration of proposals for the regulation of food. [139881]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I will write to my hon. Friend with the information in due course.

  Foot and Mouth
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many 1226W
  emergency purchase orders were issued by her Department and the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001. [136821]

  Alun Michael
  Information held centrally shows that, 12,600 emergency purchase orders were issued by the Department and the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001.

  GM Oilseed Rape
  Mr. Meacher
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future growing of GM oilseed rape safe for the production of biodiesel. [140154]

  Mr. Morley
  There are no such plans. No varieties of GM oil seed rape have authorisation for commercial growing in the UK.

  Hazardous Waste
  Mrs. May
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance has been issued in the last five years on remediation of sites containing potentially hazardous waste. [134450]

  Margaret Beckett
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what plans she has to discuss with the Deputy Prime Minister measures to prevent planning applications for landfill sites dealing with hazardous waste being blocked for technical reasons; [R] [139698]

  (2) how many hazardous waste landfill sites are operational in the United Kingdom; and what their estimated capacity is in tonnes per year; [R] [139702]

  (3) what estimate she has made of the amount of hazardous waste in tonnes per year which will need to be disposed of separately under the Landfill Directive in each of the next five years; [R] [139703]

  (4) what action she is taking to increase the number of hazardous waste sites across the country. [R] [139704]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to my hon. Friend with the information in due course.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on delays to the issuing of hazardous waste criteria. [140066]

  Mr. Morley
  The draft Landfill (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004, that implement the European Council Decision 2003/33 on waste acceptance criteria in England and Wales, are currently out for consultation. That consultation ends on 17 December 2003, and a response to the consultation will be placed on the Defra website as early as possible in the new year. We remain on target to meet the EU requirement to transpose this legislation by July 2004.
  1227W
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when the hazardous waste regulations will be made available; [140067]

  (2) what provisions will be in place by July 2004 to receive hazardous waste in (a) London and (b) each of the counties and Metropolitan areas in England and Wales; and if she will make a statement; [140068]

  (3) what (a) staff and (b) resources have been allocated by her Department to the production of hazardous waste regulations. [140069]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information shortly.

  Landfill Sites
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 10 June 2003,Official Report, column 726W, on landfill sites, if she will place an updated list of the level of fine imposed for each landfill site in the Library. [139184]

  Mr. Morley
  An updated list of the level of fine imposed for each of the landfill sites, where the information is available, will be placed in the Library of the House.

  The specific reason for the action is not recorded by the Agency, but the legislation under which the prosecution action is taken is indicated alongside each report. The list of incidents may relate to breaches of authorisation rather than pollution Incidents. Some of the cases have not yet come to court.

  Marine Pollution
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Environment Agency has an independent working computer model of the hydrographic regime of the inshore waters of the North Wales coastal region for planning and management purposes. [140403]

  Mr. Morley
  Matters concerning the Environment Agency Wales are dealt with by the National Assembly for Wales.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the level of algal blooms in Liverpool Bay; [140265]

  (2) what the locations are of algae blooms in United Kingdom waters, broken down by order of severity; [140365]

  (3) if her Department will take steps to treat non-toxic algal blooms accumulated on the North Wales coast. [140402]

  Mr. Morley
  Algal blooms are a naturally occurring phenomenon. Given their intensity will vary at different times of the year eg spring compared to summer, between years, and their growth is dependent on a range factors, it is not possible to produce an accurate map identifying the location and severity of algae blooms in UK waters.
  1228W
  Through implementation of the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment and Nitrates Directives we are taking action eg provision of more stringent treatment at relevant sewage treatment works, to protect the environment and water quality from undesirable disturbances caused, or likely to be caused, by the accelerated growth of algae in nutrient enriched waters. This complicated phenomenon is known as eutrophication.

  In England and Wales the Environment Agency undertake reviews of water bodies eg rivers, estuaries, coastal, every four years to assess whether the water body meets the criteria in the Directives for identification as a eutrophic water. The next review is to completed in 2005. At present we do not consider Liverpool Bay (which includes the waters along the North Wales coast) meets the criteria for identification as a eutrophic water.

  Considerable effort is currently being directed towards evaluating the ecological status of the north east Irish sea including Liverpool Bay and the north Wales Coast. Results from this work is expected to enable better assessments of the levels of algae in Liverpool Bay.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on co-operation between the United Kingdom Government and the Irish Government on monitoring pollution in the Irish Sea. [140363]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to my hon. Friend with this information shortly.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the programme of continuous plankton recording around the British Isles. [140364]

  Mr. Morley
  A Continuous Plankton Recorder is a device which is towed by a ship of opportunity and can take a larger number of samples of particulate matter such as larger planktonic species from the water through which it passes.

  The international marine environmental charity 'Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science' (SAHFOS), which is based in Plymouth, currently operates the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey. This survey 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 (some 200,000 samples) from waters around the British Isles.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to reduce the nitrate levels in(a) streams and (b) lakes. [140391]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government has taken, and is taking, a range of action to address nitrate pollution in streams and lakes.
  1229W
  The EC's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive contains provisions designed to reduce the adverse impact of sewage discharges on the water environment. The Directive, and Government policy building on the Directive's requirements, establishes that all discharges from sewage treatment plants serving populations greater than 2,000 have secondary treatment by the end of 2005.

  Secondary treatment reduces the total nitrogen present in sewage. The amount of this reduction is dependant upon the type of secondary treatment process applied, but reduction of total nitrogen achieved through secondary treatment is of the order of 20 per cent. on average.

  The Directive also contains provisions that require further treatment of nitrates from sewage discharges to reduce the impact on freshwaters intended for abstraction for use as drinking water. These provisions require that where nitrate concentration levels in these waters exceed or could exceed 50 mg/I, if no protective action is taken, then nitrate reduction is to be achieved through further treatment processes.

  Between February 1997 and June 2002 eight water bodies in need of protection from excessive nitrates levels were identified as Sensitive Areas (Nitrate) in England. Relevant sewage works have been, or are being, built to provide the treatment needed to reduce nitrate levels in their discharges.

  Additionally the EU Nitrates Directive, an environmental measure designed to reduce current and prevent future water pollution by nitrate from agricultural sources, requires all known areas of land draining into nitrate-polluted waters to be designated as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. The Nitrates Directive requires the identification of polluted waters using the following criteria: (a) surface and groundwaters which contain or could contain, if preventative action is not taken, nitrate concentrations greater than 50 mg/1; (b) surface waters which are eutrophic or could become eutrophic if preventative action is not taken. Around 55 per cent. of England has been designated as NVZs on the basis that it drains into these waters, and action programme measures to reduce nitrate loss from agricultural land have been applied in these zones.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of illegal dumping of dredged material have been recorded off the North Wales coast in each of the last 30 years. [140397]

  Mr. Morley
  This Department has no record of any conviction under either the Dumping at Sea Act 1974 or subsequently the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 for illegal deposit of dredged material off the North Wales coast prior to such matters being devolved to the National Assembly for Wales during 1999.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS) on the marine environment in the Irish Sea over the past 30 years. [140398]

  Mr. Morley
  I am not aware of any specific assessments of PCBs in the Irish Sea but there are two more general reports which cover the Irish Sea and 1230W
  provide the best available assessments of the effects of PCBs in that part of the marine environment. These reports, copies of which should be found in the Library of the House of Commons, are:

  1. Quality Status Report 2000: Region III—Celtic Seas OSPAR Commission, London 2000
  ISBN 0946956499

  2. National Monitoring Programme: Survey of the Quality of UK Coastal Waters
  Marine Pollution Monitoring Management Group, Aberdeen 1998
  ISBN 0953283836

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate she has made of the quantities of(a) synthetic chemicals, (b) mercury, (c) cadmium, (d) lead, (e) zinc, (f) nickel and (g) arsenic released into the Irish Sea from establishments in the United Kingdom in each of the past 30 years; and if she will make a statement on the proposed reduction targets in each case; [140399]

  (2) what research her Department has evaluated regarding the effects of major inshore algal blooms on the distribution of pollutants in coastal areas, with particular reference to the (a) metal absorbing capabilities and (b) bubble scavenging properties of algae. [140401]

  Mr. Morley
  The information requested will take some time to collate and I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of monitoring pollution levels in the Irish Sea was in each of the past 30 years. [140406]

  Mr. Morley
  The information required will take some time to collate. Therefore I will reply to my hon. Friend in due course.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has evaluated on the potential health risks of foam and sludge deposits left by Phacosystic algae blooms on the shore line. [140407]

  Mr. Morley
  I am not aware of any evaluation of research on this topic by this Department.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total tonnage of sewage sludge dumped in Liverpool Bay was in each of the past 30 years.[140408]

  Mr. Morley
  Under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, the disposal of sewage sludge to surface waters, including coastal waters, has been banned since 31 December 1998. I understand that an estimated total of 40–50 million tonnes was deposited by water companies and predecessor water authorities in the north east Irish Sea/Liverpool Bay in the 30 years up to that date.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether information on marine pollution collected by(a) the Environment Agency, (b) her Department and (c) local authorities is entered on to a central database. [140411]
  1231W
  Mr. Morley
  Relevant monitoring information generated by the UK on marine pollution is entered onto a central database. It is known as the National Marine Monitoring Programme (NMMP) database and is managed by the Environmental Data Unit of the Environment Agency, which is located at Twerton.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the(a) statutory and (b) non-statutory bodies which have monitored pollution levels in the Irish Sea in each of the past 15 years. [140412]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to the hon. Member with the information in due course.

  Marine Resources (EU Competence)
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assurances she has(a) sought and (b) received about the effect of the proposed exclusive competence of the EU over marine resources of the sea in the draft constitution; and what assessment she has made of the effect of EU exclusive competence on (i) UK six and 12 mile limits, (ii) relative stability of catches, (iii) national conservation measures and (iv) regulation of quota hoppers. [140165]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The draft EU constitution makes no changes to competence over fisheries (which is shared between the EU and member states) nor over the conservation of marine biological resources under the Common Fisheries Policy (which has been exclusively within the competence of the Community since 1979). Under these arrangements the UK six and 12 mile limits have been renewed, relative stability maintained, national conservation measures introduced and measures introduced so that coastal communities derive economic benefit from vessels fishing against UK quota.

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list each item of market and opinion research commissioned since May 1997 by(a) her Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible; what the purpose of each item was; and whether the results were published. [137014]

  Alun Michael
  The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs came into being in June 2001, and the list of surveys since that date is:

  Corporate Identity research

  Illegal Meat Imports—general public tracking and omnibus

  GM Crops—desk research

  GM Debate—foundation discussion workshops

  GM Debate—stimulus content creation

  Defra Customer Vision

  Defra's sponsorship activities

  Communicating with Farmers—Customer reaction to Defra Communications

  Illegal Meat Imports—Business and holiday traveller focus

  Illegal Meat Imports—Research with Ethnic Minorities

  1232W
  Records for agencies and non-departmental government bodies are not held centrally and information can be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [139980]

  Alun Michael
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

  Milk
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the average price of milk for each month for the last five years at(a) farm gate, (b) processor and (c) retailer stage. [139599]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The table gives figures for milk prices at farm gate and retailer levels from January 1998. Although we do not hold processor prices, the recent KPMG report into the pricing and profitability in the British dairy chain concluded that retail prices involved on average a 27.5 per cent. mark up on the processor price.

  Farm gate (pence per pint without bonus)

  Retail (pence per pint)

  1998

  January

  11.34

  35

  February

  11.23

  34

  March

  11.19

  34

  April

  9.98

  34

  May

  9.43

  34

  June

  10.03

  34

  July

  11.74

  34

  August

  11.81

  34

  September

  11.35

  34

  October

  11.44

  34

  November

  11.14

  34

  December

  10.92

  34

  1999

  January

  10.92

  34

  February

  10.77

  34

  March

  10.74

  34

  April

  9.96

  35

  May

  9.31

  35

  June

  9.77

  35

  July

  11.22

  34

  August

  11.25

  34

  September

  10.88

  34

  October

  10.27

  34

  November

  10.03

  34

  December

  9.85

  34

  2000

  January

  9.52

  34

  February

  9.43

  34

  March

  9.44

  34

  April

  8.67

  34

  May

  8.30

  34

  June

  8.72

  34

  July

  10.01

  34

  August

  10.18

  34

  September

  9.94

  34

  October

  10.68

  35

  November

  10.56

  35

  December

  10.37

  35

  2001

  January

  10.40

  35

  February

  10.33

  36

  1233W

  Farm gate(pence per pint without bonus)

  Retail (pence per pint)

  March

  10.16

  36

  April

  10.35

  36

  May

  10.04

  37

  June

  10.50

  37

  July

  11.61

  37

  August

  11.72

  37

  September

  11.63

  37

  October

  11.48

  37

  November

  11.39

  37

  December

  11.13

  37

  2002

  January

  10.67

  37

  February

  10.40

  36

  March

  10.23

  36

  April

  9.08

  36

  May

  8.44

  36

  June

  8.70

  36

  July

  9.31

  36

  August

  9.50

  36

  September

  9.68

  36

  October

  10.30

  37

  November

  10.27

  37

  December

  10.08

  37

  2003

  January

  10.04

  37

  February

  10.02

  36

  March

  9.87

  36

  April

  9.56

  36

  May

  9.08

  36

  June

  10.34

  37

  July

  10.76

  37

  August

  10.76

  37

  September

  10.81

  37

  Source:

  Government Statistics: RPI; average price milk, pasteurised per pint.

  Expenditure on national environmental campaigns promoted by the Government (DETR/Defra)1 since 1997

  Outturn £000

  Programme/campaign

  1997–98

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  DETR/DEFRA support for ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns) core costs and programmes to promote individual action to achieve litter free sustainable environments

  3,997

  3,697

  3,763

  3,763

  24,125

  3.959

  32,124

  Expenditure at 2003–04 prices

  4,595

  4,142

  4,121

  4,036

  4,334

  4,070

  2,124

  DETR/DEFRA funding for Energy Saving Trust's 'Energy Efficiency Campaign'4

  3,313

  3,532

  3,726

  4,208

  56,542

  65,742

  75,603

  Expenditure at 2003–04 prices

  3,808

  3.957

  4,081

  4,574

  6,873

  5,903

  5,603

  Carbon Trust (formed 2001–02)—total marketing expenditure

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  81,700

  Not yet available9

  Expenditure at 2003–04 prices

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,748

  —

  DETR/Defra 'are you doing your bit?' campaign (began 1998–9)

  —

  3,400

  7,000

  9,300

  10500

  0

  —

  Expenditure at 2003—04 prices

  —

  3,809

  7,666

  9,976

  525

  0

  —

  1 Defra was formed in June 2001. Defra continued programmes begun by the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

  2 This is a change to the answer given in July 2002 to PQ65625. The figure quoted in that answer was £2,952,000. This revised figure reflects the fact that, in year, Encams were awarded an extra £1 million spread over financial years 2001–02 and 2002–03 for the Local Environment Quality Pathfinder Programme.

  3This figure represents 7/12 of the 2003–04 allocation.

  4 Figures for 1997–8 to 2000–1 inclusive, show advertising expenditure only and include a small element of Scottish Executive support. Figures for 2001 onwards are total funded programme costs.

  5488-staff, 6,054-resource.

  6487staff, 5,255-resource.

  7522-staff, 5,081-resource.

  8The Carbon Trust was formed in 2001–02 but did not begin marketing activity until 2002–03. Of the 2002–03 total, £750,000 was spent on the 'Thank You' campaign.

  9 Figures for the latest 'Lifeblood' campaign are not yet available.

  10Most of the 'are you doing your bit?' campaign's planned resource was allocated in 2001—2 to rural support during the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

  1234W
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had in the last year with(a) farming representatives, (b) producers and (c) retailers on milk prices. [139527]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]: The Secretary of State has had no formal meetings with representatives of the dairy industry, either producers, processors or retailers to discuss milk prices. However, Ministers frequently meet with representatives from all parts of the dairy supply chain and are therefore aware of the issues. Matters affecting the whole dairy supply chain are regularly discussed at the forum chaired by my noble Friend the Lord Whitty.

  Mothers (Return to Work)
  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 increasing opportunities for mothers to return to the workplace; and if he will make a statement. [139441]

  Margaret Beckett
  I will write to my hon. Friend with this information shortly.

  National Environment Campaigns
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the national environment campaigns promoted by the Government since 1997, providing at today's prices the(a) resource costs, (b) capital expenditure costs and (c) staffing costs. [139181]

  Alun Michael
  The information is as follows:
  1235W
  Notes:

  1. Where it has been possible, without involving disproportionate cost, costs have been broken down into resource, capital expenditure and staff. However, the majority of costs are aggregated.

  2. Expenditure at 2003–04 prices has been calculated using the underlying Retail Price Index (RPIX).

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on services provided to her Department by NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd. since 1997. [139969]

  Alun Michael
  I will write to my hon. Friend with this information in due course.

  Off-road Trail Biking
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact of off-road trail biking on roads used as public paths. [140056]

  Alun Michael
  This Department is currently carrying out a comprehensive research project into the use of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, on byways open to all traffic. Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, roads used as public paths will shortly be reclassified as 'restricted byways' and vehicles will then no longer be able to use them unless it can be proved that the byway is a vehicular right of way.

  Potatoes
  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the last confirmed outbreak was of ring rot of potatoes in the UK. [139299]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: Until the case on 7 November 2003 there had been no previous outbreak of potato ring rot in the UK.

  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the arrangements are for testing for ring rot in potatoes. [139300]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: Testing for ring rot in potatoes is carried out in accordance with the provisions laid down in EC Council Directive 93/85/EEC of 4 October 1993 on the control of potato ring rot. This includes provision for member states to undertake official surveys of potatoes for the presence of the disease, with any samples taken being tested in accordance with internationally agreed protocols.

  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans her Department has made for an outbreak of ring rot in potatoes. [139415]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: The Department's contingency plan for dealing with outbreaks of ring rot in potatoes is available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.htm
  1236W
  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place for compensating producers of potatoes infected with ring rot who have complied fully with health regulations. [139416]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: Defra does not pay compensation to producers of potatoes infected with ring rot.

  Mr. Roger Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the robustness of the testing methodology for ring rot in imported potatoes. [139417]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: The testing methodology for ring rot in imported potatoes is laid down in EC Council Directive 93/85/ EEC of 4 October 1993 on the control of potato ring rot. These tests reflect internationally agreed protocols based on best scientific advice.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the contingency arrangements for dealing with potato ring rot. [139472]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The Department's contingency plans for dealing with potato ring rot have been published on the Defra web-site at www.defra.gov.uk/planth/ring.pdf

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of(a) visual inspection and (b) other means in ensuring that consignments of potatoes are free from infection of bacterial ring rot; and what methods are available to determine the presence of bacterial ring rot in consignments of potatoes. [140319]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information is as follows:

  (a) All Plant Health and Seeds Inspectors are fully trained in the visual identification of potato ring rot and there is no evidence to suggest that this training is not effective although ring rot is known to exist sometimes in a latent, symptomless form, which is why visual inspections are supplemented by laboratory testing.

  (b) An annual survey for ring rot is carried out by the Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate which involves taking samples of seed and ware potatoes from a representative sample of growers. The survey is a requirement of EC Council Directive 93/85/EEC of 4 October 1993 which also lays down details of the required testing methodology. In addition, all imported seed potatoes entering the seed potato classification scheme are tested for the presence of potato ring rot.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk of cross contamination to other seed potatoes following the recent outbreak of ring rot. [140320]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  EC Directive 93/85/EEC on the control of potato ring rot lays down a series of measures to be taken at outbreak sites which take account of the
  1237W
  possible risks of cross contamination. Testing is still under way at the farm in Wales where the outbreak was discovered and it will be some time before we know whether the infection was restricted to the one stock. As a precautionary measure no other stocks of potatoes from the farm will be planted, whatever the results of the tests. Three premises in England to which stocks had already been sent from the outbreak farm have been put under statutory notice. We understand that the consignments sent to the Canary Islands have also been impounded. Any links which indicate a risk at other farms will result in similar restrictions at those premises.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional seed inspection procedures have been put in place following the recent outbreak of ring rot at(a) domestic sites and (b) points of import. [140321]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The priority now is to determine the extent of the current outbreak and to trace and test other deliveries from the same and any related stocks. In the light of that information we will then review levels of inspection and monitoring of domestic and imported potatoes. This outbreak was detected as a result of our annual survey for the presence of potato ring rot under which 932 tests and 1,151 visual inspections are carried out last year.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures were taken to quarantine(a) the farm of Mr. John Morgan and (b) the four other farms to which he has sent seed potatoes possibly infected with ring rot. [140322]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  As soon as the diagnosis of ring rot was made on a sample from the farm in mid Wales a statutory notice was served under the Plant Health (Great Britain) Order 1993 (as amended) to prevent movement of potatoes from that farm. The same measures were taken, on a precautionary basis, at each of the three farms in England to which seed had already been delivered. In relation to the delivery to the Canary Islands we notified the Spanish authorities and we understand the consignment has been impounded.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research the Department has commissioned on the development of a bactericide for the elimination of ring rot in the past five years; and what the cost was. [140323]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are no bactericides approved for use on any plant bacterial disease in the UK. Unlike fungicides bactericides are not generally effective against disease on growing plants. There are standard commercial disinfectants available for hygiene measures in stores and on containers and harvesting/grading machinery. The efficacy of these was recently investigated at the Central Science Laboratory as part of 1238W
  a Defra funded research contract on the development of an on-farm strategy for eradication of ring rot which cost £40,000 per year (2002–03).

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual value of the potato crop produced in the UK was in the last year for which figures are available, at farmgate prices. [140306]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I will write to the hon. Member with the information in due course.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average annual tonnage of seed potatoes(a) exported from the UK to and (b) imported into the UK from all sources was in the last 10 years for which figures are available. [140307]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I will write to the hon. Member with the information in due course.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government has made of the prevalence of ring rot in Europe and North America. [140324]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  EC Council Directive 93/85/EEC on the control of potato ring rot requires member states to carry out regular surveys and report the results to the Plant Health Standing Committee. Equivalent information is now being required from accession countries. All member states, except Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Portugal have reported outbreaks of ring rot. Prior to the adoption of the control Directive in 1995 there was a wide variation between member states in their policy on the disease and the level of official action against it. Ring rot is regarded as an established disease in the USA and in large parts of Canada, although there are certain seed growing regions such as Prince Edward Island where statutory measures are taken to exclude ring rot and eradicate it when it occurs.

  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Government have sought from(a) European and (b) North American governments on the handling of ring rot. [140325]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  UK scientists at CSL are closely involved in the group of plant bacteriologists from around the EU who provided technical advice on diagnostic tests and risk management measures during the development of the control Directive on Ring Rot. They also play a major role in the scientific panels of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation. In 2002 experts from Canada and the USA met with EU experts to discuss ring rot controls. Defra's Central Science Laboratory is in regular contact with the experts from the eradication programme on Prince Edward Island.

  Poultry Meat
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume in tonnes of poultry meat was imported into the UK in
  1239W
  each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and from which countries it was imported. [138033]

  UK imports of poultry meat 1993–2002

  Country

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Netherlands

  42,327

  41,539

  44,462

  63,181

  74,338

  91,629

  110,165

  133,027

  126,652

  144,006

  France

  63,783

  88.986

  118,423

  98,762

  93,080

  94,728

  82,715

  64,842

  50,710

  53,820

  Irish Republic

  8,623

  14,069

  17,932

  22,468

  20,944

  19,715

  21,078

  16,217

  14,933

  13,817

  Germany

  6,097

  15,003

  11,666

  11,289

  8,567

  12,162

  14,889

  17,255

  22,968

  23,847

  Denmark

  16,604

  11,357

  8,405

  12,801

  15,125

  14,346

  13,435

  15,331

  13,125

  16,670

  Belgium-Lux

  9,686

  13,087

  14,763

  12,966

  11,710

  9,541

  15,006

  13,528

  10,935

  16,267

  Brazil

  543

  7,552

  10,239

  8,388

  11,267

  19,955

  19,957

  15,530

  Italy

  4,381

  6,175

  6,683

  7,293

  6.047

  7,278

  9,937

  5,930

  6,033

  10,770

  Spain

  1,903

  3,386

  4,387

  6,749

  4,336

  5,549

  7,750

  7,263

  7,799

  7,809

  Thailand

  135

  4,769

  3,784

  7,216

  10,560

  7,201

  8,214

  7,149

  Hungary

  541

  202

  267

  283

  172

  45

  1

  188

  1,070

  2,418

  Chile

  113

  341

  184

  314

  2,070

  1,044

  Poland

  95

  456

  132

  55

  963

  Austria

  29

  398

  504

  148

  0

  74

  Argentina

  83

  16

  13

  169

  513

  Other

  97

  259

  736

  627

  424

  180

  72

  119

  261

  840

  Total

  154,043

  194,063

  228,430

  249,136

  249.382

  271,444

  297,530

  298,315

  284.949

  315,540

  Sea Salinity Levels
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of(a) the effect on the Gulf Stream Conveyer Belt of a fall in water salinity in the northern Arctic Ocean and (b) the likelihood of such conditions arising; [140405]

  (2) what research her Department is conducting on the salinity of waters in the Gulf Stream Conveyor Belt. [140410]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to my hon. Friend with this information shortly.

  Secondments
  Dr. lddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in her Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. [138624]

  Alun Michael
  Since the creation of Defra in June 2001, the Department has seconded personnel from both the public and private sectors as follows:

  15 in the period June 2001 to March 2002

  19 in the period April 2002 to March 2003

  21 in the period April 2003 to date.

  The majority have been seconded from organisations from science and technology sectors. In addition, the Department has provided for opportunity and experience postings from its Laboratory Agencies and the Research Councils, of varying durations, to work on science and technology matters, such as the development of science policy and strategies. Data is not held centrally. Finally, the Department's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Howard Dalton, FRS, was appointed on secondment from Warwick university in 2001 and is working on a range of continuing professional development issues, including secondments into and out of the Department.

  Defra is committed to playing its part in developing a modern, flexible, outward focused Civil Service that works in partnership with all sectors of society.
  1240W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  The table attached shows UK imports of poultry meat between 1993 and 2002.

  Interchange is seen as a key tool in meeting this commitment. Defra continues to promote and encourage the interchange of personnel between the Department and a range of organisations to help fulfil its business objectives.

  Sellafield
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual emissions were of radioactive liquid discharges from Sellafield of(a) tritium, (b) carbon 14, (c) zinc-65, (d) strontium 89, (e) strontium 90, (f) technetium 99, (g) iodine 129, (h) europium 152, (i) europium 154, (j) total Beta and (k) uranium in each of the past 30 years. [140404]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to my hon. friend with this information shortly.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what condition each site of special scientific interest (SSSI) was in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area; and what the total land area of SSSIs was in each category(a) in England and (b) broken down by local authority area. [139202]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are 4,112 Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England, covering over one million hectares. English Nature has been assessing the condition of SSSIs against rigorous and consistent standards, since 1997. It takes six years to complete fully the assessment programme across the whole of England, and although individual sites may be assessed more than once over this period, it is impossible to assess each site each year. The first full assessment programme was completed in March 2003, and showed that 598,000 hectares of SSSI land (56.9 per cent. of the total) was either in favourable condition or clearly on course to achieve it, on the basis of the latest information available at that time. English Nature will publish a report giving the full results of this programme next month. Full details of all the individual SSSIs, and their condition, will be available on English Nature's website early in the new year.
  1241W
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many new areas of sites of special scientific interest she plans to designate in the next(a) two and (b) five years; where they are; whether each is (i) a new site and (ii) an extension of an existing site; what the size is of each new site and extension; and what the characteristics of each site are. [139203]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Sites of Special Scientific Interest are notified not by the Secretary of State but by English Nature. This is done on a site by site basis and there is no forward programme of notifications over 2 or 5 years.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which sites of special scientific interest are under threat from(a) damage to their ecological status, (b) a reduction in size and (c) disappearance over the next (i) two and (ii) five years, what the source of the threat is in each case; what percentage of SSSIs are under threat; and if she will make a statement. [139204]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Information on potential threats to Sites of Special Scientific Interest is not recorded. However, the actual causes of adverse condition are recorded by English Nature. This information will be presented in the report on SSSI condition which will be published in December, and will be made available for individual SSSIs on the English Nature website early in 2004.

  Synthetic Oestrogen
  Mr. Gummer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to(a) reduce levels of synthetic oestrogen in river water and (b) prevent the metamorphosis of male fish arising from high levels of synthetic oestrogen. [140241]

  Mr. Morley
  The Environment Agency published research findings in 2002 on the effects of oestrogens on aquatic life. A summary of the research findings is available in the Library of the House. My officials are currently discussing, with the water industry, the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) and the Environment Agency, a proposal for a collaborative demonstration programme aimed at assessing the cost-effectiveness of sewage treatment processes for the removal of synthetic oestrogens from sewage.

  US Warships (Disposal)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the possible risk to wildlife in the special protection areas of Teesmouth and the Cleveland coast as a consequence of plans by Able UK to scrap United States vessels at Hartlepool. [133165]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responsibilities lie with(a) the Environment Agency, (b) the Port Authority, (c) the US Administration and
  1242W
  (d) Able UK in the event of environmental damage caused by the ships from the US Naval Reserve while they are in storage at Hartlepool. [139207]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

  Warm Front
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many households are eligible for(a) Warm Front and (b) Warm Front Plus grants; and how many additional households qualify for assistance through the scheme as a result of working tax credit becoming a qualifying benefit. [131455]

  Mr. Wood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of(a) the impact of the Warm Front initiative and (b) the quality of the service it provides. [137314]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  In the past year, the NAO completed a report "Warm Front: Helping to Combat Fuel Poverty" looking at issues including the targeting, eligibility, measures and delivery of the scheme. An internal review looking at similar issues has also been completed by my Department.

  The Department is also funding research looking at the health impacts of Warm Front. The Department will be considering the findings of these studies in the coming months as part of the development of Warm Front.

  An independent quality assurance company carries out regular audits of the performance of the Warm Front scheme managers for the Department. This covers marketing, contact centre activity, surveyor activity, management of installers, checks on the quality of installed work, timelines for delivery of measures, scheme managers internal systems.

  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how much was spent through the Warm Front schemes in each constituency in the last financial year; [133085]

  (2) how many properties in each constituency have benefited from the (a) Warm Front and (b) Warm Front Plus schemes in the last five years; [133086]

  (3) what estimate she has made of the number of households in each constituency who could benefit from the Warm Front scheme and who have yet to claim. [133087]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  The information requested will take some time to collate and I will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

  Waste Management
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether proposals by Essex County Council for waste disposal comply with Government guidance and directives in respect of the recycling of waste; and if she will make a statement. [139385]
  1243W
  Mr. Morley
  We have not made any assessment of whether Essex County Council's proposals for waste disposal comply with Government guidance and directives in respect of the recycling of waste. That assessment is for Essex County Council to carry out as part of their waste strategy.

  Essex County Council's recycling rate for 2001–02 was 21 per cent. Their Statutory Performance Standard for recycling and composting of household waste is set at 22 per cent. for 2003–04 and 33 per cent. for 2005–06.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation she will undertake with local authorities in advance of the implementation of European Union directives on waste management. [139950]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government is committed to consulting relevant stakeholders on the implementation of European Union directives. This includes the Local Government Association and individual local authorities where appropriate.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the delivery team set up by her Department in May on the implementation of the sustainable waste delivery programme. [139951]

  Mr. Morley
  The Waste Implementation Programme (WIP) was established in May 2003 on the recommendation of the Strategy Unit Report 'Waste Not, Want Not', with funding committed until financial year 2005–06.

  The Programme Director has been in post since June 2003. An external Steering Committee has been set-up, and its first two quarterly meetings have now taken place. Its five sub-programmes (Local Authority Support; Local Authority Funding; New Technologies; Data; Research) are now in place and have each produced impact trajectories and detailed delivery plans.

  The programme has already distributed £140 million to Local Authorities for the delivery of 258 projects, and seven PFI schemes have been approved.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to increase her Department's(a) detection and (b) prosecution of illegal waste activities. [139952]

  Mr. Morley
  A range of measures have been included in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill that will lead to more effective investigations and more successful prosecutions for illegal waste activities or fly-tipping offences.

  The Bill also requires local authorities and the Environment Agency to submit data to the Secretary of State to help compile a national picture of the scale and extent of fly tipping.

  The Government is also developing a comprehensive strategy for dealing with fly tipping which will be consulted on shortly.
  1244W
  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the money collected in fines by her Department for waste-related offences has been retained by her Department. [139953]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information shortly.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are being implemented to include schoolchildren in community recycling schemes. [139954]

  Mr. Morley
  Government is not implementing any specific measures to include school children in community recycling schemes.

  Awareness of waste issues is covered in the school curriculum at various key stages. Government also provides Waste Watch with a grant of £232,000. £60,000 of this grant is used to fund waste awareness work in schools.

  In addition, many local authorities support their recycling schemes with awareness campaigns. We do not have an assessment of the degree to which they involve school children.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the landfill tax to reach the rate of £35 per tonne. [139955]

  Mr. Morley
  I expect the landfill tax rate for active waste to reach £35 per tonne in the medium to long term, as announced by the Chancellor in his last Budget statement.

  The rate was increased from £13 to £14 per tonne on 1 April 2003 and will be increased to £15 per tonne from 1 April 2004. The Chancellor announced that it will subsequently be increased by £3 in 2005–06 to £18 per tonne, and by at least £3 per tonne in the years thereafter, until it reaches £35 per tonne.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the regulatory guidance notes on end of life vehicle permitting will be issued to vehicle salvage and dismantling companies. [139956]

  Mr. Morley
  The guidance on Part VII and Schedule 5 of the End of Life Vehicle Regulations 2003 will be issued to vehicle salvage and dismantling companies on Friday 21 November.

  Mrs. Spelman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made towards the target of 85 per cent. re-use and recovery by weight of end of life vehicles. [139957]

  Mr. Morley
  A recent study carried out for the Department by TRL Ltd., estimated that in 2000 approximately 77 per cent. of the weight of ELVs scrapped was already being reused, recovered and recycled. Legislation was introduced on the 3 November which means that End of Life Vehicles must be depolluted in line with the Directive requirements. We expect that additional components and materials will be recovered and recycled as a result of the depollution activities.
  1245W
  Mr. Alan Hurst
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the availability of funding for the development of new technologies for waste management schemes. [139456]

  Mr. Morley
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

  Water Budget Payment Units
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in each region of England have water budget payment units. [140392]

  Mr. Morley
  The Water Industry Act 1999 ended the use of water budget payment units that cut off or restrict supplies to homes and other vital premises for non-payment of bills. Some companies allow customers to keep units with the disconnection element removed, but the Office of Water Services no longer collects the numbers installed.

  Watercourse Maintenance
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance the Government issue to drainage boards in relation to the removal of silt following the European Waste Framework Directive and the Nitrate Directive on watercourse maintenance after 2006. [140351]

  Mr. Morley
  Neither the Waste Framework Directive nor the Nitrates Directive apply to the removal of silt from watercourses. However, Waste Management Licensing Regulations (1994) control the application of dredged material to land and the Government have made use of their discretion under Article 11 of the Waste Framework Directive to provide licensing exemptions for dredgings from inland waters. Where dredgings are to be spread on agricultural land, and the land falls within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, the requirements of the NVZ Action Programme Regulations must also be observed.

  Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the content and design of her Department's website. [139339]

  Alun Michael
  I will write to the hon. Member with this information in due course.

  Winemaking Industry
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the English winemaking industry. [137280]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  There are currently 333 active vineyards in England and Wales, 317 of which are based in England, and 114 wineries. Three quarters of the total area under vine is based in the south of England, where the climate is more suitable for growing grapes. A further 15 per cent. is in the East Anglian region and the rest is spread across other English regions and Wales.
  1246W
  English wine production is variable depending on the climate. Over the period 1999–2001, the average production in the UK was 14,434 hectolitres. Total wine production for the UK in 2002 was 9,384 hectolitres which was lower than average. Wine production in England alone for 2002 was 9,334 hectolitres. This year's harvest is expected to be considerably higher than the previous year and of good quality. The domestic industry currently meets around 0.2 per cent. of what is a large, and sophisticated UK market. In recent years, the English wine industry has been remarkably innovative, having made particular progress with the development and production of sparkling wines, some of which have been internationally recognised.

DEFENCE

  Iraq
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether steps have been taken to require that troops of the occupying power in Iraq do not have sexual intercourse with Iraqi women; and if he will make a statement. [135436]

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

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 15 September 2003,Official Report, columns 587–88W, on Iraq, if he will list those countries that now have military personnel working with UK and US forces in Iraq, broken down by (a) number and (b) type; and if he will make a statement. [139284]

  Mr. Ingram
  The following coalition forces operate within the UK-led Multi-National Division (South East):

  Country

  Units

  Number

  Italy

  1 Infantry

  c. 2,800

  1 Engineer Regiment

  1 Support Battalion

  1 Support and Logistics Battalion

  1 Carabinieri Regiment

  Air Force Detachment

  National Command Centre

  Administration Detachment

  Czech Republic

  1 Field Hospital

  c. 100

  Military Police Company

  Denmark

  1 Infantry Battalion

  c. 480

  Netherlands

  Marine Battalion

  c. 1,100

  Military Police Platoon

  Field Dressing Station

  Engineer Construction Company

  Air Force Detachment

  National Support Element

  Divisional Staff

  New Zealand

  1 Engineer Company

  c. 60

  Norway

  1 Engineer Squadron

  c. 160

  Portugal

  1 Military Police Company

  c. 130

  Romania

  1 Infantry Battalion

  c. 750

  1 Military Police Company

  National Support Element

  Lithuania

  Infantry Platoon

  c. 30

  Total

  c. 4,500

  The other Multi-National Division (Central South) is led by the Poles and numbers approximately 9,000. It is composed of the following forces: Poland (c. 2,500), Ukraine (c. 1,600), Spain (c. 1,200), Bulgaria (c. 480),

  1247W
  Slovenia (c. 360), Nicaragua (c. 110), Honduras (c. 370), Dominican Republic (c. 300), Mongolia (c. 180), Romania (c. 200), Lithuania (c. 50), Latvia (c. 100), Kazakhstan (c. 30), Slovakia (c. 80), Thailand (c. 900), Hungary (c.300) and the Philippians (c. 100).

  There are no multi-national forces operating in the US Area of Operations north and west of Baghdad.

  The numbers are approximate as roulement and leave cause modest daily fluctuations.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests UK authorities have received from Iraqi(a) officials and (b) civilians for assistance for Iraqi security forces to stop illegal oil smuggling along the Shatt-al-Arab waterway; what assistance has been provided; and if he will make a statement. [139680]

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

  Lady Hermon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) fatal and (b) non-fatal attacks there have been on UK army personnel serving in Iraq since the conclusion of military conflict; and if he will make a statement. [134826]

  Mr. Ingram
  Many of the following figures have been compiled under operational conditions and may therefore be subject to future refinement and revision.

  Decisive combat operations in Iraq ceased on 1 May 2003. Figures for the number of attacks on United Kingdom forces were not collected before 1 June 2003. Between 1 June and 17 October 2003, we assess that there were 101 deliberate attacks on coalition forces in the UK-led area of operations. Five resulted in the deaths of British personnel.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the findings of the inquiry into the deaths on 24 June 2003 of members of the Royal Military Police in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [135448]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 September 2003,Official Report, column 748W, to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd).

  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the lessons the Department has drawn from the recent Iraq conflict regarding(a) logistics, (b) equipment and (c) food provision for armed forces personnel. [136443]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence is currently engaged in a comprehensive exercise to capture and analyse lessons from the operations in Iraq. This includes a full assessment of our logistics (including food provision) and equipment performance. I anticipate the publication of a final report on the major findings of this process by the end of this year.

  Some early indicators were identified in our "First Reflections" report published in July. For example, while overall logistics performance was a major contribution to success, a major lesson is the requirement for a robust tracking system to enable equipment and stocks to be tracked throughout
  1248W
  the supply chain. The Department found that the performance of equipment across all three Services matched and often exceeded expectations. Although food provision was not mentioned in detail in this report, the operation confirmed the validity of our current methodology.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Iraqis have been(a) killed and (b) injured in violent incidents involving other Iraqis since first of May in the provinces of (i) Basra City and (ii) Maysan; and if he will make a statement. [136605]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 November 20031]: We are unable to confirm the number of incidents in which Iraqis kill or injure other Iraqis in Basra and Maysan. Violent crimes committed by Iraqis against their fellow Iraqis are a matter for investigation by the Iraqi Police. Coalition Forces continue to support the Iraqi Police during their operations and through the provision of training and equipment.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much(a) weaponry and (b) explosives have been seized by British forces in Iraq since 1 May, broken down by type. [136607]

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

  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which instruments of(a) international humanitarian law and (b) human rights law have been recognised by the Government as governing the use of force by United Kingdom military personnel in Iraq since the end of the conflict. [136924]

  Mr. Ingram
  I will write to the 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, if he will list the(a) civilian and (b) industrial infrastructure reconstruction programmes undertaken by his Department in Iraq, including the (i) initiation date, (ii) projected completion date and (iii) units involved; and if he will make a statement. [137519]

  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. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK civilians are working for defence contractors in Iraq; for whom they are working; in which areas of Iraq they are working; what risk assessments were carried out prior to them beginning work; what protection they are receiving; and if he will make a statement. [137900]

  Mr. Ingram
  We do not hold details of the numbers of United Kingdom contractors currently working in Iraq. Contractors are employed by a number of Government Departments and organisations on projects throughout Iraq. UK forces in Multi-National Division South East (MND(SE)) area of operations constantly review security arrangements for British Citizens in the area for which they are responsible, including contractors. However, it is the contractors' responsibility to assess the risks to their employees prior to deploying them to
  1249W
  Iraq. They are provided with security information, as well as regular liaison with local commanders once in Iraq, to enable them to do so.

  The measures in place to protect contractors in Iraq vary according to the threat in the location in which they are working in Iraq, and the nature of the work they are carrying out. For reasons of operational security it would be inappropriate to provide details of the precise measures in place to protect British Citizens in each location, and I am withholding that information under Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of Part II of the Code of Conduct.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on planned future force numbers in Iraq. [139374]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 18 November 2003.]: We intend to retain sufficient forces in Iraq to achieve our aims. Force levels are kept under review as the requirements of the mission evolve.

  Mr. Soames
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Order of Battle for British forces in Iraq is. [139375]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: The United Kingdom currently leads the Multi-National Division (South East). UK units within the Division are: 20 Armoured Brigade Headquarters; The Queens Royal Hussars; 1st Battalion The Light Infantry; 1st Battalion Royal Green Jackets; The Royal Regiment of Wales; 26 Regiment Royal Artillery; 35 Engineer Regiment; 9/12 Lancers; 4 Composite Logistics Support Regiment; and 2 Field Hospital. In addition, there are a number of non-formed units and smaller elements, making up a total complement of around 10,200. These include the Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq), which has 23 support helicopters assigned. In addition, 2 C-130J and 1 HS-125 are based at Basrah.

  Dr. Murrison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by date of meeting the companies with which he has discussed the release of employees for reserve service in connection with Operation Telic in the last 12 months. [139614]

  Mr. Caplin
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence regularly meets with companies to discuss a range of defence issues. No meetings have been scheduled specifically to discuss the release of reservists to support Operation Telic.

  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the UK armed forces have been(a) killed and (b) injured in Iraq since the end of the conflict. [139871]

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

  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will arrange for the texts of arrangements agreed by Coalition Governments in relation to custody of persons captured in the course of the war in Iraq to be placed in the Library. [139912]

  Mr. Ingram
  In March 2003, the United Kingdom, US and Australian Governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the transfer of Iraqi prisoners. Copies of this memorandum were placed in the Libraries of the 1250W
  House on Friday 14 November. The scope of the memorandum is not confined to major combat operations in Iraq, but also covers those detained subsequently by UK forces.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the performance of the United Kingdom armed forces logistical support vehicles in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [140042]

  Mr. Ingram
  No special research has been commissioned or evaluated on the performance of combat support vehicles in Iraq.

  The study to identify lessons from operations in Iraq includes an assessment of the effectiveness of logistic support provided to our armed forces across the Gulf region. The initial findings of this study were published in early July in the MOD report, "Operations in Iraq 2003: First Reflections", and we plan to publish a fuller report before Christmas. Generally, the combat support vehicles deployed in support of operations in Iraq have achieved acceptable levels of availability.

  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the numbers of UK servicemen returned to the UK with diagnosed conditions of illness since the beginning of military action in Iraq. [140201]

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

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British aircraft were lost during the recent conflict in Iraq. [122005]

  Mr. Ingram
  One Tornado GR4 aircraft and two Sea King helicopters were lost during the coalition's military action in Iraq.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the war in Iraq has cost. [111922]

  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the additional costs incurred by his Department in connection with the conduct of operations in Iraq in(a) the financial year 2002–03 and (b) the present financial year to date; and what procedure is being followed to recover these from the earmarked reserve established by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. [112090]

  Mr. Hoon
  The net additional cost of operations in Iraq for 2002–03 is set out in the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03, which is available in the Library of the House.

  Operating costs for 2002–03 are £629.531 million and expenditure on capital equipment amounts to £217.680 million. These give a total spend of £847.211 million.

  Additional funding will be sought in the normal way through Supplementary Estimates. The costs likely to arise in 2003–04 will be included in the Winter Supplementary Estimate which is due to be published on 27 November.
  1251W
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps have been taken to improve the sharing of information between national contingents at Headquarters, Combined Joint Task Force, in Baghdad. [130334]

  Mr. Ingram
  Since the start of operations in Iraq we have worked closely with our partner nations to facilitate effective sharing of information including through the use of liaison officers within the Commander Joint Task Force Headquarters in Baghdad. The process undergoes continuous refinement in the light of experience.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance was given to US military forces experimenting with weapon systems in the war in Iraq. [125084]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence maintains many collaborative research partnerships with the United States, though none is specific to Operation Telic.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the agreements made by him to assist the US military forces in using experimental weapon systems in the war in Iraq. [125086]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence neither has, nor has had, any agreements in place to assist any US forces in using experimental weapons systems during Operation Telic.

  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list military operations in Iraq involving(a) British forces and (b) United States forces with Britain's agreement in each month between January 2002 and 19 March 2003; in each case, how many (i) bombs were dropped and (ii) targets there were; what the strategic significance of each target was; and what the operational success rate was. [129897]

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

  Maritime Wrecks
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many maritime wrecks there are in the Bristol Channel; and where they are. [93119]

  Mr. Caplin
  Within the limits of Admiralty Chart 1179 (Bristol Channel), produced by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 272 wrecks or obstructions are shown on charts where scale allows.

  I am placing the information requested on the position of these objects in the Library of the House.

  Public Highways
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what circumstances members of HM forces may direct traffic on public highways; and if he will make a statement. [139946]

  Mr. Caplin
  Members of HM forces have no authority to direct traffic on public highways. However, they may supervise and control military traffic on public highways to ensure that it does not impede civilian traffic and that it complies with the appropriate traffic regulations.

  Accountancy Services
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002–03. [109481]

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

  Acknowledgement Letters
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many acknowledgement letters and cards were dispatched by his Department in each year since 1997 for which figures are available; and what the estimated average cost was per letter and card. [111870]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 8 May 2003,]: Details of the cost and number of acknowledgement letters and cards dispatched by the Ministry of Defence is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However the Department routinely sends a letter of acknowledgement for each piece of ministerial correspondence it receives. During the period 1 January 2003 to 31 October 2003, the MOD received 4,879 pieces of ministerial correspondence. The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the volume of Members' correspondence received by Departments. The report for 2002 was published on 15 May 2003, Official Report, columns 18–21W. Copies of previous reports are available in the Library of the House.

  Advanced Jet Trainer
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the minute of 29 July concerning the advanced jet trainer project; and if he will make a statement. [140289]

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

  Al Majar Al Kabir
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations he has received on the deaths of military policemen at Al Majar Al Kabir in June; and if he will make a statement. [135381]

  Mr. Ingram
  We have received a number of representations from Members of Parliament and relatives of the military policemen about the deaths of the six Royal Military Policemen at Al Majar Al Kabir. We keep the nominated next of kin of the deceased informed of progress in the continuing investigations into the deaths.

  Armaments
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the armaments that can be used against(a) mechanised columns, (b) ammunition storage sites and (c) surface to air missile sites. [109683]

  Mr. Ingram
  The armed forces are equipped with a wide range of armaments that could be used against such targets.
  1253W
  The actual armament used will depend upon the specific nature and location of the target.

  Armed Forces (Harmony Guidelines)
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which(a) Infantry, (b) Royal Artillery, (c) Royal Armoured Corps, (d) Royal Engineers and (e) Royal Signals units have not met their harmony guidelines in the past two years; [140220]

  (2) which (a) Royal Navy vessels and (b) RAF squadrons have not met their harmony guidelines in the past two years. [140221]

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

  Armoured Land Rovers
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armoured Land Rovers are deployed with UK forces in Iraq; and whether this will be affected by the Ministry of Defence's decision to sell some of its stock of armoured Land Rovers. [130792]

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

  Army (Tour Intervals)
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which(a) Infantry, (b) Royal Artillery, (c) Royal Armoured Corps, (d) Royal Engineers and (e) Royal Signals units have had less than 12 months between tour intervals in the past five years. [140219]

  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. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the present average tour interval is for infantry regiments in the Army. [137727]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]: The Army's Harmony guidelines recommend a tour interval of 24 months between each six month operational tour for Army battalions, which equates to one tour in each 30 month period. Between first May 2001 and 31 October 2003 infantry battalions undertook an average of about 1.3 tours. This is primarily the result of the Army's commitments on Operation Telic in Iraq and we therefore expect the situation to improve as commitments reduce.

  Australian Defence Programmes
  Mr. Breed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions there have been between the UK Government and the Australian Government on future strategic tanker and offensive air system programmes; and if he will make a statement. [109352]

  Mr. Ingram
  Ministry of Defence officials have discussed future offensive air systems with the Australian Government on a number of occasions. The United Kingdom and Australian Government are cooperating on work to demonstrate new technologies 1254W
  that will allow cruise missiles to be safely launched from large transport aircraft. This work is part of the UK's Future Offensive Air System project, and is being carried out by MBDA UK Ltd.

  Officials have also provided occasional briefings to Australia about our requirement and planned PFI procurement strategy for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA). FSTA was also discussed briefly during a meeting that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence held with Senator Robert Hill, Australian Defence Minister, on 12 November 2003.

  C-130J Aircraft
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of RAF C-130J aircraft had been planned to be out of service in 2003 owing to maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [135801]

  Mr. Ingram
  The planned number of C-130J aircraft on routine, scheduled maintenance at any one time is normally one aircraft, equating to 4 per cent. of the 25 aircraft fleet. However, due to the heavy use of the fleet on Operation TELIC, this has been increased to a planned average of 1.5 aircraft; this equates to 6 per cent.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of RAF C-130J aircraft(a) are and (b) have been judged to be below mission readiness owing to chronic engine problems in each month in 2003; [135803]

  (2) how many RAF C-130 J aircraft (a) are out of service and (b) have been out of service in each month of 2003 owing to (i) routine maintenance and (ii) engine problems; and if he will make a statement. [135802]

  Mr. Ingram
  "Chronic engine problems" has been taken to refer to significant faults such as turbine failures and generator problems that have caused engine rejections. Faults such as low oil pressure and other routine faults have not been included.

  As at 0800 on 30 October 2003, nine RAF C-130J aircraft were out of service. Of these nine, two aircraft were back in service 24 hours later. The average number of aircraft unavailable due to routine maintenance and engine problems during the first 10 months of 2003 is provided in the following table. Some aircraft may have undergone routine maintenance at the same time as being out of service for engine related problems.

  The figures in the table are not whole numbers because they are calculated as the number of aircraft that were unserviceable during the month multiplied by the proportion of the month that each aircraft was out of service. As an example, if one aircraft was unserviceable for 40 per cent. of the month then this would give an average of 0.4, as in January. These figures have then been expressed as a percentage in the second table.

  Month

  Average number of aircraft unserviceable for engine problems

  Average number of aircraft in scheduled maintenance

  January

  0.4

  2.0

  February

  1.2

  2.0

  1255W

  Month

  Average number of aircraft unserviceable for engine problems

  Average number of aircraft in scheduled maintenance

  March

  1.2

  1.1

  April

  1.2

  1.3

  May

  7.7

  1.3

  June

  5.1

  1.0

  July

  4.6

  1.8

  August

  6.0

  1.2

  September

  6.1

  1.7

  October

  7.2

  1.9

  Average percentage of fleet (25 aircraft) unserviceable due to chronic engine faults during each month of 2003 (adjusted for proportion of month each aircraft was unserviceable)

  Month

  Percentage of fleet

  January

  1

  February

  5

  March

  5

  April

  5

  May

  31

  June

  20

  July

  18

  August

  24

  September

  25

  October

  29

  Childhood Obesity
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with other departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. [138787]

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

  Chinook
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Mark 3 Chinooks the RAF has; what their cost to the RAF was in the last year for which figures are available; how many are active; and what the location is of those which are(a) and (b) inactive. [128601]

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

  Cluster Bombs
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the military strategic value of the use of cluster bombs in future conflicts based on experience in Iraq in the current year. [130985]

  Mr. Ingram
  As a matter of course we conduct an exhaustive assessment after every military operation involving UK Forces. One element of this work will be an assessment of the effectiveness of all the equipment used during the operation. The publication of the Iraq lessons report is expected at the end of the year.

  Combat Stress
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what help is being given to troops returning to the United Kingdom to cope with combat stress. [138955]

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

  Complaints Procedures
  Sarah Teather
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will establish a final appeal panel drawn from people outside the military system, as proposed by the Independent Assessor of Military Complaints procedures in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [139780]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no plans to establish a final appeal panel drawn from people outside the military system. The British armed forces are subject to the rule of law.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many consultancies were commissioned by his Department in the last two years for which figures are available; and what the cost of those contracts was. [130905]

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

  Correspondence
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will write to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South regarding his answer of 6 November 2003,Official Report, column 372W, concerning personnel working for private companies on contract on the MOD estate. [83820]

  Mr. Caplin
  I replied to the hon. Member today.

  Croatia
  Richard Ottaway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the commercial basis was for the payment in 2001 of $6.5 million by his Department in connection with the use of the North Port of Split, Croatia; and to whom the payment was made. [140206]

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

  D-Day Anniversary
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many requests for participation in events on fifth to sixth June 2004 have been received by(a) the Royal Air Force Participation Committee and (b) its Army and Royal Navy equivalents; whether participation in events on those two days by the Armed Forces has yet been allocated; and if he will make a statement. [139774]
  1257W
  Mr. Caplin
  The Royal Air Force Participation Committee has received 24 requests for participation in events on fifth to sixth June 2004. No allocations have been made at present. This type of information is not held centrally by the other two Services. I outlined the current situation on the 60th anniversary of D-Day during the recent Adjournment Debate on 11 November 2003,Official Report, columns 24–31W.

  Defence Agencies (Finance)
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the(a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for (i) the Warship Support Agency, (ii) the Veterans Agency and (iii) the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory for financial years (A) 2001–02 and (B) 2002–03; [140316]

  (2) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the (i) Defence Housing Executive, (ii) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency and (iii) Defence Transport and Movements Agency for financial years 1999–2000 to 2002–03. [140329]

  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. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the(a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the Defence Communication Services Agency for financial years 1998–99 to 2002–03; [140326]

  (2) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the Defence Aviation Repair Agency for financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01; [140327]

  (3) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency for financial years 2000–01 to 2002–03; [140328]

  (4) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the (i) Defence Procurement Agency, (ii) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Personnel and Training Command and (iii) Major Customers Research Allocation for financial years 1999–2000 to 2002–03, broken down by management group; [140330]

  (5) if he will place in the Library copies of the (a) operating cost statement, (b) balance sheet, (c) statement of recognised gains and losses, (d) cash flow statement and (e) fixed asset register for the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre for financial year 1997–98; [140331]

  (6) if he will place in the Library copies of the (a) operating cost statement, (b) balance sheet, (c) statement of recognised gains and losses, (d) cash flow statement and (e) fixed asset register for the RAF Logistic Support Services for financial years 1997–98 and 1999–2000; [140332]

  (7) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the (i) Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre, (ii) Military Survey Defence Agency, (iii) RAF Logistic Support Services, (iv) RAF Signals Engineering Establishment and (v) Army Technical Support Agency for financial years 1997–98 to 1999–2000; [140333]

  (8) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the (i) Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation, (ii) RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency, (iii) Specialist
  1258W
  Procurement Services, (iv) Defence Transport and Movements Executive, (v) Defence Codification Agency, (vi) Defence Animal Centre and (vii) Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency for financial years 1997–98 and 1998–99; [140334]

  (9) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the (i) Ships Support Agency, (ii) Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency, (iii) Logistics Information Systems Agency and (iv) Naval Bases and Supply Agency for financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01; [140335]

  (10) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the Army Base Repair Organisation for financial years 1997–98 to 2001–02; [140336]

  (11) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the (i) Medical Supplies Agency, (ii) Ministry of Defence Police, (iii) Naval Manning Agency, (iv) Naval Recruiting and Training Agency, (v) Pay and Personnel Agency, (vi) Queen Victoria School, (vii) RAF Personnel Management Agency, (viii) RAF Training Group Defence Agency, (ix) Service Children's Education Agency, (x) Duke of York's Royal Military School and (xi) Disposal Sales Agency for financial years 1997–98 to 2002–03; [140337]

  (12) what the (a) cash allocation and (b) outturn was for the (i) Defence Vetting Agency, (ii) Defence Secondary Care Agency, (iii) British Forces Post Office, (iv) Defence Medical Training Organisation, (v) Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, (vi) Defence Estates, (vii) Defence Dental Agency, (viii) Defence Bills Agency, (ix) Army Personnel Centre, (x) Army Training and Recruiting Agency and (xi) Defence Analytical Services Agency for financial years 1997—98 to 2002–03. [140338]

  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 Clothing and Textiles Agency
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library copies of the(a) operating cost statement, (b) balance sheet, (c) statement of recognised gains and losses, (d) cash flow statement and (e) fixed asset register for the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency for financial year 2000–01.[139692]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 24 March Official Report, column 7W, and on 25 June 2003, Official Report, column 875W, to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin). The balance sheet for the former Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency for 2000 01 is available in the Library of the House. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 6 October 2003, Official Report, column 1158W, covering related financial statements. I will send the hon. Member a copy of my reply.

