Written Answers of 16 October 2003

WALES

  Welsh European Funding Office
  Adam Price
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he was informed of the decision of the Welsh Assembly Government to disband the Welsh European Funding Office; [129211]

  (2) what discussions he had held with Welsh Assembly Government colleagues prior to the disbanding of the Welsh European Funding Office; and if he will give the exact dates; [129212]

  (3) what discussions he had with the Welsh Assembly Government with regard to the disbanding of the Welsh European Funding Office. [129213]

  Mr. Hain
  I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a variety of issues, including structural funds. However, The Assembly is responsible for the administration of European structural funds in Wales and it is entirely for the Assembly to determine how these funds are implemented.

TRANSPORT

  Aviation
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation his Department has held with the UK aviation industry about the transfer of legislative powers to negotiate with the USA from the UK to the European Commission. [132559]

  Mr. McNulty
  The granting of a mandate for the European Commission to negotiate a liberalised transatlantic open aviation area with the US was an integral part of a balanced package of measures on the conduct of aviation external relations agreed in the light of the European Court of Justice's decision in November 2002 in the "Open Skies" cases. The details of a possible mandate for the Commission to open aviation negotiations with the United States were under frequent discussion in Council and its Working Groups for several years, beginning with the so-called "soft rights" mandate agreed by Council in June 1996. Throughout this period the Department was in regular dialogue, both at Ministerial and official level, with all interested parties on our aviation relations with the US, including the prospects for comprehensive Community-level negotiations.

  Bus Services
  Mrs. Dunwoody
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will instigate a monitoring system for 288W
  bus operators in receipt of local government subsidies to ensure proper compliance with quality bus partnership standards. [132561]

  Mr. McNulty
  Quality bus partnerships are normally agreements which require investment by operators in better vehicles or other means of improving services, so would apply to profitable services that are operated without subsidy. Where operators of subsidised services are able to use the facilities provided by local authorities under quality partnership schemes, it is open to the local authority to specify the required standards in the contract and enforce compliance with the operator's contractual obligations.

  In the case of a statutory quality partnership under the Transport Act 2000, Traffic Commissioners have the power to impose financial penalties on operators who fail to comply with undertakings they have made under the partnership scheme, or place conditions on their licences.

  Transport Subsidies
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average public subsidy per mile travelled for(a) bus routes and (b) light rail and tram systems was in the last year for which figures are available. [131926]

  Mr. McNulty
  For local buses in England, the average public subsidy per vehicle mile averaged £1.32 in 2001–02.

  Modern light rail and tram systems in England receive no public operating subsidy but the older Blackpool Corporation Tramway is supported. On the same mileage basis, the tramway received public subsidy of £1.31 per vehicle mile.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Credit Companies
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government is taking(a) to monitor the extent to which credit companies offer high interest loans and (b) to regulate the practice. [131747]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  The information is as follows:

  (a) There are currently in excess of 200,000 businesses licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and monitoring the activities of all these businesses would create a significant burden on legitimate business.

  (b) The Consumer Credit Act 1974 contains provisions that allow a consumer to challenge an extortionate credit bargain. However, only about 30 extortionate credit cases are known to have reached the courts since the Act came into force and of those, in only 10 did the court find the agreement to be extortionate.

  I believe that these provisions have not operated effectively in enabling consumers to challenge unfair credit agreements and I intend to publish a White Paper this autumn, which will contain details of how I intend to make it easier for consumers to challenge unfair credit transactions.

  Botswana
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for export credit guarantees were received by her Department in each year since 1997 with regard to Botswana; how many were successful; and if she will make a statement. [131626]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  ECGD has received the following inquiries relating to applications for export credit guarantees with regards to Botswana:

  Year

  Number of Inquiries

  1997

  2

  1998

  2

  1999

  0

  2000

  4

  2001

  1

  2002

  0

  2003

  1

  None of these have led to the issue of an ECGD guarantee.

  £ million

  Region

  Total

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  2004/05/06

  East Midlands

  0.560

  0.200

  0.360

  Yorks and Humber

  2.132

  0.296

  0.478

  0.658

  0.700

  South East

  6.300

  1.300

  5.000

  West Midlands

  21.149

  1.145

  8.252

  11.752

  East England

  12.530

  4.300

  3.350

  4.880

  North East

  48.165

  2.000

  2.780

  3.385

  40.000

  South West

  0.370

  0.370

  North West

  142.777

  1.777

  141.000

  London

  1.700

  1.700

  Total

  235.683

  2.000

  3.076

  12.585

  218.022

  (c) Public Sector Aggregation

  The Government intend to spend £1 billion on broadband connectivity for its own needs over the next three years. The Broadband Aggregation Project will set up nine Regional Aggregation Bodies (RABs), which will be publicly owned companies and which will aggregate and procure public sector demand for broadband. In so doing they will obtain better prices through bulk buying, and thus better value for money, and also encourage broadband service providers to invest in creating more broadband infrastructure which they can use to provide a service to the public. Figures on the breakdown by region of this funding are not available.

  Coal-fired Power Stations
  Mr. Grogan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with(a) the UK mined coal industry and (b) trades unions about the likely impact of the Large Combustion Plants Directive implementation options proposed in the current consultation. [132408]

  Broadband
  Mr. Ruffiey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Government funding has been allocated for broadband rollout in each year since 2000, broken down by English region. [131845]

  Mr. Timms
  Government funding for broadband to each English region falls under three main areas:

  (a) £30 million UK Broadband Fund:

  £ million

  Region

  Total

  2000–01

  2001–02

  2002–03

  2003–04

  East Midlands

  2.090

  —

  0.315

  0.800

  0.975

  Yorks and Humber

  3.100

  —

  0.465

  1.300

  1.335

  South East

  2.900

  —

  0.025

  1.975

  0.900

  West Midlands

  2.082

  —

  0.312

  0.910

  0.860

  East England

  3.220

  —

  0.483

  1.200

  1.537

  North East

  1.460

  —

  0.220

  0.615

  0.625

  South West

  3.780

  —

  0.567

  1.600

  1.613

  North West

  2.679

  —

  0.210

  0.299

  2.170

  London

  0.113

  —

  0.019

  0.045

  0.049

  Total

  21.424

  0

  2.616

  8.744

  10.064

  (b) RDA Single Pot funding

  The latest available figures indicate that each RDA has allocated the following amounts to a range of broadband projects from their single pot budgets:

  Mr. Timms
  This issue has been among the topics I have discussed in recent meetings with the Coal Authority and UK Coal Ltd. These and other bodies and organisations with an interest in UK coal mining have also responded formally to the Government's recent consultation paper on implementation. The Government will take a decision on the most appropriate approach after considering the responses to the consultation.

  Export Credits Guarantee Department
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many allegations of corruption have been reported to the head of internal audit at ECGD; how many of these allegations have been passed on to NCIS; and whether these are in relation to contracts that have already received support from the ECGD, or to contracts on which the ECGD is being asked for support. [132372]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  ECGD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NCIS, relating to the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. This Act came into force in February 2002. Since that time
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  the Head of Internal Audit and Assurance has dealt with five allegations of corruption, all of which have been referred to NCIS.

  It would not be appropriate for me to provide any information in relation to the cases concerned as there is a risk that this may encourage speculation or allow the identification of individual cases, which may prejudice any possible action by the relevant investigatory agencies.

  Independent Schools Price Fixing
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the investigation into price fixing of fees in independent schools. [132061]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  No. This is a matter for the OFT.

  Post Office Card Account
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the take-up of the Post Office card account in(a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk and (c) Essex; and what the UK national average take-up is. [131840]

  Mr. Timms
  None. However, the Department for Work and Pensions regularly place data on Direct Payment of benefits and pensions in the Libraries of the House. This includes figures on how many people have said they want to open a Post Office card account.

  I understand from the Department for Work and Pensions that as of 3 October 2003, 1.25 million customers had requested a Post Office card account. I understand from the Post Office that some 787,000 Post Office card accounts had been opened by that same date.

  Information is not available in the format requested.

  Royal Mail
  Keith Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the Chairman of the Royal Mail. [131720]

  Mr. Timms
  As shareholder of Royal Mail Holdings plc, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry meets the chairman several times a year. Her last meeting with Allan Leighton was on 4 September 2003.

  Store Cards
  Mr. David Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects of the interest rates charged by store cards on consumers. [131357]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]: The Department has had no specific discussions regarding the interest rates levied on, or the terms and conditions associated with, store cards.

  However, the DTI is reaching the conclusion of its review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Government proposals in this area will be set out in a White Paper planned for publication in the autumn. This will address
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  issues such as the transparency of credit products including how they are sold to consumers, advertising and the form and content of credit agreements.

  Through discussions and focus groups, we have been particularly careful to involve key stakeholders from consumer groups, business and enforcement agencies at all stages of the review.

  In terms of consumer protection, the objective is to increase transparency and understanding throughout the UK credit market, empowering consumers to make informed financial decisions.

  You may also be aware that the Department of Trade and Industry recently appeared to give evidence at a Treasury Committee inquiry into the transparency of credit charges.

  Timeshares
  Mr. Peter Duncan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government is taking to protect timeshare owners where their facilities provider was transferred from one company to another following a change in their management contract. [132321]

  Mr. Sutcliffe
  There are currently no plans to amend domestic or European timeshare legislation to cover timeshare facility providers transferring clients from one company to another.

  The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations can provide protection for timeshare owners but it depends on the circumstances of the case.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

  Abandoned Cars
  Norman Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned cars each local authority in England and Wales stated they had removed in their submissions to the most recent municipal waste survey. [131286]

  Mr. Morley
  The question on how many abandoned vehicles removed by local authorities in England and Wales was most recently asked in the 2001–02 Municipal Waste Management Surveys for England and Wales. Data recorded by district show that 320 local authorities out of a total of 376, responded to the abandoned vehicles question. The authorities and the numbers of abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed reported are listed as follows:

  Authority

  Number of vehicles

  Adur

  854

  Allerdale

  87

  Alnwick

  23

  Amber Valley

  243

  Ashfield

  641

  Ashford

  686

  Aylesbury Vale

  876

  Babergh

  718

  Barnet

  4,431

  Barnsley

  549

  Barrow-in-Furness

  83

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  Authority

  Number of vehicles

  Basildon

  1,746

  Basingstoke and Deane

  985

  Bassetlaw

  348

  Bath and North East Somerset

  590

  Bedford

  1,455

  Berwick-upon-Tweed

  32

  Bexley

  1,776

  Birmingham

  5,257

  Blackburn with Darwen

  231

  Blackpool

  134

  Blaenau Gwent

  861

  Blyth Valley

  130

  Bolsover

  208

  Boston

  284

  Bournemouth

  1,420

  Bracknell Forest

  865

  Bradford

  1,607

  Braintree

  715

  Breckland

  307

  Brent

  4,115

  Brentwood

  500

  Bridgend

  540

  Bridgnorth

  49

  Brighton and Hove

  2,519

  Broadland

  196

  Bromley

  4,215

  Broxbourne

  544

  Broxtowe

  437

  Burnley

  105

  Caerphilly

  1,832

  Calderdale

  802

  Camden

  1,897

  Cannock Chase

  50

  Canterbury

  974

  Caradon

  317

  Cardiff

  590

  Carlisle

  232

  Carmarthenshire

  517

  Carrick

  242

  Castle Morpeth

  66

  Ceredigion

  182

  Charnwood

  256

  Chelmsford

  700

  Cheltenham

  648

  Cherwell

  705

  Chester

  365

  Chesterfield

  134

  Chester-le-Street

  18

  Chichester

  1,081

  Chiltern

  325

  Chorley

  274

  Christchurch

  156

  City of Bristol

  1,353

  City of Kingston-upon-Hull

  1,254

  City of London

  0

  Colchester

  579

  Congleton

  65

  Conwy

  310

  Copeland

  118

  Corby

  1,200

  Cotswold

  154

  County of Herefordshire

  460

  Coventry

  1,210

  Craven

  119

  Crawley

  1,037

  Croydon

  4,376

  Dacorum

  1,300

  Dartford

  706

  Daventry

  613

  Denbighshire

  286

  Derby

  996

  Derbyshire Dales

  73

  Derwentshire

  89

  Doncaster

  1,313

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  Authority

  Number of vehicles

  Dover

  683

  Dudley

  272

  Ealing

  4,916

  Easington

  24

  East Cambridgeshire

  277

  East Dorset

  282

  East Hampshire

  311

  East Hertfordshire

  393

  East Lindsey

  359

  East Northamptonshire

  257

  East Riding of Yorkshire

  316

  East Staffordshire

  240

  Eastleigh

  225

  Eden

  35

  Enfield

  6,347

  Epsom and Ewell

  360

  Erewash

  324

  Exter

  1,317

  Fareham

  238

  Flintshire

  256

  Forest Heath

  680

  Forest of Dean

  360

  Fylde

  45

  Gateshead

  143

  Gedling

  838

  Gloucester

  896

  Gosport

  545

  Gravesham

  942

  Great Yarmouth

  400

  Greenwich

  4,200

  Guildford

  934

  Gwynedd

  873

  Hackney

  4,066

  Halton

  189

  Hambleton

  40

  Hammersmith and Fulham

  1,473

  Harborough

  480

  Haringey

  4,560

  Harlow

  1,310

  Harrogate

  262

  Harrow

  2,249

  Hart

  648

  Hartlepool

  87

  Hastings

  1,148

  Havant

  900

  Havering

  3,126

  Hertsmere

  650

  High Peak

  82

  Hillingdon

  3,128

  Hinckley and Bosworth

  429

  Horsham

  333

  Hounslow

  3,118

  Hyndburn

  128

  Ipswich

  1,327

  Isle of Anglesey

  81

  Isle of Wight

  345

  Isles of Scilly

  0

  Islington

  3,643

  Kennet

  146

  Kensington and Chelsea

  232

  Kerrier

  357

  King's Lynn and West Norfolk

  457

  Kingston upon Thames

  2,159

  Kirklees

  310

  Lambeth

  3,775

  Lancaster

  124

  Leeds

  1,707

  Leicester

  1,434

  Leicestershire

  —

  Lewisham

  4,671

  Lichfield

  —

  Lincoln

  227

  Luton

  4,876

  Macclesfield

  141

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  Authority

  Number of vehicles

  Maidstone

  1,386

  Manchester

  1,102

  Mansfield

  410

  Medway

  2,512

  Melton

  20

  Mendip

  396

  Menthyr Tydfil

  750

  Merton

  2,140

  Mid Bedfordshire

  620

  Mid Devon

  339

  Mid Suffolk

  205

  Mid Sussex

  370

  Middlesbrough

  470

  Milton Keynes

  1,987

  Mole Valley

  497

  Monmouthshire

  270

  Neath Port Talbot

  688

  New Forest

  1,246

  Newark and Sherwood

  246

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  389

  Newcastle-under-Lyme

  150

  Newham

  8,117

  North East Derbyshire

  84

  North East Lincolnshire

  327

  Newport

  1,040

  North Devon

  192

  North Hertfordshire

  587

  North Kesteven

  139

  North Lincolnshire

  192

  North Norfolk

  138

  North Shropshire

  134

  North Somerset

  884

  North Tyneside

  168

  North Warwickshire

  150

  North West

  326

  Northampton

  2,061

  Norwich

  590

  Nottingham

  1,066

  Oswestry

  56

  Oxford

  1,560

  Pembrokeshire

  723

  Pendle

  392

  Peterborough

  2,309

  Plymouth

  2,040

  Poole

  978

  Powys

  172

  Preston

  135

  Purbeck

  194

  Reading

  1,563

  Redbridge

  2,219

  Redditch

  519

  Reigate and Banstead

  558

  Restormel

  389

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  1,052

  Ribble Valley

  35

  Richmond upon T hames

  1,201

  Richmondshire

  33

  Rossendale

  174

  Rother

  288

  Rotherham

  410

  Runnymede

  659

  Rushcliffe

  147

  Rushmoor

  571

  Rutland

  40

  Ryedale

  100

  Salisbury

  400

  Sandwell

  5,247

  Scarborough

  620

  Sedgefield

  90

  Sedgemoor

  619

  Sefton

  194

  Sevenoaks

  532

  Sheffield

  1,421

  Shepway

  859

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  Authority

  Number of vehicles

  Shrewsbury and Atcham

  110

  Slough

  1,665

  Solihull

  341

  South Bedfordshire

  1,800

  South Buckinghamshire

  435

  South Cambridgeshire

  547

  South Derbyshire

  325

  South Gloucestershire

  1,185

  South Hams

  235

  South Holland

  175

  South Kesteven

  221

  South Lakeland

  403

  South Norfolk

  171

  South Oxfordshire

  441

  South Ribble

  36

  South Shropshire

  13

  South Somerset

  589

  South Staffordshire

  82

  South Tyneside

  420

  Southampton

  5,000

  Southend-on-Sea

  2,296

  Southwark

  2,848

  Spelthorne

  669

  St. Albans

  622

  St. Edmundsbury

  854

  St. Helens

  48

  Stafford

  73

  Staffordshire Morelands

  21

  Stevenage

  1,052

  Stockton-on-Tees

  64

  Stoke-on-Trent

  200

  Stratford-on-Avon

  73

  Stroud

  257

  Suffolk Coastal

  181

  Sunderland

  186

  Sutton

  2,166

  Swale

  976

  Swansea

  1,598

  Swindon

  1,300

  Thameside

  1,155

  Tandridge

  586

  Taunton Deane

  352

  Teesdale

  30

  Teignbridge

  1,591

  Tendring

  1,538

  Test Valley

  658

  Tewkesbury

  150

  Tanet

  1,271

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  299

  Three Rivers

  802

  Thurrock

  2,400

  Tonbridge and Mailing

  632

  Torbay

  648

  Torfaen

  856

  Tunbridge Wells

  695

  Tynedale

  28

  Uttlesford

  372

  Vale of White Horse

  386

  Waltham Forest

  3,466

  Wandsworth

  2,794

  Wansbeck

  165

  Warwick

  300

  Watford

  777

  Waveney

  339

  Waverley

  382

  Wealden

  637

  Wellingborough

  750

  Welwyn Hatfield

  887

  West Berkshire

  772

  West Devon

  85

  West Dorset

  528

  West Lancashire

  94

  West Oxfordshire

  346

  West Somerset

  79

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  Authority

  Number of vehicles

  Westminister

  333

  Weymouth and Portland

  48

  Winchester

  246

  Windsor and Maidenhead

  490

  Wirral

  955

  Woking

  448

  Wokingham

  405

  Wolverhampton

  1,800

  Worcester

  464

  Wrexham

  385

  Wycombe

  1,169

  Wyre

  73

  Wyre Forest

  73

  York

  475

  Animal Welfare (Greyhounds)
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will include provisions to increase protection for greyhounds within the greyhound racing industry in the Animal Welfare Bill. [132231]

  Mr. Bradshaw
  Yes. Defra officials are discussing possible measures to improve welfare with the racing industry and welfare organisations.

  Biodiversity
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who will represent the Department at the 7 Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kuala Lumpur, in February 2004. [131978]

  Mr. Morley
  The composition of the delegation has yet to be decided. It will be determined in the light of the agenda. I am planning to attend the High Level Segment from 18 to 19 February 2004.

  Climate Change
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much carbon dioxide was produced per person in the UK in 2002. [131063

  Mr. Morley
  The average production of carbon dioxide per person in the UK, due to activities such as electricity generation and use, travel and industrial production, is estimated to have been almost 10 tonnes in 2001, the year for which latest published data or greenhouse gas emissions is available.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide from industry into the atmosphere. [131079

  Mr. Morley
  Reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide from industry are being achieved through the Climate Change Levy, Climate Change Agreement; the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes and the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC regime.

  The Climate Change Levy applies to energy used it the non-domestic sector. Revenues are recycled to levy payers via a 0.3 percentage point cut in employers'
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  National Insurance Contributions, and receipts from the levy, administered by the Carbon Trust, provides additional support for energy saving measures.

  Climate Change Agreements enable energy intensive business sectors to receive an 80 per cent. discount on the climate change levy in return for agreeing to meet challenging targets for improving energy efficiency or reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 44 sectors have signed agreements with the Government, including major energy intensive sectors like steel, chemicals, paper and non-ferrous metals.

  The UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) enables target holders in this voluntary participation scheme to meet their emissions reductions targets through their own efforts, by buying surplus emissions allowances from those who have found it cheaper to reduce emissions, or if they over achieve, by selling their surplus allowances. 32 organisations are committed to delivering reductions of 1.1 MtC by the final (fifth) year of the scheme. Climate Change Agreement holders are also able to use the UK ETS to achieve their targets.

  An EU Emissions Trading Scheme is due to start in January 2005 and will be mandatory for certain industrial sectors.

  The Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) regime introduced by a 1996 EC Directive, and which is being phased-in through regulations produced under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, applies an integrated environmental approach to the regulation of certain industrial activities. In determining the conditions of an IPPC permit the designated regulator must take energy efficiency into account, which in turn contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the research being undertaken on the effects of carbon dioxide on environmental sustainability. [131090–

  Mr. Morley
  Carbon dioxide emissions threaten environmental sustainability since they are the main cause of climate change. Defra funds a significant programme of research on climate change worth approx. £12.7 million in 2002–03. This figure include: £8.4 million for the Climate Prediction Programme at the internationally leading Hadley Centre, which underpins the UK's research on assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on the UK, partly through the provision of a consistent set of climate change scenarios published in April 2002.

  Research on the effects of climate change is also commissioned by the Department, other Government Departments and the Research Councils. Defra provides a focus for such research in the UK through the ground-breaking UK Climate Impacts Programme which provides a link between researchers and stakeholders in industry and the public sector to enable them to assess the risks to their activities from climate change and to develop adaptation strategies to minimize such risks.

  Defra also funds research on the global effects o climate change and is developing a programme to assess the effects of different levels of greenhouse gases in

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  the atmosphere. This will help us to contribute to the debate on identifying levels which avoids dangerous anthropogenic change and thereby contribute to environmental sustainability.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's plans to tackle climate change. [131066]

  Mr. Morley
  Tackling climate change is a high priority for the Government which will continue to show international leadership by taking effective action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

  Policies outlined in the UK Climate Change Programme (CCP) will ensure that the Government are on course to meet its Kyoto commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below base year levels by 2008–12 and move towards the domestic goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The Government are committed to monitoring the effectiveness of the policies and measures in the CCP and will be reviewing it formally in 2004. In addition, as announced in the Energy White Paper, the UK is putting itself on a path to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by some 60 per cent. by 2050, with real progress by 2020.

  The UK works closely with international partners to ensure that effective efforts to combat climate change are taken by all Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and that the Kyoto Protocol enters into force as soon as possible.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average temperature in England was in(a) August 1993 and (b) August 2003. [131067]

  Mr. Morley
  Observations analysed by the Met Office show that the average Central England temperature was 14.6°C in August 1993, and 18.0°C in August 2003. The average Central England temperature in August during the period 1971–2000 was 16.2°C and over that period the average trend in August temperatures has been a rise of about 0.3°C per decade.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by how much she aims to cut greenhouse gas emission by 2010. [131091]

  Mr. Morley
  The UK's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below base year levels by 2008–12. Base year levels are 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for the F-gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perflorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride).

  The UK has also set itself a domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

  Data for emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases for 2001, submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in April 2003, show that emissions fell by 12.3 per cent. between the base year and 2001. Provisional data for 2002 shows that emissions fell by around 14 to 15 per cent. between the base year and 2002.

  Flooding
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the number of homes damaged by flooding between January and June; what measures are in place to prevent flooding; and if she will make a statement on her objectives for flood defence. [131061]

  Mr. Morley
  I understand that 1,209 properties have been flooded in the period between January and June 2003 based on Environment Agency figures. In the most serious flooding incident in the Thames Valley over the new year, it is estimated that some 400 properties were protected from flooding and disruption to a further 1,000 properties was prevented by the Jubilee River flood alleviation scheme. In other areas of the country, flood defences have of course also reduced flooding.

  The Department's policy is to reduce risks to people, property and the environment from flooding and coastal erosion through the provision of defences, flood forecasting and warning systems, increased flood resilience of property, beneficial land management changes and discouragement of further development on the floodplain. The Government invests significant sums of money each year to reduce risk and this investment profile is rising steeply with plans to spend approximately £1.5 billion between 2003–04 and 2005–06.

  Defra has agreed Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) targets with Treasury to implement the outcome of the Funding Review and reduce risk to houses, infrastructure and environmental assets from the Department's capital programme over the spending review 2002 period. Delivery plans for these targets are available from the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/aim.htm. We are also developing a new Strategy for Flood Management and Coastal Protection which will be a cross-Government update to our 1993 Strategy. A Stakeholder Forum is being established, partly to inform this Strategy work.

  Defra's flood management programme includes High Level Targets for operating authorities, encouragement of Shoreline Management Plans and Coastal Groups, a joint research and development programme with the Environment Agency and funding of the Agency's flood plain maps, Catchment Flood Management Plans, Public Awareness Campaigns and the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database and associated risk assessment methodology.

  GM Crops
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the locations of current GM crop trials in Shropshire. [132303]

  Mr. Morley
  There are currently no GM crop trials in the UK.

  Mr. Steen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes. concerning genetically-modified food dated 3 July 2003. Defra ref: 183640. [131544]
  301W
  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]: My officials wrote to the hon. Member on 18 July 2003, stating that the letter had been transferred to Food Standards Agency (FSA) for reply.

  The FSA report to Parliament through Health Ministers, and I understand that my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Public Health (Miss Melanie Johnson) wrote to the hon. Member on 21 September 2003.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of GM-free zones; and what plans she has to allow GM crops to be planted alongside conventional crops. [132116]

  Mr. Morley
  We will consider the terms on which GM and non-GM crops might co-exist when we have received a report on this subject from the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. This is due shortly. We are also considering our broader policy on GM crops in the light of all the available information, including the report of the GM public debate. It is not clear how compulsory GM-free zones would be consistent with European Union law. However, the European Commission has suggested that voluntary GM-free areas might be acceptable in circumstances where, for practical reasons, it is very difficult to achieve satisfactory co-existence arrangements.

  Bear Products
  Mr. Challen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the restrictions on importation and sale of products derived from farmed bears. [131418]

  Mr. Morley
  Under animal health controls the importation into England of products derived from bears is only permitted on the basis of a valid import licence issued by Defra. Each application for a licence is assessed on its own merits and in deciding whether or not a licence should be issued consideration is given to any animal health risk the product may present. In addition, the international trade in all bear species and their parts and derivatives is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The Government implements strict policies on trade to conserve endangered species and maintains a precautionary approach banning all commercial trade in bear bile or gall bladders irrespective of whether or not they come from captive bred specimens, on the grounds that this trade is likely to be detrimental to the species. International trade in other products derived from farmed bears listed in the Appendices to CITES is subject to regulation to ensure that it stays below the level at which species might become endangered.

  International Whaling Commission
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the International Whaling Commission; and if she will make a statement. [131941
  302W
  Mr. Bradshaw
  The IWC has to operate within the terms of its parent treaty (the International Convention on the Regulation of Whaling), which dates from 1946. Within the very real constraints of that treaty (which aims to facilitate the orderly development of the whaling industry and which also provides for unregulated whaling under "Special Permit" for scientific purposes), the IWC has done well to introduce and maintain, for almost 20 years, a moratorium on commercial whaling, to which all members, except Norway, subscribe. Changes to the terms of the parent treaty require the unanimous agreement of all; there is thus no prospect of securing desirable change while keeping pro-whaling countries within the ambit of the treaty.

  Junk Mail
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the proportion of junk mail which can be recycled; what estimate she has made of the proportion of paper waste represented by junk mail in the last year for which figures are available; and what steps the Government are taking to reduce the volume of junk mail. [131104]

  Mr. Morley
  Between 500,000 and 600,000 tonnes of paper was used in direct mail and promotions in the UK in 2002. In terms of total tonnage, this is a relatively small proportion of the overall paper waste stream. For example, the paper packaging waste flowing into the waste stream in 2002 was 3.7 million tonnes. However, junk mail is largely disposed of in the household waste and it should be possible to collect much of this paper for recycling.

  The current level of recycling of junk mail is estimated to be some 13 per cent. We have, therefore, recently agreed a voluntary producer responsibility scheme with the industry to increase recycling of junk mail. Under this Agreement, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has undertaken to meet specific targets for the recycling of junk mail in the UK. The targets are:

  30 per cent. by the end of 2005;

  55 per cent. by the end of 2009; and

  70 per cent. by the end of 2013.

  The Agreement also requires the DMA and its members to continue to contribute to waste minimization by improving the targeting of distribution of direct mail and by making full use of, and publicizing, available services that allow householders to opt out of being sent direct mail, such as the Mailing Preference Service.

  We believe that this Agreement will both increase the recycling of junk mail and reduce the amount of direct mail sent to homes.

  Living Places Consultation
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intend to publish proposals for action arising from the "Living Places" consultation document and responses. [131535]

  Mr. Morley
  We are at present considering the various legislative options available. However, we will make an announcement regarding our plans at the earliest opportunity.

  Pollution
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to increase penalties for environmental pollution to create a greater incentive for companies to improve environmental performance. [129032]

  Mr. Morley
  There are currently stiff penalties available under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. These offences on summary conviction can carry the statutory maximum, and on conviction on indictment, a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine or both. Defra is currently considering whether to introduce a sliding scale of penalties under section 33 to reflect the seriousness of fly-tipping offences. If magistrates do not consider their maximum fine to be high enough, a case can be referred to the Crown Court, who have unlimited powers. Penalties for environmental pollution can therefore be awarded to any level under the current system.

  Several steps have been taken with regard to sentencing and penalties. At the end of 2002, the Magistrates Association, in association with Defra, issued a guidance pack entitled "Costing the Earth" to all its members, highlighting the seriousness and costs of environmental crime.

  Defra also increased the amount for fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling offences to £50 on 1 April 2002, and through the Anti-social Behaviour Bill, proposes similar fixed penalty notices for minor offences of graffiti and fly-posting. We are also considering a possible role for the use of fixed penalty notices to help enforce duty of care legislation.

  Defra is also funding research looking at sentencing in environmental cases. This research should provide a robust basis with which to inform future discussion and policy-making.

  Quarries
  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the new licensing arrangements on long-term investment and job security at quarries in the Vale of York. [132269]

  Mr. Morley
  There has not been a specific assessment on the new licensing arrangements on long-term investment and job security at quarries in the Vale of York.