  Defence Expenditure
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of the defence budget was
  1259W
  spent in each of the regions of the United Kingdom (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of the total in each of the last five years; [140357]

  (2) if he will list the percentage of the defence budget per head spent in each United Kingdom region in the last year for which figures are available, in descending order. [140358]

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

  Defence Finance
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the(a) cash allocation and (b) outturn for the (i) Commander-in-chief Fleet, (ii) General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland), (iii) Commander-in-Chief Land Command, (iv) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command, (v) Chief of Joint Operations, (vi) Chief of Defence Logistics, (vii) Second Sea Lord/Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command and (viii) Adjutant General were for the financial years 1999–2000 to 2002–03, broken down by management group. [139686]

  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 Medical Services
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many(a) regular and (b) reservist consultants (i) have served with and (ii) are serving with the Defence Medical Services on Operation Telic; and for how long they have been deployed. [122176]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 30 June 2003]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Defence Procurement
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out his policy on defence procurement. [140100]

  Mr. Ingram
  Our Acquisition Policy is set out in the Ministry of Defence Policy Paper No 4—Defence Acquisition. The Policy is driven by the need to secure and sustain the defence capabilities at the best value for money and at a price we can afford. Competition remains the principal means of achieving value for money, although we will consider alternative strategies, such as partnering, where they are more appropriate.

  Our Defence Industrial Policy, published in October 2002, sets out in more detail our approach to considering industrial issues in our Acquisition system.

  MOD Policy Paper No 4—Defence Acquisition is available in the House of Commons Library and via the website: http://www.mod.uk/issues/acquisition/index. htm

  Defence Industrial Policy Paper No 5: http://www.mod.uk/issues/industrial—policy.htm

  Defence Stores Management Computer
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the abandonment of the Defence Stores Management Computer. [139053]

  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 Training Estate (Civilian Vehicles)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what powers and in what circumstances a civilian vehicle(a) on and (b) off tracks on the Defence Training Estate may be confiscated; and by whom. [139947]

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

  Departmental Staff
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the South East. [125387]

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

  EU Directives
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the EU directives implemented by the Department since 8 June 2001. [126601]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Ministry of Defence is consulted by other Government Departments on the negotiation or implementation of various European Directives. But EU Directives do not generally relate specifically to the MOD and the MOD has not been the lead Department in implementing any EU Directives since June 2001.

  European Working Groups
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with achieving transparency in respect of the European working groups for which his Department is responsible. [105745]

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

  Formation Readiness Cycle
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the formation readiness cycle; and whether it has met the delivery aims set out in the Strategic Defence Review. [140223]

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

  Future Aircraft Carrier
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated date of delivery is of the first
  1261W
  ship in the future aircraft carrier project; and in which financial year peak procurement expenditure is expected to fall. [110264]

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

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on progress with the future aircraft carrier programme; [140225]

  (2) what changes have been made in the design specifications for the future aircraft carrier; [140226]

  (3) what the value of the future aircraft carrier contract was (a) when it was awarded and (b) at the latest available date; [140227]

  (4) what assessment he has made of the effect upon contractors of changes in design specifications for the future aircraft carrier. [140253]

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

  Future Command Liaison Vehicle
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Future Rapid Effects System programme on procurement of the Future Command Liaison Vehicle. [139687]

  Mr. Ingram
  The number of Future Command Liaison Vehicles (FCLV) ordered takes into account the current analysis of the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) requirement.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his written statement of 6 November 2003,Official Report, column 44WS, on Future Command Liaison Vehicle, what armoured vehicle arrangements will be made for the RAF Regiment; and how many vehicles from the manoeuvre and support brigades' fleet will be used to make up the shortfall. [139688]

  Mr. Ingram
  The RAF Regiment's requirement is being met by its current fleet of TUM (Land Rovers) and Saxons, and these will continue to be supported through life.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to make a decision on the procurement of the second batch of the Future Command Liaison Vehicle. [139689]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Alvis Vickers Limited for an initial batch of 401 Future Command and Liaison Vehicles, with the option to purchase a further 400 vehicles. We continue to keep our requirement under review, taking into account the Armoured Fighting Vehicle Rationalisation and Future Army Structure studies, as well as progress with the Future Rapid Effects System programme.

  Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom jobs he forecasts 1262W
  will be involved with each of the bidders for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft contract; and if he will make a statement. [140041]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft PFI competition has yet to be concluded. Our decision will be based on the solution that provides the required capability at best value for money. Both bids could be expected to create or sustain several thousand jobs in the United Kingdom.

  Fylingdales
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has collated on the health of the population in the vicinity of Fylingdales. [139361]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence has not collated any research on the state of health of the local population near RAF Fylingdales. The radar there operates well within health guidelines established by the National Radiological Protection Board. Local health authorities are however undertaking their own research in response to public concerns raised on this matter.

  Gripen Jets (Czech Republic)
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings he has held with the Government of the Czech Republic regarding the possible sale of Gripen jets and the Czech decision to buy supersonic aircraft since 1 January 1999; when each of these meetings was held; where each of these meetings was held; and whom in the Government of the Czech Republic he met on each occasion. [123159]

  Mr. Ingram
  Defence Ministers are in frequent contact with members of the government of the Czech Republic and regularly meet in both bilateral and multilateral fora. A range of issues are routinely discussed.

  The Defence Secretary held formal bilateral meetings at which the Czech requirement for supersonic aircraft was discussed on the following occasions:

  23 November 1999 during the WEU Ministerial meeting in Luxembourg—with the Czech Defence Minister;

  11 October 2000 in the UK (London)—with the Czech Prime Minister;

  3–4 December 2001 in the Czech Republic (Prague)—with the Czech Defence Minister;

  23 July 2002 in the UK (Farnborough International Air Show)—with the Czech Defence Minister;

  24 September 2002 during the NATO informal Defence Ministers' meeting in Poland (Warsaw)—with the Czech Defence Minister;

  21 November 2002 during the NATO Summit in the Czech Republic (Prague)—with the Czech Defence Minister;

  30 April 2003 in the Czech Republic (Prague)—with the Czech Defence Minister

  Gulf Personnel
  Mr. Syms
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British personnel are in the Gulf. [125039]

  Mr. Ingram
  The precise number of personnel in the Gulf fluctuates daily. As at 19 November there were around 10,600 United Kingdom personnel in the Gulf area.

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of whether Gulf War Syndrome exists; what relevant studies of the issue he has recently assessed; and if he will make a statement on future expenditure on(a) research and (b) treatment for people suffering from Gulf War illnesses. [139405]

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

  Hutton Inquiry
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his comments before the Hutton Inquiry, what precedent the Permanent Secretary feared would be created in allowing Dr. Kelly to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee. [129707]

  Mr. Hoon
  I assume that my right hon. Friend is referring to the oral evidence which I gave on 27 August at pages 81–84 of the transcript. The concern about creating a precedent in fact related to the Intelligence and Security Committee, not the Foreign Affairs Committee. This is clear from Sir Kevin Tebbit's minute of 10 July which has been published on the Hutton Inquiry website (reference MOD/1/0075).

  Infantry Battalions
  Mr. Carmichael
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2003,Official Report, column 433W, on infantry battalions, which army battalions have made representations to his Department in relation to the forthcoming Defence White Paper; [139935]

  (2) what discussions he has held with representatives of army infantry battalions prior to producing the Defence White Paper; [139936]

  (3) what assessment his Department has made of the financial effects of restructuring Scottish army battalions; [139937]

  (4) when he last held discussions with representatives of Scottish infantry battalions. [140018]

  Mr. Ingram
  No discussions have been held with representatives of Army Infantry Battalions prior to producing the Defence White Paper; nor have discussions been held with representatives of Scottish Infantry Battalions. No assessment has been made of the financial benefits of restructuring Scottish Army Battalions. No Army Battalions have made direct representations to the Ministry of Defence in relation to the forthcoming Defence White Paper. Representations have, however, been received from representatives of Army Battalions, for instance, from individuals in regimental associations.

  Information Technology
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's(a) total managed expenditure, (b) total spending on information technology
  1264W
  and (c) spending on information technology as a proportion of its total managed expenditure was in each financial year since 1997—98. [107179]

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

  Joint Strike Fighters
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many joint strike fighters he intends to deploy on each future aircraft carrier; [139500]

  (2) how many joint strike fighters would need to be purchased to support the deployment of 96 of such aircraft on the two future aircraft carriers; [139501]

  (3) what maximum number of joint strike fighters could be simultaneously regularly deployed on the two future aircraft carriers, if the total purchase of joint strike fighters were reduced to 110 aircraft. [139502]

  Mr. Ingram
  While no final decisions have been taken, our current planning assumption is that we will acquire up to 150 Short Take Off and Vertical Landing variants of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft which is sufficient to meet our Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA) requirements.

  FJCA is not meant solely to be deployed on our future carrier. It will be a truly joint aircraft capable of operating from both land and sea. The precise number of FJCA we would deploy on future carriers would be dependent on the mission to be undertaken, other rotary wing and surveillance assets being deployed, and other operations being undertaken concurrently.

  Kenya
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Kenyan citizens paid compensation by the Department in July 2002 were paid at(a) Kenyan and (b) British compensation rates. [140001]

  Mr. Ingram
  When a claim from overseas is heard in the United Kingdom under both common law and Part III of the Private International Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995 any aspect of damages to be regarded as quantitative will be governed by the law of the country where the case is heard. In the case of Kenyan tribespeople claiming compensation for injury allegedly caused by unexploded ordnance, the level of damages awarded were assessed according to English principles.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures were used by the Department to investigate the claims of the Kenyan citizens paid compensation in July 2002. [140002]

  Mr. Ingram
  The investigation of a claim is tailored to meet the specific circumstances of each case.

  In the case of Kenyan tribespeople claiming compensation for injuries allegedly caused by unexploded ordnance, the Ministry of Defence appointed a recently retired Brigadier and a serving Major to investigate the claims in both Kenya and the UK. In addition, a British Army surgeon was instructed to examine the medical evidence. Although the Ministry

  1265W
  of Defence disputed liability in a number of cases, evidence based on inquest reports, Kenyan magistrates courts records, post mortem reports, police investigation reports, police post incident reports, certificates of death and medical reports indicated that some limited liabilities rested with the Department. A settlement was reached through mediation in July 2002.

  Life Insurance
  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) of 27 October 2003,Official Report, column 6W, on life insurance, how many (a) regular and (b) reserve personnel serving in the Gulf have cover; and how many do not. [139236]

  Mr. Ingram
  Commercial life insurance is not part of the benefits the Ministry of Defence provides. For those who die in Service or leave the Service due to injury, the MOD's support is provided by the War Pension Scheme, the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and (for reservists) the Reserve Forces (Attributable Benefits Etc) Regulations. Moreover, as personal insurance is a complex area and one that is becoming increasingly regulated by the Financial Services Authority, it is MOD policy not to endorse, sponsor or recommend any commercial insurance scheme. Therefore, while MOD encourages regulars and reservists to ensure that they are appropriately insured for their particular circumstances, the decision whether to purchase cover, and which scheme to join, must be a matter for the individual, and as such is not monitored by the Ministry of Defence.

  Market Research
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [139989]

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

  Market Testing
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated level of saving to the Department is from the use of market testing in 2002–03. [107756]

  Mr. Ingram
  This information is not held centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate cost. Market testing has been subsumed into MOD's wider arrangements for evaluating differing acquisition options for services, including Public Private Partnerships.

  Medical Downgradings
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each service are medically downgraded; what percentage of the trained strength this represents; and if he will make a statement. [139273]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding 19 November answer 2003]The fact that an individual is medically downgraded does not mean that they are not working. The vast majority 1266W
  of those downgraded will be working normally, albeit with their deployability limited by their medical condition. Those who are categorised as medically downgraded includes not only those who are ill, or injured and awaiting treatment, but also pregnant personnel, and personnel who are permanently downgraded because of a long-term condition, but are retained in the Services in recognition of their training, skills and experience.

  The latest figures available are for July 2003, when the following numbers of trained Regular Service personnel were reported to be in a medically downgraded category.

  Total number of trained personnel in medically downgraded category

  Percentage of trained strength, by Service, who are medically downgraded

  Royal Navy

  2,410

  8.0

  Royal Marines

  590

  9.2

  Army1

  10,600

  12.5

  Royal Air Force

  4,470

  9.2

  1 Figures are not currently available for Army Officers

  Notes:

  1. These figures exclude Full Time Reserve Service personnel (FTRS), Gurkhas, Royal Irish (home service) and reservists who have been mobilised for duty.

  2. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines figures are based on their Medical Category, and are all those who are not categorised as P2 (Fit for worldwide service without restriction)

  3. The Army figures are based on the PULHHEEMS standards, showing those who are not able to be graded Forward Everywhere (FE), which means that they are not employable in full combatant duties, in any area, in any part of the world. The figures include those who are temporarily and permanently downgraded.

  4. The RAF figures are based on the Medical Employment Standard, and are all those who have a limitation against their "Ground" work capability.

  As the Services each have a different method of determining who is medically fit for role, the figures are not comparable.

  Military Aircraft
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of(a) United States and (b) United Kingdom military aircraft flying over Scotland since 1 September. [138468]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]The information sought is not held in the required format. Details of the number of United States and British military aircraft flying over Scotland above 2,000 feet are not held centrally. However, all military aircraft flying within the United Kingdom low flying system, that is those that operate below 2,000 feet, are recorded. Low flying areas (LFAs) 14 and 16 most closely conform to the geographic boundaries of Scotland.

  The numbers of aircraft that flew within these LFAs between 1 September and 7 November are as follows:

  Aircraft type

  Number of military aircraft

  British Military Fixed Wing

  3,510

  British Military Rotary

  361

  1267W

  Aircraft type

  Number of military aircraft

  US Military Fixed Wing

  91

  US Military Rotary

  0

  Total

  3,962

  Military Capabilities
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his intention that a reduction in the size of the two future aircraft carriers will lead to no diminution of military capability. [139596]

  Mr. Ingram
  No final decisions have yet been taken on the main capability specifications for the Future Aircraft Carrier programme, currently in its Assessment Phase. The intention, as with any other new equipment project, has always been to use the Assessment Phase to refine the design in order to best meet our capability requirements and to ensure value for money.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what aspects of the designed capability of(a) Type 45 destroyers, (b) Astute-class submarines and (c) Joint Strike Fighters have been changed since 1998. [139597]

  Mr. Ingram
  The United Kingdom Type 45 destroyer programme began in late 1999, following completion of Phase 1 of the tri-national Horizon programme which was carried out in collaboration with France and Italy. Much of the designed capability under the Horizon programme is being developed further in the Type 45 programme and has increased in a number of areas. The most significant change from Horizon has been in the provision for growth so that equipments may be added later to meet future capability requirements. The Type 45 design also incorporates a number of features to enable it to support and deploy an Embarked Military Force of 60 troops. In addition, it includes improvements to the operational range in extreme environmental conditions and the development of an Integrated Electric Propulsion system, which will reduce through life costs.

  The designed capability of the Astute class submarines has increased in some areas since 1998. These changes comprise: improved weapon handling and discharge; increased weapon stowage capacity, together with an additional torpedo tube; the fitting of Tomahawk missile capability; and the introduction of improved tactical data link capability, which allows joint operational planning to be conducted by co-operating forces and the UK HQ. Also under consideration are options for the inclusion of capability, such as improved navigation and data communications, in the first three boats which was originally planned for later submarines in the Class.

  The Joint Strike Fighter project is currently in the Systems Demonstration and Development (SDD) phase. There has been no change in the designed capability of the aircraft since the contract for the SDD phase was let in October 2001. In the previous Concept Demonstration Phase, which began in 1996, the joint UK/US operational requirement was developed to arrive at an affordable solution to satisfy the needs of the UK and the three participating US Services.

  Military Exercises
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 November 2003,Official Report, columns 51–52W, on military exercises (cancellation), how many military exercises were cancelled in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003 to date; what savings were made from cancellations; and if he will make a statement. [139274]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Military Vehicles
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many vehicles there are in the manoeuvre and support brigades' fleet; and how many of this fleet are(a) Saxons, (b) Land Rovers, (c) drawn from the 430 Series and (d) drawn from the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) fleets. [139690]

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

  Ministerial Meetings
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when since 1 January 1999 Ministers in his Department have held meetings with the Government of Qatar; which Ministers in his Department attended each of these meetings; and where each of these meetings was held. [123011]

  Mr. Ingram
  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 pursuant to his answer of 22 October 2003,Official Report, column 516W, on the MOD Police, when he proposes to bring into force the provisions of (a) section 25 and (b) section 79(3) of the Police Reform Act 2002; and if he will make a statement. [138784]

  Mr. Caplin
  Section 25 of the Police Reform Act 2002 relates to misconduct and complaint regulations for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad, and is therefore a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

  Section 79(3) is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and will be brought into force early next year.

  MOD Staff (Wales)
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's civilian staff were(a) working in and (b) based in Wales in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [137312]

  Mr. Caplin
  I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
  1269W
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the changes in Ministry of Defence staff in Wales for each quarter since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [137305]

  Mr. Caplin
  Staffing levels and changes for Ministry of Defence staff 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.):

  Date

  Civilian staff

  Change

  October 2003

  3,950

  -30

  July 2003

  3,970

  -200

  April 2003

  4,170

  -40

  January 2003

  4,210

  -10

  October 2002

  4,220

  -50

  July 2002

  4,270

  -160

  April 2002

  4,430

  +50

  January 2002

  4,390

  +10

  October 2001

  4,380

  -10

  July 2001

  4,390

  -390

  April 2001

  4,780

  -110

  January 2001

  4,890

  -10

  October 2000

  4,900

  -20

  July 2000

  4,920

  -60

  April 2000

  4,970

  +290

  January 20001

  4,690

  -40

  October 19991

  4,720

  -300

  July 1999

  5,020

  -70

  April 1999

  5,100

  +340

  January 19991

  4,760

  -330

  October 1998

  5,090

  +50

  July 19981

  4,670

  -370

  April 1998

  5,050

  +90

  January 1998

  4,950

  +40

  October 1997

  4,920

  +90

  July 1997

  4,830

  -60

  April 1997

  4,890

  -60

  January 1997

  4,840

  —

  1 Breakdown by location was not available for DSTL in these months.

  Notes

  1.This includes Trading Fund staff.

  2. Full-time equivalent is a measure of the size of the work force that takes account of the fact that some people work part-time.

  3.Changes are calculated from unrounded data, and then rounded to the nearest 10.

  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed in Wales by(a) his Department and (b) executive agencies responsible to his Department; where these staff are located; and how many staff are employed in (i) England, (ii) London and the South-East, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) United Kingdom in total. [137306]

  Mr. Caplin
  The number of civilian 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 the Department and by executive agencies as at 1 April 2003 is set out in the following table.

  Civilian staff employed as at 1 April 2003

  Army Personnel Centre

  —

  Army Training And Recruiting Agency

  140

  British Forces Post Office

  10

  1270W

  Civilian staff employed as at 1 April 2003

  Defence Communication Service Agency

  10

  Defence Dental Agency

  —

  Defence Estates

  20

  Defence Housing Executive

  10

  Defence Procurement Agency

  —

  Defence Storage And Distribution Agency

  190

  Ministry of Defence (Excluding Agencies)

  790

  Ministry of Defence Police

  —

  Naval Recruiting And Training Agency

  10

  RAF Training Group Defence Agency

  140

  Veterans Agency

  10

  Total (excluding Trading Funds)

  1,350

  Trading Funds:

  ABRO

  20

  Defence Aviation Repair Agency

  2,770

  Defence Science And Technology Laboratory

  —

  Meteorological Office

  40

  Total (including Trading Funds)

  4,170

  Notes

  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 and those with fewer than five staff are recorded as '—'. Detailed data on staff locations is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  The number of staff employed by the Department (full-time equivalent figures for industrial and non-industrial, permanent staff, excluding Royal Fleet Auxiliaries, Locally Engaged Staff and those on career breaks, long term sick leave, secondments etc.) as at 1 April 2003 is set out in the following table.

  Region

  Civilian staff employed as at 1 April 2003

  Trading Fund staff

  UK (including unallocated)

  72,320

  11,920

  England

  58,240

  8,270

  London

  6,410

  660

  South East

  14,280

  3,490

  Scotland

  6,510

  610

  Wales

  1,350

  2,830

  Northern Ireland

  3,280

  30

  Unallocated

  2,940

  190

  Full-time equivalent is a measure of the size of the work force that takes account of the fact that some people work part-time.

  National Insurance
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost will be to public funds in 2003–04 of the rise in national insurance contributions on the salary bill of his Department. [107910]

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

  Non-lethal Chemical Agents
  Joan Ruddock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list out-of-country missions in the last 20 years when British forces have(a) carried with

  1271W
  them and (b) used non-lethal chemical agents; and in each case what the agents were, in which amounts and which delivery devices were used; [128866]

  (2) if he will make a statement on UK policy on the use of non-lethal chemical agents by UK forces abroad. [128865]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answers 10 September and 11 September 2003]The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the development, production and use of all toxic chemicals and their precursors, except where they are intended for purposes not prohibited under the Convention, as long as the type and quantities are consistent with such purposes. "Purposes not prohibited" includes protective purposes related to protection against chemical weapons, as well as "law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes". United Kingdom armed forces comply with the UK's obligations under international law. We therefore would only carry, and would only use, non-lethal chemical agents for protective purposes related to protection against chemical weapons and for "law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes".

  Records of out-of-country operational deployments from 1983 to 2003 show only two deployments of 'non-lethal chemical agents' with UK Forces. These were to Bosnia in 1997, and to Kosovo between January and July 1999. UK troops in Bosnia and Kosovo were provided with CS or CR for activities relating to law enforcement activities. The delivery systems that could be used would be by shotgun cartridge or grenade.

  CS has also been taken overseas for defensive training purposes. This includes, for example, NBC training in Germany and testing of respirators onboard Royal Navy vessels.

  Nuclear Waste
  Mr. Alan Reid
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the sites on which intermediate level nuclear waste for which his Department is responsible is stored; and what volume is stored on each site. [139524]

  Mr. Caplin
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]Information about the locations and amounts of MOD radioactive waste is regularly published in the National Inventory. This includes intermediate level nuclear waste. The latest edition (published on 22 October 2002) shows a snapshot in time as of April 2001. It describes all stocks of waste held in the UK including that from the Ministry of Defence at that date, together with predictions of wastes arising in the future.

  The details of the Report are:

  The 2001 United Kingdom Radioactive Waste Inventory Main Report

  DEFRA Report DEFRA/RAS/02.004

  NIREX report N/042

  October 2002

  ISBN 1 84029 287 3

  The report is available on CD from the Corporate Communications Adviser United Kingdom NIREX Ltd., Curie Avenue, Didcot, Oxfordshire. OX11 ORH Phone + 44(0) 1235 825500, email: info@nirex.co.uk

  Nuclear Weapons
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 30 October 2003,Official Report, column 320W, on weapons of mass destruction, from which parts of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty the Government derived the conclusion that the UK and other nuclear weapons states are legally entitled to possess nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement. [139421]

  Mr. Hoon
  As defined in Article 9(3) of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, the United Kingdom is recognised as one of the five nuclear weapon states.

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the United Kingdom of(a) housing United States nuclear weapons and (b) the planned modernisation of storage facilities for United States nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [139679]

  Mr. Hoon
  All costs associated with the United States visiting forces based in the United Kingdom are subject to confidential cost sharing arrangements between the UK and US Governments. I am therefore withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 (defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  Official Properties
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [134686]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Ministry of Defence provides accommodation for Service personnel (and for United Kingdom based civil servants serving abroad) as a condition of service. Within the Service Families Accommodation stock of some 75,000 properties worldwide are 37 properties known as Official Service Residences. These properties are maintained to a higher than normal standard, owing to the presentational role of the occupant and the requirement for them to host and sometimes accommodate guests of the most senior level, including representatives of overseas states, in their homes. The MOD is also responsible for costs associated with the Government-owned official residence assigned to the Secretary of State for Defence by the Prime Minister during 2002.

  Costs for these 37 properties (excluding staff costs and income from charges paid), and those for the residence provided for the Secretary of State for Defence for the last two years are shown in the table. Data prior to this was not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  £

  Residences

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Maintenance

  939,651

  1,061,259

  Renovation

  200,587

  141,693

  Council Tax

  41,563

  47,932

  Running Costs

  848,430

  1,060,291

  Operation Southern Focus
  Sue Doughty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions(a) he and (b) British defence staff had with representatives of the United States on Operation Southern Focus; and when these discussions took place. [129896]

  Mr. Ingram
  I will write to the hon. Member 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 what types and quantities of Iraqi chemical and biological warfare protection and detection equipment were recovered by UK forces during Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement. [126135]

  Mr. Hoon
  Both during and since the decisive combat phase of Operation Telic UK forces have discovered and disposed of a large amount of Iraqi Biological and Chemical individual protective equipment. The equipment included gas masks, protective suits, chemical-based detection tubes and training equipment.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the reason for the delay in answering Question No 34033 of Session 2001–02, tabled on 8 February 2002. [81268]

  Dr. Moonie
  There was no delay in answering Parliamentary Question No 34033 of Session 2001–02. The reply was printed on 12 February 2003,Official Report, column 170W.

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [137974]

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

  Press Briefings
  Mr. Alan Williams
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what guidelines exist for officials in his Department, other than those in the Press Office, when they talk to journalists; [129708]

  (2) at what level in the Department officials may be authorised to give non-attributable briefings to the Press. [129709]

  Mr. Hoon
  All civil servants are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the requirements of the 1274W
  Civil Service Code and the Civil Service Management Code. Guidelines for MOD officials on talking to journalists are also available and I refer my hon. Friend to evidence provided to the Hutton Inquiry on this issue.

  Project Connaught
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the expected proceeds from the sale of land in Aldershot in connection with Project Connaught are; and how much is intended to be reinvested in improvements to the Aldershot Garrison; [139886]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the progress of Project Connaught. [139888]

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

  Public Service Agreement
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what grades of officials are responsible for the monitoring of progress towards the public service agreement targets of his Department. [109479]

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

  RAF Leave
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines have been given to RAF squadrons in respect of the taking of leave over the forthcoming Christmas period; and whether extra days holiday have been given to RAF personnel. [140218]

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

  RAF Northolt
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in each of the last five years(a) the Prime Minister and (b) other ministers of the Crown have flown from RAF Northolt. [135298]

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

  Recruitment
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people(a) applied to join and (b) were accepted into HM armed forces in each month in 2003; how many were from (a) the UK and (b) Commonwealth countries; and if he will make a statement. [139682]

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

  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 10 November 2003,Official

  1275W
  Report, column 47W, on Commonwealth recruits, if he will break down the figures for Commonwealth recruits by countries of origin; and if he will make a statement. [139683]

  Nationality

  1998–99

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Antiguan

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  0

  Australian

  15

  10

  20

  10

  15

  Bangalee

  1—

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  Barbadian

  1—

  0

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Belizean

  0

  1—

  1—

  0

  1—

  Botswana

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1—

  British Commonwealth Foreign

  5

  1—

  1—

  1—

  0

  Cameroon

  0

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  Canadian

  15

  15

  10

  10

  5

  Dominican

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Fijian

  20

  315

  265

  490

  470

  Gambian

  1—

  1—

  1—

  10

  20

  Ghanaian

  1—

  0

  15

  80

  150

  Grenadian

  0

  1—

  5

  10

  15

  Guyanese

  0

  1—

  1—

  0

  5

  Indian

  1—

  1—

  1—

  5

  5

  Jamaican

  10

  10

  45

  180

  420

  Kenyan

  1—

  1—

  10

  10

  15

  Malawi

  0

  1—

  0

  1—

  20

  Malaysian

  1—

  0

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Maltese

  5

  1—

  1—

  0

  1—

  Mauritian

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  5

  Namibian(fmly SW African)

  0

  1—

  0

  0

  1—

  New Zealander

  10

  5

  10

  10

  15

  Nigerian

  0

  0

  5

  10

  20

  Pakistani

  0

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Rhodesian

  0

  0

  0

  1—

  0

  Seychellois

  0

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  Sierra Leone

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1—

  5

  Singaporean

  0

  0

  0

  1—

  0

  South African

  30

  45

  65

  120

  150

  Sri Lankan

  1—

  0

  1—

  1—

  1—

  St. Lucia

  0

  1—

  1—

  15

  205

  St. Vincent

  0

  0

  185

  5

  120

  Swazi

  0

  0

  0

  0

  1—

  Tanzanian

  0

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  Tongan

  1—

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  Trinidadian

  1—

  1—

  10

  15

  25

  Ugandan

  0

  0

  1—

  1—

  10

  Zambian

  1—

  0

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Zimbabwean

  15

  20

  35

  120

  235

  Total

  140

  445

  715

  1,115

  1,960

  1— Indicates fewer than five.

  Notes

  Totals are trained and untrained officer and other ranks joining the UK Regular Army in financial years 1998–2003 from civil life.

  Transfers from other services are excluded.

  The nationality is that of nationality at time or recruitment and not at birth.

  Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

  Retention Policy
  Sarah Teather
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will amend Queen's Regulation 9.404 to define the exceptional reasons which would make the retention of a soldier desirable if he has been sentenced by a civil court or by court-martial to imprisonment, detention or any other form of custodial sentence; and if he will make a statement. [139781]

  Mr. Ingram
  There are no plans to amend The Queen's Regulations for the Army to define the exceptional reasons which would make the retention of a soldier desirable if he has been sentenced by a civil court or by court-martial to imprisonment, detention or any other form of custodial sentence.
  1276W
  Mr. Caplin
  For the last five financial years the intake of Regular Army personnel with a nationality recorded as being from the Commonwealth (excluding United Kingdom and UK dependent territories) was as follows:

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on services provided to his Department by NM Rothschild since 1997. [139964]

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

  Sea King Helicopter
  Andrew George
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish findings from the inquiry into the accidents involving two Royal Naval Sea Kings from RNAS Culdrose at the commencement of military operations in the Gulf in March.[134405]
  1277W
  Mr. Ingram
  A summary of the findings of the Military Aircraft Accident Investigation will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons when it is completed. The investigation is on-going and will report once we are content that it is as full and complete as possible.

  Service Manning Requirements
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on reasons for the reduction in manning requirement for the(a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Air Force since 1998. [140222]

  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 Personnel (Scotland)
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the number of service personnel(a) stationed in Scotland, (b) serving with a Scottish regiment, (c) serving with a regiment whose home base is located in Scotland, (d) recruited in Scotland, (e) trained in Scotland, (f) retired in Scotland and (g) identifying their nationality as Scottish, for each of the Services in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [138571]

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

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the salary bill was for special advisers in his Department in 2002–03; and what it is expected to be in 2003–04. [108499]

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

  Staff Numbers
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed by his Department. [106294]

  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. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff were employed by his Department in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [106964]

  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 what the projected size is of the nuclear submarine fleet excluding the SSBNs. [139598]

  Mr. Ingram
  In line with the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, current plans are that the Royal Navy's Swiftsure and Trafalgar class nuclear attack submarine 1278W
  (SSN) force level will reduce to 10 vessels by 2006. The Swiftsure and Trafalgar class vessels will be progressively superseded by new Astute class capability through a phased replacement programme towards the end of this decade.

  After 2006, there will be variations each year in the number of SSNs, depending on the precise schedule of the decommissioning of in-service boats and the entry into service of the new capability. Final decisions on the overall size of the Astute class have yet to be taken.

  Territorial Army
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from members of the Territorial Army regarding the length of their tours of duty in Iraq. [138439]

  Mr. Caplin
  Ministers have received nine letters and e-mails from members of the Territorial Army, expressing concern about the length of their tours of duty in Iraq.

  Transport Aircraft
  Mr. Keith Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to purchase C-17 aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [140217]

  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. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many C-130J Mark 5 aircraft have been delivered; and how many are serviceable; [140383]

  (2) what his estimate is of the out of service date for the C-130K fleet; [140384]

  (3) what work is planned to upgrade the C-130K fleet; and whether this will include upgrading of the wings. [140385]

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

  Type 45 Destroyers
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Type 45 destroyers his Department estimates would normally be needed to protect a future aircraft carrier in a war zone. [139593]

  Mr. Ingram
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 May 2003,Official Report, column 152W.

  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Type 45 destroyers would be capable of continuous deployment in cycles based upon the purchase of(a) nine, (b) 10, (c) 11 and (d) 12 such vessels. [139594]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Royal Navy does not seek to maintain continuous deployments of individual ship types, the only exception being the Vanguard class submarine. Instead, we aim to balance capability across the fleet against current and potential tasks. The modern
  1279W
  Type 45 destroyers will have increased availability and improved capability beyond that of the Type 42s that they are due to replace.

  Typhoon
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the expenditure on tranche 2 of Typhoon combat aircraft will be allocated; and whether those funds will be used to develop a ground attack capability. [139277]

  Mr. Ingram
  The commitment of some £200 million on tranche 2 of Typhoon has been allocated to cover a range of activities designed to reduce risk and provide a measure of protection to the overall Typhoon programme. These activities include; Computer Risk Reduction Programme, Obsolescence reduction, Equipment Development and other Long Lead Time activities. It is planned that an element of this funding will be used to develop ground attack capability.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to convert the order for a second tranche of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft into aircraft with ground attack capability. [139278]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Eurofighter Typhoon will be a multi-role aircraft and will have an initial ground attack capability. Thereafter, it will progressively benefit throughout tranche 2 from an enhanced ground attack capability, as part of the planned incremental acquisition programme. The enhancements are likely to cover datalink and avionics upgrades and integration of a range of air to ground weapons.

  Vaccines
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of whether each vaccine administered to service personnel deployed in Iraq was used according to the manufacturer's guidelines; whether all vaccines used are licensed in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [134737]

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

  Weather Reports
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the Meteorological Office weather reports on television and radio exclude the temperature in Fahrenheit. [140037]

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

  Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139337]

  Mr. Caplin
  In recent years, especially during times of conflict, the Ministry of Defence's website (www.mod.uk) has become an increasingly important 1280W
  medium for explaining what we do and why we do it, to audiences across the world. It is also a vital tool in communicating with our own people.

  Content is continually assessed and reviewed both in terms of meeting public and internal demand.

  Recent assessments have included a usability study of the site's business to business information services. The results of this study will be used in the implementation of a redesigned business to business portal. An evaluation of internet content also forms part of the Defence Information Infrastructure project which will be used to inform future developments of the site.

  Whistleblowing
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is public interest immunity in whistleblowing cases for(a) serving soldiers in Her Majesty's armed forces, (b) medical and welfare staff in his Department, (c) administrative personnel and other civil servants in his Department and (d) lawyers attached to his Department. [139911]

  Mr. Caplin
  Under the provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, the Act covers all Ministry of Defence civil servants including medical, welfare, administrative and civilian lawyers attached to the Department. The Act does not apply to members, or former members, of the armed forces.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his assessment of the effect of wind farms on military radar facilities. [140199]

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

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Arson
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to the criminal justice system of court proceedings and sentencing for arson was in(a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [125533]

  Ms Blears
  I have been asked to reply.

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

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [137885]

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

  Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
  Bob Spink
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many single, homeless(a) women and (b) men were in bed and breakfast accommodation in England in March. [135013]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 27 October 2003,Official Report, column 102W. Detailed data supplied by local authorities in respect of March 2003 are currently being validated and provisional analyses are expected to be available before the end of December. I will write to the hon. Member when the information is published.

  Business Co-ordination Unit
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many events in the last month the Business Co-ordination Unit has arranged for Ministers to attend. [140137]

  Yvette Cooper
  In the last month the Business Co-ordination Unit (BCU) has arranged attendance by Ministers at 13 events. In addition, proposals for a further eight visits are being considered by Ministers.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the running costs were of the Business Co-ordination Unit in the last financial year. [140138]

  Yvette Cooper
  The running costs of the Business Co-ordination Unit (ECU) in the last financial year totalled £111,000.

  The BCU's work includes promoting ministerial interaction with the business community, local government, the voluntary and community sectors, national bodies and regional interests and non-departmental public bodies.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff are employed by the Business Co-ordination Unit. [140139]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Business Co-ordination Unit (BCU) employs three staff.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the postal costs were to the Business Co-ordination Unit of sending leaflets advertising Ministers' availability to attend business functions. [140155]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Business Co-ordination Unit's (BCU) postal costs for sending leaflets advertising Ministers' availability to attend business functions to the end of the last financial year totalled about £50. However, leaflets have also been handed out at exhibitions and other business-related events.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many consultancies were commissioned by his Department in the last two years for which figures are available; and what the cost of those contracts was. [130903]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002. The information requested is not held centrally, and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

  Council Tax
  Matthew Green
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total collected council tax was in each financial year since 1996–97. [138149]

  Mr. Raynsford
  [pursuant to his reply, 13 November 2003, Official Report, c. 454W]: The information requested is tabled as follows. The figures shown are the amounts of council tax collected during each financial year, irrespective of the year to which they related.

  Amounts of council tax collected, England

  £ million

  1996–97

  8,799

  1997–98

  9,570

  1998–99

  10,579

  1999–2000

  11,457

  2000–01

  12,242

  2001–02

  13,208

  2002–03

  14,511

  Departmental Budget
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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 his Department's (i) Homelessness Directorate, (ii) Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, (iii) Planning Directorate, (iv) Regional Co-ordination Unit, (v) Social Exclusion Unit, (vi) Housing Directorate and (vii) Local and Regional Government Research Directorate; how many staff are employed by each body; where these staff are located: and if he will make a statement. [139782]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Paterson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the costs of running his Office between May 2002 and May 2003; and what forecast he has made for the year from May 2003. [139064]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the "Public Expenditure 2002–03 Provisional Outturn White Paper" (HM Treasury, July 2003)(Cm 5884) which shows outturn of £336.831 million against an administration costs limit of £350.724 million for 2002–03. The "Central Government Supply Estimates 2003–04—Main Supply Estimates" (HM Treasury, 6 May 2003) (HC 648) show an administration costs limit for 2003–04 of £367.110 million, which includes non-cash charges not previously covered by the administration costs limit and which would account for more than half of the increase over the 2002–03 figure.

  Departmental Expenditure
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on public transport by(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his

  1283W
  Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department since May 2002. [138108]

  Yvette Cooper
  Spending on public transport since May 2002 is as follows:

  (a) £8,473.

  (b) £30,688.

  (c), (d) and (e) For the Office's non-departmental bodies, executive agencies and Government Offices the information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have paid for (i) the congestion charge and (ii) fines for non-payment of the congestion charge since its introduction. [138109]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on (i) hiring and (ii) purchasing (A) indoor plants, (B) outdoor plants and (C) horticultural and garden products since May 2002. [138110]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on alcohol for official entertainment since May 2002. [138111]

  Yvette Cooper
  Spending on alcohol for official entertainment since May 2002 is as follows:

  (a) £1,132

  (b) £1,168

  (c), (d) and (e) The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on drinking water since May 2002. [138112]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on attending conferences since May 2002; and if he will list each conference. [138113]

  Yvette Cooper
  This information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
  1284W
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on (i) food, (ii) beverages and (iii) entertainment (A) at functions where only employees of these bodies were present and (B) for visitors since May 2002. [138114]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on refurbishment by(a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department since May 2002. [138115]

  Yvette Cooper
  Since May 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has spent £1.6 million on the refurbishment of Eland House. It is not possible to separate out the costsfor Ministerial offices, so the figures cover costs for all the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's offices.

  The information for executive agencies and Non Departmental Bodies is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on(a) first class and (b) second class postage by (i) his ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department since May 2002. [138117]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's accounting system has recorded expenditure of £42,641 on postage since May 2002. Expenditure on first and second class postage, and expenditure on postage by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's and other ministerial offices is not separately identifiable.

  For the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's non-departmental bodies and executive agencies the information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on(a) purchasing commissioned and (b) hiring art work by (i) his Ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department since May 2002. [138120]

  Yvette Cooper
  As with previous Administrations, Government Departments are supplied Art work by the Government Art Collection (GAC) on a loan basis. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not spent any money hiring art work or purchasing commissioned art work.

  The information requested for executive agencies, Government Offices and Non Departmental Bodies is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
  1285W
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on ministerial boxes by(a) his Ministerial office and (b) other ministerial offices within his Department since May 2002. [138122]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Deputy Prime Minister's Ministerial office has spent £235 on ministerial boxes and other ministerial offices within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have spent £4,888 since May 2002.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how much(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on lap-top computers since May 2002; and how many lap-top computers have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen since May 2002; [138124]

  (2) how much has been spent on purchasing (a) fans and (b) air conditioning units by (i) his ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department since May 2002; [138121]

  (3) how many (a) DVD players, (b) CD players, (c) televisions and (d) radios have been purchased by (i) his ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department since May 2002; and what the cost was in each case. [138136]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on office couriers since May 2002. [138125]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have spent on (i) water charges, (ii) electricity charges, (iii) wallpaper, (iv) print and design work, (v) still photography, (vi) video production and (vii) petrol since May 2002. [138126]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much(a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department has spent on pest prevention since May 2002. [138135]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [134687]
  1286W
  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002. The amount spent by the Office on maintenance, renovation, council tax and running costs of Government owned official residences assigned to Ministers in the Office by the Prime Minister were £183,000 which includes security and a notional transfer of rent from the Office to the Cabinet Office.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also has the use of Dorneywood, which is a Trust property available for use by Ministers.

  There has been no expenditure on residences for use by officials.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total expenditure was on new buildings and premises by his Department, its predecessors and its agencies in each of the last five years; what square footage of new office space was(a) purchased and (b) newly rented in each year; and if he will make a statement. [103227]

  Yvette Cooper
  The total cost of expenditure on new buildings and premises is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  No new office space was purchased in the period.

  The approximate cost in rental terms of acquiring new accommodation by these figures are the difference in the cost of rental in new accommodation minus of cost of accommodation given up.

  In 1998–99 a saving of £270,000.

  In 1999–2000 a saving of £85,000.

  In 2000–01 a cost of £725,000.

  In 2001–02 costs were balanced by savings.

  In 2002–03 a cost of £2,730,000.

  The cost in 2000–01 reflects relocations from properties at their lease end into one new development. The cost in 2002–03 reflects the effects of relocations, and moves and changes within the Government Estate and is distorted by the short-term acquisition of serviced accommodation.

  The square footage of office space newly rented in each year was as follows:

  Sq ft

  1998–99

  12,890

  1999–2000

  16,092

  2000–01

  112,544

  2001–02

  31,835

  2002–03

  107,565

  Note

  These figures do not relate to cost figures as we do not have the figures of old accommodation which we have given up.

  E-mails
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many e-mails(a) he and (b) his junior Ministers have received since May 2002; and if he will make a statement. [138116]

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

  Efficiency Savings
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the target is for efficiency savings in 2003–04 expressed(a) in money terms and (b) as a percentage of the Department's expenditure limit. [114111]

  Yvette Cooper
  The administration expenditure limit for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (including Agencies and the Government Offices) takes into account an assumed annual efficiency improvement of 3 per cent., the equivalent of £11.4 million in 2003–04.

  Electronic Voting
  Mr. Watson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on the security of the electronic voting machines provided by Diebold for the pilot project in Manchester. [140236]

  Phil Hope
  In May 2000 two very small-scale pilots were held in Bury and Salford using e-voting kiosks supplied by Trilogy Information Systems. Subsequent to these elections Trilogy Information Systems was acquired by Diebold. No election pilots have been conducted using Diebold e-voting kiosks. The pilots in 2000 took place before the Electoral Commission was created. At this time, Returning Officers were responsible for the procurement and evaluation for individual pilots.

  Fire Service
  Mr. Hammond
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to bring forward proposals to repeal the fire brigades discipline and promotion regulations. [139276]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service", presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 30 June, announced that the Fire Services (Discipline) Regulations 1985 would be abolished and replaced with framework regulations based on the most up-to-date ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) best practice guidance. It also announced that the Fire Services (Appointments and Promotion Regulations) 1978 would be amended to allow multi-level entry to the fire and rescue service and to support development and promotion opportunities for all fire and rescue service staff through the implementation of the Integrated Personal Development System.

  Work on both these issues is currently underway. Following consultation, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aiming to introduce the new appointments and promotion regulations early in the new year with changes to the discipline regulations following in early
  1288W
  spring. The final content and promulgation of the regulations will, of course, be subject to parliamentary approval.

  Foreign Exchange Transactions
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many foreign exchange transactions(a) his Ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have undertaken since May 2002; and what the (i) value in sterling and (ii) currency was in each case. [138123]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  House Fires
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which housing associations in England have not installed smoke detectors in their housing stock. [140359]

  Keith Hill
  Housing associations in England are required by the Housing Corporation through their Scheme Development Standards to fit smoke alarms in all new homes provided with Social Housing Grant as a condition of funding. Information on the number ofsmoke alarms fitted by individual housing associations to their existing stock is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fires occurred in houses in multiple occupation in each year from 1990 to 2003; and how many(a) deaths and (b) injuries resulted from these fires. [140360]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) injuries and (b) fatalities were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from house fires in (i) houses in multiple occupation, (ii) the rest of the private rented sector, (iii) council housing and (iv) other social housing in England in each of the past 10 years. [140419]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Local Councils (Complaints)
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints were received by the Local Government Ombudsman against local councils over the last five years; and what percentage of those complaints were upheld. [138887]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Local Government Finance
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what amount of central government grant per head was paid to each(a) county council and (b) unitary authority in England in the last financial year for which figures are available, excluding grant to police authorities and local education authorities. [140011]
  1289W
  Mr. Raynsford
  Figures for English county councils and unitary authorities are tabled below.

  Central Government Grants per head of population for 2003–04

  £

  City of London

  10,490

  Camden

  1,312

  Greenwich

  1,246

  Hackney

  1,526

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,045

  Islington

  1,593

  Kensington and Chelsea

  999

  Lambeth

  1,297

  Lewisham

  1,223

  Southwark

  1,418

  Tower Hamlets

  1,725

  Wandsworth

  933

  Westminster

  1,379

  Barking and Dagenham

  1,141

  Barnet

  770

  Bexley

  822

  Brent

  1,089

  Bromley

  670

  Croydon

  827

  Baling

  863

  Enfield

  952

  Haringey

  1,348

  Harrow

  751

  Havering

  739

  Hillingdon

  844

  Hounslow

  902

  Kingston upon Thames

  661

  Merton

  710

  Newham

  1,538

  Redbridge

  863

  Richmond upon Thames

  577

  Sutton

  782

  Waltham Forest

  1,196

  Barnsley

  866

  Birmingham

  1,156

  Bolton

  896

  Bradford

  958

  Bury

  792

  Calderdale

  852

  Coventry

  905

  Doncaster

  880

  Dudley

  832

  Gateshead

  1,034

  Kirklees

  846

  Knowsley

  1,330

  Leeds

  812

  Liverpool

  1,229

  Manchester

  1,294

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  1,055

  North Tyneside

  865

  Oldham

  989

  Rochdale

  954

  Rotherham

  918

  Salford

  1,028

  Sandwell

  1,038

  Sefton

  897

  Sheffield

  958

  Solihull

  718

  South Tyneside

  956

  St Helens

  867

  Stockport

  680

  Sunderland

  1,007

  Tameside

  913

  Trafford

  779

  Wakefield

  820

  Walsall

  971

  Wigan

  844

  Wirral

  931

  Wolverhampton

  1,005

  1290W

  Central Government Grants per head of population for 2003–04

  £

  Bath and North East Somerset UA

  653

  Blackburn with Darwen UA

  1,101

  Blackpool UA

  980

  Bournemouth UA

  704

  Bracknell Forest UA

  624

  Brighton and Hove UA

  880

  Bristol UA

  798

  City of Nottingham UA

  996

  Darlington UA

  818

  Derby City UA

  881

  East Riding of Yorkshire UA

  701

  Halton UA

  975

  HartlepoolUA

  1,126

  Herefordshire UA

  676

  Isle of Wight UA

  823

  Kingston upon Hull UA

  1,071

  Leicester City UA

  1,043

  Luton UA

  970

  Middlesborough UA

  1,148

  Milton Keynes UA

  780

  North East Lincolnshire UA

  919

  North Lincolnshire

  830

  UA

  North Somerest UA

  671

  Peterborough UA

  932

  Plymouth UA

  896

  Poole UA

  577

  Portsmouth UA

  891

  Reading UA

  729

  Redcar and Cleveland

  986

  UA

  Rutland UA

  599

  Slough UA

  975

  South Gloucestershire UA

  644

  Southampton UA

  888

  Southend-on-Sea UA

  906

  Stockton-on-Tees UA

  910

  Stoke-on-Trent UA

  913

  Swindon UA

  724

  Telford and the Wrekin UA

  819

  The Medway Towns UA

  802

  Thurrock UA

  826

  Torbay UA

  812

  Warrington UA

  749

  West Berkshire UA

  648

  Windsor and Maidenhead UA

  589

  Wokingham UA

  539

  York U A

  618

  Isles of Stilly

  1,392

  Bedforshire

  637

  Buckinghamshire

  558

  Cambridgeshire

  548

  Cheshire

  596

  Cornwall

  653

  Cumbria

  658

  Derbyshire

  617

  Devon

  602

  Dorset

  519

  Durham

  721

  East Sussex

  603

  Essex

  604

  Gloucestershire

  575

  Hampshire

  565

  Hertfordshire

  631

  Kent

  691

  Lancashire

  669

  Leicestershire

  548

  Lincolnshire

  634

  Norfolk

  593

  North Yorkshire

  622

  Northamptonshire

  650

  Northumberland

  675

  Nottinghamshire

  628

  1291W

  Central Government Grants per head of population for 2003–04

  £

  Oxfordshire

  582

  Shropshire

  614

  Somerset

  607

  Staffordshire

  601

  Suffolk

  596

  Surrey

  504

  Warsickshire

  562

  West Sussex

  562

  Wiltshire

  571

  Worcestershire

  575

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [137005]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. The Department has not incurred any expenditure on market and opinion research.

  Project

  Aim

  Fire Safety

  To measure advertising effectiveness

  Stakeholder research

  Stakeholder attitudes to ODPM

  NRU and SEU

  Stakeholder communications

  Connection with Communities

  Public impressions of communications

  Elected Regional Assemblies

  Public awareness

  To date results have not been published.

  Further detailed information on other research projects commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [139978]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Ministerial Visits
  David Davis
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the(a) foreign visits, and (b) visits to within the United Kingdom he has made since 1 April; what the cost was to public funds of each trip; who he met; and what gifts were received. [126913]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government publishes the overall costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits overseas by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 on an annual basis. The list for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 was published by the Prime 1292W
  Minister on 16 July 2003, Official Report, column 482W. The next list for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 will be published at the end of the financial year.

  In respect of gifts received, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 14 March 2003, Official Report, column 482W.

  Between 1 April 2003 and 30 August 2003, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister travelled on official business within the United Kingdom visiting Ashford (Kent), Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Castle Bromwich, Chester, Coventry, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Harlow Town, Harrogate, Hastings, Hull, the Lake District, Lancaster, Leicester, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Market Warsop, Moreton-in-Marsh, Newcastle, Peterborough, Sandwell, Southampton, Wakefield and Watford at an average cost of £224 per trip. The information requested on individuals who he met is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Multiple Occupation Housing
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which counties in England(a) have and (b) have not implemented a houses in multiple occupation registration scheme. [140356]

  Keith Hill
  On the basis of the Housing Investment Programme 2003 returns, a total of 202 local authorities in England have adopted houses in multiple occupation registration schemes. These local authorities are listed below:

  Allerdale

  Alnwick

  Arun

  Ashfield

  Ashford

  Aylesbury Vale

  Babergh

  Barking and Dagenham

  Barnet

  Barnsley

  Barrow-in-Furness

  Basildon

  Basingstoke and Deane

  Bexley

  Birmingham

  Blackburn with Darwen

  Blackpool

  Bolsover

  Bolton

  Bournemouth

  Bracknell Forest

  Brent

  Bridgnorth

  Brighton and Hove

  Bristol

  Bromley

  Bromsgrove

  1293W

  Broxtowe

  Burnley

  Bury

  Calderdale

  Cambridge

  Camden

  Cannock Chase

  Canterbury

  Caradon

  Carlisle

  Castle Morpeth

  Castle Point

  Charnwood

  Chelmsford

  Cheltenham

  Cherwell

  Chester

  Chester-le-Street

  Colchester

  Copeland

  Coventry

  Croydon

  Darlington

  Derby

  Doncaster

  Dover

  Ealing

  East Cambridgeshire

  East Dorset

  East Hampshire

  East Northamptonshire

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  Eastbourne

  Enfield

  Erewash

  Fareham

  Forest Heath

  Forest of Dean

  Gateshead

  Gosport

  Gravesham

  Greenwich

  Guildford

  Hackney

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  Haringey

  Harlow

  Harrogate

  Harrow

  Hartlepool

  Hastings

  Havant

  Havering

  Herefordshire

  Hertsmere

  Hillingdon

  Hounslow

  Huntingdonshire

  Isles of Scilly

  Kensington and Chelsea

  1294W

  Kettering

  Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

  Kingston upon Hull

  Kingston upon Thames

  Kirklees

  Lambeth

  Lancaster

  Leeds

  Lichfield

  Lincoln

  Luton

  Maidstone

  Malvern Hills

  Mansfield

  Melton

  Mendip

  Mid Bedfordshire

  Mid Devon

  Middlesbrough

  Milton Keynes

  Mole Valley

  New Forest

  Newark and Sherwood

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  Newham

  North Devon

  North East Lincolnshire

  North Hertfordshire

  North Lincolnshire

  North Norfolk

  North Shropshire

  North Somerset

  North Warwickshire

  North Wiltshire

  Nottingham City

  Oldham

  Oxford

  Pendle

  Penwith

  Peterborough

  Portsmouth

  Preston

  Purbeck

  Redbridge

  Redcar and Cleveland

  Redditch

  Rochdale

  Rossendale

  Rother

  Rugby

  Runnymede

  Rushcliffe

  Rushmoor

  Rutland

  Ryedale

  Salford

  Scarborough

  1295W

  Sheffield

  Shepway

  South Bedfordshire

  South Bucks

  South Derbyshire

  South Gloucestershire

  South Hams

  South Holland

  South Norfolk

  South Ribble

  South Tyneside

  Southampton

  Southend-on-Sea

  Southwark

  St Albans

  St Edmundsbury

  Stafford

  Staffordshire

  Moorlands

  Stockton-on-Tees

  Sunderland

  Surrey Heath

  Sutton

  Swale

  Tameside

  Tamworth

  Tandridge

  Teesdale

  Tendring

  Test Valley

  Tewkesbury

  Thanet

  The Medway Towns

  Torbay

  Torridge

  Tower Hamlets

  Trafford

  Uttlesford

  Walsall

  Waltham Forest

  Wansbeck

  Warrington

  Warwick

  Watford

  Waveney

  Wear Valley

  West Devon

  West Lancashire

  West Oxfordshire

  Westminster

  Weymouth and Portland

  Winchester

  Wirral

  Wokingham

  Wolverhampton

  Wycombe

  Wyre Forest

  York

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on services provided to his Department by NM Rothschilds since 1997. [139966]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established in May 2002 and there have been no contracts with NM Rothschild.

  Office Costs
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost of running his Departmental office was for each year since it was established, broken down by(a) telephone bills,(b) total staff costs, (c) press and communications, (d) entertainment, (e) alcoholic drinks, (f) non-alcoholic drinks, (g) stationery, (h) office refurbishment and (i) other; and what the estimate for the current year is. [121807]

  Yvette Cooper
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 1 July 2003,Official Report, 260W.

  The estimate cost of running the Deputy Prime Minister's Departmental Private Office for the current year is £408,000.

  All expenditure incurred for running the Deputy Prime Minister's Departmental office is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in "Government Accounting".

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 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. [137965]

  Yvette Cooper
  Key performance targets for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 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). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister monitors progress towards the target along with HM Treasury and PMDU and progress is reported regularly.

  Ministers set the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's executive agencies' key targets for 2003–04. These either were or will be announced to Parliament through written ministerial statements—details are as set out as follows. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister regularly monitors performance against each agency's targets. All of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's agencies publish an Annual Report and Accounts at the end of the financial year, which report on their performance against their targets.

  I refer the hon. Member to the statements on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's agencies' targets as given on:

  13 March 2003, Official Report, column 26WS: The Rent Service

  11 April 2003, Official Report, columns 35–36WS: Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre

  11 June 2003, Official Report, columns 47–48WS: Planning Inspectorate

  1297W
  The Fire Service College's targets are expected to be announced shortly. In addition, while Ordnance Survey is a department in its own right, with executive agency status, it reports to the Ministers of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The statement on its targets for 2003–04 was given on 11 April 2003, Official Report, column 35WS.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors nine executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs); the Audit Commission, English Partnerships, four Housing Action Trusts (Castle Vale, Liverpool, Stonebridge and Tower Hamlets), the Housing Corporation, the Standards Board for England and Thurrock Urban Development Corporation.

  Performance targets for executive NDPBs sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, including outputs to be achieved, are agreed by Ministers and set out in the published business or corporate plan of the NDPB. Copies of plans are available from the relevant body. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister monitors performance against these targets and progress is discussed with Ministers. The outputs and achievements of each executive NDPB are set out in its annual report, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors seven advisory NDPBs; the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, the Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, the Community Forum, the Property Advisory Group, the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England and Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Wales.

  No performance targets are set for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's advisory NDPBs. Each advisory body normally sets its own programme of work for each year within its remit to advise Ministers on the particular policy area and agrees this with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. No formal monitoring of performance takes place for these advisory bodies but outputs are set out in each body's annual report.

  Periodicals
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the periodicals that(a) his ministerial office, (b) other ministerial offices within his Department, (c) non-departmental bodies, (d) executive agencies and (e) his Department have subscribed to since May 2002. [138119]

  Yvette Cooper
  The information requested is available in the Library of the House. Weekly newspapers and tabloid-format periodicals that have the appearance of newspapers have been classed as "periodicals" and included in the list available in the Library of the House. The information relates solely to central procurement in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Central. Information for the executive agencies, Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and the Government offices is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Planning Policy (Renewable Energy)
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the forthcoming review of Planning Policy Guidance Note 22: Renewable Energy will include the consideration of land use planning as a means of reducing the UK's energy demands. [140348]

  Keith Hill
  The Government issued Draft Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22): "Renewable Energy" for consultation on 5 November. The document sets out the Government's new proposals for the handling of all types of renewable energy projects through the planning system. In addition, as promised in the Energy White Paper, this Government is currently examining, together with other government departments, how to bring consideration of the use of renewable and energy efficiency in developments more within the scope of the planning system.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the review of Planning Policy Guidance Note 22: Renewable Energy. [140349]

  Keith Hill
  Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister discussed the review of Planning Policy Guidance note 22: Renewable Energy at the 9 October meeting of the Ministerial Group on the Implementation of the Energy White Paper. This committee is jointly chaired by my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby South and my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester West. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister also sought written clearance on the consultation paper from ministerial colleagues. The ministerial activity has, at all stages, been underpinned by official level correspondence, discussions and meetings.

  Private Parking Firms
  John Mann
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what regulations exist to ensure transparency in local authority contracts with private parking firms which operate on local authority land. [140059]

  Mr. McNulty
  I have been asked to reply.

  Local authority contracts in connection with provision of parking services are subject to the normal public procurement procedures for letting of any contract by an authority.