  The Environment Agency has a duty to consider social and economic, as well as environmental aspects of sustainable development in its licensing policies. As part of the Environment Agency's assessment of any new licence application, it will take into account any relevant considerations. Quarry and mine operators will have the same opportunities as other abstractors to submit a business case to the Environment Agency in support of their licence applications, which can address any social or economic issues including long-term investment needs and effects on employment.
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  Miss McIntosh
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to allow(a) a quarrying abstraction licence to be tied to the life of the planning permission for a quarry and (b) a right of appeal and compensation where a licence is refused or curtailed. [131977]

  Mr. Morley
  It is not appropriate for the length of abstraction licences to be tied to the life of planning permissions, as consideration of each address very different issues. The Environment Agency will determine the length of an abstraction licence on a case-by-case basis, using guidance that it has developed and taking into account relevant considerations.

  If a licence application is refused or curtailed, there is a right of appeal to the Secretary of State under the Water Resources Act 1991.

  If a licence is varied or revoked during its term, there are provisions under the Water Resources Act 1991 to pay compensation for any loss or damage.

  In addition, the Water Bill provides that there can be compensation for loss or damage where a licence cannot be granted to any previously exempt abstraction, such as quarry dewatering, when it becomes subject to licensing.

  Ragwort
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement about the spread of American ragwort; what measures are being employed to check the spread; what incidents of damage to livestock have been reported to her Department in the past 12 months; and what research has been conducted into the possible passage of ragwort toxins into the food chain. [131871]

  Alun Michael
  We have not been able to find a reference to American Ragwort in the literature, and without the Latin name, cannot identify the plant species concerned. Research on possible human exposure to ragwort toxins through the contamination of milk and honey was conducted by the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the 1990s. Further, in 1994 the MAFF Working Party on Naturally Occurring Toxicants in Food considered the evidence for human exposure to ragwort toxins through contamination of food and concluded that exposure via these routes is unlikely to pose a risk to health.

  Recycling
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the number of kerbside collection recycling schemes. [131082]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government has set statutory targets for local authorities to increase the recycling and composting of waste. Some local authorities have chosen to introduce doorstep collection of recyclates to help meet those targets. In 2001–02 58 per cent. of households in England were served doorstep collection schemes. This had increased from 51 per cent. in 2000–01.
  305W
  The Government is also supporting the Household Waste Recycling Bill introduced by my hon. Friend, the member for Lewisham. The Bill provides, with some exceptions, that all local authorities in England must offer doorstep collection of at least two recyclates by 2010.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much household waste was recycled in 2002; and whether the Government are on track to achieve their 2005 target of recycling 25 per cent.of household waste. [131084]

  Mr. Morley
  The Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey records that in 2001–2, England achieved a household waste recycling rate of 12.4 per cent., in line with average annual increases of 1 per cent. This makes targets for 2003–04 and 2005–06 look challenging. However, there is evidence that measures the Government is taking are having an impact, with Local Authority projections suggesting the 2003–04 target of 17 per cent. will be met. We plan to continue this momentum towards 2005–06.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the incentives given to the UK population to recycle household waste. [131085]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government and Devolved Administrations fund waste awareness and education programmes to inform the population about the environmental benefits of recycling. There are no financial incentives for the population to recycle household waste.

  In its response to the Strategy Unit Report 'Waste Not, Want Not' recommendation that local authorities in England should be able to take forward incentive schemes to reduce waste and increase recycling if they wish to do so, Government undertook to work with stakeholders to consider the practicalities of operating such schemes and how the potential disadvantages might be overcome.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the sources of household waste included in local authority recycling schemes. [131086]

  Mr. Morley
  The Municipal Waste Management Survey for 2001–02 showed the following tonnages of materials collected for recycling and composting from household sources by local authorities:

  Material

  Thousand tones

  Percentage

  Paper and card

  959

  31

  Glass

  428

  14

  Compost1

  940

  30

  Scrap matal/white goods

  370

  12

  Textiles

  42

  1

  Cans

  26

  1

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  Material

  Thousand tones

  Percentage

  Plastics

  8

  0

  Co-mingled

  217

  7

  Other (including oils, batteries etc.)

  150

  5

  1 Includes organic materials (kitchen and garden waste); not home composting

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons home-composted garden waste is not included in the Government's recycling targets. [131087]

  Mr. Morley
  Home-composted garden waste is not included in the local authority Best Value Performance Indicators due to the difficulty in accurately measuring the amount of waste that is composted by householders. However, the use of home composting is a key tool in reducing the amount of waste that local authorities collect and so is reflected indirectly in the Performance Indicators.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of changes in the type of ink used by newspaper producers on the recycling of newspapers; and if she will make a statement. [131105]

  Mr. Morley
  About 10 per cent. of the UK's newsprint is printed using flexographic presses which, at this level, is not sufficient to compromise the quality of recycled pulp produced for newsprint manufacture. We are aware that with current reprocessing technologies, a significant increase in these printing processes would have the potential to compromise the quality of recycled paper, and we have held discussions with the industry on this issue.

  The Waste and Resources Action Programme will be taking forward work to assess the technical issues associated with the de-inking of flexographic inks.

  Sewerage
  Paddy Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the(a) individuals and (b) organisations who responded to the consultation paper, "Review of Existing Private Sewers and Drains in England and Wales"; and if she will place a summary of the responses in the Library. [131214]

  Mr. Morley
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]: The consultation period of the paper, published on 1 July, extends until 26 September. We will place responses from organisations or individuals, that are not marked confidential, in the Library and a summary of responses when ready.

  Timber Procurement
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how the Government's(a) sustainable development, (b) fair trade and (c) environmental objectives are being pursued in timber procurement. [131569]
  307W
  Mr. Morley
  The Government's timber procurement policy is actively to seek to buy timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources. This policy encapsulates environmental and social objectives that are relevant to sustainable forest management.

  Fair trade as a concept is not specifically addressed by this policy. There is no Government-wide approach to the procurement of Fairtrade products. Each Government Department is responsible for making its own decisions on such products, against the background of the Government's value for money policy, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives. However, the Government are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible and provide significant support to the Fairtrade Foundation's efforts in promoting the supply and marketing of Fairtrade products.

  Central Government Departments and their agencies have been provided with a model contract clause that sets out the Government's specific requirements for legal and sustainable timber. This includes a demand for independent verification of the claims made by suppliers for the source of the timber acquired. For existing contracts Departments are discussing the policy with their contractors to raise awareness and identify opportunities for obtaining timber from assured sources wherever feasible and mutually acceptable.

  Central Departments are required to report annually on their timber purchases and a summary is published in the annual report Sustainable Development in Government—http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/reports.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the guidance given to government officials on legal and sustainable timber procurement and on the regulatory framework. [131631]

  Mr. Morley
  Guidance on timber procurement and on the regulatory framework is available on the Government's website for sustainable development in Government—http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/contextf.htm

  Central Government departments and their agencies have been provided with a model contract clause that sets out the Government's specific requirements for legal and sustainable timber. The text of this clause and covering information note issued by the Office of Government Commerce in December 2002 is annexed to this reply.

  The Government intends to create a central point of expertise on timber procurement (CPET) to help public sector buyers specify their requirements with more clarity and assess the credibility of supplier's claims for the sources of their timber. The CPET is planned to begin its work later this year.

  Waste Management
  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on alternatives to landfill and incineration for waste disposal. [131614]
  308W
  Mr. Morley
  Government's policy for waste is set out in Waste Strategy 20001. This is underpinned by the waste hierarchy which sets out the order in which options for waste management should be considered, based on their presumed environmental impact. This prioritises waste minimisation in the first instance, followed by re-use, followed by recycling, composting and energy from waste. Disposal by incineration and landfill are at the bottom of the hierarchy. These should only be used when all of the other options have been considered.

  The Strategy, together with Government's response to the Strategy Unit report, "Waste Not Want Not", which reviewed progress in its implementation, have led to the introduction of a wide range of measures to move waste management up the waste hierarchy. These include significant increases in the Landfill Tax, from 2005–06; the introduction of Best Value Performance Standards (or statutory targets) for recycling and composting for local authorities; and the creation of the Waste and Resources Action Programme, which was launched in November 2000 to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, and to remove the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling.

  The Waste and Emissions Trading Bill, currently going through Parliament, proposes a system of tradable allowances, reducing year on year, for the amount of biodegradable municipal waste local authorities may landfill. This system would enable local authorities to meet their targets for reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill in the most cost effective way taking account of their local circumstances.
  1"Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales"—Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, May 2000
  http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigations she has undertaken on the installation of anaerobic digestion systems for waste disposal; and if she will make a statement. [131615]

  Mr. Morley
  None. However, Government will shortly be issuing a consultation paper on how anaerobic digestion can be treated as a contributor to both composting and energy recovery for the purpose of Government indicators. This follows representations to Government from the waste management industry and local authorities regarding anaerobic digestion, which is currently classified by Government as a form of energy recovery from waste. Changing the classification should make it a more attractive waste management option for local authorities.

  Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many anaerobic digestion systems for waste disposal there are in the UK; how many have been(a) built and (b) closed in each of the past five years for which figures are available; how many are planned to be built in the (i) current financial year and (ii) following year; and if she will make a statement. [131616]
  309W
  Mr. Morley
  These figures are not available. My Department is aware that anaerobic digestion is employed for a number of commercial and industrial waste streams and that some local authorities are considering pilot plants for the treatment of biodegradable municipal waste. Later this year we expect to launch a programme which will support authorities investing in new waste processing technologies and which will provide impartial advice and funding for demonstrations of new and innovative processes. Some aspects of anaerobic digestion may be eligible.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what measures have been put in place to deal with changes in levels of household waste since 1996–97; [131073]

  (2) what target was set for household waste recycling in England and Wales in the Government's 2000 Waste Strategy. [131083]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government has put a number of measures in place to deal with the problems of the on average 3 per cent. per year increase in household waste. "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales"1 was published in May 2000, and sets out the Government's strategy for managing waste and resources better and the changes needed to deliver more sustainable development.

  The strategy included targets for increasing levels of recycling and composting of household waste to 17 per cent. by 2003–04 and 25 per cent. by 2005–06. Progress towards achieving these targets can be found in this year's Departmental Report2.

  In November 2002 government published the Strategy Unit report "Waste Not, Want Not", which reviewed progress in implementing government obligations mainly on municipal waste and recommended a range of measures to drive up performance. The Government response 3 sets out a package of strategic measures that will help to boost the minimisation, re-use and recycling of municipal waste, and move waste management up the waste hierarchy.
  1 "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales"—Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, May 2000 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm
  2 "Defra Department Report 2003"-Defra, May 2003–http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/default.htm
  3 Government response to Strategy Unit report "Waste Not, Want Not"—Defra, May 2003 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/review/index.htm

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on waste minimisation projects. [131060]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government have announced, in response to the SU report, that WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) would be taking forward the following four waste minimisation initiatives:a national home composting programme, following established best practice in other countries, using sustained training and communication methods to establish greater household participation. The programme, which is currently under
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  development, is likely to be delivered through local authorities in a bidding process, linked to the provision of other support services (on waste awareness and kerbside best practice);
  development of re-useable nappy services, with a programme of support for SMEs and new entrants to business for start-up support for new nappy laundering businesses;
  a retailers initiative, seeking to work with major retailers—both challenging them and supporting them to play their part in waste minimisation;
  a waste minimisation innovation fund to provide resources to support innovation by retailers and others—in areas such as minimising material use in consumer products, design for minimum material use and maximum recyclability.

  WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) has recently undertaken an extensive dialogue on the waste minimisation initiatives with local authorities, NGOs, businesses, academics, community organisations and others. The results of this exercise are now being used to finalise how best these new programme areas should be delivered.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of anaerobic digestion of waste. [131074]

  Mr. Morley
  Anaerobic digestion is currently classified by Government as a form of energy recovery from waste. Energy recovery is a less desirable option than recycling and composting in the Government's hierarchy of waste management options. However, following representations from the industry and local authorities, we have agreed that anaerobic digestion should be treated as a contributor to both composting and energy recovery. We will shortly be issuing a consultation paper on how this could be done.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding local authorities received for sustainable waste managing schemes in the last year for which figures are available. [131075]

  Mr. Morley
  The information is as follows:

  EPCS

  The main source of funding for local authority waste services is through the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) Standard Spending Assessment (SSA).

  The EPCS SSA provides for a wide range of local authority services including libraries, local transport and flood defence, as well as waste. In total, the provision for the block is:

  EPCS SSA

  £ million

  2002–03

  8,961

  2003–04

  9,435

  Provision for waste services is not separately identified within the total.
  311W
  Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund

  We have provided £50 million additional funding for 2002–03 and £90 million for 2003–04 through a £140 million Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund to encourage local authorities to expand recycling operations in their area.

  Information on the final totals for all financial claims made under round 1 (2002–03) of the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund including the separate arrangement for London is as follows:

  Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund

  Capital Spend Allocated 2002–03 (£ million)

  38.58

  Actual Capital Spend 2002–03 (£ million)

  30.74

  Proportion Spent (%)

  80

  Revenue Spend Allocated 2002–03 (£ million)

  11.42

  Actual Revenue Spend 2002–03 (£ million)

  10.47

  Proportion Spent (%)

  92

  The underspend on the capital budget is due mainly to delays in the procurement of capital items such as vehicles and boxes. The Department is seeking end-year flexibility to carry forward the remaining capital budget (7.8 million) so it can be spent by Local Authorities in 2003–04.

  The Waste Private Finance Initiative (PFI)

  Waste PFI funding is allocated on a project specific basis. Since the introduction of the September 2000 criteria recycling has been at the forefront of all schemes approved by the department.

  In the last 12 months six projects have been approved at outline stage and another three at final stage, which are now signed and operational. The following table shows the allocations for each scheme:

  Authority

  Financial Year Project signed

  Approval stage

  PFI Credit allocation (m)

  ELWA

  2002–03

  Final

  47

  East Sussex, Brighton and Hove

  2002–03

  Final

  49

  Leicester City

  2003–04

  Final

  30.8

  Central Berkshire

  N/A

  Outline

  37

  West Sussex

  N/A

  Outline

  25

  Gloucestershire

  N/A

  Outline

  25.105

  West Berkshire

  N/A

  Outline

  23.74

  Cornwall

  N/A

  Outline

  25

  Nottinghamshire

  N/A

  Outline

  31.93

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government will put in place to achieve the 2005 target to reduce industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill to 85 per cent. less than in 1998. [131076]

  Mr. Morley
  Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales1 was published in May 2000, and sets out the government's strategy for managing waste and resources better and the changes needed to deliver more sustainable development.

  The Strategy set a target to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill to 85 per cent. of the 1998 level by 2005.

  In November 2002 government published the Strategy Unit report 'Waste Not, Want Not', which reviewed progress in implementing government obligations and
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  recommended a range of measures to drive up performance including some related to industrial and commercial waste. The government response2identifies a package of strategic measures to take forward these recommendations, and move waste management up the waste hierarchy.
  1 "Waste Strategy 2000: England and Wales"—Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, May 2000 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/cm4693/index.htm
  2 Government response to Strategy Unit report "Waste not, Want not"—Defra, May 2003 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/review/index.htm

  Water Pricing
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Water Price Review 2004. [131071]

  Mr. Morley
  The Director General of Water Services (Ofwat) is responsible for setting water price limits.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement to the House on 21 January 2003, Official Report, column 5WS, this year when publishing her Initial Guidance on the periodic review to the Director General. A joint statement, explaining what the review is, setting out how and when decisions will be taken, and inviting views, was issued in August by Government and the environmental and quality regulators and Defra was a signatory.

  The Secretary of State's Principal Guidance to the Director General will be published in early 2004 and she will make a further Ministerial Statement to the House at that time.

  Water Quality
  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the quality of UK(a) inland and (b) coastal water; and what research she has conducted on levels in other EU countries. [131070]

  Mr. Morley
  Monitoring and assessment of inland and coastal waters in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and with respect to the devolved functions in Wales are matters for the Scottish Executive, the Northern Ireland Executive and the National Assembly for Wales.

  In England, in 2002, the Environment Agency surveyed about 7,000 freshwater sites, representing 35,000 kilometres of rivers and canals, for their chemical quality and around 2,000 of these for biological quality. The results of this most recent assessment of inland water quality can be found on the Agency's website www.environment-agency.gov.uk from Tuesday 23 September 2003.

  Our national monitoring programme provides regular data on the environmental quality of the marine environment, including coastal waters. A National Marine Monitoring Programme, consisting of 109 stations monitored by six agencies, has been set up to detect long-term trends in physical, biological and chemical variables at selected estuarine and coastal sites. In 2000, the OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic produced a set of Quality Status Reports for the region, which evaluated the effectiveness of measures taken,

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  planned for the protection of the marine environment and set priorities for the region. This was agreed by all the contracting parties, including the UK. Other regional seas programmes have produced similar assessments for other European waters.

  The UK participates fully in the activities of the European Environment Agency, which compiles and disseminates information for Europe on a wide range of environmental topics, including inland and coastal water quality, through its website, its Environmental Signals reports and other publications.

  Mr. Wiggin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the five(a) best and (b) worst performing regions of England in

  Percentage of river lengths by grade for each region, 2002

  Grade

  EA region

  Good (Grades A + B)

  Fair (Grades C + D)

  Poor (Grade E)

  Bad (Grade F)

  Good and Fair (Grades A + B + C + D)

  South West

  83.2

  14.0

  2.6

  0.2

  97.2

  Thames

  67.8

  27.7

  4.5

  0.0

  95.5

  Midlands

  63.0

  31.1

  5.5

  0.3

  94.2

  North East

  67.6

  25.6

  6.1

  0.8

  93.1

  Southern

  43.5

  48.4

  8.1

  0.0

  91.9

  Anglian

  54.5

  37.2

  8.3

  0.0

  91.7

  North West

  62.0

  29.4

  7.7

  0.7

  91.5

  England

  65.5

  28.3

  5.8

  0.4

  93.8

  Note:

  The regions shown are Environment Agency regions. The Midlands and the North West regions cross the Welsh political border, however the overall England results do reflect the English political boundary.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

  Video-conferencing
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Leader of the House what assessment he has made of the(a) demand and (b) capacity for video-conferencing and web-cameras for honourable Members' use. [132117]

  Mr. Hain
  I am aware that some hon. Members would like to see additional provision for video-conferencing and web-cameras. I suggest that my hon. Friend approach the Speaker's Advisory Panel on this. The Information Committee has also taken an interest in this.

TREASURY

  Private Sector Health Care
  Mr. Love
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the provision of a subsidy through the tax system towards the cost of health care in the private sector. [132070]

  Dawn Primarolo
  We receive many representations regarding many issues of tax policy.

  I remain unconvinced that reducing the NHS budget by £1 billion to subsidise the private health insurance payments of those who already can afford it is an effective use of taxpayers money funds.
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  chemical quality of water were in the last year for which figures are available. [131072]

  Mr. Morley
  The following table shows results from the Environment Agency's 2002 General Quality Assessment of rivers and canals in each of the Agency's seven regions. These were published by DEFRA on 23 December 2003 on their website (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/index.htm).

  Chemical quality is one of a range of indicators of the overall quality of a water body and is affected by human activity, natural geography and weather.

  The table is presented in order of the percentage of river lengths which are of 'Good and Fair' chemical quality, however this is an arbitrary choice and the order would vary if it was based on a different range of grades.

  Economic Growth
  Mr. Hunter
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the projections for United Kingdom growth made by (a) the Treasury and (b) independent forecasters at the time of the (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003 budget. [132071]

  Ruth Kelly
  Between the 2002 and 2003 Budgets, both the Government and independent forecasters revised down their GDP growth forecasts for 2003, reflecting a fragile global economic environment and heightened international uncertainties.

  At the time of the 2003 Budget, the average of independent forecasts for GDP growth in 2003 was consistent with the Budget forecast, with over 70 per cent. of forecasters included in HM Treasury's 'Comparison of independent forecasts' either within of above the Budget forecast range.

  Financial Mutual Organisations
  Mr. Bailey
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on support for financial mutual organisations; and if he will make a statement. [132072]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Government welcomes the contribution of the mutual sector to providing greater choice and diversity in the market and in tackling financial exclusion. The Government will continue to work closely with the sector.

  Tax Allowances
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to index-link personal tax allowances at least in line with inflation. [132073]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The level of personal allowance for 2004–5 will be announced, as usual, at the Pre Budget report.

  Budget Forecasts
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to meet the new Governor of the Bank of England to discuss the Chancellor's Budget forecasts on the public sector deficit for 2004–05. [132074]

  Ruth Kelly
  The Chancellor meets the Governor of the Bank of England regularly to discuss various issues concerning the British economy, including the public finances. In addition, a representative from HM Treasury attends each of the monthly meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee.

  Eurozone
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recent change in the budget deficits(a) in Germany, (b) in France and (c) on average in the eurozone. [132075]

  Ruth Kelly
  In 2002, the general Government deficit reached 3.1 per cent. of GDP in France, 3.5 per cent. of GDP in Germany and 2.3 per cent. of GDP in the euro area.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the level of youth unemployment on the economy; and if he will make a statement. [132076]

  Ruth Kelly
  Youth unemployment is particularly detrimental to the long-term health of the economy.

  That is why this Government have made a priority of reducing it. With the help of the New Deal for Young People, we have reduced long-term youth unemployment by 133,000 or three-quarters since 1997.

  Climate Change Levy
  Mr. Tynan
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the receipts were to the Exchequer in 2002–03 under the climate change levy. [132054]

  John Healey
  In 2002–03, the climate change levy raised £829 million for the Exchequer. This figure was published by the Office for National Statistics in "Financial Statistics" (Table 2.1 D) in August 2003.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a monthly estimate of the costs incurred by the Government as a result of its presence in Iraq. [131995]
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  Mr. Boateng
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith) on 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 144W.

  Pensions
  Mr. Viggers
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount in taxation he has levied from pension funds in the last five years. [132077]

  Ruth Kelly
  Approved pension funds do not normally pay tax on their investments. The only exceptions are where a pension fund is involved in an activity outside the terms of its tax approval or makes a taxable payment to a scheme employer or member. The amount of tax paid by pension funds under these circumstances in the last five years is not held centrally.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  British Branding Overseas
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the cost of promoting British branding and identity in culture, media and sport overseas in the last year for which figures are available; and what element of this expenditure promotes(a) Welsh, (b) Scottish and (c) Irish branding and identity as a distinct component of that of the United Kingdom as a whole. [131945]

  Mr. Caborn
  There are a number of Government Departments which promote British branding abroad. DCMS provides £35.5 million per annum to VisitBritain (formerly the British Tourist Authority) to promote Britain overseas as a tourist destination. In 2002–03 an additional £20 million was provided from the Reserve in order to help tourism recover from the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. Funds are not allocated for individual regions of Britain. Britain is promoted as a whole in a way which maximises the impact of VisitBritain's campaigns in individual markets overseas. Tourism is a devolved matter and is the responsibility of the respective administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Childhood Obesity
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of advertising on childhood obesity; and if she will make a statement. [131937]

  Estelle Morris
  The Department has a responsibility only in relation to broadcast advertising. It has made no separate assessment of the impact of advertising on childhood obesity but will participate in consideration of the Food Standards Agency's recent report on the promotion of foods to children. The Department is fully supportive of Government initiatives to tackle the problem of child obesity, and is working closely with the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills on these as well as developing its own health initiatives relating to increased physical activity, particularly in children.

  Euro Entry
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent in each year by her Department in preparing for UK entry to the euro; how much her Department plans to spend on preparations for UK entry to the euro for each year from the current financial year up to and including 2005–06; and what estimates she has made of the total costs to her Department of changeover to the European Single Currency. [131591]

  Mr. Caborn
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 142W.

  Ministerial Events Attendence
  Nick Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the(a) sports events, (b) arts events, (c) broadcasting events, (d) tourism events and (e) museums and galleries she has attended since 1 November 2002. [118007]

  Tessa Jowell
  The number of events attended since 1 November 2002, is given in the following list:

  Sporting:

  8 December 2002 BBC Sports Personality of the Year

  1 January 2003 Arsenal v Chelsea @ Highbury

  12 February 2003 England v Australia @ Upton Park

  16 March 2003 World Indoor Athletics Championships

  13 April 2003 London Marathon Opening

  Arts:

  19 November 2002: A Streetcar Named Desire

  10 November 2002: Twelfth Night @ Donmar Warehouse

  15 December 2002: Mahler 2 @ Royal Festival Hall

  21 December 2002: The Wind in the Willows @ Linbury Studio

  23 December 2002: The Merry Wives of Windsor @ RSC Swan Theatre

  28 January 2003: The Rite of Spring @ Treptow Arena

  10 February 2003: The Vortex @ Donmar Warehouse

  15 May 2003: Henry V @ National Theatre

  20 May 2003: Winters Tale @ Roundhouse

  28 June 2003: The Lady from the Sea @ The Almeida Theatre

  Broadcasting:

  6 February 2003: Launch of BBC 3

  23 February 2003: BAFTAS

  13 May 2003: Thirty Club Dinner

  16 May 2003: Cannes Film Festival: Calendar Girls

  Tourism:

  7 November 2002: Tourism Forum @ Tate Modern

  4 February 2003: Cumbria: CBI Dinner

  5 February 2003: BTA Breakfast

  22 May 2003: Tourism Breakfast @ Claridges

  Museums and Galleries:

  17 December 2002: The Soul of the Homeless @ Museum of London

  3 February 2003: Constable to Lacroix @ Tate Britain

  17 March 2003: Durer Exh. @ British Museum

  25 March 2003: Titian Exhibition @ The National Gallery

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  17 March 2003: Roundhouse Theatre Event

  3 April 2003: British Empire and Commonwealth Museum

  28 April 2003: Built Heritage Foundation, Shoreditch

  28 April 2003: Elizabeth @ National Maritime Museum.

  The list includes events attended up to the start of the summer parliamentary recess 2003.

  Tourism
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on(a) the domestic tourist industry and (b) the measures she is taking to encourage in-bound tourism. [131938]

  Mr. Caborn
  England's tourism industry is worth £62 billion a year. £52 billion of which is generated by domestic tourism. In 2002 British residents took 135 million tourism trips in England. Statistics for this summer will be available by the end of November. Early indications from the industry are that it was a strong season. In April this year, VisitBritain launched a £4 million 'Enjoy England' campaign to promote domestic tourism in England. Following a consultation exercise over the summer, VisitBritain will shortly be publishing its three-year domestic marketing strategy for England.

  VisitBritain receives £35.5 million a year to promote Britain overseas as a tourist destination. It has 27 offices overseas and it runs on-going campaigns using advertising, PR, direct mail, the internet and other marketing tools. Major campaigns this year have included partnership campaigns with the industry in the United States and, in Europe, a £4 million "City Breaks" campaign to promote short breaks in Britain.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Civil Emergency
  Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to hold an exercise in a major United Kingdom city to test the preparedness of the relevant services in the event of a biological terrorist attack. [131656]

  Mr. Blunkett
  My Department has plans for, or involvement in, a number of exercises over the coming months as part of a regular programme of counter-terrorism exercises. The programme has been in place well before 11 September 2001.

  Other Departments such as the Department of Health as well as local government and local emergency services also run exercises to test procedures and equipment across agencies. Some are based in cities such as the recent exercise at Bank Station, others are planned for areas where procedures can be practised with minimal disruption to the public, as well as through tabletop exercises.

  As I announced in July 2003, we are embarking on a broader programme of exercises, and, where in the past such exercises were usually conducted in private, we aim to put as much information in the public domain as we can without providing information that may be useful to terrorists. Further information about counter-terrorism

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  exercises is available on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/govprotect/resilience/counterterr.html.

  It is important to note that the Government, emergency services and others regularly train and practise their responses to all kinds of major incidents, including natural disasters and accidents, not just those caused by terrorist acts, in order to increase national resilience to a range of threats.

  Crime (Merseyside)
  Mrs. Curtis-Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were successfully prosecuted in April 2003; and what the average sentence(a) given and (b) served was in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Crosby. [129476]

  Paul Goggins
  Statistics of court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn of 2004.

  Illegal Firearms
  Mr. Ruffley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of illegal firearms in circulation in each year since 1997 in(a) the UK, (b) Suffolk, (c) Norfolk, (d) Essex, (e) Cambridgeshire and (f) Bury St Edmunds. [131843]

  Caroline Flint
  There are no reliable estimates of the number of firearms held illegally either on a national basis or in particular areas. The overall level of crime involving guns is low but we are developing a range of measures in conjunction with all interested parties to address the recent unacceptable rise in firearms offences.

  Passports
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the United Kingdom will meet the 1 October 2004 deadline imposed by the United States which requires biometric technology to be embedded in United Kingdom passports so that the bearers do not need to apply for a visa. [128662]

  Beverley Hughes
  As we have previously said, biometrics on UK passports will begin to be implemented in 2005.

  The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is organising representations to the United States Government with the aim of ensuring UK passport holders retain visa waiver status, on the basis that realistic programme and implementation plans will be in place by the US deadline.

  Terrorist Munitions
  Patrick Mercer
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what measures have been taken to prevent terrorist munitions being smuggled into the UK via container traffic; [128659]

  (2) what measures have been taken to prevent weapons of mass destruction being smuggled into the United Kingdom. [128660]

  Mr. Blunkett
  Since the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001, the Government have conducted a thorough and comprehensive review of all 320W
  preventative measures to counter terrorism to better protect this country from the threat from international terrorism.

  We have taken major steps to enhance the security of the UK's borders. There are extensive powers for counter-terrorist policing at our ports and our border agencies work closely together in sharing intelligence and operations.

  We are also working closely with our international colleagues to implement a range of measures to improve port security and reduce the likelihood of the illicit movement of materials.

  The Home Office leads on countering the potential threat from CBRN material. I refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement of 3 July 2003 in which I spoke about the introduction of routine screening of port traffic for the illicit movement of radiological materials (to reduce the threat from nuclear or radiological attack). This technology will greatly improve our existing capacity to detect and prevent the illicit importation of material into the UK. This is a significant part of the £330 million additional counter terrorism money announced in the Budget.

  It has never been government policy to release details of our contingency plans for security reasons but, as I told the House on 20 March 2003, we have taken precautionary measures to deal with the events we can anticipate. We cannot guarantee 100 per cent. security but we deal rapidly with change and will keep all aspects of our planning under review and will keep Parliament, and the public, informed of any significant developments.

DEFENCE

  Council Tax
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many armed service personnel serving abroad in the last 12 months for which figures are available paid council tax contributions; [132305]

  (2) what the average council tax contribution paid by armed services personnel was while serving abroad in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [132306]

  Mr. Caplin
  Service personnel living in service accommodation pay a contribution in lieu of council tax (CILOCT) in circumstances where they are liable for payment of an accommodation charge. As at 1 April 2003, of those serving abroad some 11,500 service personnel were paying CIEOCT for service families accommodation, and some 6,000 for single living accommodation. Armed service personnel serving abroad may also be liable for council tax on their own property within Great Britain. No information is held on the number of people who fall into this category.