  Rate Support Grant (Kirklees)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the(a) actual and (b) percentage increases in Government Rate Support Grant for Kirklees Metropolitan Council were in each year since 1997. [139699]

  Mr. Raynsford
  Revenue Support Grant is only one component of each year's local government settlement, and taken in isolation could give a misleading impression. The annual increases in formula grant (revenue support grant and redistributed business rates), adjusted to give a like for like comparison each year, are listed in the table.
  1299W

  Formula grant increase (£million)

  Formula grant increase (percentage)

  1998–99

  7.8

  3.5

  1999–2000

  9.7

  4.2

  2000–01

  9.5

  3.9

  2001–02

  8.0

  3.2

  2002–03

  12.8

  5.1

  2003–04

  19.7

  7.3

  2004–051

  15.4

  5.3

  1 Provisional

  Regional Co-ordination Unit
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many conferences staff of the regional co-ordination unit have attended each year since its establishment; what the cost was in each case; and how many were overseas conferences. [138106]

  Yvette Cooper
  Regional co-ordination unit staff attend a small number of conferences (none overseas) to help fulfil the RCU's role as the corporate centre of the Government Offices in the English Regions. However, the information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many conferences have been organised by the Regional Co-ordination Unit in each year since it was established; and what the cost was of each. [138107]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Regional Co-ordination Unit organises high-level meetings and a small number of other events involving its 10 sponsor Government Departments and other stakeholders, however, the detailed information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many publications have been issued by the Regional Co-ordination Unit in each year since its formation; and what the annual cost was. [138133]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Regional Resilience Forums
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the core membership of each regional resilience forum is. [140224]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Rural Housing
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons rural allocations have been made by the Housing Corporation to individual local authorities without specifying site location. [140279]

  Keith Hill
  The Housing Corporation normally seeks to allocate funds to registered social landlords for the development of schemes on identified sites. However, experience has shown that some of the rural schemes may not proceed as anticipated due to difficulties in obtaining planning permission and other development matters. To ensure continued delivery of affordable 1300W
  homes in rural areas, the Housing Corporation issues additional rural allocations to enable registered social landlords to bring forward schemes on sites which are identified during the year.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many allocations were made to rural housing providers in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 to date. [140318]

  Keith Hill
  In 2002–03 the Housing Corporation approved through its Approved Development Programme 1,579 homes provided by registered social landlords in small rural settlements of 3,000 people or less. In 2003–04, approval has been given for 647 homes in small settlements up to the end of October 2003.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many allocations to rural housing schemes were made under transitional arrangements to replace local authority social housing grant in 2002–03. [140268]

  Keith Hill
  The Housing Corporation is currently collating the information requested. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Social Housing
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social housing properties were(a) vacant and (b) constructed in each London borough in each of the last six years for which figures are available. [139931]

  Keith Hill
  The total numbers of local authority (LA) and registered social landlord (RSL) dwellings that were(a) vacant and (b) constructed in each London borough for each of the last six years are tabled as follows.

  (a) Total number of LA and RSL empty homes in London by borough in each of the last six years

  Local authority

  1 April 2003

  2002

  2001

  2000

  1999

  1998

  Barking and Dagenham

  559

  678

  581

  784

  704

  852

  Barnet

  205

  231

  274

  248

  227

  259

  Bexley

  189

  143

  163

  168

  163

  243

  Brent

  510

  679

  526

  728

  1,059

  1,081

  Bromley

  354

  349

  448

  471

  499

  515

  Camden

  508

  710

  582

  531

  680

  672

  City of London

  0

  12

  6

  5

  2

  8

  Croydon

  327

  323

  334

  368

  371

  385

  Ealing

  373

  409

  455

  370

  395

  450

  Enfield

  580

  703

  508

  422

  338

  333

  Greenwich

  723

  721

  800

  887

  821

  956

  Hackney

  1,412

  1,753

  2,265

  2,538

  2,769

  2,133

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  623

  531

  618

  585

  551

  696

  Haringey

  404

  445

  405

  456

  691

  544

  Harrow

  131

  117

  112

  92

  139

  124

  Havering

  392

  342

  348

  241

  259

  263

  Hillingdon

  240

  215

  174

  219

  178

  204

  Hounslow

  583

  382

  350

  340

  259

  232

  Islington

  728

  628

  840

  1,104

  1,432

  1,505

  Kensington and Chelsea

  294

  296

  327

  409

  355

  467

  Thames

  110

  105

  113

  102

  93

  108

  Lambeth

  1,242

  1,403

  1,494

  1,680

  1,758

  1,743

  Lewisham

  1,041

  1,172

  1,190

  1,051

  959

  1,097

  Merton

  259

  116

  139

  203

  169

  139

  Newham

  754

  613

  514

  516

  680

  951

  Redbridge

  202

  187

  231

  421

  367

  324

  Richmond upon Thames

  203

  165

  146

  204

  221

  221

  1301W

  (a) Total number of LA and RSL empty homes in London by borough in each of the last six years

  Local authority

  1 April 2003

  2002

  2001

  2000

  1999

  1998

  Southwark

  1,191

  1,367

  2,154

  1,791

  1,700

  1,623

  Sutton

  162

  200

  133

  270

  209

  158

  Tower Hamlets

  887

  951

  1,063

  1,302

  1,470

  1,503

  Waltham Forest

  259

  261

  313

  389

  646

  791

  Wandsworth

  504

  488

  541

  582

  647

  640

  Westminster

  602

  663

  579

  650

  762

  824

  London total

  16,551

  17,358

  18,726

  20,127

  21,573

  22,044

  Sources

  ODPM's annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns and the Housing Corporation's annual HAR 10 and Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR).

  (b) Total number of LA and RSL new dwellings built in London by borough in each of the last six financial years

  Local authority

  2002–03

  2001–02

  2000–01

  1999–2000

  1998–99

  1997–981

  Barking and Dagenham

  15

  57

  80

  18

  8

  12

  Barnet

  164

  72

  168

  98

  74

  56

  Bexley

  24

  27

  98

  27

  19

  8

  Brent

  570

  294

  251

  103

  30

  1

  Bromley1

  0

  9

  33

  97

  28

  33

  Camden

  25

  17

  256

  166

  85

  42

  City of London

  0

  0

  0

  21

  0

  0

  Croydon

  216

  114

  77

  194

  221

  132

  Baling

  144

  157

  53

  125

  125

  0

  Enfield

  356

  312

  344

  84

  139

  42

  Greenwich

  147

  72

  147

  64

  133

  48

  Hackney

  0

  84

  112

  91

  112

  325

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  27

  0

  0

  23

  22

  74

  Haringey

  63

  140

  59

  75

  63

  20

  Harrow

  118

  8

  0

  3

  5

  0

  Havering

  25

  133

  28

  47

  25

  8

  Hillingdon

  214

  134

  294

  137

  111

  11

  Hounslow

  84

  87

  24

  0

  21

  38

  Islington1

  73

  5

  44

  27

  65

  0

  Kensington and Chelsea

  28

  11

  55

  20

  41

  0

  Kingston upon Thames

  7

  4

  41

  45

  2

  22

  Lambeth1

  74

  58

  47

  53

  117

  98

  Lewisham

  156

  264

  150

  95

  167

  35

  Merton

  72

  81

  51

  149

  129

  0

  Newham

  0

  160

  138

  120

  180

  25

  Redbridge

  33

  12

  39

  39

  5

  8

  Richmond upon Thames

  6

  28

  20

  30

  8

  0

  Southwark

  30

  22

  26

  13

  35

  86

  Sutton

  180

  83

  161

  122

  19

  26

  Tower Hamlets

  496

  415

  131

  197

  56

  171

  Waltham Forest

  294

  83

  596

  186

  577

  25

  Wandsworth

  0

  0

  3

  76

  36

  8

  Westminster

  352

  243

  358

  207

  113

  0

  London total2

  4,329

  3,539

  4,320

  2,934

  3,233

  4,381

  1Estimates may be low because of missing returns from boroughs.

  2 Total includes estimates for missing local authority returns.

  Figures for boroughs are based on reported data.

  Sources

  Reported completions in returns to ODPM from local authorities and the National House-Building Council.

  Supporting People Programme
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons the Supporting People programme has been transferred within his Department to the Homelessness Directorate from the Housing and Care Support Division; and if he will make a statement. [140070]

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the reasons for the transfer of housing and support under the Supporting People initiative to the Homelessness Directorate. [140267]

  Yvette Cooper
  The transfer was an internal administrative decision to ensure that the appropriate skills and staff resources are invested in the Supporting People Programme.

  Television
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many(a) television licences and (b) satellite television subscriptions are held by (i) his ministerial office, (ii) other ministerial offices within his Department, (iii) non-departmental bodies, (iv) executive agencies and (v) his Department; and what the total cost has been in each case since May 2002. [138118]

  Yvette Cooper
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Unauthorised Camping
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the responses received to the Managing Unauthorised Camping Operational Guidance consultation paper. [137209]

  Yvette Cooper
  A copy of the responses received to the consultation paper on Managing Unauthorised Camping: Operational Guidance will be made available in the Libraries of the House.

  I will write to my hon. Friend once this has been done.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish his response to the Managing Unauthorised Camping Operational Guidance consultation paper. [137210]

  Yvette Cooper
  Arrangements have been made for the analysis of responses to the consultation paper on 'Managing Unauthorised Camping: Operational Guidance', to be available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Website.

  The Guidance will be re-drafted to incorporate comments and will be published early next year.

  Wind Farms
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will strengthen the Planning Policy Guidelines to create a presumption against the siting of wind farms in high value landscapes on the perimeter of National Parks. [139837]

  Yvette Cooper
  The Government issued Draft Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22): "Renewable Energy" for consultation on 5 November. The document sets out the Government's new proposals for
  1303W
  the handling of all types of renewable energy projects through the planning system Additional safeguards are included for areas of important landscape and environmental sensitivity such as National Parks. However, local planning authorities should not create "buffer zones" around designated areas and apply blanket policies that prevent the development of renewable energy resources. Instead, planning authorities should set criteria based policies in plans to cover all parts of their area, including high value landscapes on the outside of National Parks. These policies should then be used for assessing any planning applications for renewable energy projects that are brought forward by developers.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Ascension Island
  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rental contributions were paid by the United States Government to the Government for(a) the use of Wideawake Airport and (b) leasing of land owned by the Government on Ascension Island. [139767]

  Mr. Rammell
  Under the 1956 Bahamas Long Range Proving Ground Agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States, no rental contributions are paid from the United States to the United Kingdom Government or the Ascension Island Government for the use of Wideawake airfield or for the leasing of land on Ascension Island.

  Iraq
  Tom Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with(a) US authorities and (b) the Coalition Provisional Authority about the establishment in Iraq of a representative body similar to the Loya Jirga in Afghanistan to replace the Iraqi Governing Council. [138891]

  Mr. Rammell
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had frequent meetings with US authorities and representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority, at which a range of issues relating to Iraq are discussed. The formation of the future government of Iraq is a matter for the Iraqis. On 15 November, Jalal Talabani, President of the Iraqi Governing Council, announces a new plan for establishing a Transitional National Assembly formed through democratic caucus elections at provincial and local levels. At this point, the IGC will dissolve. There will also be an elected Constitutional Convention, leading to full national elections for a new representative Iraqi Government by the end of 2005.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to alter the national flag of the Iraqi state. [139051]

  Mr. Rammell
  Any future alterations to the national flag of Iraq would be a matter for the Iraqis.

  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the coalition administration in Iraq has maintained full income and 1304W
  expenditure accounts in respect of (a) sales of oil generated under the UN Oil for Food programme when it was in operation and (b) subsequent sales of oil on the world market; and if this information will be published. [134992]

  Mr. Rammell
  Maintaining accounts of Iraqi oil sales under the United Nations Oil for Food Programme is a matter for the United Nations. Sales of Iraqi oil on to the world market since the liberation of Iraq have been undertaken by the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation, 95 per cent. of revenues from oil sales have been transferred immediately to the Development Fund for Iraq for use in the reconstruction of Iraq, and 5 per cent. has gone to the United Nations Compensation Commission as required under the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1483. The accounts of the Development Fund for Iraq are subject to audit by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), comprising representatives of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations and the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development. The IAMB will make public all reports produced under its terms of reference.

  Glenda Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether UN Security Council Resolution 1483 permits the 100 per cent. purchase by foreign companies of all Iraqi economic sectors, excluding only natural resources. [135762]

  Mr. Rammell
  Resolution 1483 authorises the Coalition to undertake activities to promote economic reconstruction in Iraq, in co-ordination with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General CPA Order 39 on Foreign Direct Investment permits up to 100 per cent. participation in a new or existing business in Iraq, but does not allow for foreign direct and indirect ownership of the natural resources sector involving primary extraction and initial processing. In addition, this Order does not apply to banks and insurance companies. Foreign direct investment is an important means of promoting employment opportunities and improving social welfare. This Order creates the conditions for much needed capita] to enter the Iraqi economy.

  The Government are therefore satisfied that Security Council Resolution 1483 provides a sound legal basis for the policy goals of the CPA Foreign Investment Order. We have also satisfied ourselves through UK officials working within the CPA, and the office of the UK Special Representative for Iraq that co-ordination with the UN has taken place, in consultation with the International Financial Institutions. The Order was approved by the Governing Council and had the support of the Minister of Finance.

  Mr. Menzies Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what patrols UK Navy vessels are undertaking to prevent illegal smuggling of oil off the Iraqi coast; what progress has been made in stemming the trade; and if he will make a statement. [139681]

  Mr. Straw
  I will write to the right hon. and learned Member and place a copy in the Library of the House.
  1305W
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the method of election of the Government of Iraq. [140150]

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

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the conflict in Iraq on the war on terrorism. [140171]

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

  Uganda
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the progress made by the Government forces of Uganda against the Lord's Resistance Army; what assessment his Department has made of the probability of a military resolution to the civil war in Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [136639]

  Mr. Mullin
  Efforts by the Ugandan Government forces to defeat the rebel Lord's Resistance Army have so far been unsuccessful. While recognising the need for a security response, our assessment is that a military solution on its own is unlikely. We are encouraging the Government of Uganda to undertake parallel efforts at dialogue to resolve the conflict

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens captured by Coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2002 remain in detention in Afghanistan. [139362]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We know of no British citizens captured by Coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2002, or at any other time since 11 September 2001, who remain in detention in Afghanistan.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [137888]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Wilton Park Executive Agency has not contracted with Bechtel during this period.

  Border Controls
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effects the European Constitution will have on United Kingdom border controls. [140277]
  1306W
  Mr. MacShane
  I will write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Burma
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent action the Government has taken in relation to breaches of(a) human and (b) political rights in Burma. [139789]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]The UK has made regular representations to the Burmese authorities about the human rights situation in Burma, bilaterally, with our EU partners and at the United Nations. I regularly speak to EU partners and Burma's neighbours to press Burma on human rights issues.

  In addition, the UK co-sponsored a resolution in the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) on 16 April 2003 and will be co-sponsoring a Burma resolution at this year's UN General Assembly concerning the abuse of all human rights in Burma.

  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the United States Government's stance on sanctions against Burma. [139790]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]Like the US, we believe that pressure on the regime is essential if we are to bring about democracy, national reconciliation, and respect for human rights in Burma.

  With our EU colleagues we are currently discussing what further measures we may take to target those obstructing reform and progress in Burma, while ensuring that the ordinary people of Burma suffer as little as possible.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Kaufman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter to him dated 17 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Zubeda Islam. [133844]

  Mr. Mullin
  I can confirm that as a result of an administrative error, no reply was sent to my right hon. Friend to his letter to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, of 17 September about Mrs. Zubeda Islam.

  The Foreign Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 27 October on this case. I apologise for the delay in replying.

  European Constitution
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will lay before Parliament a White Paper reproducing the texts of those proposed articles of the draft EU Constitution which are new and additional to those found within or included in the European treaties already in force, giving for each a statement of purpose and the reasons ministers have for supporting, amending or rejecting each and his assessment of whether each is(a) a new constitutional provision and (b) a tidying up. [137942]
  1307W
  Mr. MacShane
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  General Affairs and External Relations Council
  Mr. Hood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held on 17 November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [139942]

  Mr. MacShane
  The information is as follows:

  Outcome of the 17–18 November general affairs and external relations council

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, the International Development Secretary and I, represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on 17–18 November.

  Conclusions were agreed on the Western Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, ESDP, Nigeria, the annual report on development policy implementation, Governance and Development, the role of the private sector in developing countries, and the OSCE. An informal Defence Ministerial took place in parallel.

  General affairs session

  Commission work programme for 2004

  The Council took note of the Commission presentation of its legislative and work programme for 2004.

  Progress of work in other council configurations

  The Presidency gave a standard progress report on work in other Councils: Employment/Social Affairs/ Health/Consumer Affairs, Justice and Home Affairs and Transport and Telecommunications.

  Preparation of European council (Brussels, 12–13 December)

  The Council examined the Presidency's annotated draft agenda for the 12–13 December European Council. The main issues are:

  Economic growth

  Strengthening the EU's area of freedom, security and justice

  EU enlargement

  External Relations, Common Foreign and Security Policy and European Security and Defence Policy.

  Enlargement

  The Commission presented its monitoring reports on the Accession States' preparations for membership of the European Union and its Strategy Paper and regular reports on progress by Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey towards accession. The Council adopted Conclusions welcoming the progress made so far, while encouraging improved progress on outstanding areas of concern.

  External relations session

  Western Balkans

  The Presidency briefed Member States on Kosovo and the Contact Group's Strategy. The GAERC also agreed that direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on practical issues of mutual concern remained vital to fulfil its policy of "standards before status".
  1308W
  EU-Russia

  The Presidency de-briefed on the outcome of the 6 November EU-Russia Summit. Ministers agreed on the need to identify the core elements and priorities for the EU's relationship with Russia and to discuss the matter again early in the new year.

  Iraq

  There was a brief discussion of follow-up to the Madrid Donor conference (23–24 October). Partners welcomed the announcement of an accelerated transfer of power to the Iraqis and reiterated the European Union's resolve to contribute to the political as well as economic reconstruction of Iraq.

  Iran

  Ministers discussed the nuclear situation in Iran following the Iranian declaration on signature, ratification and immediate application of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Additional Protocol. The Council agreed that EU members of the IAEA Board of Governors should pursue a common approach at the Board's 20 November meeting. The GAERC tasked Political Directors to take this forward.

  Middle east peace process

  The Council discussed its approach ahead of the EU/ Israel Association Council later that day.

  Afghanistan

  Commissioner Patten reported on the 19 October Troika visit to Afghanistan. The Council restated the EU's commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and called for free and fair elections to be held next year in order to conclude the road map devised by the Bonn Agreement, The GAERC offered EU assistance with these elections.

  The Council also welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 1510 authorising the NATO-led ISAF mission to operate outside the area of Kabul. Member States were considering how to take part in the establishment of Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

  Joint session with Defence Ministers

  The Presidency briefed on the Defence Ministers' discussions earlier that day: this included talks on operations, EU defence capabilities, EU-NATO, and counter-terrorism. Conclusions were agreed on the European Security and Defence Policy and the Capabilities Agency.

  EU-Africa

  The Presidency and Commission reported on the recent EU-Africa Ministerial Troika (10 November).

  WMD

  The Presidency set out the progress made in implementing the WMD Action Plan agreed at the Thessaloniki European Council in May. This Included: an EU Common Position on the universalisation of non-proliferation instruments; mainstreaming of WMD concerns in EU relations with third countries; further work on EU export controls; and improved EU co-ordination in international fora. Conclusions were adopted highlighting the positive results achieved so far.
  1309W
  AOB: OSCE ministerial

  The Netherlands, as OSCE Chairman in Office for 2003, briefed colleagues on developments on Moldova and Belarus.

  Annual report 2003 on development policy implementation

  The council held a debate on the Commission's report on the Community's development co-operation policy and the implementation of the EU's external assistance in 2002. Conclusions were agreed.

  Creation of African Peace facility

  The Council approved a draft Decision (to be adopted by the ACP-EC Council of Ministers) on the use of European Development Fund resources for the creation of a Peace Facility for Africa.

  Governance and development

  The Council held a brief discussion (and agreed conclusions) on a communication from the Commission on the EU's strategy in support of better governance in developing countries.

  Cotton production in Africa

  The Council held a discussion on the problematic situation of the four major cotton producer countries in Africa. The Council invited the Commission to examine the situation in depth and to inform the Council accordingly-

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart regarding Gibraltar in the last 12 months. [133208]

  Mr. MacShane
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had a number of discussions with his Spanish counterpart on a range of issues in the last 12 months; the focus has not been Gibraltar.

  Guantanamo Bay
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the meetings his Department has had with US officials and representatives in the last 12 months at which the issue of the Guantanamo Bay detainees has been formally raised. [139470]

  Mr. Mullin
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials have had regular discussions with the United States authorities in the last 12 months about the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay. The Government does not consider it appropriate to disclose detailed information about the dates of such negotiations since it would undermine the confidential nature of these diplomatic communications.

  However, the Government's frequent contacts with my right hon. Friend the US Administration on this issue have included discussions between the Prime Minister and the US President and between UK and US Ministers, senior officials and lawyers. Since July, the Attorney General has led the UK in detailed discussions with the US Administration to resolve the position of all the British detainees held at Guantanamo Bay.

  Indonesia
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a permanent secretary or under-secretary in his Department has visited Indonesia since 1973; and what the purpose was of each visit. [133127]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  [pursuant to my answer, 22 October 2003, Official Report, c. 615-16W]: An administrative error occurred in my answer of 22 October. The correct answer should read as follows:
  4–5 July 2000 Permanent Secretary, to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
  12–16 September 2000 Director General (Deputy Under Secretary) Wider World, familiarisation and to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
  22–24 November 2000 Group Chief Executive (Permanent Secretary equivalent), British Trade International (a joint DTI/ FCO Department), to discuss trade and investment issues.
  30 July-3 August 2001 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific, to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
  12–14 December 2001 Permanent Secretary (designate), as part of a programme of visits to familiarise himself with as many overseas posts as possible.
  4–5 July 2002 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Economic, to discuss economic and trade policy issues.
  7–10 January 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/ Pacific, accompanying my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on his visit to Indonesia.
  14 May 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific (designate), to attend an ASEM senior officials meeting.
  21–25 July 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/ Pacific, accompanying the Minister to the ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting.

  I regret that compiling the information requested for 1973–99 would involve disproportionate effort.

  Iran
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions(a) he and (b) members of his Department have had with representatives of the Russian Government on recent developments in Russian-Iranian negotiations concerning the repatriation of spent nuclear fuel; what impact an agreement will have on UK policy toward Iran; and if he will make a statement. [131529]

  Mr. Rammell
  This issue was most recently addressed in a wide-ranging discussion which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had with the Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

  Every opportunity is used to raise our concerns, both in ministerial and official contacts, about the negotiations between Russia and Iran on the return of spent nuclear fuel.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with Iran about bi-lateral relations. [132240]

  Mr. Rammell
  Ministers are in regular contact with Iranian leaders. The Foreign Secretary visited Tehran most recently on 21 October. Our policy towards Iran is one of constructive but critical engagement. We support reform in Iran, while continuing a robust dialogue on
  1311W
  matters of concern such as Iran's nuclear programme, and policies on human rights, terrorism and the Middle East Peace Process.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the two UN working groups referred to in his 2003 Human Rights Report as planning visits to Iran to make them. [139705]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UN Human Rights Commission's Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression visited Iran from 4–11 November The visit of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances is currently scheduled for February 2004.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response the Government of Iran has made to the recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions. [139707]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Government of Iran has so far offered no formal or public reply to the recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the EU to evaluate the outcome of the dialogue with Iran on improving human rights; and what assessment he has made of changes since the publication of his Department's Human Rights Report 2003. [139762]

  Mr. Rammell
  The EU regularly evaluates progress on the EU/Iran Human Rights Dialogue at both ministerial and official levels. At the October 2003 General Affairs and External Relations Council, EU Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their concern "about the human rights situation in Iran, including violations of civil and political rights, in particular the freedom of expression and the freedom of association, and systematic discrimination against women and girls, as well as against minorities". In the period since the FCO Human Rights Report was drafted, we assess that there has been some deterioration in the overall human rights situation in Iran.

  Israel
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will condemn(a) the Palestinian organisations engaged in suicide bombings of Israeli civilians and (b) the excessive use of force by the Government of Israel against Palestinians. [140120]

  Mr. Rammell
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [137015]
  1312W
  Mr. Rammell
  I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Library.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on(a) opinion polling (b) market research in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement. [139987]

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

  Middle East
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government has made of the impact of the Israel Defense Forces Order Concerning Security Directives (Judea and Samaria) (No.378), 1970 Declaration Concerning Closing of Area Number s/2/03 (seam area) (Judea and Samaria) on(a) the Palestinian population of the area between the Green Line and the separation wall and (b) the prospects for a future Palestinian state to include the territory between the Green Line and the separation wall; and if he will make a statement. [139013]

  Mr. Rammell
  Initial reporting by the UN and other organisations indicates that the designation of a "Closed Zone" between the fence and the Green Line is severely hampering Palestinian daily life. Permits, issued by the Israeli authorities, are required for those Palestinians who live and work on land now designated as part of the Closed Zone.

  We are concerned that a system of permits will not meet the legitimate needs of affected Palestinians. Other permit systems operated by the Israel Defence Forces can be unaccountable, inconsistent, unappealable and lack transparency. We understand that a number of permanent residents and Palestinians who work in the Closed Zone have been refused permits. Some permanent residents have received permits which are only valid for a limited period of time, and access for vehicles has been limited.

  The effect has been to curtail the ability of Palestinians in the Closed Zone to travel and to access basic services. It has also hindered the cultivation and harvest of crops, and the care of livestock in this area. The designation of a Closed Zone is contributing to an already acute humanitarian situation. Staff from the ebassy and Consulate-General visited parts of the Closed Zone on 13 November to see the effect on Palestinians in the area.

  We understand Israel's need to take steps, within international law, to protect itself from terrorist attack. But unilateral measures, such as the fence, will not provide lasting security. We are deeply concerned by the route taken by the fence, Its construction on occupied territory creates a further physical obstacle to a two-state solution. We have called on both sides not to take actions which pre-empt a final agreement.

  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.

  Moazzam Begg and Feroz Abbasi
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has received from the American Administration in support of their claim that they have the right to try Moazzam Begg and Feroz Abbasi as combatants; and if he will make a statement. [131805]

  Mr. Mullin
  The US authorities have made clear their view that the detainees at Guantanamo Bay are being held as enemy combatants. The question of the legal status of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay under international law depends on the facts relating to each individual detainee. The US, as the detaining power, has access to that information and in the first instance, the question of the status of the detainees is a matter for them.

  Mr. Begg and Mr. Abbasi have been designated as eligible for Military Commissions, but have not yet been charged. Proceedings against them have been suspended pending the outcome of discussions between the British and US Governments.

  Kenny Richey
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with US counterparts before the vote in the UN Security Council on the resolution condemning the building by Israel of the security wall in parts of the Occupied Territories; and for what reasons the UK decided to abstain in the vote. [133957]

  Mr. Rammell
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd.
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on services provided to his Department by NM Rothschild since 1997. [139963]

  Mr. Rammell
  NM Rothschild was engaged in 1997 to provide consultancy advice on PFI options for a BBC World Service project to construct a relay station in Oman. The value of the contract was £88,125.

  North Korea
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken(a) to try to prevent North Korea from acquiring a nuclear weapon manufacturing capability, (b) to encourage the opening up of personal and transport communications between the peoples of North and South Korea and (c) to reduce human rights violations in North Korea. [140016]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Government continue to raise their concerns about North Korea's nuclear programmes directly with the DPRK authorities and encourages international efforts to resolve the issue peacefully. We support all efforts to improve the quality of communication between North and South Korea, and regularly urge DPRK to comply with the resolution adopted by the UN Commission on Human Rights earlier this year.

  Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to encourage amendments to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to enable(a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Israel to be admitted as nuclear states. [136702]

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

  Nuclear Weapons
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment(a) he and (b) his officials have made of the relevance to United Kingdom policies on non-proliferation of the study on disarmament and non-proliferation education study series number 30 (2003), produced by the United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs for the United Nations Secretary General. [138060]

  Mr. MacShane
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent report of the International Atomic Energy Authority on whether the Government of Iran has been proved to be holding(a) enriched uranium and (b) plutonium for the purposes of a nuclear weapons programme. [139418]

  Mr. MacShane
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]: The report of the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency is confidential to the Agency's Board of Governors, who will discuss it at their next meeting on 20 November. I would not wish to pre-empt their discussions by making public statements about the report at this time.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the(a) US Administration and (b) UN representatives on the implications of the recent International Atomic Energy Authority Report on Iran. [139419]

  Mr. MacShane
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]: The Government have been engaged in intensive discussion with the US Administration, our EU partners and others about the report, We have worked closely with a range of partners on drafting a Resolution on Iran for discussion at the next meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on 20 November.

  Oil Sales (Iraq)
  Mr. Godsiff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) expenditure on and (b) revenues generated by the sale of Iraqi oil on the world market since 1 May; and what projections have been made for the period from 1 November to 1 May 2004. [139855]

  Mr. Timms
  According to the Coalition Provisional Authority, to date $2.009 billion has been paid to the Development Fund for Iraq from the sale of oil since the conflict ended.
  1315W
  The Iraqi budget for 2004 includes a forecast of $12 billion for oil revenues. There is no available monthly breakdown.

  The rehabilitation of the Iraqi oil industry is being undertaken and financed by the US government through The US Army Corps of Engineers. There is no detail on expenditure on post conflict rehabilitation projects available at this time.

  Pakistan
  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan about its human rights record. [139358]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  On 4 November my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri. One of the topics discussed was the issue of human rights in Pakistan. With our EU partners we regularly engage the Pakistani authorities on Human Rights issues. On 7 February 2003 EU member states delivered a comprehensive demarche underlining their concerns on a wide range of human rights related issues. These concerns were reiterated on 23 June 2003.

  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in(a) European Union member states and (b) other governments in connection with human rights in Pakistan. [139359]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions on Pakistan with his counterparts in EU and other governments. Issues related to human rights are raised frequently.

  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of restrictions by the Pakistani Government on the freedom of movement of Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, Chairman of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance; and if he will raise the matter with the High Commissioner of Pakistan. [139360]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  On 14 October Mr. Shahbaz Bhatti, Chairman of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance was placed on the Pakistan Interior Ministry's Exit Control List for reasons of national security. This means that Mr. Bhatti is restricted from leaving Pakistan. We understand that Mr. Bhatti has made a formal complaint to the Interior Ministry. Together with our EU colleagues we will be raising our concerns that this might be discriminatory use of the Exit Control List with the Government of Pakistan.

  Russian Federation
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the Russian federation authorities(a) do not extradite persons to any country where they would be at risk of the death penalty, torture or proceedings that fail to meet international fair trial standards,(b) immediately authorise the full publication of reports and recommendations made by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, (c) amend the law to combat terrorism to establish clear
  1316W
  operational lines of accountability in anti-terrorist operations and ensure that those responsible for violating human rights in the context of such operations should be brought to justice and (d) adopt a law the primary concern of which is the best interests of children with mental disability. [140076]

  Mr. Rammell
  I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  Saudi Arabia
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security(a) advice and (b) protection offered to employees of the British Council working in Saudi Arabia. [139753]

  Mr. Rammell
  The safety of staff and visitors is of paramount importance to the British Council. Their Security Committee in London meets regularly, and reviewed security arrangements for British Council operations in Saudi Arabia on 13 November.

  The British Council's Security Adviser visited Saudi Arabia immediately following the 12 May terrorist attacks in Riyadh and reviewed security measures at British Council offices and staff accommodation throughout the country. His recommendations were fully implemented. A further security review is currently taking place.

  The Director of the British Council in Riyadh is Cultural Attaché at the British embassy. The Embassy maintains close and regular contact with him and with his staff throughout the country, including through the Consulate General in Jedda and the British Trade Office in Al Khobar. In addition, the Embassy and its officers in Saudi Arabia raise security-related issues with the Saudi authorities on behalf of the British Council.

  The Director of the British Council communicates to his staff the conclusions of security reviews and other advice related to security. All employees of the British Council in Saudi Arabia have access to the same advice as the FCO gives to all other British nationals, communicated through the FCO website and notes to or meetings with the community In our advice, we make clear that after the attack against the Muhayya residential compound in Riyadh on 9 November, we continue to believe terrorists are planning further attacks. We advise British nationals to take all necessary steps to protect their safety and make sure they have confidence in their individual security arrangements. We further advise British nationals to maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly in public places frequented by foreigners such as hotels, restaurants and shopping malls. They are advised to follow news reports and be alert to regional developments. We keep this advice under close review and up-date it regularly. The advice is available in full on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.

  Somalia
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the facilities in Nairobi for Somalians applying for entry clearance in to the UK; and what plans he has to change the facilities. [139720]
  1317W
  Mr. Mullin
  Our Visa Section at the High Commission in Nairobi is still unable to accept applications from Somali applicants without recognised identity documents. I recognise this problem and recently discussed it with staff at the High Commission during my visit to Nairobi in October.

  As a response to a specific threat at our High Commission in December 2002 security restrictions were introduced affecting personal callers wishing to enter the High Commission compound. In line with these restrictions the Visa Section is still only able to accept applications for entry clearance from those who hold appropriate documentation confirming their nationality and identity. I recognise that these restrictions cause particular difficulties to Somali applicants, We are looking at ways to resolve this.

  Sri Lanka
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports he has received from representatives of the UK Government in Sri Lanka concerning(a) President Chandrika Kumaratunga's declaration of a state of emergency on 5 November; and (b) Mrs. Kumaratunga's dismissal of the Sri Lankan Defence, Interior and Media Ministers; and if he will make a statement; [137707]

  (2) when his Department will assess the impact of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's declaration of a state of emergency on 5 November on the Sri Lankan peace process; what discussions he has had with (a) President Chandrika Kumaratunga, (b) Colonel Sumedha Perera, (c) Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, (d) representatives and members of the Government of India and (e) representatives and members of the Government of Japan; and if he will make a statement. [137708]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  In my press statement on 6 November I said that we were following developments in Sri Lanka with increasing anxiety. A copy of the press release is available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news-press-releases. We have noted subsequent developments but remain particularly concerned for a speedy resumption of dialogue in a complex peace process. The UK strongly supports the peace process and hopes that the Sri Lankan President and Government will be able to resolve the current political uncertainties in a spirit of common commitment to the peace process.

  Representatives of the British High Commission in Colombo meet regularly with Government and donor representatives. In the week beginning 3 November, the High Commissioner has met the President and a senior Government Minister and spoke to the Prime Minister; High Commission officials have met with representatives of the Indian and Japanese Governments and have spoken with representatives of the military.

  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sri Lanka. [138826]
  1318W
  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  We welcome the reportedly cordial meeting between the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on 12 November, and their decision to continue dialogue with all parties concerned and to meet again next week. It is most important that they quickly agree on how the peace process will again be taken forward. We also welcome the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's continuing commitment to the peace process and ceasefire agreement. The continuing political uncertainties must not be allowed to jeopardise that process.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the declaration of a state of emergency in Sri Lanka and its effects on the civil rights of Sri Lankan citizens. [139050]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The state of emergency in Sri Lanka, declared on 5 November, was lifted on 7 November, before the official gazette notification had been issued, and before any action had been taken by the President under emergency powers. The civil rights of Sri Lankan citizens were not adversely affected by the state of emergency.

  Thailand
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Thai authorities about Dr. Cynthia Maung's clinic in Mae Sot on the Thai-Burmese border. [140350]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has held with the Thai authorities on delivery by non-governmental organisations of cross-border aid relief to internally displaced people in Burma; [140353]

  (2) what recent representations he has made to the Thai authorities about access for Burmese refugees to refugee camps in Thailand. [140354]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Tibet
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to secure the release of the Tibetan religious leader, Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche, from prison in China. [140352]

  Mr. Rammell
  We have raised the case of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche with the Chinese authorities on a number of occasions. At the latest round of the biannual UK-China Human Rights Dialogue held in Beijing on 10–11 November the Chinese again confirmed that he had appealed against his original sentence (death sentence with two year suspension) but that the original verdict had been upheld. We also raised our concerns about his welfare and medical treatment.

  Treaty Ratification
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests the Government will make to the Crown prior to the introduction of a Bill relating to the ratification of a treaty consequent upon a final draft text of a constitution for the European Union; what requests were made to the Crown in respect of previous Bills necessary for ratification of treaties; and what replies were received. [140433]

  Mr. MacShane
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  UN Arms Embargoes
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 16 September 2003,Official Report, column 681W, if he will (a) commission a report on the impact of traditional tribal demarcations on the effectiveness of UN arms embargoes; and if he will (b) discuss the matter with NGOs. [138610]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Government have no plans to commission a report on the impact of traditional tribal demarcations on the effectiveness of UN arms embargoes; and have no plans to discuss the matter with NGOs.

  UN Sanctions
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1118W, on UN sanctions, what progress the Government have made in considering whether or not to re-initiate proposals for an independent sanctions monitoring mechanism. [138611]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK and France floated informally our proposal for a semi-permanent monitoring mechanism on sanctions in the context of discussions within a Working Group of the Security Council which met in 2000 and 2001 to consider various aspects of UN sanctions regimes. Unfortunately our proposal failed to generate sufficient support among other members of the Security Council. We will consider whether to revive the proposal in 2004, when we have informally canvassed the views of the new members of the Council.

  Visas
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the visa fees were for(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) up to August 2003. [139813]

  Mr. Mullin
  The fees charged by Visa Sections worldwide for entry clearance are detailed in the following table. The fees charged to visa applicants remained unchanged from 1997 until they were increased in July 2002. There have been no increases since. Both sets of fees are detailed.
  1320W

  £

  19971

  1 July 20022

  Entry Clearance for a Commonwealth Country

  20

  22

  Entry clearance for an overseas territory

  20

  22

  Direct airside transit

  25

  27

  Visit (standard)

  33

  36

  Visit (multiple entry) one year

  55

  60

  Visit (multiple entry) two years

  65

  70

  Visit (multiple entry) five years

  80

  88

  Visit (multiple entry) 10 years3

  —

  150

  Settlement

  240

  260

  Marriage

  240

  260

  Long-term

  50

  75

  Certificate of entitlement

  100

  110

  1 To June 2002.

  2 To present.

  3 10 year multiple entry visit visas were introduced on 1 July 2002

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the geographical validity of European Union visas will become a matter for qualified majority voting under the European constitution. [140278]

  Mr. MacShane
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether European visas issued by the consulates of other member states will be valid for entry to the UK under the European constitution. [140264]

  Mr. MacShane
  I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

  Working Holidays
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 29 October 2003,Official Report, column 277W, on working holidaymakers, if he will break down by country of origin the numbers of applications (a) received, (b) issued, (c) refused and (d) outstanding for visas for working holidays. [137815]

  Mr. Mullin
  I have placed in the Library of the House figures of the working holidaymaker visa applications received, issued and refused in the financial year 2002–03 by our entry clearance posts.

TREASURY

  Civil Registration
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons for ending face to face civil registration services; and what plans he has to retrain registrars for their new remote role; [140260]

  (2) what procedures will be put in place to prevent fraud after the move to remote civil registration; [140261]

  (3) what plans he has to compensate local authorities for any funding shortfall arising from the move to remote civil registration; [140262]
  1321W
  (4) what assessment has been made of the risk of competition between local authorities following a move to remote registration. [140263]

  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. David Drew, dated 20 November 2003:

  As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your four recent questions on the move to remote civil registration. (140260, 140262, 140263, 140264)

  In January 2002, the White Paper 'Civil Registration: Vital Change' was published which set out the Government's intention to reform the civil registration service. The White Paper offers the public a choice in how to register births and deaths in person (at any Register Office), by telephone or via the internet.

  These proposals appear in more detail in the consultation document 'Civil Registration: Delivering Vital Change' which was published in July 2003. The document can be downloaded from the General Register Office website at: http://www. statistics.gov.uk/registration/whitepaper/default.asp

  The document is the first stage in the use of the order-making powers of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. This is being used to bring about the legislative changes that are needed to implement the White Paper reforms. The consultation period ended on 24 October. Currently the responses are being analysed.

  It would be inappropriate at this stage to comment on the final shape of the proposals to be included in the Regulatory Reform Order. Issues such as funding, retraining and security are being fully considered during the passage of the civil registration regulatory reform order and, in the event of legislation change, prior to implementation.

  Economic Activity (Airdrie and Shotts)
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the economic activity rate in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency was in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 1997; [140371]

  (2) what the employment rate in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency was in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 1997; [140372]

  (3) what the rate of (a) unemployment, (b) long-term unemployment and (c) youth unemployment in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency was in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 1997; and how many individuals this represented in each case. [140373]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mrs Helen Liddell, dated 20 November 2003:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about economic activity, employment and unemployment rates in Airdrie and Shotts constituency. I am replying in his absence. (140371, 140372, 140373)

  The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of economic activity, employment and unemployment from the Labour Force survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definitions.

  Table 1 gives estimates of economic activity and employment rates in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency for the twelve month periods ending February 1998 and February 2002. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) annual local area databases. Comparable information for the twelve month
  1322W
  period ending February 2003 is not yet available. The LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency.

  ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary constituencies.

  Table 2 gives, for the periods specified, the total number of JSA claimants, the number of those claiming JSA for over 12 months, and the number of claimants aged 18–24 in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency. Claimant count rates for local areas are expressed as proportions of the 2001 mid-year working-age population estimates which are based on the 2001 Census, following the withdrawal from National Statistics in January 2003 of the previous workplace based rates. Table 2 shows the rates, on this basis, for the Airdrie and Shotts Constituency.

  Table 1 Working age1 economic activity and employment rates Airdrie and Shotts constituency

  Percentage

  March to February

  Economic activity rate2

  Employment rate3

  1997–98

  73.3

  66.0

  2001–02

  67.7

  56.8

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

  2 Economically active people of wording age as a percentage of the working age population

  3 Employed people of working age as a percentage of the working age population

  Note:

  These LFS estimates have not been adjusted to reflect the 2001

  Census results

  Source:

  Table 2 People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency

  Total

  Long-term2

  Aged 18–24

  Number

  Rate1(Percentage)

  Number

  Number

  Average January to December 1997

  2,887

  5.9

  851

  903

  Average April 2002 to March 2003

  1,902

  3.9

  239

  528

  1 People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance as a percentage of the mid-2001 working age population estimate, based on the 2001 Census

  2 People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for over 12 months

  Air Passenger Taxes
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue was raised from air passenger taxes in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [140387]

  John Healey
  The information is not available in the format requested. Revenue figures for air passenger duty are collected for the UK as a whole and are not broken down by devolved region. Air passenger revenue duty receipts for the UK as a whole are published in table 1.20 of Financial Statistics published by the Office for National Statistics.

  Household Incomes
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average weekly income of households in each council tax band. [140006]
  1323W
  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. Steve Webb, dated 20 November 2003:

  As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the average weekly income of households in each council tax band. (140006)

  Estimates in the following table are based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" produced by the Office for National Statistics and published on 21 October 2003 on the National Statistics website at: http:// www. statistics. gov. uk/taxesbenefits.

  The analysis includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey (EPS), formerly the Family Expenditure Survey (FES). This is a sample survey covering about 7,500 households in the UK and sample sizes for each council tax band are only sufficient to give approximate estimates. The Family Resources Survey would have been an alternative source with a larger sample size, but the taxes and benefits analysis has been used for consistency with answers to other recent parliamentary questions.

  The table shows the average weekly gross income received by households in Great Britain in houses in each council tax band. Council tax is not paid in Northern Ireland. The sample size is only sufficient to allow a breakdown to be given for households living in bands G and H combined. A small number of households in properties which did not have a separate council tax valuation have been excluded from the analysis. Gross income includes income from earnings, occupational pensions and investments and cash benefits such as state retirement pensions and income support. It does not take account of deductions for taxes.

  Average weekly gross income of households in each council tax band for Great Britain, 2001–02

  £ per week

  Council Tax band

  Average weekly gross income

  A

  310

  B

  430

  C

  520

  D

  650

  E

  770

  F

  930

  G and H

  1,460

  source:

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

  Aviation Kerosene taxation
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of not taxing aviation kerosene in financial year 2002–03. [140200]

  John Healey
  Aviation turbine fuel (AVTUR), is a heavy hydrocarbon oil used in virtually all aircraft on scheduled flights within the UK, and the majority of international commercial flights.

  Although AVTUR is not currently taxed, the UK recognises that there is a case for taxing fuel used in international aviation and supports action through the International Civil Aviation Organisation to remove the current worldwide exemption.

  Assuming no decrease in demand from a higher fuel price, levying duty on 2002–03 quantities of aviation turbine fuel would have raised the following amounts of revenue:
  1324W

  £ billion

  Duty levied

  Revenue raised

  If the rebated kerosene duty rate were levied

  0.4

  If the ULSD duty rate were levied

  5.8

  If the heavy diesel duty rate were levied

  6.6

  Child Support Agency
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what re-examination of the Office of Government Commerce Gateway review process he has undertaken as a result of the implementation of the Child Support Agency's reform programme. [140039]

  Mr. Boateng
  There has been no re-examination of the OGC Gateway Review Process as a direct result of the implementation of the Child Support Agency's reform programme.

  Child Trust Fund
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families in Airdrie and Shotts constituency who will benefit from the Child Trust Fund. [140378]

  Ruth Kelly
  All children born since 1 September 2002 in families awarded Child Benefit will receive a Child Trust Fund (CTF). Based on census data for children under five living in the constituency of Airdrie and Shotts, about 900 children a year will benefit from the initial endowment. As an indication of the eventual position, 9,870 families were receiving Child Benefit for 16,585 children as at 30 November 2002, in the constituency of Airdrie and Shotts

  The CTF is intended to encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit. It will ensure that every child, whatever their family background, will have access at the age of 18 when they begin their adult life, to a stock of assets which they can invest in their future.

  It will also help children and their parents to understand the benefits of saving and investment and how to engage with financial institutions.

  Customs and Excise
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the cost was of specialist asset recovery teams in Customs and Excise used for the recovery of assets from directors involved in fraudulent companies in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; how many staff were deployed in these teams in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03; and what assets were realised by these teams in (A) 2001–02 and (B) 2002–03; [140183]

  (2) how many staff were employed in Customs and Excise debt management units in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and how many new staff were recruited in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03; [140184]

  (3) if he will set out the Customs and Excise National Standards time limits for handling recoverable debt cases; and what the outturn against target was of debt management units in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; [140185]
  1325W
  (4) how much debt was owed to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on 31 March (a) in total and (b) broken down by type of debt; how much debt was owed as a percentage of the total amount of taxes and duties collected by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; and what the change was in the number of unresolved debts between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003; [140269]

  (5) what the value of new debt owed to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise notified to the debt management units in 2002–03 is; and how much of that new debt was represented by VAT missing trader fraud; [140270]

  (6) how much missing trader fraud debt owed to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise was outstanding at the end of 2002–03. [140271]

  John Healey
  20 staff were employed in Customs' asset recovery teams in 2001–02 and 25 in 2002–03. They secured £23.5 million in assets in 2001–02 and £17.8 million in 2002–03. It is not possible to identify the overall cost of operating these teams. 929 staff were employed in debt management in Customs in 2001–02 and 892 in 2002–03. This includes staff involved in security, insolvency, civil recovery and other debt management work outside the debt management units. There was turnover of staff within these figures, with individuals moving into and out of the function, but it is not possible to identify the number of new staff recruited in those years.

  The National Standards for debt management did not include timescales for handling recoverable debt in either 2001–02 or 2002–03. Current standards require a positive outcome on recoverable debt within three months for first time and occasional defaulters, or six months for persistent defaulters recruited in those years.

  Total debt owed to Customs at the end of the 2002–03 accounting period was £2,311 million. This was 1.5 per cent. of the total amount of taxes and duties collected by Customs, and included £1,159 million suspended debt and £1,152 million recoverable debt. The number of unresolved debts was not measured in 2001–02, but Customs had 344,983 cases on hand at the end of the 2002–03 accounting period.

  During 2002–03 £4,974 million in new debt was advised to debt management units. Of this £824 million resulted from MTIC fraud, although some of this figure related to cases opened in previous years.

  At the end of 2002–03 £546 million in missing trader fraud debt was still owed to Customs.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were deployed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to tackle VAT missing trader fraud in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what the cost of deploying such staff was in each case; and what other costs there were in pursuing the VAT missing trader fraud strategy in each case. [140272]

  John Healey
  The number of staff deployed to tackle VAT missing trader fraud can be found in "Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud" (November 2001), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

  The figure for 2002–03 will be published later this year.
  1326W
  Customs does not maintain information about the costs in the format requested and it could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 November 2003,Official Report, column. 800W, with regard to Customs, whether the prohibited firearm was (a) produced to Customs from (i) the person and (ii) baggage, (b) loaded with ammunition and (c) ready to fire; for how long Customs exercised their control over the firearm; and by what means it left the United Kingdom. [140446]

  John Healey
  The records still available show that the importation referred to in my earlier answer was correctly declared in accordance with established regulations and procedures, and that there were no irregularities.

  Some of Customs' records relating to regulatory controls on importations of firearms at Farnborough in 1999 have been destroyed under Customs' obligations in relation to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Public Records Acts, as they relate to legitimate movements and are no longer required for administrative purposes. Following further investigation of the remaining records, I have now been informed that the single importation referred to in my previous answer related to four firearms and a quantity of ammunition, rather than a single firearm, and I regret that inadvertently this was not made clear to the hon. Gentleman. These firearms were surrendered by one or more passengers on a flight which arrived at Farnborough in March 1999.

  The additional information requested is no longer available, and Customs cannot say with certainty how the items were taken into control, how long the firearms were in Customs' control or how and when they were re-exported from the United Kingdom.

  Financial Services Authority
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the membership of the Financial Services Authority Financial Capability Steering Group is. [139430]

  Ruth Kelly
  The membership of the Financial Services Authority Financial Capability Steering Group has been published in an FSA press notice issued on the 20 October 2003 and is as follows:John Tiner, Chief Executive, Financial Services Authority (Chairman)
  Luqman Arnold, Chief Executive, Abbey National plc
  David Clementi, Chairman, Prudential plc
  John Gummer, Chairman, Association of Independent Financial Advisers
  David Marker, Chief Executive, Citizen's Advice
  Deirdre Mutton, Chair, National Consumer Council

  1327W
  Digby Jones, Director General, Confederation of British Industry
  Ruth Kelly, Financial Secretary to the Treasury; and Ron Sandier, chairman, Personal Finance Education Group
  Media figure to be announced shortly.

  Income Tax
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to how many people the 10 pence tax rate has applied in each constituency since its introduction. [140425]

  Dawn Primarolo
  All income tax payers benefit from the 10 pence starting rate. It would be possible to provide a reliable breakdown by constituency only at disproportionate cost.

  Inland Revenue
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who set the criteria for payment of performance-related pay to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue regarding the duties they have had with respect to Project ASPIRE and its antecedents in the period 1999–2000 to 2002–03. [140447]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Under the pay arrangements common to all members of the Senior Civil Service, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue individually agree their performance criteria with the Chairman. The Chairman agrees his performance criteria with the Permanent Secretaries Remuneration Committee.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total budget approved for the market-making exercise in support of Project ASPIRE was in each year from 2000–01 to 2002–03; and what the actual expenditure recorded against budget was in each case. [140448]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Expenditure on the market making exercise fell only in the 2001–02 and 2002–03 financial years. No separate budget was allocated to the Market-making exercise, which was funded as part of the general budget for the ASPIRE project.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when Sir Nicholas Montagu KCB took the Chair of the Superintending Group overseeing Project ASPIRE; who Sir Nicholas's predecessors in that role had been since 1997; and when each took office. [140449]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The ASPIRE Project formally commenced on 31 October 2001. The first meeting of the ASPIRE Superintending Group was held on 5 February 2002. Initially, the Superintending Group was chaired by Tim Flesher who was, at that time, the Deputy Chairman of the Inland Revenue. When he moved to a new post in another Government Department, Sir Nicholas Montagu KCB replaced him. Sir Nicholas chaired his first meeting of the ASPIRE Superintending Group on 3 June 2003.

  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the authorised establishment for professional grades was in 2000–01 for Inland Revenue International Division, Business Tax Group broken down by(a) Deputy Director's Office, (b) Policy Team and (c) Advisory/Casework Team; what the corresponding
  1328W
  actual manning by unit was on 31 March 2001; and how many (i) transfers in and (ii) transfers out were recorded by unit in 2000–01. [140450]

  Dawn Primarolo
  It would be inappropriate to disclose the information requested as it would facilitate the identification of individual members of staff of the Inland Revenue. Exemption 8(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies in this case.

  Iraq
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of the war in Iraq to the Exchequer has been to date; and if he will make a statement on his current forecast of the likely total cost. [139823]

  Mr. Boateng
  So far MOD has drawn down £1 billion in last year's spring Supplementary Estimate and Parliament will be invited to make any further provision for 2003–04 in this year's winter and spring Supplementary Estimates.

  The Chancellor announced in the Budget that £3 billion is set aside to cover the cost of operations in Iraq. It would be premature to anticipate the total costs of the military operation at this time.

  Lyons Review
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made with the Lyons Review; and if he will make a statement. [137536]

  Mr. Boateng
  Following publication of his interim report on 9 September, Sir Michael Lyons has been assessing relocation proposals submitted by Government Departments. Departments have identified the scope for relocating 20,000 posts, but further work is needed to develop the proposals. The Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister have extended the review to allow Sir Michael time for further discussion with Departments. His final report will be published early next year.

  More details are on the Lyons Review website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/Iyonsreview

  Mortgage Finance
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has commissioned on the effect on debt levels of the use of mortgage finance as a source of credit for purposes unrelated to home improvement. [140124]

  Ruth Kelly
  Box B8 in Annex B of the Budget 2003 discussed mortgage equity withdrawal.

  NM Rothschild and Son Ltd.
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on services provided to his Department by NM Rothschild since 1997. [139959]

  Mr. Boateng
  Since 1997, HM Treasury has engaged NM Rothschild on two projects. The firm has supplied advice on the creation of Partnerships UK and their ongoing business issues, and on the sale of a number of HM Treasury's residual shareholdings.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will answer the questions tabled on 27 October 2003 by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield, concerning tax credits, reference numbers 135413 to 135416. [139920]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have already done so.

  Petrol Tax
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of petrol tax rises on volunteers who claim petrol expenses. [139992]

  John Healey
  Volunteers who receive motoring expenses are liable to tax only if the amounts received exceed actual expenditure and so they make a profit. Drivers for organised volunteer car schemes who are paid a mileage allowance may choose to calculate any profit by using tax free mileage allowances published by the Inland Revenue. These allowances are intended as a fair estimate of the costs of providing a car, including the costs of fuel.

  Postal Service (VAT)
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2003.

  Deaths of persons under age 65 by Welsh unitary authority, 1990 to 20021

  Numbers of deaths

  Unitary authority code

  Name

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  NA

  Isle of Anglesey

  167

  142

  145

  156

  159

  139

  121

  118

  129

  122

  121

  133

  121

  NC

  Gwynedd

  261

  263

  226

  220

  229

  225

  215

  188

  239

  198

  211

  206

  209

  NE

  Conwy

  245

  204

  197

  210

  218

  229

  181

  229

  218

  213

  218

  230

  220

  NG

  Denbighshire

  181

  178

  179

  186

  184

  182

  197

  192

  198

  190

  197

  182

  192

  NJ

  Flintshire

  305

  299

  314

  320

  301

  273

  290

  273

  273

  314

  269

  268

  247

  NL

  Wrexham

  269

  234

  256

  285

  251

  264

  266

  254

  228

  248

  234

  230

  245

  NN

  Powys

  258

  235

  236

  237

  228

  261

  229

  206

  246

  226

  205

  207

  243

  NQ

  Ceredigion

  115

  132

  126

  130

  121

  151

  115

  113

  112

  123

  126

  108

  126

  NS

  Pembrokeshire

  261

  237

  253

  226

  212

  233

  200

  212

  Til

  222

  208

  240

  242

  NU

  Carmarthenshire

  401

  367

  387

  364

  345

  384

  364

  362

  320

  345

  309

  347

  355

  NX

  Swansea

  501

  478

  473

  497

  447

  481

  415

  473

  452

  413

  436

  438

  412

  NZ

  Neath Port Talbot

  325

  321

  327

  319

  329

  305

  337

  290

  248

  278

  270

  299

  265

  PB

  Bridgend

  323

  282

  285

  282

  263

  267

  247

  268

  211

  295

  260

  235

  225

  PD

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  231

  219

  208

  227

  231

  196

  211

  220

  198

  212

  236

  173

  211

  PF

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  556

  570

  494

  564

  534

  554

  531

  509

  531

  530

  469

  487

  487

  PH

  Merthyr Tydfil

  145

  157

  130

  149

  144

  130

  158

  152

  135

  140

  143

  122

  119

  PK

  Caerphilly

  358

  360

  378

  373

  366

  359

  387

  352

  346

  367

  374

  348

  323

  PL

  Blaenau Gwent

  198

  168

  178

  151

  165

  171

  180

  145

  147

  184

  152

  168

  159

  PM

  Torfaen

  213

  201

  189

  213

  206

  195

  180

  180

  157

  181

  177

  169

  171

  PP

  Monmouthshire

  149

  142

  149

  146

  146

  144

  149

  156

  144

  143

  130

  138

  157

  PR

  Newport

  312

  304

  308

  317

  284

  262

  269

  295

  261

  278

  259

  277

  267

  PT

  Cardiff

  650

  602

  578

  624

  576

  583

  540

  573

  510

  550

  547

  530

  482

  1Deaths of usual residents registered in each year, based on boundaries as at April 2001.

  Deaths of persons under age 75 by Welsh unitary authority, 1990 to 20021

  Numbers of deaths

  Unitary authority code

  Name

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  NA

  Isle of Anglesey

  350

  352

  353

  356

  351

  313

  327

  293

  311

  272

  304

  287

  290

  NC

  Gwynedd

  598

  603

  556

  603

  586

  559

  535

  482

  561

  521

  484

  466

  465

  NE

  Conwy

  611

  591

  529

  556

  578

  556

  514

  541

  527

  552

  482

  486

  496

  NG

  Denbighshire

  475

  475

  451

  482

  469

  400

  452

  463

  455

  443

  395

  412

  382

  NJ

  Flintshire

  666

  686

  674

  676

  652

  631

  633

  653

  547

  620

  573

  544

  504

  NL

  Wrexham

  605

  598

  609

  665

  574

  617

  593

  589

  536

  564

  525

  482

  526

  NN

  Powys

  578

  611

  559

  588

  575

  597

  531

  515

  558

  520

  470

  504

  496

  NQ

  Ceredigion

  315

  314

  329

  337

  296

  310

  285

  266

  263

  293

  256

  229

  266

  NS

  Pembrokeshire

  560

  561

  567

  547

  550

  562

  518

  509

  546

  510

  457

  507

  511

  NU

  Carmarthenshire

  961

  943

  976

  958

  884

  971

  904

  866

  821

  810

  737

  810

  755

  NX

  Swansea

  1140

  1171

  1124

  1185

  1099

  1123

  1073

  1082

  1043

  959

  978

  929

  890

  NZ

  Neath Port Talbot

  792

  812

  802

  814

  803

  750

  736

  710

  663

  662

  637

  618

  581

  PB

  Bridgend

  712

  667

  673

  698

  660

  670

  596

  632

  620

  625

  547

  502

  520

  1330W
  Official Report, column 984W, on postal service (VAT), whether his policy on VAT on stamps has changed; and if he will make a statement. [140179]

  John Healey
  The Government remain opposed to VAT on stamps, and has made this clear in negotiations on the European Commission's proposal to amend the provisions of the Sixth VAT Directive concerning the VAT arrangements applicable to postal services.

  Premature Deaths (Wales)
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many premature deaths there were in each local authority area in Wales in each of the past 20 years. [140440]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 20 November 2003:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many premature deaths there were in each local authority area in Wales in each of the past 20 years. I am replying in his absence. (140440)

  ONS does not have a standard definition of premature deaths. Figures provided in the tables below show total numbers of deaths under age 65 and under age 75. Numbers are provided from 1990, the earliest year for which they can be readily allocated to consistent current unitary authority boundaries.
  1331W

  Deaths of persons under age 75 by Welsh unitary authority, 1990 to 20021

  Numbers of deaths

  Unitary authority code

  Name

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  PD

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  544

  555

  507

  505

  535

  506

  488

  516

  473

  472

  448

  390

  436

  PF

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  1391

  1355

  1277

  1404

  1276

  1360

  1284

  1225

  1170

  1174

  1069

  1036

  1045

  PH

  Merthyr Tydfil

  353

  361

  341

  400

  383

  358

  349

  332

  315

  323

  319

  257

  264

  PK

  Caerphilly

  855

  840

  879

  887

  867

  860

  857

  841

  818

  765

  816

  751

  743

  PL

  Blaenau Gwent

  485

  430

  444

  407

  432

  428

  411

  376

  360

  400

  336

  357

  329

  PM

  Torfaen

  525

  461

  473

  502

  489

  448

  437

  447

  402

  425

  415

  407

  374

  PP

  Monmouthshire

  365

  366

  390

  348

  399

  356

  362

  340

  337

  328

  290

  334

  316

  PR

  Newport

  689

  670

  704

  682

  711

  649

  620

  657

  600

  613

  566

  583

  554

  PT

  Cardiff

  1,471

  1,342

  1,330

  1,418

  1,321

  1,351

  1,267

  1,285

  1,176

  1,221

  1,167

  1,082

  1,044

  1 Deaths of usual residents registered in each year, based on boundaries as at April 2001.

  Seasonal Agricultural Workers
  Ian Stewart
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated(a) national insurance contributions and (b) tax revenues would be of the 50,000 seasonal agricultural workers recommended by the Curry Report over their period of employment. [140190]

  Dawn Primarolo
  People working under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme are entitled to earn up to the single personal allowance tax free. Most are students engaged during their vacation periods and this is sufficient to remove them from any UK tax liability. SAWS students are not EU nationals and the majority are engaged in agricultural or similar courses in their home countries. This means there is no National Insurance liability for the first 52 weeks of their stay in the UK. It is therefore unlikely that there would be any additional tax or NICs revenue arising from proposals to increase the number of SAWS students.

  Tax Credits
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the availability to the public of the Code of Practice 26 leaflet concerning what to do in the case of overpayments of tax credits. [140136]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The code can be found on the Inland Revenue website (www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits).

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have received a tax credit overpayment of more than(a) £1,000 and (b) £5,000; what plans there are for these sums to be repaid; and over what timescale. [140243]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 12 November 2003,Official Report, column 394W.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the advice that has been given to those people who have received a tax credit overpayment of over £5,000; and what alternative methods of repayment have been suggested to them. [140244]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Advice on the recovery of overpayments of tax credit is provided by the Inland Revenue's code of practice 26 "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?", which is on their internet site www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits. A copy of the code has also been placed in the House Library.
  1332W
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people benefited from the working family tax credit in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, listed in descending order. [140390]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland) on 13 January 2003,Official Report, column 412W.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are in receipt of the disabled person's tax credit in Airdrie and Shotts constituency. [140379]

  Dawn Primarolo
  Disabled Person's Tax Credit was replaced by Working Tax Credit in April 2003.

  The number of families who received Working Families' or Disabled Person's Tax Credit in each local authority appears in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses".

  The number of families who receive the new tax credits appear in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics—Geographical Analyses" and analyses of the disabled elements appear in "Child and Working Tax Credit Quarterly Statistics".

  All three publications are available on the Inland Revenue website at http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ stats/personal-tax-credits/menu. htm.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps are being taken to increase the take up of child tax credit in Airdrie and Shotts constituency. [140380]

  Dawn Primarolo
  There are now 5.9 million families benefiting from the Child and Working Tax Credits meaning that, after just seven months, we have reached 98 per cent. of those families we expected to reach over a whole year. National Statistics show that, as at 11 July, there were 5,800 families in Airdrie and Shotts receiving Child or Working Tax Credit, including 5,700 families with children, containing 9,800 children.

  A high-profile publicity campaign has been running since September 2002 to alert people to their entitlement to Child Tax Credit (and Working Tax Credit) and to encourage them to claim.

  The campaign has so far included national television advertising, local radio advertising across the UK, adverts in the national press as well as on-line publicity and the use of direct mail.

  Teenage Pregnancies
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many teenage pregnancies there were in each constituency in each of the past 20 years. [140426]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 20 November 2003–11–21:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many teenage pregnancies there were in each constituency in each of the past 20 years. I am replying in his absence. (140426)

  Figures are not available prior to 1988. Figures since that date would only be available at a disproportionate cost. Figures for ward, local authority and health authority areas are produced annually.

  The following link provides teenage conception data by local authority and quarter of occurrence from 1998 to 2001:

  http://www. statistics. gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/ D4877.xls

  Births to girls conceiving under the age of 16, Wales—1987 to 2001

  Unitary authority

  1987

  1988

  1989

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  12001

  Blaenau Gwent

  8

  10

  7

  12

  10

  8

  11

  16

  14

  16

  10

  17

  9

  13

  13

  Bridgend

  19

  12

  16

  14

  10

  18

  14

  16

  22

  27

  16

  21

  13

  20

  11

  Caerphilly

  14

  30

  21

  36

  15

  28

  28

  27

  36

  36

  32

  26

  24

  28

  16

  Cardiff

  30

  34

  30

  14

  23

  33

  30

  20

  40

  39

  37

  40

  34

  23

  25

  Carmarthenshire

  12

  6

  7

  13

  7

  9

  10

  12

  7

  11

  12

  15

  12

  12

  12

  Ceredigion

  5

  –

  5

  5

  Conwy

  10

  10

  11

  6

  10

  9

  12

  16

  11

  7

  14

  7

  8

  Denbighshire

  4

  8

  10

  10

  5

  5

  6

  9

  2

  8

  7

  9

  5

  10

  6

  Flintshire

  10

  7

  8

  14

  4

  8

  14

  9

  10

  14

  10

  13

  21

  5

  7

  Gwynedd

  5

  6

  5

  11

  7

  10

  9

  7

  2

  12

  9

  5

  10

  12

  Isle of Anglesey

  8

  4

  5

  7

  9

  5

  6

  5

  5

  Merthyr Tydfil

  19

  11

  17

  14

  7

  16

  13

  14

  12

  8

  9

  13

  11

  11

  12

  Monmouthshire

  9

  8

  2

  4

  5

  5

  7

  9

  5

  4

  Neath Port Talbot

  18

  12

  8

  17

  10

  8

  12

  8

  25

  9

  11

  16

  9

  16

  13

  Newport

  10

  17

  18

  24

  21

  16

  19

  25

  14

  16

  19

  12

  21

  10

  13

  Pembrokeshire

  8

  7

  7

  7

  6

  7

  10

  5

  12

  5

  10

  Powys

  11

  5

  5

  7

  4

  6

  6

  7

  4

  8

  8

  7

  4

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  35

  29

  32

  30

  39

  25

  26

  25

  40

  39

  45

  32

  25

  26

  32

  Swansea

  16

  17

  13

  18

  22

  12

  15

  20

  27

  34

  30

  38

  25

  23

  21

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  6

  10

  8

  9

  8

  9

  13

  10

  12

  17

  9

  10

  8

  Torfaen

  9

  9

  7

  14

  7

  9

  9

  18

  12

  17

  10

  12

  6

  9

  7

  Wrexham

  6

  16

  7

  15

  13

  12

  11

  8

  14

  13

  15

  8

  15

  9

  Wales

  259

  275

  240

  290

  230

  253

  267

  276

  330

  360

  318

  322

  282

  265

  235

  1 Figures for 2001 are provisional

  2 Figure suppressed to prevent disclosure of a count less than 3 or disclosure by differencing

  Unemployment (Wales)
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many households without work for two years or more there were in each local authority area in Wales in each of the past 20 years; [140439]

  (2) how many children were living in workless households in each local authority area in Wales in each of the past 10 years. [140444]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 20 November 2003

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent questions about (i) households that have been without work for 2 years or more and (ii) children living in workless households. I am replying in his absence. (91600)
  1334W
  Teenage conceptions data by ward from 1992 to 2000 is available on CDROMs from ONS, Vital Statistics Customer Services, Segensworth Road, Titchfield, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 5RR

  The following link provies teenage conception data by health authority http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp? vInk =6624&More=Y

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many births to girls conceiving under the age of 16 years there were in each local authority area in Wales in each of the past 20 years. [140435]

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Chris Ruane, dated 20 November 2003

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many births to girls conceiving under the age of 16 there were in each local authority in Wales in each of the past 20 years. I am replying in his absence. (140435) Prior to 1987, the method used for calculating mother's age at conception was not comparable to that used in later years.

  Figures shown in the attached table are for 1987 to 2001, the latest year available.

  The tables overleaf give the available information from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). These estimates are for the three-month period ending May of each year from 1999 to 2003. Comparable information is not available at local authority level for earlier years. The LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of workless households for some local authorities in Wales.

  Number of dependent children1 in workless working-age households2 in Wales, by local authority

  Thousands, not seasonally adjusted

  March to May

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Wales total

  129

  121

  125

  114

  129

  Anglesey Isle of

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Gwynedd

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Conwy

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Denbighshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Flintshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Wrexham

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Powys

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  1335W

  Number of dependent children1 in workless working-age households2 in Wales, by local authority

  Thousands, not seasonally adjusted

  March to May

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2003

  2003

  Ceredigion

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Pembrokeshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Carmarthenshire

  *

  10

  *

  *

  *

  Swansea

  *

  *

  *

  11

  *

  Neath Port Talbot

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Bridgend

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  *

  17

  14

  16

  16

  Merthyr Tydfil

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Caerphiliy

  10

  *

  *

  *

  10

  Blaenau Gwentt UA

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Torfaen

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Monmouthshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Newport

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Cardiff

  12

  15

  15

  11

  11

  1 Dependent children are those aged under 16 and those aged
  16–18 in full-time education.

  2 Households with at least one person of working age, where no-one is in employment. Not adjusted for households with unknown economic activity.

  * Sample size too small for reliable estimate

  Note: These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates

  have not been adjusted to take account of the Census 2001 results.

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey

  Working age1households in Wales which have been workless for two year or more, by local authority

  Thousands, not seasonally adjusted

  March to May

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Wales total

  130

  142

  146

  142

  127

  Anglesey Isle of

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Gwynedd

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Conwy

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Denbighshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Flintshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Wrexham

  10

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Powys

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Ceredigion

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Pembrokeshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Carmarthenshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  10

  Swansea

  10

  12

  *

  10

  *

  Neath Port Talbot

  10

  10

  *

  10

  *

  Bridgend

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Rhondda Cynon Taff

  *

  18

  16

  13

  15

  Merthyr Tydfil

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Caerphilly

  *

  *

  12

  10

  11

  Blaenau Gwentt UA

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Torfaen

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Monmouthshire

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Newport

  *

  *

  *

  *

  *

  Cardiff

  11

  13

  13

  15

  14

  1 Households with at least one person of working age

  * Sample size too small for reliable estimate

  Note: These Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates have not been adjusted to take account of the Census 2001 result

  Source:

  ONS Labour Force Survey

  VAT (Tourism)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) how much VAT revenue was raised from tourism in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; [140386]

  (2) how much income was raised from tourism in (a)England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [140388]
  1336W
  John Healey
  The information requested is not available.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [136843]

  Ruth Kelly
  The number of cases of work-related stress is not held by the Chancellor's Departments, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  The amount of compensation paid due to work-related stress in each of the last three years is however held, and is as follows:

  £s

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Inland Revenue

  6,531

  82,836

  51,000

  Customs and Excise

  1,500

  Nil

  60,000

  Treasury

  Nil

  Nil

  Nil

  The Chancellor's Departments have taken a range of preventative and protective measures against work-related stress, including addressing long working hours, adopting flexible and family friendly policies, (such as job sharing and home-working), and phased return to work to aid the rehabilitation of staff returning from long-term sick leave. Each Department has an in house Staff Welfare Service which operates independently of the management chain.

  The Chancellor's Departments are mindful of the obligations under Health and Safety at Work legislation to ensure that staff are not exposed to unacceptable risks in the workplace. Also, the Chancellor's Departments remain committed to reducing the number of working days lost generally to work-related injuries and illnesses in support of the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative and its long-term occupational health strategy Securing Health Together.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Child Benefit
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families are in receipt of child benefit in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency; and how many children that includes. [140377]

  Dawn Primarolo
  I have been asked to reply.

  9,870 families were receiving child benefit for 16,585 children as at 30 November 2002 in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency.

  Housing Benefit Costs
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the(a) gross and (b) net housing benefit costs were (i) pre and (ii) post whole

  1337W
  stock transfer for those local authorities which have carried out large scale voluntary transfers of all their council stock in each year since 1995. [139798]

  Mr. Pond
  I will write to my hon. Friend.

  Benefits Application Forms
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to ensure that only the latest edition of benefit application forms is available for downloading and completion electronically. [140020]

  Mr. Pond
  Benefit application forms are not available for downloading and completion electronically. A review of Department for Work and Pensions PDF forms that can be completed on a computer, but not returned electronically, is underway.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the annual cost to his Department of(a) income support fraud and (b) Jobseeker's Allowance fraud in the last three years. [138390]

  Mr. Pond
  Our estimates of levels of fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance are contained in the following reports which are available in the Library.

  Year ending March 2000—National Statistics report: The Results of the Area Benefit Review and Quality Support Team from April 1999 to March 2000, Table 4.1 National Levels of Fraud and Customer Error in IS, Table 5.1 National levels of Fraud and Customer Error in JSA.

  Year ending March 2001—National Statistics report: The results of the Area Benefit Review and Quality Support Team from April 2000 to March 2001, Table 2.1 National levels of Fraud, Customer Error and Official Error in IS, Table 2.2 National levels of Fraud, Customer Error and Official Error in JSA.

  Year ending March 2002—National Statistics report: Fraud and Error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance from April 2001 to March 2002, Table 2.1 National Results Overpayments.

  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what measures his Department takes to ensure that benefit claimants who enquire about using a bank account to receive their benefits are informed of all available options, including the use of Post Office card accounts; [140099]

  (2) what assessment he has made of (a) the tone and content of his Department's literature and (b) the impartiality of its advice on the relative merits of (i) bank accounts and (ii) Post Office card accounts as a means to receive benefit payments. [140094]

  Mr. Pond
  Already 87 per cent of all customers have access to a bank account that can receive Direct Payment. All staff, including front line, Call Centre and Information-line staff, have been provided with information on all of the account options available to the customer. It will be up to the customers themselves to decide which type of account they wish to have their money paid into. The role of DWP staff is to provide factual information in response to enquiries made.
  1338W
  The Department's information campaign, to support the move to Direct Payment, provides customers with factual information on the banking options available to them, including information on the Post Office card account.

  This information campaign has been produced in consultation with the Post Office and a range of other stakeholders.

  Customer information material is tested on groups of customers before it is issued. This helps to ensure that customers are supplied with all the information they need to choose the account option that is right for them and that they can understand that information.

  The Department will continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its customer information material and will make further changes if necessary.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the amount of unclaimed(a) income support broken down by (i) pensioners and (ii) non-pensioners, (b) housing benefit broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) private tenants, (c) council tax benefit broken down by (i) local authority tenants, (ii) private tenants and (iii) owner occupiers, (d) family credit broken down by (i) couples and (ii) single parents, (e) disability living allowance and (f) attendance allowance in each Welsh constituency in each of the past 10 years; and if he will estimate the total amount of unclaimed benefit broken down by (A) local authority and (B) constituency in Wales in each year. [140432]

  Mr. Pond
  The information requested is not available.

  National estimates of unclaimed amounts of Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and Family Credit for different population groups are presented in the DWP publication series entitled "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-up". Copies of the publication can be found in the Library.

  Call Centres (Outsourcing)
  Mr. Connarty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to outsource call centre work to premises outside the United Kingdom. [132101]

  Mr. Browne
  The Department has no plans to outsource to countries abroad work performed by DWP staff in call centres.

  Child Support Agency
  Diana Organ
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long an individual in Gloucestershire will have to wait for reassessment by the Child Support Agency as a result of job loss following the introduction of the new system of calculation. [134210]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
  1339W
  Letter from Mike Isaacs to Diana Organ, dated 20 November 2003:

  In replying to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is currently on leave I am replying on his behalf.

  You asked how long an individual in Gloucestershire would have to wait for re-assessment by the Agency following the introduction of the new system of maintenance calculation.

  The Agency is unable to break down clearance times separately for the Gloucester area.

  If the client has been assessed under the old child support scheme they will be re-assessed under that scheme. They will only be re-assessed under the new scheme when the Government decides that it is working sufficiently well to move the existing caseload to it.

  If the client was assessed under the new scheme (i.e. since 3rd March 2003) they will be re-assessed under the new scheme. While the Agency aims to clear those re-assessments as quickly as possible, such re-assessments have been relatively few with the result that information on clearance times is not yet available.

  Child Trust Funds
  Mr. George Osborne
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether child trust funds will affect eligibility for Jobseeker's Allowance. [140381]

  Mr. Pond
  We are currently considering the precise impact on benefits; however, for most capital held in trust for children, money is disregarded when considering parents' eligibility for benefits.

  Correspondence
  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's correspondence since November 2001 with the Chief Rent Officer for London. [139110]

  Maria Eagle
  There is no post of Chief Rent Officer for London. The Rent Service, which is an executive agency of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, has an Area Manager for London; a post that was created in April 2002, following an internal reorganisation of the Rent Service. The Department has not corresponded directly with the Rent Service's Area Manager for London.

  CSA
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) in how many cases since 1 January the Child Support Agency has incorrectly cancelled existing deductions from earnings orders; and if he will make a statement; [135211]

  (2) in (a) how many and (b) what percentage of cases in the last 12 months a maintenance enquiry form to the non-resident parent was not issued within (i) one month, (ii) two months and (iii) three months of an application being made to the Child Support Agency by the parent with care. [135212]

  Mr. Pond
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
  1340W
  Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 20 November 2003

  In replying to your recent Parliamentary questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As heis currently on leave I am replying on his behalf.

  You asked in how many cases since 1st January the Child Support Agency has incorrectly cancelled existing deductions from earnings orders.

  You also asked in how many and what percentage of cases in the last 12 months a maintenance enquiry form to the non-resident parent was not issued within (a) one month, (b) two months and (c) three months of an application being made to the Child Support Agency by the parent with care.

  I am afraid that the information, which you requested, is not available. There has been no requirement to collect it under the old Child Support scheme and computer system.

  As you are aware the new Child Support scheme and computer system were introduced for new applications on 3rd March this year. It is our intention to collect information of the type, which you have requested, and we are working with EDS, the new system providers, to develop the functionality we need to do this.

  It is worth pointing out that under the new scheme we are conducting as much of our work as possible by telephone, directly with both parents. Consequently, most maintenance enquiry forms are completed by our staff through telephone interviews with the non-resident parent. Only where we are unable to trace a telephone number for the non-resident parent do we issue a clerical form for his/her completion.

  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether, in determining the maintenance liability of self-employed parents, the Child Support Agency is obliged to take into account reductions in taxable income arising from capital depreciation and other allowances; [136774]

  (2) whether the Child Support Agency is required to use the level of taxable income declared to the Inland Revenue as the basis for determining the maintenance liability of a self-employed parent. [136775]

  Mr. Pond
  No. The Child Support Agency is not obliged to take into account capital depreciation and other allowances or to use the level of taxable income declared to the Inland Revenue in establishing the earnings of self-employed parents. Regulations allow the use of information submitted to or provided by the Inland Revenue or of information relating to the parent's business expenses.

  Departures and variations may be available in cases where the calculation of child support liability does not produce a fair rate.

  Departmental Costs
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [123087]

  Maria Eagle
  For information on ministerial cars and drivers I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 13 November 2003,Official Report, columns 397–98W.

  The amount spent for official use of taxis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
  1341W
  The amount spent for official use of UK rail travel is1 as follows:

  £

  1997–98

  Information not available

  1998–99

  Information not available

  1999–2000

  7,442,100

  2000–01

  6,606,657

  2001–02

  7,621,545

  2002–03

  11,919,783

  Note:

  There has been no use of helicopters, at Departmental expense, since 1997.

  The figures for air travel (UK and Overseas)1 are as follows:

  £

  1997–98

  Information not available

  1998–99

  Information not available

  1999–2000

  2,860,718

  2000–01

  2,879,011

  2001–02

  3,550,538

  2002–03

  5,306,126

  Note:

  There has been no use of chartered flights, at Departmental expense, since 1997.

  1Figures relate to the former Department of Social Security and the Department for Work and Pensions from 2001.

  Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of the lists covering the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2003 are available in the Library.

  All official travel in the Department is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in the Cabinet Office Management Code. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code' and 'Travel by Ministers'—copies of which are available in the Library.

  Departmental Energy Use
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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.[135060]

  Mr. Pond
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mr. Ben Bradshaw on 3 November 2003,Official Report Vol 412, Cols. 404w-408w. The Department for Work and Pensions supports and actively contributes to the UK Strategy For Sustainable Development and the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

  A key element to the Department's overall strategy for Sustainable Development is effective energy management. A cross-Government target is being developed to achieve an ongoing reduction in carbon equivalent emissions from buildings against 1999–2000 levels, and DWP will contribute to this. This will be
  1342W
  achieved by continuing to improve energy efficiency throughout the estate and by implementingspend to save investment schemes where viable. An ongoing strategy to raise staff awareness will also continue aimed at promoting good housekeeping and eliminating the wasteful use of energy in the workplace.

  Energy performance is monitored against the Government's 'good practice' benchmarks and remedial action taken in buildings where excessive energy use is identified.

  Departmental Filestores
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when(a) he, (b) a minister in his Department and (c) the Permanent Secretary at the Department last visited a departmental filestore (i) in the North West and (ii) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [131207]

  Maria Eagle
  The Department operates from over 1,800 offices and a significant number of these have some file storage facility, many of these will have been visited by a Minister or the Permanent Secretary of this Department. However, we have no record of any Minister or Permanent Secretary visiting our sites used solely for the purpose of file storage.

  Disabled Access
  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information he has collated on variations in the provision of ramps for the disabled between local authorities. [139894]

  Keith Hill
  I have been asked to reply.

  The disabled facilities grant programme helps to fund a wide range of housing adaptations, including facilitating access to and from the property. This is a mandatory grant available to eligible applicants in order to help them to continue to live independently in their own homes, funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and administered through local authorities.

  Some councils also provide ramps under Community Care legislation.

  The Government does not collect information on numbers, or the nature of ramps provided by local authorities under these programmes.

  Disabled People (Discrimination)
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to give disabled people the same legislative protection from discrimination as those facing sex and race discrimination. [138376]

  Maria Eagle
  We have been working to ensure that the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) provides comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. Most recently, the Disability Discrimination Act (Amendment) Regulations 2003 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Pensions) Regulations 2003, which come into force in October 2004, have improved protection for disabled people in the field of employment and vocational training. Later this year, we will publish a draft Disability Bill which will include further measures to extend disabled people's civil rights. However, it is inappropriate to attempt exact
  1343W
  comparisons between the DDA and the Race Relations and Sex Discrimination Acts, not least because the DDA includes the unique concept of reasonable adjustments.

  Exceptions Service
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the Exceptions Service will operate in respect of people in debt whose benefits are being used to pay off debts to their bank under the right of set-off. [139151]

  Mr. Pond
  There are a wide range of accounts available which are free to operate and do not offer overdraft facilities. Account providers make their customers aware of the features of individual accounts and leaflets provided to benefits customers and pensioners also set out which types of accounts offer overdraft facilities.

  Detailed arrangements for the exceptions method of payment are not finalised yet, but it is anticipated that it will be a cheque-based solution. The small number of customers who cannot operate an account will be able to pay their benefit or pension into an account of their choice, or access their cash at Post Office branches.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of Health and Safety inspectors who will be employed in each of the next three financial years. [135786]

  Mr. Browne
  Estimates of the number of Health and Safety inspectors who will be employed in each of the next three financial years have not yet been made.

  The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is now consulting on a new strategy for the years 2004–2010. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out pilot studies in new ways of working to free up resource which can be used to deliver its mission to protect peoples 1 health and safety by ensuring risks to health and safety from the changing workplace are properly controlled. Responses to the draft strategy and the results of the pilot studies will be taken into account when deciding on the appropriate mix and number of staff (including inspectors) within HSE.

  While regulation and enforcing compliance with the law remain vital elements of HSE's work, they are not the only means of achieving health and safety improvements. HSE plans to put more effort into educating, influencing and working in partnership with others (at all levels) who can help achieve further improvement in health and safety performance.

  Housing Benefit
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on housing benefit for residents of(a) houses in multiple occupation, (b) the rest of the private rented sector, (c) council housing and (d) other social housing in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average cost per person was in each case. [140362]
  1344W
  Mr. Pond
  The available information is in the tables.

  £million

  Housing Benefit expenditure by tenure type

  Expenditure in 2001–02

  Tenure

  Private (excluding Registered Social Landlord)

  2,859

  Local Authority (Rent Rebate)

  5,283

  Registered Social Landlord

  3,450

  Notes:

  1. 2001–02

  is the latest year where final audited outturn expenditure information

  is available

  2. Expenditure is rounded to the nearest m

  3. The expenditure figures are for GB.

  Source:

  Audited expenditure information from Local Authorities

  £

  Average weekly amount of Housing Benefit by Tenure

  Average weekly amount of Tenure Housing Benefit

  Private (excluding Registered Social Landlord)

  71.60

  Local Authority

  48.12

  Registered Social Landlord

  58.01

  Notes:

  1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.

  2. The average amounts have been rounded to the nearest penny.

  3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.

  4. Housing Benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.

  Source:

  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in May 2003

  Identity Cards
  Sir Archy Kirkwood
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the use of ID cards to reduce benefit fraud. [134932]

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimates he has made of the savings that his Department will gain through the introduction of a compulsory identity card. [138969]

  Mr. Pond
  I refer the hon. Members to the oral answer given to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 17 November 2003,Official Report, column 469.

  Jobcentre Plus
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement concerning JobCentre Plus' Vision for London plan, with reference to(a) the number of (i) permanent and (ii) temporary posts, that will be moved out of London, (b) the timescale for the moves, (c) the expected impact on services for JobCentre Plus clients (i) in general and (ii) those from minority ethnic communities without English as a first language, (d) the extent to which those staff providing services for London JobCentre Plus clients from out of London will be expected to have a related knowledge of the jobs market (A) in the different parts of London geographically and (B) in the different

  1345W
  parts of London's economy and (e) the impact of the move on the likely numbers of JobCentre Plus staff from minority ethnic backgrounds. [136831]

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

  Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 20 November 2003:

  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the Jobcentre Plus Vision for London and it's impact on our customers and staff. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  It may be helpful if I explain that like the rest of my Agency, London region has embarked on a process of incremental change to deliver modern, effective and responsive services to our customers. Our priority is to provide the best possible service to our customers. The Jobcentre Plus London Vision is a generic title that encompasses a range of Department of Work and Pensions, National Jobcentre Plus and Regional change initiatives to achieve this aim. In general terms and by 2006, I aim to have in place a network of new modernised offices and support services which:
  enhance access and provide improved service to a much larger customer base;
  ensure better value for money through delivery of more efficient processes, and
  provide more satisfying and rewarding jobs for staff in more pleasant and professional working environments.

  Part of the change programme which is included in the London Vision, includes initiatives that, over time, will offer wider choice to our customers about how they access support and services. I envisage, for example, that by 2006 many more of those who can will be able to access appropriate services remotely, via Jobseeker Direct, Employer Direct and our network of First Contact Centres for new claims to benefit. To provide the best possible service to our customers within our finite resource a number of our non customer facing roles will be delivered outside of London. The extent and numbers of jobs that will be relocated will be clearer in the new year, once some key decisions are taken about our backroom benefit processing roles. I would however stress that we plan to retain local capacity to provide face-to-face service for customers who cannot take advantage of other means of accessing the help and support they need.

  You may be aware of the Department of Work and Pensions Departmental Plans. These plans show that the Department will see a reduction in the number of staff it employs from 130,000 in 2002 to 112,000 in 2006 as part of the Spending Review undertaken in 2002. Jobcentre Plus in London (including existing London region staff based in Scotland and North West England) will see a reduction in the level of full time staff providing services to London Customers from 12,318 in April 2002 to 10,769 in March 2006 according to our latest planning assumptions. Underlying these headline numbers is the ongoing impact of London's dynamic labour market. The region is currently looking to recruit up to 700 new staff into London this year and has a proven track record of recruiting ethnic minorities. I am confident further recruitment will be needed next year.

  The introduction of the new Jobcentre Plus services will change the sorts of jobs available to staff in London. By 2006, more of my staff in London and other regions, will be providing face-to-face services to those customers who most need this form of help. It is true that over time the type and location of work will change, but I am confident that there will be jobs for everyone currently working in London.

  I know that the London Field Director, Sheelagh Keyse, is keen to assess all aspects of her change programme. Consultation on individual initiatives takes place in the normal progress of business. In addition, and in order to assess the overall strategy, Sheelagh has commissioned a review of the entire London Change Programme led by DWP consultants. This review is due to report
  1346W
  in December and further information will be available in January 2004, and I would like to offer you the opportunity to meet with Alan Brown who will be taking over as the Field Director for London to discuss the impact of changes on our London workforce.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of unemployed people of working age in receipt of an occupational pension not qualifying for jobseeker's allowance. [140343]

  Mr. Pond
  The information requested is not available. However, as at May 2003 there were 11,100 people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance who were not receiving any benefit and who had an income from an occupational or personal pension.

  Loans
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 18 September 2003,Official Report, column 910W, on loans for those on low incomes, what the average time taken is for (a) applications, (b) decisions and (c) first payments to arrive for crisis loans. [135107]

  Mr. Pond
  Crisis loans are available to anyone, whether or not they are receiving a benefit, who is facing an emergency or disaster which is threatening their health or safety or that of a member of their family, and who has either no resources or insufficient resources to meet the need.

  During 2002–03, 96.7 per cent. of crisis loans applications were processed and paid on the day they were made. Crisis loans are usually paid immediately by girocheque in a Jobcentre Plus or Social Security office. As most payments are for essential items, those made by post are sent first class.

  New Deal
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 5 November 2003,Official Report, column 673W, on the New Deal, how many New Deal personal advisers there were in each year since 1997. [138392]

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

  Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 20 November 2003:

  As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many New Deal Personal Advisers there were in each year since 1997. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

  Regrettably, the information you have requested is not available. It is the policy within Jobcentre Plus and other parts of the Department for Work and Pensions to collect staffing information by grade/location and not job role.

  Non-resident Parents
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether non-resident parents are required to pay child support when paternity is in dispute; and whether the non-resident parent pays the cost of testing to establish paternity, in the first instance. [135993]

  Mr. Pond
  If parentage is disputed at the outset, in certain circumstances the Child Support Agency can make a presumption of parentage and proceed to enforce a maintenance calculation. Parentage can be presumed where, for example, the alleged father was married to the mother at the time of the child's conception or birth, or where an alleged parent refuses to take a DNA test.

  If parentage is questioned after a calculation has been made, the calculation will remain in force. If the alleged non-resident parent turns out not to be the parent of the child the agency makes a full refund of maintenance.

  The agency can offer access to DNA tests at a discounted rate. The alleged non-resident parent pays for the test but if they are found not to be the parent of the child the fee is refunded. Where the alleged non-resident parent is unable or unwilling to pay for the test the agency may, in some cases, pay for it in advance. However if the test is positive, the full non-discounted fee will be charged.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer the questions tabled on 28 October by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield, concerning the operation of the Social Fund, reference numbers 135577 to 135580, 135582, 135583 and 135616 to 135620. [139919]

  Mr. Pond
  I have given answers today.

  Paternity Pay
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Airdrie and Shotts have benefited from statutory paternity pay since its introduction. [140375]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  I have been asked to reply.

  Statutory paternity pay is a new entitlement for fathers whose babies were born or expected on or after 6 April 2003. There are no take up figures available yet.

  Pension Credit
  Mr. Laws
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are aged 60 and over in each parliamentary constituency in England, according to 2001 Census data; and how many are claiming Pension Credit. [139811]
  1348W
  Malcolm Wicks
  Information on the number of people aged 60 and over from the 2001 Census, and the number of pensioner households and individuals receiving Pension Credit as at 17 October, 2003 by English parliamentary constituencies has been placed in the Library.

  Source:

  IAD In ONS Census data 2001.

  Information Centre, 100 per cent. sample.

  Notes:

  1. Population figures have been obtained from the Office for National Statistics.

  2. Pension Credit figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

  3. Pension Credit figures are based on 100 per cent. Generalised Matching Service (CMS) data.

  4. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.

  Annabelle Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 17 November,Official Report, columns 481–2, how many pensioners in Perth were claiming pension credit on the latest date for which figures are available. [140126]

  Malcolm Wicks
  As at 17 October, 2003 the number of pensioner households receiving Pension Credit in Perth constituency was 2,530.

  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.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the take-up of pension credit in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency. [140368]

  Malcolm Wicks
  As at 17 October, 2003 the number of pensioner households receiving Pension Credit in Airdrie and Shotts constituency was 3,665.

  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 Schemes
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce a legal requirement on employers to fund pension schemes that would ensure assets do not fall below the discontinuance funding ratio. [137917]
  1349W
  Malcolm Wicks
  Government proposals for regulating occupational pension schemes are set out in the documents "Simplifying the taxation of pensions: increasing choice and flexibility for all" (published in December 2002) and "Working and Saving for Retirement: Action on Occupational Pensions" (published in June 2003). Where a scheme with a solvent sponsoring employer is winding-up the Government believe that the employer should ensure the scheme has sufficient funds, as assessed on a discontinuance basis, to secure scheme members' expected benefits in full. We therefore propose to introduce a requirement to ensure that, in this situation, the debt on the sponsoring employer will be calculated on a full buy-out basis.

  More generally, we propose to replace the minimum funding requirement (MFR) for defined benefit schemes with scheme specific funding requirements. Under our proposals it will be the responsibility of each scheme's trustees, working with the sponsoring employer and the scheme actuary, to develop a funding strategy aimed at ensuring that the scheme is able to meet its long-term pension commitments. Where a scheme is not winding-up we do not believe it would be appropriate to introduce a requirement for its funding to meet any prescribed minimum level as assessed on a discontinuance, or any other, basis.

  Improving member protection is a Government priority, which is why we are introducing the new Pension Protection Fund. It will enhance protection for pension scheme members and improve confidence in pension provision in general, by ensuring that members of defined benefit schemes will still receive a meaningful retirement income if their sponsoring employer goes bust and the scheme is under funded.

  Printer Cartridges
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment the Health and Safety Executive has made of the impact on employees health of refilling and re-using printer cartridges. [139215]

  Mr. Browne
  The toner used as part of the printing process is an extremely fine powder which in itself is not classed as a substance hazardous to health. However, any dust in substantial concentration may be classed as hazardous as it may cause respiratory tract irritation. In these circumstances the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) place a duty on users of substances hazardous to health to carry out a risk assessment of their activity and to put in place appropriate control measures based on that assessment. Suppliers of substances for use at work also have a duty under the Chemicals (Hazard information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations (CHIP) to provide a safety data sheet with information to help users work with the substances safely.

  Public Employees (Essex)
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many part-time workers were employed by Jobcentre Plus in Essex on 1 September. [139517]
  1350W
  Mr. Browne
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 October 2003,Official Report, column 209W.

  Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
  Brian White
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what statutory investigatory powers the Department has; which ones will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and what plans he has for removing these legacy powers. [136117]

  Mr. Pond
  Use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 will not supersede the statutory powers available to the Department. There are no plans to remove existing statutory powers from departmental or local authority authorised officers.

  Social Fund
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what proportion of applications for assistance from the Social Fund in the last financial year were unsuccessful, broken down by departmental sub-region; [135577]

  (2) what proportion of applications for assistance under the Social Fund from Birmingham, Northfield were unsuccessful in the last financial year. [135578]

  Mr. Pond
  The available information is in the table.

  Proportion of unsuccessful initial applications April 2002 to March 2003

  Percentage

  Community care grants

  Budgeting loans

  Crisis loans

  Great Britain

  58.3

  26.3

  21.9

  Birmingham, Northfield— April 2002 to August 2003

  55.1

  25.0

  9.1

  All Birmingham Districts

  56.2

  25.3

  15.8

  Notes:

  1. An application is defined as unsuccessful if no award is made.

  2. Figures refer to initial decisions only.

  3. Social Fund data are held by Departmental District. It will not be available by Government Office Region until the migration of all work to Jobcentre Plus Districts is completed.

  4. In September 2002 the Birmingham Northfield Social fund district amalgamated with other districts to become part of the Jobcentre Plus Birmingham and Solihull District.

  5. The area covered by the Birmingham, Northfield site is not co-terminus with the Birmingham, Northfield parliamentary constituency.

  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average timescale was for reviews of unsuccessful applications for assistance under the Social Fund to be considered and determined by the Independent Review Service in the last financial year broken down by departmental sub-region; [135579]
  1351W
  (2) what the average timescale was for reviews of unsuccessful applications from Birmingham, Northfield for assistance under the Social Fund to be considered and determined by the Independent Review Service in the last financial year. [135580]

  Mr. Pond
  The operational performance of the Independent Review Service (IRS), an independent statutory body, is a matter for the Social Fund Commissioner who informs me that:

  In the financial year 2002–03, the national average timescales for reviews dealt with by the IRS were 11.1 days for community care grants; 10.23 days for crisis loans for items; 7.64 days for budgeting loans; and 5.12 hours for urgent crisis loans, such as those for living expenses (express cases), respectively.

  In the financial year 2002–03, the average timescales for reviews dealt with by the IRS from Birmingham, Northfield were 12.32 days for community care grants; 10 days for crisis loans for items; 7.25 days for budgeting loans; and 1.88 hours for urgent crisis loans, such as those for living expenses (express cases), respectively.

  Tables setting out this information, which also give the average timescales by Government Office Region and Jobcentre Plus District have been placed in the Library.

  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what proportion of applications for assistance under the Social Fund from Birmingham, Northfield were unsuccessful at independent review in financial year 2002–03; [135582]

  (2) what proportion of applications for assistance under the Social Fund were unsuccessful at independent review in financial year 2002–03, broken down by departmental sub-region. [135583]

  Mr. Pond
  The operational performance of the Independent Review Service (IRS), an independent statutory body, is a matter for the Social Fund Commissioner who informs me that:

  In the financial year 2002–03, the proportion of applications for assistance under the Social Fund from Birmingham Northfield which were unsuccessful at independent review were 32.1 per cent. for community care grants; 33.3 per cent. for crisis loans for items; 100 per cent. for budgeting loans; and 100 per cent. urgent crisis loans, such as those for living expenses (express cases), respectively.

  In the financial year 2002–03, nationally the proportion of applications for assistance under the Social Fund which were unsuccessful at independent review were 31.4 per cent. for community care grants; 46.7 per cent. for crisis loans for items; 89.2 per cent. for budgeting loans; and 68.3 per cent. urgent crisis loans, such as those for living expenses (express cases), respectively.

  Tables setting out the information, which also give the proportions which were unsuccessful at independent review by Government Office Region and Jobcentre Plus District, have been placed in the Library.
  1352W
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average time periods achieved were in the last 12 months for which figures are available for(a) reaching decisions on applications from residents of Birmingham, Northfield for assistance from the Social Fund and (b) passing these decisions to applicants; [135616]

  (2) what the average time period was in the last 12 months for which figures are available for reaching decisions on applications for assistance from the Social Fund, broken down by departmental sub-region; [135618]

  (3) what the target time periods were in the last 12 months for which figures are available for (a) reaching decisions on applications for assistance from the Social Fund and (b) passing these decisions to applicants, broken down by departmental sub-region. [135620]

  Mr. Pond
  For the last 12 months the Jobcentre Plus Key Management Indicator for clearing applications for Social Fund Community Care Grants has been an average of nine working days. As an additional aid to monitoring performance, Jobcentre Plus aim to clear applications for Budgeting Loans within an average of eight working days and 95 per cent. of all Crisis Loan applications on the day of receipt. All decision letters, irrespective of the outcome of the decision, are sent by first class mail.

  The available information is in the table.

  Average clearance times for applications in days for the 12 months to September 2003

  Great Britain

  Birmingham Northfield

  Community Care Grants

  8.1

  6.8

  Budgeting Loans

  2.6

  4.6

  Crisis Loans

  1.2

  1.1

  Notes:

  1. Social Fund data is not at present available by Government Office Region, but will be from the completion of the migration of work to Jobcentre Plus Districts.

  2. For grants, the clearance time is defined as the time from receipt of the application to making the decision.

  3. For loans, the clearance time is defined as the time from receipt of the application to making the decision if an offer is not made or
  not responded to; if an offer is made, the clearance time is the time from receipt of the application to the decision to make an offer plus the time from the receipt of the accepted offer to the recording of that acceptance.

  4. When a Crisis Loan application is received and the offer of acceptance is recorded on the same day that counts as a clearance time of one day.

  5. Clearance times are measured in whole working days, but average clearance times have been given to one decimal place.

  6. In September 2002 the Birmingham Northfield Social Fund district amalgamated with other districts to become part of the Jobcentre Plus Birmingham and Solihull District.

  7. The area covered by the Birmingham Northfield office is not co-terminus with the Birmingham Northfield parliamentary constituency.

  Source:

  Department for Work and Pensions Central Data Unit Management Information.
  1353W
  Richard Burden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average time periods were for the last 12 months for which figures are available for(a) reaching decisions on reviews of unsuccessful applications from residents of Birmingham, Northfield for assistance from the Social Fund and (b) passing these decisions on to the applicants; [135617]

  (2) what the (a) target and (b) average time periods were in the last 12 months for which figures are available for (i) reaching decisions on reviews of unsuccessful applications for assistance from the Social Fund and (ii) passing these decisions to applicants, broken down by departmental sub-region. [135619]

  Mr. Pond
  If a person is dissatisfied with their Social Fund decision, they may apply for a review of that decision; in the first instance reviews
  are carried out locally by a reviewing officer. If the applicant is still unhappy with the decision, they may apply for a further review by an independent Social Fund Inspector.

  While there is no specific target for internal reviews of discretionary Social Fund decisions, Jobcentre Plus aim to reduce the average time taken to clear applications to 10 working days; all decision letters, irrespective of the outcome of the decision, are sent by first class mail.

  As a result of staffing problems, arrears of work accrued over a period of some months in the Birmingham, Northfield office. Additional resource has been allocated to clear the backlog, and this should be achieved before the end of the year.

  Average clearance times for reviews by Social Fund Reviewing Officers in days for April to September 2003

  Great Britain

  Birmingham, Northfield

  Community Care Grants

  17.6

  28.2

  Budgeting Loans

  16.3

  17.6

  Crisis Loans

  11.3

  2.9

  Notes:

  1. Data to answer both questions from the same source is available only from April 2003

  2. Social Fund data is not at present available by Government Office Region, but will be from the completion of the migration of work to Jobcentre Plus Districts.

  3. For grants, the clearance time is defined as the time from receipt of the application to making the decision.

  4. For loans, the clearance time is defined as the time from receipt of the application to making the decision if an offer is not made or not responded to; if an offer is made, the clearance time is the time from receipt of the application to the decision to make an offer plus the time from the receipt of the accepted offer to the recording of that acceptance.

  5. When a Crisis Loan application is received and the offer of acceptance is recorded on the same day that counts as a clearance time of one day

  6. Clearance times are measured in whole working days. but the average clearance times have been given to one decimal place.

  7. In September 2002 the Birmingham Northfield Social Fund district amalgamated with other districts to become part of the Jobcentre Plus Birmingham and Solihull District.

  8. The area covered by the Birmingham, Northfield office is not co-terminus with the Birmingham Northfield parliamentary constituency.

  Source:

  Department for Work and Pensions Central Data Unit Management Information.
  1354W
  The operational performance of the Independent Review Service (IRS), an independent statutory body, is a matter for the Social Fund Commissioner who informs me that:

  The IRS time targets for reviews are absolute targets rather than average clearance targets. They are: Routine Cases—95 per cent. in 12 working days; Complex Cases—90 per cent. in 23 working days. Against these, in the last financial year the IRS achieved 98.1 per cent. and 94.8 per cent. respectively. For the purposes of responding to your questions, the information has been compiled by averages.

  For the 12-month period ending 30 September 2003, the average time periods for reviews dealt with by the IRS from Birmingham, Northfield were 12.99 days for community care grants; 11.5 days for crisis loans for items; 8.41 days for budgeting loans; and 1.59 hours for urgent crisis loans, such as those for living expenses (express cases), respectively.

  For the 12-month period ending 30 September 2003, the national average time periods for reviews dealt with by the IRS were 12.4 days for community care grants; 11.35 days for crisis loans for items; 7.95 days for budgeting loans; and 4.75 hours for urgent crisis loans, such as those for living expenses (express cases), respectively.

  The IRS passed all decisions to applicants by first class post as soon as the decisions were completed. At the same time, the IRS passed a copy of the decisions to the Jobcentre Plus and they are responsible for making any payments that are due.

  Tables detailing the performance of the Independent Review Service, which show the average time periods by Government Office Region and Jobcentre Plus District, and show the average national, regional and district times for cases that fall within the IRS 12 and 23 day targets have been placed in the Library.

  State Pension
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are in receipt of the state retirement pension in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency. [14036]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table:

  The number of people in receipt of a State Pension as at 31 March 2003 in the Airdrie and Shotts Parliamentary Constituency

  Number

  Men

  3,900

  Women

  8,300

  Total

  12,200

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent sample.

  Notes:

  1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.

  2. Numbers are based on a 5 per cent. sample, and are therefore

  subject to a degree of sampling variation.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample

HEALTH

  Genetically Modified Food
  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what direct tests have been conducted on humans to determine whether the GM foods approved in Europe may be allergenic.[138816]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Each genetically modified food approved to date in Europe has been assessed on a case-by-case basis. The assessment includes an evaluation of allergenicity in accordance with internationally agreed guidelines on testing of novel and genetically modified foods. Direct testing on human subjects is not part of this protocol.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring of groups potentially vulnerable to the effects of consuming GM crops(a) has been undertaken and (b) is planned by the Government. [138817]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Each genetically modified (GM) crop is assessed on a case-by-case basis. This includes a consideration of whether products from the crop, if approved, are suitable to be consumed by all sectors of the population. The Food Standards Agency has not therefore undertaken, nor is planning, any monitoring of groups potentially vulnerable to the effects of consuming GM crops.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from companies on the proposed sale of genetically modified sweetcorn in supermarkets. [138814]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Food Standards Agency has not received any such representations on the proposed sale of genetically modified sweetcorn.

  Gregory Barker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out on the safety of genetically modified sweetcorn. [138815]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Food Standards Agency (FSA) funds two extensive research programmes that underpin the safety assessment of genetically modified foods. The FSA does not commission specific research into the safety of individual genetically modified foods that are being proposed for authorisation.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the benefits of medical experiments on primates, particularly in relation to (i) the prediction of side effects, (ii) the alternative of non-invasive techniques, (iii) vitro studies and (iv) computer simulations designed to mimic human metabolism; and if he will make a statement. [138880]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department has not commissioned or evaluated any recent research on the benefits of using non-human primates in scientific procedures. The Animal Procedures Committee, which advises the Home Secretary on matters concerned with 1356W
  the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, published a report in July 2003 on the use of primates in scientific research. The report recommends that the Government should convene a stakeholders' forum on the care and use of primates in experiments, to progress the issues raised in the report. The Government have agreed that a forum should be set up. Every effort will continue to be required to minimise primate use and find alternatives where practicable.

  "Choice, Responsiveness and Equity"
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which patients' organisations were sent the consultation document, "Choice, Responsiveness and Equity", and when; and if he will make a statement on the time taken from publication to writing to hon. Members on 21 October to inform them of the consultation. [136988]

  Mr. Hutton
  Dissemination of the consultation support pack to patient organisations, and others, has been ongoing since publication on 1 September 2003. A list of patients' organisations that we have contacted directly has been placed in the Library. When the House returned in October, I sent right hon. and hon. Members a summary of the consultation document that we had developed following requests from local organisations to support their local events.

  Accident and Emergency Admissions
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of admissions to accident and emergency is directly related to the individual's use of alcohol. [139247]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government's latest estimate of the proportion of alcohol-related attendances at accident and emergency was prepared by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's strategy unit as part of their project to develop an Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England. This work indicated that 41 per cent. of all accident and emergency attendances were alcohol related, rising to 70 per cent. between midnight and five a.m. on Saturday night.

  These estimates were prepared using specially commissioned research, and were published as part of the strategy unit's interim analysis on the harms associated with alcohol misuse on 19 September 2003.Agency Staff

  Agency Staff
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of(a) agency nurses and (b) agency doctors has been to the NHS in London in each year since 1997. [133749]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows expenditure for the six financial years, 1997–98 to 2002–03, on agency nurses1 and agency doctors2 for the health authorities, national health service trusts and primary care trusts within the London region.
  1357W
  The NHS is now treating more patients then ever before and this increase in activity is reflected in greater spending on agency staff in the NHS.

  Expenditure on agency nurses1 and agency doctors2 in London, 1997–98 to 2002–03

  £

  Agency nurses1 expenditure

  Agency doctors2 expenditure

  1997–98

  111,628,043

  22,363,331

  1998–99

  130,573,228

  22,900,245

  1999–2000

  180,665,901

  22,902,621

  2000–01

  202,308,850

  32,234,187

  2001–02

  229,288,793

  46,761,800

  2002–03

  220,780,586

  66,811,064

  1'Agency nurses'—non NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff.

  2'Agency doctors'—non NHS medical staff.

  Note:

  2002–03 data are provisional.

  Sources:

  1. Annual Financial Returns of Health Authorities—1997–98 to 2001–03.

  2. Annual Financial Returns of NHS Trusts—1997–98 to 2002–03.

  3. Annual Financial Returns of Primary Care Trusts—2000–01 to 2002–03.

  Alcohol Strategy
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in respect of the cost of alcohol abuse to the national health service; and when he expects to publish his Alcohol Strategy. [138778]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Government's latest estimate of the costs accruing to the national health service as a result of alcohol misuse was prepared by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's strategy unit as part of their project to develop a alcohol harms reduction strategy for England. The strategy unit's interim analytical report on the harms associated with alcohol misuse, which was published on 19 September 2003, indicated that costs to the health service in

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Staff Consultants and Doctors in training in cancer specialities

  England, as at 30 September

  Number (headcount)

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  March 2002

  2002

  March 2003

  June 2003

  Consultants

  3,155

  3,273

  3,362

  3,528

  3,721

  3,864

  3,913

  4,059

  4,096

  Doctors in training

  1,531

  1,622

  1,799

  1,896

  2,111

  —

  2,281

  —

  —

  Of which:

  Senior House Officer

  332

  346

  375

  375

  423

  —

  449

  —

  —

  House Officer

  20

  22

  22

  42

  21

  —

  23

  —

  —

  Registrar Group

  1,179

  1,254

  1,402

  1,479

  1,667

  —

  1,809

  —

  —

  Notes:

  1. Cancer specialties includes Clinical Oncology, Clinical Radiology, Haematology, Histopathology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Medicine.

  2. Doctors in training data was not collected in the March or June 2003 mini census.

  Source:

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
  1358W
  England lay between £1.4 billion and £1.7 billion. These estimates were prepared using both existing and specially commissioned research.

  The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England will be published in and implemented from 2004, in line with the commitment given by the Government in the NHS Plan.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department in each year since 1997, stating in each case(a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [137882]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  None.

  Cancer
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trained cancer specialists are practising in England; how many cancer specialist students began training in each year since 1997; how many cancer specialists qualified in each year since 1997; and what his assessment is of the optimum number of cancer specialists required by the national health service. [138918]

  Mr. Hutton
  As at 30 June 2003, there were 4,096 consultants in the cancer specialties (trained cancer specialists) working in the national health service in England.

  As undergraduates, medical students do not undertake training in specific specialties, their medical training is of a general nature at this stage of their course. Specialty specific training begins in hospital at postgraduate level. Information on the number of doctors beginning and completing speciality training each year is not collected centrally.

  The number of postgraduate doctors in training and consultants in the cancer specialties for each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
  1359W
  The Cancer Plan gives a commitment to increase the number of cancer consultants working in the NHS by 1,000 by 2006.

  Since 1999 the number of cancer consultants has increased by 734, or 22 per cent. This means that the NHS is on track to hit the Cancer Plan target. The National Cancer Director works closely with cancer networks, professional organisations and workforce development confederations to ensure that national decisions about workforce planning reflect the needs of the service.

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ring-fence spending for cancer services. [138338]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 13 November 2003]: We do not believe ring-fencing money for a specific programme is the way forward. Our overall approach is to set a national strategic direction, underpinned by targets and to devolve greater freedom to front line staff and organisations to give them the freedom to innovate and improve care for patients based on local needs and circumstances.

  On 22 May 2003 the National Clinical Director for Cancer published a report that showed that the new money for cancer services announced as part of the NHS Cancer Plan is reaching those services.

  On 28 October 2003, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, announced that this tracking exercise would be repeated for cancer funding allocated in 2003–04.

  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of cancer patients received their first definitive treatment within 62 days of referral in each month of the last three years, broken down by cancer type. [138632]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The NHS Cancer Plan sets out our strategy to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. A maximum two-month wait from urgent referral to treatment was introduced for breast cancer in December 2002. Data on performance of this target are collected quarterly and were first published for quarter one, 2003–04 (Apr—Jun 2003), where 97 per cent. of women received their treatment within a month of urgent referral. This target will be in place for all other urgent cases of cancer by 2005. Targets of one month from urgent referral to first treatment were introduced in 2001 for testicular cancer, acute leukaemia and children's cancers. Data on NHS Cancer Plan waiting times targets are published on the Department's website at: www.doh.aov.uk/cancerwaits.

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Staff Consultants and Doctors in training in cardiology

  England, as at 30 September

  Numbers (headcount)

  March 1997

  June 1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  Consultants

  405

  458

  467

  546

  576

  609

  607

  618

  Doctors in training

  540

  607

  589

  612

  609

  700

  n/a

  n/a

  of whom

  Senior House Officer

  192

  218

  210

  223

  210

  225

  n/a

  n/a

  1360W
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated by his Department to cancer prevention in each of the last three years; and how much was spent in each year. [136731]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department funds an extensive health improvement and prevention programme aimed chiefly at preventing cancer and coronary heart disease, which are the two main causes of mortality. Funding for programmes on tobacco control and smoking cessation, improving nutrition and diet and increasing physical activity all contribute not only to cancer prevention, but also to preventing coronary heart disease. It is not possible to identify the amount of funding in these programmes that contributes solely to cancer prevention.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to establish dedicated Positron Emission Tomography camera facilities to diagnose lung cancer and evaluate the success of treatment in sites across all strategic health authorities. [140112]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  We are aware of the potential benefits Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning can offer patients with lung cancer. The Department is working with national health service specialised commissioners, the PET clinical community and research stakeholders to create a framework to enable the NHS to develop a clear national policy position. This will set out, from the evidence, which tumour groups would benefit from PET scanning, likely future demand, and the optimal configuration and location of PET scanners.

  Cardiology
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trained cardiologists are practising in England; how many cardiology students began training in each year since 1997; how many cardiologists qualified in each year since 1997; and what assessment he has made of the optimum number of cardiologists required by the National Health Service. [138919]

  Mr. Hutton
  As at 30 June 2003, there were 618 consultants in cardiology (trained cardiologists) working in the National Health Service in England.

  As undergraduates, medical students do not undertake training in specific specialities, their medical training is of a general nature at this stage of their course. Specialty specific training begins in hospital at postgraduate level. Information on the number of doctors beginning and completing specialty training each year is not collected centrally. The number of postgraduate doctors in training and consultants in cardiology in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
  1361W

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Staff Consultants and Doctors in training in cardiology

  England, as at 30 September

  Numbers (headcount)

  March 1997

  June 1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  2003

  2003

  House Officer

  32

  38

  40

  45

  54

  53

  n/a

  n/a

  Registrar Group

  316

  351

  339

  344

  345

  392

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a=not available

  Source:

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

  Doctors in training data was not collected in the March or June 2003 mini census

  The coronary heart disease care group workforce team advises on workforce requirements to deliver the CHD national service framework and NHS Plan. It is required to make annual recommendations to the workforce numbers advisory board. In its 2003 report, it recommended that there was a need to continue to substantially increase the number of cardiologists. Future growth requirements are being refined and will depend on growth in activity demands and on changes in clinical practice and ways of working.

  Care Homes
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the(a) demand for and (b) supply of places in residential homes and nursing homes in England; and what forecast he has made of change in (i) demand and (ii) supply in the next 10 years. [139476]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible, and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) residential, (b) nursing and (c) elderly mentally infirm (i) homes and (ii) places were available in London in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (A) local authority, (B) private sector and

  Number of care home places in London, by type of accommodation 31 March 1993–2001

  Residential homes

  Nursing homes1

  LA

  Voluntary

  Private

  Small2

  Dual Registered3

  Independent

  2001

  5,412

  10,638

  9,156

  1,699

  2,437

  18,084

  2000

  6,354

  10,464

  9,310

  1,519

  2,493

  18,290

  1999

  6,693

  10,013

  9,364

  1,551

  1,904

  18,257

  1998

  7,744

  9,619

  9,533

  1,658

  1,647

  17,750

  1997

  8,170

  9,960

  9,389

  1,489

  964

  12,388

  1996

  9,468

  9,234

  8,455

  1,390

  1,282

  10,694

  1995

  9,980

  9,249

  8,307

  1,195

  1,176

  12,719

  1994

  10,870

  9,027

  8,078

  899

  1,298

  12,538

  1993

  11,829

  9,406

  7,914

  n/a

  1,020

  11,305

  1 Includes nursing places in dual registered homes.

  2 Independent registered care homes with less than 4 places, required to register from 1 April 1993

  3 Residential places that are in dual registered homes.

  n/a Data are not available.