  The average daily contribution in lieu of council tax (CILOCT) paid overseas by service personnel, based on 2003–04 charges for the most commonly occupied service accommodation as at 1 April 2003 are:

  £3.27—Officers Service Families' Accommodation

  £2.56—Other Ranks Service Families' Accommodation

  £0.21—Officers Single Living Accommodation, and

  £0.06—Other Ranks Single Living Accommodation.

  Iraq
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 24 September on deployment of military personnel in Iraq, reference 129882, how much the logistical help provided in Multinational Division South East will cost. [132415]

  Mr. Ingram
  The Ministry of Defence identifies the costs of operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred. The costs which the MOD would have incurred had the operation not been undertaken—expenditure on wages and salaries or on conducting training exercises, for example—are deducted from the total costs of the operation.

  For the most part, the costs incurred will be those arising from the deployment and activities of the United Kingdom's force elements in Iraq. The same principle will apply to other nations contributing forces. There may be occasions when other nations draw food or fuel from UK sources. On such occasions, those drawing the supplies will be charged at an appropriate rate to recover UK's costs. Therefore the provision of this service will not incur additional cost. There may be other occasions where other nations make use of UK transport facilities where spare capacity exists. In such circumstances, a charge will not be levied. These are all reciprocal arrangements intended to make the most effective use of resources while not disadvantaging any of the troop contributing nations. Any attempt to apportion costs for this arrangement would be impractical.

  It is too early to estimate the costs likely to arise from UK military operations in Iraq in 2003–04. Once these are known, additional funding will be sought in the normal way through Supplementary Estimates.

  War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
  Mr. Simon Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people(a) of all ages and (b) aged over 65 years are in receipt of war pensioner's mobility supplement. [132376]

  Mr. Caplin
  As at 30 June 2003, the total number of war pensioners of all ages in receipt of war pensioners mobility supplement was 18,340. Information is not available for those aged over 65 years and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

  Afghanistan
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's military operations in Afghanistan. [132127]

  Mr. Ingram
  The United Kingdom's military operations in Afghanistan are focused primarily upon the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul. We also lead the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mazar-e Sharif and provide staff officers to support the coalition headquarters at Bagram.

  Army Personnel (Self-harm)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answer of 16 September,322W
  Official Report, column 703W, on Army personnel (self-harm), if he will place the information in the Library as soon as it becomes available; [131935]

  (2) pursuant to his answer of 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 703W, on self-harm, if he will place the information in the Library when it becomes available. [132488]

  Mr. Caplin
  The work to trial the collection and analysis of the existing information on incidents of deliberate self harm in the Army has only just begun. The purpose of the work is to develop the Department's understanding of the scale of the problem and to inform the development of policies and practices within the armed forces. There is no current intention to place this information in the Library of the House.

  Defence Attaches
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of(a) defence attaches and (b) the Defence Export Services Organisation in each financial year since 1997–98. [132153]

  Mr. Ingram
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]: Costs readily available for Defence Attachés in each financial year since 1997–98 are as follows:

  Financial year

  Costs identified (£ million)

  1997–98

  30.6

  1998–99

  31.7

  1999–2000

  32.4

  2000–01

  34

  2001–02

  37.2

  2002–03

  37.1

  Operating costs for DESO in each year since financial year 1997–98 are as follows:

  £ million

  Financial year

  Expenditure

  Receipts

  Net operation costs

  1997–98

  —1

  —1

  14.380

  1998–99

  45.359

  -29.342

  16.017

  1999–2000

  46.473

  -34.977

  11.496

  2000–01

  55.81

  -41.430

  14.380

  2001–02

  48.930

  -37.853

  11.077

  2002–03

  56.944

  -44.407

  12.537

  1 Full details of costs in this year are no longer available.

  The net operating costs are more than offset by benefits to the Defence budget arising from DESO's activities. Main sources of offsetting income from DESO are three Government-to-Government project offices, where the customer country pays Ministry of Defence costs, and the Disposal Services Agency, where costs are met from revenue.

  Defence Spending
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by how much he plans to increase defence spending over the next five years. [132157]

  Mr. Ingram
  Plans for defence spending in 2004–05 and 2005–06 are set out in the Government's Expenditure Plans for the Ministry of Defence, a copy
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  of which can be found in the Library of the House. Plans for defence spending beyond 2005–06 will be set in the 2004 and 2006 Spending Reviews.

  Depleted Uranium
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will phase out the use of depleted uranium. [132312]

  Mr. Ingram
  United Kingdom forces have two types of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition: 20 mm rounds used by the Royal Navy's Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (a missile defence system): and 120 mm anti-tank rounds (CHARM 3), fired by the Army's Challenger II (CR2) tanks.

  The Royal Navy's Close-in Weapon System does not require anti-armour properties and in recent years, a new tungsten round has been developed for it. Since 1996, all replacement ammunition for the Phalanx system has been of the tungsten variety. Some ships still carry the 20 mm DU round, however, and would fire it should the operational need arise.

  There is currently no plan to replace the DU penetrator in the CR2 Main Armament Weapon System although a programme is being commissioned over the next three years to determine the most cost-effective means of maintaining CR2's capability. This will investigate the replacement of the rifled barrel with a smoothbore barrel, which in turn, may offer alternative munitions. DU replacement is not the primary aim of this programme.

  To date, DU has consistently outperformed all equivalents as a kinetic penetrator when employed in anti-armour weapon systems: its use, therefore, currently offers the best operational effectiveness in this role.

  Service Personnel (Debt Management)
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what special assistance is given to(a) service and (b) ex-service personnel who are facing financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement. [121520]

  Mr. Caplin
  Service personnel are expected to manage their financial affairs responsibly. However, individuals facing financial difficulties can be assisted by way of advice at unit level within the chain of command. Commanders, along with others in the unit, including administrative and welfare staffs and chaplaincy services, can provide help and assistance in dealing with individual financial difficulties and will facilitate liaison between the individual and credit organisations.

  Each service produces self-help publications on debt and debt management, and RAF personnel receive instruction on the need for integrity in their personal and financial affairs, with recruits instructed on basic money matters, including how to operate a bank account, balance a cheque book and use a credit card. Personnel are also made aware of the support available through the Citizens' Advice Bureau, SSAFA-Forces Help, professional credit advice organisations and respective benevolent funds.
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  At the Veterans Agency there is a Veterans Advice Unit which aims to provide 'one-stop-shop' guidance to former armed forces personnel or their families on where to seek professional help on a wide range of issues including financial difficulties.

  Ex-service Personnel
  Mr. Wray
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to encourage ex-service personnel to rejoin the armed forces; and if he will make a statement on the value of ex-service personnel to the armed forces. [121521]

  Mr. Caplin
  Ex-Service personnel are routinely encouraged to consider rejoining the armed forces. All three services ensure that regular contact is maintained with former service personnel from the moment of discharge (and in many instances in the weeks leading up to the discharge date), when their continued value to the armed forces is fully explained to them, and for a period of time thereafter. Such has been the nature of these initiatives that in financial year 2002–03, a total of 762 ex-service personnel rejoined the armed forces and for the first five months of 2003–04 a further 345 former service personnel have rejoined.

  The armed forces greatly value ex-service personnel. Those who rejoin the regular forces bring their past experience and expertise with them which is particularly useful when individuals join branches or trades currently experiencing a shortfall. Many who rejoin do not have to repeat the full re-selection process and many of those formerly on the trained strength do not have to repeat initial training. This is a considerable saving on time and resources.

  Ex-regular personnel have played, and continue to play, a vital role in recent operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

  Firearms
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules govern the handling of firearms in a made ready condition; and in what circumstances made ready firearms may be carried inside an Army barracks. [131985]

  Mr. Ingram
  For the purposes of answering this question, it has been assumed that the hon. Member is referring to the non-operational use of firearms by Army personnel. The relevant rules maintain that unless an individual is ordered to make the weapon ready, or he/she is about to fire, the weapon is always to be made safe; that is no live round is to be carried in the breech, and, in the case of automatic weapons, the working parts are to be forward.

  Under normal circumstances, a soldier would only carry a made ready weapon inside the barrack area when they are ordered to do so; for instance when training on a range, or if there was an imminent threat to life.

  HMS Bulwark
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original in-service date was for
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  landing platform dock Bulwark; what the current in-service date is; what the reasons are for the changes; and if he will make a statement. [131933]

  Mr. Ingram
  The original in-service date for the landing platform dock Bulwark was March 2003. The current planned in-service date is March 2005. There have been a number of manufacturing, project management and productivity difficulties experienced at the BAe Systems Barrow shipyard which caused slippage to HMS Bulwark's sister ship, HMS Albion. Resources were concentrated in HMS Albion in order to minimise the delays. This caused a consequential delay to HMS Bulwark programme.

  There are opportunities to improve upon the ISD of March 2005 and the Ministry of Defence will continue to work hard with BAe Systems with the aim of accelerating the programme and achieving ISD some weeks earlier than currently forecast.

  Colombia (Military Aid)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to stop giving military aid to Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [132079]

  Mr. Ingram
  British military assistance to Colombia is focused primarily on Explosive Ordnance Disposal training, and provision of British military education. We believe that it provides clear benefits to the Colombian Armed Forces, and the country as a whole, by reducing the number of deaths (civilian and military) from explosive devices, and by introducing Colombian military personnel to British defence concepts in key areas such as the democratic and accountable control of the armed forces and Rules of Engagement. As a matter of policy, we therefore do not intend to cease providing military assistance to Colombia.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of giving British military aid to Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [132080]

  Mr. Ingram
  British military aid to Colombia is focused on providing assistance primarily in the fields of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and military education and training. Mines and other explosive devices are responsible for a significant proportion of deaths among the Colombian armed forces, and also have a devastating effect on the civilian population. Provision of British military training and education is designed to help Colombia develop more professional armed forces, and to introduce personnel to British defence concepts, including the importance of accountable and democratic control of the armed forces, and the use of Rules of Engagement.

  The nature of other aspects of military advice and assistance provided to Colombia is confidential between Governments, and I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information where disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.
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  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much military aid Britain has given to Colombia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [132175]

  Mr. Ingram
  Details of military assistance to Colombia from January 2000 onwards are in the list. Information on assistance before this date is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The nature of other aspects of military advice and assistance provided to Colombia is confidential between Governments, and I am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers information where disclosure would be harmful to national security, defence or international relations.18–28 January 2000: One officer visited Colombia to discuss with the Colombian armed forces the disposal of terrorist explosive devices and to advise on the maintenance and replacement of EOD equipment. The total cost of this visit was £3,252.08.
  2–14 September 2000: One officer visited Colombia to advise the Colombian authorities on improving the protection of police stations against terrorist attack. The total cost of this visit was £3,480.00.
  26 March-6 April 2001: A team of five UK military personnel visited Colombia to provide EOD training support to the Colombian authorities. I am afraid that we have been unable to locate records of the cost of this visit.
  28 January-2 February 2002: One officer visited Colombia on a remit to scope further aspects of EOD training required by Colombia. The total cost of this visit was £893.61, exclusive of flight costs. In the event, the planned further training did not take place due to UK resource constraints.
  19–24 March 2003: Two EOD personnel participated in a counter terrorist seminar in Colombia organised by the Metropolitan police, at a total cost of £7,225.
  30 August-5 September 2003: Three EOD personnel visited Colombia on a scoping visit. Final costs associated with this visit are not yet available.
  2003–04: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Project Fund is supporting a project to raise awareness in the Colombian armed forces on their role in prevention and protection of the rights of internally displaced people, at a cost of £14,723.54.

  In addition, Britain has funded the following UK-based military training and education courses:
  A Colombian officer attended the MSc in Global Security course (August 2002-August 2003), at an approximate cost of £26,760.
  A Colombian officer attended the Royal College of Defence Studies course from January 2002-January 2003, at an approximate cost of £48,296.
  A Colombian officer is attending the Advanced Command and Staff College, which began in September 2003, at a projected cost of £77,934.
  Two Colombians are currently attending the CT Bomb Disposal Course at the Army School of Ammunition at a total projected cost of £15,220.

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that military aid to Colombia is not being used by(a) the Colombian army and (b) paramilitary death squads against civilians; and if he will make a statement. [132176]

  Mr. Ingram
  When considering bilateral military assistance to Colombia, the UK takes account of the need to avoid funds being used in any way which would
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  not be compliant with United Nations human rights recommendations. Mechanisms are in place to check that, at the time military assistance is given, the military units involved are not implicated in human rights violations, internal repression, or collusion with paramilitary organisations.

  Personal Injury Claims (Army)
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personal injury claims concerning Army personnel have been lodged in each year since 1990; and how many and what percentage were(a) settled out of court, (b) dismissed and (c) found against the Department. [132177]

  Mr. Caplin
  The Ministry of Defence does not generally record the details of personal injury cases brought by members of HM forces by individual Service. This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. The vast majority of cases are settled amicably. Three per cent. of cases proceed to trial. The information contained in the following table is in relation to personal injury claims received from members of HM forces since 1990. There is no direct correlation between the numbers of claims received in-year and claims settled and repudiated in the same year because of the time lapsed between receipt and investigation of the claim.

  Financial year

  Claims received

  Claims settled

  Claims repudiated

  1990–91

  582

  126

  144

  1991–92

  672

  136

  135

  1992–93

  750

  195

  356

  1993–94

  1,004

  210

  230

  1994–95

  1,312

  314

  227

  1995–96

  1,014

  235

  125

  1996–97

  924

  344

  224

  1997–98

  1,038

  391

  211

  1998–99

  738

  412

  165

  1999–2000

  752

  504

  344

  2000–01

  924

  948

  397

  2001–02

  819

  351

  253

  2002–03

  666

  733

  322

  Sea King Helicopters
  Mr. Ben Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Sea King replacement at RNAS Yeovilton. [132400]

  Mr. Ingram
  The support amphibious and battlefield rotorcraft programme is designed to replace the capability provided by the Sea King Mk4 early in the next decade. The project is in its early stages and we have yet to decide how the capability requirement will best be met.

  Absence Without Leave
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers went AWOL in the past 12 months. [132181]

  Mr. Caplin
  The total number of soldiers reported AWOL during the period 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2003 inclusive was 1,695.

  Terrorism (Israel)
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has held with the Israeli Government on the defence of Israeli citizens from terrorist attacks; and what advice he gave. [132120]

  Mr. Hoon
  My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon on 14 July 2003 and discussed the current situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories, including terrorism and security issues. Officials also met with last month their Israeli counterparts on matters of mutual interest. I am withholding the content of these talks under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

  September 11
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many tri-Service personnel have been activitated in response to the 11 September terrorist attacks. [132272]

  Mr. Ingram
  No members of the United Kingdom armed forces were engaged in the immediate response to the events of 11 September 2001 in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Since that date, however, a large number of Service personnel have been involved in a variety of military operations designed to counter the threat from international terrorism.

  UK Military Hospitals
  Jim Knight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military hospitals there are in the UK. [132271]

  Mr. Caplin
  There is now only one military hospital in the United Kingdom, the Duchess of Kent's Psychiatric Hospital at Catterick, which is expected to close by 31 March 2004 when alternative facilities are in place.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Iraq
  Andrew Selous
  To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, by when he expects electricity will be fully available throughout the British occupied sector of Iraq [132049].