  Source:

  DH forms RA Part A, RAC5, KO36 and RH(N) Part A

  Number of elderly mentally infirm1 homes in London, by type of accommodation 31 March 1993–2001

  LA

  Voluntary

  Private

  Registered3

  Small2

  Nursing

  2001

  14

  9

  33

  7

  39

  n/a

  2000

  16

  10

  31

  7

  13

  n/a

  1999

  13

  15

  23

  2

  17

  n/a

  1362W
  (C) charity and voluntary providers; and what percentage of capacity in each sector was used in each year. [138666]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Tables 1 and 2 show the number of residential and nursing homes and places in London at 31 March for the years 1993 to 2001 by sector. Tables 3 and 4 show the number of homes and places in care homes for elderly mentally infirm people. Data are not available for the percentage of capacity used each year.

  The National Care Standards Commission has collected figures for later years but comparable details broken down by region are not available.

  Number of care homes in London, by type of accommodation 31 March 1993–2001

  Residential homes

  Nursing homes1

  LA

  Voluntary

  Private

  Small2

  Independent

  2001

  241

  749

  564

  685

  548

  2000

  268

  737

  589

  630

  548

  1999

  274

  737

  601

  626

  554

  1998

  296

  710

  605

  640

  520

  1997

  299

  730

  588

  596

  374

  1996

  347

  636

  539

  567

  348

  1995

  348

  609

  532

  489

  395

  1994

  363

  577

  506

  368

  396

  1993

  386

  581

  492

  3

  332

  1 Includes dual registered homes

  2 Independent registered care homes with less than 4 places, required to register from 1 April 1993

  3 Data are not available

  Source:

  DH forms RA Part A, RAC5, KO36 and RH(N) Part A.
  1363W

  Number of elderly mentally infirm1 homes in London, by type of accommodation 31 March 1993–2001

  LA

  Voluntary

  Private

  Registered3

  Small2

  Nursing

  1998

  16

  30

  51

  6

  20

  n/a

  1997

  20

  12

  20

  6

  32

  n/a

  1996

  15

  5

  13

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1995

  14

  5

  13

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1994

  13

  3

  13

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1993

  14

  3

  17

  0

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Homes that cater primarily for elderly mentally infirm people.

  2 Independent registered care homes with less than 4 places, required to register from 1 April 1993.

  3 Homes that have registered for both residential and nursing care

  n/a Data are not available.

  Source:

  DH forms RA Part A and RAC5.

  Number of elderly mentally infirm1 home places in London, by type of accommodation 31 March 1993-2001

  LA

  Voluntary

  Private

  Dual Registered3

  Small2

  Nursing

  2001

  525

  270

  670

  269

  110

  n/a

  2000

  556

  313

  629

  259

  37

  n/a

  1999

  436

  433

  564

  106

  43

  n/a

  1998

  616

  876

  890

  188

  58

  n/a

  1997

  692

  282

  389

  147

  102

  n/a

  1996

  430

  136

  290

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1995

  402

  119

  265

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1994

  399

  72

  280

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1993

  411

  85

  363

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1 Homes that that carter primarily for elderly mentally infirm people.

  2 Independent registered care homes with less than 4 places, required to register from 1 April 1993.

  3 Residential places in homes registered for both nursing and residential care.

  n/a Data are not available

  Source:

  DH forms RA Part A and RAC5.

  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care home places were available in(a) Birmingham and (b) West Midlands in each of the last six years run by the (i) local authority,(ii) voluntary sector and (iii) private sector. [139706]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The table shows the number of care home places available in Birmingham and West

  Number of care home places in Birmingham and West Midlands by type of accommodation

  As at 31 March 1998–2001

  Rounded numbers

  Residential homes

  Nursing homes1

  Local authority

  Voluntary

  Private

  Dual registered2

  Small3

  Independent

  Total places

  Birmingham

  1998

  1,450

  1,560

  2,350

  130

  400

  2,930

  8,820

  1999

  1,460

  1,420

  2,390

  100

  400

  3,010

  8,780

  2000

  1,340

  870

  2,940

  140

  370

  2,940

  8,600

  2001

  1,320

  740

  2,920

  190

  340

  2,890

  8,400

  West Midlands

  1998

  8,100

  5,680

  17,540

  2,360

  1,860

  20,650

  56,190

  1999

  7,420

  5,540

  16,000

  2,460

  1,910

  21,510

  54,840

  2000

  6,400

  5,340

  16,300

  2,760

  1,700

  20,420

  52,920

  2001

  6,050

  5,180

  16,130

  3,100

  1,630

  20,040

  52,130

  1 Includes places in nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics and nursing care places in homes registered for both nursing and residential care.

  2 Residential places in homes registered for both nursing and residential care.

  3 Independent registered care homes with less than four places.

  Source:

  RA Form A and RH(N) Form A.
  1364W
  Midlands, broken down by type of accommodation, as at 31 March for the years 1998 to 2001.

  The National Care Standards Commission has collected figures for later years but comparable details broken down by local authority and region are not available.
  1365W
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he collates on staff turnover in(a) nursing homes and (b) residential care homes for elderly people in (i) the public sector, (ii) the voluntary sector and (iii) the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [139751]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The Department does not collect information on staff turnover. Information is available from the 2002 Social Services Workforce Analysis, conducted by the Employers' Organisation on behalf of the Social Care and Health Workforce Group. This data is soon to be published and will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inspections and approvals have been undertaken of(a) residential care homes, (b) nursing care homes, (c) residential care home managers and (d) nursing care home managers since the National Care Standards Commission was established; and if he will make a statement.[139554]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Number of inspections and approvals between 1 Apri1 2002 and 18 November 2003

  Number

  Approvals (registrations)

  Care homes with personal care (inc. non-medical)

  19,223

  Care homes with nursing care

  1,137

  Inspections (announced and un-announced)

  Care homes with personal care (inc. non-medical)

  31,627

  Care homes with nursing care

  9,582

  Note:

  Only homes which have an approved registered manager are registered and entered into the service register.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many managers of nursing care homes assessed by the National Care Standards Commission since its inception, had(a) at least first level registered nurse qualifications and (b) no nursing qualifications; [139555]

  (2) how many nursing care homes have published their registered managers' qualifications and experience since the National Care Standards Commission was established; [139556]

  (3) how many (a) requests of statement of purpose have been refused by nursing care homes and (b) residents' care plans of nursing care homes have been assessed and approved since the National Care Standards Commission was established. [139559]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Care Standards Commission does not record this information on its central registration and inspection database.

  Mr. Edward Davey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of(a) the number of residents and (b) the ratio of nurses to residents in nursing care homes in England in the last year for which figures are available. [139557]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The estimated number of occupied beds in nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics in England in 2000–01 was 152,100 beds.
  1366W
  The table shows the number of occupied nursing beds per nurse in England in 2000–01.

  Number of occupied nursing beds1 per nurse: England 2000–01

  Occupied beds

  Qualified2 Nursing staff

  Number

  2.2

  Whole-time equivalent

  3.1

  All3 nursing staff

  Number

  0.9

  Whole-time equivalent

  1.1

  1 Figures refer to beds in nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics including those intended for children or maternity usage.

  2 Qualified nursing staff includes all staff with nursing qualifications, but not those with NVQs.

  3 All nursing staff includes Care Assistants.

  Source:

  (RH(N)

  Childhood Obesity
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into the effect on childhood obesity of access to healthy foods. [138729]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department carries out research and development activity related to diet, nutrition, physical activity and obesity, including the recently completed research initiative on nutrition funded through the Department's policy research programme. Research includes the systematic reviews about the uptake of physical activity and healthy eating by children and young adults.

  As part of the Five-a-Day programme, research was undertaken to test the feasibility and practicalities of evidence-based community approaches to improve access to fruit and vegetables. Evaluation of the National School Fruit Scheme will also assess the impact on children's diet.

  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been treated by the NHS in each of the last 10 years for illnesses(a) directly caused by and (b) aggravated by childhood obesity. [138730]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The number of finished in-year admission episodes for 0–15 years old children in National Health Service hospitals over the last 10 years, where obesity is the primary diagnosis, is shown in the table.

  Year

  Number of finished in-year episodes

  1992–93

  215

  1993–94

  190

  1994–95

  121

  1995–96

  166

  1996–97

  151

  1997–98

  164

  1998–99

  211

  1999–2000

  219

  2000–01

  232

  2001–02

  239

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Chiropody
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cost of compiling the KT23 chiropody statistics was in 2002; [139878]

  (2) which organisations were consulted on the proposed abolition of the annual KT23 chiropody statistics; and, of those consulted, which were (a) in favour of abolition and (b) opposed to it; [139879]

  (3) if he will make a statement on the future of KT23 chiropody statistics. [139880]

  Dr. Ladyman
  As part of the initiative to reduce the burden of bureaucracy on the national health service, the need for all departmental returns, including the KT23 chiropody statistics return, is being re-examined. An internal review is currently in progress. No decision has yet been made with regard to the KT23 return. In the event of a recommendation to amend or abolish the return, formal consultation with interested parties, including the relevant professional organisations, would take place before final decisions were taken.

  Information about the cost of compiling the KT23 chiropody statistics is not available centrally.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of variations in provision of NHS(a) chiropody and (b) podiatry in different regions of England; [140180]

  (2) what plans he has to encourage the greater use of podiatric surgeons; and if he will make a statement. [140181]

  Dr. Ladyman
  It is for primary care trusts to assess the health needs of their local community, and the need for particular services in their locality, and to make such arrangements as they consider appropriate using the resources which are made available to them for this purpose.

  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the long-term health impacts of discharging NHS(a) chiropody and (b) podiatry patients who are deemed to be low risk. [140182]

  Dr. Ladyman
  It is for clinicians in the first instance to assess and take account of the clinical implications of their decisions.

  Computer Games
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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 was of each contract; what has been delivered to date on each contract; and what remains to be delivered. [139580]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department has not awarded any contracts to external computer game companies.

  Condover Hall School
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what health care support services are given to children attending Condover Hall School, Shropshire; [135256]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost of upgrading the building of Condover Hall School to meet national care standards; [135286]

  (3) what assessment has been undertaken of the effect on the mental health of children at Condover Hall School of its closure; [135290]

  (4) what the total health care cost to public funds was of children attending Condover Hall School in 2002–03; [135295]

  (5) if he will make a statement on the compliance of Condover Hall School with the National Care Standards. [135297]

  Margaret Hodge
  Non-maintained special schools such as Condover Hall have a general duty in law to supervise and care for the health of their pupils. The school must employ or otherwise secure the attendance of suitably qualified people, including professionals with expertise and experience relevant to the individual health needs of the children there.

  Health care will be provided either by the Primary Care Trust (PCT) local to the school or by the child's "home" PCT, contracting with a NHS Trust providing community child health services where necessary. It is not possible to specify the health care support services received by pupils at Condover Hall School, since these will depend on each child's health needs. However, part of the school's continuing duty towards the health of its pupils is to arrange with the Primary Care Trust for periodic medical and dental inspections and for any treatment that may be needed.

  Given that health care costs will be dependent on the health needs of each child it is not possible to make overall calculations of the health care costs of children attending Condover Hall School. My Department does not keep central records of the health needs of individual children in schools, including Non-maintained Special Schools; that is the responsibility of each individual school.

  Condover Hall School offers 52 week per year placements to pupils and is therefore required to register as a Children's Home with the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). We understand from the Shrewsbury office of the NCSC that Condover Hall School was inspected at the end of April 2003 and that the report has not yet been finalised. It is, therefore, not possible for me to comment on the school's compliance with the National Minimum Standards for Children's Homes.

  As the controlling charity, the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) would have responsibility for any assessment regarding the impact of the school's closure on pupils' mental health. I understand that RNIB have carried out a full consultation with pupils, parents and staff regarding their plans to close the school.

  Consultant Appointments
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average waiting time for a first consultant appointment in London in each year since 1997. [133741]

  Mr. Hutton
  The average waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointments following general/ dental practitioner written referral in London since 1997 is shown in the table. Progress on reducing maximum waiting times do not necessarily translate into a reduction in the median waiting time, because of shifts in low waiting time bands. Over this period the number of people in London waiting over 26 weeks for their first outpatient appointment fell from 15,100 at end March 1997 to 6 at end March 2003. The equivalent figures for England are over 70,000 to 18 (counting only patients that are the responsibility of NHS Commissioners).

  Waiting times for 1st consultant outpatient appointment following G(D)P referral: London

  Year

  Median Waiting time (weeks)

  1996–97

  6.1

  1997–98

  6.3

  1998–99

  6.9

  1999–2000

  7.4

  2000–01

  7.2

  2001–02

  7.3

  2002–03

  7.5

  Notes:

  1. Data pre 2002/3 is based on London Regional Office boundaries, data for 2002/3 is based on

  London strategic health authority boundaries

  2. The medians in the table are based on aggregate data, categorised into waiting time bands,

  and do not reflect shifts in the waiting time profiles within these bands, only between bands.

  Source:

  Department of Health form QM08

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) of 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 214W, on consultant numbers, exactly how many consultants were planned in the substantial expansion; and exactly how many more new consultants the NHS Plan target provided. [138194]

  Mr. Hutton
  Subject to the necessary resources becoming available, the National Health Service was aiming to provide around 5,000 additional consultants between 1999 and 2004. The NHS Plan put in place the necessary funds and plans to deliver up to 7,500 new consultants between 1999 and 2004.

  A range of initiatives has addressed the need for additional growth to achieve this target, including: speeding up specialist registrar to consultant conversion, encouraging the NHS to become a more flexible and diverse employer, increasing investment in training, investing in child care, attracting back returners and running national and international recruitment campaigns.

  Contingency Planning
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards(a) vaccinating 350 health care staff in the UK against
  1370W
  smallpox and (b) the other measures outlined in the written statement of 2nd December 2002 on contingency planning. [130201]

  Mr. Hutton
  To date, 280 frontline healthcare workers across the United Kingdom have been vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine.

  Implementation of the smallpox interim guidelines is being co-ordinated by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) regional leads. The HPA has established interim guidelines and on existing local emergency plans and arrangements.

  Smallpox vaccine stocks have been substantially increased with the announcement of the Government's intention to secure a contract with Aventis Pasteur in June this year. This means that we have sufficient stocks to vaccinate the whole of the UK, if needed, with new second generation, cell-derived smallpox vaccine.

  Dementia
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of the anti-dementia drug Ebixa. [140111]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) will appraise Memantine (Ebixa), for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia, as part of the eighth wave of its work programme. The anticipated publication date of its recommendations is May 2005.

  Until NICE has made its recommendations it is for local areas to make decisions about availability on the national health service having taken account of published evidence.

  Dentistry
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the mean number of decayed, filled and missing teeth for five-year-old children in(a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in each of the last six years. [138185]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry carry out a survey every second year of dental caries among five-year-old children.

  Information showing the average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth in children aged five in England, by region and health authority in 1997–98 and 1999–2000 and by region and strategic health authority for 2001–02, has been placed in the Library.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of five-year-old children had no caries in(a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in each of the last six years. [138186]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry carry out a survey every second year of dental caries among five-year-old children. The information showing the percentage of five-year-old children with no caries in England, by region and health authority in 1997–98 and 1999–2000 and by strategic health authority for 2001–02, has been placed in the Library.
  1371W
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the(a) mean and (b) maximum waiting times for elective admissions for dental treatment were in (i) England and (ii) each region in each of the last six years. [138410]

  Mr. Hutton
  The table shows the number of patients waiting over 12 months for elective inpatient admission in dentistry specialties (oral surgery, restorative dentistry, paediatric dentistry and orthodontics) and the average waiting times for those specialties.

  Patients waiting for elective admission for dentistry specialties1

  England/Region/Strategic Health Authority

  Patients waiting over 12 months

  Median waiting times (months)

  March 1997–98

  England

  3,397

  3.4

  Northern and Yorkshire

  132

  3.2

  Trent

  262

  3.1

  West Midlands

  29

  2.8

  North West

  176

  2.8

  Eastern

  966

  4.4

  London

  816

  4.4

  South East

  817

  3.7

  South West

  199

  2.7

  March 1998–99

  England

  1,654

  2.8

  Northern and Yorkshire

  11

  2.7

  Trent

  140

  2.8

  West Midlands

  42

  2.5

  North West

  172

  2.5

  Eastern

  468

  3.1

  London

  428

  3.1

  South East

  340

  3.3

  South West

  53

  2.4

  March 1999–00

  England

  943

  2.5

  Northern and Yorkshire

  11

  2.3

  Trent

  102

  2.7

  West Midlands

  10

  2.3

  North West

  116

  2.3

  Eastern

  202

  2.6

  London

  236

  2.5

  South East

  206

  2.6

  South West

  60

  2.4

  March 2000–01

  England

  683

  2.3

  Northern and Yorkshire

  0

  2.2

  Trent

  3

  2.2

  West Midlands

  11

  2.2

  North West

  87

  2.2

  Eastern

  124

  2.4

  London

  175

  2.3

  South East

  181

  2.3

  South West

  102

  2.2

  March 2001–02

  England

  235

  2.2

  Northern and Yorkshire

  0

  2.2

  Trent

  1

  2.1

  West Midlands

  5

  2.1

  North West

  44

  2.2

  Eastern

  38

  2.2

  London

  44

  2.1

  South East

  78

  2.4

  South West

  25

  2.2

  1372W

  Patients waiting for elective admission for dentistry specialties1

  England/Region/ Strategic Health Authority

  Patients waiting over 12 months

  Median waiting times (months)

  March 2002–03

  England

  0

  2.3

  Norfolk, Suffolk and

  0

  2.3

  Cambridgeshire HA

  Bedfordshire and

  0

  2.6

  Hertfordshire HA

  Essex HA

  0

  2.3

  North West London HA

  0

  2.4

  North Central London HA

  0

  2.2

  North East London HA

  0

  2.4

  South East London HA

  0

  2.1

  South West London HA

  0

  2.1

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  0

  2.0

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  0

  1.9

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA

  0

  2.1

  West Yorkshire HA

  0

  2.9

  Cumbria and Lancashire HA

  0

  2.2

  Greater Manchester HA

  0

  2.1

  Cheshire and Merseyside HA

  0

  2.2

  Thames Valley HA

  0

  2.6

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA

  0

  2.4

  Kent and Medway HA

  0

  2.2

  Surrey and Sussex HA

  0

  2.5

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA

  0

  2.3

  South West Peninsula HA

  0

  2.3

  Somerset and Dorset HA

  0

  1.8

  South Yorkshire HA

  0

  2.2

  Trent HA Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA

  0

  2.2

  Shropshire and Staffordshire HA

  0

  2.4

  Birmingham and The Black Country HA

  0

  2.1

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA

  0

  2.0

  September 2003–04

  England2

  0

  2.4

  Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA

  0

  2.4

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA

  Essex HA

  0

  2.4

  North West London HA

  0

  2.4

  North Central London HA

  0

  2.7

  North East London HA

  0

  2.4

  South East London HA

  0

  2.5

  South West London HA

  0

  2.2

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  0

  2.5

  County Durham and Tees Valley

  0

  2.2

  North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA

  0

  2.3

  West Yorkshire HA

  0

  3.2

  Cumbria and Lancashire HA

  0

  2.1

  Greater Manchester HA2

  0

  2.2

  Cheshire and Merseyside HA2

  0

  2.2

  Thames Valley HA

  0

  2.5

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA

  0

  2.8

  1373W

  Patients waiting for elective admission for dentistry specialties1

  England/Region/Strategic Health

  Parents waiting over 12 months

  Median waiting times (months)

  Kent and Medway HA

  0

  2.1

  Surrey and Sussex HA

  0

  2.5

  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire HA

  0

  2.6

  South West Peninsula HA

  0

  2.4

  Somerset and Dorset HA

  0

  2.0

  South Yorkshire HA

  0

  2.2

  Trent HA

  0

  2.3

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA

  0

  2.3

  Shropshire and Staffordshire HA

  0

  2.3

  Birmingham and The Black Country HA

  0

  2.0

  Country HA Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA

  0

  2.1

  Source

  Department of Health form QF01.

  Note:

  1 Dentistry specialties include oral surgery, restorative dentistry, paediatric dentistry and orthodontics.

  2 Data is incomplete for September 2003 due to issues arising in Cheshire and Merseyside HA, this may affect for England, Greater Manchester HA and Cheshire and Merseyside HA.

  Data prior to 2002/3 is based on England and Regional Office area, after that it is based on England and Strategic Health Authority.

  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effects of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill on dentistry patients. [139684]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government are committed to rebuilding and restoring national health service dentistry to improve the oral health of the nation. The proposals in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, currently before Parliament, represent the most radical reform of NHS dentistry since 1948. Proposals in the Bill will underpin a modernised high-quality primary dental service properly integrated with the rest of the NHS, providing better access and improved patient experience.

  Primary care trusts (PCTs) will have a duty to secure the provision of primary dental services to meet all reasonable requirements either through contracts with individual practices or by providing services themselves. PCTs will have a duty to publish information about the primary dental services for which it makes provision. With these new responsibilities will go the £1.2 billion financial resources currently held centrally so that the NHS can secure services locally and develop them in line with local needs.

  PCTs will be given directly conferred functions in relation to dental public health, including oral health promotion, surveys and school screening to make a real contribution to reducing oral health inequalities in relation to specific conditions or client groups.
  1374W
  PCTs will be able to commission specialist dental services, such as orthodontics or minor oral surgery from experienced "'high street" dentists operating in readily accessible settings, located for the convenience of patients.

  Under proposals in the Bill, dental charges will no longer be related to the dentists' remuneration. The new arrangements will apply nationally and are intended to ensure there is greater clarity about the cost of treatment for both dentists and the public.

  Diabetes
  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that better information is provided to(a) general practitioners and (b) diabetic patients about (i) the effects of diabetes on safety when driving and (ii) the control of such effects.[139824]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department for Transport publishes a booklet called the "At a Glance Guide to Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive", which gives details of all the United Kingdom medical standards, including diabetes. This guide is now available for general consumption on the internet and is updated every six months following advice from the Secretary of State's honorary medical advisory panels.

  Amendments to the "At a Glance" guide are distributed to medical practitioners in hard copy form and can also be obtained on EMIS Knowledge-Based Systems (Egton Medical Information Systems), which is available in all general practitioners' surgeries.

  The document provides the basis on which members of the medical profession advise individuals on whether any particular condition could affect their driving entitlement.

  Diet and Nutrition
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down by sex the percentages of children who were found by the most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey to be consuming less than the lower reference nutrient intake for(a) calcium, (b) magnesium and (c) vitamin A. [137057]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The information requested is shown in the table.

  Percentage consuming below lower reference nutrient intake

  Age

  Boys

  Girls

  Calcium

  4–6 years

  3

  2

  7–10 years

  2

  5

  11–14 years

  12

  24

  15–18

  9

  19

  Magnesium

  4–6 years

  3

  1

  7–10 years

  2

  5

  11–14 years

  28

  51

  15–18 years

  18

  53

  Vitamin A

  4–6 years

  8

  6

  7–10 years

  9

  10

  11–14 years

  13

  20

  15–18 years

  12

  12

  Source:

  NDNS young people 4–18 years (1997).

  Doctors' Conference
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the recent Doctors' Forum event held at the Novotel Hotel in Hammersmith; and what the(a) objectives and (b) programme for the event were. [138934]

  Mr. Hutton
  The cost of the 2003 Improving Working Lives for Doctors' Conference was £125,000. The event was open to all doctors and to those working in national health service human resource departments as an opportunity to network and share good practice on progress towards our aim of improving the working lives of medical staff. The principal objective was to support our commitment to the development of well-managed, supportive and flexible working environments by showcasing achievements and providing an opportunity to discuss areas where more work is needed. The conference was also a platform to support and promote the work of the doctors' forum, which was established following the first IWL for doctors' conference in 2002. Those who were unable to attend the event can find out more from the summary information on the Department's website at:http://www.doh.gov.uk/conferences/improvingoct03.htm

  Domiciliary Care
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the standards governing the delivery of domiciliary care for the elderly and the arrangements for monitoring compliance with them. [140107]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Regulations and National Minimum Standards governing domiciliary care were published in January 2003, to come into force from 1 April 2003. Their content followed wide consultation with groups representing service users, care providers, and local authorities. I am satisfied that they support good, professional practice.

  The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) is an independent inspection body. Its role is to ensure compliance with the regulations as part of the conditions for registration of domiciliary care agencies. From 1 April 2004, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) will take over this role. I am satisfied that the NCSC currently, and the CSCI from April 2004. have the powers they need to monitor compliance and to raise standards.

  Drug Budgets
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the change in cost to the national health service drug budget resulting from the focus on priority therapeutic areas, as outlined in the new general practitioner contract. [137361]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Quality and Outcomes Framework which is part of the new General Medical Services Contract is just one of a variety of related policy initiatives that will impact on the national health service drug budget in the future. The publication of national services frameworks and determinations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence are other examples. The NHS will take these and other factors into account when modelling future resource provision.

  Drug Research
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the impact of implementing EU Directive 2001/20/EC on non-commercial drug research in the United Kingdom.
  [138989]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  As part of the consultations on the UK regulations, a partial regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was provided revealing potential increased costs. Universities, national health service trusts and charities were invited to submit estimates on recurring and non-recurring compliance costs for non-commercial trials. The comments received revealed the difficulty of estimating costs with so much uncertainty surrounding the Commission Directives.

  The Government have taken further steps to attempt to influence the Commission in its consideration of a Commission Directive on Good Clinical Practice and also in reviewing guidance that the Commission published earlier this year with a view to avoiding any unnecessary costs. This work is continuing.

  In another initiative designed to reduce the cost impact, the Department and the Medical Research Council are working with experts to find practical solutions to the issues identified in the partial impact assessment. Details of the project can be found at www.ncchta.org/eudirective/index.asp.

  Further information on the partial regulatory impact assessment and the proposed United Kingdom implementing regulations is available on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website at www.mhra.gov.uk and in the MHRA Consultative Documents: MLXs issued in 2003, MLX 287.

  Drug/Alcohol Misuse
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the amount of Government funding for(a) drug misuse treatment and (b) alcohol misuse treatment in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each of the last six years. [138755]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The pooled drug treatment budget was £195.7 million in 2002–03 and this increased to £243.6 million in 2003–04. It is estimated that the pooled treatment budget is matched with an additional 200 million of mainstream funding. Figures are not available prior to 2002–03 when the majority of drug treatment was funded through mainstreamed health monies.

  Figures are not available for each strategic health authority. However, the table shows pooled treatment budget allocations for each National Treatment Agency region.

  £ million

  Region

  2002–03

  2003–04

  London

  43.80

  55.20

  East Midlands

  12.96

  16.42

  West Midlands

  19.20

  24.61

  Eastern Region

  17.15

  20.07

  North East

  11.72

  14.87

  1377W

  £ million

  Region

  2002–03

  2003–04

  North West

  25.90

  32.93

  South East

  25.44

  29.23

  South West

  15.47

  18.19

  Yorkshire and Humber

  19.57

  24.57

  Responsibility for funding alcohol treatment services lies with primary care trusts, who commission these services in line with local needs. The Department does not hold centrally collected information on expenditure on alcohol treatment services, but we estimate that around £95 million is spent annually on these services, with the bulk of this funding being drawn from Government sources.

  Fluoridation
  Mr. Crausby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much has been spent in each of the last five years for which figures are available on research(a) directly funded by the Department of Health and (b) funded through the Medical Research Council into the effects of fluoridation on people suffering from kidney disease; [139744]

  (2) how much has been spent in each of the last five years for which figures are available on research (a) directly funded by the Department of Health and (b) funded through the Medical Research Council into the effects of fluoridation on people suffering from thyroid disease. [139745]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The research we have commissioned has been on the general effects of fluoridation on health. "A Systematic Review of Fluoridation", carried out by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination of the University of York in the year 2000, cost £79,648.00 and the study of the bio-availability of fluoride, which has just been completed by the University of Newcastle, cost £47,934. In addition, the Medical Research Council (MRC) undertook the study "Water Fluoridation and Health", which was published in 2002, under concordat arrangements with the Department. York identified three studies of goitre and two of cancer of the thyroid gland, none of which showed a statistically significant association with fluoridation. The MRC also noted that attention has been given to cancers of the stomach, kidney and thyroid, because fluoride is usually absorbed in the stomach and can be concentrated in the kidneys and thyroid, but concluded that,"the evidence available does not suggest that fluoridation of water increases the risk for cancer in general or for any particular type of cancer."

  Foundation Trusts
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role he envisages for political parties in the elections to the governing boards of foundation hospital trusts. [138514]

  Mr. Hutton
  None. The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, as amended at Lords Report, includes a power that regulations may make provision as to the conduct of elections for 1378W
  membership of the board of governors of a national health service foundation trust. The regulations may include the obligations on nominees to declare their interests.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether limits to candidates' expenditure are to be imposed in the elections to the governing boards of foundation hospital trusts. [138520]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, as amended at Lords Report, includes a power that regulations may make provision as to the conduct of elections for membership of the board of governors of a national health service foundation trust. The regulations may cover election expenses and publicity.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from(a) NHS trusts and (b) others concerning the electoral systems which may be used in elections to the board of governors of NHS foundation trusts. [139116]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: None. The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill now requires regulations to set out procedures for elections. While officials are in dialogue with national health service foundation trust applicants and expert bodies about how the secondary legislation might allow for elections to take place, we have not received any representations from NHS trusts or others suggesting electoral systems which may be used to elect members of an NHS foundation trust to its board of governors.

  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposed public register of members of an NHS foundation trust will allow for members to be listed as patients or carers. [139118]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]:Subject to Parliament, it is the Government's intention that a national health service foundation trust would be allowed, but not required, to distinguish between members who are patients and those who are carers in the register of members.

  General Practitioners
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that the same value of minimum practice income guarantee should be offered to GPs if the number of patients on their rolls falls below the 2002–03 figures. [138586]

  Mr. Hutton
  The minimum practice income guarantee will ensure that any gap between the global sum and the practice's previous income for global sum equivalent items will be met for as long as is necessary. Practices that have a lower global sum allocation than their previous income from global sum equivalent items will receive a correction factor to the value of this difference. The correction factor will be determined and fixed at the first quarter of 2004–05 and will continue to be paid on top of the global sum allocation for as long as is needed. It will be uplifted along with the uplifts in the global sum.
  1379W
  A practice that has a falling list will continue to receive the correction factor as determined in the first quarter of 2004–05, but its calculated global sum allocation will fall as a result of the falling list size. This avoids the situation where a practice may be providing services to a small list, but is receiving income protection based on earnings received for providing services to a much larger list.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that the new GP funding formula will not result in less money than the previous formula being offered for general practitioners, with particular reference to GPs in Brent. [138587]

  Mr. Hutton
  The new minimum practice income guarantee will ensure that practices do not lose out on their global sum allocation formula compared with their previous global sum equivalent income. This arrangement will remain in place for as long as is needed.

  Practices' global sum equivalent income will be calculated in the first quarter of 2004–05 and compared with the global sum allocation. If the global sum equivalent is higher than the global sum the practice will receive a correction factor to make good this difference. This correction factor will be paid monthly to practices for as long as is necessary.

  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to ensure that access to high-quality sexual health services is(a) made a priority and (b) resourced as part of the new general practitioner contract; [139467]

  (2) what steps he is taking to ensure that general practitioners will meet the Level 1 and 2 service provision set out in the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV as part of the new general practitioner contract. [139468]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: "The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV" set out an increasing role for primary care services, recognising that general practice plays a crucial role in the delivery of sexual health services. The new general medical services contract includes a new patient services guarantee to ensure patients have access to at least the range of services they currently enjoy, with a guarantee that will see investment in primary care increase by one-third by 2005–06.

  All practices will provide essential services. Contraceptive services will be delivered as an additional service which practices have a preferential right to provide, and will normally do so.

  Patients will not only continue to receive a family planning service, including screening for sexually transmitted infections where necessary, but primary care trusts will also be able to commission more specialised sexual health services that conform with the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV.

  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that the new GP contract does not act as a financial disincentive for GPs to take on new patients. [138601]
  1380W
  Mr. Hutton
  The new general medical services contract aims to ensure that resources reflect more accurately a contractor's workload and the costs of delivering high quality care to the local population. Those general practitioners who choose to take on new patients will be properly rewarded for doing so.

  Geriatricians
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) consultant geriatricians and (b) geriatricians below the level of consultant were employed in each NHS hospital trust in each year since 1997. [138154]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on consultants in geriatric medicine and geriatricians below the level of consultant who were employed in each national health service hospital trust in each year since 1997 has been placed in the Library.

  The number of consultants in geriatrics has increased by 25 per cent, between September 1997 and June 2003.

  Health and Safety
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what help he is giving to local hospitals to achieve health and safety standards. [139048]

  Mr. Hutton
  Compliance with health and safety legislation is the responsibility of National Health Service Trust Chief Executives and Boards.

  The Department of Health publishes health and safety guidance to aid NHS trusts in complying with current legislation. The Department will be publishing comprehensive new guidance in February 2004 and is currently consulting on the first national NHS occupational health and safety strategy.

  Health Tourism
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into the(a) extent and (b) cost of health tourism in England; and if he will make a statement. [139579]

  Mr. Hutton
  Officials in the Department of Health have been conducting a review of the operation of the National Health Service hospital charging arrangements for overseas visitors for some time, and a consultation exercise on proposed amendments to the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 ended on 31 October. No specific external research was been commissioned as part of this review.

  NHS trusts are not required to submit data on the costs of providing treatment for overseas visitors, many of whom may well be entitled to free treatment under the provisions of the charging regulations.

  Health Visitors
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the efficiency of health visitor services of health visitors serving(a) general practitioner surgeries and (b) geographical areas independent of GP surgeries. [138606]
  1381W
  Mr. Hutton
  It is for local organisations and health visiting teams to determine how they should best be deployed to meet local needs and circumstances. As primary care trusts have reviewed their services in the light of the national health visitor development programme and the primary care nursing framework, "Liberating the Talents", different models have emerged as most appropriate to the local situation. In some areas, health visitors have found that geographical working enables them to focus more readily on health determinants within the community and work with a range of partners to address these.

  Geographical working may be particularly appropriate in some inner city areas where a number of general practices serve the same geographical population. In other places, where the general practitioner practice population corresponds more readily to a geographical area, health visiting teams have valued the close relationship with other primary health care team members that attachment or alignment with general practice can bring.

  Heroin
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been carried out to determine the effectiveness of buprenorphine in the treatment of heroin addiction. [140054]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Buprenorphine has recently been established as a potential effective alternative substitution treatment for some patients by a number of studies, such as those concentrating on effective doses, including Johnson et al., 1995, Ling et al., 1998 and Strain et al., 1994. Specific differences from methadone have been highlighted in other studies, including Walsh et al., 1994, Reynaud et al., 1998, Bickel & Amass, 1995, Reisinger, 1997 and Barnett P. G. et al., 2001, and trials in Europe have been reviewed by Chapleo et al., 1997. Also, see Uehlinger, C et al., 1998 and Fischer, G et al. 1999 for published studies.

  The Cochrane review of buprenorphine maintenance for opioid dependence in August 2002 concluded, "Buprenorphine is an effective intervention for use in the maintenance treatment of heroin dependence, but it is not more effective than methadone at adequate dosages".

  HIV/AIDS
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffered from HIV/AIDS in England in the last five years for which figures are available. [139474]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The annual survey of prevalent HIV infections diagnosed collates data on individuals who attend statutory services for HIV-related treatment and care each year. The annual totals for England for the last five years are shown in the table.

  HIV/AIDS: Annual total for England for the last five years

  Pervalent diagnosed cases

  1998

  16,306

  1999

  18,392

  2000

  20,855

  1382W

  HIV/AIDS: Annual total for England for the last five years

  Prevalent diagnosed cases

  2001

  24,269

  2002

  29,044

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Health Protection Agency.

  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources his Department has allocated to HIV/AIDS(a) treatment and (b) prevention in financial year 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [139475]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Department of Health no longer holds central records of the resources allocated to HIV treatment and prevention by primary care trusts (PCTs). The last year for which this data was available was 2001–02, when £276 million was allocated for HIV treatment and care, and £55 million for HIV prevention. From 1 April 2002 the ring-fence was removed from these allocations and they were added to National Health Service baselines, allowing PCTs the flexibility to determine spending priorities for maximum effectiveness.

  In addition to the significant amount of work commissioned and funded at local level, national targeted HIV prevention work for those groups most at risk of infection is undertaken by the Department through contracts with voluntary sector organisations, to the value of almost £4 million (including helpline provision) in 2003–04.

  Home Care Services
  John Cryer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people within the London Borough of Havering in receipt of home care services provided by the council were charged for those services in the(a) 12 months before and (b) after the introduction of Department of Health guidance, "Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care"; [133265]

  (2) if he will assess the impact of Department of Health guidance, "Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care", on service users within the London Borough of Havering; and if he will make a statement. [133267]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not held centrally on the number of people within the London Borough of Havering, who were in receipt of home care services and were charged in the 12 months before and after the introduction of the guidance "Fairer Charging Policies for Home Care" and other non-residential Social Services. The impact of the Department of Health guidance on the London Borough of Havering's charging policies is a matter for the local council to assess.

  The Department of Health issued statutory guidance to local councils for home care charges in November 2001. This guidance does not seek to change councils' power to charge, or not, but seeks to ensure that, where council's do charge, this will be based on fairer well designed charging policies. An important principle of the guidance is that charges should not reduce a person's income below basic levels of income support or the guarantee credit of pension credit plus a 25 per cent, buffer.

  Hospital Beds
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) general and (b) acute beds were open overnight in each English region in each of the last 10 years; [137364]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 10 November2003]: The NHS Plan set a target of 2,100 extra general and acute beds. By 2002–03, an additional 1,600 were in place representing over three quarters of the target set out in the NHS Plan.

  Information on the number of available beds by ward classification is collected from each National Health Service trust. An available bed is one that is open and staffed at midnight. Figures for beds in wards classified as acute and geriatric (general) for England for the last ten years are shown in the table.

  Year

  Acute

  Geriatric

  1993–94

  109,713

  37,440

  1994–95

  108,008

  36,795

  1995–96

  108,296

  34,328

  1996–97

  108,869

  31,646

  1997–98

  107,807

  30,240

  1998–99

  107,729

  28,697

  1999–00

  107,218

  27,862

  2000–01

  107,956

  27,838

  2001–02

  108,535

  28,047

  2002–03

  108,706

  27,973

  Source:

  Department of Health form KH03.

  Information for the period 1993–94 to 1999–00 aggregated to the 8 Regional Office areas is available in Summary of Bed Availability, England copies of which are in the Library. Information for 2000–01 is available from the Department of Health website http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity. Any information on beds published after the abolition of regional offices in April 2002 is not available at a regional level.

  Hospital Wards
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospital wards he has visited in the last 12 months. [134260]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  My right hon. Friend has visited 10 hospitals since becoming Secretary of State on 12 June 2003; they are listed below. As part of his visits, he saw numerous wards while meeting staff and patients.

  Date

  Venue

  23 June

  Great Ormond Street Hospital

  27 August

  Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

  Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham

  28 August

  St James's Hospital HQ, Leeds

  Leeds General Infirmary

  29 August

  Whiston Hospital, Prescot

  St Helen's Hospital, London

  2 September

  St Mary's Hospital, London

  1 October

  Royal Bournemouth Hospital

  28 October

  The Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London

  Indian Community
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the health of England's Indian community. [138200]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Members of black and minority ethnic communities, including the Indian community, are not a homogeneous group for health status, disease patterns or health behaviour. A number of studies, including Sir Donald Acheson's 'Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health', have shown that there are significant health inequalities among people from black and minority ethnic communities. These inequalities relate to differences in disease prevalence, differential access to services and differential delivery and take-up of services.

  According to the Health Survey for England (1999), Indians experience higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and strokes. Women born in India have a 40 per cent. higher suicide rate than those born in England and Wales. The survey also found that oral cancer has a very high prevalence among the South Asian community (Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Sri Lankan), and rates of uptake of cervical screening among South Asian women are less than half those amongst the general population.

  The Department of Health's strategy for meeting the needs of minority ethnic communities is to set action on race equality within the overall framework for planning and delivering the Department's priorities.

  The NHS Plan recognises that we live in a diverse society and that ethnicity can be a key factor in health inequalities. The plan sets out as core principles that the national health service will shape its services around the needs of the patient, be responsive to the needs of different groups and individuals within society, including challenging racial discrimination.

  In October 2003 the Department published "Delivering Race Equality: A Framework for Action" as a consultation document on black and minority ethnic health setting out what those planning, delivering and monitoring local primary care and mental health services for people from black and minority ethnic communities.

  The Department is committed to transforming the NHS so that it produces faster, fairer services with equity of access for all. The creation of more equal access for black and minority ethnic people is an integral and vital aspect of the Department's programme of investment and reform.

  Infection Control
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department monitors hospital and community clinicians' attendance at infection control training; and if he will make a statement. [138190]

  Mr. Hutton
  For nurses, midwives and other non-medical health professionals, it is for local employers to determine their training needs linked to local service plans. Access to training is affected by whether funding is available, staff can be released, training interventions
  1385W
  are appropriate, flexible and convenient and mentors/assessors are available. It would not be practical for the centre to be prescriptive on this.

  Acute trusts have to provide education on infection control as part of the controls assurance standard. Recently published guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on infection control in primary and community care includes recommendations on training.

  For doctors, the content and standard of postgraduate medical training is the responsibility of the United Kingdom competent authorities, the specialist training authority for specialist medicine and, for general practice, the joint committee on postgraduate training for general practice, which will both be replaced by the postgraduate medical education and training board. Their role is that of custodians of quality standards in postgraduate medical education and practice. They are independent of the Department. In addition, the General Medical Council's education committee has the general function of promoting high standards of medical education and co-ordinating all stages of medical education to ensure that students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice.

  All of these bodies have a vested interest in ensuring that doctors are equipped to deal with the issues they will encounter in practice—including where appropriate, those relating to infection control. However, it is neither practicable nor desirable for the Government to prescribe and monitor the exact training that any individual doctor will receive.

  Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost of compensation paid by the NHS to employees who have been injured at work was in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [138179]

  Mr. Hutton
  Personal injury cover for national health service employees is provided by trusts' and primary care trusts' membership of the Liabilities to Third Parties Scheme, a non-clinical risk pooling scheme operated by the NHS Litigation Authority. This was introduced in April 1999 as an alternative to purchasing commercial insurance for non-clinical risks. The table shows the total amount of compensation claims paid in each year since April 1999. Information on claims prior to 1999 is not available.

  Total amount of compensation claims paid in each year since April 1999

  Number of claims handled

  Compensation paid(£)

  1999–2000

  810

  2.4 million

  2000–01

  1,839

  5.3 million

  2001–02

  2,435

  3.9 million

  2002–03

  2,450

  1.1 million

  2003–04

  1,572

  43,000

  1386W
  These figures do not represent the full cost of compensation claims, however, as many small claims which fall under the standard excess of £10,000 are handled directly by NHS trusts and information on these is not reported.

  Insulin
  Mrs. Calton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of patients use(a) animal and (b) GM-produced human insulin; what assessment has been made of the (i) likely changes in those figures over the next 10 years and (ii) continuing availability of animal insulin; and if he will make a statement. [139904]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Data on the number of people using animal and genetically modified produced human insulins are not collected and there has been no assessment or forecast made of the numbers of people likely to be using these insulins in the future. The table shows the number of prescription items that were dispensed in the community in England, and their cost, in the 12 months ended June 2003.

  Number of prescription items and net ingredient cost of insulins that were dispensed in the community in England for the 12 months ending June 2003

  Number of prescription items (thousand)

  Net ingredient cost (£000)

  Highly purified animal insulin

  128.1

  4,217.2

  Human sequence (GM insulin)

  3,522.0

  150,528.8

  All insulins

  3,650.0

  154,746.0

  Notes

  1. The data is from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system which covers all prescription items that are dispensed in the community in England. This does not include drugs dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

  2. Insulins are those defined in the British National Formulary (BNF) paragraph 6.1.1, "Insulins". Insulin drugs have been grouped into highly purified animal and human sequence (GM) insulin in line with the British National Formulary (BNF).

  3. Doctors write prescriptions on a prescription form. Each single item written on the form is counted as a prescription item. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost (which the dispenser is reimbursed) of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.

  Intermediate Care
  Sandra Gidley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many intermediate care beds there were in each year since 1999; [137935]

  (2) how many people received intermediate care services in each year since 1999. [137938]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is shown in the tables.

  Number of intermediate beds each year, as at 31 March

  Number of IC beds

  1999–2000

  4,242

  2000–01

  1—

  2001–02

  7,021

  2002–03

  7,407

  1387W

  Number of people who have received intermediate care

  Number of people receiving IC services

  1999–2000

  132,447

  2000–01

  1—

  2001–02

  246,034

  2002–03

  276,184

  1Not available

  Inventures
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct Inventures to expedite their dealings with the Church Grange Satellite Surgery at Park Village, Basingstoke, in respect of a land transaction; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for delays in Inventures completing this business. [138484]

  Mr. Hutton
  The new surgery at Park Village, Basingstoke forms an integral part of a much larger residential development and the Village Centre project for which Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council are currently considering a detailed planning application.

  The sale and development of the new surgery is linked to that of the larger development. The sale of the larger development site is anticipated to be completed shortly.

  The Department is aware of the need for the new surgery to be constructed as soon as practical and is working to achieve this. Drafting Guidelines are attached to the PQ Reference Guide.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to receive the National Audit Office report on the sale of Inventures and NHS property; and whether he plans to publish it. [138835]

  Mr. Hutton
  We understand that the National Audit Office is close to finalising its findings in relation to the sale of Inventures and national health service property.

  No decision has yet been taken with regards to publication of any report.

  Clinical Incident Investigations
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage local trust management to establish an open culture for reporting and examining clinical incidents. [140008]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Government established the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) to improve the safety of patients by promoting a culture of reporting and learning from clinical incidents in the National Health Service. The NPSA has developed a new National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) to collect reports, which will be rolled out across NHS organisations in England and Wales. The NRLS will store anonymous data used to identify national trends and patterns of errors and system failures so that the NPSA can develop practical solutions to address them.

  The NPSA is working on a range of tools and has appointed a regional network of 31 patient safety managers to support NHS managers in developing a more open and fair culture and in responding effectively when things go wrong locally. As the NRLS is rolled out, the NPSA will offer root-cause analysis training to
  1388W
  every NHS organisation to encourage thorough and objective investigations and support local learning. Further information is available at www.npsa.nhs.uk.

  The recently published Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) report, 'Making Amends', makes 19 recommendations to reform the way in which clinical negligence claims are handled in the NHS. The CMC's proposals include the introduction of a duty of candour for everyone working in health care, and measures to encourage staff to report adverse incidents and so improve patient safety.

  Junior Doctors
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior doctors have been working longer than(a) 72 hours, (b) 56 hours and (c) 48 hours per week in the last month for which figures are available. [137765]

  Mr. Hutton
  Data currently collected on junior doctors' hours does not allow detailed analysis against the levels requested and simply indicates whether or not posts comply with the New Deal weekly limit of 56 hours a week. Initial figures from monitoring carried out in September 2003, suggest that 95 per cent. of junior doctors are working under 56 hours.

  Kaiser Permanente
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Kaiser Permanente facilities he visited on his recent trip to the US; whom he met; and what officials accompanied him. [138496]

  Dr. John Reid
  I visited a Kaiser Permanente facility in central Washington DC and met leading staff, including:Marilyn J Kawamura—(president, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States)
  Stanley J Kramer MD DABP FAAP–(area medical director, DC and Suburban Maryland Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group)
  Susan McDonagh MSRD CDE—(director, Regional Diabetes Program Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group)
  Robert M Crane—(senior vice president, Research and Health Policy Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group)
  Lyda Karm MD—(primary care centre lead, West End Medical Centre Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group)

  I was accompanied by a number of Departmental officials.

  Living Wills
  Tony Lloyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to(a) hospital trusts and (b) primary care trusts about the validity of living wills. [139721]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  Health professionals cannot be required by living wills, or advance directives, to provide particular treatments, since they may not be appropriate. However, advance refusal of treatment may be valid. Guidance on the validity of advance refusals is included in the Department of Health's "Reference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatment" published in March 2001. The reference guide is available at www.doh.gov.uk/consent.

  Locums
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per year in the NHS was of employing a locum for(a) heart disease care and (b) medical emergencies in the last year for which figures are available. [137149]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]This information is not held centrally.

  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts are able to pay unlimited amounts for replacement locums for suspended consultants. [137374]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 12 November 2003]National Health Service bodies are encouraged to use only commercial agencies listed in the National Medical Locum Agency Framework Agreement for the recruitment of locums. This is a list approved by the Department, with agreed quality standards and costs to help obtain value for money. Information on the amounts paid by trusts and the reasons for locums being employed are not held centrally.

  National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) consultant neurologists, (b) physiotherapists and (c) speech and language therapists he estimates are needed to implement the National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions from 2005; how many of each group are in post; what action he is taking to make up any shortfall; and if he will make a statement. [140114]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The national service framework (NSF) for long term conditions will focus on improving the standard of neurology services across England. It will also address some of the generic issues that are important to people with non-neurological disabilities, such as access to rehabilitation services; provision of good quality information; support for carers; and, access to community equipment, assistive technology and wheelchairs.

  We recognise the important role that doctors, allied health professionals and other professionals play in providing appropriate services and support for people with long term conditions, their families and carers. We are increasing the numbers of these professionals as part of the NHS Plan commitment to increase the national health service work force.

  As at 30 June 2003, there were 407 consultants in neurology, representing an increase of 33 per cent. since September 1999. We are working towards increasing their numbers further and in 2003–04 have provided central funding to support implementation of a further 10 specialist registrar posts in neurology. Trusts will also have the opportunity to create up to an additional 20 locally funded specialist registrar training opportunities.

  We are also increasing the numbers of speech and language therapists and physiotherapists entering training each year. There are now 140 more (an increase
  1390W
  of 31 per cent.) training places for speech and language therapy and 811 more (an increase of 60 per cent.) for physiotherapy.

  Additionally, as part of the process of developing the NSF work is in hand to consider relevant work force issues such as the need for increased numbers of staff but also for new ways of working, including skill mix, role extensions and multi-disciplinary working, based around patient needs. We expect that the group looking at these workforce issues will make recommendations on the future supply of professionals and development of new ways of working to inform national workforce planning processes.

  Maintenance Costs
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the backlog maintenance cost to reach estate code condition was in each English region for(a) NHS trusts and (b) mental health trusts in the last six years. [137367]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]: The backlog of maintenance should be seen in the context of a National Health Service estate in England comprising 25 million square metres, with a book value of £24 billion and a replacement cost of around £72 billion. Current record investment of £4 billion in 2003–04, rising to over £6 billion in 2005–06, will regenerate the NHS estate and reduce maintenance because by 2040, 40 per cent. of the estate will be less than 15 years old.

  The information requested is shown in the tables.

  Backlog maintenance covers a wide variety of conditions, including that which is just below compliance standard. The figures provided do not indicate levels of risk to patients. Trusts manage high-risk deficiencies as a priority in order to ensure that premises are intrinsically safe and not of concern to local enforcement bodies.

  Expenditure to reach Estate code Condition B

  £000

  Region

  All Trusts

  Mental Health Trusts

  All Trusts

  Mental Health Trusts

  Northern and Yorkshire

  419,592

  3,400

  462,610

  3,400

  Trent

  228,870

  3,956

  275,801

  3,887

  Anglia and Oxford

  282,095

  11,322

  295,617

  7,065

  North Thames

  631,576

  2,790

  627,669

  2,418

  South Thames

  357,978

  12,182

  410,080

  11,559

  South West

  254,959

  729

  200,737

  652

  West Midlands

  369,410

  6,407

  421,888

  4,480

  North West

  291,981

  4,246

  332,659

  610

  Note

  Data was collected on a regional basis until 1998–99. Thereafter, the data is provided by current strategic health authority.
  1391W

  Expenditure to reach Estate code Condition B

  £

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  SHA

  All Trusts

  Mental Health Trusts

  All Trusts

  Mental Health Trust

  All Trusts

  Mental Health Trusts

  All Trusts

  Mental Health Trusts

  Avon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire

  110,148

  20,558

  144,430

  20,772

  156,320

  24,268

  210,485

  23,103

  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire

  92,888

  0

  74,700

  0

  88,374

  0

  93,713

  0

  Birmingham and the Black Country

  236,566

  3,120

  242,567

  443

  238,409

  4,461

  273,457

  5,122

  Cheshire & Merseyside

  80,836

  1,195

  114,202

  0

  120,527

  2,108

  162,227

  7,752

  County Durham & Tees Valley

  59,899

  4,710

  71,981

  3,710

  64,771

  2,257

  63,400

  3,088

  Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire

  111,800

  0

  105,578

  0

  113,326

  0

  103,936

  0

  Cumbria & Lancashire

  95,932

  0

  98,182

  0

  86,668

  3,017

  97,037

  8,274

  Dorset & Somerset

  20,414

  322

  81,912

  299

  46,922

  198

  47,232

  683

  Essex

  56,188

  198

  33,601

  206

  73,059

  1,347

  82,418

  6,790

  Greater Manchester

  177,741

  410

  196,548

  409

  182,568

  1,891

  208,612

  4,175

  Hampshire and Isle of Wight

  51,265

  0

  71,469

  1,043

  83,466

  1,399

  95,647

  841

  Kent and Medway

  90,041

  0

  63,484

  0

  48,165

  0

  132,217

  0

  Leicestershire, Northamptonshire & Rutland

  103,171

  0

  87,493

  0

  131,741

  0

  123,329

  0

  Norfolk, Suffolk & Cambridge

  95,045

  7,643

  97,920

  5,753

  77,670

  4,941

  107,464

  7,506

  North & East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire

  87,377

  0

  96,167

  0

  79,208

  0

  74,712

  0

  North Central London

  142,825

  235

  148,664

  1,532

  160,339

  1,912

  184,037

  8,673

  North East London

  205,857

  0

  154,846

  0

  198,147

  12,320

  183,518

  12,417

  North West London

  180,295

  4,501

  169,449

  893

  208,508

  11,256

  206,462

  19,603

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear

  79,375

  3,400

  85,350

  3,400

  69,900

  12,560

  81,097

  11,865

  Shropshire and Staffordshire

  86,735

  510

  110,165

  1,031

  107,248

  0

  109,047

  0

  South East London

  206,604

  9,807

  231,143

  16,191

  211,815

  19,043

  183,153

  30,629

  South West London

  76,653

  2,318

  58,718

  2,183

  72,550

  5,890

  173,254

  74,725

  South West Peninsula

  34,592

  0

  54,172

  0

  45,322

  0

  41,214

  0

  South Yorkshire

  47,926

  0

  45,539

  0

  60,685

  0

  71,016

  0

  Surrey and Sussex

  97,256

  0

  139,703

  0

  150,917

  0

  110,686

  1,889

  Thames Valley

  157,007

  5,886

  107,789

  5,291

  137,491

  7,105

  169,529

  3,277

  Trent

  132,619

  5,178

  141,509

  4,018

  138,988

  7,732

  157,253

  4,755

  West Yorkshire

  191,170

  0

  214,594

  0

  225,153

  0

  263,354

  14,416

  Notes

  1. The figure provided for All Trusts include those given for Mental Health Trusts.

  2. Owing to changes in structure at all levels in the NHS during the period of the question, direct comparison at regional level between years is not always possible even for organisations with the same name.

  3.The figures provided for Mental Health Trusts derive only from those designated by the Department of Health as being exclusively Mental Health and exclude any trusts where Mental Health services only form part of the Trust's defined functions.

  Health Care (Manchester)
  Mr. Stringer
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what adjustment he will make to the funding of(a) primary health care trusts and (b) other health trusts in Manchester following the adjustment to the census figures for Manchester made by the Office of National Statistics on 4 November. [137224]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]: Revenue allocations for the provision of health care, made to Primary care trusts for 2003–04 to 2005–06, were announced on 11 December 2002.

  Any changes in population figures will be used for the next round of allocations. Preparatory work will begin early next year.

  Market Research
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [139982]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  A list of expenditure incurred on opinion polling, and market research in the last financial year could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
  1392W
  A list of research projects carried out by the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies for the financial year 2002–03 is available in the Library. These lists may not include all research projects, as some information is not centrally available.

  We are committed to consulting and involving the public to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality public service. Responsive public services are an important part of the Modernising Government initiative.

  We only conduct or commission market or opinion research when it is justified by the needs of the policy programme and is the most economical, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose.

  Medical Research
  Mr. Jenkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact assessment the Department has made of the adoption of the EU Clinical Trials Directive (2001/20/EC) on the UK non-commercial medical research sector. [136417]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  As part of the consultations on the UK regulations, a partial regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was provided revealing potential increased costs. Universities, national health service trusts and charities were invited to submit estimates on
  1393W
  recurring and non-recurring compliance costs for non-commercial trials. The comments received revealed the difficulty of estimating costs with so much uncertainty surrounding the Commission Directives.

  The Government has taken further steps to attempt to influence the Commission in its consideration of a Commission Directive on Good Clinical Practice and also in reviewing guidance that the Commission published earlier this year with a view to avoiding any unnecessary costs. This work is continuing.

  In another initiative designed to reduce the cost impact, the Department and the Medical Research Council are working with experts to find practical solutions to the issues identified in the partial impact assessment. Details of the project can be found on www.ncchta.org/eudirective/index.asp.

  Further information on the partial regulatory impact assessment and the proposed UK implementing regulations is available on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's website at www.mhra.gov.uk in the MHRA Consultative Documents: MLXs issued in 2003, MIX 287.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the extent to which and reasons why people with mental health problems self-fund their(a) medication, (b) treatment and (c) care. [140108]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department of Health has made no assessment of the extent to which and the reasons why people with mental health problems seek treatment and care within the independent sector.

  However, we are concerned to ensure that all those who are assessed as needing treatment and care should be able to receive it within the national health service at the appropriate time.

  This is why we have made mental health a priority for reform and have increased investment in mental health services. It is also why we welcomed the report published by Mind, entitled "The Hidden Cost of Mental Health", as a helpful contribution to our understanding of the needs of people with mental] health problems and why we are engaged in an extensive public consultation to consider what more we can do to improve choice, responsiveness and equity in services.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of seasonal affective disorder there were in each winter since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [139869]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department of Health does not capture central information about the numbers of people with depression that varies seasonally. Diagnosis of depression is a matter for the responsible clinician taking into account all the various factors that may contribute. Although seasonal affective disorder is not listed in the International Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders (ICD-10), we do understand that there are a number of people that appear to be affected in this way. Whatever the causes, and we do not fully understand them all, serious depression is a matter of 1394W
  great concern to those delivering mental health services. Improving mental health services is a priority for the Government.

  Mersey Regional Ambulance Service
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the occurrence log kept by Mersey Regional Ambulance Service for the weekend of 1–2 November in the Library. [137780]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]: The information requested is not held centrally.

  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 information from patient report forms is(a) collated effectively and (b) used as part of the clinical audit process. [138435]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has introduced a revised procedure which ensures that the collation of data from the patient report form is audited daily by the station officer to ensure both completion and quality of documentation. The patient report forms are also sorted into the correct clinical areas and delivered on time and to the central audit department. In addition a random selection of all patient report forms are checked against a set standard.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the salary is of the communications manager at the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service; and if he will place a copy of the job description for this post in the Library. [138437]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  A copy of the job description for the post of communications manager at Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has been placed in the Library.

  The salary information requested is not available.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service lone worker policy in the Library. [138714]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: A copy has been placed in the Library.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been introduced by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to ensure that all staff, including those in stations outside Liverpool, receive staff bulletins. [139074]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has a new communications strategy in place. This ensures that all staff have access to the right information, at appropriate times and places.

  Midwifery
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 18 September, reference 127592 on midwives administering, if he will list the non-medical products midwives can supply; what the criteria
  1395W
  are for such supply; and what financial arrangements apply, with particular reference to the right to reclaim costs incurred. [133328]

  Mr. Hutton
  There is no list of inclusions or omissions regarding the non-medical products that may be used by midwives within the course of their clinical practice. Such decisions are taken locally by employing organisations. There are no special financial arrangements in place outside normal budgetary procedures.

  Those midwives trained as nurse prescribers will be able to prescribe these products, including compression hosiery, listed in Part IX of the drug tariff.

  Migraine
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of migraine sufferers being treated in the NHS fall within the target of a maximum 16-week wait between referral and first out-patient appointment; [139876]

  (2) what proportion of migraine sufferers treated in the NHS were (a) misdiagnosed and (b) inappropriately treated in 2002. [139877]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  We are taking steps to improve services for patients with headache. In April 2003, for example, we published guidelines for the appointment of general practitioners (GPs) with special interests in the delivery of clinical services in headache. This should help to raise the profile of headache and migraine with health professionals.

  The Modernisation Agency will be managing a project over the next two years to improve access to neurology services. The project will work closely with professionals, patients and other stakeholders, and will complement other initiatives already under way within the Modernisation Agency, the Department of Health and the national health service.

  Since 1 April 2003, the NHS aims to see all patients within 21 weeks of a GP referral and, once on an inpatient waiting list, patients should be admitted within 12 months. From 1 April 2004, waiting times will further reduce to a maximum waiting time for a first outpatient appointment of 16 weeks. The maximum waiting time for an inpatient appointment will be cut from 12 months to nine months.

  These maximum waiting times will fall on a staged basis each year to three months (for outpatients) and six months (for inpatients) by 2005. The Government aims to reduce the maximum wait for any stage of treatment to three months by 2008 (subject to recruitment and reform).

  Minor Operations
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to set up units to carry out minor operations in Buckinghamshire. [140003]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I have no plans to set up units to carry out minor operations in Buckinghamshire. It is our policy, within the framework set out in the NHS 1396W
  Plan and the 'Shifting the Balance of Power' initiative, to devolve funding decisions to the front line. It is now for primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. They are in the best position to do this because of the specialist knowledge they have of the local community.

  I am informed by Thames Valley SHA that the development of out of hours arrangements in Buckinghamshire will include emergency minor injury work across the area. Current development of general practitioners with special interests in ear, nose and throat, orthopaedics and plastics will work in the community undertaking minor operations/injuries.

  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units to carry out minor operations have been set up in Buckinghamshire since 1997. [140004]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Mothers' Milk
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collects on trends in respect of the presence of(a) brominated flame retardants and (b) phthalates in mothers' milk; and if he will make a statement. [139213]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the Government has no current representative data on the levels of brominated flame retardants or phthalates in human breast milk.

  MRSA
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of MRSA in hospitals have been reported in each of the last five years; in which areas; and if he will make a statement on action his Department is taking to address MRSA. [139401]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  These data are not collected centrally. The national mandatory surveillance system for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections (bacteraemias), started in April 2001. Information from this is published in the Communicable Disease Report Weekly and is available at http://www.hpa.org.uk/cdr/PDFfiles/2002/ cdr2502.pdf and http://www.hpa.org.uk/cdr/PDFfiles/ 2003/cdr2503.pdf

  The Chief Medical Officer's long-term strategy to prevent and reduce healthcare associated infections in the national health service, announced earlier this year, will set out actions to control all health care associated infections, including MRSA. This builds on our current programme of work and will be published shortly.

  National Adoption Register
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what performance target was set for placements resulting from the National Adoption Register; [117271]
  1397W
  (2) how many children have been placed with new families as a result of the introduction of the National Adoption Register; [117272]

  (3) what has been the total expenditure by his Department on the National Adoption Register since August 2001. [117273]

  Margaret Hodge
  I have been asked to reply.

  No performance targets were set for the Adoption Register for England and Wales. It is expected that the Register will help us achieve our target to increase the number of adoptions from care by 50 per cent. by 2006. We have already increased adoptions by 25 per cent. and are on course to meet our target. Given the complexities governing the placement of children with adoptive families, we did not feel it would be appropriate to set a target for the Register. Our aim of course is to provide children with placements that meet their assessed needs. The needs of the children must be paramount in the process and it is vital that the Register provides viable links for suitable families who may be able to deal with the children's often very complex needs.

  In just one year the Register has become an established part of the adoption process with a national co-ordinating role. The register has generated 1,250 viable links across England and Wales that were agreed as worth exploring in detail by adoption agencies. At the end of October there had been 48 matches made between children and families. This means that there are 48 children who have found families as a result of links generated by the Register.

  The Register is being operated by Norwood under a three year contract with the Department of Health and National Assembly for Wales at a total cost of £633,333 plus VAT per annum. The current contract is due to end in August 2004. We will be reviewing the impact of the Register on the delivery of adoption services over the coming months.

  NHS Catering Services
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the central contracts to provide catering services for the NHS. [138184]

  Mr. Hutton
  There is no central contract for the national health service for catering services, due to the diversity of requirements throughout the NHS. In December 2003, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency is due to release a procurement guide for catering services that will include information on the catering services market and suppliers, and will give advice on the different types of service available to

  Total net NHS expenditure per head of population for 1997–98 and for the period 2002–03 to 2007–08 in England.

  1997–98 £

  2002–03 £

  2003–04 £

  2004–05 £

  2005–06 £

  2006–07 £

  2007–08 £

  Expenditure per head

  710

  1,130

  1,240

  1,360

  1,490

  1,640

  1,800

  1398W
  national health service trusts. This guide will be available from Corporate Affairs, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, 80 Lightfoot Street, Chester CH2 3AD.

  NHS Estate
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 3 November 2003,Official Report, column 520W, on the NHS Estate, what information he collates on the definition of patient-occupied floor space. [138193]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is collected from national health service trusts on the gross internal floor area of all hospital departments which provide patient care and where patients are exposed to risk and the percentage of it (if any) that is not compliant with statutory health and safety and fire safety requirements.

  NHS Expenditure
  Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much capital expenditure there has been in the NHS in England in each of the last five years; and how much of that spending was attributable to private finance initiative projects. [137091]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]: The information requested is shown in the table.

  NHS capital expenditure, England, for period 1999–2000 to 2003–04

  £million

  1999–2000

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03(estimated)

  2003–04(Planned)

  Net NHS capital

  908

  1,246

  1,778

  12,083

  2,821

  expenditure

  2,32,221

  PFI investment

  362

  598

  548

  479

  624

  Total

  1,270

  1,844

  2,326

  4,783

  3,445

  PFI as percentage of total

  28.5

  32.4

  23.6

  10.0

  18.1

  1Expenditure figures from 1999–2000 to 2002–03 are on a Stage 1 Resource Budgeting basis (and consistent with figures in table 3.3a of Departmental Report 2003).

  2Expenditure figures from 2002–03 to 2007–08 are on a Stage 2 Resource Budgeting basis.

  3 The Resource Budgeting Stage 2 expenditure figures shown for 2002–03 to 2003–04 are the spending plans announced by the Chancellor in his 2002 Budget. They exclude subsequent additions in 2003–04 from the Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund (TCMF).

  Dr. Jack Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what per capita expenditure was on the NHS in(a) England and (b) Cumbria in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 2002–03; what projections he has made for future years; and if he will make a statement. [138469]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The information requested is shown in the tables.
  1399W
  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 the latest population projections provided by ONS.

  3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

  Total NHS Expenditure per weighted head of population for 1997–98 and 2002–03 for the area covered by Cumbria and Lancashire Health Authority.

  Cumbria(1–2)

  1997–98 –

  2002–03 –

  Expenditure per head

  600(3–5)

  1,170(4,6.7)

  Sources

  1. Assumed to be the area covered by East Lancashire, Morecambe Bay, North Cumbria,

  North West Lancashire, and South Lancashire Health Authorities in 1997–1998.

  2. Assumed to be the area covered Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority 2002–2003.

  Source Audited annual accounts of the East Lancashire, Morecambe Bay, North

  Cumbria, North West Lancashire, and South Lancashire Health Authorities for 1997–1998.

  Source Audited summarisation forms of the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority and Audited summarisation schedules of the Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Burnley Pendle and Rossendale, Carlisle and District, Chorley and South Ribble, Eden Valley, Fylde, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, Morecambe Bay, Preston, West Cumbria, West Lancashire, and Wyre Primary Care Trusts for 2002–2003.

  5. Health authority weighted population figures for 1997–1998.

  6. Strategic health authority weighted population figures for 2002–2003.

  7. 2002–2003 data remains provisional

  8. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

  9. Expenditure figures for the period 2003–04 to 2007–08 are not yet available.

  The England expenditure per head of population figures are not directly comparable with the figures for Cumbria as they include different elements of expenditure.

  NHS Live 2004
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on plans for the NHS Live 2004 event; what the budget for the event is; and who is responsible for organising the event; [138488]

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the projected costs of the NHS Live event are; and if he will make a statement. [139246]

  Mr. Hutton
  NHS Live is a long-term programme of action, designed to accelerate the pace of change and improvement throughout the National Health Service and social care. It will involve patients at every stage of its development and will actively embrace an ever increasing number of staff in delivering a patient centred service offering greater choice.

  In addition, the NHS Live programme will be closely linked to the three year planning process starting in October 2004.
  1400W
  With the full support of senior teams throughout the Service, NHS Live is the first programme of its type to engage staff across the NHS and social care.

  The annual focal point will be an event and tradeshow. The first will be held at ExCeL, in the London Docklands between 5–7 July 2004. It will reflect on the changes and challenges of the past, learn from them and push forward healthcare improvement.

  The final budget for NHS Live, which has not been finalised yet, will match the amount generated through sponsorship and exhibition revenue.

  NHS Live will be managed by officials on behalf of the Department's board. In common with other major Department of Health events, external suppliers will be appointed as necessary.

  NHS Performance Indicators
  Mr. Norman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS performance indicators have been set in each of the last eight years. [138672]

  Mr. Hutton
  The published indicators that have provided an assessment of national health service performance are shown in the table.

  Period covered/title

  Number of indicators

  When published

  2002£03

  NHS performance ratings:

  Primary care trusts

  46

  July 2003

  Mental health trusts

  30

  July 2003

  Learning disability trusts

  17

  July 2003

  NHS performance ratings:

  Acute trusts, Specialist trusts

  45

  July 2003

  Ambulance trusts

  13

  July 2003

  2001–02

  NHS performance indicators:

  Primary Care organisations

  21

  July 2002

  NHS performance ratings:

  Acute trusts, Specialist trusts

  29

  July 2002

  Ambulance trusts

  10

  July 2002

  Mental health trusts

  16

  July 2002

  2000£01

  NHS performance ratings:

  Acute NHS hospital trusts

  21

  September 2001

  1997£2002

  NHS performance indicators:

  Health Authorities

  51

  February 2002

  1999–2001

  NHS performance indicators:

  Acute NHS hospital trusts

  28

  February 2002

  1996–99

  Quality and Performance in the NHS:

  NHS performance indicators

  49

  July 2000

  1995–99

  Quality and Performance in the NHS:

  High level performance indicators

  41

  June 1999

  1996–97

  The NHS Performance National Guide

  19

  July 1997

  1401W

  Period covered/title

  Number of indicators

  When published

  1995–96

  The NHS Performance National Guide

  19

  June 1996

  1994–95

  The NHS Performance National Guide

  19

  June 1995

  NHS Reorganisation
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list occasions when NHS trusts and their predecessor NHS bodies spent money on publicising the benefits of an anticipated reorganisation of the NHS in advance of the necessary legislation being enacted; and if he will make a statement; [137504]

  (2) what the cost was of each reorganisation of the NHS since 1977. [137564]

  Mr. Hutton
  Detailed information on the costs, including publicity costs, of reorganisations in the national health service since 1977 is not collected centrally. Any resultant savings at the local level are put toward patient care.

  National Institute for Clinical Excellence
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on(a) where responsibility for implementing National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines lies and (b) recent performance in implementation. [138986]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines are prepared for the guidance of national health service clinical staff and their employing bodies, who are responsible for their implementation. NICE has published seven major clinical guidelines, beginning in December 2002. At this early stage we have made no formal assessment of progress towards implementation.

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd.
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on services provided to his Department by NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd. since 1977. [139968]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The financial records of the Department do not show any services being provided to the Department of Health by NM Rothchild and Sons Ltd.

  Nurses
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) hospital and (b) community full-time equivalent nurses were employed by (i) Taunton and Somerset NHS Hospital Trust and (ii) Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust in each year since 1997. [137379]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The number of hospital and community full-time equivalent nurses employed by the Taunton and Somerset National Health Service 1402W
  Hospital Trust and Taunton Deane Primary Care Trust are shown in the table as well as the number in Somerset Coast PCT and Mendip PCT.

  Qualified NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff by hospital and community-based, in the specified organisations as at 30 September each year

  Whole-time equivalent

  All qualified nursing staff

  Community

  Hospital

  Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust

  2002

  879

  5

  874

  2001

  975

  74

  901

  2000

  1,107

  164

  943

  1999

  1,090

  167

  923

  1998

  1,034

  155

  879

  1997

  1,056

  144

  912

  Taunton Deane PCT

  2002

  85

  48

  37

  2001

  1—

  1—

  1—

  2000

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1999

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1998

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1997

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Somerset Coast PCT

  2002

  184

  92

  92

  2001

  181

  96

  85

  2000

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1999

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1998

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1997

  1—

  1—

  1—

  Mendip PCT

  2002

  139

  42

  97

  2001

  132

  35

  97

  2000

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1999

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1998

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1997

  1—

  1—

  1—

  1 Not applicable.

  Notes

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.

  2. Maternity nurse figures have been included within Hospital as they cannot be separately identified between Community and Hospital.

  3. In 2001 Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust transferred staff to Somerset Coast PCT and Mendip PCT.

  4. In 2002 Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust transferred further staff to Taunton Deane PCT.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the National Health Service spent on hiring agency nursing staff in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [136871]

  Mr. Hutton
  Provisional figures for 2002–03 are shown in the table.

  Expenditure on Agency Nurses in England—2002–2003

  Agency nursing staff

  £

  National Health Service Trusts

  553,065,986

  Strategic Health Authorities

  21,579

  primary Care Trust

  73,685,708

  Total

  626,773,273

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) district nurses and (b) health visitors there were by (i) headcount and (ii) whole-time equivalent in (A) England and (B) each region in each of the last six years. [138351]
  1403W
  Mr. Hutton
  District nurses and health visitors are part of the qualified community nursing workforce. Between 1997 and 2002, the qualified community nursing workforce has increased by 17 per cent. Information on the community nursing workforce is shown in the table by national health service regional office area between 1997 and 2001 and by Government offices for the regions and strategic health authority area in 2002.

  Olympus Optical Co. (UK) Ltd
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet the hon. Member for West Chelmsford and a representative of Olympus Optical Co (UK) Ltd, a constituent. [139997]

  Mr. Hutton
  I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible, and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

  Paddington Health Campus
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated patient capacity is of the proposed Paddington Health Campus; and how much that has increased from the estimate in 2000. [131866]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Paddington Health Campus will have provision for 1088 inpatient beds. This is an increase of 80 beds in comparison with the current total for equivalent services at St Mary's and the Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Trusts. The original forecast projected bed numbers was approximately 1,000. The campus that is now planned is 20 per cent, larger in size and will treat a higher number of acutely ill patients.

  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the contract between the Paddington Health Campus project and Christow in the Library. [132572]

  Mr. Hutton
  Christow, a public relations consultancy, has been appointed on an interim basis, pending selection of permanent communications advisers via formal procurement. An advertisement was sent to the Official Journal of the European Union on 10 October 2003.

  It is normal practice for such contracts to be commercially confidential, as releasing this information would entail disclosing a third party's commercial confidence. Exemption 13 of the Open Government Code of Practice therefore applies.

  Painkillers
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many painkillers available over the counter contain codeine phosphate. [140053]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 18 November 2003.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Clifton-Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the Question from the hon. Member for Cotswold tabled on 22 October, ref.134548. [140015]
  1404W
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I replied to the hon. Member's question on Wednesday 19 November.

  Patient Advice and Liaison Services
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England have functioning patient advice and liaison services. [140085]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department does not collect data on the number of patient advice and liaison services (PALS). Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for monitoring the implementation of PALS and in February 2003 they reported to the Department that 98 per cent. of NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) had an active PALS. In responding to the recent Health Select Committee Public Expenditure Inquiry in October 2003, the SHAs established that, of the 15 NHS trusts and PCTs that did not have an active PALS at the time of the February report, 14 now have a PALS in place. The remaining trust currently provides a limited service, which is expected to be fully operational by December 2003.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out the Department's definition of an active Patient Advice and Liaison Service. [140105]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  An active Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is a service identified by its trust as working to deliver the published core PALS service standards.

  NHS trusts and primary care trusts are responsible for establishing PALS that deliver the core PALS service standards published by the Department. Trusts are responsible for deciding how to deliver the service in a way that responds to local needs and strategic health authorities monitor trust performance against those standards.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will(a) collate and (b) publish information on the implementation of patient advice and liaison service, including (i) the percentage of NHS trusts and primary care trusts that have an active PALS and (ii) monitoring of the national PALS standards. [140113]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  The Department does not collect data on the number of patient advice and liaison services (PALS). Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are responsible for monitoring the implementation of PALS and in February 2003 they reported to the Department that 98 per cent. of NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) had an active PALS. In responding to the recent Health Select Committee Public Expenditure Inquiry in October 2003, the SHAs established that, of the 15 NHS trusts and PCTs that did not have an active PALS at the time of the February report, 14 now have a PALS in place. The remaining trust currently provides a limited service, which is expected to be fully operational by December 2003.

  SHAs are responsible for monitoring trust performance against the published standards. The Department published the core PALS service standards in January 2002 ("Supporting the implementation of patient advice and liaison services: A resource pack"). These were reviewed and revised in July 2003.

  Patient Surveys
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 17 July 2003,Official Report, column 631W, to the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris), on patient surveys, if he will place a copy of the analysis commissioned by his Department in the Library. [138350]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Following publication of the National Cancer Patient Survey in July 2002, the Department of Health commissioned a further analysis of the data to inform the development of future surveys. This was an exploratory piece of work to see if there were any inter-dependencies that might affect the patient experience. The output will not be a formal report but rather a series of detailed statistical tables. These will be made available to the Commission for Health Improvement, which has taken over responsibility for the national patient survey programme.

  Patients' Forums
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to rename patients' forums as patient and public involvement forums. [140083]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  No. The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health decided to re-brand patients' forums as patient and public involvement forums to help the public understand their roles. There is no statutory bar to their doing this.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the(a) number and (b) rate of vacancies within patients' forums on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on progress to meet the minimum number of staff in each patients' forum. [139863]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  As at 19 November 2003 the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) had received 4,254 applications from people to fill the 4,018 patients' forum places available for 1 December 2003. This is the total for the minimum number of seven members needed for all 574 forums in England. Inevitably some forums have attracted greater interest than others. However, CPPIH is still recruiting and applications are being received throughout the country on a daily basis.

  Patients' forums cannot employ staff because they are unincorporated organisations. However arrangements have been in place since September for each patients' forum to receive staff support from local network providers.

  Physiotherapy
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are restrictions on the number of domiciliary visits by physiotherapists to individual patients. [138993]
  1406W
  Mr. Hutton
  There are no centrally imposed restrictions in England.

  Private Diagnostic and Treatment Centres
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library correspondence between his Department's officials and the Oxford Strategic Health Authority about private diagnostic and treatment centres. [131909]

  Mr. Hutton
  The procurement of independent sector treatment centres is being managed under strict Official Journal of the European Commission process. Contracts are not yet at financial close and therefore the correspondence with Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority is commercial in confidence and its release would have an impact on the next stage of negotiation.

  Private Finance Initiative
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list NHS PFI projects valued at more than £50 million for which approval has been granted by the Department; what the projected cost is of each of these projects; what net impact each project will have on the cost base of the NHS trusts involved; and what the projected completion date is for each project. [136893]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on private finance initiative (PFI) schemes which have been given approval with their capital value; the revenue consequences of schemes that have signed contracts; and the projected completion dates for those who have yet to reach financial close have been placed in the Library. It is not possible to include details of the unitary payments for schemes yet to reach financial close as they are not finalised and are commercially sensitive.

  Nor is it possible to give the net impact on the cost base of the National Health Service trusts without examining all the individual business cases and thereby incurring disproportionate costs.

  For schemes which have not reached financial close, that is still in development, the capital cost is estimated based on highest costed option.

  Prostate Health
  Mr. Baron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government is taking to raise public awareness about the prostate and its functions. [138994]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The Department wants men to know what their prostate gland is, what is does and what can go wrong with it. However, it is important not to scare men. We therefore need to raise awareness in a responsible way.

  The Prostate Cancer Advisory Group has formed a sub-group to take forward work on information for the general public and public awareness of prostate cancer. General prostate health awareness is likely to form part of this work.
  1407W
  In addition the Department has provided funding for the following public awareness projects:
  Prostate Cancer Charity—increasing the information available about prostate cancer
  Prostate Cancer Charity—improving 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.

  Rickets
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of rickets in children. [136216]

  Dr. Ladyman
  Hospital episode statistics indicate that the incidence of rickets in children is very uncommon, as the table shows.

  Primary diagnosis (ICD-10 E55.0) vitamin D deficiency—Rickets, active1

  Count

  Age on admission 0–17 years—count of finished admission episodes NHS hospitals, England 2001–02

  57

  1 Excludes—Rickets:

  coeliac, Crohn's, inactive, renal, vitamin D resistant.

  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 in-patients, 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).

  Source

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Safety Incidents
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the latest statistics on safety incidents within the NHS from the National Reporting and Learning System, including regional breakdown. [139241]

  Heaths effects of air pollutants in England (deaths brought forward and respiratory hospital admissions)

  Year

  Particles (PM10) deaths brought forward

  particles (PM10) respiratory admissions

  Sulphur dioxide deaths brought forwared

  Sulphur dioxide respiratory admissions

  Nitrogen dioxide respiratory admissions2

  1997

  7,000

  6,900

  8,300

  1998

  6,500

  6,300

  1,700

  1,300

  7,400

  1999

  6,200

  6,100

  7,100

  2001

  5,900

  5,800

  1,100

  800

  6,400

  2002

  5,600

  5,500

  5,200

  20051

  5,400

  5,300

  800

  600

  4,800

  Notes:

  1Projections based on current policies.

  2More uncertain—figures rounded to the nearest 100.

  1408W
  Mr. Hutton
  The National Reporting and Learning System for adverse events is being developed by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) and it will be implemented across the National Health Service in England and Wales by December 2004. Once the system is established, statistics will be published by the NPSA on a regular basis.

  The NPSA published a report on the data collected as part of a pilot for the new system on 8 May 2003. This report is available as part of the NPSA's 2003–04 business plan at http://www.npsa.nhs.uk. The NPSA also plans to publish a report on information collected during a further testing and development phase early in 2004, once analysis of the figures is completed.

  SandWich Contract
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the tender for the public private partnership contract to provide sandwiches for the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [138183]

  Mr. Hutton
  The national health service contract for sandwiches was not a public private partnership. After a joint exercise by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and the Office of Government Commerce buying solutions, the NHS contract was extended to all public sector contracting authorities from 1 August 2003. Copies of the tender document are available from Corporate Affairs, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, 80 Lightfoot Street, Chester CH2 3AD.

  Smog
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the(a) mortality and (b) morbidity caused by smog (i) in England and (ii) broken down by local authority area in each year (A) since 1997 and (B) to 2006. [139186]

  Miss Melanie Johnson
  Estimates of numbers of deaths brought forward and respiratory hospital admissions associated with air pollution in England for certain years between 1997 and 2002 are shown in the table. These are based on the methodology published in the 1998 report by the Department's Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants—"Quantification of the Effects of Air Pollution on Health in the United Kingdom"–updated for more recent pollution levels. A projection to 2005 is also given.
  1409W
  Estimates exclude effects of particles on cardiovascular admissions and effects on life expectancy as a result of long term exposure to particles. It is unclear whether the results for different pollutants can be added together.

  Estimates for deaths brought forward and respiratory hospital admissions for ozone are not available for the requested time period.

  Estimates are not available by local authority area. The uncertainties will increase when estimates are based on smaller areas.

  Social Care Director
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for (1) what reasons the Department's Social Care Director is not a member of the Department's Board; [139142]

  (2) what (a) accountabilities and (b) reporting lines the Social Care Director will have in respect of staff in the Department of (i) Health and (ii) Education and Skills. [139143]

  Dr. Ladyman
  The national director for social care at the Department of Health will be accountable for strengthening the relationships the Department has with social care in local government and elsewhere and for ensuring that all policy development in the Department starts by thinking about the whole health and social care system.

  The national director will report to the director of strategy, a member of the Department's management board. All board members will have responsibilities for aspects of social care, through the teams they manage. No other national director is a board member. The national director will work closely with the Department for Education and Skills and other Government Departments but will be accountable only to the Department for Health.

  Social Services (Somerset)
  Mr Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to Somerset Social Services for children in care was in each year since 1999–2000. [136552]

  Margaret Hodge
  The gross expenditure on children looked after as reported by Somerset is as follows:

  Year

  Expenditure£

  1999–2000

  7,031,000

  2000–2001

  7,125,000

  2001–2002

  6,946,000

  2001–02 is the latest year available.

  St. George's Hospital
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public service agreement targets St. George's Hospital, London has. [139040]
  1410W
  Mr. Hutton
  Local public service agreements are voluntary agreements between central Government and a council to deliver better services for local people. Wandsworth council, the local council in the area in which St. George's Hospital is based, is currently in the process of agreeing its local public service agreements targets.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what help St. George's Hospital, London will be given to achieve waiting list targets. [139042]

  Mr. Hutton
  St. George's Healthcare National Health Service trust expects to achieve the waiting list targets for the year ending 2003–04. I am informed that the NHS Modernisation Agency has been invited by the trust to help develop improved waiting list management systems and a more efficient service for patients. The trust has also participated in the London patients' choice initiative; and has been awarded funds to support "Action On" projects in urology and plastics.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting list times for St. George's Hospital, London were in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c)2001–02. [139047]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on median waiting times for St. George's Healthcare National Health Service Trust is shown in the following table.

  Average waiting times for elective inpatient admission at St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust

  Year ending

  Median waiting times (months)

  March 1999

  2.74

  March 2000

  2.95

  March 2002

  3.05

  Source

  Department of Health form KH07.

  The figures shown are estimates based on aggregate data, categorised into waiting time bands, and do not reflect shifts in the waiting time profiles within these bands, only between bands. The median is not very sensitive to reductions in maximum waiting times, and it is possible to see a rise in the median, while reducing maximum waiting times because of shifts in low time bands. Short-term progress on delivering maximum waiting times (including in-year tail-gunning) will not necessarily translate into a reduction in the median waiting time. Our policy, therefore, is to focus attention on the number of patients waiting the longest, and in each waiting time band.

  Staff Exclusions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of possible savings to the NHS if all staff exclusions were dealt with in six months. [140007]

  Mr. Hutton
  The National Audit Office in its report "The Management of Suspensions of Clinical Staff in NHS Hospital and Ambulance Trusts in England" has made an assessment of the possible savings.
  1411W
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to respond to findings by the National Audit Office on staff exclusions, with particular reference to(a) practice by trusts in following procedural guidelines, (b) the provision of cost information and (c) the use of confidentiality clauses in settlements. [140009]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are currently considering how the findings of the National Audit Office (NAO) report relate to the new framework for exclusion, which we are discussing with the British Medical Association. The NAO report will be discussed at a Public Accounts Committee hearing in the New Year, and the Government will respond formally to any recommendations that the committee decides to make.

  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that trusts(a) support excluded clinical staff and (b) enable them to continue their professional development. [140017]

  Mr. Hutton
  We are discussing with the British Medical Association a new framework for exclusions, including the provision of support: mechanisms for those staff subject to exclusion.

  Staff:Patient Ratios
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staff to patient ratio in the NHS hospitals in Havering is. [137331]

  Mr. Hutton
  Figures on staff to patient ratios are not collected centrally. Information on the number of staff and activity at Barking, Havering and Redbridge National Health Service Trust is shown in the tables.

  Hospital, Public Health Medicine, Community Health Services(HCHS) and General and Personal Medical Services: All NHS staff by organisation—as at 30 September 2002

  Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust RF4

  Numbers (headcount)

  All NHS staff1

  6,113

  Medical and dental staff1

  538

  Non-medical staff2

  5,575

  GPs3

  4—

  1Data excludes medical Hospital Practitioners and medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are also GPs working part time in hospitals.

  2 Figures for London based on the Strategic Health Authority Areas Q04 North West London SHA, Q05 North Central London SHA, Q06 North East London SHA, Q07.

  South East London SHA, Q08 South West London SHA, and RRU the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

  3 All Practitioners include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para. 52 SFA), PMS Other and GP Retainers.

  4 Not available

  Sources

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

  Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census.

  Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
  1412W

  Department of Health (England), Hospital Episode Statistics— 2001–021

  Hospital providers

  Admissions

  RF4 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust

  101,292

  1 Ungrossed data

  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 in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  2. Grossing—Figures have not (yet) been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed).

  Source

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

  Non-admitted patient attendances, Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust

  Type of attendance

  2001–02

  2002–03

  Accident and Emergency

  First

  175,262

  171,121

  Total

  184,028

  185,578

  Out-patient

  First

  126,535

  126,833

  Total

  430,026

  415,326

  To ward for treatment by nurses: total

  16,961

  16,072

  Imaging and radiodiagnostic examinations/tests: total

  389,597

  394,630

  NHS day care facilities: total

  3,430

  3,044

  Notes

  1. Both first attendances and total attendances have been included where available. Total figures include subsequent attendances where the same patient has returned for further treatment.

  2. A patient can also have more than one first attendance if they are receiving treatment for different conditions.

  Source

  Department of Health dataset KH09, KH05, KH12, KH14.

  Television Sets (NHS)
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many television sets there were in hospitals in each of the last five years in England; and what proportion operated with stand-by units. [139195]

  Mr. Hutton
  This information is not collected centrally.

  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the use of televisions with stand-by units within NHS premises. [139196]

  Mr. Hutton
  Televisions are in use throughout National Health Service premises. The vast majority of modern stand-alone televisions in use will have stand-by units incorporated within the sets.

  Waiting Times
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average waiting times for cleft lip and palate surgery for children in Greater London in each year since 2000. [136067]
  1413W
  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer issued 6 November 2003]The information requested is shown in the table.

  Main Operation (OPCS4 F03, F29) Correction of Deformity of Lip or Palate

  London Regional Office of Residence

  Age on Admission 0–17 Years

  Count of Finished In year Admission Episodes (Waiting List and Booked Cases) and Average Time Waited

  NHS Hospitals 2000–01 and 2001–02

  2000–01

  2001–02

  Main Operation

  Admissions

  Mean Time waited (days)

  Admissions

  Mean Time wait (days)

  F03 Correction of Deformity of Lip

  60

  70.6

  81

  79.1

  F29 Correction of Deformity of Palate

  66

  77.1

  56

  88.6

  Overall Figures

  126

  74.0

  137

  83.0

  Notes

  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 in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  Grossing

  Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 2001–02 which is not yet adjusted for shortfalls.

  Main Operation

  The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set, and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. Time Waited, but the figures for "all operations count of episodes" give a more complete count of episodes with operations.

  Time Waited

  Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.

  Source

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Ward Housekeepers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) of 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 43W, on ward housekeepers, if he will list the hospitals (a) which have already begun to introduce ward housekeeping services and (b) which have yet to begin to introduce this service. [138195]
  1414W
  Mr. Hutton
  The latest available information has been placed in the Library.

  Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139338]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  A programme of research among users of the Department's website was undertaken in Autumn 2001. The objective was to inform changes to the site design, notably to the home page and top-level section pages, which were implemented during 2002. These re-designs were supported by usability testing (observing users carrying out specified tasks). Tracking research was conducted late in 2002 to assess progress and further inform future development.

  In November 2002 the Department began working with the Office of the e-Envoy to migrate the Department's website to the new Central Government Infrastructure. As part of this process and based on the findings of the user research exercises and feedback from website users, all content was reviewed. The Department is now in the process of implementing major improvements which will address the key needs of site users, namely the site structure, more targeted quality content, improved searching, consistency of design and branding, improved navigation and meeting accessibility standards for users with disabilities. The new website will go live at the end of 2003.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Post Office Card Accounts
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of Post Office card account applications were started but not completed in each of the last three years. [140098]

  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.

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions the handbook for postmasters operating the Post Office Card Account has been changed since the start of financial year 2003–04; and if she will list, for each update, the principal changes incorporated. [139885]

  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.

  Breast Feeding
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she plans to take to allow employees to take work breaks for breastfeeding. [135502]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this Question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Broadband
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sums have been paid to(a) BT and (b) NTL to assist in the roll out of broadband services, broken down by (a) year and (b) region. [138896]

  Mr. Timms
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Business Support Schemes
  Mr. Bellingham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her plans for business support schemes. [137423]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  UK CERN subscription and UK share of CERN's capital expenditure plans

  £ million1

  2000–1

  2001–2

  2002–3

  2003–4

  2004–5

  2005–6

  2006–7

  2007–8

  UK CERN subscription

  69.1

  66.2

  68.9

  71.5

  71.4

  72.1

  72.1

  72.1

  UK share of CERN capital spend plans

  17.3

  48.3

  50.3

  50.8

  48.6

  43.3

  21.6

  7.2

  (percentage)

  25

  73

  73

  71

  68

  60

  30

  10

  1The figures are in pounds and UK financial years, but the subscription is actually set in Swiss Francs and calendar years, and also varies according to the UK'S net national income in comparison to that of other Member States. The figures for 2003–4 and onwards are latest estimates.

  In addition, the UK is supporting the construction and operation of a number of experiments at CERN as part of its domestic particle physics budget. These consist of large pieces of capital equipment for CERN but the expenditure is counted as resource for HM

  UK domestic expenditure on CERN experiments

  (£million)

  2000–1

  2001–2

  2002–3

  2003–4

  2004–5

  2005–6

  2006–7

  2007–8

  UK domestic expenditure on CERN instruments

  13.3

  17.4

  23.4

  27.0

  27.8

  24.2

  23.7

  20.6

  LHC Capital element

  11.2

  14.8

  19.0

  19.1

  16.8

  12.0

  8.0

  2.2

  (percentage)

  84

  85

  81

  71

  60

  50

  34

  10

  1The figures are in pounds and UK financial years, but the subscription is actually set in Swiss Francs and calendar years, and also varies according to the UK's net national income in comparison to that of other Member states. The figures for 2003–4 and onwards are latest estimates.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the resource amount is of the funds that have been directed towards the CERN project. [139062]

  CERN Project
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of UK funds directed towards the CERN project is being treated as capital against resource. [139061]

  Ms Hewitt
  At this point in time, the UK subscription to CERN is not formally divided into capital and resource and is currently regarded as resource expenditure. This is an area of discussion between HM Treasury, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and my department. It should be noted that CERN is currently in the middle of a 12 year, €3.2 billion project to construct the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which will be the world's most powerful particle accelerator. Its expected commissioning date is April 2007.

  Whilst capital spend at CERN will fall to almost zero in 2007 when the LHC machine is completed, CERN have negotiated a loan to facilitate the expenditure profile with a repayment schedule to 2011. This will mean that a proportion of the UK subscription will be used for capital repayment to 2011. In parallel, as the operations and exploitation phase begins, an increasing fraction of the UK subscription will be devoted to meeting the associated operating costs. The following table of capital expenditure is estimated by taking the UK's share of CERN's capital spending plans.

  Treasury purposes. The LHC capital element of this funding has been estimated by identifying the contributions towards the detectors and similar items and is shown in the following table:

  Ms Hewitt
  CERN is the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, an international organisation established in 1954 in Geneva. The UK is a founder member. The total resource allocated to the UK
  1417W
  subscription to CERN over the previous three years and the projected figures for 2003–4 to 2007–08 are shown below1.

  Total resource for UK subscription to CERN

  £million

  1999–00

  48.8

  2000–1

  69.1

  2001–2

  66.2

  2002–3

  68.9

  2003–4

  71.5

  2004–5

  71.4

  UK domestic expenditure on construction and operation of CERN experiment

  £million

  1997–8

  1998–9

  1999–00

  2000–1

  2001–2

  2002–3

  2003–4

  2004–5

  2005–6

  LHC

  0

  8.3

  10.1

  11.2

  16.8

  23

  26.7

  27.6

  24.0

  Other

  3.5

  3.2

  2.4

  2.2

  0.6

  0.4

  0.3

  0.2

  0.2

  Total:

  3.5

  11.6

  12.6

  13.3

  17.4

  23.4

  27.0

  27.8

  24.2

  1 The figures are in pounds and UK financial years, but the subscription is actually set in Swiss Francs and calendar years, and also varies according to the UK's net national income in comparison to that of other Member States. The figures for 2003–04 and onwards are latest, estimates.

  Childhood Obesity
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with other departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. [138733]

  Ms Hewitt
  None.

  Civil Service
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people from science and technology backgrounds have been seconded into the Civil Service in her Department in each of the last five years for which data are available. [138627]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the number of civil servants from her Department seconded to(a) the private sector, (b) non-governmental organisations and (c) other bodies, since May, broken down by (i) organisation, (ii) grade of civil servant and (iii) start and completion dates. [139160]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: From records held centrally in my Department, the information requested is as follows.

  Civil servants that have been seconded from the Department of Trade and Industry since 1 May 2003 (total 16)

  Organisation

  Grade of civil servant

  Start date

  Expected completion date

  (a) To the private sector (total 5)

  Resource

  Range 6(EO)

  1 May 2003

  1 October 2004

  BP

  Fast stream

  9 June 2003

  8 December 2003

  1418W

  Total resource for UK subscription to CERN

  £million

  2005–6

  72.1

  2006–7

  72.1

  2007–8

  72.1

  In addition, the UK is supporting the construction and operation of a number of experiments at CERN as part of its domestic particle physics budget. The total resource allocated to this over the previous five years and the projected figures for 2003–4 to 2005–06 are shown below.

  Civil servants that have been seconded from the Department of Trade and Industry since 1 May 2003 (Total 16)

  Organisation

  Grade of civil servant

  Start date

  Expected completion date

  Impax Capital Corporation Ltd.

  Range 10 (Grade 7)

  13 October 2003

  14 October 2005

  BNPL

  Range 10(Grade 7)

  27 October 2003

  4 April 2004

  BT

  Range 8(HEO)

  10 November 2003

  6 August 2004

  (b) To non-governmental organisation (total 4)

  London Development Agency

  Fast Stream

  12 May 2003

  13 May 2005

  Advantage West Midlands

  Range 6(EO)

  15 September 2003

  14 September 2004

  East midlands Development Agency

  Senior Civil Servant

  22 September 2003

  23 September 2005

  Scottish Enterprise

  Range 8(HEO)

  16 October 2003

  1 October 2005

  (c) To other bodies(total 7)

  Australian Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development

  Range 10(Grade 7)

  5 May 2003

  10 August 2004

  British Standards Institution

  Range 9(SEO)

  30 May 2003

  30 May 2006

  London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

  Range 6(EO)

  15 September 2003

  16 September 2005

  Financial Reporting Council

  Range 11(Grade 6)

  15 September 2003

  31 March 2004

  Financial Reporting Council

  Range 11(Grade 6)

  22 September 2003

  31 March 2004

  1419W

  Civil servants that have been seconded from the Department of Trade and Industry since 1 May 2003(total 16)

  Organisation

  Grade of civil servant

  Start date

  Expected completion date

  Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry

  Range 10(Grade 7)

  13 October 2003

  30 January 2004

  Gateway to London

  Range 10(Grade7)

  3 November 2003

  3 November 2005

  In addition to the above figures, since 1 May 2003, 19 DTI senior civil servants have completed a "Week in Business". 15 completed their week in the private sector, two in non-governmental organisations and two in other bodies.

  The aim of the "Week in Business" short term external attachment scheme is to help the Department to become more outward facing with a greater understanding of the issues facing our external stakeholders. It is also key in helping members of the SCS to gain experience of different ways of working so that good practice can be adopted internally.

  The scheme is also a means of promoting the DTI to our external customers and making them more aware of how the Department operates and what we can offer.

  Combined Heat and Power
  Mr. Blunt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the United Kingdom's combined heat and power generation capacity was on(a) 1 May 1997 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of how much capacity will be in place by 2010. [139406]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  I have been asked to reply and shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

  Correspondence
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter of 31 July from the hon. Member for Christchurch about restrictive and anti-competitive practices resulting from the Energy Efficiency Commitment programme. [131391]

  Mr. Timms
  The hon. Member's letter was transferred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for answer as her Department has the lead for the Energy Efficiency Commitment programme.

  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department will reply to the letter of 9 July from the hon. Member for Aylesbury on behalf of Ms C.Clements of Loosley Row, Bucks. [139304]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The reply was sent to the hon. Member for Aylesbury on 19 November 2003.

  Credit Card Cheques
  Angela Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will introduce measures to ban the unsolicited sending of credit card cheques to existing card holders. [137020]
  1420W
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The Government believes the key to protecting consumers from the adverse effects of such practices as the unsolicited sending of credit card cheques is ensuring responsible lending—expecting the industry to carry out adequate checks before sending credit card cheques; and ensuring all information is adequate and transparent. We are not currently considering introducing measures to ban the unsolicited sending of credit card cheques. Our approach is to empower consumers to make informed decisions. To this end we will outline measures in the Consumer Credit White Paper to ensure responsible lending across the range of lending practices.

  Any further action is best taken through industry codes of practice. The industry is introducing measures to ensure greater transparency in the issuing of credit card cheques, including the information provided to consumers; and I have asked my officials to work with the industry to examine what further measures are necessary to address the concerns raised by the Treasury Select Committee.

  Electricity
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the effect of a failure of the continental gas interconnector on electricity generation in the United Kingdom. [132437]

  Mr. Timms
  The DTI-Ofgem "Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group" (JESS) monitors security of supply of gas and electricity in Great Britain. JESS's work has included discussion of NGT's "Winter Operations Report 2003/04" which assesses the outlook for electricity and gas supplies in the coming winter. The report was published on 14 October, and is available, with Ofgem's comments, on Ofgem's website (www.ofgem.gov.uk). It covered the interaction between electricity generation and gas supply.

  NGT's overall assessment for electricity supply in the Great Britain (GB) for this winter was that while the generation margin has risen slightly, it was lower than in previous years, but there would be enough power to meet the forecast demand for electricity this winter under all but the most exceptional circumstances.

  NGT's report noted that of the CCGT stations, all but 2.7 GW either have firm gas contracts or are able to use alternative fuels. This represents some 4 per cent. of the total generating capacity that NGT projected for this winter.

  Since NGT's report was issued further generating plant has returned from mothball.

  In prolonged severe winter weather, delivery of sufficient gas to meet demand (including for electricity generation) would depend on high production levels from the UKCS, and the availability of gas from storage and through the continental gas interconnector.

  The interconnector has proved reliable when it is in import mode. As with any offshore infrastructure, the loss of a large supply source would reduce the resilience of the gas network and reduce the availability of gas-fired generation to the electricity network. However, there are strong financial incentives on parties to the

  1421W
  interconnector to reduce the incidence and extent of any failures. Furthermore, in recent winters the interconnector has operated mainly in export mode.

  NGT are taking a number of steps to reduce the risks to electricity supply that they have identified in the Winter Operations report. For example, they have recently undertaken a tender for additional reserve generating capacity.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the costs to(a) business and (b) consumers of the loss of electricity supply on (i) 28 August, affecting South London and parts of Kent and (ii) 5 September, affecting the East Midlands and West Midlands; and if she will make a statement. [139719]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department of Trade and Industry has not conducted a formal assessment of the costs of these events on electricity consumers.

  The London event affected some 476,000 consumers and the Midlands event affected some 201,000 consumers. In both cases power supplies were restored to all consumers within an hour.

  The Department recognises that the consequences of these power failures were serious, with disruption to surface rail, underground street lights and traffic systems, water supply and sewerage systems as well as to electricity users in homes and workplaces.

  The Department submitted a memorandum to the Trade and Industry Committee on 14 November 2003 which explains the Department's role in investigating the circumstances of these events, and includes a discussion on specific lessons to be learned from these events and from other recent major power interruptions in America and Europe.

  Power Station

  Approved

  Size (MW)

  Type

  Status

  Enfield

  26 February 1997

  360

  CCGT

  Operational

  Coryton

  14 March 1997

  720

  CCGT

  Operational

  Winnington

  10 April 1997

  150

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Seal Sands

  10 April 1997

  60

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Sutton Bridge

  20 May 1997

  790

  CCGT

  Operational

  Saltend

  7 August 1997

  1,200

  CHP CCGT

  Operational

  Sandbach

  21 August 1997

  58

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Port Talbot

  22 October 1997

  200

  CHP GT

  Not built

  Fawley

  22 October 1997

  130

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Great Yarmouth

  23 October 1997

  350

  CCGT

  Operational

  Snodland

  11 December 1997

  60

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Bury St. Edmunds

  18 February 1998

  80

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Bridgewater

  7 May 1998

  65

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Shoreham

  5 August 1998

  400

  CCGT

  Operational

  Shotton

  3 December 1998

  215

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Castleford

  3 December 1998

  55

  CHP GT

  Operational

  York

  15 February 1999

  70

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Stoke

  14 May 1999

  60

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Baglan Bay

  16 July 1999

  525

  CCGT

  Operational

  Blackburn

  27 July 1999

  60

  CHP GT

  Operational

  Cantley

  9 December 1999

  70

  CHP GT

  Unknown

  Runcorn

  15 September 2000

  250

  CHP GT

  Unknown

  Spalding

  15 November 2000

  800

  CCGT

  Under construction

  Partington

  15 November 2000

  380

  CCGT

  Unknown

  Fleetwood

  15 November 2000

  1,000

  CCGT

  Unknown

  Isle of Grain

  15 November 2,000

  1,200

  CCGT

  Unknown

  Raventhorpe

  15 November 2000

  450

  CCGT

  Unknown

  Langage

  15 November 2000

  1,010

  CCGT

  Unknown

  South Killingholme

  22 March 2001

  700

  CCGT CHP

  Under construction

  Halewood

  4 April 2001

  70

  CHP GT

  Unknown

  1422W
  The events are also being investigated by Ofgem. The main objective of Ofgem's investigation is to examine whether there has been a breach or breaches, of the statutory or licence obligations which apply to National Grid Company and the relevant distribution network operators involved.

  Energy Supplies
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to publish the Sustainable Energy Policy Network reports(a) First Retrospective Security of Supply Report and (b) Initial Conclusions of Energy Services. [140158]

  Mr. Timms
  Ofgem expects to publish the first retrospective security of supply report by the end of the year and then to publish subsequent reports every six months. The Government expect to report the initial conclusions on its work on energy services shortly.

  Both these reports are part of the work of the Sustainable Energy Policy Network which is implementing the Energy White Paper "Our energy future—creating a low carbon economy".

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many power stations have received planning permission in each year since 1997; what the capacity is of each; how many of them are in operation and what their capacity is; and how many projects which received planning permission have had their permission revoked because they did not commence construction in the stipulated time, with the planned capacity of such plants. [140159]

  Mr. Timms
  The following power stations in England and Wales have been approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Industry since 1997:
  1423W

  Power Station

  Approved

  Size (MW)

  Type

  Status

  Trafford Park

  10 May 2001

  65

  CHP GT

  Unknown

  Avonmouth

  14 September 2001

  180

  CHP GT

  Unknown

  Cefn Croes

  23 May 2002

  60

  Onshore

  Unknown

  Scroby Sands

  17 April 2002

  78

  Offshore

  Under construction

  Carrington

  18 July 2002

  65

  CHP GT

  Unknown

  Marchwood

  28 November 2002

  860

  CCGT

  Unknown

  North Hoyle

  31 July 2002

  90

  Offshore

  Under construction

  Rhyl Flats

  12 December 2002

  150

  Offshore

  Unknown

  Barrow

  10 March 2003

  108

  Offshore

  Unknown

  Kentish Flats

  12 March 2003

  129

  Offshore

  Unknown

  Burbo Bank

  9 July 2003

  90

  Offshore

  Unknown

  Hatfield Colliery

  5 August 2003

  430

  IGCC

  Unknown

  Cromer

  21 October 2003

  108

  Offshore

  Unknown

  Gunfleet Sands

  21 October 2003

  108

  Offshore

  Unknown

  Inner Dowsing

  21 October 2003

  90

  Offshore

  Unknown

  Lynn

  21 October 2003

  90

  Offshore

  Unknown

  Notes:

  CCGT: Combined cycle gas turbine

  CHP: Combined heat and power

  GT: Gas turbine

  IGCC: Integrated gasification combined cycle

  Onshore: Onshore wind turbine farm

  Offshore: Offshore wind turbine farm

  The permissions are normally valid for five years from the date of issue and it is a commercial matter for the developer concerned on whether or not to implement his consent. The Secretary of State has not revoked any permissions. Permissions for power stations in Scotland are a matter for the devolved administration.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 21 October 2003,Official Report, column 491W, on British Energy, how much of the credit facility available to British Energy has been drawn down by the company; and what plans she has to seek to extend this credit facility. [140346]

  Mr. Timms
  As at 19 November 2003, British Energy had drawn down £112 million of the £200 million credit facility available.

  There are no plans to extend the duration of the credit facility. As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry said in her written statement of 14 October 2003 drawings under the credit facility can be made up to the date of the European Commission's decision on the Government's proposed restructuring aid, or 30 September 2004, whichever is earlier. Repayments under the credit facility have to be made by the earlier of the restructuring effective date or 30 September 2004.

  Environmental Protection
  Mrs. Helen Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the DTI/Defra Joint Environmental Markets Unit is consulted when her Department carries out regulatory impact assessments of new environmental protection measures to ensure that benefits of the measures to the UK(a) environmental technology and (b) services industry are included. [140074]

  Mr. Timms
  Regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) of new environmental protection measures are undertaken in accordance with the Cabinet Office Guidelines—"Better Policy Making: A Guide to Regulatory Impact 1424W
  Assessment". Among other things, this says RIAs should take account of the potential dynamic benefits of regulations and an assessment of all the business sectors affected—both positively and negatively. As part of this process, policy-makers consult with relevant stakeholders, including where appropriate representatives of the environmental goods and services industry who will then have the opportunity to make the case for the benefits. Like other parts of Government with an interest, the Joint DTI/Defra Environmental Markets Unit will contribute as appropriate and as part of the policy-making process within Government.

  Estate Agents
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 11 September 2003,Official Report, column 391W, on estate agents, how many complaints have been (a) made, (b) investigated and (c) upheld by the Office of Fair Trading since 1 August; what action was taken in relation to each complaint upheld; and if she will make a statement. [139565]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]: The information is as follows:

  (a) The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) received 94 complaints about estate agents between 1 August and 14 November 2003.

  (b) All complaints are investigated in line with the OFT's statutory duty to superintend and enforce the Estate Agents Act 1979.

  (c) 23 complaints against estate agents have been upheld between 1 August and 14 November 2003.

  16 of these have resulted in the issuing of Advisory Letters to estate agents reminding them of their statutory obligations. Seven have resulted in the issuing of warning letters advising the estate agents that if any further evidence of a failure to comply with their statutory obligations was to come to the attention of the OFT, consideration would be given to the taking of formal action including the possibility of them being

  1425W
  banned from engaging in estate agency work. A number of the more complex and serious complaints received since 1 August is the subject of on-going investigations.

  I now expect the OFT to publish its report on estate agents in the New Year. I will study the recommendations carefully.

  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 11 September 2003,Official Report, column 380W, on estate agents, whether she has received the report of the Director General of Fair Trading; and when she expects to publish the report. [139810]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The information is as follows:

  (a) The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) received 94 complaints about estate agents between 1 August and 14 November 2003.

  (b) All complaints are investigated in line with the OFT's statutory duty to superintend and enforce the Estate Agents Act 1979.

  (c) 23 complaints against estate agents have been upheld between 1 August and 14 November 2003.

  16 of these have resulted in the issuing of Advisory Letters to estate agents reminding them of their statutory obligations. Seven have resulted in the issuing of warning letters advising the estate agents that if any further evidence of a failure to comply with their statutory obligations was to come to the attention of the OFT, consideration would be given to the taking of formal action including the possibility of them being banned from engaging in estate agency work. A number of the more complex and serious complaints received since 1 August is the subject of on-going investigations.

  I now expect the OFT to publish its report on estate agents in the New Year. I will study the recommendations carefully.

  Exports
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will list for each of the last 20 years the(a) contracts with, (b) materials involved in and (c) value of trade deals with Iraq agreed with the support of the Export Credit Guarantee Department for which payment from Iraq has not been received. [138914]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  ECGD has unrecovered claims of around £623 million arising from contracts with Iraq signed prior to the first Gulf conflict in 1991. This amount does not include interest, which, it is estimated, could bring the figure to around £1 billion.

  These claims stem from more than five hundred cases supporting the export of goods ranging from consumer items to heavy industrial equipment. The details of these contracts could only be collated at disproportionate cost.

  ECGD has not been on cover for business in Iraq since 1991.

  Mr. Simon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with industry stakeholders to ensure that arrangements are in place to provide the necessary training and 1426W
  information to employees concerning their obligations to meet the compliance regulations inherent in export control licence procedures. [139857]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Export Control Organisation of the DTI undertakes a variety of work to raise awareness and understanding of export controls, including regular seminars and company visits from Compliance Officers. Guidance on export licensing matters, including a Compliance Code of Practice is published on the Export Control Organisation website. Companies are informed of developments in export controls through Notices to Exporters, including by way of automated e-mail notification.

  The new controls introduced by Orders made under the Export Control Act 2002 will come into force on 1 May 2004, after a six-month implementation period to allow adequate time for industry and Government to prepare for the new controls. Government officials have worked closely with business since the public consultation ended in April 2003, and will continue to work with industry during the implementation period.

  Mr. Simon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to ensure that defence-related companies are aware of the implications of the Export Control Act 2002; and what efforts her Department is making to ensure that such companies are equipped to meet the deadline for applications. [139858]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Industry has been made aware of the new export control legislation proposals since they were first proposed in the White Paper in 1998, and all the major companies and organisations have been in direct contact with Government. The Government has provided a full six-month implementation period for the new controls it gives industry adequate time to understand them and prepare. The DTI has published detailed user guidance on the new controls, developed with industry input and including details of a number of new open licences available. The DTI is also running a series of seminars to raise awareness and understanding of the new controls, and how to comply. Further seminars, and also workshops and regional roadshows will be organised by Trade Associations with DTI participation in the New Year. The DTI is also enclosing notices with export licences alerting exporters to the new controls and sources of information. DTI Compliance Officers are advising companies of the new obligations during routine compliance visits. DTI officials will continue to work closely with industry representatives to monitor the progress of the awareness campaign during the implementation period.

  Mr. Simon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements her Department has made for(a) assessing and (b) processing applications for export control licences from May 2004. [139859]

  Nigel Griffiths
  As is currently the case, all export licences applications received under the new controls will be assessed under the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

  The Export Control Organisation and other Government Departments have started preparations to adapt its business processes, including re-deploying and training staff in order to process new applications.
  1427W
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will take steps to ensure that armaments manufactured in the UK carry(a) a unique serial number, (b) the name of country of production and (c) the name of the company that manufactured the weapon. [131136]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Responsibility for the control of arms manufacture in the UK is shared between several Government Departments. The Ministry of Defence takes responsibility for the markings required for defence equipment procured for use by HM Forces. The Home Office requires, under the Firearms Rules 1998, that all firearms manufacturers and dealers keep detailed records to include make, calibre, identification number and maker's name of all firearms. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for coordinating the UK implementation and support for the UN programme of action on Small Arms and Light Weapons. The DTI has responsibility for the export licensing of strategic goods and considers export licence applications in consultation with other Government Departments.

  Fisheries
  Shona Mclsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on recent developments on vessel eligibility for the compensation scheme for former Icelandic trawlermen. [139933]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The compensation scheme for former Icelandic trawlermen is being amended to include vessels that fished in areas within Icelandic waters, as defined in the scheme, but where proof of this was not available because they were traditionally recorded as Faroes vessels. This decision has been reached following representations from the Independent Adjudicator for the scheme.

  Those who have reasonable grounds for believing that vessels made at least two trips to Icelandic waters including disputed areas such as Rosengarten and Working Man's Bank have been invited to put them forward in writing to my officials by 19 December 2003.

  Decisions on which vessels are added to the list will be taken by my
  Department on the following criteria:
  The vessel must have the full support of the trawlermen's representatives;
  it must have a recorded and extensive history of Faroes fishing;
  the size and weight of the vessel;
  the length of the voyage;
  the makeup of the crew; and previous information already received about the vessel's trips to disputed areas, principally Rosengarten and Working Man's Bank.

  In January the Department will publish a list of accepted vessels. There will then be a period of three weeks in which to query any vessels that have not been included on the list in writing and giving reasons. A final list will be published during February 2004.

  When vessels have been added to the list, my officials will re-examine claims made under the scheme, which closed in October 2002, and pay additional compensation to those which qualify.