  Hilary Benn
  Power supplies in the South of Iraq have shown progressive improvements in recent weeks due to a steady increase in generating and transmission capacity combined with lower demand as a result of cooler weather.

  The average person in Basra now has access to electricity for about 20 hours per day, although grid failures can lead to longer local outages. Outside Basra the situation is more variable. In other urban areas power is now available for an average of four hours out of six. Some isolated communities remain without access to power, as they were before the conflict.

  The provision of full electricity supply will require significant additional investment in the medium to long term. [132049]

  Kazakhstan
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department contributed to multilateral organisations active in Kazakhstan in 2002–03; how much is allocated for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [131646]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The information is not readily available for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04. The most recent available figure is for calendar year 2000 where the UK's attributed share of multilateral assistance to Kazakhstan was £1.47 million broken down as EC £0.86, UN £0.25 million and other £0.36 million.

  Turkmenistan
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department contributed to multilateral organisations in Turkmenistan in 2002–03; how much has been allocated for 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [131798]

  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  The information is not readily available for the years 2002–03 and 2003–04. The most recent available figure is for calendar year 2001 where the UK's attributed share of multilateral assistance to Turkmenistan was £0.64 million broken down by EC £0.42 million and UN £0.22 million.

WORK AND PENSIONS

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 15 September 2003,Official Report, column 556W, on means-tested benefits, what percentage of the population aged 60 years and over was in receipt of income support in each year between 1993 and 2002. [131951]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The answer is in the table.

  Income Support Pensioner Beneficiaries aged 60 or over as a percentage of the population: Great Britain—May 1993 to May 2002

  Income Support MIG Beneficiaries aged 60 and over (000s)

  Percentage of the population aged 60 and over

  1993

  1,967

  16.8

  1994

  1,998

  17.1

  1995

  1,980

  16.9

  1996

  1,957

  16.7

  1997

  1,903

  16.2

  1998

  1,830

  15.5

  1999

  1,789

  15.1

  2000

  1,784

  15.0

  2001

  1,907

  16.0

  2002

  1,945

  16.2

  Notes:

  1. Jobseeker's allowance replaced income support for the unemployed from October 1996, therefore to enable comparisons to be made, figures prior to May 1997 exclude the unemployed.

  2. Beneficiaries of a benefit unit are the sum of claimants and their partners.
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  3. Percentage for population has been calculated using the revised ONS population estimates for age group 60 and over, for 1993 to 2002.

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

  5. Claimant figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands, percentage population figures to one decimal place.

  Source:

  IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent sample.

  Pensions
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 9 September,Official Report, column 303W, on pensions, what percentage of stakeholder pension sales went to working individuals earning between (a) £10,000 and £20,000, (b) £20,000 and £30,000, (c) £30,000 and £40,000, (d) £40,000 and £50,000 and (e) £50,000 and £60,000; and if he will make a statement. [131953]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information requested is in the following table giving a breakdown of stakeholder pension sales for the 2001–02 tax year by earnings of policyholders:

  Annual earnings of stakeholder pension policy holders

  Percentage of total stakeholder pension sales

  Under £10,000

  24

  £10,000 to £20,000

  40

  £20,000 to £30,000

  19

  £30,000 to £40,000

  5

  £40,000 to £50,000

  2

  £50,000 to £60,000

  1

  £60,000 and above

  2

  Notes:

  7 per cent. of sales were to people not in work (e.g. children, spouses, the unemployed and pensioners).

  Earned income data are derived from the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) and consists of all income chargeable under Schedule E (mainly pay, private and occupational pensions, retirement annuities and state retirement pensions) Schedule D Cases I and II (self-employment income), and miscellaneous other earnings.

  The SPI is a representative sample of nearly 200,000 individuals, drawn from the Revenue's Self Assessment, Pay As You Earn and Claims systems. Where we have been able to match these individuals to the SPI, primarily those with earned income, the totals in the tables are based on this sample.

  Around two-thirds of stakeholder pensions taken out in their first year on the market have been by people on moderate incomes (earning under £20,000 a year). This demonstrates the encouraging start that stakeholder pensions have made in offering people, particularly modest earners, a new opportunity to save for their retirement.

  Source:

  Inland Revenue data for 2001–02 tax year

  Mr. Michael Jabez Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the percentage increase was in the basic state retirement pension between April 1997 and April 2003; and what the increase in the Retail Price Index is that would have applied under the previous formula. [132326]

  Malcolm Wicks
  The information is in the table.
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  Percentage increase in basic state pension on previous year

  Retail prices index (percentage in September of previous year)

  1997–98

  2.1

  2.1

  1998–99

  3.6

  3.6

  1999–2000

  3.2

  3.2

  2000–01

  1.1

  1.1

  2001–02

  7.4

  3.3

  2002–03

  4.1

  1.7

  2003–04

  2.6

  1.7

  Section 150 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 provides for the Secretary of State to review the amount payable in respect of pensions and to increase them in line with the general level of prices.

  Over the last three years basic state pension has been increased by more than the Retail Prices Index (RPI). We have announced that we will increase the basic State Pension by 2.5 per cent. or RPI, whichever is the higher, for the remainder of this Parliament.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

  Asbestos
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to her answer of 17 July 2003,Official Report, column 589W, on asbestos, how many Crown Prosecution Service buildings have been identified as containing asbestos; if she will place copies of the asbestos registers for each building in the Library; and what steps she has taken to compile a central register. [130942]

  The Solicitor-General
  The Crown Prosecution Service have approved the appointment of an asbestos inspector via an Office of Government Commerce call off contract. A programme of inspection surveys has been agreed. The inspections and all the written survey reports are to be returned to the Crown Prosecution Service prior to the 21 May 2004 in compliance with Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulation 2002.

  A central asbestos register on the surveys will be held and managed by the Crown Prosecution Service and the asbestos register will be placed in the Library.

  Departmental Hospitality
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Solicitor-General how much was spent on food by the Department and by each agency for which it is responsible in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what proportion of that food by value was produced in the United Kingdom; what guidance she has issued to encourage the procurement of home-grown food; and if she will make a statement. [129385]

  The Solicitor-General
  Expenditure on food in the Crown Prosecution Service is generally limited to official hospitality provided by the Crown Prosecution Service and a canteen subsidy. Records of spend on food provided at some external conferences and like events are not kept centrally and so cannot be included.
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  In 2001–02 the Crown Prosecution Service recorded expenditure of £23,000 on hospitality and £110,000 on a canteen subsidy. The figures for 2002–03 were £20,000 and £83,000 respectively.

  Information made available by the canteen service providers indicates that on average 30 per cent. of the food they procure is produced in the United Kingdom. It is not possible to assume a monetary value of UK food supplied to the Crown Prosecution Service indirectly through the subsidy because the subsidy contributes to items other than food.

  Expenditure on food by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate is generally limited to official hospitality and meeting refreshments. HMCPSI does not provide any canteen facilities.

  HMCPSI did not purchase any unprepared food supplies during 2001–02 or 2002–03. Expenditure on meeting refreshments and meals, supplied by external caterers, was £1,600 in 2001–02 and £1,700 in 2002–03. There was additional relevant expenditure in financial year 2002–03 attributable to a reception to launch the HMCPSI Annual Report and two seminars hosted by the Inspectorate.

  HMCPSI does not record what proportion of its food supplies are UK produced.

  Expenditure on food by the Serious Fraud Office is generally limited to official hospitality and meeting refreshments. The SFO does not provide any canteen facilities. Total expenditure within these categories for each of the two years was £19,000 in 2001–02 and £20,000 in 2002–03. The further breakdown to amounts spent on food and its place of production is not available.

  Expenditure on food in the Treasury Solicitor's Department and the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers is limited solely to hospitality. There is no staff canteen. There is, therefore, no regular purchase of food.

  The amounts spent in 2001–02 and 2002–03 on hospitality were less than £10,000 in both years.

  Microsoft (Licensing Fees)
  Norman Lamb
  To ask the Solicitor-General how much was paid to Microsoft in licensing fees by the Law Officer's Department and its agencies in each of the last three years; and how much has been budgeted for(a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [130673]

  The Solicitor-General
  CPS Headquarters spent the following on Microsoft licences (approximately):

  2000–01— £2.5 million

  2001–02— £1.2 million

  2002–03—nil

  The CPS has no specific budget for Microsoft licences for 2003–04 and 2004–05.

  Since 2002, all IT services have been outsourced to LogicaCMG who purchase and manage Microsoft licences on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service.
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  There may have been some expenditure on Microsoft licences by the Crown Prosecution Service locally, however figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Although HMCPSI is not a part of the CPS, it benefits from being part of the CPS IT network. Information relating to payments to Microsoft for licensing fees in that context is subsumed in that relating to the CPS return.

  HMCPSI also has a very small number of its own PCs. Expenditure on Microsoft fees for these machines in the last three years is as follows:

  2000–01—nil

  2001–02—nil

  2002–03—£773

  HMCPSI has no budget for Microsoft fees in 2003–04. The budget for 2004–05 has not been agreed, but it will not include a specific budget for Microsoft fees.

  The Serious Fraud Office spend on Microsoft licenses is as follows:

  2000–01—£3,000

  2001–02—£16,000

  2002–03—£20,000

  2003–04—£250,000 est.

  Expenditure by the Treasury Solicitor's Department on Microsoft licenses since 2001–02 has been:

  2000–01—£36,000

  2001–02—£37,000

  2002–03—£71,000

  2003–04—£113,000 (Forecast outturn)

  2004–05—£52,000 (Budget).

  These payments have been made to OGC preferred suppliers under the Microsoft Select Agreement.

  The accounts kept by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers do not provide separate costs for the purchase of Microsoft licences. However, LSLO usually acquires licences through the purchase of new computers with software already installed and licensed.

  Roger Sylvester Case
  Harry Cohen
  To ask the Solicitor-General when she expects the judicial review of the Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to prosecute officers involved in the Roger Sylvester case to be concluded; and if she will make a statement. [131789]

  The Solicitor-General
  The judicial review into the Crown Prosecution Service's decision was adjourned on 21 May 2001 at the direction of Lord Chief Justice Woolf so that the inquest could proceed. The inquest concluded on 3 October 2003 and the jury returned a verdict that Mr. Sylvester was unlawfully killed. The Crown Prosecution Service will now conduct a further review of all the available evidence, including the evidence given at the inquest.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

  Child Care (Redcar)
  Vera Baird
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what budgetary provision has been made for children's centres in the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland. [132422]

  Margaret Hodge
  The indicative funding allocations from April 2004 to March 2006 to develop children's centres in the local authority area of Redcar and Cleveland are: Revenue £623,253 which includes £192,213 for rural wards, and Capital £2,258,185 which includes £700,000 for rural wards. The monies are to create 231 new full day care places and give 3,457 pre-school children access to integrated services in the area. This is building on their four Sure Start local programmes, 14 Neighbourhood Nursery projects, maintained nursery schools, and other existing early years provision.

  Child Employment
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the review of Child Employment Procedures carried out in response to the Private Member's Bill proposed by the hon. Member for Gravesham in February 1998. [129055]

  Margaret Hodge
  The report of the Review of Child Employment Law was completed in 1999. Since that time we have taken action to address issues raised by the Review and in the light of these changes, and with the passage of time, it would no longer be appropriate to publish the report. However, the Better Regulation Task Force has announced that it is to undertake a study into the regulation of the employment of children and their findings will be published on completion. The Task Force hopes to make recommendations on the regulation of the employment of children that will:

  help to protect children from exploitation;

  assist employers to meet their obligations; and

  encourage proportionate enforcement.

  I am pleased to sponsor this study.

  Consultancy Contracts
  Mr. Austin Mitchell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 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. [130896]

  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

  OECD Indicators
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the Education at a Glance 2003: OECD Indicators finding that(a) the calculated high rates of return to tertiary education in the United Kingdom are to an important extent due to relatively short standard university studies and (b) tertiary graduation rates are higher in the

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  United Kingdom that in France and Germany; and what implications these findings will have on reform of the 14 to 19 curriculum. [131955]

  Alan Johnson
  Relatively short duration university studies represent good value for money. Shorter tertiary courses reduce both the direct and indirect costs of the course because, other things being equal, the individual will need to spend less on tuition and their foregone earnings will be lower. Individuals enter the labour market sooner and so have more time to recoup the costs of their investment through higher earnings.

  Alongside course duration, the other main cause of high rates of return is the higher graduate premium, ie the high (relative to other countries) pre-tax earnings of UK graduates.

  Question addresses two separate OECD indicators, in both of which the UK position is encouraging:
  Concerning the ratio of graduates to the population at the typical age of graduation, the UK is towards the upper end at 37.4 per cent. (well above the OECD average of 30.1 per cent.).
  Concerning the proportion of UK students who complete their tertiary course, at 83 per cent. the UK has one of the best completion rates among OECD countries.

  The Working Group on 14–19 Reform, which is due to report in 2004, is taking account in its work of available international comparative information.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH

  Burma
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK Government will raise the plight of ethnic minorities in Burma at the United Nations Security Council. [132252]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Government are encouraging all the appropriate bodies of the UN to tackle the issue of helping bring about national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma. Should Burma feature on the Security Council agenda, the Government would ensure that the plight of Burma's ethnic groups was taken fully into account.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government is making to the Burmese regime about the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi. [132250]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The UK has made numerous representations to the Burmese authorities about the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I spoke to the Burmese ambassador to the UK on 1 September to register the UK's grave concern about the continued detention and treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi. We have also discussed this issue with ASEAN and other countries and encouraged them to raise the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi with the Burmese Junta. While Aung San Suu Kyi's release from detention to home arrest on 26 September was a step in the right direction, the regime must go much further and fully release her and her NLD colleagues and engage in genuine dialogue to reach national reconciliation.

  China
  Paul Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government policy is on selling military equipment and armaments to China. [132223]

  Mr. Rammell
  The sale of military equipment and armaments to China is covered by the EU embargo on the sale of arms to China. The Government's policy is based on the UK interpretation of this embargo. No sale can take place without an export licence. All export licence applications assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and UK arms export licensing criteria.

  We would not approve the export of equipment where there is a clear risk it might be used for international aggression or which might be used for internal repression.

  Antarctic (Pollution)
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions the UK Government is taking to combat pollution in the Antarctic. [132242]

  Mr. Rammell
  The UK meets its obligations under the Marine Pollution Convention (MARPOL 73/78) and the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty through strict enforcement of the Antarctic Act 1994, the Antarctic Regulations 1995 and merchant shipping legislation. This ensures that pollution in Antarctica is minimised and that waste is removed from the region for safe disposal elsewhere. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), as the principal UK presence in Antarctica, is one of the leaders in environmental and waste management in the region. BAS has introduced stringent waste management and recycling policies and has already undertaken major clean-up and removal of its former bases. It has introduced oil spill response plans, installed a sewage treatment plant at Rothera research station and is also implementing over the next five years a sustainable energy strategy. This will reduce consumption of hydrocarbon fuels and their emissions. Furthermore, HMG insures that all other British activities in Antarctica are appropriately permitted. Such permits set pollution and waste disposal conditions for all British vessels, aircraft and expeditions operating in the area. The UK is also in the lead among Antarctic Treaty parties pressing for the adoption of stricter guidelines for the increasing numbers of large cruise ships entering Antarctic waters.