  Gas Market
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the ability of the market to respond to the demand for gas in a 1 in 20 winter peak day in(a) winter 2003–04 and (b) each year up to and including 2009–10 should supplies from existing and new development projects fall below maximum levels. [139718]

  Mr. Timms
  Earlier this month my Department and Ofgem published the third report by the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group ("JESS"). JESS was set up to assess the risks to the UK's future gas and electricity supplies.

  The JESS report highlights both the level of existing potential gas capacity, and the very significant levels of proven, probable and possible future investments over the next 10 years. It identifies a number of potential supply-side developments, including additional import connections with Norway; new LNG import terminals; more interconnection with continental Europe; upgrades to existing interconnectors; and additional gas storage capacity.

  The report concludes that the market can respond to the demand for gas in the next decade (including peak gas demand or sustained high demand), by drawing on maximum supplies from existing and proposed new developments, including some of those which at present are less certain.

  Meanwhile the recent agreement with the Norwegian Government will facilitate the development of projects that could meet some 20 per cent. of UK gas demand from 2007.

  JESS has also been considering demand-side flexibility, including the responsiveness of the market to high prices at periods of high gas demand. Voluntary reductions in consumption by major consumers, if technically and commercially feasible, could play a significant role in balancing the market in such circumstances.

  The Government continue to monitor the gas demand and supply situation.

  Intellectual Property
  Mr. Djanogly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the transfer of intellectual property(a) between businesses and (b) between business and academia. [135077]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Internet
  Jon Trickett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that deprived communities do not suffer an information deficit from lack of access to the internet. [139549]

  Mr. Timms
  Taking steps to ensure that deprived communities in both urban and rural areas do not suffer an information deficit from lack of access to the internet is one of the Government's key priorities. The
  1429W
  Government recognise that internet access helps deprived communities to achieve social inclusion by benefiting from the knowledge economy. The Government's actions include:
  6,000 UK Online Centres by end 2002 to provide either free or low-cost internet access with support for first-time users. Some 3,000 of the Online Centres are public libraries. 2,000 of the UK Online Centres are located in the most deprived wards. Currently, 100 per cent. of public libraries have internet access, of which some 85 per cent. have a broadband connection;
  £199 million was made available from the Capital Modernisation Fund to help fund UK Online Centres in deprived communities;
  a £30 million Broadband Fund administered by the Regional Development Agencies and devolved Administrations to run pilot projects to extend broadband availability to benefit SMEs among others in deprived communities;
  DTI's Broadband Aggregation Project, announced in July 2003, which aims to secure value for money for public sector provision and ensure this has maximum impact on the provision of broadband for communities in deprived areas;
  a joint DTI and Defra Rural Broadband Team, which was set up in May 2003 to address the issue of availability of broadband in rural areas, especially in deprived areas.

  Invicta Motors
  Mr. Gray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will visit Invicta Motors in Chippenham to inspect their first production model. [136793]

  Ms Hewitt
  [holding answer 6 November 2003]: I regret that I am unlikely to be able to visit the company in the near future but hope to be able to meet them at next year's motorshow. I would, however, like to take this opportunity to wish them every success with their new sportscar.

  Inward Missions Scheme
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes she plans to make to the Inward Missions Scheme following the review by UK Trade and Investment; when the changes will come into effect; and if she will make a statement. [140149]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Changes resulting from the review of the Inward Missions Scheme are still under consideration. Decisions are expected soon, and all organisations that have been involved in the Scheme

  Wales

  Scotland

  Notts, Derbys &Leics

  Yorkshire

  North East

  Midlands

  South/South East

  Respiratory disease

  Total claims received (£)

  55,000

  20,000

  20,000

  116,500

  79,500

  20,000

  7,000

  Full and final settlements (£)

  20,000

  5,000

  7,000

  29,000

  19,000

  3,000

  2,000

  Total Damages paid (£ million)

  273

  66

  49

  259

  197

  25

  20

  VWF

  Total claims received (£)

  21,000

  11,000

  22,000

  60,000

  45,500

  5,000

  4,000

  Full and final settlements (£)

  11,000

  4,000

  11,000

  24,000

  21,000

  3,000

  2,000

  Total Damages paid (£ million)

  112

  62

  123

  340

  325

  26

  25

  1430W
  over recent years, and all those that were consulted as part of the review, will be informed. Any changes will be phased in from 1 April 2004.

  Manufacturing
  Jeff Ennis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many manufacturing jobs have been(a) created and (b) lost in South Yorkshire in each of the last five years. [138738]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

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

  Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Jeff Ennis, dated 20 November 2003:

  The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of manufacturing jobs that have been created and lost in the last 5 years in South Yorkshire. I am replying in his absence. (138738)

  There are no figures for jobs created or lost but an indication can be obtained by comparing the annual surveys of employee jobs. The Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) gives an estimate of the number of employee jobs in December of each year; the latest year for which figures are available is 2001.

  The ABI was preceded, prior to 1998, by the Annual Employment Survey. This inquiry had a different structure to the ABI and so direct comparisons cannot be made between the AES and ABI at a regional level.

  Between 1998 and 2001 the ABI data show a net decrease in the number of manufacturing employee jobs in South Yorkshire of 32,500.

  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many manufacturing jobs have been(a) created and (b) lost in Scotland in the last 12 months. [138391]

  Ruth Kelly
  I have been asked to reply.

  This matter falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who will write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  Miners' Compensation
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for(a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been paid out in full in each area of the British coalfields; and what the latest total amount paid is. [140156]

  Mr. Timms
  As at the end of October 2003 the regional headline statistics breakdown is:
  1431W
  Mr. Skinner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims have been paid out in full in the (i) East Midlands and (ii) Bolsover constituencies. [140157]

  Mr. Timms
  As at the end of October 2003 in the Bolsover constituency 4,162 have received an offer in full and final settlement of their claim. In relation to Vibration White Finger, 2,249 have received an offer in full and final settlement. In total we have paid out £48.5 million in interim and full and final settlements to claimants in Bolsover.

  The correspondence figures for the Midlands are for respiratory disease 3,000 and for Vibration White Finger 3,000 totalling £5l million.

  A breakdown of both regional and constituency headline statistics is available on the Department's website£www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether ex-workers from the phurnacite coking works at Abercwmboi in the Cynon Valley are eligible to claim for bronchitis and emphysema under the Mineworkers' Compensation Scheme; and if she will make a statement.[140255]

  Nigel Griffiths
  Workers in phurnacite coking workers do not fall within the parameters of the British Coal Respiratory Disease Litigation High Court judgment. As such claims can not be processed under the resulting scheme, but can be pursued as personal injury claims under common law.

  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will release records of dust levels recorded before 1991 at the phurnacite plant at Abercwmboi in the Cynon Valley. [140256]

  Nigel Griffiths
  The Department has always released dust records in line with requests received through the courts, and will be happy to release such records in the case of litigated phurnacite plant claims.

  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many ex-miners have in Airdrie and Shotts benefited from the Government's health compensation schemes; and what the average level of compensation paid has been to ex-miners in Airdrie and Shotts. [140382]

  Nigel Griffiths
  As at the end of October 2003, 685 have received an offer in full and final settlement of their claim for respiratory disease. In relation to Vibration White Finger, 79 have received an offer in full and final settlement. In total we have paid out £5.4 million in interim and full and final settlements to claimants in Airdrie and Shotts.

  We estimate the average payment for respiratory disease is £7,700 and for Vibration White Finger it is £7,200.

  A breakdown of both regional and constituency headline statistics is available on the Department's website—www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth.

  Metrology
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons Recommendation R125 of the International Organisation of Legal Metrology on measuring systems for the mass of liquids in tanks has not been implemented. [134563]

  Mr. Timms
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  National Minimum Wage
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in Wales will have benefited from the national minimum wage since its introduction. [140374]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  We estimate that around 60,000 workers in Wales stood to benefit when the minimum wage was introduced in April 1999, and that 60,000–70,000 workers in Wales stood to benefit from the rate increases that took place in October 2003.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have benefited from the introduction of the national minimum wage in each parliamentary constituency since its introduction; and how many(a) recorded cases and (b) successful prosecutions there have been of employers who have failed to pay the minimum wage.[140389]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  It is not possible to estimate the total number of people who have benefited from the minimum wage since its introduction. This is because the actual beneficiaries are likely to change each year as people move into or from low paid jobs. It is also not possible to provide specific estimates of the number of people who have benefited from the minimum wage by parliamentary constituency. However we estimate that around 1.2 million people stood to benefit when the minimum wage was introduced in April 1999 and that 1–1.2 million people stood to benefit from the rate increases that took place last month.

  Between April 1999 and October 2003 the Inland Revenue completed around 28,000 investigations and recovered around £14 million in minimum wage arrears on behalf of workers. The great majority of cases are successfully settled without the need for further enforcement action. To date there have been no criminal prosecutions of employers.

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd.
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on services provided to her Department by NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd. since 1997. [139960]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Department's accounting records show that the DTI has spent £1,000 on the services of NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd. since 1997.

  Nuclear Reprocessing
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place in the Library copies of the inter-governmental agreements relating to the repatriation of nuclear materials to Italy consequent upon reprocessing activities in the UK. [138316]

  Mr. Timms
  The inter-governmental letters referred to represent confidential correspondence between HMG and the Government of Italy. As such it would not be appropriate to accede to the hon. Member's request.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of whether proper arrangements are in place in respect of nuclear material from Italy currently in the UK for(a) their repatriation to Italy in a safe and timely way and (b) their safe storage in the UK pending dispatch; and if she will make a statement; [138317]

  (2) what arrangements are in place for the repatriation to Italy of (a) plutonium and (b) uranium recovered in the UK by BNFL. [138319]

  Mr. Timms
  The arrangements in place for reprocessing of overseas spent fuel contain options for return of wastes. The Government intend that such options should be exercised and that wastes arising from reprocessing be returned to the country of origin. It has been the practice of successive Governments to obtain, before a contract for the reprocessing of foreign spent fuel is signed, assurances from the relevant government that it will take no legislative or regulatory steps to prevent the return of wastes arising under the contract.

  The adequacy of the facilities for managing those wastes is a matter for their owners and the regulatory authorities of the country concerned in accordance with the relevant legislation of that country.

  We have an extremely stringent regulatory framework in place to ensure that the storage and eventual repatriation of nuclear materials conforms with all national and international regulations. Ensuring the safety of activities at nuclear installations is the highest priority for the Government and everyone involved in the UK civil nuclear industry.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have been held by(a) Ministers and (b) officials with BNFL in the last two years relating to the future (i) location and (ii) storage of reprocessed nuclear fuel from Italy; and if she will make a statement. [138318]

  Mr. Timms
  There have been no discussions between Ministers and officials with BNFL in the last two years relating to these matters.

  Nuclear Weapons
  Llew Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what requirement she has placed on BNFL to report to her in advance on plans to seek contracts in the United States to help develop its nuclear weapons programme; [136718]

  (2) what discussions she has held with BNFL in respect of the compatibility with articles (a) one and (b) six of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of plans
  1434W
  by BNFL to bid for a contract with the United States to build and operate a nuclear administration warhead production plant at Savannah River, South Carolina. [136719]

  Mr. Timms
  There have been no formal discussions between my Department and BNFL on this issue. BNFL's business interests on US DOE sites through its subsidiaries relate to the environmental clean up market and not the weapons production business. The company is precluded by US Department of Energy (DOE) Security Agreements from involvement in the US defence programme.

  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Caton) on 13 November 2003, Official Report, column 403W.

  Outsourcing
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the number of jobs being lost in the UK from companies out-sourcing work overseas. [140025]

  Ms Hewitt
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and Investment on 23 October 2003,Official Report, column 667W.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many jobs have been out-sourced abroad in the last three years; and what estimate her Department has made of the likely numbers in the next five years. [140026]

  Ms Hewitt
  The Government does not have statistics on the numbers of jobs outsourced abroad in the last three years. Importantly, estimates of jobs outsourced abroad take no account of the inflows of jobs created through the UK's success in international markets.

  Overseas Visitors (Wales)
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many international overnight visits were made to Wales in each of the past 10 years, broken down by country of origin, listed in descending order. [140423]

  Ms Hewitt
  This information is not kept by my Department.

  Patents
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many patents were taken out by British universities in each of the last 20 years; how many patents funded from public services have resulted in the development of commercial products in each of the last 20 years; and how much public funding has been allocated to developing products from patents taken out by British universities in each of the last 20 years. [133824]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.
  1435W
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what representations she has had from the European Federation of Journalists on the European Directive on patenting computer-related inventions; and if she will make a statement. [140196]

  Ms Hewitt
  The patentability of computer-implemented inventions has been the subject of a wide-ranging consultation exercise, and submissions on the proposed Directive have been received from individuals, companies and representative bodies. However we have not been able to trace any representations from the European Federation of Journalists. If you are aware of such a communication I would be grateful for further information.

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [137951]

  Ms Hewitt
  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.

  Post Office Closures
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will obtain from the Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd. a list of consultation exercises carried out by Post Office Counters since 1 January concerning proposed closures of urban(a) sub-post offices and (b) branch offices; how many and what percentage of such exercises resulted in the intention to close being withdrawn; and if she will place the information in the Library. [139214]

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

  Mr. Letwin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices were closed in Dorset between June 2001 and June 2003; and if she will make a statement on her policy in relation to possible future closures.[R] [139827]

  Mr. Timms
  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 closures on a county basis, as it has no 1436W
  operational need for such data. However, I understand from Post Office Ltd. that in the South West region of England there were net closures of 82 post offices between end June 2001 and end June 2003.

  The Government has placed a requirement on Post Office Ltd. to maintain the rural network and to prevent avoidable closures of rural offices. The development of post office closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. within the framework of the Code of Practice agreed with Postwatch and the requirement that at the end of the programme 95 per cent. of the population in urban areas will still live within one mile of a post office.

  Postal Services
  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with Postcomm on the exemption for UK postal service providers from VAT; and if she will make a statement. [140121]

  Mr. Timms
  The Department has a regular dialogue with Postcomm on a wide range of postal issues concerning the postal market. The particular issue of the VAT exemption is a matter for the Treasury.

  Preferential Trade Status (Israel)
  Mr. Sarwar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Israel's preferential trade status with the EU. [137176]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Privatisation (Advertising Budgets)
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the advertising budget was for each privatisation of a nationalised industry since 1979. [140395]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Radiation-related Illness
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what compensation has been paid by nuclear companies to those suffering from radiation-induced illness in each of the past 20 years. [140394]

  Mr. Timms
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  SMEs
  Mr. Martlew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the audit exemption levels for small and medium-size companies; and if she will make a statement. [140216]
  1437W
  Nigel Griffiths
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced on 19 November that the audit exemption threshold would be increased to £5.6 million turnover.

  This will help relieve some administrative burdens on up to 69,000 companies.

  Solar PV Programme
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will announce the start date for the solar PV major demonstration programme phase two. [139491]

  Mr. Timms
  The £20 million First Phase of the Major Photovoltaic Demonstration Programme is due to end in March 2005. It is intended that decisions on further funding for PV will be made in the first half of 2004.

  State Aid
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 29 October 2003,Official Report, column 257W, on state aid, if she will list the occasions since 1997 when the Government has made representations (a) in response to notices published in the Official Journal in accordance with Article 88 (2) of the EC Treaty, (b) in cases before the European Court of Justice and (c) on behalf of UK businesses; and if she will make a statement. [137136]

  Jacqui Smith
  As indicated in my reply on 29 October no register of interventions is maintained. Such information could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Technology Sector
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on Government action to encourage the growth of the technological sector in the United Kingdom. [135504]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the Government intends to encourage home grown United Kingdom technological manufacturers. [135510]

  Ms Hewitt
  I have not been able to answer this question before Prorogation. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.

  Telephone Masts
  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many telephone masts there are in(a) Somerset, (b) Devon, (c) Dorset, (d) Wiltshire and (e) Cornwall. [136901]
  1438W
  Mr. Timms
  According to information registered on the Radiocommunications Agency's Sitefinder, which shows the location of cellular transmission sites, the number of transmitters in the counties specified isapproximately:

  (a) Somerset: 270;

  (b) Devon: 660;

  (c) Dorset: 230;

  (d) Wiltshire: 320;

  (e) Cornwall: 370.

  There may be more than one transmitter at any one location because of mast sharing so the numbers of masts would be lower.

  Tobacco
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what support her Department offers to British cigarette manufacturers seeking to develop markets in the developing world. [138620]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  UK Trade and Investment, in principle, provides services to all UK companies selling legal products, through the provision of trade, investment and political information on overseas markets, taking into account local circumstances. Special guidelines apply however for the tobacco industry, where Diplomatic Posts must not be associated with the promotion of tobacco products for example by accepting sponsorship for activities, or advertisements in publications, or attending events designed overtly to promote them.

  Trade (USA)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will examine the use of(a) mutual and (b) multilateral legal assistance treaties by the United States of America in enforcing end-user control. [138599]

  Mr. MacShane
  I have been asked to reply.

  Where there is a case of diversion or fraud by a private individual, we already look to co-operate with the authorities of friendly countries to bring the perpetrators to justice. Legal assistance treaties are of little use in cases of alleged misuse by governments.

  Trade Missions
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a trade mission will be sent to Kuwait in the near future; and what plans she has to establish better trading relations with Kuwait. [135515]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The United Kingdom has established and productive trading relationships with Kuwait. The Gulf region is traditionally an important market for UK goods and services and the UK commercial presence there is strong.

  We have a regular programme of outward Trade missions to Kuwait, and to the Gulf region as a whole, as part of the range of activities we sponsor in support of UK companies wishing to enter and expand into overseas markets.

  UK Science
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the progress of joint working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the promotion of UK science, engineering and technology. [137540]

  Ms Hewitt
  Significant progress has been made.

  DTI and FCO are members of two S&T—focused inter-departmental committees—the Chief Scientific Adviser's Committee (CSAIC) chaired by the Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, and the International Science Technology Trade and Investment Committee (ISTTIC) chaired by the UKTI Chief Executive, Sir Stephen Brown.

  Castaic's remit is to establish awareness of Britain as a world leader in S&T; to promote international research collaboration to the benefit of the UK science base and world science; and to promote UK science policy on issues with a science dimension. Attic's remit is to deal with the wealth potential arising from the UK's strengths in science and technology by concentrating on the trade and investment agenda.

  There is regular interaction between officials arising from their work on the operational committees, which support the two main committees.

  Examples of joint working include:

  The jointly agreed geographical deployment of UK Science and Technology Attaches in our overseas posts;
  The Klatch magazine, which is published jointly by science and technology groups (DTI,FCO AND UKTI) of Government to showcase British science and technology strengths and promotes inward investment opportunities into the UK;
  Collaboration on major campaigns in North America, China, Japan; in relation to inward and outward missions with posts abroad; and in the world-wide DNA 50 celebratory events;
  Working together to provide briefing to Ministers and VIPs travelling abroad;
  Liasing on cross cutting issues such as CERN, European Space Organisation and the, Asia/Pacific Technology Network;
  The provision on a monthly basis to our post overseas of briefing material and news stories on science and technology developments in the UK for use in increasing awareness of Britain's status as a leading player in world science;
  FCO involvement in the Doffs Innovation Review.

  Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the content and design of her Department's website. [139368]

  Ms Hewitt
  The DTI has been undertaking a thorough-going review of its website this-year. This has included extensive research into what our customers require from the DTI website. Previous research has shown high levels of satisfaction with the content on the site, but problems with presentation and structure. We have therefore commissioned a comprehensive redesign of the site, to increase its focus on our customers 'needs. This has included testing the usability and accessibility of the site with customers.

  Wind Turbines
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what help she gives individual factories which wish to develop alternative sustainable power supplies, with particular reference to wind turbines. [139422]

  Mr. Timms
  The Renewables Obligation, which requires licensed electricity suppliers to supply a specified proportion of electricity from renewable sources reaching 10.4 per cent by 2010, is our main vehicle for encouraging renewables. Under the Obligation companies generating electricity from eligible renewable sources for their own use, for example, in a factory they own, can benefit from the Obligation. They can do this by making an arrangement to sell that renewable electricity to a licensed supplier and to buy the same electricity back for their own use. The electricity sold and bought back will be eligible for Renewables Obligation Certificates.

  In addition, electricity derived from renewable sources may be eligible for exemption from the Climate Change Levy.

  Work-related Stress
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of work related stress have been reported in her 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 she will make a statement. [136855]

  Ms Hewitt
  Data on work-related stress are not collected separately in my Department.

  We are committed to maintaining a safe working environment for staff and to reducing absences caused by any sickness or injury. The Department provides advice and counselling services that help both managers and staff tackle work-related stress.

TRANSPORT

  Ballast
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which British ports have facilities for treating ballast from ships. [140421]

  Mr. Jamieson
  All ports are required to provide waste reception facilities which are adequate to receive waste from ships normally using the port. However, the discharge of clean ballast water is not yet controlled by legislation and as such no ports in the UK have facilities for treating ballast water to reduce the threat of non-indigenous species invasion through ballast water exchange at sea.

  If ballast water is contaminated by oil onboard an oil tanker then the discharge and treatment of this water is strictly controlled by oil pollution regulations. Some oil terminals, such as Flotta in Scapa Flow in Orkney, have

  1441W
  local requirements that all ballast water from tankers is discharged ashore and their reception facilities may include treatment to remove oil cargo residue.

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents involving ships clearing out their ballast tanks there have been in(a) British waters and (b) Liverpool Bay in each year over the past 20 years; how many prosecutions have resulted; and what actions he is taking to prevent ships from clearing out their ballast tanks in British waters [140422]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The discharge of clean ballast water is not yet controlled by legislation and the UK do not keep records of this operation either in British Waters or in Liverpool Bay, or require that vessels do so.

  However, existing legislation does impose strict controls on the discharge of oily ballast water. This is enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) through means such as aerial surveillance and inspections on vessels. As of 1 August 1999, all discharges of oil are strictly controlled in North West European waters as designated under International Convention. In the prosecutions that the MCA have secured it is very difficult to apportion the discharge to contaminated ballast water.

  Heathrow Airport
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of whether Terminal 5 will handle passengers using the third runway at Heathrow Airport if constructed. [139860]

  Mr. McNulty
  In our appraisal of the option for a third runway at Heathrow, we are considering a number of options for the handling of the additional passengers associated with a new runway. However, the contribution of Terminal 5 in handling these passengers was not included in any of these options other than for, possibly, transferring passengers.

  Mr. Page
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has drawn up for expansion of capacity on the M25 if a third runway is constructed at Heathrow Airport. [139861]

  Mr. McNulty
  We are considering the potential impacts on the strategic road and rail networks of all the options for new airport capacity.

  Mr. Pound
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the likely impact on public transport of additional staff commuting to Heathrow Airport after a third runway was constructed; [140133]

  (2) what assessment his Department has made of the likely impact on road traffic congestion in West London of additional staff commuting to Heathrow Airport after a third runway was constructed; [140135]

  (3) what measures the Government will put in place to meet the change in demand for housing in West London to accommodate additional staff at Heathrow Airport should a third runway be constructed; [140130]

  (4) what assessment his Department has made of the likely impact on the availability of affordable housing in West London of a third runway being constructed at Heathrow Airport;[140131]
  1442W
  (5)what assessment he has made of the compatibility of plans for construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport with the Government's commitment to sustainable development, with particular reference to housing needs in West London; [140132]

  (5) what input his Department has had into the White Paper on the Future Development of Air Transport in the UK, with particular reference to the proposal to construct a third runway at Heathrow Airport. [140134]

  Mr. McNulty
  In the appraisal of all of the options for new airport capacity, including a third runway at Heathrow, we considered a wide range of impacts. This included the potential impact of development on surface transport networks, employment, and housing and urbanisation.

  These issues, together with responses to the consultation, will help inform Government decisions for the air transport White Paper which we aim to publish by the end of the year.

  London Underground
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to reinstate independent electricity supplies to the London Underground; and at what cost.[139818]

  Mr. McNulty
  Following the power failure on 28 August, London Underground Ltd. (LUL) initiated an investigation of the incident and the effectiveness of their response. LUL will be publishing their report in the near future. Responsibility for London Underground transferred from Government to Transport for London (TfL) in July. Any future decisions on the power supply are for TfL and the London Mayor.

  Mr. Greg Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of security measures on the London Underground to counter the threat of terrorism. [140202]

  Dr. Howells
  In July this year my Department issued legally binding Instructions to London Underground Ltd. to formalise protective security measures already place. A supporting London Underground Security Programme was issued in August. This regime builds on the sound measures developed by LU and BTP over the past 30 years. The regime is designed to be responsive to the level of threat and to be proportionate. The security procedures are subject to inspection by inspectors from my Department.

  Air Accidents
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many air accidents involving United Kingdom-registered airlines were reported for the last decade for which figures are available; and what the comparable accident level was for airlines registered in(a) the Republic of Ireland and (b) Germany.[R] [140093]

  Mr. McNulty
  The following table sets out the number of total loss accidents for the United Kingdom, German and Irish airlines contained in the Airclaims CASE database for the period 1 January 1993 to 1 December 2002. The CASE database has been used as neither the Department nor the Civil Aviation
  1443W
  Authority hold details of accidents involving German and Irish Airlines. A total loss accident is one in which the aircraft is damaged beyond economic repair.

  Total Loss Accidents for the Period 1 January 1993 to 1 January 2003

  Passenger Aircraft >5700kg mtwa

  Operations Aircrafr >5700kg mtwa

  Cargo Aircraft 5700kg mtwa

  Operation Aricraft >5700kg mtwa

  UK airlines

  1

  5

  1

  7

  German airlines

  1

  5

  1

  1

  Irish airlines

  0

  0

  0

  0

  mtwa = maximum total weight authorised

  These figures are not directly comparable because of differences in other factors such as the number of hours flown.

  Air Travel
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of people from the bottom 10 per cent. of income earners travelled by air in each year from 2000 to 2002. [137579]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not available.

  Mr. Dhanda
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from individuals and organisations opposed to an expansion in air travel in the last 12 months. [139355]

  Mr. McNulty
  Many thousands of letters, questionnaires, cards and petitions have been received as responses to the consultation on the future development of air transport in the UK, which closed on 30 June 2003. On publication of the White Paper we expect to make all responses available for public inspection, unless consultees have explicitly requested confidentiality.

  Aircraft Pollution
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will press the International Civil Aviation Organisation to examine the issue of night flights and aircraft noise at their next meeting. [140079]

  Mr. McNulty
  The reduction of aircraft noise is a major strand of work within the environmental programme of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

  ICAO Resolution A33–7, adopted in 2001, emphasises the need for states to adopt a balanced approach to aircraft noise management, on an airport-by-airport basis. Key elements were incorporated into EU Directive 2002/30/EC and are now enshrined in UK law by The Aerodromes (Noise Restrictions) (Rules and Procedures) Regulations 2003(S.I.No. 1742).

  The agenda for the next meeting of ICAO's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) in February 2004 will allow for substantial discussion of noise issues.
  1444W
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will press the International Civil Aviation Organisation to examine the issue of air pollution caused by aircraft at their next meeting. [140086]

  Mr. McNulty
  Air pollution caused by air transport is a major strand of work within the environmental programme of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

  The Government regards this as important work and will continue to press ICAO for stringent action at the next meeting of its Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) in February 2004.

  Arson (Railways)
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of arson on the railways there have been since March 2002, broken down by(a) train operating company and (b) line. [139800]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI), advise that for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 there were 162 train fires in Great Britain caused by arson. A table recording the 162 incidents broken down by train operating company and by route is being deposited in the Libraries of the House.

  During the same period there were also 84 fires at passenger stations, signal boxes and on the railway infrastructure reported to HMRI, although information is not currently available on how many of these were due to arson.

  In addition, the British Transport Police have recorded 388 crimes of arson on the railways during the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003.

  Buses
  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with(a) local authorities and (b) major bus operators on bus re-regulation. [139434]

  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 therefore continue to discuss these matters with a number of groups and individuals representing both local authorities and bus operators.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultancies were commissioned by his Department in the last two years for which figures are available; and what the cost of those contracts was. [130891]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department was formed on 29 May 2002. 1,036 orders for consultancy valued at £122.2 million were raised in 2002–03. 717 orders for consultancy valued at –19.6 million were raised in the first six months of 2003–04.

  Consultants
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of(a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by (i) the Rail Delivery Directorate, (ii) the Railways Restructuring Directorate and (iii) other directorates within his Department carrying out work relating to the railways, in (A) 2002–03 and (B) 2003–04 to date. [139729]

  Mr. McNulty
  The total value of consultancies used by DfT relating to the railways was £24.6 million in 2002–03 and in 2003–04 it has been £13.6 million to 31 October. Only a very small proportion of this expenditure relates to call-off contracts.

  The figures include expenditure on contracts for legal and other advice.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by predecessor departments on external consultants in matters relating to transport in each year since 1997, broken down by(a) consultants used, (b) the nature and (c) the cost of the work in each case. [139730]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member, placing a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the(a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by (i) the Rail Delivery Directorate, (ii) the Railways Restructuring Directorate and (iii) other directorates within his Department carrying out work relating to the railways, since 6 February; what the nature of the assignment for each consultant was; and what the value of work done by each consultant was. [139734]

  Mr. McNulty
  Since 6 February the Department has been using the following consultants to give the advice listed:

  Consultant

  Advice

  On a call-off basis

  Eversheds

  Advice on rail pension issues

  Odgers Ray and Berndstson

  Advice on senior recruitment

  Saxton Bampfylde Hever plc

  Advice on senior recruitment

  Other contracts

  AEA Technology Rail

  Research into feasibility of development of a performance prediction model

  Arthur D. Little

  International comparison of the perception of risk in the rail industry

  Citigroup (Schroder Salomon Smith Barney)

  Financial advice

  CMS Cameron McKenna

  Legal advice on rail matters

  Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstem

  Channel Tunnel Rail Link Section I leasing feasibility study

  Dr. Stephen Gibbons

  Advice on wider benefits of Crossrail

  Dr. David Graham

  Prof Stephen Machin

  Prof Anthony Venables

  Prof Roger Vickerman

  KPMG

  Accountancy and taxation advice

  1446W

  Consultant

  Advice

  Mercers Management Consulting

  Management consultancy advice on matters relating to the cross-Channel rail industry

  Mott Parsons Gibb

  Project representatives for the channel tunnel rail link

  NOP

  Development of a survey into attitudes, perceptions and expectations of rail travel

  Saunders and Dolleymore

  Trade mark services

  Transport and Travel Research

  Development of a framework for research into attitudes, perceptions and expectations of rail travel

  The value of work done by individual consultants and advisers is commercially confidential, but, for all of them together, expenditure from 6 February to 31 October amounts to £16.5 million.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by his Department and its predecessors on external research and consultants in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 to date, broken down by (i) aviation, (ii) local transport, (iii) mobility and inclusion, (iv) roads, vehicles and road safety, (v) shipping, (vi) integrated transport, (vii) railways, (viii) science and research, (ix) transport statistics, (x) freight logistics and (xi) other subjects. [139736]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member, placing a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

  Decommissioning (American Ships)
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2003,Official Report, column 436W, on decommissioning (American ships), what steps he is taking to ensure further US ships follow the advice of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.[139949]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has approved passage plans for the ships in question and will do so in future transits of this kind, as well as monitor ship movements against the approved plans. Flexibility must be provided for legitimate and safe alterations to the precise routes followed when circumstances justify such amendments. The Secretary of State can intervene only if the ships are in UK waters. At that point, he may give a direction only if it is necessary for securing the safety of the ship, other ships, persons or property or for preventing or reducing significant pollution.

  Departmental Expenditure (Official Residences)
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [134701]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. It does not have any residential properties used by Ministers. A small number of residential properties are used by officials—for example coastguards—as an essential part of their operational duties. Details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Driving Licences
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 30 June 2003,Official Report, column 2W, on driving licences, if he will make a statement on the nature of the detailed research to ensure ease of completion of the driving licence application form; what process was used to undertake the research; what the results were; and what measures he has taken to implement its findings. [140355]

  Mr. Jamieson
  To improve customer service a new driving licence application form, fulfilling the functions of two previously separate forms, was introduced in May 2003. As part of its development research was conducted to assess the effectiveness and ease of use of the form and its accompanying information leaflet. Testing was supported by a specialist research organisation and the Plain English Campaign. DVLA 'road tested' the literature using a wide variety of suitable organisations in both the public and private sector, a cross section of members of the general public and, a selection of school children approaching driving age. Over 90 per cent. of participants found the form easy to complete. A number of suggestions from test subjects were also adopted helping to improve layout and content.

  EU Committees
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for senior labour inspectors 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. [132727]

  Mr. Pond
  I have been asked to reply.

  The Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC) met in Denmark from 5–7 November 2002

  The meeting considered the following matters: progress with the SLIC Work Programme including progress with several working groups dealing with specific topics, the assessment of health and safety systems in EU and Applicant Countries, future co-operation with Applicant Countries and the role of SLIC in the future health and safety at work European strategy.

  The Senior Labour Inspectors Committee met in Greece from 21–23 May 2003

  The meeting approved the 2002 SLIC Annual Report and considered the following matters: all of the items listed for the Danish meeting, cross border enforcement of labour inspection matters and European Commission health and safety activities.

  No preparatory meetings were held and no representative of the Scottish Executive attended either meeting.

  M6 Toll
  Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the operators of the M6 toll will be required to contribute towards the policing costs of the road. [139996]
  1448W
  Mr. Jamieson
  Midland Expressway Limited will not be required to contribute towards the policing costs of the M6 Toll.

  Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 13 November,Official Report, column 436W, on Decommissioning (American Ships), (a) for what reasons and (b) in what circumstances advice is given by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to vessels navigating United Kingdom waters; and in what circumstances the Agency can enforce its guidance. [139916]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has approved passage plans for the ships in question and will do so in future transits of this kind, as well as monitor ship movements against the approved plans. Flexibility must be provided for legitimate and safe alterations to the precise routes followed when circumstances justify such amendments. The Secretary of State can intervene only if the ships are in UK waters. At that point, he may give a direction only if it is necessary for securing the safety of the ship, other ships, persons or property or for preventing or reducing significant pollution.

  Market Research
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [139984]

  Mr. McNulty
  I shall write to the hon. Member placing a copy of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Mobile Telephones
  Mr. Lazarowicz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines and advice he has issued to business employers on the ban on the use of mobile telephones while driving; and which business and employers' organisations received such information. [140148]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department has not issued guidelines and advice specifically for business employers. The Department has however e-mailed 1,000 large employers drawing their attention to the new regulations and to the Department's general advice and publicity materials, which are relevant to all road users.

  That general advice is in the form of Frequently Asked Questions which is available on-line at http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/ documents/page/dft_rdsafety_025216.hcsp.

  That includes a specific question and answer that is relevant to employers.

  National Travel Survey
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bath of 3 June 2003,Official Report, column 72W,

  1449W

  on the National Travel Survey, if he will break down the information provided by household income quintile. [139791]

  Mr. McNulty
  A summary of the information will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The sample sizes of the National Travel Survey are too small to provide a full breakdown at the requested level of detail.

  Off-road Cycleways
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of off-road cycleways there are in each county in England; and what the projected increase in off-road cycleways is over the next(a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years for each county in England. [140361]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Information about the lengths of off-road cycle tracks away from the road is not held centrally.

  We are encouraging all local highway authorities to increase the provision of cycle facilities both on and off the road through their Local Transport Plans and monitoring their progress through the English Regional Cycling Development Team.

  Overflight Restrictions (Germany)
  Tom Levitt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made by his Department to(a) the German Government, (b) the European Commission and (c) the Council of Ministers in relation to the recent decision by the German Government to impose overflight restrictions into Zurich airport; and what assessment he has made of its effect on (i) British interests and (ii) bilateral British-Swiss trade and investment. [140103]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Department has made no such representations. The German decision is the subject of a complaint by the Swiss Government to the European Commission, which may be followed by an application to the European Court of Justice. We are currently assessing possible effects of the overflight restrictions on UK interests.

  Pilotage
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is informed when pilot services are offered to vessels about to navigate United Kingdom waters. [139917]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Department is not informed when pilot services are offered to vessels about to navigate United Kingdom waters.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules govern pilotage in United Kingdom waters. [139918]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Pilotage in United Kingdom waters is governed by the Pilotage Act 1987. The Act places a duty on Competent Harbour Authorities to keep under consideration whether any, and if so what, pilotage services need to be provided to secure the safety of ships navigating in or in the approaches to its harbour. Ships 1450W
  navigating in UK waters outside the jurisdiction of a competent harbour authority are not subject to pilotage.

  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what liaison took place between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and their French counterparts concerning the route taken by the US ships(a) Canister and (b) Caloosahatchee through the English Channel. [139998]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency agreed the passage plan for these ships in consultation with the French maritime authorities, who were kept up to date throughout the ships' transit.

  Public Subsidy
  Mr. Betts
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of public subsidy is(a) per passenger mile travelled, (b) per passenger and (c) per head of population for (i) rail, (ii) light rail and (iii) bus passenger transport in (A) England and (B) each English region for the latest year for which figures are available. [135088]

  Mr. McNulty
  [holding answer 3 November 2003]: The form subsidy takes differs from one transport mode to another. Information on each mode is not available in the form requested, but the available data shows:

  (i) Rail

  In 2001–02 we provided public subsidy of just over £1 billion for railways in Great Britain. It is not possible to give rail figures for England only, nor is it possible to give any regional breakdown for rail subsidy. In Great Britain, the rail subsidy per passenger mile was 4 pence. The subsidy per passenger journey was £1.08. If calculated per head of population it was £18.16.

  (ii) Light rail

  There is no subsidy payment from central government to light rail operators, although the promoters of the schemes pay a form of subsidy through additional Revenue Support Grant payments resulting from the previous issue of Private Finance Initiative Credits. The Tyne and Wear Metro differs from other light rail in that it is treated as part of the national rail system for the purpose of revenue support. In addition, all light rail operators receive reimbursement for concessionary fares for older people, disabled people and children, on the same basis as local bus services.

  (iii) Bus

  In 2001–02 we provided public subsidy of £1.2 billion for buses in England. It is not possible to give a regional breakdown, other than for London, as an element of subsidy, Bus Service Operators Grant, is paid directly to the operators. For England, bus subsidy per passenger mile is not available. Subsidy per passenger journey was 31 pence. If calculated per head of population in England it was £24. For London, bus subsidy per passenger mile was 12 pence, or 27 pence per passenger journey. When calculated per head of resident London population, it was £53.60. This appears high as population data exclude non-residents and tourists who use buses in London.

  Rail Safety
  Mr. Goodman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries were incurred as a result of railway incidents in each year since 1973. [140005]

  Passengers

  Rail stuff

  Others

  Trespass plus suicide

  Fatalities

  Serious injuries

  1973

  42

  42

  13

  213

  310

  652

  1974

  26

  38

  14

  276

  354

  811

  1975

  69

  46

  12

  301

  428

  780

  1976

  30

  46

  21

  299

  396

  721

  1977

  30

  34

  20

  320

  404

  757

  1978

  47

  45

  22

  345

  459

  762

  1979

  52

  43

  12

  314

  421

  803

  1980

  26

  32

  11

  360

  429

  807

  1981

  39

  27

  10

  369

  445

  319

  1982

  20

  27

  10

  296

  353

  251

  1983

  29

  28

  12

  358

  427

  254

  1984

  39

  25

  12

  339

  415

  259

  1985

  33

  25

  16

  318

  392

  322

  1986

  32

  16

  24

  325

  397

  372

  1987

  68

  16

  20

  317

  421

  434

  1988

  69

  16

  12

  334

  431

  596

  1989

  33

  18

  18

  293

  362

  569

  1990

  37

  22

  19

  308

  386

  550

  19911

  39

  22

  20

  363

  444

  495

  1992–93

  18

  11

  10

  264

  303

  536

  1993–94

  17

  8

  16

  262

  303

  484

  1994–95

  17

  9

  16

  264

  306

  485

  1995–96

  11

  5

  12

  246

  274

  471

  1996–97

  17

  2

  6

  252

  277

  310

  1997–98

  26

  3

  19

  265

  313

  351

  1998–99

  20

  4

  15

  247

  286

  376

  1999–2000

  47

  5

  13

  274

  339

  340

  2000–01

  21

  8

  10

  300

  339

  300

  2001–02

  10

  5

  17

  275

  307

  351

  2002–03

  23

  7

  20

  256

  308

  349

  1 15 months from 1 January 1991 to 31 March 1992.

  Mr. Drew
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the implications for rail safety of the recent reduction in the number of managers with safety responsibilities in the organisation. [140123]

  Mr. McNulty
  Employee management at Network Rail is an operational matter for the company. Safety is the top priority in the network's operation and maintenance and all decisions taken by Network Rail are subject to meeting the company's Safety Case.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the recommendations on rail safety made by Lord Cullen and Professor Uff being worked on by the industry which(a) have not been completed to the original timetable specified, indicating the expected date of implementation and (b) are within their specified deadline, listing by when they should be completed, and whether they are expected to meet this deadline in each case.[139740]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Southall, Ladbroke Grove and Train Protection public inquiries made a total of 295 recommendations. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advise that 216 recommendations have been completed; 42 are either still within their specified deadline or a deadline was not specified; and 37 have not been completed to the original timetable specified.

  The HSE advise that there is a range of reasons for action continuing on 37 of the recommendations beyond the dates put forward in the public inquiry reports, including the complexity of interrelated issues,
  1452W
  Mr. McNulty
  Information on the number of fatalities and serious injuries since 1973 provided by the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate is set out in the following table:

  the need for legislative change, or because industry is taking a broader look than the recommendations strictly require. HSE and industry have discussed and agreed alternative timescales.

  Details of each of the recommendations still to be completed, including action taken and to be taken, are given in the Health and Safety Commission's progress report—'HSC report on overall progress as of April 2003 on the remaining recommendations from the Rail Public Inquiries'—published in August 2003, which is available in the House Libraries. A summary of progress is given in the following table:

  Public inquiry

  Total number of recommendations

  Completed

  Continuing

  Southall

  93

  92

  1

  Train Protection

  59

  18

  121

  Ladbroke Grovel 1

  89

  68

  21

  Ladbroke Grove 2

  74

  38

  136

  Total

  295

  216

  79

  1 There are 11 recommendations where action holder reports completion, but where HSE is not yet able to endorse this view.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the final reports into the rail crashes at(a) Hatfield and (b) Potters Bar to be published. [139741]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Health and Safety Executive have published comprehensive reports on both the Hatfield and Potters Bar crashes, which have included technical
  1453W
  findings, safety critical information and recommendations. The final reports on both these crashes, which will concentrate on action taken by the industry to implement the recommendations from earlier reports, can only be published following the completion of any legal action arising from the investigations.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the British Transport Police to conclude their investigations into the rail crash at Potters Bar. [139742]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police have advised me that they submitted a substantial report on the Potters Bar accident to the Crime Prosecution Service (CPS) in August 2003 and that they now await CPS advice on the matter.

  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many derailments there were in each month of the last year. [138827]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate reports that there were 67 derailments on all railways during the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003, which is reduction of 24 per cent. compared to the 2001–02 figure of 88. Of the 67, 42 occurred on Network Rail, four on London Underground, and 21 on tramways, metros or heritage railways. Two derailments resulted in fatalities and four resulted in minor injuries. A breakdown of the 67 derailments by month appears in the following table:

  Month

  Network Rail

  LUL

  Other

  Total

  April 2002

  4

  —

  1

  5

  May

  4

  —

  2

  6

  June

  4

  —

  2

  6

  July

  2

  —

  5

  7

  August

  1

  1

  5

  7

  September

  5

  —

  1

  6

  October

  2

  —

  1

  3

  November

  7

  —

  2

  9

  December

  1

  —

  1

  2

  January

  2

  2

  —

  4

  February

  5

  —

  —

  5

  March

  5

  1

  1

  7

  Total

  42

  4

  21

  67

  Rail Ticket Prices
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the percentage price increase for(a) peak and (b) off peak journeys for each of the privatised rail company areas in each year since privatisation. [140434]

  Mr. McNulty
  Information is not readily available in the form requested. However, the latest edition of the Strategic Rail Authority's statistics bulletin "National Rail Trends (April-June 2003)" copies of which are available in the House Libraries, shows in Table 3.1 on page 23, statistics on the average change in the price of rail fares. Based on the overall figures in this table, for each year since 1995 and for all ticket types (both 1454W
  regulated and unregulated) the year on year average change in the price of rail fares expressed as a percentages are as follows;

  Percentage

  1995–96

  2.6

  1996–97

  2.5

  1997–98

  3.8

  1998–99

  3.9

  1999–2000

  3.3

  2000–01

  2.5

  20001–02

  2.0

  2002–03

  3.1

  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average cost per mile of rail travel in each EU country was in the last year for which figures are available, based on standard return fares. [140441]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  Railways
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of railway line there are in(a) the UK and (b) Scotland which are defined as (i) primary route, (ii) London and South East commuter route, for the UK, (iii) main secondary route, (iv) other secondary route, (v) rural route and (vi) freight route. [137489]

  Mr. McNulty
  The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategy 'Specification of Network Outputs' classifies heavy rail routes in Great Britain into six broad categories. The route lengths under each category for(a) Great Britain and (b) Scotland are as follows: (i) primary routes (a) 8,859 km (b) 527 km; (ii) London and South East commuter routes (a) 3,722 km (b) not applicable; (iii) main secondary routes (a) 4,487 km (b) 1,367; (iv) other secondary routes (a) 7,214 km (b) 1,205 km; (v) rural routes (a) 3,533 km (b) 715 km; (vi) other freight only routes (a) 2,565 km (b) 247 km. The SRA Strategy provides for the acceleration of maintenance and renewal activity on the busiest parts of the network. These carry 80 per cent. of all passenger traffic and 70 per cent. of freight traffic. Maintenance and renewal costs on other routes will be at an appropriate level to reflect their actual usage. It will not compromise safety. This approach makes common sense.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains departed from London King's Cross Station without advertised(a) first class accommodation and (b) refreshment facilities, in the first week of each month in 2003; and what percentage of trains leaving London King's Cross this represented. [137317]

  Mr. McNulty
  This information is not collected by the Government or the Strategic Rail Authority.

  Railways and Transport Safety Act
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the provisions of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 relating to blood alcohol levels in pilots, flight crew and other personnel to be implemented; and what the reasons are for the delay. [140127]

  Mr. McNulty
  Part V of the Railways and Transport Safety Act will be commenced once the equipment to be used by the police to test suspected offenders has received formal approval for use at the new low aviation limit. This process is now approaching completion. On receipt of the necessary type approval certificates, a period of approximately one month will be required to modify existing police equipment and to train officers for its use in the aviation environment.

  Road Accidents (Deer)
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents were caused by deer running onto the carriageway in each of the last five years; in how many incidents(a) injury and (b) death occurred; what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate fences are erected to contain the deer in areas where deer pose a significant danger to road users; and if he will make a statement. [140342]

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

  Security (Ports)
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many breaches of security have taken place at UK ports in each year since 1997, broken down by(a) region, (b) port and (c) type of breach. [139801]

  Mr. Jamieson
  While inspectors do actively respond to notifications of security breaches or incidents the type of information is not available in the form requested and in any event it is not the practice to disclose such security details.

  Speed Cameras
  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which roads are fitted with SPECS speed cameras. [139756]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Inner City Road, Nottingham and Lumbertubs Way, Northamptonshire are fitted with SPECS digital speed cameras systems.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which department will receive the money generated by fines from the SPECS speed cameras. [139757]

  Mr. Jamieson
  Fine revenue from any type approved camera system operating in safety camera partnerships is used to cover the cost of operating the cameras. All surplus goes to the Treasury.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce SPECS speed cameras in the South West. [139758]
  1456W
  Mr. Jamieson
  None. It is a matter for local highway authorities and the police force in the relevant safety camera partnership to decide on what type approved camera equipment is deployed.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from motoring organisations about SPECS speed cameras. [139759]

  Mr. Jamieson
  None.

  Mr. Swire
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the M4 section between Theale and Membury services is wired for SPECS speed cameras. [139760]

  Mr. Jamieson
  There is no equipment located on the M4 between Theale and Membury services forming part of a SPECS enforcement camera system.

  Strategic Rail Authority
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the(a) technical consultants and (b) financial consultants used by the Strategic Rail Authority since 7 January on a call-off basis; the total amount paid to each consultant; and the nature of the projects; [139723]

  (2) if he will list the (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by (i) the Health and Safety Commission and (ii) the Health and Safety Executive relating to railway matters since 6 February; what the nature of the assignment for each consultant was; and what the value of work done by each consultant was; [139731]

  (3) if he will list the (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by the Office of the Rail Regulator, since 6 February, the nature of the assignment for each consultant, and the value of work done by each consultants; [139732]

  (4) if he will list the (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, since 6 February, the nature of the assignment for each consultant, and the value of work done by each consultant; [139733]

  (5) if he will list the technical and financial consultants employed by the Strategic Rail Authority since 7 January; what the nature of the assignment for each consultant was; and what the value of each contract was; [139735]

  (6) what the total value was of (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis, by Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04 to date; [139737]

  (7) what the total value was of (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis, by the Office of the Rail Regulator in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003 to date; [139738]
  1457W
  (8) what the total value was of (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis, by the (i) Health and Safety Commission and (ii) Health and Safety Executive relating to railway matters in (A) 2002–03 and (B) 2003–04 to date. [139739]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member, placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

  Terrorism (Railways)
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of(a) terrorist activity and (b) suspected terrorist activity were recorded by (i) the British Transport Police and (ii) other organisations relating to the railways in (A) 2002 and (B) 2003 to date. [139802]

  Mr. McNulty
  The British Transport Police have advised me that 205 threats were made against railway locations in 2002. In the period up to 31 October 2003 194 threats were made against railway locations. None of these resulted in an incident.

  Trams (Edinburgh)
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with Transport Initiatives Edinburgh regarding the proposed tram lines connecting Edinburgh city centre with Edinburgh airport; and if he will make a statement. [139924]

  Mr. McNulty
  My officials have met Transport Initiatives Edinburgh on at least three occasions to discuss the proposed tram and heavy rail links to Edinburgh.

  Transport for London
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers Transport for London has(a) to undertake prudential borrowing, (b) to raise finance on the financial markets and (c) to issue bonds. [139995]

  Mr. McNulty
  The new prudential borrowing system starts on 1 April 2004. Transport for London is among the local authorities that will then have power to borrow without Government consent, provided that the debt is affordable. Authorities will, as now, be free to raise finance by a variety of means, including borrowing on the financial markets and issuing instruments such as bonds, as well as borrowing from the Government through the Public Works Loan Board.

  Transport Staff
  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff(a) were employed in 2002 and (b) are employed in each key area of the railway industry; what the total requirement for staff in each key area is; what assessment he has made of staff shortage numbers in each key area; and how many individuals are (i) in training and (ii) trained for each key area. [139724]
  1458W
  Mr. McNulty
  Figures are not kept in the form requested. The latest information on rail industry staff numbers comes from a survey carried out by the Rail Industry Training Council between November 2002 and April 2003. It showed that, in 2002, approximately 177,000 people were employed in rail related work covering 110 different occupations. There were also 702 vacancies classified as "hard to fill". The number of trainees working toward a national qualification was estimated at 11,685.

  The Centre for Rail Skills was launched on 27 October 2003 to help the rail industry equip itself, in a cost effective way, with the right number of people with the right skills in place at the right time.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed in his and predecessor departments on functions relating to transport(a) full-time and (b) part-time, broken down by (i) units and (ii) divisions in each year since 1997. [139725]

  Mr. McNulty
  The information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member, placing a copy my letter in the Libraries of the House.

  John Thurso
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by agencies with functions relating to transport(a) full-time and (b) part-time, broken down by (i) units and (ii) divisions in each year since 1997. [139726]

  Mr. McNulty
  Details of staff employed are published in each agency's annual report, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

  US Warships (Disposal)
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he will take to control the route of US ships bound for dismantling in Hartlepool. [139999]

  Mr. Jamieson
  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has approved passage plans for the ships in question and will do so in future transits of this kind, as well as monitor ship movements against the approved plans.

  Only if the ships are in UK waters can the Secretary of State intervene. He may give a direction but only if it is necessary to secure the safety of the ship, other ships, persons or property or to prevent or reduce significant pollution.

  Vehicles (Tinted Windows)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 17 November 2003, ref.138737, if he will place a copy of the guidelines in the Library. [139993]

  Mr. Jamieson
  I have placed a copy of the guidelines in the Libraries of both Houses.

  Wind Speeds (Severn Bridge)
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the wind speeds at the M48 Severn Bridge were at(a) 05:00, (b) 07:00, (c) 09:00, (d) 11:00, (e) 13:00 and (f) 15:00 hours on 3 November. [139938]
  1459W
  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 Mr. Huw Edwards, dated 20 November 2003:

  I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about wind speeds at the M48 Severn Bridge on Monday 3 November 2003.

  The maximum recorded wind speed gusts at the times requested were:

  05.00–38.44 knots

  07.00–29.26 knots

  09.00–22.01 knots

  11.00–26.52 knots

  13.00–31.06 knots

  15.00–21.54 knots

  As you know the Severn Bridge was closed from 05.10 on Sunday 2 November until 16.00 on Monday 3 November. Throughout this period forecasts were consistently in excess of 30 knots. The protocol then in place required that closures should remain in place until the gust wind speed had fallen and remained below 30 knots for 30 minutes and the forecast did not predict wind speeds increasing to over 30 knots within the next 4 hours.

  As part of the process for continual improvement of our service, our protocol was subsequently reviewed at a meeting on Friday 14 November. The protocol was amended with immediate effect so that in future the closure shall remain in place until the gust wind speed has fallen and remains below 30 knots for 30 minutes and the forecast does not predict wind speeds increasing to over 40 knots within the next 4 hours.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Child Protection
  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the timetable is for the introduction of computer systems to(a) monitor the activities of child protection agencies and (b) cross-reference knowledge held by other agencies through social services departments. [138485]

  Margaret Hodge
  In the Government's Green Paper "Every Child Matters" we set out our aim to share information across services and ensure professionals know of each others concerns at an early stage. To achieve this, we are proposing a local information hub in every local authority to enable professionals in all the local services which impact on children's lives to cross-reference knowledge, where appropriate, with other local children's services.

  In light of responses to the Green Paper "Every Child Matters" the Government will examine the potential benefits and risks of introducing ICT-based information sharing systems and whether it is feasible to overcome the considerable technical barriers. We will be evaluating the work of the Trailblazers in due course and will use their experiences to inform future developments.

  Tim Loughton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the social services departments that have introduced a computer system(a) to monitor the activities of child-protection agencies
  1460W
  and (b) to cross-reference knowledge held by other agencies as recommended by the Laming Report. [138487]

  Margaret Hodge
  Social Services Departments currently use a variety of methods for collecting and sharing information on children. The answer to ensuring child protection is not in the use of computer systems alone. We need practitioners to share information at an early stage about children who may be at risk of falling through the net. We propose in the Green Paper "Every Child Matters" to introduce local information sharing hubs in every local authority to help identify early indications that a child is in need of specialised support through the bringing together of the knowledge and expertise held by all local children's services.

  We are examining whether and how it is feasible to overcome the technical challenges in this area.

  Sir Teddy Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the implications of the transfer of responsibility for the Child Benefit Office to the Inland Revenue, with particular reference to whether the office's ability to assist local councils with information in connection with child protection inquiries. [137769]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 10 November 2003]: I understand that some difficulties have arisen in this context in a particular case, and that the organisations concerned are prevented from following established practices with regard to information-sharing. My officials are looking into the case urgently, with the aim of finding a rapid solution that will enable the organisations to continue to share information in the same way that they have previously done.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make it his policy to insert into the Green Paper on Children at Risk a requirement for risk assessment in contact cases involving domestic violence or child abuse; and if he will make a statement. [136396]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Green Paper, "Every Child Matters", was published on 8 September and the consultation period extends until 1 December. I am happy to consider this proposal as part my broader consideration of the consultation responses. It would be premature to make a statement at the present time.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment was made of the risk to children and young people in domestic violence situations in drawing up the Green Paper on Children at Risk; and if he will make a statement. [136397]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Green Paper "Every Child Matters" sets out the Government's response to Lord Laming's Inquiry into the tragic death of Victoria Climbie and is intended to help all children including those at risk from domestic violence. It was published on 8 September and the consultation period will last until 1 December. It would be premature for me to make a statement at this time while the consultation process is still on-going.
  1461W
  Ms Oona King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what further consultation will take place with young people about the services and facilities they need following the publication of the Green Paper, "Every Child Matters". [138377]

  Margaret Hodge
  Consultation events on the Green Paper, Every Child Matters specifically aimed at children and young people, have been running since October.

  The aim of the consultation events is to gather ideas from children and young people about what the Government can do to improve services which directly affect them such as health, education, social services, youth offending teams and youth and leisure services.

  So far around 40 consultation events have taken place across the country and these have proved to be highly informative.

  There are a further 12 events scheduled between now and the end of November.

  Computer Science Graduates
  Mr. Purchase
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what percentage of computer science graduates remain unemployed for 12 months or more following graduation.[140344]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Foster Care
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the most recent weekly contributions made by each local authority for children in foster care up to the age of 17 were; what these contributions were in 1997 prices; what the allowances were in 1997; and what assessment he has made of the differences in payments made by local authorities. [139058]

  Margaret Hodge
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Day Care
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications were made to Ofsted for registration of day care facilities in the last three years in(a) Leeds and (b) England; and what the average time taken to process such applications was in (i) Leeds and (ii) England in the last year for which figures are available. [131519]

  Margaret Hodge
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  A-levels
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in each local education authority obtained an A-level in(a) physics, (b) chemistry, (c) German, (d) a modern foreign language other than French or German and (e) a classical language in the last year for which information is available; and what proportion each represented of (i) the 18-year-old cohort and (ii) the 18-year-old cohort in full-time education. [138888]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 17 November 2003]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

  Abusive Parents (Visitation Rights)
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what measures are being taken to change the system whereby abusive parents can gain visitation rights to their children; [138170]

  (2) how many children were injured during contact visits with an abusive parent in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [138171]

  Margaret Hodge
  In considering applications for contact (visitation rights) the courts apply the principle, enshrined in the Children Act 1989, that any decision must be based on what is in the child's best interest. We have amended the Children Act 1989 to extend the definition of harm to include harm to a child caused by witnessing domestic violence. We will commence this new provision as soon as resources allow. In 2001 the Government endorsed guidelines on contact and domestic violence produced by the Children Act Sub-Committee of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Board on Family Law. The guidelines have been promulgated and are being monitored and evaluated by research. I will shortly be announcing successful applicants for new supervised child contact centres, funded through joint Children's Fund/Sure Start funding. These new centres will provide safe venues where supervised contact in cases where safety is an issue can take place.

  Data about the factors underpinning contact applications, such as allegations about injuries caused to children during previous contact with an allegedly violent parent, are not collected, either by the courts or centrally.

  Adult and Community Education
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on recent trends in(a) enrolment to and (b) funding of courses in adult and community education. [133420]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I have set out separately the figures for expenditure and numbers of learners in(i) adult and community learning and adult education courses run through local education authorities; (ii) learndirect; and (iii) Skills for Life. Together these equate most closely to adult and community education.

  We have used the closest match between the figures for the number of learners and those for expenditure. Where there are differences these are explained in the footnotes.
  1463W

  Adult education classes

  Funding(£ million)1

  All enrolments (million)2

  Former non schedule two (thousand)3

  Nov 2000

  145

  1.041

  666

  Nov 2001

  153

  1.052

  679

  Nov 2002

  183

  1.042

  662

  1 Annual expenditure, by financial year, on adult and community learning run through local education authorities. The figures for 2002–03 include the budgets for Neighbourhood Learning (£10 million) and family learning (£7.5 million).

  2Number of enrolments as at 1 November each year in adult education courses run by local education authorities. These include both courses leading to qualifications which were, prior to 2001–02, funded by the Further Education Funding Council, and local education authority secured adult and community learning. These courses largely do not lead to formal qualifications. Enrolments are not the same as learners. Individuals on a number of courses are counted more than once.

  3 These are courses offered by local education authorities which do not lead to formal qualifications. These figures equate most closely—but not exactly—to the budgets for adult and community learning.

  Source:

  Enrolment data taken from the Statistical First Review, published 15 May 2003.

  Learndirect

  Date (academic year)

  Funding (£ million)

  Learner numbers (thousands)

  2000/01

  49

  137

  2001/02

  134

  347

  2002/03

  171

  485

  Skills for Life

  Date (academic year)

  Funding £ million

  Enrolments (thousand)

  2000/01

  253

  724

  2001/02

  259

  1,136

  2002/03

  290

  1,230

  Note:

  Enrolment data includes Learning and Skills Council funded learning opportunities; estimates from the Offenders' Learning and Skills Unit; and the Department for Work and Pensions.

  Agriculture Courses
  Mr. Brazier
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many admissions there were to agriculture courses at universities and agricultural colleges in each of the last 10 years. [134546]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  "Building Schools for the Future"
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will approve the bid made by the London Borough of Wandsworth under the "Building Schools for the Future" initiative. [140080]

  Mr. Miliband
  The London Borough of Wandsworth has submitted a proposal to be part of the first wave of "Building Schools for the Future" (BSF), starting in 1464W
  2005–06. We are assessing all proposals from local education authorities (LEAs) against the criteria set out in our guidance. We aim to announce early in the New Year which proposals will be proceeding in 2005–06 and, in March, we will announce a further, larger group of LEAs for the following years. The Government have committed itself in BSF to a long-term programme of rebuilding and renewal to ensure that secondary education in every part of England has facilities of 21st century standard.

  CAFCASS
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Project Board to integrate finance, communication, human resources and case recording systems has been established by CAFCASS. [138759]

  Margaret Hodge
  A project was started in 2001 to develop an integrated case management system, including finance and human resources. This project was stopped as it was judged to be too high a risk. Government best practice is to reduce risk by breaking down large IT projects into smaller, more manageable, parts. Separate finance and payroll systems have now been procured by CAFCASS.

  A case recording project is now under way, to implement the key information elements for case management. A Project Board, chaired by the Chief Executive is managing this work. The case recording system is being designed to be compatible with the systems in place and those to be developed.

  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) when CAFCASS practitioners will have the facility to amend the computerised records of the children with whom they work; [138760]

  (2) what additional resources CAFCASS has identified for the implementation of a case management system; [138761]

  (3) what the planned expenditure by CAFCASS is on the small scale computerised case record index for implementation during 2004. [138762]

  Margaret Hodge
  In its first year, CAFCASS implemented an IT infrastructure giving all staff access to email, word processing, spreadsheet, internet and intranet facilities. By building on this infrastructure CAFCASS will be able to implement, from May 2004, a case recording system for £125,000.

  This will provide a national networked case database. Maintenance of the system, including amending children's records, will be an administrative rather than a practitioner function.

  The case recording system is the first stage of wider case management systems. Once the case recording system is successfully implemented, further work will be done on the options and costs for further development and implementation of the remaining aspects of case management systems support.

  Childhood Obesity
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what discussions he has had with other Departments about implementing a strategy to tackle childhood obesity. [138744]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Children's Centres
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres there are in the United Kingdom; what plans he has to increase the number; and how many children each centre will be able to cater for. [133125]

  Margaret Hodge
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Children's Commissioner for England
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what duties the post of Children's Commissioner for England will entail; and when the work force planning unit will be created; [133126]

  (2) what resources will be made available to the Children's Commissioner for England. [133133]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Government set out in the Green Paper "Every Child Matters" our intention to legislate for the appointment of a Children's Commissioner as a new voice for all children and young people. The Green Paper indicates that the Commissioner should advise Government and engage with others, such as business and the media, whose decisions and actions affect children's lives. The Commissioner would ensure that the views of children and young people are heard, and report to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on progress against the outcomes for children set out in the Green Paper. Further details on the responsibilities and resources of the Commissioner will be made available in the light of the consultation, which runs until 1 December.

  Work is also progressing rapidly on establishing the new structures to be adopted within the Department for Education and Skills, including the children's work force unit, to ensure delivery of the Green Paper, and full details will be announced soon.

  Children's Homes
  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many inspectors of homes that care for children were carried out in Somerset in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [136550]

  Margaret Hodge
  145 inspections of children's homes were carried out in Somerset during the year ended 31 March 2002. The number of homes due to be inspected in that year was 77, each home would expect to have 1466W
  both an announced (i.e. with prior notice) and an unannounced (i.e. without prior notice) inspection each year.

  In 2002–03, NCSC Inspectors carried out 60 announced inspections and 30 unannounced inspections of children's homes in Somerset.

  It is expected that the NCSC will perform two inspections per year (one announced and one unannounced). However, as 2002–03 was the first year in which the NCSC was operational it should be taken into account that a large proportion of homes would not have been registered until the latter part of that year. Therefore the second inspection although within the time frame might not fall until the following year 2003–04.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills where homes in Somerset which are used to have children in care are located. [136551]

  Margaret Hodge
  The information requested is not collected centrally. Information about de-registered children's homes prior to April 2002 is most likely to be kept by the local authority in which the home was registered.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the private companies which look after children in care in Somerset. [136553]

  Margaret Hodge
  As of 3 November 2003 the private companies, not voluntary organisations, charities or local authority providers, that have registered with the National Care Standards Commission to look after children in care in Somerset are:

  Families Care Ltd.

  Safe Haven Residential and Respite Care

  On Track (South West) Care Ltd.

  Sedgemoor

  New Horizon Centre Ltd.

  Crossways

  Sedgemoor College Ltd.

  Plus One Residential and Foster Care Ltd.

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are in care in Somerset; and which counties they come from. [136554]

  Margaret Hodge
  Number of children looked after by Somerset CC, Bath and North East Somerset.

  UA and North Somerset UA at 31 March 20021,2

  Local Authority

  Total number of looked after children

  Number of children placed inside local authority boundary

  Number of children placed outside local authority boundary

  Somerset CC

  335

  325

  5

  Bath and North East Somerset UA

  145

  105

  40

  North Somerset UA

  150

  140

  10

  1All figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Numbers may not add-up to totals due to rounding.

  2 Figures in this table exclude children looked after under a series of short term placements.

  Commonwealth Education Conference
  Mr. Hoban
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the(a) budget and (b) actual cost was of the 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers held in Scotland last month. [139414]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 18 November 2003]: The administration, including the financial administration, of the 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers is a matter for the Scottish Executive. My Department will contribute a proportion of the conference costs, but I invite the hon. Gentleman to write to the Minister for Education and Young People at the Scottish Executive to seek the information he requires.

  Connexions
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his definition of a universal service is in relation to Connexions. [138540]

  Margaret Hodge
  Connexions is available to all young people between 13 and 19 in England. The service comprises initial information and advice on the full range of learning options to 19 and beyond; in-depth guidance and support, or access to specialist help, on anything that might prove a barrier to learning; and access to personal development opportunities to help a young person grow into a rounded independent citizen. Information and advice on post-16 learning options, including details of Education Maintenance Allowances and the Connexions Card, is available from Connexions.

  The service is offered face-to-face in secondary schools, colleges and High Street centres, or electronically through Connexions Direct, the telephone- and web-based service. Connexions is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what minimum number of hours of careers and education advice each young person aged 13 to 19 can expect to receive from the Connexions Service. [138541]

  Margaret Hodge
  We do not specify a minimum number of hours of careers and education advice that young people should receive from the Connexions service. Connexions provides a service differentiated according to need. This includes advice on learning and career choices, as well as support on a wide range of other issues that represent a barrier to young people's participation and achievement in learning.

  Schools share responsibility for meeting the needs of young people in relation to making learning and career choices, including responsibility for delivering a curriculum-based careers education programme to all students in Years 9–11 (to be extended to Years land 8 from September 2004) and for managing the Key Stage 4 options exercise.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many personal advisers were employed by each Connexions Partnership in(a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [138542]
  1468W
  Margaret Hodge
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average caseload of Connexions personal advisers working with people aged 13 to 19 who are(a) in school, (b) in college and (c) not engaged in employment, education or training was in the last year for which figures are available. [138543]

  Margaret Hodge
  Information on the caseloads of Connexions personal advisers is not collected centrally by the Connexions Service National Unit. Individual Connexions Partnerships set allocations for each institution in their area and for working with those not engaged in employment, education or training. These allocations determine the caseloads of personal advisers and are based on an assessment of need in each institution and area.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of people aged 13 to 19 who were in(a) school, (b) further education college and (c) neither school nor further education college, received advice from Connexions in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04. [138545]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people aged 13 to 19 in(a) school and (b) further education college were identified as needing intensive support by Connexions in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04. [138546]

  Margaret Hodge
  The table below shows the number of young people in(a) compulsory education, and (b) post-compulsory education (both school and further education colleges) identified as needing intensive support and in depth guidance from Connexions in August of each of the last three years. The information relates only to Connexions Partnerships that were operational at that time.

  2002–03

  2003–04 (August 2002)

  2003–04 (August 2003)

  Compulsory education

  1

  226,498

  358,056

  Post-compulsory Education

  1

  91,769

  173,639

  1 Information not collected in this format in 2001–02

  Mr. Wills
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of the total number of Connexions personal advisers possess an NVQ Level 4, or equivalent, in(a) careers, (b) youth work, (c) social work and (d) other relevant disciplines. [138547]

  Margaret Hodge
  Information on the qualifications of personal advisers is not available in the form requested.
  1469W
  The information in the table shows the number and proportion of personal advisers working for the Connexions Service who are qualified to NVQ Level 4 or above as at April 2003. Details of the type of qualification are not collected by the Connexions Service National Unit.

  All fully qualified personal advisers are required to hold an NVQ Level 4 or equivalent in a relevant professional discipline. Personal advisers who are not qualified to NVQ Level 4 should be actively working towards achieving this level.

  The number and proportion of Personal Advisers working for Connexions qualified to NVQ Level 4 or above as at April 2003

  Total number of Personal Advisers

  5,780

  Number of Personal Advisers with NVQ Level 4 or above

  4,645

  Percentage NVQ Level 4 or above

  80

  Contact Centres
  Julie Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many contact centres there are in Wales; who is responsible for the funding of these centres; and what plans he has to increase the number of contact centres in Wales. [134841]

  Margaret Hodge
  There are six child contact centres in Wales that are members of the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC). These child contact centres are run on a voluntary basis and raise funds from a variety of sources. Two benefit from partnership funding from the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. All NACCC member child contact centres will benefit from funding by the Children's Fund of NACCC's Change Programme. NACCC is using this funding to develop clear accreditation standards for all its member contact centres. Child contact centres may also seek support from funds (such as Cymorth) provided by the Welsh Assembly Government, where centres provide or seek to provide services in line with the Assembly Government's devolved responsibilities. The Welsh Assembly Government is currently giving careful consideration to the way forward for supervised contact services in Wales.

  Bechtel
  Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list contracts for consultancy or work carried out by Bechtel 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. [134680]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19 November.

  Correspondence
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his answer of 17 November 2003, reference 138562, for what reason he 1470W
  describes his letter of 11 April to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyne as a party political document. [140258]

  Alan Johnson
  The reference in my previous reply to the hon. Member to a "party political document" related to the document "The Government's Higher Education Proposals Explained", of 5 November, and not to my letter to him of 11 April.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will set out the basis for his statement in his letter of 11 April to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme that he could not run a graduate tax arrangement alongside the existing loan repayment scheme.[140259]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to the letter I sent him on the 12 of November, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

  Director of Children's Services
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list those local authorities that have a Director of Children's Services; and on what date the post was created in each case. [129657]

  Margaret Hodge
  [holding answer 15 September 2003]: The Green Paper, "Every Child Matters", was published on 8 September and the consultation period extends until 1 December. It proposes the creation of Directors of Children's Services, accountable for local authority education and children's social services. This builds on practice in a number of local authorities. We are currently working with local authorities to identify how many authorities have integrated education and children's social services and have Directors of Children's Services.

  Education Maintenance Allowance
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his answer of 4 November 2003,Official Report, column 579W, if he will estimate how much it would cost to provide an education maintenance allowance of £40 a week rather than £30 a week, to all the young people who will be eligible for an EMA in (a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06 and (c) 2006–07. [138320]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Education Revenue Accounts
  Chris Ruane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the percentage share of budget devoted to education revenue accounts by each English education authority for each of the last five years, in descending order. [140282]

  Mr. Raynsford
  I have been asked to reply.

  I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Education Spending
  Joyce Quin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of GDP the
  1471W
  United Kingdom spent on (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) higher education in the last year for which figures are available; and what information he collates on expenditure in other OECD countries. [139144]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my right hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Examination Results (Appeals)
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research he has commissioned into the reasons for the changes on appeal of(a) AS and (b) A2 examinations; and if he will make a statement. [138703]

  Mr. Miliband
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Foundation Degrees
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to encourage conversion of (a) existing courses and (b) qualifications at Higher National Diploma level to foundation degrees. [133427]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Hepburn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many people are studying for foundation degrees at(a) universities, (b) higher education colleges and (c) further education colleges in (i) Tyne and Wear, (ii) the North East and (iii) the UK; [137460]

  (2) how many different foundation degrees are offered at (a) universities, (b) higher education colleges and (c) further education colleges in (i) Tyne and Wear, (ii) the North East and (iii) the UK. [137459]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest available information from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), is given in the table.

  Numbers of students 1 studying for foundation degrees in English Institutions 2002–03

  Number of students

  Institution type

  Tyne and Wear

  North East

  England

  University

  394

  509

  8,085

  FEC

  162

  197

  1162

  HEI

  3170

  Grand total

  556

  706

  12,417

  1 Covers students on full-time or part-time courses

  The latest figures published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions (UCAS) show that students on Foundation Degrees in 2003–04 will rise substantially: by early October, the number of students accepted for entry to full-time Foundation Degrees had increased by nearly 80 per cent. compared to the same point last year.
  1472W
  The latest course information on the UCAS website (www.ucas.ac.uk) shows that, for the 2004–05 academic year, there are 2,446 Foundation Degree courses offered in England, of which 191 are offered in the North East. The website lists institutions individually and does not list courses by type of institution, and nor does it show figures for Tyne and Wear separately. Foundation Degrees were introduced to respond to sector needs and cover a wide range of courses.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if he will list by(a) course and (b) institution the number of students who obtained foundation degrees in 2003; [139081]

  (2) how many students who obtained foundation degrees in 2003 undertook the majority of their studies at (a) further education colleges, (b) institutes of higher education and (c) universities; [139082]

  (3) how many students who obtained a foundation degree in 2003 studied (a) locally, (b) at an institution that required residential accommodation and (c) in the workplace; [139083]

  (4) how many students who completed their foundation degree in 2003 enrolled for an honours degree course. [139080]

  Alan Johnson
  The information requested is not yet available. Information on the number of students who completed foundation degree (FD) courses in 2002/03 will not be available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) until January 2004.

  The latest available figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), showing the distribution of all FD students by the type of institution in which they are studying, is given in the following table; the HEFCE figures do not identify whether the course has been studied locally, or in the workplace.

  Information on the destinations of students who obtained FDs in 2002/03, including those who proceeded to further study, will not be available from HESA until July 2004.

  Students on foundation degree courses1 in England 2002/03

  Type of institution

  Students

  University

  8,085

  FE college

  1,162

  HE institution

  3,170

  Total

  12,417

  1 Covers both full and part-time courses.

  Source

  Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students enrolled for foundation degrees in 2003, broken down by(a) course and (b) institution.[139084]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest available information for 2003/04 was published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) on 7 October. It showed that the total number of students accepted for entry to full-time foundation degree (FD) courses had risen to 5,448, an increase of nearly 80 per cent. compared to the
  1473W
  same point last year. The figures were not disaggregated by institution. UCAS however does not cover students applying to part-time courses, and in 2002/03 around half of all FD students were on part-time courses.

  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average annual cost of a foundation degree course was in the last year for which figures are available; and what the cost was of a traditional three year honours degree course. [139086]

  Alan Johnson
  Information on the cost of foundation degrees and honours degrees is not identified separately. The Higher Education Funding Council for England funds honours degree and foundation degree courses on the basis of the same formula which varies according to subject, institutional and student factors. This funding for teaching is allocated to institutions as a block grant and how they allocate this is for them to determine. Institutions also receive funding from other sources both public and private and may use it to subsidise some courses or faculties. The actual cost may therefore vary between institutions and subjects.

  The Higher Education Funding Council for England are currently consulting on possible changes to their funding method for teaching and one proposal is that a 10 per cent. premium is introduced for foundation degrees for the short term. This would recognise the higher costs associated with partnerships between higher education institutions, further education colleges and employers. The consultation closed for comments on 14 November.

  Funding
  Sir John Stanley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what amount of central government grant per head was paid to each local education authority in England in the last financial year for which figures are available. [140012]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information is not readily available. I will write to the right hon. Member with a full reply.

  Graduate Tax
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2003,Official Report, columns 347–48W, on graduate tax, if he will provide the references in his letters of 11 April and 3 June for answers to questions tabled on 5 November, refs (a) 137685, (b) 137686, (c) 137687, (d) 137744, (e) 137753, (f) 137754, (g) 137755, (h) 137756, (i) 137757 and (j) 137758. [139454]

  Alan Johnson
  All the hon. Member's questions relate to modelling the Government's proposals for a Graduate Contribution scheme or variants of it. An assessment of other models relative to the Graduate Contribution scheme was contained in the letters of 11 April, 3 June, and our response to the Select Committee on our Higher Education proposals on 28 July. Further material is also set out in my letter of 12 November. I can also confirm that we plan to publish a Regulatory Impact Assessment before the end of the year that will set out the financial implications of the policies announced in the Higher Education White Paper.

  Grammar Schools
  Mr. Chaytor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list for each of the last five years in each of the local education authorities retaining grammar schools the percentage of children(a) with a special educational needs statement, (b) on free school meals and (c) from ethnic minorities in (i) grammar schools and (ii) non-selective schools.[136819]

  Mr. Miliband
  Information on school intake type (selective or non-selective entry) as reported by schools was collected for the first time in 2003. For earlier years it is possible to identify grammar schools, but not other school types with selective entry.

  Therefore, information on grammar, other selective schools and non-selective schools is provided for 2003 only. For 1999 through to 2002 information is provided for grammar schools and all other schools, which might include some selective-entry schools.

  Tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Higher/Further Education
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources have been allocated to(a) higher education and (b) further education for each of the last five years in (i) the West Midlands region and (ii) Stoke-on-Trent. [140129]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students he estimates enrolled on courses of study for(a) Higher National Diploma and (b) foundation degrees in each of the last three academic years. [133601]

  Alan Johnson
  [holding answer 21 October 2003]: The latest figures collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are given in the table; comparable figures for 2002/03 will be available from HESA in January 2004, and from the LSC in spring 2004.

  Early data for 2002/03, collected by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) covering both HE and FE sector institutions, show that there were 57,700 students on HNDs and 12,400 on Foundation Degrees.

  Enrolment Numbers on Higher National Diploma (HND) and Foundation Degree Courses at English FE and HE institutions

  FE institutions

  HE institutions

  Academic Year

  HND

  Foundation Degree

  HND

  Foundation Degree

  1999/00

  25,504

  1 n/a

  39,196

  1n/a

  2000/01

  25,710

  1 n/a

  39,181

  1n/a

  2001/02

  26,075

  162

  38,772

  2,499

  1Not applicable. Foundation degrees were first introduced in 2001/02.

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and Learning Skills Council (LSC).
  1475W
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of(a) GCSE year and (b) sixth form students have continued to higher education in (i) the North West and (ii) England in each year since 1992. [134891]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information on participation rates by region shows the proportion of 18-year-olds entering full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and is given in the table. Comparable figures for the years prior to 1994 are not available centrally.

  It should be noted that the proportions in the table are based only on the number of 18-year-olds entering full-time HE. This is a different definition to the Department's main measures of HE participation: the Age Participation Index (API), which measures the proportion of UK domiciled students who enter full-time HE by the age of 20, and the Initial Entry Rate (IER) which measures the proportion of 17–30 year old English domiciled first time entrants to full or part-time HE. Neither the API nor the IER are calculated for each LEA, because of the lack of detailed data at local authority level.

  Proportion of 18-year-olds entering full-time undergraduate courses via UCAS

  Students from:

  Year of entry

  North West1

  England

  1994

  17.6

  17.9

  1995

  20.2

  19.5

  1996

  19.70

  19.9

  1997

  20.2

  20.5

  1998

  20.3

  20.0

  1999

  20.4

  20.0

  2000

  21.0

  20.6

  2001

  21.3

  21.5

  2002

  21.8

  22.0

  1 Covers the local education authorities of Blackburn with Darwin, Blackpool, Bolton, Bury, Cheshire, Cumbria, Halton, Lancashire, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Salford,Tameside, Trafford, Warrington and Wigan.

  Mr. Flook
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of(a) GCSE and (b) sixth form students have continued to higher education in (i) Somerset, (ii) the South West of England and (iii) England in each year since 1990. [135421]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information on participation rates by local authority and region shows the proportion of 18-year-olds entering full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCASJ, and is given in the table. Comparable figures for the years prior to 1994 are not available centrally.

  It should be noted that the proportions in the table are based only on the number of 18-year-olds entering full-time HE. This is a different definition to the Department's main measures of HE participation: the Age Participation Index (API), which measures the proportion of UK domiciled students who enter full-time HE by the age of 20, and the Initial Entry Rate
  1476W
  (IER) which measures the proportion of 17 to 30-year-old English domiciled first time entrants to full or part-time HE. Neither the API nor the IER are calculated for each LEA, because of the lack of detailed data at local authority level.

  Proportion of 18-years-olds entering full-time undergraduate courses via UCAS

  Students from:

  Year of entry

  Somerset

  South West1

  England

  1994

  18.2

  19.0

  17.9

  1995

  18.8

  19.8

  19.5

  1996

  21.0

  20.6

  19.9

  1997

  21.6

  21.0

  20.5

  1998

  21.1

  20.3

  20.0

  1999

  19.9

  19.8

  20.0

  2000

  20.5

  20.6

  20.6

  2001

  21.4

  20.8

  21.5

  2002

  20.8

  21.1

  22.0

  1 Covers the local education authorities of Bath and NE Somerset, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Plymouth, Poole, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, Swindon, Torbay, and Wiltshire

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what percentage of young people from(a) the North West Region, (b) Merseyside, (c) St Helens and (d) England took up places in higher education in each year since 1997; [137998]

  (2) what proportion of young people from (a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens have studied or are studying at higher education establishments in each of the last five years. [138013]

  Alan Johnson
  The available information on participation rates of young people by local authority and region shows the proportion of 18–20 year olds entering full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and is given in the table.

  It should be noted that this is a different measure of participation to the Department's Initial Entry Rate (IER). The IER measures the proportion of 17–30 year old English domiciled first time entrants to full or part-time HE, and has been developed to measure progress towards the Government's aim of 50 per cent. participation in HE by 2010. The IER is not calculated for each local authority because of the lack of detailed data at this level.

  Proportion of 18–20 year olds entering full-time undergraduate courses via UCAS

  Year of Entry

  Domicile

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  North west1

  30.2

  30.2

  31.8

  32.5

  32.7

  33.2

  Merseyside2

  29.6

  28.8

  29.6

  30.7

  32.4

  32.6

  St Helens

  32.1

  32.2

  32.1

  31.7

  32.8

  32.7

  England

  32.4

  31.6

  32.9

  34.2

  35.2

  35.5

  1 Covers the Local Education Authorities of Blackburn with Darwin, Blackpool, Bolton. Bury, Cheshire, Cumbria, Halton, Lancashire, Manchester. Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Salford, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington and Wigan.

  2 Covers the Local Education Authorities of Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and the Wirral.

  1477W
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase the number of students in higher education establishments in(a) the North West region, (b) Merseyside and (c) St Helens. [138011]

  Alan Johnson
  The annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) of 22 January 2003 set out the planned increases in full-time equivalent student numbers up to 2005–06. The spending plans assume a national increase of 56,000 places between 2003–04 and 2005–06 compared to the plans for 2002–03.

  In HEFCE's last round of bids for additional student places, the North West region was allocated an additional 4,687 full time equivalent places from 2003–04 to 2005–06. Of these 1,263 will be in higher education establishments in Merseyside. There are no higher education institutions in St Helens. No further education colleges in St Helens have been allocated additional places for higher education courses in this bidding round.

  In addition, HEFCE has initiated a bidding exercise for institutions that wish to expand their Foundation Degree places in 2004–05. The closing date for institutions to submit their bids is 3 December 2003. Within this exercise 10,000 additional full time equivalent Foundation Degree places are being allocated nationally up to 2005–06. Nearly 1,400 of these are expected to be in North West institutions. Figures for Merseyside are not yet available.

  At present it is unlikely that there will be any further bidding exercises for additional student places in the next two years.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional funding he plans to transfer to the National Assembly for Wales pursuant to his plans to devolve responsibility for higher education. [139106]

  Alan Johnson
  No decisions have been reached yet. The funding to be transferred will depend on the passage of legislation in the UK Parliament and the outcome of Spending Review 2004.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, if he will publish the latest research he has received on(a) participation rates and (b) drop-out rates in higher education by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local education authority in (A) England and Wales, (B) Scotland and (C) Northern Ireland. [139635]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department has taken to promote better financial understanding in schools and colleges of the changes contained in the White Paper on Higher Education. [139640]

  Alan Johnson
  Following the publication of the White Paper "The Future of Higher Education", my department published a booklet "The Future of Higher 1478W
  Education—what it means to students and parents" to ensure that prospective students and their parents are made fully aware of the planned changes arising from the White Paper and how these changes could affect them. Some of these proposals will require Parliamentary Approval before coming into force, so legislation will be introduced to bring this about.

  A letter with a copy of the booklet and information on how to order copies was sent to all secondary school head teachers and FE college principals.

  In addition, information on the changes to student finance is included in the Aimhigher teachers and tutors pack, all of the booklets for 13–16 year olds, 16–19 year olds, Parents and Mature students in the Aimhigher series, which are sent to schools and colleges on request. The Student Finance Guide "How to get help financial help as a student" outlines the changes proposed in 2006, and is distributed to school pupils through UCAS conventions, LEAs and on request through the nationally advertised helpline.

  The school and college Aimhigher road show facilitators are briefed on 2006 changes and will be able to outline these too if asked.

  Connexions partnerships have been informed and the HE portal contains the proposed changes.

  Imams
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many institutions in the United Kingdom provide training for those wishing to qualify as imams; how many places each offered in 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [136103]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that 12 universities currently offer courses in Islamic studies, although completion of these courses would not necessarily entitle the successful student to qualify as an Imam. The number of places on each course is not held centrally.

  The Home Office and Learning and Skills Council have recently invited representatives of the Islamic community to join a new working group to advise on training and qualifications for Imams, including pilot programmes to test different models. The group's interim advice (due in spring 2004) will inform the development of generic competence-based qualifications for community leadership which may be supported by the Learning and Skills Council.

  Maintenance Grants
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with colleagues from other Departments regarding increasing annual maintenance grants above those proposed in the White Paper on Higher Education. [139166]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer my hon. Friend to my previous reply to him of 17 November 2003 (references 139627 and 139629).

  "Making Contact Work"
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action his Department is taking to implement the recommendations of the report, "Making Contact Work". [138685]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Government published an interim response to "Making Contact Work" on 6 August 2002. Stakeholder Groups were established to look in detail at the recommendations and their work has helped to inform the development of our response to the report. I am currently considering the recommendations further in the light of the advice of the Groups and a final response will be published shortly.

  Market Research
  Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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 [137011]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [139979]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Medical Students
  Hugh Bayley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many medical students there were in each year since 1992; and how many medical students are attending Hull York Medical School in its initial year. [136055]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Modern Apprenticeships
  Mr. Blizzard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what evaluation he has made of employer response to the introduction of modern apprenticeships. [133251]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Neighbourhood Support Fund (Leeds)
  Mr. Battle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people in(a) Leeds and (b) Leeds, West have been reached by the neighbourhood support fund. [132733]
  1480W
  Margaret Hodge
  The number of young people engaged in learning and self developmental activities through NSF projects based in Leeds local education authority since the start of the pilot is 3,017, through 37 projects. Young people supported by NSF projects based in Leeds, West number 542, through a total of eight projects. This information has been collected via the Department's managing agents on a central database. However, it is difficult to give totally accurate figures for young people from Leeds, West because young people can, and do, attend NSF projects outside of their immediate area. The database only holds information by project and does not link to the addresses of the young people attending them. These statistics cover the period from April 2000 to September 2003.

  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd
  Kevin Brennan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on services provided to his Department by NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd. since 1977. [139970]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd. provided my Department with financial advice on the sale of student loan debt from 1996 onwards and at the end of 2000 they also conducted research on the future of the National Grid for Learning (NgfL).

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many people have been employed by each of the non-departmental bodies directly funded by his Department on a(a) part-time, (b) full-time and (c) contractual basis in each year since 1997. [137207]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Ofsted
  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what studies have been carried out on the impact of school closure on educational attainment of former pupils relocated to a different school following a failed Ofsted inspection. [140057]

  Mr. Miliband
  No formal studies have been commissioned, but there are several recent instances of the successful transfer of pupils from a failing school to another school, and where the pupils have subsequently improved their attainment rate. This is also the experience of most pupil groups in new schools created under the Government's Fresh Start programme.

  John Mann
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools were closed following an Ofsted inspection in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [140058]

  Mr. Miliband
  In the last 12 months, 16 maintained schools have closed after receiving an Ofsted inspection report indicating that special measures were required. Four of these schools were given a Fresh Start. One
  1481W
  independent school served with a Notice of Complaint following an Ofsted inspection also closed in that period.

  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his Answer of 27 October,Official Report, column 76W, how many Ofsted inspectors in the Teacher Education Division were recruited from posts as (a) headteachers and (b) local education authority advisers. [140339]

  Mr. Miliband
  This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to the hon. member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.

  Performance Monitoring
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [137945]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [137961]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Physical Education
  Angela Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken to ensure that girls are receiving the minimum two hours physical education in school a week. [139566]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  [holding answer 19 November 2003]: The Government are investing more than £1 billion to transform Physical Education (PE), school sport and club links in England. This funding will help deliver an ambitious Public Service Agreement target, shared by DCMS and DfES, to increase the percentage of school children, including girls, 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.

  Spearheading action is the creation of a network of 400 Specialist Sports Colleges and School Sport Partnerships (families of schools that come together to provide additional sports opportunities for all children). A third of schools in England are already benefiting from being within a school sport partnership. All partnerships set specific targets to increase participation of groups (including girls) that traditionally can be marginalised by PE and sport. Additionally there are five girls' only sports colleges.

  Pre-school Provision
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions he has had on pre-schooling; what plans he has to expand high-quality pre-school care; and if he will make a statement. [139445]

  Margaret Hodge
  Ministers have discussed pre school issues with a wide range of organisations and individuals in recent months.

  All four-year-olds now have access to a free, part time early education place and by April 2004 all three-year-olds will have access to a free part time place. Presently 88 per cent. of three-year-olds enjoy free early education.

  We have also funded a major expansion of child care through our National Childcare Strategy. Since 1997, 745,000 new places have been created, benefiting more than 1.3 million children. Following the substantial increase in child care expenditure agreed as part of the 2002 Spending Review, new places will be provided for over 2 million children by 2006.

  Our National Standards set a benchmark of quality below which no registered child care should fall and Ofsted inspects against these Standards.

  Specific initiatives, such as Sure Start local programmes, Neighbourhood Nurseries and our new children's centres, are expanding high quality, safe child care in disadvantaged communities, increasingly provided alongside early education and family and health support.

  Primary Schools (Essex)
  Mr. Francois
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many special needs teachers were employed in primary schools by Essex county council on 1 September. [139519]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information is not available in the form requested. In January 2003, there were 5,100 full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained nursery and primary schools and a further 280 full-time equivalent regular teachers in maintained special schools, pupil referral units and education other than at school in Essex. All teachers must be able to differentiate their teaching to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs in order to gain Qualified Teacher Status. In addition, special educational needs feature in the induction standards for new teachers.

  School Buildings
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was paid in VAT on school buildings in the last three years. [139812]

  Mr. Miliband
  Schools that receive their funding for premises-related work through their local education authority may be required to pay VAT on certain types of work, but can then reclaim those costs. We do not have records of the amounts involved. Voluntary Aided schools cannot normally reclaim any VAT payable on work which is funded by capital grant paid by this Department, although that grant is increased to reflect the VAT costs.
  1483W
  Our records indicate that the amounts of VAT paid on this type of work are as follows:

  £ million

  2001–02

  23.01

  2002–03

  38.00

  2003–04 (to date)

  29.36

  Notes:

  1. The figures do not include VAT for Academies, City Technology Colleges, or former Grant Maintained schools.

  2. VAT information for earlier years is not available.

  School Funding
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what Surrey's change in funding was following the new funding arrangements for schools introduced in December 2002; what the national average was; and if he will make a statement. [139822]

  Mr. Miliband
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether, in relation to the Government's education grant to Surrey in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04, allowance was made for (i) the increase in national insurance rates, (ii) the re-grading of teaching assistants, (iii) the non-government-funded parts of the increases in teachers' pensions and (iv) administration and insurance charges. [139826]

  Mr. Miliband
  The national grant settlement, which included the proportionate allocation for Surrey was sufficient in each of the years in question to fund all of the pressures listed above.

  School Meals
  Alan Simpson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether(a) providers and (b) procurers of school meals are required to complete an assessment exercise which addresses the issues contained in the Why Diet is Important module of Unit 9B Science at Key Stage 3. [138996]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Secondment
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [138626]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Selective Education (Ethnic Minorities)
  Mr. Andrew Turner
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils of each local authority which retains selective education in(a) grammar schools, (b) secondary modern schools or equivalent and (c) non-selective schools are from each ethnic minority. [137762]

  Mr. Miliband
  [holding answer 11 November 2003]: Information on the proportion of pupils by ethnic group is provided for schools that have indicated that they operate selective (grammar) entry, selective (other) entry and non-selective entry.

  The information is based upon school intake type as reported by schools in the 2003 Annual Schools' Census.

  Tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

  Silent Aeroplanes
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will provide funds to Cambridge University for research into silent aeroplanes. [140077]

  Alan Johnson
  The joint Cambridge University-Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (CMI) which receives Government funding to promote collaborative research with industry, has recently announced a project to develop the design for a silent aircraft. The Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) has also recently awarded a grant to the Cambridge University engineering department for research into jet engine noise at take off.

  Special Educational Needs
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in each local authority receive additional support through the code of practice on special educational needs; and what assessment his Department has made of differences in the pattern of support identified among local authorities. [139603]

  Margaret Hodge
  The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes have taken place in the number of children in(a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary education with statements of special educational need since 1997, broken down by local authority. [139604]

  Margaret Hodge
  The number of pupils with statements of SEN has increased in all sectors since 1997. However, since 2000 the rate of increase has levelled out and the proportion of pupils with statements in England has remained at 3 per cent. for the last two years. A table containing the number of pupils for each authority will be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to develop common definitions of need for children with special educational needs. [139605]
  1485W
  Margaret Hodge
  From January 2004 we shall be collecting information about the type of special need for children with statements of SEN and those at the School Action Plus phase in the SEN Code of Practice. In preparation for this exercise we have provided all schools with guidance, which includes definitions of 11 special educational needs. A copy of the publication, Data Collection by Type of Special Educational Need, is available at: www.dfes.gov.uk/sen

  Mr. Liddell-Grainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total amount spent by Somerset county council on special needs teaching was in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [139044]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Department does not collect expenditure data within mainstream schools for teaching on special needs. The following table therefore only contains data for teaching expenditure within special schools in Somerset local education authority.

  Total expenditure on teaching staff within special schools for Somerset LEA

  Special schools (£)

  2001–02

  3,528,393

  2002–03

  3,595,259

  Notes:

  1. The 2001–02 figures are taken from Table 3 of the LEA's 2001–02 section 52 Outturn Statement.

  2. The 2002–03 figures are taken from Table A of the LEA's 2002–03 section 52 Outturn Statement. The figures are still subject to validation by the Department and could change.

  3. The figures reported are in cash terms.

  4. The figures are as reported by the LEA.

  Specialist Schools
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of(a) technology, (b)

  Enrolment numbers on Ordinary National Diplomas (OND), Higher National Diploma (HND) and Foundation Degree Courses at English HE and FE institutions

  FE institutions

  HE institutions

  Academic year

  OND1

  HND

  Foundation Degree2

  OND

  HND

  Foundation Degree

  1999/00

  88,673

  25,504

  1n/a

  2,619

  39,196

  1n/a

  2000/01

  87,895

  25,710

  1n/a

  2,284

  39,181

  1n/a

  2001/02

  88,441

  26,075

  162

  2,463

  38,772

  2,499

  1 ONDs are no longer recorded on the LSC's database; the figures in the table cover National Diplomas and Edexcel National Diplomas which are their modern equivalent.

  2 Not applicable. Foundation degree were first introduced in 2001/02.

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)and Learning Skills Council (LSC)

  Enrolment numbers on Ordinary National Diplomas (OND), Higher National Diploma (HND) and Foundation Degree Courses at English HE and FE institutions

  FE institutions

  HE institutions

  Academic year

  OND1

  HND

  Foundation Degree2

  OND

  HND

  Foundation Degree

  1999/00

  88,673

  25,504

  1n/a

  2,619

  39,196

  1n/a

  2000/01

  87,895

  25,710

  1n/a

  2,284

  39,181

  1n/a

  2001/02

  88,441

  26,075

  162

  2,463

  38,772

  2,499

  1 ONDs are no longer recorded on the LSC's database; the figures in the table cover National Diplomas and Edexcel National Diplomas which are their modern equivalent.

  2 Not applicable. Foundation degree were first introduced in 2001/02.

  Source:

  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)and Learning Skills Council (LSC)

  Student Finance
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was to his Department per pound loaned of subsidising loans from the Student Loans Company in the last year for which figures are available. [137167]
  1486W
  sports, (c) arts, (d) languages, (e) engineering, (f) science, (g) mathematics and computing and (h) business and enterprise specialist schools select 10 per cent. of their pupil intake on the basis of aptitude. [140194]

  Mr. Miliband
  On the basis of the latest collated figures, 6.3 per cent. of technology, 5 per cent. of sports, 8.8 per cent. of arts and 3.2 per cent. of language colleges select up to 10 or more per cent. of their pupil intake on the basis of aptitude.

  The Department does not yet have figures on aptitude selection in relation to schools designated in the new engineering, mathematics and computing or business and enterprise specialisms. Aptitude selection in science is not permitted according to the regulations made under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

  Student Courses
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students were on courses leading to(a) ordinary national diplomas, (b) higher national diplomas and (c) foundation degrees in each of the last three years. [133426]

  Alan Johnson
  The latest figures collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are given in the table; comparable figures for 2002/03 will be available from HESA in January 2004, and from the LSC in spring 2004.

  Early data for 2002/03, collected by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) covering both HE and FE sector institutions, show that there were 57,700 students on HNDs and 12,400 on Foundation Degrees. The HEFCE data does not separately identify OND or equivalent courses.

  Alan Johnson
  After taking into account the effect of inflation, the total cost to DfES of providing for loan subsidies can vary from year to year, resulting in a different cost per pound loaned. In 2001–02 the cost per pound was 41 p.

  The factors affecting the total costs are the Treasury discount rate, which is used to calculate the costs in the DfES Accounts rather than the actual cost of

  1487W
  borrowing; the retail price index; and the forecast repayment of loans, which affects the amount set aside in the provision for future subsidy costs. The 2001–02 costs were based on the 6 per cent. Treasury cost of capital rate. From 2003–04 the cost will be calculated using the revised 3.5 per cent. rate.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent reports he has received into student attitudes towards debt if they are from family backgrounds with(a) lower incomes, (b) middle incomes and (c) upper incomes. [139637]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, (1) what information he has collated on the percentage of students from(a) lower income, (b) middle income and (c) upper income backgrounds that (i) hold a part-time job during term-time, (ii) live with their parents during term-time and (iii) attend a university close to their home; and what changes have taken place in these statistics since 1997; [139479]

  (2) what information he has collated on the percentage of students from (a) lower income, (b) middle income and (c) upper income households who leave university (i) debt free and (ii) with debts of over £11,715; [139480]

  (3) what estimate he has made of the percentages of the income of students from (a) lower income, (b) middle income and (c) upper income backgrounds that are derived from (i) student loans, (ii) bank loans and overdrafts, (iii) credit cards, (iv) grants, (v) parental contributions and (vi) work during university; [139630]

  (4) what reports he has received on how much students from (a) lower income, (b) middle income and (c) upper income backgrounds borrow by the time they leave university from (i) the Student Loans Company, (ii) parents, (iii) bank loans and overdrafts and (iv) credit cards; [139631]

  (5) what recent reports he has received regarding the relationship between students' family incomes and their level of debt after leaving university; [139632]

  (6) what is the average level of debt held after leaving university by a student from (a) a lower, (b) a middle and (c) an upper income background was in 2002–03. [139633]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the waiver for part-time students on income support will be available for those reading post-graduate courses who have not previously taken a first degree. [139929]
  1488W
  Alan Johnson
  The fee grant that is being introduced in 2004/05 will be available for part-time students on undergraduate courses. Although part-time postgraduate students will not qualify for the fee grant, they may be able to apply for a career development loan or a research council bursary to support their study. If they are disabled, they may also qualify for a disabled students' allowance.

  Sure Start
  Dan Norris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Bath and North East Somerset are benefiting from the Sure Start programme. [136338]

  Margaret Hodge
  Bath and North East Somerset has one Sure Start local programme. This is based in the wards of Twerton, Southdown, Westmoreland, Odd Down and Oldfield and serves 842 children under the age of four.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1146W, on Sure Start, (1) what constitutes contact in the context of Sure Start programmes contacting children living in these areas; [133209]

  (2) how many children in each of the Birkenhead Sure Start areas have been contacted by Sure Start in addition to the visit every mother of a newborn baby receives from (a) a midwife and (b) a health visitor. [133210]

  Margaret Hodge
  Contact by Sure Start local programmes is defined to mean that a child aged 0–3 and their parent or carer has taken up services. This might be a home visit, or participation in a centre based activity such as child care or a playgroup, parenting or smoking cessation class, or a child health check. Visits to families of new born babies include visits by programme staff, and routine visits by midwives and health visitors provided they inform the family about Sure Start services. Information is not collected separately on whether the visit to a family of a new born baby was by a member of the programme's staff, a midwife or a health visitor.

  Martin Linton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding his Department has allocated to the Sure Start programme in Battersea constituency since its establishment; and how it has been spent. [133881]

  Margaret Hodge
  Sure Start Battersea has been operational since October 2000. The revenue and capital allocations and the current spend to date for the programme are shown as follows:

  Revenue

  £

  Grant allocation

  Actual spend

  2000/01

  290,000

  125,252

  2001/02

  800,000

  506,847

  2002/03

  855,000

  855,099

  2003/04

  800,000

  n/a

  1489W
  Revenue funding has been used to support the development of a range of services for 0–3's and their families within the catchment area, such as outreach and home visiting, child care, support for families and primary and community health care.

  Capital

  £

  Total allocation (to be spent by October 2004)

  1,075,000

  Total approved

  852,897

  Total spend to date

  326,685

  Capital funding of £1,075,000 has been allocated to Sure Start Battersea of which £852,897 has been approved for a Sure Start centre at the Katherine Low Settlement, to contribute towards the re-development of an early years outdoor area at Falconbrook School and to develop local play areas.

  Dr. Tonge:
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of children at day nurseries sponsored by Sure Start are(a) paying full fees for care and (b) receiving financial help, broken down by education authority. [136205]

  Margaret Hodge
  The Government do not collect data in this form as there are numerous sources of financial help to pay for child care costs, which can be accessed by parents.

  The Government recognise that making child care affordable is a key challenge for the National Childcare Strategy and have made a substantial investment to achieve this. Working parents, subject to the level of their income, may receive support through the child care element of the Working Tax Credit. There is regional information on the numbers of families benefiting from the child care element of the Working Tax Credit but this does not include a breakdown of types of child care used.

  Families are further supported through early education places, which can be used to off-set the cost of child care. As a result of our policies, all four-year-olds are able to access a free, good quality, part-time early education place. From April 2004, six months ahead of the original target, this will be extended to all three-year-olds. Currently 88 per cent. of three-year-olds are able to benefit from some level of free provision.

  In addition, support is also available through various grants and access funds for parents undertaking further and higher education, for participants on the New Deals and those receiving Jobseeker's Allowance. Lone Parents participating in the New Deal for Lone Parents programme, can receive assistance with the costs of registered child care while attending job interviews, approved training and meetings with their personal advisers. The Care To Learn Scheme launched in August this year enables young parents (16–18) who are in education or training to access help with registered child care costs.

  The Government are providing start-up funding to support the development of child care for children under five in disadvantaged areas. Revenue funding to support the running costs of neighbourhood nurseries over the
  1490W
  first three years of operation is made available to eligible local authorities at a rate of £5,400 per place. This is the equivalent of £270,000 for a 50-place nursery. It is for each local authority to determine the actual rate of support to individual providers based on local circumstances and its overall funding allocation.

  Where good quality child care providers are facing financial difficulties, they may apply to the local authority for sustainability funding. For 2004–06 a specific sustainability fund of some £30 million will be available to help sustain child care provision. Any provider applying for such funding must be able to show that they will be viable in the future, as sustainability funding is aimed at short term support only.

  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are attending Sure Start day nurseries. [136206]

  Margaret Hodge
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  Ofsted do not record the number of children who are attending child care settings but record instead the maximum number of places that can be offered by providers at any one time. Each one of these places may be taken by more than one child. Ofsted publish quarterly statistics about the number of child care providers and places on their internet site, under the categories of full day care, sessional day care, child minders, out of school clubs, and crèches. The table shows the latest information on the number of places available by each of these categories.

  Registered child care places in England—Position as at 30 June 2003

  Number of Places1

  Full day care

  398,900

  Child minders

  307,300

  Sessional day care

  287,000

  Out of school day care

  310,100

  Crãche day care

  45,100

  1Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 places.

  Teachers' Pay
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers in Surrey were eligible for the higher salaries scale payable only to experienced teachers in each of the last four years. [139821]

  Mr. Miliband
  The number of teachers assessed as passing the threshold in Surrey is:

  September 2000 = 2940;

  September 2001 = 542; and

  September 2002 = 743.

  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many newly qualified teachers employed in(a) Surrey, (b) Kent, (c) Sussex and (d) Hampshire in the last 12 months have started on Scale 4 level salaries. [139825]

  Mr. Miliband
  The information is not available centrally.
  1491W
  Mr. Malins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the costs of higher salaries for experienced teachers has been met by central Government in Surrey, in each of the last four years for which figures are available. [139820]

  Mr. Miliband
  Experienced eligible teachers have been able to apply for "threshold" payments since September 2000 and these are fully funded by central Government. Such teachers may also make further progress along the "upper pay scale" and there are substantial grants to assist this, totalling some £175 million in 2003–04.

  Teaching Vacancies
  Mr. Damian Green
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacant deputy head teacher posts existed in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special schools in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority; and if he will express the figures as a percentage of the total number of head teachers. [133680]

  Mr. Miliband
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Teenage Unemployment
  Mr. Hendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many 16 to 18 year olds not in education, employment or training there were in each year since 1992. [133975]

  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Top-up Fees
  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, who will pay the planned maximum top-up fee of £3,000 for(a) a Welsh, (b) a Scottish and (c) a Northern Ireland student attending an English university. [139934]

  Alan Johnson
  It will be for universities themselves to set their fee levels, provided that they have an access agreement approved by the Office for Fair Access. All UK-domiciled students attending an English university will have to pay the fee.

  All English-domiciled students will have the option to defer the payment of their fees. It will be for the devolved administrations themselves to decide whether to offer their students the option to defer payment of the fee, by providing them with a loan for fees.

  Truancy
  Andy King
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will advise local education authorities that they should seek a conditional discharge from magistrates when taking lone parents to court for the truancy of their children rather than seeking a fine. [139973]
  1492W
  Mr. Ivan Lewis
  It is for magistrates to decide how to dispose of a case where a parent is prosecuted for truancy and, if imposing a fine, they must take into account the parent's means to pay.

  It would not be appropriate to advise local education authorities to seek a conditional discharge in all cases involving lone parents as each case should be considered on its own facts.

  The Department has issued guidance to all local education authorities on prosecuting parents including advice on the range of ways in which the court may dispose of a case and mitigating factors.

  Tuition Fees
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much a secondary teacher on national average earnings will pay towards the proposed graduate contribution scheme each year until the contribution has been paid off; and if he can give the same figure as a proportion of(a) before income tax and national insurance contribution income and (b) after income tax and national insurance contribution income. [137472]

  Alan Johnson
  Under our proposals, graduates begin repayments on their student loan once they are earning above the £15,000 repayment threshold. They pay 9 per cent. of their salary above the threshold per year. Loan repayments will continue until the loan has been paid off:where a student has received the tuition fee remission grant, or the HE Grant, their loan will be lower, and therefore the time taken to repay the loan will be less.

  In addition, students on Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses receive a £6,000 training bursary as well as having their tuition fees paid by the Government. Those who qualify in priority subjects (approximately one third of students) also receive a £4,000 Golden Hello after induction and this may be used to pay off student loan commitments.

  The level of loan repayment is directly linked to individual earnings and the repayment system is progressive—the amount that goes in repayments rises as the graduate's income does. To this extent, the career progression of a secondary school teacher will have an influence on their loan repayments.

  The average salary for newly-qualified full-time regular teachers in maintained secondary schools in England and Wales at 31March 2002 was £18,2601. Therefore, that teacher would pay around 300 per year in loan repayments: that is approximately 1.6 per cent. of income before income tax and national insurance contribution; and 2.1 per cent. of income after income tax and national insurance contribution.

  The average salary for full-time regular teachers with five years' experience in maintained secondary schools in England and Wales at 31 March 2002 was £26,0702. Therefore, that teacher would pay around £1,000 per year in loan repayments: that is approximately 3.8 per

  1493W

  cent. of income before income tax and national insurance contribution; and 5.2 per cent. of income after income tax and national insurance contribution.

  1DfES Database of Teacher Records

  2 Database of Teacher Records

  3DfES Database of Teacher Records

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the income of(a) cohabiting partners and (b) new partners as a result of remarriage is taken into account in the assessment of residual household income for the exemption or remission of tuition fees; what changes he proposes; and what assessment he has made of the number of students likely to lose the entitlement to full or partial remission of tuition fees as a result. [139023]

  Alan Johnson
  The income of cohabiting partners and new partners is not currently taken into account in the assessment of residual income for the exemption or remission of tuition fees unless the student has been formally adopted.

  We are proposing that the income of spouses and cohabiting partners of the student's natural parents is taken into account for new students whose courses start from September 2004. Where the household income is £20,970, a minimum contribution of £45 will be assessed. This will rise by £1 for every £9.50 of income above that threshold.

  Since the change is to be implemented only for new students entering higher education in 2004/05, no student will lose their current entitlement to fee remission because of this change to the means test.

  Estimates of the effects of the inclusion of cohabiting partners' income have been derived using income data from a number of sources and are indicative. Our best indication is that, once it reaches steady state, this change could account for a fall of approximately three points in the percentage of dependent students receiving full fee remission. The percentage of dependent students entitled to partial fee remission is expected to remain more or less unchanged.

  Mr. Cousins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what estimate he has made of the proportion of home students at each higher education institution who are(a) fully and (b) partly exempt from tuition fees. [139098]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ensure that any increase in the level of tuition fees will not have an adverse impact on the(a) supply, (b) retention, (c) diversity and (d) quality of students on (i) teaching, (ii) science, (iii) engineering, (iv) architecture, (v) veterinary and (vi) legal courses. [139908]

  Alan Johnson
  I refer the hon. Member to my previous reply to him of 12 November 2003,Official Report, column 354, in which I set out the measures for safeguarding access to higher education. With regard in particular to students on teaching courses, my right hon.
  1494W
  Friend the Secretary of State already monitors demand for, and take-up of, places on teacher training courses and has introduced a number of incentives aimed at encouraging teacher supply and retention. Students on Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses, for example, receive a £6,000 training bursary as well as having their tuition fees paid by the Government. Those who qualify in priority subjects (approximately one third of students) also receive a £4,000 Golden Hello after induction.

  The Government will continue to take such measures as it believes appropriate to ensure that teacher supply meets demand. I would expect employers in other sectors of the labour market to take the action they believe is necessary to attract adequate numbers of graduates. The Office for Fair Access will, however, also play a role in ensuring that policies are in place to safeguard access to higher education across all subjects.

  Paul Farrelly
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of variable tuition fees on social access to higher education in the United States contained in the reports(a) "Empty promises: The myth of college access in America" and (b) "Access denied: Restoring the Nation's commitment to equal educational opportunity", issued by the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance in 2002 and 2001, respectively; and if he will place copies in the Library; [140088]

  (2) what assessment he has made of the findings of the 2003 report, "HECS and Opportunities in Higher Education", into the effects of the rises in variable tuition fees since 1996 in Australia on demand among (a) school leavers, (b) mature students and (c) students from lower socio-economic backgrounds doing highest rate, band three courses; and if he will place a copy in the Library; [140089]

  (3) what conclusions his Department has drawn from its assessment of statistics as to the percentage of students (a) from lower income backgrounds and (b) in receipt of basic federal assistance in the form of Pell grants admitted as part of the annual intake by Ivy League universities; [140090]

  (4) what assessment his Department has made of Canadian research on variable tuition fees and social access to medical courses at the University of Toronto in the paper, Effects of rising tuition fees on medical school class composition and financial outlook, issued by the Canadian Medical Association in 2002; and if he will place a copy in the Library; [140091]

  (5) what further international research he examined on the impact of (a) variable tuition fees, (b) debt aversion and (c) unmet student financial need before the White Paper on Higher Education was published in January, in addition to the two papers issued before that date which he has placed in the Library. [140092]

  Alan Johnson
  During the development of the White Paper the Department reviewed a range of existing and on-going national and international research evidence into the impact of different student support policies on levels and patterns of student demand.
  1495W
  The Department continues to keep relevant research reports under review as they are published. I also refer my hon. Friend to the reports placed in the Library of the House in answer to his question on 17 November 2003, Official Report, column 562W.

  Undergraduate Degrees
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people applied to study undergraduate degrees in(a) law, (b) medicine, (c) engineering, (d) nursing, (e) education and (f) dentistry at higher education institutions in London in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [136791]

  Applicants 1 through UCAS to full time and sandwich first degree courses in Greater London, by selected subjects

  Year of entry

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997

  1998

  1999

  2000

  2001

  2002

  Subject

  Law

  10,303

  9,747

  8,645

  8,599

  8,834

  8,412

  8,408

  8,246

  9,382

  Medicine

  7,745

  7,883

  8,053

  7,850

  7,756

  6,959

  5,849

  5,702

  6,135

  Engineering '2'

  14,643

  12,069

  10,113

  9,986

  9,976

  9,324

  8,884

  8,976

  11,736

  Nursing

  1,480

  1,825

  1,735

  2,061

  1,738

  1,755

  2,111

  2,232

  2,014

  Education 13'

  13,244

  20,502

  16,883

  11,291

  11,291

  10,459

  8,372

  7,771

  6,939

  4,239

  Dentistry

  1,394

  1,568

  1,620

  1,655

  1,488

  1,210

  1,078

  872

  891

  1 Since 1996 each student has been able to make up to six applications; prior to this each student could make up to eight applications. In the tables, applicants are counted once under each subject to which they applied.

  2 Includes those applying to genera, civil, mechanical, aerospace,electronic, electrical,production, manufacturing, chemical, process and energy engineering and naval architecture.

  3 Not all of the subjects within this group are teacher training courses. During the years shown in the table the courses included under in this group have varied: in 1995, Sport science, Leisure studies and Recreation Management were added some of these were re-allocated to other subject group in 1996, and the remainder re-allocated in 1997.

  Universities
  Mr. Clappison
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many(a) applications and (b) applications per place were received to read (i) biology, (ii) English, (iii) geography, (iv) history, (v) law and (vi) mathematics at (A) Birmingham, (B) Bristol, (C) Durham, (D) Leeds, (E) Liverpool, (F) Manchester, (G) Newcastle, (H) Nottingham, (I) Sheffield and (J) York universities in academic year 2002–03. [139387]

  Alan Johnson
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library

  Website
  John Barrett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education land Skills what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139336]

  Mr. Charles Clarke
  I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
  1496W
  Alan Johnson
  Information for the years 1992 and 1993 are not available centrally. The available information for the years 1994 to 2002 covers all applicant numbers to full time and sandwich first degrees through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to institutions in Greater London and is shown in the table.

  For students entering teacher training courses, there has been a progressive shift over many years from BEd to PGCE courses; only the BEd courses are covered by UCAS. Following the Roberts Review, which looked into the supply of people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, we have introduced a number of initiatives designed to improve staffing and the teaching environment of these subjects, including additional funding for pay and for the development of university science infrastructure.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Pike
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what(a) representations and (b) discussions he has had in the last 12 months with (i) Connexions and (ii) other agencies on young people aged between 16 and 24 who are not in work, education, training or a new deal programme; what estimate he has made of the number of young people who fell into that category in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [139446]

  Margaret Hodge
  We have had no representations from Connexions or other agencies on this matter. We have set the Connexions service a target to reduce the number of 16 to 18-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training by 10 per cent. by November 2004. The baseline date from which this will be measured is November 2002.

  The New Deal for Young People is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Entry is mandatory for all 18 to 24-year-olds who have been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance continuously for six months. The scheme has helped nearly 450,000 young people move into work.

  According to estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) around 700,000 or 12.25 per cent. of 16 to 25-year-olds in England were not in Employment, Education or Training in winter 2002–03. Around a third of these were women with dependent children.

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