  European Agencies
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were presented to(a) the European Commission and (b) other EU member governments to locate the (i) European and Asylum and Migration Observatory, (ii) European Agency for Security of Communications Networks, (iii) European Food Authority, (iv) European Maritime Safety Agency, (v) European Aviation Safety Agency and (vi) European Rail Safety and Interoperability Agency in the United Kingdom; what discussions he had on locating each in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [131647]
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  Mr. MacShane
  We have proposed that only one of the EU agencies be located in the UK and that is the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). We have suggested to our EU partners that it should be located in Glasgow. It is currently unclear as to when a decision will be made on the location of this Agency, along with several others, including those mentioned by the hon. Member. A number of other countries have bid for the site of the EMSA and other agencies. The last substantive discussion of the sites in general was at the Laeken European Council in December 2001.

  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were(a) presented to the European Commission and (b) presented to other EU member governments to place (i) the European Agency for Civil Protection, (ii) Eurojust, (iii) the European Police College, (iv) the Community Agency for Information Exchange on Visas, (v) the European Bureau of External Border Surveillance and (vi) the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in (A) England, (B) Scotland, (C) Wales and (D) Northern Ireland; what discussions were held to secure its location in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [131795]

  Mr. MacShane
  We have pro posed that only one of the EU agencies cited by the hon. Member be located in the UK, namely the European Police College Secretariat (ECS). We have suggested to our EU partners that this should be located at Bramshill. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today.

  Iraq
  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what British interests were harmed by the bomb that exploded outside the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad in August. [132129]

  Mr. Rammell
  The despicable terrorist bombing of the UN HQ in Baghdad on 19 August was an attack on the interests of the UN, the Iraqi people, and the international community. 23 people were killed, of whom one was a British citizen, and over a hundred injured. The coalition has made clear that it will not be deterred by terrorist attacks of this nature.

  Mr. Rosindell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often he receives briefings from the Commander of British Forces in Iraq. [132131]

  Mr. Rammell
  The Ministry of Defence provides several briefings every week to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and FCO officials on the situation in Iraq, which take full account of the views of the Commander of British Forces in Iraq.

  Israel
  Clare Short
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the UK abstained in the UN Security Council vote on Israel on 16 September. [131886]

  Mr. Rammell
  The draft resolution before the UN Security Council on 16 September was unbalanced and therefore unhelpful to the implementation of the 338W
  roadmap. As our Permanent Representative to the UN said at the time, we regret that the Security Council was unable to pass a balanced resolution. But the resolution's sponsors would not accommodate UK amendments intended to achieve a better balance, and the UK therefore abstained. A resolution on the situation of President Arafat was subsequently put to an Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly. European Union proposals for a more balanced text were then accepted and the UK, with our EU Partners, voted for the resolution.

  My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear the Government's view that expelling or harming President Arafat would be wrong and counterproductive. Israel should not allow its justified anger at the continuing violence to lead to actions that would undermine both the peace process and its own interests.

  Sri Lanka
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he last had discussions with representatives of the government of Sri Lanka; where these discussions took place; what topics were addressed; and if he will make a statement; [131831]

  (2) when he last had discussions with representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; where these discussions took place; what topics were addressed; and if he will make a statement; [131832]

  (3) when he last had discussions with (a) representatives of the US Government, (b) representatives of the governments of the EU member states, (c) representatives of the EU Commission, (d) representatives of the UN, (e) representatives of non-governmental organisations, (f) representatives of the government of Sri Lanka and (g) representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam concerning the resumption of negotiations between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; and if he will make a statement. [131833]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  During my visit to Colombo in January this year, I met with a wide range of interlocutors including representatives of a number of the governments, multi-lateral and non-governmental organisations listed. In London in September I met Professor G. L. Peiris, Sri Lankan Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Government Chief Negotiator; prior to that I met him in March. I also met with Milinda Moragoda, Sri Lankan Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology in June. I discussed the peace process with both ministers.

  I have not met with representatives of the LTTE.

  Sudan
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the UK's relationship with Sudan. [132243]

  Mr. Mullin
  The UK has full diplomatic relations with Sudan. Through our Embassy in Sudan we are also in close touch with non-governmental groups from the north and south of the country. The UK Government pursues political, cultural, human rights and development issues. In 2002–03 we committed around £15 million to support
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  both humanitarian work and the peace process. Peace is crucial to the future development of Sudan and regional stability. The UK plays an active role in the peace process, including through the UK Special Representative for Sudan and the Sudan Unit, jointly staffed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.

  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Sudanese Government about human rights abuses in Sudan. [132244]

  Mr. Mullin
  We monitor the human rights situation in Sudan closely. The Embassy regularly lobbies the Government of Sudan on human rights issues. In September, the Head of the FCO's Human Rights Policy Department visited Sudan to meet government officials, representatives of non-governmental organisations, academics and others, including political prisoners. We will maintain pressure on the Government of Sudan to improve its record and will continue to raise human rights violations at every opportunity both bilaterally and as part of the EU/Sudan dialogue.

  Thailand
  Mr. Best
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Thai authorities about conditions for displaced Burmese minorities resident in refugee camps in Thailand. [132251]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The Thai authorities have a long record of providing safe haven for those fleeing persecution by the Burmese regime. The British embassy in Bangkok and EU colleagues are in regular contact with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and the Thai authorities, to encourage them to ensure Burmese refugees are treated with compassion. I discussed Burma in broad terms with Thai Foreign Minister Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai when he visited London at the beginning of July and again on the way to the Bali ASEM conference of the same month. We have been in regular telephone contact since. In March 2003, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development (Sally Keeble) visited the refugee camp at Mae La.

  Treaties
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement of 16 September,Official Report, column 794, when it became Government policy that all international treaties take primacy over national law; and on what evidence he bases the statement that under the draft constitutional treaty for the first time provision is made whereby Parliament can legislate to repudiate a treaty. [131821]

  Mr. MacShane
  It is an established principle of international law that a state may not plead its national law to escape its international law obligations, including its treaty obligations. As a matter of UK constitutional law, international treaties have effect in UK national law to the extent that they have been implemented in national law.

  Article I–59 of the draft EU Constitutional Treaty states that any member state may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional
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  requirements. The Government believe it is highly unlikely that any member state would wish to withdraw, but sees a case for stating the political and legal reality of what would happen in such exceptional circumstances.

  Turkey
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had discussions with his Turkish counterpart; what matters were raised in these discussions; and if he will make a statement. [131445]

  Mr. MacShane
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, in New York on 25 September. They discussed Turkey's progress towards EU accession, Cyprus and developments in Iraq. The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK's commitment to Turkey's EU candidacy and welcomed the significant progress that Turkey has made towards meeting the Copenhagen Political Criteria. He also discussed the urgent need to work towards a Cyprus settlement on the basis of the Annan plan. The Turkish Foreign Minister gave the Foreign Secretary an update on Turkey's plans to help rebuild Iraq.

  Cyprus
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with(a) representatives of the Turkish Government, (b) representatives of the Cypriot Government, (c) representatives of the Greek Government, (d) representatives of the US Administration and (e) representatives of the European Commission since April concerning re-unification negotiations in Cyprus. [131446]

  Mr. MacShane
  Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials regularly discuss the prospects for resumed Cyprus settlement negotiations on the basis of the UN plan with representatives of the Turkish, Greek, Cypriot and US governments. We also discuss developments on the island with the European Commission and EU partners, including at monthly meetings of the Working Group on South East Europe. These contacts are too numerous to list here, but have included my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Gul in London in July and at the UN in September. I discussed the issue with the Greek officials in Greece 10–11 October.

  We firmly believe that securing a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus before 1 May 2004, in enabling a re-united island to accede to the EU, would be I the best interests of all Cypriots, and the region as a whole. In addition, it would provide a boost to Turkey's own EU candidature.

  West Bank and Gaza Strip
  Angus Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the report on housing conditions in the West bank and the Gaza Strip, prepared last year by the United Nations Human Rights Commission's Special Rapporteur on housing; and if he will make a statement. [131629]
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  Mr. Rammell
  We share Special Rapporteur Miloon Kothari's concerns about deteriorating housing conditions in the Occupied Territories and the wider human rights and humanitarian consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We are particularly concerned about the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure by the Israeli authorities. Such actions are provocative, exacerbate tension and undermine on-going efforts to bring about an end to violence and a return to negotiations. We continue to press Israel to end the disproportionate use of force, demolitions and destruction of infrastructure.

  The UK Government's support to the Palestinians includes a combination of emergency and development assistance. Our humanitarian support has mainly focused on basic service provision, but we are also supporting an UN Relief and Works Agency project to rebuild housing in Jenin Refugee Camp, destroyed in 2002 during Operation Defensive Shield. While humanitarian assistance can help alleviate suffering, only a comprehensive solution to the conflict will provide the conditions for permanent improvement in Palestinian living conditions. We are encouraging Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resume implementation of the Quartet Roadmap to this end.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Water Metering (Commercial Premises)
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many commercial premises are being used in each constituency in Northern Ireland; how many of these commercial premises have been fitted with a water meter; and how many of these commercial premises will receive their first account during January and February 2004. [131776]

  Mr. Spellar
  I have asked the chief executive of Water Service to write to the hon. Lady in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

HEALTH

  Ethnic Minority Staff
  Mr. McNamara
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 30 June 2003,Official Report, column 141W, on ethnic minority staff, if he will require national health service trusts to give information on the ethnicity of hospital and community medical and hospital dental staff when making their six-month reports on suspensions. [128706]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 18 September 2003]: The Department will start to collect information on the ethnicity of hospital and community medical and dental staff as part of the routine data collection exercise on long term suspension as soon as practicable.

  Achondroplasia
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each year since 1997 have suffered from achondroplasia. [132209]
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  Dr. Ladyman
  This information is not collected in the form requested. Hospital Episode Statistics collect data on admissions for various conditions. The table records hospital admissions for achondroplasia. This does not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.

  Primary diagnosis (ICD1O Q77.4) Achrondroplasia count of finished inyear admission episodes: age on admission 0–17 years—NHS hospitals England 1997–98 to 2001–02 Diagnosis code description Q77.4 Osteochrondrodysplasia with defect growth of tubular bones and spine—Achondroplasia

  Year

  Number

  1997–98

  98

  1998–99

  76

  1999–2000

  83

  2000–01

  102

  2001–02

  125

  Notes:

  1. Admissions—Admissions are defined as the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care 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 (i.e. the data are ungrossed).

  Source:

  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  Mrs. Iris Robinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals in England have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder over the last three years. [132469]

  Dr. Ladyman
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 October,Official Report, column 1265W.

  Diagnostic and Treatment Centres
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of(a) former and (b) seconded NHS staff who will be working in private diagnostic and treatment centres. [131908]

  Mr. Hutton
  The exact number of professional staff working in these new units will be finalised in the next stage of negotiations leading to contract close.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the bids from(a) BUPA and (b) BMI to run private diagnostic and treatment centres were unsuccessful. [131910]

  Mr. Hutton
  The procurement process for independent sector treatment centres involved inviting bids from a wide range of independent health care sector organisations, which included BUPA and BMI.

  The quality of bid submissions was very high and many companies, including BUPA and BMI were able to meet the stringent clinical standards requirements that had been set. The Department, along with local national health service sponsors, was also seeking examples of: additionality of staff, to avoid any disruption to the local NHS and to ensure that the

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  activity provided in these units was additional to existing work being handled in NHS facilities; innovative solutions in terms of methods of working and patient experience; and value for money in terms of the costs of each procedure, and the affordability of this activity for the local NHS health economy. In order to provide fairness in the evaluation process the bids for all schemes were evaluated by a team made up from central Departmental experts in procurement and clinical practice and local NHS clinicians and managers representing the sponsors of the schemes. The resulting preferred bidders and reserve bidders were therefore chosen on the basis of the criteria and BUPA and BMI were not able to demonstrate their competitiveness on enough of these to warrant their inclusion.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether(a) NHS hospitals and (b) diagnostic and treatment centres will be paid more than the standard tariff for operations to reflect start-up costs they may incur. [131911]

  Mr. Hutton
  From this year, the Government have introduced a new financial system to provide a transparent, rules-based system for paying providers of services to national health service patients. Primary care trusts (PCTs) will commission the volume of activity required to deliver service priorities, adjusted for case-mix from a plurality of providers on the basis of a standard national price tariff, adjusted for regional variation in wages and other costs of service delivery. By 2008, all NHS providers will be required to meet tariff.

  The Department is currently consulting on whether and how additional support above tariff should be provided for up-front revenue costs of new investment. However, we expect many of the contracts for new independent sector treatment centres to be at or below tariff. Where in the short-term we may initially pay slightly more than tariff to some independent sector providers, this is to cover start-up costs so that the new facilities open as quickly as possible to treat more patients, reduce waiting lists and bring additional clinical staff to treat NHS patients. In these cases, local PCTs commissioning care from these new units will not be disadvantaged.

  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will require private diagnostic and treatment centres to have intensive care beds. [131912]

  Mr. Hutton
  Treatment centres offer high quality, pre-booked surgery and diagnosis facilities for the treatment of routine, elective national health service patients and will not be required to have intensive care beds. They will be expected to be able to deal with typical surgical problems to the same standards as NHS providers. Local trusts, primary care trusts and new providers will agree protocols for referring and transferring patients who require emergency or urgent care that cannot be provided by the treatment centre.

  Diet
  Chris Grayling
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research the Government have commissioned into the impact on anti-social behaviour of provision of dietary supplements of vitamins and minerals. [130058]
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  Miss Melanie Johnson
  The Medical Research Council (MRC) has not recently funded any research into the impact of dietary supplements of vitamins and minerals on anti-social behaviour. However, the MRC does have a nutrition portfolio and spent £17 million in 2001–02. The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.

  European Single Currency
  Mr. Stephen O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent in each year by his Department in preparing for United Kingdom entry to the euro; how much his Department plans to spend on preparations for United Kingdom entry to the euro for each year from the current financial year up to and including 2005–06; and what estimates he has made of the total costs to his Department of changeover to the European Single Currency. [131604]

  Ms Rosie Winterton
  I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Ms. Kelly), on 14 October 2003,Official Report, column 142W.

  Hospital Beds
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of patients in each of the last 12 months who have returned home following admission for in-patient treatment due to the unavailability of a hospital bed, without being discharged from hospital; [129100]

  (2) what estimate he has made of the average time between an in-patient admission and the patient being allocated to a bed over the last 12 months. [129146]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 11 September 2003]: Data are not collected on this aspect of patient care. The NHS Modernisation Agency has established an emergency services collaborative. The collaborative is working with every health community to analyse bed management processes and spread best practice. However, the Department collects quarterly data on the number of operations cancelled by hospitals for non-clinical reasons at the last minute (that is, on the day the patients are due to arrive or after arrival in hospital or on the day of their operation) or on the day of surgery (in 2002–03 only). Data for England, by national health service trust and strategic health authority level, are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/data_requests.htm

  The data collected on cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons are not broken down into the reasons for cancellation.

  Mr. Amess
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of beds that will be freed up in NHS trust hospitals due to the creation of fast track NHS diagnostic and treatment centres. [131887]

  Mr. Hutton
  The independent sector treatment centre programme will free up substantial additional capacity. In some specific instances, the activity freed up in the national health service trust is lower than the numbers
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  being transferred into treatment centres. This is due to the nature of the work which will replace it, for example, more complex cases, with longer lengths of stay, as well as providing capacity to improve non-elective services such as accident and emergency.

  Hospital Stays (Healthy Visitors)
  Dr. Evan Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many overnight stays for healthy visitors in NHS beds in(a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority there were in each of the last six years; and at what total cost [128904]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department does not hold any information relating to 'healthy visitors'.

  Ministerial Travel
  Mr. Don Foster
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list internal flights made by Ministers in his Department in 2002, including in each case the(a) cost, (b) departure location and (c) destination; and of these how many were (i) first class, (ii) business class and (Hi) economy class. [103587]

  Mr. Hutton
  [pursuant to his answer, 19 March 2003, Official Report, c. 847W]: I regret that the previous response the hon. Member received was incorrect. The response should have read as follows.
  "The tables show details of internal flights taken by Ministers in the Department of Health in 2002, according to available information".

  My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Health (Mr. Milburn) took the following flights.

  Departure location

  Destination

  Type of flight

  Class

  Cost (£)

  Newcastle

  Belfast

  Single

  Premium Economy

  161.30

  Belfast

  Heathrow

  Single

  Business Class

  176.90

  Birmingham

  Newcastle

  Single

  Business Class

  161.50

  I took the following flights.

  Departure location

  Destination

  Type of flight

  Class

  Cost (£)

  London

  Manchester

  Return

  Business Class

  135.50

  London

  Belfast (return to Aberdeen)

  Return

  Business Class

  502.70

  Gatwick

  Plymouth

  Single

  Business Class

  159.70

  My noble Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Hunt of Kingsheath), took the following flight.

  Departure location

  Destination

  Type of flight

  Class

  Cost (£)

  Edinburgh

  London

  Return

  Business Class

  332.40

  My hon. Friend for Salford (Ms Blears), in her capacity as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, took the following flights.
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  Departure location

  Destination

  Type of flight

  Class

  Cost (£)

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Return

  Business Class

  278.90

  Heathrow

  Teesside

  Single

  Business Class

  159.20

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  135.50

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  108.50

  My hon. Friend the Member for Tottenham (Mr. Lammy), in his capacity as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, took the following flights.

  Departure location

  Destination

  Type of flight

  Class

  Cost (£)

  Heathrow

  Newcastle (return to Gatwick)

  Return

  Business Class

  329.30

  Gatwick

  Plymouth

  Single

  Business Class

  159.70

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  143.50

  City Airport

  Manchester

  Return

  Business Class

  285.20

  Heathrow

  Newcastle

  Return

  Business Class

  308.30

  My hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), in her capacity as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, took the following flight.

  Departure location

  Destination

  Type of flight

  Class

  Cost (£)

  Heathrow

  Glasgow

  Return

  Business Class

  332.40

  My hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Ms Blears), in her capacity as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, took the following flights.

  Departure location

  Destination

  Type of flight

  Class

  Cost (£)

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  108.50

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  143.50

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  138.50

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  132.50

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  148.50

  Gatwick

  Plymouth

  Return

  Business Class

  320

  Manchester

  London

  Return

  Business Class

  290.40

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Single

  Business Class

  143.50

  Heathrow

  Manchester

  Return

  Business Class

  234.90

  NHS Trust Deficits
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts are in deficit; what his strategy is for resolving the situation; and if he will make a statement. [132352]

  Mr. Hutton
  We have no plans to publish un-audited in-year financial information. All national health service trusts have been asked to plan for and achieve financial balance in 2003–04. Audited information for all NHS trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts and will be available centrally in autumn 2004.

  Strategic health authorities and the NHS Modernisation Agency will be working closely with NHS organisations to ensure that they are able to deliver their financial and service delivery plans.

  Ophthalmology (Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire)
  Mr. Lidington
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the planned location is of the proposed diagnostic and treatment centre for ophthalmology for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. [131399]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 14 October 2003]: The ophthalmic treatment centre for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire will be provided through a mobile unit.

  The unit will provide services for patients in North Oxford, Wycombe and south west Oxfordshire and as it is mobile it can be used elsewhere as the need arises. The final locations will depend on discussions between local primary care trusts and will relate to demand from national health service patients, and will be convenient for patient access.

  Paediatric Dentistry
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each primary care trust the average wait for a child between an initial dental consultation and being operated on under general anaesthetic. [132298]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information is not collected on the waiting time from initial dental consultation to being operated on under general anaesthetic for a child.

  Information is collected on how long a patient is waiting for elective in-patient admission from clinical decision to admit. Information for the specialty paediatric dentistry showing the total patients waiting and the average waiting time for this specialty by primary care trust has been placed in the Library.

  Patient Records
  Mr. Gibb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the Government Departments and agencies which will have(a) trusted access, (b) non-trusted access and (c) any other forms of access to patients' NHS records via the NHS net. [131958]

  Mr. Hutton
  It is not intended that any Government Department or agency that is not involved in providing care to patients will have access to patient records via the NHSnet.

  Private Health Care Providers
  Mr. Nicholas Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many foreign-owned private healthcare providers have pilot programmes with NHS trusts. [131344]

  Mr. Hutton
  The number of foreign owned private health care providers who are or have undertaken pilot programmes within national health service trusts is not held centrally.

  There are, however, a number of primary care trusts (PCTs) who are engaged in programmes with private organisations. These organisations are providing administrative support services to help PCTs design and deliver improved health care. Some of these—such as the work with United Healthcare Group to implement the Evercare model of care for at-risk elderly—are part
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  of the Transformational Change Programme, managed by the National Primary and Care Trust Development Programme (NatPaCT), which aims to help primary care trusts redesign services. However, we do not hold centrally details of all PCTs who have entered into arrangements with private organisations.

  Renal Dialysis
  Mr. Colman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what renal dialysis services are planned for(a) Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton and (b) the Kingston area. [131943]

  Mr. Hutton
  This is a local matter for South West London Strategic Health Authority. There is provision for renal dialysis services within the Queen Mary's Roehampton rebuilding programme, which is due to be completed in 2005. In the meantime, options for developing services in the Kingston and North Wandsworth area are being considered by the local national health service.

  Office of the Independent Regulator
  Mr. Dobson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the(a) staff levels and (b) running costs of the Foundation Trust Regulator. [131907]

  Mr. Hutton
  Subject to legislation, the Office of the Independent Regulator will be established as a non-Ministerial Department, which will be accountable to Parliament but not subject to direction from the Secretary of State for Health. The Independent Regulator is responsible for structure and staffing of the Office of the Regulator. However, he or she must consult the Minister for the Civil Service on the number of staff and their terms and conditions.

  The extent of these costs and the number of additional staff required will depend on the number of national health service foundation trusts. In the Explanatory Notes to the Bill, published in March 2003, the Department estimated that, in the first full financial year, 2004–05, the running costs would be £2.3 million. This estimate was based on legal and financial costs, accommodation, expenditure on information technology and the running costs for 12 staff. Final arrangements for the structure and staffing of the Office are for the Regulator to determine and, once appointed, the Regulator will develop detailed proposals and estimates.

  Surgical Procedures (Comparable Costs)
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the comparable costs of surgical procedures carried out in national health service hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centres and under contracts with(a) the United Kingdom private sector and (b) overseas health facilities. [131493]

  Mr. Hutton
  The Department carries out an annual reference cost collection exercise. This year, for the first time, we have collected information on the cost of activity carried out for the national health service by non-NHS providers. This does not include overseas treatment or independent sector treatment centres, although this may be included in future years.

  Waiting Rooms (Piped Music)
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of(a) patients' reactions to piped music in NHS waiting rooms and (b) whether this has any therapeutic effect; and if he will make a statement. [132420]

  Mr. Hutton
  [holding answer 15 October 2003]: The use or otherwise of piped music in hospitals is a matter for local decision making, which should reflect the views of staff and patients. We are not aware of any specific research on the effect of piped music in national health service waiting rooms.

  Waiting Times
  David Davis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the breakdown by clinical area of waiting times is for the number of people waiting for a referral to a specialist from their general practitioner. [132395]

  Mr. Hutton
  Information on patients waiting for their first consultant out-patient attendance following general practitioner written referral is collected at the consultants main specialty function, and only for those patients waiting over 13 weeks.

  The table shows the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks by specialty.

  Patients waiting for 1st consultant out-patient appointment following GP written referral: England (provider based): quarter 1, 2003–04

  Specialty

  Patients waiting over 13 weeks

  General surgery

  9,616

  Urology

  6,821

  Trauma and orthopaedics

  30,378

  Ear, Nose and Throat

  22,264

  Ophthalmology

  17,926

  Oral surgery

  8,801

  Restorative dentistry

  928

  Paediatric dentistry

  273

  Orthodontics

  1,602

  Neurosurgery

  456

  Plastic surgery

  3,467

  Cardiothoracic surgery

  150

  Paediatric surgery

  418

  Accident and emergency

  58

  Anaesthetics

  635

  Pain Management

  1,246

  General medicine

  7,804

  Gastroenterology

  2,503

  Endocrinology

  859

  Clinical haematology

  229

  Clinical physiology

  —

  Clinical pharmacology

  11

  Audiological medicine

  312

  Clinical genetics

  37

  Clinical Cyto-molecular genetics

  —

  Clinical Immunology and allergy

  269

  Rehabilitation

  58

  Palliative medicine

  —

  Cardiology

  4,311

  Dermatology

  11,952

  Thoracic medicine

  805

  Infectious diseases

  31

  Genito-urinary medicine

  1

  Nephrology

  225

  Medical oncology

  3

  Nuclear medicine

  10

  Neurology

  6,741

  350W

  Patients waiting for 1st consultant out-patient appointment following GP written referral: England (provider based): quarter 1, 2003–04

  Specialty

  Patients waiting over 13 weeks

  Clinical neuro-physiology

  104

  Rheumatology

  5,254

  Paediatrics

  2,274

  Paediatric neurology

  30

  Geriatric medicine

  223

  Dental medicine specialities

  85

  Medical ophthalmology

  —

  Gynaecology

  8,341

  Antenatal clinic

  202

  Postnatal clinic

  —

  Mental handicap

  8

  Mental illness

  468

  Child and adolescent psychiatry

  216

  Forensic psychiatry

  4

  Psychotherapy

  12

  Old age psychiatry

  157

  Clinical Oncology

  5

  Radiology

  2

  General pathology

  19

  Blood transfusion

  —

  Chemical pathology

  108

  Haematology

  40

  Histopathology

  —

  Immunopathology

  36

  Medical microbiology

  —

  Neuropathology

  —

  Community medicine

  18

  Occupational medicine

  —

  Joint consultant clinic

  25

  All specialties

  158,831

  Source:

  Department of Health form QM08

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

  Building Regulations (Disabled People)
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the levels of knowledge among builders of the housing design needs of disabled people. [130979]

  Phil Hope
  No direct assessment is made. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister undertakes extensive contacts with builders' organisations such as the House Builders Federation and the National House-Building Council. Officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister discussed with builders from time to time their understanding of the Building Regulations, including Part M, 'Access and Facilities for Disabled People'.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the adequacy of Part M of the Building Regulations in securing liveable accommodation for disabled people. [130980]

  Phil Hope
  The Requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations relating to housing were introduced in 1999, and are intended to make it reasonably safe and convenient for disabled people to visit new dwellings and to use the principal storey. The provisions are expected to enable occupants to cope better with reducing mobility and to 'stay put' longer in their own homes. Such representations as the Office of
  351W
  the Deputy Prime Minister receive range from those who feel Part M should not apply to dwellings to those who would like to see it extended in different ways.

  Buildmark
  Huw Irranca-Davies
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the nature of representations received in the last 12 months in respect of the Buildmark warranty scheme; and what major areas of concern were expressed in these representations. [132514]

  Phil Hope
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 6 October 2003,Official Report, column 1025W.

  The matters raised included instances where defects in homes were not detected, where claims fell outside the terms of the cover and where the resolution service offered under the scheme was unable to settle a dispute between the owner and the builder, or did so only after some delay. The number of cases brought to the attention of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is small, bearing in mind that, at any one time, there are approximately 1.5 million homes covered by the scheme. However, any instance where defects come to light in a new home after hand over, or where appropriate remedial work is not carried out promptly, is regrettable. The house building industry must work for continuous improvement in quality of construction. The Buildmark scheme is helping them to do this.

  High Hedges
  Lynne Jones
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many representations his Department has received in support of legislation on high hedges from(a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public since the fall of the Private Member's Bill on High Hedges on 20 June 2003. [131914]

  Yvette Cooper
  Since 20 June 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received(a) 402 representations from hon. Members and (b) 182 representations from members of the public, concerning high hedges, almost all in favour of the legislation.

  Official Residences
  Mr. Pickles
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the(a) maintenance, (b) running and (c) capital costs associated with each of his official residences in each year since 1997. [91630]

  Yvette Cooper
  The cost of my right. hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's accommodation including rent, security and maintenance costs, which include capital works, in Admiralty House is tabled as follows:

  £

  1998–99

  172,572

  1999–2000

  301,615

  2000–01

  224,677

  2001–02

  211,082

  2002–03

  260,916

  The costs are based on an apportionment of the costs of running Admiralty House and are charged to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by the Cabinet Office who manage the building.

  In addition my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has the use of Dorneywood which is not owned by the Government, and therefore there is no cost to public funds

  South East Housing Growth (Water Supply)
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of the projected housing numbers forecast for the South East on the level of water supply; and if he will make a statement. [131514]

  Keith Hill
  The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to ensuring that projected growth in housing numbers across the South East has the necessary water and sewerage services. In the growth areas, proposals for increased housing are based on studies which assess infrastructure requirements including water, and as more specific locations for growth are defined in local studies and plans, the requirements can be considered in terms of specific capacity increases required.

  Together with regional and local partners, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has held and will continue discussions with the respective water undertakers and environmental regulators over the level of water supplies needed to meet the projected housing growth across the South East.

  House of Lords Reform: Unelected Second Chambers
  House of Lords Reform: Unelected Second Chambers
  Death Penalty
  Death Penalty
  Court Service: Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03
  Court Service: Annual Report and Accounts 2002–03
  Northern Ireland: MoT Test Centres
  Northern Ireland: MoT Test Centres
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  North/South Implementation Bodies
  North/South Language Body
  North/South Language Body
  Northern Ireland: Tourism in County Antrim
  Northern Ireland: Tourism in County Antrim
  Northern Ireland Government Offices: Smoking
  Northern Ireland Government Offices: Smoking
  Northern Ireland Railways
  Northern Ireland Railways
  Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985: Review
  Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985: Review
  Iraq: UK Contribution to Reconstruction Costs
  Iraq: UK Contribution to Reconstruction Costs
  Hutton Report
  Hutton Report
  Guantanamo Bay: Prisoner Detainees
  Guantanamo Bay: Prisoner Detainees
  Liberia: Child Soldiers
  Liberia: Child Soldiers
  Zimbabwe: British Nationals
  Zimbabwe: British Nationals
  British Citizens in Prison in EU
  British Citizens in Prison in EU
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Boundary Commission Decision
  Ethiopia and Eritrea: Boundary Commission Decision
  Racial Discrimination: EC Legislation
  Racial Discrimination: EC Legislation
  Immigration Policy: ECJ Ruling in Akrich Case
  Immigration Policy: ECJ Ruling in Akrich Case
  Animal Procedures Committee: Annual Report 2002
  Animal Procedures Committee: Annual Report 2002
  Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860
  Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860
  Supporting People Programme
  Supporting People Programme
  Defence Science and Technology Laboratory: Key Targets 2003–04
  Defence Science and Technology Laboratory: Key Targets 2003–04
  Public Sector: Input and Output
  Public Sector: Input and Output
  Olympic Medallists: Drug Tests
  Olympic Medallists: Drug Tests